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COLONY BANKCORP INC (CBAN)

CIK: 0000711669. SIC: 6022 State Commercial Banks. Latest 10-K as of: 2026-03-13.

SIC breadcrumb: Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate > Depository Institutions > SIC 6022 State Commercial Banks

SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=711669. Latest filing source: 0000711669-26-000007.

Informational only - descriptive public-record data, not investment advice.

Business

Read CBAN's verbatim Item 1 Business section from its latest 10-K: Business.

Selected Fundamentals

MetricValueUnitFYFiled
Revenue149,952,000USD20252026-03-13
Net income28,253,000USD20252026-03-13
Assets3,735,401,000USD20252026-03-13

Financials

Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-03-13. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000711669.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.

Download these verified figures (annual + quarterly, with per-value filing provenance): JSON · CSV

Flow metrics use full-year FY periods from 10-K/10-K/A filings; balance-sheet metrics use FY-end instants. Free cash flow = operating cash flow - capital expenditures. Missing metrics are omitted rather than fabricated.

Metric20112016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Revenue44,589,08945,916,42349,022,00060,483,00063,125,00070,586,00091,537,000124,916,000137,241,000149,952,000
Net income8,673,2107,750,97811,917,00010,211,00011,815,00018,659,00019,542,00021,747,00023,868,00028,253,000
Diluted EPS0.840.871.401.121.241.661.141.241.361.59
Operating cash flow13,388,49112,545,13514,917,0003,877,000-19,094,00036,104,00049,741,00020,983,00023,401,000-5,545,000
Capital expenditures3,259,8591,344,8982,763,0003,485,0004,241,0005,838,0002,895,0003,618,0001,080,0001,354,000
Dividends paid0.00843,9341,688,0002,692,0003,800,0004,463,0007,158,0007,722,0007,899,0008,038,000
Share buybacks0.00540,000406,0001,305,0002,368,000
Assets1,210,441,6171,232,755,3171,251,878,0001,515,313,0001,763,974,0002,691,715,0002,936,570,0003,053,422,0003,109,782,0003,735,401,000
Liabilities1,156,186,0001,384,807,0001,619,486,0002,474,008,0002,706,302,0002,798,487,0002,831,107,0003,359,481,000
Stockholders' equity93,387,73390,322,00095,692,000130,506,000144,488,000217,707,000230,268,000254,935,000278,675,000375,920,000
Free cash flow10,128,63211,200,23712,154,000392,000-23,335,00030,266,00046,846,00017,365,00022,321,000-6,899,000

Ratios

ROE and ROA use period-end equity/assets. Liabilities / equity uses total liabilities divided by stockholders' equity. Current ratio uses current assets divided by current liabilities when both are reported.

Metric20112016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Net margin19.45%16.88%24.31%16.88%18.72%26.43%21.35%17.41%17.39%18.84%
Return on equity9.29%8.58%12.45%7.82%8.18%8.57%8.49%8.53%8.56%7.52%
Return on assets0.72%0.63%0.95%0.67%0.67%0.69%0.67%0.71%0.77%0.76%
Liabilities / equity12.0810.6111.2111.3611.7510.9810.168.94

Industry Peer Context

Each number-line places CBAN against the min, median, and max of latest reported values among companies in the same SIC industry when at least three peers report that ratio.

Net margin peer context

CBAN Net margin versus SIC peer range. Source: grepcent computed from latest SEC companyfacts ratios for SIC industry 6022; peer count 149.CBAN Net margin versus SIC peer range. Source: grepcent computed from latest SEC companyfacts ratios for SIC industry 6022; peer count 149.149 SIC peersMin -52.5%Median 21.9%Max 46.5%CBAN 18.8%

ROE peer context

CBAN ROE versus SIC peer range. Source: grepcent computed from latest SEC companyfacts ratios for SIC industry 6022; peer count 149.CBAN ROE versus SIC peer range. Source: grepcent computed from latest SEC companyfacts ratios for SIC industry 6022; peer count 149.149 SIC peersMin -22.0%Median 9.6%Max 17.5%CBAN 7.5%

ROA peer context

CBAN ROA versus SIC peer range. Source: grepcent computed from latest SEC companyfacts ratios for SIC industry 6022; peer count 149.CBAN ROA versus SIC peer range. Source: grepcent computed from latest SEC companyfacts ratios for SIC industry 6022; peer count 149.149 SIC peersMin -2.3%Median 1.1%Max 2.5%CBAN 0.8%

Financial Bridges

Waterfall figures reconcile reported SEC companyfacts components. Missing bridges are omitted when required components are not present for the same fiscal year.

Free cash flow = operating cash flow - capital expenditures

CBAN FY2025 free cash flow bridge from reported figures.CBAN FY2025 free cash flow bridge from reported figures.CBAN free cash flow bridgeFY2025: operating cash flow less capital expendituresSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Free cash flow bridgeReported amount-$250.0M$0.0B$250.0M-$5.5MOperating cash flow-$1.4MCapex-$6.9MFree cash flow

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts FY 2025. Operating cash flow: accession 0000711669-26-000007; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities | Capital expenditures: accession 0000711669-26-000007; concept PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment | Free cash flow: accession 0000711669-26-000007; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment

Financial Charts

CBAN revenue, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN revenue, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN RevenueLatest point: FY2025 = $150.0MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearReported revenue$0.0B$125.0M$250.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000711669-26-000007; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating. Source concepts: us-gaap:InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating.

CBAN net income, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN net income, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN Net incomeLatest point: FY2025 = $28.3MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearNet income$0.0B$125.0M$250.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000711669-26-000007; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.

CBAN diluted eps, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN diluted eps, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN Diluted EPSLatest point: FY2025 = $1.59/shareSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearDiluted EPS (USD/share)$0.00/share$1.00/share$2.00/shareFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000711669-26-000007; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.

CBAN operating cash flow, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN operating cash flow, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN Operating cash flowLatest point: FY2025 = -$5.5MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearOperating cash flow-$250.0M$0.0B$250.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000711669-26-000007; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities.

CBAN capital expenditures, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN capital expenditures, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN Capital expendituresLatest point: FY2025 = $1.4MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearCapital expenditures$0.0B$125.0M$250.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000711669-26-000007; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.

CBAN dividends paid, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN dividends paid, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN Dividends paidLatest point: FY2025 = $8.0MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearDividends paid$0.0B$125.0M$250.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000711669-26-000007; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock.

CBAN share buybacks, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN share buybacks, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN Share buybacksLatest point: FY2025 = $2.4MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearShare buybacks$0.0B$125.0M$250.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000711669-26-000007; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock.

CBAN assets, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN assets, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN AssetsLatest point: FY2025 = $3.7BSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearAssets$0.0B$2.0B$4.0BFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000711669-26-000007; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: Assets. Source concepts: us-gaap:Assets.

CBAN liabilities, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN liabilities, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN LiabilitiesLatest point: FY2025 = $3.4BSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearLiabilities$0.0B$2.0B$4.0BFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000711669-26-000007; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: Liabilities. Source concepts: us-gaap:Liabilities.

CBAN stockholders' equity, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN stockholders' equity, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN Stockholders' equityLatest point: FY2025 = $375.9MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearStockholders' equity$0.0B$250.0M$500.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000711669-26-000007; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: StockholdersEquity. Source concepts: us-gaap:StockholdersEquity.

CBAN free cash flow, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN free cash flow, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.CBAN Free cash flowLatest point: FY2025 = -$6.9MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearFree cash flow-$250.0M$0.0B$250.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000711669-26-000007; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.

Quarterly

Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-05-08. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000711669.json.

Flow metrics use discrete quarter-length periods from 10-Q/10-Q/A filings. Q4 revenue and net income are derived only when annual FY and nine-month YTD facts exist for the same fiscal year; derived Q4 values are labeled. EPS Q4 is not derived.

QuarterEnd DateRevenueNet IncomeDiluted EPSMethod
2022-Q22022-06-300.19reported discrete quarter
2022-Q32022-09-300.30reported discrete quarter
2023-Q12023-03-310.29reported discrete quarter
2023-Q22023-06-3030,764,0005,302,0000.30reported discrete quarter
2023-Q32023-09-3032,579,0005,804,0000.33reported discrete quarter
2023-Q42023-12-3133,203,0005,598,000derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD
2024-Q12024-03-3133,310,0005,333,0000.30reported discrete quarter
2024-Q22024-06-3033,336,0005,474,0000.31reported discrete quarter
2024-Q32024-09-3034,604,0005,629,0000.32reported discrete quarter
2024-Q42024-12-3135,991,0007,432,000derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD
2025-Q12025-03-3135,525,0006,613,0000.38reported discrete quarter
2025-Q22025-06-3036,835,0007,978,0000.46reported discrete quarter
2025-Q32025-09-3036,892,0005,819,0000.33reported discrete quarter
2025-Q42025-12-3140,700,0007,843,000derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD
2026-Q12026-03-3144,890,0008,204,0000.39reported discrete quarter

Quarterly Charts

CBAN quarterly revenue, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q1.CBAN quarterly revenue, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q1.CBAN Quarterly RevenueLatest point: 2026-Q1 = $44.9MSource: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q1.Fiscal quarterQuarterly Revenue$0.0B$125.0M$250.0M2023-Q22023-Q32023-Q42024-Q12024-Q22024-Q32024-Q42025-Q12025-Q22025-Q32025-Q42026-Q1

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0001104659-26-057671; filed 2026-05-08. Concept: InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating. Source concepts: us-gaap:InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating.

CBAN quarterly net income, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q1.CBAN quarterly net income, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q1.CBAN Quarterly Net incomeLatest point: 2026-Q1 = $8.2MSource: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q1.Fiscal quarterQuarterly Net income$0.0B$125.0M$250.0M2023-Q22023-Q32023-Q42024-Q12024-Q22024-Q32024-Q42025-Q12025-Q22025-Q32025-Q42026-Q1

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0001104659-26-057671; filed 2026-05-08. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.

CBAN quarterly diluted eps, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q1.CBAN quarterly diluted eps, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q1.CBAN Quarterly Diluted EPSLatest point: 2026-Q1 = $0.39/shareSource: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q1.Fiscal quarterQuarterly Diluted EPS (USD/share)$0.00/share$0.50/share$1.00/share2022-Q22022-Q32023-Q12023-Q22023-Q32024-Q12024-Q22024-Q32025-Q12025-Q22025-Q32026-Q1

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0001104659-26-057671; filed 2026-05-08. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.

Macro Cross-References

Latest quarter (10-Q)

Latest 10-Q source: 0001104659-26-057671.

Extracted structurally from real Item 2 body heading to real Item 3/4 boundary. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2026-05-08. Report date: 2026-03-31.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The purpose of this discussion and analysis is to focus on significant changes in the financial condition of Colony Bankcorp, Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiary, Colony Bank, from December 31, 2025 through March 31, 2026 and on our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Company’s 2025 Form 10-K, and information presented elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, particularly the unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing in Item 1.

Forward-looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “might,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “strive,” “projection,” “goal,” “target,” “outlook,” “aim,” “would,” “annualized” and “outlook,” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

A number of important factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements, including those factors discussed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the following:

Column 1Column 2Column 3
the impact of current and future economic and market conditions generally (including seasonality) and in the financial services industry, nationally and within the Company’s primary market areas, including the effects of continued inflationary pressures, changes in interest rates, tariffs or trade wars (including reduced consumer spending, supply chain issues, and adverse impacts to credit quality), a sustained increase in commodity prices, slowdowns in economic growth or recession, and the potential for high unemployment rates, as well as the financial stress on borrowers and changes to customer and client behavior and credit risk as a result of the foregoing;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
the potential adverse developments in the banking industry highlighted by high-profile bank failures and the impact of such developments on customer confidence, liquidity and regulatory responses to these developments (including increases in the cost of our deposit insurance assessments and the increased regulatory scrutiny), our ability to effectively manage our liquidity risk and any growth plans and the availability of capital and funding;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
governmental monetary and fiscal policies, including interest rate policies of the FRB, as well as risks related to legislative, tax and regulatory change, including those that impact the value of the U.S. Dollar in relation to the currencies of other advanced and emerging market countries, the money supply and inflation;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
the risk of continued changes in interest rates on the level and composition of deposits (as well as the cost of, and competition for, deposits), loan demand, liquidity and the values of loan collateral, securities and market fluctuations, and interest rate sensitive assets and liabilities;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
interest rate risks (including the impact of interest rates on macroeconomic conditions, customer and client behavior, and on our net interest income), sensitivities, and the shape of the yield curve, and its impact on our financial projections and models;

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Column 1Column 2Column 3
prolonged periods of inflation and their effects on our business, profitability, and our stock price;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
changes in borrower credit risks and payment behaviors, including the ability for borrowers under deferred payment programs to return to making full payments;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
changes in the availability and cost of credit and capital in the financial markets;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
changes in the prices, values and sales volumes of residential and commercial real estate, especially as they relate to the value of collateral supporting the Company’s loans;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
the concentration of our business within our geographic areas of operation in Georgia, Alabama, Florida and neighboring markets;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
the credit risks of lending activities, including our ability to estimate credit losses and the allowance for credit losses, as well as the effects of changes in the level of, and trends in, loan delinquencies and write-offs;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
the risk that our asset quality may deteriorate or that our allowance for credit losses may prove to be inadequate or may be negatively affected by credit risk exposures;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
factors that negatively impact our mortgage banking services, including declines in our mortgage originations or profitability due to rising or elevated interest rates and increased competition and regulation, the Bank’s or third party’s failure to satisfy mortgage servicing obligations, loan modifications, the effects of judicial or regulatory requirements or guidance, and the possibility of the Bank being required to repurchase mortgage loans or indemnify buyers;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
the effects of competition (including the inability to grow, or attrition of, deposits, customers and employees) from other commercial banks, thrifts, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, credit unions, non-bank financial technology providers, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, private credit funds, money market and other mutual funds and other financial institutions;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
our ability to realize the expected benefits from our strategic initiatives or other operational and executive goals in the time period expected, which could negatively affect our future profitability;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
risks relating to bank acquisitions, including the recent acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc. (“TC Bancshares”), including, without limitation; the diversion of management’s time on issues related to the integration; unexpected transaction costs, including the costs of integrating operations; the risks that the businesses will not be integrated successfully or that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; the potential failure to fully or timely realize expected revenues and revenue synergies, including as the result of revenues following acquisitions being lower than expected; the risk of deposit and customer attrition; regulatory enforcement and litigation risk; any changes in deposit mix; unexpected operating and other costs, which may differ or change from expectations; the risks of customer and employee loss and business disruptions, including, without limitation, as the result of difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees; increased competitive pressures and solicitations of customers by competitors; as well as the difficulties and risks inherent with entering new markets;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
the risk that we may not be able to identify suitable bank and non-bank acquisition opportunities as part of our growth strategy and even if we are able to identify attractive acquisition opportunities, we may not be able to complete such transactions on favorable terms or realize the anticipated benefits from such acquisitions;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
the Company’s ability to comply with any regulatory requirements and the risk that the regulatory environment may not be conducive to or may prohibit or delay the consummation of future mergers and/or business combinations, may increase the length of time and amount of resources required to consummate such transactions, and may reduce the anticipated benefit;

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Column 1Column 2Column 3
risks related to our implementation of new lines of business, new products and services, new technologies, and expansion of our existing business opportunities;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
our ability to attract and maintain business banking relationships with well-qualified businesses, real estate developers and investors with proven track records in our market areas;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
our ability to attract sufficient loans that meet prudent credit standards;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
our ability to successfully execute our business strategy to achieve profitable growth;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
our ability to manage our growth;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
our ability to increase our operating efficiency;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
the impact on the valuation of the Company’s investments due to market volatility or counterparty payment risk, as well as the effect of a decline in stock market prices;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
inability of the risk management framework to manage risks associated with our business;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
our ability to maintain expenses in line with current projections;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
statutory and regulatory dividend restrictions;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
our ability to comply with applicable capital and liquidity requirements, including our ability to generate liquidity internally or raise capital on favorable terms, including continued access to the debt and equity capital markets;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
restrictions or limitations on access to funds from historical and alternative sources of liquidity could adversely affect our overall liquidity, which could restrict our ability to make payments on our obligations and our ability to support asset growth and sustain our operations and the operations of the Bank;

[[GREPCENT_TABLE]]
[["","\u25cf","our ability to maintain adequate internal controls over

[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]

Latest 10-K MD&A

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2026-03-13. Report date: 2025-12-31.

Item 7

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risk, uncertainties and, assumptions. Certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to those set forth under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors,” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.

The Company

Colony Bankcorp, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Fitzgerald, Georgia that provides, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Colony Bank (collectively referred to as the Company), a broad array of products and services throughout north, central, south and coastal Georgia markets, Birmingham, Alabama and Santa Rosa Beach, Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Florida. The Company offers commercial and consumer banking services as well as specialized solutions including mortgage, government guaranteed lending, consumer insurance, credit cards, wealth management and merchant services.

Recent Developments

The Company paid dividends to its shareholders throughout 2025 and 2024 on a quarterly basis. In 2025, we had a quarterly dividend of $0.1150 per share of common stock and in 2024, we had a quarterly dividend of $0.1125 per share of common stock.

On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASC Topic 326 which replaced the incurred loss approach for measuring credit losses with an expected loss model, referred to the current expected credit loss ("CECL") model. CECL applies to financial assets subject to credit losses and measured at amortized cost and certain off-balance-sheet credit exposures, which include, but are not limited to, loans, leases, held-to-maturity securities, loan commitments and financial guarantees. The adoption of this guidance resulted in a decrease of the allowance for credit losses on loans of $53,000, the creation of an allowance for unfunded commitments of $1.7 million and a reduction of retained earnings of $1.2 million, net of the increase in deferred tax assets of $410,000 as of December 31, 2024.

Effective October 1, 2025, the Company early adopted ASU 2025-08, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Purchased Loans, which amended the accounting for certain purchased financial assets. Under the new guidance, the Company is allowed to apply the 'gross-up' approach to acquired loans that meet the definition of 'purchased seasoned loans' (PSLs), whereby an allowance for credit losses is recognized at the acquisition date with an offsetting adjustment to the amortized cost basis of the assets. This aligns the accounting for PSLs with the treatment of purchased financial assets with credit deterioration (PCD assets). This change eliminated the immediate recognition of day-one credit loss expense and resulted in an increase to the allowance for credit losses on loans of $4.6 million and an increase to the allowance for unfunded commitments of $134,000.

Going forward, the impact of utilizing the CECL approach to calculate the allowance for credit losses will be significantly influenced by the composition, characteristics and quality of our loan portfolio, as well as the prevailing economic conditions and forecasts utilized. Material changes to these and other relevant factors may result in greater volatility to the provision for credit losses, and therefore, greater volatility to our reported earnings. See Notes 1 and 5, included elsewhere in this Form 10-K, for additional information on the allowance for credit losses and the allowance for unfunded commitments.

In June 2023 and August, September and October 2024, the Company entered into a total of five derivative instruments, specifically interest rate swaps, to help manage its interest rate risk position and mitigate exposure to the variability of future cash flows or other forecasted transactions. Three of the interest rate swaps are designated as cash flow hedges of certain variable rate liabilities and two are designated as fair value hedges of certain fixed rate assets. Gains and losses are recorded on the swap transactions as a component of interest expense in the consolidated statements of income. Amounts reported in accumulated OCI related to swaps are reclassified to interest income or expense as interest payments are made on the Bank's fixed rate assets and variable rate liabilities. For additional discussion of the Company's derivative instruments, see "Note 11 - Derivatives".

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Reconciliation and Management Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Our accounting and reporting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, certain non-GAAP measures are used by management to supplement the evaluation of our performance. These include the fully-taxable equivalent measures: tax-equivalent net interest income, tax-equivalent net interest margin and tax-equivalent net interest spread, which include the effects of taxable-equivalent adjustments using a statutory federal income tax rate of 21% to increase tax-exempt interest income to a tax-equivalent basis for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.  Tax-equivalent adjustments are reported to the Average Balances with Average Yields and Rates table under Rate/Volume Analysis in the tables that follow. Management believes that non-GAAP financial measures provide additional useful information that allows investors to evaluate the ongoing performance of the company and provide meaningful comparisons to its peers. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures also enhance investors' ability to compare period-to-period financial results and allow investors and company management to view our operating results excluding the impact of items that are not reflective of the underlying operating performance.

Tax-equivalent net interest income, net interest margin and net interest spread.

Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis is a non-GAAP measure that adjusts for the tax-favored status of net interest income from loans and investments. We believe this measure to be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income and it enhances comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest income. Net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis is net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis divided by average interest-earning assets on a tax-equivalent basis. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest margin. Net interest spread on a tax-equivalent basis is the difference in the average yield on average interest-earning assets on a tax equivalent basis and the average rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest spread.

These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered alternatives to GAAP-basis financial statements, and other bank holding companies may define or calculate these non-GAAP measures or similar measures differently.

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A reconciliation of these performance measures to GAAP performance measures is included in the tables below.

Non-GAAP Performance Measures Reconciliation

Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)20252024
Operating noninterest income reconciliation
Noninterest income (GAAP)$40,280$39,375
Writedown of bank premises197
Loss on sales of securities1,0391,835
Operating noninterest income$41,319$41,407
Operating noninterest expense reconciliation
Noninterest expense (GAAP)$92,546$82,834
Severance costs(288)
Acquisition-related expenses(2,063)
Loss related to wire fraud incident(1,252)
Operating noninterest expense$89,231$82,546
Operating net income reconciliation
Net income (GAAP)$28,253$23,868
Severance costs288
Acquisition-related expenses2,063
Writedown of bank premises197
Loss related to wire fraud incident1,252
Loss on sales of securities1,0391,835
Income tax benefit(881)(470)
Operating net income$31,726$25,718
Weighted average diluted shares17,789,68817,557,743
Adjusted earnings per diluted share$1.78$1.46
Operating return on average assets reconciliation
Return on average assets (GAAP)0.89%0.78%
Severance costs0.01
Acquisition-related expenses0.07
Writedown of bank premises0.01
Loss related to wire fraud incident0.04
Loss on sales of securities0.030.06
Tax effect of adjustment items(0.03)(0.02)
Operating return on average assets1.00%0.84%
Operating return on average equity reconciliation
Return on average equity (GAAP)9.49%9.00%
Severance costs0.11
Acquisition-related expenses0.69
Writedown of bank premises0.07
Loss related to wire fraud incident0.43
Loss on sales of securities0.350.69
Tax effect of adjustment items(0.30)(0.18)
Operating return on average equity10.66%9.69%
Operating return on average tangible equity reconciliation
Return on average tangible equity11.65%11.22%
Severance costs0.14
Acquisition-related expenses0.85
Writedown of bank premises0.09
Loss related to wire fraud incident0.52
Loss on sales of securities0.430.86
Tax effect of adjustment items(0.36)(0.22)
Operating return on average tangible equity13.09%12.09%

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Tangible book value per common share reconciliation
Book value per common share (GAAP)$17.69$15.91
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles(3.38)(2.96)
Tangible book value per common share$14.31$12.95
Tangible equity to tangible assets reconciliation
Equity to assets (GAAP)10.06%8.96%
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles(1.76)(1.54)
Tangible equity to tangible assets8.30%7.42%
Operating efficiency ratio calculation
Efficiency ratio (GAAP)70.01%71.75%
Severance costs(0.25)
Acquisition-related expenses(1.44)
Writedown of bank premises(0.17)
Loss related to wire fraud incident(0.87)
Loss on sales of securities(0.72)(1.56)
Operating efficiency ratio66.98%69.77%
Operating net noninterest expense(1) to average assets calculation
Net noninterest expense to average assets1.64%1.43%
Severance costs(0.01)
Acquisition-related expenses(0.07)
Writedown of bank premises%(0.01)%
Loss related to wire fraud incident(0.04)%%
Loss on sales of securities(0.03)%(0.06)%
Operating net noninterest expense to average assets1.50%1.35%
Pre-provision net revenue
Net interest income before provision for credit losses$91,901$76,076
Noninterest income40,28039,375
Total income132,181115,451
Noninterest expense92,54682,834
Pre-provision net revenue$39,635$32,617
Operating pre-provision net revenue
Net interest income before provision for credit losses$91,901$76,076
Operating noninterest income41,31941,407
Total operating income133,220117,483
Operating noninterest expense89,23182,546
Operating pre-provision net revenue$43,989$34,937
(1) Net noninterest expense is defined as noninterest expense less noninterest income.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The consolidated financial statements of Colony are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and follow general practices within the industry in which it operates. This preparation requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates, assumptions and judgments are based on information available as of the date of the consolidated financial statements; accordingly, as this information changes, actual results could differ from the estimates, assumptions and judgments reflected in the consolidated financial statements. Certain policies inherently have a greater reliance on the use of estimates, assumptions and judgments and, as such, have a greater possibility of producing results that could be materially different than originally reported. Estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change include the valuation of loan acquisition transactions, as well as the determination of the allowance for credit losses and income taxes and, therefore, are critical accounting policies. In addition to the discussion that follows, the accounting policies related to these estimates are further described in Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, under Part II, Item 8.

Reserve for Credit Losses

A consequence of lending activities is that we may incur credit losses. The amount of such losses will vary depending upon the risk characteristics of the loan lease portfolio as affected by economic conditions such as rising interest rates and the financial performance of the borrower.

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The reserve for credit losses consists of the allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) and the allowance for unfunded commitments. As a result of our January 1, 2023 adoption of ASU No. 2016-13, and its related amendments, our methodology for estimating the reserve for credit losses changed significantly from prior years. The standard replaced the “incurred loss” approach with an “expected loss” approach known as the Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”). The CECL approach requires an estimate of the credit losses expected over the life of an exposure (or pool of exposures). It removes the incurred loss approach’s threshold that delayed the recognition of a credit loss until it was “probable” a loss event was “incurred.”

The estimate of expected credit losses under the CECL approach is based on relevant information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amounts. Historical loss experience is generally the starting point for estimating expected credit losses. We then consider whether the historical loss experience should be adjusted for asset-specific risk characteristics or current conditions at the reporting date that did not exist over the period from which historical experience was used. Finally, we consider forecasts about future economic conditions that are reasonable and supportable. The allowance for unfunded commitments represents the expected credit losses on off-balance sheet commitments such as unfunded commitments to extend credit. This allowance is estimated by loan segment at each balance sheet date under the CECL model using the same methodologies as portfolio loans, taking into consideration the likelihood that funding will occur.

Management’s evaluation of the appropriateness of the reserve for credit losses is often the most critical of accounting estimates for a financial institution. Our determination of the amount of the reserve for credit losses is a critical accounting estimate as it requires significant reliance on the credit risk rating we assign to individual borrowers, the use of estimates and significant judgment as to the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, reliance on historical loss rates on homogenous portfolios, consideration of our quantitative and qualitative evaluation of economic factors, and the reliance on our reasonable and supportable forecasts. The reserve for credit losses attributable to each portfolio segment also includes an amount for inherent risks not reflected in the historical analyses. Relevant factors include, but are not limited to, concentrations of credit risk (geographic, large borrower, and industry), local/regional economic trends and conditions, changes in underwriting standards, changes in collateral values, experience and depth of lending staff, trends in delinquencies, and the volume and terms of loans.

Overview

The following discussion and analysis present the more significant factors affecting the Company’s financial condition as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 and results of operations for each of the two year-periods ended December 31, 2025. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements, notes thereto and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this report.

Taxable-equivalent adjustments are the result of increasing income from tax-free loans and investments by an amount equal to the taxes that would be paid if the income were fully taxable based on a 21% federal tax rate for 2025 and 2024, thus making tax-exempt yields comparable to taxable asset yields.

Dollar amounts in tables are stated in thousands, except for per share amounts.

Results of Operations

The Company’s results of operations are determined by its ability to effectively manage interest income and expense, to minimize loan and investment losses, to generate noninterest income and to control noninterest expense. Since market forces and economic conditions beyond the control of the Company determine interest rates, the ability to generate net interest income is dependent upon the Company’s ability to obtain an adequate spread between the rate earned on interest-earning assets and the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. Thus, the key performance for net interest income is the interest margin or net yield, which is taxable-equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. Net income available to common shareholders totaled $28.3 million, or $1.59 per diluted shares in 2025, compared to $23.9 million, or $1.36 per diluted shares in 2024.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income is the difference between interest income on earning assets, such as loans and securities, and interest expense on liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings, which are used to fund those assets. Net interest income is the Company’s largest component of income, representing 69.5% of total income during 2025 and 65.9% of total income during 2024.

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Net interest margin is the taxable-equivalent net interest income as a percentage of average interest-earning assets for the period. The level of interest rates and the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities impact net interest income and net interest margin.

The Company’s loan portfolio is significantly affected by changes in the prime interest rate. The prime interest rate, which is the rate offered on loans to borrowers with strong credit, was 6.75% as of December 31, 2025 and 7.50% as of December 31, 2024. The Federal Reserve Board sets general market rates of interest, including the deposit and loan rates offered by many financial institutions. During 2025, the prime interest rate decreased 0.75%.  During 2024, the prime interest rate decreased 1.00%.

The following table presents the changes in taxable-equivalent net interest income and identifies the changes due to differences in the average volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the changes due to changes in the average interest rate on those assets and liabilities. The changes in net interest income due to changes in both average volume and average interest rate have been allocated to the average volume change or the average interest rate change in proportion to the absolute amounts of the change in each. The Company’s consolidated average balance sheets along with an analysis of taxable-equivalent net interest earnings are presented in the Rate/Volume Analysis.

Rate/Volume Analysis

The rate/volume analysis presented hereafter illustrates the change from year to year for each component of the taxable equivalent net interest income separated into the amount generated through volume changes and the amount generated by changes in the yields/rates.

Changes from 2024 to 2025
(dollars in thousands)VolumeRateTotal
Interest income
Loans held for sale$(185)$(21)$(206)
Loans, net of unearned fees$12,477$488$12,965
Investment securities, taxable(1,385)(1,385)
Investment securities, exempt(193)(2)(195)
Deposits in banks and short-term investments2,988(1,397)1,591
Total interest income13,702(932)12,770
Interest expense
Interest-bearing demand and savings deposits5,002(7,941)(2,939)
Time deposits3,349(3,707)(358)
FHLB advances4061407
Other borrowings155(379)(224)
Total interest expense8,912(12,026)(3,114)
Net interest income$4,790$11,094$15,884

The Company maintains about 41.60% of its loan portfolio in adjustable rate loans that reprice with prime rate changes, while a little over half of its other loans mature within 5 years. The liabilities to fund assets are primarily in non-maturing core deposits and short-term certificates of deposit that mature within one year. During 2025, Federal Reserve rates decreased 75 basis points. During 2024, Federal Reserve rates decreased 100 basis points. We have seen the net interest margin increase to 3.14% for 2025, compared to 2.72% for 2024 primarily due to lower rates paid on interest bearing liabilities while maintaining increased rates on loans.

Taxable-equivalent net interest income for 2025 increased by $15.9 million or 20.7%, compared to 2024, primarily due to increases in loan volume and rates along with decreases in deposit rates. The average volume of interest-earning assets during 2025 increased $127.1 million compared to 2024, primarily related to increases in loans and deposits in banks and short-term investments. The total yield on interest-earning assets increased year over year with increases in loan and deposits in banks and

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short-term investments volume, partially offset by decreases in investment securities balances along with increased rates on loans in banks.

The average volume of loans increased $131.8 million in 2025 compared to 2024, which reflects a combination of organic and acquired loan growth in 2025. The average yield on loans increased by 24 basis points in 2025 compared to 2024, primarily due to the increased loan volume. The average volume of interest-bearing deposits increased $106.1 million in 2025 compared to 2024. Average savings and interest-bearing demand deposits increased $65.1 million and average time deposits increased $41.0 million in 2025 compared to 2024. Increases in average balances attributable to the acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc. on December 1, 2025, were $34.7 million in loans, $20.3 million in interest-bearing demand and savings deposits and $11.0 million in time deposits.

Accordingly, the ratio of average interest-bearing deposits to total average deposits was 83.01% in 2025 and 81.81% in 2024. For 2025, this deposit mix, combined with a decrease in interest rates, had the effect of decreasing the average cost of total deposits by 27 basis points in 2025 compared to 2024. Other interest-bearing liabilities also decreased by 11 basis points for the same periods.

The Company’s net interest spread, which represents the difference between the average rate earned on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, increased to 2.70% in 2025 from 2.23% in 2024 and was also a result of deposit rate decreases as well as increases in loan volume and rates. The net interest spread, as well as the net interest margin, will be impacted by future changes in short-term and long-term interest rate levels, as well as the impact from the competitive environment. A discussion of the effects of changing interest rates on net interest income is set forth in "Market Risk and Interest Rate Sensitivity" included elsewhere in this report.

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AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS

20252024
AverageIncome/Yields/AverageIncome/Yields/
(dollars in thousands)BalancesExpenseRatesBalancesExpenseRates
Assets
Loans held for sale$30,733$1,9286.27%$31,884$2,1346.69%
Loans, net of unearned fees (1)2,001,425122,7356.131,868,502109,7705.87
Investment securities, taxable668,87517,8852.67720,98619,2702.67
Investment securities, tax-exempt (2)93,4411,9632.1099,3502,1582.17
Deposits in banks and short-term investments159,7186,1833.87106,3814,5924.32
Total interest-earning assets2,954,192150,6945.10%2,827,103137,9244.88%
Total noninterest-earning assets230,538221,607
Total assets$3,184,730$3,048,710
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Savings and interest-bearing demand deposits$1,529,41324,3541.59%$1,464,31527,2931.86%
Time deposits644,07522,3563.47603,08022,7143.77
Total interest-bearing deposits2,173,48846,7102.152,067,39550,0072.42
FHLB advances185,8507,6184.10176,4217,2114.09
Other borrowings63,5223,7235.8663,1903,9476.25
Total other interest-bearing liabilities249,37211,3414.55239,61111,1584.66
Total interest-bearing liabilities2,422,86058,0512.40%2,307,00661,1652.65%
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits444,821459,822
Other liabilities19,48516,607
Stockholders' equity297,564265,275
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$3,184,730$3,048,710
Interest rate spread2.70%2.23%
Net interest income$92,643$76,759
Net interest margin3.14%2.72%

(1)The average balance of loans includes the average balance of nonaccrual loans. Income on such loans is recognized and recorded on the cash basis. Taxable-equivalent adjustments totaling $330,000 and $229,000 for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, are calculated using the statutory federal tax rate and are included in income and fees on loans. Accretion income of $489,000 and $47,000 for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 are also included in income and fees on loans.

(2)Taxable-equivalent adjustments totaling $412,000 and $453,000 for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, are calculated using the statutory federal tax rate and are included in tax-exempt interest on investment securities.

Provision for Credit Losses

Provision for credit losses totaled $4.5 million in 2025 compared to $3.1 million in 2024. The amount of provision expense recorded in each period was the amount required such that the total allowance for credit losses reflected the appropriate balance, in the estimation of management, sufficient to cover expected credit losses over the expected life of a loan exposure and unfunded commitments where the likelihood is that funding will occur. The provision for credit losses for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 includes $4.5 million and $3.6 million, respectively, in credit losses on loans and $3,000 in provision for and $562,000 in release of, respectively, credit losses on unfunded commitments. See the section captioned “Allowance for Credit Losses” elsewhere in this discussion for further analysis of the provision for credit losses. The increase in provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to 2024 is primarily related to the change in our loan balances year over year which was impacted by the acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc. on December 1, 2025, with the addition of $412.7 million in loan balances. See the sections captioned “Loans" and "Allowance for Credit Losses” elsewhere in this discussion for further analysis of the provision for credit losses. Net charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2025 were $5.1 million compared to $3.0 million for the same period in 2024. As of December 31, 2025, Colony’s allowance for credit losses was $23.0 million, or 0.97% of total loans, compared to $19.0 million, or 1.03% of total loans, at December 31,

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2024. At December 31, 2025 and 2024, nonperforming assets were $24.7 million and $11.3 million, or 0.66% and 0.36% of total assets, respectively, with credit quality in the overall loan portfolio remaining strong.

Noninterest Income

The components of noninterest income were as follows:

$%
(dollars in thousands)20252024VarianceVariance
Service charges on deposit accounts$9,695$9,365$3303.52%
Mortgage fee income7,5356,0481,48724.59
Gain on sales of SBA loans5,3729,242(3,870)(41.87)
Loss on sales of securities(1,039)(1,835)796(43.40)
Interchange fees8,4388,2991391.67
BOLI income1,7921,725673.87
Insurance commissions2,8641,7891,07560.07
Other5,6234,74288118.57
Total$40,280$39,375$9052.30%

Noninterest income in 2025 increased $905,000, or 2.30% from 2024. All variances were impacted by the acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc. on December 1, 2025. Increases were seen in service charges on deposit accounts, mortgage fee income, losses on sales of investment securities, interchange fees, BOLI income, insurance commission and other noninterest income, which included increases in equity investment income and income on wealth advisory and merchant services . These increases were offset by a decrease in gain on sales of SBA loans. The increase in service charges on deposit accounts is primarily a result of increased deposit account fees implemented in June 2025 as well as our ability to continue to grow deposits. The increase in mortgage fee income was a result of higher mortgage production year over year and interchange fees increased as a result of customer use of our card programs and fluctuating purchase habits between periods. Insurance commissions increased $1.1 million which was driven by increased volume in the Company's insurance division, impacted by the acquisition of the Ellerbee Insurance Agency in the second quarter of 2025. The increase of $881,000 in other noninterest income was attributable to equity investment market valuation gains of $300,000 in 2025 compared to $270,000 in 2024, an increase of $235,000 in wealth advisory and merchant services along with increases in SBA servicing and other related fee income of $156,000. Investment securities were sold in 2025 and 2024 for the purpose of restructuring underperforming assets in order to reinvest at higher yields and resulted in losses of $1.0 million and $1.8 million, respectively. The decrease of $3.9 million in gain on sales of SBA loans is due to the sale of only 208 loans in 2025 compared to 451 loans in 2024.

Noninterest Expense

The components of noninterest expense were as follows:

$%
(dollars in thousands)20252024VarianceVariance
Salaries and employee benefits$52,417$49,767$2,6505.32%
Occupancy and equipment6,7536,1496049.83
Acquisition related expenses2,0632,063100.00
Information technology10,6528,9781,67418.65
Professional Fees3,5072,82568224.12
Advertising and public relations4,2794,0092706.73
Communications805865(60)(6.91)
Other12,07010,2411,82917.86
Total$92,546$82,834$9,71211.72%

Noninterest expense in 2025 increased by $9.7 million, or 11.72% from 2024. All variances were impacted by the acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc. on December 1, 2025. The Company's increases were seen in salaries and employee benefits, occupancy and equipment, acquisition related expenses, information technology, professional fees, advertising and public relations and other noninterest expense. These increases were offset by a decrease in communications expense. The increase in salaries and employee benefits was primarily due to the aforementioned acquisitions of the Ellerbee Insurance Agency and TC

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Bancshares, Inc. as well as employee insurance and bonus expense which was partially offset by a decrease in stock award expense and an increase in deferred costs accounted for under ASC 310-20 due to loan growth. The increase in occupancy and equipment expenses can be seen in increases in repair and maintenance expense as well as lease expenses. Acquisition expenses in 2025 were all related to the TC Bancshares, Inc. acquisition and consisted primarily of professional and information technology expenses. The increase in information technology expense is due to increases in software and ATM expense. Professional fees saw increases in accounting and consulting fees, partially offset by decreases in legal fees, excluding acquisition related legal fees. The increase in advertising and public relations is primarily related to increases in subscription services and business development expenses, partially offset by decreases in appraisal fees. The increase in other noninterest expense of $1.8 million is primarily the result of a nonrecoverable loss of $1.3 million related to a wire fraud incident recorded in the third quarter of 2025 as well as changes in the valuation of the SBA servicing asset. The decrease in communications expense can be explained by fluctuations in data circuit fees

Sources and Uses of Funds

The following table illustrates, during the years presented, the mix of the Company’s funding sources and the assets in which those funds are invested as a percentage of the Company’s average total assets for the period indicated. Average assets totaled $3.18 billion in 2025 compared to $3.05 billion in 2024.

(dollars in thousands)20252024
Sources of Funds:
Noninterest-bearing deposits$444,82113.97%$459,82215.08%
Interest-bearing deposits2,173,48868.252,067,39567.81
FHLB advances185,8505.84176,4215.79
Other borrowings63,5221.9963,1902.07
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities19,4850.6116,6070.55
Equity capital297,5649.34265,2758.70
Total$3,184,730100.00%$3,048,710100.00%
Uses of Funds:
Loans held for sale and loans$2,032,15863.80%$1,900,38662.34%
Investment securities762,31623.94820,33626.90
Deposits in banks and short term investments159,7185.02106,3813.49
Other noninterest-bearing assets230,5387.24221,6077.27
Total$3,184,730100.00%$3,048,710100.00%

Deposits continue to be the Company’s primary source of funding. Over the comparable periods, interest-bearing deposits continues to be the largest component of the Company's mix of deposits. Average interest-bearing deposits totaled 83.0% in 2025 compared to 81.8% of total average deposits in 2024.

The Company primarily invests funds in loans and securities. Loans continue to be the largest component of the Company’s mix of invested assets.

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Loans

The following table presents the composition of the Company’s loan portfolio as of December 31 for the past five years.

(dollars in thousands)December 31, 2025December 31, 2024December 31, 2023December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
Construction, land & land development$302,512$205,046$247,146$229,435$165,446
Other commercial real estate1,249,720990,648974,375975,447787,392
Total commercial real estate1,552,2321,195,6941,221,5211,204,882952,838
Residential real estate459,549344,167356,234290,054212,527
Commercial, financial & agricultural218,532213,910242,756223,923154,048
Consumer and other150,91189,20962,95918,24718,564
Total loans, net of unearned fees2,381,2241,842,9801,883,4701,737,1061,337,977
Allowance for credit losses on loans(23,014)(18,980)(18,371)(16,128)(12,910)
Loans, net$2,358,210$1,824,000$1,865,099$1,720,978$1,325,067

Maturity and Repricing Opportunity

The following table presents total loans as of December 31, 2025 according to maturity distribution and/or repricing opportunity on adjustable rate loans.

(dollars in thousands)One year or lessAfter one year through five yearsAfter five years through fifteen yearsAfter fifteen yearsTotal
Construction, land & land development$229,167$44,757$20,789$7,799$302,512
Other commercial real estate371,337591,902282,1284,3531,249,720
Total commercial real estate600,504636,659302,91712,1521,552,232
Residential real estate125,983189,24497,64646,676459,549
Commercial, financial & agricultural120,32762,93535,138132218,532
Consumer and other9,23445,12746,85149,699150,911
Total loans, net of unearned fees856,048933,965482,552108,6592,381,224

Overview. Loans totaled $2.4 billion at December 31, 2025, an increase of 29.2% from $1.8 billion at December 31, 2024, which was attributable to a combination of organic growth and the TC Bancshares, Inc. acquisition. The majority of the Company’s loan portfolio is comprised of real estate loans. Commercial and residential real estate loans which is primarily for 1-4 family residential properties, nonfarm nonresidential properties and real estate construction loans made up 84.5% and 83.6% of total loans at December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. Commercial, financial and agriculture loans represents 9.2% of total loans at December 31, 2025 and 11.6% at December 31, 2024. Consumer and other loans increased to 6.3% of total loans at December 31, 2025 from 4.8% at December 31, 2024. All categories of loans reflect increases as a result of the acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc. in December 2025.

Loan origination/risk management. In accordance with the Company’s decentralized banking model, loan decisions are made at the local bank level. The Company utilizes both an Executive Loan Committee and a Director Loan Committee to assist lenders with the decision making and underwriting process of larger loan requests. Due to the diverse economic markets served by the Company, evaluation and underwriting criterion may vary slightly by market. Overall, loans are extended after a review of the borrower’s repayment ability, collateral adequacy, and overall credit worthiness.

Commercial purpose, commercial real estate, and agricultural loans are underwritten similarly to how other loans are underwritten throughout the Company. The properties securing the Company’s commercial real estate portfolio are diverse in terms of type and geographic location. In addition, the Company restricts any single loan to a $20 million transaction amount, unless approved by the Director Loan Committee ("DLC"). This diversity helps reduce the Company’s exposure to adverse economic events that affect any single market or industry. Management monitors and evaluates commercial real estate loans monthly based on collateral, geography, and risk grade criteria. The Company also utilizes information provided by third-party agencies to provide additional insight and guidance about economic conditions and trends affecting the markets it serves.

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The Company extends loans to builders and developers that are secured by non-owner occupied properties. In such cases, the Company reviews the overall economic conditions and trends for each market to determine the desirability of loans to be extended for residential construction and development. Sources of repayment for these types of loans may be pre-committed permanent loans from approved long-term lenders, sales of developed property or an interim mini-perm loan commitment from the Company until permanent financing is obtained. In some cases, loans are extended for residential loan construction for speculative purposes and are based on the perceived present and future demand for housing in a particular market served by the Company. These loans are monitored by on-site inspections and are considered to have higher risks than other real estate loans due to their ultimate repayment being sensitive to interest rate changes, general economic conditions and trends, the demand for the properties, and the availability of long-term financing.

The Company originates consumer loans at the bank level. Due to the diverse economic markets served by the Company, underwriting criterion may vary slightly by market. The Company is committed to serving the borrowing needs of all markets served and, in some cases, adjusts certain evaluation methods to meet the overall credit demographics of each market. Consumer loans represent relatively small loan amounts that are spread across many individual borrowers to help minimize risk. Additionally, consumer trends and outlook reports are reviewed by management on a regular basis.

The Company utilizes an independent third-party company for loan review and validation of the credit risk program on an ongoing quarterly basis. Results of these reviews are presented to management and the audit committee. The loan review process complements and reinforces the risk identification and assessment decisions made by lenders and credit personnel, as well as the Company’s policies and procedures.

For additional discussion of our loan portfolio and deposit accounts, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Loans" and "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Deposits.”

Commercial, financial & agricultural. Commercial, financial and agricultural loans at December 31, 2025 increased by $4.6 million, or 2.2% to $218.5 million from December 31, 2024 at $213.9 million. This increase was related to the acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc. mentioned above partially offset by loan payoffs during the year. The Company’s commercial, financial and agricultural loans are a diverse group of loans to small, medium and large businesses. The purpose of these loans varies from supporting seasonal working capital needs to term financing of equipment. These agricultural lines typically reduce in size at year end as crops are sold. While some short-term loans may be made on an unsecured basis, most are secured by the assets being financed with collateral margins that are consistent with the Company’s loan policy guidelines.

Construction, land & land development.  Construction, land and land development loans increased by $97.5 million, or 47.5%, at December 31, 2025 to $302.5 million from $205.0 million at December 31, 2024. This increase was primarily attributable to the acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc. and the continued growth of the business in 2025.

Other commercial real estate. Other commercial real estate loans increased by $259.1 million, or 26.2%, at December 31, 2025 to $1,249.7 million from $990.6 million at December 31, 2024. This increase was primarily attributable to the acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc. as well as growth of the business in 2025 despite the impact of the current lending and rate environment. At December 31, 2025, the Company's other commercial real estate loans were comprised of 61.6% of non-owner occupied loans and 38.4% of owner occupied loans.

The Company's non-owner occupied portfolio is well diversified as can be seen in the table below as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.

(dollars in thousands)December 31, 2025December 31, 2024
Multifamily$105,899$70,437
Hotel/Motel100,91551,887
Retail183,134154,418
Office137,99276,391
Industrial & Warehouse73,91670,669
Other Specialty158,874142,707
Government guaranteed SBSL9,55315,155
Total$770,283$581,664

Residential Real Estate Loans. Residential real estate loans increased by $115.4 million or 33.5%, at December 31, 2025 to $459.5 million from $344.2 million at December 31, 2024. This increase was primarily attributable to the acquisition of TC

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Bancshares, Inc. and the continued growth of the business in 2025. Residential real estate loans consist of revolving, open-end and closed-end loans as well as those secured by closed-end first and junior liens.

Consumer and other. Consumer and other loans include loans to individuals for personal and household purposes, including secured and unsecured installment loans and revolving lines of credit. Consumer and other loans at December 31, 2025 increased $61.7 million or 69.2% to $150.9 million from $89.2 million at December 31, 2024. This increase was primarily attributable to the acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc. as well as increases in the Company's marine and RV lending division and increases in Upstart loans, consumer loans to individuals with no or limited credit history.

Industry concentrations. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had one industry, identified as Lessors of Non-Residential real estate, where the concentrations of loans was in excess of 10% of total loans, as segregated by Standard Industrial Classification code (“SIC code”). The SIC code is a federally designed standard industrial numbering system used by the Company to categorize loans by the borrower’s type of business. The Company has established industry-specific guidelines with respect to maximum loans permitted for each industry with which the Company does business.

Collateral concentrations. Concentrations of credit risk can exist in relation to individual borrowers or groups of borrowers, certain types of collateral, certain types of industries, or certain geographic regions. The Company has a concentration in real estate loans as well as a geographic concentration that could pose an adverse credit risk. At December 31, 2025, approximately 84.5% of the Company’s loan portfolio was concentrated in loans secured by real estate. A substantial portion of borrowers’ ability to honor their contractual obligations is dependent upon the viability of the real estate economic sector. In addition, a large portion of the Company’s foreclosed assets are also located in these same geographic markets, making the recovery of the carrying amount of foreclosed assets susceptible to changes in market conditions. Management continues to monitor these concentrations and has considered these concentrations in its allowance for credit loss analysis. In recent years, we have seen real estate values stabilizing in our markets.

Large credit relationships. The Company currently operates locations in north, central, south and coastal Georgia as well as Birmingham, Alabama and Jacksonville, Santa Rosa Beach and Tallahassee, Florida. As a result, the Company originates and maintains large credit relationships with several commercial customers in the ordinary course of business. The required approval of loans (new or renewal) is based on the total credit exposure of a borrower, the type of loan, combined with whether or not there are any material policy exceptions on the loan. For non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans, the DLC approves loans $18 million or greater with material exceptions and loans $26 million or greater without exceptions. For other loans that are not commercial real estate, the DLC approves loans $21 million or greater with material exceptions and loans $30 million or greater with no exceptions. At December 31, 2025, our largest 20 relationships consisted of loans and loan commitments, where the total committed balance was $359.9 million with $312.0 million outstanding. At December 31, 2024, our largest 20 relationships had total committed balance of $304.5 million with $286.1 million outstanding.

Maturities and sensitivities of loans to changes in interest rates. The following table presents the maturity distribution of the Company’s loans at December 31, 2025. The table also presents the portion of loans that have fixed interest rates or variable interest rates that fluctuate over the life of the loans in accordance with changes in an interest rate index such as the prime rate.

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(dollars in thousands)Due in One Year or LessAfter One Year, but within Five YearsAfter FiveYears, but within Fifteen YearsAfter Fifteen YearsTotal
Loans with fixed interest rates:
Construction, land & land development$5,568$35,861$13,048$7,799$62,276
Other commercial real estate116,108520,922278,5644,353919,947
Total commercial real estate121,676556,783291,61212,152982,223
Residential real estate20,12160,44624,50546,665151,737
Commercial, financial & agricultural11,55160,07335,138132106,894
Consumer and other8,16045,11946,85149,699149,829
Total loans with fixed interest rates, net of unearned fees161,508722,421398,106108,6481,390,683
Loans with floating interest rates:
Construction, land & land development223,5998,8967,741240,236
Other commercial real estate255,22970,9803,564329,773
Total commercial real estate478,82879,87611,305570,009
Residential real estate105,862128,79873,14111307,812
Commercial, financial & agricultural108,7762,862111,638
Consumer and other1,07481,082
Total loans with floating interest rates, net of unearned fees694,540211,54484,44611990,541
Total loans, net of unearned fees$856,048$933,965$482,552$108,659$2,381,224

The Company may renew loans at maturity when requested by a customer whose financial strength appears to support such renewal or when such renewal appears to be in the Company’s best interest. In such instances, the Company generally requires payment of accrued interest and may adjust the rate of interest, require a principal reduction or modify other terms of the loan at the time of renewal.

Nonperforming Assets and Potential Problem Loans

Asset quality experienced a slight decrease during the year ended December 31, 2025. Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, accruing loans contractually past due 90 days or more, repossessed personal property and other real estate owned ("OREO"). Nonaccrual loans totaled $23.4 million at December 31, 2025, an increase of $12.7 million, or 119.3%, from $10.7 million at December 31, 2024. There were eight loans contractually past due 90 days or more and still accruing totaling $95,000 at December 31, 2025 and six loans totaling $152,000 at December 31, 2024. At December 31, 2025, OREO totaled $1.0 million, an increase of $846,000, or 418.8%, compared with $202,000 at December 31, 2024. The change in OREO is primarily the result of four properties added to other real estate totaling $1.15 million offset by $310,000 from the sale of two OREO properties. At the end of the year ended December 31, 2025, total nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets increased to 0.66% compared with 0.36% at December 31, 2024. The increase in nonperforming assets was primarily the result of increases in construction, land & land development, commercial real estate and residential real estate loans as well as the addition of $5.7 million of loans acquired in the acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc., partially offset by repayments, payoffs and charged off loans.

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Year-end nonperforming assets and accruing past due loans were as follows:

(dollars in thousands)202520242023
Loans accounted for on nonaccrual$23,380$10,660$9,839
Loans accruing past due 90 days or more95152370
Other real estate foreclosed1,048202448
Repossessed assets190328
Total nonperforming assets$24,713$11,342$10,657
Nonperforming loans by segment
Construction, land & land development$1,132$$85
Other commercial real estate9,6634,8334,219
Residential real estate4,5011,2043,911
Commercial, financial & agricultural7,8834,5591,956
Consumer and other29621638
Total nonperforming loans$23,475$10,812$10,209
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of:
Total loans, other real estate and foreclosed assets1.04%0.62%0.57%
Total assets0.66%0.36%0.35%
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of:
Total loans0.99%0.59%0.55%
Supplemental data:
Accruing past due loans:
30-89 days past due$9,850$8,361$6,069
90 or more days past due95152370
Total accruing past due loans$9,945$8,513$6,439
Allowance for credit losses$23,014$18,980$18,371
Allowance for credit losses as a percentage of:
Total loans0.97%1.03%0.98%
Nonperforming loans98.04175.55179.95

Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, loans past due 90 days or more, foreclosed real estate and repossessed assets. Nonperforming assets at December 31, 2025 increased 117.9% from December 31, 2024, as a result of the increase in nonaccrual loans and other real estate, offset by decreases in loans accruing past due 90 days or more and repossessed assets.

Generally, loans are placed on nonaccrual status if principal or interest payments become 90 days past due and/or management deems the collectability of the principal and/or interest to be in question, as well as when required by regulatory requirements. Loans to a customer whose financial condition has deteriorated are considered for nonaccrual status whether or not the loan is 90 days or more past due. For consumer loans, collectability and loss are generally determined before the loan reaches 90 days past due. Accordingly, losses on consumer loans are recorded at the time they are determined. Consumer loans that are 90 days or more past due are generally either in liquidation/payment status or bankruptcy awaiting confirmation of a plan. Once interest accruals are discontinued, accrued but uncollected interest is charged to current year operations. Subsequent receipts on nonaccrual loans are recorded as a reduction of principal, and interest income is recorded only after principal recovery is reasonably assured. Classification of a loan as nonaccrual does not preclude the ultimate collection of loan principal or interest.

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The Company had five loans modified due to financial difficulty during the year ended December 31, 2025. See Note 4. Loans, for additional details on loan modifications.

Foreclosed assets represent property acquired as the result of borrower defaults on loans. Foreclosed assets are recorded at estimated fair value, less estimated selling costs, at the time of foreclosure. Write-downs occurring at foreclosure are charged against the allowance for credit losses. On an ongoing basis, properties are appraised as required by market indications and applicable regulations. Write-downs are provided for subsequent declines in value and are included in other non-interest expense along with other expenses related to maintaining the properties.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The allowance for credit losses for loans is a reserve established through charges to earnings in the form of a provision for credit losses. The provision for credit losses is based on management's evaluation of the size and composition of the loan portfolio, the level of non-performing and past due loans, historical trends of charged-off loans and recoveries, prevailing economic conditions and other factors management deems appropriate. The Company's management has established an allowance for credit losses for loans which it believes is adequate to cover expected credit losses over the expected life of a loan exposure and unfunded commitments where the likelihood is that funding will occur. Based on a credit evaluation of the loan portfolio, management presents a quarterly review of the allowance for credit losses for loans and allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments to the Company's Board of Directors, which primarily focuses on risk by evaluating individual loans in certain risk categories. These categories have also been established by management and take the form of loan grades. By grading the loan portfolio in this manner, the Company's management is able to effectively evaluate the portfolio by risk, which management believes is the most effective way to analyze the loan portfolio and thus analyze the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses on loans.

The allowance for credit losses on loans is established by examining (1) the large classified loans, nonaccrual loans and loans considered impaired and evaluating them individually to determine the specific reserve allocation and (2) the remainder of the loan portfolio to allocate a portion of the allowance based on past loss experience and reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions for the particular loan category. The Company also considers other factors such as changes in lending policies and procedures; changes in national, regional and/or local economic and business conditions; changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio; changes in the experience, ability and depth of either the market president or lending staff; changes in the volume and severity of past due and classified loans; changes in the quality of the loan review system; and other factors management deems appropriate.

The allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures is adjusted as a provision for credit loss expense. The estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over its estimated life. The ACL is calculated using the same aggregate reserve rates calculated for the funded portion of loans at the portfolio level applied to the amount of commitments expected to fund.

Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses for each of these components on a quarterly basis. Peer comparisons, industry comparisons, and regulatory guidelines are also used in the determination of the valuation allowance. Loans identified as losses by management, internal loan review, and/or bank examiners are charged off. Additional information about the Company’s allowance for credit losses is provided in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for Allowance for Credit Losses.

The following table sets forth the breakdown of the allowance for credit losses on loans by loan category for the periods indicated. The allocation of the allowance to each category is subjective and is not necessarily indicative of future losses and does not restrict the use of the allowance to absorb losses in any other category.

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December 31,December 31,December 31,December 31,December 31,
(dollars in thousands)20252024202320222021
Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)
Construction, land & land development$2,47412.7%$1,30611.1%$2,20413.1%$1,95913.2%$1,12712.4%
Other commercial real estate7,71552.56,45953.87,06451.78,88656.17,69158.8
Residential real estate5,48819.35,50218.75,10518.92,35416.71,80515.9
Commercial, financial & agricultural3,8949.22,90411.62,11012.92,70912.91,08311.5
Consumer and other3,4436.32,8094.81,8883.42201.11,2041.4
$23,014100.0%$18,980100.0%$18,371100.0%$16,128100.0%$12,910100.0%

(1) Percentage represents the loan balance in each category expressed as a percentage of total end of period loans.

The following table presents an analysis of the Company’s allowance for credit losses on loans for the periods indicated.

(dollars in thousands)20252024202320222021
Allowance for credit losses on loans at beginning of year$18,980$18,371$16,128$12,910$12,127
Adoption of ASU 2016-13(53)
Adoption of ASU 2025-084,619
Charge-offs
Construction, land & land development
Other commercial real estate509206958568
Residential real estate183427771483
Commercial, financial & agricultural3,3892,4671,069314274
Consumer and other1,618604356068
Total charge-offs5,6993,5181,944480913
Recoveries
Construction, land & land development1161025466
Other commercial real estate266574285118
Residential real estate1952567950274
Commercial, financial & agricultural12016120113991
Consumer and other3525222947
Total recoveries617515354328996
Net charge-offs/(recoveries)5,0823,0031,590152(83)
Provision for credit losses on loans4,4973,6123,8863,370700
Allowance for credit losses on loans at end of year$23,014$18,980$18,371$16,128$12,910
Ratio of net charge-offs/(recoveries) to average loans0.25%0.16%0.09%0.01%(0.01)%

The allowance for credit losses on loans increased from $19.0 million or 1.03% of total loans at December 31, 2024 to $23.0 million, or 0.97% of total loans at December 31, 2025. The provision for credit losses on loans reflects loan quality trends, including the level of net charge-offs or recoveries, among other factors. Although net charge-offs were slightly higher which impacted the provision for credit losses, the primary reason for the year over year increase was due to the adoption of ASU 2025-08 which resulted in an addition of $4.6 million to the allowance in 2025.

The amount of provision expense recorded in 2025 and 2024 was the amount required such that the total allowance for credit losses reflected the appropriate balance, in the estimation of management, that was sufficient to cover expected credit losses on loans over the expected life of a loan exposure and unfunded commitments where the likelihood is that funding will occur.

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Investment Portfolio

The following table presents carrying values of investment securities available-for-sale held by the Company as of December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023.

(dollars in thousands)202520242023
U.S. treasury securities$5,582$3,173$498
U.S. agency securities3,1962,7554,139
Asset backed securities14,48317,82424,630
State, county and municipal securities107,23095,637109,036
Corporate debt securities48,80747,78247,390
Mortgage-backed securities204,519198,878221,689
Total debt securities$383,817$366,049$407,382

The following table presents investment securities held-to-maturity, carried at cost by the Company as of December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023.

(dollars in thousands)202520242023
U.S. treasury securities$65,408$91,004$93,306
U.S. agency securities8,99116,15116,282
State, county and municipal securities137,591137,190136,685
Mortgage-backed securities174,628185,732202,758
Total debt securities$386,618$430,077$449,031

The following table represents expected maturities and weighted-average yields of investment securities held by the Company as of December 31, 2025 (mortgage-backed securities are based on the average life at the projected speed, while State and Political Subdivisions reflect anticipated calls being exercised).

After 1 Year ButAfter 5 Years But
Available-for-SaleWithin 1 YearWithin 5 YearsWithin 10 YearsAfter 10 Years
(dollars in thousands)AmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYield
U.S. treasury securities$7733.97%$4,8093.62%$%$%
U.S. agency securities1975.072,9993.28
Asset backed securities2,0774.7212,4064.57
State, county and municipal securities26,2462.3043,1062.2537,8781.47
Corporate debt securities7,9684.974,2276.7536,6124.84
Mortgage-backed securities1,4106.3323,9764.0036,4514.97142,6823.01
Total debt securities$10,1515.08%$59,4553.42%$121,2453.92%$192,9662.81%

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After 1 Year ButAfter 5 Years But
Held-to-MaturityWithin 1 YearWithin 5 YearsWithin 10 YearsAfter 10 Years
(dollars in thousands)AmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYield
U.S. treasury securities$11,9281.31%$53,4801.02%$%$%
U.S. agency securities5,7571.373,2341.65
State, county and municipal securities5,5231.5170,5091.9561,5591.77
Mortgage-backed securities5,8002.05%26,2051.4727,3401.60115,2831.83
Total debt securities$17,7281.55%$90,9651.20%$101,0831.85%$176,8421.81%

Securities are classified as held-to-maturity and carried at amortized cost when management has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity. Securities are classified as available-for-sale when they might be sold before maturity. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income. The Company had both held-to-maturity and available-for-sale securities in the investment portfolio at December 31, 2025. Management also evaluates its securities portfolio for any credit-related losses on a quarterly basis. The Company did not identify any credit-related losses in its held-to-maturity or available-for-sale portfolios at December 31, 2025.

At December 31, 2025, there were no holdings of any one issuer, other than the U.S. government and its agencies, in an amount greater than 10% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity.

The average yield of the securities portfolio was 2.60% in 2025 and 2.61% in 2024. The slight decrease in the average yield from 2024 to 2025 was primarily attributed to the decrease in average balances of investment securities related to paydowns and the sales of investments securities during both periods.

Deposits

The following table presents the average amount outstanding and the average rate paid on deposits by the Company for the years 2025, 2024, and 2023.

202520242023
(dollars in thousands)AverageAmountAverage RateAverage AmountAverage RateAverage AmountAverage Rate
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits$444,821$459,822$519,225
Interest-bearing demand and savings deposits1,529,4131.59%1,464,3151.86%1,390,2471.14%
Time deposits644,0753.47%603,0803.77%619,0833.17%
Total deposits$2,618,3091.78%$2,527,2171.98%$2,528,5551.40%

The following table presents the maturities of the Company’s time deposits as of December 31, 2025.

(dollars in thousands)TimeDeposits$250,000 or GreaterTimeDepositsLess than $250,000Total
Months to Maturity
3 months or less$73,789$211,920$285,709
Over 3 months through 6 months92,372166,796259,168
Over 6 months through 12 months57,002141,904198,906
Over 12 months16,01260,85076,862
$239,175$581,470$820,645

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Average deposits increased $91.1 million in 2025 compared to 2024. The increase in 2025 included increases of $41.0 million, or 6.8% in time deposits and an increase in interest-bearing demand and savings deposits of $65.1 million, or 4.4%, partially offset by a decrease of $15.0 million, or 3.3% in noninterest-bearing deposits. The increase in our overall deposits is due primarily to the acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc The Company continues to focus on the importance of customer relationships and our ability to attract noninterest-bearing demand and interest-bearing demand and savings deposits despite the challenging interest rate environment.

As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, $980.0 million and $857.6 million, respectively, of our deposit portfolio was uninsured. The uninsured amounts are estimated based on the methodologies and assumptions used for the Bank's regulatory reporting requirements. The adjusted uninsured deposit estimate (which excludes deposits collateralized by public funds and internal accounts) was $576.5 million as of December 31, 2025 compared to $457.3 million as of December 31, 2024, Adjusted uninsured deposits represents a small percentage of our overall deposits, which increases the stability of our deposit base and lowers our overall funding risk.

The Company supplements deposit sources with brokered deposits. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $131.9 million, or 4.30% of total deposits, in brokered certificates of deposit attracted by external third parties. Additional information is provided in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for Deposits.

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

In the ordinary course of business, our Bank has granted commitments to extend credit to approved customers. Generally, these commitments to extend credit have been granted on a temporary basis for seasonal or inventory requirements or for construction period financing and have been approved within the Bank’s credit guidelines. Our Bank has also granted commitments to approved customers for financial standby letters of credit. These commitments are recorded in the financial statements when funds are disbursed or the financial instruments become payable. The Bank uses the same credit policies for these off-balance-sheet commitments as it does for financial instruments that are recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitment amounts expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

The following table summarizes commitments and contractual obligations outstanding at December 31, 2025.

(dollars in thousands)Payments Due by Period
TotalLess Than 1 Year1 – 3 Years3 – 5 YearsMore Than 5 Years
Contractual Obligations:
Borrowings$258,104$84,972$80,000$30,000$63,132
Operating lease liabilities13,7751,3872,3861,9818,021
Time Deposits820,645743,78367,2319,083548
$1,092,524$830,142$149,617$41,064$71,701
Other Commitments:
Loan commitments$422,592$221,698$86,368$34,939$79,587
Standby letters of credit5,3824,2141,168
427,974225,91287,53634,93979,587
Total Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments$1,520,498$1,056,054$237,153$76,003$151,288

Loan Commitments. The Company enters into contractual commitments to extend credit, normally with fixed expiration dates or termination clauses, at specified rates and for specific purposes. Substantially all of the Company’s commitments to extend credit are contingent upon customers maintaining specific credit standards at the time of loan funding. The Company minimizes its exposure to loss under these commitments by subjecting them to credit approval and monitoring procedures. Management assesses the credit risk associated with certain commitments to extend credit in determining the level of the allowance for credit losses. Loan commitments outstanding at December 31, 2025 are included in the preceding table.

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Standby Letters of Credit. Letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. In the event the customer does not perform in accordance with the terms of the agreement with the third party, the Company would be required to fund the commitment. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make is represented by the contractual amount of the commitment. If the commitment is funded, the Company would be entitled to seek recovery from the customer. The Company’s policies generally require that standby letters of credit arrangements contain security and debt covenants similar to those contained in loan agreements. Standby letters of credit outstanding at December 31, 2025 are included in the preceding table.

Capital Requirements

The Bank and the Company are each required under federal law to maintain certain minimum capital levels based on ratios of capital to total assets and capital to risk-weighted assets. The required capital ratios are minimums, and the federal banking agencies may determine that a banking organization, based on its size, complexity or risk profile, must maintain a higher level of capital in order to operate in a safe and sound manner. Risks such as concentration of credit risks and the risk arising from non-traditional activities, as well as the institution’s exposure to a decline in the economic value of its capital due to changes in interest rates, and an institution’s ability to manage those risks are important factors that are to be taken into account by the federal banking agencies in assessing an institution’s overall capital adequacy. For more information, see “Item 1. Business – Supervision and Regulation – Regulation of the Company – Capital Requirements.”

At December 31, 2025, shareholders’ equity totaled $375.9 million compared to $278.7 million at December 31, 2024. The primary driver of the increase was the issuance of common stock of $65.9 million as a result of the acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc. in December 2025. In addition to net income of $28.3 million, another significant change in shareholders’ equity during 2025 included $8.0 million of dividends declared on common stock. The accumulated other comprehensive loss component of stockholders’ equity totaled $34.5 million at December 31, 2025 compared to $47.6 million at December 31, 2024. This fluctuation was mostly related to the after-tax effect of changes in the fair value of securities available-for-sale. Under regulatory requirements, the unrealized gain or loss on securities available for sale does not increase or reduce regulatory capital and is not included in the calculation of risk-based capital and leverage ratios. Regulatory agencies for banks and bank holding companies utilize capital guidelines designed to measure Tier 1 and total capital and take into consideration the risk inherent in both on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet items.

Tier 1 capital consists of common stock and qualifying preferred securities less goodwill, intangibles and disallowed deferred tax assets. Tier 2 capital consists of certain convertible, subordinated and other qualifying debt and the allowance for credit losses up to 1.25% of risk-weighted assets. The Company's Tier 2 capital consists of subordinated notes and the allowance for credit losses.

Using the capital requirements presently in effect, the Tier 1 ratio as of December 31, 2025 was 13.60% and total Tier 1 and 2 risk-based capital was 15.95%. Both of these measures compare favorably with the regulatory minimum of 6.0% for Tier 1 and 8% for total risk-based capital. The Company’s common equity Tier 1 ratio as of December 31, 2025 was 12.67%, which exceeds the regulatory minimum of 4.50%. The Company’s Tier 1 leverage ratio as of December 31, 2025 was 10.78%, which exceeds the required ratio standard of 4.0%.

For the year ended December 31, 2025, average capital was $297.6 million representing 9.3% of average assets for the year. This compares to average capital of $265.3 million, representing 8.7% of average assets for 2024.

For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company did not have any material commitments for capital expenditures.

The Company granted 63,426 and 74,358 restricted shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. All restricted shares vest over a three year period.

A cash dividend of $8.0 million and $7.9 million was paid for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Liquidity

The Company, primarily through the actions of its subsidiary bank, engages in liquidity management to ensure adequate cash flow for deposit withdrawals, credit commitments and repayments of borrowed funds. Needs are met through loan repayments, net interest and fee income and the sale or maturity of existing assets. In addition, liquidity is continuously provided through the acquisition of new deposits, the renewal of maturing deposits and external borrowings.

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Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2025 and 2024 were $257.6 million and $231.0 million, respectively. The increase in cash and cash equivalents was partially due to sales and paydowns of investment securities, paydowns and maturities of loans, as well as increases in deposits and other borrowings. Management believes the various funding sources discussed above are adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs in these unsettled times without any material adverse impact on our operating results.

Management monitors deposit flow and evaluates alternate pricing structures to retain and grow deposits. To the extent needed to fund loan demand, traditional local deposit funding sources are supplemented by the use of FHLB borrowings, brokered deposits and other wholesale deposit sources outside the immediate market area. Internal policies have been updated to monitor the use of various core and non-core funding sources, and to balance ready access with risk and cost. Through various asset/liability management strategies, a balance is maintained among goals of liquidity, safety and earnings potential. Internal policies that are consistent with regulatory liquidity guidelines are monitored and enforced by the Bank.

The investment portfolio provides a ready means to raise cash if liquidity needs arise. As of December 31, 2025, the available-for-sale bond portfolio totaled $383.8 million. At December 31, 2024, the available-for-sale bond portfolio totaled $366.0 million. This increase is primarily attributable to available-for-sale investment securities acquired in the acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc. in December 2025. Only marketable investment grade bonds are purchased. Although approximately 51.5% of the Bank’s bond portfolio is encumbered as pledges to secure various public funds deposits, repurchase agreements, and for other purposes, management can restructure and free up investment securities for sale if required to meet liquidity needs.

Management continually monitors the relationship of loans to deposits as it primarily determines the Company’s liquidity posture. Colony had ratios of loans to deposits of 77.6% as of December 31, 2025 and 71.8% as of December 31, 2024. Management employs alternative funding sources when deposit balances will not meet loan demands. The ratios of loans to all funding sources (excluding Subordinated Debentures) at December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 were 73.0% and 71.8%, respectively. Management continues to emphasize programs to generate local core deposits as our Company’s primary funding sources. The stability of the Banks’ core deposit base is an important factor in Colony’s liquidity position. A heavy percentage of the deposit base is comprised of accounts of individuals and small businesses with comprehensive banking relationships and limited volatility. At December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Bank had $239.2 million and $185.2 million, respectively, in certificates of deposit of $250,000 or more. These larger deposits represented 7.8% and 7.2% of total deposits as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Management seeks to monitor and control the use of these larger certificates, which tend to be more volatile in nature, to ensure an adequate supply of funds as needed. Relative interest costs to attract local core relationships are compared to market rates of interest on various external deposit sources to help minimize the Company’s overall cost of funds.

The Company supplemented deposit sources with brokered deposits. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $131.9 million or 4.30% of total deposits in brokered deposits. Additional information is provided in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements regarding these brokered deposits. Additionally, the Company uses external deposit listing services to obtain out-of-market certificates of deposit at competitive interest rates when funding is needed. The deposits obtained from listing services are often referred to as wholesale or internet CDs.

To plan for contingent sources of funding not satisfied by both local and out-of-market deposit balances, Colony and its subsidiary have established multiple borrowing sources to augment their funds management. The Company has borrowing capacity through membership of the Federal Home Loan Bank program. The Bank has also established overnight borrowing for Federal Funds Purchased through various correspondent banks. Management believes the various funding sources discussed above are adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs in the future without any material adverse impact on operating results. At December 31, 2025 and 2024, we had $195.0 million and $185.0 million, respectively, of outstanding advances from the FHLB. Based on the values of loans pledged as collateral, we had $747.0 million and $578.7 million of additional borrowing availability with the FHLB at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Other sources of liquidity include overnight borrowings from the Federal Reserve Discount Window. The Company also has unencumbered investment securities which provide the ability to either be pledged as collateral with borrowing sources or sold and converted to cash.

Liquidity measures the ability to meet current and future cash flow needs as they become due. The liquidity of a financial institution reflects its ability to meet loan requests, to accommodate possible outflows in deposits and to take advantage of interest rate market opportunities. The ability of a financial institution to meet its current financial obligations is a function of balance sheet structure, the ability to liquidate assets, and the availability of alternative sources of funds. The Company seeks to ensure its funding needs are met by maintaining a level of liquid funds through asset/liability management.

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Asset liquidity is provided by liquid assets which are readily marketable or pledgeable or which will mature in the near future. Liquid assets include cash, interest-bearing deposits in banks, securities available for sale and federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements.

Liability liquidity is provided by access to funding sources which include core deposits. Should the need arise, the Company also maintains relationships with the Federal Home Loan Bank, Federal Reserve Bank, three correspondent banks and repurchase agreement lines that can provide funds on short notice.

Since Colony is a bank holding Company and does not conduct operations, its primary sources of liquidity are dividends up streamed from the subsidiary bank and borrowings from outside sources.

The liquidity position of the Company is continuously monitored and adjustments are made to the balance between sources and uses of funds as deemed appropriate. Management is not aware of any events that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, capital resources or operations. In addition, management is not aware of any regulatory recommendations regarding liquidity, which if implemented, would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

The Company’s financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). GAAP presently requires the Company to measure financial position and operating results primarily in terms of historic dollars. Changes in the relative value of money due to inflation or recession are generally not considered. The primary effect of inflation on the operations of the Company is reflected in increased operating costs, and the Company has experienced material effects of inflation during the last five fiscal years due to the government's monetary policies and the current economic climate. In management’s opinion, changes in interest rates affect the financial condition of a financial institution to a far greater degree than changes in the inflation rate. While interest rates are greatly influenced by changes in the inflation rate, they do not necessarily change at the same rate or in the same magnitude as the inflation rate. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond the control of the Company, including changes in the expected rate of inflation, the influence of general and local economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities, among other things, as further discussed in the next section.

Regulatory and Economic Policies

The Company’s business and earnings are affected by general and local economic conditions and by the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities, among other things. The Federal Reserve Board regulates the supply of money in order to influence general economic conditions. Among the instruments of monetary policy available to the Federal Reserve Board are (i) conducting open market operations in United States government obligations, (ii) changing the discount rate on financial institution borrowings, (iii) imposing or changing reserve requirements against financial institution deposits, and (iv) restricting certain borrowings and imposing or changing reserve requirements against certain borrowings by financial institutions and their affiliates. These methods are used in varying degrees and combinations to directly affect the availability of bank loans and deposits, as well as the interest rates charged on loans and paid on deposits. For that reason alone, the policies of the Federal Reserve Board have a material effect on the earnings of the Company.

Governmental policies have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future; however, the Company cannot accurately predict the nature, timing or extent of any effect such policies may have on its future business and earnings.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies included in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Market Risk and Interest Rate Sensitivity

Our financial performance is impacted by, among other factors, interest rate risk and credit risk. We utilize derivatives to help manage our interest rate risk position and mitigate exposure to the variability of future cash flows or other forecasted transactions. We mitigate our credit risk through reliance on an extensive loan review process and our allowance for credit losses.

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Interest rate risk is the change in value due to changes in interest rates. The Company is exposed only to U.S. dollar interest rate changes and, accordingly, the Company manages exposure by considering the possible changes in the net interest margin. The Company does not have any trading instruments nor does it classify any portion of its investment portfolio as held for trading. The Company has no exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk, commodity price risk and other market risks. Interest rate risk is addressed by our Risk Management Committee which includes senior management representatives. The Risk Management Committee monitors interest rate risk by analyzing the potential impact to the net portfolio of equity value and net interest income from potential changes to interest rates and considers the impact of alternative strategies or changes in balance sheet structure.

Interest rates play a major part in the net interest income of financial institutions. The repricing of interest earnings assets and interest-bearing liabilities can influence the changes in net interest income. The timing of repriced assets and liabilities is Gap management and our Company has established its policy to maintain a Gap ratio in the one-year time horizon of .80 to 1.20.

Our exposure to interest rate risk is reviewed at least quarterly by our Board of Directors and by our Risk Management Committee. Interest rate risk exposure is measured using interest rate sensitivity analysis to determine our change in net portfolio value in the event of assumed changes in interest rates. In order to reduce the exposure to interest rate fluctuations, we have implemented strategies to more closely match our balance sheet composition. The Company has engaged Stifel to run a quarterly asset/liability model for interest rate risk analysis. We are generally focusing our investment activities on securities with terms or average lives in the 3 ½ - 5 ½ year range.

Market risk reflects the risk of economic loss resulting from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. This risk of loss can be reflected in either reduced current market values or reduced current and potential net income. Colony’s most significant market risk is interest rate risk. This risk arises primarily from Colony’s extension of loans and acceptance of deposits.

Managing interest rate risk is a primary goal of the asset liability management function. Colony attempts to achieve stability in net interest income while limiting volatility arising from changes in interest rates. Colony seeks to achieve this goal by balancing the maturity and repricing characteristics of assets and liabilities. Colony manages its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates through policies established by the Risk Management Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The Risk Management Committee meets at least quarterly and has responsibility for developing asset liability management policies, reviewing the interest rate sensitivity of Colony, and developing and implementing strategies to improve balance sheet structure and interest rate risk positioning.

Colony measures the sensitivity of net interest income to changes in market interest rates through the utilization of Asset/Liability simulation modeling. On at least a quarterly basis, the following twenty-four month time period is simulated to determine a baseline net interest income forecast and the sensitivity of this forecast to changes in interest rates. These simulations include all of Colony’s earning assets and liabilities. Forecasted balance sheet changes, primarily reflecting loan and deposit growth and forecasts, are included in the periods modeled. Projected rates for loans and deposits are based on management’s outlook and local market conditions.

The magnitude and velocity of rate changes among the various asset and liability groups exhibit different characteristics for each possible interest rate scenario; additionally, customer loan and deposit preferences can vary in response to changing interest rates. Simulation modeling enables Colony to capture the expected effect of these differences. Assumptions utilized in the model are updated on an ongoing basis and are reviewed and approved by the Risk Management Committee of the Board of Directors.

Colony has modeled its baseline net interest income forecast assuming a flat interest rate environment with the federal funds rate at the Federal Reserve's targeted range of 3.50% and the prime rate of 6.75% at December 31, 2025. Colony has modeled the impact of a gradual increase in short-term rates of 100 and 200 basis points and a decline of 100 and 200 basis points to determine the sensitivity of net interest income for the next twelve months. As illustrated in the table below, the net interest income sensitivity model indicates that, compared with a net interest income forecast assuming stable rates, net interest income is projected to increase by 4.33% and 8.10% if interest rates increased by 100 and 200 basis points, respectively. Net interest income is projected to decline by 0.63% and 1.72% if interest rates decreased by 100 and 200 basis points. These changes were within Colony’s policy limit of a maximum 15% negative change.

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Twelve Month Net Interest Income Sensitivity
Estimated Change in Net Interest Income as of December 31,
Change in Short-term Interest Rates (in basis points)20252024
+2008.10%5.66%
+1004.33%3.03%
Flat—%—%
-100(0.63)%(1.80)%
-200(1.72)%(3.77)%

The measured interest rate sensitivity indicates an asset sensitive position over the next year, which could serve to improve net interest income in a rising interest rate environment. The actual realized change in net interest income would depend on several factors, some of which could serve to reduce or eliminate the asset sensitivity noted above. These factors include a higher than projected level of deposit customer migration to higher cost deposits, such as certificates of deposit, which would increase total interest expense and serve to reduce the realized level of asset sensitivity. Another factor which could impact the realized interest rate sensitivity in a rising rate environment is the repricing behavior of interest-bearing non-maturity deposits. Assumptions for repricing are expressed as a beta relative to the change in the prime rate. For instance, a 25% beta would correspond to a deposit rate that would increase 0.25% for every 1% increase in the prime rate. Projected betas for interest bearing non-maturity deposit repricing are a key component of determining the Company's interest rate risk position. Should realized betas be higher than projected betas, the expected benefit from higher interest rates would be reduced.

Colony is also subject to market risk in certain of its fee income business lines. Mortgage banking income is subject to market risk. Mortgage loan originations are sensitive to levels of mortgage interest rates and therefore, mortgage banking income could be negatively impacted during a period of rising interest rates. The extension of commitments to customers to fund mortgage loans also subjects Colony to market risk. This risk is primarily created by the time period between making the commitment and closing and delivering the loan. Colony seeks to minimize this exposure by utilizing various risk management tools, the primary of which are forward sales commitments and best efforts commitments.

MD&A history

Prior-year 10-K MD&A spans are extracted from SEC filings with the same bounded parser used for the latest filing. The latest 10-K appears above; prior years are below.

FY 2024 10-K MD&A

SEC filing source: 0000711669-25-000046.

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2025-03-14. Report date: 2024-12-31.

Item 7

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risk, uncertainties and, assumptions. Certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to those set forth under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors,” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.

The Company

Colony Bankcorp, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Fitzgerald, Georgia that provides, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Colony Bank (collectively referred to as the Company), a broad array of products and services throughout north, central, south and coastal Georgia markets, Birmingham, Alabama and Tallahassee, Florida. The Company offers commercial and consumer banking services as well as specialized solutions including mortgage, government guaranteed lending, consumer insurance, wealth management and merchant services.

Recent Developments

The Company paid dividends to its shareholders throughout 2024 and 2023 on a quarterly basis. In 2024, we had a quarterly dividend of $0.1125 per share of common stock and in 2023, we had a quarterly dividend of $0.1100 per share of common stock.

On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASC Topic 326 which replaced the incurred loss approach for measuring credit losses with an expected loss model, referred to the current expected credit loss ("CECL") model. CECL applies to financial assets subject to credit losses and measured at amortized cost and certain off-balance-sheet credit exposures, which include, but are not limited to, loans, leases, held-to-maturity securities, loan commitments and financial guarantees. The adoption of this guidance resulted in a decrease of the allowance for credit losses on loans of $53,000, the creation of an allowance for unfunded commitments of $1.7 million and a reduction of retained earnings of $1.2 million, net of the increase in deferred tax assets of $410,000 as of December 31, 2023.

Going forward, the impact of utilizing the CECL approach to calculate the allowance for credit losses will be significantly influenced by the composition, characteristics and quality of our loan portfolio, as well as the prevailing economic conditions and forecasts utilized. Material changes to these and other relevant factors may result in greater volatility to the provision for credit losses, and therefore, greater volatility to our reported earnings. See Notes 1 and 4, included elsewhere in this Form 10-K, for additional information on the allowance for credit losses and the allowance for unfunded commitments.

In June 2023 and August, September and October 2024, the Company entered into a total of five derivative instruments, specifically interest rate swaps, to help manage its interest rate risk position and mitigate exposure to the variability of future cash flows or other forecasted transactions. Three of the interest rate swaps are designated as cash flow hedges of certain variable rate liabilities and two are designated as fair value hedges of certain fixed rate assets. Gains and losses are recorded on the swap transactions as a component of interest expense in the consolidated statements of income. Amounts reported in accumulated OCI related to swaps are reclassified to interest income or expense as interest payments are made on the Bank's fixed rate assets and variable rate liabilities. For additional discussion of the Company's derivative instruments, see "Note 10 - Derivatives".

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Reconciliation and Management Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Our accounting and reporting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, certain non-GAAP measures are used by management to supplement the evaluation of our performance. These include the fully-taxable equivalent measures: tax-equivalent net interest income, tax-equivalent net interest margin and tax-equivalent net interest spread, which include the effects of taxable-equivalent adjustments using a statutory federal income tax rate of 21% to increase tax-exempt interest income to a tax-equivalent basis for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.  Tax-equivalent adjustments are reported to the Average Balances with Average Yields and Rates table under Rate/Volume Analysis in the tables that follow. Management believes that non-GAAP financial measures provide additional useful information that allows investors to evaluate the ongoing performance of the company and provide meaningful comparisons to its peers. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures also enhance investors' ability to compare period-to-period financial results and allow investors and company management to view our operating results excluding the impact of items that are not reflective of the underlying operating performance.

Tax-equivalent net interest income, net interest margin and net interest spread.

Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis is a non-GAAP measure that adjusts for the tax-favored status of net interest income from loans and investments. We believe this measure to be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income and it enhances comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest income. Net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis is net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis divided by average interest-earning assets on a tax-equivalent basis. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest margin. Net interest spread on a tax-equivalent basis is the difference in the average yield on average interest-earning assets on a tax equivalent basis and the average rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest spread.

These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered alternatives to GAAP-basis financial statements, and other bank holding companies may define or calculate these non-GAAP measures or similar measures differently.

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A reconciliation of these performance measures to GAAP performance measures is included in the tables below.

Non-GAAP Performance Measures Reconciliation

Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)20242023
Operating noninterest income reconciliation
Noninterest income (GAAP)$39,375$35,634
Gain on sales of bank premises(361)
Writedown of bank premises197
Loss on sales of securities1,835
Operating noninterest income$41,407$35,273
Operating noninterest expense reconciliation
Noninterest expense (GAAP)$82,834$83,065
Severance costs(288)(1,286)
Acquisition-related expenses(161)
Operating noninterest expense$82,546$81,618
Operating net income reconciliation
Net income (GAAP)$23,868$21,747
Severance costs2881,286
Acquisition-related expenses161
Gain on sales of bank premises(361)
Writedown of bank premises197
Loss on sales of securities1,835
Income tax benefit(470)(196)
Operating net income$25,718$22,637
Weighted average diluted shares17,557,74317,578,294
Adjusted earnings per diluted share$1.46$1.29
Operating return on average assets reconciliation
Return on average assets (GAAP)0.78%0.72%
Severance costs0.010.04
Acquisition-related expenses0.01
Gain on sales of bank premises(0.01)
Writedown of bank premises0.01
Loss on sales of securities0.06
Tax effect of adjustment items(0.02)(0.01)
Operating return on average assets0.84%0.75%
Operating return on average equity reconciliation
Return on average equity (GAAP)9.00%9.10%
Severance costs0.110.54
Acquisition-related expenses0.07
Gain on sales of bank premises(0.15)
Writedown of bank premises0.07
Loss on sales of securities0.69
Tax effect of adjustment items(0.18)(0.08)
Operating return on average equity9.69%9.48%
Tangible book value per common share reconciliation
Book value per common share (GAAP)$15.91$14.51
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles(2.96)(3.02)
Tangible book value per common share$12.95$11.49
Tangible equity to tangible assets reconciliation
Equity to assets (GAAP)8.96%8.35%
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles(1.54)(1.62)
Tangible equity to tangible assets7.42%6.73%

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Operating efficiency ratio calculation
Efficiency ratio (GAAP)71.75%72.94%
Severance costs(0.25)(1.13)
Acquisition-related expenses(0.14)
Gain on sales of bank premises0.32
Writedown of bank premises(0.17)
Loss on sales of securities(1.56)
Operating efficiency ratio69.77%71.99%
Operating net noninterest expense(1) to average assets calculation
Net noninterest expense to average assets1.43%1.57%
Severance costs(0.01)(0.04)
Acquisition-related expenses(0.01)
Gain on sales of bank premises0.01
Writedown of bank premises(0.01)%%
Loss on sales of securities(0.06)%%
Operating net noninterest expense to average assets1.35%1.53%
Pre-provision net revenue
Net interest income before provision for credit losses$76,076$78,244
Noninterest income39,37535,634
Total income115,451113,878
Noninterest expense82,83483,065
Pre-provision net revenue$32,617$30,813
(1) Net noninterest expense is defined as noninterest expense less noninterest income.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The consolidated financial statements of Colony are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and follow general practices within the industry in which it operates. This preparation requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates, assumptions and judgments are based on information available as of the date of the consolidated financial statements; accordingly, as this information changes, actual results could differ from the estimates, assumptions and judgments reflected in the consolidated financial statements. Certain policies inherently have a greater reliance on the use of estimates, assumptions and judgments and, as such, have a greater possibility of producing results that could be materially different than originally reported. Estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change include the valuation of loan acquisition transactions, as well as the determination of the allowance for credit losses and income taxes and, therefore, are critical accounting policies. In addition to the discussion that follows, the accounting policies related to these estimates are further described in Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, under Part II, Item 8.

Reserve for Credit Losses

A consequence of lending activities is that we may incur credit losses. The amount of such losses will vary depending upon the risk characteristics of the loan lease portfolio as affected by economic conditions such as rising interest rates and the financial performance of the borrower.

The reserve for credit losses consists of the allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) and the allowance for unfunded commitments. As a result of our January 1, 2023 adoption of ASU No. 2016-13, and its related amendments, our methodology for estimating the reserve for credit losses changed significantly from prior years. The standard replaced the “incurred loss” approach with an “expected loss” approach known as the Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”). The CECL approach requires an estimate of the credit losses expected over the life of an exposure (or pool of exposures). It removes the incurred loss approach’s threshold that delayed the recognition of a credit loss until it was “probable” a loss event was “incurred.”

The estimate of expected credit losses under the CECL approach is based on relevant information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amounts. Historical loss experience is generally the starting point for estimating expected credit losses. We then consider whether the historical loss

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experience should be adjusted for asset-specific risk characteristics or current conditions at the reporting date that did not exist over the period from which historical experience was used. Finally, we consider forecasts about future economic conditions that are reasonable and supportable. The allowance for unfunded commitments represents the expected credit losses on off-balance sheet commitments such as unfunded commitments to extend credit. This allowance is estimated by loan segment at each balance sheet date under the CECL model using the same methodologies as portfolio loans, taking into consideration the likelihood that funding will occur.

Management’s evaluation of the appropriateness of the reserve for credit losses is often the most critical of accounting estimates for a financial institution. Our determination of the amount of the reserve for credit losses is a critical accounting estimate as it requires significant reliance on the credit risk rating we assign to individual borrowers, the use of estimates and significant judgment as to the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, reliance on historical loss rates on homogenous portfolios, consideration of our quantitative and qualitative evaluation of economic factors, and the reliance on our reasonable and supportable forecasts. The reserve for credit losses attributable to each portfolio segment also includes an amount for inherent risks not reflected in the historical analyses. Relevant factors include, but are not limited to, concentrations of credit risk (geographic, large borrower, and industry), local/regional economic trends and conditions, changes in underwriting standards, changes in collateral values, experience and depth of lending staff, trends in delinquencies, and the volume and terms of loans.

Income Taxes

The assessment of income tax assets and liabilities involves the use of estimates, assumptions, interpretation, and judgment concerning certain accounting pronouncements and federal and state tax codes. There can be no assurance that future events, such as court decisions or positions of federal and state taxing authorities, will not differ from management’s current assessment, the impact of which could be significant to the consolidated results of operations and reported earnings.

Colony files a consolidated federal income tax return and a combined state income tax return (both of which include Colony and its wholly owned subsidiaries). Accordingly, amounts equal to tax benefits of those companies having taxable federal losses or credits are reimbursed by the companies that incur federal tax liabilities. Amounts provided for income tax expense are based on income reported for financial statement purposes and do not necessarily represent amounts currently payable under tax laws. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed quarterly for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted tax law rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through provision for income tax expense. Valuation allowances are established when it is more likely than not that a portion of the full amount of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets, management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies. Colony may also recognize a liability for unrecognized tax benefits from uncertainty in income taxes. Unrecognized tax benefits represent the differences between a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the benefit recognized and measured in the financial statements. Penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are classified as income tax expense.

Overview

The following discussion and analysis present the more significant factors affecting the Company’s financial condition as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and results of operations for each of the two year-periods ended December 31, 2024. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements, notes thereto and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this report.

Taxable-equivalent adjustments are the result of increasing income from tax-free loans and investments by an amount equal to the taxes that would be paid if the income were fully taxable based on a 21% federal tax rate for 2024 and 2023, thus making tax-exempt yields comparable to taxable asset yields.

Dollar amounts in tables are stated in thousands, except for per share amounts.

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Results of Operations

The Company’s results of operations are determined by its ability to effectively manage interest income and expense, to minimize loan and investment losses, to generate noninterest income and to control noninterest expense. Since market forces and economic conditions beyond the control of the Company determine interest rates, the ability to generate net interest income is dependent upon the Company’s ability to obtain an adequate spread between the rate earned on interest-earning assets and the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. Thus, the key performance for net interest income is the interest margin or net yield, which is taxable-equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. Net income available to common shareholders totaled $23.9 million, or $1.36 per diluted shares in 2024, compared to $21.7 million, or $1.24 per diluted shares in 2023.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income is the difference between interest income on earning assets, such as loans and securities, and interest expense on liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings, which are used to fund those assets. Net interest income is the Company’s largest component of income, representing 65.9% of total income during 2024 and 68.7% of total income during 2023.

Net interest margin is the taxable-equivalent net interest income as a percentage of average interest-earning assets for the period. The level of interest rates and the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities impact net interest income and net interest margin.

The Company’s loan portfolio is significantly affected by changes in the prime interest rate. The prime interest rate, which is the rate offered on loans to borrowers with strong credit, was 7.50% as of December 31, 2024 and 8.50% as of December 31, 2023. The Federal Reserve Board sets general market rates of interest, including the deposit and loan rates offered by many financial institutions. During 2024, the prime interest rate decreased 1.00%.  During 2023, the prime interest rate increased 1.00%.

The following table presents the changes in taxable-equivalent net interest income and identifies the changes due to differences in the average volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the changes due to changes in the average interest rate on those assets and liabilities. The changes in net interest income due to changes in both average volume and average interest rate have been allocated to the average volume change or the average interest rate change in proportion to the absolute amounts of the change in each. The Company’s consolidated average balance sheets along with an analysis of taxable-equivalent net interest earnings are presented in the Rate/Volume Analysis.

Rate/Volume Analysis

The rate/volume analysis presented hereafter illustrates the change from year to year for each component of the taxable equivalent net interest income separated into the amount generated through volume changes and the amount generated by changes in the yields/rates.

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Changes from 2023 to 2024 (a)
(dollars in thousands)VolumeRateTotal
Interest income
Loans, net of unearned fees$2,708$9,724$12,432
Investment securities, taxable(1,382)(736)(2,118)
Investment securities, exempt(149)(137)(286)
Deposits in banks and short-term investments1,5636882,251
Total interest income2,7409,53912,279
Interest expense
Interest-bearing demand and savings deposits84410,61611,460
Time deposits(507)3,5893,082
Federal funds purchased(147)(147)
FHLB advances668(220)448
Other borrowings(463)112(351)
Total interest expense39514,09714,492
Net interest income$2,345$(4,558)$(2,213)

(a)Changes in net interest income for the periods, based on either changes in average balances or changes in average rates for interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, are shown on this table. During each year there are numerous and simultaneous balance and rate changes; therefore, it is not possible to precisely allocate the changes between balances and rates. For the purpose of this table, changes that are not exclusively due to balance changes or rate changes have been attributed to rates.

The Company maintains about 21.74% of its loan portfolio in adjustable rate loans that reprice with prime rate changes, while a little over half of its other loans mature within 5 years. The liabilities to fund assets are primarily in non-maturing core deposits and short-term certificates of deposit that mature within one year. During 2024, Federal Reserve rates decreased 100 basis points. During 2023, Federal Reserve rates increased 100 basis points. We have seen the net interest margin decrease to 2.72% for 2024, compared to 2.83% for 2023 primarily due to the rates on interest bearing liabilities continuing to outpace the rates on interest earning assets.

Taxable-equivalent net interest income for 2024 decreased by $2.2 million or 2.8%, compared to 2023, primarily due to increases in loan volume and rates, offset by increases in deposit rates and increases in borrowings to fund loan growth. The average volume of interest-earning assets during 2024 increased $36.8 million compared to 2023, primarily related to increases in loans and deposits in banks and short-term investments. The total yield on interest-earning assets increased year over year with increases in loan and deposits in banks and short-term investments volume, partially offset by decreases in investment securities balances along with increased rates on loan and deposits in banks.

The average volume of loans increased $50.3 million in 2024 compared to 2023, which primarily reflects organic loan growth in the first half of 2024. The average yield on loans increased by 51 basis points in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to the increased loan volume in addition to the previous year's increase in rates. The average volume of interest-bearing deposits increased $58.1 million in 2024 compared to 2023. Average savings and interest-bearing demand deposits increased $74.1 million offset by a decrease in average time deposits of $16.0 million in 2024 compared to 2023.

Accordingly, the ratio of average interest-bearing deposits to total average deposits was 81.81% in 2024 and 79.47% in 2023. For 2024, this deposit mix, combined with an increase in interest rates, had the effect of increasing the average cost of total deposits by 66 basis points in 2024 compared to 2023. This was partially offset by a decrease of 13 basis points in other interest-bearing liabilities in 2024 compared to 2023 due to 2024 borrowings being at lower interest rates.

The Company’s net interest spread, which represents the difference between the average rate earned on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, decreased to 2.23% in 2024 from 2.42% in 2023 and was also a result of deposit rate increases and an increase in borrowings, partially offset by increases in loan volume and rates. The net interest spread, as well as the net interest margin, will be impacted by future changes in short-term and long-term interest rate levels, as well as the impact from the competitive environment. A discussion of the effects of changing interest rates on net interest income is set forth in "Market Risk and Interest Rate Sensitivity" included elsewhere in this report.

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AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS

20242023
AverageIncome/Yields/AverageIncome/Yields/
(dollars in thousands)BalancesExpenseRatesBalancesExpenseRates
Assets
Loans, net of unearned fees (1)$1,900,386$111,9045.89%$1,850,043$99,4725.38%
Investment securities, taxable720,98619,2702.67770,70721,3882.78
Investment securities, tax-exempt (2)99,3502,1582.17105,7972,4442.31
Deposits in banks and short-term investments106,3814,5924.3263,8062,3413.67
Total interest-earning assets2,827,103137,9244.88%2,790,353125,6454.50%
Total noninterest-earning assets221,607226,198
Total assets$3,048,710$3,016,551
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Savings and interest-bearing demand deposits$1,464,31527,2931.86%$1,390,24715,8331.14%
Time deposits603,08022,7143.77619,08319,6323.17
Total interest-bearing deposits2,067,39550,0072.422,009,33035,4651.76
Federal funds purchased45.942,7831475.29
FHLB advances176,4217,2114.09160,5486,7634.21
Other borrowings63,1863,9476.2570,8074,2986.07
Total other interest-bearing liabilities239,61111,1584.66234,13811,2084.79
Total interest-bearing liabilities2,307,00661,1652.65%2,243,46846,6732.08%
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits459,822519,225
Other liabilities16,60714,947
Stockholders' equity265,275238,911
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$3,048,710$3,016,551
Interest rate spread2.23%2.42%
Net interest income$76,759$78,972
Net interest margin2.72%2.83%

(1)The average balance of loans includes the average balance of nonaccrual loans. Income on such loans is recognized and recorded on the cash basis. Taxable-equivalent adjustments totaling $229,000 and $216,000 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, are calculated using the statutory federal tax rate and are included in income and fees on loans. Accretion income of $47,000 and $165,000 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are also included in income and fees on loans.

(2)Taxable-equivalent adjustments totaling $453,000 and $513,000 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, are calculated using the statutory federal tax rate and are included in tax-exempt interest on investment securities.

Provision for Credit Losses

Provision for credit losses totaled $3.1 million in 2024 compared to $3.6 million in 2023. The amount of provision expense recorded in each period was the amount required such that the total allowance for credit losses reflected the appropriate balance, in the estimation of management, sufficient to cover expected credit losses over the expected life of a loan exposure and unfunded commitments where the likelihood is that funding will occur. The provision for credit losses for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 includes $3.6 million and $3.9 million, respectively, in credit losses on loans and $562,000 and $286,000, respectively, in release of credit losses on unfunded commitments. See the section captioned “Allowance for Credit Losses” elsewhere in this discussion for further analysis of the provision for credit losses. The decrease in provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023 is related to the change in our loan balances year over year. See the sections captioned “Loans" and "Allowance for Credit Losses” elsewhere in this discussion for further analysis of the provision for credit losses. Net charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $3.0 million compared to $1.6 million for the same period in 2023. As of December 31, 2024, Colony’s allowance for credit losses was $19.0 million, or 1.03% of total loans, compared to $18.4 million, or 0.98% of total loans, at December 31, 2023. At December 31, 2024 and 2023,

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nonperforming assets were $11.3 million and $10.7 million, or 0.36% and 0.35% of total assets, respectively, with credit quality in the overall loan portfolio remaining strong.

Noninterest Income

The components of noninterest income were as follows:

$%
(dollars in thousands)20242023VarianceVariance
Service charges on deposit accounts$9,365$8,735$6307.21%
Mortgage fee income6,0486,131(83)(1.35)
Gain on sales of SBA loans9,2425,0634,17982.55
Loss on sales of securities(1,835)(1,835)
Interchange fees8,2998,460(161)(1.91)
BOLI income1,7251,39632923.58
Insurance commissions1,7891,873(84)(4.48)
Other4,7423,97676619.28
Total$39,375$35,634$3,74110.50%

Noninterest income in 2024 increased $3.7 million, or 10.50% from 2023. The Company's increases were primarily seen in service charges on deposit accounts, gains on sales of SBA loans, BOLI income and other noninterest income, which included increases in equity investment income and income on wealth advisory and merchant services. These increases were offset by losses on sales of investment securities and decreases in mortgage fee income, interchange fees and insurance commissions. The increase in service charges on deposit accounts can be attributed to our ability to continue to grow deposits, particularly lower cost transactional deposit accounts despite the challenging rate environment. The increase of $4.2 million in gain on sales of SBA loans is due to the sale of 451 loans in 2024 compared to 81 loans in 2023. The increase of $766,000 in other noninterest income was attributable to equity investment market valuation gains of $270,000 in 2024 compared to $156,000 in 2023, an increase of $235,000 in wealth advisory and merchant services along with increases in SBA servicing and other related fee income of $671,000, offset by a decrease in sales of assets of $446,000. The decrease in mortgage fee income was a result of lower mortgage production year over year and interchange fees decreased due to fluctuations in the buying habits of consumers. Investment securities were sold in 2024 for the purpose of restructuring underperforming assets in order to reinvest at higher yields and resulted in losses of $1.8 million. There were no sales of investment securities in 2023.

Noninterest Expense

The components of noninterest expense were as follows:

$%
(dollars in thousands)20242023VarianceVariance
Salaries and employee benefits$49,767$49,233$5341.09%
Occupancy and equipment6,1496,283(134)(2.13)
Information technology8,9788,5534254.97
Professional Fees2,8253,097(272)(8.77)
Advertising and public relations4,0093,48652315.01
Communications865947(82)(8.64)
Other10,24111,466(1,225)(10.69)
Total$82,834$83,065$(231)(0.28)%

Noninterest expense in 2024 decreased slightly by $231,000, or 0.28% from 2023. The Company's decreases were seen in occupancy and equipment, professional fees, communications and other noninterest expense. These decreases were offset by increases in salaries and employee benefits, information technology, and advertising and public relations. The decrease in occupancy and equipment expenses can be seen in decreases in repair and maintenance expense as well as rental and lease expenses. The decrease in professional fees is the result of lower accounting, legal and consulting fees in 2024 compared to 2023. The decrease in other noninterest expense of $1.2 million is the result of decreases in the FDIC assessment, amortization of intangibles, stationery and supplies and other deposit related losses. An increase was seen in salaries and employee benefits which was primarily attributable to increased bonus and commission expenses. The increase in information technology expense

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was related to increased software expenses and advertising and public relations saw increases in advertising and contribution expenses during 2024.

Sources and Uses of Funds

The following table illustrates, during the years presented, the mix of the Company’s funding sources and the assets in which those funds are invested as a percentage of the Company’s average total assets for the period indicated. Average assets totaled $3.05 billion in 2024 compared to $3.02 billion in 2023.

(dollars in thousands)20242023
Sources of Funds:
Noninterest-bearing deposits$459,82215.08%$519,22517.21%
Interest-bearing deposits2,067,39567.812,009,33066.61
FHLB advances176,4215.79160,5485.32
Federal funds purchased40.002,7830.09
Other borrowings63,1862.0770,8072.35
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities16,6070.5514,9470.50
Equity capital265,2758.70238,9117.92
Total$3,048,710100.00%$3,016,551100.00%
Uses of Funds:
Loans held for sale and loans$1,900,38662.34%$1,850,04361.33%
Investment securities820,33626.90876,50429.05
Deposits in banks and short term investments106,3813.4963,8062.12
Other noninterest-bearing assets221,6077.27226,1987.50
Total$3,048,710100.00%$3,016,551100.00%

Deposits continue to be the Company’s primary source of funding. Over the comparable periods, interest-bearing deposits continues to be the largest component of the Company's mix of deposits. Average interest-bearing deposits totaled 81.8% in 2024 compared to 79.5% of total average deposits in 2023.

The Company primarily invests funds in loans and securities. Loans continue to be the largest component of the Company’s mix of invested assets.

Loans

The following table presents the composition of the Company’s loan portfolio as of December 31 for the past five years.

(dollars in thousands)December 31, 2024December 31, 2023December 31, 2022December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Construction, land & land development$205,046$247,146$229,435$165,446$121,093
Other commercial real estate990,648974,375975,447787,392520,391
Total commercial real estate1,195,6941,221,5211,204,882952,838641,484
Residential real estate344,167356,234290,054212,527183,021
Commercial, financial & agricultural213,910242,756223,923154,048213,380
Consumer and other89,20962,95918,24718,56421,618
Total loans, net of unearned fees1,842,9801,883,4701,737,1061,337,9771,059,503
Allowance for credit losses on loans(18,980)(18,371)(16,128)(12,910)(12,127)
Loans, net$1,824,000$1,865,099$1,720,978$1,325,067$1,047,376

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Maturity and Repricing Opportunity

The following table presents total loans as of December 31, 2024 according to maturity distribution and/or repricing opportunity on adjustable rate loans.

(dollars in thousands)One year or lessAfter one year through five yearsAfter five years through fifteen yearsAfter fifteen yearsTotal
Construction, land & land development$128,831$54,123$17,486$4,606$205,046
Other commercial real estate158,819504,847324,1562,826990,648
Total commercial real estate287,650558,970341,6427,4321,195,694
Residential real estate48,73495,137130,20870,088344,167
Commercial, financial & agricultural97,14983,54223,12710,092213,910
Consumer and other5,74935,61323,07524,77289,209
Total loans, net of unearned fees439,282773,262518,052112,3841,842,980

Overview. Loans totaled $1.8 billion at December 31, 2024, a decrease of 2.1% from $1.9 billion at December 31, 2023. The majority of the Company’s loan portfolio is comprised of real estate loans. Commercial and residential real estate which is primarily 1-4 family residential properties, nonfarm nonresidential properties and real estate construction loans made up 83.6% and 83.8% of total loans at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Commercial, financial and agriculture loans represents 11.6% of the loans at December 31, 2024 and 2023. Consumer and other loans increased to 4.8% of total loans at December 31, 2024 from 3.3% at December 31, 2023.

Loan origination/risk management. In accordance with the Company’s decentralized banking model, loan decisions are made at the local bank level. The Company utilizes both an Executive Loan Committee and a Director Loan Committee to assist lenders with the decision making and underwriting process of larger loan requests. Due to the diverse economic markets served by the Company, evaluation and underwriting criterion may vary slightly by market. Overall, loans are extended after a review of the borrower’s repayment ability, collateral adequacy, and overall credit worthiness.

Commercial purpose, commercial real estate, and agricultural loans are underwritten similarly to how other loans are underwritten throughout the Company. The properties securing the Company’s commercial real estate portfolio are diverse in terms of type and geographic location. In addition, the Company restricts any single loan to a $20 million transaction amount, unless approved by the Director Loan Committee ("DLC"). This diversity helps reduce the Company’s exposure to adverse economic events that affect any single market or industry. Management monitors and evaluates commercial real estate loans monthly based on collateral, geography, and risk grade criteria. The Company also utilizes information provided by third-party agencies to provide additional insight and guidance about economic conditions and trends affecting the markets it serves.

The Company extends loans to builders and developers that are secured by non-owner occupied properties. In such cases, the Company reviews the overall economic conditions and trends for each market to determine the desirability of loans to be extended for residential construction and development. Sources of repayment for these types of loans may be pre-committed permanent loans from approved long-term lenders, sales of developed property or an interim mini-perm loan commitment from the Company until permanent financing is obtained. In some cases, loans are extended for residential loan construction for speculative purposes and are based on the perceived present and future demand for housing in a particular market served by the Company. These loans are monitored by on-site inspections and are considered to have higher risks than other real estate loans due to their ultimate repayment being sensitive to interest rate changes, general economic conditions and trends, the demand for the properties, and the availability of long-term financing.

The Company originates consumer loans at the bank level. Due to the diverse economic markets served by the Company, underwriting criterion may vary slightly by market. The Company is committed to serving the borrowing needs of all markets served and, in some cases, adjusts certain evaluation methods to meet the overall credit demographics of each market. Consumer loans represent relatively small loan amounts that are spread across many individual borrowers to help minimize risk. Additionally, consumer trends and outlook reports are reviewed by management on a regular basis.

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The Company utilizes an independent third-party company for loan review and validation of the credit risk program on an ongoing quarterly basis. Results of these reviews are presented to management and the audit committee. The loan review process complements and reinforces the risk identification and assessment decisions made by lenders and credit personnel, as well as the Company’s policies and procedures.

For additional discussion of our loan portfolio and deposit accounts, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Loans" and "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Deposits.”

Commercial, financial & agricultural. Commercial, financial and agricultural loans at December 31, 2024 decreased by $28.8 million, or 11.9% to $213.9 million from December 31, 2023 at $242.8 million. This decrease was related to loan payoffs during 2024 of a small number of larger commercial and industrial loans. The Company’s commercial, financial and agricultural loans are a diverse group of loans to small, medium and large businesses. The purpose of these loans varies from supporting seasonal working capital needs to term financing of equipment. These agricultural lines typically reduce in size at year end as crops are sold. While some short-term loans may be made on an unsecured basis, most are secured by the assets being financed with collateral margins that are consistent with the Company’s loan policy guidelines.

Construction, land & land development.  Construction, land and land development loans decreased by $42.1 million, or 17.0%, at December 31, 2024 to $205.0 million from $247.1 million at December 31, 2023. This decrease was partially due to interest rates remaining at higher levels throughout the first nine months of 2024 resulting in a decrease in consumer residential construction loans.

Other commercial real estate. Other commercial real estate loans increased by $16.3 million, or 1.7%, at December 31, 2024 to $990.6 million from $974.4 million at December 31, 2023. This increase was primarily attributable to increases in owner occupied commercial real estate and farmland loans partially offset by decreases in non-owner occupied commercial real estate and multifamily loans. Also, the increase was impacted by the current lending environment, rate environment, and the Company's lending appetite. At December 31, 2024, the Company's other commercial real estate loans were comprised of 58.7% of non-owner occupied loans and 41.3% of owner occupied loans.

The Company's non-owner occupied portfolio is well diversified as can be seen in the table below as of December 31, 2024.

(dollars in thousands)December 31, 2024
Multifamily$70,437
Hotel/Motel51,887
Retail154,418
Office76,391
Industrial & Warehouse70,669
Other Specialty142,707
Government guaranteed SBSL15,155
Total$581,664

Residential Real Estate Loans. Residential real estate loans decreased by $12.1 million or 3.4%, at December 31, 2024 to $344.2 million from $356.2 million at December 31, 2023. This decrease was attributable to a decline in portfolio 1-4 family residential real estate loans. Residential real estate loans consist of revolving, open-end and closed-end loans as well as those secured by closed-end first and junior liens.

Consumer and other. Consumer and other loans include loans to individuals for personal and household purposes, including secured and unsecured installment loans and revolving lines of credit. Consumer and other loans at December 31, 2024 increased $26.3 million or 41.7% to $89.2 million from $63.0 million at December 31, 2023. This increase was primarily attributable to increases in the Company's marine and RV lending division as well as an increase in Upstart loans, consumer loans to individuals with no or limited credit history.

Industry concentrations. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had one industry, identified as Lessors of Non-Residential real estate, where the concentrations of loans was in excess of 10% of total loans, as segregated by Standard Industrial Classification code (“SIC code”). The SIC code is a federally designed standard industrial numbering system used by the Company to categorize loans by the borrower’s type of business. The Company has established industry-specific guidelines with respect to maximum loans permitted for each industry with which the Company does business.

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Collateral concentrations. Concentrations of credit risk can exist in relation to individual borrowers or groups of borrowers, certain types of collateral, certain types of industries, or certain geographic regions. The Company has a concentration in real estate loans as well as a geographic concentration that could pose an adverse credit risk. At December 31, 2024, approximately 83.6% of the Company’s loan portfolio was concentrated in loans secured by real estate. A substantial portion of borrowers’ ability to honor their contractual obligations is dependent upon the viability of the real estate economic sector. In addition, a large portion of the Company’s foreclosed assets are also located in these same geographic markets, making the recovery of the carrying amount of foreclosed assets susceptible to changes in market conditions. Management continues to monitor these concentrations and has considered these concentrations in its allowance for credit loss analysis. In recent years, we have seen real estate values stabilizing in our markets. The stabilization of rates has resulted in a decrease in the number of loans being classified as impaired over the past several years.

Large credit relationships. The Company currently operates 34 locations in north, central, south and coastal Georgia and also expanded its presence in 2023 into Birmingham, Alabama as well as Tallahassee and the Florida panhandle. As a result, the Company originates and maintains large credit relationships with several commercial customers in the ordinary course of business. The required approval of loans (new or renewal) is based on the total credit exposure of a borrower, the type of loan, combined with whether or not there are any material policy exceptions on the loan. For non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans, the DLC approves loans $18 million or greater with material exceptions and loans $26 million or greater without exceptions. For other loans that are not commercial real estate, the DLC approves loans $21 million or greater with material exceptions and loans $30 million or greater with no exceptions. At December 31, 2024, our largest 20 relationships consisted of loans and loan commitments, where the total committed balance was $304.5 million with $286.1 million outstanding. At December 31, 2023, our largest 20 relationships had total committed balance of $354.1 million with $266.7 million outstanding.

Maturities and sensitivities of loans to changes in interest rates. The following table presents the maturity distribution of the Company’s loans at December 31, 2024. The table also presents the portion of loans that have fixed interest rates or variable interest rates that fluctuate over the life of the loans in accordance with changes in an interest rate index such as the prime rate.

(dollars in thousands)Due in One Year or LessAfter One, but within Five YearsAfter FiveYears, but within Fifteen YearsAfter Fifteen YearsTotal
Loans with fixed interest rates:
Construction, land & land development$104,641$47,151$14,229$4,606$170,627
Other commercial real estate76,890480,200315,2392,826875,155
Total commercial real estate181,531527,351329,4687,4321,045,782
Residential real estate8,10758,15926,42570,070162,761
Commercial, financial & agricultural39,92371,80623,12710,092144,948
Consumer and other5,31535,59423,07524,77288,756
Total loans with fixed interest rates, net of unearned fees234,876692,910402,095112,3661,442,247
Loans with floating interest rates:
Construction, land & land development24,1906,9723,25734,419
Other commercial real estate81,92924,6478,917115,493
Total commercial real estate106,11931,61912,174149,912
Residential real estate40,62736,978103,78318181,406
Commercial, financial & agricultural57,22611,73668,962
Consumer and other43419453
Total loans with floating interest rates, net of unearned fees204,40680,352115,95718400,733
Total loans, net of unearned fees$439,282$773,262$518,052$112,384$1,842,980

The Company may renew loans at maturity when requested by a customer whose financial strength appears to support such renewal or when such renewal appears to be in the Company’s best interest. In such instances, the Company generally requires

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payment of accrued interest and may adjust the rate of interest, require a principal reduction or modify other terms of the loan at the time of renewal.

Nonperforming Assets and Potential Problem Loans

Asset quality experienced a slight decrease during the year ended December 31, 2024. Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, accruing loans contractually past due 90 days or more, repossessed personal property and other real estate owned ("OREO"). Nonaccrual loans totaled $10.7 million at December 31, 2024, an increase of $821,000, or 8.3%, from $9.8 million at December 31, 2023. There were six loans contractually past due 90 days or more and still accruing totaling $152,000 at December 31, 2024 and two loans totaling $370,000 at December 31, 2023. At December 31, 2024, OREO totaled $202,000, a decrease of $246,000, or 54.9%, compared with $448,000 at December 31, 2023. The change in OREO is primarily the result of five properties added to other real estate totaling $1.2 million offset by $1.4 million from the sale of six OREO properties. At the end of the year ended December 31, 2024, total nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets increased to 0.36% compared with 0.35% at December 31, 2023. The increase in nonperforming assets was primarily the result of increases in commercial, financial & agricultural loans as well as SBSL government guaranteed loans in various call codes, partially offset by repayments, payoffs and charged off loans.

Year-end nonperforming assets and accruing past due loans were as follows:

(dollars in thousands)202420232022
Loans accounted for on nonaccrual$10,660$9,839$5,706
Loans accruing past due 90 days or more152370
Other real estate foreclosed202448651
Repossessed assets328
Total nonperforming assets$11,342$10,657$6,357
Nonperforming loans by segment
Construction, land & land development$$85$149
Other commercial real estate4,8334,2191,509
Residential real estate1,2043,9112,686
Commercial, financial & agricultural4,5591,9561,341
Consumer and other2163821
Total nonperforming loans$10,812$10,209$5,706
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of:
Total loans, other real estate and foreclosed assets0.62%0.57%0.37%
Total assets0.36%0.35%0.22%
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of:
Total loans0.59%0.55%0.33%
Supplemental data:
Accruing past due loans:
30-89 days past due$8,361$6,069$1,793
90 or more days past due152370
Total accruing past due loans$8,513$6,439$1,793
Allowance for credit losses$18,980$18,371$16,128
Allowance for credit losses as a percentage of:
Total loans1.03%0.98%0.93%
Nonperforming loans175.55179.95282.65

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Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, loans past due 90 days or more, foreclosed real estate, repossessed assets and nonaccrual securities. Nonperforming assets at December 31, 2024 increased 6.4% from December 31, 2023, as a result of the increase in nonaccrual loans and repossessed assets, offset by decreases in loans accruing past due 90 days or more and other real estate owned property.

Generally, loans are placed on nonaccrual status if principal or interest payments become 90 days past due and/or management deems the collectability of the principal and/or interest to be in question, as well as when required by regulatory requirements. Loans to a customer whose financial condition has deteriorated are considered for nonaccrual status whether or not the loan is 90 days or more past due. For consumer loans, collectability and loss are generally determined before the loan reaches 90 days past due. Accordingly, losses on consumer loans are recorded at the time they are determined. Consumer loans that are 90 days or more past due are generally either in liquidation/payment status or bankruptcy awaiting confirmation of a plan. Once interest accruals are discontinued, accrued but uncollected interest is charged to current year operations. Subsequent receipts on nonaccrual loans are recorded as a reduction of principal, and interest income is recorded only after principal recovery is reasonably assured. Classification of a loan as nonaccrual does not preclude the ultimate collection of loan principal or interest.

The Company had nine loans modified due to financial difficulty during the year ended December 31, 2024. See Note 3. Loans, for additional details on loan modifications.

Foreclosed assets represent property acquired as the result of borrower defaults on loans. Foreclosed assets are recorded at estimated fair value, less estimated selling costs, at the time of foreclosure. Write-downs occurring at foreclosure are charged against the allowance for credit losses. On an ongoing basis, properties are appraised as required by market indications and applicable regulations. Write-downs are provided for subsequent declines in value and are included in other non-interest expense along with other expenses related to maintaining the properties.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The allowance for credit losses for loans is a reserve established through charges to earnings in the form of a provision for credit losses. The provision for credit losses is based on management's evaluation of the size and composition of the loan portfolio, the level of non-performing and past due loans, historical trends of charged-off loans and recoveries, prevailing economic conditions and other factors management deems appropriate. The Company's management has established an allowance for credit losses for loans which it believes is adequate to cover expected credit losses over the expected life of a loan exposure and unfunded commitments where the likelihood is that funding will occur. Based on a credit evaluation of the loan portfolio, management presents a quarterly review of the allowance for credit losses for loans and allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments to the Company's Board of Directors, which primarily focuses on risk by evaluating individual loans in certain risk categories. These categories have also been established by management and take the form of loan grades. By grading the loan portfolio in this manner, the Company's management is able to effectively evaluate the portfolio by risk, which management believes is the most effective way to analyze the loan portfolio and thus analyze the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses on loans.

The allowance for credit losses on loans is established by examining (1) the large classified loans, nonaccrual loans and loans considered impaired and evaluating them individually to determine the specific reserve allocation and (2) the remainder of the loan portfolio to allocate a portion of the allowance based on past loss experience and reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions for the particular loan category. The Company also considers other factors such as changes in lending policies and procedures; changes in national, regional and/or local economic and business conditions; changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio; changes in the experience, ability and depth of either the market president or lending staff; changes in the volume and severity of past due and classified loans; changes in the quality of the loan review system; and other factors management deems appropriate.

The allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures is adjusted as a provision for credit loss expense. The estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over its estimated life. The ACL is calculated using the same aggregate reserve rates calculated for the funded portion of loans at the portfolio level applied to the amount of commitments expected to fund.

Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses for each of these components on a quarterly basis. Peer comparisons, industry comparisons, and regulatory guidelines are also used in the determination of the valuation allowance. Loans identified as losses by management, internal loan review, and/or bank examiners are charged off. Additional information about the Company’s allowance for credit losses is provided in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for Allowance for Credit Losses.

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The following table sets forth the breakdown of the allowance for credit losses on loans by loan category for the periods indicated. The allocation of the allowance to each category is subjective and is not necessarily indicative of future losses and does not restrict the use of the allowance to absorb losses in any other category.

December 31,December 31,December 31,December 31,December 31,
(dollars in thousands)20242023202220212020
Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)
Construction, land & land development$1,30611.1%$2,20413.1%$1,95913.2%$1,12712.4%$1,01311.4%
Other commercial real estate6,45953.87,06451.78,88656.17,69158.86,88049.1
Residential real estate5,50218.75,10518.92,35416.71,80515.92,27817.3
Commercial, financial & agricultural2,90411.62,11012.92,70912.91,08311.51,71320.1
Consumer and other2,8094.81,8883.42201.11,2041.42432.1
$18,980100.0%$18,371100.0%$16,128100.0%$12,910100.0%$12,127100.0%

(1) Percentage represents the loan balance in each category expressed as a percentage of total end of period loans.

The following table presents an analysis of the Company’s allowance for credit losses on loans for the periods indicated.

(dollars in thousands)20242023202220212020
Allowance for credit losses on loans at beginning of year$18,371$16,128$12,910$12,127$6,863
Adoption of ASU 2016-13(53)
Charge-offs
Construction, land & land development4
Other commercial real estate206958568226
Residential real estate427771483206
Commercial, financial & agricultural2,4671,069314274242
Consumer and other6043560681,103
Total charge-offs3,5181,9444809131,781
Recoveries
Construction, land & land development16102546645
Other commercial real estate574285118153
Residential real estate2567950274142
Commercial, financial & agricultural1612011399143
Consumer and other25222947104
Total recoveries515354328996487
Net charge-offs/(recoveries)3,0031,590152(83)1,294
Provision for credit losses on loans3,6123,8863,3707006,558
Allowance for credit losses on loans at end of year$18,980$18,371$16,128$12,910$12,127
Ratio of net charge-offs/(recoveries) to average loans0.16%0.09%0.01%(0.01)%0.12%

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The allowance for credit losses on loans increased from $18.4 million or 0.98% of total loans at December 31, 2023 to $19.0 million, or 1.03% of total loans at December 31, 2024. The provision for credit losses on loans reflects loan quality trends, including the level of net charge-offs or recoveries, among other factors. The primary reason for the increase year over year was due to the increase in charge-offs. These charge-offs represent a small number of loans and circumstances, and management has no concern that there are systemic issues across the portfolio.

The amount of provision expense recorded in 2024 and 2023 was the amount required such that the total allowance for credit losses reflected the appropriate balance, in the estimation of management, that was sufficient to cover expected credit losses on loans over the expected life of a loan exposure and unfunded commitments where the likelihood is that funding will occur.

Investment Portfolio

The following table presents carrying values of investment securities available-for-sale held by the Company as of December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.

(dollars in thousands)202420232022
U.S. treasury securities$3,173$498$1,622
U.S. agency securities2,7554,1394,585
Asset backed securities17,82424,63029,988
State, county and municipal securities95,637109,036104,756
Corporate debt securities47,78247,39049,585
Mortgage-backed securities198,878221,689242,017
Total debt securities$366,049$407,382$432,553

The following table presents investment securities held-to-maturity, carried at cost by the Company as of December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.

(dollars in thousands)202420232022
U.S. treasury securities$91,004$93,306$91,615
U.S. agency securities16,15116,28216,409
State, county and municipal securities137,190136,685136,138
Mortgage-backed securities185,732202,758221,696
Total debt securities$430,077$449,031$465,858

The following table represents expected maturities and weighted-average yields of investment securities held by the Company as of December 31, 2024 (mortgage-backed securities are based on the average life at the projected speed, while State and Political Subdivisions reflect anticipated calls being exercised).

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After 1 Year ButAfter 5 Years But
Available-for-SaleWithin 1 YearWithin 5 YearsWithin 10 YearsAfter 10 Years
(dollars in thousands)AmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYield
U.S. treasury securities$3,1734.32%$%$%$%
U.S. agency securities1,3352.571,4202.93
Asset backed securities2,4545.3915,3705.86
State, county and municipal securities12,8271.8339,6172.1243,1931.47
Corporate debt securities1,9804.057,7954.9636,5114.351,49610.39
Mortgage-backed securities10,6945.0025,4863.378,4023.22154,2963.02
Total debt securities$15,8474.75%$46,1083.21%$88,3193.24%$215,7752.96%
After 1 Year ButAfter 5 Years But
Held-to-MaturityWithin 1 YearWithin 5 YearsWithin 10 YearsAfter 10 Years
(dollars in thousands)AmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYield
U.S. treasury securities$26,7141.03%$64,2901.07%$%$%
U.S. agency securities6,9331.133,3931.325,8251.55
State, county and municipal securities4,1931.2065,3621.9767,6351.77
Mortgage-backed securities33,3951.6327,8911.61124,4461.85
Total debt securities$33,6471.05%$105,2711.26%$99,0781.84%$192,0811.82%

Securities are classified as held-to-maturity and carried at amortized cost when management has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity. Securities are classified as available-for-sale when they might be sold before maturity. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income. The Company had both held-to-maturity and available-for-sale securities in the investment portfolio at December 31, 2024. Management also evaluates its securities portfolio for any credit-related losses on a quarterly basis. The Company did not identify any credit-related losses in its held-to-maturity or available-for-sale portfolios at December 31, 2024.

At December 31, 2024, there were no holdings of any one issuer, other than the U.S. government and its agencies, in an amount greater than 10% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity.

The average yield of the securities portfolio was 2.61% in 2024 and 2.72% in 2023. The decrease in the average yield from 2023 to 2024 was primarily attributed to the decrease in average balances of investment securities related to paydowns and the sales of investments securities during 2024.

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Deposits

The following table presents the average amount outstanding and the average rate paid on deposits by the Company for the years 2024, 2023, and 2022.

202420232022
(dollars in thousands)AverageAmountAverage RateAverage AmountAverage RateAverage AmountAverage Rate
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits$459,822$519,225$564,322
Interest-bearing demand and savings deposits1,464,3151.86%1,390,2471.14%1,439,2340.21%
Time deposits603,0803.77%619,0833.17%370,3750.76%
Total deposits$2,527,2171.98%$2,528,5551.40%$2,373,9310.25%

The following table presents the maturities of the Company’s time deposits as of December 31, 2024.

(dollars in thousands)TimeDeposits$250,000 or GreaterTimeDepositsLess than $250,000Total
Months to Maturity
3 months or less$54,557$150,421$204,978
Over 3 months through 6 months65,693106,569172,262
Over 6 months through 12 months59,308131,128190,436
Over 12 months5,61830,98036,598
$185,176$419,098$604,274

Average deposits decreased $1.3 million in 2024 compared to 2023. The decrease in 2024 included decreases of $16.0 million, or 2.6% in time deposits and $59.4 million, or 11.4% in noninterest-bearing deposits, which were partially offset by an increase in interest-bearing demand and savings deposits of $74.1 million, or 5.3%. The increase in our overall deposits is due primarily to the Company's ability to attract interest-bearing demand and savings deposits despite the challenging interest rate environment.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, $857.6 million and $777.8 million, respectively, of our deposit portfolio was uninsured. The uninsured amounts are estimated based on the methodologies and assumptions used for the Bank's regulatory reporting requirements.

The Company supplements deposit sources with brokered deposits. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $59.5 million, or 2.32% of total deposits, in brokered certificates of deposit attracted by external third parties. Additional information is provided in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for Deposits.

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

In the ordinary course of business, our Bank has granted commitments to extend credit to approved customers. Generally, these commitments to extend credit have been granted on a temporary basis for seasonal or inventory requirements or for construction period financing and have been approved within the Bank’s credit guidelines. Our Bank has also granted commitments to approved customers for financial standby letters of credit. These commitments are recorded in the financial statements when funds are disbursed or the financial instruments become payable. The Bank uses the same credit policies for these off-balance-sheet commitments as it does for financial instruments that are recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitment amounts expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

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The following table summarizes commitments and contractual obligations outstanding at December 31, 2024.

(dollars in thousands)Payments Due by Period
TotalLess Than 1 Year1 – 3 Years3 – 5 YearsMore Than 5 Years
Contractual Obligations:
Borrowings$248,039$50,000$40,000$95,000$63,039
Operating lease liabilities1,39363668572
Time Deposits604,274567,67531,2945,076229
$853,706$618,311$71,979$100,148$63,268
Other Commitments:
Loan commitments$329,924$198,639$44,417$21,915$64,953
Standby letters of credit5,9475,489458
335,871204,12844,87521,91564,953
Total Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments$1,189,577$822,439$116,854$122,063$128,221

Loan Commitments. The Company enters into contractual commitments to extend credit, normally with fixed expiration dates or termination clauses, at specified rates and for specific purposes. Substantially all of the Company’s commitments to extend credit are contingent upon customers maintaining specific credit standards at the time of loan funding. The Company minimizes its exposure to loss under these commitments by subjecting them to credit approval and monitoring procedures. Management assesses the credit risk associated with certain commitments to extend credit in determining the level of the allowance for credit losses. Loan commitments outstanding at December 31, 2024 are included in the preceding table.

Standby Letters of Credit. Letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. In the event the customer does not perform in accordance with the terms of the agreement with the third party, the Company would be required to fund the commitment. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make is represented by the contractual amount of the commitment. If the commitment is funded, the Company would be entitled to seek recovery from the customer. The Company’s policies generally require that standby letters of credit arrangements contain security and debt covenants similar to those contained in loan agreements. Standby letters of credit outstanding at December 31, 2024 are included in the preceding table.

Capital Requirements

The Bank and the Company are each required under federal law to maintain certain minimum capital levels based on ratios of capital to total assets and capital to risk-weighted assets. The required capital ratios are minimums, and the federal banking agencies may determine that a banking organization, based on its size, complexity or risk profile, must maintain a higher level of capital in order to operate in a safe and sound manner. Risks such as concentration of credit risks and the risk arising from non-traditional activities, as well as the institution’s exposure to a decline in the economic value of its capital due to changes in interest rates, and an institution’s ability to manage those risks are important factors that are to be taken into account by the federal banking agencies in assessing an institution’s overall capital adequacy. For more information, see “Item 1. Business – Supervision and Regulation – Regulation of the Company – Capital Requirements.”

At December 31, 2024, shareholders’ equity totaled $278.7 million compared to $254.9 million at December 31, 2023. In addition to net income of $23.9 million, another significant change in shareholders’ equity during 2024 included $7.9 million of dividends declared on common stock. The accumulated other comprehensive loss component of stockholders’ equity totaled $47.6 million at December 31, 2024 compared to $55.6 million at December 31, 2023. This fluctuation was mostly related to the after-tax effect of changes in the fair value of securities available-for-sale. Under regulatory requirements, the unrealized gain or loss on securities available for sale does not increase or reduce regulatory capital and is not included in the calculation of risk-based capital and leverage ratios. Regulatory agencies for banks and bank holding companies utilize capital guidelines designed to measure Tier 1 and total capital and take into consideration the risk inherent in both on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet items.

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Tier 1 capital consists of common stock and qualifying preferred securities less goodwill, intangibles and disallowed deferred tax assets. Tier 2 capital consists of certain convertible, subordinated and other qualifying debt and the allowance for credit losses up to 1.25% of risk-weighted assets. The Company's Tier 2 capital consists of subordinated notes and the allowance for credit losses.

Using the capital requirements presently in effect, the Tier 1 ratio as of December 31, 2024 was 14.26% and total Tier 1 and 2 risk-based capital was 17.10%. Both of these measures compare favorably with the regulatory minimum of 6.0% for Tier 1 and 8% for total risk-based capital. The Company’s common equity Tier 1 ratio as of December 31, 2024 was 13.08%, which exceeds the regulatory minimum of 4.50%. The Company’s Tier 1 leverage ratio as of December 31, 2024 was 9.50%, which exceeds the required ratio standard of 4.0%.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, average capital was $265.3 million representing 8.7% of average assets for the year. This compares to average capital of $238.9 million, representing 7.9% of average assets for 2023.

For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not have any material commitments for capital expenditures.

The Company granted 74,358 and 55,210 restricted shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. All restricted shares vest over a three year period.

A cash dividend of $7.9 million and $7.7 million was paid for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Liquidity

The Company, primarily through the actions of its subsidiary bank, engages in liquidity management to ensure adequate cash flow for deposit withdrawals, credit commitments and repayments of borrowed funds. Needs are met through loan repayments, net interest and fee income and the sale or maturity of existing assets. In addition, liquidity is continuously provided through the acquisition of new deposits, the renewal of maturing deposits and external borrowings.

Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $231.0 million and $83.3 million, respectively. The increase in cash and cash equivalents was partially due to sales and paydowns of investment securities, paydowns and maturities of loans, as well as increases in deposits and other borrowings. Management believes the various funding sources discussed above are adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs in these unsettled times without any material adverse impact on our operating results.

Management monitors deposit flow and evaluates alternate pricing structures to retain and grow deposits. To the extent needed to fund loan demand, traditional local deposit funding sources are supplemented by the use of FHLB borrowings, brokered deposits and other wholesale deposit sources outside the immediate market area. Internal policies have been updated to monitor the use of various core and non-core funding sources, and to balance ready access with risk and cost. Through various asset/liability management strategies, a balance is maintained among goals of liquidity, safety and earnings potential. Internal policies that are consistent with regulatory liquidity guidelines are monitored and enforced by the Bank.

The investment portfolio provides a ready means to raise cash if liquidity needs arise. As of December 31, 2024, the available-for-sale bond portfolio totaled $366.0 million. At December 31, 2023, the available-for-sale bond portfolio totaled $407.4 million. This decrease is primarily attributable to sales along with maturities, calls and paydowns on the portfolio during 2024. Only marketable investment grade bonds are purchased. Although approximately 56.7% of the Bank’s bond portfolio is encumbered as pledges to secure various public funds deposits, repurchase agreements, and for other purposes, management can restructure and free up investment securities for sale if required to meet liquidity needs.

Management continually monitors the relationship of loans to deposits as it primarily determines the Company’s liquidity posture. Colony had ratios of loans to deposits of 71.8% as of December 31, 2024 and 74.0% as of December 31, 2023. Management employs alternative funding sources when deposit balances will not meet loan demands. The ratios of loans to all funding sources (excluding Subordinated Debentures) at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were 66.9% and 69.3%, respectively. Management continues to emphasize programs to generate local core deposits as our Company’s primary funding sources. The stability of the Banks’ core deposit base is an important factor in Colony’s liquidity position. A heavy percentage of the deposit base is comprised of accounts of individuals and small businesses with comprehensive banking relationships and limited volatility. At December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Bank had $185.2 million and $167.7 million,

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respectively, in certificates of deposit of $250,000 or more. These larger deposits represented 7.2% and 6.6% of total deposits as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Management seeks to monitor and control the use of these larger certificates, which tend to be more volatile in nature, to ensure an adequate supply of funds as needed. Relative interest costs to attract local core relationships are compared to market rates of interest on various external deposit sources to help minimize the Company’s overall cost of funds.

The Company supplemented deposit sources with brokered deposits. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $59.5 million or 2.32% of total deposits in brokered deposits. Additional information is provided in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements regarding these brokered deposits. Additionally, the Company uses external deposit listing services to obtain out-of-market certificates of deposit at competitive interest rates when funding is needed. The deposits obtained from listing services are often referred to as wholesale or internet CDs.

To plan for contingent sources of funding not satisfied by both local and out-of-market deposit balances, Colony and its subsidiary have established multiple borrowing sources to augment their funds management. The Company has borrowing capacity through membership of the Federal Home Loan Bank program. The Bank has also established overnight borrowing for Federal Funds Purchased through various correspondent banks. Management believes the various funding sources discussed above are adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs in the future without any material adverse impact on operating results. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had $185.0 million and $175.0 million, respectively, of outstanding advances from the FHLB. Based on the values of loans pledged as collateral, we had $578.7 million and $596.2 million of additional borrowing availability with the FHLB at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Other sources of liquidity include overnight borrowings from the Federal Reserve Discount Window. The Company also has unencumbered investment securities which provide the ability to either be pledged as collateral with borrowing sources or sold and converted to cash.

Liquidity measures the ability to meet current and future cash flow needs as they become due. The liquidity of a financial institution reflects its ability to meet loan requests, to accommodate possible outflows in deposits and to take advantage of interest rate market opportunities. The ability of a financial institution to meet its current financial obligations is a function of balance sheet structure, the ability to liquidate assets, and the availability of alternative sources of funds. The Company seeks to ensure its funding needs are met by maintaining a level of liquid funds through asset/liability management.

Asset liquidity is provided by liquid assets which are readily marketable or pledgeable or which will mature in the near future. Liquid assets include cash, interest-bearing deposits in banks, securities available for sale and federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements.

Liability liquidity is provided by access to funding sources which include core deposits. Should the need arise, the Company also maintains relationships with the Federal Home Loan Bank, Federal Reserve Bank, three correspondent banks and repurchase agreement lines that can provide funds on short notice.

Since Colony is a bank holding Company and does not conduct operations, its primary sources of liquidity are dividends up streamed from the subsidiary bank and borrowings from outside sources.

The liquidity position of the Company is continuously monitored and adjustments are made to the balance between sources and uses of funds as deemed appropriate. Management is not aware of any events that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, capital resources or operations. In addition, management is not aware of any regulatory recommendations regarding liquidity, which if implemented, would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

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Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

The Company’s financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). GAAP presently requires the Company to measure financial position and operating results primarily in terms of historic dollars. Changes in the relative value of money due to inflation or recession are generally not considered. The primary effect of inflation on the operations of the Company is reflected in increased operating costs, and the Company has experienced material effects of inflation during the last four fiscal years due to the government's monetary policies and the current economic climate. In management’s opinion, changes in interest rates affect the financial condition of a financial institution to a far greater degree than changes in the inflation rate. While interest rates are greatly influenced by changes in the inflation rate, they do not necessarily change at the same rate or in the same magnitude as the inflation rate. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond the control of the Company, including changes in the expected rate of inflation, the influence of general and local economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities, among other things, as further discussed in the next section.

Regulatory and Economic Policies

The Company’s business and earnings are affected by general and local economic conditions and by the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities, among other things. The Federal Reserve Board regulates the supply of money in order to influence general economic conditions. Among the instruments of monetary policy available to the Federal Reserve Board are (i) conducting open market operations in United States government obligations, (ii) changing the discount rate on financial institution borrowings, (iii) imposing or changing reserve requirements against financial institution deposits, and (iv) restricting certain borrowings and imposing or changing reserve requirements against certain borrowings by financial institutions and their affiliates. These methods are used in varying degrees and combinations to directly affect the availability of bank loans and deposits, as well as the interest rates charged on loans and paid on deposits. For that reason alone, the policies of the Federal Reserve Board have a material effect on the earnings of the Company.

Governmental policies have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future; however, the Company cannot accurately predict the nature, timing or extent of any effect such policies may have on its future business and earnings.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies included in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Market Risk and Interest Rate Sensitivity

Our financial performance is impacted by, among other factors, interest rate risk and credit risk. We utilize derivatives to help manage our interest rate risk position and mitigate exposure to the variability of future cash flows or other forecasted transactions. We mitigate our credit risk through reliance on an extensive loan review process and our allowance for credit losses.

Interest rate risk is the change in value due to changes in interest rates. The Company is exposed only to U.S. dollar interest rate changes and, accordingly, the Company manages exposure by considering the possible changes in the net interest margin. The Company does not have any trading instruments nor does it classify any portion of its investment portfolio as held for trading. The Company has no exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk, commodity price risk and other market risks. Interest rate risk is addressed by our Risk Management Committee which includes senior management representatives. The Risk Management Committee monitors interest rate risk by analyzing the potential impact to the net portfolio of equity value and net interest income from potential changes to interest rates and considers the impact of alternative strategies or changes in balance sheet structure.

Interest rates play a major part in the net interest income of financial institutions. The repricing of interest earnings assets and interest-bearing liabilities can influence the changes in net interest income. The timing of repriced assets and liabilities is Gap management and our Company has established its policy to maintain a Gap ratio in the one-year time horizon of .80 to 1.20.

Our exposure to interest rate risk is reviewed at least quarterly by our Board of Directors and by our Risk Management Committee. Interest rate risk exposure is measured using interest rate sensitivity analysis to determine our change in net portfolio value in the event of assumed changes in interest rates. In order to reduce the exposure to interest rate fluctuations, we

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have implemented strategies to more closely match our balance sheet composition. The Company has engaged Stifel to run a quarterly asset/liability model for interest rate risk analysis. We are generally focusing our investment activities on securities with terms or average lives in the 3 ½ - 5 ½ year range.

Market risk reflects the risk of economic loss resulting from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. This risk of loss can be reflected in either reduced current market values or reduced current and potential net income. Colony’s most significant market risk is interest rate risk. This risk arises primarily from Colony’s extension of loans and acceptance of deposits.

Managing interest rate risk is a primary goal of the asset liability management function. Colony attempts to achieve stability in net interest income while limiting volatility arising from changes in interest rates. Colony seeks to achieve this goal by balancing the maturity and repricing characteristics of assets and liabilities. Colony manages its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates through policies established by the Risk Management Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The Risk Management Committee meets at least quarterly and has responsibility for developing asset liability management policies, reviewing the interest rate sensitivity of Colony, and developing and implementing strategies to improve balance sheet structure and interest rate risk positioning.

Colony measures the sensitivity of net interest income to changes in market interest rates through the utilization of Asset/Liability simulation modeling. On at least a quarterly basis, the following twenty-four month time period is simulated to determine a baseline net interest income forecast and the sensitivity of this forecast to changes in interest rates. These simulations include all of Colony’s earning assets and liabilities. Forecasted balance sheet changes, primarily reflecting loan and deposit growth and forecasts, are included in the periods modeled. Projected rates for loans and deposits are based on management’s outlook and local market conditions.

The magnitude and velocity of rate changes among the various asset and liability groups exhibit different characteristics for each possible interest rate scenario; additionally, customer loan and deposit preferences can vary in response to changing interest rates. Simulation modeling enables Colony to capture the expected effect of these differences. Assumptions utilized in the model are updated on an ongoing basis and are reviewed and approved by the Risk Management Committee of the Board of Directors.

Colony has modeled its baseline net interest income forecast assuming a flat interest rate environment with the federal funds rate at the Federal Reserve's targeted range of 4.25% and the prime rate of 7.50% at December 31, 2024. Colony has modeled the impact of a gradual increase in short-term rates of 100 and 200 basis points and a decline of 100 and 200 basis points to determine the sensitivity of net interest income for the next twelve months. As illustrated in the table below, the net interest income sensitivity model indicates that, compared with a net interest income forecast assuming stable rates, net interest income is projected to increase by 3.03% and 5.66% if interest rates increased by 100 and 200 basis points, respectively. Net interest income is projected to decline by 1.80% and 3.77% if interest rates decreased by 100 and 200 basis points. These changes were within Colony’s policy limit of a maximum 15% negative change.

Twelve Month Net Interest Income Sensitivity
Estimated Change in Net Interest Income as of December 31,
Change in Short-term Interest Rates (in basis points)20242023
+2005.66%0.97%
+1003.03%0.54%
Flat—%—%
-100(1.80)%2.03%
-200(3.77)%2.24%

The measured interest rate sensitivity indicates an asset sensitive position over the next year, which could serve to improve net interest income in a rising interest rate environment. The actual realized change in net interest income would depend on several factors, some of which could serve to reduce or eliminate the asset sensitivity noted above. These factors include a higher than projected level of deposit customer migration to higher cost deposits, such as certificates of deposit, which would increase total interest expense and serve to reduce the realized level of asset sensitivity. Another factor which could impact the realized interest rate sensitivity in a rising rate environment is the repricing behavior of interest-bearing non-maturity deposits.

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Assumptions for repricing are expressed as a beta relative to the change in the prime rate. For instance, a 25% beta would correspond to a deposit rate that would increase 0.25% for every 1% increase in the prime rate. Projected betas for interest bearing non-maturity deposit repricing are a key component of determining the Company's interest rate risk position. Should realized betas be higher than projected betas, the expected benefit from higher interest rates would be reduced.

Colony is also subject to market risk in certain of its fee income business lines. Mortgage banking income is subject to market risk. Mortgage loan originations are sensitive to levels of mortgage interest rates and therefore, mortgage banking income could be negatively impacted during a period of rising interest rates. The extension of commitments to customers to fund mortgage loans also subjects Colony to market risk. This risk is primarily created by the time period between making the commitment and closing and delivering the loan. Colony seeks to minimize this exposure by utilizing various risk management tools, the primary of which are forward sales commitments and best efforts commitments.

FY 2023 10-K MD&A

SEC filing source: 0000711669-24-000046.

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2024-03-14. Report date: 2023-12-31.

Item 7

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risk, uncertainties and, assumptions. Certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to those set forth under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors,” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.

The Company

Colony Bankcorp, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Fitzgerald, Georgia that provides, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Colony Bank (collectively referred to as the Company), a broad array of products and services throughout north, central, south and coastal Georgia markets, Birmingham, Alabama and Tallahassee, Florida. The Company offers commercial and consumer banking services as well as specialized solutions including mortgage, government guaranteed lending, consumer insurance, wealth management and merchant services.

Recent Developments

The Company paid dividends to its shareholders throughout 2023 and 2022 on a quarterly basis. In 2023, we had a quarterly dividend of $0.11 per share of common stock and in 2022, we had a quarterly dividend of $0.1075 per share of common stock.

On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASC Topic 326 which replaced the incurred loss approach for measuring credit losses with an expected loss model, referred to the current expected credit loss ("CECL") model. CECL applies to financial assets subject to credit losses and measured at amortized cost and certain off-balance-sheet credit exposures, which include, but are not limited to, loans, leases, held-to-maturity securities, loan commitments and financial guarantees. The adoption of this guidance resulted in a decrease of the allowance for credit losses on loans of $53,000, the creation of an allowance for unfunded commitments of $1.7 million and a reduction of retained earnings of $1.2 million, net of the increase in deferred tax assets of $410,000.

Going forward, the impact of utilizing the CECL approach to calculate the allowance for credit losses will be significantly influenced by the composition, characteristics and quality of our loan portfolio, as well as the prevailing economic conditions and forecasts utilized. Material changes to these and other relevant factors may result in greater volatility to the provision for credit losses, and therefore, greater volatility to our reported earnings. See Notes 1 and 4, included elsewhere in this Form 10-K, for additional information on the allowance for credit losses and the allowance for unfunded commitments.

In June 2023, the Company entered into two derivative instruments, specifically interest rate swaps, to help manage its interest rate risk position and mitigate exposure to the variability of future cash flows or other forecasted transactions. The interest rate swaps are designated as cash flow hedges of certain variable rate liabilities. Gains are recorded on the swap transactions as a component of interest expense in the consolidated statements of income. Amounts reported in accumulated OCI related to swaps are reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the Bank's variable rate liabilities. For additional discussion of the Company's derivative instruments, see "Note 10 - Derivatives".

Reconciliation and Management Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Our accounting and reporting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, certain non-GAAP measures are used by management to supplement the evaluation of our performance. These include the fully-taxable equivalent measures: tax-equivalent net interest income, tax-equivalent net interest margin and tax-equivalent net interest spread, which include the effects of taxable-equivalent adjustments using a statutory federal income tax rate of 21% to increase tax-exempt interest income to a tax-equivalent basis for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.  Tax-equivalent adjustments are reported to the Average Balances with Average Yields and Rates table under Rate/Volume Analysis in the tables that follow. Management believes that non-GAAP financial measures provide additional useful information that allows investors to evaluate the ongoing performance of the company and provide meaningful comparisons to its peers. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures also enhance investors' ability to compare period-to-period financial results and allow investors and company management to view our operating results excluding the impact of items that are not reflective of the underlying operating performance.

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Tax-equivalent net interest income, net interest margin and net interest spread.

Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis is a non-GAAP measure that adjusts for the tax-favored status of net interest income from loans and investments. We believe this measure to be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income and it enhances comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest income. Net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis is net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis divided by average interest-earning assets on a tax-equivalent basis. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest margin. Net interest spread on a tax-equivalent basis is the difference in the average yield on average interest-earning assets on a tax equivalent basis and the average rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest spread.

These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered alternatives to GAAP-basis financial statements, and other bank holding companies may define or calculate these non-GAAP measures or similar measures differently.

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A reconciliation of these performance measures to GAAP performance measures is included in the tables below.

Non-GAAP Performance Measures Reconciliation

Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)20232022
Operating noninterest income reconciliation
Noninterest income (GAAP)$35,634$35,025
Gain on sale of bank premises(361)
Operating noninterest income$35,273$35,025
Operating noninterest expense reconciliation
Noninterest expense (GAAP)$83,065$89,475
Severance costs(1,286)(1,346)
Acquisition-related expenses(161)(142)
Operating noninterest expense$81,618$87,987
Operating net income reconciliation
Net income (GAAP)$21,747$19,542
Acquisition-related expenses161142
Severance costs1,2861,346
Gain on sale of bank premises(361)
FHLB mark from called borrowings751
Income tax benefit(196)(298)
Operating net income$22,637$21,483
Weighted average diluted shares17,578,29417,191,079
Adjusted earnings per diluted share$1.29$1.25
Tangible book value per common share reconciliation
Book value per common share (GAAP)$14.51$13.08
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles(3.02)(3.10)
Tangible book value per common share$11.49$9.98
Tangible equity to tangible assets reconciliation
Equity to assets (GAAP)8.35%7.84%
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles(1.62)(1.74)
Tangible equity to tangible assets6.73%6.10%
Operating efficiency ratio calculation
Efficiency ratio (GAAP)72.94%77.34%
Severance costs(1.13)(1.16)
Acquisition-related expenses(0.14)(0.12)
Gain on sale of bank premises0.32
FHLB mark from called borrowings(0.65)
Operating efficiency ratio71.99%75.41%
Operating net noninterest expense(1) to average assets calculation
Net noninterest expense to average assets1.57%1.98%
Severance costs(0.04)(0.05)
Acquisition-related expenses(0.01)(0.01)
Gain on sale of bank premises0.01
Operating net noninterest expense to average assets1.53%1.92%
Pre-provision net revenue
Net interest income before provision for credit losses$78,244$80,672
Noninterest income35,63435,025
Total income113,879115,697
Noninterest expense83,06589,475
Pre-provision net revenue$30,814$26,222
(1) Net noninterest expense is defined as noninterest expense less noninterest income.

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The consolidated financial statements of Colony are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and follow general practices within the industry in which it operates. This preparation requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates, assumptions and judgments are based on information available as of the date of the consolidated financial statements; accordingly, as this information changes, actual results could differ from the estimates, assumptions and judgments reflected in the consolidated financial statements. Certain policies inherently have a greater reliance on the use of estimates, assumptions and judgments and, as such, have a greater possibility of producing results that could be materially different than originally reported. Estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change include the valuation of loan acquisition transactions, as well as the determination of the allowance for credit losses and income taxes and, therefore, are critical accounting policies. In addition to the discussion that follows, the accounting policies related to these estimates are further described in Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, under Part II, Item 8.

Reserve for Credit Losses

A consequence of lending activities is that we may incur credit losses. The amount of such losses will vary depending upon the risk characteristics of the loan lease portfolio as affected by economic conditions such as rising interest rates and the financial performance of the borrower.

The reserve for credit losses consists of the allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) and the allowance for unfunded commitments. As a result of our January 1, 2023 adoption of ASU No. 2016-13, and its related amendments, our methodology for estimating the reserve for credit losses changed significantly from December 31, 2022. The standard replaced the “incurred loss” approach with an “expected loss” approach known as the Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”). The CECL approach requires an estimate of the credit losses expected over the life of an exposure (or pool of exposures). It removes the incurred loss approach’s threshold that delayed the recognition of a credit loss until it was “probable” a loss event was “incurred.”

The estimate of expected credit losses under the CECL approach is based on relevant information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amounts. Historical loss experience is generally the starting point for estimating expected credit losses. We then consider whether the historical loss experience should be adjusted for asset-specific risk characteristics or current conditions at the reporting date that did not exist over the period from which historical experience was used. Finally, we consider forecasts about future economic conditions that are reasonable and supportable. The allowance for unfunded commitments represents the expected credit losses on off-balance sheet commitments such as unfunded commitments to extend credit. This allowance is estimated by loan segment at each balance sheet date under the CECL model using the same methodologies as portfolio loans, taking into consideration the likelihood that funding will occur.

Management’s evaluation of the appropriateness of the reserve for credit losses is often the most critical of accounting estimates for a financial institution. Our determination of the amount of the reserve for credit losses is a critical accounting estimate as it requires significant reliance on the credit risk rating we assign to individual borrowers, the use of estimates and significant judgment as to the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, reliance on historical loss rates on homogenous portfolios, consideration of our quantitative and qualitative evaluation of economic factors, and the reliance on our reasonable and supportable forecasts. The reserve for credit losses attributable to each portfolio segment also includes an amount for inherent risks not reflected in the historical analyses. Relevant factors include, but are not limited to, concentrations of credit risk (geographic, large borrower, and industry), local/regional economic trends and conditions, changes in underwriting standards, changes in collateral values, experience and depth of lending staff, trends in delinquencies, and the volume and terms of loans.

Income Taxes

The assessment of income tax assets and liabilities involves the use of estimates, assumptions, interpretation, and judgment concerning certain accounting pronouncements and federal and state tax codes. There can be no assurance that future events, such as court decisions or positions of federal and state taxing authorities, will not differ from management’s current assessment, the impact of which could be significant to the consolidated results of operations and reported earnings.

Colony files a consolidated federal income tax return and a combined state income tax return (both of which include Colony and its wholly owned subsidiaries). Accordingly, amounts equal to tax benefits of those companies having taxable federal losses or credits are reimbursed by the companies that incur federal tax liabilities. Amounts provided for income tax expense are based on income reported for financial statement purposes and do not necessarily represent amounts currently payable under

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tax laws. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed quarterly for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted tax law rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through provision for income tax expense. Valuation allowances are established when it is more likely than not that a portion of the full amount of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets, management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies. Colony may also recognize a liability for unrecognized tax benefits from uncertainty in income taxes. Unrecognized tax benefits represent the differences between a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the benefit recognized and measured in the financial statements. Penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are classified as income tax expense.

Overview

The following discussion and analysis present the more significant factors affecting the Company’s financial condition as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and results of operations for each of the two year-periods ended December 31, 2023. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements, notes thereto and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this report.

Taxable-equivalent adjustments are the result of increasing income from tax-free loans and investments by an amount equal to the taxes that would be paid if the income were fully taxable based on a 21% federal tax rate for 2023 and 2022, thus making tax-exempt yields comparable to taxable asset yields.

Dollar amounts in tables are stated in thousands, except for per share amounts.

Results of Operations

The Company’s results of operations are determined by its ability to effectively manage interest income and expense, to minimize loan and investment losses, to generate noninterest income and to control noninterest expense. Since market forces and economic conditions beyond the control of the Company determine interest rates, the ability to generate net interest income is dependent upon the Company’s ability to obtain an adequate spread between the rate earned on interest-earning assets and the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. Thus, the key performance for net interest income is the interest margin or net yield, which is taxable-equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. Net income available to common shareholders totaled $21.7 million, or $1.24 per diluted shares in 2023, compared to $19.5 million, or $1.14 per diluted shares in 2022.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income is the difference between interest income on earning assets, such as loans and securities, and interest expense on liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings, which are used to fund those assets. Net interest income is the Company’s largest component of income, representing 68.7% of total income during 2023 and 69.7% of total income during 2022.

Net interest margin is the taxable-equivalent net interest income as a percentage of average interest-earning assets for the period. The level of interest rates and the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities impact net interest income and net interest margin.

The Company’s loan portfolio is significantly affected by changes in the prime interest rate. The prime interest rate, which is the rate offered on loans to borrowers with strong credit, was 8.50% as of December 31, 2023 and 7.50% as of December 31, 2022. The Federal Reserve Board sets general market rates of interest, including the deposit and loan rates offered by many financial institutions. During 2023, the prime interest rate increased 1.00%.  During 2022, the prime interest rate increased 4.25%.

The following table presents the changes in taxable-equivalent net interest income and identifies the changes due to differences in the average volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the changes due to changes in the average interest rate on those assets and liabilities. The changes in net interest income due to changes in both average volume and average interest rate have been allocated to the average volume change or the average interest rate change in proportion to the absolute amounts of the change in each. The Company’s consolidated average balance sheets along with an analysis of taxable-equivalent net interest earnings are presented in the Rate/Volume Analysis.

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Rate/Volume Analysis

The rate/volume analysis presented hereafter illustrates the change from year to year for each component of the taxable equivalent net interest income separated into the amount generated through volume changes and the amount generated by changes in the yields/rates.

Changes from 2022 to 2023 (a)
(dollars in thousands)VolumeRateTotal
Interest income
Loans, net of unearned fees$16,214$12,354$28,568
Investment securities, taxable(1,230)4,6643,434
Investment securities, exempt(68)265197
Deposits in banks and short-term investments(272)1,7261,454
Total interest income14,64419,00933,653
Interest expense
Interest-bearing demand and savings deposits(103)12,88812,785
Time deposits1,89014,91316,803
Federal funds purchased(1)9493
FHLB advances3,1811,0184,199
Other borrowings8031,1241,927
Total interest expense5,77030,03735,807
Net interest income$8,874$(11,028)$(2,154)

(a)Changes in net interest income for the periods, based on either changes in average balances or changes in average rates for interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, are shown on this table. During each year there are numerous and simultaneous balance and rate changes; therefore, it is not possible to precisely allocate the changes between balances and rates. For the purpose of this table, changes that are not exclusively due to balance changes or rate changes have been attributed to rates.

The Company maintains about 15.32% of its loan portfolio in adjustable rate loans that reprice with prime rate changes, while a little over half of its other loans mature within 5 years. The liabilities to fund assets are primarily in non-maturing core deposits and short-term certificates of deposit that mature within one year. During 2023, Federal Reserve rates increased 100 basis points. During 2022, Federal Reserve rates increased 425 basis points. We have seen the net interest margin decrease to 2.83% for 2023, compared to 3.20% for 2022 primarily due to increases in rates on interest bearing liabilities outpacing rate increases on interest earning assets.

Taxable-equivalent net interest income for 2023 decreased by $2.2 million or 2.7%, compared to 2022, primarily due to increases in loan volume and rates, offset by increases in deposit rates and increases in borrowings to fund loan growth. The average volume of interest-earning assets during 2023 increased $256.2 million compared to 2022, primarily related to increases in loans. The total yield on interest-earning assets increased year over year with increases in loan volume, partially offset by decreases in investment securities balances along with increased rates on all interest-earning assets.

The average volume of loans increased $344.3 million in 2023 compared to 2022, which primarily reflects organic loan growth. The average yield on loans increased by 67 basis points in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to the increased loan volume in addition to the increase in rates. The average volume of interest-bearing deposits increased $199.7 million in 2023 compared to 2022. Average savings and interest-bearing demand deposits decreased $49.0 million offset by an increase in average time deposits of $248.7 million in 2023 compared to 2022.

Accordingly, the ratio of average interest-bearing deposits to total average deposits was 79.47% in 2023 and 76.23% in 2022. For 2023, this deposit mix, combined with an increase in interest rates, had the effect of increasing the average cost of total deposits by 144 basis points in 2023 compared to 2022. The Company used borrowings to fund loan growth during 2023. The funds borrowed in 2023 were at higher interest rates and were a contributing factor in the increase of 87 basis points in total other interest-bearing liabilities in 2023 compared to 2022.

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The Company’s net interest spread, which represents the difference between the average rate earned on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, decreased to 2.42% in 2023 from 3.07% in 2022 and was also a result of deposit rate increases and an increase in borrowings, partially offset by increases in loan volume and rates. The net interest spread, as well as the net interest margin, will be impacted by future changes in short-term and long-term interest rate levels, as well as the impact from the competitive environment. A discussion of the effects of changing interest rates on net interest income is set forth in "Market Risk and Interest Rate Sensitivity" included elsewhere in this report.

AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS

20232022
AverageIncome/Yields/AverageIncome/Yields/
(dollars in thousands)BalancesExpenseRatesBalancesExpenseRates
Assets
Loans, net of unearned fees (1)$1,850,043$99,4725.38%$1,505,792$70,9034.71%
Investment securities, taxable770,70721,3882.78827,38817,9542.17
Investment securities, exempt (2)105,7972,4442.31109,1222,2472.06
Deposits in banks and short-term investments63,8062,3413.6791,8258870.97
Total interest-earning assets2,790,353125,6454.50%2,534,12791,9913.63%
Total noninterest-earning assets226,198215,723
Total assets$3,016,551$2,749,850
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Savings and interest-bearing demand deposits$1,390,24715,8331.14%$1,439,2343,0470.21%
Time deposits619,08319,6323.17370,3752,8290.76
Total interest-bearing deposits2,009,33035,4651.761,809,6095,8760.32
Federal funds purchased2,7831475.292,835541.89
FHLB advances (3)160,5486,7634.2171,6902,5643.58
Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility
Other borrowings70,8074,2986.0752,8722,3714.48
Total other interest-bearing liabilities234,13811,2084.79127,3974,9893.92
Total interest-bearing liabilities2,243,46846,6732.08%1,937,00610,8650.56%
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits519,225564,322
Other liabilities14,94712,173
Stockholders' equity238,911236,349
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$3,016,551$2,749,850
Interest rate spread2.42%3.07%
Net interest income$78,972$81,126
Net interest margin2.83%3.20%

(1)The average balance of loans includes the average balance of nonaccrual loans. Income on such loans is recognized and recorded on the cash basis. Taxable-equivalent adjustments totaling $216,000 and $139,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, are calculated using the statutory federal tax rate and are included in income and fees on loans. Accretion income of $165,000 and $590,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are also included in income and fees on loans.

(2)Taxable-equivalent adjustments totaling $513,000 and $315,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, are calculated using the statutory federal tax rate and are included in tax-exempt interest on investment securities.

(3)Federal Home Loan Bank advances interest expense includes $751,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 and is the recognized mark on two advances that were acquired in the SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc. acquisition that were called early.

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Provision for Credit Losses

Provision for credit losses totaled $3.6 million in 2023 compared to $3.4 million in 2022. The amount of provision expense recorded in each period was the amount required such that the total allowance for credit losses reflected the appropriate balance, in the estimation of management, sufficient to cover expected credit losses over the expected life of a loan exposure and unfunded commitments where the likelihood is that funding will occur. The provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes $3.9 million in provision for credit losses on loans and $286,000 in release of credit losses on unfunded commitments. See the section captioned “Allowance for Credit Losses” elsewhere in this discussion for further analysis of the provision for credit losses. The increase in provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to 2022 is due to downgrades and charge-offs on a small number of loans and does not represent systemic issues across the entire loan portfolio. See the sections captioned “Loans" and "Allowance for Credit Losses” elsewhere in this discussion for further analysis of the provision for credit losses. Net charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $1.6 million compared to $152,000 for the same period in 2022. As of December 31, 2023, Colony’s allowance for credit losses was $18.4 million, or 0.98% of total loans, compared to $16.1 million, or 0.93% of total loans, at December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, nonperforming assets were $10.7 million and $6.4 million, or 0.35% and 0.22% of total assets, respectively, with credit quality in the overall loan portfolio remaining strong.

Noninterest Income

The components of noninterest income were as follows:

$%
(dollars in thousands)20232022VarianceVariance
Service charges on deposit accounts$8,735$7,875$86010.92%
Mortgage fee income6,1318,550(2,419)(28.29)
Gain on sales of SBA loans5,0636,216(1,153)(18.55)
Gain (loss) on sales of securities(82)82100.00
Interchange fees8,4608,381790.94
BOLI income1,3961,313836.34
Insurance commissions1,8731,777965.40
Other3,9769952,981299.61
Total$35,634$35,025$6091.74%

Noninterest income in 2023 increased $609,000, or 1.74% from 2022. The Company's increases were primarily seen in service charges on deposit accounts and other noninterest income, which included increases in equity investment income and income on wealth advisory and merchant services. These increases were offset by decreases in mortgage fee income and gain on sales of SBA loans. The increase of $860,000 in service charges on deposit accounts can be attributed to our strong retail banking center footprint and our ability to continue to grow our core deposits despite the challenging rate environment. The increase of $3.0 million in other noninterest income was attributable to equity investment market valuation gains of $156,000 in 2023 compared to market valuation losses of $503,000 in 2022, an increase of $729,000 in wealth advisory and merchant services, gains on sales of assets of $379,000 along with increases in SBA servicing and other related fee income of $656,000. The decrease in mortgage fee income was a result of a reduction in mortgage production and changes in allocation between portfolio and secondary market. The increase in mortgage rates was partially attributable to the 525 basis point increase in the national federal funds rate during 2022 and 2023.

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Noninterest Expense

The components of noninterest expense were as follows:

$%
(dollars in thousands)20232022VarianceVariance
Salaries and employee benefits$49,233$52,809$(3,576)(6.77)%
Occupancy and equipment6,2836,534(251)(3.83)
Information technology8,5539,947(1,394)(14.01)
Professional Fees3,0973,432(335)(9.76)
Advertising and public relations3,4863,664(178)(4.87)
Communications9471,602(655)(40.88)
Other11,46611,487(21)(0.19)
Total$83,065$89,475$(6,410)(7.16)%

Decreases were seen in all categories of noninterest expense. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits of $3.6 million was primarily attributable to a reduction of force initiative in 2023 along with lower commissions and bonus expenses. The decrease in occupancy and equipment expenses can be seen in decreases in repair and maintenance expense as well as rental and leasehold expenses. The decrease in information technology expenses of $1.4 million relates to a decrease in data processing expenses due to a renewed contract with the Company's core processor resulting in cost savings year over year. The decrease in professional fees is the result of lower consulting and legal fees in 2023 compared to 2022 which included fees associated with the acquisition of SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc. The decrease in advertising and public relations can be attributed to the expense control initiative implemented in 2023. The decrease in communications expense is the result of telephone service contracts related to the acquisition of SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc. that were paid through the end of the contracts in 2022.

Sources and Uses of Funds

The following table illustrates, during the years presented, the mix of the Company’s funding sources and the assets in which those funds are invested as a percentage of the Company’s average total assets for the period indicated. Average assets totaled $3.0 billion in 2023 compared to $2.7 billion in 2022.

(dollars in thousands)20232022
Sources of Funds:
Noninterest-bearing deposits$519,22517.21%$564,32220.52%
Interest-bearing deposits2,009,33066.611,809,60965.81
FHLB advances160,5485.3271,6902.61
Federal funds purchased2,7830.092,8350.10
Other borrowings70,8072.3552,8721.92
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities14,9470.5012,1730.44
Equity capital238,9117.92236,3498.60
Total$3,016,551100.00%$2,749,850100.00%
Uses of Funds:
Loans held for sale and loans$1,850,04361.33%$1,505,79254.76%
Investment securities876,50429.05936,51034.06
Deposits in banks and short term investments63,8062.1291,8253.34
Other noninterest-bearing assets226,1987.50215,7237.84
Total$3,016,551100.00%$2,749,850100.00%

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Deposits continue to be the Company’s primary source of funding. Over the comparable periods, interest-bearing deposits continues to be the largest component of the Company's mix of deposits. Average interest-bearing deposits totaled 79.5% in 2023 compared to 76.2% of total average deposits in 2022.

The Company primarily invests funds in loans and securities. Loans continue to be the largest component of the Company’s mix of invested assets.

Loans

The following table presents the composition of the Company’s loan portfolio as of December 31 for the past five years.

(dollars in thousands)December 31, 2023December 31, 2022December 31, 2021December 31, 2020December 31, 2019
Construction, land & land development$247,146$229,435$165,446$121,093$96,097
Other commercial real estate974,375975,447787,392520,391540,239
Total commercial real estate1,221,5211,204,882952,838641,484636,336
Residential real estate356,234290,054212,527183,021194,796
Commercial, financial & agricultural242,756223,923154,048213,380114,360
Consumer and other62,95918,24718,56421,61823,322
Total loans, net of unearned fees1,883,4701,737,1061,337,9771,059,503968,814
Allowance for credit losses on loans(18,371)(16,128)(12,910)(12,127)(6,863)
Loans, net$1,865,099$1,720,978$1,325,067$1,047,376$961,951

Maturity and Repricing Opportunity

The following table presents total loans as of December 31, 2023 according to maturity distribution and/or repricing opportunity on adjustable rate loans.

(dollars in thousands)One year or lessAfter one year through five yearsAfter five years through fifteen yearsAfter fifteen yearsTotal
Construction, land & land development$118,546$46,782$69,504$12,314$247,146
Other commercial real estate85,535469,921384,23334,686974,375
Total commercial real estate204,081516,703453,73747,0001,221,521
Residential real estate42,78682,223162,41468,811356,234
Commercial, financial & agricultural70,918108,20656,9696,663242,756
Consumer and other5,80823,18116,02317,94762,959
Total loans, net of unearned fees323,593730,313689,143140,4211,883,470

Overview. Loans totaled $1.9 billion at December 31, 2023, up 8.4% from $1.7 billion at December 31, 2022. The majority of the Company’s loan portfolio is comprised of real estate loans. Commercial and residential real estate which is primarily 1-4 family residential properties, nonfarm nonresidential properties and real estate construction loans made up 83.8% and 86.1% of total loans at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Commercial, financial and agriculture loans represents 12.9% of the loans at December 31, 2023 and 2022. Consumer and other loans increased to 3.3% of total loans at December 31, 2023 from 1.1% at December 31, 2022.

Loan origination/risk management. In accordance with the Company’s decentralized banking model, loan decisions are made at the local bank level. The Company utilizes both an Executive Loan Committee and a Director Loan Committee to assist lenders with the decision making and underwriting process of larger loan requests. Due to the diverse economic markets served by the Company, evaluation and underwriting criterion may vary slightly by market. Overall, loans are extended after a review of the borrower’s repayment ability, collateral adequacy, and overall credit worthiness.

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Commercial purpose, commercial real estate, and agricultural loans are underwritten similarly to how other loans are underwritten throughout the Company. The properties securing the Company’s commercial real estate portfolio are diverse in terms of type and geographic location. In addition, the Company restricts total loans to $10 million per borrower, subject to exception and approval by the Director Loan Committee. This diversity helps reduce the Company’s exposure to adverse economic events that affect any single market or industry. Management monitors and evaluates commercial real estate loans monthly based on collateral, geography, and risk grade criteria. The Company also utilizes information provided by third-party agencies to provide additional insight and guidance about economic conditions and trends affecting the markets it serves.

The Company extends loans to builders and developers that are secured by non-owner occupied properties. In such cases, the Company reviews the overall economic conditions and trends for each market to determine the desirability of loans to be extended for residential construction and development. Sources of repayment for these types of loans may be pre-committed permanent loans from approved long-term lenders, sales of developed property or an interim mini-perm loan commitment from the Company until permanent financing is obtained. In some cases, loans are extended for residential loan construction for speculative purposes and are based on the perceived present and future demand for housing in a particular market served by the Company. These loans are monitored by on-site inspections and are considered to have higher risks than other real estate loans due to their ultimate repayment being sensitive to interest rate changes, general economic conditions and trends, the demand for the properties, and the availability of long-term financing.

The Company originates consumer loans at the bank level. Due to the diverse economic markets served by the Company, underwriting criterion may vary slightly by market. The Company is committed to serving the borrowing needs of all markets served and, in some cases, adjusts certain evaluation methods to meet the overall credit demographics of each market. Consumer loans represent relatively small loan amounts that are spread across many individual borrowers to help minimize risk. Additionally, consumer trends and outlook reports are reviewed by management on a regular basis.

The Company utilizes an independent third-party company for loan review and validation of the credit risk program on an ongoing quarterly basis. Results of these reviews are presented to management and the audit committee. The loan review process complements and reinforces the risk identification and assessment decisions made by lenders and credit personnel, as well as the Company’s policies and procedures.

For additional discussion of our loan portfolio and deposit accounts, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Loans" and "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Deposits.”

Commercial, financial & agricultural. Commercial, financial and agricultural loans at December 31, 2023 increased by $18.8 million, or 8.4% to $242.8 million from December 31, 2022 at $223.9 million. This increase was related to organic growth of commercial and industrial loans. The Company’s commercial, financial and agricultural loans are a diverse group of loans to small, medium and large businesses. The purpose of these loans varies from supporting seasonal working capital needs to term financing of equipment. These agricultural lines typically reduce in size at year end as crops are sold. While some short-term loans may be made on an unsecured basis, most are secured by the assets being financed with collateral margins that are consistent with the Company’s loan policy guidelines.

Construction, land & land development.  Construction, land and land development loans increased by $17.7 million, or 7.7%, at December 31, 2023 to $247.1 million from $229.4 million at December 31, 2022. This increase was primarily attributable to organic growth of consumer residential construction loans.

Other commercial real estate. Other commercial real estate loans decreased by $1.1 million, or 0.1%, at December 31, 2023 to $974.4 million from $975.4 million at December 31, 2022. This decrease was primarily attributable to decreases in both owner occupied and non-owner occupied commercial real estate and due to the current lending environment, rate environment, and the Company's lending appetite. At December 31, 2023, the Company's other commercial real estate loans were comprised of 60.9% of non-owner occupied loans and 39.1% of owner occupied loans.

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The Company's non-owner occupied portfolio is well diversified as can be seen in the table below as of December 31, 2023.

(dollars in thousands)December 31, 2023
Multifamily$74,914
Hotel/Motel54,493
Retail185,909
Office68,008
Industrial & Warehouse63,538
Health Care14,895
Other Specialty121,006
Government guaranteed SBSL10,713
Total$593,476

Residential Real Estate Loans. Residential real estate loans increased by $66.2 million or 22.8%, at December 31, 2023 to $356.2 million from $290.1 million at December 31, 2022. This increase was attributable to growth of portfolio 1-4 family residential real estate loans. Residential real estate loans consist of revolving, open-end and closed-end loans as well as those secured by closed-end first and junior liens.

Consumer and other. Consumer and other loans include loans to individuals for personal and household purposes, including secured and unsecured installment loans and revolving lines of credit. Consumer and other loans at December 31, 2023 increased $44.7 million or 245.0% to $63.0 million from $18.2 million at December 31, 2022. This increase was primarily attributable to increases in the Company's marine and RV lending division.

Industry concentrations. As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were no concentrations of loans within any single industry in excess of 10% of total loans, as segregated by Standard Industrial Classification code (“SIC code”). The SIC code is a federally designed standard industrial numbering system used by the Company to categorize loans by the borrower’s type of business. The Company has established industry-specific guidelines with respect to maximum loans permitted for each industry with which the Company does business.

Collateral concentrations. Concentrations of credit risk can exist in relation to individual borrowers or groups of borrowers, certain types of collateral, certain types of industries, or certain geographic regions. The Company has a concentration in real estate loans as well as a geographic concentration that could pose an adverse credit risk. At December 31, 2023, approximately 83.8% of the Company’s loan portfolio was concentrated in loans secured by real estate. A substantial portion of borrowers’ ability to honor their contractual obligations is dependent upon the viability of the real estate economic sector. In addition, a large portion of the Company’s foreclosed assets are also located in these same geographic markets, making the recovery of the carrying amount of foreclosed assets susceptible to changes in market conditions. Management continues to monitor these concentrations and has considered these concentrations in its allowance for credit loss analysis. In recent years, we have seen real estate values stabilizing in our markets. The stabilization of rates has resulted in a decrease in the number of loans being classified as impaired over the past several years.

Large credit relationships. The Company currently operates 34 locations in north, central, south and coastal Georgia and includes metropolitan markets in Fulton, Fayette, Dougherty, Lowndes, Houston, Chatham and Muscogee counties. The Company has also expanded its presence in 2023 into Birmingham, Alabama as well as Tallahassee and the Florida panhandle. As a result, the Company originates and maintains large credit relationships with several commercial customers in the ordinary course of business. The Company considers large credit relationships to be those with commitments equal to or in excess of $5.0 million prior to any portion being sold. Large relationships also include loan participations purchased if the credit relationship with the agent is equal to or in excess of $5.0 million. In addition to the Company’s normal policies and procedures related to the origination of large credits, the Company’s Executive Loan Committee and Director Loan Committee must approve all new and renewed credit facilities which are part of large credit relationships. At December 31, 2023, our largest 20 relationships consisted of loans and loan commitments, where the total committed balance was $354.1 million with $266.7 million outstanding. At December 31, 2022, our largest 20 relationships had total committed balance of $327.2 million with $227.2 million outstanding.

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Maturities and sensitivities of loans to changes in interest rates. The following table presents the maturity distribution of the Company’s loans at December 31, 2023. The table also presents the portion of loans that have fixed interest rates or variable interest rates that fluctuate over the life of the loans in accordance with changes in an interest rate index such as the prime rate.

(dollars in thousands)Due in One Year or LessAfter One, but within Five YearsAfter FiveYears, but within Fifteen YearsAfter Fifteen YearsTotal
Loans with fixed interest rates:
Construction, land & land development$104,421$39,932$45,049$12,314$201,716
Other commercial real estate69,295447,084382,36934,686933,434
Total commercial real estate173,716487,016427,41847,0001,135,150
Residential real estate12,40064,85847,24268,790193,290
Commercial, financial & agricultural44,42695,85456,9696,663203,912
Consumer and other5,41523,15816,02317,94762,543
Total loans with fixed interest rates, net of unearned fees235,957670,886547,652140,4001,594,895
Loans with floating interest rates:
Construction, land & land development14,1256,85024,45545,430
Other commercial real estate16,24022,8371,86440,941
Total commercial real estate30,36529,68726,31986,371
Residential real estate30,38617,365115,17221162,944
Commercial, financial & agricultural26,49212,35238,844
Consumer and other39323416
Total loans with floating interest rates, net of unearned fees87,63659,427141,49121288,575
Total loans, net of unearned fees$323,593$730,313$689,143$140,421$1,883,470

The Company may renew loans at maturity when requested by a customer whose financial strength appears to support such renewal or when such renewal appears to be in the Company’s best interest. In such instances, the Company generally requires payment of accrued interest and may adjust the rate of interest, require a principal reduction or modify other terms of the loan at the time of renewal.

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Nonperforming Assets and Potential Problem Loans

Asset quality experienced a slight decrease during the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to the repurchase of the government guaranteed portion of nonperforming loans, which were repurchased as part of the liquidation process and have no expected losses. Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, accruing loans contractually past due 90 days or more, repossessed personal property and other real estate owned ("OREO"). Nonaccrual loans totaled $9.8 million at December 31, 2023, an increase of $4.1 million, or 72.4%, from $5.7 million at December 31, 2022. There were two loans contractually past due 90 days or more and still accruing at December 31, 2023 and none at December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2023, OREO totaled $448,000, a decrease of $203,000, or 31.2%, compared with $651,000 at December 31, 2022. The change in OREO is primarily the result of four properties added to other real estate totaling $3.1 million offset by $3.3 million from the sale of five OREO properties. At the end of the year ended December 31, 2023, total nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets increased to 0.35% compared with 0.22% at December 31, 2022.

Year-end nonperforming assets and accruing past due loans were as follows:

(dollars in thousands)202320222021
Loans accounted for on nonaccrual$9,839$5,706$5,449
Loans accruing past due 90 days or more370
Other real estate foreclosed448651281
Repossessed assets49
Total nonperforming assets$10,657$6,357$5,779
Nonperforming loans by segment
Construction, land & land development$85$149$31
Other commercial real estate4,2191,509837
Residential real estate3,9112,6863,839
Commercial, financial & agricultural1,9561,341708
Consumer and other382134
Total nonperforming loans$10,209$5,706$5,449
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of:
Total loans, other real estate and foreclosed assets0.57%0.37%0.43%
Total assets0.35%0.22%0.21%
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of:
Total loans0.55%0.33%0.41%
Supplemental data:
Accruing past due loans:
30-89 days past due$6,069$1,793$4,567
90 or more days past due370
Total accruing past due loans$6,439$1,793$4,567
Allowance for credit losses$18,371$16,128$12,910
Allowance for credit losses as a percentage of:
Total loans0.98%0.93%0.96%
Nonperforming loans179.95282.65236.92

Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, loans past due 90 days or more, foreclosed real estate, repossessed assets and nonaccrual securities. Nonperforming assets at December 31, 2023 increased 67.6% from December 31, 2022, as a result of the increase in nonaccrual loans and loans accruing past due 90 days or more, offset by a slight decrease in other real estate owned property.

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Generally, loans are placed on nonaccrual status if principal or interest payments become 90 days past due and/or management deems the collectability of the principal and/or interest to be in question, as well as when required by regulatory requirements. Loans to a customer whose financial condition has deteriorated are considered for nonaccrual status whether or not the loan is 90 days or more past due. For consumer loans, collectability and loss are generally determined before the loan reaches 90 days past due. Accordingly, losses on consumer loans are recorded at the time they are determined. Consumer loans that are 90 days or more past due are generally either in liquidation/payment status or bankruptcy awaiting confirmation of a plan. Once interest accruals are discontinued, accrued but uncollected interest is charged to current year operations. Subsequent receipts on nonaccrual loans are recorded as a reduction of principal, and interest income is recorded only after principal recovery is reasonably assured. Classification of a loan as nonaccrual does not preclude the ultimate collection of loan principal or interest.

The Company had two loans modified due to financial difficulty during the year ended December 31, 2023. See Note 3. Loans, for additional details on loan modifications.

Foreclosed assets represent property acquired as the result of borrower defaults on loans. Foreclosed assets are recorded at estimated fair value, less estimated selling costs, at the time of foreclosure. Write-downs occurring at foreclosure are charged against the allowance for credit losses. On an ongoing basis, properties are appraised as required by market indications and applicable regulations. Write-downs are provided for subsequent declines in value and are included in other non-interest expense along with other expenses related to maintaining the properties.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The allowance for credit losses for loans is a reserve established through charges to earnings in the form of a provision for credit losses. The provision for credit losses is based on management's evaluation of the size and composition of the loan portfolio, the level of non-performing and past due loans, historical trends of charged-off loans and recoveries, prevailing economic conditions and other factors management deems appropriate. The Company's management has established an allowance for credit losses for loans which it believes is adequate to cover expected credit losses over the expected life of a loan exposure and unfunded commitments where the likelihood is that funding will occur. Based on a credit evaluation of the loan portfolio, management presents a quarterly review of the allowance for credit losses for loans and allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments to the Company's Board of Directors, which primarily focuses on risk by evaluating individual loans in certain risk categories. These categories have also been established by management and take the form of loan grades. By grading the loan portfolio in this manner, the Company's management is able to effectively evaluate the portfolio by risk, which management believes is the most effective way to analyze the loan portfolio and thus analyze the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses on loans.

The allowance for credit losses on loans is established by examining (1) the large classified loans, nonaccrual loans and loans considered impaired and evaluating them individually to determine the specific reserve allocation and (2) the remainder of the loan portfolio to allocate a portion of the allowance based on past loss experience and reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions for the particular loan category. The Company also considers other factors such as changes in lending policies and procedures; changes in national, regional and/or local economic and business conditions; changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio; changes in the experience, ability and depth of either the market president or lending staff; changes in the volume and severity of past due and classified loans; changes in the quality of the loan review system; and other factors management deems appropriate.

The allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures is adjusted as a provision for credit loss expense. The estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over its estimated life. The ACL is calculated using the same aggregate reserve rates calculated for the funded portion of loans at the portfolio level applied to the amount of commitments expected to fund.

Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses for each of these components on a quarterly basis. Peer comparisons, industry comparisons, and regulatory guidelines are also used in the determination of the valuation allowance. Loans identified as losses by management, internal loan review, and/or bank examiners are charged off. Additional information about the Company’s allowance for credit losses is provided in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for Allowance for Credit Losses.

The following table sets forth the breakdown of the allowance for credit losses on loans by loan category for the periods indicated. The allocation of the allowance to each category is subjective and is not necessarily indicative of future losses and does not restrict the use of the allowance to absorb losses in any other category.

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December 31,December 31,December 31,December 31,December 31,
(dollars in thousands)20232022202120202019
Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)
Construction, land & land development$2,20413.1%$1,95913.2%$1,12712.4%$1,01311.4%$2159.9%
Other commercial real estate7,06451.78,88656.17,69158.86,88049.13,90855.8
Residential real estate5,10518.92,35416.71,80515.92,27817.398020.1
Commercial, financial & agricultural2,11012.92,70912.91,08311.51,71320.11,65711.8
Consumer and other1,8883.42201.11,2041.42432.11032.4
$18,371100.0%$16,128100.0%$12,910100.0%$12,127100.0%$6,863100.0%

(1) Percentage represents the loan balance in each category expressed as a percentage of total end of period loans.

The following table presents an analysis of the Company’s allowance for credit losses on loans for the periods indicated.

(dollars in thousands)20232022202120202019
Allowance for credit losses on loans at beginning of year$16,128$12,910$12,127$6,863$7,277
Adoption of ASU 2016-13(53)
Charge-offs
Construction, land & land development429
Other commercial real estate6958568226119
Residential real estate771483206758
Commercial, financial & agricultural1,069314274242403
Consumer and other3560681,103784
Total charge-offs1,9444809131,7812,093
Recoveries
Construction, land & land development10254664582
Other commercial real estate4285118153218
Residential real estate7950274142174
Commercial, financial & agricultural201139914336
Consumer and other22294710465
Total recoveries354328996487575
Net charge-offs/(recoveries)1,590152(83)1,2941,518
Provision for credit losses on loans3,8863,3707006,5581,104
Allowance for credit losses on loans at end of year$18,371$16,128$12,910$12,127$6,863
Ratio of net charge-offs/(recoveries) to average loans0.09%0.01%(0.01)%0.12%0.11%

The allowance for credit losses on loans increased from $16.1 million or 0.93% of total loans at December 31, 2022 to $18.4 million, or 0.98% of total loans at December 31, 2023. The provision for credit losses on loans reflects loan quality trends, including the level of net charge-offs or recoveries, among other factors. The primary reason for the increase year over year was due to a few loans that faced downgrades and charge-offs. These loans represented a small number of loans and circumstances, and management has no concern that there are systemic issues across the portfolio.

The amount of provision expense recorded in 2023 was the amount required such that the total allowance for credit losses reflected the appropriate balance, in the estimation of management, that was sufficient to cover expected credit losses on loans

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over the expected life of a loan exposure and unfunded commitments where the likelihood is that funding will occur. The amount of provision expense recorded in 2022 and prior periods was the amount required such that the total allowance for credit losses reflected the appropriate balance, in the estimation of management, sufficient to cover probable, inherent losses in the loan portfolio.

Investment Portfolio

The following table presents carrying values of investment securities available-for-sale held by the Company as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

(dollars in thousands)202320222021
U.S. treasury securities$498$1,622$87,551
U.S. agency securities4,1394,58517,781
Asset backed securities24,63029,988
State, county and municipal securities109,036104,756250,153
Corporate debt securities47,39049,58548,408
Mortgage-backed securities221,689242,017534,271
Total debt securities$407,382$432,553$938,164

The following table presents investment securities held-to-maturity, carried at cost by the Company as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

(dollars in thousands)202320222021
U.S. treasury securities$93,306$91,615$
U.S. agency securities16,28216,409
State, county and municipal securities136,685136,138
Mortgage-backed securities202,758221,696
Total debt securities$449,031$465,858$

The following table represents expected maturities and weighted-average yields of investment securities held by the Company as of December 31, 2023 (mortgage-backed securities are based on the average life at the projected speed, while State and Political Subdivisions reflect anticipated calls being exercised).

After 1 Year ButAfter 5 Years But
Available for SaleWithin 1 YearWithin 5 YearsWithin 10 YearsAfter 10 Years
(dollars in thousands)AmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYield
U.S. treasury securities$4982.91%$%$%$%
U.S. agency securities8880.768752.432,3762.89
Asset backed securities521.335,9336.1118,6456.80
State, county and municipal securities2155.484,0591.4946,0852.0558,6772.10
Corporate debt securities9,6984.8035,7464.341,94611.12
Mortgage-backed securities20,8877.5341,9403.456,7751.94152,0872.47
Total debt securities$21,6007.40%$56,6373.50%$95,4143.16%$233,7312.80%

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After 1 Year ButAfter 5 Years But
Held to MaturityWithin 1 YearWithin 5 YearsWithin 10 YearsAfter 10 Years
(dollars in thousands)AmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYield
U.S. treasury securities$3,9371.21%$84,5061.05%$4,8631.33%$%
U.S. agency securities7,8381.178,4441.47
State, county and municipal securities1,8501.0663,2222.2071,6131.94
Mortgage-backed securities24,1151.7445,0581.95133,5852.13
Total debt securities$3,9371.21%$118,3091.20%$121,5872.02%$205,1982.06%

Securities are classified as held to maturity and carried at amortized cost when management has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity. Securities are classified as available for sale when they might be sold before maturity. Securities available for sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income. The Company had both held to maturity and available for sale securities in the investment portfolio at December 31, 2023. Management also evaluates its securities portfolio for any credit-related impairment on a quarterly basis. The Company did not identify any credit-related impairment in its held to maturity or available for sale portfolios at December 31, 2023.

At December 31, 2023, there were no holdings of any one issuer, other than the U.S. government and its agencies, in an amount greater than 10% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity.

The average yield of the securities portfolio was 2.72% in 2023 and 2.16% in 2022. The increase in the average yield from 2022 to 2023 was primarily attributed to paydowns of lower yielding investments and repricing of variable rate securities.

Deposits

The following table presents the average amount outstanding and the average rate paid on deposits by the Company for the years 2023, 2022, and 2021.

202320222021
(dollars in thousands)AverageAmountAverage RateAverage AmountAverage RateAverage AmountAverage Rate
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits$519,225$564,322$449,445
Interest-bearing demand and savings deposits1,390,2471.14%1,439,2340.21%1,073,8240.09%
Time deposits619,0833.17%370,3750.76%297,7040.56%
Total deposits$2,528,5551.40%$2,373,9310.25%$1,820,9730.14%

The following table presents the maturities of the Company’s time deposits as of December 31, 2023.

(dollars in thousands)TimeDeposits$250,000 or GreaterTimeDepositsLess than $250,000Total
Months to Maturity
3 months or less$29,203$150,150$179,353
Over 3 months through 6 months67,382121,717189,099
Over 6 months through 12 months54,580125,802180,382
Over 12 months16,51560,83977,354
$167,680$458,508$626,188

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Average deposits increased $154.6 million in 2023 compared to 2022. The increase in 2023 included $248.7 million, or 67.2% in time deposits, which were partially offset by decreases in interest-bearing demand and savings deposits of $49.0 million, or 3.4% and noninterest-bearing deposits of $45.1 million, or 8.0%. The increase in our overall deposits is due primarily to the increase in the rate the Company offers on its time deposit products as well as the increase in brokered deposits. The increase in deposit rates is attributable to the 100 basis point increase in the national federal funds rate during 2023.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, $777.8 million and $882.2 million, respectively, of our deposit portfolio was uninsured. The uninsured amounts are estimated based on the methodologies and assumptions used for the Bank's regulatory reporting requirements.

The Company supplements deposit sources with brokered deposits. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $93.6 million, or 3.68% of total deposits, in brokered certificates of deposit attracted by external third parties. Additional information is provided in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for Deposits.

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

In the ordinary course of business, our Bank has granted commitments to extend credit to approved customers. Generally, these commitments to extend credit have been granted on a temporary basis for seasonal or inventory requirements or for construction period financing and have been approved within the Bank’s credit guidelines. Our Bank has also granted commitments to approved customers for financial standby letters of credit. These commitments are recorded in the financial statements when funds are disbursed or the financial instruments become payable. The Bank uses the same credit policies for these off-balance-sheet commitments as it does for financial instruments that are recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitment amounts expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

The following table summarizes commitments and contractual obligations outstanding at December 31, 2023.

(dollars in thousands)Payments Due by Period
TotalLess Than 1 Year1 – 3 Years3 – 5 YearsMore Than 5 Years
Contractual Obligations:
Borrowings$238,445$70,000$25,000$80,000$63,445
Operating lease liabilities1,967642956369
Time Deposits626,188548,83467,8919,195268
$866,600$619,476$93,847$89,564$63,713
Other Commitments:
Loan commitments$362,878$172,757$51,873$11,930$126,318
Standby letters of credit5,6564,702954
368,534177,45952,82711,930126,318
Total Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments$1,235,134$796,935$146,674$101,494$190,031

Loan Commitments. The Company enters into contractual commitments to extend credit, normally with fixed expiration dates or termination clauses, at specified rates and for specific purposes. Substantially all of the Company’s commitments to extend credit are contingent upon customers maintaining specific credit standards at the time of loan funding. The Company minimizes its exposure to loss under these commitments by subjecting them to credit approval and monitoring procedures. Management assesses the credit risk associated with certain commitments to extend credit in determining the level of the allowance for credit losses. Loan commitments outstanding at December 31, 2023 are included in the preceding table.

Standby Letters of Credit. Letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. In the event the customer does not perform in accordance with the terms of the agreement with the third party, the Company would be required to fund the commitment. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make is represented by the contractual amount of the commitment. If the

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commitment is funded, the Company would be entitled to seek recovery from the customer. The Company’s policies generally require that standby letters of credit arrangements contain security and debt covenants similar to those contained in loan agreements. Standby letters of credit outstanding at December 31, 2023 are included in the preceding table.

Capital Requirements

The Bank and the Company are each required under federal law to maintain certain minimum capital levels based on ratios of capital to total assets and capital to risk-weighted assets. The required capital ratios are minimums, and the federal banking agencies may determine that a banking organization, based on its size, complexity or risk profile, must maintain a higher level of capital in order to operate in a safe and sound manner. Risks such as concentration of credit risks and the risk arising from non-traditional activities, as well as the institution’s exposure to a decline in the economic value of its capital due to changes in interest rates, and an institution’s ability to manage those risks are important factors that are to be taken into account by the federal banking agencies in assessing an institution’s overall capital adequacy. For more information, see “Item 1. Business – Supervision and Regulation – Regulation of the Company – Capital Requirements.”

At December 31, 2023, shareholders’ equity totaled $254.9 million compared to $230.3 million at December 31, 2022. In addition to net income of $21.7 million, another significant change in shareholders’ equity during 2023 included $7.7 million of dividends declared on common stock. The accumulated other comprehensive loss component of stockholders’ equity totaled $55.6 million at December 31, 2023 compared to $66.4 million at December 31, 2022. This fluctuation was mostly related to the after-tax effect of changes in the fair value of securities available for sale. Under regulatory requirements, the unrealized gain or loss on securities available for sale does not increase or reduce regulatory capital and is not included in the calculation of risk-based capital and leverage ratios. Regulatory agencies for banks and bank holding companies utilize capital guidelines designed to measure Tier 1 and total capital and take into consideration the risk inherent in both on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet items.

Tier 1 capital consists of common stock and qualifying preferred securities less goodwill, intangibles and disallowed deferred tax assets. Tier 2 capital consists of certain convertible, subordinated and other qualifying debt and the allowance for credit losses up to 1.25% of risk-weighted assets. The Company's Tier 2 capital consists of subordinated notes and the allowance for credit losses.

Using the capital requirements presently in effect, the Tier 1 ratio as of December 31, 2023 was 12.77% and total Tier 1 and 2 risk-based capital was 15.47%. Both of these measures compare favorably with the regulatory minimum of 6.0% for Tier 1 and 8% for total risk-based capital. The Company’s common equity Tier 1 ratio as of December 31, 2023 was 11.66%, which exceeds the regulatory minimum of 4.50%. The Company’s Tier 1 leverage ratio as of December 31, 2023 was 9.17%, which exceeds the required ratio standard of 4.0%.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, average capital was $238.9 million representing 7.9% of average assets for the year. This compares to average capital of $236.3 million, representing 8.6% of average assets for 2022.

For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not have any material commitments for capital expenditures.

The Company granted 55,210 and 139,720 restricted shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. All restricted shares vest over a three year period.

A cash dividend of $7.7 million and $7.2 million was paid for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Liquidity

The Company, primarily through the actions of its subsidiary bank, engages in liquidity management to ensure adequate cash flow for deposit withdrawals, credit commitments and repayments of borrowed funds. Needs are met through loan repayments, net interest and fee income and the sale or maturity of existing assets. In addition, liquidity is continuously provided through the acquisition of new deposits, the renewal of maturing deposits and external borrowings.

Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2023 and 2022 were $83.3 million and $80.7 million, respectively. The increase in cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to increases in deposits and other borrowings needed to fund loan growth.

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Management believes the various funding sources discussed above are adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs in these unsettled times without any material adverse impact on our operating results.

Management monitors deposit flow and evaluates alternate pricing structures to retain and grow deposits. To the extent needed to fund loan demand, traditional local deposit funding sources are supplemented by the use of FHLB borrowings, brokered deposits and other wholesale deposit sources outside the immediate market area. Internal policies have been updated to monitor the use of various core and non-core funding sources, and to balance ready access with risk and cost. Through various asset/liability management strategies, a balance is maintained among goals of liquidity, safety and earnings potential. Internal policies that are consistent with regulatory liquidity guidelines are monitored and enforced by the Bank.

The investment portfolio provides a ready means to raise cash if liquidity needs arise. As of December 31, 2023, the available-for-sale bond portfolio totaled $407.4 million. At December 31, 2022, the available for sale bond portfolio totaled $432.6 million. This decrease is primarily attributable to maturities, calls and paydowns on the portfolio during 2023. Only marketable investment grade bonds are purchased. Although approximately 50.2% of the Bank’s bond portfolio is encumbered as pledges to secure various public funds deposits, repurchase agreements, and for other purposes, management can restructure and free up investment securities for sale if required to meet liquidity needs.

Management continually monitors the relationship of loans to deposits as it primarily determines the Company’s liquidity posture. Colony had ratios of loans to deposits of 74.0% as of December 31, 2023 and 69.7% as of December 31, 2022. Management employs alternative funding sources when deposit balances will not meet loan demands. The ratios of loans to all funding sources (excluding Subordinated Debentures) at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 were 69.3% and 66.0%, respectively. Management continues to emphasize programs to generate local core deposits as our Company’s primary funding sources. The stability of the Banks’ core deposit base is an important factor in Colony’s liquidity position. A heavy percentage of the deposit base is comprised of accounts of individuals and small businesses with comprehensive banking relationships and limited volatility. At December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Bank had $167.7 million and $114.8 million, respectively, in certificates of deposit of $250,000 or more. These larger deposits represented 6.6% and 4.6% of total deposits as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Management seeks to monitor and control the use of these larger certificates, which tend to be more volatile in nature, to ensure an adequate supply of funds as needed. Relative interest costs to attract local core relationships are compared to market rates of interest on various external deposit sources to help minimize the Company’s overall cost of funds.

The Company supplemented deposit sources with brokered deposits. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $93.6 million or 3.68% of total deposits in brokered deposits. Additional information is provided in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements regarding these brokered deposits. Additionally, the Company uses external deposit listing services to obtain out-of-market certificates of deposit at competitive interest rates when funding is needed. The deposits obtained from listing services are often referred to as wholesale or internet CDs.

To plan for contingent sources of funding not satisfied by both local and out-of-market deposit balances, Colony and its subsidiary have established multiple borrowing sources to augment their funds management. The Company has borrowing capacity through membership of the Federal Home Loan Bank program. The Bank has also established overnight borrowing for Federal Funds Purchased through various correspondent banks. Management believes the various funding sources discussed above are adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs in the future without any material adverse impact on operating results. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had $175.0 million and $125.0 million, respectively, of outstanding advances from the FHLB. Based on the values of loans pledged as collateral, we had $596.2 million and $574.9 million of additional borrowing availability with the FHLB at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Other sources of liquidity include overnight borrowings from the Federal Reserve Discount Window, as well as access to the FRB Term Funding Program which offers loans to eligible depository institutions of up to one year in length. The Company also has unencumbered investment securities which provide the ability to either be pledged as collateral with borrowing sources or sold and converted to cash.

Liquidity measures the ability to meet current and future cash flow needs as they become due. The liquidity of a financial institution reflects its ability to meet loan requests, to accommodate possible outflows in deposits and to take advantage of interest rate market opportunities. The ability of a financial institution to meet its current financial obligations is a function of balance sheet structure, the ability to liquidate assets, and the availability of alternative sources of funds. The Company seeks to ensure its funding needs are met by maintaining a level of liquid funds through asset/liability management.

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Asset liquidity is provided by liquid assets which are readily marketable or pledgeable or which will mature in the near future. Liquid assets include cash, interest-bearing deposits in banks, securities available for sale and federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements.

Liability liquidity is provided by access to funding sources which include core deposits. Should the need arise, the Company also maintains relationships with the Federal Home Loan Bank, Federal Reserve Bank, three correspondent banks and repurchase agreement lines that can provide funds on short notice.

Since Colony is a bank holding Company and does not conduct operations, its primary sources of liquidity are dividends up streamed from the subsidiary bank and borrowings from outside sources.

The liquidity position of the Company is continuously monitored and adjustments are made to the balance between sources and uses of funds as deemed appropriate. Management is not aware of any events that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, capital resources or operations. In addition, management is not aware of any regulatory recommendations regarding liquidity, which if implemented, would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

The Company’s financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). GAAP presently requires the Company to measure financial position and operating results primarily in terms of historic dollars. Changes in the relative value of money due to inflation or recession are generally not considered. The primary effect of inflation on the operations of the Company is reflected in increased operating costs, and the Company has experienced material effects of inflation during the last three fiscal years due to the government's monetary policies and the current economic climate. In management’s opinion, changes in interest rates affect the financial condition of a financial institution to a far greater degree than changes in the inflation rate. While interest rates are greatly influenced by changes in the inflation rate, they do not necessarily change at the same rate or in the same magnitude as the inflation rate. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond the control of the Company, including changes in the expected rate of inflation, the influence of general and local economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities, among other things, as further discussed in the next section.

Regulatory and Economic Policies

The Company’s business and earnings are affected by general and local economic conditions and by the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities, among other things. The Federal Reserve Board regulates the supply of money in order to influence general economic conditions. Among the instruments of monetary policy available to the Federal Reserve Board are (i) conducting open market operations in United States government obligations, (ii) changing the discount rate on financial institution borrowings, (iii) imposing or changing reserve requirements against financial institution deposits, and (iv) restricting certain borrowings and imposing or changing reserve requirements against certain borrowings by financial institutions and their affiliates. These methods are used in varying degrees and combinations to directly affect the availability of bank loans and deposits, as well as the interest rates charged on loans and paid on deposits. For that reason alone, the policies of the Federal Reserve Board have a material effect on the earnings of the Company.

Governmental policies have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future; however, the Company cannot accurately predict the nature, timing or extent of any effect such policies may have on its future business and earnings.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies included in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Market Risk and Interest Rate Sensitivity

Our financial performance is impacted by, among other factors, interest rate risk and credit risk. We utilize derivatives to help manage our interest rate risk position and mitigate exposure to the variability of future cash flows or other forecasted transactions. We mitigate our credit risk through reliance on an extensive loan review process and our allowance for credit losses.

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Interest rate risk is the change in value due to changes in interest rates. The Company is exposed only to U.S. dollar interest rate changes and, accordingly, the Company manages exposure by considering the possible changes in the net interest margin. The Company does not have any trading instruments nor does it classify any portion of its investment portfolio as held for trading. The Company has no exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk, commodity price risk and other market risks. Interest rate risk is addressed by our Risk Management Committee which includes senior management representatives. The Risk Management Committee monitors interest rate risk by analyzing the potential impact to the net portfolio of equity value and net interest income from potential changes to interest rates and considers the impact of alternative strategies or changes in balance sheet structure.

Interest rates play a major part in the net interest income of financial institutions. The repricing of interest earnings assets and interest-bearing liabilities can influence the changes in net interest income. The timing of repriced assets and liabilities is Gap management and our Company has established its policy to maintain a Gap ratio in the one-year time horizon of .80 to 1.20.

Our exposure to interest rate risk is reviewed at least quarterly by our Board of Directors and by our Risk Management Committee. Interest rate risk exposure is measured using interest rate sensitivity analysis to determine our change in net portfolio value in the event of assumed changes in interest rates. In order to reduce the exposure to interest rate fluctuations, we have implemented strategies to more closely match our balance sheet composition. The Company has engaged Stifel to run a quarterly asset/liability model for interest rate risk analysis. We are generally focusing our investment activities on securities with terms or average lives in the 3 ½ - 5 ½ year range.

Market risk reflects the risk of economic loss resulting from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. This risk of loss can be reflected in either reduced current market values or reduced current and potential net income. Colony’s most significant market risk is interest rate risk. This risk arises primarily from Colony’s extension of loans and acceptance of deposits.

Managing interest rate risk is a primary goal of the asset liability management function. Colony attempts to achieve stability in net interest income while limiting volatility arising from changes in interest rates. Colony seeks to achieve this goal by balancing the maturity and repricing characteristics of assets and liabilities. Colony manages its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates through policies established by the Risk Management Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The Risk Management Committee meets at least quarterly and has responsibility for developing asset liability management policies, reviewing the interest rate sensitivity of Colony, and developing and implementing strategies to improve balance sheet structure and interest rate risk positioning.

Colony measures the sensitivity of net interest income to changes in market interest rates through the utilization of Asset/Liability simulation modeling. On at least a quarterly basis, the following twenty-four month time period is simulated to determine a baseline net interest income forecast and the sensitivity of this forecast to changes in interest rates. These simulations include all of Colony’s earning assets and liabilities. Forecasted balance sheet changes, primarily reflecting loan and deposit growth and forecasts, are included in the periods modeled. Projected rates for loans and deposits are based on management’s outlook and local market conditions.

The magnitude and velocity of rate changes among the various asset and liability groups exhibit different characteristics for each possible interest rate scenario; additionally, customer loan and deposit preferences can vary in response to changing interest rates. Simulation modeling enables Colony to capture the expected effect of these differences. Assumptions utilized in the model are updated on an ongoing basis and are reviewed and approved by the Risk Management Committee of the Board of Directors.

Colony has modeled its baseline net interest income forecast assuming a flat interest rate environment with the federal funds rate at the Federal Reserve's targeted range of 5.25% and the prime rate of 8.50% at December 31, 2023. Colony has modeled the impact of a gradual increase in short-term rates of 100 and 200 basis points and a decline of 100 basis points to determine the sensitivity of net interest income for the next twelve months. As illustrated in the table below, the net interest income sensitivity model indicates that, compared with a net interest income forecast assuming stable rates, net interest income is projected to increase by 0.54% and 0.97% if interest rates increased by 100 and 200 basis points, respectively. Net interest income is projected to decline by 2.03% if interest rates decreased by 100 basis points. These changes were within Colony’s policy limit of a maximum 15% negative change.

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Twelve Month Net Interest Income Sensitivity
Estimated Change in Net Interest Income as of December 31,
Change in Short-term Interest Rates (in basis points)20232022
+2000.97%2.59%
+1000.54%1.37%
Flat—%—%
-1002.03%-0.61%

The measured interest rate sensitivity indicates an asset sensitive position over the next year, which could serve to improve net interest income in a rising interest rate environment. The actual realized change in net interest income would depend on several factors, some of which could serve to reduce or eliminate the asset sensitivity noted above. These factors include a higher than projected level of deposit customer migration to higher cost deposits, such as certificates of deposit, which would increase total interest expense and serve to reduce the realized level of asset sensitivity. Another factor which could impact the realized interest rate sensitivity in a rising rate environment is the repricing behavior of interest-bearing non-maturity deposits. Assumptions for repricing are expressed as a beta relative to the change in the prime rate. For instance, a 25% beta would correspond to a deposit rate that would increase 0.25% for every 1% increase in the prime rate. Projected betas for interest bearing non-maturity deposit repricing are a key component of determining the Company's interest rate risk position. Should realized betas be higher than projected betas, the expected benefit from higher interest rates would be reduced.

Colony is also subject to market risk in certain of its fee income business lines. Mortgage banking income is subject to market risk. Mortgage loan originations are sensitive to levels of mortgage interest rates and therefore, mortgage banking income could be negatively impacted during a period of rising interest rates. The extension of commitments to customers to fund mortgage loans also subjects Colony to market risk. This risk is primarily created by the time period between making the commitment and closing and delivering the loan. Colony seeks to minimize this exposure by utilizing various risk management tools, the primary of which are forward sales commitments and best efforts commitments.

FY 2022 10-K MD&A

SEC filing source: 0000711669-23-000041.

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2023-03-16. Report date: 2022-12-31.

Item 7

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risk, uncertainties and, assumptions. Certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to those set forth under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors,” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.

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The Company

Colony Bankcorp, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Fitzgerald, Georgia that provides, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Colony Bank (collectively referred to as the Company), a broad array of products and services throughout central, south and coastal Georgia markets. The Company offers commercial, consumer and mortgage banking services.

Recent Developments

The Company paid dividends to its shareholders throughout 2022 and 2021 on a quarterly basis. In 2022, we had a quarterly dividend of $0.1075 per share of common stock and in 2021, we had a quarterly dividend of $0.1025 per share of common stock.

On February 10, 2022, the Company completed a public offering of 3,848,485 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $16.50 per share, with aggregate proceeds of approximately $63.5 million.

On May 20, 2022, the Company completed a private placement of $40 million in fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due 2032 (the “Notes”). The Notes will bear a fixed rate of 5.25% for the first five years and will reset quarterly thereafter to then current three-month Secured Overnight Financing Rate, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, plus 265 basis points for the five-year floating term. The Company is entitled to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, on any interest payment date on or after May 20, 2027, or at any time, in whole but not in part, upon certain other specified event. At December 31, 2022, $39.1 million of Notes, net of debt issuance costs were outstanding.

On October 20, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized a stock buyback program, under which the Company may repurchase up to $12 million of its outstanding common stock. Repurchases under this program may be made from time to time through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or such other manners as will comply with applicable laws and regulations. The timing and actual number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors including price, corporate and regulatory requirements, market conditions and other corporate liquidity requirements and priorities. The buyback program does not obligate the Company to purchase any particular number of shares and there is no guarantee as to the exact number of shares that will be repurchased by the Company. The buyback program is intended to expire at the end of 2023 but may be suspended, modified or terminated by the Company at any time and for any reason, without prior notice. As of December 31, 2022, 40,000 shares had been repurchased at a price of $13.50, leaving $11.5 million available for future repurchases.

Reconciliation and Management Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Our accounting and reporting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, certain non-GAAP measures are used by management to supplement the evaluation of our performance. These include the fully-taxable equivalent measures: tax-equivalent net interest income, tax-equivalent net interest margin and tax-equivalent net interest spread, which include the effects of taxable-equivalent adjustments using a federal income tax rate of 14% and 19% to increase tax-exempt interest income to a tax-equivalent basis for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.  Tax-equivalent adjustments are reported in Notes 1 and 2 to the Average Balances with Average Yields and Rates table under Rate/Volume Analysis. Management believes that non-GAAP financial measures provide additional useful information that allows investors to evaluate the ongoing performance of the company and provide meaningful comparisons to its peers. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures also enhance investors' ability to compare period-to-period financial results and allow investors and company management to view our operating results excluding the impact of items that are not reflective of the underlying operating performance.

Tax-equivalent net interest income, net interest margin and net interest spread.

Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis is a non-GAAP measure that adjusts for the tax-favored status of net interest income from loans and investments. We believe this measure to be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income and it enhances comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest income. Net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis is net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis divided by average interest-earning assets on a tax-equivalent basis. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest margin. Net interest spread on a tax-equivalent basis is the difference in the average yield on average interest-earning assets on a tax equivalent basis and the average rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest spread.

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These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered alternatives to GAAP-basis financial statements, and other bank holding companies may define or calculate these non-GAAP measures or similar measures differently.

A reconciliation of these performance measures to GAAP performance measures is included in the tables below.

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Non-GAAP Performance Measures Reconciliation

Years Ended December 31,
20222021
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Operating noninterest expense reconciliation
Operating net income reconciliation
Net income (GAAP)$19,542$18,659
Acquisition-related expenses1424,617
Severance Costs1,34690
FHLB mark from called borrowings751
Income tax benefit of expenses(298)(874)
Operating net income$21,483$22,492
Weighted average diluted shares17,191,07911,254,130
Adjusted earnings per diluted share$1.25$2.00
Tangible book value per common share reconciliation
Book value per common share (GAAP)$13.08$15.92
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles(3.10)(4.41)
Tangible book value per common share$9.98$11.51
Tangible equity to tangible assets reconciliation
Equity to assets (GAAP)7.84%8.09%
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles(1.74)%(2.11)%
Tangible equity to tangible assets6.10%5.98%
Operating efficiency ratio calculation
Efficiency ratio (GAAP)77.34%76.72%
Severance Costs(1.16)
Acquisition-related expenses(0.12)(4.51)
Writedown of bank premises(0.09)
FHLB mark from called borrowings(0.65)
Operating efficiency ratio75.40%72.13%
Pre-provision net revenue
Net interest income before provision for credit losses$80,625$66,189
Noninterest income35,07236,290
115,697102,479
Noninterest expense89,47578,625
Pre-provision net revenue$26,222$23,854

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The consolidated financial statements of Colony are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and follow general practices within the industry in which it operates. This preparation requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates, assumptions and judgments are based on information available as of the date of the consolidated financial statements; accordingly, as this information changes, actual results could differ from the estimates, assumptions and judgments reflected in the consolidated financial statements. Certain policies inherently have a greater reliance on the use of estimates, assumptions and judgments and, as such, have a greater possibility of producing results that could be materially different than originally reported. Estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change include the valuation of loan acquisition transactions, as well as the determination of the allowance for loan losses and income taxes and, therefore, are critical accounting policies. In addition to the discussion that follows, the accounting policies related to these estimates are further described in Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, under Part II, Item 8.

Business Combinations and Valuation of Loans Acquired in Business Combinations

We account for acquisitions under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, which requires the use of the acquisition method of accounting. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination are recorded at the estimated fair value on their purchase date. As provided for under GAAP, management has up to 12 months following the date of the acquisition to finalize the fair values of acquired assets and assumed liabilities, where it was not possible to estimate the acquisition date fair value upon consummation. Management finalized the fair values of acquired assets and assumed liabilities within this 12-month period and management currently considers such values to be the Day 1 Fair Values for the acquisition transactions.

In particular, the valuation of acquired loans involves significant estimates, assumptions and judgment based on information available as of the acquisition date. Loans acquired in a business combination transaction are evaluated either individually or in pools of loans with similar characteristics; including consideration of a credit component. A number of factors are considered in determining the estimated fair value of purchased loans including, among other things, the remaining life of the acquired loans, estimated prepayments, estimated loss ratios, estimated value of the underlying collateral, estimated holding periods, contractual interest rates compared to market interest rates, and net present value of cash flows expected to be received.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is a critical accounting estimate that requires significant judgments and assumptions, which are inherently subjective. The use of different estimates or assumptions could have a significant impact on the provision for credit losses, allowance for loan losses, financial condition, and results of operations. The economic and business climate in any given industry or market is difficult to gauge and can change rapidly, and the effects of those changes can vary by borrower.

The allowance consists of specific, historical and general components. The specific component relates to loans that are classified as either doubtful, substandard or special mention. For loans that are classified as impaired, an allowance is established when the discounted cash flows (or collateral value or observable market price) of the impaired loan are lower than the carrying value of that loan. The historical component covers nonclassified loans and is based on historical loss experience adjusted for qualitative factors. A general component is maintained to cover uncertainties that could affect management’s estimate of probable losses. The general component of the allowance reflects the margin of imprecision inherent in the underlying assumptions used in the methodologies for estimating specific and historical losses in the portfolio. General valuation allowances are based on internal and external qualitative risk factors such as (1) changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and collections, charge offs, and recovery practices, (2) changes in international, national, regional, and local conditions, (3) changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio and terms of loans, (4) changes in the experience, depth, and ability of lending management, (5) changes in the volume and severity of past due loans and other similar conditions, (6) changes in the quality of the organization's loan review system, (7) changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral dependent loans, (8) the existence and effect of any concentrations of credit and changes in the levels of such concentrations, and (9) the effect of other external factors (i.e. competition, legal and regulatory requirements) on the level of estimated credit losses.

Consolidated net income and stockholders’ equity could be affected if management’s estimate of the allowance necessary to cover loan losses is subsequently materially different, requiring a change in the level of provision for loan losses to be recorded. While management uses currently available information to recognize losses on loans, future adjustments may be necessary

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based on newly received appraisals, updated commercial customer financial statements, rapidly deteriorating customer cash flow, and changes in economic conditions or forecasts that affect the Company's customers.

Income Taxes

The assessment of income tax assets and liabilities involves the use of estimates, assumptions, interpretation, and judgment concerning certain accounting pronouncements and federal and state tax codes. There can be no assurance that future events, such as court decisions or positions of federal and state taxing authorities, will not differ from management’s current assessment, the impact of which could be significant to the consolidated results of operations and reported earnings.

Colony files a consolidated federal income tax return and a combined state income tax return (both of which include Colony and its wholly owned subsidiaries). Accordingly, amounts equal to tax benefits of those companies having taxable federal losses or credits are reimbursed by the companies that incur federal tax liabilities. Amounts provided for income tax expense are based on income reported for financial statement purposes and do not necessarily represent amounts currently payable under tax laws. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed quarterly for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted tax law rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through provision for income tax expense. Valuation allowances are established when it is more likely than not that a portion of the full amount of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets, management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies. Colony may also recognize a liability for unrecognized tax benefits from uncertainty in income taxes. Unrecognized tax benefits represent the differences between a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the benefit recognized and measured in the financial statements. Penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are classified as income tax expense.

Overview

The following discussion and analysis present the more significant factors affecting the Company’s financial condition as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and results of operations for each of the two year-periods ended December 31, 2022. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements, notes thereto and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this report.

Taxable-equivalent adjustments are the result of increasing income from tax-free loans and investments by an amount equal to the taxes that would be paid if the income were fully taxable based on a 14% federal tax rate for 2022 and a 19% federal rate for 2021, thus making tax-exempt yields comparable to taxable asset yields.

Dollar amounts in tables are stated in thousands, except for per share amounts.

Results of Operations

The Company’s results of operations are determined by its ability to effectively manage interest income and expense, to minimize loan and investment losses, to generate noninterest income and to control noninterest expense. Since market forces and economic conditions beyond the control of the Company determine interest rates, the ability to generate net interest income is dependent upon the Company’s ability to obtain an adequate spread between the rate earned on interest-earning assets and the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. Thus, the key performance for net interest income is the interest margin or net yield, which is taxable-equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. Net income available to common shareholders totaled $19.5 million, or $1.14 per diluted shares in 2022, compared to $18.7 million, or $1.66 per diluted shares in 2021.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income is the difference between interest income on earning assets, such as loans and securities, and interest expense on liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings, which are used to fund those assets. Net interest income is the Company’s largest source of revenue, representing 63.7% of total revenue during 2022 and 61.9% of total revenue during 2021.

Net interest margin is the taxable-equivalent net interest income as a percentage of average interest-earning assets for the period. The level of interest rates and the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities impact net interest income and net interest margin.

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The Company’s loan portfolio is significantly affected by changes in the prime interest rate. The prime interest rate, which is the rate offered on loans to borrowers with strong credit, was 7.50% as of December 31, 2022 and 3.25% as of December 31, 2021. The Federal Reserve Board sets general market rates of interest, including the deposit and loan rates offered by many financial institutions. During 2022, the prime interest rate increased 4.25%.  During 2021, the prime interest rate remained the same.

The following table presents the changes in taxable-equivalent net interest income and identifies the changes due to differences in the average volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the changes due to changes in the average interest rate on those assets and liabilities. The changes in net interest income due to changes in both average volume and average interest rate have been allocated to the average volume change or the average interest rate change in proportion to the absolute amounts of the change in each. The Company’s consolidated average balance sheets along with an analysis of taxable-equivalent net interest earnings are presented in the Rate/Volume Analysis.

Rate/Volume Analysis

The rate/volume analysis presented hereafter illustrates the change from year to year for each component of the taxable equivalent net interest income separated into the amount generated through volume changes and the amount generated by changes in the yields/rates.

Changes from 2021 to 2022 (a)
(dollars in thousands)VolumeRateTotal
Interest income
Loans, net of unearned fees$16,231$(5,755)$10,476
Investment securities, taxable4,6613,9508,611
Investment securities, exempt1,033531,086
Interest-bearing deposits(101)774673
Total interest income21,824(978)20,846
Interest expense
Interest-Bearing Demand and Savings Deposits3291,7892,118
Time Deposits4077501,157
Federal funds purchased5454
FHLB Advances7291,1441,873
Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility ("PPPLF")(93)(93)
Other Borrowings6267331,359
Total interest expense1,9984,4706,468
Net interest income$19,826$(5,448)$14,378

(a)Changes in net interest income for the periods, based on either changes in average balances or changes in average rates for interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, are shown on this table. During each year there are numerous and simultaneous balance and rate changes; therefore, it is not possible to precisely allocate the changes between balances and rates. For the purpose of this table, changes that are not exclusively due to balance changes or rate changes have been attributed to rates.

The Company maintains about 11.66% of its loan portfolio in adjustable rate loans that reprice with prime rate changes, while approximately half of its other loans mature within 5 years. The liabilities to fund assets are primarily in non-maturing core deposits and short-term certificates of deposit that mature within one year. During 2022, Federal Reserve rates increased 425 basis points. The Federal Reserve rates remained the same in 2021. We have seen the net interest margin decrease to 3.20% for 2022, compared to 3.39% for 2021 primarily due to increased deposit rates along with an increase in borrowings.

Taxable-equivalent net interest income for 2022 increased by $14.4 million or 21.6%, compared to 2021, due to increases in loan volume and purchases of investment securities, offset by increases in deposit rates and increases in borrowings to fund loan growth. The average volume of interest-earning assets during 2022 increased $568.8 million compared to 2021, primarily

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related to increases in loans and securities.. The total yield on interest-earning assets remained consistent year over year with decreases in loans related to fees recognized on PPP loans in 2021 which was offset with increases in the investment portfolio during 2022.

The average volume of loans increased $318.9 million in 2022 compared to 2021, which primarily reflects organic loan growth. The average yield on loans decreased by 38 basis points in 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to the decrease of $4.9 million in PPP loan fees. The average volume of interest-bearing deposits increased $438.1 million in 2022 compared to 2021. Average savings and interest-bearing demand deposits increased $365.4 million and average time deposits increased $72.7 million in 2022 compared to 2021.

Accordingly, the ratio of average interest-bearing deposits to total average deposits was 76.23% in 2022 and 75.32% in 2021. For 2022, this deposit mix, combined with an increase in interest rates, had the effect of increasing the average cost of total deposits by 13 basis points in 2022 compared to 2021. The Company used borrowings to fund loan growth during 2022. The funds borrowed in 2022 were at higher interest rates and were a contributing factor in the increase of 26 basis points in total other interest-bearing liabilities in 2022 compared to 2021.

The Company’s net interest spread, which represents the difference between the average rate earned on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, decreased to 3.07% in 2022 from 3.32% in 2021 and was also a result of deposit rate increases and an increase in borrowings, along with the decrease in loan yields due to the PPP loan fee decrease noted above. The net interest spread, as well as the net interest margin, will be impacted by future changes in short-term and long-term interest rate levels, as well as the impact from the competitive environment. A discussion of the effects of changing interest rates on net interest income is set forth in "Market Risk and Interest Rate Sensitivity" included elsewhere in this report.

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AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS

20222021
AverageIncome/Yields/AverageIncome/Yields/
(dollars in thousands)BalancesExpenseRatesBalancesExpenseRates
Assets
Loans, net of unearned fees (1)$1,505,792$70,8564.71%$1,186,919$60,3805.09%
Investment securities, taxable820,35617,9542.19547,7939,3431.71
Investment securities, exempt (2)116,1542,2471.9361,4761,1611.89
Deposits in banks and short term investments91,8258870.97169,1882140.13
Total interest-earning assets2,534,12791,9443.63%1,965,37671,0983.62%
Total noninterest-earning assets215,723135,916
Total assets$2,749,850$2,101,292
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Savings and interest-bearing demand deposits$1,439,2343,0470.21%$1,073,8249290.09%
Time deposits370,3752,8290.76297,7041,6720.56
Total interest-bearing deposits1,809,6095,8760.321,371,5282,6010.19
Federal funds purchased2,835541.89
FHLB advances (3)71,6902,5643.5834,8496911.98
Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility25,546930.36
Other borrowings52,8722,3714.4832,6861,0123.10
Total other interest-bearing liabilities127,3974,9893.9293,0811,7961.93
Total interest-bearing liabilities1,937,00610,8650.56%1,464,6094,3970.30%
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits564,322449,445
Other liabilities12,17311,195
Stockholders' equity236,349176,043
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$2,749,850$2,101,292
Interest rate spread3.07%3.32%
Net interest income$81,079$66,701
Net interest margin3.20%3.39%

(1)The average balance of loans includes the average balance of nonaccrual loans. Income on such loans is recognized and recorded on the cash basis. Taxable-equivalent adjustments totaling $139,000 and $268,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, are included in income and fees on loans. Accretion income of $590,000 and $470,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021are also included in income and fees on loans.

(2)Taxable-equivalent adjustments totaling $315,000 and $244,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, are included in tax-exempt interest on investment securities.

(3)Federal Home Loan Bank advances interest expense includes $751,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 and is the recognized mark on two advances that were acquired in the SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc. acquisition that were called early.

Provision for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses is determined by management as the amount to be added to the allowance for loan losses after net charge-offs have been deducted to bring the allowance to a level which, in management’s best estimate, is necessary to absorb probable losses within the existing loan portfolio. The provision for loan losses totaled $3.4 million in 2022 compared to $700,000 in 2021. See the section captioned “Allowance for Loan Losses” elsewhere in this discussion for further analysis of the provision for loan losses. The increase in provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to 2021 is largely due to the loan growth the Bank experienced during 2022. See the sections captioned “Loans" and "Allowance for Loan Losses” elsewhere in this discussion for further analysis of the provision for loan losses. Net charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $152,000 compared to net recoveries of $83,000 for the same period in 2021. As of December 31, 2022, Colony’s allowance for loan losses was $16.1 million, or 0.93% of total loans, compared to $12.9 million,

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or 0.96% of total loans, at December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, nonperforming assets were $6.4 million and $5.8 million, or 0.22% and 0.21% of total assets, respectively, with asset quality remaining stable period over period.

Noninterest Income

The components of noninterest income were as follows:

$%
(dollars in thousands)20222021VarianceVariance
Service charges on deposit accounts$7,875$6,213$1,66226.76%
Mortgage fee income8,55013,213(4,663)(35.29)
Gain on sales of SBA loans6,2167,547(1,331)(17.64)
Gain (loss) on sales of securities(82)(87)5(5.80)
Interchange fees8,3816,9291,45220.95
BOLI income1,3131,04127226.09
Other2,8191,4341,38596.62
Total$35,072$36,290$(1,218)(3.36)%

Noninterest income decreased $1.2 million, or 3.36% from 2021. The Company saw decreases in mortgage fee income and gain on sale of SBA loans, offset by increases in interchange fees, and service charges on deposit accounts. The decrease in mortgage fee income was a result of adjustable rate portfolio loan products becoming more attractive as mortgage rates began to rise. As our production efforts shifted more toward this adjustable rate portfolio, our secondary market production and thus the gain on sales of SBA loans also decreased. The increase in mortgage rates was partially attributable to the 425 basis point increase in the national federal funds rate during 2022. The increase of $1.5 million in interchange fees was primarily a result of the continued success with both the MasterCard and Discover card programs. The increase of $1.7 million in service charges on deposit accounts can be attributed to our strong retail banking center footprint and our ability to continue to grow core deposits coupled with a reduction in NSF fee refunds.

Noninterest Expense

The components of noninterest expense were as follows:

$%
(dollars in thousands)20222021VarianceVariance
Salaries and employee benefits$52,809$45,596$7,21315.82%
Occupancy and equipment6,5346,1493856.27
Acquisition related expenses1424,617(4,475)(96.92)
Information technology9,9477,6732,27429.64
Professional Fees3,4322,75068224.80
Advertising and public relations3,6642,70595935.47
Communications1,6021,37322916.69
Writedown of building90(90)(100.00)
Other11,3457,6723,67347.88
Total$89,475$78,625$10,85013.80%

Increases in salaries and employee benefits, information technology expenses and other expenses accounted for the majority of the increase in noninterest expense, offset by a decrease in acquisition related expenses. The increase in salaries and employee benefits of $7.2 million in 2022 was primarily attributable to the salary and employee expenses from the additional employees from the SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc. and insurance acquisitions completed in the last half of 2021, as well as an increase in restricted stock expense related to restricted stock awards issued to employees. The expense is based on the market price of the Company stock at the time of the grant and amortized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Information technology expenses increased $2.3 million primarily due to the Company's additional processing needs from growth, as well as implementation of new software. Other noninterest expense increased due to increases in FDIC insurance premiums,

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amortization of expense of intangibles and servicing rights valuations and a donation related to a $500,000 contribution to a Georgia tax credit program with local hospitals. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in acquisition related expenses of $4.5 million from expenses incurred with the acquisition of SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc. and insurance acquisitions that occurred in 2021.

Sources and Uses of Funds

The following table illustrates, during the years presented, the mix of the Company’s funding sources and the assets in which those funds are invested as a percentage of the Company’s average total assets for the period indicated. Average assets totaled $2.7 billion in 2022 compared to $2.1 billion in 2021.

(dollars in thousands)20222021
Sources of Funds:
Noninterest-bearing deposits$564,32220.52%$449,44521.39%
Interest-bearing deposits1,809,60965.81%1,371,52865.27
FHLB advances71,6902.61%34,8491.66
Federal funds purchased2,8350.10%0.00%
PPPLF%25,5461.22
Other borrowings52,8721.92%32,6851.56
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities12,1730.44%11,1960.53
Equity capital236,3498.60%176,0438.37
Total$2,749,850100.00%$2,101,292100.00%
Uses of Funds:
Loans held for sale and loans$1,505,79254.76%$1,186,91956.49%
Investment securities936,51034.06%609,26928.99
Deposits in banks and short term investments91,8253.34%169,1888.05
Other noninterest-bearing assets215,7237.84%135,9166.47
Total$2,749,850100.00%$2,101,292100.00%

Deposits continue to be the Company’s primary source of funding. Over the comparable periods, interest-bearing deposits continues to be the largest component of the Company's mix of deposits. Average interest-bearing deposits totaled 76.2% in 2022 compared to 75.3% of total average deposits in 2021.

The Company primarily invests funds in loans and securities. Loans continue to be the largest component of the Company’s mix of invested assets.

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Loans

The following table presents the composition of the Company’s loan portfolio as of December 31 for the past five years.

(dollars in thousands)December 31, 2022December 31, 2021December 31, 2020December 31, 2019December 31, 2018
Construction, land & land development$229,435$165,446$121,093$96,097$60,310
Other commercial real estate975,447787,392520,391540,239435,961
Total commercial real estate1,204,882952,838641,484636,336496,271
Residential real estate290,054212,527183,021194,796187,592
Commercial, financial & agricultural223,923154,048213,380114,36074,166
Consumer & other18,24718,56421,61823,32223,497
Total loans, net of unearned fees1,737,1061,337,9771,059,503968,814781,526
Allowance for loan losses(16,128)(12,910)(12,127)(6,863)(7,277)
Loans, net$1,720,978$1,325,067$1,047,376$961,951$774,249

Maturity and Repricing Opportunity

The following table presents total loans as of December 31, 2022 according to maturity distribution and/or repricing opportunity on adjustable rate loans.

(dollars in thousands)One year or lessAfter one year through five yearsAfter five years through fifteen yearsAfter fifteen yearsTotal
Construction, land & land development$112,010$51,254$43,165$23,006$229,435
Other commercial real estate80,789381,248466,35147,059975,447
Total commercial real estate192,799432,502509,51670,0651,204,882
Residential real estate36,90978,586114,47160,088290,054
Commercial, financial & agricultural51,680115,11650,4496,678223,923
Consumer & other4,33612,5371,37418,247
Total loans, net of unearned fees285,724638,741675,810136,8311,737,106

Overview. Loans totaled $1.7 billion at December 31, 2022, up 29.8% from $1.3 billion at December 31, 2021. The majority of the Company’s loan portfolio is comprised of real estate loans. Commercial and residential real estate which is primarily 1-4 family residential properties, nonfarm nonresidential properties and real estate construction loans made up 86.1% and 87.1% of total loans at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. Commercial, financial and agriculture loans represents 12.9% of the loans at December 31, 2022, up from 11.5% at December 31, 2021 despite the decrease in PPP loan balances from $9.0 million at December 31, 2021 to $95,000 at December 31, 2022.

Loan origination/risk management. In accordance with the Company’s decentralized banking model, loan decisions are made at the local bank level. The Company utilizes both an Executive Loan Committee and a Director Loan Committee to assist lenders with the decision making and underwriting process of larger loan requests. Due to the diverse economic markets served by the Company, evaluation and underwriting criterion may vary slightly by market. Overall, loans are extended after a review of the borrower’s repayment ability, collateral adequacy, and overall credit worthiness.

Commercial purpose, commercial real estate, and agricultural loans are underwritten similarly to how other loans are underwritten throughout the Company. The properties securing the Company’s commercial real estate portfolio are diverse in terms of type and geographic location. In addition, the Company restricts total loans to $10 million per borrower, subject to exception and approval by the Director Loan Committee. This diversity helps reduce the Company’s exposure to adverse economic events that affect any single market or industry. Management monitors and evaluates commercial real estate loans monthly based on collateral, geography, and risk grade criteria. The Company also utilizes information provided by third-party agencies to provide additional insight and guidance about economic conditions and trends affecting the markets it serves.

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The Company extends loans to builders and developers that are secured by non-owner occupied properties. In such cases, the Company reviews the overall economic conditions and trends for each market to determine the desirability of loans to be extended for residential construction and development. Sources of repayment for these types of loans may be pre-committed permanent loans from approved long-term lenders, sales of developed property or an interim mini-perm loan commitment from the Company until permanent financing is obtained. In some cases, loans are extended for residential loan construction for speculative purposes and are based on the perceived present and future demand for housing in a particular market served by the Company. These loans are monitored by on-site inspections and are considered to have higher risks than other real estate loans due to their ultimate repayment being sensitive to interest rate changes, general economic conditions and trends, the demand for the properties, and the availability of long-term financing.

The Company originates consumer loans at the bank level. Due to the diverse economic markets served by the Company, underwriting criterion may vary slightly by market. The Company is committed to serving the borrowing needs of all markets served and, in some cases, adjusts certain evaluation methods to meet the overall credit demographics of each market. Consumer loans represent relatively small loan amounts that are spread across many individual borrowers to help minimize risk. Additionally, consumer trends and outlook reports are reviewed by management on a regular basis.

The Company utilizes an independent third-party company for loan review and validation of the credit risk program on an ongoing quarterly basis. Results of these reviews are presented to management and the audit committee. The loan review process complements and reinforces the risk identification and assessment decisions made by lenders and credit personnel, as well as the Company’s policies and procedures.

Commercial, financial and agricultural. Commercial, financial and agricultural loans at December 31, 2022 increased by $69.9 million, or 45.4% to $223.9 million from December 31, 2021 at $154.0 million. This increase was related to organic growth of commercial and industrial loans. The Company’s commercial, financial and agricultural loans are a diverse group of loans to small, medium and large businesses. The purpose of these loans varies from supporting seasonal working capital needs to term financing of equipment. These agricultural lines typically reduce in size at year end as crops are sold. While some short-term loans may be made on an unsecured basis, most are secured by the assets being financed with collateral margins that are consistent with the Company’s loan policy guidelines.

Construction, land and land development.  Construction, land and land development loans increased by $64.0 million, or 38.7%, at December 31, 2022 to $229.4 million from $165.4 million at December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily attributable to organic growth of consumer residential construction loans.

Other commercial real estate. Other commercial real estate loans increased by $188.1 million, or 23.9%, at December 31, 2022 to $975.4 million from $787.4 million at December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily attributable to similar levels of organic growth in both owner occupied and non-owner occupied commercial real estate.

Residential Real Estate Loans. Residential real estate loans increased by $77.5 million or 36.5%, at December 31, 2022 to $290.1 million from $212.5 million at December 31, 2021. This increase was attributable to growth of portfolio 1-4 family residential real estate loans. Residential real estate loans consist of revolving, open-end and closed-end loans as well as those secured by closed-end first and junior liens.

Consumer and other. Consumer and other loans include loans to individuals for personal and household purposes, including secured and unsecured installment loans and revolving lines of credit. Consumer and other loans at December 31, 2022 decreased $317,000 or 1.7% to $18.2 million from $18.6 million at December 31, 2021. This decrease was primarily attributable to payoffs and amortization of the portfolio.

Industry concentrations. As of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were no concentrations of loans within any single industry in excess of 10% of total loans, as segregated by Standard Industrial Classification code (“SIC code”). The SIC code is a federally designed standard industrial numbering system used by the Company to categorize loans by the borrower’s type of business. The Company has established industry-specific guidelines with respect to maximum loans permitted for each industry with which the Company does business.

Collateral concentrations. Concentrations of credit risk can exist in relation to individual borrowers or groups of borrowers, certain types of collateral, certain types of industries, or certain geographic regions. The Company has a concentration in real estate loans as well as a geographic concentration that could pose an adverse credit risk. At December 31, 2022, approximately 86.1% of the Company’s loan portfolio was concentrated in loans secured by real estate. A substantial portion of borrowers’ ability to honor their contractual obligations is dependent upon the viability of the real estate economic sector. In addition, a large portion of the Company’s foreclosed assets are also located in these same geographic markets, making the recovery of the

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carrying amount of foreclosed assets susceptible to changes in market conditions. Management continues to monitor these concentrations and has considered these concentrations in its allowance for loan loss analysis. In recent years, we have seen real estate values stabilizing in our markets. The stabilization of rates has resulted in a decrease in the number of loans being classified as impaired over the past several years.

Large credit relationships. The Company currently operates 34 branches in north, central, south and coastal Georgia and includes metropolitan markets in Forsyth, Fulton, Fayette, Dougherty, Lowndes, Houston, Chatham and Muscogee counties. As a result, the Company originates and maintains large credit relationships with several commercial customers in the ordinary course of business. The Company considers large credit relationships to be those with commitments equal to or in excess of $5.0 million prior to any portion being sold. Large relationships also include loan participations purchased if the credit relationship with the agent is equal to or in excess of $5.0 million. In addition to the Company’s normal policies and procedures related to the origination of large credits, the Company’s Executive Loan Committee and Director Loan Committee must approve all new and renewed credit facilities which are part of large credit relationships. At December 31, 2022, our largest 20 relationships consisted of loans and loan commitments, where the total committed balance was $327.2 million with $227.2 million outstanding. At December 31, 2021, our largest 20 relationships had total committed balance of $203.6 million with $160.6 million outstanding.

Maturities and sensitivities of loans to changes in interest rates. The following table presents the maturity distribution of the Company’s loans at December 31, 2022. The table also presents the portion of loans that have fixed interest rates or variable interest rates that fluctuate over the life of the loans in accordance with changes in an interest rate index such as the prime rate.

(dollars in thousands)Due in One Year or LessAfter One, but within Five YearsAfter FiveYears, but within Fifteen YearsAfter Fifteen YearsTotal
Loans with fixed interest rates:
Construction, land & land development$104,164$50,117$29,597$23,006$206,884
Other commercial real estate59,734354,610464,10247,059925,505
Total commercial real estate163,898404,727493,69970,0651,132,389
Residential real estate9,33252,74566,83060,063188,970
Commercial, financial & agricultural36,999101,12450,4496,678195,250
Consumer & other4,02512,4801,37417,879
Total loans with fixed interest rates, net of unearned fees214,254571,076612,352136,8061,534,488
Loans with floating interest rates:
Construction, land & land development7,8461,13713,56822,551
Other commercial real estate21,05526,6382,24949,942
Total commercial real estate28,90127,77515,81772,493
Residential real estate27,57725,84147,64125101,084
Commercial, financial & agricultural14,68113,99228,673
Consumer & other31157368
Total loans with floating interest rates, net of unearned fees71,47067,66563,45825202,618
Total loans, net of unearned fees$285,724$638,741$675,810$136,831$1,737,106

The Company may renew loans at maturity when requested by a customer whose financial strength appears to support such renewal or when such renewal appears to be in the Company’s best interest. In such instances, the Company generally requires payment of accrued interest and may adjust the rate of interest, require a principal reduction or modify other terms of the loan at the time of renewal.

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Nonperforming Assets and Potential Problem Loans

Asset quality experienced some recovery during the year ended December 31, 2022, as the level of disruption caused by the economic impact of COVID-19 subsided in 2022, and nonperforming loans to total loans remained stable and levels of criticized and classified loans decreased. Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, accruing loans contractually past due 90 days or more, repossessed personal property and other real estate owned ("OREO"). Nonaccrual loans totaled $5.7 million at December 31, 2022, an increase of $257,000, or 4.7%, from $5.4 million at December 31, 2021. There were no loans contractually past due 90 days or more and still accruing for either period presented. At December 31, 2022, OREO totaled $651,000, an increase of $370,000, or 131.7%, compared with $281,000 at December 31, 2021. The change in OREO is a combination of a donation of a property worth $35,000 and an asset addition of $405,000. At the end of the year ended December 31, 2022, total nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets increased to 0.22% compared with 0.21% at December 31, 2021.

Year-end nonperforming assets and accruing past due loans were as follows:

(dollars in thousands)202220212020
Loans accounted for on nonaccrual$5,706$5,449$9,128
Loans accruing past due 90 days or more
Other real estate foreclosed6512811,006
Repossessed assets4930
Total nonperforming assets$6,357$5,779$10,164
Nonperforming loans by segment
Construction, land & land development$149$31$197
Commercial real estate1,5098374,613
Residential real estate2,6863,8392,958
Commercial, financial & agricultural1,3417081,065
Consumer & other2134295
Total nonperforming loans$5,706$5,449$9,128
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of:
Total loans, other real estate and foreclosed assets0.37%0.43%0.96%
Total assets0.22%0.21%0.58%
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of:
Total loans0.33%0.41%0.86%
Supplemental data:
Trouble debt restructured loans in compliance with modified terms (1)$7,378$7,326$12,320
Trouble debt restructured loans
Past due 30-89 days (1)273
Accruing past due loans:
30-89 days past due (1)$1,793$4,567$3,092
90 or more days past due
Total accruing past due loans$1,793$4,567$3,092
Allowance for loan losses$16,128$12,910$12,127
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of:
Total loans0.93%0.96%1.14%
Nonperforming loans282.65236.92132.85

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(1) Loans granted payment deferrals related to the COVID-19 pandemic are not reported as past due or placed on nonaccrual status (provided the loans were not past due or on nonaccrual status prior to the deferral), and there were no loans under these terms deemed past due or nonaccrual as of December 31, 2021.

Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, loans past due 90 days or more, foreclosed real estate, repossessed assets and nonaccrual securities. Nonperforming assets at December 31, 2022 increased 10.0% from December 31, 2021, as a result of the small increase in nonaccrual loans and other real estate owned property.

Generally, loans are placed on nonaccrual status if principal or interest payments become 90 days past due and/or management deems the collectability of the principal and/or interest to be in question, as well as when required by regulatory requirements. Loans to a customer whose financial condition has deteriorated are considered for nonaccrual status whether or not the loan is 90 days or more past due. For consumer loans, collectability and loss are generally determined before the loan reaches 90 days past due. Accordingly, losses on consumer loans are recorded at the time they are determined. Consumer loans that are 90 days or more past due are generally either in liquidation/payment status or bankruptcy awaiting confirmation of a plan. Once interest accruals are discontinued, accrued but uncollected interest is charged to current year operations. Subsequent receipts on nonaccrual loans are recorded as a reduction of principal, and interest income is recorded only after principal recovery is reasonably assured. Classification of a loan as nonaccrual does not preclude the ultimate collection of loan principal or interest.

The restructuring of a loan is considered a "troubled debt restructuring ("TDR")" if both (i) the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, and (ii) the Company has granted the borrower a concession that we would not consider otherwise. At December 31, 2022, TDRs totaled $7.4 million, an increase from $7.3 million reported at December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, all TDRs were performing according to their modified terms and were therefore not considered to be nonperforming assets.

Troubled debt restructured loans are loans on which, due to deterioration in the borrower’s financial condition, the original terms have been modified in favor of the borrower or either principal or interest has been forgiven.

Foreclosed assets represent property acquired as the result of borrower defaults on loans. Foreclosed assets are recorded at estimated fair value, less estimated selling costs, at the time of foreclosure. Write-downs occurring at foreclosure are charged against the allowance for loan losses. On an ongoing basis, properties are appraised as required by market indications and applicable regulations. Write-downs are provided for subsequent declines in value and are included in other non-interest expense along with other expenses related to maintaining the properties.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is a reserve established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense, which represents management’s best estimate of probable losses that have been incurred within the existing portfolio of loans. The allowance, in the judgment of management, is necessary to reserve for estimated loan losses and risks inherent in the loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses includes allowance allocations calculated in accordance with current U.S. accounting standards. The level of the allowance reflects management’s continuing evaluation of industry concentrations, specific credit risks, loan loss experience, current loan portfolio quality, present economic, political and regulatory conditions and unidentified losses inherent in the current loan portfolio. Portions of the allowance may be allocated for specific credits; however, the entire allowance is available for any credit that, in management’s judgment, should be charged off. While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the ultimate adequacy of the allowance is dependent upon a variety of factors beyond the Company’s control, including the performance of the Company’s loan portfolio, the economy, changes in interest rates and the view of the regulatory authorities toward loan classifications.

The Company’s allowance for loan losses consists of specific valuation allowances established for probable losses on specific loans and historical valuation allowances for other loans with similar risk characteristics. The allowances established for probable losses on specific loans are the result of management’s quarterly review of substandard loans with an outstanding balance of $500,000 or more and impaired troubled debt restructured loans. This review process usually involves the Chief Credit Officer and Director of Credit Administration along with local lending officers reviewing the loans for impairment. Specific valuation allowances are determined after considering the borrower’s financial condition, collateral deficiencies, and economic conditions affecting the borrower’s industry, among other things. In the case of collateral dependent loans, collateral shortfall is most often based upon local market real estate value estimates. This review process is performed at the subsidiary bank level and is reviewed at the parent Company level.

Once the loan becomes impaired, it is removed from the pool of loans covered by the general reserve and reviewed individually for exposure as described above. In cases where the individual review reveals no exposure, no reserve is recorded for that loan,

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either through an individual reserve or through a general reserve. If, however, the individual review of the loan does indicate some exposure, management often charges off this exposure, rather than recording a specific reserve. In these instances, a loan which becomes nonperforming could actually reduce the allowance for loan losses. Those loans deemed uncollectible are transferred to our problem loan department for workout, foreclosure and/or liquidation. The problem loan department obtains a current appraisal on the property in order to record the fair market value (less selling expenses) when the property is foreclosed on and moved into other real estate.

The allowances established for the remainder of the loan portfolio are based on historical loss factors, adjusted for certain qualitative factors, which are applied to groups of loans with similar risk characteristics. Loans are segregated into fifteen separate groups based on call codes. Most of the Company’s charge-offs during the past two years have been real estate dependent loans. The historical loss ratios applied to these groups of loans are updated quarterly based on actual charge-off experience. The historical loss ratios are further adjusted by qualitative factors.

Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for each of these components on a quarterly basis. Peer comparisons, industry comparisons, and regulatory guidelines are also used in the determination of the general valuation allowance. Loans identified as losses by management, internal loan review, and/or bank examiners are charged off. Additional information about the Company’s allowance for loan losses is provided in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for Allowance for Loan Losses.

The following table sets forth the breakdown of the allowance for loan losses by loan category for the periods indicated. The allocation of the allowance to each category is subjective and is not necessarily indicative of future losses and does not restrict the use of the allowance to absorb losses in any other category.

December 31,December 31,December 31,December 31,December 31,
(dollars in thousands)20222021202020192018
Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)
Construction, land & land development$1,95913.2%$1,12712.4%$1,01311.4%$2159.9%$1317.7%
Commercial real estate8,88656.27,69158.86,88049.13,90855.85,25155.8
Residential real estate2,35416.71,80515.92,27817.398020.11,18124.0
Commercial, financial & agricultural2,70912.91,08311.51,71320.11,65711.86189.5
Consumer & other2201.11,2041.42432.01032.4963.0
$16,128100.1%$12,910100.0%$12,12799.9%$6,863100.0%$7,277100.1%

(1) Percentage represents the loan balance in each category expressed as a percentage of total end of period loans.

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The following table presents an analysis of the Company’s loan loss experience for the periods indicated.

(dollars in thousands)20222021202020192018
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of year$12,910$12,127$6,863$7,277$7,508
Charge-offs
Construction, land & land development429
Commercial real estate58568226119257
Residential real estate483206758162
Commercial, financial & agricultural314274242403247
Consumer & other60681,103784299
Total charge-offs$480$913$1,781$2,093$965
Recoveries
Construction, land & land development254664582155
Commercial real estate8511815321852
Residential real estate5027414217491
Commercial, financial & agricultural139914336161
Consumer & other29471046574
Total recoveries328996487575533
Net (recoveries)/ charge-offs152(83)1,2941,518432
Provision for loans losses3,3707006,5581,104201
Allowance for loan losses at end of year$16,128$12,910$12,127$6,863$7,277
Ratio of net (recoveries)/charge-offs to average loans0.01%(0.01)%0.12%0.11%0.04%

The allowance for loan losses increased from $12.9 million or 0.96% of total loans at December 31, 2021 to $16.1 million, or 0.93% of total loans at December 31, 2022. Excluding outstanding PPP loans of $95,000 and $9.0 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 0.93% and 0.97%, respectively. The provision for loan losses reflects loan quality trends, including the level of net charge-offs or recoveries, among other factors.

The amount of provision expense recorded in each period is the amount required such that the total allowance for loan losses reflects the appropriate balance, in the estimation of management, sufficient to cover probable, inherent losses in the loan portfolio. The primary reason for the increase in allowance to loans as a percentage of loans and provision is primarily due to the Bank's strong loan growth.

Investment Portfolio

The following table presents carrying values of investment securities available-for-sale held by the Company as of December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

(dollars in thousands)202220212020
U.S. treasury securities$1,622$87,551$245
U.S. agency4,58517,7811,004
Asset backed securities29,988
State, county and municipal securities104,756250,15362,388
Corporate debt securities49,58548,4084,250
Mortgage-backed securities242,017534,271312,927
Total debt securities$432,553$938,164$380,814

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The following table presents investment securities held-to-maturity, carried at cost by the Company as of December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

(dollars in thousands)202220212020
U.S. treasury securities$91,615$$
U.S. agency16,409
State, county and municipal securities136,138
Mortgage-backed securities221,696
Total debt securities$465,858$$

The following table represents expected maturities and weighted-average yields of investment securities held by the Company as of December 31, 2022 (mortgage-backed securities are based on the average life at the projected speed, while State and Political Subdivisions reflect anticipated calls being exercised).

After 1 Year ButAfter 5 Years But
Available for SaleWithin 1 YearWithin 5 YearsWithin 10 YearsAfter 10 Years
(dollars in thousands)AmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYield
U.S. treasury securities$1,1352.59%$4872.90%$%$%
U.S. agency8590.765052.193,2212.75
Asset backed securities5502.5929,4385.43
State, county and municipal securities1712.191,6992.2039,6902.0463,1962.07
Corporate debt securities9,2763.4036,6984.243,6118.61
Mortgage-backed securities16,0257.2250,5154.1013,7862.57161,6912.26
Total debt securities$17,3316.87%$63,3863.88%$90,6793.01%$261,1572.67%
After 1 Year ButAfter 5 Years But
Held to MaturityWithin 1 YearWithin 5 YearsWithin 10 YearsAfter 10 Years
(dollars in thousands)AmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYield
U.S. treasury securities$%$72,5581.05%$19,0571.12%$%
U.S. agency6,7481.139,6611.46
State, county and municipal securities50,2572.2985,8812.27
Mortgage-backed securities27,0791.8849,4281.83145,1891.76
Total debt securities$%$106,3851.27%$128,4031.88%$231,0701.95%

Securities are classified as held to maturity and carried at amortized cost when management has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity. Securities are classified as available for sale when they might be sold before maturity. Securities available for sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income. The Company had both held to maturity and available for sale securities in the investment portfolio at December 31, 2022.

At December 31, 2022, there were no holdings of any one issuer, other than the U.S. government and its agencies, in an amount greater than 10% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity.

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The average yield of the securities portfolio was 2.16% in 2022 and 1.72% in 2021. The increase in the average yield from 2021 to 2022 was primarily attributed to the purchase of new securities which have a higher yield.

Deposits

The following table presents the average amount outstanding and the average rate paid on deposits by the Company for the years 2022, 2021, and 2020.

202220212020
(dollars in thousands)AverageAmountAverage RateAverage AmountAverage RateAverage AmountAverage Rate
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits$564,322$449,445$294,008
Interest-bearing demand and savings deposits1,439,2340.21%1,073,8240.09%787,0300.24%
Time deposits370,3750.76%297,7040.56%305,3741.22%
Total deposits$2,373,9310.25%$1,820,9730.14%$1,386,4120.40%

The following table presents the maturities of the Company’s time deposits as of December 31, 2022.

(dollars in thousands)TimeDeposits$250,000 or GreaterTimeDepositsLess than $250,000Total
Months to Maturity
3 months or less$11,814$63,479$75,293
Over 3 months through 6 months28,47377,411105,884
Over 6 months through 12 months33,562107,674141,236
Over 12 months40,931110,196151,127
$114,780$358,760$473,540

Average deposits increased $553.0 million in 2022 compared to 2021. The increase in 2022 included $365.4 million or 34.0% in interest-bearing demand and savings deposits while, at the same time, noninterest bearing deposits increased $114.9 million, or 25.6% and time deposits increased $72.7 million, or 24.4%. The growth in our deposits is due primarily to the increase in rates the Company offers on its deposit products as well as the increase in brokered deposits. The increase in deposit rates is partially attributable to the 425 basis point increase in the national federal funds rate during 2022.

As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, $882.2 million and $809.1 million, respectively, of our deposit portfolio was uninsured. The uninsured amounts are estimated based on the methodologies and assumptions used for the Bank's regulatory reporting requirements.

The Company supplements deposit sources with brokered deposits. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had $50.8 million, or 2.04% of total deposits, in brokered certificates of deposit attracted by external third parties. Additional information is provided in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for Deposits.

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

In the ordinary course of business, our Bank has granted commitments to extend credit to approved customers. Generally, these commitments to extend credit have been granted on a temporary basis for seasonal or inventory requirements or for construction period financing and have been approved within the Bank’s credit guidelines. Our Bank has also granted commitments to approved customers for financial standby letters of credit. These commitments are recorded in the financial statements when funds are disbursed or the financial instruments become payable. The Bank uses the same credit policies for these off-balance-sheet commitments as it does for financial instruments that are recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitment amounts expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

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The following table summarizes commitments and contractual obligations outstanding at December 31, 2022.

(dollars in thousands)Payments Due by Period
TotalLess Than 1 Year1 – 3 Years3 – 5 YearsMore Than 5 Years
Contractual Obligations:
Borrowings$203,352$120,000$$15,000$68,352
Operating lease liabilities1,89546079556872
Time Deposits473,540322,413137,79412,967366
$678,787$442,873$138,589$28,535$68,790
Other Commitments:
Loan commitments$379,997$156,854$46,067$26,074$151,002
Standby letters of credit3,3333,019314
383,330159,87346,38126,074151,002
Total Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments$1,062,117$602,746$184,970$54,609$219,792

In the ordinary course of business, the Company has entered into off-balance sheet financial instruments which are not reflected in the consolidated financial statements. These instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, performance letters of credit, guarantees and liability for assets held in trust.

Such financial instruments are recorded in the financial statements when funds are disbursed or the instruments become payable. The Company uses the same credit policies for these off-balance sheet financial instruments as they do for instruments that are recorded in the consolidated financial statements.

Loan Commitments. The Company enters into contractual commitments to extend credit, normally with fixed expiration dates or termination clauses, at specified rates and for specific purposes. Substantially all of the Company’s commitments to extend credit are contingent upon customers maintaining specific credit standards at the time of loan funding. The Company minimizes its exposure to loss under these commitments by subjecting them to credit approval and monitoring procedures. Management assesses the credit risk associated with certain commitments to extend credit in determining the level of the allowance for loan losses. Loan commitments outstanding at December 31, 2022 are included in the preceding table.

Standby Letters of Credit. Letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. In the event the customer does not perform in accordance with the terms of the agreement with the third party, the Company would be required to fund the commitment. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make is represented by the contractual amount of the commitment. If the commitment is funded, the Company would be entitled to seek recovery from the customer. The Company’s policies generally require that standby letters of credit arrangements contain security and debt covenants similar to those contained in loan agreements. Standby letters of credit outstanding at December 31, 2022 are included in the preceding table.

Capital Requirements

The Bank is required under federal law to maintain certain minimum capital levels based on ratios of capital to total assets and capital to risk-weighted assets. The required capital ratios are minimums, and the federal banking agencies may determine that a banking organization, based on its size, complexity or risk profile, must maintain a higher level of capital in order to operate in a safe and sound manner. Risks such as concentration of credit risks and the risk arising from non-traditional activities, as well as the institution’s exposure to a decline in the economic value of its capital due to changes in interest rates, and an institution’s ability to manage those risks are important factors that are to be taken into account by the federal banking agencies in assessing an institution’s overall capital adequacy. For more information, see “Item 1. Business – Supervision and Regulation – Regulation of the Company – Capital Requirements.”

At December 31, 2022, shareholders’ equity totaled $230.3 million compared to $217.7 million at December 31, 2021. In addition to net income of $19.5 million, other significant changes in shareholders’ equity during 2022 included $59.5 million

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issuance of common stock and $7.2 million of dividends declared on common stock. The accumulated other comprehensive loss component of stockholders’ equity totaled $66.4 million at December 31, 2022 compared to accumulated other comprehensive income of $6.2 million at December 31, 2021. This fluctuation was mostly related to the after-tax effect of changes in the fair value of securities available for sale. Under regulatory requirements, the unrealized gain or loss on securities available for sale does not increase or reduce regulatory capital and is not included in the calculation of risk-based capital and leverage ratios. Regulatory agencies for banks and bank holding companies utilize capital guidelines designed to measure Tier 1 and total capital and take into consideration the risk inherent in both on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet items.

Tier 1 capital consists of common stock and qualifying preferred securities less goodwill, intangibles and disallowed deferred tax assets. Tier 2 capital consists of certain convertible, subordinated and other qualifying debt and the allowance for loan losses up to 1.25% of risk-weighted assets. The Company's Tier 2 capital consists of subordinated notes and the allowance for loan losses.

Using the capital requirements presently in effect, the Tier 1 ratio as of December 31, 2022 was 12.49% and total Tier 1 and 2 risk-based capital was 15.11%. Both of these measures compare favorably with the regulatory minimum of 6.0% for Tier 1 and 8% for total risk-based capital. The Company’s common equity Tier 1 ratio as of December 31, 2022 was 11.34%, which exceeds the regulatory minimum of 4.50%. The Company’s Tier 1 leverage ratio as of December 31, 2022 was 9.17%, which exceeds the required ratio standard of 4.0%.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, average capital was $236.3 million representing 8.6% of average assets for the year. This compares to average capital of $176.0 million, representing 8.4% of average assets for 2021.

For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company did not have any material commitments for capital expenditures.

The Company granted 139,720 and 187,600 restricted shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively . All restricted shares vest over a three year period.

A cash dividend of $7.2 million and $4.5 million was paid for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Liquidity

The Company, primarily through the actions of its subsidiary bank, engages in liquidity management to ensure adequate cash flow for deposit withdrawals, credit commitments and repayments of borrowed funds. Needs are met through loan repayments, net interest and fee income and the sale or maturity of existing assets. In addition, liquidity is continuously provided through the acquisition of new deposits, the renewal of maturing deposits and external borrowings.

Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2022 and 2021 were $80.7 million and $197.2 million, respectively. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to the loan growth, partially offset by fundings of the loan growth through deposits and borrowings. Management believes the various funding sources discussed above are adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs in these unsettled times without any material adverse impact on our operating results.

Management monitors deposit flow and evaluates alternate pricing structures to retain and grow deposits. To the extent needed to fund loan demand, traditional local deposit funding sources are supplemented by the use of FHLB borrowings, brokered deposits and other wholesale deposit sources outside the immediate market area. Internal policies have been updated to monitor the use of various core and non-core funding sources, and to balance ready access with risk and cost. Through various asset/liability management strategies, a balance is maintained among goals of liquidity, safety and earnings potential. Internal policies that are consistent with regulatory liquidity guidelines are monitored and enforced by the Bank.

The investment portfolio provides a ready means to raise cash if liquidity needs arise. As of December 31, 2022, the available-for-sale bond portfolio totaled $432.6 million. At December 31, 2021, the available for sale bond portfolio totaled $938.2 million. This decrease is primarily attributable to the transfer during 2022 of agency-issued securities from the available-for-sale to the held-to-maturity portfolio. These securities had a combined book value of approximately $511.0 million and a combined market value of approximately $477.0 million. Only marketable investment grade bonds are purchased. Although approximately 60.3% of the Bank’s bond portfolio is encumbered as pledges to secure various public funds deposits, repurchase

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agreements, and for other purposes, management can restructure and free up investment securities for sale if required to meet liquidity needs.

Management continually monitors the relationship of loans to deposits as it primarily determines the Company’s liquidity posture. Colony had ratios of loans to deposits of 69.7% as of December 31, 2022 and 56.3% as of December 31, 2021. Management employs alternative funding sources when deposit balances will not meet loan demands. The ratios of loans to all funding sources (excluding Subordinated Debentures) at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 were 66.0% and 54.9%, respectively. Management continues to emphasize programs to generate local core deposits as our Company’s primary funding sources. The stability of the Banks’ core deposit base is an important factor in Colony’s liquidity position. A heavy percentage of the deposit base is comprised of accounts of individuals and small businesses with comprehensive banking relationships and limited volatility. At December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Bank had $114.8 million and $73.4 million, respectively, in certificates of deposit of $250,000 or more. These larger deposits represented 4.6% and 3.1% of total deposits as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Management seeks to monitor and control the use of these larger certificates, which tend to be more volatile in nature, to ensure an adequate supply of funds as needed. Relative interest costs to attract local core relationships are compared to market rates of interest on various external deposit sources to help minimize the Company’s overall cost of funds.

The Company supplemented deposit sources with brokered deposits. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had $50.8 million or 2.04% of total deposits in brokered deposits. Additional information is provided in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements regarding these brokered deposits. Additionally, the Company uses external deposit listing services to obtain out-of-market certificates of deposit at competitive interest rates when funding is needed. The deposits obtained from listing services are often referred to as wholesale or internet CDs.

To plan for contingent sources of funding not satisfied by both local and out-of-market deposit balances, Colony and its subsidiary have established multiple borrowing sources to augment their funds management. The Company has borrowing capacity through membership of the Federal Home Loan Bank program. The Bank has also established overnight borrowing for Federal Funds Purchased through various correspondent banks. Management believes the various funding sources discussed above are adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs in the future without any material adverse impact on operating results. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, we had $125.0 million and $51.7 million, respectively, of outstanding advances from the FHLB. Based on the values of loans pledged as collateral, we had $574.9 million and $574.7 million of additional borrowing availability with the FHLB at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Liquidity measures the ability to meet current and future cash flow needs as they become due. The liquidity of a financial institution reflects its ability to meet loan requests, to accommodate possible outflows in deposits and to take advantage of interest rate market opportunities. The ability of a financial institution to meet its current financial obligations is a function of balance sheet structure, the ability to liquidate assets, and the availability of alternative sources of funds. The Company seeks to ensure its funding needs are met by maintaining a level of liquid funds through asset/liability management.

Asset liquidity is provided by liquid assets which are readily marketable or pledgeable or which will mature in the near future. Liquid assets include cash, interest-bearing deposits in banks, securities available for sale and federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements.

Liability liquidity is provided by access to funding sources which include core deposits. Should the need arise, the Company also maintains relationships with the Federal Home Loan Bank, Federal Reserve Bank, three correspondent banks and repurchase agreement lines that can provide funds on short notice.

Since Colony is a bank holding Company and does not conduct operations, its primary sources of liquidity are dividends up streamed from the subsidiary bank and borrowings from outside sources.

The liquidity position of the Company is continuously monitored and adjustments are made to the balance between sources and uses of funds as deemed appropriate. Management is not aware of any events that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, capital resources or operations. In addition, management is not aware of any regulatory recommendations regarding liquidity, which if implemented, would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

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Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

The Company’s financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). GAAP presently requires the Company to measure financial position and operating results primarily in terms of historic dollars. Changes in the relative value of money due to inflation or recession are generally not considered. The primary effect of inflation on the operations of the Company is reflected in increased operating costs, and the Company has experienced material effects of inflation during the last two fiscal years due to the government's monetary policies and the current economic climate. In management’s opinion, changes in interest rates affect the financial condition of a financial institution to a far greater degree than changes in the inflation rate. While interest rates are greatly influenced by changes in the inflation rate, they do not necessarily change at the same rate or in the same magnitude as the inflation rate. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond the control of the Company, including changes in the expected rate of inflation, the influence of general and local economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities, among other things, as further discussed in the next section.

Regulatory and Economic Policies

The Company’s business and earnings are affected by general and local economic conditions and by the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities, among other things. The Federal Reserve Board regulates the supply of money in order to influence general economic conditions. Among the instruments of monetary policy available to the Federal Reserve Board are (i) conducting open market operations in United States government obligations, (ii) changing the discount rate on financial institution borrowings, (iii) imposing or changing reserve requirements against financial institution deposits, and (iv) restricting certain borrowings and imposing or changing reserve requirements against certain borrowings by financial institutions and their affiliates. These methods are used in varying degrees and combinations to directly affect the availability of bank loans and deposits, as well as the interest rates charged on loans and paid on deposits. For that reason alone, the policies of the Federal Reserve Board have a material effect on the earnings of the Company.

Governmental policies have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future; however, the Company cannot accurately predict the nature, timing or extent of any effect such policies may have on its future business and earnings.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies included in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Market Risk and Interest Rate Sensitivity

Our financial performance is impacted by, among other factors, interest rate risk and credit risk. We do not utilize derivatives to mitigate our credit risk, relying instead on an extensive loan review process and our allowance for loan losses.

Interest rate risk is the change in value due to changes in interest rates. The Company is exposed only to U.S. dollar interest rate changes and, accordingly, the Company manages exposure by considering the possible changes in the net interest margin. The Company does not have any trading instruments nor does it classify any portion of its investment portfolio as held for trading. The Company does not engage in any hedging activity or utilize any derivatives. The Company has no exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk, commodity price risk and other market risks. Interest rate risk is addressed by our Risk Management Committee which includes senior management representatives. The Risk Management Committee monitors interest rate risk by analyzing the potential impact to the net portfolio of equity value and net interest income from potential changes to interest rates and considers the impact of alternative strategies or changes in balance sheet structure.

Interest rates play a major part in the net interest income of financial institutions. The repricing of interest earnings assets and interest-bearing liabilities can influence the changes in net interest income. The timing of repriced assets and liabilities is Gap management and our Company has established its policy to maintain a Gap ratio in the one-year time horizon of .80 to 1.20.

Our exposure to interest rate risk is reviewed at least quarterly by our Board of Directors and by our Risk Management Committee. Interest rate risk exposure is measured using interest rate sensitivity analysis to determine our change in net portfolio value in the event of assumed changes in interest rates. In order to reduce the exposure to interest rate fluctuations, we have implemented strategies to more closely match our balance sheet composition. The Company has engaged FTN Financial

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to run a quarterly asset/liability model for interest rate risk analysis. We are generally focusing our investment activities on securities with terms or average lives in the 3 ½ - 5 ½ year range.

Market risk reflects the risk of economic loss resulting from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. This risk of loss can be reflected in either reduced current market values or reduced current and potential net income. Colony’s most significant market risk is interest rate risk. This risk arises primarily from Colony’s extension of loans and acceptance of deposits.

Managing interest rate risk is a primary goal of the asset liability management function. Colony attempts to achieve stability in net interest income while limiting volatility arising from changes in interest rates. Colony seeks to achieve this goal by balancing the maturity and repricing characteristics of assets and liabilities. Colony manages its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates through policies established by the Risk Management Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The Risk Management Committee meets at least quarterly and has responsibility for developing asset liability management policies, reviewing the interest rate sensitivity of Colony, and developing and implementing strategies to improve balance sheet structure and interest rate risk positioning.

Colony measures the sensitivity of net interest income to changes in market interest rates through the utilization of Asset/Liability simulation modeling. On at least a quarterly basis, the following twenty-four month time period is simulated to determine a baseline net interest income forecast and the sensitivity of this forecast to changes in interest rates. These simulations include all of Colony’s earning assets and liabilities. Forecasted balance sheet changes, primarily reflecting loan and deposit growth and forecasts, are included in the periods modeled. Projected rates for loans and deposits are based on management’s outlook and local market conditions.

The magnitude and velocity of rate changes among the various asset and liability groups exhibit different characteristics for each possible interest rate scenario; additionally, customer loan and deposit preferences can vary in response to changing interest rates. Simulation modeling enables Colony to capture the expected effect of these differences. Assumptions utilized in the model are updated on an ongoing basis and are reviewed and approved by the Risk Management Committee of the Board of Directors.

Colony has modeled its baseline net interest income forecast assuming a flat interest rate environment with the federal funds rate at the Federal Reserve's targeted range of 4.25% and the prime rate of 7.50% at December 31, 2022. Colony has modeled the impact of a gradual increase in short-term rates of 100 and 200 basis points and a decline of 100 basis points to determine the sensitivity of net interest income for the next twelve months. As illustrated in the table below, the net interest income sensitivity model indicates that, compared with a net interest income forecast assuming stable rates, net interest income is projected to increase by 1.37% and 2.59% if interest rates increased by 100 and 200 basis points, respectively. Net interest income is projected to decline by 0.61% if interest rates decreased by 100 basis points. These changes were within Colony’s policy limit of a maximum 15% negative change.

Twelve Month Net Interest Income Sensitivity
Estimated Change in Net Interest Income as of December 31,
Change in Short-term Interest Rates (in basis points)20222021
+2002.59%13.80%
+1001.37%6.83%
Flat—%—%
-100-0.61%-3.18%

The measured interest rate sensitivity indicates an asset sensitive position over the next year, which could serve to improve net interest income in a rising interest rate environment. The actual realized change in net interest income would depend on several factors, some of which could serve to reduce or eliminate the asset sensitivity noted above. These factors include a higher than projected level of deposit customer migration to higher cost deposits, such as certificates of deposit, which would increase total interest expense and serve to reduce the realized level of asset sensitivity. Another factor which could impact the realized interest rate sensitivity in a rising rate environment is the repricing behavior of interest-bearing non-maturity deposits. Assumptions for repricing are expressed as a beta relative to the change in the prime rate. For instance, a 25% beta would correspond to a deposit rate that would increase 0.25% for every 1% increase in the prime rate. Projected betas for interest

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bearing non-maturity deposit repricing are a key component of determining the Company's interest rate risk position. Should realized betas be higher than projected betas, the expected benefit from higher interest rates would be reduced.

Colony is also subject to market risk in certain of its fee income business lines. Mortgage banking income is subject to market risk. Mortgage loan originations are sensitive to levels of mortgage interest rates and therefore, mortgage banking income could be negatively impacted during a period of rising interest rates. The extension of commitments to customers to fund mortgage loans also subjects Colony to market risk. This risk is primarily created by the time period between making the commitment and closing and delivering the loan. Colony seeks to minimize this exposure by utilizing various risk management tools, the primary of which are forward sales commitments and best efforts commitments.

FY 2021 10-K MD&A

SEC filing source: 0000711669-22-000057.

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2022-03-18. Report date: 2021-12-31.

Item 7

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with  our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risk, uncertainties and, assumptions. Certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to those set forth under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors,” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements. We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.

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The Company

Colony Bankcorp, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Fitzgerald, Georgia that provides, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Colony Bank (collectively referred to as the Company), a broad array of products and services throughout central, south and coastal Georgia markets. The Company offers commercial, consumer and mortgage banking services.

Recent Developments

On August 1, 2021, the Company completed its previously announced acquisition (the “Merger”) of SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc. (“SouthCrest”), a Georgia corporation and the parent holding company of SouthCrest Bank, N.A. The Merger was completed pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated April 22, 2021, by and between the Company and SouthCrest. In accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time, SouthCrest was merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the Merger. Immediately following the holding company Merger, SouthCrest Bank, N.A. was merged with and into Colony Bank, with Colony Bank as the surviving bank.

Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, each issued and outstanding share of SouthCrest stock was converted into the right to receive either $10.45 in cash or 0.7318 of a share of the Company's common stock, subject to certain proration and allocation procedures. In aggregate, the Company issued approximately 4.0 million shares of its common stock at a fair value of $71.4 million and paid approximately $21.6 million cash in the Merger.

The Company paid dividends to its shareholders throughout 2021 and 2020 on a quarterly basis. In 2021, we had a quarterly dividend of $0.1025 per common stock and in 2020, we had a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per common stock.

On February 10, 2022, the Company completed a public offering of 3,848,485 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $16.50 per share, with aggregate proceeds of approximately $63.5 million.

GAAP Reconciliation and Management Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Our accounting and reporting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, certain non-GAAP measures are used by management to supplement the evaluation of our performance. These include the fully-taxable equivalent measures: tax-equivalent net interest income, tax-equivalent net interest margin and tax-equivalent net interest spread, which include the effects of taxable-equivalent adjustments using a federal income tax rate of 19% and 21% to increase tax-exempt interest income to a tax-equivalent basis for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.  Tax-equivalent adjustments are reported in Notes 1 and 2 to the Average Balances with Average Yields and Rates table under Rate/Volume Analysis. Management believes that non-GAAP financial measures provide additional useful information that allows investors to evaluate the ongoing performance of the company and provide meaningful comparisons to its peers. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures also enhance investors' ability to compare period-to-period financial results and allow investors and company management to view our operating results excluding the impact of items that are not reflective of the underlying operating performance.

Tax-equivalent net interest income, net interest margin and net interest spread.  Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis is a non-GAAP measure that adjusts for the tax-favored status of net interest income from loans and investments. We believe this measure to be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income and it enhances comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest income. Net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis is net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis divided by average interest-earning assets on a tax-equivalent basis. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest margin. Net interest spread on a tax-equivalent basis is the difference in the average yield on average interest-earning assets on a tax equivalent basis and the average rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest spread.

These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered alternatives to GAAP-basis financial statements, and other bank holding companies may define or calculate these non-GAAP measures or similar measures differently.

A reconciliation of these performance measures to GAAP performance measures is included in the tables below.

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Non-GAAP Performance Measures Reconciliation

Years Ended December 31,
20212020
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Operating noninterest expense reconciliation
Operating net income reconciliation
Net income (GAAP)$18,659$11,815
Acquisition-related expenses4,617862
Gain on sale of Thomaston branch(1,026)
Writedown of Building582
Income tax benefit of expenses(874)(88)
Operating net income$22,402$12,145
Weighted average diluted shares11,254,1309,498,783
Adjusted earnings per diluted share$1.99$1.28
Tangible book value per common share reconciliation
Book value per common share (GAAP)$15.92$15.21
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles(4.41)(1.95)
Tangible book value per common share11.5113.26

COVID-19 and Recent Events

The U.S. economy contracted in the first half of 2020, ending the longest expansionary period in U.S. history, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During March 2020, in an effort to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on consumers and businesses, the Federal Reserve reduced the federal funds rate 1.5 percentage points to 0.00 to 0.25 percent and the U.S. government enacted the CARES Act, the largest economic stimulus package in the nation’s history. The Company responded to the pandemic, beginning in March 2020, by supporting our clients, employees, and communities with such measures as remote work capabilities and branch service enhancements, loan payment deferrals, and accelerated investments in several technology initiatives that provided more convenience and a better digital experience as clients adapted to this highly virtual environment. The Company participated in the PPP and funded approximately 2,600 loans totaling approximately $193.2 million under the programs available in both 2020 and 2021, and $144.0 million in PPP loans related to CARES Act were forgiven.

Additional government spending measures and the availability of vaccines improved consumer confidence and demand, and the economy largely reopened in 2021, leading to a reduction in the unemployment rate and accelerated GDP growth. While 2021 has seen a recovery in the U.S. economy compared to 2020, uncertainty and market disruptions such as additional coronavirus variants, pandemic-related supply chain issues and labor shortages persist. The economic expansion has been met with inflationary pressures that are expected to result in the Federal Open Market Committee policy-tightening in 2022, likely including multiple interest rate hikes. With a strong asset-sensitive balance sheet and our strong position in our market markets, we expect increases in loan demand and interest rates will improve returns going forward.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The consolidated financial statements of Colony are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and follow general practices within the industry in which it operates. This preparation requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates, assumptions and judgments are based on information available as of the date of the consolidated financial statements; accordingly, as this information changes, actual results could differ from the estimates, assumptions and judgments reflected in the consolidated financial statements. Certain policies inherently have a greater reliance on the use of estimates, assumptions and judgments and, as such, have a greater possibility of producing results that could be materially different than originally reported. Estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change include the valuation of loan acquisition transactions, as well as the determination of the allowance for loan losses and income taxes and, therefore, are critical accounting policies. In addition to the discussion that follows, the accounting policies related to these estimates are further described in Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, under Part II, Item 8.

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Business Combinations and Valuation of Loans Acquired in Business Combinations

We account for acquisitions under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, which requires the use of the acquisition method of accounting. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination are recorded at the estimated fair value on their purchase date. As provided for under GAAP, management has up to 12 months following the date of the acquisition to finalize the fair values of acquired assets and assumed liabilities, where it was not possible to estimate the acquisition date fair value upon consummation. Management finalized the fair values of acquired assets and assumed liabilities within this 12-month period and management currently considers such values to be the Day 1 Fair Values for the acquisition transactions.

In particular, the valuation of acquired loans involves significant estimates, assumptions and judgment based on information available as of the acquisition date. Loans acquired in a business combination transaction are evaluated either individually or in pools of loans with similar characteristics; including consideration of a credit component. A number of factors are considered in determining the estimated fair value of purchased loans including, among other things, the remaining life of the acquired loans, estimated prepayments, estimated loss ratios, estimated value of the underlying collateral, estimated holding periods, contractual interest rates compared to market interest rates, and net present value of cash flows expected to be received.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is a critical accounting estimate that requires significant judgments and assumptions, which are inherently subjective. The use of different estimates or assumptions could have a significant impact on the provision for credit losses, allowance for loan losses, financial condition, and results of operations. The economic and business climate in any given industry or market is difficult to gauge and can change rapidly, and the effects of those changes can vary by borrower.

The allowance consists of specific, historical and general components. The specific component relates to loans that are classified as either doubtful, substandard or special mention. For loans that are classified as impaired, an allowance is established when the discounted cash flows (or collateral value or observable market price) of the impaired loan are lower than the carrying value of that loan. The historical component covers nonclassified loans and is based on historical loss experience adjusted for qualitative factors. A general component is maintained to cover uncertainties that could affect management’s estimate of probable losses. The general component of the allowance reflects the margin of imprecision inherent in the underlying assumptions used in the methodologies for estimating specific and historical losses in the portfolio. General valuation allowances are based on internal and external qualitative risk factors such as (1) changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and collections, charge offs, and recovery practices, (2) changes in international, national, regional, and local conditions, (3) changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio and terms of loans, (4) changes in the experience, depth, and ability of lending management, (5) changes in the volume and severity of past due loans and other similar conditions, (6) changes in the quality of the organization's loan review system, (7) changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral dependent loans, (8) the existence and effect of any concentrations of credit and changes in the levels of such concentrations, and (9) the effect of other external factors (i.e. competition, legal and regulatory requirements) on the level of estimated credit losses.

Consolidated net income and stockholders’ equity could be affected if management’s estimate of the allowance necessary to cover loan losses is subsequently materially different, requiring a change in the level of provision for loan losses to be recorded. While management uses currently available information to recognize losses on loans, future adjustments may be necessary based on newly received appraisals, updated commercial customer financial statements, rapidly deteriorating customer cash flow, and changes in economic conditions or forecasts that affect the Company's customers.

Income Taxes

The assessment of income tax assets and liabilities involves the use of estimates, assumptions, interpretation, and judgment concerning certain accounting pronouncements and federal and state tax codes. There can be no assurance that future events, such as court decisions or positions of federal and state taxing authorities, will not differ from management’s current assessment, the impact of which could be significant to the consolidated results of operations and reported earnings.

Colony files a consolidated federal income tax return and a combined state income tax return (both of which include Colony and its wholly owned subsidiaries). Accordingly, amounts equal to tax benefits of those companies having taxable federal losses or credits are reimbursed by the companies that incur federal tax liabilities. Amounts provided for income tax expense are based on income reported for financial statement purposes and do not necessarily represent amounts currently payable under tax laws. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed quarterly for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted tax law rates

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applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through provision for income tax expense. Valuation allowances are established when it is more likely than not that a portion of the full amount of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets, management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies. Colony may also recognize a liability for unrecognized tax benefits from uncertainty in income taxes. Unrecognized tax benefits represent the differences between a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the benefit recognized and measured in the financial statements. Penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are classified as income tax expense.

Overview

The following discussion and analysis present the more significant factors affecting the Company’s financial condition as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and results of operations for each of the two year-periods ended December 31, 2021. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements, notes thereto and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this report.

Taxable-equivalent adjustments are the result of increasing income from tax-free loans and investments by an amount equal to the taxes that would be paid if the income were fully taxable based on a 19% federal tax rate for 2021 and a 21% federal rate for 2020, thus making tax-exempt yields comparable to taxable asset yields.

Dollar amounts in tables are stated in thousands, except for per share amounts.

Results of Operations

The Company’s results of operations are determined by its ability to effectively manage interest income and expense, to minimize loan and investment losses, to generate noninterest income and to control noninterest expense. Since market forces and economic conditions beyond the control of the Company determine interest rates, the ability to generate net interest income is dependent upon the Company’s ability to obtain an adequate spread between the rate earned on interest-earning assets and the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. Thus, the key performance for net interest income is the interest margin or net yield, which is taxable-equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. Net income available to common shareholders totaled $18.7 million, or $1.66 per diluted shares in 2021, compared to $11.8 million, or $1.24 per diluted shares in 2020.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income is the difference between interest income on earning assets, such as loans and securities, and interest expense on liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings, which are used to fund those assets. Net interest income is the Company’s largest source of revenue, representing 64.3% of total revenue during 2021 and 66.76% of total revenue during 2020.

Net interest margin is the taxable-equivalent net interest income as a percentage of average interest-earning assets for the period. The level of interest rates and the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities impact net interest income and net interest margin.

The Company’s loan portfolio is significantly affected by changes in the prime interest rate. The prime interest rate, which is the rate offered on loans to borrowers with strong credit, was 3.25% as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. The Federal Reserve Board sets general market rates of interest, including the deposit and loan rates offered by many financial institutions. During 2021, the prime interest rate remained the same.  During 2020, the prime interest rate decreased by 100 basis points.

The following table presents the changes in taxable-equivalent net interest income and identifies the changes due to differences in the average volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the changes due to changes in the average interest rate on those assets and liabilities. The changes in net interest income due to changes in both average volume and average interest rate have been allocated to the average volume change or the average interest rate change in proportion to the absolute amounts of the change in each. The Company’s consolidated average balance sheets along with an analysis of taxable-equivalent net interest earnings are presented in the Rate/Volume Analysis.

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Rate/Volume Analysis

The rate/volume analysis presented hereafter illustrates the change from year to year for each component of the taxable equivalent net interest income separated into the amount generated through volume changes and the amount generated by changes in the yields/rates.

Changes from 2020 to 2021 (a)
(dollars in thousands)VolumeRateTotal
Interest income
Loans, net of unearned fees$4,850$(272)$4,578
Investment securities, taxable4,329(1,861)2,468
Investment securities, exempt861(31)830
Interest-bearing deposits85(309)(224)
Total interest income10,125(2,473)7,652
Interest expense
Interest-Bearing Demand and Savings Deposits681(1,622)(941)
Time Deposits(94)(1,963)(2,057)
FHLB Advances36(88)(52)
Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility ("PPPLF")(147)35(112)
Other Borrowings(202)(119)(321)
Total interest expense274(3,757)(3,483)
Net interest income$9,851$1,284$11,135

(a)Changes in net interest income for the periods, based on either changes in average balances or changes in average rates for interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, are shown on this table. During each year there are numerous and simultaneous balance and rate changes; therefore, it is not possible to precisely allocate the changes between balances and rates. For the purpose of this table, changes that are not exclusively due to balance changes or rate changes have been attributed to rates.

The Company maintains about 22.36% of its loan portfolio in adjustable rate loans that reprice with prime rate changes, while the bulk of its other loans mature within 3 years. The liabilities to fund assets are primarily in non-maturing core deposits and short term certificates of deposit that mature within one year. During 2021, Federal Reserve rates remained stable. The Federal Reserve rates decreased 150 basis points in 2020. We have seen the net interest margin decrease to 3.39% for 2021, compared to 3.50% for 2020.

Taxable-equivalent net interest income for 2021 increased by $11.1 million or 20.0%, compared to 2020, due to an increase in loan fee income generated through PPP loan originations during 2021, which was approximately $5.4 million and increase in investment securities income, along with decreases in interest expense. The average volume of interest-earning assets during 2021 increased $378.5 million compared to 2020 while over the same period the net interest margin decreased 11 basis points to 3.39% from 3.50%. The change in the net interest margin in 2021 and 2020 was primarily driven by a continued higher level of low yielding assets offset by a decrease in the cost of funds, as well as downward pressure exerted from lower yielding PPP loans offset by lowering our borrowing costs during the year as well as lower interest on the level of deposits on our balance sheet. Growth in average earning assets during 2021 was primarily in loans and interest-bearing deposits in other banks related to the acquisition of SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc ("SouthCrest").

The average volume of loans increased $94.9 million in 2021 compared to 2020, which reflects both organic loan growth, growth from acquisition of SouthCrest offset by $144.0 million in loans PPP loans forgiven. The average yield on loans remained stable from 2021 compared to 2020, and only decreased two basis points. The average volume of interest-bearing deposits increased $279.1 million in 2021 compared to 2020. Average demand deposits increased $286.8 million while average time deposits decreased $7.7 million in 2021 compared to 2020.

Accordingly, the ratio of average interest-bearing deposits to total average deposits was 75.3% in 2021 and 78.8% in 2020. For 2021, this deposit mix, combined with a general decrease in interest rates, had the effect of (i) decreasing the average cost of

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total deposits by 32 basis points in 2021 compared to 2020 and (ii) offsetting a portion of the impact of decreasing yields on interest-earning assets on the Company’s net interest income.

The Company’s net interest spread, which represents the difference between the average rate earned on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, remained stable and only decreasing to 3.32% in 2021 from 3.37% in 2020. The net interest spread, as well as the net interest margin, will be impacted by future changes in short-term and long-term interest rate levels, as well as the impact from the competitive environment. A discussion of the effects of changing interest rates on net interest income is set forth in "Market Risk and Interest Rate Sensitivity" included elsewhere in this report.

AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS

20212020
AverageIncome/Yields/AverageIncome/Yields/
(dollars in thousands)BalancesExpenseRatesBalancesExpenseRates
Assets
Loans, net of unearned fees (1)$1,186,919$60,3805.09%$1,092,009$55,8025.11%
Investment securities, taxable547,7939,3431.71336,1406,8752.05
Investment securities, exempt (2)61,4761,1611.8917,0703311.94
Deposits in banks and short term investments169,1882140.13141,6414380.31
Total interest-earning assets1,965,37671,0983.621,586,86063,4464.00
Total noninterest-earning assets135,916104,375
Total assets$2,101,292$1,691,235
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Savings and interest-bearing demand deposits1,073,8249290.09%787,0301,8700.24%
Time deposits297,7041,6720.56305,3743,7291.22
Total interest-bearing deposits$1,371,528$2,6010.19$1,092,404$5,5990.51
FHLB advances34,8496911.9833,2497432.23
Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility25,546930.3690,7682050.23
Other borrowings32,6861,0123.1038,5271,3333.46
Total interest-bearing liabilities1,464,6094,3970.301,254,9487,8800.63
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits449,445294,008
Other liabilities11,1954,325
Stockholders' equity176,043137,954
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$2,101,292$1,691,235
Interest rate spread3.32%3.37%
Net interest income$66,701$55,566
Net interest margin3.39%3.50%

(1)The average balance of loans includes the average balance of nonaccrual loans. Income on such loans is recognized and recorded on the cash basis. Taxable-equivalent adjustments totaling $268,000 and $252,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, are included in income and fees on loans. Accretion income of $470,000 and $763,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are also included in income and fees on loans.

(2)Taxable-equivalent adjustments totaling $244,000 and $69,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, are included in tax-exempt interest on investment securities. The adjustments are based on federal tax rate of 19% and 21% with appropriate reductions for the effect of disallowed interest expense incurred in carrying tax-exempt obligations for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Provision for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses is determined by management as the amount to be added to the allowance for loan losses after net charge-offs have been deducted to bring the allowance to a level which, in management’s best estimate, is necessary to absorb

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probable losses within the existing loan portfolio. The provision for loan losses totaled $700,000 in 2021 compared to $6.6 million in 2020. See the section captioned “Allowance for Loan Losses” elsewhere in this discussion for further analysis of the provision for loan losses. The decrease in provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to 2020 is largely due to the reserve levels that have already been established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. See the section captioned “Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses” elsewhere in this discussion for further analysis of the provision for loan losses. Net recoveries for the year ended December 31, 2021 were $83,000 compared to net charge-offs of $1.3 million for the same period in 2020. As of December 31, 2021, Colony’s allowance for loan losses was $12.9 million, or 0.96% of total loans, compared to $12.1 million, or 1.14% of total loans, at December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, nonperforming assets were $5.8 million and $10.2 million, or 0.21% and 0.58% of total assets, respectively. While asset quality remains stable period over period, social and economic disruption in response to the COVID-19 pandemic continued to result in business closures and job losses during the year ended 2021.

Noninterest Income

The components of noninterest income were as follows:

$%
(dollars in thousands)20212020VarianceVariance
Service charges on deposit accounts$6,213$5,293$92017.38%
Mortgage fee income13,2139,1494,06444.42
Gain on sales of SBA loans7,5471,6005,947100.00
Gain (loss) on sales of securities(87)926(1,013)-109.40
Gain on sales of assets1,082(1,082)100.00
Interchange fees6,9294,9881,94138.91
BOLI income1,04174329840.11
Other1,434463971209.81
Total$36,290$24,244$12,04649.69%

Noninterest income increased $12.0 million, or 49.69% from 2020. The Company saw considerable increases in mortgage fee income, gain on sale of SBA loans, and interchange fees, off-set slightly by losses on sales of securities and the absence of a gain on sale of assets in 2021. The increase in mortgage fee income is primarily attributed to the increase in volume of mortgage activity as well as the acquisition of SouthCrest in August 2021. Furthermore, during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, there was an increase in the demand for mortgage rate locks and mortgage closings due to a historically low interest rate environment. The decrease in mortgage rates was partially attributable to the 150 basis point decrease in the national federal funds rate during the year ended December 31, 2020 and remained in effect for 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gain on sale of SBA loans increased $5.9 million in 2021 from 2020. The increase in 2021 is primarily attributable to the continued growth in the Small Business Specialty Lending division. The increase of $1.9 million in interchange fees was a result of the perks program the Company offered from Discover® and the program becoming the Bank's primary program late in 2020.

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Noninterest Expense

The components of noninterest expense were as follows:

$%
(dollars in thousands)20212020VarianceVariance
Salaries and employee benefits$45,596$34,141$11,45533.55%
Occupancy and equipment6,1495,31183815.78
Acquisition related expenses4,6178623,755435.61
Information technology7,6735,7461,92733.54
Professional Fees2,9512,25070131.16
Advertising and public relations2,6572,11154625.86
Communications1,37383553864.43
Writedown of building90582(492)100.00
FHLB prepayment penalty925(925)100.00
Other7,6095,5382,07137.40
Total$78,715$58,301$20,41435.01%

Increases in salaries and employee benefits, acquisition related expenses, information technology expenses accounted for the majority of the increase in noninterest expense, offset by the writedown of the Thomaston building and FHLB prepayment penalties in 2020. The increase in salaries and employee benefits of $11.5 million in 2021 was primarily attributable to merit pay increases and salaries from the SouthCrest and insurance acquisitions completed in the last half of 2021, as well as commissions paid to mortgage employees due to an increase in volume. Information technology expenses increased $1.9 million primarily due to the Company's additional processing needs due to growth, as well as implementation of new software. Other noninterest expense increased due to increases in FDIC insurance from acquisition of SouthCrest and deposit charge-offs.

Sources and Uses of Funds

The following table illustrates, during the years presented, the mix of the Company’s funding sources and the assets in which those funds are invested as a percentage of the Company’s average total assets for the period indicated. Average assets totaled $2.1 billion in 2021 compared to $1.7 billion in 2020.

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(dollars in thousands)20212020
Sources of Funds:
Noninterest-bearing deposits$449,44521.39%$294,00817.38%
Interest-bearing deposits1,371,52865.27%1,092,40464.59
FHLB advances34,8491.66%33,2491.97
PPPLF25,5461.22%90,7685.37
Other borrowings32,6851.56%38,5272.28
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities11,1960.53%4,3250.26
Equity capital176,0438.37%137,9548.15
Total$2,101,292100.00%$1,691,235100.00%
Uses of Funds:
Loans held for sale and loans$1,186,91956.49%$1,092,00964.57%
Investment securities609,26928.99%353,21020.88
Deposits in banks and short term investments169,1888.05%141,6418.38
Other noninterest-bearing assets135,9166.47%104,3756.17
Total$2,101,292100.00%$1,691,235100.00%

Deposits continue to be the Company’s primary source of funding. Over the comparable periods, interest-bearing deposits continues to be the largest component of the Company's mix of deposits. Average interest-bearing deposits totaled 75.3% in 2021 compared to 78.8%% of total average deposits in 2020.

The Company primarily invests funds in loans and securities. Loans continue to be the largest component of the Company’s mix of invested assets.

Loans

The following table presents the composition of the Company’s loan portfolio as of December 31 for the past five years.

(dollars in thousands)December 31, 2021December 31, 2020December 31, 2019December 31, 2018December 31, 2016
Construction, land & land development$165,446$121,093$96,097$60,310$53,762
Other commercial real estate787,392520,391540,239435,961418,669
Total commercial real estate952,838641,484636,336496,271472,431
Residential real estate212,527183,021194,796187,592193,924
Commercial , financial, & agricultural154,048213,380114,36074,16664,523
Consumer & other18,56421,61823,32223,49733,911
Total loans, net of unearned fees1,337,9771,059,503968,814781,526764,789
Allowance for loan losses(12,910)(12,127)(6,863)(7,277)(7,508)
Loans, net$1,325,067$1,047,376$961,951$774,249$757,281

Maturity and Repricing Opportunity

The following table presents total loans as of December 31, 2021 according to maturity distribution and/or repricing opportunity on adjustable rate loans.

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(dollars in thousands)One year or lessAfter one year through five yearsAfter five years through fifteen yearsAfter fifteen yearsTotal
Construction, land & land development$99,837$35,389$12,953$17,267$165,446
Other commercial real estate85,737258,403403,28839,964787,392
Total commercial real estate185,574293,792416,24157,231952,838
Residential real estate10,09358,65087,00056,784212,527
Commercial, financial, & agricultural29,88970,18651,7572,216154,048
Consumer & other4,23612,8131,51518,564
Total loans, net of unearned fees229,792435,441556,513116,2311,337,977

Overview. Loans totaled $1.3 billion at December 31, 2021, up 26.3% from $1.1 billion at December 31, 2020. The majority of the Company’s loan portfolio is comprised of the real estate loans. Commercial and residential real estate which is primarily 1-4 family residential properties, nonfarm nonresidential properties and real estate construction loans made up 87.1% and 77.8% of total loans at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Commercial, financial, & agriculture represents another 11.5% of the population of the loans at December 31, 2021 down from 20.1% of the population at December 31, 2020. The reason for the decrease is primarily due to the PPP loan production during 2020. These loans were at gross $9.0 million at December 31, 2021 compared to a gross of $101.1 million at December 31, 2020. The PPP loans are included in our commercial, financial and agricultural loans.

Loan origination/risk management. In accordance with the Company’s decentralized banking model, loan decisions are made at the local bank level. The Company utilizes both an Executive Loan Committee and a Director Loan Committee to assist lenders with the decision making and underwriting process of larger loan requests. Due to the diverse economic markets served by the Company, evaluation and underwriting criterion may vary slightly by market. Overall, loans are extended after a review of the borrower’s repayment ability, collateral adequacy, and overall credit worthiness.

Commercial purpose, commercial real estate, and agricultural loans are underwritten similarly to how other loans are underwritten throughout the Company. The properties securing the Company’s commercial real estate portfolio are diverse in terms of type and geographic location. In addition, the Company restricts total loans to $10 million per borrower, subject to exception and approval by the Director Loan Committee. This diversity helps reduce the Company’s exposure to adverse economic events that affect any single market or industry. Management monitors and evaluates commercial real estate loans monthly based on collateral, geography, and risk grade criteria. The Company also utilizes information provided by third-party agencies to provide additional insight and guidance about economic conditions and trends affecting the markets it serves.

The Company extends loans to builders and developers that are secured by non-owner occupied properties. In such cases, the Company reviews the overall economic conditions and trends for each market to determine the desirability of loans to be extended for residential construction and development. Sources of repayment for these types of loans may be pre-committed permanent loans from approved long-term lenders, sales of developed property or an interim mini-perm loan commitment from the Company until permanent financing is obtained. In some cases, loans are extended for residential loan construction for speculative purposes and are based on the perceived present and future demand for housing in a particular market served by the Company. These loans are monitored by on-site inspections and are considered to have higher risks than other real estate loans due to their ultimate repayment being sensitive to interest rate changes, general economic conditions and trends, the demand for the properties, and the availability of long-term financing.

The Company originates consumer loans at the bank level. Due to the diverse economic markets served by the Company, underwriting criterion may vary slightly by market. The Company is committed to serving the borrowing needs of all markets served and, in some cases, adjusts certain evaluation methods to meet the overall credit demographics of each market. Consumer loans represent relatively small loan amounts that are spread across many individual borrowers to help minimize risk. Additionally, consumer trends and outlook reports are reviewed by management on a regular basis.

The Company utilizes an independent third party company for loan review and validation of the credit risk program on an ongoing quarterly basis. Results of these reviews are presented to management and the audit committee. The loan review process complements and reinforces the risk identification and assessment decisions made by lenders and credit personnel, as well as the Company’s policies and procedures.

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Commercial, financial and agricultural. Commercial and agricultural loans at December 31, 2021 decreased by $59.3 million, or 27.8% to $154.0 million from December 31, 2020 at $213.4 million. This decrease was primarily attributable to the PPP loans which was $101.1 million at December 31, 2020 versus $9.0 million at December 31, 2021, offset by growth from the SouthCrest acquisition. The Company’s commercial and agricultural loans are a diverse group of loans to small, medium and large businesses. The purpose of these loans varies from supporting seasonal working capital needs to term financing of equipment. These agricultural lines typically reduce in size at year end as crops are sold. While some short-term loans may be made on an unsecured basis, most are secured by the assets being financed with collateral margins that are consistent with the Company’s loan policy guidelines.

Construction, land and land development.  Construction, land and land development loans increased by $44.4 million, or 36.6%, at December 31, 2021 to $165.4 million from $121.1 million at December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily attributable to the acquisition of SouthCrest and the continued growth of the business during 2021.

Other commercial real estate. Other commercial real estate loans increased by $267.0 million, or 51.3%, at December 31, 2021 to $787.4 million from $520.4 million at December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily attributable due to the acquisition of SouthCrest and the continued growth of the business during 2021.

Residential Real Estate Loans. Residential real estate loans increased by $29.5 million or 16.1%, at December 31, 2021 to $212.5 million from $183.0 million at December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily attributable due to the acquisition of SouthCrest and the continued growth of the business during 2021. Residential real estate loans consist of revolving, open-end and closed-end loans as well as those secured by closed-end first and junior liens.

Consumer and other. Consumer and other loans include loans to individuals for personal and household purposes, including secured and unsecured installment loans and revolving lines of credit. Consumer and other loans at December 31, 2021 decreased $3.1 million or 14.1% to $18.6 million from $21.6 million at December 31, 2020. This decrease was primarily attributable to payoffs and amortization of the portfolio.

Industry concentrations. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there were no concentrations of loans within any single industry in excess of 10% of total loans, as segregated by Standard Industrial Classification code (“SIC code”). The SIC code is a federally designed standard industrial numbering system used by the Company to categorize loans by the borrower’s type of business. The Company has established industry-specific guidelines with respect to maximum loans permitted for each industry with which the Company does business.

Collateral concentrations. Concentrations of credit risk can exist in relation to individual borrowers or groups of borrowers, certain types of collateral, certain types of industries, or certain geographic regions. The Company has a concentration in real estate loans as well as a geographic concentration that could pose an adverse credit risk. At December 31, 2021, approximately 87.1% of the Company’s loan portfolio was concentrated in loans secured by real estate. A substantial portion of borrowers’ ability to honor their contractual obligations is dependent upon the viability of the real estate economic sector. In addition, a large portion of the Company’s foreclosed assets are also located in these same geographic markets, making the recovery of the carrying amount of foreclosed assets susceptible to changes in market conditions. Management continues to monitor these concentrations and has considered these concentrations in its allowance for loan loss analysis. In recent years, we have seen real estate values stabilizing in our markets. The stabilization of rates has resulted in a decrease in the number of loans being classified as impaired over the past several years.

Large credit relationships. The Company currently operates 31 branches in north, central, south and coastal Georgia and includes metropolitan markets in Forsyth, Fulton, Fayette, Dougherty, Lowndes, Houston, Chatham and Muscogee counties. As a result, the Company originates and maintains large credit relationships with several commercial customers in the ordinary course of business. The Company considers large credit relationships to be those with commitments equal to or in excess of $5.0 million prior to any portion being sold. Large relationships also include loan participations purchased if the credit relationship with the agent is equal to or in excess of $5.0 million. In addition to the Company’s normal policies and procedures related to the origination of large credits, the Company’s Executive Loan Committee and Director Loan Committee must approve all new and renewed credit facilities which are part of large credit relationships. At December 31, 2021, our largest 20 relationships consisted of loans and loan commitments, where the total committed balance was $203.6 million with $160.6 million outstanding. At December 31, 2020, our largest 20 relationships had total committed balance of $174.8 million with $156.2 million outstanding.

Maturities and sensitivities of loans to changes in interest rates. The following table presents the maturity distribution of the Company’s loans at December 31, 2021. The table also presents the portion of loans that have fixed interest rates or variable interest rates that fluctuate over the life of the loans in accordance with changes in an interest rate index such as the prime rate.

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(dollars in thousands)Due in One Year or LessAfter One, but within Five YearsAfter FiveYears, but within Fifteen YearsAfter Fifteen YearsTotal
Loans with fixed interest rates$134,376$393,599$460,333$50,558$1,038,866
Loans with floating interest rates95,41641,84297,22264,631299,111
Total$229,792$435,441$557,555$115,189$1,337,977

The Company may renew loans at maturity when requested by a customer whose financial strength appears to support such renewal or when such renewal appears to be in the Company’s best interest. In such instances, the Company generally requires payment of accrued interest and may adjust the rate of interest, require a principal reduction or modify other terms of the loan at the time of renewal.

Nonperforming Assets and Potential Problem Loans

Although asset quality experienced some recovery during the year December 31, 2021, the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will likely have an impact on our asset quality, but it is unknown to what extent at this point. Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, accruing loans contractually past due 90 days or more, repossessed personal property and other real estate owned ("OREO"). Nonaccrual loans totaled $5.4 million at December 31, 2021, a decrease of $3.68 million, or 40.3%, from $9.1 million at December 31, 2020. There were no loans contractually past due 90 days or more and still accruing for either period presented. At December 31, 2021, OREO totaled $281,000, a decrease of $725,000, or 72.1%, compared with $1.0 million at December 31, 2020. The change in OREO is a combination of sales of assets during 2020 offset by asset additions and additions from the acquisition of SouthCrest. At the end of the year ended December 31, 2021, total nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets decreased to 0.21% compared with 0.58% at December 31, 2020.

At December 31, 2021, 4.7% of the Company’s loan portfolio, or $62.9 million, is in the hotel sector which we expected to be the most sensitive to the COVID-19 pandemic, of which $5.5 million in loans are guaranteed. While our entire loan portfolio is being continuously assessed, enhanced monitoring for these sectors is ongoing. We are continuously working with these customers to evaluate how the current economic conditions are impacting, and will continue to impact, their business operations.

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Year-end nonperforming assets and accruing past due loans were as follows:

(dollars in thousands)202120202019
Loans accounted for on nonaccrual$5,449$9,128$9,827
Loans accruing past due 90 days or more
Other real estate foreclosed2811,0061,320
Repossessed assets493013
Total nonperforming assets$5,779$10,164$11,160
Nonperforming loans by segment
Construction, land & land development$31$197$128
Commercial real estate8374,6133,772
Residential real estate3,8392,9583,728
Commercial, financial & agricultural7081,0652,061
Consumer & other34295138
Total nonperforming loans$5,449$9,128$9,827
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of:
Total loans, other real estate and foreclosed assets0.43%0.96%1.15%
Total assets0.21%0.58%0.74%
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of:
Total loans0.41%0.86%1.01%
Supplemental data:
Trouble debt restructured loans in compliance with modified terms (1)$7,326$12,320$12,337
Trouble debt restructured loans
Past due 30-89 days (1)273
Accruing past due loans:
30-89 days past due (1)$4,567$3,092$2,615
90 or more days past due
Total accruing past due loans$4,567$3,092$2,615
Allowance for loan losses$12,910$12,127$6,863
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of:
Total loans0.96%1.14%0.71%
Nonperforming loans236.92132.8569.84

(1) Loans granted payment deferrals related to the COVID-19 pandemic are not reported as past due or placed on nonaccrual status (provided the loans were not past due or on nonaccrual status prior to the deferral), there were no loans under these terms deemed past due or nonaccrual as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.

Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, loans past due 90 days or more, foreclosed real estate, repossessed assets and nonaccrual securities. Nonperforming assets at December 31, 2021 decreased 43.1% from December 31, 2020, as a result of the decrease in nonaccrual loans and the sale of other real estate owned property.

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Generally, loans are placed on nonaccrual status if principal or interest payments become 90 days past due and/or management deems the collectability of the principal and/or interest to be in question, as well as when required by regulatory requirements. Loans to a customer whose financial condition has deteriorated are considered for nonaccrual status whether or not the loan is 90 days or more past due. For consumer loans, collectability and loss are generally determined before the loan reaches 90 days past due. Accordingly, losses on consumer loans are recorded at the time they are determined. Consumer loans that are 90 days or more past due are generally either in liquidation/payment status or bankruptcy awaiting confirmation of a plan. Once interest accruals are discontinued, accrued but uncollected interest is charged to current year operations. Subsequent receipts on nonaccrual loans are recorded as a reduction of principal, and interest income is recorded only after principal recovery is reasonably assured. Classification of a loan as nonaccrual does not preclude the ultimate collection of loan principal or interest.

The restructuring of a loan is considered a "troubled debt restructuring ("TDR")" if both (i) the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, and (ii) the Company has granted the borrower a concession that we would not consider otherwise. At December 31, 2021, TDRs totaled $7.3 million, a decrease from $12.3 million reported December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, all TDRs were performing according to their modified terms and were therefore not considered to be nonperforming assets.

Troubled debt restructured loans are loans on which, due to deterioration in the borrower’s financial condition, the original terms have been modified in favor of the borrower or either principal or interest has been forgiven.

Foreclosed assets represent property acquired as the result of borrower defaults on loans. Foreclosed assets are recorded at estimated fair value, less estimated selling costs, at the time of foreclosure. Write-downs occurring at foreclosure are charged against the allowance for loan losses. On an ongoing basis, properties are appraised as required by market indications and applicable regulations. Write-downs are provided for subsequent declines in value and are included in other non-interest expense along with other expenses related to maintaining the properties.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is a reserve established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense, which represents management’s best estimate of probable losses that have been incurred within the existing portfolio of loans. The allowance, in the judgment of management, is necessary to reserve for estimated loan losses and risks inherent in the loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses includes allowance allocations calculated in accordance with current U.S. accounting standards. The level of the allowance reflects management’s continuing evaluation of industry concentrations, specific credit risks, loan loss experience, current loan portfolio quality, present economic, political and regulatory conditions and unidentified losses inherent in the current loan portfolio. Portions of the allowance may be allocated for specific credits; however, the entire allowance is available for any credit that, in management’s judgment, should be charged off. While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the ultimate adequacy of the allowance is dependent upon a variety of factors beyond the Company’s control, including the performance of the Company’s loan portfolio, the economy, changes in interest rates and the view of the regulatory authorities toward loan classifications.

The Company’s allowance for loan losses consists of specific valuation allowances established for probable losses on specific loans and historical valuation allowances for other loans with similar risk characteristics. The allowances established for probable losses on specific loans are the result of management’s quarterly review of substandard loans with an outstanding balance of $250,000 or more and impaired troubled debt restructured loans. This review process usually involves the Chief Credit Officer and Director of Credit Administration along with local lending officers reviewing the loans for impairment. Specific valuation allowances are determined after considering the borrower’s financial condition, collateral deficiencies, and economic conditions affecting the borrower’s industry, among other things. In the case of collateral dependent loans, collateral shortfall is most often based upon local market real estate value estimates. This review process is performed at the subsidiary bank level and is reviewed at the parent Company level.

Once the loan becomes impaired, it is removed from the pool of loans covered by the general reserve and reviewed individually for exposure as described above. In cases where the individual review reveals no exposure, no reserve is recorded for that loan, either through an individual reserve or through a general reserve. If, however, the individual review of the loan does indicate some exposure, management often charges off this exposure, rather than recording a specific reserve. In these instances, a loan which becomes nonperforming could actually reduce the allowance for loan losses. Those loans deemed uncollectible are transferred to our problem loan department for workout, foreclosure and/or liquidation. The problem loan department obtains a current appraisal on the property in order to record the fair market value (less selling expenses) when the property is foreclosed on and moved into other real estate.

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The allowances established for the remainder of the loan portfolio are based on historical loss factors, adjusted for certain qualitative factors, which are applied to groups of loans with similar risk characteristics. Loans are segregated into fifteen separate groups based on call codes. Most of the Company’s charge-offs during the past two years have been real estate dependent loans. The historical loss ratios applied to these groups of loans are updated quarterly based on actual charge-off experience. The historical loss ratios are further adjusted by qualitative factors.

Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for each of these components on a quarterly basis. Peer comparisons, industry comparisons, and regulatory guidelines are also used in the determination of the general valuation allowance. Loans identified as losses by management, internal loan review, and/or bank examiners are charged off. Additional information about the Company’s allowance for loan losses is provided in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for Allowance for Loan Losses.

The following table sets forth the breakdown of the allowance for loan losses by loan category for the periods indicated. The allocation of the allowance to each category is subjective and is not necessarily indicative of future losses and does not restrict the use of the allowance to absorb losses in any other category.

December 31,December 31,December 31,December 31,December 31,
(dollars in thousands)20212020201920182017
Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)Reserve%(1)
Construction, land & land development$1,12712.4%$1,01311.4%$2159.9%$1317.7%$1,2167.0%
Commercial real estate7,69158.86,88049.13,90855.85,25155.84,65454.7
Residential real estate1,80515.92,27817.398020.11,18124.096825.4
Commercial , financial, & agricultural1,08311.51,71320.11,65711.86189.56338.4
Consumer & other1,2041.42432.11032.4963.0374.4
$12,910100.0%$12,127100.0%$6,863100.0%$7,277100.0%$7,508100.0%

(1) Percentage represents the loan balance in each category expressed as a percentage of total end of period loans.

The following table presents an analysis of the Company’s loan loss experience for the periods indicated.

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(dollars in thousands)20212020201920182017
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of year$12,127$6,863$7,277$7,508$8,923
Charge-offs
Construction, land & land development42952
Commercial real estate5682261192571,027
Residential real estate32067581621,048
Commercial , financial, & agricultural274242403247458
Consumer & other681,103784299330
Total charge-offs$913$1,781$2,093$965$2,915
Recoveries
Construction, land & land development4664582155266
Commercial real estate11815321852544
Residential real estate2741421749182
Commercial , financial, & agricultural914336161141
Consumer & other47104657477
Total recoveries9964875755331,110
Net (recoveries)/ charge-offs(83)1,2941,5184321,805
Provision for loans losses7006,5581,104201390
Allowance for loan losses at end of year$12,910$12,127$6,863$7,277$7,508
Ratio of net (recoveries)/charge-offs to average loans(0.01)%0.12%0.11%0.04%0.15%

The allowance for loan losses increased from $12.1 million or 1.14% of total loans at December 31, 2020 to $12.9 million, or 0.96% of total loans at December 31, 2021. Excluding outstanding PPP loans of $9.0 million and $101.1 million as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 0.96% and 1.27%, respectively. The allowance for loan losses allocated 0.10% of the balance to our PPP loan portfolio at December 31, 2020. The provision for loan losses reflects loan quality trends, including the level of net charge-offs or recoveries, among other factors.

Social and economic disruption in response to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to result in businesses closures and job losses during the year ended 2021. Net (recoveries)/charge-off’s continued to improve by $1.4 million from 2020 resulting in net recovery of $83,000. As such, additional qualitative measures were incorporated as part of the December 31, 2021 allowance for loan losses calculation for the economic uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which was the primary cause for the increase to the provision for loan losses during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the same period 2020. Additional reserves were also allocated to the non-owner occupied commercial real estate pools due to economic impacts in the retail and hospitality sectors.

Management believes the allowance for loan losses is adequate to provide for losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of December 31, 2021. The continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic during 2021 leading to significant market changes, high levels of unemployment and increasing degrees of uncertainty in the U.S. economy, the impact on collectability is not currently known, and it is possible that additional provisions for credit losses could be needed in future periods.

Investment Portfolio

The following table presents carrying values of investment securities held by the Company as of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

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(dollars in thousands)202120202019
U.S. treasury securities$87,551$245$
U.S. agency17,7811,004
State, county and municipal securities250,15362,3885,115
Corporate debt securities48,4084,2502,806
Mortgage-backed securities534,271312,927339,411
Total debt securities$938,164$380,814$347,332

The following table represents expected maturities and weighted-average yields of investment securities held by the Company as of December 31, 2021 (mortgage-backed securities are based on the average life at the projected speed, while State and Political Subdivisions reflect anticipated calls being exercised).

After 1 Year ButAfter 5 Years But
Within 1 YearWithin 5 YearsWithin 10 YearsAfter 10 Years
(dollars in thousands)AmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYieldAmountYield
U.S. treasury securities$%$33,4051.06%$54,1461.02%$%
U.S. agency6,8121.1310,9691.40
State, county and municipal securities4533.471,0361.8441,7531.73206,9111.92
Corporate debt securities8,3693.4536,1433.973,8965.13
Mortgage-backed securities1,78947,0944.4594,7234.94390,6651.65
Total debt securities$2,2423.51%$96,7162.93%$237,7343.17%$601,4721.76%

Securities are classified as held to maturity and carried at amortized cost when management has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity. Securities are classified as available for sale when they might be sold before maturity. Securities available for sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income. The Company has 100% of its portfolio classified as available for sale.

At December 31, 2021, there were no holdings of any one issuer, other than the U.S. government and its agencies, in an amount greater than 10% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity.

The average yield of the securities portfolio was 1.72% in 2021 and 2.04% in 2020. The decrease in the average yield from 2021 to 2020 was primarily attributed to the purchase of new securities which have a lower yield.

Deposits

The following table presents the average amount outstanding and the average rate paid on deposits by the Company for the years 2021, 2020, and 2019.

202120202019
(dollars in thousands)AverageAmountAverage RateAverage AmountAverage RateAverage AmountAverage Rate
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits$449,445$294,008$208,320
Interest-bearing demand and savings deposits1,073,8240.09%787,0300.24%640,1800.67%
Time deposits297,7040.56%305,3741.22%361,3191.60%
Total deposits$1,820,9730.14%$1,386,4120.40%$1,209,8190.83%

The following table presents the maturities of the Company’s time deposits as of December 31, 2021.

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(dollars in thousands)TimeDeposits$250,000 or GreaterTimeDepositsLess than $250,000Total
Months to Maturity
3 or less$18,171$56,628$74,799
Over 3 through 619,80847,15466,962
Over 6 through 1217,41591,676109,091
Over 12 Months18,01380,36398,376
$73,407$275,821$349,228

Average deposits increased $434.6 million in 2021 compared to 2020. The increase in 2021 included $286.8 million or 36.4% in interest-bearing demand and savings deposits while, at the same time, noninterest bearing deposits increased $155.4 million, or 52.9% and time deposits decreased $7.7 million, or 2.5%. The growth in our deposits is due primarily to acquisition of SouthCrest, combination of government stimulus programs, PPP loan proceeds retained on deposits by corporate borrowers, and customer expense and savings habits in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Company supplements deposit sources with brokered deposits. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $883,000, or 0.04% of total deposits, in brokered certificates of deposit attracted by external third parties. Additional information is provided in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for Deposits.

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

In the ordinary course of business, our Bank has granted commitments to extend credit to approved customers. Generally, these commitments to extend credit have been granted on a temporary basis for seasonal or inventory requirements or for construction period financing and have been approved within the Bank’s credit guidelines. Our Bank has also granted commitments to approved customers for financial standby letters of credit. These commitments are recorded in the financial statements when funds are disbursed or the financial instruments become payable. The Bank uses the same credit policies for these off-balance-sheet commitments as it does for financial instruments that are recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitment amounts expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

The following table summarizes commitments and contractual obligations outstanding at December 31, 2021.

(dollars in thousands)Payments Due by Period
TotalLess Than 1 Year1 – 3 Years3 – 5 YearsMore Than 5 Years
Contractual Obligations:
Borrowings$88,448$5,313$3,000$11,750$68,385
Operating lease liabilities665493172
Time Deposits349,228250,85283,22414,264888
$438,341$256,658$86,396$26,014$69,273
Other Commitments:
Loan commitments$318,853$191,067$48,363$7,105$72,318
Standby letters of credit4,8692,9231,946
323,722193,99050,3097,10572,318
Total Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments$762,063$450,648$136,705$33,119$141,591

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In the ordinary course of business, the Company has entered into off-balance sheet financial instruments which are not reflected in the consolidated financial statements. These instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, performance letters of credit, guarantees and liability for assets held in trust.

Such financial instruments are recorded in the financial statements when funds are disbursed or the instruments become payable. The Company uses the same credit policies for these off-balance sheet financial instruments as they do for instruments that are recorded in the consolidated financial statements.

Loan Commitments. The Company enters into contractual commitments to extend credit, normally with fixed expiration dates or termination clauses, at specified rates and for specific purposes. Substantially all of the Company’s commitments to extend credit are contingent upon customers maintaining specific credit standards at the time of loan funding. The Company minimizes its exposure to loss under these commitments by subjecting them to credit approval and monitoring procedures. Management assesses the credit risk associated with certain commitments to extend credit in determining the level of the allowance for loan losses. Loan commitments outstanding at December 31, 2021 are included in the preceding table.

Standby Letters of Credit. Letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. In the event the customer does not perform in accordance with the terms of the agreement with the third party, the Company would be required to fund the commitment. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make is represented by the contractual amount of the commitment. If the commitment is funded, the Company would be entitled to seek recovery from the customer. The Company’s policies generally require that standby letters of credit arrangements contain security and debt covenants similar to those contained in loan agreements. Standby letters of credit outstanding at December 31, 2021 are included in the preceding table.

Capital Requirements

The Bank is required under federal law to maintain certain minimum capital levels based on ratios of capital to total assets and capital to risk-weighted assets. The required capital ratios are minimums, and the federal banking agencies may determine that a banking organization, based on its size, complexity or risk profile, must maintain a higher level of capital in order to operate in a safe and sound manner. Risks such as concentration of credit risks and the risk arising from non-traditional activities, as well as the institution’s exposure to a decline in the economic value of its capital due to changes in interest rates, and an institution’s ability to manage those risks are important factors that are to be taken into account by the federal banking agencies in assessing an institution’s overall capital adequacy. For more information, see “Item 1. Business – Supervision and Regulation – Regulation of the Company – Capital Requirements.”

At December 31, 2021, shareholders’ equity totaled $217.7 million compared to $144.5 million at December 31, 2020. In addition to net income of $18.7 million, other significant changes in shareholders’ equity during 2020 included $71.4 million issuance of common stock from SouthCrest acquisition, and $4.5 million of dividends declared on common stock. The accumulated other comprehensive loss component of stockholders’ equity totaled $6.2 million at December 31, 2021 compared to accumulated other comprehensive income $6.8 million at December 31, 2020. This fluctuation was mostly related to the after-tax effect of changes in the fair value of securities available for sale. Under regulatory requirements, the unrealized gain or loss on securities available for sale does not increase or reduce regulatory capital and is not included in the calculation of risk-based capital and leverage ratios. Regulatory agencies for banks and bank holding companies utilize capital guidelines designed to measure Tier 1 and total capital and take into consideration the risk inherent in both on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet items.

Tier 1 capital consists of common stock and qualifying preferred securities less goodwill, intangibles and disallowed deferred tax assets. Tier 2 capital consists of certain convertible, subordinated and other qualifying debt and the allowance for loan losses up to 1.25% of risk-weighted assets. The Company has no Tier 2 capital other than the allowance for loan losses.

Using the capital requirements presently in effect, the Tier 1 ratio as of December 31, 2021 was 11.28% and total Tier 1 and 2 risk-based capital was 12.05%. Both of these measures compare favorably with the regulatory minimum of 6.0% for Tier 1 and 8% for total risk-based capital. The Company’s common equity Tier 1 ratio as of December 31, 2021 was 9.87%, which exceeds the regulatory minimum of 4.50%. The Company’s Tier 1 leverage ratio as of December 31, 2021 was 7.25%, which exceeds the required ratio standard of 4.0%.

The Bank participate in the PPP and the PPPLF to fund PPP Loans. In accordance with regulatory guidance, PPP loans pledged as collateral for PPPLF, and PPPLF advances, are excluded from leverage capital ratios. PPP loans will also carry a 0% risk-weight for risk-based capital rules.

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For the year ended December 31, 2021, average capital was $176.0 million representing 8.4% of average assets for the year. This compares to average capital of $138.0 million, representing 8.2% of average assets for 2020.

For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company did not have any material commitments for capital expenditures.

In 2021, the Company granted 187,600 restricted shares of common stock and these restricted shares vest over a three year period.

A cash dividend of $4.5 million and $3.8 million was paid for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Additional information is provided in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for Preferred Stock and Warrants.

Liquidity

The Company, primarily through the actions of its subsidiary bank, engages in liquidity management to ensure adequate cash flow for deposit withdrawals, credit commitments and repayments of borrowed funds. Needs are met through loan repayments, net interest and fee income and the sale or maturity of existing assets. In addition, liquidity is continuously provided through the acquisition of new deposits, the renewal of maturing deposits and external borrowings.

Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2021 and 2020 were $197.2 million and $183.5 million, respectively. Management believes the various funding sources discussed above are adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs in these unsettled times without any material adverse impact on our operating results.

Management monitors deposit flow and evaluates alternate pricing structures to retain and grow deposits. To the extent needed to fund loan demand, traditional local deposit funding sources are supplemented by the use of FHLB borrowings, brokered deposits and other wholesale deposit sources outside the immediate market area. Internal policies have been updated to monitor the use of various core and non-core funding sources, and to balance ready access with risk and cost. Through various asset/liability management strategies, a balance is maintained among goals of liquidity, safety and earnings potential. Internal policies that are consistent with regulatory liquidity guidelines are monitored and enforced by the Bank.

The investment portfolio provides a ready means to raise cash if liquidity needs arise. As of December 31, 2021, the available for sale bond portfolio totaled $938.2 million At December 31, 2020, the available for sale bond portfolio totaled $380.8 million. Only marketable investment grade bonds are purchased. Although approximately 26% of the Bank’s bond portfolio is encumbered as pledges to secure various public funds deposits, repurchase agreements, and for other purposes, management can restructure and free up investment securities for sale if required to meet liquidity needs.

Management continually monitors the relationship of loans to deposits as it primarily determines the Company’s liquidity posture. Colony had ratios of loans to deposits of 56.3% as of December 31, 2021 and 73.3% as of December 31, 2020. Management employs alternative funding sources when deposit balances will not meet loan demands. The ratios of loans to all funding sources (excluding Subordinated Debentures) at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were 54.9% and 71.5%, respectively. Management continues to emphasize programs to generate local core deposits as our Company’s primary funding sources. The stability of the Banks’ core deposit base is an important factor in Colony’s liquidity position. A heavy percentage of the deposit base is comprised of accounts of individuals and small businesses with comprehensive banking relationships and limited volatility. At December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Bank had $73.4 million and $34.9 million, respectively, in certificates of deposit of $250,000 or more. These larger deposits represented 3.1% and 2.4%  of total deposits as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Management seeks to monitor and control the use of these larger certificates, which tend to be more volatile in nature, to ensure an adequate supply of funds as needed. Relative interest costs to attract local core relationships are compared to market rates of interest on various external deposit sources to help minimize the Company’s overall cost of funds.

The Company supplemented deposit sources with brokered deposits. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $883,000 or 0.1% of total deposits in CDARS. Additional information is provided in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements regarding these brokered deposits. Additionally, the Company uses external deposit listing services to obtain out-of-market certificates of deposit at competitive interest rates when funding is needed. The deposits obtained from listing services are often referred to as wholesale or internet CDs. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $99,000 in internet certificates of deposit obtained through deposit listing services.

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To plan for contingent sources of funding not satisfied by both local and out-of-market deposit balances, Colony and its subsidiary have established multiple borrowing sources to augment their funds management. The Company has borrowing capacity through membership of the Federal Home Loan Bank program. The Bank has also established overnight borrowing for Federal Funds Purchased through various correspondent banks. Management believes the various funding sources discussed above are adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs in the future without any material adverse impact on operating results. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, we had $51.7 million and $22.5 million, respectively, of outstanding advances from the FHLB. Based on the values of loans pledged as collateral, we had $574.7 million and $416.1 million of additional borrowing availability with the FHLB at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Liquidity measures the ability to meet current and future cash flow needs as they become due. The liquidity of a financial institution reflects its ability to meet loan requests, to accommodate possible outflows in deposits and to take advantage of interest rate market opportunities. The ability of a financial institution to meet its current financial obligations is a function of balance sheet structure, the ability to liquidate assets, and the availability of alternative sources of funds. The Company seeks to ensure its funding needs are met by maintaining a level of liquid funds through asset/liability management.

Asset liquidity is provided by liquid assets which are readily marketable or pledgeable or which will mature in the near future. Liquid assets include cash, interest-bearing deposits in banks, securities available for sale and federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements.

Liability liquidity is provided by access to funding sources which include core deposits. Should the need arise, the Company also maintains relationships with the Federal Home Loan Bank, Federal Reserve Bank, two correspondent banks and repurchase agreement lines that can provide funds on short notice.

Since Colony is a bank holding Company and does not conduct operations, its primary sources of liquidity are dividends up streamed from the subsidiary bank and borrowings from outside sources.

The liquidity position of the Company is continuously monitored and adjustments are made to the balance between sources and uses of funds as deemed appropriate. Management is not aware of any events that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, capital resources or operations. In addition, management is not aware of any regulatory recommendations regarding liquidity, which if implemented, would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

The Company’s financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). GAAP presently requires the Company to measure financial position and operating results primarily in terms of historic dollars. Changes in the relative value of money due to inflation or recession are generally not considered. The primary effect of inflation on the operations of the Company is reflected in increased operating costs, though given recent economic conditions, the Company has not experienced any material effects of inflation during the last three fiscal years. In management’s opinion, changes in interest rates affect the financial condition of a financial institution to a far greater degree than changes in the inflation rate. While interest rates are greatly influenced by changes in the inflation rate, they do not necessarily change at the same rate or in the same magnitude as the inflation rate. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond the control of the Company, including changes in the expected rate of inflation, the influence of general and local economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities, among other things, as further discussed in the next section.

Regulatory and Economic Policies

The Company’s business and earnings are affected by general and local economic conditions and by the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities, among other things. The Federal Reserve Board regulates the supply of money in order to influence general economic conditions. Among the instruments of monetary policy available to the Federal Reserve Board are (i) conducting open market operations in United States government obligations, (ii) changing the discount rate on financial institution borrowings, (iii) imposing or changing reserve requirements against financial institution deposits, and (iv) restricting certain borrowings and imposing or changing reserve requirements against certain borrowings by financial institutions and their affiliates. These methods are used in varying degrees and combinations to directly affect the availability of bank loans and deposits, as well as the interest rates charged on loans and paid on deposits. For that reason alone, the policies of the Federal Reserve Board have a material effect on the earnings of the Company.

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Governmental policies have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future; however, the Company cannot accurately predict the nature, timing or extent of any effect such policies may have on its future business and earnings.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies included in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Market Risk and Interest Rate Sensitivity

Our financial performance is impacted by, among other factors, interest rate risk and credit risk. We do not utilize derivatives to mitigate our credit risk, relying instead on an extensive loan review process and our allowance for loan losses.

Interest rate risk is the change in value due to changes in interest rates. The Company is exposed only to U.S. dollar interest rate changes and, accordingly, the Company manages exposure by considering the possible changes in the net interest margin. The Company does not have any trading instruments nor does it classify any portion of its investment portfolio as held for trading. The Company does not engage in any hedging activity or utilize any derivatives. The Company has no exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk, commodity price risk and other market risks. Interest rate risk is addressed by our Risk Management Committee which includes senior management representatives. The Risk Management Committee monitors interest rate risk by analyzing the potential impact to the net portfolio of equity value and net interest income from potential changes to interest rates and considers the impact of alternative strategies or changes in balance sheet structure.

Interest rates play a major part in the net interest income of financial institutions. The repricing of interest earnings assets and interest-bearing liabilities can influence the changes in net interest income. The timing of repriced assets and liabilities is Gap management and our Company has established its policy to maintain a Gap ratio in the one-year time horizon of .80 to 1.20.

Our exposure to interest rate risk is reviewed at least quarterly by our Board of Directors and by our Risk Management Committee. Interest rate risk exposure is measured using interest rate sensitivity analysis to determine our change in net portfolio value in the event of assumed changes in interest rates. In order to reduce the exposure to interest rate fluctuations, we have implemented strategies to more closely match our balance sheet composition. The Company has engaged FTN Financial to run a quarterly asset/liability model for interest rate risk analysis. We are generally focusing our investment activities on securities with terms or average lives in the 3 ½ - 5 ½ year range.

Market risk reflects the risk of economic loss resulting from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. This risk of loss can be reflected in either reduced current market values or reduced current and potential net income. Colony’s most significant market risk is interest rate risk. This risk arises primarily from Colony’s extension of loans and acceptance of deposits.

Managing interest rate risk is a primary goal of the asset liability management function. Colony attempts to achieve stability in net interest income while limiting volatility arising from changes in interest rates. Colony seeks to achieve this goal by balancing the maturity and repricing characteristics of assets and liabilities. Colony manages its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates through policies established by the Risk Management Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The Risk Management Committee meets at least quarterly and has responsibility for developing asset liability management policies, reviewing the interest rate sensitivity of Colony, and developing and implementing strategies to improve balance sheet structure and interest rate risk positioning.

Colony measures the sensitivity of net interest income to changes in market interest rates through the utilization of Asset/Liability simulation modeling. On at least a quarterly basis, the following twenty-four month time period is simulated to determine a baseline net interest income forecast and the sensitivity of this forecast to changes in interest rates. These simulations include all of Colony’s earning assets and liabilities. Forecasted balance sheet changes, primarily reflecting loan and deposit growth and forecasts, are included in the periods modeled. Projected rates for loans and deposits are based on management’s outlook and local market conditions.

The magnitude and velocity of rate changes among the various asset and liability groups exhibit different characteristics for each possible interest rate scenario; additionally, customer loan and deposit preferences can vary in response to changing interest rates. Simulation modeling enables Colony to capture the expected effect of these differences. Assumptions utilized in the model are updated on an ongoing basis and are reviewed and approved by the Risk Management Committee of the Board of Directors.

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Colony has modeled its baseline net interest income forecast assuming a flat interest rate environment with the federal funds rate at the Federal Reserve's targeted range of 0.25% and the prime rate of 3.25% at December 31, 2021. Colony has modeled the impact of a gradual increase in short-term rates of 100 and 200 basis points and a decline of 100 basis points to determine the sensitivity of net interest income for the next twelve months. As illustrated in the table below, the net interest income sensitivity model indicates that, compared with a net interest income forecast assuming stable rates, net interest income is projected to increase by 6.83% and 13.80% if interest rates increased by 100 and 200 basis points, respectively. Net interest income is projected to decline by 3.18% if interest rates decreased by 100 basis points. These changes were within Colony’s policy limit of a maximum 15% negative change.

Twelve Month Net Interest Income Sensitivity
Estimated Change in Net Interest Income as of December 31,
Change in Short-term Interest Rates (in basis points)20212020
+20013.80%12.55%
+1006.83%6.71%
Flat—%—%
-100-3.18%-2.91%

The measured interest rate sensitivity indicates an asset sensitive position over the next year, which could serve to improve net interest income in a rising interest rate environment. The actual realized change in net interest income would depend on several factors, some of which could serve to reduce or eliminate the asset sensitivity noted above. These factors include a higher than projected level of deposit customer migration to higher cost deposits, such as certificates of deposit, which would increase total interest expense and serve to reduce the realized level of asset sensitivity. Another factor which could impact the realized interest rate sensitivity in a rising rate environment is the repricing behavior of interest bearing non-maturity deposits. Assumptions for repricing are expressed as a beta relative to the change in the prime rate. For instance, a 25% beta would correspond to a deposit rate that would increase 0.25% for every 1% increase in the prime rate. Projected betas for interest bearing non-maturity deposit repricing are a key component of determining the Company's interest rate risk position. Should realized betas be higher than projected betas, the expected benefit from higher interest rates would be reduced.

Colony is also subject to market risk in certain of its fee income business lines. Mortgage banking income is subject to market risk. Mortgage loan originations are sensitive to levels of mortgage interest rates and therefore, mortgage banking income could be negatively impacted during a period of rising interest rates. The extension of commitments to customers to fund mortgage loans also subjects Colony to market risk. This risk is primarily created by the time period between making the commitment and closing and delivering the loan. Colony seeks to minimize this exposure by utilizing various risk management tools, the primary of which are forward sales commitments and best efforts commitments.