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Hilltop Holdings Inc. (HTH)

CIK: 0001265131. SIC: 6022 State Commercial Banks. Latest 10-K as of: 2026-02-13.

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

SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=1265131. Latest filing source: 0001104659-26-015264.

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

Business

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

Risk Factors

Read HTH's verbatim Item 1A Risk Factors from its latest 10-K: Risk Factors.

Selected Fundamentals

MetricValueUnitFYFiled
Revenue784,050,000USD20252026-02-13
Net income165,591,000USD20252026-02-13
Assets15,844,994,000USD20252026-02-13

Financials

Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-02-13. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001265131.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.

Metric20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Revenue455,954,000507,156,000574,623,000610,696,000546,495,000529,973,000591,116,000838,375,000836,389,000784,050,000
Net income145,894,000132,544,000121,441,000225,291,000447,836,000374,495,000113,134,000109,646,000113,213,000165,591,000
Diluted EPS1.481.361.282.445.014.611.601.691.742.64
Operating cash flow-160,968,000-320,718,000389,540,000-433,023,000280,436,000765,622,0001,189,448,000443,023,000273,932,000-38,696,000
Capital expenditures41,941,00031,152,00067,726,00042,287,00037,746,00024,751,0009,798,0008,488,0007,131,00016,834,000
Dividends paid5,801,00023,140,00026,698,00029,627,00032,524,00038,978,00042,963,00041,604,00044,257,00045,401,000
Share buybacks30,028,00027,388,00058,990,00073,385,000208,664,000123,631,000442,336,0005,100,00019,864,000184,032,000
Assets12,738,062,00013,365,786,00013,683,572,00015,172,448,00016,944,264,00018,689,080,00016,259,282,00016,466,996,00016,268,129,00015,844,994,000
Liabilities10,863,542,00011,450,979,00011,709,679,00013,043,652,00014,593,617,00016,139,877,00014,195,753,00014,316,667,00014,049,817,00013,647,388,000
Stockholders' equity1,870,509,0001,912,081,0001,949,470,0002,103,039,0002,323,939,0002,522,668,0002,036,924,0002,122,967,0002,189,965,0002,168,401,000
Free cash flow-202,909,000-351,870,000321,814,000-475,310,000242,690,000740,871,0001,179,650,000434,535,000266,801,000-55,530,000

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.

Metric20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Net margin32.00%26.13%21.13%36.89%81.95%70.66%19.14%13.08%13.54%21.12%
Return on equity7.80%6.93%6.23%10.71%19.27%14.85%5.55%5.16%5.17%7.64%
Return on assets1.15%0.99%0.89%1.48%2.64%2.00%0.70%0.67%0.70%1.05%
Liabilities / equity5.815.996.016.206.286.406.976.746.426.29

Industry Peer Context

Each number-line places HTH 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

HTH Net margin versus SIC peer range. Source: grepcent computed from latest SEC companyfacts ratios for SIC industry 6022; peer count 149.HTH 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%HTH 21.1%

ROE peer context

HTH ROE versus SIC peer range. Source: grepcent computed from latest SEC companyfacts ratios for SIC industry 6022; peer count 149.HTH 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%HTH 7.6%

ROA peer context

HTH ROA versus SIC peer range. Source: grepcent computed from latest SEC companyfacts ratios for SIC industry 6022; peer count 149.HTH 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%HTH 1.0%

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

HTH FY2025 free cash flow bridge from reported figures.HTH FY2025 free cash flow bridge from reported figures.HTH free cash flow bridgeFY2025: operating cash flow less capital expendituresSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Free cash flow bridgeReported amount-$250.0M$0.0B$250.0M-$38.7MOperating cash flow-$16.8MCapex-$55.5MFree cash flow

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts FY 2025. Operating cash flow: accession 0001104659-26-015264; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities | Capital expenditures: accession 0001104659-26-015264; concept PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets; source concepts us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets | Free cash flow: accession 0001104659-26-015264; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets

Financial Charts

HTH revenue, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH revenue, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH RevenueLatest point: FY2025 = $784.0MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearReported revenue$0.0B$500.0M$1.0BFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-015264; filed 2026-02-13. Concept: InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating. Source concepts: us-gaap:InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating.

HTH net income, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH net income, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH Net incomeLatest point: FY2025 = $165.6MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearNet income$0.0B$250.0M$500.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-015264; filed 2026-02-13. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.

HTH diluted eps, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH diluted eps, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH Diluted EPSLatest point: FY2025 = $2.64/shareSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearDiluted EPS (USD/share)$0.00/share$3.00/share$6.00/shareFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-015264; filed 2026-02-13. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.

HTH operating cash flow, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH operating cash flow, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH Operating cash flowLatest point: FY2025 = -$38.7MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearOperating cash flow-$250.0M$0.0B$2.0BFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-015264; filed 2026-02-13. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities.

HTH capital expenditures, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH capital expenditures, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH Capital expendituresLatest point: FY2025 = $16.8MSource: 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 0001104659-26-015264; filed 2026-02-13. Concept: PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets.

HTH dividends paid, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH dividends paid, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH Dividends paidLatest point: FY2025 = $45.4MSource: 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 0001104659-26-015264; filed 2026-02-13. Concept: PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock.

HTH share buybacks, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH share buybacks, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH Share buybacksLatest point: FY2025 = $184.0MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearShare buybacks$0.0B$250.0M$500.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-015264; filed 2026-02-13. Concept: PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock.

HTH assets, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH assets, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH AssetsLatest point: FY2025 = $15.8BSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearAssets$0.0B$10.0B$20.0BFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-015264; filed 2026-02-13. Concept: Assets. Source concepts: us-gaap:Assets.

HTH liabilities, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH liabilities, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH LiabilitiesLatest point: FY2025 = $13.6BSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearLiabilities$0.0B$10.0B$20.0BFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-015264; filed 2026-02-13. Concept: Liabilities. Source concepts: us-gaap:Liabilities.

HTH stockholders' equity, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH stockholders' equity, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH Stockholders' equityLatest point: FY2025 = $2.2BSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearStockholders' equity$0.0B$2.0B$4.0BFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-015264; filed 2026-02-13. Concept: StockholdersEquity. Source concepts: us-gaap:StockholdersEquity.

HTH free cash flow, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH free cash flow, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.HTH Free cash flowLatest point: FY2025 = -$55.5MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearFree cash flow-$250.0M$0.0B$2.0BFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-015264; filed 2026-02-13. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets.

Quarterly

Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-07-24. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001265131.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-Q32022-09-300.50reported discrete quarter
2023-Q12023-03-310.40reported discrete quarter
2023-Q22023-06-300.28reported discrete quarter
2023-Q32023-09-30216,755,00037,042,0000.57reported discrete quarter
2023-Q42023-12-31216,767,00028,671,000derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD
2024-Q12024-03-31209,614,00027,668,0000.42reported discrete quarter
2024-Q22024-06-30207,143,00020,333,0000.31reported discrete quarter
2024-Q32024-09-30211,042,00029,693,0000.46reported discrete quarter
2024-Q42024-12-31208,590,00035,519,000derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD
2025-Q12025-03-31192,799,00042,116,0000.65reported discrete quarter
2025-Q22025-06-30197,181,00036,073,0000.57reported discrete quarter
2025-Q32025-09-30200,261,00045,818,0000.74reported discrete quarter
2025-Q42025-12-31193,809,00041,584,000derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD
2026-Q12026-03-31184,290,00037,836,0000.64reported discrete quarter
2026-Q22026-06-30189,046,00036,522,0000.63reported discrete quarter

Quarterly Charts

HTH quarterly revenue, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.HTH quarterly revenue, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.HTH Quarterly RevenueLatest point: 2026-Q2 = $189.0MSource: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.Fiscal quarterQuarterly Revenue$0.0B$125.0M$250.0M2023-Q32023-Q42024-Q12024-Q22024-Q32024-Q42025-Q12025-Q22025-Q32025-Q42026-Q12026-Q2

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-06-30; accession 0001104659-26-086658; filed 2026-07-24. Concept: InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating. Source concepts: us-gaap:InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating.

HTH quarterly net income, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.HTH quarterly net income, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.HTH Quarterly Net incomeLatest point: 2026-Q2 = $36.5MSource: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.Fiscal quarterQuarterly Net income$0.0B$125.0M$250.0M2023-Q32023-Q42024-Q12024-Q22024-Q32024-Q42025-Q12025-Q22025-Q32025-Q42026-Q12026-Q2

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-06-30; accession 0001104659-26-086658; filed 2026-07-24. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.

HTH quarterly diluted eps, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.HTH quarterly diluted eps, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.HTH Quarterly Diluted EPSLatest point: 2026-Q2 = $0.63/shareSource: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.Fiscal quarterQuarterly Diluted EPS (USD/share)$0.00/share$0.50/share$1.00/share2022-Q32023-Q12023-Q22023-Q32024-Q12024-Q22024-Q32025-Q12025-Q22025-Q32026-Q12026-Q2

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-06-30; accession 0001104659-26-086658; filed 2026-07-24. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.

Macro Cross-References

Latest quarter (10-Q)

Latest 10-Q source: 0001104659-26-086658.

Extracted structurally from real Item 2 body heading to real Item 3/4 boundary. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2026-07-24. Report date: 2026-06-30.

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

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated historical financial statements and notes appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) and the financial information set forth in the tables herein.

Unless the context otherwise indicates, all references in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, or MD&A, to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “ours” or similar words are to Hilltop Holdings Inc. and its direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, references to “Hilltop” refer solely to Hilltop Holdings Inc., references to “PCC” refer to PlainsCapital Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop), references to “Securities Holdings” refer to Hilltop Securities Holdings LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop), references to “Hilltop Securities” refer to Hilltop Securities Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Securities Holdings), references to “Momentum Independent Network” refer to Momentum Independent Network Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Securities Holdings, Hilltop Securities and Momentum Independent Network are collectively referred to as the “Hilltop Broker-Dealers”), references to the “Bank” refer to PlainsCapital Bank (a wholly owned subsidiary of PCC), references to “FNB” refer to First National Bank, references to “SWS” refer to the former SWS Group, Inc., references to “PrimeLending” refer to PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank) and its subsidiaries as a whole.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report includes “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”), as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this Quarterly Report that address results or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, and statements that are preceded by, followed by or include, words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “goal,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “probable,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “target,” “view” or “would” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases, including statements related to our objectives and business strategy, expectations concerning our financial condition, our revenue, the sufficiency of our liquidity and sources of funding, assumptions with relating to market trends, operations and business, taxes, information technology expenses, the impact of cybersecurity incidents, capital levels, mortgage servicing rights (“MSR”) assets, stock repurchases, dividend payments, expectations concerning mortgage loan origination volume, servicer advances and interest rate compression, expected levels of refinancing as a percentage of total loan origination volume, projected losses on mortgage loans originated, total expenses, the effects of government regulation applicable to our operations, the impact of macroeconomic conditions, the appropriateness of, and changes in, our allowance for credit losses and provision for (reversal of) credit losses, expected future benchmark rates, anticipated investment yields, our expectations regarding accretion of discount on loans in future periods, the collectability of loans, and the outcome of litigation are forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance taking into account all information currently available to us at the time of this Quarterly Report. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations are subject to risks and uncertainties and can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If any of these events or risks or uncertainties occur, our business, business plan, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations may vary materially from those results expressed in our forward-looking statements. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ include, among others:

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
effectiveness of our data security controls in the face of cyber-attacks and any legal, reputational and financial risks following a cybersecurity incident;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
changes in general economic, market and business conditions in areas or markets where we compete, including changes in the price of crude oil;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
changes in the interest rate environment including potential impact of a prolonged elevated interest rate environment;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
risks associated with concentration in real estate related loans;

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Column 1Column 2Column 3
the effects of our indebtedness on our ability to manage our business successfully, including the restrictions imposed by the indenture governing our indebtedness;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
disruptions to the economy and financial services industry, risks associated with uninsured deposits and responsive measures by federal or state governments or banking regulators, including increases in the cost of our deposit insurance assessments;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
cost and availability of capital;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
changes in state and federal laws, regulations or policies affecting one or more of our business segments, including changes in policies under the new Presidential administration, changes in regulatory fees, deposit insurance premiums, capital requirements and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
changes in key management;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
competition in our banking, broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments from other banks and financial institutions as well as investment banking and financial advisory firms, mortgage bankers, asset-based non-bank lenders and government agencies;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
legal and regulatory proceedings;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
risks associated with merger and acquisition integration; and
Column 1Column 2Column 3
our ability to use excess capital in an effective manner.

For a more detailed discussion of these and other factors that may affect our business and that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A. of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 (“2025 Form 10-K”), which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 13, 2026, this Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and other filings we have made with the SEC. We caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive, and new factors may emerge, or changes to the foregoing factors may occur, that could impact our business. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning our business attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, relating to the matters discussed in this Quarterly Report except to the extent required by federal securities laws.

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OVERVIEW

We are a financial holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. Our primary line of business is to provide business and consumer banking services from offices located throughout Texas through the Bank. We also provide an array of financial products and services through our broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments. The following includes additional details regarding the financial products and services provided by each of our primary business units.

PCC. PCC is a financial holding company that provides, through its subsidiaries, traditional banking and wealth, investment and treasury management services primarily in Texas and residential mortgage loans throughout the United States.

Securities Holdings. Securities Holdings is a holding company that provides, through its subsidiaries, investment banking and other related financial services, including municipal advisory, sales, trading and underwriting of taxable and tax-exempt fixed income securities, clearing, securities lending, structured finance and retail brokerage services throughout the United States.

The following historical consolidated data for the periods indicated has been derived from our historical consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report (dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data).

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[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: 2026-02-13. Report date: 2025-12-31.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion is intended to help the reader understand our results of operations and financial condition and is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto commencing on page F-1. In addition to historical financial information, the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those discussed under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”

Unless the context otherwise indicates, all references in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “ours” or similar words are to Hilltop Holdings Inc. and its direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, references to “Hilltop” refer solely to Hilltop Holdings Inc., references to “PCC” refer to PlainsCapital Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop), references to “Securities Holdings” refer to Hilltop Securities Holdings LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop), references to “Hilltop Securities” refer to Hilltop Securities Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Securities Holdings), references to “Momentum Independent Network” refer to Momentum Independent Network Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Securities Holdings, Hilltop Securities and Momentum Independent Network are collectively referred to as the “Hilltop Broker-Dealers”), references to the “Bank” refer to PlainsCapital Bank (a wholly owned subsidiary of PCC), references to “FNB” refer to First National Bank, references to “SWS” refer to the former SWS Group, Inc., references to “PrimeLending” refer to PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank) and its subsidiaries as a whole.

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OVERVIEW

We are a financial holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. Our primary line of business is to provide business and consumer banking services from offices located throughout Texas through the Bank. We also provide an array of financial products and services through our broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments. The following includes additional details regarding the financial products and services provided by each of our primary business units.

PCC. PCC is a financial holding company that provides, through its subsidiaries, traditional banking and wealth, investment and treasury management services primarily in Texas and residential mortgage loans throughout the United States.

Securities Holdings. Securities Holdings is a holding company that provides, through its subsidiaries, investment banking and other related financial services, including municipal advisory, sales, trading and underwriting of taxable and tax-exempt fixed income securities, clearing, securities lending, structured finance and retail brokerage services throughout the United States.

The following historical consolidated data for the periods indicated has been derived from our historical consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report (dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data).

​ ​2025​ ​ ​2024​ ​ ​2023​ ​ ​
Statement of Operations Data:
Net interest income$440,706$417,798$466,847
Provision for credit losses7,31194118,392
Total noninterest income841,141770,956728,973
Total noninterest expense1,053,4731,033,5561,028,309
Income before income taxes221,063154,257149,119
Income tax expense49,04431,04731,140
Net income172,019123,210117,979
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest6,4289,9978,333
Income attributable to Hilltop$165,591$113,213$109,646
Per Share Data:
Diluted earnings per common share$2.64$1.74$1.69
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding$62,709$65,046$65,045
Cash dividends declared per common share$0.72$0.68$0.64
Dividend payout ratio (1)27.26%39.06%37.97%
Book value per common share (end of year)$36.42$33.71$32.58
Tangible book value per common share (2) (end of year)$31.83$29.49$28.35
Balance Sheet Data:
Total assets$15,844,994$16,268,129$16,466,996
Cash and due from banks1,231,9442,298,9771,858,700
Securities2,837,0502,659,6612,836,584
Loans held for sale950,142858,665943,846
Loans held for investment, net of unearned income8,311,9527,950,5518,079,745
Allowance for credit losses(91,537)(101,116)(111,413)
Total deposits10,878,08011,065,32211,063,192
Notes payable148,587347,667347,145
Total stockholders' equity2,197,6062,218,3122,150,329
Capital Ratios:
Common equity to assets ratio13.69%13.46%12.89%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (2)12.17%11.98%11.41%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Dividend payout ratio is defined as cash dividends declared per common share divided by basic earnings per common share.
Column 1Column 2
(2)For a reconciliation to the nearest accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) measure, see “—Reconciliation and Management’s Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

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Consolidated income before income taxes during 2025 included the following contributions from our reportable business segments.

Column 1Column 2Column 3
The banking segment contributed $193.2 million of income before income taxes during 2025;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
The broker-dealer segment contributed $67.6 million of income before income taxes during 2025; and
Column 1Column 2Column 3
The mortgage origination segment incurred $17.5 million of losses before income taxes during 2025.

During 2025, we paid an aggregate of $184.0 million to repurchase shares of our common stock and declared and paid total common dividends of $45.4 million.

On January 30, 2025, our board of directors authorized a stock repurchase program through January 2026, pursuant to which we were authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $100.0 million of our outstanding common stock, which authorization was increased to $135.0 million in July 2025, and to $185.0 million in October 2025.

During 2025, we paid $184.0 million to repurchase an aggregate of 5,705,205 shares of our common stock at an average price of $32.26 per share. During 2024, we paid $19.9 million to repurchase an aggregate of 640,042 shares of our common stock at an average price of $31.04 per share. These shares were repurchased under previous stock repurchase programs and returned to the pool of authorized but unissued shares of common stock.

On January 29, 2026, our board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per common share, an 11% increase from the prior quarter, payable on February 27, 2026 to all common stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 13, 2026. Additionally, on January 29, 2026, our board of directors authorized a new stock repurchase program through January 2027, pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $125.0 million of our outstanding common stock. We commenced share repurchases under the stock repurchase program in the first quarter of 2026.

Reconciliation and Management’s Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We present certain measures in our selected financial data that are not measures of financial performance recognized by GAAP. “Tangible book value per common share” is defined as our total stockholders’ equity reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by total common shares outstanding. “Tangible common equity to tangible assets” is defined as our total stockholders’ equity reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by total assets reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets. These measures are used by management, investors and analysts to assess use of equity. For companies such as ours that have engaged in business combinations, purchase accounting can result in the recording of significant amounts of goodwill and other intangible assets related to those transactions.

You should not view this disclosure as a substitute for results determined in accordance with GAAP, and our disclosure is not necessarily comparable to that of other companies that use non-GAAP measures. The following table reconciles these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures, “book value per common share” and “equity to total assets” (dollars in thousands, except per share data).

December 31,
​ ​ ​2025​ ​ ​2024​ ​ ​2023​ ​ ​
Book value per common share$36.42$33.71$32.58
Effect of goodwill and intangible assets per share(4.59)(4.22)(4.23)
Tangible book value per common share$31.83$29.49$28.35
Hilltop stockholders’ equity$2,168,401$2,189,965$2,122,967
Less: goodwill and intangible assets, net273,052274,080275,904
Tangible common equity$1,895,349$1,915,885$1,847,063
Total assets$15,844,994$16,268,129$16,466,996
Less: goodwill and intangible assets, net273,052274,080275,904
Tangible assets$15,571,942$15,994,049$16,191,092
Equity to assets13.69%13.46%12.89%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets12.17%11.98%11.41%

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Recent Developments

Notes Redemption

On January 15, 2025 (the “Senior Notes Redemption Date”), we redeemed all of our outstanding 5% senior notes due 2025 (the “Senior Notes”) at a redemption price equal to the aggregate principal amount of $150 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Senior Notes Redemption Date (collectively, the “Senior Notes Redemption Price”). The redemption of the Senior Notes was pursuant to the indenture, dated as of April 9, 2015 (the “Senior Notes Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (solely in its capacity as trustee for the Senior Notes), which permitted the redemption of the Senior Notes beginning 90 days prior to April 15, 2025 (the maturity date of the Senior Notes). The Company irrevocably deposited with the trustee funds using cash on hand in an amount sufficient to pay the Senior Notes Redemption Price on the Senior Notes Redemption Date to satisfy and discharge its obligations under the Senior Notes and the Senior Notes Indenture.

On May 15, 2025 (the “2030 Subordinated Notes Redemption Date”), we redeemed all of our outstanding 5.75% Fixed-to-Floating Subordinated Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Subordinated Notes”) at a redemption price equal to the aggregate principal amount of $50 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the 2030 Subordinated Notes Redemption Date (collectively, the “2030 Subordinated Notes Redemption Price”). The redemption of the 2030 Subordinated Notes was pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 11, 2020 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), to the Indenture, dated as of May 11, 2020, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, which permitted the redemption of the 2030 Subordinated Notes beginning on May 15, 2025 (the date on which the 2030 Subordinated Notes converted from fixed to floating rate). The Company irrevocably deposited with the Trustee funds using cash on hand in an amount sufficient to pay the 2030 Subordinated Notes Redemption Price on the 2030 Subordinated Notes Redemption Date to satisfy and discharge its obligations under the 2030 Subordinated Notes and the First Supplemental Indenture.

Merchant Bank Transaction

In January 2025, our merchant bank subsidiary entered into a definitive agreement to sell all of the capital stock of Moser Acquisition, Inc. to Atlas Energy Solutions Inc. (“Atlas”) for consideration including cash and Atlas common stock. On February 24, 2025, the sale of the operations associated with our approximate 30% aggregate interest in Moser Holdings, LLC, which owns Moser Acquisition, Inc., was consummated. Our aggregate interest in Moser Holdings, LLC included equity investments that were included, and will continue to be included, within other assets in the consolidated balance sheets until liquidation of Moser Holdings, LLC. An initial pre-tax gain of $30.5 million ($23.6 million net of tax) was recorded during the first quarter of 2025 based on our aggregate interest in Moser Holdings, LLC and reported primarily as a component of other noninterest income within the consolidated statements of operations. Subsequently, during 2025, we recorded additional net adjustments associated with our aggregate interest in Moser Holdings, LLC and the liquidation Atlas common stock that resulted in an aggregate pre-tax gain during 2025 of $27.8 million ($21.6 million net of tax). The gain is subject to change given customary post-closing adjustments and the liquidation of Moser Holdings, LLC.

Settlement Agreement & Releases

In April 2025, PrimeLending entered into multiple Settlement Agreement & Releases (the “Settlements”) related to a matter whereby PrimeLending received an aggregate of $9.5 million from the respective parties thereto. The full amount associated with the Settlements was recorded within other noninterest income in the consolidated statement of operations during the second quarter of 2025.

Economic Environment

Our balance sheet, operating results and certain metrics during 2025 reflected uncertainty around general economic, market and business conditions that remain uncertain for 2026. The extent of the impacts of uncertain economic conditions on our financial performance during 2026 will depend in part on several developments outside of our control including, among others, changes in the political environment, the impact of tariffs and reciprocal tariffs, the timing and

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significance of further changes in U.S. treasury yields and mortgage interest rates, and a volatile economic forecast. These economic conditions, coupled with exposure to changes in funding costs, inflationary pressures, and international armed conflicts and their impact on supply chains within our business segments during 2024 and 2025 have had, and are expected to continue to have, an adverse impact on our operating results during 2026.

Uncertainty around general economic, market and business conditions impacts 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. Significant judgment is required to estimate the severity and duration of the current economic uncertainties, as well as its potential impact on borrower cash flow. While all industries could experience volatility and adverse impacts, certain of our loan portfolio industry sectors and subsectors, including office buildings, retail, hotel/motel and auto note financing, have an increased level of risk given business and consumer sensitivity to interest rates and the size and permanence of tariffs. Refer to the discussions in the “Financial Condition – Loan Portfolio” and “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses” sections that follow for more details regarding the Bank’s loan portfolio and significant assumptions and estimates involved in estimating credit losses.

Historically, high-profile banking failures have periodically increased market uncertainty and concerns associated with banking sector liquidity positions, increased regulatory scrutiny and underscored the importance of maintaining access to diverse sources of funding. In light of these events, we have continued our efforts to monitor deposit flows and balance sheet trends to ensure that our liquidity needs and financial flexibility are maintained. During 2024, we increased interest-bearing deposit rates to address rising market interest rates and intense competition for liquidity to combat deposit outflows. Throughout 2024, we experienced net interest margin compression reflecting deposit repricing activity and demand deposit migration into interest-bearing accounts. Despite deposit costs remaining elevated throughout 2025, we took actions to reduce the interest paid on our interest-bearing deposits. Additionally, at December 31, 2025, we continued to access core deposits from our Hilltop Securities Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insured sweep program, while the Bank was not utilizing any of its Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) borrowing capacity.

We expect that overall deposit funding costs will continue to be influenced by various factors, including, but not limited to competitive pressures, broader economic conditions, future changes in the target range for the federal funds rate, customer behavior and our liquidity position at that time. An unexpected influx of withdrawals of deposits could adversely impact our ability to rely on organic deposits to primarily fund our operations, potentially requiring greater reliance on secondary sources of liquidity to meet withdrawals of deposits or to fund continuing operations. These sources may include proceeds from FHLB advances, sales of investment securities and loans, federal fund lines of credit with correspondent banks, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, brokered time deposits, borrowings from the Federal Reserve and borrowings under lines of credit with other financial institutions. Refer to the discussions in the “Segment Results – Banking Segment” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources – Banking Segment” sections that follow for more details regarding the Bank’s deposits, available liquidity and borrowing capacity at December 31, 2025.

We expect uncertainties related to economic headwinds discussed above, the impact of interest rate movements on the shape and inversions of the yield curve, and the continued active management of deposits and related funding costs that persisted through 2024 and 2025, to continue in 2026.

See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for additional discussion of the potential adverse impacts of unpredictable economic, market and business conditions on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Asset Valuation

At each reporting date between annual impairment tests, we consider potential indicators of impairment, including the condition of the economy and financial services industry; government intervention and regulatory updates; the impact of recent events to financial performance and cost factors of the business segment; performance of our stock and other relevant events.

Continuing macroeconomic challenges related to mortgage loan origination volumes, customer sensitivity to interest rates and resulting demand for certain products have resulted in a challenging environment associated with the mortgage origination segment’s short- and long-term financial condition, resulting in variability in its operating results.

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Given the potential impacts of the operating performance of our reporting segments and overall economic conditions, actual results may differ materially from our current estimates as the scope of such impacts evolves or if the duration of business disruptions are longer than currently anticipated. We further considered the amount by which fair value exceeded book value in the most recent quantitative analysis and sensitivities performed. Accordingly, at the conclusion of the annual assessments, we determined that as of October 1, 2025 it was more likely than not that the fair value of goodwill and other intangible assets exceeded their respective carrying values. We continue to monitor developments regarding overall economic conditions, market capitalization, and any other triggering events or circumstances that may indicate an impairment in the future.

To the extent future operating performance of our reporting segments remain challenged and below forecasted projections during 2026, significant assumptions such as expected future cash flows or the risk-adjusted discount rate used to estimate fair value are adversely impacted, or upon the occurrence of what management would deem to be a triggering event that could, under certain circumstances, cause us to perform impairment tests on our goodwill and other intangible assets, an impairment charge may be recorded for that period. In the event that we conclude that all or a portion of our goodwill and other intangible assets are impaired, a non-cash charge for the respective amount of such impairment would be recorded to earnings. Such a charge would have no impact on tangible capital or regulatory capital.

Factors Affecting Results of Operations

As a financial institution providing products and services through our banking, broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments, we are directly affected by general economic and market conditions, many of which are beyond our control and unpredictable. A key factor impacting our results of operations is changes in the level of interest rates in addition to twists in the shape of the yield curve with the magnitude and direction of the impact varying across the different lines of business. Other factors impacting our results of operations include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in volume and price levels of securities, inflation, political events, investor confidence, investor participation levels, legal, regulatory, and compliance requirements and competition. All of these factors have the potential to impact our financial position, operating results and liquidity. In addition, the recent economic and political environment has led to legislative and regulatory initiatives, both enacted and proposed, that could substantially change the regulation of the financial services industry and may significantly impact us.

Acquisitions

On November 30, 2012, we acquired PlainsCapital Corporation pursuant to a plan of merger whereby PlainsCapital Corporation merged with and into our wholly owned subsidiary (the “PlainsCapital Merger”), which continued as the surviving entity under the name “PlainsCapital Corporation”. Concurrent with the consummation of the PlainsCapital Merger, Hilltop became a financial holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.

On September 13, 2013, the Bank assumed substantially all of the liabilities, including all of the deposits, and acquired substantially all of the assets of Edinburg, Texas-based FNB from the FDIC, as receiver, and reopened former branches of FNB acquired from the FDIC under the “PlainsCapital Bank” name (the “FNB Transaction”).

On January 1, 2015, we acquired SWS in a stock and cash transaction (the “SWS Merger”), whereby SWS’s broker-dealer subsidiaries became subsidiaries of Securities Holdings and SWS’s banking subsidiary, Southwest Securities, FSB, was merged into the Bank. On October 5, 2015, Southwest Securities, Inc. was renamed “Hilltop Securities Inc.”

On August 1, 2018, we acquired privately-held, Houston-based BORO in an all-cash transaction (“BORO Acquisition”). In connection with the BORO Acquisition, we merged BORO into the Bank, and all customer accounts were converted to the PlainsCapital Bank platform.

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Segment Information

The Company has two primary business units, PCC (banking and mortgage origination) and Securities Holdings (broker-dealer). Under GAAP, the Company’s units are comprised of three reportable business segments organized primarily by the core products offered to the segments’ respective customers: banking, broker-dealer and mortgage origination. Consistent with our historical segment operating results, we anticipate that future revenues will be driven primarily from the banking segment, with the remainder being generated by our broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments. Operating results for the mortgage origination segment have historically been more volatile than operating results for the banking and broker-dealer segments.

The banking segment includes the operations of the Bank. The banking segment primarily provides business and consumer banking services from offices located throughout Texas and generates revenue from its portfolio of earning assets. The Bank’s results of operations are primarily dependent on net interest income. The Bank also derives revenue from other sources, including service charges on customer deposit accounts and trust fees.

The broker-dealer segment includes the operations of Securities Holdings, which operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries Hilltop Securities, Momentum Independent Network and Hilltop Securities Asset Management, LLC. The broker-dealer segment generates a majority of its revenues from fees and commissions earned from investment advisory and securities brokerage services. Hilltop Securities is a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and a member of the New York Stock Exchange. Momentum Independent Network is an introducing broker-dealer that is also registered with the SEC and FINRA. Hilltop Securities and Momentum Independent Network are both registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as non-guaranteed introducing brokers and as members of the National Futures Association. Additionally, Hilltop Securities, Momentum Independent Network and Hilltop Securities Asset Management, LLC are investment advisers registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

The mortgage origination segment includes the operations of PrimeLending, which offers a variety of loan products and generates revenue predominantly from fees charged on the origination and servicing of loans and from selling these loans in the secondary market.

Corporate includes certain activities not allocated to specific business segments. These activities include holding company financing and investing activities, merchant banking investment opportunities, and management and administrative services to support the overall operations of the Company.

The eliminations of intercompany transactions are included in “All Other and Eliminations.” Additional information concerning our reportable business segments is presented in Note 27, “Segment and Related Information,” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.

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The following table presents certain information about the continuing operating results of our reportable business segments (in thousands). This table serves as a basis for the discussion and analysis in the segment operating results sections that follow.

Year Ended December 31,Variance 2025 vs 2024Variance 2024 vs 2023
202520242023AmountPercentAmountPercent
Net interest income (expense):
Banking$382,052$372,546$397,936$9,5063$(25,390)(6)
Broker-Dealer50,27248,94252,8941,3303(3,952)(7)
Mortgage Origination(7,934)(16,867)(20,305)8,933533,43817
Corporate(283)(12,838)(12,961)12,555981231
All Other and Eliminations (1)16,59926,01549,283(9,416)(36)(23,268)(47)
Hilltop Consolidated$440,706$417,798$466,847$22,9085$(49,049)(11)
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses:
Banking$7,335$992$18,525$6,343639$(17,533)(95)
Broker-Dealer(24)(51)(133)27538262
Mortgage Origination
Corporate
All Other and Eliminations
Hilltop Consolidated$7,311$941$18,392$6,370677$(17,451)(95)
Noninterest income:
Banking$46,058$43,295$45,830$2,7636$(2,535)(6)
Broker-Dealer450,754422,801403,53827,953719,2635
Mortgage Origination310,876313,229316,840(2,353)(1)(3,611)(1)
Corporate51,13718,51512,88732,6221765,62844
All Other and Eliminations (1)(17,684)(26,884)(50,122)9,2003423,23846
Hilltop Consolidated$841,141$770,956$728,973$70,1859$41,9836
Noninterest expense:
Banking$227,601$232,954$226,234$(5,353)(2)$6,7203
Broker-Dealer433,463408,283383,02425,180625,2597
Mortgage Origination320,463330,088359,285(9,625)(3)(29,197)(8)
Corporate73,08963,11060,6319,979162,4794
All Other and Eliminations(1,143)(879)(865)(264)(30)(14)(2)
Hilltop Consolidated$1,053,473$1,033,556$1,028,309$19,9172$5,2471
Income (loss) before taxes:
Banking$193,174$181,895$199,007$11,2796$(17,112)(9)
Broker-Dealer67,58763,51173,5414,0766(10,030)(14)
Mortgage Origination(17,521)(33,726)(62,750)16,2054829,02446
Corporate(22,235)(57,433)(60,705)35,198613,2725
All Other and Eliminations58102648480(16)(62)
Hilltop Consolidated$221,063$154,257$149,119$66,80643$5,1383
Column 1Column 2
(1)All other and eliminations amounts during each period include FDIC sweep program revenues and expenses earned on broker-dealer segment deposits placed with the banking segment that are eliminated in consolidation.

Key Performance Indicators

We utilize several key indicators of financial condition and operating performance to evaluate the various aspects of our business. In addition to traditional financial metrics, such as revenue and growth trends, we monitor several other financial measures and non-financial operating metrics to help us evaluate growth trends, measure the adequacy of our capital based on regulatory reporting requirements, measure the effectiveness of our operations and assess operational efficiencies. These indicators change from time to time as the opportunities and challenges in our businesses change.

Performance ratios and asset quality ratios are typically used for measuring the performance of banking and financial institutions. We consider return on average stockholders’ equity, return on average assets and net interest margin to be important supplemental measures of operating performance that are commonly used by securities analysts, investors and other parties interested in the banking and financial industry. The net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans outstanding ratio is also considered a key measure for our banking segment as it indicates the performance of our loan portfolio.

In addition, we consider regulatory capital ratios to be key measures that are used by us, as well as banking regulators, investors and analysts, to assess our regulatory capital position and to compare our regulatory capital to that of other financial services companies. We monitor our capital strength in terms of both leverage ratio and risk-based capital ratios

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based on capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. The risk-based capital ratios are minimum supervisory ratios generally applicable to banking organizations, but banking organizations are widely expected to operate with capital positions well above the minimum ratios. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

How We Generate Revenue

We generate revenue from net interest income and from noninterest income. Net interest income represents the difference between the income earned on our assets, including our loans and investment securities, and our cost of funds, including the interest paid on the deposits and borrowings that are used to support our assets. Net interest income is a significant contributor to our operating results. Fluctuations in interest rates, as well as the amounts and types of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities we hold, affect net interest income. We generated $440.7 million in net interest income during 2025, compared with net interest income of $417.8 million and $466.8 million during 2024 and 2023, respectively. The change in reportable business segment net interest income during 2025, compared with 2024, primarily reflected significant improvements within corporate and the banking and mortgage origination segments.

The other component of our revenue is noninterest income, which is primarily comprised of the following:

Column 1Column 2Column 3
(i)Income from broker-dealer operations. Through Securities Holdings, we provide investment banking and other related financial services that generated $253.8 million, $250.8 million and $218.9 million in principal transactions, commissions and fees and $181.3 million, $143.0 million and $134.3 million in investment banking, advisory and administrative fees during 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(ii)Income from mortgage operations. Through PrimeLending, we generate noninterest income by originating and selling mortgage loans. During 2025, 2024 and 2023, we generated $301.2 million, $313.1 million and $316.7 million, respectively, in net gains from sale of loans, other mortgage production income (including income associated with retained mortgage servicing rights), and mortgage loan origination fees.

In the aggregate, we generated $841.1 million, $771.0 million and $729.0 million in noninterest income during 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase in noninterest income during 2025, compared with 2024, was predominantly attributable, as noted in the segment results table previously presented, primarily due to an increase in pre-tax gains associated with merchant bank equity investment activity within corporate and increased noninterest income within our broker-dealer segment from increased investment banking, advisory and administrative fees partially offset by a reduction in principal transactions, commission and fees.

We also incur noninterest expenses in the operation of our businesses. Our businesses engage in labor intensive activities and, consequently, employees’ compensation and benefits represent the majority of our noninterest expenses.

Consolidated Operating Results

Income applicable to common stockholders during 2025 was $165.6 million, or $2.64 per diluted share, compared with $113.2 million, or $1.74 per diluted share, during 2024, and $109.6 million, or $1.69 per diluted share, during 2023. Hilltop’s financial results during 2025 and 2024, compared with 2024 and 2023, respectively, are discussed in more detail below and within the respective “Banking Segment,” “Broker-Dealer Segment,” “Mortgage Origination Segment” and “Corporate” segment results sections that follow.

Certain items included in net income during 2025, 2024 and 2023 resulted from purchase accounting associated with the PlainsCapital Merger, the FNB Transaction, the SWS Merger and the BORO Acquisition (collectively, the “Bank Transactions”). Income before income taxes during 2025, 2024 and 2023 included net accretion on earning assets and liabilities of $3.1 million, $5.1 million and $8.6 million, respectively, and amortization of identifiable intangibles of $1.0 million, $1.8 million and $2.9 million, respectively, related to the Bank Transactions.

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The information shown in the table below includes certain key performance indicators on a consolidated basis.

Year Ended December 31,
2025​ ​ ​20242023
Return on average stockholders' equity (1)7.60%5.29%5.31%
Return on average assets (2)1.10%0.78%0.71%
Net interest margin (3) (4)2.98%2.81%3.07%
Leverage ratio (5) (end of year)12.78%12.57%12.23%
Common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio (6) (end of year)19.70%21.23%19.32%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Return on average stockholders’ equity is defined as consolidated income attributable to Hilltop divided by average total Hilltop stockholders’ equity.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Return on average assets is defined as consolidated net income divided by average assets.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Net interest margin is defined as net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. We consider net interest margin as a key indicator of profitability as it represents interest earned on our interest-earning assets compared to interest incurred.
Column 1Column 2
(4)The securities financing operations within our broker-dealer segment had the effect of lowering both net interest margin and taxable equivalent net interest margin by 27 basis points, 24 basis points and 26 basis points during 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Column 1Column 2
(5)The leverage ratio is a regulatory capital ratio and is defined as Tier 1 risk-based capital divided by average consolidated assets.
Column 1Column 2
(6)The common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio is a regulatory capital ratio and is defined as common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital divided by risk weighted assets. Common equity includes common equity Tier 1 capital (common stockholders’ equity and certain minority interests in the equity capital accounts of consolidated subsidiaries, but excluding goodwill and various intangible assets) and additional Tier 1 capital (certain qualifying minority interests not included in common equity Tier 1 capital, certain preferred stock and related surplus, and certain subordinated debt).

We present net interest margin and net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis below. Net interest margin (taxable equivalent), a non-GAAP measure, is defined as taxable equivalent net interest income divided by average interest earning assets. Taxable equivalent adjustments are based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rate of 21% for all periods presented. The Company performs periodic reviews of the classification and categorization of the components impacting the calculation of net interest margin. The interest income earned on certain earning assets is completely or partially exempt from federal income tax. As such, these tax-exempt instruments typically yield lower returns than taxable investments. To provide more meaningful comparisons of net interest margins for all earning assets, we use net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis in calculating net interest margin by increasing the interest income earned on tax-exempt assets to make it fully equivalent to interest income earned on taxable investments.

During 2025, 2024 and 2023, purchase accounting contributed 2, 4 and 6 basis points, respectively, to our consolidated taxable equivalent net interest margin of 3.00%, 2.83% and 3.09%, respectively. The purchase accounting activity is primarily related to the accretion of discount on loans which totaled $3.1 million, $5.1 million and $8.6 million during 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively, associated with the Bank Transactions.

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The table below provides additional details regarding our consolidated net interest income (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202520242023
​ ​ ​Average​ ​ ​Interest​ ​ ​Annualized​ ​ ​Average​ ​ ​Interest​ ​ ​Annualized​ ​ ​Average​ ​ ​Interest​ ​ ​Annualized
OutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield or
Balanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRate
Assets
Interest-earning assets
Loans held for sale$867,819$53,1736.04%$934,983$53,0735.60%$944,470$53,7365.69%
Loans held for investment, gross (1)8,079,525472,6315.85%7,921,528491,4326.20%7,950,878488,5386.23%
Investment securities - taxable2,473,448101,1334.09%2,537,856107,0074.16%2,726,763108,2503.97%
Investment securities - non-taxable (2)367,40515,9654.35%324,68412,6383.84%363,49313,4633.70%
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell83,8095,2206.23%98,3377,2327.35%145,6968,9546.15%
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions1,347,73656,0144.16%1,526,74875,6334.95%1,597,86579,6574.99%
Securities borrowed1,432,07175,2815.18%1,355,55477,7855.66%1,409,76571,9245.03%
Other125,6347,8766.27%159,14114,0418.82%65,91216,55425.11%
Interest-earning assets, gross (2)14,777,447787,2935.33%14,858,831838,8415.65%15,204,842841,0765.53%
Allowance for credit losses(99,869)(110,123)(103,975)
Interest-earning assets, net14,677,57814,748,70815,100,867
Noninterest-earning assets970,0751,130,1981,404,393
Total assets$15,647,653$15,878,906$16,505,260
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing deposits$7,960,778$228,2752.87%$7,822,536$275,2913.52%$7,711,570$223,1792.89%
Securities loaned1,424,18967,8484.76%1,335,15572,6145.44%1,331,44365,1754.90%
Notes payable and other borrowings964,52147,2214.90%1,397,31370,6865.06%1,579,17083,1745.27%
Total interest-bearing liabilities10,349,488343,3443.32%10,555,004418,5913.97%10,622,183371,5283.50%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
Noninterest-bearing deposits2,730,3362,824,4503,441,437
Other liabilities360,196332,340351,938
Total liabilities13,440,02013,711,79414,415,558
Stockholders’ equity2,180,0982,139,7322,063,174
Noncontrolling interest27,53527,38026,528
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$15,647,653$15,878,906$16,505,260
Net interest income (2)$443,949$420,250$469,548
Net interest spread (2)2.01%1.68%2.03%
Net interest margin (2)3.00%2.83%3.09%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Average balance includes non-accrual loans.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Presented on a taxable equivalent basis with taxable equivalent adjustments based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rate of 21% for the periods presented. The adjustment to interest income was $3.2 million, $2.5 million and $2.7 million during 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The banking segment’s net interest margin exceeds our consolidated net interest margin shown above. Our consolidated net interest margin includes certain items that are not reflected in the calculation of our net interest margin within our banking segment and reduce our consolidated net interest margin, such as the borrowing costs of Hilltop and the yields and costs associated with certain items within interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, such as securities borrowed in the broker-dealer segment and securities loaned in the broker-dealer segment, including items related to securities financing operations that particularly decrease net interest margin. In addition, yields and costs on certain interest-earning assets, such as lines of credit extended to other operating segments by the banking segment, are eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

On a consolidated basis, the changes in net interest income during 2025, compared with 2024, were primarily due to decreased costs of deposits from rate decreases and decreased interest costs from the redemption of certain notes payable, partially offset by decreased interest income from loans held for investment yields and interest-bearing deposit yields from rate decreases. Refer to the discussion in the “Banking Segment” section that follows for more details on the

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changes in net interest income, including the component changes in the volume of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in the rates earned or paid on those items.

The provision for (reversal of) credit losses is determined by management as the amount necessary to maintain the allowance for credit losses at the amount of expected credit losses inherent within the loans held for investment portfolio. The amount of expense and the corresponding level of allowance for credit losses for loans are based on our evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio based on historical loss experience, reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other significant qualitative and quantitative factors. Substantially all of our consolidated provision for (reversal of) credit losses is related to the banking segment. During 2025, the provision for credit losses was primarily driven by a build in the allowance related to specific reserves and higher net charge-offs, partially offset by changes in the U.S. economic outlook and portfolio changes associated with collectively evaluated loans, including changes in loan mix and risk rating grade migration since December 31, 2024. During 2024, the provision for credit losses reflected a build in the allowance related to specific reserves, significantly offset by both the change in the U.S. economic outlook and changes in the collectively evaluated loan portfolio. Refer to the discussion in the “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” section that follows for more details regarding the significant assumptions and estimates involved in estimating credit losses.

Noninterest income increased during 2025, compared with 2024, primarily due to a pre-tax gain of $27.8 million associated with the sale of operations by a merchant bank equity investment in the first quarter of 2025, while other changes between periods included net increases within the broker-dealer segment’s public finance, wealth management and fixed income business lines, partially offset by a net decrease within the broker-dealer segment’s structured finance business line, and increases in net gains from sale of loans and other mortgage production income within our mortgage loan origination segment, partially offset by a decrease of mortgage loan origination fees within our mortgage origination segment. The increase in noninterest income during 2024, compared with 2023, was primarily due to net increases within the broker-dealer segment’s structured finance and public finance services business lines, an increase in pre-tax gains associated with the sale of merchant bank equity investments within corporate and increases in mortgage loan gains from sale of loans within the mortgage origination segment, partially offset by declines in mortgage loan origination fees and other related income within the mortgage origination segment and declines within the broker-dealer segment’s fixed income services and wealth management business lines.

Noninterest expense increased during 2025, compared with 2024, primarily due to increases in both variable and non-variable compensation within our broker-dealer segment and an increase in variable compensation within our mortgage origination segment and within corporate associated with the sale of certain merchant bank equity investments during 2025, partially offset by a decrease in other segment operating costs within our mortgage origination segment. We continued to experience increases in certain noninterest expenses during 2025 and 2024, compared with respective prior periods, including compensation, occupancy, and software costs, due to inflationary pressures. We expect such inflationary headwinds to continue during 2026.

Effective income tax rates were 22.2%, 20.1% and 20.9% for 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The effective tax rate for 2025 was higher than the applicable statutory rate primarily due to the impact of nondeductible expenses, nondeductible compensation expense and other permanent adjustments, partially offset by investments in tax-exempt instruments, state refund claims and return to provision adjustments. The effective tax rate for 2024 was lower than the applicable statutory rate primarily due to investments in tax-exempt instruments, state refund claims and return to provision adjustments, partially offset by the impact of nondeductible expenses, nondeductible compensation expense and other permanent adjustments.

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Segment Results

Banking Segment

The following table presents certain information about the operating results of our banking segment (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2025202420232025 vs 20242024 vs 2023
Net interest income$382,052$372,546$397,936$9,506$(25,390)
Provision for credit losses7,33599218,5256,343(17,533)
Noninterest income46,05843,29545,8302,763(2,535)
Noninterest expense227,601232,954226,234(5,353)6,720
Income before income taxes$193,174$181,895$199,007$11,279$(17,112)

The increase in income before income taxes during 2025, compared with 2024, was primarily due to an increase in net interest income and a decrease in noninterest expense, partially offset by an increase in the provision for credit losses. The decrease in income before income taxes during 2024, compared with 2023, was primarily due to a decline in net interest income and an increase in noninterest expense, partially offset by a decline in the provision for credit losses. Changes to net interest income related to the component changes in the volume of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in the rates earned or paid on those items are discussed in more detail below.

As discussed in more detail below, the banking segment’s cost of deposits decreased during 2025 primarily due to lower rates on interest-bearing deposits on certain products and product tiers in conjunction with rate reductions by the Federal Reserve to lower the effective funds rate. We are continuing to actively manage our overall deposit costs and anticipate potential opportunities to further lower interest-bearing deposit rates. Future decisions on the costs of deposits will be influenced by various factors, including, but not limited to competitive pressures, broader economic conditions, future changes in the target range for the federal funds rate, customer behavior and our liquidity position at that time.

The information shown in the table below includes certain key indicators of the performance and asset quality of our banking segment.

Year Ended December 31,
​ ​ ​2025​ ​ ​20242023
Efficiency ratio (1)53.16%56.02%50.98%
Return on average assets (2)1.17%1.10%1.15%
Net interest margin (3)3.16%3.04%3.13%
Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans outstanding (4)(0.22)%(0.15)%(0.03)%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Efficiency ratio is defined as noninterest expenses divided by the sum of total noninterest income and net interest income for the period. We consider the efficiency ratio to be a measure of the banking segment’s profitability.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Return on average assets is defined as net income divided by average assets.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Net interest margin is defined as net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. We consider net interest margin as a key indicator of profitability, as it represents interest earned on interest-earning assets compared to interest incurred.
Column 1Column 2
(4)Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding is defined as the greater of recoveries or charge-offs during the reported period minus charge-offs or recoveries divided by average loans outstanding. We use the ratio to measure the credit performance of our loan portfolio.

The banking segment presents net interest margin and net interest income in the following discussion and table below, on a taxable equivalent basis. Net interest margin (taxable equivalent), a non-GAAP measure, is defined as taxable equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. Taxable equivalent adjustments are based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rates of 21% for all periods presented. The banking segment performs periodic reviews of the classification and categorization of the components impacting the calculation of net interest margin. The interest income earned on certain earning assets is completely or partially exempt from federal income tax. As such, these tax-exempt instruments typically yield lower returns than taxable investments. To provide more meaningful comparisons of net interest margins for all earning assets, we use net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis in calculating net interest margin by increasing the interest income earned on tax-exempt assets to make it fully equivalent to interest income earned on taxable investments.

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During 2025, 2024 and 2023, purchase accounting contributed 3, 4 and 7 basis points, respectively, to the banking segment’s taxable equivalent net interest margin of 3.17%, 3.04% and 3.14%, respectively. These purchase accounting items are primarily related to accretion of discount on loans associated with the Bank Transactions presented in the Consolidated Operating Results section.

The table below provides additional details regarding our banking segment’s net interest income (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202520242023
​ ​ ​Average​ ​ ​Interest​ ​ ​Annualized​ ​ ​Average​ ​ ​Interest​ ​ ​Annualized​ ​ ​Average​ ​ ​Interest​ ​ ​Annualized
OutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield or
Balanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRate
Assets
Interest-earning assets
Loans held for sale$11,408$6495.69%$8,642$1261.46%$$%
Loans held for investment, gross (1)7,736,521447,6025.78%7,685,903463,1336.02%7,786,984454,1325.83%
Subsidiary warehouse lines of credit861,67160,1736.89%866,17868,7867.83%867,01170,0247.97%
Investment securities - taxable2,053,38866,9023.26%2,094,80970,0513.34%2,284,65472,7713.19%
Investment securities - non-taxable (2)107,2493,7933.54%109,7203,7173.39%112,4083,9073.48%
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell41,1411,9194.66%72,5123,9905.50%67,0113,5755.41%
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions1,239,92953,8134.34%1,381,91171,9745.21%1,543,47179,6575.16%
Other38,4851,5914.14%38,1551,7234.52%50,6732,3534.64%
Interest-earning assets, gross (2)12,089,792636,4425.26%12,257,830683,5005.58%12,712,212686,4195.40%
Allowance for credit losses(99,770)(109,975)(103,180)
Interest-earning assets, net11,990,02212,147,85512,609,032
Noninterest-earning assets747,901781,834848,093
Total assets$12,737,923$12,929,689$13,457,125
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing deposits$7,974,038$246,7023.09%$7,747,864$296,5053.83%$7,578,587$265,5603.50%
Notes payable and other borrowings282,6937,0002.48%476,66613,8702.91%579,46222,2303.84%
Total interest-bearing liabilities8,256,731253,7023.07%8,224,530310,3753.77%8,158,049287,7903.53%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
Noninterest-bearing deposits2,887,5953,048,9893,582,356
Other liabilities93,095103,531156,980
Total liabilities11,237,42111,377,05011,897,385
Stockholders’ equity1,500,5021,552,6391,559,740
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$12,737,923$12,929,689$13,457,125
Net interest income (2)$382,740$373,125$398,629
Net interest spread (2)2.19%1.81%1.87%
Net interest margin (2)3.17%3.04%3.14%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Average balance includes non-accrual loans.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Presented on a taxable equivalent basis with taxable equivalent adjustments based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rates of 21% for all periods presented. The adjustment to interest income was $0.7 million, $0.6 million and $0.7 million during 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The banking segment’s net interest margin exceeds our consolidated net interest margin. Our consolidated net interest margin includes certain items that are not reflected in the calculation of our net interest margin within our banking segment and reduce our consolidated net interest margin, such as the borrowing costs of Hilltop and the yields and costs associated with certain items within interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, such as securities borrowed in the broker-dealer segment and securities loaned in the broker-dealer segment, including items related to securities financing operations that particularly decrease net interest margin. In addition, yields and costs on certain interest-earning assets, such as lines of credit extended to other operating segments by the banking segment, are eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

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The following table summarizes the changes in the banking segment’s net interest income for the periods indicated below, including the component changes in the volume of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in the rates earned or paid on those items (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
2025 vs. 20242024 vs. 2023
Change Due To (1)Change Due To (1)
​ ​VolumeYield/RateChange​ ​Volume​ ​Yield/Rate​ ​Change
Interest income
Loans held for sale$40$483$523$$126$126
Loans held for investment, gross (2)3,047(18,578)(15,531)(5,893)14,8949,001
Subsidiary warehouse lines of credit (3)(353)(8,260)(8,613)(66)(1,172)(1,238)
Investment securities - taxable(1,383)(1,766)(3,149)(6,047)3,327(2,720)
Investment securities - non-taxable (4)(84)16076(93)(97)(190)
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell(1,725)(346)(2,071)298117415
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions(7,397)(10,764)(18,161)(8,338)655(7,683)
Other15(147)(132)(581)(49)(630)
Total interest income (4)(7,840)(39,218)(47,058)(20,720)17,801(2,919)
Interest expense
Deposits$8,662$(58,465)$(49,803)$5,932$25,013$30,945
Notes payable and other borrowings(5,645)(1,225)(6,870)(3,944)(4,416)(8,360)
Total interest expense3,017(59,690)(56,673)1,98820,59722,585
Net interest income (4)$(10,857)$20,472$9,615$(22,708)$(2,796)$(25,504)
Column 1Column 2
(1)Changes attributable to both volume and yield/rate are included in yield/rate column.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Changes in the yields earned on loans held for investment, gross included a decline during 2025 of $1.9 million in accretion of discount on loans, compared with 2024, and a decrease of $3.6 million during 2024, compared with 2023. Accretion of discount on loans is expected to decrease in future periods as loans acquired in the Bank Transaction are repaid, refinanced or renewed.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Subsidiary warehouse lines of credit extended to PrimeLending are eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.
Column 1Column 2
(4)Annualized taxable equivalent.

With regard to net interest income, as of December 31, 2025, the banking segment maintained an asset sensitive rate risk position, meaning the amount of its interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within a given period exceeds the amount of its interest-bearing liabilities also maturing or repricing within that time period. During a period of declining interest rates, being asset sensitive tends to result in a decrease in net interest income, but during a period of rising interest rates, being asset sensitive tends to result in an increase in net interest income. Given projected impacts on net interest income associated with the expected transition into the next phase of the interest rate cycle, we continue to evaluate our current GAP position, which may result in a repositioning of the banking segment towards a more neutral or liability sensitive balance sheet.

The increases in net interest income during 2025, compared to 2024, as noted in the table above, were primarily driven by decreased funding costs on our deposit products from rate decreases, partially offset by decreased earnings on interest-earning assets, primarily loan and warehouse line of credit yields and investment securities. The decreases in net interest income during 2024, compared to 2023, were primarily driven by the increased funding costs on our deposit products from rate increases in 2023, the migration from non-interest-bearing deposits into interest-bearing products during the year-over-year period, and decreases in average loans held for investment, investment securities and deposits held in other financial institutions, partially offset by increased earnings on interest-earning assets, primarily loan yields.

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The average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities decreased 70 basis points from 3.77% for 2024 to 3.07% for 2025, while the average yield on interest-earning assets decreased 32 basis points from 5.58% for 2024 to 5.26% for 2025.

Our portfolio includes loans that periodically reprice or mature prior to the end of an amortized term. The extent and timing of this impact on interest income will ultimately be driven by the timing, magnitude and frequency of interest rate and yield curve movements, as well as changes in market conditions and timing of management strategies. At December 31, 2025, approximately $561 million of our floating rate loans held for investment remained at or below their applicable rate floor, exclusive of our mortgage warehouse lending program, of which approximately 21% are not scheduled to reprice for more than one year based upon agreed-upon terms. If interest rates were to continue to fall, the impact on our interest income for certain variable-rate loans would be limited by these rate floors. If interest rates rise, yields on the portion of our loan portfolio that remain at applicable rate floors would rise more slowly than increases in market interest rates, unless such loans are refinanced or repaid. Competition for loan growth could also continue to put pressure on new loan origination rates.

Additionally, within our banking segment, the composition of the deposit base and ultimate cost of funds on deposits and net interest income are affected by the level of market interest rates, the interest rates and products offered by competitors, the volatility of equity markets and other factors. Deposit products and pricing structures relative to the market are regularly evaluated to maintain competitiveness over time. As discussed above, our cost of deposits decreased during 2025, compared to 2024. While we expect such costs during 2026 will continue to be influenced by various factors, including, but not limited to competitive pressures, broader economic conditions, future changes in the target range for the federal funds rate, customer behavior and our liquidity position at that time. The Bank’s deposit base primarily includes a combination of commercial, wealth, and public funds deposits, without a high level of industry concentration. At December 31, 2025, total estimated uninsured deposits were $5.9 billion, or approximately 54% of total deposits, while estimated uninsured deposits, excluding collateralized deposits of $693.9 million and internal accounts of $302.8 million, were $4.9 billion, or approximately 45% of total deposits.

Refer to the discussion in the “Liquidity and Capital Resources – Banking Segment” section that follows for more detail regarding the Bank’s activities regarding deposits, available liquidity and borrowing capacity.

To help mitigate net interest income spread volatility between our assets and liabilities, management maintains derivative trades, as either cash flow hedges or fair value hedges, that better align repricing characteristics. Despite having these hedges in place, changes in interest rates across the term structure may continue to impact net interest income and net interest margin. The impact of rate movements will change with the shape of the yield curve, including any changes in steepness or flatness and inversions at any points on the yield curve.

During 2025, 2024 and 2023, the banking segment retained approximately $185.4 million, $124.3 million and $140.3 million, respectively, in mortgage loans originated by the mortgage origination segment. These loans are purchased by the banking segment at par. For origination services provided, the banking segment reimburses the mortgage origination segment for direct origination costs associated with these mortgage loans, in addition to payment of a correspondent fee. The correspondent fees are eliminated in consolidation. The determination of mortgage loan retention levels by the banking segment will be impacted by, among other things, an ongoing review of the prevailing mortgage rates, balance sheet positioning at Hilltop and the banking segment’s outlook for commercial loan growth.

The banking segment’s provision for (reversal of) credit losses has been subject to significant year-over-year and quarterly changes primarily attributable to the effects of the changing economic outlook, macroeconomic forecast assumptions and resulting impact on reserves. Specifically, during 2025, the banking segment’s provision for credit losses was primarily driven by a build in the allowance related to specific reserves and higher net charge-offs, partially offset by changes in the U.S. economic outlook and portfolio changes associated with collectively evaluated loans, including changes in loan mix and risk rating grade migration since December 31, 2024. The net impact to the allowance of changes associated with individually evaluated loans during 2025 included a provision for credit losses of $13.5 million, while collectively evaluated loans during 2025 included a reversal of credit losses of $6.2 million. The change in the allowance during 2025 was also impacted by net charge-offs of $16.9 million. Of the $16.9 million of net charge-offs at December 31, 2025, $11.5 million was comprised of three credit relationships associated with commercial and industrial loans within the auto note financing industry subsector. During 2024, the banking segment’s provision for

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credit losses reflected a build in the allowance related to specific reserves since December 31, 2023, significantly offset by both the change in the U.S. economic outlook and changes in the collectively evaluated loan portfolio. The net impact to the allowance of changes associated with individually evaluated loans during 2024 included a provision for credit losses of $15.2 million, while collectively evaluated loans during 2024 included a reversal of credit losses of $14.2 million. The change in the allowance during 2024 was also impacted by net charge-offs of $11.2 million. During 2023, the banking segment’s provision for credit losses reflected a build in the allowance related to loan portfolio changes since December 31, 2022 and a deteriorating outlook for commercial real estate markets. The net impact to the allowance of changes associated with collectively evaluated loans during 2023 included a provision for credit losses of $12.7 million, while individually evaluated loans included a provision for credit losses of $5.8 million. The change in the allowance during 2023 was also impacted by net charge-offs of $2.4 million. The changes in the allowance for credit losses during the noted periods also reflected other factors including, but not limited to, loan growth, loan mix, and changes in risk grades and qualitative factors from the prior quarter. Refer to the discussion in the “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” section that follows for more details regarding the significant assumptions and estimates involved in estimating credit losses.

The banking segment’s noninterest income increased during 2025, compared with 2024, primarily due to the receipt of a legal restitution payment during the second quarter of 2025 that compensated the Bank for previously incurred losses, partially offset by a decrease in oil and gas management fees. Noninterest income during 2024, compared with 2023, decreased primarily due to valuation adjustments associated with the sale of a single loan from loans held for sale during the second quarter of 2024 and a decrease in oil and gas management fees, partially offset by an increase in service charges on depositor accounts.

The banking segment’s noninterest expenses decreased during 2025, compared with 2024, primarily due to decreases in occupancy and equipment expenses and professional fees, partially offset by an increase in employees’ compensation and benefits. The decrease in professional fees during 2025 was driven by the settlement and receipt of $6.5 million during the first quarter of 2025 that reimbursed the Bank for legal fees previously incurred. Noninterest expenses during 2024, compared with 2023, increased primarily due to a long-lived asset impairment charge of $4.8 million associated with one of the Bank’s support facilities that management has the intent to sell. The facility was written down to the estimated fair value of the property less the estimated costs to sell. Additionally, during 2024, the Bank incurred one-time compensation expenses associated with Bank leadership changes, partially offset by decreases in professional fees.

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Broker-Dealer Segment

The following table provides additional details regarding our broker-dealer segment operating results (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
​ ​ ​2025​ ​ ​20242023​ ​ ​2025 vs 20242024 vs 2023
Net interest income:
Wealth management:
Securities lending$7,433$5,171$6,749$2,262$(1,578)
Clearing services9,41210,4908,064(1,078)2,426
Structured finance (1)10,8248,4679,8932,357(1,426)
Fixed income services (1)246(2,473)(304)2,719(2,169)
Other (1)22,35727,28728,492(4,930)(1,205)
Total net interest income50,27248,94252,8941,330(3,952)
Noninterest income:
Principal transactions, commissions and fees by business line (2) (3):
Fixed income services49,37546,76557,5482,610(10,783)
Wealth management:
Retail94,52386,63890,1537,885(3,515)
Clearing services36,11135,94840,083163(4,135)
Structured finance87,150102,56775,480(15,417)27,087
Other2,0533,7062,792(1,653)914
269,212275,624266,056(6,412)9,568
Investment banking, advisory and administrative fees by business line (1) (2):
Public finance services126,75497,93789,39828,8178,539
Fixed income services7,0555,07910,6581,976(5,579)
Wealth management:
Retail42,72436,43731,0166,2875,421
Clearing services2,4311,8891,660542229
Structured finance2,1681,3021,351866(49)
Other334346244(12)102
181,466142,990134,32738,4768,663
Other (1) (2):764,1873,155(4,111)1,032
Total noninterest income450,754422,801403,53827,95319,263
Net revenue (4)501,026471,743456,43229,28315,311
Noninterest expense:
Variable compensation (5)169,845153,062144,98416,7838,078
Non-variable compensation and benefits142,070133,638121,4118,43212,227
Segment operating costs (6)121,524121,532116,496(8)5,036
Total noninterest expense433,439408,232382,89125,20725,341
Income before income taxes$67,587$63,511$73,541$4,076$(10,030)
Column 1Column 2
(1)Noted balances during the prior period include certain reclassifications due to the restructuring of certain business lines to conform to current period presentation.
Column 1Column 2
(2)During 2025, certain financial statement line items within the noninterest income section of the consolidated income statement were reclassified to better align disclosures to business activities. These reclassifications were applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented. Total noninterest income did not change as a result of these reclassifications.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Principal transactions, commissions and fees includes income from FDIC sweep investments with the banking segment of $15.4 million, $24.9 million, and $47.1 million during 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively, that is eliminated in consolidation.
Column 1Column 2
(4)Net revenue is defined as the sum of total net interest income and total noninterest income. We consider net revenue to be a key performance measure in the evaluation of the broker-dealer segment’s financial position and operating performance as we believe it is a primary revenue performance measure used by investors and analysts. Net revenue provides for some level of comparability of trends across the financial services industry as it reflects both noninterest income, including investment and securities advisory fees and commissions, as well as net interest income. Internally, we assess the broker-dealer segment’s performance on a net revenue basis for comparability with our banking segment.
Column 1Column 2
(5)Variable compensation represents performance-based commissions and incentives.
Column 1Column 2
(6)Segment operating costs include provision for (reversal of) credit losses associated with the broker-dealer segment within other noninterest expenses.

The increases in net revenue and income before income taxes during 2025, compared with 2024, was primarily due to improved net revenues within our public finance services, fixed income services and wealth management business lines, partially offset by a decline in net revenues within our structured finance business line and increases in segment compensation costs. The increase in net revenues in the broker-dealer segment’s public finance services business line was primarily due to improved fees earned from banking services. The increase in fixed income services business line’s net revenues was primarily due to improved market conditions resulting in the increase in net revenues from fixed income sales and trading activities, in particular, from municipal products. The increase in the wealth management business line’s net revenue was driven by an increase in advisory fees revenues generated from customer assets under management. The decrease in the structured finance business line’s net revenues was primarily due to a decrease in trading gains from the to-be-announced (“TBA”) business partially offset by commissions earned on commodities and

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securitized mortgage-backed securities transactions. Income before income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2025 was impacted by the changes in net revenues as described above and a net increase in noninterest expense.

The increase in net revenue and the decline in income before income taxes during 2024, compared with 2023, was primarily due to improved period-over-period results within our structured finance and public finance services business lines, partially offset by declines within our fixed income services and wealth management business lines and increases in segment compensation costs. The increase in the structured finance business line’s net revenues was primarily due to an increase in trading gains from the TBA business and commissions earned on commodities transactions. The increase in net revenues in the broker-dealer segment’s public finance services business line was primarily due to fees earned from managed assets and municipal advisory revenues. The wealth management business line’s net revenue decrease was driven by decreases in commissions earned from our FDIC sweep program on lower customer balances. These decreases were partially offset by improved advisory fees revenues generated from customer assets under management. The decrease in net revenues in the broker-dealer segment’s fixed income services business line was primarily due to declines in revenues from net interest income earned on inventory positions and trading profits. Income before income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2024 was impacted by the changes in net revenues as described above and a net increase in noninterest expense.

The broker-dealer segment is subject to interest rate risk as a consequence of maintaining inventory positions, trading in interest rate sensitive financial instruments and maintaining a matched stock loan book. Changes in interest rates are likely to have a meaningful impact on our overall financial performance. Our broker-dealer segment has historically earned a significant portion of its revenues from advisory fees upon the successful completion of client transactions, which could be adversely impacted by interest rate volatility. Rapid or significant changes in interest rates could adversely affect the broker-dealer segment’s bond trading, sales, underwriting activities and other interest spread-sensitive activities described below. The broker-dealer segment also receives administrative fees for providing money market and FDIC investment alternatives to clients, which tend to be sensitive to short-term interest rates. In addition, the profitability of the broker-dealer segment depends, to an extent, on the spread between revenues earned on customer loans and excess customer cash balances, and the interest expense paid on customer cash balances, as well as the interest revenue earned on trading securities, net of financing costs. The broker-dealer segment is also exposed to interest rate risk through its structured finance business line, which is dependent on mortgage loan production that tends to be adversely impacted by increasing interest rates, resulting in valuation-related adjustments.

In the broker-dealer segment, interest is earned from securities lending activities, interest charged on customer margin loan balances and interest earned on investment securities used to support sales, underwriting and other customer activities. During 2025, compared with 2024, along with the increase in our stock lending activities, the broker-dealer segment experienced an increase in net interest earned on inventory positions within the fixed income services and structured finance business lines, partially offset by the net interest earned on our correspondent inventory positions. The decrease in net interest income during 2024, compared with 2023, was primarily due to the decrease in the net interest income from the fixed income services business line due to decreases in net interest earned on inventory positions.

Noninterest income increased during 2025, compared with 2024, primarily due to increases in investment banking, advisory and administrative fees, partially offset by decreases in principal transactions, commissions and fees and other noninterest income. Noninterest income increased during 2024, compared with 2023, primarily due to increases in principal transactions, commissions and fees, investment banking, advisory and administrative fees and other noninterest income.

Principal transactions, commissions and fees decreased during 2025, compared with 2024, primarily due to decreases in trading gains earned from our structured finance business line, partially offset by increases in commodities and insurance product sales commissions and earnings from our fixed income services line of business. Principal transactions, commissions and fees increased during 2024, compared with 2023, primarily due to an increase in the broker-dealer segment’s structured finance business line due to an increase in commissions earned on commodities transactions and increases in trading gains earned from structured finance trading activities. Buy-side demand improved resulting in increases in the structured finance business line for 2024, when compared to 2023. The increase in principal transactions, commissions and fees during 2024, compared with 2023, was partially offset by the decreases in the fixed income services and wealth management business lines. The decrease in the fixed income services business line was primarily due to

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decreased trading gains driven by municipal and taxable securities trading despite the increase in trading volumes. The declines in principal transactions, commissions and fees in the broker-dealer segment’s wealth management business line was due to decreases in FDIC sweep revenues and net clearing revenues, as well as a decline in commissions earned on insurance product sales.

Investment banking advisory and administrative fees increased during 2025, compared with 2024, primarily due to increases in fees earned from managed assets and municipal advisory transactions. Investment banking advisory and administrative fees increased during 2024, compared with 2023, primarily due to increases in fees earned from managed assets and municipal advisory transactions.

The increase in noninterest expenses during 2025, compared with 2024, was due to increases in segment compensation primarily from increased variable compensation, health insurance and severance costs. The increase in noninterest expenses during 2024, compared with 2023, was due to increases in segment compensation and other segment operating costs, primarily quotation expenses.

The following table provides selected information concerning the broker-dealer segment, including key performance indicators (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
2025​ ​ ​2024​ ​ ​2023
Total compensation as a % of net revenue (1)62.3%60.8%58.4%
Pre-tax margin (2)13.5%13.5%16.1%
FDIC insured program balances at the Bank (end of year)$100,127$572,188$1,132,106
Other FDIC insured program balances (end of year)$1,748,451$1,350,298$852,653
Customer funds on deposit, including short credits (end of year)$196,166$258,480$223,414
Public finance services:
Number of issues1,000901804
Aggregate amount of offerings$84,220,014$63,343,100$46,343,892
Structured finance:
Lock production/TBA volume$4,448,200$4,628,337$6,468,566
Fixed income services:
Total volumes$193,754,298$384,976,739$259,412,621
Net inventory (end of year)$579,418$457,946$481,052
Wealth management (Retail and Clearing services groups):
Retail employee representatives (end of year)909292
Independent registered representatives (end of year)150166186
Correspondents (end of year)9399105
Correspondent receivables (end of year)$108,562$150,013$119,996
Customer margin balances (end of year)$233,367$212,070$223,384
Wealth management (Securities lending group):
Interest-earning assets - stock borrowed (end of year) (3)$1,501,548$1,292,576$1,407,110
Interest-bearing liabilities - stock loaned (end of year)$1,495,133$1,291,725$1,371,896
Column 1Column 2
(1)Total compensation includes the sum of non-variable compensation and benefits and variable compensation. We consider total compensation as a percentage of net revenue to be a key performance measure and indicator of segment profitability.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Pre-tax margin is defined as income before income taxes divided by net revenue. We consider pre-tax margin to be a key performance measure given its use as a profitability metric representing the percentage of net revenue earned that results in a profit.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Noted balances during all prior periods include certain reclassifications to conform to current period presentation.

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Mortgage Origination Segment

The following table presents certain information regarding the operating results of our mortgage origination segment (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2025202420232025 vs 20242024 vs 2023
Net interest income (expense)$(7,934)$(16,867)$(20,305)$8,933$3,438
Noninterest income310,876313,229316,840(2,353)(3,611)
Noninterest expense320,463330,088359,285(9,625)(29,197)
Loss before income taxes$(17,521)$(33,726)$(62,750)$16,205$29,024

The mortgage lending business is subject to variables that can impact loan origination volume, including seasonal transaction volumes and interest rate fluctuations. Historically, the mortgage origination segment has experienced increased loan origination volume from purchases of homes during the spring and summer months, when more people tend to move and buy or sell homes. A decrease in mortgage interest rates tends to result in increased loan origination volume from refinancings, while an increase in mortgage interest rates tends to result in decreased loan origination volume from refinancings. While changes in mortgage interest rates have historically had a lesser impact on home purchases volume than on refinancing volume, net increases in mortgage interest rates since 2022 have negatively impacted home purchase volume through 2025. The effect of this trend was compounded by periods of broader economic uncertainty during that time. Mortgage interest rates fluctuated slightly during the first half of 2025, followed by a gradual and modest decline during the second half of 2025. During the fourth quarter of 2025, average mortgage interest rates decreased compared to average mortgage rates during the fourth quarter of 2024. See details regarding loan origination volume in the table below.

Current trends, as well as typical historical patterns in loan origination volume from purchases of homes or from refinancings because of movements in mortgage interest rates, may not be indicative of future loan origination volumes. Between 2023 and 2025, certain events initially triggered as early as 2022 have continued to challenge total mortgage market origination volumes because of their effect on the economy, including an increase in average interest rates during this period when compared to the average of the three years prior to 2023, the Federal Reserve’s actions and communications, geopolitical events and ongoing economic uncertainty. During 2025, specific developments driving economic uncertainty include the United States government’s position on increasing tariffs on foreign imports and reciprocal tariffs imposed by numerous United States foreign trading partners on United States exports and the government’s passage of a comprehensive tax and spending bill. Between September 2024 and December 2024, the Federal Reserve cut the target range for the federal funds rate by 100 basis points to 4.25% - 4.5%. These were the first reductions since March 2022 when the target range was 0.25% - 0.50%. Between September 2025 and December 2025, the Federal Reserve cut the target range for the federal funds rate by another 75 basis points to 3.5% - 3.75%. Since the rate cuts occurred during the later part of 2025, they had modest impact on total 2025 loan origination volumes. Despite the reduction in the federal fund rates during 2024, average mortgage interest rates increased during the first six months of 2025, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. However, during the last six months of 2025 average mortgage interest rates decreased to levels not observed since the first half of 2023. We expect loan production during the first quarter of 2026 to decrease compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, consistent with historical trends. During the third quarter of 2025, PrimeLending reduced a portion of its underwriting, loan fulfillment, operations and corporate headcount to address current mortgage market production challenges. Anticipated annual savings associated with these reductions approximate $4.4 million.

PrimeLending continues to evaluate its cost structure to address the current mortgage environment and we believe that ongoing cost-saving initiatives are critical to improving PrimeLending’s short- and long-term financial condition and operating results. Due to conditions and challenges discussed in detail within this section of segment results, the mortgage origination segment experienced operating losses during 2024 and 2025. While the mortgage origination segment reported income before income taxes during the second quarter of 2025, an operating loss would have been experienced if not for the receipt by PrimeLending of $9.5 million associated with the Settlements. In light of these current macroeconomic challenges in the mortgage industry including tight housing inventories and mortgage interest rate levels, the fair value of the mortgage origination reporting unit may decline, and we may be required to record a

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goodwill impairment charge. These conditions will continue to be considered during future impairment evaluations of goodwill.

As a GNMA approved lender, we are subject to minimum capital, leverage, net worth and liquidity requirements established by HUD and GNMA, including timely reporting if a quarter’s operating loss exceeds more than 20% of its previous quarter or year-end net worth (the “operating loss ratio”) and/or if a quarter’s capital ratio is below 6% (the “GNMA leverage ratio”). If this occurs, certain additional financial reporting submissions are required. During the first quarter of 2024, the HUD operating loss ratio was 22.6%, while during the second quarter of 2024, PrimeLending reported a HUD operating gain. During the third and fourth quarters of 2024 and the first, third and fourth quarters of 2025, the operating loss ratios were below the 20% threshold at 14.4%, 16.6%, 12.9%, 10.3% and 7.3%, respectively. PrimeLending reported a HUD operating gain during the second quarter of 2025. During the first and second quarters of 2024, the GNMA leverage ratio was 5.56% and 4.41%, respectively. Including two $10 million capital infusions received by PrimeLending from its parent company, PlainsCapital Bank, between September and December 2024 totaling $20 million, the GNMA leverage ratio increased to 6.38% and 6.36% during the third and fourth quarters of 2024, respectively. During 2025, PrimeLending received additional capital infusions from PlainsCapital Bank totaling $25 million and the GNMA leverage ratio remained above the required 6% at 7.12%, 6.30%, 7.35% and 6.73% during each consecutive quarter of 2025, respectively. Any of these trends requiring notification to GNMA and HUD have been reported to those entities, respectively. Such capital infusions are possible in future periods, including those in the near-term, based on a range of factors including PrimeLending’s financial performance.

In addition, as a FNMA and FHLMC approved lender, we are subject to certain minimum capital, net worth and liquidity requirements established by FNMA and FHLMC, including maintaining a minimum capital ratio of 6% (the “FNMA/FHLMC capital ratio”). The FNMA/FHLMC capital ratio exceeded the required 6%, for each quarter during 2025 and 2024, except during the second quarter of 2024, the capital ratio decreased to 5.52%. FNMA and FHLMC may also monitor additional financial performance trends at their discretion, including risk-based analyses focused on loans that the mortgage origination segment is currently responsible for representations and warranties that agency loans sold meet certain requirements, including representations as to underwriting standards and the validity of certain borrower representations in connection with the loan. One FNMA discretionary performance trend monitors the change in adjusted net worth during the prior twelve months. FNMA’s acceptable threshold for this performance trend is less than minus 30%, but is only considered if a company has four consecutive quarterly losses. During the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2024, PrimeLending experienced four consecutive quarterly losses; the loss ratios during these periods were 37.5%, 28.9%, 23.9% and 13.7%, respectively. PrimeLending also recognized four consecutive quarterly losses during the first quarter of 2025, when the loss ratio was 10.5%. During the second quarter of 2025 PrimeLending reported an operating gain. PrimeLending reported a loss during both the third and fourth quarters of 2025. Any of these trends requiring notification to FNMA and FHLMC have been reported to those entities, respectively.

The loss before income taxes decreased in 2025, compared with 2024. This decrease was primarily the result of decreases in noninterest expense and net interest expense, partially offset by a decline in noninterest income. The loss before income taxes decreased in 2024, compared with 2023. This decrease was primarily the result of a decrease in noninterest expense.

Average interest rates during the latter part of 2025 experienced a gradual decline from the peak levels reached in 2022. Refinancing volume as a percentage of total origination volume was higher during 2025 at 14.1%, compared to 9.9%, during 2024. Although we anticipate the percentage of refinancing volume relative to total loan origination volume during 2026 will approximate 2025, an even higher refinance percentage could be driven by a slowing of purchase volume due to the negative impact on new and existing home sales resulting from existing home inventory shortages and affordability challenges related to new home construction, and/or an increase in all-cash buyers.

The mortgage origination segment primarily originates its mortgage loans through a retail channel, with additional lending through its affiliated business arrangements (“ABAs”). For 2025, funded volume through ABAs was approximately 14% of the mortgage origination segment’s total loan volume. Currently, PrimeLending owns a greater than 50% interest in two ABAs. We expect total production within the ABA channel to continue to approximate 14% of loan volume of the mortgage origination segment during 2026.

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The following table provides further details regarding our mortgage loan originations and sales for the periods indicated below (dollars in thousands). Loan volumes associated with mortgage loan transactions facilitated between PrimeLending and third-party mortgage lenders when requested products are not offered by PrimeLending are included in mortgage loan origination units and volume and are not included in mortgage loan sales volume below.

Year Ended December 31,
202520242023
​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​% of​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​% of​ ​ ​​ ​ ​% ofVariance
AmountTotalAmountTotalAmountTotal2025 vs 20242024 vs 2023
Mortgage Loan Originations - units26,90426,89326,96411(71)
Mortgage Loan Originations - volume:
Conventional$5,048,43956.71%$5,235,72960.77%$5,147,10162.44%$(187,290)$88,628
Government1,991,49722.37%1,849,51321.47%1,904,23723.10%141,984(54,724)
Jumbo548,1656.16%435,7165.06%297,5093.61%112,449138,207
Other1,313,81814.76%1,095,39512.70%894,28410.85%218,423201,111
$8,901,919100.00%$8,616,353100.00%$8,243,131100.00%$285,566$373,222
Home purchases$7,643,21285.86%$7,759,81290.06%$7,701,75893.43%$(116,600)$58,054
Refinancings1,258,70714.14%856,5419.94%541,3736.57%402,166315,168
$8,901,919100.00%$8,616,353100.00%$8,243,131100.00%$285,566$373,222
Texas$2,688,31430.20%$2,709,56631.45%$2,379,42528.87%$(21,252)$330,141
California696,9007.83%661,7167.68%647,8317.86%35,18413,885
South Carolina493,9525.55%452,4765.25%427,2985.18%41,47625,178
Missouri381,6934.29%373,1484.33%304,7233.70%8,54568,425
New York369,2924.15%369,9584.29%364,9794.43%(666)4,979
Florida341,7773.84%330,5213.84%390,7084.74%11,256(60,187)
Ohio284,3043.19%252,3632.93%251,4803.05%31,941883
Washington274,7193.09%244,8252.84%192,6912.34%29,89452,134
Arizona262,3232.95%278,0433.23%345,7384.19%(15,720)(67,695)
Massachusetts186,4232.09%125,4621.46%116,9431.42%60,9618,519
All other states2,922,22232.82%2,818,27532.70%2,821,31534.22%103,947(3,040)
$8,901,919100.00%$8,616,353100.00%$8,243,131100.00%$285,566$373,222
Mortgage Loan Sales - volume:
Third parties$8,094,65497.76%$8,099,42598.49%$7,906,29798.26%$(4,771)$193,128
Banking segment185,4052.24%124,3091.51%140,2881.74%61,096(15,979)
$8,280,059100.00%$8,223,734100.00%$8,046,585100.00%$56,325$177,149

We consider the mortgage origination segment’s total loan origination volume to be a key performance measure. Loan origination volume is central to the segment’s ability to generate income by originating and selling mortgage loans, resulting in net gains from the sale of loans, mortgage loan origination fees, and other mortgage production income. Total loan origination volume is a measure utilized by management, our investors, and analysts in assessing market share and growth of the mortgage origination segment.

The mortgage origination segment’s total loan origination volume increased 3.3% during 2025, compared with 2024, while loss before income taxes decreased 48.0%, compared with 2024. The decrease in loss before income taxes during 2025 was primarily due to decreases in the loss on the change in the net fair value and related derivative activity associated with mortgage servicing rights assets, servicing fee expense and net interest expense. Additionally, contributing to the decrease was the receipt by PrimeLending of $9.5 million under the Settlements in April 2025. These positive changes were partially offset by unfavorable decreases in servicing fee income, and mortgage loan origination fees and servicing fees. During 2024, the mortgage origination segment’s total loan origination volume increased 4.5% compared with 2023, while loss before income taxes decreased 46.3% during 2024, compared with 2023. The decrease in loss before income taxes during 2024 was primarily due to an increase in average loan sales margin, increases in average value of IRLCs and decreases in non-variable compensation and benefits expense and segment operating costs, partially offset by a decrease in the average value of mortgage loan origination fees and to a lesser extent, decreases in net servicing income and an increase in the loss on the change in the net fair value and related derivative activity related to mortgage servicing rights assets, compared with 2023.

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The information shown in the table below includes certain additional key performance indicators for the mortgage origination segment.

Year Ended December 31,
202520242023
Net gains from mortgage loan sales (basis points):
Loans sold to third parties (1)227218194
Broker fee income (2)1284
Impact of loans retained by banking segment(6)(4)(4)
As reported233222194
Variable compensation as a percentage of total compensation53.9%52.6%47.4%
Mortgage servicing rights asset ($000's) (end of year) (3)$17,491$5,723$96,662
Column 1Column 2
(1)Net gains from mortgage loans sold to third parties reflects provisions for anticipated indemnification claims and penalties for early payoff of loans which had the effect of lowering such net gains from mortgage loans sold to third parties by 10 basis points, 8 basis points and 4 basis points during 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Broker fee income is earned by the mortgage origination segment for facilitating mortgage loan transactions between PrimeLending customers and third-party mortgage lenders when the requested loan products are not offered by PrimeLending.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Reported on a consolidated basis and therefore does not include mortgage servicing rights assets related to loans serviced for the banking segment, which are eliminated in consolidation.

Net interest expense was comprised of interest income earned on loans held for sale offset by interest incurred on warehouse lines of credit primarily held with the Bank, and related intercompany financing costs. The decreases in net interest expense during 2025 and 2024, compared with 2024 and 2023, respectively, reflect decreases in the negative net interest margin between each year.

Noninterest income was comprised of the items set forth in the table below (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
​ ​ ​2025​ ​ ​2024​ ​ ​2023​ ​ ​2025 vs 2024​ ​ ​2024 vs 2023
Net gains from sale of loans$193,261$182,937$156,190$10,324$26,747
Mortgage loan origination fees and other related income102,645123,066144,539(20,421)(21,473)
Other mortgage production income:
Change in net fair value and related derivative activity:
IRLCs and loans held for sale3,7044,408832(704)3,576
Mortgage servicing rights asset(1,694)(19,235)(16,589)17,541(2,646)
Servicing fees3,44522,05331,868(18,608)(9,815)
Other9,5159,515
Total noninterest income$310,876$313,229$316,840$(2,353)$(3,611)

Net gains from sale of loans increased 5.6%, while total loans sales volume increased 0.7% during 2025, compared with 2024. The increase in net gains from sales of loans was primarily due to an increase in average loan sale margin as mortgage loan sale volume remained relatively flat. The 17.1% increase in net gains from sale of loans during 2024, compared with 2023, was primarily the result of an increase in average loan sale margin.

Mortgage loan origination fees and other related income decreased 16.6% during 2025, compared with 2024, primarily due to a decrease in average mortgage loan origination fees, as loan origination volume increased 3.3% during 2025, compared with 2024. The 14.9% decrease in mortgage loan origination fees and other related income during 2024, compared with 2023, was also primarily the result of a decrease in average mortgage loan origination fees as loan origination volume increased 4.5% between the two years.

In April 2025, PrimeLending entered into the Settlements related to a matter whereby PrimeLending received an aggregate of $9.5 million from the respective parties. The full amount associated with the Settlements was recorded within other noninterest income during the second quarter of 2025.

Fluctuations in mortgage loan origination fees and net gains on sale of loans are not always aligned with fluctuations in loan origination and loan sale volumes, respectively, since customers may opt to pay PrimeLending discount fees on their mortgage loans, which are included in mortgage loan origination fees, in exchange for a lower interest rate, which decreases the value of a loan in the secondary market.

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We consider the mortgage origination segment’s net gains from sale of loans margin, in basis points, to be a key performance measure. Net gains from mortgage loan sales margin is defined as net gains from sale of loans divided by mortgage loan sales volume. The net gains from sale of loans is central to the segment’s generation of income and may include loans sold to third parties and loans sold to and retained by the banking segment. For origination services provided, the mortgage origination segment was reimbursed direct origination costs associated with loans retained by the banking segment, in addition to payment of a correspondent fee. The reimbursed origination costs and correspondent fee are included in the mortgage origination segment operating results, and the correspondent fees are eliminated in consolidation. Loan volumes to be originated on behalf of and retained by the banking segment are evaluated each quarter. Loans sold to and retained by the banking segment during 2025, 2024 and 2023 were $185.4 million, $124.3 million and $140.3 million, respectively. Loan volumes to be originated on behalf of and retained by the banking segment are expected to be impacted by, among other things, an ongoing review of the prevailing mortgage rates, balance sheet positioning at Hilltop and the banking segment’s outlook for commercial loan growth.

Noninterest income includes changes in the net fair value of the mortgage origination segment’s IRLCs and loans held for sale and the related activity associated with forward commitments used by the mortgage origination segment to mitigate interest rate risk associated with its IRLCs and mortgage loans held for sale (“net fair value of IRLCs and loans held for sale”). The gain recognized during 2025 was primarily due to an increase in the average net value of individual IRLCs and loans held for sale and the related forward commitments between December 31, 2025 and 2024.

The mortgage origination segment sells substantially all mortgage loans it originates to various investors in the secondary market. In addition, the mortgage origination segment originates loans on behalf of the Bank. The mortgage origination segment’s determination of whether to retain or release servicing on mortgage loans it sells is impacted by, among other things, changes in mortgage interest rates, refinancing and market activity, and balance sheet positioning at Hilltop. During 2025, 2024 and 2023, the mortgage origination segment retained servicing on approximately 10%, 7% and 18%, respectively, of loans sold. A reduction in third-party mortgage servicers purchasing mortgage servicing rights, even if modest, may result in PrimeLending increasing the rate of retained servicing on mortgage loans sold at any time. The mortgage origination segment may, from time to time, manage its MSR asset through different strategies, including varying the percentage of mortgage loans sold servicing released and opportunistically selling MSR assets. The mortgage origination segment has also retained servicing on certain loans sold to and retained by the banking segment. Gains and losses associated with such sales to the banking segment and the related MSR asset are eliminated in consolidation.

The mortgage origination segment uses derivative financial instruments, including U.S. Treasury bond futures and options and MBS commitments, to mitigate interest rate risk associated with its MSR asset. During 2025, changes in the net fair value of the MSR asset and the related derivatives resulted in net losses of $1.7 million. These changes were primarily driven by losses totaling $1.0 million and $0.9 million during 2025 to account for portfolio runoff and customer payoffs, respectively. During 2024, changes in the net fair value of the MSR asset and the related derivatives resulted in net losses of $19.2 million. In addition to normal customer payments and customer payoffs, these changes were primarily driven by losses totaling $12.3 million during 2024, to account for MSR valuation assumption changes, including prepayment and discount rates used as inputs to value the MSR asset, and differences between MSR carrying values and sales prices related to the sale of MSR assets. Fluctuations in the net fair value of the MSR asset driven by net changes in long-term U.S. Treasury bond rates and the related derivatives used to hedge the MSR during 2024 resulted in net losses of $3.2 million. During the second quarter of 2024, the mortgage origination segment signed a letter of intent to sell and completed the sale of MSR assets of $45.1 million, which represented $2.9 billion of its serviced loan volume at the time. In addition, during September 2024, the mortgage origination segment signed a letter of intent to sell MSR assets of $42.6 million, which represented $2.3 billion of its serviced loan volume. This sale was completed during the fourth quarter of 2024. As a result, the mortgage origination segment does not currently expect the level of MSR assets to be significant in the short-term. In addition to gains and losses generated by changes in the net fair value of the MSR asset and related derivatives, net servicing income of $0.8 million and $8.6 million was recognized during 2025 and 2024, respectively. The mortgage origination segment does not currently expect the level of MSR assets to be significant in the short-term.

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Noninterest expenses were comprised of the items set forth in the table below (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
​ ​ ​2025​ ​ ​2024​ ​ ​2023​ ​ ​2025 vs 2024​ ​ ​2024 vs 2023
Variable compensation$126,747$121,720$118,977$5,027$2,743
Non-variable compensation and benefits108,498109,573132,142(1,075)(22,569)
Segment operating costs70,54676,04384,864(5,497)(8,821)
Lender paid closing costs11,9979,3324,9712,6654,361
Servicing expense2,67513,42018,331(10,745)(4,911)
Total noninterest expense$320,463$330,088$359,285$(9,625)$(29,197)

Total employees’ compensation and benefits accounted for the majority of the noninterest expenses incurred during all periods presented. Historically, variable compensation comprises the majority of total employees’ compensation and benefits expenses. Variable compensation, which is primarily driven by loan origination volume, tends to fluctuate to a greater degree than loan origination volume, because mortgage loan originator and fulfillment staff incentive compensation plans are structured to pay at increasing rates as higher monthly volume tiers are achieved. However, certain other incentive compensation plans driven by non-mortgage production criteria may alter this trend.

While total loan origination volumes increased 3.3% during 2025, compared with 2024, the aggregate non-variable compensation and benefits of the mortgage origination segment was relatively flat between the same periods. During the third quarter of 2025, PrimeLending reduced a portion of its underwriting, loan fulfillment, operations, and corporate headcount to address current mortgage market production challenges. One-time severance expenses related to this reduction approximated $0.6 million. Anticipated annual savings associated with these reductions approximate $4.4 million. The decrease in non-variable compensation and benefits during 2025, compared to 2024, was primarily due to a decrease in salaries associated with periodic reductions in underwriting and loan fulfillment, operations and corporate headcount as PrimeLending continued to evaluate its cost structure to address the current mortgage environment. The decrease in salaries was partially offset by an increase in health insurance expense. Segment operating costs decreased during 2025, compared with 2024, primarily due to decreases in professional fees and occupancy and software expense. During 2024, compared with 2023, the decrease in segment operating costs was primarily due to decreases in occupancy and software expense.

In exchange for a higher interest rate, customers may opt to have PrimeLending pay certain costs associated with the origination of their mortgage loan (“lender paid closing costs”). Fluctuations in lender paid closing costs are not always aligned with fluctuations in loan origination volume. Other loan pricing conditions, including the mortgage loan interest rate, loan origination fees paid by the customer, and a customer’s willingness to pay closing costs, may influence fluctuations in lender paid closing costs.

Between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2025, the mortgage origination segment sold mortgage loans totaling $141.3 billion. These loans were sold under sales contracts that generally include provisions that hold the mortgage origination segment responsible for errors or omissions relating to its representations and warranties that loans sold meet certain requirements, including representations as to underwriting standards and the validity of certain borrower representations in connection with the loan. In addition, the sales contracts typically require the refund of purchased servicing rights plus certain investor servicing costs if a loan experiences an early payment default. While the mortgage origination segment sold loans prior to 2016, it does not anticipate experiencing significant losses in the future on loans originated prior to 2016 as a result of investor claims under these provisions of its sales contracts.

When a claim for indemnification of a loan sold is made by an agency, investor, or other party, the mortgage origination segment evaluates the claim and determines if the claim can be satisfied through additional documentation or other deliverables. If the claim is valid and cannot be satisfied in that manner, the mortgage origination segment negotiates with the claimant to reach a settlement of the claim. Settlements typically result in either the repurchase of a loan or reimbursement to the claimant for losses incurred on the loan.

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The following is a summary of the mortgage origination segment’s claims resolution activity relating to loans sold between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2025 (dollars in thousands).

Original Loan BalanceLoss Recognized
% of% of
​ ​ ​Amount​ ​Loans Sold​ ​ ​Amount​ ​Loans Sold
Claims resolved with no payment$267,1160.19%$%
Claims resolved because of a loan repurchase or payment to an investor for losses incurred (1)245,4790.17%28,1110.02%
$512,5950.36%$28,1110.02%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Losses incurred include refunded purchased servicing rights.

For each loan, when the mortgage origination segment concludes its obligation to a claimant is both probable and reasonably estimable, the mortgage origination segment has established a specific claims indemnification liability reserve.

An additional indemnification liability reserve has been established for probable agency, investor or other party losses that may have been incurred, but not yet reported to the mortgage origination segment based upon a reasonable estimate of such losses. Factors considered in the calculation of this reserve include, but are not limited to, the total volume of loans sold exclusive of specific claimant requests, actual claim inquiries, claim settlements and the severity of estimated losses resulting from future claims, and the mortgage origination segment’s history of successfully curing defects identified in claim requests.

Although management considers the total indemnification liability reserve to be appropriate, there may be changes in the reserve over time to address incurred losses due to unanticipated adverse changes in the economy and historical loss patterns, discrete events adversely affecting specific borrowers or industries, and/or actions taken by institutions or investors. The impact of such matters is considered in the reserving process when probable and estimable. During 2025, there was no adjustment made to the indemnification liability reserve. PrimeLending will continue to monitor agency claim inquiry trends and assess its potential impact on the indemnification liability reserve.

At December 31, 2025 and 2024, the mortgage origination segment’s total indemnification liability reserve totaled $6.9 million and $8.1 million, respectively. The related provision for indemnification losses was $3.3 million, $2.8 million and $1.6 million during 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Corporate

The following table presents certain financial information regarding the operating results of corporate (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2025202420232025 vs 20242024 vs 2023
Net interest income (expense)$(283)$(12,838)$(12,961)$12,555$123
Noninterest income51,13718,51512,88732,6225,628
Noninterest expense73,08963,11060,6319,9792,479
Loss before income taxes$(22,235)$(57,433)$(60,705)$35,198$3,272

Corporate includes certain activities not allocated to specific business segments. These activities include holding company financing and investing activities, merchant banking investment opportunities and management and administrative services to support the overall operations of the Company. Hilltop’s merchant banking investment activities include the identification of attractive opportunities for capital deployment in companies engaged in non-financial activities through its merchant bank subsidiary, Hilltop Opportunity Partners LLC. These merchant banking activities currently include investments within various industries, including power generation, youth sports and entertainment, dental health and industrial equipment manufacturing, industrial and mechanical construction, and aerospace and defense manufacturing, with an aggregate carrying value of approximately $89 million at December 31, 2025.

As a holding company, Hilltop’s primary investment objectives are to support capital deployment for organic growth and to preserve capital to be deployed through acquisitions, dividend payments and potential stock repurchases. Investment

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and interest income earned during 2025 was primarily comprised of dividend income from merchant banking investment activities, in addition to interest income earned on intercompany notes.

Interest expense during 2025, 2024 and 2023 included recurring annual interest expense of $9.4 million incurred on our $150 million aggregate principal amount of subordinated notes due 2035 (the “2035 Subordinated Notes,” the 2030 Subordinated Notes and the 2035 Subordinated Notes, collectively, the “Subordinated Notes”). Interest expense during 2024 and 2023 also included interest expense of $7.7 million on our outstanding Senior Notes that were redeemed on January 15, 2025 and $1.5 million, $3.0 million and $3.0 million during 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively, on our 2030 Subordinated Notes that were redeemed on May 15, 2025, respectively. Interest expense during 2025, 2024 and 2023 was $11.5 million, $20.0 million and $20.0 million, respectively.

Noninterest income during each period included activity related to our investment in a real estate development in Dallas’ University Park, which also serves as headquarters for both Hilltop and the Bank, and net noninterest income associated with activity within our merchant bank subsidiary. During 2025, the sale of certain merchant bank equity investments resulted in aggregate pre-tax gains of $30.5 million, which was primarily comprised of a pre-tax gain of $27.8 million ($21.6 million net of tax) related to the sale of operations associated with our aggregate interest in Moser Holdings, LLC. These gain amounts are inclusive of variable compensation expenses reflected within noninterest expense. During 2024, noninterest income included pre-tax gains of $5.3 million associated with the sale of merchant bank equity investments.

Noninterest expenses were primarily comprised of employees’ compensation and benefits, occupancy expenses and professional fees, including corporate governance, legal and transaction costs. During 2025, compared with 2024, the increase in noninterest expenses was primarily driven by variable compensation associated with the sale of certain merchant bank equity investments during 2025 and other changes associated with employees’ compensation and benefits. During 2024, compared with 2023, the increase in noninterest expenses was primarily due to increases associated with software costs and employees’ compensation and benefits, partially offset by a decrease in professional services expenses.

Financial Condition

The following discussion contains a more detailed analysis of our financial condition at December 31, 2025 as compared with December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Securities Portfolio

At December 31, 2025, investment securities consisted of securities of the U.S. Treasury, U.S. government and its agencies, obligations of municipalities and other political subdivisions, primarily in the State of Texas, as well as mortgage-backed, corporate debt, and equity securities. We may categorize investments as trading, available for sale, held to maturity and equity securities.

Trading securities are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term and are carried at fair value, marked to market through operations and held at the Bank and the Hilltop Broker-Dealers. Securities classified as available for sale may, from time to time, be bought and sold in response to changes in market interest rates, changes in securities’ prepayment risk, increases in loan demand, general liquidity needs and to take advantage of market conditions that create more economically attractive returns. Such securities are carried at estimated fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Equity investments are carried at fair value, with all changes in fair value recognized in net income. Securities are classified as held to maturity based on the intent and ability of our management, at the time of purchase, to hold such securities to maturity. These securities are carried at amortized cost.

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The table below summarizes our securities portfolio (in thousands).

December 31,
2025​ ​ ​2024​ ​ ​2023
Trading securities, at fair value
U.S. Treasury securities$123$2,553$3,736
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds37,2229,98412,867
Residential mortgage-backed securities152,34335,440124,768
Collateralized mortgage obligations58,611125,51586,281
Other19,87713,079
Corporate debt securities41,13660,59437,569
States and political subdivisions295,615244,076180,890
Private-label securitized product9,54716,20847,768
Other22,81110,6699,033
617,408524,916515,991
Securities available for sale, at fair value
U.S. Treasury securities4,9434,7624,617
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds81,207111,868166,166
Residential mortgage-backed securities391,060341,186349,870
Commercial mortgage-backed securities240,336220,327191,746
Collateralized mortgage obligations680,525657,600736,481
Corporate debt securities61,99229,81624,418
States and political subdivisions30,98530,99034,297
1,491,0481,396,5491,507,595
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost
U.S. government agencies:
Residential mortgage-backed securities265,349255,880278,172
Commercial mortgage-backed securities122,636147,696172,879
Collateralized mortgage obligations262,203257,230284,208
States and political subdivisions78,14177,09377,418
728,329737,899812,677
Equity securities, at fair value265297321
Total securities portfolio$2,837,050$2,659,661$2,836,584

We had net unrealized losses of $63.0 million, $101.9 million and $114.2 million at December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to the available for sale investment portfolio. Within the held to maturity portfolio, we had net unrealized losses of $53.4 million, $88.0 million and $80.8 million at December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023. Equity securities included net unrealized gains of $0.2 million, $0.2 million and $0.3 million at December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. In future periods, we expect changes in prevailing market interest rates, coupled with changes in the aggregate size of the investment portfolio, to be significant drivers of changes in the unrealized losses or gains in these portfolios, and therefore accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Banking Segment

The banking segment’s securities portfolio plays a role in the management of our interest rate sensitivity and generates additional interest income. In addition, the securities portfolio is used to meet collateral requirements for public and trust deposits, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other purposes. The available for sale and equity securities portfolios serve as a source of liquidity. Historically, the Bank’s policy has been to invest primarily in securities of the U.S. government and its agencies, obligations of municipalities in the State of Texas and other high grade fixed income securities to minimize credit risk. At December 31, 2025, the banking segment’s securities portfolio of $2.2 billion was comprised of trading securities of $34 thousand, available for sale securities of $1.4 billion, held to maturity securities of $728.3 million and equity securities of $0.3 million, in addition to $10.9 million of other investments included in other assets within the consolidated balance sheets.

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Broker-Dealer Segment

The broker-dealer segment holds securities to support sales, underwriting and other customer activities. The interest rate risk inherent in holding these securities is managed by setting and monitoring limits on the size and duration of positions and on the length of time the securities can be held. The Hilltop Broker-Dealers are required to carry their securities at fair value and record changes in the fair value of the portfolio to the statements of operations. Accordingly, the securities portfolio of the Hilltop Broker-Dealers included trading securities of $617.4 million at December 31, 2025. In addition, the Hilltop Broker-Dealers enter into transactions that represent commitments to purchase and deliver securities at prevailing future market prices to facilitate customer transactions and satisfy such commitments. Accordingly, the Hilltop Broker-Dealers’ ultimate obligation may exceed the amount recognized in the financial statements. These securities, which are carried at fair value and reported as securities sold, not yet purchased in the consolidated balance sheets, had a value of $38.0 million at December 31, 2025.

Corporate

At December 31, 2025, the corporate portfolio included other investments, including those associated with merchant banking, of available for sale securities of $62.0 million and other assets of $26.7 million within the consolidated balance sheet.

Allowance for Credit Losses for Available for Sale Securities and Held to Maturity Securities

We have evaluated available for sale debt securities that are in an unrealized loss position and have determined that any declines in value are unrelated to credit loss and related to changes in market interest rates since purchase. None of the available for sale debt securities held were past due at December 31, 2025. In addition, as of December 31, 2025, we evaluated our held to maturity debt securities, considering the current credit ratings and recognized losses, and determined the potential credit loss to be minimal. With respect to these securities, we considered the risk of credit loss to be negligible, and therefore, no allowance was recognized on the debt securities portfolio at December 31, 2025.

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The following table sets forth the estimated maturities of our debt securities, excluding trading securities, at December 31, 2025. Contractual maturities may be different (dollars in thousands, yields are tax-equivalent).

​ ​ ​One Year​ ​ ​One Year to​ ​ ​Five Years to​ ​ ​Greater Than​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
Or LessFive YearsTen YearsTen YearsTotal
U.S. Treasury securities:
Amortized cost$4,998$4,998
Fair value$4,943$4,943
Weighted average yield (1)0.87%0.87%
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds:
Amortized cost$14,997$20,639$23,276$22,506$81,418
Fair value$15,054$20,639$23,084$22,430$81,207
Weighted average yield (1)4.70%4.18%3.71%4.50%4.23%
Residential mortgage-backed securities:
Amortized cost$115$4,980$93,455$578,370$676,920
Fair value$115$4,905$88,672$544,924$638,616
Weighted average yield (1)2.87%2.65%2.13%3.09%2.96%
Commercial mortgage-backed securities:
Amortized cost$16,659$117,857$228,779$3,229$366,524
Fair value$16,525$115,917$221,893$2,876$357,211
Weighted average yield (1)2.98%3.82%2.46%2.99%2.93%
Collateralized mortgage obligations:
Amortized cost$71$52,194$118,967$807,172$978,404
Fair value$71$51,648$117,291$748,364$917,374
Weighted average yield (1)3.15%3.39%3.08%3.26%3.25%
Corporate debt securities:
Amortized cost$62,683$62,683
Fair value$61,992$61,992
Weighted average yield (1)0.99%0.99%
States and political subdivisions:
Amortized cost$1,366$16,117$72,382$21,613$111,478
Fair value$1,366$15,826$68,283$19,120$104,595
Weighted average yield (1)3.16%2.95%2.88%2.62%2.85%
Total securities portfolio:
Amortized cost$38,206$274,470$536,859$1,432,890$2,282,425
Fair value$38,074$270,927$519,223$1,337,714$2,165,938
Weighted average yield (1)3.39%3.05%2.65%3.20%3.06%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Weighted average yield is defined as interest earned by average interest-earning assets.

Loan Portfolio

Consolidated loans held for investment are detailed in the table below, classified by portfolio segment (in thousands).

​ ​ ​December 31,
Loan Held for Investment202520242023
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$2,121,087$1,921,691$1,889,882
Owner occupied1,533,1731,435,9451,422,234
Commercial and industrial1,526,4671,541,9401,607,833
Construction and land development894,011866,2451,031,095
1-4 family residential1,861,6541,792,6021,757,178
Consumer31,02728,41027,351
Broker-dealer344,533363,718344,172
Loans held for investment, gross8,311,9527,950,5518,079,745
Allowance for credit losses(91,537)(101,116)(111,413)
Loans held for investment, net of allowance$8,220,415$7,849,435$7,968,332

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Banking Segment

The loan portfolio constitutes the primary earning asset of the banking segment and typically offers the best alternative for obtaining the maximum interest spread above the banking segment’s cost of funds. The overall economic strength of the banking segment generally parallels the quality and yield of its loan portfolio.

As discussed in more detail within the section captioned “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” below, the banking segment’s credit policies emphasize strong underwriting and governance standards and early detection of potential problem credits in order to develop and implement action plans on a timely basis to mitigate potential losses. These formal credit policies and procedures provide the banking segment with a framework for consistent underwriting and a basis for sound credit decisions. The banking segment strives to avoid the risk of concentrations of credit in any particular industry, collateral type, location, or with any individual customer or counterparty.

To manage the credit risks associated with its loan portfolio, management may, depending upon current or anticipated economic conditions and related exposures, apply enhanced risk management measures to loans through analysis of a specific borrower’s financial condition, including cash flow, collateral values, and guarantees, among other credit factors.

The banking segment’s total loans held for investment, net of the allowance for credit losses, were $8.8 billion, $8.3 billion and $8.5 billion at December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. At December 31, 2025, the banking segment’s loan portfolio included warehouse lines of credit extended to PrimeLending and its ABAs of $1.3 billion, of which $0.9 billion was drawn. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, amounts drawn on the available warehouse lines of credit were $1.3 billion and $0.9 billion, respectively. Amounts advanced against the warehouse lines of credit are eliminated from net loans held for investment on our consolidated balance sheets. The banking segment does not generally participate in syndicated loan transactions and has no foreign loans in its portfolio.

A significant portion of the banking segment’s loan portfolio at December 31, 2025 consisted of commercial real estate loans secured by properties. Such loans can involve high principal loan amounts, and the repayment of these loans is dependent, in large part, on a borrower’s ongoing business operations or on income generated from the properties that are leased to third parties.

The table below sets forth the banking segment’s commercial real estate loan portfolio, by portfolio industry sector and collateral location as of December 31, 2025 (in thousands).

Brownsville-Other
Dallas-Harlingen-SanOutside
Commercial Real EstateFort WorthAustinHoustonMcAllenAntonioLubbockTexasTexasTotal
Non-owner occupied:
Office$169,119$217,803$20,159$13,813$29,733$6,849$64,730$16,189$538,395
Retail151,10287,76729,31729,59718,2136,66034,8227,916365,394
Hotel/Motel54,70012,28828,14216,6598114,33913,395139,604
Multifamily124,58139,52038,08847,4925051,53484,53422,690358,944
Industrial207,34566,5616,8154,5063,7663,00415,3764,973312,346
All other127,72164,16122,8376,73831,42853,68383,25216,584406,404
$834,568$488,100$145,358$118,805$83,726$71,730$297,053$81,747$2,121,087
Owner occupied:
Office$152,272$82,928$25,923$16,323$28,526$8,205$20,316$2,675$337,168
Retail18,14014,6162,4098981,4081,1105,67090045,151
Industrial214,85745,50839,08711,72521,2627,24132,71669,138441,534
All other332,715110,23664,10416,33447,78024,85291,76221,537709,320
$717,984$253,288$131,523$45,280$98,976$41,408$150,464$94,250$1,533,173
Total commercial real estate loans$1,552,552$741,388$276,881$164,085$182,702$113,138$447,517$175,997$3,654,260

At December 31, 2025, the banking segment had loan concentrations (loans to borrowers engaged in similar activities) that exceeded 10% of total loans in its real estate portfolio. The areas of concentration within our real estate portfolio were non-construction commercial real estate loans, non-construction residential real estate loans, and construction and land development loans, which represented 45.9%, 23.4% and 11.2%, respectively, of the banking segment’s total loans

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held for investment at December 31, 2025. The banking segment’s loan concentrations were within regulatory guidelines at December 31, 2025.

In addition, the Bank’s loan portfolio includes collateralized loans extended to businesses that depend on the energy industry, including those within the exploration and production, field services, pipeline construction and transportation sectors. Crude oil prices remain uncertain given future supply and demand for oil are influenced by international armed conflicts and geopolitical tension, new energy policies and government regulation, and the pace of transition towards renewable energy resources. At December 31, 2025, the Bank’s energy loan exposure was approximately $111 million of loans held for investment with unfunded commitment balances of approximately $32 million. The allowance for credit losses on the Bank’s energy portfolio was $1.4 million, or 1.2% of loans held for investment at December 31, 2025.

The following table provides information regarding the maturities of the banking segment’s gross loans held for investment, net of unearned income (in thousands). The commercial and industrial portfolio segment includes amounts advanced against the warehouse lines of credit extended to PrimeLending.

December 31, 2025
​ ​ ​Due Within​ ​ ​Due From One​ ​ ​Due from Five​ ​ ​Due After​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
One YearTo Five YearsTo Fifteen YearsFifteen YearsTotal
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$1,077,444$805,764$237,879$$2,121,087
Owner occupied459,560664,672400,8258,1161,533,173
Commercial and industrial2,059,267293,18580,0262,432,478
Construction and land development759,043117,51416,694760894,011
1-4 family residential248,454762,185181,170669,8451,861,654
Consumer20,89210,06367531,027
Total$4,624,660$2,653,383$916,661$678,726$8,873,430

The following table provides information regarding the interest rate composition, based on contractual terms, of the banking segment's loans held for investment, net of unearned income (in thousands).

Loans maturing after one year
​ ​ ​Fixed Interest​ ​ ​Floating Interest​ ​ ​
December 31, 2025RateRateTotal
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$911,784$131,859$1,043,643
Owner occupied867,239206,3741,073,613
Commercial and industrial322,88850,323373,211
Construction and land development117,72917,239134,968
1-4 family residential910,205702,9951,613,200
Consumer10,13510,135
Total$3,139,980$1,108,790$4,248,770

In the table above, floating interest rate loans totaling $119.6 million as of December 31, 2025 had reached their applicable rate floor and were expected to reprice, subject to their scheduled repricing timing and frequency terms. The majority of floating rate loans carry an interest rate tied to a SOFR rate or The Wall Street Journal Prime Rate, as published in The Wall Street Journal.

Broker-Dealer Segment

The loan portfolio of the broker-dealer segment consists primarily of margin loans to customers and correspondents that are due within one year. The interest rate on margin accounts is computed on the settled margin balance at a fixed rate established by management. These loans are collateralized by the securities purchased or by other securities owned by the clients and, because of collateral coverage ratios, are believed to present minimal collectability exposure. Additionally, these loans are subject to a number of regulatory requirements as well as the Hilltop Broker-Dealers’

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internal policies. The broker-dealer segment’s total loans held for investment, net of the allowance for credit losses, were $344.5 million, $363.7 million and $344.1 million at December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2025, was primarily attributable to a decrease of $41.5 million, or 28%, in receivables from correspondents, partially offset by an increase of $21.3 million, or 10%, in customer margin accounts. The increase from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024, was primarily attributable to an increase of $30.0 million, or 25%, in receivables from correspondents, partially offset by a decrease of $11.3 million, or 5%, in customer margin accounts.

Mortgage Origination Segment

The loan portfolio of the mortgage origination segment consists of loans held for sale, primarily single-family residential mortgages funded through PrimeLending, and IRLCs with customers pursuant to which we agree to originate a mortgage loan on a future date at an agreed-upon interest rate. The components of the mortgage origination segment’s loans held for sale and IRLCs are as follows (in thousands).

December 31,
​ ​ ​2025​ ​ ​20242023
Loans held for sale:
Unpaid principal balance$870,130$802,987$802,348
Fair value adjustment16,0256,79519,846
$886,155$809,782$822,194
IRLCs:
Unpaid principal balance$456,734$384,528$383,767
Fair value adjustment5,9972,9427,734
$462,731$387,470$391,501

The mortgage origination segment uses forward commitments to mitigate interest rate risk associated with its loans held for sale and IRLCs. The notional amounts of these forward commitments at December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 were $1.0 billion, $0.9 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively, while the related estimated fair values were ($1.9) million, $6.4 million and ($10.2) million, respectively.

Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans

For additional information regarding the allowance for credit losses, refer to the section captioned “Critical Accounting Estimates” included in this Form 10-K.

Loans Held for Investment

The Bank has lending policies in place with the goal of establishing an asset portfolio that will provide a return on stockholders’ equity sufficient to maintain capital to assets ratios that meet or exceed established regulations. Loans are underwritten with careful consideration of the borrower’s financial condition, the specific purpose of the loan, the primary sources of repayment and any collateral pledged to secure the loan.

Underwriting procedures address financial components based on the size and complexity of the credit. The financial components include, but are not limited to, current and projected cash flows, shock analysis and/or stress testing, and trends in appropriate balance sheet and statement of operations ratios. The Bank’s loan policy provides specific underwriting guidelines by portfolio segment, including commercial and industrial, real estate, construction and land development, and consumer loans. The guidelines for each individual portfolio segment set forth permissible and impermissible loan types. With respect to each loan type, the guidelines within the Bank’s loan policy provide minimum requirements for the underwriting factors listed above. The Bank’s underwriting procedures also include an analysis of any collateral and guarantor. Collateral analysis includes a complete description of the collateral, as well as determined values, monitoring requirements, loan to value ratios, concentration risk, appraisal requirements and other information relevant to the collateral being pledged. Guarantor analysis includes liquidity and cash flow evaluation based on the significance with which the guarantors are expected to serve as secondary repayment sources.

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The Bank maintains a loan review department that reviews credit risk in response to both external and internal factors that potentially impact the performance of either individual loans or the overall loan portfolio. The loan review process reviews the creditworthiness of borrowers and determines compliance with the loan policy. The loan review process complements and reinforces the risk identification and assessment decisions made by lenders and credit personnel. Results of these reviews are presented to management, the Bank’s board of directors and the Risk Committee of the board of directors of the Company.

The allowance for credit losses for loans held for investment represents management’s best estimate of all expected credit losses over the expected contractual life of our existing portfolio. Determining the appropriateness of the allowance is complex and requires judgment by management about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Subsequent evaluations of the then-existing loan portfolio, in light of the factors then prevailing, may result in significant changes in the allowance for credit losses in those future periods. Such future changes in the allowance for credit losses are expected to be volatile given dependence upon, among other things, the portfolio composition and quality, as well as the impact of significant drivers, including prepayment assumptions and macroeconomic conditions and forecasts.

Significant judgment is required to estimate the severity and duration of the current economic uncertainties, as well as its potential impact on borrower default and loss severity. In particular, macroeconomic conditions and forecasts are rapidly changing and remain highly uncertain.

One of the most significant judgments involved in estimating our allowance for credit losses relates to the macroeconomic forecasts used to estimate credit losses over the reasonable and supportable forecast period. To determine the allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2025, we utilized a single macroeconomic scenario, the baseline forecast, published by Moody’s Analytics in December 2025. The macroeconomic scenario utilizes multiple economic variables in forecasting the economic outlook. During our previous quarterly macroeconomic assessment as of September 30, 2025, we utilized the same single macroeconomic scenario, the baseline forecast, published by Moody’s Analytics in September 2025. Management determined it was appropriate to utilize the baseline macroeconomic scenario as of December 31, 2025 as this baseline scenario best aligns with our internal outlook, given the combination of the ongoing resilience of the U.S. economy, the weakening of the job market and the potential impact of tariffs.

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The following table and paragraphs summarize the U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) growth rates and unemployment rate assumptions used in our economic forecast, and based on the single macroeconomic scenario selected for respective periods, to determine our best estimate of expected credit losses.

As of
December 31,September 30,June 30,March 31,December 31,
20252025202520252024
GDP growth rates:
Q4 20242.6%
Q1 20251.2%1.2%
Q2 20251.9%1.1%1.0%
Q3 20251.8%0.6%1.1%0.3%
Q4 20250.3%0.8%1.4%0.8%0.6%
Q1 20262.5%1.4%1.5%0.8%0.9%
Q2 20262.2%1.6%1.4%1.4%0.9%
Q3 20262.0%1.6%1.5%1.9%
Q4 20261.9%1.6%1.7%
Q1 20271.7%1.7%
Q2 20271.8%
Unemployment rates:
Q4 20244.2%
Q1 20254.1%4.4%
Q2 20254.2%4.2%4.6%
Q3 20254.4%4.3%4.6%4.9%
Q4 20254.3%4.4%4.3%5.0%5.1%
Q1 20264.5%4.4%4.5%5.3%5.2%
Q2 20264.6%4.6%4.7%5.5%5.1%
Q3 20264.8%4.7%4.8%5.4%
Q4 20264.8%4.8%4.8%
Q1 20274.7%4.7%
Q2 20274.7%

As of December 31, 2025, our U.S. economic forecast assumes real GDP will remain below trend in the near term as economic policy uncertainty weighs on the economy’s growth. The changes in real GDP on an annual average basis are 2.1% in 2026 and 1.9% in 2027. The unemployment rate increases in 2026 and reaches a peak of 4.8% in the fourth quarter of 2026 before slowly receding. Our forecast considers the potential for monetary policy to ease from the Federal Reserve with the federal funds rate at 2.9% by year end 2026. Vacancy rates for certain commercial real estate sectors remain elevated, and the interest rate outlook challenges the recovery.

During 2025, we updated our U.S. economic outlook to reflect our expectations of a period of below trend economic growth in the near term. Economic policy uncertainty weighs on the economy’s growth. The labor market has softened and the unemployment rate has gradually increased. In response to the weakening labor market, the Federal Reserve reduced the federal funds rate target to 3.75% - 3.50%.

During 2024, we updated our U.S. economic outlook to reflect our expectations of a period of below trend economic growth beginning in 2025. The U.S. economic outlook was updated for recent changes in monetary policy and given that the ongoing resilience of the U.S. economy. Given the moderation of inflation, the Federal Reserve reduced the federal funds rate target by 100-basis points since September 2024 to 4.25% - 4.5%. Labor market conditions eased as the unemployment rate increased to 4.2% in November 2024. Trade policy changes expected to be implemented by the then new administration added uncertainty to the outlook.

During 2023, our economic outlook was updated to reflect our expectations of a period of below trend economic growth beginning in 2023 and a mild U.S. recession in 2024. The Federal Reserve increased its federal funds rate target from 4.00% - 4.25% in January 2023 to 5.25% - 5.50% in August 2023 and held rates steady through December 2023. In March and April 2023, as a result of three of the largest bank failures in U.S. history, the Federal Reserve implemented several liquidity programs to stabilize consumer and business confidence. The Federal Reserve continued to balance

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inflation expectations and labor market constraints with tighter financial conditions throughout 2023. The duration of the higher interest rates also renewed credit and refinance risk concerns about residential and commercial real estate loans. The consumer price index improved from 6.4% in January 2023 to 3.4% in December 2023, but inflation rates still remained above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Global supply chains eased throughout 2023 and adjusted to the longer than expected Russia-Ukraine conflict; however, conflicts in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas and the U.S. and Yemen added new uncertainties. Labor market conditions eased modestly but remained historically tight as the unemployment rate increased from 3.4% to 3.7% during the year.

During 2025, the provision for credit losses was primarily driven by a build in the allowance related to specific reserves and higher net charge-offs, partially offset by changes in the U.S. economic outlook and portfolio changes associated with collectively evaluated loans, including changes in loan mix and risk rating grade migration since December 31, 2024. The net impact to the allowance of changes associated with individually evaluated loans during 2025 included a provision for credit losses of $13.5 million, while collectively evaluated loans included a reversal of credit losses of $6.2 million. The changes in the allowance for credit losses during the noted periods were primarily attributable to the Bank and also reflected other factors including, but not limited to, loan mix, and changes in loan balances and qualitative factors from the prior period. The change in the allowance during 2025 was also impacted by net charge-offs of $16.9 million. Of the $16.9 million of net charge-offs at December 31, 2025, $11.5 million was comprised of three credit relationships associated with commercial and industrial loans within the auto note financing industry subsector.

As noted above, the combined impacts of specific reserves and loan portfolio changes within the banking segment and changes in the U.S. economic outlook since December 31, 2024 have resulted in a net decrease in the allowance at December 31, 2025, compared to December 31, 2024. The resulting allowance for credit losses as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs, was 1.19%, 1.37% and 1.47% as of December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. While changes in the U.S. economic outlook have been reflected in our current allowance at December 31, 2025, uncertainties that include, among others, the uncertain timing, duration and significance of further changes in market interest rates and an uncertain macroeconomic forecast could adversely impact borrower cash flows and result in further increases in the allowance during future periods. While all industries could experience adverse impacts, certain of our loan portfolio industry sectors and subsectors, including real estate collateralized by office buildings, retail, hotel/motel and auto note financing, have an increased level of risk.

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The respective distribution of the allowance for credit losses as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs, are presented in the following table (dollars in thousands).

Allowance For
Credit Losses
Totalas a % of​ ​ ​
TotalAllowanceTotal Loans
Loans Heldfor CreditHeld For​ ​ ​
December 31, 2025For InvestmentLossesInvestment
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied (1)$2,121,087$24,2651.14%
Owner occupied (2)1,533,17334,0352.22%
Commercial and industrial (3)1,269,37821,1511.67%
Construction and land development (4)894,0117,3980.83%
Total commercial loans5,817,64986,8491.49%
1-4 family residential1,861,6544,1360.22%
Consumer31,0273971.28%
Total retail loans1,892,6814,5330.24%
Total commercial and retail loans7,710,33091,3821.19%
Broker-dealer344,533260.01%
Mortgage warehouse lending257,0891290.05%
Total loans held for investment$8,311,952$91,5371.10%
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(1)Included within commercial real estate non-owner occupied portfolio are loans within the office, retail and hotel/motel portfolio industry subsectors. At December 31, 2025, the office, retail and hotel/motel loans held for investment balances of approximately $538 million, $365 million and $140 million, respectively, had an allowance for credit losses of approximately $10 million, $3 million and $2 million, respectively, and an allowance for credit losses as a % of total loans held for investment of 1.9%, 0.8% and 1.2%, respectively.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(2)Included within commercial real estate owner occupied portfolio are loans within the industrial and office portfolio industry subsectors. At December 31, 2025, the industrial and office loans held for investment balances of approximately $442 million and $337 million, respectively, had an allowance for credit losses of approximately $9 million and $7 million, respectively, and an allowance for credit losses as a % of total loans held for investment of 2.1% and 2.1%, respectively.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(3)Commercial and industrial portfolio amounts reflect balances excluding banking segment mortgage warehouse lending. Included within commercial and industrial portfolio are loans within the auto note financing industry subsector. At December 31, 2025, the auto note financing loans held for investment balance of approximately $54 million had an allowance for credit losses of approximately $1 million, and an allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans held for investment of 2.7%.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(4)Included within construction and land development portfolio are loans within the office and retail portfolio industry subsectors. At December 31, 2025, the retail and office loans held for investment balances of approximately $77 million and $36 million, respectively, had an allowance for credit losses of approximately $0.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively, and an allowance for credit losses as a % of total loans held for investment of 0.3% and 1.7%, respectively.

Allowance Model Sensitivity

Our allowance model was designed to capture the historical relationship between economic and portfolio changes. As such, evaluating shifts in individual portfolio attributes or macroeconomic variables in isolation may not be indicative of past or future performance. It is difficult to estimate how potential changes in any one factor or input might affect the overall allowance for credit losses because we consider a wide variety of factors and inputs in the allowance for credit losses estimate. Changes in the factors and inputs considered may not occur at the same rate and may not be consistent across all geographies or product types, and changes in factors and input may be directionally inconsistent, such that improvement in one factor may offset deterioration in others.

However, to consider the sensitivity of credit loss estimates to alternative macroeconomic forecasts, we compared the Company’s allowance for credit loss estimates as of December 31, 2025, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment, and the banking segment mortgage warehouse programs, with modeled results using both upside (“S1”) and downside (“S3”) economic scenario forecasts published by Moody’s Analytics.

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Compared to our economic forecast, the upside scenario assumes the economic impacts from tariffs recede faster than expected. Real GDP is expected to grow 5.4% in the first quarter of 2026, 3.3% in the second quarter of 2026, 3.3% in the third quarter of 2026, and 3.3% in the fourth quarter of 2026. Average unemployment rates are expected to decline to 3.7% by the second quarter of 2026 before reverting to historical data. The Federal Reserve reduces the federal funds rate to 3.0% during the fourth quarter of 2026.

Compared to our economic forecast, the downside scenario assumes the economic impacts from tariffs are larger than expected and the economy falls into recession in the first quarter of 2026. The recession lasts through the third quarter of 2026. Real GDP is expected to decrease 3.3% in the first quarter of 2026, 3.3% in the second quarter of 2026, and 3.8% in the third quarter of 2026. Average unemployment rates are expected to increase to 8.4% by the first quarter of 2027 and revert back to historical average rates over time. The Federal Reserve reduces the federal funds rate to support the economy to a 2.2% target by the fourth quarter of 2026 and a 1.8% target by the first quarter of 2027.

The impact of applying all of the assumptions of the upside economic scenario during the reasonable and supportable forecast period would have resulted in a decrease in the allowance for credit losses of approximately $16 million or a weighted average expected loss rate of 1.1% as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and the banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs.

The impact of applying all of the assumptions of the downside economic scenario during the reasonable and supportable forecast period would have resulted in an increase in the allowance for credit losses of approximately $53 million or a weighted average expected loss rate of 2.1% as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and the banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs.

This analysis relates only to the modeled credit loss estimates and is not intended to estimate changes in the overall allowance for credit losses as they do not reflect any potential changes in the adjustment to the quantitative calculation, which would also be influenced by the judgment management applies to the modeled lifetime loss estimates to reflect the uncertainty and imprecision of these modeled lifetime loss estimates based on then-current circumstances and conditions.

Our allowance for credit losses reflects our best estimate of current expected credit losses, which is highly dependent on several assumptions, including the macroeconomic outlook, inflationary pressures and labor market conditions, international armed conflicts and their impact on supply chains, the U.S. elections and other various fiscal and monetary policy decisions. The sensitivities of many of these assumptions are often correlated and nonlinear so these results should not be simply extrapolated to estimate the allowance for credit losses accurately for more severe changes in economic scenarios. Future allowance for credit losses may vary considerably for these reasons.

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Allowance Activity

The following table presents the activity in our allowance for credit losses and selected credit metrics within our loan portfolio for the periods presented (in thousands). Substantially all of the activity shown below occurred within the banking segment.

Year Ended December 31,​ ​ ​
2025​ ​2024​ ​ ​2023​ ​ ​
Loans Held for Investment:
Balance, beginning of year$101,116$111,413$95,442
Provision for credit losses7,31194118,392
Recoveries of loans previously charged off:
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied42
Owner occupied1914941
Commercial and industrial1,3212,0283,445
Construction and land development682
1-4 family residential29170135
Consumer132211276
Broker-dealer
Total recoveries1,5692,5603,939
Loans charged off:
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied9181,64734
Owner occupied148977
Commercial and industrial16,83311,8654,888
Construction and land development2761
1-4 family residential6273
Consumer278284387
Broker-dealer
Total charge-offs18,45913,7986,360
Net charge-offs(16,890)(11,238)(2,421)
Balance, end of year$91,537$101,116$111,413
Average loans held for investment for the year$8,079,525$7,921,528$7,950,878
Total loans held for investment (end of year)$8,311,952$7,950,551$8,079,745
Loans Held for Sale:
Average loans held for sale for the year$867,819$934,983$944,470
Total loans held for sale (end of year)$950,142$858,665$943,846
Selected Credit Metrics:
Net charge-offs to average total loans held for investment (1)(0.21)%(0.14)%(0.03)%
Non-accrual loans:
Loans held for investment (end of year)$49,037$84,418$64,337
Loans held for sale (end of year)$4,411$3,731$3,990
Non-accrual loans to total loans (end of year)0.58%1.00%0.76%
Allowance for credit losses on loans held for investment to:
Total loans (end of year)0.99%1.15%1.23%
Total loans held for investment (end of year)1.10%1.27%1.38%
Total non-accrual loans (end of year)171.26%114.71%163.06%
Non-accrual loans held for investment (end of year)186.67%119.78%173.17%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Net charge-offs to average total loans held for investment ratio presented on a consolidated basis for all periods. Refer to following table for details by loan portfolio segment.

Total non-accrual loans classified as loans held for investment decreased by $35.4 million from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2025, compared to an increase of $20.1 million from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024. These

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changes in non-accrual loans from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2025, were primarily due to the decreases in commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate non-owner occupied loans and construction and land development loans.

The following table presents additional details regarding our net charge-offs to average total loans held for investment ratios by loan portfolio segment for the periods presented (in thousands). Substantially all of the activity shown below occurred within the banking segment.

Net
TotalRecoveries
AllowanceNetAverage(Charge-Offs)
for CreditRecoveriesLoans Heldas a % of
Year Ended December 31, 2025Losses(Charge-Offs)for InvestmentAverage Loans
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$24,265$(918)$2,011,310(0.05)%
Owner occupied34,035(129)1,479,981(0.01)%
Commercial and industrial21,280(15,512)1,479,946(1.05)%
Construction and land development7,398(208)884,136(0.02)%
1-4 Family Residential4,136231,854,5510.00%
Consumer397(146)26,380(0.55)%
Broker-Dealer26343,221%
Total$91,537$(16,890)$8,079,525(0.21)%

Net
TotalRecoveries
AllowanceNetAverage(Charge-Offs)
for CreditRecoveriesLoans Heldas a % of
Year Ended December 31, 2024Losses(Charge-Offs)for InvestmentAverage Loans
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$29,310$(1,647)$1,933,049(0.09)%
Owner occupied33,1121491,457,6920.01%
Commercial and industrial25,609(9,837)1,589,711(0.62)%
Construction and land development7,1612906,0280.00%
1-4 Family Residential5,3271681,778,4860.01%
Consumer547(73)26,077(0.28)%
Broker-Dealer50230,485%
Total$101,116$(11,238)$7,921,528(0.14)%

Net
TotalRecoveries
AllowanceNetAverage(Charge-Offs)
for CreditRecoveriesLoans Heldas a % of
Year Ended December 31, 2023Losses(Charge-Offs)for InvestmentAverage Loans
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$40,061$8$1,863,3590.00%
Owner occupied28,114(936)1,400,349(0.07)%
Commercial and industrial20,926(1,443)1,643,337(0.09)%
Construction and land development12,102(1)1,070,530(0.00)%
1-4 Family Residential9,461621,793,2600.00%
Consumer648(111)25,483(0.44)%
Broker-Dealer101154,560%
Total$111,413$(2,421)$7,950,878(0.03)%

As previously discussed in detail within this section, the allowance for credit losses has fluctuated from period to period, which impacted the resulting ratios noted in the table above. For the periods presented, the changes in the allowance for credit losses primarily reflected loan portfolio changes, net charge-offs activity, and changes in the U.S. economic outlook.

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The distribution of the allowance for credit losses among loan types and the percentage of the loans for that type to gross loans, excluding unearned income, within our loan portfolio is presented in the table below (dollars in thousands).

December 31,
202520242023
% of% of% of
Allocation of the Allowance for Credit LossesReserveGross LoansReserveGross LoansReserveGross Loans
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$24,26525.52%$29,31024.17%$40,06123.39%
Owner occupied34,03518.44%33,11218.06%28,11417.60%
Commercial and industrial21,28018.36%25,60919.39%20,92619.90%
Construction and land development7,39810.76%7,16110.90%12,10212.76%
1-4 family residential4,13622.40%5,32722.55%9,46121.75%
Consumer3970.37%5470.36%6480.34%
Broker-dealer264.15%504.57%1014.26%
Total$91,537100.00%$101,116100.00%$111,413100.00%

The following table summarizes historical levels of the allowance for credit losses on loans held for investment, distributed by portfolio segment (in thousands).

December 31,September 30,June 30,March 31,December 31,
​ ​ ​2025​ ​ ​20252025​ ​ ​2025​ ​ ​2024
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$24,265$28,716$27,837$34,703$29,310
Owner occupied34,03530,57634,15435,37033,112
Commercial and industrial21,28022,75223,01523,35025,609
Construction and land development7,3987,3567,3417,2917,161
1-4 family residential4,1365,2015,0574,9885,327
Consumer397438538479547
Broker-dealer26129191650
$91,537$95,168$97,961$106,197$101,116

Unfunded Loan Commitments

In order to estimate the allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments, the Bank uses a process similar to that used in estimating the allowance for credit losses on the funded portion. The allowance is based on the estimated exposure at default, multiplied by the lifetime probability of default grade and loss given default grade for that particular loan segment. The Bank estimates expected losses by calculating a commitment usage factor based on industry usage factors. The commitment usage factor is applied over the relevant contractual period. Loss factors from the underlying loans to which commitments are related are applied to the results of the usage calculation to estimate any liability for credit losses related for each loan type. Letters of credit are not currently reserved because they are issued primarily as credit enhancements and the likelihood of funding is low.

Changes in the allowance for credit losses for loans with off-balance sheet credit exposures are shown below (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
2025​ ​ ​2024​ ​ ​2023
Balance, beginning of year$7,918$8,876$7,784
Other noninterest expense1,484(958)1,092
Balance, end of year$9,402$7,918$8,876

During 2025, the increase in the allowance for unfunded commitments was due to increases in commitment balances, partially offset by decreases in loan expected loss rates. During 2024, the decrease in the allowance for unfunded commitments was primarily due to decreases in commitment balances and loan expected loss rates, while during 2023, the increase in the allowance for unfunded commitments was due to increases in loan expected loss rates.

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Potential Problem Loans

Potential problem loans consist of loans that are performing in accordance with contractual terms but for which management has concerns about the ability of an obligor to continue to comply with repayment terms because of the obligor’s potential operating or financial difficulties or whether repayment may depend on collateral or other risk mitigation. Management monitors these loans and reviews their performance on a regular basis. Potential problem loans contain potential weaknesses that could improve, persist or further deteriorate. If such potential weaknesses persist without improving, the loan is subject to downgrade, typically to substandard, in three to six months. Potential problem loans include those loans assigned a grade of special mention and substandard accrual within our risk grading matrix. Potential problem loans do not include purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loans because PCD loans exhibited evidence of more than insignificant credit deterioration at acquisition that made it probable that all contractually required principal payments would not be collected.

At December 31, 2025, we had $124.9 million in potential problem loans, compared to $166.9 million at December 31, 2024 and $207.4 million at December 31, 2023. Our potential problem loans designated as substandard accrual at December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 totaled $124.9 million, $152.6 million and $204.1 million, respectively. The decrease in potential problem loans from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2025 was primarily attributable to decreases in commercial real estate non-owner occupied loans, construction and land development loans, 1-4 family residential loans and commercial and industrial loans, partially offset by an increase in commercial real estate owner occupied loans. Of the $124.9 million of potential problem loans designated as substandard accrual at December 31, 2025, $42.2 million, $32.9 million and $32.1 million were associated with commercial real estate owner occupied, commercial and industrial loans and commercial real estate non-owner occupied loans, respectively, compared to $37.3 million, $35.2 million and $48.4 million, respectively, at December 31, 2024.

At December 31, 2025 there were no potential problem loans designated as special mention, compared with four credit relationships totaling $14.2 million at December 31, 2024 and three credit relationships totaling $3.2 million at December 31, 2023.

Non-Performing Assets

The following table presents components of our non-performing assets (dollars in thousands).

December 31,Variance
​ ​ ​2025​ ​ ​2024​ ​ ​20232025 vs 20242024 vs 2023​ ​ ​
Loans accounted for on a non-accrual basis:​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$3,873$7,166$36,440$(3,293)$(29,274)
Owner occupied5,6176,0925,098(475)994
Commercial and industrial28,58159,0259,502(30,444)49,523
Construction and land development1,0103,0033,480(1,993)(477)
1-4 family residential14,36712,86313,8011,504(938)
Consumer6(6)
Broker-dealer
Non-accrual loans$53,448$88,149$68,327$(34,701)$19,822
Non-accrual loans as a percentage of total loans0.58%1.00%0.76%(0.42)%0.24%
Other real estate owned$8,020$2,848$5,095$5,172$(2,247)
Other repossessed assets$$98$$(98)$98
Non-performing assets$61,468$91,095$73,422$(29,627)$17,673
Non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets0.39%0.56%0.45%(0.17)%0.11%
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing$33,811$22,090$115,090$11,721$(93,000)

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At December 31, 2025, non-accrual loans included 29 commercial and industrial relationships with loans secured primarily by notes receivable, accounts receivable and inventory. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2025 also included $4.4 million of loans secured by residential real estate which were classified as loans held for sale. At December 31, 2024, non-accrual loans included 27 commercial and industrial relationships with loans secured primarily by notes receivable, accounts receivable and equipment. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2024 also included $3.7 million of loans secured by residential real estate which were classified as loans held for sale. At December 31, 2023, non-accrual loans included 40 commercial and industrial relationships with loans secured primarily by accounts notes receivable, accounts receivable and equipment. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2023 also included $4.0 million of loans secured by residential real estate which were classified as loans held for sale. The change in loans in non-accrual status since December 31, 2024 was primarily driven by decreases in commercial and industrial loans and commercial real estate non-owner occupied loans.

Other real estate owned (“OREO”) increased from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2025, primarily due to additions totaling $7.6 million, partially offset by disposals and valuation adjustments totaling $2.4 million. OREO decreased from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024, primarily due to disposals and valuation adjustments totaling $4.8 million, partially offset by additions totaling $2.5 million.

Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing at December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 were primarily comprised of loans held for sale and guaranteed by U.S. government agencies, including GNMA related loans subject to repurchase within our mortgage origination segment. The significant decline in loans included in loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing since December 31, 2023 was primarily due to sale of such loans serviced by the mortgage origination segment during the fourth quarter of 2024.

Deposits

The banking segment’s major source of funds and liquidity is its deposit base. Deposits provide funding for its investments in loans and securities. Interest paid for deposits must be managed carefully to control the level of interest expense and overall net interest margin. The composition of the deposit base (time deposits versus interest-bearing demand deposits and savings), as discussed in more detail within the section titled “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Banking Segment” below, is constantly changing due to the banking segment’s needs and market conditions. Currently, the banking segment is facing continued competition for its deposit base as customers seek higher yields on deposits. Consistent with the consolidated trend in average rates paid on interest-bearing deposits noted in the table below, the banking segment’s average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits during 2025, 2024 and 2023 was 3.09%, 3.83% and 3.50%, respectively.

Given the cumulative 125-basis point decrease in interest rates since September 2024 and current deposit levels, the Bank’s cumulative interest-bearing deposit pricing beta, excluding deposits from the Hilltop Securities FDIC-insured sweep program and brokered deposits, has approximated 68%. The deposit pricing beta represents the change in interest-bearing deposit pricing in response to a change in market interest rates. The historical interest-bearing deposit pricing beta for the Bank, excluding deposits from our Hilltop Securities FDIC-insured sweep program and brokered deposits, has approximated 58%. We expect that the Bank’s cost related to interest-bearing deposits during 2026 will continue to be driven by various factors, including, but not limited to competitive pressures, broader economic conditions, future changes in the target range for the federal funds rate, customer behavior and our liquidity position at that time.

The table below presents the average balance of, and rate paid on, consolidated deposits (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202520242023
​ ​ ​Average​ ​ ​Average​ ​ ​Average​ ​ ​Average​ ​ ​Average​ ​ ​Average​ ​ ​
BalanceRate PaidBalanceRate PaidBalanceRate Paid
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits$2,730,3360.00%$2,824,4500.00%$3,441,4370.00%
Interest-bearing deposits:
Demand6,508,8252.76%6,356,6533.45%6,369,5582.92%
Savings228,1410.98%236,4821.14%282,1271.09%
Time1,223,8123.77%1,229,4014.34%1,059,8853.24%
7,960,7782.87%7,822,5363.52%7,711,5702.89%
Total deposits$10,691,1142.14%$10,646,9862.59%$11,153,0072.00%

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The table above includes interest-bearing brokered deposits with balances of approximately $15 million at December 31, 2025, compared with approximately $15 million and $208 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The variability in the level of brokered deposits has been, and will continue to be, managed through asset/liability strategy and policies that are address diversification of funding sources and market conditions, including demand by customers and other investors for those deposits, and the cost of funds available from alternative sources at the time.

At December 31, 2025, total estimated uninsured deposits were $5.9 billion, or approximately 54% of total deposits, while estimated uninsured deposits, excluding collateralized deposits of $693.9 million and internal accounts of $302.8 million, were $4.9 billion, or approximately 45% of total deposits. Total estimated uninsured deposits were $5.7 billion, or approximately 52% of total deposits, as of December 31, 2024.

The following table presents the scheduled maturities of the portion of our time deposits that are in excess of the FDIC insurance limit of $250,000 as of December 31, 2025 (in thousands).

Months to maturity:​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
3 months or less$161,637
3 months to 6 months34,117
6 months to 12 months96,471
Over 12 months47,244
$339,469

Borrowings

Our consolidated borrowings are shown in the table below (dollars in thousands).

December 31,
202520242023
​ ​ ​​ ​ ​Average​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​Average​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​Average
BalanceRate PaidBalanceRate PaidBalanceRate Paid
Short-term borrowings$676,8824.16%$834,0234.64%$900,0384.75%
Notes payable148,5876.68%347,6674.22%347,1454.27%
$825,4694.63%$1,181,6904.52%$1,247,1834.64%

Short-term borrowings consisted of federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, borrowings at the FHLB, short-term bank loans and commercial paper. The decrease in short-term borrowings at December 31, 2025, compared with December 31, 2024, primarily reflected a decrease in federal funds purchased by the banking segment, partially offset by increases in securities sold under agreements to repurchase and commercial paper by the broker-dealer segment. The decrease in short-term borrowings at December 31, 2024, compared with December 31, 2023, primarily reflected decreases in federal funds purchased by the banking segment and securities sold under agreements to repurchase by the broker-dealer segment, partially offset by an increase in commercial paper by the broker-dealer segment.

Notes payable at December 31, 2025 was comprised of $148.6 million related to the 2035 Subordinated Notes, net of origination fees. Notes payable at December 31, 2024 and 2023 was comprised of $149.7 million and $149.5 million, respectively, related to the Senior Notes, net of loan origination fees, that were redeemed on January 15, 2025, the 2030 Subordinated Notes, net of origination fees, of $49.6 million and $49.5 million, respectively, that were redeemed on May 15, 2025, and the 2035 Subordinated Notes, net of origination fees, of $148.6 million and $148.2 million, respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Hilltop is a financial holding company whose assets primarily consist of the stock of its subsidiaries and invested assets. Hilltop’s primary investment objectives, as a holding company, are to support capital deployment for organic growth and to preserve capital to be deployed through acquisitions, dividend payments and stock repurchases. At December 31, 2025, Hilltop had $212.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, a decrease of $207.8 million from $420.5 million at

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December 31, 2024. This decrease in cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to cash outflows from the redemption of our Senior Notes and 2030 Subordinated Notes, $184.0 million in stock repurchases, $45.4 million in cash dividends declared and other general corporate expenses, partially offset by the receipt of $249.0 million of dividends from subsidiaries. Subject to regulatory restrictions, Hilltop has received, and may also continue to receive, dividends from its subsidiaries. If necessary or appropriate, we may also finance acquisitions with the proceeds from equity or debt issuances. We believe that Hilltop’s liquidity is sufficient for the foreseeable future, with current short-term liquidity needs including operating expenses, redemption of debt obligations, interest on debt obligations, dividend payments to stockholders and potential stock repurchases.

As discussed in more detail below, our 2030 Subordinated Notes, previously scheduled to mature in May 2030, were redeemed on May 15, 2025 using cash on hand, and all of our outstanding Senior Notes previously scheduled to mature in April 2025 were redeemed on January 15, 2025 using cash on hand.

Economic Environment

As previously discussed, operational and financial headwinds during 2023, 2024 and 2025 have had, and are expected to continue to have, an adverse impact on our operating results during 2026. The extent of the impacts of uncertain economic conditions on our financial performance that began in 2022 and have continued throughout 2025, and are expected to continue in 2026, will depend on several developments outside of our control, including, among others, changes in the political environment, the timing and significance of further changes in U.S. treasury yields and mortgage interest rates, changes in funding costs, inflationary pressures associated, and international armed conflicts and their impact on supply chains. As demonstrated during the extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets beginning in March 2020 resulting from the pandemic and banking sector-related uncertainty and concerns associated with liquidity positions primarily due to bank failures during early 2023 and their respective negative impacts on the economy, we will continue to monitor the economic environment and evaluate appropriate actions to enhance our financial flexibility, protect capital, minimize losses and ensure target liquidity levels.

Dividend Program and Declaration

In October 2016, we announced that our board of directors authorized a dividend program under which we intend to pay quarterly dividends on our common stock, subject to quarterly declarations by our board of directors. During 2025, we declared and paid cash dividends of $0.72 per common share, or $45.4 million.

On January 29, 2026, our board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per common share, payable on February 27, 2026 to all common stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 13, 2026.

Future dividends on our common stock are subject to the determination by the board of directors based on an evaluation of our earnings and financial condition, liquidity and capital resources, the general economic and regulatory climate, our ability to service any equity or debt obligations senior to our common stock and other factors.

Stock Repurchases

In January 2026, our board of directors authorized a new stock repurchase program through January 2027, pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $125.0 million of our outstanding common stock, inclusive of repurchases to offset dilution related to grants of stock-based compensation. Under the stock repurchase program authorized, we may repurchase shares in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions as permitted under Rule 10b-18 promulgated under the Exchange Act. The extent to which we repurchase our shares and the timing of such repurchases depends upon market conditions and other corporate considerations, as determined by Hilltop’s management team. Repurchased shares will be returned to our pool of authorized but unissued shares of common stock. We commenced share repurchases under the stock repurchase program in the first quarter of 2026.

In January 2025, our board of directors authorized a stock repurchase program through January 2026, pursuant to which we were authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $100.0 million of our outstanding common stock, which authorization was increased to $135.0 million in July 2025, and to $185.0 million in October 2025. During 2025, Hilltop

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paid $184.0 million to repurchase an aggregate of 5,705,205 shares of our common stock at an average price of $32.26 per share pursuant to the stock repurchase program.

In January 2024, our board of directors authorized a stock repurchase program through January 2025, pursuant to which we were authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $75.0 million of our outstanding common stock. During 2024, Hilltop paid $19.9 million to repurchase an aggregate of 640,042 shares of our common stock at an average price of $31.04 per share pursuant to the stock repurchase program.

Our share repurchases in excess of issuance may be subject to a nondeductible 1% excise tax enacted by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, subject to certain limitations. During 2025, an excise tax of $1.7 million on net share repurchases was accrued and recorded to additional paid-in capital on the consolidated balance sheets. While we may complete transactions subject to the excise tax, we do not expect the tax to have a material impact to our financial condition or results of operations.

Senior Notes due 2025

On January 15, 2025 (three months prior to the maturity date of the Senior Notes) we redeemed, at our election, all of our outstanding Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of $150 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date using cash on hand, which also satisfied and discharged our obligations under the Senior Notes and the Senior Notes Indenture.

Subordinated Notes due 2030 and 2035

On May 7, 2020, we completed a public offering of $50 million aggregate principal amount of 2030 Subordinated Notes and $150 million aggregate principal amount of 2035 Subordinated Notes with scheduled maturities on May 15, 2030 and May 15, 2035, respectively. The price to the public for the Subordinated Notes was 100% of the principal amount of the Subordinated Notes. The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and fees and expenses of $3.4 million, were $196.6 million.

On May 15, 2025, we redeemed, at our election, all of our outstanding 2030 Subordinated Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of $50 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the 2030 Subordinated Notes Redemption Date using cash on hand, which also satisfied and discharged our obligations under the 2030 Subordinated Notes and the First Supplemental Indenture.

We may redeem the 2035 Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time, subject to obtaining Federal Reserve approval, beginning with the interest payment date of May 15, 2030 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Subordinated Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the date of redemption.

The 2035 Subordinated Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.125% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears commencing on November 15, 2020. The interest rate for the 2035 Subordinated Notes will reset quarterly beginning May 15, 2030 to an interest rate, per year, equal to the then-current benchmark rate, which is expected to be three-month term SOFR rate plus 5.80%, payable quarterly in arrears. At December 31, 2025, $150.0 million of our Subordinated Notes was outstanding.

Regulatory Capital

We are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements may prompt certain actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Under capital adequacy and regulatory requirements, we must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of our assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Our capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.

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In order to avoid limitations on capital distributions, including dividend payments, stock repurchases and certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers, Basel III requires banking organizations to maintain a capital conservation buffer above minimum risk-based capital requirements measured relative to risk-weighted assets.

The following table shows PlainsCapital’s and Hilltop’s actual capital amounts and ratios in accordance with Basel III compared to the regulatory minimum capital requirements including conservation buffer ratio in effect at December 31, 2025 (dollars in thousands). Based on actual capital amounts and ratios shown in the following table, PlainsCapital’s ratios place it in the “well capitalized” (as defined) capital category under regulatory requirements.

Minimum Capital
Requirements IncludingTo Be Well
December 31, 2025Conservation BufferCapitalized
​ ​ ​Amount​ ​ ​Ratio​ ​ ​Ratio​ ​ ​Ratio
Tier 1 capital (to average assets):
PlainsCapital$1,320,09410.60%4.0%5.0%
Hilltop1,975,22612.78%4.0%N/A
Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets):
PlainsCapital1,320,09414.49%7.0%6.5%
Hilltop1,975,22619.70%7.0%N/A
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets):
PlainsCapital1,320,09414.49%8.5%8.0%
Hilltop1,975,22619.70%8.5%N/A
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets):
PlainsCapital1,421,00715.60%10.5%10.0%
Hilltop2,226,16522.20%10.5%N/A

We discuss regulatory capital requirements in more detail in Note 21 to our consolidated financial statements, as well as under the caption “Government Supervision and Regulation — Corporate — Capital Adequacy Requirements and BASEL III” set forth in Part I, Item I. of this Annual Report.

Banking Segment

Within our banking segment, our primary uses of cash are for customer withdrawals and extensions of credit as well as our borrowing costs and other operating expenses. Historically, high-profile bank failures have periodically increased market uncertainty and concerns associated with banking sector liquidity positions, increased regulatory scrutiny and underscored the importance of maintaining access to diverse sources of funding. Our corporate treasury group is responsible for continuously monitoring our liquidity position to ensure that our assets and liabilities are managed in a manner that will meet our short-term and long-term cash requirements. Our goal is to manage our liquidity position in a manner such that we can meet our customers’ short-term and long-term deposit withdrawals and anticipated and unanticipated increases in loan demand without penalizing earnings. Funds invested in short-term marketable instruments, the continuous maturing of other interest-earning assets, cash flows from self-liquidating investments such as mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, the possible sale of available for sale securities, and the ability to securitize certain types of loans provide sources of liquidity from an asset perspective. The liability base provides sources of liquidity through deposits and the maturity structure of short-term borrowed funds. For short-term liquidity needs, we utilize federal fund lines of credit with correspondent banks, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, borrowings from the Federal Reserve and borrowings under lines of credit with other financial institutions. For intermediate liquidity needs, we utilize advances from the FHLB. To supply liquidity over the longer term, we have access to brokered time deposits, term loans at the FHLB and borrowings under lines of credit with other financial institutions.

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The above sources of liquidity allow the banking segment to meet increased liquidity demands without adversely affecting daily operations. The Bank’s borrowing capacity through access to secured funding sources is summarized in the following table (in millions). Available liquidity noted below does not include borrowing capacity available through the discount window at the Federal Reserve.

December 31,
20252024
FHLB capacity$4,352$4,284
Investment portfolio (available)1,0031,397
Fed deposits (excess daily requirements)1,0132,053
$6,368$7,734

As previously discussed, during 2025, our overall deposit costs decreased, primarily due to lower rates on interest-bearing deposits on certain products and product tiers in conjunction with rate reductions by the Federal Reserve to lower the effective funds rate. During 2024, our deposit funding costs increased due to continued competition for liquidity to combat deposit outflows. During 2023, we began increasing interest-bearing deposit rates to address rising market interest rates and intense competition for liquidity to combat deposit outflows. We are continuing to actively manage our overall deposit funding costs and anticipate potential opportunities to further lower interest-bearing deposit rates. Future decisions on the cost of deposits will continue to be influenced by various factors including, but not limited to competitive pressures, broader economic conditions, future changes in the target range for the federal funds rate, customer behavior and our liquidity position at that time. At December 31, 2025, the Bank accessed and included approximately $100 million of core deposits on its balance sheet from our Hilltop Securities FDIC-insured sweep program. The Bank is not utilizing any of its FHLB borrowing capacity noted above through the use of short-term borrowings.

Within our banking segment, deposit flows are affected by the level of market interest rates, the interest rates and products offered by competitors, the volatility of equity markets and other factors. An economic recovery and improved commercial real estate investment outlook may result in an outflow of deposits at an accelerated pace as customers utilize such available funds for expanded operations and investment opportunities. The Bank regularly evaluates its deposit products and pricing structures relative to the market to maintain competitiveness over time. Currently, the Bank is facing continued competition from bank and non-bank competitors for its deposit base and expects that its interest expense on certain deposits will continue to be driven by various factors, including competition as well as economic and market area factors.

The Bank’s 15 largest depositors, excluding Hilltop, Hilltop Securities and PrimeLending, collectively accounted for 16.02% of the Bank’s total deposits, and the Bank’s five largest depositors, excluding Hilltop, collectively accounted for 10.16% of the Bank’s total deposits at December 31, 2025. The loss of one or more of our largest Bank customers, or a significant decline in our deposit balances due to ordinary course fluctuations related to these customers’ businesses, could adversely affect our liquidity and might require us to raise deposit rates to attract new deposits, purchase federal funds or borrow funds on a short-term basis to replace such deposits.

Broker-Dealer Segment

The Hilltop Broker-Dealers finance their assets and operations primarily from their equity capital, short-term bank borrowings, interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing client credit balances, correspondent deposits, securities lending arrangements, repurchase agreement financing, commercial paper issuances and other payables, subject to their respective compliance with broker-dealer net capital and customer protection rules. At December 31, 2025, Hilltop Securities had credit arrangements with two unaffiliated banks, with maximum aggregate commitments of up to $425.0 million. These credit arrangements are used to finance securities owned, securities held for correspondent accounts, receivables in customer margin accounts and underwriting activities. These credit arrangements are provided on an “as offered” basis and are not committed lines of credit. In addition, Hilltop Securities has committed revolving credit facilities with two unaffiliated banks, with aggregate availability of up to $125.0 million. At December 31, 2025, Hilltop Securities had no outstanding borrowings under its credit arrangements or its credit facilities.

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Hilltop Securities uses the net proceeds (after deducting related issuance expenses) from the sale of two commercial paper programs for general corporate purposes, including working capital and the funding of a portion of its securities inventories. The commercial paper notes (“CP Notes”) may be issued with maturities of 14 days to 270 days from the date of issuance. The CP Notes are issued under two separate programs, Series 2019-2 CP Notes and Series 2024-1 CP, in maximum aggregate amounts of $200 million and $300 million, respectively. The CP Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity or subject to voluntary prepayment and do not bear interest, but are sold at a discount to par. The CP Notes are secured by a pledge of collateral owned by Hilltop Securities.

As of December 31, 2025, the weighted average maturity of the CP Notes was 145 days at a rate of 4.45%, with a weighted average remaining life of 67 days. At December 31, 2025, the aggregate amount outstanding under these secured arrangements was $254.4 million, which was collateralized by securities held for Hilltop Securities accounts valued at $279.0 million.

Mortgage Origination Segment

PrimeLending funds the mortgage loans it originates through a warehouse line of credit maintained with the Bank which had a total commitment of $1.2 billion, of which $870.6 million was drawn at December 31, 2025. PrimeLending sells substantially all mortgage loans it originates to various investors in the secondary market, historically with the majority with servicing released. As these mortgage loans are sold in the secondary market, PrimeLending pays down its warehouse line of credit with the Bank. In addition, PrimeLending has an available line of credit with an unaffiliated bank of up to $1.0 million, of which no borrowings were drawn at December 31, 2025.

PrimeLending owns a 100% membership interest in PrimeLending Ventures Management, LLC (“Ventures Management”) which holds a controlling ownership interest in and is the managing member of certain ABAs. At

December 31, 2025, these ABAs had combined available lines of credit totaling $65.0 million, all of which was with the Bank, with outstanding borrowings of $31.6 million.

Other Material Contractual Obligations, Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Commitments and Guarantees

The following table presents information regarding other material contractual obligations at December 31, 2025 not previously discussed (in thousands). Payments related to leases are based on actual payments specified in the underlying contracts, and the table below includes all leases that had commenced as of December 31, 2025.

Payments Due by Period
​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​More than 1​ ​ ​3 Years or​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
1 yearYear but LessMore but Less5 Years
or Lessthan 3 Yearsthan 5 Yearsor MoreTotal
Finance lease obligations$813$597$$$1,410
Operating lease obligations29,18143,24729,82513,021115,274
Total$29,994$43,844$29,825$13,021$116,684

Additionally, in the normal course of business, we enter into various transactions, which, in accordance with GAAP, are not included in our consolidated balance sheets. We enter into these transactions to meet the financing needs of our customers. These transactions include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit, which involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in our consolidated balance sheets.

Banking Segment

We enter into contractual loan commitments to extend credit, normally with fixed expiration dates or termination clauses, at specified rates and for specific purposes. Substantially all of our commitments to extend credit are contingent upon customers maintaining specific credit standards until the time of loan funding. We minimize our exposure to loss under these commitments by subjecting them to credit approval and monitoring procedures. We assess the credit risk associated with certain commitments to extend credit and have recorded a liability related to such credit risk in our consolidated financial statements.

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Standby letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by us 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, we would be required to fund the commitment. The maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make is represented by the contractual amount of the commitment. If the commitment is funded, we would be entitled to seek recovery from the customer. Our policies generally require that standby letter of credit arrangements contain security and debt covenants similar to those contained in loan agreements.

In the aggregate, the Bank had outstanding unused commitments to extend credit of $2.2 billion at December 31, 2025 and outstanding financial and performance standby letters of credit of $108.5 million at December 31, 2025.

Broker-Dealer Segment

The Hilltop Broker-Dealers execute, settle and finance various securities transactions that may expose the Hilltop Broker-Dealers to off-balance sheet risk in the event that a customer or counterparty does not fulfill its contractual obligations. Examples of such transactions include the sale of securities not yet purchased by customers or for the account of the Hilltop Broker-Dealers, use of derivatives to support certain non-profit housing organization clients, clearing agreements between the Hilltop Broker-Dealers and various clearinghouses and broker-dealers, secured financing arrangements that involve pledged securities, and when-issued underwriting and purchase commitments.

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

Our consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which presently require us 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 our operations is reflected in increased operating costs. Historically, changes in interest rates affect the financial condition of a financial institution to a far greater degree than changes in the inflation rate. Inflationary pressures have moderated in recent periods with the inflation rate coming down from its peak with the expectation that there will be continued moderation of inflation during 2026. However, the impact and timing of tariffs and changes in trade policy add uncertainty to the inflation outlook. Furthermore, a prolonged period of inflation has, and could cause our costs, including compensation, occupancy and software costs, to increase, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

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 our control, including changes in the expected rate of inflation, the influence of general and local economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities.

Critical Accounting Estimates

We have identified certain accounting estimates which involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. Our accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. Actual amounts and values as of the balance sheet dates may be materially different than the amounts and values reported due to the inherent uncertainty in the estimation process. Also, future amounts and values could differ materially from those estimates due to changes in values and circumstances after the balance sheet date. The critical accounting estimates, as summarized below, which we believe to be the most critical in preparing our consolidated financial statements relate to allowance for credit losses and goodwill and identifiable intangible assets.

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Allowance for Credit Losses

The allowance for credit losses for loans represents management’s estimate of all expected credit losses over the expected contractual life of our existing loan portfolio. Determining the appropriateness of the allowance is complex and requires judgment by management about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Subsequent evaluations of the then existing loan portfolio, in light of the factors then prevailing, may result in significant changes in the allowance for credit losses in those future periods.

We employ a disciplined process and methodology to establish our allowance for credit losses that has two basic components: first, an asset-specific component involving individual loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans and the measurement of expected credit losses for such individual loans; and second, a pooled component for estimated expected credit losses for pools of loans that share similar risk characteristics.

The credit loss estimation process for both on and off-balance sheet exposures involves procedures to appropriately consider the unique characteristics of our loan portfolio segments, which are further disaggregated into loan classes, the level at which credit risk is monitored. When computing allowance levels, credit loss assumptions are estimated using models that analyze loans according to credit risk ratings, loss history, delinquency status and other credit trends and risk characteristics, including current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. Significant variables that impact the modeled losses across our loan portfolios are the U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, growth rates and unemployment rate assumptions. Future factors and forecasts may result in significant changes in the allowance and provision for (reversal of) credit losses in those future periods.

Credit quality is assessed and monitored by evaluating various attributes, such as credit risk ratings, historic loss experience, past due status and other credit trends and risk characteristics, including current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. The results of these continuous credit quality evaluations help form our underwriting criteria for new loans and also factor into the process for estimation of the allowance for credit losses. The allowance level is influenced by loan volumes, loan asset quality, delinquency status, historic loss experience and other conditions influencing loss expectations, such as reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions. The allowance for credit losses will primarily reflect estimated losses for pools of loans that share similar risk characteristics, but will also consider individual loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans.

In estimating the component of the allowance for credit losses for loans that share similar risk characteristics with other loans, such loans are segregated into loan classes. Loans are designated into loan classes based on loans pooled by product types and similar risk characteristics or areas of risk concentration. In determining the allowance for credit losses, we derive an estimated credit loss assumption from a model that categorizes loan pools based on loan type and internal risk rating or delinquency bucket.

When a loan moves to a substandard non-accrual or worse risk rating grade, it is removed from the collective evaluation allowance methodology and is subject to individual evaluation. A problem asset report is prepared for each loan in excess of a predetermined threshold and the net realizable value of the loan is determined. This value is compared to the appropriate loan basis (depending on whether the loan is a PCD loan or a non-PCD loan) to determine the required allowance for credit loss reserve amount.

Estimating the timing and amounts of future losses is subject to significant management judgment as these loss cash flows rely upon estimates such as default rates, loss severities, collateral valuations, the amounts and timing of principal payments (including any expected prepayments) or other factors that are reflective of current or future expected conditions. These estimates, in turn, depend on the duration of current overall economic conditions, industry, borrower, or portfolio specific conditions, the expected outcome of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, as well as, in certain circumstances, other economic factors, including the level of current and future real estate prices. All of these estimates and assumptions require significant management judgment and certain assumptions that are highly subjective. Model imprecision also exists in the allowance for credit losses estimation process due to the inherent time lag of available industry information and differences between expected and actual outcomes.

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The provision for (reversal of) credit losses recorded through earnings, and reduced by the charge-off of loan amounts, net of recoveries, is the amount necessary to maintain the allowance for credit losses at the amount of expected credit losses inherent within the loans held for investment portfolio. The amount of expense and the corresponding level of allowance for credit losses for loans are based on our evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio based on historical loss experience, reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other significant qualitative and quantitative factors. Refer to “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” and Notes 1 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the methodology used in establishing the allowance and changes during the relevant period in the provision for (reversal of) credit losses.

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets

Goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets are initially recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Goodwill and other intangible assets having an indefinite useful life are not amortized for financial statement purposes. In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the goodwill or other identifiable intangible assets may be impaired, an interim impairment test would be required. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives. We perform required annual impairment tests of our goodwill and other intangible assets as of October 1st for our reportable business segments.

The goodwill impairment test requires us to make judgments and assumptions. The test consists of estimating the fair value of each reportable business segment based on valuation techniques, including a discounted cash flow model using revenue and profit forecasts and recent industry transaction and trading multiples of our peers, and comparing those estimated fair values with the carrying values of the assets and liabilities of each business segment, which includes the allocated goodwill. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, we will recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the business segment’s fair value; however, any loss recognized will not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that business segment.

This evaluation includes multiple assumptions, including estimated discounted cash flows and other estimates that may change over time. If future discounted cash flows become less than those projected by us, future impairment charges may become necessary that could have a materially adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition in the period in which the write-off occurs.

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: 0001558370-25-001023.

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2025-02-14. Report date: 2024-12-31.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion is intended to help the reader understand our results of operations and financial condition and is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto commencing on page F-1. In addition to historical financial information, the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our results and the timing of selected events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those discussed under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”

Unless the context otherwise indicates, all references in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, or MD&A, to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “ours” or similar words are to Hilltop Holdings Inc. and its direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, references to “Hilltop” refer solely to Hilltop Holdings Inc., references to “PCC” refer to PlainsCapital Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop), references to “Securities Holdings” refer to Hilltop Securities Holdings LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop), references to “Hilltop Securities” refer to Hilltop Securities Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Securities Holdings), references to “Momentum Independent Network” refer to Momentum Independent Network Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Securities Holdings, Hilltop Securities and Momentum Independent Network are collectively referred to as the “Hilltop Broker-Dealers”), references to the “Bank” refer to PlainsCapital Bank (a wholly owned subsidiary of PCC), references to “FNB” refer to First National Bank, references to “SWS” refer to the former SWS Group, Inc., references to “PrimeLending” refer to PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank) and its subsidiaries as a whole.

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OVERVIEW

We are a financial holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. Our primary line of business is to provide business and consumer banking services from offices located throughout Texas through the Bank. We also provide an array of financial products and services through our broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments. The following includes additional details regarding the financial products and services provided by each of our primary business units.

PCC. PCC is a financial holding company that provides, through its subsidiaries, traditional banking and wealth, investment and treasury management services primarily in Texas and residential mortgage loans throughout the United States.

Securities Holdings. Securities Holdings is a holding company that provides, through its subsidiaries, investment banking and other related financial services, including municipal advisory, sales, trading and underwriting of taxable and tax-exempt fixed income securities, clearing, securities lending, structured finance and retail brokerage services throughout the United States.

The following historical consolidated data for the periods indicated has been derived from our historical consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report (dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data).

202420232022
Statement of Operations Data:
Net interest income$417,798$466,847$458,975
Provision for credit losses94118,3928,309
Total noninterest income770,956728,973832,460
Total noninterest expense1,033,5561,028,3091,126,999
Income before income taxes154,257149,119156,127
Income tax expense31,04731,14036,833
Net income123,210117,979119,294
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest9,9978,3336,160
Income attributable to Hilltop$113,213$109,646$113,134
Per Share Data:
Diluted earnings per common share$1.74$1.69$1.60
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding$65,046$65,045$70,626
Cash dividends declared per common share$0.68$0.64$0.60
Dividend payout ratio (1)39.06%37.97%37.36%
Book value per common share (end of year)$33.71$32.58$31.49
Tangible book value per common share (2) (end of year)$29.49$28.35$27.18
Balance Sheet Data:
Total assets$16,268,129$16,466,996$16,259,282
Cash and due from banks2,298,9771,858,7001,579,512
Securities2,659,6612,836,5843,289,530
Loans held for sale858,665943,846982,616
Loans held for investment, net of unearned income7,950,5518,079,7458,092,673
Allowance for credit losses(101,116)(111,413)(95,442)
Total deposits11,065,32211,063,19211,315,749
Notes payable347,667347,145346,654
Total stockholders' equity2,218,3122,150,3292,063,529
Capital Ratios:
Common equity to assets ratio13.46%12.89%12.53%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (2)11.98%11.41%11.00%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Dividend payout ratio is defined as cash dividends declared per common share divided by basic earnings per common share.
Column 1Column 2
(2)For a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure, see “—Reconciliation and Management’s Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

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Consolidated income before income taxes during 2024 included the following contributions from our reportable business segments.

Column 1Column 2Column 3
The banking segment contributed $181.9 million of income before income taxes during 2024;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
The broker-dealer segment contributed $63.5 million of income before income taxes during 2024; and
Column 1Column 2Column 3
The mortgage origination segment incurred $33.7 million of losses before income taxes during 2024.

During 2024, we paid an aggregate of $19.9 million to repurchase shares of our common stock, and declared and paid total common dividends of $44.3 million.

On January 25, 2024, our board of directors authorized a new stock repurchase program through January 2025, pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $75.0 million of our outstanding common stock.

On January 30, 2025, our board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per common share, a 6% increase from the prior quarter, payable on February 27, 2025 to all common stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 13, 2025. Additionally, our board of directors authorized a new stock repurchase program through January 2026, pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $100.0 million of our outstanding common stock, an increase from the $75.0 million authorized under our previous program. We commenced share repurchases under the stock repurchase program in the first quarter of 2025.

During 2024, we paid $19.9 million to repurchase an aggregate of 640,042 shares of our common stock at an average price of $31.04 per share. During 2023, we paid $5.1 million to repurchase an aggregate of 164,604 shares of our common stock at an average price of $30.95 per share. These shares were repurchased under previous stock repurchase programs and returned to the pool of authorized but unissued shares of common stock.

Reconciliation and Management’s Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We present certain measures in our selected financial data that are not measures of financial performance recognized by GAAP. “Tangible book value per common share” is defined as our total stockholders’ equity reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by total common shares outstanding. “Tangible common equity to tangible assets” is defined as our total stockholders’ equity reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by total assets reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets. These measures are important to investors interested in changes from period to period in tangible common equity per share exclusive of changes in intangible assets. For companies such as ours that have engaged in business combinations, purchase accounting can result in the recording of significant amounts of goodwill and other intangible assets related to those transactions.

You should not view this disclosure as a substitute for results determined in accordance with GAAP, and our disclosure is not necessarily comparable to that of other companies that use non-GAAP measures. The following table reconciles these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures, “book value per common share” and “equity to total assets” (dollars in thousands, except per share data).

December 31,
202420232022
Book value per common share$33.71$32.58$31.49
Effect of goodwill and intangible assets per share(4.22)(4.23)(4.31)
Tangible book value per common share$29.49$28.35$27.18
Hilltop stockholders’ equity$2,189,965$2,122,967$2,036,924
Less: goodwill and intangible assets, net274,080275,904278,764
Tangible common equity$1,915,885$1,847,063$1,758,160
Total assets$16,268,129$16,466,996$16,259,282
Less: goodwill and intangible assets, net274,080275,904278,764
Tangible assets$15,994,049$16,191,092$15,980,518
Equity to assets13.46%12.89%12.53%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets11.98%11.41%11.00%

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Recent Developments

Senior Notes Redemption

On January 15, 2025 (the “Redemption Date”), we redeemed all of our outstanding 5% senior notes due 2025 (the “Senior Notes”) at a redemption price equal to the aggregate principal amount of $150 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date (collectively, the “Redemption Price”). The redemption of the Senior Notes was pursuant to the indenture, dated as of April 9, 2015 (the “Senior Notes Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (solely in its capacity as trustee for the Senior Notes), which permitted the redemption of the Senior Notes beginning 90 days prior to April 15, 2025 (the maturity date of the Senior Notes). The Company irrevocably deposited with the trustee funds using cash on hand in an amount sufficient to pay the Redemption Price on the Redemption Date to satisfy and discharge its obligations under the Senior Notes and the Senior Notes Indenture.

Pending Merchant Bank Transaction

In January 2025, our merchant bank subsidiary entered into a definitive agreement to sell all of the capital stock of Moser Acquisition, Inc. Our approximate 30% aggregate interest in Moser Holdings, LLC, which owns Moser Acquisition, Inc., is expected to result in an estimated net gain on sale of approximately $23 million to $27 million. The closing of the transaction, which is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2025, is subject to customary closing conditions.

Economic Environment

The extent of the impacts of uncertain economic conditions on our financial performance that began in 2022, and have continued during 2024, will depend in part on developments outside of our control including, among others, the timing and significance of further changes in U.S. Treasury yields and mortgage interest rates, changes in funding costs, inflationary pressures, changes in the political environment and international armed conflicts and their impact on supply chains.

In addition, the banking sector experienced increased uncertainty and concerns associated with liquidity positions primarily due to high-profile bank failures during early 2023 as depositors sought to reduce risks associated with uninsured deposits and withdraw such deposits from existing bank relationships. As a result, both regulatory scrutiny and market focus on liquidity increased. While financial institution safety and soundness concerns have subsided, these failures underscore the importance of maintaining access to diverse sources of funding.

In light of the above events, we have continued our efforts to monitor deposit flows and balance sheet trends to ensure that our liquidity needs and financial flexibility are maintained. During 2023, we increased interest-bearing deposit rates to address rising market interest rates and intense competition for liquidity to combat deposit outflows. Throughout 2023 and 2024, we experienced net interest margin compression reflecting deposit repricing activity and demand deposit migration into interest-bearing accounts. Deposit costs remained elevated throughout 2024; however, the interest paid on our deposits increased at a slower pace during the second, third and fourth quarters of 2024 as we reduced higher cost brokered deposits and our interest-bearing deposits yield flattened and market expectations for a decrease in the Federal Reserve funds emerged. Additionally, at December 31, 2024, we continued to access core deposits from our Hilltop Securities Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insured sweep program, while the Bank was not utilizing any of its Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) borrowing capacity.

Market conditions and external factors may unpredictably impact the competitive landscape for deposits such as those experienced during the first quarter of 2023. Additionally, throughout 2023 and 2024, the market interest rate environment increased competition for liquidity and the premium at which liquidity was available to meet funding needs. While funding costs will continue to be influenced by various factors, including competitive pressures and broader economic conditions, with the cumulative 100-basis point decrease in the target range for the federal funds rate since September 2024 and the possibility of additional rate cuts in 2025, we anticipate that our cost of deposits will begin to trend modestly downward. An unexpected influx of withdrawals of deposits could adversely impact our ability to rely on

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organic deposits to primarily fund our operations, potentially requiring greater reliance on secondary sources of liquidity to meet withdrawal deposits or to fund continuing operations. These sources may include proceeds from FHLB advances, sales of investment securities and loans, federal fund lines of credit with correspondent banks, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, brokered time deposits, borrowings from the Federal Reserve and borrowings under lines of credit with other financial institutions. Refer to the discussions in the “Segment Results – Banking Segment” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources – Banking Segment” sections that follow for more details regarding the Bank’s deposits, available liquidity and borrowing capacity at December 31, 2024.

We expect uncertainties related to economic headwinds discussed above, the impact of interest rate movements on the shape and inversions of the yield curve, and the increasing cost and challenge for deposits that persisted through 2023 and 2024 to continue in 2025.

Asset Valuation

At each reporting date between annual impairment tests, we consider potential indicators of impairment, including the condition of the economy and financial services industry; government intervention and regulatory updates; the impact of recent events to financial performance and cost factors of the business segment; performance of our stock and other relevant events.

Continuing macroeconomic challenges related to mortgage loan origination volumes, customer sensitivity to interest rates and resulting demand for certain products have resulted in a challenging environment associated with our reporting segments, resulting in variability in their operating results.

Given the potential impacts of the operating performance of our reporting segments and overall economic conditions, actual results may differ materially from our current estimates as the scope of such impacts evolves or if the duration of business disruptions are longer than currently anticipated. We further considered the amount by which fair value exceeded book value in the most recent quantitative analysis and sensitivities performed. Accordingly, at the conclusion of the annual assessments, we determined that as of October 1, 2024 it was more likely than not that the fair value of goodwill and other intangible assets exceeded their respective carrying values. We continue to monitor developments regarding overall economic conditions, market capitalization, and any other triggering events or circumstances that may indicate an impairment in the future.

To the extent future operating performance of our reporting segments remain challenged and below forecasted projections during 2025, significant assumptions such as expected future cash flows or the risk-adjusted discount rate used to estimate fair value are adversely impacted, or upon the occurrence of what management would deem to be a triggering event that could, under certain circumstances, cause us to perform impairment tests on our goodwill and other intangible assets, an impairment charge may be recorded for that period. In the event that we conclude that all or a portion of our goodwill and other intangible assets are impaired, a non-cash charge for the respective amount of such impairment would be recorded to earnings. Such a charge would have no impact on tangible capital or regulatory capital.

Outlook

Our balance sheet, operating results and certain metrics during 2024 reflected economic conditions that remain uncertain for 2025, and will depend in part on several developments outside of our control including, among others, changes in the political environment, the timing and significance of further changes in U.S. treasury yields and mortgage interest rates, and a volatile economic forecast. These economic conditions, coupled with exposure to changes in funding costs, inflationary pressures, and international armed conflicts and their impact on supply chains within our business segments during 2023 and 2024 have had, and are expected to continue to have, an adverse impact on our operating results during 2025.

See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for additional discussion of the potential adverse impacts of unpredictable economic, market and business conditions on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

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Factors Affecting Results of Operations

As a financial institution providing products and services through our banking, broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments, we are directly affected by general economic and market conditions, many of which are beyond our control and unpredictable. A key factor impacting our results of operations is changes in the level of interest rates in addition to twists in the shape of the yield curve with the magnitude and direction of the impact varying across the different lines of business. Other factors impacting our results of operations include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in volume and price levels of securities, inflation, political events, investor confidence, investor participation levels, legal, regulatory, and compliance requirements and competition. All of these factors have the potential to impact our financial position, operating results and liquidity. In addition, the recent economic and political environment has led to legislative and regulatory initiatives, both enacted and proposed, that could substantially change the regulation of the financial services industry and may significantly impact us.

Acquisitions

On November 30, 2012, we acquired PlainsCapital Corporation pursuant to a plan of merger whereby PlainsCapital Corporation merged with and into our wholly owned subsidiary (the “PlainsCapital Merger”), which continued as the surviving entity under the name “PlainsCapital Corporation”. Concurrent with the consummation of the PlainsCapital Merger, Hilltop became a financial holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.

On September 13, 2013, the Bank assumed substantially all of the liabilities, including all of the deposits, and acquired substantially all of the assets of Edinburg, Texas-based FNB from the FDIC, as receiver, and reopened former branches of FNB acquired from the FDIC under the “PlainsCapital Bank” name (the “FNB Transaction”).

On January 1, 2015, we acquired SWS in a stock and cash transaction (the “SWS Merger”), whereby SWS’s broker-dealer subsidiaries became subsidiaries of Securities Holdings and SWS’s banking subsidiary, Southwest Securities, FSB, was merged into the Bank. On October 5, 2015, Southwest Securities, Inc. was renamed “Hilltop Securities Inc.”

On August 1, 2018, we acquired privately-held, Houston-based BORO in an all-cash transaction (“BORO Acquisition”). In connection with the BORO Acquisition, we merged BORO into the Bank, and all customer accounts were converted to the PlainsCapital Bank platform.

Segment Information

The Company has two primary business units, PCC (banking and mortgage origination) and Securities Holdings (broker-dealer). Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), the Company’s units are comprised of three reportable business segments organized primarily by the core products offered to the segments’ respective customers: banking, broker-dealer and mortgage origination. Consistent with our historical segment operating results, we anticipate that future revenues will be driven primarily from the banking segment, with the remainder being generated by our broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments. Operating results for the mortgage origination segment have historically been more volatile than operating results for the banking and broker-dealer segments.

The banking segment includes the operations of the Bank. The banking segment primarily provides business and consumer banking services from offices located throughout Texas and generates revenue from its portfolio of earning assets. The Bank’s results of operations are primarily dependent on net interest income. The Bank also derives revenue from other sources, including service charges on customer deposit accounts and trust fees.

The broker-dealer segment includes the operations of Securities Holdings, which operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries Hilltop Securities, Momentum Independent Network and Hilltop Securities Asset Management, LLC. The broker-dealer segment generates a majority of its revenues from fees and commissions earned from investment advisory and securities brokerage services. Hilltop Securities is a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and a member of the New York Stock Exchange. Momentum Independent Network is an introducing broker-dealer that is also registered with the

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SEC and FINRA. Hilltop Securities, Momentum Independent Network and Hilltop Securities Asset Management, LLC are investment advisers registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

The mortgage origination segment includes the operations of PrimeLending, which offers a variety of loan products and generates revenue predominantly from fees charged on the origination and servicing of loans and from selling these loans in the secondary market.

Corporate includes certain activities not allocated to specific business segments. These activities include holding company financing and investing activities, merchant banking investment opportunities, and management and administrative services to support the overall operations of the Company.

The eliminations of intercompany transactions are included in “All Other and Eliminations.” Additional information concerning our reportable business segments is presented in Note 27, “Segment and Related Information,” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.

The following table presents certain information about the continuing operating results of our reportable business segments (in thousands). This table serves as a basis for the discussion and analysis in the segment operating results sections that follow.

Year Ended December 31,Variance 2024 vs 2023Variance 2023 vs 2022
202420232022AmountPercentAmountPercent
Net interest income (expense):
Banking$372,546$397,936$413,603$(25,390)(6)$(15,667)(4)
Broker-Dealer48,94252,89451,597(3,952)(7)1,2973
Mortgage Origination(16,867)(20,305)(10,529)3,43817(9,776)(93)
Corporate(12,838)(12,961)(13,135)12311741
All Other and Eliminations (1)26,01549,28317,439(23,268)(47)31,844183
Hilltop Consolidated$417,798$466,847$458,975$(49,049)(11)$7,8722
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses:
Banking$992$18,525$8,250$(17,533)(95)$10,275125
Broker-Dealer(51)(133)598262(192)(325)
Mortgage Origination---
Corporate---
All Other and Eliminations---
Hilltop Consolidated$941$18,392$8,309$(17,451)(95)$10,083121
Noninterest income:
Banking$43,295$45,830$49,307$(2,535)(6)$(3,477)(7)
Broker-Dealer422,801403,538341,94319,263561,59518
Mortgage Origination313,229316,840452,915(3,611)(1)(136,075)(30)
Corporate18,51512,8877,5255,628445,36271
All Other and Eliminations (1)(26,884)(50,122)(19,230)23,23846(30,892)(161)
Hilltop Consolidated$770,956$728,973$832,460$41,9836$(103,487)(12)
Noninterest expense:
Banking$232,954$226,234$235,190$6,7203$(8,956)(4)
Broker-Dealer408,283383,024355,71325,259727,3118
Mortgage Origination330,088359,285478,904(29,197)(8)(119,619)(25)
Corporate63,11060,63159,0302,47941,6013
All Other and Eliminations(879)(865)(1,838)(14)(2)97353
Hilltop Consolidated$1,033,556$1,028,309$1,126,999$5,2471$(98,690)(9)
Income (loss) before taxes:
Banking$181,895$199,007$219,470$(17,112)(9)$(20,463)(9)
Broker-Dealer63,51173,54137,768(10,030)(14)35,77395
Mortgage Origination(33,726)(62,750)(36,518)29,02446(26,232)(72)
Corporate(57,433)(60,705)(64,640)3,27253,9356
All Other and Eliminations102647(16)(62)(21)(45)
Hilltop Consolidated$154,257$149,119$156,127$5,1383$(7,008)(4)
Column 1Column 2
(1)All other and eliminations amounts during each period include FDIC sweep program revenues and expenses earned on broker-dealer segment deposits placed with the banking segment that are eliminated in consolidation.

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Key Performance Indicators

We utilize several key indicators of financial condition and operating performance to evaluate the various aspects of our business. In addition to traditional financial metrics, such as revenue and growth trends, we monitor several other financial measures and non-financial operating metrics to help us evaluate growth trends, measure the adequacy of our capital based on regulatory reporting requirements, measure the effectiveness of our operations and assess operational efficiencies. These indicators change from time to time as the opportunities and challenges in our businesses change.

Performance ratios and asset quality ratios are typically used for measuring the performance of banking and financial institutions. We consider return on average stockholders’ equity, return on average assets and net interest margin to be important supplemental measures of operating performance that are commonly used by securities analysts, investors and other parties interested in the banking and financial industry. The net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans outstanding ratio is also considered a key measure for our banking segment as it indicates the performance of our loan portfolio.

In addition, we consider regulatory capital ratios to be key measures that are used by us, as well as banking regulators, investors and analysts, to assess our regulatory capital position and to compare our regulatory capital to that of other financial services companies. We monitor our capital strength in terms of both leverage ratio and risk-based capital ratios based on capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. The risk-based capital ratios are minimum supervisory ratios generally applicable to banking organizations, but banking organizations are widely expected to operate with capital positions well above the minimum ratios. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

How We Generate Revenue

We generate revenue from net interest income and from noninterest income. Net interest income represents the difference between the income earned on our assets, including our loans and investment securities, and our cost of funds, including the interest paid on the deposits and borrowings that are used to support our assets. Net interest income is a significant contributor to our operating results. Fluctuations in interest rates, as well as the amounts and types of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities we hold, affect net interest income. We generated $417.8 million in net interest income during 2024, compared with net interest income of $466.8 million and $459.0 million during 2023 and 2022, respectively. The change in reportable business segment net interest income during 2024, compared with 2023, primarily reflected decreases within our banking and broker-dealer segments.

The other component of our revenue is noninterest income, which is primarily comprised of the following:

Column 1Column 2Column 3
(i)Income from broker-dealer operations. Through Securities Holdings, we provide investment banking and other related financial services that generated $268.6 million, $234.9 million and $242.6 million in securities commissions and fees and investment and securities advisory fees and commissions, and $125.1 million, $118.4 million and $85.0 million in gains from derivative and trading portfolio activities (included within other noninterest income) during 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(ii)Income from mortgage operations. Through PrimeLending, we generate noninterest income by originating and selling mortgage loans. During 2024, 2023 and 2022, we generated $313.1 million, $316.7 million and $452.0 million, respectively, in net gains from sale of loans, other mortgage production income (including income associated with retained mortgage servicing rights), and mortgage loan origination fees.

In the aggregate, we generated $771.0 million, $729.0 million and $832.5 million in noninterest income during 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase in noninterest income during 2024, compared with 2023, was predominantly attributable, as noted in the segment results table previously presented, to increases in securities commissions and fees and investment and securities advisory fees and commissions, and gains from derivative and trading portfolio activities

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within our broker-dealer segment, partially offset by a net decline in net gains from sale of loans, other mortgage production income and mortgage loan origination fees within our mortgage origination segment.

We also incur noninterest expenses in the operation of our businesses. Our businesses engage in labor intensive activities and, consequently, employees’ compensation and benefits represent the majority of our noninterest expenses.

Consolidated Operating Results

Income applicable to common stockholders during 2024 was $113.2 million, or $1.74 per diluted share, compared with $109.6 million, or $1.69 per diluted share, during 2023, and $113.1 million, or $1.60 per diluted share, during 2022. Hilltop’s financial results during 2024, compared with 2023, included a decline in net interest income, partially offset by a decline in the provision for credit losses within the banking segment, net revenues and noninterest expenses increased within the broker-dealer segment, and the mortgage origination segment had decreases in both noninterest income and expenses.

Hilltop’s financial results during 2023, compared with 2022, reflected decreases in year-over-year mortgage origination segment net gains from sales of loans and other mortgage production income, a decline in net interest income within the banking segment, and increases in net revenues within all of the broker-dealer segment’s business lines.

Certain items included in net income during 2024, 2023 and 2022 resulted from purchase accounting associated with the PlainsCapital Merger, the FNB Transaction, the SWS Merger and the BORO Acquisition (collectively, the “Bank Transactions”). Income before income taxes during 2024, 2023 and 2022 included net accretion on earning assets and liabilities of $5.1 million, $8.6 million and $10.8 million, respectively, and amortization of identifiable intangibles of $1.8 million, $2.9 million and $4.5 million, respectively, related to the Bank Transactions.

The information shown in the table below includes certain key performance indicators on a consolidated basis.

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Return on average stockholders' equity (1)5.29%5.31%5.11%
Return on average assets (2)0.78%0.71%0.69%
Net interest margin (3) (4)2.81%3.07%2.87%
Leverage ratio (5) (end of year)12.57%12.23%11.47%
Common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio (6) (end of year)21.23%19.32%18.23%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Return on average stockholders’ equity is defined as consolidated income attributable to Hilltop divided by average total Hilltop stockholders’ equity.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Return on average assets is defined as consolidated net income divided by average assets.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Net interest margin is defined as net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. We consider net interest margin as a key indicator of profitability as it represents interest earned on our interest-earning assets compared to interest incurred.
Column 1Column 2
(4)The securities financing operations within our broker-dealer segment had the effect of lowering both net interest margin and taxable equivalent net interest margin by 24 basis points, 26 basis points and 21 basis points during 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Column 1Column 2
(5)The leverage ratio is a regulatory capital ratio and is defined as Tier 1 risk-based capital divided by average consolidated assets.
Column 1Column 2
(6)The common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio is a regulatory capital ratio and is defined as common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital divided by risk weighted assets. Common equity includes common equity Tier 1 capital (common stockholders’ equity and certain minority interests in the equity capital accounts of consolidated subsidiaries, but excluding goodwill and various intangible assets) and additional Tier 1 capital (certain qualifying minority interests not included in common equity Tier 1 capital, certain preferred stock and related surplus, and certain subordinated debt).

We present net interest margin and net interest income below on a taxable-equivalent basis. Net interest margin (taxable equivalent), a non-GAAP measure, is defined as taxable equivalent net interest income divided by average interest earning assets. Taxable equivalent adjustments are based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rate of 21% for all periods presented. The Company performs periodic reviews of the classification and categorization of the components impacting the calculation of net interest margin. The interest income earned on certain earning assets is completely or partially exempt from federal income tax. As such, these tax-exempt instruments typically yield lower returns than taxable investments. To provide more meaningful comparisons of net interest margins for all earning assets,

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we use net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis in calculating net interest margin by increasing the interest income earned on tax-exempt assets to make it fully equivalent to interest income earned on taxable investments.

During 2024, 2023 and 2022, purchase accounting contributed 4, 6 and 7 basis points, respectively, to our consolidated taxable equivalent net interest margin of 2.83%, 3.09% and 2.88%, respectively. The purchase accounting activity is primarily related to the accretion of discount on loans which totaled $5.1 million, $8.6 million and $10.5 million during 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, associated with the Bank Transactions.

The table below provides additional details regarding our consolidated net interest income (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
AverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualized
OutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield or
Balanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRate
Assets
Interest-earning assets
Loans held for sale$934,983$53,0735.60%$944,470$53,7365.69%$1,221,235$52,3154.28%
Loans held for investment, gross (1)7,921,528491,4326.20%7,950,878488,5386.23%7,840,848363,8924.71%
Investment securities - taxable2,537,856107,0074.16%2,726,763108,2503.97%2,819,28275,8052.69%
Investment securities - non-taxable (2)324,68412,6383.84%363,49313,4633.70%310,31511,6083.74%
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell98,3377,2327.35%145,6968,9546.15%162,5754,0982.52%
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions1,526,74875,6334.95%1,597,86579,6574.99%2,306,96031,7051.37%
Securities borrowed1,355,55477,7855.66%1,409,76571,9245.03%1,298,27644,4143.37%
Other159,14114,0418.82%65,91216,55425.11%55,2808,87316.05%
Interest-earning assets, gross (2)14,858,831838,8415.65%15,204,842841,0765.53%16,014,771592,7103.70%
Allowance for credit losses(110,123)(103,975)(92,828)
Interest-earning assets, net14,748,70815,100,86715,921,943
Noninterest-earning assets1,130,1981,404,3931,488,970
Total assets$15,878,906$16,505,260$17,410,913
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing deposits$7,822,536$275,2913.52%$7,711,570$223,1792.89%$7,561,501$50,4120.67%
Securities loaned1,335,15572,6145.44%1,331,44365,1754.90%1,184,49838,5703.26%
Notes payable and other borrowings1,397,31370,6865.06%1,579,17083,1745.27%1,293,13343,1583.34%
Total interest-bearing liabilities10,555,004418,5913.97%10,622,183371,5283.50%10,039,132132,1401.32%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
Noninterest-bearing deposits2,824,4503,441,4374,455,779
Other liabilities332,340351,938675,628
Total liabilities13,711,79414,415,55815,170,539
Stockholders’ equity2,139,7322,063,1742,213,733
Noncontrolling interest27,38026,52826,641
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$15,878,906$16,505,260$17,410,913
Net interest income (2)$420,250$469,548$460,570
Net interest spread (2)1.68%2.03%2.38%
Net interest margin (2)2.83%3.09%2.88%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Average balance includes non-accrual loans.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Presented on a taxable equivalent basis with taxable equivalent adjustments based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rate of 21% for the periods presented. The adjustment to interest income was $2.5 million, $2.7 million and $1.6 million during 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The banking segment’s net interest margin exceeds our consolidated net interest margin shown above. Our consolidated net interest margin includes certain items that are not reflected in the calculation of our net interest margin within our banking segment and reduce our consolidated net interest margin, such as the borrowing costs of Hilltop and the yields and costs associated with certain items within interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, such as securities borrowed in the broker-dealer segment and securities loaned in the broker-dealer segment, including items related to securities financing operations that particularly decrease net interest margin. In addition, yields and costs on certain

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interest-earning assets, such as lines of credit extended to other operating segments by the banking segment, are eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

On a consolidated basis, the changes in net interest income during 2024, compared with 2023, were primarily due to changes within the banking segment related to changes in the rates earned or paid on interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Refer to the discussion in the “Banking Segment” section that follows for more details on the changes in net interest income, including the component changes in the volume of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in the rates earned or paid on those items.

The provision for (reversal of) credit losses is determined by management as the amount necessary to maintain the allowance for credit losses at the amount of expected credit losses inherent within the loans held for investment portfolio. The amount of expense and the corresponding level of allowance for credit losses for loans are based on our evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio based on historical loss experience, reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other significant qualitative and quantitative factors. Substantially all of our consolidated provision for (reversal of) credit losses is related to the banking segment. During 2024, the provision for credit losses reflected a build in the allowance related to specific reserves since December 31, 2023, significantly offset by both the change in the U.S. economic outlook and changes in the collectively evaluated loan portfolio. During 2023, the provision for credit losses reflected a significant build in the allowance related to loan portfolio changes since December 31, 2022 and a deteriorating outlook for commercial real estate markets. Refer to the discussion in the “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” section that follows for more details regarding the significant assumptions and estimates involved in estimating credit losses.

Noninterest income increased during 2024, compared with 2023, primarily due to net increases within the broker-dealer segment’s structured finance and public finance services business lines, an increase in pre-tax gains associated with the sale of merchant bank equity investments within corporate and increases in mortgage loan gains from sale of loans within our mortgage origination segment, partially offset by declines in mortgage loan origination fees and other related income within the mortgage origination segment and declines within the broker-dealer segment’s fixed income services and wealth management business lines. The decrease in noninterest income during 2023, compared with 2022, was primarily due to decreases in total mortgage loan sales volume and average loan sales margin within our mortgage origination segment, partially offset by net increases within all of the broker-dealer segment’s business lines.

Noninterest expense increased during 2024, compared with 2023, primarily due to increases in both variable and non-variable compensation and other segment operating costs within our broker-dealer segment and an increase in variable compensation within our mortgage origination segment, partially offset by decreases in non-variable compensation and other segment operating costs within our mortgage origination segment. We continue to experience increases in certain noninterest expenses during 2024 and 2023, compared with respective prior periods, including compensation, occupancy, and software costs, due to inflationary pressures. We expect such inflationary headwinds to continue and result in further increased fixed costs during 2025.

Effective income tax rates were 20.1%, 20.9% and 23.6% for 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The effective tax rate for 2024 was lower than the applicable statutory rate primarily due to investments in tax-exempt instruments, state refund claims and return to provision adjustments, partially offset by the impact of nondeductible expenses, nondeductible compensation expense and other permanent adjustments. The effective tax rate for 2023 was lower than the applicable statutory rate due to the impacts of excess tax benefits on share-based payment awards, investments in tax-exempt instruments and changes in accumulated tax reserves, partially offset by nondeductible expenses and the booking of additional taxes from a recent change in the source of funding for an acquired non-qualified, deferred compensation plan, while 2022 approximated statutory rates and included the effect of investments in tax-exempt instruments, offset by nondeductible expenses.

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Segment Results

Banking Segment

The following table presents certain information about the operating results of our banking segment (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2024202320222024 vs 20232023 vs 2022
Net interest income$372,546$397,936$413,603$(25,390)$(15,667)
Provision for credit losses99218,5258,250(17,533)10,275
Noninterest income43,29545,83049,307(2,535)(3,477)
Noninterest expense232,954226,234235,1906,720(8,956)
Income before income taxes$181,895$199,007$219,470$(17,112)$(20,463)

The decrease in income before income taxes during 2024, compared with 2023, was primarily due to a decline in net interest income and an increase in noninterest expense, partially offset by a decline in the provision for credit losses. The decrease in income before income taxes during 2023, compared with 2022, was primarily due to a decrease in net interest income and an increase in the provision for credit losses, partially offset by a decline in noninterest expense. Changes to net interest income related to the component changes in the volume of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in the rates earned or paid on those items are discussed in more detail below.

As discussed in more detail below, the banking segment’s cost of deposits increased during 2024 due to continued competition for liquidity and customers seeking higher yields on deposits. The resulting net interest income spread compression has had, and is expected to continue to have, a negative impact on banking segment operating results. While we expect deposit costs during 2025 to continue to be driven by various factors, including competitive pressures and broader economic conditions, with the cumulative 100-basis point decrease in the target range for the federal funds rate since September 2024, and the possibility of additional rate cuts in 2025, we anticipate that our cost of deposits will begin to trend modestly downward.

The information shown in the table below includes certain key indicators of the performance and asset quality of our banking segment.

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Efficiency ratio (1)56.02%50.98%50.81%
Return on average assets (2)1.10%1.15%1.19%
Net interest margin (3)3.04%3.13%3.11%
Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding (4)(0.15)%(0.03)%(0.06)%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Efficiency ratio is defined as noninterest expenses divided by the sum of total noninterest income and net interest income for the period. We consider the efficiency ratio to be a measure of the banking segment’s profitability.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Return on average assets is defined as net income divided by average assets.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Net interest margin is defined as net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. We consider net interest margin as a key indicator of profitability, as it represents interest earned on interest-earning assets compared to interest incurred.
Column 1Column 2
(4)Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding is defined as the greater of recoveries or charge-offs during the reported period minus charge-offs or recoveries divided by average loans outstanding. We use the ratio to measure the credit performance of our loan portfolio.

The banking segment presents net interest margin and net interest income in the following discussion and table below, on a taxable equivalent basis. Net interest margin (taxable equivalent), a non-GAAP measure, is defined as taxable equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. Taxable equivalent adjustments are based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rates of 21% for all periods presented. The banking segment performs periodic reviews of the classification and categorization of the components impacting the calculation of net interest margin. The interest income earned on certain earning assets is completely or partially exempt from federal income tax. As such, these tax-exempt instruments typically yield lower returns than taxable investments. To provide more meaningful comparisons of net interest margins for all earning assets, we use net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis in calculating net

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interest margin by increasing the interest income earned on tax-exempt assets to make it fully equivalent to interest income earned on taxable investments.

During 2024, 2023 and 2022, purchase accounting contributed 4, 7 and 9 basis points, respectively, to the banking segment’s taxable equivalent net interest margin of 3.04%, 3.14% and 3.11%, respectively. These purchase accounting items are primarily related to accretion of discount on loans associated with the Bank Transactions presented in the Consolidated Operating Results section.

The table below provides additional details regarding our banking segment’s net interest income (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
AverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualized
OutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield or
Balanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRate
Assets
Interest-earning assets
Loans held for sale$8,642$1261.46%$$%$$%
Loans held for investment, gross (1)7,685,903463,1336.02%7,786,984454,1325.83%7,371,397339,3564.60%
Subsidiary warehouse lines of credit866,17868,7867.83%867,01170,0247.97%1,128,57658,1535.08%
Investment securities - taxable2,094,80970,0513.34%2,284,65472,7713.19%2,377,48345,2821.90%
Investment securities - non-taxable (2)109,7203,7173.39%112,4083,9073.48%109,9113,8713.52%
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell72,5123,9905.50%67,0113,5755.41%118,6862,1901.87%
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions1,381,91171,9745.21%1,543,47179,6575.16%2,174,52931,7051.46%
Other38,1551,7234.52%50,6732,3534.64%36,8433,87610.52%
Interest-earning assets, gross (2)12,257,830683,5005.58%12,712,212686,4195.40%13,317,425484,4333.64%
Allowance for credit losses(109,975)(103,180)(92,377)
Interest-earning assets, net12,147,85512,609,03213,225,048
Noninterest-earning assets781,834848,093919,618
Total assets$12,929,689$13,457,125$14,144,666
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing deposits$7,747,864$296,5053.83%$7,578,587$265,5603.50%$7,379,265$63,1480.86%
Notes payable and other borrowings476,66613,8702.91%579,46222,2303.84%311,7356,8642.20%
Total interest-bearing liabilities8,224,530310,3753.77%8,158,049287,7903.53%7,691,00070,0120.91%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
Noninterest-bearing deposits3,048,9893,582,3564,695,265
Other liabilities103,531156,980145,272
Total liabilities11,377,05011,897,38512,531,537
Stockholders’ equity1,552,6391,559,7401,613,129
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$12,929,689$13,457,125$14,144,666
Net interest income (2)$373,125$398,629$414,421
Net interest spread (2)1.81%1.87%2.73%
Net interest margin (2)3.04%3.14%3.11%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Average balance includes non-accrual loans.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Presented on a taxable equivalent basis with taxable equivalent adjustments based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rates of 21% for all periods presented. The adjustment to interest income was $0.6 million, $0.7 million and $0.8 million during 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The banking segment’s net interest margin exceeds our consolidated net interest margin. Our consolidated net interest margin includes certain items that are not reflected in the calculation of our net interest margin within our banking segment and reduce our consolidated net interest margin, such as the borrowing costs of Hilltop and the yields and costs associated with certain items within interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, such as securities borrowed in the broker-dealer segment and securities loaned in the broker-dealer segment, including items related to securities financing operations that particularly decrease net interest margin. In addition, yields and costs on certain interest-

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earning assets, such as lines of credit extended to other operating segments by the banking segment, are eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

The following table summarizes the changes in the banking segment’s net interest income for the periods indicated below, including the component changes in the volume of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in the rates earned or paid on those items (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
2024 vs. 20232023 vs. 2022
Change Due To (1)Change Due To (1)
VolumeYield/RateChangeVolumeYield/RateChange
Interest income
Loans held for sale$$126$126$$$
Loans held for investment, gross (2)(5,893)14,8949,00119,11795,659114,776
Subsidiary warehouse lines of credit (3)(66)(1,172)(1,238)(13,293)25,16411,871
Investment securities - taxable(6,047)3,327(2,720)(1,768)29,25727,489
Investment securities - non-taxable (4)(93)(97)(190)88(52)36
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell298117415(967)2,3521,385
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions(8,338)655(7,683)(9,201)57,15347,952
Other(581)(49)(630)1,455(2,978)(1,523)
Total interest income (4)(20,720)17,801(2,919)(4,569)206,555201,986
Interest expense
Deposits$5,932$25,013$30,945$1,706$200,706$202,412
Notes payable and other borrowings(3,944)(4,416)(8,360)5,8959,47115,366
Total interest expense1,98820,59722,5857,601210,177217,778
Net interest income (4)$(22,708)$(2,796)$(25,504)$(12,170)$(3,622)$(15,792)
Column 1Column 2
(1)Changes attributable to both volume and yield/rate are included in yield/rate column.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Changes in the yields earned on loans held for investment, gross included a decline during 2024 of $3.6 million in accretion of discount on loans, compared with 2023, and a decrease of $1.9 million during 2023, compared with 2022. Accretion of discount on loans is expected to decrease in future periods as loans acquired in the Bank Transaction are repaid, refinanced or renewed.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Subsidiary warehouse lines of credit extended to PrimeLending are eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.
Column 1Column 2
(4)Annualized taxable equivalent.

With regard to net interest income, as of December 31, 2024, the banking segment maintained an asset sensitive rate risk position, meaning the amount of its interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within a given period exceeds the amount of its interest-bearing liabilities also maturing or repricing within that time period. During a period of declining interest rates, being asset sensitive tends to result in a decrease in net interest income, but during a period of rising interest rates, being asset sensitive tends to result in an increase in net interest income. Given projected impacts on net interest income associated with the expected transition into the next phase of the interest rate cycle, we continue to evaluate our current GAP position, which may result in a repositioning of the banking segment towards a more neutral or liability sensitive balance sheet.

The decreases in net interest income, as noted in the table above, were primarily driven by the increased funding costs on our deposit products from rate increases in 2023, the migration from non-interest-bearing deposits into interest-bearing products during the year over year period, and decreases in average loans held for investment, investment securities and deposits held in other financial institutions, partially offset by increased earnings on interest-earning assets, primarily loan yields. The average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities increased 24 basis points from 3.53% for 2023 to 3.77% for 2024, while the average yield on interest-earning assets increased 18 basis points from 5.40% for 2023 to 5.58% for 2024.

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Our portfolio includes loans that periodically reprice or mature prior to the end of an amortized term. The extent and timing of this impact on interest income will ultimately be driven by the timing, magnitude and frequency of interest rate and yield curve movements, as well as changes in market conditions and timing of management strategies. At December 31, 2024, approximately $602 million of our floating rate loans held for investment remained at or below their applicable rate floor, exclusive of our mortgage warehouse lending program, of which approximately 59% are not scheduled to reprice for more than one year based upon agreed-upon terms. If interest rates were to continue to fall, the impact on our interest income for certain variable-rate loans would be limited by these rate floors. If interest rates rise, yields on the portion of our loan portfolio that remain at applicable rate floors would rise more slowly than increases in market interest rates, unless such loans are refinanced or repaid. Competition for loan growth could also continue to put pressure on new loan origination rates.

Additionally, within our banking segment, the composition of the deposit base and ultimate cost of funds on deposits and net interest income are affected by the level of market interest rates, the interest rates and products offered by competitors, the volatility of equity markets and other factors. Deposit products and pricing structures relative to the market are regularly evaluated to maintain competitiveness over time. As discussed above, our cost of deposits increased during 2024, compared to 2023. While we expect such costs during 2025 to continue to be driven by various factors, including competitive pressures and broader economic conditions, with the cumulative 100-basis point decrease in the target range for the federal funds rate since September 2024 and the possibility of additional rate cuts in 2025, we anticipate that our cost of deposits will begin to trend modestly downward. The Bank’s deposit base primarily includes a combination of commercial, wealth, and public funds deposits, without a high level of industry concentration. At December 31, 2024, total estimated uninsured deposits were $5.7 billion, or approximately 52% of total deposits, while estimated uninsured deposits, excluding collateralized deposits of $363.1 million, were $5.3 billion, or approximately 48% of total deposits.

Refer to the discussion in the “Liquidity and Capital Resources – Banking Segment” section that follows for more detail regarding the Bank’s activities regarding deposits, available liquidity and borrowing capacity.

To help mitigate net interest income spread volatility between our assets and liabilities, management maintains derivative trades, as either cash flow hedges or fair value hedges, that better align repricing characteristics. Despite having these hedges in place, changes in interest rates across the term structure may continue to impact net interest income and net interest margin. The impact of rate movements will change with the shape of the yield curve, including any changes in steepness or flatness and inversions at any points on the yield curve.

During 2024, 2023 and 2022, the banking segment retained approximately $124 million, $140 million and $532 million, respectively, in mortgage loans originated by the mortgage origination segment. These loans are purchased by the banking segment at par. For origination services provided, the banking segment reimburses the mortgage origination segment for direct origination costs associated with these mortgage loans, in addition to payment of a correspondent fee. The correspondent fees are eliminated in consolidation. The determination of mortgage loan retention levels by the banking segment will be impacted by, among other things, an ongoing review of the prevailing mortgage rates, balance sheet positioning at Hilltop and the banking segment’s outlook for commercial loan growth.

The banking segment’s provision for (reversal of) credit losses has been subject to significant year-over-year and quarterly changes primarily attributable to the effects of the changing economic outlook, macroeconomic forecast assumptions and resulting impact on reserves. Specifically, during 2024, the banking segment’s provision for credit losses reflected a build in the allowance related to specific reserves since December 31, 2023, significantly offset by both the change in the U.S. economic outlook and changes in the collectively evaluated loan portfolio. The net impact to the allowance of changes associated with individually evaluated loans during 2024 included a provision for credit losses of $15.2 million, while collectively evaluated loans during 2024 included a reversal of credit losses of $14.2 million. The change in the allowance during 2024 was also impacted by net charge-offs of $11.2 million. During 2023, the banking segment’s provision for credit losses reflected a build in the allowance related to loan portfolio changes since December 31, 2022 and a deteriorating outlook for commercial real estate markets. The net impact to the allowance of changes associated with collectively evaluated loans during 2023 included a provision for credit losses of $12.7 million, while individually evaluated loans included a provision for credit losses of $5.8 million. The change in the allowance during 2023 was also impacted by net charge-offs of $2.4 million. During 2022, the banking segment’s provision for credit

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losses was driven by a deteriorating U.S. economic outlook since December 31, 2021. The change in the allowance during 2022 was also impacted by net charge-offs of $4.2 million. The changes in the allowance for credit losses during the noted periods also reflected other factors including, but not limited to, loan growth, loan mix, and changes in risk grades and qualitative factors from the prior quarter. Refer to the discussion in the “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” section that follows for more details regarding the significant assumptions and estimates involved in estimating credit losses.

The banking segment’s noninterest income decreased during 2024, compared with 2023, primarily due to valuation adjustments associated with the sale of a single loan from loans held for sale during the second quarter of 2024 and a decrease in oil and gas management fees, partially offset by an increase in service charges on depositor accounts. Noninterest income during 2023, compared with 2022, decreased primarily due to a decline in service charges on depositor accounts, oil and gas management fees and non-recurring income related to the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 investment that occurred in 2022.

The banking segment’s noninterest expenses increased during 2024, compared with 2023, primarily due to a long-lived asset impairment charge of $4.8 million associated with one of the Bank’s support facilities that management has the intent to sell. The facility was written down to the estimated fair value of the property less the estimated costs to sell. The sale of the facility is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2025. Additionally, during 2024, the Bank incurred one-time compensation expenses associated with Bank leadership changes, partially offset by decreases in professional fees. Noninterest expenses during 2023, compared with 2022, decreased primarily due to decreases in compensation-related expenses, partially offset by an increase in FDIC assessment, professional fees and software related expenses.

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Broker-Dealer Segment

The following table provides additional details regarding our broker-dealer segment operating results (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2024202320222024 vs 20232023 vs 2022
Net interest income:
Wealth management:
Securities lending$5,171$6,749$5,844$(1,578)$905
Clearing services10,4908,0647,5982,426466
Structured finance7,2077,9576,680(750)1,277
Fixed income services(1,709)1,29419,096(3,003)(17,802)
Other27,78328,83012,379(1,047)16,451
Total net interest income48,94252,89451,597(3,952)1,297
Noninterest income:
Securities commissions and fees by business line (1) (6):
Fixed income services29,21022,89329,5136,317(6,620)
Wealth management:
Retail65,83870,79255,762(4,954)15,030
Clearing services35,95040,08128,749(4,131)11,332
Structured finance13,63511,04011,1572,595(117)
Other5,8812,8453,6333,036(788)
150,514147,651128,8142,86318,837
Investment and securities advisory fees and commissions by business line (2):
Public finance services98,03589,43786,5738,5982,864
Fixed income services4,99710,8657,143(5,868)3,722
Wealth management:
Retail36,43731,01630,7445,421272
Clearing services1,8891,6601,741229(81)
Structured finance1,2861,105863181242
Other346244335102(91)
142,990134,327127,3998,6636,928
Other (6):
Structured finance80,39962,89647,25117,50315,645
Fixed income services28,01839,13417,078(11,116)22,056
Other20,88019,53021,4011,350(1,871)
129,297121,56085,7307,73735,830
Total noninterest income422,801403,538341,94319,26361,595
Net revenue (3)471,743456,432393,54015,31162,892
Noninterest expense:
Variable compensation (4)153,062144,984138,7058,0786,279
Non-variable compensation and benefits133,638121,411112,44012,2278,971
Segment operating costs (5)121,532116,496104,6275,03611,869
Total noninterest expense408,232382,891355,77225,34127,119
Income before income taxes$63,511$73,541$37,768$(10,030)$35,773
Column 1Column 2
(1)Securities commissions and fees includes income from FDIC sweep investments with the banking segment of $24.9 million, $47.1 million, and $13.6 million during 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively, that is eliminated in consolidation.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Investment and securities advisory fees and commissions includes a de minimis amount of income from the securitization of Small Business Administration, or SBA, loans originated with the banking segment during 2024, that is eliminated in consolidation.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Net revenue is defined as the sum of total net interest income and total noninterest income. We consider net revenue to be a key performance measure in the evaluation of the broker-dealer segment’s financial position and operating performance as we believe it is a primary revenue performance measure used by investors and analysts. Net revenue provides for some level of comparability of trends across the financial services industry as it reflects both noninterest income, including investment and securities advisory fees and commissions, as well as net interest income. Internally, we assess the broker-dealer segment’s performance on a net revenue basis for comparability with our banking segment.
Column 1Column 2
(4)Variable compensation represents performance-based commissions and incentives.
Column 1Column 2
(5)Segment operating costs include provision for (reversal of) credit losses associated with the broker-dealer segment within other noninterest expenses.
Column 1Column 2
(6)During the second quarter of 2024, the Company identified an immaterial error related to the classification within noninterest income associated with the allocation of earned revenue between commission and principal gains on certain principal trades of fixed income securities. As a result, certain prior period amounts within securities commissions and fees noninterest income and other noninterest income have been corrected for consistency with the current period presentation.

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The decline in income before income taxes during 2024, compared with 2023, was primarily due to increases in segment compensation and other segment operating costs, partially offset by an increase in net revenue. The increase in net revenue during 2024, compared with 2023, was primarily due to improved period-over-period results within our structured finance and public finance services business lines, partially offset by declines within our fixed income services and wealth management business lines. The increase in the structured finance business line’s net revenues was primarily due to an increase in trading gains from the U.S. Agency to-be-announced (“TBA”) business and commissions earned on commodities transactions. The increase in net revenues in the broker-dealer segment’s public finance services business line was primarily due to fees earned from managed assets and municipal advisory revenues. The wealth management business line’s net revenue decrease was driven by decreases in commissions earned from our FDIC sweep program on lower customer balances. These decreases were partially offset by improved advisory fees revenues generated from customer assets under management. The decrease in net revenues in the broker-dealer segment’s fixed income services business line was primarily due to declines in revenues from net interest income earned on inventory positions and trading profits.

The broker-dealer segment is subject to interest rate risk as a consequence of maintaining inventory positions, trading in interest rate sensitive financial instruments and maintaining a matched stock loan book. Changes in interest rates are likely to have a meaningful impact on our overall financial performance. Our broker-dealer segment has historically earned a significant portion of its revenues from advisory fees upon the successful completion of client transactions, which could be adversely impacted by interest rate volatility. Rapid or significant changes in interest rates could adversely affect the broker-dealer segment’s bond trading, sales, underwriting activities and other interest spread-sensitive activities described below. The broker-dealer segment also receives administrative fees for providing money market and FDIC investment alternatives to clients, which tend to be sensitive to short-term interest rates. In addition, the profitability of the broker-dealer segment depends, to an extent, on the spread between revenues earned on customer loans and excess customer cash balances, and the interest expense paid on customer cash balances, as well as the interest revenue earned on trading securities, net of financing costs. The broker-dealer segment is also exposed to interest rate risk through its structured finance business line, which is dependent on mortgage loan production that tends to be adversely impacted by increasing interest rates, resulting in valuation-related adjustments.

In the broker-dealer segment, interest is earned from securities lending activities, interest charged on customer margin loan balances and interest earned on investment securities used to support sales, underwriting and other customer activities. The decrease in net interest income during 2024, compared with 2023, was primarily due to the decrease in the net interest income from the fixed income services business line due to decreases in net interest earned on inventory positions. The increase in net interest income during 2023, compared with 2022, was primarily due to the increase in corporate interest, retail and clearing services business line revenues and the amount of interest received on a structured product investments offset by a decrease in net interest income from the fixed income services business line due to the increased cost to carry inventory positions.

Noninterest income increased during 2024, compared with 2023, primarily due to increases in securities commissions and fees, investment and securities advisory fees and other noninterest income. Noninterest income increased during 2023, compared with 2022, primarily due to increases in other noninterest income, securities commissions and fees and investment and securities advisory fees and commissions.

Securities commissions and fees increased during 2024, compared with 2023, primarily due to increases in both the broker-dealer segment’s fixed income services and structured finance business lines. The increase in the fixed income services business line was primarily due to increased volumes and the increase in the structured finance business line was primarily due to an increase in commissions earned on commodities transactions. These increases were partially offset by declines in securities commissions and fees in the broker-dealer segment’s wealth management business line due to decreases in FDIC sweep revenues and net clearing revenues, as well as a decline in commissions earned on insurance product sales. Securities commissions and fees increased during 2023, compared with 2022, primarily due to an increase in FDIC sweep revenue given higher short-term interest rates, partially offset by a decrease in fixed income and retail commissions. As FDIC sweep revenues are closely correlated to short-term interest rates, changes in short-term interest rates may affect these revenues.

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Investment and securities advisory fees and commissions increased during 2024, compared with 2023, primarily due to increases in fees earned from managed assets and municipal advisory transactions. Investment and securities advisory fees and commissions increased during 2023, compared with 2022, primarily due increases in fees earned from managed assets within our treasury management and government investment pool divisions of our public finance services business line and underwriting transactions.

The increase in other noninterest income during 2024, compared with 2023, was primarily due to increases in trading gains earned from structured finance trading activities and distributions received on investments, partially offset by decreases in trading gains earned from fixed income trading activities. Buy-side demand improved resulting in increases in noninterest income in the structured finance business line for 2024, when compared to 2023. The decrease in fixed income trading gains in 2024, compared with 2023, was primarily driven by municipal and taxable securities trading. Other noninterest income increased during 2023, compared with 2022, was primarily due to fixed income trading activities and increases in trading gains earned from structured finance. Specifically, mortgage originations increased 72% during 2023 and customer demand improved compared with 2022. Increased fixed income trading gains during 2023, compared with 2022, were primarily driven by government and agency, mortgage and asset-backed securities trading, partially offset by a decrease in net trading gains from derivative transactions. Also contributing to the overall increase in noninterest income was an increase in the value of the broker-dealer segment’s deferred compensation plan’s assets of $2.5 million during 2023, compared with 2022.

The increase in noninterest expenses during 2024, compared with 2023, was due to increases in segment compensation and other segment operating costs, primarily quotation expenses. The increase in noninterest expenses during 2023, compared with 2022, was primarily due to increases in segment operating costs, including software expenses, travel expenses, quotation and transaction clearing costs, legal fees and both non-variable and variable compensation expenses.

Selected information concerning the broker-dealer segment, including key performance indicators, follows (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Total compensation as a % of net revenue (1)60.8%58.4%63.8%
Pre-tax margin (2)13.5%16.1%9.6%
FDIC insured program balances at the Bank (end of year)$572,188$1,132,106$1,122,091
Other FDIC insured program balances (end of year)$1,350,298$852,653$695,873
Customer funds on deposit, including short credits (end of year)$258,480$223,414$278,670
Public finance services:
Number of issues901804894
Aggregate amount of offerings$63,343,100$46,343,892$38,952,431
Structured finance:
Lock production/TBA volume (3)$4,628,337$6,468,566$3,763,743
Fixed income services:
Total volumes$384,976,739$259,412,621$219,791,737
Net inventory (end of year)$457,946$481,052$701,923
Wealth management (Retail and Clearing services groups):
Retail employee representatives (end of year)929299
Independent registered representatives (end of year)166186163
Correspondents (end of year)99105111
Correspondent receivables (end of year)$150,013$119,996$156,859
Customer margin balances (end of year)$212,070$223,384$274,339
Wealth management (Securities lending group):
Interest-earning assets - stock borrowed (end of year)$1,292,365$1,406,937$1,012,573
Interest-bearing liabilities - stock loaned (end of year)$1,291,725$1,371,896$916,570
Column 1Column 2
(1)Total compensation includes the sum of non-variable compensation and benefits and variable compensation. We consider total compensation as a percentage of net revenue to be a key performance measure and indicator of segment profitability.

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Column 1Column 2
(2)Pre-tax margin is defined as income before income taxes divided by net revenue. We consider pre-tax margin to be a key performance measure given its use as a profitability metric representing the percentage of net revenue earned that results in a profit.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Noted balances during all prior periods include certain reclassifications to conform to current period presentation.

Mortgage Origination Segment

The following table presents certain information regarding the operating results of our mortgage origination segment (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2024202320222024 vs 20232023 vs 2022
Net interest income (expense)$(16,867)$(20,305)$(10,529)$3,438$(9,776)
Noninterest income313,229316,840452,915(3,611)(136,075)
Noninterest expense330,088359,285478,904(29,197)(119,619)
Loss before income taxes$(33,726)$(62,750)$(36,518)$29,024$(26,232)

The mortgage lending business is subject to variables that can impact loan origination volume, including seasonal transaction volumes and interest rate fluctuations. Historically, the mortgage origination segment has experienced increased loan origination volume from purchases of homes during the spring and summer months, when more people tend to move and buy or sell homes. A decrease in mortgage interest rates tends to result in increased loan origination volume from refinancings, while an increase in mortgage interest rates tends to result in decreased loan origination volume from refinancings. While changes in mortgage interest rates have historically had a lesser impact on home purchases volume than on refinancing volume, net increases in mortgage interest rates since 2022 continued to negatively impact home purchase volume through 2024. A modest decline in mortgage rates experienced between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the third quarter of 2024 had a slight impact on loan origination volume in 2024, with a moderate increase in refinancings as a percentage of total loan origination volume. During the fourth quarter of 2024, mortgage interest rates approached levels approximating rates at the end of 2023. See details regarding loan origination volume in the table below.

Recent trends, as well as typical historical patterns in loan origination volume from purchases of homes or from refinancings because of movements in mortgage interest rates, may not be indicative of future loan origination volumes. During 2023, and continuing through 2024, certain events adversely impacted total mortgage market origination volumes because of their effect on the economy, including inflation, an increase in average interest rates during these periods when compared to the average of the three years prior to 2023, the Federal Reserve’s actions and communications, and geopolitical events. These events have also adversely impacted the willingness and ability of the mortgage origination segment’s customers to conduct mortgage transactions. Specifically, current home inventory shortages and affordability challenges are impacting customers’ abilities to purchase homes. Between September and December 2024, the Federal Reserve cut the target range for the federal funds rate by 100 basis points to 4.25% - 4.5% as of December 31, 2024 and were the first reductions since March 2022 when the target range was 0.25% - 0.50%. PrimeLending experienced a measurable increase in interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”) in September 2024 due to the first rate cut and a corresponding decrease in mortgage interest rates. However, despite the decrease in the federal funds rate since September 2024, average mortgage interest rates increased during the fourth quarter of 2024, which hampered mortgage production. PrimeLending continues to evaluate its cost structure to address the current mortgage environment.

We believe that ongoing initiatives are critical to improving PrimeLending’s short- and long-term financial condition and operating results. The mortgage origination segment experienced operating losses that began during the second half of 2022 and continued as expected during 2023 and, to lesser extent, during 2024 due to conditions and challenges discussed in detail within this discussion of segment results. In light of these macroeconomic challenges in the mortgage industry including tight housing inventories and mortgage interest rate levels, the fair value of the mortgage origination reporting unit may decline, and we may be required to record a goodwill impairment charge. These conditions will continue to be considered during future impairment evaluations of goodwill.

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As a GNMA approved lender, we are subject to certain HUD and GNMA minimum capital ratio reporting requirements, including timely reporting if a quarter’s operating loss exceeds more than 20% of its previous quarter or year-end net worth (the “operating loss ratio”) and/or if a quarter’s capital ratio is below 6% (the “GNMA capital ratio”). If this occurs, certain additional financial reporting submissions are required. During the first and fourth quarters of 2023, the operating loss ratios were 21.2% and 20.5%, respectively, while during the second and third quarters of 2023, the HUD operating loss ratio decreased to 15.8% and 10.0%, respectively. During the first quarter of 2024, the HUD operating loss ratio was 22.6%, while during the second quarter of 2024, PrimeLending reported a HUD operating gain. During the third and fourth quarters of 2024, the operating loss ratios were below the 20% threshold at 14.4% and 16.6%, respectively. During each quarter of 2023, the GNMA capital ratio exceeded the required 6%. However, during the first and second quarters of 2024, the GNMA capital ratio decreased to 5.56% and 4.41%, respectively. Including two $10 million capital infusions received by PrimeLending from its parent company, PlainsCapital Bank, in September and December 2024, the GNMA capital ratio increased to 6.38% and 6.36% during the third and fourth quarters of 2024, respectively. All trends requiring notification to GNMA and HUD have been reported to those entities, respectively. Such capital infusions are likely in future periods, including those in the near-term, based on various factors including PrimeLending’s financial performance.

In addition, as a FNMA and FHLMC approved lender, we are subject to certain minimum capital, net worth and liquidity requirements established by FNMA and FHLMC, including maintaining a minimum capital ratio of 6% (the “FNMA/FHLMC capital ratio”). During each quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, the FNMA/FHLMC capital ratio exceeded the required 6%, however during the second quarter of 2024, the FNMA/FHLMC capital ratio decreased to 5.52%. During the third and fourth quarters of 2024, the capital ratio, including the capital infusions previously noted, exceeded the required 6%. FNMA and FHLMC may also monitor additional financial performance trends at their discretion, including risk-based analyses focused on loans that the mortgage origination segment is currently responsible for representations and warranties that agency loans sold meet certain requirements, including representations as to underwriting standards and the validity of certain borrower representations in connection with the loan. One FNMA discretionary performance trend monitors the change in adjusted net worth during the prior twelve months. FNMA’s acceptable threshold for this performance trend is less than minus 30%, but is only considered if a company has four consecutive quarterly losses. During the second, third and fourth quarters of 2023, PrimeLending experienced four consecutive quarterly losses; the loss ratio during these periods were 50.2%, 37.6% and 39.8%, respectively. PrimeLending also recognized four consecutive quarterly losses during the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2024; the loss ratio during these periods was 37.5%, 29.9%, 23.9% and 11.5%, respectively. All trends requiring notification to FNMA and FHLMC have been reported to those entities.

The loss before income taxes decreased in 2024, compared with 2023. This decrease was primarily the result of a decrease in noninterest expense. The loss before income taxes increased significantly in 2023, compared with 2022. This decrease was primarily the result of decreases in the volume of IRLCs, mortgage loan originations and sales and an increase in the net interest expense, partially offset by a decrease in noninterest expense.

During 2022 and continuing through the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2023, the U.S. 10-Year Treasury Rate and mortgage interest rates increased significantly. During the later part of the fourth quarter of 2023, both rates decreased to levels that approximated rates at the beginning of 2023. Between January 1 and September 30, 2024, both rates decreased slightly, then increased during the fourth quarter to levels that approximated rates at the beginning of 2024. Refinancing volume as a percentage of total origination volume was slightly higher during 2024, compared with 2023. Although we anticipate a slightly higher percentage of refinancing volume relative to total loan origination volume during 2025, as compared to 2024, an even higher refinance percentage could be driven by a slowing of purchase volume due to the negative impact on new and existing home sales resulting from existing home inventory shortages and affordability challenges related to new home construction, and/or an increase in all-cash buyers.

The mortgage origination segment primarily originates its mortgage loans through a retail channel, with additional lending through its affiliated business arrangements (“ABAs”). For 2024, funded volume through ABAs was approximately 16% of the mortgage origination segment’s total loan volume. Currently, PrimeLending owns a greater than 50% interest in two ABAs. We expect total production within the ABA channel to approximate 13% of loan volume of the mortgage origination segment during 2025.

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The following table provides further details regarding our mortgage loan originations and sales for the periods indicated below (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
% of% of% ofVariance
AmountTotalAmountTotalAmountTotal2024 vs 20232023 vs 2022
Mortgage Loan Originations - units26,89326,96441,121(71)(14,157)
Mortgage Loan Originations - volume:
Conventional$5,235,72960.77%$5,147,10162.44%$8,276,43465.37%$88,628$(3,129,333)
Government1,849,51321.47%1,904,23723.10%2,572,25720.32%(54,724)(668,020)
Jumbo435,7165.06%297,5093.61%1,052,5088.31%138,207(754,999)
Other1,095,39512.70%894,28410.85%758,9576.00%201,111135,327
$8,616,353100.00%$8,243,131100.00%$12,660,156100.00%$373,222$(4,417,025)
Home purchases$7,759,81290.06%$7,701,75893.43%$10,823,00285.49%$58,054$(3,121,244)
Refinancings856,5419.94%541,3736.57%1,837,15414.51%315,168(1,295,781)
$8,616,353100.00%$8,243,131100.00%$12,660,156100.00%$373,222$(4,417,025)
Texas$2,709,56631.45%$2,379,42528.87%$2,910,75422.99%$330,141$(531,329)
California661,7167.68%647,8317.86%1,077,9068.51%13,885(430,075)
South Carolina452,4765.25%427,2985.18%569,2064.50%25,178(141,908)
Missouri373,1484.33%304,7233.70%398,8263.15%68,425(94,103)
New York369,9584.29%364,9794.43%546,0434.31%4,979(181,064)
Florida330,5213.84%390,7084.74%613,8964.85%(60,187)(223,188)
Arizona278,0433.23%345,7384.19%562,5904.44%(67,695)(216,852)
Ohio252,3632.93%251,4803.05%529,9394.19%883(278,459)
Washington244,8252.84%192,6912.34%333,1912.63%52,134(140,500)
Maryland169,4111.97%208,3672.53%321,8352.54%(38,956)(113,468)
All other states2,774,32632.19%2,729,89133.11%4,795,97037.89%44,435(2,066,079)
$8,616,353100.00%$8,243,131100.00%$12,660,156100.00%$373,222$(4,417,025)
Mortgage Loan Sales - volume:
Third parties$8,099,42598.49%$7,906,29798.26%$12,668,25295.97%$193,128$(4,761,955)
Banking segment124,3091.51%140,2881.74%532,2194.03%(15,979)(391,931)
$8,223,734100.00%$8,046,585100.00%$13,200,471100.00%$177,149$(5,153,886)

We consider the mortgage origination segment’s total loan origination volume to be a key performance measure. Loan origination volume is central to the segment’s ability to generate income by originating and selling mortgage loans, resulting in net gains from the sale of loans, mortgage loan origination fees, and other mortgage production income. Total loan origination volume is a measure utilized by management, our investors, and analysts in assessing market share and growth of the mortgage origination segment.

The mortgage origination segment’s total loan origination volume increased 4.5% during 2024, compared with 2023, while loss before income taxes decreased 46.3%, compared with 2023. The decrease in loss before income taxes during 2024 was primarily due to an increase in average loan sales margin, increases in average value of IRLCs and decreases in non-variable compensation and benefits expense and segment operating costs, partially offset by a decrease in the average value of mortgage loan origination fees and to a lesser extent, decreases in net servicing income and an increase in the loss on the change in the net fair value and related derivative activity related to mortgage servicing rights assets, compared with 2023. During 2023, the mortgage origination segment’s total loan origination volume decreased 34.9% compared with 2022, while loss before income taxes increased 71.8% during 2023, compared with 2022. The increase in loss before income taxes during 2023 was primarily due to decreases in the volume of IRLCs and mortgage loan originations and sales, a decrease in the average value of IRLCs, and to a lesser extent, an increase in net interest expense, compared with 2022. These trends were partially offset by a decrease in variable compensation, an increase in the average value of mortgage loan origination fees, and to a lesser extent, decreases in non-variable compensation and benefits expense, and segment operating costs, compared with 2022.

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The information shown in the table below includes certain additional key performance indicators for the mortgage origination segment.

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Net gains from mortgage loan sales (basis points):
Loans sold to third parties226198263
Impact of loans retained by banking segment(4)(4)(11)
As reported222194252
Variable compensation as a percentage of total compensation52.6%47.4%51.9%
Mortgage servicing rights asset ($000's) (end of year) (1)$5,723$96,662$100,825
Column 1Column 2
(1)Reported on a consolidated basis and therefore does not include mortgage servicing rights assets related to loans serviced for the banking segment, which are eliminated in consolidation.

Net interest expense was comprised of interest income earned on loans held for sale offset by interest incurred on warehouse lines of credit primarily held with the Bank, and related intercompany financing costs. The changes in net interest expense during 2024, compared with 2023, reflected a decrease in the negative net interest margin, and during 2023, compared with 2022, reflected the effects of an increased net interest margin on mortgage loans held for sale, partially offset by a decrease in the average warehouse line balance between the two periods.

Noninterest income was comprised of the items set forth in the table below (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2024202320222024 vs 20232023 vs 2022
Net gains from sale of loans$182,937$156,190$332,732$26,747$(176,542)
Mortgage loan origination fees and other related income123,066144,539149,598(21,473)(5,059)
Other mortgage production income:
Change in net fair value and related derivative activity:
IRLCs and loans held for sale4,408832(69,668)3,57670,500
Mortgage servicing rights asset(19,235)(16,589)2,733(2,646)(19,322)
Servicing fees22,05331,86837,520(9,815)(5,652)
Total noninterest income$313,229$316,840$452,915$(3,611)$(136,075)

Net gains from sale of loans increased 17.1%, while total loans sales volume was relatively flat during 2024, compared with 2023. The increase in net gains from sales of loans was primarily the result of an increase in average loan sale margin. The decrease in net gains from sale of loans during 2023, compared with 2022, was primarily the result of a decrease of 39.0% in total loan sales volume, in addition to a decrease in average loan sales margin.

The 14.9% decrease in mortgage loan origination fees and other related income during 2024, compared with 2023, was primarily the result of a decrease in average mortgage loan origination fees as loan origination volume increased 4.5%. The decrease in mortgage loan origination fees during 2023, compared with 2022, was minimal at 3.4%. The negative impact on fees resulting from a decrease in loan origination volume, was mostly offset by an increase in average mortgage loan origination fees.

Fluctuations in mortgage loan origination fees and net gains on sale of loans are not always aligned with fluctuations in loan origination and loan sale volumes, respectively, since customers may opt to pay PrimeLending discount fees on their mortgage loans, which are included in mortgage loan origination fees, in exchange for a lower interest rate, which decreases the value of a loan in the secondary market.

We consider the mortgage origination segment’s net gains from sale of loans margin, in basis points, to be a key performance measure. Net gains from mortgage loan sales margin is defined as net gains from sale of loans divided by mortgage loan sales volume. The net gains from sale of loans is central to the segment’s generation of income and may include loans sold to third parties and loans sold to and retained by the banking segment. For origination services provided, the mortgage origination segment was reimbursed direct origination costs associated with loans retained by the banking segment, in addition to payment of a correspondent fee. The reimbursed origination costs and correspondent fee

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are included in the mortgage origination segment operating results, and the correspondent fees are eliminated in consolidation. Loan volumes to be originated on behalf of and retained by the banking segment are evaluated each quarter. Loans sold to and retained by the banking segment during 2024, 2023 and 2022 were $124 million, $140 million and $532 million, respectively. Loan volumes to be originated on behalf of and retained by the banking segment are expected to be impacted by, among other things, an ongoing review of the prevailing mortgage rates, balance sheet positioning at Hilltop and the banking segment’s outlook for commercial loan growth.

Noninterest income included changes in the net fair value of the mortgage origination segment’s IRLCs and loans held for sale and the related activity associated with forward commitments used by the mortgage origination segment to mitigate interest rate risk associated with its IRLCs and mortgage loans held for sale (“net fair value of IRLCs and loans held for sale”). The increase in net fair value of IRLCs and loans held for sale during 2024, compared with 2023, was primarily the result of an increase in the average value of individual IRLCs and loans held for sale.

The mortgage origination segment sells substantially all mortgage loans it originates to various investors in the secondary market. In addition, the mortgage origination segment originates loans on behalf of the Bank. The mortgage origination segment’s determination of whether to retain or release servicing on mortgage loans it sells is impacted by, among other things, changes in mortgage interest rates, refinancing and market activity, and balance sheet positioning at Hilltop. During 2024, 2023 and 2022, the mortgage origination segment retained servicing on approximately 7%, 18% and 25%, respectively, of loans sold. A reduction in third-party mortgage servicers purchasing mortgage servicing rights, even if modest, may result in PrimeLending increasing the rate of retained servicing on mortgage loans sold at any time. The mortgage origination segment may, from time to time, manage its MSR asset through different strategies, including varying the percentage of mortgage loans sold servicing released and opportunistically selling MSR assets. The mortgage origination segment has also retained servicing on certain loans sold to and retained by the banking segment. Gains and losses associated with such sales to the banking segment and the related MSR asset are eliminated in consolidation.

The mortgage origination segment uses derivative financial instruments, including U.S. Treasury bond futures and options and MBS commitments, to mitigate interest rate risk associated with its MSR asset. During 2024, changes in the net fair value of the MSR asset and the related derivatives resulted in net losses of $19.2 million. In addition to normal customer payments and customer payoffs, these changes were primarily driven by losses totaling $12.3 million during 2024, to account for MSR valuation assumption changes, including prepayment and discount rates used as inputs to value the MSR asset, and differences between MSR carrying values and sales prices related to the sale of MSR assets. Fluctuations in the net fair value of the MSR asset driven by net changes in long-term U.S. Treasury bond rates and the related derivatives used to hedge the MSR during the respective periods resulted in net losses of $3.2 million. During the second quarter of 2024, the mortgage origination segment signed a letter of intent to sell and completed the sale of MSR assets of $45.1 million, which represented $2.9 billion of its serviced loan volume at the time. In addition, during September 2024, the mortgage origination segment signed a letter of intent to sell MSR assets of $42.6 million, which represented $2.3 billion of its serviced loan volume. This sale was completed during the fourth quarter of 2024. As a result, the mortgage origination segment does not currently expect the level of MSR assets to be significant in the short-term. In addition to gains and losses generated by changes in the net fair value of the MSR asset and related derivatives, net servicing income of $8.6 million was recognized during 2024. During 2023, the operating results of the mortgage origination segment were impacted by a decrease of $12.5 million in the net fair value of the MSR asset. This decrease was primarily driven by market sales trends during the first quarter of 2023 and 2022. The remaining losses of $4.1 million were generated by the derivatives used to hedge the MSR. During June 2023, the mortgage origination segment sold MSR assets of $19.1 million, which represented $991.0 million of its serviced loan volume at the time. During 2022, the mortgage origination segment sold MSR assets of approximately $65 million, with a serviced loan volume totaling $3.7 billion. In addition to net losses generated by changes in the net fair value of the MSR asset and related derivatives, net servicing income of $13.5 million was recognized during 2023.

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Noninterest expenses were comprised of the items set forth in the table below (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2024202320222024 vs 20232023 vs 2022
Variable compensation$121,720$118,977$183,804$2,743$(64,827)
Non-variable compensation and benefits109,573132,142170,169(22,569)(38,027)
Segment operating costs76,04384,86492,631(8,821)(7,767)
Lender paid closing costs9,3324,97113,3714,361(8,400)
Servicing expense13,42018,33118,929(4,911)(598)
Total noninterest expense$330,088$359,285$478,904$(29,197)$(119,619)

Total employees’ compensation and benefits accounted for the majority of the noninterest expenses incurred during all periods presented. Historically, variable compensation comprises the majority of total employees’ compensation and benefits expenses, but during 2023, as opposed to 2024 and 2022, non-variable compensation was greater than variable compensation. Variable compensation, which is primarily driven by loan origination volume, tends to fluctuate to a greater degree than loan origination volume, because mortgage loan originator and fulfillment staff incentive compensation plans are structured to pay at increasing rates as higher monthly volume tiers are achieved. However, certain other incentive compensation plans driven by non-mortgage production criteria may alter this trend.

While total loan origination volumes increased 4.5% during 2024, compared with 2023, the aggregate non-variable compensation and benefits of the mortgage origination segment decreased by 17.1%. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in salaries and health insurance expense associated with a reduction in underwriting and loan fulfillment, operations and corporate staff as PrimeLending continued to evaluate its cost structure to address current mortgage environment. Segment operating costs decreased during 2024, compared with 2023, primarily due to decreases in occupancy and software expense. During 2023, compared with 2022, segment operating costs decreased primarily due to decreases in occupancy and equipment expense, advertising expense, professional fees and net loan related expenses, excluding credit report expense.

In exchange for a higher interest rate, customers may opt to have PrimeLending pay certain costs associated with the origination of their mortgage loan (“lender paid closing costs”). Fluctuations in lender paid closing costs are not always aligned with fluctuations in loan origination volume. Other loan pricing conditions, including the mortgage loan interest rate, loan origination fees paid by the customer, and a customer’s willingness to pay closing costs, may influence fluctuations in lender paid closing costs.

Between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2024, the mortgage origination segment sold mortgage loans totaling $146.2 billion. These loans were sold under sales contracts that generally include provisions that hold the mortgage origination segment responsible for errors or omissions relating to its representations and warranties that loans sold meet certain requirements, including representations as to underwriting standards and the validity of certain borrower representations in connection with the loan. In addition, the sales contracts typically require the refund of purchased servicing rights plus certain investor servicing costs if a loan experiences an early payment default. While the mortgage origination segment sold loans prior to 2015, it does not anticipate experiencing significant losses in the future on loans originated prior to 2015 as a result of investor claims under these provisions of its sales contracts.

When a claim for indemnification of a loan sold is made by an agency, investor, or other party, the mortgage origination segment evaluates the claim and determines if the claim can be satisfied through additional documentation or other deliverables. If the claim is valid and cannot be satisfied in that manner, the mortgage origination segment negotiates with the claimant to reach a settlement of the claim. Settlements typically result in either the repurchase of a loan or reimbursement to the claimant for losses incurred on the loan.

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The following is a summary of the mortgage origination segment’s claims resolution activity relating to loans sold between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2024 (dollars in thousands).

Original Loan BalanceLoss Recognized
% of% of
AmountLoans SoldAmountLoans Sold
Claims resolved with no payment$256,0730.18%$-%
Claims resolved because of a loan repurchase or payment to an investor for losses incurred (1)351,6120.24%27,0540.02%
$607,6850.42%$27,0540.02%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Losses incurred include refunded purchased servicing rights.

For each loan, when the mortgage origination segment concludes its obligation to a claimant is both probable and reasonably estimable, the mortgage origination segment has established a specific claims indemnification liability reserve.

An additional indemnification liability reserve has been established for probable agency, investor or other party losses that may have been incurred, but not yet reported to the mortgage origination segment based upon a reasonable estimate of such losses. Factors considered in the calculation of this reserve include, but are not limited to, the total volume of loans sold exclusive of specific claimant requests, actual claim inquiries, claim settlements and the severity of estimated losses resulting from future claims, and the mortgage origination segment’s history of successfully curing defects identified in claim requests.

Although management considers the total indemnification liability reserve to be appropriate, there may be changes in the reserve over time to address incurred losses due to unanticipated adverse changes in the economy and historical loss patterns, discrete events adversely affecting specific borrowers or industries, and/or actions taken by institutions or investors. The impact of such matters is considered in the reserving process when probable and estimable. During the second quarter of 2024, PrimeLending increased the indemnification reserve rate applied to loans sold subsequent to April 30, 2024, to address recent loss trends. During the third and fourth quarter of 2024, there was no adjustment made to the indemnification liability reserve. PrimeLending will continue to monitor agency claim inquiry trends and assess its potential impact on the indemnification liability reserve.

At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the mortgage origination segment’s total indemnification liability reserve totaled $8.1 million and $11.7 million, respectively. The related provision for indemnification losses was $2.8 million, $1.6 million and $1.5 million during 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Corporate

The following table presents certain financial information regarding the operating results of corporate (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2024202320222024 vs 20232023 vs 2022
Net interest income (expense)$(12,838)$(12,961)$(13,135)$123$174
Noninterest income18,51512,8877,5255,6285,362
Noninterest expense63,11060,63159,0302,4791,601
Loss before income taxes$(57,433)$(60,705)$(64,640)$3,272$3,935

Corporate includes certain activities not allocated to specific business segments. These activities include holding company financing and investing activities, merchant banking investment opportunities and management and administrative services to support the overall operations of the Company. Hilltop’s merchant banking investment activities include the identification of attractive opportunities for capital deployment in companies engaged in non-financial activities through its merchant bank subsidiary, Hilltop Opportunity Partners LLC. These merchant banking activities currently include investments within various industries, including power generation, youth sports and entertainment, dental health and industrial equipment manufacturing, with an aggregate carrying value of approximately $74 million at December 31, 2024.

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As a holding company, Hilltop’s primary investment objectives are to support capital deployment for organic growth and to preserve capital to be deployed through acquisitions, dividend payments and potential stock repurchases. Investment and interest income earned during 2024 was primarily comprised of dividend income from merchant banking investment activities, in addition to interest income earned on intercompany notes.

Interest expense during 2024, 2023 and 2022 included recurring annual interest expense of $7.7 million incurred on our $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5% Senior Notes due April 15, 2025. During 2024, 2023 and 2022, we incurred interest expense of $12.4 million, $12.4 million and $12.3 million, respectively, on our $50 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due May 15, 2030 (“2030 Subordinated Notes”) and on our $150 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% fixed-to-floating subordinated notes due May 15, 2035 (“2035 Subordinated Notes,” the 2030 Subordinated Notes and the 2035 Subordinated Notes, collectively, the “Subordinated Notes”), which were issued in May 2020. On January 15, 2025, we redeemed all of our outstanding Senior Notes using cash on hand, which also satisfied and discharged our obligations under the Senior Notes and Senior Notes Indenture.

Noninterest income during each period included activity related to our investment in a real estate development in Dallas’ University Park, which also serves as headquarters for both Hilltop and the Bank, and net noninterest income associated with activity within our merchant bank subsidiary. During 2024, noninterest income included pre-tax gains of $5.3 associated with the sale of merchant bank equity investments.

Noninterest expenses were primarily comprised of employees’ compensation and benefits, occupancy expenses and professional fees, including corporate governance, legal and transaction costs. During 2024, compared with 2023, the increase in noninterest expenses was primarily due to increases associated with software costs and employees’ compensation and benefits, partially offset by a decrease in professional services expenses. During 2023, compared with 2022, the increase in noninterest expenses was primarily due to inflationary increases associated with employees’ compensation and benefits, partially offset by decreases in professional services and occupancy expenses.

Financial Condition

The following discussion contains a more detailed analysis of our financial condition at December 31, 2024 as compared with December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

Securities Portfolio

At December 31, 2024, investment securities consisted of securities of the U.S. Treasury, U.S. government and its agencies, obligations of municipalities and other political subdivisions, primarily in the State of Texas, as well as mortgage-backed, corporate debt, and equity securities. We may categorize investments as trading, available for sale, held to maturity and equity securities.

Trading securities are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term and are carried at fair value, marked to market through operations and held at the Bank and the Hilltop Broker-Dealers. Securities classified as available for sale may, from time to time, be bought and sold in response to changes in market interest rates, changes in securities’ prepayment risk, increases in loan demand, general liquidity needs and to take advantage of market conditions that create more economically attractive returns. Such securities are carried at estimated fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Equity investments are carried at fair value, with all changes in fair value recognized in net income. Securities are classified as held to maturity based on the intent and ability of our management, at the time of purchase, to hold such securities to maturity. These securities are carried at amortized cost.

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The table below summarizes our securities portfolio (in thousands).

December 31,
202420232022
Trading securities, at fair value
U.S. Treasury securities$2,553$3,736$10,466
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds9,98412,86720,878
Residential mortgage-backed securities35,440124,768214,100
Collateralized mortgage obligations125,51586,281182,717
Other19,87713,079
Corporate debt securities60,59437,56942,685
States and political subdivisions244,076180,890260,271
Private-label securitized product16,20847,7689,265
Other10,6699,03314,650
524,916515,991755,032
Securities available for sale, at fair value
U.S. Treasury securities4,7624,61719,144
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds111,868166,166202,257
Residential mortgage-backed securities341,186349,870406,358
Commercial mortgage-backed securities220,327191,746175,499
Collateralized mortgage obligations657,600736,481818,894
Corporate debt securities29,81624,418
States and political subdivisions30,99034,29736,614
1,396,5491,507,5951,658,766
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost
U.S. government agencies:
Residential mortgage-backed securities255,880278,172301,583
Commercial mortgage-backed securities147,696172,879180,942
Collateralized mortgage obligations257,230284,208314,705
States and political subdivisions77,09377,41878,302
737,899812,677875,532
Equity securities, at fair value297321200
Total securities portfolio$2,659,661$2,836,584$3,289,530

We had net unrealized losses of $101.9 million, $114.2 million and $129.8 million at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, related to the available for sale investment portfolio. Within the held to maturity portfolio, we had net unrealized losses of $88.0 million, $80.8 million and $90.2 million at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022. Equity securities included net unrealized gains of $0.2 million, $0.3 million and $0.1 million at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. In future periods, we expect changes in prevailing market interest rates, coupled with changes in the aggregate size of the investment portfolio, to be significant drivers of changes in the unrealized losses or gains in these portfolios, and therefore accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Banking Segment

The banking segment’s securities portfolio plays a role in the management of our interest rate sensitivity and generates additional interest income. In addition, the securities portfolio is used to meet collateral requirements for public and trust deposits, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other purposes. The available for sale and equity securities portfolios serve as a source of liquidity. Historically, the Bank’s policy has been to invest primarily in securities of the U.S. government and its agencies, obligations of municipalities in the State of Texas and other high grade fixed income securities to minimize credit risk. At December 31, 2024, the banking segment’s securities portfolio of $2.1 billion was comprised of trading securities of $9.7 million, available for sale securities of $1.4 billion, held to maturity securities of $737.9 million and equity securities of $0.3 million, in addition to $10.4 million of other investments included in other assets within the consolidated balance sheets.

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Broker-Dealer Segment

The broker-dealer segment holds securities to support sales, underwriting and other customer activities. The interest rate risk inherent in holding these securities is managed by setting and monitoring limits on the size and duration of positions and on the length of time the securities can be held. The Hilltop Broker-Dealers are required to carry their securities at fair value and record changes in the fair value of the portfolio to the statements of operations. Accordingly, the securities portfolio of the Hilltop Broker-Dealers included trading securities of $515.2 million at December 31, 2024. In addition, the Hilltop Broker-Dealers enter into transactions that represent commitments to purchase and deliver securities at prevailing future market prices to facilitate customer transactions and satisfy such commitments. Accordingly, the Hilltop Broker-Dealers’ ultimate obligation may exceed the amount recognized in the financial statements. These securities, which are carried at fair value and reported as securities sold, not yet purchased in the consolidated balance sheets, had a value of $57.2 million at December 31, 2024.

Corporate

At December 31, 2024, the corporate portfolio included other investments, including those associated with merchant banking, of available for sale securities of $29.8 million and other assets of $43.5 million within the consolidated balance sheet.

Allowance for Credit Losses for Available for Sale Securities and Held to Maturity Securities

We have evaluated available for sale debt securities that are in an unrealized loss position and have determined that any declines in value are unrelated to credit loss and related to changes in market interest rates since purchase. None of the available for sale debt securities held were past due at December 31, 2024. In addition, as of December 31, 2024, we evaluated our held to maturity debt securities, considering the current credit ratings and recognized losses, and determined the potential credit loss to be minimal. With respect to these securities, we considered the risk of credit loss to be negligible, and therefore, no allowance was recognized on the debt securities portfolio at December 31, 2024.

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The following table sets forth the estimated maturities of our debt securities, excluding trading securities, at December 31, 2024. Contractual maturities may be different (dollars in thousands, yields are tax-equivalent).

One YearOne Year toFive Years toGreater Than
Or LessFive YearsTen YearsTen YearsTotal
U.S. Treasury securities:
Amortized cost$4,991$4,991
Fair value$4,762$4,762
Weighted average yield (1)0.87%0.87%
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds:
Amortized cost$41,398$32,104$38,791$112,293
Fair value$41,450$31,806$38,612$111,868
Weighted average yield (1)4.76%5.22%5.55%5.16%
Residential mortgage-backed securities:
Amortized cost$6,006$67,180$562,345$635,531
Fair value$5,851$63,656$495,938$565,445
Weighted average yield (1)2.68%2.55%2.57%2.56%
Commercial mortgage-backed securities:
Amortized cost$40,310$85,139$245,321$3,252$374,022
Fair value$40,067$82,653$231,861$2,754$357,335
Weighted average yield (1)3.44%3.52%2.46%2.99%2.81%
Collateralized mortgage obligations:
Amortized cost$7,148$40,680$139,110$780,955$967,893
Fair value$7,112$40,123$135,920$693,406$876,561
Weighted average yield (1)3.46%3.95%3.49%3.06%3.16%
Corporate debt securities:
Amortized cost$30,139$30,139
Fair value$29,816$29,816
Weighted average yield1.14%1.14%
States and political subdivisions:
Amortized cost$1,933$11,304$62,425$35,783$111,445
Fair value$1,923$10,943$57,746$30,022$100,634
Weighted average yield (1)2.62%2.73%2.95%2.55%2.79%
Total securities portfolio:
Amortized cost$49,391$219,657$546,140$1,421,126$2,236,314
Fair value$49,102$215,598$520,989$1,260,732$2,046,421
Weighted average yield (1)3.41%3.38%2.95%2.92%2.98%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Weighted average yield is defined as interest earned by average interest-earning assets.

Loan Portfolio

Consolidated loans held for investment are detailed in the table below, classified by portfolio segment (in thousands).

December 31,
Loan Held for Investment202420232022
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$1,921,691$1,889,882$1,870,552
Owner occupied1,435,9451,422,2341,375,321
Commercial and industrial1,541,9401,607,8331,639,980
Construction and land development866,2451,031,095980,896
1-4 family residential1,792,6021,757,1781,767,099
Consumer28,41027,35127,602
Broker-dealer363,718344,172431,223
Loans held for investment, gross7,950,5518,079,7458,092,673
Allowance for credit losses(101,116)(111,413)(95,442)
Loans held for investment, net of allowance$7,849,435$7,968,332$7,997,231

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Banking Segment

The loan portfolio constitutes the primary earning asset of the banking segment and typically offers the best alternative for obtaining the maximum interest spread above the banking segment’s cost of funds. The overall economic strength of the banking segment generally parallels the quality and yield of its loan portfolio.

As discussed in more detail within the section captioned “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” below, the banking segment’s credit policies emphasize strong underwriting and governance standards and early detection of potential problem credits in order to develop and implement action plans on a timely basis to mitigate potential losses. These formal credit policies and procedures provide the banking segment with a framework for consistent underwriting and a basis for sound credit decisions. The banking segment strives to avoid the risk of concentrations of credit in any particular industry, collateral type, location, or with any individual customer or counterparty.

To manage the credit risks associated with its loan portfolio, management may, depending upon current or anticipated economic conditions and related exposures, apply enhanced risk management measures to loans through analysis of a specific borrower’s financial condition, including cash flow, collateral values, and guarantees, among other credit factors. Given the current market dynamics, including economic uncertainties, the heightened level of market interest rates since 2022, and a deteriorating outlook for commercial real estate markets, management has heightened its specific review procedures of credits maturing in the next six to twelve months as well as those credits associated with real estate.

The banking segment’s total loans held for investment, net of the allowance for credit losses, were $8.3 billion, $8.5 billion and $8.5 billion at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. At December 31, 2024, the banking segment’s loan portfolio included warehouse lines of credit extended to PrimeLending and its ABAs of $1.3 billion, of which $0.8 billion was drawn. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, amounts drawn on the available warehouse lines of credit was $0.9 billion during each period, respectively. Amounts advanced against the warehouse lines of credit are eliminated from net loans held for investment on our consolidated balance sheets. The banking segment does not generally participate in syndicated loan transactions and has no foreign loans in its portfolio.

A significant portion of the banking segment’s loan portfolio at December 31, 2024 consisted of commercial real estate loans secured by properties. Such loans can involve high principal loan amounts, and the repayment of these loans is dependent, in large part, on a borrower’s ongoing business operations or on income generated from the properties that are leased to third parties.

The table below sets forth the banking segment’s commercial real estate loan portfolio, by portfolio industry sector and collateral location as of December 31, 2024 (in thousands).

Brownsville-Other
Dallas-Harlingen-SanOutside
Commercial Real EstateFort WorthAustinHoustonMcAllenAntonioLubbockTexasTexasTotal
Non-owner occupied:
Office$136,266$224,503$32,525$15,354$20,192$2,884$55,593$315$487,632
Retail154,75369,37425,94121,73720,4367,66932,3878,695340,992
Hotel/Motel48,21324,19433,94417,1039916,71234,79713,671188,733
Multifamily44,61353,29538,73649,10746,95035,59752,53816,410337,246
Industrial110,36951,2368,2013,1922,47387920,2926,976203,618
All other107,18957,30728,07911,14419,50548,00664,19628,044363,470
$601,403$479,909$167,426$117,637$109,655$111,747$259,803$74,111$1,921,691
Owner occupied:
Office$133,273$90,231$22,337$13,905$33,192$7,054$10,501$3,850$314,343
Retail11,01716,0733,0579841,0741464,57095437,875
Industrial195,81842,24134,7819,21420,8886,61529,48920,090359,136
All other314,86475,98577,44121,09050,39513,342148,47323,001724,591
$654,972$224,530$137,616$45,193$105,549$27,157$193,033$47,895$1,435,945
Total commercial real estate loans$1,256,375$704,439$305,042$162,830$215,204$138,904$452,836$122,006$3,357,636

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At December 31, 2024, the banking segment had loan concentrations (loans to borrowers engaged in similar activities) that exceeded 10% of total loans in its real estate portfolio. The areas of concentration within our real estate portfolio were non-construction commercial real estate loans, non-construction residential real estate loans, and construction and land development loans, which represented 44.3%, 23.6% and 11.4%, respectively, of the banking segment’s total loans held for investment at December 31, 2024. The banking segment’s loan concentrations were within regulatory guidelines at December 31, 2024.

In addition, the Bank’s loan portfolio includes collateralized loans extended to businesses that depend on the energy industry, including those within the exploration and production, field services, pipeline construction and transportation sectors. Crude oil prices remain uncertain given future supply and demand for oil are influenced by international armed conflicts, return to business travel, new energy policies and government regulation, and the pace of transition towards renewable energy resources. At December 31, 2024, the Bank’s energy loan exposure was approximately $54 million of loans held for investment with unfunded commitment balances of approximately $24 million. The allowance for credit losses on the Bank’s energy portfolio was $0.5 million, or 1.0% of loans held for investment at December 31, 2024.

The following table provides information regarding the maturities of the banking segment’s gross loans held for investment, net of unearned income (in thousands). The commercial and industrial portfolio segment includes amounts advanced against the warehouse lines of credit extended to PrimeLending.

December 31, 2024
Due WithinDue From OneDue from FiveDue After
One YearTo Five YearsTo Fifteen YearsFifteen YearsTotal
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$655,128$975,094$291,273$196$1,921,691
Owner occupied390,057539,197490,97515,7161,435,945
Commercial and industrial1,975,478339,31175,4472,390,236
Construction and land development717,885128,25619,253851866,245
1-4 family residential188,770572,306321,784709,7421,792,602
Consumer13,42814,274699928,410
Total$3,940,746$2,568,438$1,199,431$726,514$8,435,129

The following table provides information regarding the interest rate composition, based on contractual terms, of the banking segment's loans held for investment, net of unearned income (in thousands).

Loans maturing after one year
Fixed InterestFloating Interest
December 31, 2024RateRateTotal
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$729,501$537,062$1,266,563
Owner occupied682,918362,9701,045,888
Commercial and industrial295,240119,518414,758
Construction and land development73,19175,169148,360
1-4 family residential929,530674,3021,603,832
Consumer14,8998314,982
Total$2,725,279$1,769,104$4,494,383

In the table above, floating interest rate loans totaling $356.3 million as of December 31, 2024 had reached their applicable rate floor and were expected to reprice, subject to their scheduled repricing timing and frequency terms. The majority of floating rate loans carry an interest rate tied to a SOFR rate or The Wall Street Journal Prime Rate, as published in The Wall Street Journal.

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Broker-Dealer Segment

The loan portfolio of the broker-dealer segment consists primarily of margin loans to customers and correspondents that are due within one year. The interest rate on margin accounts is computed on the settled margin balance at a fixed rate established by management. These loans are collateralized by the securities purchased or by other securities owned by the clients and, because of collateral coverage ratios, are believed to present minimal collectability exposure. Additionally, these loans are subject to a number of regulatory requirements as well as the Hilltop Broker-Dealers’ internal policies. The broker-dealer segment’s total loans held for investment, net of the allowance for credit losses, were $363.7 million, $344.1 million and $431.0 million at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024, was primarily attributable to an increase of $30.0 million, or 25%, in receivables from correspondents, partially offset by a decrease of $11.3 million, or 5%, in customer margin accounts. The decrease from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023, was primarily attributable to a decrease of $51.0 million, or 19%, in customer margin accounts and a decrease of $36.9 million, or 24%, in receivables from correspondents.

Mortgage Origination Segment

The loan portfolio of the mortgage origination segment consists of loans held for sale, primarily single-family residential mortgages funded through PrimeLending, and IRLCs with customers pursuant to which we agree to originate a mortgage loan on a future date at an agreed-upon interest rate. The components of the mortgage origination segment’s loans held for sale and IRLCs are as follows (in thousands).

December 31,
202420232022
Loans held for sale:
Unpaid principal balance$802,987$802,348$850,277
Fair value adjustment6,79519,8465,420
$809,782$822,194$855,697
IRLCs:
Unpaid principal balance$384,528$383,767$506,278
Fair value adjustment2,9427,7341,767
$387,470$391,501$508,045

The mortgage origination segment uses forward commitments to mitigate interest rate risk associated with its loans held for sale and IRLCs. The notional amounts of these forward commitments at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were $932.6 million, $1.0 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively, while the related estimated fair values were $6.4 million, ($10.2) million and $3.3 million, respectively.

Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans

For additional information regarding the allowance for credit losses, refer to the section captioned “Critical Accounting Estimates” included in this Form 10-K.

Loans Held for Investment

The Bank has lending policies in place with the goal of establishing an asset portfolio that will provide a return on stockholders’ equity sufficient to maintain capital to assets ratios that meet or exceed established regulations. Loans are underwritten with careful consideration of the borrower’s financial condition, the specific purpose of the loan, the primary sources of repayment and any collateral pledged to secure the loan.

Underwriting procedures address financial components based on the size and complexity of the credit. The financial components include, but are not limited to, current and projected cash flows, shock analysis and/or stress testing, and trends in appropriate balance sheet and statement of operations ratios. The Bank’s loan policy provides specific underwriting guidelines by portfolio segment, including commercial and industrial, real estate, construction and land development, and consumer loans. The guidelines for each individual portfolio segment set forth permissible and impermissible loan types. With respect to each loan type, the guidelines within the Bank’s loan policy provide minimum

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requirements for the underwriting factors listed above. The Bank’s underwriting procedures also include an analysis of any collateral and guarantor. Collateral analysis includes a complete description of the collateral, as well as determined values, monitoring requirements, loan to value ratios, concentration risk, appraisal requirements and other information relevant to the collateral being pledged. Guarantor analysis includes liquidity and cash flow evaluation based on the significance with which the guarantors are expected to serve as secondary repayment sources.

The Bank maintains a loan review department that reviews credit risk in response to both external and internal factors that potentially impact the performance of either individual loans or the overall loan portfolio. The loan review process reviews the creditworthiness of borrowers and determines compliance with the loan policy. The loan review process complements and reinforces the risk identification and assessment decisions made by lenders and credit personnel. Results of these reviews are presented to management, the Bank’s board of directors and the Risk Committee of the board of directors of the Company.

The allowance for credit losses for loans held for investment represents management’s best estimate of all expected credit losses over the expected contractual life of our existing portfolio. Determining the appropriateness of the allowance is complex and requires judgment by management about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Subsequent evaluations of the then-existing loan portfolio, in light of the factors then prevailing, may result in significant changes in the allowance for credit losses in those future periods. Such future changes in the allowance for credit losses are expected to be volatile given dependence upon, among other things, the portfolio composition and quality, as well as the impact of significant drivers, including prepayment assumptions and macroeconomic conditions and forecasts.

Significant judgment is required to estimate the severity and duration of the current economic uncertainties, as well as its potential impact on borrower default and loss severity. In particular, macroeconomic conditions and forecasts are rapidly changing and remain highly uncertain.

One of the most significant judgments involved in estimating our allowance for credit losses relates to the macroeconomic forecasts used to estimate credit losses over the reasonable and supportable forecast period. To determine the allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2024, we utilized a single macroeconomic alternative scenario, or S5, published by Moody’s Analytics in December 2024. The alternative scenario utilizes multiple economic variables in forecasting the economic outlook. During our previous quarterly macroeconomic assessment as of September 30, 2024, we utilized the same single macroeconomic alternative scenario published by Moody’s Analytics in September 2024. Management determined it appropriate to utilize the S5 macroeconomic alternative scenario as of December 31, 2024 given that the ongoing resilience of the U.S. economy, continued moderation of inflation, and the cumulative 100-basis point decrease in the target range since September 2024 for the federal funds rate set by the Federal Reserve best align with our internal economic outlook.

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The following table and paragraphs summarize the U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) growth rates and unemployment rate assumptions used in our economic forecast, and based on the single macroeconomic scenario selected for respective periods, to determine our best estimate of expected credit losses.

As of
December 31,September 30,June 30,March 31,December 31,
20242024202420242023
GDP growth rates:
Q4 20231.1%
Q1 20242.4%(1.6)%
Q2 20242.1%0.7%(2.4)%
Q3 20242.0%1.2%0.4%(1.3)%
Q4 20242.6%1.3%0.6%0.0%1.3%
Q1 20251.2%1.2%1.0%(1.8)%2.6%
Q2 20251.0%1.5%(2.0)%(2.8)%3.0%
Q3 20250.3%1.5%(2.5)%(1.7)%
Q4 20250.6%1.5%(1.3)%
Q1 20260.9%1.5%
Q2 20260.9%
Unemployment rates:
Q4 20233.8%
Q1 20243.8%4.8%
Q2 20244.0%4.0%5.6%
Q3 20244.3%4.1%4.0%6.1%
Q4 20244.2%4.4%4.1%4.0%5.6%
Q1 20254.4%4.7%4.1%4.8%5.2%
Q2 20254.6%4.9%4.8%5.6%5.0%
Q3 20254.9%5.2%5.6%6.0%
Q4 20255.1%5.2%6.0%
Q1 20265.2%5.1%
Q2 20265.1%

As of December 31, 2024, our U.S. economic forecast assumes elevated borrowing costs reduce credit-sensitive spending, higher tariffs, and concerns grow about broader international conflicts. The changes in real GDP on an annual average basis are 1.6% in 2025 and 0.8% in 2026. The unemployment rate increases in 2025 and reaches a peak of 5.2% in the first quarter of 2026 before slowly receding. Our forecast considers the potential for monetary policy to ease from the Federal Reserve with the federal funds rate at 3.6% by year end 2025. Vacancy rates for certain commercial real estate sectors remain elevated, and the interest rate outlook challenges the recovery.

During 2024, we updated our U.S. economic outlook to reflect our expectations of a period of below trend economic growth beginning in 2025. The U.S. economic outlook was updated for recent changes in monetary policy and given that the ongoing resilience of the U.S. economy. Given the moderation of inflation, the Federal Reserve has reduced the federal funds rate target by 100-basis points since September 2024 to 4.25% - 4.5%. Labor market conditions eased as the unemployment rate increased to 4.2% in November 2024. Trade policy changes to be implemented by the upcoming administration add uncertainty to the outlook.

During 2023, our economic outlook was updated to reflect our expectations of a period of below trend economic growth beginning in 2023 and a mild U.S. recession in 2024. The Federal Reserve increased its federal funds rate target from 4.00% - 4.25% in January 2023 to 5.25% - 5.50% in August 2023 and held rates steady through December 2023. In March and April 2023, as a result of three of the largest bank failures in U.S. history, the Federal Reserve implemented several liquidity programs to stabilize consumer and business confidence. The Federal Reserve continued to balance inflation expectations and labor market constraints with tighter financial conditions throughout 2023. The duration of the higher interest rates also renewed credit and refinance risk concerns about residential and commercial real estate loans. The consumer price index improved from 6.4% in January 2023 to 3.4% in December 2023, but inflation rates still remained above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Global supply chains eased throughout 2023 and adjusted to the longer than expected Russia-Ukraine conflict; however, conflicts in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas and the U.S. and

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Yemen added new uncertainties. Labor market conditions eased modestly but remained historically tight as the unemployment rate increased from 3.4% to 3.7% during the year.

During 2022, our economic outlook was updated to reflect our expectations of a period of below trend economic growth beginning in 2022 and a mild U.S. recession in 2023. COVID cases receded in the United States but continued to disrupt global supply chains and tight labor market conditions. The Russian invasion of Ukraine contributed to global oil prices increasing to near $120 per barrel and further disrupted supply chains due to economic sanctions imposed by the United States and other trade partners. Inflation rates initially expected to be transitory proved to trend persistently higher as the consumer price index rose to 9.1% on an annual basis in June. In response, the Federal Reserve adjusted monetary policy by increasing its federal funds rate target from 0.0% - 0.25% in March 2022 to 4.25% - 4.50% by December 2022. With lower government spending/stimulus and net exports, U.S. real GDP growth rates declined to (1.6%) and (0.6%) during the first and second quarters of 2022. While the Company and most economists downgraded their economic outlooks, the U.S. did not enter a recession. Real GDP growth improved to 3.2% during the third quarter of 2022 and U.S. labor markets proved resilient as unemployment rates decreased during the year from 4.0% to 3.5%

During 2024, the provision for credit losses reflected a build in the allowance related to specific reserves since December 31, 2023, significantly offset by both the change in the U.S. economic outlook and changes in the collectively evaluated loan portfolio. Specific to the Bank, the net impact to the allowance of changes associated with individually evaluated loans included a provision for credit losses of $15.2 million, while collectively evaluated loans during 2024 included a reversal of credit losses of $14.2 million. The change in the allowance for credit losses during 2024 was primarily attributable to the Bank and also reflected other factors including, but not limited to, loan mix, and changes in loan balances and qualitative factors from the prior period. The change in the allowance during 2024 was also impacted by net charge-offs of $11.2 million.

As noted above, the combined impacts of specific reserves and loan portfolio changes within the banking segment and changes in the U.S. economic outlook since December 31, 2023 have resulted in a net decrease in the allowance at December 31, 2024, compared to December 31, 2023. The resulting allowance for credit losses as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs, was 1.37%, 1.47% and 1.27% as of December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. While changes in the U.S. economic outlook have been reflected in our current allowance at December 31, 2024, uncertainties that include, among others, the uncertain timing, duration and significance of further increases in market interest rates and a worsening macroeconomic forecast could adversely impact borrower cash flows and result in further increases in the allowance during future periods. While all industries could experience adverse impacts, certain of our loan portfolio industry sectors and subsectors, including real estate collateralized by office buildings, have an increased level of risk.

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The respective distribution of the allowance for credit losses as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs, are presented in the following table (dollars in thousands).

Allowance For
Credit Losses
Totalas a % of
TotalAllowanceTotal Loans
Loans Heldfor CreditHeld For
December 31, 2024For InvestmentLossesInvestment
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied (1)$1,921,691$29,3101.53%
Owner occupied (2)1,435,94533,1122.31%
Commercial and industrial (3)1,300,91425,4861.96%
Construction and land development (4)866,2457,1610.83%
Total commercial loans5,524,79595,0691.72%
1-4 family residential1,792,6025,3270.30%
Consumer28,4105471.93%
Total retail loans1,821,0125,8740.32%
Total commercial and retail loans7,345,807100,9431.37%
Broker-dealer363,718500.01%
Mortgage warehouse lending241,0261230.05%
Total loans held for investment$7,950,551$101,1161.27%
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(1)Included within commercial real estate non-owner occupied portfolio are loans within the office, retail and hotel/motel portfolio industry subsectors. At December 31, 2024, the office, retail and hotel/motel loans held for investment balances of approximately $488 million, $341 million and $189 million, respectively, had an allowance for credit losses of approximately $14 million, $3 million and $3 million, respectively, and an allowance for credit losses as a % of total loans held for investment of 2.9%, 0.8% and 1.4%, respectively.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(2)Included within commercial real estate owner occupied portfolio are loans within the industrial and office portfolio industry subsectors. At December 31, 2024, the industrial and office loans held for investment balances of approximately $359 million and $314 million, respectively, had an allowance for credit losses of approximately $8 million and $7 million, respectively, and an allowance for credit losses as a % of total loans held for investment of 2.1% and 2.3%, respectively.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(3)Commercial and industrial portfolio amounts reflect balances excluding banking segment mortgage warehouse lending. Included within commercial and industrial portfolio are loans within the auto note financing industry subsector. At December 31, 2024, the auto note financing loans held for investment balance of approximately $98 million had an allowance for credit losses of approximately $5 million, and an allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans held for investment of 5.6%.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(4)Included within construction and land development portfolio are loans within the office and retail portfolio industry subsectors. At December 31, 2024, the office and retail loans held for investment balances of approximately $30 million and $34 million, respectively, had an allowance for credit losses of approximately $0.7 million and $0.4 million, respectively, and an allowance for credit losses as a % of total loans held for investment of 2.5% and 1.1%, respectively.

Allowance Model Sensitivity

Our allowance model was designed to capture the historical relationship between economic and portfolio changes. As such, evaluating shifts in individual portfolio attributes or macroeconomic variables in isolation may not be indicative of past or future performance. It is difficult to estimate how potential changes in any one factor or input might affect the overall allowance for credit losses because we consider a wide variety of factors and inputs in the allowance for credit losses estimate. Changes in the factors and inputs considered may not occur at the same rate and may not be consistent across all geographies or product types, and changes in factors and input may be directionally inconsistent, such that improvement in one factor may offset deterioration in others.

However, to consider the sensitivity of credit loss estimates to alternative macroeconomic forecasts, we compared the Company’s allowance for credit loss estimates as of December 31, 2024, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment, and the banking segment mortgage warehouse programs, with modeled results using both upside (“S1”) and downside (“S3”) economic scenario forecasts published by Moody’s Analytics.

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Compared to our economic forecast, the upside scenario assumes the economic impacts from international armed conflicts recede faster than expected and an increased demand for U.S. exports and manufacturing. Real GDP is expected to grow 4.0% in the first quarter of 2025, 3.4% in the second quarter of 2025, 2.8% in the third quarter of 2025, and 3.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025. Average unemployment rates are expected to decline to 3.0% by the first quarter of 2026 before reverting to historical data. The Federal Reserve reduces the federal funds rate to 3.9% during the fourth quarter of 2025.

Compared to our economic forecast, the downside scenario assumes the Federal Reserve’s efforts to resolve bank failures are not successful at restoring consumer and business confidences, causing banks to tighten lending standards while the Federal Reserve keeps the federal funds rate elevated due to inflation concerns. The international armed conflicts persist longer than anticipated and global supply chain issues worsen causing weaker manufacturing, increased good shortages and the economy to fall back into recession. Real GDP is expected to decrease 3.1% in the first quarter of 2025, 3.4% in the second quarter of 2025, and 3.9% in the third quarter of 2025. Average unemployment rates are expected to increase to 8.3% by the first quarter of 2026 and revert back to historical average rates over time. The Federal Reserve reduces the federal funds rate to support the economy to a 3.1% target by the fourth quarter of 2025 and a 2.5% target by the first quarter of 2026.

The impact of applying all of the assumptions of the upside economic scenario during the reasonable and supportable forecast period would have resulted in a decrease in the allowance for credit losses of approximately $21 million or a weighted average expected loss rate of 1.1% as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and the banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs.

The impact of applying all of the assumptions of the downside economic scenario during the reasonable and supportable forecast period would have resulted in an increase in the allowance for credit losses of approximately $55 million or a weighted average expected loss rate of 2.1% as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and the banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs.

This analysis relates only to the modeled credit loss estimates and is not intended to estimate changes in the overall allowance for credit losses as they do not reflect any potential changes in the adjustment to the quantitative calculation, which would also be influenced by the judgment management applies to the modeled lifetime loss estimates to reflect the uncertainty and imprecision of these modeled lifetime loss estimates based on then-current circumstances and conditions.

Our allowance for credit losses reflects our best estimate of current expected credit losses, which is highly dependent on several assumptions, including the macroeconomic outlook, inflationary pressures and labor market conditions, international armed conflicts and their impact on supply chains, the U.S elections and other various fiscal and monetary policy decisions. The sensitivities of many of these assumptions are often correlated and nonlinear so these results should not be simply extrapolated to estimate the allowance for credit losses accurately for more severe changes in economic scenarios. Future allowance for credit losses may vary considerably for these reasons.

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Allowance Activity

The following table presents the activity in our allowance for credit losses and selected credit metrics within our loan portfolio for the periods presented (in thousands). Substantially all of the activity shown below occurred within the banking segment.

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Loans Held for Investment:
Balance, beginning of year$111,413$95,442$91,352
Provision for credit losses94118,3928,309
Recoveries of loans previously charged off:
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied4228
Owner occupied14941100
Commercial and industrial2,0283,4452,746
Construction and land development2
1-4 family residential170135133
Consumer211276289
Broker-dealer
Total recoveries2,5603,9393,296
Loans charged off:
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied1,64734
Owner occupied977
Commercial and industrial11,8654,8886,945
Construction and land development1
1-4 family residential273138
Consumer284387432
Broker-dealer
Total charge-offs13,7986,3607,515
Net charge-offs(11,238)(2,421)(4,219)
Balance, end of year$101,116$111,413$95,442
Average loans held for investment for the year$7,921,528$7,950,878$7,840,848
Total loans held for investment (end of year)$7,950,551$8,079,745$8,092,673
Loans Held for Sale:
Average loans held for sale for the year$934,983$944,470$1,221,235
Total loans held for sale (end of year)$858,665$943,846$982,616
Selected Credit Metrics:
Net charge-offs to average total loans held for investment (1)(0.14)%(0.03)%(0.05)%
Non-accrual loans:
Loans held for investment (end of year)$84,418$64,337$24,674
Loans held for sale (end of year)$3,731$3,990$4,843
Non-accrual loans to total loans (end of year)1.00%0.76%0.58%
Allowance for credit losses on loans held for investment to:
Total loans (end of year)1.15%1.23%1.05%
Total loans held for investment (end of year)1.27%1.38%1.18%
Total non-accrual loans (end of year)114.71%163.06%323.35%
Non-accrual loans held for investment (end of year)119.78%173.17%386.81%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Net charge-offs to average total loans held for investment ratio presented on a consolidated basis for all periods. Refer to following table for details by loan portfolio segment.

Total non-accrual loans classified as loans held for investment increased by $20.1 million from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024, compared to an increase of $38.8 million from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023. These

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changes in non-accrual loans from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024, were primarily due to the addition of commercial and industrial loans and commercial real estate owner occupied loans to non-accrual status, partially offset by a decrease due to the reclassification of a single commercial real estate non-owner occupied loan from loan held for investment to loan held for sale, which was sold during the second quarter of 2024.

The following table presents additional details regarding our net charge-offs to average total loans held for investment ratios by loan portfolio segment for the periods presented (in thousands). Substantially all of the activity shown below occurred within the banking segment.

Net
TotalRecoveries
AllowanceNetAverage(Charge-Offs)
for CreditRecoveriesLoans Heldas a % of
Year Ended December 31, 2024Losses(Charge-Offs)for InvestmentAverage Loans
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$29,310$(1,647)$1,933,049(0.09)%
Owner occupied33,1121491,457,6920.01%
Commercial and industrial25,609(9,837)1,589,711(0.62)%
Construction and land development7,1612906,028%
1-4 Family Residential5,3271681,778,4860.01%
Consumer547(73)26,077(0.28)%
Broker-Dealer50230,485%
Total$101,116$(11,238)$7,921,528(0.14)%

Net
TotalRecoveries
AllowanceNetAverage(Charge-Offs)
for CreditRecoveriesLoans Heldas a % of
Year Ended December 31, 2023Losses(Charge-Offs)for InvestmentAverage Loans
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$40,061$8$1,863,359%
Owner occupied28,114(936)1,400,349(0.07)%
Commercial and industrial20,926(1,443)1,643,337(0.09)%
Construction and land development12,102(1)1,070,530%
1-4 Family Residential9,461621,793,260%
Consumer648(111)25,483(0.44)%
Broker-Dealer101154,560%
Total$111,413$(2,421)$7,950,878(0.03)%

Net
TotalRecoveries
AllowanceNetAverage(Charge-Offs)
for CreditRecoveriesLoans Heldas a % of
Year Ended December 31, 2022Losses(Charge-Offs)for InvestmentAverage Loans
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$39,247$28$1,863,209%
Owner occupied24,0081001,335,5520.01%
Commercial and industrial16,035(4,199)1,715,934(0.24)%
Construction and land development6,051944,048%
1-4 Family Residential9,313(5)1,494,214%
Consumer554(143)25,408(0.56)%
Broker-Dealer234462,483%
Total$95,442$(4,219)$7,840,848(0.05)%

As previously discussed in detail within this section, the allowance for credit losses has fluctuated from period to period, which impacted the resulting ratios noted in the table above. During 2022, the increase in the allowance for credit losses was driven by a deteriorating U.S. economic outlook since December 31, 2021, while during 2023 the significant build in the allowance for credit losses reflected loan portfolio changes and a deteriorating outlook for commercial real estate markets. Then, during 2024 the decline in the allowance for credit losses reflected net charge-offs, loan portfolio changes and changes in the U.S. economic outlook. The distribution of the allowance for credit losses among loan types and the percentage of the loans for that type to gross loans, excluding unearned income, within our loan portfolio is presented in the table below (dollars in thousands).

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December 31,
202420232022
% of% of% of
Allocation of the Allowance for Credit LossesReserveGross LoansReserveGross LoansReserveGross Loans
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$29,31024.17%$40,06123.39%$39,24723.11%
Owner occupied33,11218.06%28,11417.60%24,00817.00%
Commercial and industrial25,60919.39%20,92619.90%16,03520.26%
Construction and land development7,16110.90%12,10212.76%6,05112.12%
1-4 family residential5,32722.55%9,46121.75%9,31321.84%
Consumer5470.36%6480.34%5540.34%
Broker-dealer504.57%1014.26%2345.33%
Total$101,116100.00%$111,413100.00%$95,442100.00%

The following table summarizes historical levels of the allowance for credit losses on loans held for investment, distributed by portfolio segment (in thousands).

December 31,September 30,June 30,March 31,December 31,
20242024202420242023
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$29,310$32,330$37,321$39,563$40,061
Owner occupied33,11234,37832,77228,73728,114
Commercial and industrial25,60928,30828,86916,55220,926
Construction and land development7,1617,9247,59410,00812,102
1-4 family residential5,3277,1617,9128,7449,461
Consumer547580547544648
Broker-dealer502376783101
$101,116$110,918$115,082$104,231$111,413

Unfunded Loan Commitments

In order to estimate the allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments, the Bank uses a process similar to that used in estimating the allowance for credit losses on the funded portion. The allowance is based on the estimated exposure at default, multiplied by the lifetime probability of default grade and loss given default grade for that particular loan segment. The Bank estimates expected losses by calculating a commitment usage factor based on industry usage factors. The commitment usage factor is applied over the relevant contractual period. Loss factors from the underlying loans to which commitments are related are applied to the results of the usage calculation to estimate any liability for credit losses related for each loan type. Letters of credit are not currently reserved because they are issued primarily as credit enhancements and the likelihood of funding is low.

Changes in the allowance for credit losses for loans with off-balance sheet credit exposures are shown below (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Balance, beginning of year$8,876$7,784$5,880
Other noninterest expense(958)1,0921,904
Balance, end of year$7,918$8,876$7,784

During 2023, the increase in the reserve for unfunded commitments was primarily due to increases in expected loss rates. During 2024, the decrease in the reserve for unfunded commitments was primarily due to decreases in commitment balances and loan expected loss rates.

Potential Problem Loans

Potential problem loans consist of loans that are performing in accordance with contractual terms but for which management has concerns about the ability of an obligor to continue to comply with repayment terms because of the

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obligor’s potential operating or financial difficulties or whether repayment may depend on collateral or other risk mitigation. Management monitors these loans and reviews their performance on a regular basis. Potential problem loans contain potential weaknesses that could improve, persist or further deteriorate. If such potential weaknesses persist without improving, the loan is subject to downgrade, typically to substandard, in three to six months. Potential problem loans include those loans assigned a grade of special mention and substandard accrual within our risk grading matrix. Potential problem loans do not include purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loans because PCD loans exhibited evidence of more than insignificant credit deterioration at acquisition that made it probable that all contractually required principal payments would not be collected.

At December 31, 2024, we had $166.9 million in potential problem loans, compared to $207.4 million at December 31, 2023 and $186.6 million at December 31, 2022. Our potential problem loans designated as substandard accrual at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 totaled $152.6 million, $204.1 million and $182.6 million, respectively. The decrease in potential problem loans from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024 was primarily attributable to decreases in commercial and industrial loans and construction and land development loans, partially offset by increases in 1-4 family residential loans, commercial real estate non-owner occupied loans and commercial real estate owner occupied loans. Of the $152.6 million of potential problem loans designated as substandard accrual at December 31, 2024, $48.4 million, $37.3 million and $35.2 million were associated commercial real estate non-owner occupied, commercial real estate owner occupied loans and commercial and industrial loans, respectively, compared to $41.2 million, $32.1 million and $87.4 million, respectively, at December 31, 2023.

Potential problem loans designated as special mention were comprised of four credit relationships totaling $14.2 million at December 31, 2024, compared with three credit relationships totaling $3.2 million at December 31, 2023 and four credit relationships totaling $4.0 million at December 31, 2022. Of the $14.2 million of potential problem loans at December 31, 2024, $13.3 million was associated with two credit relationships.

Non-Performing Assets

The following table presents components of our non-performing assets (dollars in thousands).

December 31,Variance
2024202320222024 vs 20232023 vs 2022
Loans accounted for on a non-accrual basis:
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$7,166$36,440$1,250$(29,274)$35,190
Owner occupied6,0925,0983,0199942,079
Commercial and industrial59,0259,5029,09549,523407
Construction and land development3,0033,480198(477)3,282
1-4 family residential12,86313,80115,941(938)(2,140)
Consumer614(6)(8)
Broker-dealer
$88,149$68,327$29,517$19,822$38,810
Troubled debt restructurings included in accruing loans held for investment (1)803(803)
Non-accrual loans (1)$88,149$68,327$30,320$19,822$38,007
Non-accrual loans as a percentage of total loans (1)1.00%0.76%0.33%0.24%0.43%
Other real estate owned$2,848$5,095$2,325$(2,247)$2,770
Other repossessed assets$98$$$98$
Non-performing assets$91,095$73,422$32,645$17,673$40,777
Non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets0.56%0.45%0.20%0.11%0.25%
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing$22,090$115,090$92,099$(93,000)$22,991
Column 1Column 2
(1)Effective January 1, 2023, we adopted Accounting Standards Update 2022-02 which eliminated the recognition and measurement guidance on troubled debt restructurings for creditors. Therefore, we no longer present troubled debt restructurings as a component of non-performing loans and assets.

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At December 31, 2024, non-accrual loans included 27 commercial and industrial relationships with loans secured primarily by notes receivable, accounts receivable and equipment. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2024 also included $3.7 million of loans secured by residential real estate which were classified as loans held for sale. At December 31, 2023, non-accrual loans included 40 commercial and industrial relationships with loans secured primarily by notes receivable, accounts receivable and equipment. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2023 also included $4.0 million of loans secured by residential real estate which were classified as loans held for sale. At December 31, 2022, non-accrual loans included 40 commercial and industrial relationships with loans secured by accounts receivable, automobiles, equipment and notes receivable. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2022 also included $4.8 million of loans secured by residential real estate which were classified as loans held for sale. The change in loans in non-accrual status since December 31, 2023 was primarily driven by the addition of two credit relationships of $45.4 million from the auto note financing industry subsector, partially offset by the decrease in commercial real estate non-owner occupied loans due to the reclassification of a single non-accrual loan from loans held for investment to loans held for sale during the first quarter of 2024. This loan was subsequently sold in the second quarter of 2024.

Other real estate owned (“OREO”) decreased from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024, primarily due to disposals and valuation adjustments totaling $4.8 million, partially offset by additions totaling $2.5 million. OREO increased from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023, primarily due to additions totaling $5.6 million, partially offset by disposals and valuation adjustments totaling $2.8 million.

Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were primarily comprised of loans held for sale and guaranteed by U.S. government agencies, including GNMA related loans subject to repurchase within our mortgage origination segment. The significant decline in loans included in loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing since December 31, 2023 was primarily due to sale of such loans serviced by the mortgage origination segment during the fourth quarter of 2024.

Deposits

The banking segment’s major source of funds and liquidity is its deposit base. Deposits provide funding for its investments in loans and securities. Interest paid for deposits must be managed carefully to control the level of interest expense and overall net interest margin. The composition of the deposit base (time deposits versus interest-bearing demand deposits and savings), as discussed in more detail within the section titled “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Banking Segment” below, is constantly changing due to the banking segment’s needs and market conditions. Currently, the banking segment is facing continued competition for its deposit base as customers seek higher yields on deposits. Consistent with the consolidated trend in average rates paid on interest-bearing deposits noted in the table below, the banking segment’s average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits during 2024, 2023 and 2022 was 3.83%, 3.50% and 0.86%, respectively.

Given the cumulative 100-basis point decrease in interest rates since September 2024 and current deposit levels, the Bank’s cumulative interest-bearing deposit pricing beta, excluding deposits from the Hilltop Securities FDIC-insured sweep program and brokered deposits, has approximated 62%. The deposit pricing beta represents the change in interest-bearing deposit pricing in response to a change in market interest rates. The historical interest-bearing deposit pricing beta for the Bank, excluding deposits from our Hilltop Securities FDIC-insured sweep program and brokered deposits, has approximated 54%. We expect that the Bank’s cost related to interest-bearing deposits during 2025 to continue to be driven by various factors, including competition as well as economic and market area factors.

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The table below presents the average balance of, and rate paid on, consolidated deposits (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
AverageAverageAverageAverageAverageAverage
BalanceRate PaidBalanceRate PaidBalanceRate Paid
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits$2,824,4500.00%$3,441,4370.00%$4,455,7790.00%
Interest-bearing deposits:
Demand6,356,6533.45%6,369,5582.92%6,320,6540.68%
Savings236,4821.14%282,1271.09%330,7430.22%
Time1,229,4014.34%1,059,8853.24%910,1040.73%
7,822,5363.52%7,711,5702.89%7,561,5010.67%
Total deposits$10,646,9862.59%$11,153,0072.00%$12,017,2800.42%

The table above includes interest-bearing brokered deposits with balances of approximately $15 million at December 31, 2024, compared with approximately $208 million and $14 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As previously discussed, to bolster our liquidity position given banking sector uncertainties in early 2023, we increased brokered deposits at the Bank by approximately $390 million during the second quarter of 2023, which have subsequently matured during the first and second quarters of 2024. The variability in the level of brokered deposits has been, and will continue to be, managed through asset/liability strategy and policies that are address diversification of funding sources and market conditions, including demand by customers and other investors for those deposits, and the cost of funds available from alternative sources at the time.

At December 31, 2024, total estimated uninsured deposits were $5.7 billion, or approximately 52% of total deposits, while estimated uninsured deposits, excluding collateralized deposits of $363.1 million, were $5.3 billion, or approximately 48% of total deposits. Total estimated uninsured deposits were $4.7 billion, or approximately 42% of total deposits, as of December 31, 2023.

The following table presents the scheduled maturities of the portion of our time deposits that are in excess of the FDIC insurance limit of $250,000 as of December 31, 2024 (in thousands).

Months to maturity:
3 months or less$169,274
3 months to 6 months20,557
6 months to 12 months48,822
Over 12 months101,081
$339,734

Borrowings

Our consolidated borrowings are shown in the table below (dollars in thousands).

December 31,
202420232022
AverageAverageAverage
BalanceRate PaidBalanceRate PaidBalanceRate Paid
Short-term borrowings$834,0234.64%$900,0384.75%$970,0562.27%
Notes payable347,6674.22%347,1454.27%346,6544.33%
$1,181,6904.52%$1,247,1834.64%$1,316,7102.86%

Short-term borrowings consisted of federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, borrowings at the FHLB, short-term bank loans and commercial paper. The decrease in short-term borrowings at December 31, 2024, compared with December 31, 2023, primarily reflected decreases in federal funds purchased by the banking segment and securities sold under agreements to repurchase by the broker-dealer segment, partially offset by an increase in commercial paper by the broker-dealer segment. The decrease in short-term borrowings at December 31, 2023,

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compared with December 31, 2022, primarily reflected decreases in short-term bank loans and securities sold under agreements to repurchase by the broker-dealer segment, partially offset by an increase in federal funds purchased by the banking segment.

Notes payable at December 31, 2024 was comprised of $149.7 million related to the Senior Notes, net of loan origination fees, and Subordinated Notes, net of origination fees, of $198.0 million. Notes payable at December 31, 2023 was comprised of $149.5 million related to Senior Notes, net of loan origination fees, and Subordinated Notes, net of origination fees, of $197.6 million, while notes payable at December 31, 2022 was comprised of $149.3 million related to Senior Notes, net of loan origination fees, Subordinated Notes, net of origination fees, of $197.4 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Hilltop is a financial holding company whose assets primarily consist of the stock of its subsidiaries and invested assets. Hilltop’s primary investment objectives, as a holding company, are to support capital deployment for organic growth and to preserve capital to be deployed through acquisitions, dividend payments and stock repurchases. At December 31, 2024, Hilltop had $420.5 million in cash and cash equivalents, an increase of $228.9 million from $191.6 million at December 31, 2023. This increase in cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to the receipt of $200.8 million of dividends from subsidiaries, partially offset by cash outflows of $44.3 million in cash dividends declared, $19.9 million in stock repurchases, and other general corporate expenses. Subject to regulatory restrictions, Hilltop has received, and may also continue to receive, dividends from its subsidiaries. If necessary or appropriate, we may also finance acquisitions with the proceeds from equity or debt issuances. We believe that Hilltop’s liquidity is sufficient for the foreseeable future, with current short-term liquidity needs including operating expenses, redemption of debt obligations, interest on debt obligations, dividend payments to stockholders and potential stock repurchases.

As discussed in more detail below, we have the ability to redeem the 2030 Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, beginning in May 2025, while all of our outstanding Senior Notes previously scheduled to mature in May 2025 were redeemed on January 15, 2025 using cash on hand.

Economic Environment

As previously discussed, operational and financial headwinds during 2023 and 2024 have had, and are expected to continue to have, an adverse impact on our operating results during 2025. The extent of the impacts of uncertain economic conditions on our financial performance that began in 2022 and have continued throughout 2024, and are expected to continue in 2025, will depend on several developments outside of our control, including, among others, changes in the political environment, the timing and significance of further changes in U.S. treasury yields and mortgage interest rates, changes in funding costs, inflationary pressures associated, and international armed conflicts and their impact on supply chains. As demonstrated during the extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets beginning in March 2020 resulting from the pandemic and banking sector-related uncertainty and concerns associated with liquidity positions primarily due to bank failures during early 2023 and their respective negative impacts on the economy, we will continue to monitor the economic environment and evaluate appropriate actions to enhance our financial flexibility, protect capital, minimize losses and ensure target liquidity levels.

Dividend Program and Declaration

In October 2016, we announced that our board of directors authorized a dividend program under which we intend to pay quarterly dividends on our common stock, subject to quarterly declarations by our board of directors. During 2024, we declared and paid cash dividends of $0.68 per common share, or $44.3 million.

On January 30, 2025, our board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per common share, payable on February 27, 2025 to all common stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 13, 2025.

Future dividends on our common stock are subject to the determination by the board of directors based on an evaluation of our earnings and financial condition, liquidity and capital resources, the general economic and regulatory climate, our ability to service any equity or debt obligations senior to our common stock and other factors.

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Stock Repurchases

In January 2023, our board of directors authorized a new stock repurchase program through January 2024, pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $75.0 million of our outstanding common stock, inclusive of repurchases to offset dilution related to grants of stock-based compensation. During 2023, Hilltop paid $5.1 million to repurchase an aggregate of 164,604 shares of our common stock at an average price of $30.95 per share pursuant to the stock repurchase program.

In January 2024, our board of directors authorized a new stock repurchase program through January 2025, pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $75.0 million of our outstanding common stock, inclusive of repurchases to offset dilution related to grants of stock-based compensation. During 2024, Hilltop paid $19.9 million to repurchase an aggregate of 640,042 shares of our common stock at an average price of $31.04 per share pursuant to the stock repurchase program.

In January 2025, our board of directors authorized a new stock repurchase program through January 2026, pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $100.0 million of our outstanding common stock, inclusive of repurchases to offset dilution related to grants of stock-based compensation. Under the stock repurchase program authorized, we may repurchase shares in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions as permitted under Rule 10b-18 promulgated under the Exchange Act. The extent to which we repurchase our shares and the timing of such repurchases depends upon market conditions and other corporate considerations, as determined by Hilltop’s management team. Repurchased shares will be returned to our pool of authorized but unissued shares of common stock. We commenced share repurchases under the stock repurchase program in the first quarter of 2025.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, signed into law during August 2022, introduced a nondeductible excise tax equal to 1% of the fair market value of certain shares repurchased beginning in 2023, subject to certain limitations. While we may complete transactions subject to the new excise tax, we do not expect the tax to have a material impact to our financial condition or results of operations.

Senior Notes due 2025

On January 15, 2025 (three months prior to the maturity date of the Senior Notes) we redeemed, at our election, all of our outstanding Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of $150 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date using cash on hand, which also satisfied and discharged our obligations under the Senior Notes and the Senior Notes Indenture.

Subordinated Notes due 2030 and 2035

On May 7, 2020, we completed a public offering of $50 million aggregate principal amount of 2030 Subordinated Notes and $150 million aggregate principal amount of 2035 Subordinated Notes that mature on May 15, 2030 and May 15, 2035, respectively. We collectively refer to the 2030 Subordinated Notes and the 2035 Subordinated Notes as the “Subordinated Notes”. The price to the public for the Subordinated Notes was 100% of the principal amount of the Subordinated Notes. The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and fees and expenses of $3.4 million, were $196.6 million.

We may redeem the Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time, subject to obtaining Federal Reserve approval, beginning with the interest payment date of May 15, 2025 for the 2030 Subordinated Notes and beginning with the interest payment date of May 15, 2030 for the 2035 Subordinated Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Subordinated Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the date of redemption.

The 2030 Subordinated Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.75% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears commencing on November 15, 2020. The interest rate for the 2030 Subordinated Notes will reset quarterly beginning May 15, 2025 to an interest rate, per year, equal to the then-current benchmark rate, which is expected to be three-month term SOFR rate,

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plus 5.68%, payable quarterly in arrears. The 2035 Subordinated Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.125% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears commencing on November 15, 2020. The interest rate for the 2035 Subordinated Notes will reset quarterly beginning May 15, 2030 to an interest rate, per year, equal to the then-current benchmark rate, which is expected to be three-month term SOFR rate plus 5.80%, payable quarterly in arrears. At December 31, 2024, $200.0 million of our Subordinated Notes was outstanding.

Regulatory Capital

We are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements may prompt certain actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Under capital adequacy and regulatory requirements, we must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of our assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Our capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.

In order to avoid limitations on capital distributions, including dividend payments, stock repurchases and certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers, Basel III requires banking organizations to maintain a capital conservation buffer above minimum risk-based capital requirements measured relative to risk-weighted assets.

The following table shows PlainsCapital’s and Hilltop’s actual capital amounts and ratios in accordance with Basel III compared to the regulatory minimum capital requirements including conservation buffer ratio in effect at December 31, 2024 (dollars in thousands). Based on actual capital amounts and ratios shown in the following table, PlainsCapital’s ratios place it in the “well capitalized” (as defined) capital category under regulatory requirements. Actual capital amounts and ratios as of December 31, 2024 reflect PlainsCapital’s and Hilltop’s decision to elect the transition option as issued by the federal banking regulatory agencies in March 2020 that permits banking institutions to mitigate the estimated cumulative regulatory capital effects from current expected credit losses (“CECL”) over a five-year transitionary period through December 31, 2024. As of January 1, 2025, Hilltop and PlainsCapital had fully captured the day-one regulatory capital effects resulting from the implementation of CECL.

Minimum Capital
Requirements IncludingTo Be Well
December 31, 2024Conservation BufferCapitalized
AmountRatioRatioRatio
Tier 1 capital (to average assets):
PlainsCapital$1,317,6649.99%4.0%5.0%
Hilltop2,031,06912.57%4.0%N/A
Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets):
PlainsCapital1,317,66415.35%7.0%6.5%
Hilltop2,031,06921.23%7.0%N/A
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets):
PlainsCapital1,317,66415.35%8.5%8.0%
Hilltop2,031,06921.23%8.5%N/A
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets):
PlainsCapital1,419,78716.54%10.5%10.0%
Hilltop2,334,67924.40%10.5%N/A

We discuss regulatory capital requirements in more detail in Note 21 to our consolidated financial statements, as well as under the caption “Government Supervision and Regulation — Corporate — Capital Adequacy Requirements and BASEL III” set forth in Part I, Item I. of this Annual Report.

Banking Segment

Within our banking segment, our primary uses of cash are for customer withdrawals and extensions of credit as well as our borrowing costs and other operating expenses. Our corporate treasury group is responsible for continuously

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monitoring our liquidity position to ensure that our assets and liabilities are managed in a manner that will meet our short-term and long-term cash requirements. Our goal is to manage our liquidity position in a manner such that we can meet our customers’ short-term and long-term deposit withdrawals and anticipated and unanticipated increases in loan demand without penalizing earnings. Funds invested in short-term marketable instruments, the continuous maturing of other interest-earning assets, cash flows from self-liquidating investments such as mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, the possible sale of available for sale securities, and the ability to securitize certain types of loans provide sources of liquidity from an asset perspective. The liability base provides sources of liquidity through deposits and the maturity structure of short-term borrowed funds. For short-term liquidity needs, we utilize federal fund lines of credit with correspondent banks, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, borrowings from the Federal Reserve and borrowings under lines of credit with other financial institutions. For intermediate liquidity needs, we utilize advances from the FHLB. To supply liquidity over the longer term, we have access to brokered time deposits, term loans at the FHLB and borrowings under lines of credit with other financial institutions.

The above sources of liquidity allow the banking segment to meet increased liquidity demands without adversely affecting daily operations. The Bank’s borrowing capacity through access to secured funding sources is summarized in the following table (in millions). Available liquidity noted below does not include borrowing capacity available through the discount window at the Federal Reserve.

December 31,
20242023
FHLB capacity$4,284$4,205
Investment portfolio (available)1,3971,594
Fed deposits (excess daily requirements)2,0531,612
$7,734$7,411

As previously discussed, the banking sector experienced increased uncertainty and concerns associated with its liquidity positions primarily due to high-profile bank failures during early 2023 as depositors sought to reduce risks associated with uninsured deposits and withdraw such deposits from existing bank relationships. As a result, both regulatory scrutiny and market focus on liquidity increased. These failures underscore the importance of maintaining access to diverse sources of funding. In light of these events, we have continued our efforts to monitor deposit flows and balance sheet trends to ensure that our liquidity needs are maintained. During 2023, we began increasing interest-bearing deposit rates to address rising market interest rates and intense competition for liquidity to combat deposit outflows. During 2024, our deposit funding costs increased due to continued competition for liquidity to combat deposit outflows. While we expect deposit costs during 2025 to continue to be driven by various factors, including competitive pressures and broader economic conditions, with the 100-basis point decrease in the target range of the federal funds rate since September 2024 and the possibility of additional rate cuts in 2025, we anticipate that our cost of deposits will begin to trend modestly downward. At December 31, 2024, the Bank accessed and included approximately $570 million of core deposits on its balance sheet from our Hilltop Securities FDIC-insured sweep program. The Bank is not utilizing any of its FHLB borrowing capacity noted above through the use of short-term borrowings.

Within our banking segment, deposit flows are affected by the level of market interest rates, the interest rates and products offered by competitors, the volatility of equity markets and other factors. An economic recovery and improved commercial real estate investment outlook may result in an outflow of deposits at an accelerated pace as customers utilize such available funds for expanded operations and investment opportunities. The Bank regularly evaluates its deposit products and pricing structures relative to the market to maintain competitiveness over time. Currently, the Bank is facing continued competition from bank and non-bank competitors for its deposit base and expects that its interest expense on certain deposits will continue to be driven by various factors, including competition as well as economic and market area factors.

The Bank’s 15 largest depositors, excluding Hilltop and Hilltop Securities, collectively accounted for 13.88% of the Bank’s total deposits, and the Bank’s five largest depositors, excluding Hilltop and Hilltop Securities, collectively accounted for 8.04% of the Bank’s total deposits at December 31, 2024. The loss of one or more of our largest Bank customers, or a significant decline in our deposit balances due to ordinary course fluctuations related to these customers’ businesses, could adversely affect our liquidity and might require us to raise deposit rates to attract new deposits, purchase federal funds or borrow funds on a short-term basis to replace such deposits.

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Broker-Dealer Segment

The Hilltop Broker-Dealers finance their assets and operations primarily from their equity capital, short-term bank borrowings, interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing client credit balances, correspondent deposits, securities lending arrangements, repurchase agreement financing, commercial paper issuances and other payables, subject to their respective compliance with broker-dealer net capital and customer protection rules. At December 31, 2024, Hilltop Securities had credit arrangements with two unaffiliated banks, with maximum aggregate commitments of up to $425.0 million. These credit arrangements are used to finance securities owned, securities held for correspondent accounts, receivables in customer margin accounts and underwriting activities. These credit arrangements are provided on an “as offered” basis and are not committed lines of credit. In addition, Hilltop Securities has committed revolving credit facilities with two unaffiliated banks, with aggregate availability of up to $200.0 million. At December 31, 2024, Hilltop Securities had no outstanding borrowings under its credit arrangements or its credit facilities.

Hilltop Securities uses the net proceeds (after deducting related issuance expenses) from the sale of two commercial paper programs for general corporate purposes, including working capital and the funding of a portion of its securities inventories. The commercial paper notes (“CP Notes”) may be issued with maturities of 14 days to 270 days from the date of issuance. The CP Notes were issued under two separate programs, Series 2019-1 CP Notes and Series 2019-2 CP Notes, in maximum aggregate amounts of $300 million and $200 million, respectively. The CP Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity or subject to voluntary prepayment and do not bear interest, but are sold at a discount to par. The CP Notes are secured by a pledge of collateral owned by Hilltop Securities.

In December 2024, Hilltop Securities initiated a new commercial paper program, Series 2024-1 CP Notes. The first issuances under this new program are not anticipated until fiscal 2025. Upon the first issuance, no more issuances will be allowed under the Series 2019-1 CP Notes program. However, any amounts outstanding under Series 2019-1 CP Notes will remain outstanding until maturity and then roll into the Series 2024-1 CP Notes program. Until the final maturity of the Series 2019-1 CP Note program, both the Series 2019-1 CP Notes and the 2024-1 CP Notes programs will be managed as a single program. As a result, no more than an aggregate of $300 million combined will be allowed. The terms highlighted above for the Series 2019-1 CP Notes program will not change with issuances under the Series 2024-1 CP Notes. The Series 2019-2 CP program will continue as originally issued.

As of December 31, 2024, the weighted average maturity of the CP Notes was 143 days at a rate of 5.29%, with a weighted average remaining life of 59 days. At December 31, 2024, the aggregate amount outstanding under these secured arrangements was $228.5 million, which was collateralized by securities held for Hilltop Securities accounts valued at $251.2 million.

Mortgage Origination Segment

PrimeLending funds the mortgage loans it originates through a warehouse line of credit maintained with the Bank which had a total commitment of $1.2 billion, of which $812.0 million was drawn at December 31, 2024. PrimeLending sells substantially all mortgage loans it originates to various investors in the secondary market, historically with the majority with servicing released. As these mortgage loans are sold in the secondary market, PrimeLending pays down its warehouse line of credit with the Bank. In addition, PrimeLending has an available line of credit with an unaffiliated bank of up to $1.0 million, of which no borrowings were drawn at December 31, 2024.

PrimeLending owns a 100% membership interest in PrimeLending Ventures Management, LLC (“Ventures Management”) which holds a controlling ownership interest in and is the managing member of certain ABAs. At

December 31, 2024, these ABAs had combined available lines of credit totaling $65.0 million, all of which was with the Bank, with outstanding borrowings of $30.3 million.

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Other Material Contractual Obligations, Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Commitments and Guarantees

The following table presents information regarding other material contractual obligations at December 31, 2024 not previously discussed (in thousands). Payments related to leases are based on actual payments specified in the underlying contracts, and the table below includes all leases that had commenced as of December 31, 2024.

Payments Due by Period
More than 13 Years or
1 yearYear but LessMore but Less5 Years
or Lessthan 3 Yearsthan 5 Yearsor MoreTotal
Finance lease obligations$886$1,261$149$$2,296
Operating lease obligations30,78445,19329,19121,658126,826
Total$31,670$46,454$29,340$21,658$129,122

Additionally, in the normal course of business, we enter into various transactions, which, in accordance with GAAP, are not included in our consolidated balance sheets. We enter into these transactions to meet the financing needs of our customers. These transactions include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit, which involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in our consolidated balance sheets.

Banking Segment

We enter into contractual loan commitments to extend credit, normally with fixed expiration dates or termination clauses, at specified rates and for specific purposes. Substantially all of our commitments to extend credit are contingent upon customers maintaining specific credit standards until the time of loan funding. We minimize our exposure to loss under these commitments by subjecting them to credit approval and monitoring procedures. We assess the credit risk associated with certain commitments to extend credit and have recorded a liability related to such credit risk in our consolidated financial statements.

Standby letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by us 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, we would be required to fund the commitment. The maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make is represented by the contractual amount of the commitment. If the commitment is funded, we would be entitled to seek recovery from the customer. Our policies generally require that standby letter of credit arrangements contain security and debt covenants similar to those contained in loan agreements.

In the aggregate, the Bank had outstanding unused commitments to extend credit of $2.0 billion at December 31, 2024 and outstanding financial and performance standby letters of credit of $61.1 million at December 31, 2024.

Broker-Dealer Segment

The Hilltop Broker-Dealers execute, settle and finance various securities transactions that may expose the Hilltop Broker-Dealers to off-balance sheet risk in the event that a customer or counterparty does not fulfill its contractual obligations. Examples of such transactions include the sale of securities not yet purchased by customers or for the account of the Hilltop Broker-Dealers, use of derivatives to support certain non-profit housing organization clients, clearing agreements between the Hilltop Broker-Dealers and various clearinghouses and broker-dealers, secured financing arrangements that involve pledged securities, and when-issued underwriting and purchase commitments.

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

Our consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which presently require us 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 our operations is reflected in increased operating costs. Historically, changes in interest rates affect the financial condition of a financial institution to a far greater degree than changes in the inflation rate. However, inflation rose sharply at the end of 2021 and continued rising into 2024. While the rise in inflation has slowed during 2024, inflationary pressures have moderated in recent periods with the inflation rate coming down from its peak with the expectation that there will be

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continued moderation of inflation during 2025. Furthermore, a prolonged period of inflation has, and could cause our costs, including compensation, occupancy and software costs, to increase, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

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 our control, including changes in the expected rate of inflation, the influence of general and local economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities.

Critical Accounting Estimates

We have identified certain accounting estimates which involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. Our accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. Actual amounts and values as of the balance sheet dates may be materially different than the amounts and values reported due to the inherent uncertainty in the estimation process. Also, future amounts and values could differ materially from those estimates due to changes in values and circumstances after the balance sheet date. The critical accounting estimates, as summarized below, which we believe to be the most critical in preparing our consolidated financial statements relate to allowance for credit losses and goodwill and identifiable intangible assets.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The allowance for credit losses for loans represents management’s estimate of all expected credit losses over the expected contractual life of our existing loan portfolio. Determining the appropriateness of the allowance is complex and requires judgment by management about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Subsequent evaluations of the then existing loan portfolio, in light of the factors then prevailing, may result in significant changes in the allowance for credit losses in those future periods.

We employ a disciplined process and methodology to establish our allowance for credit losses that has two basic components: first, an asset-specific component involving individual loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans and the measurement of expected credit losses for such individual loans; and second, a pooled component for estimated expected credit losses for pools of loans that share similar risk characteristics.

The credit loss estimation process for both on and off-balance sheet exposures involves procedures to appropriately consider the unique characteristics of our loan portfolio segments, which are further disaggregated into loan classes, the level at which credit risk is monitored. When computing allowance levels, credit loss assumptions are estimated using models that analyze loans according to credit risk ratings, loss history, delinquency status and other credit trends and risk characteristics, including current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. Significant variables that impact the modeled losses across our loan portfolios are the U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, growth rates and unemployment rate assumptions. Future factors and forecasts may result in significant changes in the allowance and provision for (reversal of) credit losses in those future periods.

Credit quality is assessed and monitored by evaluating various attributes, such as credit risk ratings, historic loss experience, past due status and other credit trends and risk characteristics, including current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. The results of these continuous credit quality evaluations help form our underwriting criteria for new loans and also factor into the process for estimation of the allowance for credit losses. The allowance level is influenced by loan volumes, loan asset quality, delinquency status, historic loss experience and other conditions influencing loss expectations, such as reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions. The allowance for credit losses will primarily reflect estimated losses for pools of loans that share similar risk characteristics, but will also consider individual loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans.

In estimating the component of the allowance for credit losses for loans that share similar risk characteristics with other loans, such loans are segregated into loan classes. Loans are designated into loan classes based on loans pooled by product types and similar risk characteristics or areas of risk concentration. In determining the allowance for credit

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losses, we derive an estimated credit loss assumption from a model that categorizes loan pools based on loan type and internal risk rating or delinquency bucket.

When a loan moves to a substandard non-accrual or worse risk rating grade, it is removed from the collective evaluation allowance methodology and is subject to individual evaluation. A problem asset report is prepared for each loan in excess of a predetermined threshold and the net realizable value of the loan is determined. This value is compared to the appropriate loan basis (depending on whether the loan is a PCD loan or a non-PCD loan) to determine the required allowance for credit loss reserve amount.

Estimating the timing and amounts of future losses is subject to significant management judgment as these loss cash flows rely upon estimates such as default rates, loss severities, collateral valuations, the amounts and timing of principal payments (including any expected prepayments) or other factors that are reflective of current or future expected conditions. These estimates, in turn, depend on the duration of current overall economic conditions, industry, borrower, or portfolio specific conditions, the expected outcome of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, as well as, in certain circumstances, other economic factors, including the level of current and future real estate prices. All of these estimates and assumptions require significant management judgment and certain assumptions that are highly subjective. Model imprecision also exists in the allowance for credit losses estimation process due to the inherent time lag of available industry information and differences between expected and actual outcomes.

The provision for (reversal of) credit losses recorded through earnings, and reduced by the charge-off of loan amounts, net of recoveries, is the amount necessary to maintain the allowance for credit losses at the amount of expected credit losses inherent within the loans held for investment portfolio. The amount of expense and the corresponding level of allowance for credit losses for loans are based on our evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio based on historical loss experience, reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other significant qualitative and quantitative factors. Refer to “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” and Notes 1 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the methodology used in establishing the allowance and changes during the relevant period in the provision for (reversal of) credit losses.

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets

Goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets are initially recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Goodwill and other intangible assets having an indefinite useful life are not amortized for financial statement purposes. In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the goodwill or other identifiable intangible assets may be impaired, an interim impairment test would be required. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives. We perform required annual impairment tests of our goodwill and other intangible assets as of October 1st for our reportable business segments.

The goodwill impairment test requires us to make judgments and assumptions. The test consists of estimating the fair value of each reportable business segment based on valuation techniques, including a discounted cash flow model using revenue and profit forecasts and recent industry transaction and trading multiples of our peers, and comparing those estimated fair values with the carrying values of the assets and liabilities of each business segment, which includes the allocated goodwill. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, we will recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the business segment’s fair value; however, any loss recognized will not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that business segment.

This evaluation includes multiple assumptions, including estimated discounted cash flows and other estimates that may change over time. If future discounted cash flows become less than those projected by us, future impairment charges may become necessary that could have a materially adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition in the period in which the write-off occurs.

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FY 2023 10-K MD&A

SEC filing source: 0001558370-24-001160.

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2024-02-14. Report date: 2023-12-31.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion is intended to help the reader understand our results of operations and financial condition and is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto commencing on page F-1. In addition to historical financial information, the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our results and the timing of selected events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those discussed under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”

Unless the context otherwise indicates, all references in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, or MD&A, to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “ours” or similar words are to Hilltop Holdings Inc. and its direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, references to “Hilltop” refer solely to Hilltop Holdings Inc., references to “PCC” refer to PlainsCapital Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop), references to “Securities Holdings” refer to Hilltop Securities Holdings LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop), references to “Hilltop Securities” refer to Hilltop Securities Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Securities Holdings), references to “Momentum Independent Network” refer to Momentum Independent Network Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Securities Holdings), Hilltop Securities and Momentum Independent Network are collectively referred to as the “Hilltop Broker-Dealers,” references to the “Bank” refer to PlainsCapital Bank (a wholly owned subsidiary of PCC), references to “FNB” refer to First National Bank, references to “SWS” refer to the former SWS Group, Inc., references to “PrimeLending” refer to PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank) and its subsidiaries as a whole.

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OVERVIEW

We are a financial holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. Our primary line of business is to provide business and consumer banking services from offices located throughout Texas through the Bank. We also provide an array of financial products and services through our broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments. The following includes additional details regarding the financial products and services provided by each of our primary business units.

PCC. PCC is a financial holding company that provides, through its subsidiaries, traditional banking and wealth, investment and treasury management services primarily in Texas and residential mortgage loans throughout the United States.

Securities Holdings. Securities Holdings is a holding company that provides, through its subsidiaries, investment banking and other related financial services, including municipal advisory, sales, trading and underwriting of taxable and tax-exempt fixed income securities, clearing, securities lending, structured finance and retail brokerage services throughout the United States.

The following historical consolidated data for the periods indicated has been derived from our historical consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report (dollars in thousands, except per share data and weighted average shares outstanding).

202320222021
Statement of Operations Data:
Net interest income$466,847$458,975$422,982
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses18,3928,309(58,213)
Total noninterest income728,973832,4601,410,275
Total noninterest expense1,028,3091,126,9991,387,398
Income before income taxes149,119156,127504,072
Income tax expense31,14036,833117,976
Net income117,979119,294386,096
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest8,3336,16011,601
Income attributable to Hilltop$109,646$113,134$374,495
Per Share Data:
Diluted earnings per common share$1.69$1.60$4.61
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding$65,045$70,626$81,173
Cash dividends declared per common share$0.64$0.60$0.48
Dividend payout ratio (1)37.97%37.36%10.34%
Book value per common share (end of year)$32.58$31.49$31.95
Tangible book value per common share (2) (end of year)$28.35$27.18$28.37
Balance Sheet Data:
Total assets$16,466,996$16,259,282$18,689,080
Cash and due from banks1,858,7001,579,5122,823,138
Securities2,836,5843,289,5303,046,500
Loans held for sale943,846982,6161,878,190
Loans held for investment, net of unearned income8,079,7458,092,6737,879,904
Allowance for credit losses(111,413)(95,442)(91,352)
Total deposits11,063,19211,315,74912,818,077
Notes payable347,145346,654387,904
Total stockholders' equity2,150,3292,063,5292,549,203
Capital Ratios:
Common equity to assets ratio12.89%12.53%13.50%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (2)11.41%11.00%12.17%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Dividend payout ratio is defined as cash dividends declared per common share divided by basic earnings per common share.
Column 1Column 2
(2)For a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure, see “—Reconciliation and Management’s Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

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Consolidated income before income taxes during 2023 included the following contributions from our reportable business segments.

Column 1Column 2Column 3
The banking segment contributed $199.0 million of income before income taxes during 2023;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
The broker-dealer segment contributed $73.5 million of income before income taxes during 2023; and
Column 1Column 2Column 3
The mortgage origination segment incurred $62.8 million of losses before income taxes during 2023.

During 2023, we paid an aggregate of $5.1 million to repurchase shares of our common stock, and declared and paid total common dividends of $41.6 million.

On May 2, 2022, we announced the commencement of a modified “Dutch auction” tender offer to purchase shares of our common stock for an aggregate cash purchase price of up to $400 million, inclusive of our $100.0 million stock repurchase program authorized in January 2022. On May 27, 2022, including the exercise of our right to purchase up to an additional 2% of our outstanding shares, we completed our tender offer, repurchasing 14,868,469 shares of outstanding common stock at a price of $29.75 per share for a total of $442.3 million. We funded the tender offer with cash on hand.

On January 25, 2024, our board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per common share, a 6% increase from the prior quarter, payable on February 28, 2024 to all common stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 12, 2024. Additionally, our board of directors authorized a new stock repurchase program through January 2025, pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $75.0 million of our outstanding common stock. During 2023, we paid $5.1 million to repurchase an aggregate of 164,604 shares of our common stock at an average price of $30.95 per share pursuant to the stock repurchase program. These shares were returned to the pool of authorized but unissued shares of common stock.

Reconciliation and Management’s Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We present certain measures in our selected financial data that are not measures of financial performance recognized by GAAP. “Tangible book value per common share” is defined as our total stockholders’ equity reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by total common shares outstanding. “Tangible common equity to tangible assets” is defined as our total stockholders’ equity reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by total assets reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets. These measures are important to investors interested in changes from period to period in tangible common equity per share exclusive of changes in intangible assets. For companies such as ours that have engaged in business combinations, purchase accounting can result in the recording of significant amounts of goodwill and other intangible assets related to those transactions.

You should not view this disclosure as a substitute for results determined in accordance with GAAP, and our disclosure is not necessarily comparable to that of other companies that use non-GAAP measures. The following table reconciles these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures, “book value per common share” and “equity to total assets” (dollars in thousands, except per share data).

December 31,
202320222021
Book value per common share$32.58$31.49$31.95
Effect of goodwill and intangible assets per share(4.23)(4.31)(3.58)
Tangible book value per common share$28.35$27.18$28.37
Hilltop stockholders’ equity$2,122,967$2,036,924$2,522,668
Less: goodwill and intangible assets, net275,904278,764282,731
Tangible common equity$1,847,063$1,758,160$2,239,937
Total assets$16,466,996$16,259,282$18,689,080
Less: goodwill and intangible assets, net275,904278,764282,731
Tangible assets$16,191,092$15,980,518$18,406,349
Equity to assets12.89%12.53%13.50%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets11.41%11.00%12.17%

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Recent Developments

Economic Environment

Beginning in 2022, and continuing through 2023, our operational and financial results have been volatile due to economic headwinds including tight housing inventories on mortgage volumes, declining deposit balances, rapid increases in market interest rates and a volatile economic forecast. The impacts of such headwinds in 2024 remain uncertain and will depend on several developments outside of our control including, among others, the timing and significance of further changes in U.S. treasury yields and mortgage interest rates, exposure to increasing funding costs, inflationary pressures associated with compensation, occupancy and software costs and labor market conditions, and international armed conflicts and their impact on supply chains.

In addition, the banking sector experienced increased uncertainty and concerns associated with liquidity positions primarily due to high-profile bank failures during early 2023 as depositors sought to reduce risks associated with uninsured deposits and withdraw such deposits from existing bank relationships. As a result, both regulatory scrutiny and market focus on liquidity increased. While immediate financial institution safety and soundness concerns have somewhat subsided, these failures underscore the importance of maintaining access to diverse sources of funding.

In light of the above events, we have continued our efforts to monitor deposit flows and balance sheet trends to ensure that our liquidity needs and financial flexibility are maintained. During 2023, we began increasing interest-bearing deposit rates to address rising market interest rates and intense competition for liquidity to combat deposit outflows. The Bank also accessed additional core deposits from our Hilltop Securities Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insured sweep program and utilized its Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) borrowing capacity through the use of short-term borrowings. Further, to bolster our liquidity position, we increased brokered deposits at the Bank by approximately $390 million during the second quarter of 2023 that had a remaining balance of approximately $208 million at December 31, 2023. Additionally, at December 31, 2023, we accessed approximately $1.1 billion of core deposits from our Hilltop Securities FDIC insured sweep program, while the Bank is not utilizing any of its FHLB borrowing capacity.

Market conditions and external factors may unpredictably impact the competitive landscape for deposits such as those experienced during the first quarter of 2023. Additionally, the rising market interest rate environment has increased competition for liquidity and the premium at which liquidity is available to meet funding needs. An unexpected influx of withdrawals of deposits could adversely impact our ability to rely on organic deposits to primarily fund our operations, potentially requiring greater reliance on secondary sources of liquidity to meet withdrawal deposits or to fund continuing operations. These sources may include proceeds from FHLB advances, sales of investment securities and loans, federal fund lines of credit with correspondent banks, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, brokered time deposits, borrowings from the Federal Reserve and borrowings under lines of credit with other financial institutions. Refer to the discussions in the “Segment Results – Banking Segment” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources – Banking Segment” sections that follow for more details regarding the Bank’s deposits, available liquidity and borrowing capacity at December 31, 2023.

As a result of the bank failures during early 2023 and in an effort to strengthen public confidence in the banking system and protect depositors, regulators announced that any losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund to support uninsured depositors will be recovered by a special assessment on banks, as required by law. On November 16, 2023, the FDIC adopted a final rule to implement this special assessment based on a banking organizations estimated uninsured deposits as of December 31, 2022, excluding the first $5 billion in estimated uninsured deposits. Based on our calculation, we do not expect the Bank to be impacted by this special assessment. Additionally, on March 12, 2023, the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve and FDIC jointly announced the Bank Term Funding Program (“BTFP”). The BTFP aims to enhance liquidity by allowing institutions to pledge certain securities at par value, and at a borrowing rate of ten basis points over the one-year overnight index swap rate. The BTFP is available to eligible U.S. federally insured depository institutions, with advances having a term of up to one year and no prepayment penalties. The future impact of these failures on the economy, financial institutions and their depositors, as well as a governmental regulatory response or actions resulting from the same, is uncertain at this time. To date, we have not leveraged the discount window at the Federal Reserve or the BTFP.

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We expect uncertainties related to economic headwinds discussed above, the impact of interest rate movements on the shape and inversions of the yield curve, and the increasing cost and challenge for deposits that persisted through 2023 to continue into 2024.

Asset Valuation

At each reporting date between annual impairment tests, we consider potential indicators of impairment, including the condition of the economy and financial services industry; government intervention and regulatory updates; the impact of recent events to financial performance and cost factors of the business segment; performance of our stock and other relevant events.

In light of the recent and continuing macroeconomic challenges in the mortgage industry given tight housing inventories and mortgage interest rate levels, and specifically that our mortgage origination segment did not meet forecasted projections, we identified these collective factors as a triggering event during the second quarter of 2023. As a result, we performed an interim quantitative impairment test on the mortgage origination segment’s goodwill as of June 1, 2023 using revised forecasts and considering sensitivities of assumptions, and the decline in its carrying value, concluded that it was more likely than not that the mortgage origination segment’s estimated fair value of goodwill exceeded its carrying value. Subsequently, the mortgage origination segment continued to experience lower-than-forecasted operating results during the remainder of 2023 due to conditions and challenges noted above and discussed in detail within the discussion of segment results that follow.

Continuing macroeconomic challenges related to mortgage loan origination volumes, customer sensitivity to interest rates and resulting demand for certain products have resulted in a challenging environment associated with the broker-dealer segment’s short- and long-term financial condition, resulting in variability in its operating results.

Given the potential impacts of the operating performance of these reporting segments and overall economic conditions, actual results may differ materially from our current estimates as the scope of such impacts evolves or if the duration of business disruptions is longer than currently anticipated. The mortgage origination and broker-dealer segments have been assigned goodwill of $13.1 million and $7.0 million, respectively. Further, as a part of the most recent annual quantitative analysis performed as of October 1, 2023, management’s evaluation considered the sensitivities performed and the fact that the resulting estimated fair value of our mortgage origination and broker-dealer segments exceeded their respective book values by approximately 25% and 9%, respectively. Accordingly, at the conclusion of the annual assessments, the Company determined that as of October 1, 2023 it was more likely than not that the fair value of goodwill and other intangible assets exceeded their respective carrying values. We continue to monitor developments regarding overall economic conditions, market capitalization, and any other triggering events or circumstances that may indicate an impairment in the future.

To the extent future operating performance of our reporting segments remain challenged and below forecasted projections during 2024, significant assumptions such as expected future cash flows or the risk-adjusted discount rate used to estimate fair value are adversely impacted, or upon the occurrence of what management would deem to be a triggering event that could, under certain circumstances, cause us to perform impairment tests on our goodwill and other intangible assets, an impairment charge may be recorded for that period. In the event that we conclude that all or a portion of our goodwill and other intangible assets are impaired, a non-cash charge for the respective amount of such impairment would be recorded to earnings. Such a charge would have no impact on tangible capital or regulatory capital.

Outlook

Our balance sheet, operating results and certain metrics during 2023 reflected economic headwinds including tight housing inventories on mortgage volumes, declining deposit balances, increases in U.S. treasury yields and mortgage interest rates, and a volatile economic forecast. These headwinds, coupled with exposure to increasing funding costs, inflationary pressures associated with compensation, occupancy and software costs and labor market conditions, international armed conflicts and their impact on supply chains within our business segments during 2022 and 2023 have had, and are expected to continue to have, an adverse impact on our operating results during 2024.

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See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for additional discussion of the potential adverse impacts of unpredictable economic, market and business conditions on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Factors Affecting Results of Operations

As a financial institution providing products and services through our banking, broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments, we are directly affected by general economic and market conditions, many of which are beyond our control and unpredictable. A key factor impacting our results of operations is changes in the level of interest rates in addition to twists in the shape of the yield curve with the magnitude and direction of the impact varying across the different lines of business. Other factors impacting our results of operations include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in volume and price levels of securities, inflation, political events, investor confidence, investor participation levels, legal, regulatory, and compliance requirements and competition. All of these factors have the potential to impact our financial position, operating results and liquidity. In addition, the recent economic and political environment has led to legislative and regulatory initiatives, both enacted and proposed, that could substantially change the regulation of the financial services industry and may significantly impact us.

Factors Affecting Comparability of Results of Operations

LIBOR Cessation

In July 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced that it intends to cease compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) after 2021. In March 2021, the FCA and the Intercontinental Exchange (“ICE”) Benchmark Administration concurrently confirmed their original intention to stop requesting banks to submit the rates required to calculate LIBOR after the 2021 calendar year and additionally announced firm target dates for the phase out of various LIBOR tenors. Pursuant to the announcement, one week and two-month LIBOR ceased to be published on December 31, 2021, and all remaining USD LIBOR tenors ceased to be published or lost representativeness immediately after June 30, 2023. Additionally, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued specific accounting guidance that permits the use of the Overnight Index Swap rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) to be designated as a benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes.

Certain loans we originated bore interest at a floating rate based on LIBOR. We also paid interest on certain borrowings based on LIBOR and were counterparty to derivative agreements that were based on LIBOR and had contracts with payment calculations that used LIBOR as the reference rate.

In light of the LIBOR phase out, we took necessary actions, including the negotiation of certain of our agreements based on established alternative benchmark rates. Since the third quarter of 2020, PrimeLending has been originating conventional adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM, loan products utilizing a SOFR rate with terms consistent with government-sponsored enterprise, or GSE, guidelines. In addition, the Bank’s management team has completed its efforts to amend LIBOR-based contractual terms and establish an alternative benchmark rate. An immaterial amount of expenses have been incurred as a result of our efforts related to the transition of our systems and processes away from LIBOR.

Brokered Deposits

In December 2020, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) finalized revisions to its rules and prior guidance regarding brokered deposits (the “Revisions”). The Revisions are intended to modernize the FDIC’s framework for regulating brokered deposits and ensure that the classification of a deposit as brokered appropriately reflects changes in the banking landscape. In addition, the Revisions are intended to modify the interest rate restrictions applicable to certain depository institutions and clarify the application of the brokered deposit requirements to non-maturity deposits. The Revisions became effective on April 1, 2021, but full compliance was not required during a transitionary period ended January 1, 2022. We evaluated the Revisions and published FDIC guidance and effective January 1, 2022, after consulting with the FDIC, continue to treat deposits swept to the banking segment from the broker-dealer segment as non-brokered, while the cost of these sweep deposits will be based on a current market rate of interest rather than a per account fee.

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Recent Acquisitions

On November 30, 2012, we acquired PlainsCapital Corporation pursuant to a plan of merger whereby PlainsCapital Corporation merged with and into our wholly owned subsidiary (the “PlainsCapital Merger”), which continued as the surviving entity under the name “PlainsCapital Corporation”. Concurrent with the consummation of the PlainsCapital Merger, Hilltop became a financial holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.

On September 13, 2013 (the “Bank Closing Date”), the Bank assumed substantially all of the liabilities, including all of the deposits, and acquired substantially all of the assets of Edinburg, Texas-based FNB from the FDIC, as receiver, and reopened former branches of FNB acquired from the FDIC under the “PlainsCapital Bank” name (the “FNB Transaction”).

On January 1, 2015, we acquired SWS in a stock and cash transaction (the “SWS Merger”), whereby SWS’s broker-dealer subsidiaries became subsidiaries of Securities Holdings and SWS’s banking subsidiary, Southwest Securities, FSB, was merged into the Bank. On October 5, 2015, Southwest Securities, Inc. was renamed “Hilltop Securities Inc.”

On August 1, 2018, we acquired privately-held, Houston-based BORO in an all-cash transaction (“BORO Acquisition”). In connection with the BORO Acquisition, we merged BORO into the Bank, and all customer accounts were converted to the PlainsCapital Bank platform.

Segment Information

We have two primary business units, PCC (banking and mortgage origination) and Securities Holdings (broker-dealer). Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), the business units are comprised of three reportable business segments organized primarily by the core products offered to the segments’ respective customers: banking, broker-dealer and mortgage origination. Consistent with our historical segment operating results, we anticipate that future revenues will be driven primarily from the banking segment, with the remainder being generated by our broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments. Operating results for the mortgage origination segment have historically been more volatile than operating results for the banking and broker-dealer segments.

The banking segment includes the operations of the Bank. The banking segment primarily provides business and consumer banking services from offices located throughout Texas and generates revenue from its portfolio of earning assets. The Bank’s results of operations are primarily dependent on net interest income. The Bank also derives revenue from other sources, including service charges on customer deposit accounts and trust fees.

The broker-dealer segment includes the operations of Securities Holdings, which operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries Hilltop Securities, Momentum Independent Network and Hilltop Securities Asset Management, LLC. The broker-dealer segment generates a majority of its revenues from fees and commissions earned from investment advisory and securities brokerage services. Hilltop Securities is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and a member of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Momentum Independent Network is an introducing broker-dealer that is also registered with the SEC and FINRA. Hilltop Securities, Momentum Independent Network and Hilltop Securities Asset Management, LLC are registered investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

The mortgage origination segment includes the operations of PrimeLending, which offers a variety of loan products and generates revenue predominantly from fees charged on the origination and servicing of loans and from selling these loans in the secondary market.

Corporate includes certain activities not allocated to specific business segments. These activities include holding company financing and investing activities, merchant banking investment opportunities, and management and administrative services to support the overall operations of the Company.

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The eliminations of intercompany transactions are included in “All Other and Eliminations.” Additional information concerning our reportable business segments is presented in Note 27, Segment and Related Information, in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.

The following table presents certain information about the continuing operating results of our reportable business segments (in thousands). This table serves as a basis for the discussion and analysis in the segment operating results sections that follow.

Year Ended December 31,Variance 2023 vs 2022Variance 2022 vs 2021
202320222021AmountPercentAmountPercent
Net interest income (expense):
Banking$397,936$413,603$406,524$(15,667)(4)$7,0792
Broker-Dealer52,89451,59743,2961,29738,30119
Mortgage Origination(20,305)(10,529)(20,400)(9,776)(93)9,87148
Corporate(12,961)(13,135)(17,239)17414,10424
All Other and Eliminations (1)49,28317,43910,80131,8441836,63861
Hilltop Consolidated$466,847$458,975$422,982$7,8722$35,9939
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses:
Banking$18,525$8,250$(58,175)$10,275125$66,425NM
Broker-Dealer(133)59(38)(192)(325)97NM
Mortgage Origination--
Corporate--
All Other and Eliminations--
Hilltop Consolidated$18,392$8,309$(58,213)$10,083121$66,522NM
Noninterest income:
Banking$45,830$49,307$45,113$(3,477)(7)$4,1949
Broker-Dealer403,538341,943381,12561,59518(39,182)(10)
Mortgage Origination316,840452,915986,990(136,075)(30)(534,075)(54)
Corporate12,8877,5259,1335,36271(1,608)(18)
All Other and Eliminations (1)(50,122)(19,230)(12,086)(30,892)(161)(7,144)(59)
Hilltop Consolidated$728,973$832,460$1,410,275$(103,487)(12)$(577,815)(41)
Noninterest expense:
Banking$226,234$235,190$226,915$(8,956)(4)$8,2754
Broker-Dealer383,024355,713380,79827,3118(25,085)(7)
Mortgage Origination359,285478,904731,056(119,619)(25)(252,152)(34)
Corporate60,63159,03050,5071,60138,52317
All Other and Eliminations(865)(1,838)(1,878)97353402
Hilltop Consolidated$1,028,309$1,126,999$1,387,398$(98,690)(9)$(260,399)(19)
Income (loss) before taxes:
Banking$199,007$219,470$282,897$(20,463)(9)$(63,427)(22)
Broker-Dealer73,54137,76843,66135,77395(5,893)(13)
Mortgage Origination(62,750)(36,518)235,534(26,232)(72)(272,052)(116)
Corporate(60,705)(64,640)(58,613)3,9356(6,027)(10)
All Other and Eliminations2647593(21)(45)(546)(92)
Hilltop Consolidated$149,119$156,127$504,072$(7,008)(4)$(347,945)(69)
Column 1Column 2
(1)All other and eliminations amounts during each period include FDIC sweep program revenues and expenses earned on broker-dealer segment deposits placed with the banking segment that are eliminated in consolidation.

NMNot meaningful

Key Performance Indicators

We utilize several key indicators of financial condition and operating performance to evaluate the various aspects of our business. In addition to traditional financial metrics, such as revenue and growth trends, we monitor several other financial measures and non-financial operating metrics to help us evaluate growth trends, measure the adequacy of our capital based on regulatory reporting requirements, measure the effectiveness of our operations and assess operational efficiencies. These indicators change from time to time as the opportunities and challenges in our businesses change.

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Specifically, performance ratios and asset quality ratios are typically used for measuring the performance of banking and financial institutions. We consider return on average stockholders’ equity, return on average assets and net interest margin to be important supplemental measures of operating performance that are commonly used by securities analysts, investors and other parties interested in the banking and financial industry. The net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans outstanding ratio is also considered a key measure for our banking segment as it indicates the performance of our loan portfolio.

In addition, we consider regulatory capital ratios to be key measures that are used by us, as well as banking regulators, investors and analysts, to assess our regulatory capital position and to compare our regulatory capital to that of other financial services companies. We monitor our capital strength in terms of both leverage ratio and risk-based capital ratios based on capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. The risk-based capital ratios are minimum supervisory ratios generally applicable to banking organizations, but banking organizations are widely expected to operate with capital positions well above the minimum ratios. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

How We Generate Revenue

We generate revenue from net interest income and from noninterest income. Net interest income represents the difference between the income earned on our assets, including our loans and investment securities, and our cost of funds, including the interest paid on the deposits and borrowings that are used to support our assets. Net interest income is a significant contributor to our operating results. Fluctuations in interest rates, as well as the amounts and types of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities we hold, affect net interest income. We generated $466.8 million in net interest income during 2023, compared with net interest income of $459.0 million and $423.0 million during 2022 and 2021, respectively. The change in reportable business segment net interest income during 2023, compared with 2022, primarily reflected decreases within our banking and mortgage origination segments.

The other component of our revenue is noninterest income, which is primarily comprised of the following:

Column 1Column 2Column 3
(i)Income from broker-dealer operations. Through Securities Holdings, we provide investment banking and other related financial services that generated $256.2 million, $266.5 million and $296.3 million in securities commissions and fees and investment and securities advisory fees and commissions, and $97.0 million, $61.1 million and $75.2 million in gains from derivative and trading portfolio activities (included within other noninterest income) during 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(ii)Income from mortgage operations. Through PrimeLending, we generate noninterest income by originating and selling mortgage loans. During 2023, 2022 and 2021, we generated $316.7 million, $452.0 million and $986.0 million, respectively, in net gains from sale of loans, other mortgage production income (including income associated with retained mortgage servicing rights), and mortgage loan origination fees.

In the aggregate, we generated $0.7 billion, $0.8 billion and $1.4 billion in noninterest income during 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The decrease in noninterest income during 2023, compared with 2022, was predominantly attributable, as noted in the segment results table previously presented, to a decrease of $135.3 million in net gains from sale of loans, other mortgage production income and mortgage loan origination fees within our mortgage origination segment, partially offset by an increase of $35.9 million in gains from derivative and trading portfolio activities within our broker-dealer segment.

We also incur noninterest expenses in the operation of our businesses. Our businesses engage in labor intensive activities and, consequently, employees’ compensation and benefits represent the majority of our noninterest expenses.

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Consolidated Operating Results

Income applicable to common stockholders during 2023 was $109.6 million, or $1.69 per diluted share, compared with $113.1 million, or $1.60 per diluted share, during 2022, and $374.5 million, or $4.61 per diluted share, during 2021. Hilltop’s financial results during 2023 included decreases in year-over-year mortgage origination segment net gains from sales of loans and other mortgage production income, a decline in net interest income within the banking segment, and increases in net revenues within all of the broker-dealer segment’s business lines.

Hilltop’s financial results during 2022 reflected a significant decreases in year-over-year mortgage origination segment net gains from sales of loans and other mortgage production income, while the banking segment recorded a provision for credit losses as opposed to a reversal of credit losses in the prior year.

Certain items included in net income during 2023, 2022 and 2021 resulted from purchase accounting associated with the PlainsCapital Merger, the FNB Transaction, the SWS Merger and the BORO Acquisition (collectively, the “Bank Transactions”). Income before income taxes during 2023, 2022 and 2021 included net accretion on earning assets and liabilities of $8.6 million, $10.8 million and $19.2 million, respectively, and amortization of identifiable intangibles of $2.9 million, $4.5 million and $5.2 million, respectively, related to the Bank Transactions.

The information shown in the table below includes certain key performance indicators on a consolidated basis.

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Return on average stockholders' equity (1)5.31%5.11%15.38%
Return on average assets (2)0.71%0.69%2.17%
Net interest margin (3) (4)3.07%2.87%2.57%
Leverage ratio (5) (end of year)12.23%11.47%12.58%
Common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio (6) (end of year)19.32%18.23%21.22%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Return on average stockholders’ equity is defined as consolidated income attributable to Hilltop divided by average total Hilltop stockholders’ equity.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Return on average assets is defined as consolidated net income divided by average assets.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Net interest margin is defined as net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. We consider net interest margin as a key indicator of profitability as it represents interest earned on our interest-earning assets compared to interest incurred.
Column 1Column 2
(4)The securities financing operations within our broker-dealer segment had the effect of lowering both net interest margin and taxable equivalent net interest margin by 26 basis points, 21 basis points and 16 basis points during 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Column 1Column 2
(5)The leverage ratio is a regulatory capital ratio and is defined as Tier 1 risk-based capital divided by average consolidated assets.
Column 1Column 2
(6)The common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio is a regulatory capital ratio and is defined as common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital divided by risk weighted assets. Common equity includes common equity Tier 1 capital (common stockholders’ equity and certain minority interests in the equity capital accounts of consolidated subsidiaries, but excluding goodwill and various intangible assets) and additional Tier 1 capital (certain qualifying minority interests not included in common equity Tier 1 capital, certain preferred stock and related surplus, and certain subordinated debt).

We present net interest margin and net interest income below on a taxable-equivalent basis. Net interest margin (taxable equivalent), a non-GAAP measure, is defined as taxable equivalent net interest income divided by average interest earning assets. Taxable equivalent adjustments are based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rate of 21% for all periods presented. The interest income earned on certain earning assets is completely or partially exempt from federal income tax. As such, these tax-exempt instruments typically yield lower returns than taxable investments. To provide more meaningful comparisons of net interest margins for all earning assets, we use net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis in calculating net interest margin by increasing the interest income earned on tax-exempt assets to make it fully equivalent to interest income earned on taxable investments.

During 2023, 2022 and 2021, purchase accounting contributed 6, 7 and 12 basis points, respectively, to our consolidated taxable equivalent net interest margin of 3.09%, 2.88% and 2.58%, respectively. The purchase accounting activity is primarily related to the accretion of discount of loans which totaled $8.6 million, $10.5 million and $18.8 million during 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, associated with the Bank Transactions.

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The table below provides additional details regarding our consolidated net interest income (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
AverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualized
OutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield or
Balanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRate
Assets
Interest-earning assets
Loans held for sale$944,470$53,7365.69%$1,221,235$52,3154.28%$2,293,543$64,7672.82%
Loans held for investment, gross (1)7,950,878488,5386.23%7,840,848363,8924.71%7,645,292339,5484.44%
Investment securities - taxable2,726,763108,2503.97%2,819,28275,8052.69%2,493,84847,5821.91%
Investment securities - non-taxable (2)363,49313,4633.70%310,31511,6083.74%313,70311,4483.65%
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell145,6968,9546.15%162,5754,0982.52%152,2733720.24%
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions1,597,86579,6574.99%2,306,96031,7051.37%2,078,6662,9420.14%
Securities borrowed1,409,76571,9245.03%1,298,27644,4143.37%1,445,46461,6674.21%
Other65,91216,55425.11%55,2808,87316.05%50,9293,3326.54%
Interest-earning assets, gross (2)15,204,842841,0765.53%16,014,771592,7103.70%16,473,718531,6583.23%
Allowance for credit losses(103,975)(92,828)(129,689)
Interest-earning assets, net15,100,86715,921,94316,344,029
Noninterest-earning assets1,404,3931,488,9701,451,928
Total assets$16,505,260$17,410,913$17,795,957
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing deposits$7,711,570$223,1792.89%$7,561,501$50,4120.67%$7,722,584$23,6240.31%
Securities loaned1,331,44365,1754.90%1,184,49838,5703.26%1,374,14250,9743.71%
Notes payable and other borrowings1,579,17083,1745.27%1,293,13343,1583.34%1,216,38132,3932.66%
Total interest-bearing liabilities10,622,183371,5283.50%10,039,132132,1401.32%10,313,107106,9911.04%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
Noninterest-bearing deposits3,441,4374,455,7794,157,962
Other liabilities351,938675,628863,976
Total liabilities14,415,55815,170,53915,335,045
Stockholders’ equity2,063,1742,213,7332,435,185
Noncontrolling interest26,52826,64125,727
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$16,505,260$17,410,913$17,795,957
Net interest income (2)$469,548$460,570$424,667
Net interest spread (2)2.03%2.38%2.19%
Net interest margin (2)3.09%2.88%2.58%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Average balance includes non-accrual loans.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Presented on a taxable equivalent basis with taxable equivalent adjustments based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rate of 21% for the periods presented. The adjustment to interest income was $2.7 million, $1.6 million and $1.7 million during 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The banking segment’s net interest margin exceeds our consolidated net interest margin shown above. Our consolidated net interest margin includes certain items that are not reflected in the calculation of our net interest margin within our banking segment and reduce our consolidated net interest margin, such as the borrowing costs of Hilltop and the yields and costs associated with certain items within interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, such as securities borrowed in the broker-dealer segment and securities loaned in the broker-dealer segment, including items related to securities financing operations that particularly decrease net interest margin. In addition, yields and costs on certain interest-earning assets, such as lines of credit extended to other operating segments by the banking segment, are eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

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On a consolidated basis, the changes in net interest income during 2023, compared with 2022, were primarily due to changes within the banking segment related to changes in the rates earned or paid on interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and increased net yields on mortgage loans held for sale and decreases in average warehouse line balance with an unaffiliated bank within the mortgage origination segment. Refer to the discussion in the “Banking Segment” section that follows for more details on the changes in net interest income, including the component changes in the volume of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in the rates earned or paid on those items.

The provision for (reversal of) credit losses is determined by management as the amount necessary to maintain the allowance for credit losses at the amount of expected credit losses inherent within the loans held for investment portfolio. The amount of expense and the corresponding level of allowance for credit losses for loans are based on our evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio based on historical loss experience, reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other significant qualitative and quantitative factors. Substantially all of our consolidated provision for (reversal of) credit losses is related to the banking segment. During 2023, the provision for credit losses reflected a significant build in the allowance related to loan portfolio changes since December 31, 2022 and a deteriorating outlook for commercial real estate markets. During 2022, the provision for credit losses was driven by a deteriorating U.S. economic outlook since December 31, 2021. Refer to the discussion in the “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” section that follows for more details regarding the significant assumptions and estimates involved in estimating credit losses.

Noninterest income decreased during 2023, compared with 2022, primarily due to decreases in total mortgage loan sales volume and average loan sales margin within our mortgage origination segment, partially offset by net increases within all of the broker-dealer segment’s business lines. The decrease in noninterest income during 2022, compared with 2021, was primarily due to decreases in total mortgage loan sales volume and average loan sales margin within our mortgage origination segment, and net declines in investment advisory fees and trading gains primarily within the broker-dealer segment’s public finance services and structured finance business lines.

Noninterest expense decreased during 2023, compared with 2022, primarily due to decreases in variable compensation associated with decreases in total mortgage loan sales volume and average loan sales margin within our mortgage origination segment, partially offset by increases in non-variable compensation and other segment operating costs within our broker-dealer segment. We have experienced an increase in certain noninterest expenses during 2023 and 2022, compared with respective prior periods, including compensation, occupancy, and software costs, due to inflationary pressures. We expect such inflationary headwinds to continue and result in higher fixed costs into 2024. The decrease in noninterest expense during 2022, compared with 2021, was primarily due to decreases in both variable and non-variable compensation within our mortgage origination segment associated with the decreased mortgage loan originations, and a decline in variable compensation within our broker-dealer segment, partially offset by increases within our banking segment.

Effective income tax rates were 20.9%, 23.6% and 23.4% for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The effective tax rate for 2023 was lower than the applicable statutory rate due to the impacts of excess tax benefits on share-based payment awards, investments in tax-exempt instruments and changes in accumulated tax reserves, partially offset by nondeductible expenses and the booking of additional taxes from a recent change in the source of funding for an acquired non-qualified, deferred compensation plan, while 2022 and 2021 approximated statutory rates and included the effect of investments in tax-exempt instruments, offset by nondeductible expenses.

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Segment Results

Banking Segment

The following table presents certain information about the operating results of our banking segment (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2023202220212023 vs 20222022 vs 2021
Net interest income$397,936$413,603$406,524$(15,667)$7,079
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses18,5258,250(58,175)10,27566,425
Noninterest income45,83049,30745,113(3,477)4,194
Noninterest expense226,234235,190226,915(8,956)8,275
Income before income taxes$199,007$219,470$282,897$(20,463)$(63,427)

The decrease in income before income taxes during 2023, compared with 2022, was primarily due to a decrease in net interest income and an increase in the provision for credit losses, partially offset by a decline in noninterest expense, while the decrease in income before income taxes during 2022, compared with 2021, was driven by the impact of reversals of credit losses throughout 2021. Changes to net interest income related to the component changes in the volume of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in the rates earned or paid on those items are discussed in more detail below.

As discussed in more detail below, given the intense competition for liquidity and as customers seek higher yields on deposits, the banking segment’s cost of deposits has increased during 2023. We expect such costs during 2024 to continue to be driven by various factors, including competition as well as economic and market area factors. The resulting net interest income spread compression has had, and is expected to continue to have, a negative impact on banking segment operating results.

The information shown in the table below includes certain key indicators of the performance and asset quality of our banking segment.

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Efficiency ratio (1)50.98%50.81%50.25%
Return on average assets (2)1.15%1.19%1.55%
Net interest margin (3)3.13%3.11%3.07%
Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans outstanding (4)(0.03)%(0.06)%0.01%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Efficiency ratio is defined as noninterest expenses divided by the sum of total noninterest income and net interest income for the period. We consider the efficiency ratio to be a measure of the banking segment’s profitability.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Return on average assets is defined as net income divided by average assets.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Net interest margin is defined as net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. We consider net interest margin as a key indicator of profitability, as it represents interest earned on interest-earning assets compared to interest incurred.
Column 1Column 2
(4)Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans outstanding is defined as the greater of recoveries or charge-offs during the reported period minus charge-offs or recoveries divided by average loans outstanding. We use the ratio to measure the credit performance of our loan portfolio.

The banking segment presents net interest margin and net interest income in the following discussion and table below, on a taxable equivalent basis. Net interest margin (taxable equivalent), a non-GAAP measure, is defined as taxable equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. Taxable equivalent adjustments are based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rates of 21% for all periods presented. The interest income earned on certain earning assets is completely or partially exempt from federal income tax. As such, these tax-exempt instruments typically yield lower returns than taxable investments. To provide more meaningful comparisons of net interest margins for all earning assets, we use net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis in calculating net interest margin by increasing the interest income earned on tax-exempt assets to make it fully equivalent to interest income earned on taxable investments.

During 2023, 2022 and 2021, purchase accounting contributed 7, 9 and 16 basis points, respectively, to the banking segment’s taxable equivalent net interest margin of 3.14%, 3.11% and 3.08%, respectively. These purchase accounting

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items are primarily related to accretion of discount of loans associated with the Bank Transactions as discussed in the Consolidated Operating Results section.

The table below provides additional details regarding our banking segment’s net interest income (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
AverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualized
OutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield or
Balanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRate
Assets
Interest-earning assets
Loans held for investment, gross (1)$7,786,984$454,1325.83%$7,371,397$339,3564.60%$7,069,485$323,1364.57%
Subsidiary warehouse lines of credit867,01170,0247.97%1,128,57658,1535.08%2,124,70080,7613.75%
Investment securities - taxable2,284,65472,7713.19%2,377,48345,2821.90%2,026,18929,2151.44%
Investment securities - non-taxable (2)112,4083,9073.48%109,9113,8713.52%114,1183,9053.42%
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell67,0113,5755.41%118,6862,1901.87%30,395890.30%
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions1,543,47179,6575.16%2,174,52931,7051.46%1,837,1962,4590.13%
Other50,6732,3534.64%36,8433,87610.52%36,8134601.25%
Interest-earning assets, gross (2)12,712,212686,4195.40%13,317,425484,4333.64%13,238,896440,0253.32%
Allowance for credit losses(103,180)(92,377)(129,303)
Interest-earning assets, net12,609,03213,225,04813,109,593
Noninterest-earning assets848,093919,618966,296
Total assets$13,457,125$14,144,666$14,075,889
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing deposits$7,578,587$265,5603.50%$7,379,265$63,1480.86%$7,578,963$30,9880.41%
Notes payable and other borrowings579,46222,2303.84%311,7356,8642.20%142,7051,5861.11%
Total interest-bearing liabilities8,158,049287,7903.53%7,691,00070,0120.91%7,721,66832,5740.42%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
Noninterest-bearing deposits3,582,3564,695,2654,512,227
Other liabilities156,980145,272155,979
Total liabilities11,897,38512,531,53712,389,874
Stockholders’ equity1,559,7401,613,1291,686,015
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$13,457,125$14,144,666$14,075,889
Net interest income (2)$398,629$414,421$407,451
Net interest spread (2)1.87%2.73%2.90%
Net interest margin (2)3.14%3.11%3.08%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Average balance includes non-accrual loans.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Presented on a taxable equivalent basis with taxable equivalent adjustments based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rates of 21% for all periods presented. The adjustment to interest income was $0.7 million, $0.8 million and $0.8 million during 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The banking segment’s net interest margin exceeds our consolidated net interest margin. Our consolidated net interest margin includes certain items that are not reflected in the calculation of our net interest margin within our banking segment and reduce our consolidated net interest margin, such as the borrowing costs of Hilltop and the yields and costs associated with certain items within interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, such as securities borrowed in the broker-dealer segment and securities loaned in the broker-dealer segment, including items related to securities financing operations that particularly decrease net interest margin. In addition, yields and costs on certain interest-earning assets, such as lines of credit extended to other operating segments by the banking segment, are eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

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The following table summarizes the changes in the banking segment’s net interest income for the periods indicated below, including the component changes in the volume of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in the rates earned or paid on those items (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
2023 vs. 20222022 vs. 2021
Change Due To (1)Change Due To (1)
VolumeYield/RateChangeVolumeYield/RateChange
Interest income
Loans held for investment, gross (2)$19,117$95,659$114,776$13,797$2,423$16,220
Subsidiary warehouse lines of credit (3)(13,293)25,16411,871(37,355)14,747(22,608)
Investment securities - taxable(1,768)29,25727,4895,05911,00816,067
Investment securities - non-taxable (4)88(52)36(144)110(34)
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell(967)2,3521,3852651,8362,101
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions(9,201)57,15347,95243928,80729,246
Other1,455(2,978)(1,523)3,4163,416
Total interest income (4)(4,569)206,555201,986(17,939)62,34744,408
Interest expense
Deposits$1,706$200,706$202,412$(819)$32,979$32,160
Notes payable and other borrowings5,8959,47115,3661,8763,4025,278
Total interest expense7,601210,177217,7781,05736,38137,438
Net interest income (4)$(12,170)$(3,622)$(15,792)$(18,996)$25,966$6,970
Column 1Column 2
(1)Changes attributable to both volume and yield/rate are included in yield/rate column.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Changes in the yields earned on loans held for investment, gross included a decline during 2023 of $1.9 million in accretion of discount on loans, compared with 2022, and a decrease of $8.3 million during 2022, compared with 2021. Accretion of discount on loans is expected to decrease in future periods as loans acquired in the Bank Transaction are repaid, refinanced or renewed.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Subsidiary warehouse lines of credit extended to PrimeLending are eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.
Column 1Column 2
(4)Annualized taxable equivalent.

With regard to net interest income, as of December 31, 2023, the banking segment maintained an asset sensitive rate risk position, meaning the amount of its interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within a given period exceeds the amount of its interest-bearing liabilities also maturing or repricing within that time period. During a period of rising interest rates, being asset sensitive tends to result in an increase in net interest income, but during a period of declining interest rates, tends to result in a decrease in net interest income.

Our portfolio includes loans that periodically reprice or mature prior to the end of an amortized term. The extent and timing of this impact on interest income will ultimately be driven by the timing, magnitude and frequency of interest rate and yield curve movements, as well as changes in market conditions and timing of management strategies. At December 31, 2023, approximately $707 million of our floating rate loans held for investment remained at or below their applicable rate floor, exclusive of our mortgage warehouse lending program, of which approximately 83% are not scheduled to reprice for more than one year based upon agreed-upon terms. If interest rates rise further, yields on the portion of our loan portfolio that remain at applicable rate floors would rise more slowly than increases in market interest rates, unless such loans are refinanced or repaid. Competition for loan growth could also continue to put pressure on new loan origination rates. If interest rates were to fall, the impact on our interest income for certain variable-rate loans would be limited by these rate floors.

Additionally, within our banking segment, the composition of the deposit base and ultimate cost of funds on deposits and net interest income are affected by the level of market interest rates, the interest rates and products offered by competitors, the volatility of equity markets and other factors. Deposit products and pricing structures relative to the market are regularly evaluated to maintain competitiveness over time. During a period of rising interest rates, the cost of

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funds on deposits, and therefore, interest expense, tends to increase. Given the intense competition for liquidity and the banking industry disruption, and as customers seek higher yields on deposits, our cost of deposits increased during 2023 compared with 2022. We expect such costs during 2024 to continue to be driven by various factors, including continued intense competition for deposits as well as economic and market area factors. The Bank’s deposit base primarily includes a combination of commercial, wealth, and public funds deposits, without a high level of industry concentration. At December 31, 2023, total estimated uninsured deposits were $4.7 billion, or approximately 42% of total deposits, while estimated uninsured deposits, excluding collateralized deposits of $315.7 million, were $4.4 billion, or approximately 40% of total deposits.

Refer to the discussion in the “Liquidity and Capital Resources – Banking Segment” section that follows for more detail regarding the Bank’s activities regarding deposits, available liquidity and borrowing capacity.

To help mitigate net interest income spread compression between our assets and liabilities as the Federal Reserve increases interest rates, management continues to execute certain derivative trades, as either cash flow hedges or fair value hedges, that benefit the banking segment as interest rates rise. Any changes in interest rates across the term structure will continue to impact net interest income and net interest margin. The impact of rate movements will change with the shape of the yield curve, including any changes in steepness or flatness and inversions at any points on the yield curve.

During 2023, 2022 and 2021, the banking segment retained approximately $140 million, $532 million and $778 million, respectively, in mortgage loans originated by the mortgage origination segment. These loans are purchased by the banking segment at par. For origination services provided, the banking segment reimburses the mortgage origination segment for direct origination costs associated with these mortgage loans, in addition to payment of a correspondent fee. The correspondent fees are eliminated in consolidation. The determination of mortgage loan retention levels by the banking segment will be impacted by, among other things, an ongoing review of the prevailing mortgage rates, balance sheet positioning at Hilltop and the banking segment’s outlook for commercial loan growth.

The banking segment’s provision for (reversal of) credit losses has been subject to significant year-over-year and quarterly changes primarily attributable to the effects of the changing economic outlook, macroeconomic forecast assumptions and resulting impact on reserves. Specifically, during 2023, the banking segment’s provision for credit losses reflected a build in the allowance related to loan portfolio changes since December 31, 2022 and a deteriorating outlook for commercial real estate markets. The net impact to the allowance of changes associated with collectively evaluated loans during 2023 included a provision for credit losses of $12.7 million, while individually evaluated loans included a provision for credit losses of $5.8 million. The change in the allowance during 2023 was also impacted by net charge-offs of $2.4 million. During 2022, the banking segment’s provision for credit losses was driven by a deteriorating U.S. economic outlook since December 31, 2021. The change in the allowance during 2022 was also impacted by net charge-offs of $4.2 million. During 2021, the banking segment had net reversals of credit losses on expected losses of collectively evaluated loans of $58.3 million, primarily due to improvements in both macroeconomic forecast assumptions and credit quality metrics on industry sector exposures impacted by the pandemic. The change in the allowance during 2021 was also impacted by net recoveries of $0.5 million. The changes in the allowance for credit losses during the noted periods also reflected other factors including, but not limited to, loan growth, loan mix, and changes in risk grades and qualitative factors from the prior quarter. Refer to the discussion in the “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” section that follows for more details regarding the significant assumptions and estimates involved in estimating credit losses.

The banking segment’s noninterest income decreased during 2023, compared with 2022, primarily due to a decline in service charges on depositor accounts, oil and gas management fees and non-recurring income related to CRA investment that occurred in 2022. Noninterest income during 2022, compared with 2021, increased primarily due to increased wealth management fees.

The banking segment’s noninterest expenses decreased during 2023, compared with 2022, primarily due to decreases in compensation-related expenses, partially offset by an increase in FDIC assessment, professional fees and software related expenses. Noninterest expenses during 2022, compared with 2021, increased primarily due to increased expenses associated with employees’ compensation and benefits and professional fees.

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Broker-Dealer Segment

The following table provides additional details regarding our broker-dealer segment operating results (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2023202220212023 vs 20222022 vs 2021
Net interest income:
Wealth management:
Securities lending$6,749$5,844$10,693$905$(4,849)
Clearing services8,0647,5987,314466284
Structured finance7,9576,6802,8571,2773,823
Fixed income services1,29419,09619,249(17,802)(153)
Other28,83012,3793,18316,4519,196
Total net interest income52,89451,59743,2961,2978,301
Noninterest income:
Securities commissions and fees by business line (1):
Fixed income services27,76032,89347,844(5,133)(14,951)
Wealth management:
Retail87,22676,21373,14911,0133,064
Clearing services40,08128,74922,47811,3326,271
Structured finance11,07811,2163,275(138)7,941
Other2,8493,6844,016(835)(332)
168,994152,755150,76216,2391,993
Investment and securities advisory fees and commissions by business line:
Public finance services89,43786,573108,3722,864(21,799)
Fixed income services10,8657,1438,4423,722(1,299)
Wealth management:
Retail31,01630,74431,453272(709)
Clearing services1,6601,7411,945(81)(204)
Structured finance1,1058631,850242(987)
Other244335381(91)(46)
134,327127,399152,4436,928(25,044)
Other:
Structured finance62,85847,19277,42415,666(30,232)
Fixed income services34,26713,698(2,197)20,56915,895
Other3,0928992,6932,193(1,794)
100,21761,78977,92038,428(16,131)
Total noninterest income403,538341,943381,12561,595(39,182)
Net revenue (2)456,432393,540424,42162,892(30,881)
Noninterest expense:
Variable compensation (3)144,984138,705161,2646,279(22,559)
Non-variable compensation and benefits121,411112,440114,9128,971(2,472)
Segment operating costs (4)116,496104,627104,58411,86943
Total noninterest expense382,891355,772380,76027,119(24,988)
Income before income taxes$73,541$37,768$43,661$35,773$(5,893)
Column 1Column 2
(1)Securities commissions and fees includes income from FDIC sweep investments with the banking segment of $47.1 million, $13.6 million, and $6.9 million during 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively, that is eliminated in consolidation.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Net revenue is defined as the sum of total net interest income and total noninterest income. We consider net revenue to be a key performance measure in the evaluation of the broker-dealer segment’s financial position and operating performance as we believe it is a primary revenue performance measure used by investors and analysts. Net revenue provides for some level of comparability of trends across the financial services industry as it reflects both noninterest income, including investment and securities advisory fees and commissions, as well as net interest income. Internally, we assess the broker-dealer segment’s performance on a revenue basis for comparability with our banking segment.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Variable compensation represents performance-based commissions and incentives.
Column 1Column 2
(4)Segment operating costs include provision for (reversal of) credit losses associated with the broker-dealer segment within other noninterest expenses.

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The increase in net revenue and income before income taxes during 2023, compared with 2022, was primarily related to the combined impacts of the rising interest rate environment and a more favorable housing environment in certain areas of the country, which was evidenced by improved results period-over-period within our various business lines. All the broker-dealer business lines experienced an increase in net revenues when compared to 2022. Specifically, the broker-dealer segment’s structured finance business line experienced an increase in net revenues due to increased production volumes, and support from certain state legislatures for down payment assistance programs. The wealth management business line’s net revenue improvement was driven by improved customer balance revenues, which included increases in FDIC sweep revenue, despite weaker retail division transactional production. The increase in net revenues in the broker-dealer segment’s fixed income services business line was primarily due to improved trading revenues in both taxable and municipal products offset by a decrease in net interest income from the increase in the cost to carry inventory positions. The increase in net revenues in the broker-dealer segment’s public finance services business line was primarily due to fees earned from managed assets within our treasury management and government investment pool divisions of our public finance services business line and underwriting transactions, offset by a decrease in advisory revenue due to the unfavorable national issuance trends.

The broker-dealer segment is subject to interest rate risk as a consequence of maintaining inventory positions, trading in interest rate sensitive financial instruments and maintaining a matched stock loan book. Changes in interest rates are likely to have a meaningful impact on our overall financial performance. Our broker-dealer segment has historically earned a significant portion of its revenues from advisory fees upon the successful completion of client transactions, which could be adversely impacted by interest rate volatility. Rapid or significant changes in interest rates could adversely affect the broker-dealer segment’s bond trading, sales, underwriting activities and other interest spread-sensitive activities described below. The broker-dealer segment also receives administrative fees for providing money market and FDIC investment alternatives to clients, which tend to be sensitive to short term interest rates. In addition, the profitability of the broker-dealer segment depends, to an extent, on the spread between revenues earned on customer loans and excess customer cash balances, and the interest expense paid on customer cash balances, as well as the interest revenue earned on trading securities, net of financing costs. The broker-dealer segment is also exposed to interest rate risk through its structured finance business line, which is dependent on mortgage loan production that tends to be adversely impacted by increasing interest rates and may result in valuation-related adjustments.

As noted under the section titled “Asset Valuation” earlier in this Item 7, continuing macroeconomic challenges related to mortgage loan origination volumes, customer sensitivity to interest rates and resulting demand for certain products have resulted in a challenging environment associated with the broker-dealer segment’s short- and long-term financial condition, resulting in variability in its operating results. As a part of the most recent annual quantitative analysis performed as of October 1, 2023 using revised forecasts and considering sensitivities of assumptions, we concluded that it was more likely than not that the broker-dealer segment’s estimated fair value of goodwill exceeded its carrying value. However, in the event future operating performance remains challenged and below our forecasted projections, there are negative changes to long-term growth rates or discount rates increase, the fair value of the broker-dealer segment may decline and we may be required to record a goodwill impairment charge. These conditions will continue to be considered during future impairment evaluations of goodwill.

In the broker-dealer segment, interest is earned from securities lending activities, interest charged on customer margin loan balances and interest earned on investment securities used to support sales, underwriting and other customer activities. The increase in net interest income during 2023, compared with 2022, was primarily due to the increase in corporate interest, retail and clearing services business line revenues and the amount of interest received on a structured product investments offset by a decrease in net interest income from the fixed income services business line due to the increased cost to carry inventory positions. The improvement in net interest income during 2022, compared with 2021, was primarily due to the increases in net interest income from our structured finance business line and other divisions within our public finance and wealth management business lines, partially offset by the decline in net interest income within the securities lending division of our wealth management business line.

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Noninterest income increased during 2023, compared with 2022, primarily due to increases in securities commissions and fees, investment and securities advisory fees and commissions, and other noninterest income. Noninterest income decreased during 2022, compared with 2021, primarily due to declines in investment banking and advisory fees as well as other noninterest income.

Securities commissions and fees increased during 2023, compared with 2022, primarily due to an increase in FDIC sweep revenue given higher short-term interest rates, partially offset by a decrease in fixed income and retail commissions. As FDIC sweep revenues are closely correlated to short-term interest rates, changes in short-term interest rates may affect these revenues. Securities commissions and fees increased during 2022, compared with 2021, primarily due to an increase in money market and FDIC sweep revenues and commission and fees earned on commodities sales transactions, partially offset by a decrease in customer demand for fixed income services. In addition, securities commissions and fees during 2022, compared with 2021, were impacted by decreases in commissions earned in insurance product sales transactions, commissions earned on fixed income products, and net clearing revenues due to the decrease in clearing fees.

Investment and securities advisory fees and commissions increased during 2023, compared with 2022, primarily due to increases in fees earned from managed assets within our treasury management and government investment pool divisions of our public finance services business line and underwriting transactions. Investment and securities advisory fees and commissions decreased during 2022, compared with 2021, primarily due to decreases in fees earned from our municipal advisory and underwriting transactions. Public finance national issuance volume declined approximately 21% during 2022 compared with 2021.

The increase in other noninterest income during 2023, compared with 2022, was primarily due to fixed income trading activities and increases in trading gains earned from structured finance. Specifically, mortgage originations increased 72% during 2023 and customer demand improved compared with 2022. Increased fixed income trading gains during 2023, compared with 2022, were primarily driven by government and agency, mortgage and asset-backed securities trading, partially offset by a decrease in net trading gains from derivative transactions. Also contributing to the overall increase in noninterest income was an increase in the value of the broker-dealer segment’s deferred compensation plan’s assets of $2.5 million during 2023, compared with 2022. With the expected rise in interest rates continuing into 2024, we anticipate continued volatility and generally lower levels of other noninterest income related to our structured finance and fixed income services business lines. Other noninterest income decreased during 2022, compared with 2021, were primarily due to decreases in trading gains earned from our structured finance business line’s derivative activities, given decreased volumes and interest rate volatility. Specifically, the decreased volumes were due to lower mortgage originations, with loan lock volumes totaling $3.8 billion in 2022, a 46% decline when compared with 2021. The decrease in other noninterest income during 2022, compared with the same period in 2021, also reflected a decline within our broker-dealer segment’s deferred compensation plan of $2.8 million.

The increase in noninterest expenses during 2023, compared with 2022, were due to increases in segment operating costs and compensation. The increase in segment operating costs was attributable to an increase in software expenses, travel expenses, quotation and transaction clearing costs and legal fees. The increase in compensation expenses during 2023, compared with 2022, were primarily due to overall increases in non-variable compensation, the impact of changes in variable compensation on improved results, increases in deferred compensation expenses from both the restricted stock plan and the broker-dealer segment’s deferred compensation plan. The declines in noninterest expenses during 2022, compared with 2021, were primarily due to the impact of changes in variable compensation.

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Selected information concerning the broker-dealer segment, including key performance indicators, follows (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Total compensation as a % of net revenue (1)58.4%63.8%65.1%
Pre-tax margin (2)16.1%9.6%10.3%
FDIC insured program balances at the Bank (end of year)$1,132,106$1,122,091$803,941
Other FDIC insured program balances (end of year)$852,653$695,873$1,503,277
Customer funds on deposit, including short credits (end of year)$223,414$278,670$499,476
Public finance services:
Number of issues (3)8048941,143
Aggregate amount of offerings (3)$46,343,892$38,952,431$59,929,698
Structured finance:
Lock production/TBA volume$6,468,566$3,763,743$7,007,564
Fixed income services:
Total volumes$259,412,621$219,791,737$244,643,358
Net inventory (end of year)$481,052$701,923$551,289
Wealth management (Retail and Clearing services groups):
Retail employee representatives (end of year)9299106
Independent registered representatives (end of year)186163177
Correspondents (end of year)105111122
Correspondent receivables (end of year)$119,996$156,859$306,064
Customer margin balances (end of year)$223,384$274,339$426,584
Wealth management (Securities lending group):
Interest-earning assets - stock borrowed (end of year)$1,406,937$1,012,573$1,518,372
Interest-bearing liabilities - stock loaned (end of year)$1,371,896$916,570$1,432,196
Column 1Column 2
(1)Total compensation includes the sum of non-variable compensation and benefits and variable compensation. We consider total compensation as a percentage of net revenue to be a key performance measure and indicator of segment profitability.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Pre-tax margin is defined as income before income taxes divided by net revenue. We consider pre-tax margin to be a key performance measure given its use as a profitability metric representing the percentage of net revenue earned that results in a profit.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Noted balances during all prior periods include certain reclassifications to conform to current period presentation.

Mortgage Origination Segment

The following table presents certain information regarding the operating results of our mortgage origination segment (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2023202220212023 vs 20222022 vs 2021
Net interest income (expense)$(20,305)$(10,529)$(20,400)$(9,776)$9,871
Noninterest income316,840452,915986,990(136,075)(534,075)
Noninterest expense359,285478,904731,056(119,619)(252,152)
Income (loss) before income taxes$(62,750)$(36,518)$235,534$(26,232)$(272,052)

The mortgage lending business is subject to variables that can impact loan origination volume, including seasonal transaction volumes and interest rate fluctuations. Historically, the mortgage origination segment has experienced increased loan origination volume from purchases of homes during the spring and summer months, when more people tend to move and buy or sell homes. An increase in mortgage interest rates tends to result in decreased loan origination volume from refinancings, while a decrease in mortgage interest rates tends to result in increased loan origination volume from refinancings. While changes in mortgage interest rates have historically had a lesser impact on home purchases volume than on refinancing volume, significant increases in mortgage interest rates that began in 2022, and continued into 2023, negatively impacted home purchase volume. A slight decline in mortgage rates experienced during

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the end of the fourth quarter of 2023 had minimal impact on 2023 loan origination volume. See details regarding loan origination volume in the table below.

Recent trends, as well as typical historical patterns in loan origination volume from purchases of homes or from refinancings because of movements in mortgage interest rates, may not be indicative of future loan origination volumes. During 2022, and continuing through 2023, certain events adversely impacted total mortgage market origination volumes because of their effect on the economy, including inflation and rising interest rates, the Federal Reserve’s actions and communications, and geopolitical threats. These events have also adversely impacted the willingness and ability of the mortgage origination segment’s customers to conduct mortgage transactions. Specifically, current home inventory shortages and affordability challenges are impacting customers’ abilities to purchase homes. The increase in interest rates that began during 2022, which has led to a sharp reduction in national refinancing volume and the reduction of willing and eligible home buyers, has resulted in competitive mortgage pricing pressure. During the first quarter of 2023, this led to a decline in the average combined net gains from mortgage loan sales and mortgage loan origination fees when compared to the 2022 average. Between March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2023, the average increased slightly, peaking in the third quarter of 2023 and trending back towards the second quarter average during the fourth quarter of 2023. Even though the average improved between the beginning and the end of 2023, the fourth quarter 2023 average remained below the average for the first quarter of 2022. Currently, we anticipate that lower seasonal transaction volumes and the continuation of the mortgage loan production and operating results trends experienced by the mortgage origination segment during 2023 will continue into 2024. Given these expectations, the mortgage origination segment continues to evaluate its cost structure to address the current mortgage environment.

We believe that ongoing initiatives are critical to improving the mortgage origination segment’s short- and long-term financial condition and operating results. As noted under the section titled “Asset Valuation” earlier in this Item 7, the mortgage origination segment experienced operating losses during the second half of 2022 which continued as expected into the first quarter of 2023 due to conditions discussed in detail within this discussion of segment results. However, during the second quarter of 2023, the mortgage origination segment’s operating losses continued which did not meet our forecasted projections. In light of the macroeconomic challenges in the mortgage industry given tight housing inventories and mortgage interest rate levels, and specifically that the mortgage origination segment did not meet forecasted projections at that time, we identified these collective factors as a triggering event during the second quarter of 2023. As a result, we performed an interim quantitative impairment test as of June 1, 2023 using revised forecasts and considering sensitivities of assumptions, and the decline in its carrying value, concluded that it was more likely than not that the mortgage origination segment’s estimated fair value of goodwill exceeded its carrying value at that time. Subsequently, the mortgage origination segment continued to experience lower-than-forecasted operating results during the remainder of 2023 due to conditions and challenges noted above. As a part of the most recent annual quantitative analysis performed as of October 1, 2023 using revised forecasts and considering sensitivities of assumptions, and the decline in its carrying value, concluded that it was more likely than not that the mortgage origination segment’s estimated fair value of goodwill exceeded its carrying value. However, in the event future operating performance remains challenged, the fair value of the mortgage origination segment may decline and we may be required to record a goodwill impairment charge. These conditions will continue to be considered during future impairment evaluations of goodwill.

As a GNMA approved lender, we are subject to certain HUD reporting requirements, including timely reporting if a quarter’s operating loss exceeds more than 20% of its previous quarter or year-end net worth (“the operating loss ratio”). If this occurs, certain additional financial reporting submissions are required. During the first and fourth quarters of 2023, the operating loss ratios were 21.2% and 20.5%. respectively, which were reported to HUD. During the second and third quarters of 2023, the operating loss ratios were below the 20% threshold at 15.8% and 10.0%, respectively.

In addition, as a FNMA and FHLMC approved lender, we are subject to certain minimum capital, net worth and liquidity requirements established by FNMA and FHLMC. These agencies may also monitor additional financial performance trends at their discretion, including risk-based analyses focused on loans that the mortgage origination segment is currently responsible for representation and warranties that agency loans sold meet certain requirements, including representations as to underwriting standards and the validity of certain borrower representations in connection with the loan. One FNMA discretionary performance trend monitors the change in adjusted net worth during the prior twelve months. FNMA’s acceptable threshold for this performance trend is less than minus 30%, but is only considered if a company has four consecutive quarterly losses. During the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2023, PrimeLending

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experienced four consecutive quarterly losses; the loss ratios during these periods were 50.2%, 37.6%, and 39.8%, respectively. These trends have been reported to FNMA.

The loss before income taxes increased significantly in 2023, compared with 2022. This decrease was primarily the result of decreases in the volume of interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”), mortgage loan originations and sales and an increase in the net interest expense, partially offset by a decrease in noninterest expense.

During 2022 and continuing through the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2023, the U.S. 10-Year Treasury Rate and mortgage interest rates increased significantly. During the later part of the fourth quarter of 2023, both rates decreased to levels that approximated rates at the beginning of 2023. Overall, average interest rates during 2023 exceeded average interest rates during 2022. Refinancing volume as a percentage of total origination volume decreased during 2023, compared with 2022. Although we anticipate a relatively stable percentage of refinancing volume relative to total loan origination volume during 2024 as compared to 2023, a higher refinance percentage could be driven by a slowing of purchase volume due to the negative impact on new and existing home sales resulting from existing home inventory shortages and affordability challenges related to new home construction, and/or an increase in all-cash buyers.

The mortgage origination segment primarily originates its mortgage loans through a retail channel, with limited lending through its affiliated business arrangements (“ABAs”). For 2023, funded volume through ABAs was approximately 14% of the mortgage origination segment’s total loan volume. During March 2023 and July 2023, respectively, all of the respective members of two ABAs mutually agreed to dissolve the entities, effective June 2023 and September 2023, respectively. Currently, PrimeLending owns a greater than 50% interest in two remaining ABAs. We expect total production within the ABA channel to approximate 15% of loan volume of the mortgage origination segment during 2024.

The following table provides further details regarding our mortgage loan originations and sales for the periods indicated below (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
% of% of% ofVariance
AmountTotalAmountTotalAmountTotal2023 vs 20222022 vs 2021
Mortgage Loan Originations - units26,96441,12177,263(14,157)(36,142)
Mortgage Loan Originations - volume:
Conventional$5,147,10162.44%$8,276,43465.37%$15,787,94269.65%$(3,129,333)$(7,511,508)
Government1,904,23723.10%2,572,25720.32%3,387,27014.94%(668,020)(815,013)
Jumbo297,5093.61%1,052,5088.31%2,511,44211.08%(754,999)(1,458,934)
Other894,28410.85%758,9576.00%981,6294.33%135,327(222,672)
$8,243,131100.00%$12,660,156100.00%$22,668,283100.00%$(4,417,025)$(10,008,127)
Home purchases$7,701,75893.43%$10,823,00285.49%$14,429,19063.65%$(3,121,244)$(3,606,188)
Refinancings541,3736.57%1,837,15414.51%8,239,09336.35%(1,295,781)(6,401,939)
$8,243,131100.00%$12,660,156100.00%$22,668,283100.00%$(4,417,025)$(10,008,127)
Texas$2,379,42528.87%$2,910,75422.99%$4,224,69118.64%$(531,329)$(1,313,937)
California647,8317.86%1,077,9068.51%2,692,19811.88%(430,075)(1,614,292)
South Carolina427,2985.18%569,2064.50%950,0284.19%(141,908)(380,822)
Florida390,7084.74%613,8964.85%1,013,2064.47%(223,188)(399,310)
New York364,9794.43%546,0434.31%705,6013.11%(181,064)(159,558)
Arizona345,7384.19%562,5904.44%1,045,2184.61%(216,852)(482,628)
Missouri304,7233.70%398,8263.15%742,2203.27%(94,103)(343,394)
Ohio251,4803.05%529,9394.19%868,3783.83%(278,459)(338,439)
North Carolina239,6162.91%391,2243.09%740,1693.27%(151,608)(348,945)
Maryland208,3672.53%321,8352.54%665,5382.94%(113,468)(343,703)
All other states2,682,96632.54%4,737,93737.43%9,021,03639.79%(2,054,971)(4,283,099)
$8,243,131100.00%$12,660,156100.00%$22,668,283100.00%$(4,417,025)$(10,008,127)
Mortgage Loan Sales - volume:
Third parties$7,906,29798.26%$12,668,25295.97%$22,280,87296.62%$(4,761,955)$(9,612,620)
Banking segment140,2881.74%532,2194.03%778,2883.38%(391,931)(246,069)
$8,046,585100.00%$13,200,471100.00%$23,059,160100.00%$(5,153,886)$(9,858,689)

We consider the mortgage origination segment’s total loan origination volume to be a key performance measure. Loan origination volume is central to the segment’s ability to generate income by originating and selling mortgage loans,

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resulting in net gains from the sale of loans, other mortgage production income and other mortgage loan origination fees. Total loan origination volume is a measure utilized by management, our investors, and analysts in assessing market share and growth of the mortgage origination segment.

The mortgage origination segment’s total loan origination volume decreased 34.9% during 2023, compared with 2022, while loss before income taxes increased 71.8%, compared with 2022. The increase in loss before income taxes during 2023 was primarily due to decreases in the volume of IRLCs and mortgage loan originations and sales, a decrease in the average value of IRLCs, and to a lesser extent, an increase in net interest expense, compared with 2022. These trends were partially offset by a decrease in variable compensation, an increase in the average value of mortgage loan origination fees, and to a lesser extent, decreases in non-variable compensation and benefits expense, and segment operating costs, compared with 2022. During 2022, the mortgage origination segment’s total loan origination volume decreased 44.2% compared with 2021, while income before income taxes decreased 115.5% during 2022, compared with 2021. The decrease in income before income taxes during 2022 was primarily due to a decrease in net gains from sale of loans. Mortgage loan origination fees decreased slightly during 2022 compared with 2021, as average mortgage loan origination fees increased. These decreases were partially offset by a decrease in variable compensation, and to a lesser extent, decreases in non-variable compensation and benefits expense, segment operating costs, and net interest expense.

The information shown in the table below includes certain key performance indicators for the mortgage origination segment.

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Net gains from mortgage loan sales (basis points):
Loans sold to third parties198263375
Impact of loans retained by banking segment(4)(11)(13)
As reported194252362
Variable compensation as a percentage of total compensation47.4%51.9%65.8%
Mortgage servicing rights asset ($000's) (end of year) (1)$96,662$100,825$86,990
Column 1Column 2
(1)Reported on a consolidated basis and therefore does not include mortgage servicing rights assets related to loans serviced for the banking segment, which are eliminated in consolidation.

Net interest expense was comprised of interest income earned on loans held for sale offset by interest incurred on warehouse lines of credit primarily held with the Bank, and related intercompany financing costs. The changes in net interest expense during 2023, compared with 2022, reflected the effects of decreased net yields on mortgage loans held for sale, partially offset by a decrease in the average warehouse line balance between the two periods, and during 2022, compared with 2021, included the effects of increased net yields on mortgage loans held for sale between the two periods.

Noninterest income was comprised of the items set forth in the table below (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2023202220212023 vs 20222022 vs 2021
Net gains from sale of loans$156,190$332,732$834,580$(176,542)$(501,848)
Mortgage loan origination fees and other related income144,539149,598160,011(5,059)(10,413)
Other mortgage production income:
Change in net fair value and related derivative activity:
IRLCs and loans held for sale832(69,668)(67,714)70,500(1,954)
Mortgage servicing rights asset(16,589)2,7332,446(19,322)287
Servicing fees31,86837,52057,667(5,652)(20,147)
Total noninterest income$316,840$452,915$986,990$(136,075)$(534,075)

The decrease in net gains from sale of loans during 2023, compared with 2022, was primarily the result of a decrease of 39.0% in total loan sales volume, in addition to a decrease in average loan sales margin. Since PrimeLending sells substantially all mortgage loans it originates to various investors in the secondary market, the decrease in loan sales volume during 2023 was consistent with the decrease in loan origination volume during the period.

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The decrease in mortgage loan origination fees during 2023, compared with 2022, was minimal at 3.4%. The negative impact on fees resulting from a decrease in loan origination volume, was mostly offset by an increase in average mortgage loan origination fees.

Fluctuations in mortgage loan origination fees and net gains on sale of loans are not always aligned with fluctuations in loan origination and loan sale volumes, respectively, since customers may opt to pay PrimeLending discount fees on their mortgage loans, which are included in mortgage loan origination fees, in exchange for a lower interest rate, which decreases the value of a loan in the secondary market.

We consider the mortgage origination segment’s net gains from sale of loans margin, in basis points, to be a key performance measure. Net gains from mortgage loan sales margin is defined as net gains from sale of loans divided by mortgage loan sales volume. The net gains from sale of loans is central to the segment’s generation of income and may include loans sold to third parties and loans sold to and retained by the banking segment. For origination services provided, the mortgage origination segment was reimbursed direct origination costs associated with loans retained by the banking segment, in addition to payment of a correspondent fee. The reimbursed origination costs and correspondent fee are included in the mortgage origination segment operating results, and the correspondent fees are eliminated in consolidation. Loan volumes to be originated on behalf of and retained by the banking segment are evaluated each quarter. Loans sold to and retained by the banking segment during 2023, 2022 and 2021 were $140 million, $532 million and $778 million, respectively. Loan volumes to be originated on behalf of and retained by the banking segment are expected to be impacted by, among other things, an ongoing review of the prevailing mortgage rates, balance sheet positioning at Hilltop and the banking segment’s outlook for commercial loan growth.

Noninterest income included changes in the net fair value of the mortgage origination segment’s IRLCs and loans held for sale and the related activity associated with forward commitments used by the mortgage origination segment to mitigate interest rate risk associated with its IRLCs and mortgage loans held for sale (“net fair value of IRLCs and loans held for sale”). The increase in net fair value of IRLCs and loans held for sale during 2023, compared with 2022, was primarily the result of an increase in the average value of IRLCs and loans held for sale, partially offset by a decrease in the total volume of individual IRLCs and loans held for sale at each year-end.

The mortgage origination segment sells substantially all mortgage loans it originates to various investors in the secondary market. In addition, the mortgage origination segment originates loans on behalf of the Bank. The mortgage origination segment’s determination of whether to retain or release servicing on mortgage loans it sells is impacted by, among other things, changes in mortgage interest rates, refinancing and market activity, and balance sheet positioning at Hilltop. During 2023, 2022 and 2021, the mortgage origination segment retained servicing on approximately 18%, 25% and 29%, respectively, of loans sold. A reduction in third-party mortgage servicers purchasing mortgage servicing rights, even if modest, may result in PrimeLending increasing the rate of retained servicing on mortgage loans sold at any time. The mortgage origination segment may, from time to time, manage its MSR asset through different strategies, including varying the percentage of mortgage loans sold servicing released and opportunistically selling MSR assets. The mortgage origination segment has also retained servicing on certain loans sold to and retained by the banking segment. Gains and losses associated with such sales to the banking segment and the related MSR asset are eliminated in consolidation.

The mortgage origination segment uses derivative financial instruments, including U.S. Treasury bond futures and options and MBS commitments, to mitigate interest rate risk associated with its MSR asset. Changes in the net fair value of the MSR asset are associated with normal customer payments, changes in discount rates, prepayment speed assumptions and customer payoffs. During 2023, the operating results of the mortgage origination segment were impacted by a decrease of $12.5 million in the net fair value of the MSR asset. This decrease was primarily driven by market sales trends during the first quarter of 2023 and 2022. The remaining losses of $4.1 million were generated by the derivatives used to hedge the MSR. During June 2023, the mortgage origination segment sold MSR assets of $19.1 million, which represented $991.0 million of its serviced loan volume at the time. During 2022 and 2021, the mortgage origination segment sold MSR assets of approximately $65 million and $143 million, respectively, with a serviced loan volume totaling $3.7 billion and $12.4 billion, respectively. In addition to net losses generated by changes in the net fair value of the MSR asset and related derivatives, net servicing income of $13.5 million was recognized during 2023.

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Noninterest expenses were comprised of the items set forth in the table below (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2023202220212023 vs 20222022 vs 2021
Variable compensation$118,977$183,804$373,929$(64,827)$(190,125)
Non-variable compensation and benefits132,142170,169194,292(38,027)(24,123)
Segment operating costs84,86492,631113,020(7,767)(20,389)
Lender paid closing costs4,97113,37120,458(8,400)(7,087)
Servicing expense18,33118,92929,357(598)(10,428)
Total noninterest expense$359,285$478,904$731,056$(119,619)$(252,152)

Total employees’ compensation and benefits accounted for the majority of the noninterest expenses incurred during all periods presented. Historically, variable compensation comprises the majority of total employees’ compensation and benefits expenses, but during 2023, as opposed to 2022 and 2021, non-variable compensation was greater than variable compensation. Variable compensation, which is primarily driven by loan origination volume, tends to fluctuate to a greater degree than loan origination volume, because mortgage loan originator and fulfillment staff incentive compensation plans are structured to pay at increasing rates as higher monthly volume tiers are achieved. However, certain other incentive compensation plans driven by non-mortgage production criteria may alter this trend.

While total loan origination volumes decreased 34.9% during 2023, compared with 2022, the aggregate non-variable compensation and benefits of the mortgage origination segment decreased by 22.4%. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in salaries associated with a reduction in underwriting and loan fulfillment, operations and corporate staff in response to the decreases in loan origination volume that started at the end of 2021, and continued through 2023. Severance costs, included in non-variable compensation above, incurred because of these staff reduction initiatives was $1.4 million during 2023. These actions during 2023 are expected to have an aggregate favorable impact on annualized pre-tax expenses of approximately $11 million. PrimeLending remains committed to evaluating staffing levels and maintaining an appropriate cost structure to address the dynamic mortgage loan origination trends. Segment operating costs decreased during 2023, compared with 2022, primarily due to decreases in occupancy and equipment expense, advertising expense, professional fees and net loan related expenses, excluding credit report expense. During 2022, compared with 2021, segment operating costs decreased primarily due to decreases in business development, professional fees, occupancy and loan-related costs.

In exchange for a higher interest rate, customers may opt to have PrimeLending pay certain costs associated with the origination of their mortgage loan (“lender paid closing costs”). Fluctuations in lender paid closing costs are not always aligned with fluctuations in loan origination volume. Other loan pricing conditions, including the mortgage loan interest rate, loan origination fees paid by the customer, and a customer’s willingness to pay closing costs, may influence fluctuations in lender paid closing costs.

Between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2023, the mortgage origination segment sold mortgage loans totaling $148.1 billion. These loans were sold under sales contracts that generally include provisions that hold the mortgage origination segment responsible for errors or omissions relating to its representations and warranties that loans sold meet certain requirements, including representations as to underwriting standards and the validity of certain borrower representations in connection with the loan. In addition, the sales contracts typically require the refund of purchased servicing rights plus certain investor servicing costs if a loan experiences an early payment default. While the mortgage origination segment sold loans prior to 2014, it does not anticipate experiencing significant losses in the future on loans originated prior to 2014 because of investor claims under these provisions of its sales contracts.

When a claim for indemnification of a loan sold is made by an agency, investor, or other party, the mortgage origination segment evaluates the claim and determines if the claim can be satisfied through additional documentation or other deliverables. If the claim is valid and cannot be satisfied in that manner, the mortgage origination segment negotiates with the claimant to reach a settlement of the claim. Settlements typically result in either the repurchase of a loan or reimbursement to the claimant for losses incurred on the loan.

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Following is a summary of the mortgage origination segment’s claims resolution activity relating to loans sold between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2023 (dollars in thousands).

Original Loan BalanceLoss Recognized
% of% of
AmountLoans SoldAmountLoans Sold
Claims resolved with no payment$239,6950.16%$-%
Claims resolved because of a loan repurchase or payment to an investor for losses incurred (1)298,2260.20%23,3770.02%
$537,9210.36%$23,3770.02%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Losses incurred include refunded purchased servicing rights.

For each loan the mortgage origination segment concludes its obligation to a claimant is both probable and reasonably estimable, the mortgage origination segment has established a specific claims indemnification liability reserve.

An additional indemnification liability reserve has been established for probable agency, investor or other party losses that may have been incurred, but not yet reported to the mortgage origination segment based upon a reasonable estimate of such losses. Factors considered in the calculation of this reserve include, but are not limited to, the total volume of loans sold exclusive of specific claimant requests, actual claim inquiries, claim settlements and the severity of estimated losses resulting from future claims, and the mortgage origination segment’s history of successfully curing defects identified in claim requests.

Although management considers the total indemnification liability reserve to be appropriate, there may be changes in the reserve over time to address incurred losses due to unanticipated adverse changes in the economy and historical loss patterns, discrete events adversely affecting specific borrowers or industries, and/or actions taken by institutions or investors. The impact of such matters is considered in the reserving process when probable and estimable. Between March and June 2023 PrimeLending experienced an increase in agency claim inquiries relative to historical trending. However, subsequent to June 2023, agency claims decreased to more closely to approximate historical trends. While no adjustment has been made to the factors considered in the calculation of the indemnification liability reserve as a result of these trends as of December 31, 2023, PrimeLending will continue to monitor agency claim inquiry trends and assess its potential impact on the indemnification liability reserve.

At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the mortgage origination segment’s total indemnification liability reserve totaled $11.7 million and $20.5 million, respectively. The related provision for indemnification losses was $1.6 million, $1.5 million, and $10.0 million during 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Corporate

The following table presents certain financial information regarding the operating results of corporate (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2023202220212023 vs 20222022 vs 2021
Net interest income (expense)$(12,961)$(13,135)$(17,239)$174$4,104
Noninterest income12,8877,5259,1335,362(1,608)
Noninterest expense60,63159,03050,5071,6018,523
Loss before income taxes$(60,705)$(64,640)$(58,613)$3,935$(6,027)

Corporate includes certain activities not allocated to specific business segments. These activities include holding company financing and investing activities, merchant banking investment opportunities and management and administrative services to support the overall operations of the Company. Hilltop’s merchant banking investment activities include the identification of attractive opportunities for capital deployment in companies engaged in non-financial activities through its merchant bank subsidiary, Hilltop Opportunity Partners LLC. These merchant banking activities currently include investments within various industries, including power generation, consumer services, youth sports and entertainment, dental health, industrial equipment manufacturing and animal health, with an aggregate carrying value of approximately $78 million at December 31, 2023.

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As a holding company, Hilltop’s primary investment objectives are to support capital deployment for organic growth and to preserve capital to be deployed through acquisitions, dividend payments and potential stock repurchases. Investment and interest income earned during 2023 was primarily comprised of dividend income from merchant banking investment activities, in addition to interest income earned on intercompany notes.

Interest expense during 2023, 2022 and 2021 included recurring annual interest expense of $7.7 million incurred on our $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5% senior notes due April 15, 2025 (“Senior Notes”). During 2023, 2022 and 2021, we incurred interest expense of $12.4 million, $12.3 million and $12.3 million, respectively, on our $50 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due May 15, 2030 (“2030 Subordinated Notes”) and on our $150 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% fixed-to-floating subordinated notes due May 15, 2035 (“2035 Subordinated Notes,” the 2030 Subordinated Notes and the 2035 Subordinated Notes, collectively, the “Subordinated Notes”), which were issued in May 2020. Additionally, we incurred interest expense of $1.6 million during 2021, on junior subordinated debentures of $67.0 million issued by PCC (the “Debentures”). As discussed in more detail in the section titled “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Junior Subordinated Debentures” below, during the third quarter of 2021, PCC fully redeemed all outstanding Debentures.

Noninterest income during each period included activity related to our investment in a real estate development in Dallas’ University Park, which also serves as headquarters for both Hilltop and the Bank, and net noninterest income associated with activity within our merchant bank subsidiary. During 2021, noninterest income included an aggregate of $6.5 million in pre-tax gains associated with observable transactions related to two merchant bank equity investments.

Noninterest expenses were primarily comprised of employees’ compensation and benefits, occupancy expenses and professional fees, including corporate governance, legal and transaction costs. During 2023, compared with 2022, the increase in noninterest expenses was primarily due to inflationary increases associated with employees’ compensation and benefits, partially offset by decreases in professional fees and occupancy expenses. During 2022, compared with 2021, the increase in noninterest expenses was primarily due to inflationary increases associated with software and occupancy costs, as well as increases in professional fees.

Financial Condition

The following discussion contains a more detailed analysis of our financial condition at December 31, 2023 as compared with December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

Securities Portfolio

At December 31, 2023, investment securities consisted of securities of the U.S. Treasury, U.S. government and its agencies, obligations of municipalities and other political subdivisions, primarily in the State of Texas, as well as mortgage-backed, corporate debt, and equity securities. We may categorize investments as trading, available for sale, held to maturity and equity securities.

Trading securities are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term and are carried at fair value, marked to market through operations and held at the Bank and the Hilltop Broker-Dealers. Securities classified as available for sale may, from time to time, be bought and sold in response to changes in market interest rates, changes in securities’ prepayment risk, increases in loan demand, general liquidity needs and to take advantage of market conditions that create more economically attractive returns. Such securities are carried at estimated fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Equity investments are carried at fair value, with all changes in fair value recognized in net income. Securities are classified as held to maturity based on the intent and ability of our management, at the time of purchase, to hold such securities to maturity. These securities are carried at amortized cost.

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The table below summarizes our securities portfolio (in thousands).

December 31,
202320222021
Trading securities, at fair value
U.S. Treasury securities$3,736$10,466$3,728
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds12,86720,8783,410
Residential mortgage-backed securities124,768214,100152,093
Collateralized mortgage obligations86,281182,717126,389
Other13,079
Corporate debt securities37,56942,68560,671
States and political subdivisions180,890260,271285,376
Private-label securitized product47,7689,26511,377
Other9,03314,6504,954
515,991755,032647,998
Securities available for sale, at fair value
U.S. Treasury securities4,61719,14414,862
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds166,166202,25744,133
Residential mortgage-backed securities349,870406,358898,446
Commercial mortgage-backed securities191,746175,499210,699
Collateralized mortgage obligations736,481818,894916,866
Corporate debt securities24,418
States and political subdivisions34,29736,61445,562
1,507,5951,658,7662,130,568
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost
U.S. government agencies:
Residential mortgage-backed securities278,172301,5839,892
Commercial mortgage-backed securities172,879180,942145,742
Collateralized mortgage obligations284,208314,70543,990
States and political subdivisions77,41878,30268,060
812,677875,532267,684
Equity securities, at fair value321200250
Total securities portfolio$2,836,584$3,289,530$3,046,500

We had net unrealized losses of $114.2 million, $129.8 million and $18.1 million at December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to the available for sale investment portfolio. Within the held to maturity portfolio, we had net unrealized losses of $80.8 million and $90.2 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022 compared with net unrealized gains of $8.6 million at December 31, 2021. Equity securities included net unrealized gains of $0.3 million, $0.1 million and $0.2 million at December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. In future periods, we expect changes in prevailing market interest rates, coupled with changes in the aggregate size of the investment portfolio, to be significant drivers of changes in the unrealized losses or gains in these portfolios, and therefore accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

We transferred certain agency-issued securities from the available-for-sale to held-to-maturity portfolio on March 31, 2022 having a book value of approximately $782 million and a market value of approximately $708 million. As of the date of transfer, the related pre-tax net unrecognized losses of approximately $74 million within the accumulated other comprehensive loss balance are being amortized over the remaining term of the securities using the effective interest method. This transfer was completed after careful consideration of our intent and ability to hold these securities to maturity. Factors used in assessing the ability to hold these securities to maturity were future liquidity needs and sources of funding.

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Banking Segment

The banking segment’s securities portfolio plays a role in the management of our interest rate sensitivity and generates additional interest income. In addition, the securities portfolio is used to meet collateral requirements for public and trust deposits, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other purposes. The available for sale and equity securities portfolios serve as a source of liquidity. Historically, the Bank’s policy has been to invest primarily in securities of the U.S. government and its agencies, obligations of municipalities in the State of Texas and other high grade fixed income securities to minimize credit risk. At December 31, 2023, the banking segment’s securities portfolio of $2.3 billion was comprised of trading securities of $0.1 million, available for sale securities of $1.5 billion, held to maturity securities of $812.7 million and equity securities of $0.3 million, in addition to $11.8 million of other investments included in other assets within the consolidated balance sheets.

Broker-Dealer Segment

The broker-dealer segment holds securities to support sales, underwriting and other customer activities. The interest rate risk inherent in holding these securities is managed by setting and monitoring limits on the size and duration of positions and on the length of time the securities can be held. The Hilltop Broker-Dealers are required to carry their securities at fair value and record changes in the fair value of the portfolio to the statements of operations. Accordingly, the securities portfolio of the Hilltop Broker-Dealers included trading securities of $515.9 million at December 31, 2023. In addition, the Hilltop Broker-Dealers enter into transactions that represent commitments to purchase and deliver securities at prevailing future market prices to facilitate customer transactions and satisfy such commitments. Accordingly, the Hilltop Broker-Dealers’ ultimate obligation may exceed the amount recognized in the financial statements. These securities, which are carried at fair value and reported as securities sold, not yet purchased in the consolidated balance sheets, had a value of $34.9 million at December 31, 2023.

Corporate

At December 31, 2023, the corporate portfolio included other investments, including those associated with merchant banking, of available for sale securities of $24.4 million and other assets of $43.6 million within the consolidated balance sheet.

Allowance for Credit Losses for Available for Sale Securities and Held to Maturity Securities

We have evaluated available for sale debt securities that are in an unrealized loss position and have determined that any declines in value are unrelated to credit loss and related to changes in market interest rates since purchase. None of the available for sale debt securities held were past due at December 31, 2023. In addition, as of December 31, 2023, we had evaluated our held to maturity debt securities, considering the current credit ratings and recognized losses, and determined the potential credit loss to be minimal. With respect to these securities, we considered the risk of credit loss to be negligible, and therefore, no allowance was recognized on the debt securities portfolio at December 31, 2023.

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The following table sets forth the estimated maturities of our debt securities, excluding trading securities, at December 31, 2023. Contractual maturities may be different (dollars in thousands, yields are tax-equivalent).

One YearOne Year toFive Years toGreater Than
Or LessFive YearsTen YearsTen YearsTotal
U.S. Treasury securities:
Amortized cost$4,985$4,985
Fair value$4,617$4,617
Weighted average yield (1)0.87%0.87%
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds:
Amortized cost$30,005$44,511$43,675$48,426$166,617
Fair value$29,879$44,570$43,355$48,362$166,166
Weighted average yield (1)4.16%5.07%5.74%5.67%5.26%
Residential mortgage-backed securities:
Amortized cost$7,165$80,581$579,586$667,332
Fair value$6,919$76,572$518,786$602,277
Weighted average yield (1)2.67%2.56%2.30%2.34%
Commercial mortgage-backed securities:
Amortized cost$5,040$86,455$269,339$12,281$373,115
Fair value$5,010$83,688$252,571$10,686$351,955
Weighted average yield (1)2.99%3.29%2.53%3.05%2.73%
Collateralized mortgage obligations:
Amortized cost$42,363$173,974$865,747$1,082,084
Fair value$41,531$168,187$773,782$983,500
Weighted average yield (1)4.09%4.02%3.15%3.33%
Corporate debt securities:
Amortized cost$25,919$25,919
Fair value$24,418$24,418
Weighted average yield1.14%1.14%
States and political subdivisions:
Amortized cost$1,959$10,452$50,072$51,889$114,372
Fair value$1,949$10,207$48,070$46,294$106,520
Weighted average yield (1)2.63%2.56%3.00%2.62%2.78%
Total securities portfolio:
Amortized cost$37,004$221,850$617,641$1,557,929$2,434,424
Fair value$36,838$215,950$588,755$1,397,910$2,239,453
Weighted average yield (1)3.92%3.44%3.22%2.89%3.04%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Weighted average yield is defined as interest earned by average interest-earning assets.

Loan Portfolio

Consolidated loans held for investment are detailed in the table below, classified by portfolio segment (in thousands).

December 31,
Loan Held for Investment202320222021
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$1,889,882$1,870,552$1,729,699
Owner occupied1,422,2341,375,3211,313,030
Commercial and industrial1,607,8331,639,9801,875,420
Construction and land development1,031,095980,896892,783
1-4 family residential1,757,1781,767,0991,303,430
Consumer27,35127,60232,349
Broker-dealer344,172431,223733,193
Loans held for investment, gross8,079,7458,092,6737,879,904
Allowance for credit losses(111,413)(95,442)(91,352)
Loans held for investment, net of allowance$7,968,332$7,997,231$7,788,552

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Banking Segment

The loan portfolio constitutes the primary earning asset of the banking segment and typically offers the best alternative for obtaining the maximum interest spread above the banking segment’s cost of funds. The overall economic strength of the banking segment generally parallels the quality and yield of its loan portfolio.

As discussed in more detail within the section captioned “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” below, the banking segment’s credit policies emphasize strong underwriting and governance standards and early detection of potential problem credits in order to develop and implement action plans on a timely basis to mitigate potential losses. These formal credit policies and procedures provide the banking segment with a framework for consistent underwriting and a basis for sound credit decisions. The banking segment strives to avoid the risk of concentrations of credit in any particular industry, collateral type, location, or with any individual customer or counterparty.

To manage the credit risks associated with its loan portfolio, management may, depending upon current or anticipated economic conditions and related exposures, apply enhanced risk management measures to loans through analysis of a specific borrower’s financial condition, including cash flow, collateral values, and guarantees, among other credit factors. Given the current market dynamics, including economic uncertainties, the rapid increase in market interest rates since 2022, and a deteriorating outlook for commercial real estate markets, management has heightened its specific review procedures of credits maturing in the next six to twelve months as well as those credits associated with real estate.

The banking segment’s total loans held for investment, net of the allowance for credit losses, were $8.5 billion, $8.5 billion and $8.8 billion at December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. At December 31, 2023, the banking segment’s loan portfolio included warehouse lines of credit extended to PrimeLending and its ABAs of $1.6 billion, of which $0.9 billion was drawn. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, amounts drawn on the available warehouse lines of credit were $0.9 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively. Amounts advanced against the warehouse lines of credit are eliminated from net loans held for investment on our consolidated balance sheets. The banking segment does not generally participate in syndicated loan transactions and has no foreign loans in its portfolio.

A significant portion of the banking segment’s loan portfolio at December 31, 2023 consisted of commercial real estate loans secured by properties. Such loans can involve high principal loan amounts, and the repayment of these loans is dependent, in large part, on a borrower’s ongoing business operations or on income generated from the properties that are leased to third parties. The table below sets forth the banking segment’s commercial real estate loan portfolio, by portfolio industry sector and collateral location as of December 31, 2023 (in thousands).

Brownsville-Other
Dallas-Harlingen-SanOutside
Commercial Real EstateFort WorthAustinHoustonMcAllenAntonioLubbockTexasTexasTotal
Non-owner occupied:
Office$149,558$213,425$53,118$16,372$22,071$3,872$62,741$329$521,486
Retail148,24772,99225,51519,4559,74212,90538,62110,207337,684
Hotel/Motel49,28825,03072,25817,52134018,46136,40313,894233,195
Multifamily11,35511,08941,98457,09934,01856,98010,719223,244
Industrial114,43244,6098,4544,9063,11370521,922426198,567
All other105,40660,12526,83612,81324,14354,04358,00734,333375,706
$578,286$427,270$228,165$128,166$59,409$124,004$274,674$69,908$1,889,882
Owner occupied:
Office$122,882$88,139$23,967$14,534$35,139$8,376$10,071$4,027$307,135
Retail12,16515,6193,3371,1041901733,9311,00537,524
Industrial170,16937,23033,6698,50913,0547,10333,18623,935326,855
All other334,36165,67087,85822,21448,64914,677159,55417,737750,720
$639,577$206,658$148,831$46,361$97,032$30,329$206,742$46,704$1,422,234
Total commercial real estate loans$1,217,863$633,928$376,996$174,527$156,441$154,333$481,416$116,612$3,312,116

At December 31, 2023, the banking segment had loan concentrations (loans to borrowers engaged in similar activities) that exceeded 10% of total loans in its real estate portfolio. The areas of concentration within our real estate portfolio were non-construction commercial real estate loans, non-construction residential real estate loans, and construction and

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land development loans, which represented 42.9%, 22.7% and 13.3%, respectively, of the banking segment’s total loans held for investment at December 31, 2023. The banking segment’s loan concentrations were within regulatory guidelines at December 31, 2023.

In addition, the Bank’s loan portfolio includes collateralized loans extended to businesses that depend on the energy industry, including those within the exploration and production, field services, pipeline construction and transportation sectors. Crude oil prices remain uncertain given future supply and demand for oil are influenced by international armed conflicts, return to business travel, new energy policies and government regulation, and the pace of transition towards renewable energy resources. At December 31, 2023, the Bank’s energy loan exposure was approximately $46 million of loans held for investment with unfunded commitment balances of approximately $20 million. The allowance for credit losses on the Bank’s energy portfolio was $0.2 million, or 0.5% of loans held for investment at December 31, 2023.

The following table provides information regarding the maturities of the banking segment’s gross loans held for investment, net of unearned income (in thousands).

December 31, 2023
Due WithinDue From OneDue from FiveDue After
One YearTo Five YearsTo Fifteen YearsFifteen YearsTotal
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$587,689$906,892$394,875$426$1,889,882
Owner occupied305,411532,137529,32455,3621,422,234
Commercial and industrial2,022,380303,329145,1772,470,886
Construction and land development832,155164,87733,1479161,031,095
1-4 family residential134,320424,154427,873770,8311,757,178
Consumer14,61912,5371811427,351
Total$3,896,574$2,343,926$1,530,577$827,549$8,598,626
Fixed rate loans$1,539,998$1,676,660$1,270,946$827,549$5,315,153
Floating rate loans2,356,576667,266259,6313,283,473
Total$3,896,574$2,343,926$1,530,577$827,549$8,598,626

In the table above, commercial and industrial includes amounts advanced against the warehouse lines of credit extended to PrimeLending. Floating rate loans that have reached their applicable rate floor or ceiling are classified as fixed rate loans rather than floating rate loans. As of December 31, 2023, floating rate loans totaling $707 million had reached their applicable rate floor and were expected to reprice, subject to their scheduled repricing timing and frequency terms. The majority of floating rate loans carry an interest rate tied to a SOFR rate or The Wall Street Journal Prime Rate, as published in The Wall Street Journal.

Broker-Dealer Segment

The loan portfolio of the broker-dealer segment consists primarily of margin loans to customers and correspondents that are due within one year. The interest rate on margin accounts is computed on the settled margin balance at a fixed rate established by management. These loans are collateralized by the securities purchased or by other securities owned by the clients and, because of collateral coverage ratios, are believed to present minimal collectability exposure. Additionally, these loans are subject to a number of regulatory requirements as well as the Hilltop Broker-Dealers’ internal policies. The broker-dealer segment’s total loans held for investment, net of the allowance for credit losses, were $344.1 million, $431.0 million and $733.0 million at December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The decrease from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023, was primarily attributable to a decrease of $51.0 million, or 19%, in customer margin accounts and a decrease of $36.9 million, or 24%, in receivables from correspondents. The decrease from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022, was primarily attributable to a decrease of $152.2 million or 36%, in customer margin accounts and a decrease of $149.2 million, or 49%, in receivables from correspondents.

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Mortgage Origination Segment

The loan portfolio of the mortgage origination segment consists of loans held for sale, primarily single-family residential mortgages funded through PrimeLending, and IRLCs with customers pursuant to which we agree to originate a mortgage loan on a future date at an agreed-upon interest rate. The components of the mortgage origination segment’s loans held for sale and IRLCs are as follows (in thousands).

December 31,
202320222021
Loans held for sale:
Unpaid principal balance$802,348$850,277$1,728,255
Fair value adjustment19,8465,42054,336
$822,194$855,697$1,782,591
IRLCs:
Unpaid principal balance$383,767$506,278$1,283,152
Fair value adjustment7,7341,76725,489
$391,501$508,045$1,308,641

The mortgage origination segment uses forward commitments to mitigate interest rate risk associated with its loans held for sale and IRLCs. The notional amounts of these forward commitments at December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were $1.0 billion, $1.2 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively, while the related estimated fair values were ($10.2) million, $3.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans

For additional information regarding the allowance for credit losses, refer to the section captioned “Critical Accounting Estimates” included in this Form 10-K.

Loans Held for Investment

The Bank has lending policies in place with the goal of establishing an asset portfolio that will provide a return on stockholders’ equity sufficient to maintain capital to assets ratios that meet or exceed established regulations. Loans are underwritten with careful consideration of the borrower’s financial condition, the specific purpose of the loan, the primary sources of repayment and any collateral pledged to secure the loan.

Underwriting procedures address financial components based on the size and complexity of the credit. The financial components include, but are not limited to, current and projected cash flows, shock analysis and/or stress testing, and trends in appropriate balance sheet and statement of operations ratios. The Bank’s loan policy provides specific underwriting guidelines by portfolio segment, including commercial and industrial, real estate, construction and land development, and consumer loans. The guidelines for each individual portfolio segment set forth permissible and impermissible loan types. With respect to each loan type, the guidelines within the Bank’s loan policy provide minimum requirements for the underwriting factors listed above. The Bank’s underwriting procedures also include an analysis of any collateral and guarantor. Collateral analysis includes a complete description of the collateral, as well as determined values, monitoring requirements, loan to value ratios, concentration risk, appraisal requirements and other information relevant to the collateral being pledged. Guarantor analysis includes liquidity and cash flow evaluation based on the significance with which the guarantors are expected to serve as secondary repayment sources.

The Bank maintains a loan review department that reviews credit risk in response to both external and internal factors that potentially impact the performance of either individual loans or the overall loan portfolio. The loan review process reviews the creditworthiness of borrowers and determines compliance with the loan policy. The loan review process complements and reinforces the risk identification and assessment decisions made by lenders and credit personnel. Results of these reviews are presented to management, the Bank’s board of directors and the Risk Committee of the board of directors of the Company.

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The allowance for credit losses for loans held for investment represents management’s best estimate of all expected credit losses over the expected contractual life of our existing portfolio. Determining the appropriateness of the allowance is complex and requires judgment by management about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Subsequent evaluations of the then-existing loan portfolio, in light of the factors then prevailing, may result in significant changes in the allowance for credit losses in those future periods. Such future changes in the allowance for credit losses are expected to be volatile given dependence upon, among other things, the portfolio composition and quality, as well as the impact of significant drivers, including prepayment assumptions and macroeconomic conditions and forecasts.

Significant judgment is required to estimate the severity and duration of the current economic uncertainties, as well as its potential impact on borrower default and loss severity. In particular, macroeconomic conditions and forecasts are rapidly changing and remain highly uncertain.

One of the most significant judgments involved in estimating our allowance for credit losses relates to the macroeconomic forecasts used to estimate credit losses over the reasonable and supportable forecast period. To determine the allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2023, we utilized a single macroeconomic alternative scenario, or S7, published by Moody’s Analytics in December 2023. The alternative scenario utilizes multiple economic variables in forecasting the economic outlook. During our previous quarterly macroeconomic assessment as of September 30, 2023, we utilized the same single macroeconomic alternative scenario published by Moody’s Analytics in September 2023.

The following table summarizes the U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) growth rates and unemployment rate assumptions used in our economic forecast to determine our best estimate of expected credit losses.

As of
December 31,September 30,June 30,March 31,December 31,
20232023202320232022
GDP growth rates:
Q4 20220.8%
Q1 20232.5%0.1%
Q2 20231.4%0.4%(1.4)%
Q3 20232.9%0.1%0.4%(2.5)%
Q4 20231.1%0.2%0.3%(3.1)%(2.4)%
Q1 2024(1.6)%(1.9)%(3.1)%(2.2)%0.4%
Q2 2024(2.4)%(3.0)%(2.7)%(1.1)%1.1%
Q3 2024(1.3)%(1.5)%(0.9)%2.1%
Q4 20241.3%1.4%2.0%
Q1 20252.6%3.1%
Q2 20253.0%
Unemployment rates:
Q4 20223.7%
Q1 20233.5%4.0%
Q2 20233.5%3.7%4.6%
Q3 20233.8%3.8%4.0%5.3%
Q4 20233.8%4.1%4.0%4.7%6.0%
Q1 20244.8%4.9%4.9%5.6%5.9%
Q2 20245.6%5.7%5.6%6.0%5.6%
Q3 20246.1%6.0%6.0%5.7%
Q4 20245.6%5.7%5.8%
Q1 20255.2%5.3%
Q2 20255.0%

As of December 31, 2023, we updated our U.S. economic outlook for recent consumer and business spending. In the prior quarter’s forecast, we assumed a mild U.S. recession with real GDP growth contracting (0.6%) on an annual average basis and (1.6%) peak to trough in 2024. In the current economic forecast, real GDP growth contracts more modestly at (0.0%) on an annual average basis and (1.3%) peak to trough in 2024. Labor market conditions remained tighter than expected as the unemployment rate decreased to 3.7% in December despite several downward revisions to recent payroll data. We

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expect monetary policy to remain restrictive at 5.25% to 5.50% in the near term but revert to 3.50% by year end 2025 as the Federal Reserve balances slower economic growth with its inflation targets.

During 2023, our economic outlook was updated to reflect our expectations of a period of below trend economic growth beginning in 2023 and a mild U.S. recession in 2024. The Federal Reserve increased its federal funds rate target from 4.00% to 4.25% in January 2023 to 5.25% to 5.50% in August 2023 and held rates steady through December 2023. In March and April 2023, as a result of three of the largest bank failures in U.S. history, the Federal Reserve implemented several liquidity programs to stabilize consumer and business confidence. The Federal Reserve continued to balance inflation expectations and labor market constraints with tighter financial conditions throughout 2023. The duration of the higher interest rates also renewed credit and refinance risk concerns about residential and commercial real estate loans. The consumer price index improved from 6.4% in January 2023 to 3.4% in December 2023, but inflation rates still remained above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Global supply chains eased throughout 2023 and adjusted to the longer than expected Russia-Ukraine conflict; however, conflicts in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas and the U.S. and Yemen added new uncertainties. Labor market conditions eased modestly but remained historically tight as the unemployment rate increased from 3.4% to 3.7% during the year.

During 2022, our economic outlook was updated to reflect our expectations of a period of below trend economic growth beginning this year and a mild U.S. recession in 2023. COVID cases receded in the United States but continued to disrupt global supply chains and tight labor market conditions. The Russian invasion of Ukraine contributed to global oil prices increasing to near $120 per barrel and further disrupted supply chains due to economic sanctions imposed by the United States and other trade partners. Inflation rates initially expected to be transitory proved to trend persistently higher as the consumer price index rose to 9.1% on an annual basis in June. In response, the Federal Reserve adjusted monetary policy by increasing its federal funds rate target from 0.0% to 0.25% in March 2022 to 4.25% to 4.50% by December 2022. With lower government spending/stimulus and net exports, U.S. real GDP growth rates declined to (1.6%) and (0.6%) during the first and second quarters of 2022. While the Company and most economists downgraded their economic outlooks, the U.S. did not enter a recession. Real GDP growth improved to 3.2% during the third quarter of 2022 and U.S. labor markets proved resilient as unemployment rates decreased during the year from 4.0% to 3.5%

During 2021, our economic forecast improved year-over-year due to a third round of $1.9 trillion in government stimulus enacted in March 2021 through the American Rescue Plan Act. As a result of additional stimulus checks, enhanced unemployment benefits, extended lending from the PPP program, and expanded tax credits, consumer and business spending accelerated the U.S. real GDP growth rate in the second quarter of 2021 to 6.3% and in the third quarter of 2021 to 6.7%. Also, in March 2021, President Biden implemented new programs to extend COVID testing and vaccine eligibility for most adults in the United States by May 2021. Most states also ended their participation in federal pandemic unemployment benefit programs in early summer 2021. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased from 6.7% in December 2020 to 5.9% in June 2021 and decreased further to 4.2% by November 2021. In August 2021, a second wave of COVID cases progressed within the United States and Texas due to the delta variant, which slowed U.S. economic growth and real GDP growth rates to 2.3% in the third quarter of 2021. Then, in November 2021, Congress passed a fourth round of $0.6 trillion in government stimulus through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and during December 2021, a third wave of COVID cases progressed in the United States and Texas due to the omicron variant.

During 2023, the provision for credit losses reflected a build in the allowance related to loan portfolio changes since December 31, 2022 and a deteriorating outlook for commercial real estate markets. Specific to the Bank, the net impact to the allowance of changes associated with collectively evaluated loans included a provision of credit losses of $12.7 million, while individually evaluated loans during 2023 included a provision for credit losses of $5.8 million. The change in the allowance for credit losses during 2023 was primarily attributable to the Bank and also reflected other factors including, but not limited to, loan mix, and changes in loan balances and qualitative factors from the prior period. The change in the allowance during 2023 was also impacted by net charge-offs of $2.4 million.

During 2022 and 2023, the impact of changes in the U.S. economic outlook and resulting impact on collectively evaluated loans has resulted in a net build in the allowance balance at December 31, 2023, compared with both December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. Taking into consideration changes in loan portfolio between noted periods, the resulting allowance for credit losses as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs, was 1.47%, 1.27% and 1.37% as of

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December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. While changes in the U.S. economic outlook have been reflected in our current allowance at December 31, 2023, uncertainties that include, among others, the uncertain timing, duration and significance of further increases in market interest rates and a worsening macroeconomic forecast could adversely impact borrower cash flows and result in further increases in the allowance during future periods. In addition, while all industries could experience adverse impacts, certain of our loan portfolio industry sectors and subsectors, including real estate collateralized by office buildings, have an increased level of risk.

The respective distribution of the allowance for credit losses as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs, are presented in the following table (dollars in thousands).

Allowance For
Credit Losses
Totalas a % of
TotalAllowanceTotal Loans
Loans Heldfor CreditHeld For
December 31, 2023For InvestmentLossesInvestment
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied (1)$1,889,882$40,0612.12%
Owner occupied (2)1,422,23428,1141.98%
Commercial and industrial (3)1,450,99520,8481.44%
Construction and land development (4)1,031,09512,1021.17%
Total commercial loans5,794,206101,1251.75%
1-4 family residential1,757,1789,4610.54%
Consumer27,3516482.37%
Total retail loans1,784,52910,1090.57%
Total commercial and retail loans7,578,735111,2341.47%
Broker-dealer344,1721010.03%
Mortgage warehouse lending156,838780.05%
Total loans held for investment$8,079,745$111,4131.38%
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(1)Included within commercial real estate non-owner occupied portfolio are loans within the office, retail and hotel/motel portfolio industry subsectors. At December 31, 2023, the office, retail and hotel/motel loans held for investment balances of approximately $521 million, $338 million and $233 million, respectively, had an allowance for credit losses of approximately $20 million, $5 million and $5 million, respectively, and an allowance for credit losses as a % of total loans held for investment of 3.8%, 1.4% and 2.2%, respectively.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(2)Included within commercial real estate owner occupied portfolio are loans within the industrial and office portfolio industry subsectors. At December 31, 2023, the industrial and office loans held for investment balances of approximately $327 million and $307 million, respectively, had an allowance for credit losses of approximately $9 million and $7 million, respectively, and an allowance for credit losses as a % of total loans held for investment of 2.6% and 2.2%, respectively.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(3)Commercial and industrial portfolio amounts reflect balances excluding banking segment mortgage warehouse lending.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(4)Included within construction and land development portfolio are loans within the office and retail portfolio industry subsectors. At December 31, 2023, the office and retail loans held for investment balances of approximately $41 million and $19 million, respectively, had an allowance for credit losses of approximately $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, and an allowance for credit losses as a % of total loans held for investment of 1.3% and 1.9%, respectively.

Allowance Model Sensitivity

Our allowance model was designed to capture the historical relationship between economic and portfolio changes. As such, evaluating shifts in individual portfolio attributes or macroeconomic variables in isolation may not be indicative of past or future performance. It is difficult to estimate how potential changes in any one factor or input might affect the overall allowance for credit losses because we consider a wide variety of factors and inputs in the allowance for credit losses estimate. Changes in the factors and inputs considered may not occur at the same rate and may not be consistent across all geographies or product types, and changes in factors and input may be directionally inconsistent, such that improvement in one factor may offset deterioration in others.

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However, to consider the sensitivity of credit loss estimates to alternative macroeconomic forecasts, we compared the Company’s allowance for credit loss estimates as of December 31, 2023, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment, and the banking segment mortgage warehouse programs, with modeled results using both upside (“S1”) and downside (“S3”) economic scenario forecasts published by Moody’s Analytics.

Compared to our economic forecast, the upside scenario assumes the economic impacts from international armed conflicts and global supply chain concerns recede faster than expected. Real GDP is expected to grow 3.6% in the first quarter of 2024, 3.4% in the second quarter of 2024, 3.5% in the third quarter of 2024, and 3.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024. Average unemployment rates are expected to decline to 3.0% by the second quarter of 2024 before reverting to historical data. Inflation is expected to trend back toward the Federal Reserve’s target sooner than expected and we expect the federal funds rate to have peaked at 5.3% and return to 3.9% by the end of 2025.

Compared to our economic forecast, the downside scenario assumes the Federal Reserve’s efforts to resolve bank failures are not successful at restoring consumer and business confidences, causing banks to tighten lending standards while the Fed keeps the federal funds rate elevated due to inflation concerns. The international armed conflicts persist longer than anticipated and global supply chain issues worsen causing weaker manufacturing, increased good shortages and a U.S. recession during 2024. Real GDP is expected to decrease 3.3% in the first quarter of 2024, 3.5% in the second quarter of 2024, and 3.4% in the third quarter of 2024. Average unemployment rates are expected to increase to 7.7% by the first quarter of 2025, but improve to 6.9% by year-end 2025 and revert back to historical average rates over time. The Federal Reserve reduces the federal funds rate to support the economy to a 1.1% target by the fourth quarter of 2025 to slow inflation. Disagreements in Congress prevent any additional fiscal measures to stem the recession.

The impact of applying all of the assumptions of the upside economic scenario during the reasonable and supportable forecast period would have resulted in a decrease in the allowance for credit losses of approximately $33 million or a weighted average expected loss rate of 1.0% as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and the banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs.

The impact of applying all of the assumptions of the downside economic scenario during the reasonable and supportable forecast period would have resulted in an increase in the allowance for credit losses of approximately $47 million or a weighted average expected loss rate of 2.1% as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and the banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs.

This analysis relates only to the modeled credit loss estimates and is not intended to estimate changes in the overall allowance for credit losses as they do not reflect any potential changes in the adjustment to the quantitative calculation, which would also be influenced by the judgment management applies to the modeled lifetime loss estimates to reflect the uncertainty and imprecision of these modeled lifetime loss estimates based on then-current circumstances and conditions.

Our allowance for credit losses reflects our best estimate of current expected credit losses, which is highly dependent on several assumptions, including the macroeconomic outlook, inflationary pressures and labor market conditions, international armed conflicts and their impact on supply chains, the U.S elections and other various fiscal and monetary policy decisions. Future allowance for credit losses may vary considerably for these reasons.

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Allowance Activity

The following table presents the activity in our allowance for credit losses within our loan portfolio for the periods presented (in thousands). Substantially all of the activity shown below occurred within the banking segment.

Year Ended December 31,
Loans Held for Investment202320222021
Balance, beginning of year$95,442$91,352$149,044
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses18,3928,309(58,213)
Recoveries of loans previously charged off:
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied422816
Owner occupied41100250
Commercial and industrial3,4452,7462,656
Construction and land development
1-4 family residential135133546
Consumer276289281
Broker-dealer
Total recoveries3,9393,2963,749
Loans charged off:
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied34
Owner occupied977310
Commercial and industrial4,8886,9452,249
Construction and land development1
1-4 family residential73138312
Consumer387432357
Broker-dealer
Total charge-offs6,3607,5153,228
Net recoveries (charge-offs)(2,421)(4,219)521
Balance, end of year$111,413$95,442$91,352
Average total loans for the year$7,950,878$7,840,848$7,645,292
Total loans held for investment (end of year)$8,079,745$8,092,673$7,879,904
Ratios:
Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average total loans held for investment (1)(0.03)%(0.05)%0.01%
Non-accrual loans to total loans held for investment (end of year)0.80%0.30%0.60%
Allowance for credit losses on loans held for investment to:
Total loans held for investment (end of year)1.38%1.18%1.16%
Non-accrual loans held for investment (end of year)173.17%386.81%193.08%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average total loans held for investment ratio presented on a consolidated basis for all periods given relative immateriality of resulting measure by loan portfolio segment.

Total non-accrual loans increased by $38.8 million from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023, compared to a decrease of $20.7 million from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022. These changes in non-accrual loans were impacted by loans secured by residential real estate within our mortgage origination segment, which were classified as loans held for sale, of $4.0 million, $4.8 million and $2.9 million at December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

In addition to changes in non-accrual loans classified as loans held for sale, the increase in non-accrual loans during 2023 was primarily due to the addition of a single commercial real estate non-owner occupied loan with a balance of $33.3 million, the addition of six construction and land development loans to non-accrual status, and the addition in commercial real estate owner occupied loans of three credit relationship with an aggregate loan balance of $4.2 million, partially offset by the foreclosure of one office property in Texas, while the decrease in non-accrual loans during 2022 was primarily due to principal paydowns, settlements and charge-offs associated with several commercial and industrial, single family residential loan and commercial real estate owner occupied loan relationships.

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As previously discussed in detail within this section, the allowance for credit losses has fluctuated from period to period, which impacted the resulting ratios noted in the table above. During 2021, the significant decline in the allowance for credit losses since December 31, 2020 reflected improvement in both realized economic results and the macroeconomic outlook due to improvements in both macroeconomic forecast assumptions and credit quality metrics on pandemic impacted industry sector exposures, while during 2022 the increase in the allowance for credit losses was driven by a deteriorating U.S. economic outlook since December 31, 2021. Then, during 2023 the significant build in the allowance for credit losses reflected loan portfolio changes and a deteriorating outlook for commercial real estate markets. The distribution of the allowance for credit losses among loan types and the percentage of the loans for that type to gross loans, excluding unearned income, within our loan portfolio is presented in the table below (dollars in thousands).

December 31,
202320222021
% of% of% of
Allocation of the Allowance for Credit LossesReserveGross LoansReserveGross LoansReserveGross Loans
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$40,06123.39%$39,24723.11%$36,00121.95%
Owner occupied28,11417.60%24,00817.00%23,35316.66%
Commercial and industrial20,92619.90%16,03520.26%21,98223.80%
Construction and land development12,10212.76%6,05112.12%4,67411.33%
1-4 family residential9,46121.75%9,31321.84%4,58916.54%
Consumer6480.34%5540.34%5780.41%
Broker-dealer1014.26%2345.33%1759.31%
Total$111,413100.00%$95,442100.00%$91,352100.00%

The following table summarizes historical levels of the allowance for credit losses on loans held for investment, distributed by portfolio segment (in thousands).

December 31,September 30,June 30,March 31,December 31,
20232023202320232022
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$40,061$40,433$43,582$38,667$39,247
Owner occupied28,11429,43827,88022,85424,008
Commercial and industrial20,92619,72217,31516,61516,035
Construction and land development12,1028,9707,3955,9996,051
1-4 family residential9,46111,47211,61811,6919,313
Consumer648601615563554
Broker-dealer101186901965234
$111,413$110,822$109,306$97,354$95,442

Unfunded Loan Commitments

In order to estimate the allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments, the Bank uses a process similar to that used in estimating the allowance for credit losses on the funded portion. The allowance is based on the estimated exposure at default, multiplied by the lifetime probability of default grade and loss given default grade for that particular loan segment. The Bank estimates expected losses by calculating a commitment usage factor based on industry usage factors. The commitment usage factor is applied over the relevant contractual period. Loss factors from the underlying loans to which commitments are related are applied to the results of the usage calculation to estimate any liability for credit losses related for each loan type. Letters of credit are not currently reserved because they are issued primarily as credit enhancements and the likelihood of funding is low.

Changes in the allowance for credit losses for loans with off-balance sheet credit exposures are shown below (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Balance, beginning of year$7,784$5,880$8,388
Other noninterest expense1,0921,904(2,508)
Balance, end of year$8,876$7,784$5,880

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During 2022, the increase in the allowance for unfunded commitments was due to increases in both loan expected loss rates and available commitment balances. During 2023, the increase in the reserve for unfunded commitments was primarily due to increases in expected loss rates.

Potential Problem Loans

Potential problem loans consist of loans that are performing in accordance with contractual terms but for which management has concerns about the ability of an obligor to continue to comply with repayment terms because of the obligor’s potential operating or financial difficulties or whether repayment may depend on collateral or other risk mitigation. Management monitors these loans and reviews their performance on a regular basis. Potential problem loans contain potential weaknesses that could improve, persist or further deteriorate. If such potential weaknesses persist without improving, the loan is subject to downgrade, typically to substandard, in three to six months. Potential problem loans include those loans assigned a grade of special mention and substandard accrual within our risk grading matrix. Potential problem loans do not include purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loans because PCD loans exhibited evidence of more than insignificant credit deterioration at acquisition that made it probable that all contractually required principal payments would not be collected.

At December 31, 2023, we had $207.4 million in potential problem loans, compared to $186.6 million at December 31, 2022 and $201.6 million at December 31, 2021. Our potential problem loans designated as substandard accrual at December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 totaled $204.1 million, $182.6 million and $198.5 million, respectively. The increase from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023 was primarily attributable to increases in commercial and industrial loans and construction and land development loans, significantly offset by a decrease in commercial real estate non-owner occupied loans. Of the $204.1 million of potential problem loans designated as substandard accrual at December 31, 2023, $87.4 million, $41.2 million and $32.1 million were associated with commercial and industrial, commercial real estate non-owner occupied and commercial real estate owner occupied loans.

Potential problem loans designated as special mention were comprised of three credit relationships totaling $3.2 million at December 31, 2023, compared with four credit relationships totaling $4.0 million at December 31, 2022 and two credit relationships totaling $3.1 million at December 31, 2021. Of the $3.2 million of potential problem loans at December 31, 2023, $1.6 million was associated with a single credit relationship.

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Non-Performing Assets

The following table presents components of our non-performing assets (dollars in thousands).

December 31,Variance
2023202220212023 vs 20222022 vs 2021
Loans accounted for on a non-accrual basis:
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied$36,440$1,250$2,266$35,190$(1,016)
Owner occupied5,0983,0194,3352,079(1,316)
Commercial and industrial9,5029,09522,478407(13,383)
Construction and land development3,48019823,282196
1-4 family residential13,80115,94121,123(2,140)(5,182)
Consumer61423(8)(9)
Broker-dealer
$68,327$29,517$50,227$38,810$(20,710)
Troubled debt restructurings included in accruing loans held for investment (1)803922(803)(119)
Non-performing loans (1)$68,327$30,320$51,149$38,007$(20,829)
Non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans (1)0.76%0.33%0.52%0.43%(0.19)%
Other real estate owned$5,095$2,325$2,833$2,770$(508)
Other repossessed assets$$$$$
Non-performing assets (1)$73,422$32,645$53,982$40,777$(21,337)
Non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets (1)0.45%0.20%0.29%0.25%(0.09)%
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing$115,090$92,099$60,775$22,991$31,324
Column 1Column 2
(1)Effective January 1, 2023, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2022-02 which eliminated the recognition and measurement guidance on troubled debt restructurings for creditors. Therefore, we no longer present troubled debt restructurings as a component of non-performing loans and assets.

At December 31, 2023, non-accrual loans included 40 commercial and industrial relationships with loans secured primarily by notes receivable, accounts receivable and equipment. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2023 also included $4.0 million of loans secured by residential real estate which were classified as loans held for sale. As previously noted earlier in this section, the increase in non-accrual loans during 2023 was primarily due to the addition of a single commercial real estate non-owner occupied loan with a balance of $33.3 million. At December 31, 2022, non-accrual loans included 40 commercial and industrial relationships with loans secured by accounts receivable, automobiles, equipment and notes receivable. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2022 also included $4.8 million of loans secured by residential real estate which were classified as loans held for sale. At December 31, 2021, non-accrual loans included 45 commercial and industrial relationships with loans secured by accounts receivable, life insurance, oil and gas, livestock and equipment. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2021 also included $2.9 million of loans secured by residential real estate which were classified as loans held for sale.

OREO increased from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023, primarily due to additions totaling $5.6 million, partially offset by disposals and valuation adjustments totaling $2.8 million. OREO decreased from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022, primarily due to disposals and valuation adjustments totaling $1.8 million, partially offset by additions totaling of $1.3 million.

Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing at December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were primarily comprised of loans held for sale and guaranteed by U.S. government agencies, including GNMA related loans subject to repurchase within our mortgage origination segment. As of December 31, 2023, $4.2 million of loans subject to repurchase under a forbearance agreement had delinquencies on or after April 2020.

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Deposits

The banking segment’s major source of funds and liquidity is its deposit base. Deposits provide funding for its investments in loans and securities. Interest paid for deposits must be managed carefully to control the level of interest expense and overall net interest margin. The composition of the deposit base (time deposits versus interest-bearing demand deposits and savings), as discussed in more detail within the section titled “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Banking Segment” below, is constantly changing due to the banking segment’s needs and market conditions. Currently, the banking segment is facing intense competition for its deposit base as customers seek higher yields on deposits. Consistent with the consolidated trend in average rates paid on interest-bearing deposits noted in the table below, the banking segment’s average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits during 2023, 2022 and 2021 was 3.50%, 0.86%, and 0.41% respectively.

Given the rising interest rate environment since the first quarter of 2022 and the intense competition for deposits in its market area, the Bank’s cumulative interest-bearing deposit pricing beta, excluding deposits from the Hilltop Securities FDIC-insured sweep program and brokered deposits, has approximated 65 percent. The deposit pricing beta represents the change in interest-bearing deposit pricing in response to a change in market interest rates. The historical interest-bearing deposit pricing beta for the Bank, excluding deposits from our Hilltop Securities FDIC-insured sweep program and brokered deposits, has approximated 50 percent. We expect that the Bank’s cost related to interest-bearing deposits during 2024 to continue to be driven by various factors, including competition as well as economic and market area factors.

The table below presents the average balance of, and rate paid on, consolidated deposits (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
AverageAverageAverageAverageAverageAverage
BalanceRate PaidBalanceRate PaidBalanceRate Paid
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits$3,441,4370.00%$4,455,7790.00%$4,157,9620.00%
Interest-bearing deposits:
Demand6,369,5582.92%6,320,6540.68%6,077,6600.19%
Savings282,1271.09%330,7430.22%295,0750.06%
Time1,059,8853.24%910,1040.73%1,349,8490.86%
7,711,5702.89%7,561,5010.67%7,722,5840.30%
Total deposits$11,153,0072.00%$12,017,2800.42%$11,880,5460.20%

The table above includes interest-bearing brokered deposits with balances of approximately $208 million at December 31, 2023, compared with approximately $14 million and $228 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. As previously discussed, to bolster our liquidity position given banking sector uncertainties in early 2023, we increased brokered deposits at the Bank by approximately $390 million during the second quarter of 2023. The variability in the level of brokered deposits has been, and will continue to be, managed through asset/liability strategy and policies that are address diversification of funding sources and market conditions, including demand by customers and other investors for those deposits, and the cost of funds available from alternative sources at the time. As of December 31, 2023, brokered deposits carried an average weighted interest rate of 5.49% and an average remaining term of 87 days.

At December 31, 2023, total estimated uninsured deposits were $4.7 billion, or approximately 42% of total deposits, while estimated uninsured deposits, excluding collateralized deposits of $315.7 million, were $4.4 billion, or approximately 40% of total deposits. Total estimated uninsured deposits were $4.1 billion, or approximately 36% of total deposits, as of December 31, 2022.

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The following table presents the scheduled maturities of the portion of our time deposits that are in excess of the FDIC insurance limit of $250,000 as of December 31, 2023 (in thousands).

Months to maturity:
3 months or less$256,568
3 months to 6 months69,377
6 months to 12 months154,900
Over 12 months62,444
$543,289

Borrowings

Our consolidated borrowings are shown in the table below (dollars in thousands).

December 31,
202320222021
AverageAverageAverage
BalanceRate PaidBalanceRate PaidBalanceRate Paid
Short-term borrowings$900,0384.75%$970,0562.27%$859,4441.22%
Notes payable347,1454.27%346,6544.33%387,9045.79%
Junior subordinated debentures%%3.45%
$1,247,1834.64%$1,316,7102.86%$1,247,3481.32%

Short-term borrowings consisted of federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, borrowings at the FHLB, short-term bank loans and commercial paper. The decrease in short-term borrowings at December 31, 2023, compared with December 31, 2022, primarily reflected decreases in short term bank loans and securities sold

under agreements to repurchase by the broker-dealer segment, partially offset by an increase in federal funds purchased by the banking segment. The increase in short-term borrowings at December 31, 2022 compared with December 31, 2021 primarily reflected increases in federal funds purchased by the banking segment and securities sold under agreement to repurchase by the broker-dealer segment, partially offset by decreases in commercial paper and short-term bank loans within the broker-dealer segment.

Notes payable at December 31, 2023 was comprised of $149.5 million related to the Senior Notes, net of loan origination fees, and Subordinated Notes, net of origination fees, of $197.6 million. Notes payable at December 31, 2022 was comprised of $149.3 million related to Senior Notes, net of loan origination fees, and Subordinated Notes, net of origination fees, of $197.4 million, while notes payable at December 31, 2021 was comprised of $149.1 million related to Senior Notes, net of loan origination fees, Subordinated Notes, net of origination fees, of $197.1 million and mortgage origination segment borrowings of $41.7 million. As discussed in more detail within the section titled “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Junior Subordinated Debentures” below, during the third quarter of 2021, PCC fully redeemed all outstanding Debentures.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Hilltop is a financial holding company whose assets primarily consist of the stock of its subsidiaries and invested assets. Hilltop’s primary investment objectives, as a holding company, are to support capital deployment for organic growth and to preserve capital to be deployed through acquisitions, dividend payments and stock repurchases. At December 31, 2023, Hilltop had $191.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, an increase of $19.1 million from $172.5 million at December 31, 2022. This increase in cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to the receipt of $90.8 million of dividends from subsidiaries, partially offset by cash outflows of $41.6 million in cash dividends declared, $5.1 million in stock repurchases, and other general corporate expenses. Subject to regulatory restrictions, Hilltop has received, and may also continue to receive, dividends from its subsidiaries. If necessary or appropriate, we may also finance acquisitions with the proceeds from equity or debt issuances. We believe that Hilltop’s liquidity is sufficient for the foreseeable future, with current short-term liquidity needs including operating expenses, interest on debt obligations, dividend payments to stockholders and potential stock repurchases.

As discussed in more detail below, our Senior Notes mature in May 2025 and we have the ability to redeem the 2030 Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, beginning in May 2025. We have begun to evaluate our options and may choose to refinance and/or utilize available cash on hand to satisfy such existing indebtedness. Although it is difficult in the current economic environment to predict the terms and conditions of financing that may be available in the future, we believe that we have sufficient access to credit from financial institutions and/or financing from public and private debt and equity markets to refinance or repay our Senior Notes.

Economic Environment

As previously discussed, operational and financial headwinds during 2022 and 2023 have had, and are expected to continue to have, an adverse impact on our operating results during 2024. The impacts of noted headwinds in 2024 are highly uncertain and will depend on several developments outside of our control, including, among others, the timing and significance of further changes in U.S. treasury yields and mortgage interest rates, exposure to increasing funding costs, inflationary pressures associated with compensation, occupancy and software costs and labor market conditions, and international armed conflicts and their impact on supply chains. In addition, during early 2023, the banking sector experienced increased uncertainty and concerns associated with liquidity positions primarily due to bank failures during early 2023 as depositors sought to reduce risks associated with uninsured deposits and withdraw such deposits from existing bank relationships. As demonstrated during the extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets beginning in March 2020 resulting from the pandemic and its negative impact on the economy, we will continue to monitor the economic environment and evaluate appropriate actions to enhance our financial flexibility, protect capital, minimize losses and ensure target liquidity levels.

Dividend Program and Declaration

In October 2016, we announced that our board of directors authorized a dividend program under which we intend to pay quarterly dividends on our common stock, subject to quarterly declarations by our board of directors. During 2023, we declared and paid cash dividends of $0.64 per common share, or $41.6 million.

On January 25, 2024, our board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per common share, payable on February 28, 2024 to all common stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 12, 2024.

Future dividends on our common stock are subject to the determination by the board of directors based on an evaluation of our earnings and financial condition, liquidity and capital resources, the general economic and regulatory climate, our ability to service any equity or debt obligations senior to our common stock and other factors.

Stock Repurchases

In January 2023, our board of directors authorized a new stock repurchase program through January 2024, pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $75.0 million of our outstanding common stock, inclusive of repurchases to offset dilution related to grants of stock-based compensation. During 2023, Hilltop paid $5.1 million to

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repurchase an aggregate of 164,604 shares of our common stock at an average price of $30.95 per share pursuant to the stock repurchase program.

In January 2024, our board of directors authorized a new stock repurchase program through January 2025, pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $75.0 million of our outstanding common stock, inclusive of repurchases to offset dilution related to grants of stock-based compensation. Under the stock repurchase program authorized, we may repurchase shares in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions as permitted under Rule 10b-18 promulgated under the Exchange Act. The extent to which we repurchase our shares and the timing of such repurchases depends upon market conditions and other corporate considerations, as determined by Hilltop’s management team. Repurchased shares will be returned to our pool of authorized but unissued shares of common stock.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, signed into law during August 2022, introduced a nondeductible excise tax equal to 1% of the fair market value of certain shares repurchased beginning in 2023, subject to certain limitations. While we may complete transactions subject to the new excise tax, we do not expect the tax to have a material impact to our financial condition or results of operations.

Tender Offer

On May 2, 2022, we announced the commencement of a modified “Dutch auction” tender offer to purchase shares of our common stock for an aggregate cash purchase price of up to $400 million, inclusive of our $100.0 million stock repurchase program authorized in January 2022. On May 27, 2022 including the exercise of our right to purchase up to an additional 2% of our outstanding shares, we completed our tender offer, repurchasing 14,868,469 shares of outstanding common stock at a price of $29.75 per share for a total of $442.3 million. We funded the tender offer with cash on hand.

Senior Notes due 2025

On April 9, 2015, we completed an offering of $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 5% senior notes due 2025 (“Senior Unregistered Notes”) in a private offering that was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Senior Unregistered Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of April 9, 2015 (the “indenture”), by and between Hilltop and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.

On June 22, 2015, we exchanged substantially all of the Senior Unregistered Notes for notes registered under the Securities Act (the “Senior Registered Notes”) that are substantially identical to the Senior Unregistered Notes (including principal amount, interest rate, maturity and redemption rights), except that the Senior Registered Notes generally are not subject to transfer restrictions. We refer to the Senior Registered Notes and the Senior Unregistered Notes that remain outstanding collectively as the “Senior Notes.”

The Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 5% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears in cash on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on October 15, 2015. The Senior Notes will mature on April 15, 2025, unless we redeem the Senior Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, on or after January 15, 2025 (three months prior to the maturity date of the Senior Notes) at our election at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. At December 31, 2023, $150.0 million of our Senior Notes was outstanding.

The indenture contains covenants that limit our ability to, among other things and subject to certain significant exceptions: (i) dispose of or issue voting stock of certain of our bank subsidiaries or subsidiaries that own voting stock of our bank subsidiaries, (ii) incur or permit to exist any mortgage, pledge, encumbrance or lien or charge on the capital stock of certain of our bank subsidiaries or subsidiaries that own capital stock of our bank subsidiaries and (iii) sell all or substantially all of our assets or merge or consolidate with or into other companies. The indenture also provides for certain events of default, which, if any of them occurs, would permit or require the principal amount, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on the then outstanding Senior Notes to be declared immediately due and payable.

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Subordinated Notes due 2030 and 2035

On May 7, 2020, we completed a public offering of $50 million aggregate principal amount of 2030 Subordinated Notes and $150 million aggregate principal amount of 2035 Subordinated Notes that mature on May 15, 2030 and May 15, 2035, respectively. We collectively refer to the 2030 Subordinated Notes and the 2035 Subordinated Notes as the “Subordinated Notes”. The price to the public for the Subordinated Notes was 100% of the principal amount of the Subordinated Notes. The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and fees and expenses of $3.4 million, were $196.6 million.

We may redeem the Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time, subject to obtaining Federal Reserve approval, beginning with the interest payment date of May 15, 2025 for the 2030 Subordinated Notes and beginning with the interest payment date of May 15, 2030 for the 2035 Subordinated Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Subordinated Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the date of redemption.

The 2030 Subordinated Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.75% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears commencing on November 15, 2020. The interest rate for the 2030 Subordinated Notes will reset quarterly beginning May 15, 2025 to an interest rate, per year, equal to the then-current benchmark rate, which is expected to be three-month term SOFR rate, plus 5.68%, payable quarterly in arrears. The 2035 Subordinated Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.125% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears commencing on November 15, 2020. The interest rate for the 2035 Subordinated Notes will reset quarterly beginning May 15, 2030 to an interest rate, per year, equal to the then-current benchmark rate, which is expected to be three-month term SOFR rate plus 5.80%, payable quarterly in arrears. At December 31, 2023, $200.0 million of our Subordinated Notes was outstanding.

Junior Subordinated Debentures

Following receipt of regulatory approval, during June, July and August 2021, PCC submitted to the trustees of each of the statutory trusts a notice to redeem in full outstanding Debentures of $67.0 million issued by PCC, which resulted in the full redemption to the holders of the associated preferred securities and common securities during the third quarter of 2021.

The Debentures, which were held by four statutory trusts created for the sole purpose of issuing and selling preferred securities and common securities used to acquire the Debentures, had an original stated term of 30 years with original maturities ranging from July 2031 to February 2038. The Debentures were callable at PCC’s discretion with a minimum of a 45- to 60- day notice. The redemptions noted above were funded from available cash balances held at PCC.

Regulatory Capital

We are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements may prompt certain actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Under capital adequacy and regulatory requirements, we must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of our assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Our capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.

In order to avoid limitations on capital distributions, including dividend payments, stock repurchases and certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers, Basel III requires banking organizations to maintain a capital conservation buffer above minimum risk-based capital requirements measured relative to risk-weighted assets.

The following table shows PlainsCapital’s and Hilltop’s actual capital amounts and ratios in accordance with Basel III compared to the regulatory minimum capital requirements including conservation buffer ratio in effect at December 31, 2023 (dollars in thousands). Based on actual capital amounts and ratios shown in the following table, PlainsCapital’s ratios place it in the “well capitalized” (as defined) capital category under regulatory requirements. Actual capital amounts and ratios as of December 31, 2023 reflect PlainsCapital’s and Hilltop’s decision to elect the transition option as issued by

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the federal banking regulatory agencies in March 2020 that permits banking institutions to mitigate the estimated cumulative regulatory capital effects from CECL over a five-year transitionary period through December 31, 2024.

Minimum Capital
Requirements IncludingTo Be Well
December 31, 2023Conservation BufferCapitalized
AmountRatioRatioRatio
Tier 1 capital (to average assets):
PlainsCapital$1,407,66010.55%4.0%5.0%
Hilltop1,974,91812.23%4.0%N/A
Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets):
PlainsCapital1,407,66015.44%7.0%6.5%
Hilltop1,974,91819.32%7.0%N/A
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets):
PlainsCapital1,407,66015.44%8.5%8.0%
Hilltop1,974,91819.32%8.5%N/A
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets):
PlainsCapital1,511,23916.58%10.5%10.0%
Hilltop2,284,35722.34%10.5%N/A

We discuss regulatory capital requirements in more detail in Note 21 to our consolidated financial statements, as well as under the caption “Government Supervision and Regulation — Corporate — Capital Adequacy Requirements and BASEL III” set forth in Part I, Item I. of this Annual Report.

Banking Segment

Within our banking segment, our primary uses of cash are for customer withdrawals and extensions of credit as well as our borrowing costs and other operating expenses. Our corporate treasury group is responsible for continuously monitoring our liquidity position to ensure that our assets and liabilities are managed in a manner that will meet our short-term and long-term cash requirements. Our goal is to manage our liquidity position in a manner such that we can meet our customers’ short-term and long-term deposit withdrawals and anticipated and unanticipated increases in loan demand without penalizing earnings. Funds invested in short-term marketable instruments, the continuous maturing of other interest-earning assets, cash flows from self-liquidating investments such as mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, the possible sale of available for sale securities, and the ability to securitize certain types of loans provide sources of liquidity from an asset perspective. The liability base provides sources of liquidity through deposits and the maturity structure of short-term borrowed funds. For short-term liquidity needs, we utilize federal fund lines of credit with correspondent banks, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, borrowings from the Federal Reserve and borrowings under lines of credit with other financial institutions. For intermediate liquidity needs, we utilize advances from the FHLB. To supply liquidity over the longer term, we have access to brokered time deposits, term loans at the FHLB and borrowings under lines of credit with other financial institutions.

The above sources of liquidity allow the banking segment to meet increased liquidity demands without adversely affecting daily operations. The Bank’s borrowing capacity through access to secured funding sources is summarized in the following table (in millions). Available liquidity noted below does not include borrowing capacity available through the discount window at the Federal Reserve.

December 31,
20232022
FHLB capacity$4,205$4,139
Investment portfolio (available)1,5941,606
Fed deposits (excess daily requirements)1,6121,332
$7,411$7,077

As previously discussed, the banking sector experienced increased uncertainty and concerns associated with its liquidity positions primarily due to high-profile bank failures during early 2023 as depositors sought to reduce risks associated

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with uninsured deposits and withdraw such deposits from existing bank relationships. As a result, both regulatory scrutiny and market focus on liquidity increased. These failures underscore the importance of maintaining access to diverse sources of funding. In light of these events, we have continued our efforts to monitor deposit flows and balance sheet trends to ensure that our liquidity needs are maintained. During 2023, we began increasing interest-bearing deposit rates to address rising market interest rates and intense competition for liquidity to combat deposit outflows. At December 31, 2023, the Bank also accessed and included approximately $1.1 billion of core deposits on its balance sheet from our Hilltop Securities FDIC-insured sweep program, while the Bank is not utilizing any of its FHLB borrowing capacity noted above through the use of short-term borrowings.

Further, to bolster our liquidity position, we increased brokered deposits at the Bank by approximately $390 million during the second quarter of 2023 that have a remaining balance of approximately $208 million at December 31, 2023. To date, we have not leveraged the discount window at the Federal Reserve or the BTFP.

Within our banking segment, deposit flows are affected by the level of market interest rates, the interest rates and products offered by competitors, the volatility of equity markets and other factors. An economic recovery and improved commercial real estate investment outlook may result in an outflow of deposits at an accelerated pace as customers utilize such available funds for expanded operations and investment opportunities. The Bank regularly evaluates its deposit products and pricing structures relative to the market to maintain competitiveness over time. Currently, the Bank is facing significant competition from bank and non-bank competitors for its deposit base and expects that its interest expense on certain deposits during 2024 to continue to be driven by various factors, including competition as well as economic and market area factors.

The Bank’s 15 largest depositors, excluding Hilltop and Hilltop Securities, collectively accounted for 9.31% of the Bank’s total deposits, and the Bank’s five largest depositors, excluding Hilltop and Hilltop Securities, collectively accounted for 4.49% of the Bank’s total deposits at December 31, 2023. The loss of one or more of our largest Bank customers, or a significant decline in our deposit balances due to ordinary course fluctuations related to these customers’ businesses, could adversely affect our liquidity and might require us to raise deposit rates to attract new deposits, purchase federal funds or borrow funds on a short-term basis to replace such deposits.

Broker-Dealer Segment

The Hilltop Broker-Dealers rely on their equity capital, short-term bank borrowings, interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing client credit balances, correspondent deposits, securities lending arrangements, repurchase agreement financing, commercial paper issuances and other payables to finance their assets and operations, subject to their respective compliance with broker-dealer net capital and customer protection rules. At December 31, 2023, Hilltop Securities had credit arrangements with two unaffiliated banks, with maximum aggregate commitments of up to $425.0 million. These credit arrangements are used to finance securities owned, securities held for correspondent accounts, receivables in customer margin accounts and underwriting activities. These credit arrangements are provided on an “as offered” basis and are not committed lines of credit. In addition, Hilltop Securities has committed revolving credit facilities with two unaffiliated banks, with aggregate availability of up to $200.0 million. At December 31, 2023, Hilltop Securities had no borrowings under its credit arrangements or its credit facilities.

Hilltop Securities uses the net proceeds (after deducting related issuance expenses) from the sale of two commercial paper programs for general corporate purposes, including working capital and the funding of a portion of its securities inventories. The commercial paper notes (“CP Notes”) may be issued with maturities of 14 days to 270 days from the date of issuance. The CP Notes are issued under two separate programs, Series 2019-1 CP Notes and Series 2019-2 CP Notes, in maximum aggregate amounts of $300 million and $200 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, the weighted average maturity of the CP Notes was 138 days at a rate of 6.32%, with a weighted average remaining life of 67 days. At December 31, 2023, the aggregate amount outstanding under these secured arrangements was $200.3 million, which was collateralized by securities held for Hilltop Securities accounts valued at $222.6 million.

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Mortgage Origination Segment

PrimeLending funds the mortgage loans it originates through a warehouse line of credit maintained with the Bank which had a total commitment of $1.5 billion, of which $839 million was drawn at December 31, 2023. PrimeLending sells substantially all mortgage loans it originates to various investors in the secondary market, historically with the majority with servicing released. As these mortgage loans are sold in the secondary market, PrimeLending pays down its warehouse line of credit with the Bank. In addition, PrimeLending has an available line of credit with an unaffiliated bank of up to $1.0 million, of which no borrowings were drawn at December 31, 2023.

PrimeLending owns a 100% membership interest in PrimeLending Ventures Management, LLC (“Ventures Management”) which holds a controlling ownership interest in and is the managing member of certain ABAs. At

December 31, 2023, these ABAs had combined available lines of credit totaling $65.0 million, all of which was with the Bank, with outstanding borrowings of $31.2 million.

Other Material Contractual Obligations, Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Commitments and Guarantees

The following table presents information regarding other material contractual obligations at December 31, 2023 not previously discussed (in thousands). Payments related to leases are based on actual payments specified in the underlying contracts, and the table below includes all leases that had commenced as of December 31, 2023.

Payments Due by Period
More than 13 Years or
1 yearYear but LessMore but Less5 Years
or Lessthan 3 Yearsthan 5 Yearsor MoreTotal
Finance lease obligations$1,163$1,699$597$$3,459
Operating lease obligations30,46143,81726,59521,223122,096
Total$31,624$45,516$27,192$21,223$125,555

Additionally, in the normal course of business, we enter into various transactions, which, in accordance with GAAP, are not included in our consolidated balance sheets. We enter into these transactions to meet the financing needs of our customers. These transactions include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit, which involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in our consolidated balance sheets.

Banking Segment

We enter into contractual loan commitments to extend credit, normally with fixed expiration dates or termination clauses, at specified rates and for specific purposes. Substantially all of our commitments to extend credit are contingent upon customers maintaining specific credit standards until the time of loan funding. We minimize our exposure to loss under these commitments by subjecting them to credit approval and monitoring procedures. We assess the credit risk associated with certain commitments to extend credit and have recorded a liability related to such credit risk in our consolidated financial statements.

Standby letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by us 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, we would be required to fund the commitment. The maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make is represented by the contractual amount of the commitment. If the commitment is funded, we would be entitled to seek recovery from the customer. Our policies generally require that standby letter of credit arrangements contain security and debt covenants similar to those contained in loan agreements.

In the aggregate, the Bank had outstanding unused commitments to extend credit of $2.2 billion at December 31, 2023 and outstanding financial and performance standby letters of credit of $52.8 million at December 31, 2023.

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Broker-Dealer Segment

The Hilltop Broker-Dealers execute, settle and finance various securities transactions that may expose the Hilltop Broker-Dealers to off-balance sheet risk in the event that a customer or counterparty does not fulfill its contractual obligations. Examples of such transactions include the sale of securities not yet purchased by customers or for the account of the Hilltop Broker-Dealers, use of derivatives to support certain non-profit housing organization clients, clearing agreements between the Hilltop Broker-Dealers and various clearinghouses and broker-dealers, secured financing arrangements that involve pledged securities, and when-issued underwriting and purchase commitments.

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

Our consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which presently require us 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 our operations is reflected in increased operating costs. Historically, changes in interest rates affect the financial condition of a financial institution to a far greater degree than changes in the inflation rate. However, inflation rose sharply at the end of 2021 and has continued to rise in 2023 at levels not seen for over 40 years. Inflationary pressures are currently expected to remain elevated during 2024. Furthermore, a prolonged period of inflation could cause our costs, including compensation, occupancy and software costs, to increase, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

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 our control, including changes in the expected rate of inflation, the influence of general and local economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities.

Critical Accounting Estimates

We have identified certain accounting estimates which involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. Our accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. Actual amounts and values as of the balance sheet dates may be materially different than the amounts and values reported due to the inherent uncertainty in the estimation process. Also, future amounts and values could differ materially from those estimates due to changes in values and circumstances after the balance sheet date. The critical accounting estimates, as summarized below, which we believe to be the most critical in preparing our consolidated financial statements relate to allowance for credit losses, mortgage servicing rights asset, goodwill and identifiable intangible assets and mortgage loan indemnification liability.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The allowance for credit losses for loans represents management’s estimate of all expected credit losses over the expected contractual life of our existing loan portfolio. Determining the appropriateness of the allowance is complex and requires judgment by management about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Subsequent evaluations of the then existing loan portfolio, in light of the factors then prevailing, may result in significant changes in the allowance for credit losses in those future periods.

We employ a disciplined process and methodology to establish our allowance for credit losses that has two basic components: first, an asset-specific component involving individual loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans and the measurement of expected credit losses for such individual loans; and second, a pooled component for estimated expected credit losses for pools of loans that share similar risk characteristics.

The credit loss estimation process for both on and off-balance sheet exposures involves procedures to appropriately consider the unique characteristics of our loan portfolio segments, which are further disaggregated into loan classes, the level at which credit risk is monitored. When computing allowance levels, credit loss assumptions are estimated using models that analyze loans according to credit risk ratings, loss history, delinquency status and other credit trends and risk

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characteristics, including current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. Significant variables that impact the modeled losses across our loan portfolios are the U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, growth rates and unemployment rate assumptions. Future factors and forecasts may result in significant changes in the allowance and provision for (reversal of) credit losses in those future periods.

Credit quality is assessed and monitored by evaluating various attributes, such as credit risk ratings, historic loss experience, past due status and other credit trends and risk characteristics, including current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. The results of these continuous credit quality evaluations help form our underwriting criteria for new loans and also factor into the process for estimation of the allowance for credit losses. The allowance level is influenced by loan volumes, loan asset quality, delinquency status, historic loss experience and other conditions influencing loss expectations, such as reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions. The allowance for credit losses will primarily reflect estimated losses for pools of loans that share similar risk characteristics, but will also consider individual loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans.

In estimating the component of the allowance for credit losses for loans that share similar risk characteristics with other loans, such loans are segregated into loan classes. Loans are designated into loan classes based on loans pooled by product types and similar risk characteristics or areas of risk concentration. In determining the allowance for credit losses, we derive an estimated credit loss assumption from a model that categorizes loan pools based on loan type and internal risk rating or delinquency bucket.

When a loan moves to a substandard non-accrual or worse risk rating grade, it is removed from the collective evaluation allowance methodology and is subject to individual evaluation. A problem asset report is prepared for each loan in excess of a predetermined threshold and the net realizable value of the loan is determined. This value is compared to the appropriate loan basis (depending on whether the loan is a PCD loan or a non-PCD loan) to determine the required allowance for credit loss reserve amount.

Estimating the timing and amounts of future losses is subject to significant management judgment as these loss cash flows rely upon estimates such as default rates, loss severities, collateral valuations, the amounts and timing of principal payments (including any expected prepayments) or other factors that are reflective of current or future expected conditions. These estimates, in turn, depend on the duration of current overall economic conditions, industry, borrower, or portfolio specific conditions, the expected outcome of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, as well as, in certain circumstances, other economic factors, including the level of current and future real estate prices. All of these estimates and assumptions require significant management judgment and certain assumptions that are highly subjective. Model imprecision also exists in the allowance for credit losses estimation process due to the inherent time lag of available industry information and differences between expected and actual outcomes.

The provision for (reversal of) credit losses recorded through earnings, and reduced by the charge-off of loan amounts, net of recoveries, is the amount necessary to maintain the allowance for credit losses at the amount of expected credit losses inherent within the loans held for investment portfolio. The amount of expense and the corresponding level of allowance for credit losses for loans are based on our evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio based on historical loss experience, reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other significant qualitative and quantitative factors. Refer to “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” and Notes 1 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the methodology used in establishing the allowance and changes during the relevant period in the provision for (reversal of) credit losses.

Mortgage Servicing Rights Asset

We measure our residential mortgage servicing rights asset using the fair value method. Under the fair value method, the retained MSR assets are carried in the balance sheet at fair value and the changes in fair value are reported in earnings within other noninterest income in the period in which the change occurs. Retained MSR assets are measured at fair value as of the date of sale of the related mortgage loan. Subsequent fair value measurements are determined using a discounted cash flow model. In order to determine the fair value of the MSR asset, the present value of expected future cash flows is estimated. Assumptions used include market discount rates, anticipated prepayment speeds, delinquency and foreclosure rates, and ancillary fee income.

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The model assumptions and the MSR asset fair value estimates are compared to observable trades of similar portfolios as well as to MSR asset broker valuations and industry surveys, as available. The expected life of the loan can vary from management’s estimates due to prepayments by borrowers, especially when rates fall. Prepayments in excess of management’s estimates would adversely impact the recorded value of the MSR asset. The value of the MSR asset is also dependent upon the discount rate used in the model, which is based on current market rates and is reviewed by management on an ongoing basis. An increase in the discount rate would result in a decrease in the value of the MSR asset. Refer to Notes 1, 3 and 10 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the methodology used in establishing the MSR asset and changes during the relevant period thereof.

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets

Goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets are initially recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Goodwill and other intangible assets having an indefinite useful life are not amortized for financial statement purposes. In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the goodwill or other identifiable intangible assets may be impaired, an interim impairment test would be required. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives. We perform required annual impairment tests of our goodwill and other intangible assets as of October 1st for our reportable business segments.

The goodwill impairment test requires us to make judgments and assumptions. The test consists of estimating the fair value of each reportable business segment based on valuation techniques, including a discounted cash flow model using revenue and profit forecasts and recent industry transaction and trading multiples of our peers, and comparing those estimated fair values with the carrying values of the assets and liabilities of each business segment, which includes the allocated goodwill. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, we will recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the business segment’s fair value; however, any loss recognized will not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that business segment.

This evaluation includes multiple assumptions, including estimated discounted cash flows and other estimates that may change over time. If future discounted cash flows become less than those projected by us, future impairment charges may become necessary that could have a materially adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition in the period in which the write-off occurs.

Mortgage Loan Indemnification Liability

The mortgage origination segment may be responsible for errors or omissions relating to its representations and warranties that the mortgage loans sold meet certain requirements, including representations as to underwriting standards and the validity of certain borrower representations in connection with a mortgage loan. If determined to be at fault, the mortgage origination segment either repurchases the mortgage loans from the investors or reimburses the investors’ losses (a “make-whole” payment). The mortgage origination segment has established an indemnification liability for such probable losses based upon, among other things, the level of current unresolved repurchase requests, the volume of estimated probable future repurchase requests, our ability to cure the defects identified in the repurchase requests, and the severity of an estimated loss upon repurchase. Although we consider this reserve to be appropriate, there can be no assurance that the reserve will prove to be appropriate over time to cover ultimate losses due to conditions outside of our control such as unanticipated adverse changes in the economy and historical loss patterns, discrete events adversely affecting specific borrowers or industries, or actions taken by institutions or investors. The impact of such matters will be considered in the reserving process when known. Refer to “Segment Results—Mortgage Origination Segment” and Notes 1 and 19 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the methodology used in establishing the mortgage loan indemnification liability and changes during the relevant period thereof.

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FY 2022 10-K MD&A

SEC filing source: 0001558370-23-001524.

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2023-02-17. Report date: 2022-12-31.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion is intended to help the reader understand our results of operations and financial condition and is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto commencing on page F-1. In addition to historical financial information, the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our results and the timing of selected events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those discussed under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”

Unless the context otherwise indicates, all references in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, or MD&A, to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “ours” or similar words are to Hilltop Holdings Inc. and its direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, references to “Hilltop” refer solely to Hilltop Holdings Inc., references to “PCC” refer to PlainsCapital Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop), references to “Securities Holdings” refer to Hilltop Securities Holdings LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop), references to “Hilltop Securities” refer to Hilltop Securities Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Securities Holdings), references to “Momentum Independent Network” refer to Momentum Independent Network Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Securities Holdings), Hilltop Securities and Momentum Independent Network are collectively referred to as the “Hilltop Broker-Dealers,” references to the “Bank” refer to PlainsCapital Bank (a wholly owned subsidiary of PCC), references to “FNB” refer to First National Bank, references to “SWS” refer to the former SWS Group, Inc., references to “PrimeLending” refer to PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank) and its subsidiaries as a whole, references to “NLC” refer to National Lloyds Corporation (formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop) and its wholly owned subsidiaries.

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OVERVIEW

We are a financial holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. Our primary line of business is to provide business and consumer banking services from offices located throughout Texas through the Bank. We also provide an array of financial products and services through our broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments. The following includes additional details regarding the financial products and services provided by each of our primary business units.

PCC. PCC is a financial holding company that provides, through its subsidiaries, traditional banking and wealth, investment and treasury management services primarily in Texas and residential mortgage loans throughout the United States.

Securities Holdings. Securities Holdings is a holding company that provides, through its subsidiaries, investment banking and other related financial services, including municipal advisory, sales, trading and underwriting of taxable and tax-exempt fixed income securities, clearing, securities lending, structured finance and retail brokerage services throughout the United States.

The following historical consolidated data for the periods indicated has been derived from our historical consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report (dollars in thousands, except per share data and weighted average shares outstanding).

202220212020
Statement of Operations Data:
Net interest income$458,975$422,982$424,166
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses8,309(58,213)96,491
Total noninterest income832,4601,410,2751,690,480
Total noninterest expense1,126,9991,387,3981,453,803
Income from continuing operations before income taxes156,127504,072564,352
Income tax expense36,833117,976133,071
Income from continuing operations before income taxes119,294386,096431,281
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes38,396
Net income119,294386,096469,677
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest6,16011,60121,841
Income attributable to Hilltop$113,134$374,495$447,836
Per Share Data:
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations$1.60$4.61$4.58
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding$70,626$81,173$89,304
Cash dividends declared per common share$0.60$0.48$0.36
Dividend payout ratio (1)37.36%10.34%7.18%
Book value per common share (end of year)$31.49$31.95$28.28
Tangible book value per common share (2) (end of year)$27.18$28.37$24.77
Balance Sheet Data:
Total assets$16,259,282$18,689,080$16,944,264
Cash and due from banks1,579,5122,823,1381,062,560
Securities3,289,5303,046,5002,468,544
Loans held for sale982,6161,878,1902,788,386
Loans held for investment, net of unearned income8,092,6737,879,9047,693,141
Allowance for credit losses(95,442)(91,352)(149,044)
Total deposits11,315,74912,818,07711,242,319
Notes payable346,654387,904381,987
Total stockholders' equity2,063,5292,549,2032,350,647
Capital Ratios (3):
Common equity to assets ratio12.53%13.50%13.72%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (2)11.00%12.17%12.22%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Dividend payout ratio is defined as cash dividends declared per common share divided by basic earnings per common share.
Column 1Column 2
(2)For a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure, see “—Reconciliation and Management’s Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
Column 1Column 2
(3)Ratios and financial data presented on a consolidated basis and includes discontinued operations for 2020 period.

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Income from continuing operations before income taxes during 2022 included the following contributions from our reportable business segments.

Column 1Column 2Column 3
The banking segment contributed $219.5 million of income before income taxes during 2022;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
The broker-dealer segment contributed $37.8 million of income before income taxes during 2022; and
Column 1Column 2Column 3
The mortgage origination segment incurred $36.5 million of losses before income taxes during 2022.

During 2022, we paid an aggregate of $442.3 million to repurchase shares of our common stock, and declared and paid total common dividends of $43.0 million.

On May 2, 2022, we announced the commencement of a modified “Dutch auction” tender offer to purchase shares of our common stock for an aggregate cash purchase price of up to $400 million, inclusive of our $100.0 million stock repurchase program authorized in January 2022. On May 27, 2022, including the exercise of our right to purchase up to an additional 2% of our outstanding shares, we completed our tender offer, repurchasing 14,868,469 shares of outstanding common stock at a price of $29.75 per share for a total of $442.3 million. We funded the tender offer with cash on hand. As a result of the share repurchases during 2022, we had no further available share repurchase capacity associated with our previously authorized stock repurchase program.

On January 26, 2023, our board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per common share, a 7% increase from the prior quarter, payable on February 24, 2023 to all common stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 10, 2023. Additionally, our board of directors authorized a new stock repurchase program through January 2024, pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $75.0 million of our outstanding common stock.

Reconciliation and Management’s Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We present certain measures in our selected financial data that are not measures of financial performance recognized by GAAP. “Tangible book value per common share” is defined as our total stockholders’ equity reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by total common shares outstanding. “Tangible common equity to tangible assets” is defined as our total stockholders’ equity reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by total assets reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets. These measures are important to investors interested in changes from period to period in tangible common equity per share exclusive of changes in intangible assets. For companies such as ours that have engaged in business combinations, purchase accounting can result in the recording of significant amounts of goodwill and other intangible assets related to those transactions.

You should not view this disclosure as a substitute for results determined in accordance with GAAP, and our disclosure is not necessarily comparable to that of other companies that use non-GAAP measures.

The following table reconciles these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures, “book value per common share” and “equity to total assets” (dollars in thousands, except per share data).

December 31,
202220212020
Book value per common share$31.49$31.95$28.28
Effect of goodwill and intangible assets per share(4.31)(3.58)(3.51)
Tangible book value per common share$27.18$28.37$24.77
Hilltop stockholders’ equity$2,036,924$2,522,668$2,323,939
Less: goodwill and intangible assets, net278,764282,731287,811
Tangible common equity$1,758,160$2,239,937$2,036,128
Total assets$16,259,282$18,689,080$16,944,264
Less: goodwill and intangible assets, net278,764282,731287,811
Tangible assets$15,980,518$18,406,349$16,656,453
Equity to assets12.53%13.50%13.72%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets11.00%12.17%12.22%

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Recent Developments

Economic Environment

Since March 2020, our operational and financial results have been volatile resulting initially from the COVID-19 crisis and then, beginning in 2022, headwinds including tight housing inventories on mortgage volumes, declining deposit balances, rapid increases in market interest rates and a declining economic forecast. The impacts of such headwinds in 2023 remain uncertain and will depend on several developments outside of our control including, among others, the timing and significance of further changes in U.S. treasury yields and mortgage interest rates, exposure to increasing funding costs, inflationary pressures associated with compensation, occupancy and software costs and labor market conditions, the Russian-Ukraine conflict and its impact on supply chains, as well as the impact of the pandemic continuing to recede.

The COVID-19 pandemic and related governmental control measures severely disrupted financial markets and overall economic conditions throughout 2020. While the impact of the pandemic and the uncertainties have remained into 2022, significant progress associated with COVID-19 vaccination levels in the United States has resulted in easing of restrictive measures even as additional variants have emerged. Starting in 2020, the U.S. federal government enacted policies to provide fiscal stimulus to the economy and relief to those affected by the pandemic, with the stimulus intended to bolster household finances as well as those of small businesses, states and municipalities. Throughout the pandemic, we have taken a number of precautionary steps to safeguard our business and our employees from COVID-19, including, but not limited to, banking by appointment, implementing employee travel restrictions and telecommuting arrangements, while maintaining business continuity so that we can continue to deliver service to and meet the demands of our clients. Beginning in the second quarter of 2021, we returned a majority of our employees to their respective office locations based initially on a rotational team schedule and, with limited exceptions due to the emergence of new variants of the virus, have since generally returned to pre-pandemic work arrangements with available hybrid options for designated roles. We are continuing to monitor and assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our employees and customers on a regular basis.

In light of the extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets beginning in March 2020 resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and its negative impact on the economy, we took a number of precautionary actions beginning in March 2020 to enhance our financial flexibility, protect capital, minimize losses and ensure target liquidity levels. Such actions, including increasing overall cash balances by raising brokered money market and brokered time deposits and raising capital through the issuance of subordinated debt, were taken out of an abundance of caution in light of extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets beginning in March 2020 resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and its negative impact on the economy.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (the “PPP/HCE Act”) were passed in March 2020, which were intended to provide emergency relief to several groups and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the numerous provisions contained in the CARES Act was the creation of a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) that provides federal government loan forgiveness for Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Section 7(a) loans for small businesses, which may include our customers, to pay up to eight weeks of employee compensation and other basic expenses. PPP loans have: (a) an interest rate of 1.0%; (b) a two-year loan term to maturity; and (c) principal and interest payments deferred for six months from the date of disbursement. Further, the CARES Act and subsequent legislation allowed the Bank to suspend the troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) requirements for certain loan modifications to be categorized as a TDR through January 1, 2022.

Starting in March 2020, the Bank implemented several actions to better support our impacted banking clients and allow for loan modifications such as principal and/or interest payment deferrals, participation in both the initial and second round PPP efforts as an SBA preferred lender and personal banking assistance including waived fees, increased daily spending limits and suspension of residential foreclosure activities. The COVID-19 payment deferment programs allowed for a deferral of principal and/or interest payments with such deferred principal payments due and payable on the maturity date of the existing loan. At December 31, 2022, the Bank had no loans remaining under the COVID-19

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payment deferral program. The Bank’s PPP efforts included approval and funding of over 4,100 PPP loans guaranteed by the SBA and, if used by the borrower for authorized purposes, able to be fully forgiven. On October 2, 2020, the SBA began approving PPP forgiveness applications and remitting forgiveness payments to PPP lenders for PPP borrowers. The SBA approved approximately 4,100 forgiveness applications totaling approximately $896 million as a part of the Bank’s PPP efforts.

Asset Valuation

At each reporting date between annual impairment tests, we consider potential indicators of impairment, including the condition of the economy and financial services industry; government intervention and regulatory updates; the impact of recent events to financial performance and cost factors of the reporting unit; performance of our stock and other relevant events.

Specifically, our mortgage origination and broker-dealer segments have each experienced lower-than-forecasted operating results during 2022 due to conditions discussed in detail within the respective discussions of segment results that follow. Given the potential impacts as a result of the operating performance of these reporting segments and overall economic conditions, actual results may differ materially from our current estimates as the scope of such impacts evolves or if the duration of business disruptions is longer than currently anticipated. The mortgage origination and broker-dealer segments have been assigned goodwill of $13.1 million and $7.0 million, respectively. Further, as a part of the most recent quantitative analysis performed as of October 1, 2022, management’s evaluation considered the sensitivities performed and the fact that the resulting estimated fair values of our mortgage origination and broker-dealer segments exceeded their respective book values by approximately 35% and 12%, respectively. Accordingly, at the conclusion of the annual assessment, the Company determined that as of October 1, 2022 it was more likely than not that the fair value of goodwill and other intangible assets exceeded their respective carrying values. We continue to monitor developments regarding overall economic conditions, market capitalization, and any other triggering events or circumstances that may indicate an impairment in the future.

To the extent future operating performance of the mortgage origination and broker-dealer segments remain challenged and below forecasted projections, significant assumptions such as expected future cash flows or the risk-adjusted discount rate used to estimate fair value are adversely impacted, or upon the occurrence of what management would deem to be a triggering event that could, under certain circumstances, cause us to perform impairment tests on our goodwill and other intangible assets, an impairment charge may be recorded for that period. In the event that we conclude that all or a portion of our goodwill and other intangible assets are impaired, a non-cash charge for the respective amount of such impairment would be recorded to earnings. Such a charge would have no impact on tangible capital or regulatory capital.

Outlook

As previously discussed, during 2022, we experienced economic headwinds including tight housing inventories on mortgage volumes, declining deposit balances, rapid increases in U.S. treasury yields and mortgage interest rates, and a declining economic forecast. These headwinds, coupled with exposure to increasing funding costs, inflationary pressures associated with compensation, occupancy and software costs and labor market conditions, the Russian-Ukraine conflict and its impact on supply chains within our business segments during 2022 have had, and are expected to continue to have, an adverse impact on our operating results during 2023.

See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for additional discussion of the potential adverse impacts of unpredictable economic, market and business conditions on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

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Factors Affecting Results of Operations

As a financial institution providing products and services through our banking, broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments, we are directly affected by general economic and market conditions, many of which are beyond our control and unpredictable. A key factor impacting our results of operations includes changes in the level of interest rates in addition to twists in the shape of the yield curve with the magnitude and direction of the impact varying across the different lines of business. Other factors impacting our results of operations include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in volume and price levels of securities, inflation, political events, investor confidence, investor participation levels, legal, regulatory, and compliance requirements and competition. All of these factors have the potential to impact our financial position, operating results and liquidity. In addition, the recent economic and political environment has led to legislative and regulatory initiatives, both enacted and proposed, that could substantially change the regulation of the financial services industry and may significantly impact us.

Factors Affecting Comparability of Results of Operations

NLC Sale

On June 30, 2020, we completed the sale of all of the outstanding capital stock of NLC, which comprised the operations of our former insurance segment, for cash proceeds of $154.1 million. During 2020, Hilltop recognized an aggregate gain associated with this transaction of $36.8 million, net of $5.1 million in transaction costs and was subject to post-closing adjustments. The resulting book gain from this sale transaction was not recognized for tax purposes due to the excess tax basis over book basis being greater than the recorded book gain. Any tax loss related to this transaction is deemed disallowed pursuant to the rules under the Internal Revenue Code. We also entered into an agreement at closing to refrain for a specified period from certain activities that compete with the business of NLC. As a result, NLC’s results through June 30, 2020 have been presented as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements, and we no longer have an insurance segment. Unless otherwise noted, for purposes of this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, “consolidated” refers to our consolidated financial position and consolidated results of operations, including discontinued operations and assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations.

LIBOR

In July 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced that it intends to cease compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) after 2021. In March 2021, the FCA and the Intercontinental Exchange (“ICE”) Benchmark Administration concurrently confirmed their original intention to stop requesting banks to submit the rates required to calculate LIBOR after the 2021 calendar year and additionally announced firm target dates for the phase out of various LIBOR tenors. Pursuant to the announcement, one week and two-month LIBOR ceased to be published on December 31, 2021, and all remaining USD LIBOR tenors will cease to be published or lose representativeness immediately after June 30, 2023.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance in March 2020 intended to provide temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the GAAP guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from LIBOR and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. Additionally, the FASB issued specific accounting guidance that permits the use of the Overnight Index Swap rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) to be designated as a benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes.

Certain loans we originated bear interest at a floating rate based on LIBOR. We also pay interest on certain borrowings and are counterparty to derivative agreements that are based on LIBOR and have existing contracts with payment calculations that use LIBOR as the reference rate. The cessation of publication of LIBOR will create various risks surrounding the financial, operational, compliance and legal aspects associated with changing certain elements of existing contracts.

The Alternative Reference rates Committee (“ARRC”) has proposed a paced market transition plan to the SOFR from LIBOR, and organizations are currently working on industry-wide and company-specific transition plans as it relates to

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derivatives and cash markets exposed to LIBOR. The ARRC has formally recommended SOFR as its preferred alternative rate for LIBOR. However, at this time, no consensus exists as to what rate or rates may become acceptable alternatives to LIBOR and it is impossible to predict the effect of any such alternatives on the value of LIBOR-based securities and variable rate loans, or other securities or financial arrangements, given LIBOR’s role in determining market interest rates globally.

We have completed our targeted assessment of exposures across the organization associated with the migration away from LIBOR and have transitioned to the impact assessment and implementation stages. In light of the above described changes to the LIBOR phase out dates being pushed out to 2023, we have taken necessary actions, including the negotiation of certain of our agreements based on established alternative benchmark rates. Since the third quarter of 2020, PrimeLending has been originating conventional adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM, loan products utilizing a SOFR rate with terms consistent with government-sponsored enterprise, or GSE, guidelines. In addition, the Bank’s management team has significantly completed its efforts to amend LIBOR-based contractual terms and establish an alternative benchmark rate. We also continue to evaluate the impacts of the LIBOR phase-out and transition requirements as it pertains to contracts, models and systems. To date, an immaterial amount of expenses have been incurred as a result of our efforts related to the transition of our systems and processes away from LIBOR.

Brokered Deposits

In December 2020, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) finalized revisions to its rules and prior guidance regarding brokered deposits (the “Revisions”). The Revisions are intended to modernize the FDIC’s framework for regulating brokered deposits and ensure that the classification of a deposit as brokered appropriately reflects changes in the banking landscape. In addition, the Revisions are intended to modify the interest rate restrictions applicable to certain depository institutions and clarify the application of the brokered deposit requirements to non-maturity deposits. The Revisions became effective on April 1, 2021, but full compliance was not required during a transitionary period ended January 1, 2022. We evaluated the Revisions and published FDIC guidance and effective January 1, 2022, after consulting with the FDIC, continue to treat deposits swept to the banking segment from the broker-dealer segment as non-brokered, while the cost of these sweep deposits will be based on a current market rate of interest rather than a per account fee.

Company Background

From January 2007 until November 2012, our primary operations were limited to providing fire and homeowners insurance to low value dwellings and manufactured homes primarily in Texas and other areas of the southern United States through NLC’s wholly owned insurance subsidiaries. As previously discussed, on June 30, 2020, we completed the sale of all of the outstanding capital stock of NLC.

On November 30, 2012, we acquired PlainsCapital Corporation pursuant to a plan of merger whereby PlainsCapital Corporation merged with and into our wholly owned subsidiary (the “PlainsCapital Merger”), which continued as the surviving entity under the name “PlainsCapital Corporation”. Concurrent with the consummation of the PlainsCapital Merger, Hilltop became a financial holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.

On September 13, 2013 (the “Bank Closing Date”), the Bank assumed substantially all of the liabilities, including all of the deposits, and acquired substantially all of the assets of Edinburg, Texas-based FNB from the FDIC, as receiver, and reopened former branches of FNB acquired from the FDIC under the “PlainsCapital Bank” name (the “FNB Transaction”).

On January 1, 2015, we acquired SWS in a stock and cash transaction (the “SWS Merger”), whereby SWS’s broker-dealer subsidiaries became subsidiaries of Securities Holdings and SWS’s banking subsidiary, Southwest Securities, FSB, was merged into the Bank. On October 5, 2015, Southwest Securities, Inc. was renamed “Hilltop Securities Inc.”

On August 1, 2018, we acquired privately-held, Houston-based BORO in an all-cash transaction (“BORO Acquisition”). In connection with the BORO Acquisition, we merged BORO into the Bank, and all customer accounts were converted to the PlainsCapital Bank platform.

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Segment Information

As previously discussed, on June 30, 2020, we completed the sale of all of the outstanding capital stock of NLC, which comprised the operations of the former insurance segment. As a result, insurance segment results through June 30, 2020 have been presented as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements, and we no longer have an insurance segment. Additional details are presented in Note 3, Discontinued Operations, in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.

Following the above-noted sale of NLC, we have two primary business units within continuing operations, PCC (banking and mortgage origination) and Securities Holdings (broker-dealer). Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), our continuing operations business units are comprised of three reportable business segments organized primarily by the core products offered to the segments’ respective customers: banking, broker-dealer and mortgage origination. Consistent with our historical segment operating results, we anticipate that future revenues will be driven primarily from the banking segment, with the remainder being generated by our broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments. Operating results for the mortgage origination segment have historically been more volatile than operating results for the banking and broker-dealer segments.

The banking segment includes the operations of the Bank. The banking segment primarily provides business and consumer banking services from offices located throughout Texas and generates revenue from its portfolio of earning assets. The Bank’s results of operations are primarily dependent on net interest income. The Bank also derives revenue from other sources, including service charges on customer deposit accounts and trust fees.

The broker-dealer segment includes the operations of Securities Holdings, which operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries Hilltop Securities, Momentum Independent Network and Hilltop Securities Asset Management, LLC. The broker-dealer segment generates a majority of its revenues from fees and commissions earned from investment advisory and securities brokerage services. Hilltop Securities is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and a member of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Momentum Independent Network is an introducing broker-dealer that is also registered with the SEC and FINRA. Hilltop Securities, Momentum Independent Network and Hilltop Securities Asset Management, LLC are registered investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

The mortgage origination segment includes the operations of PrimeLending, which offers a variety of loan products and generates revenue predominantly from fees charged on the origination and servicing of loans and from selling these loans in the secondary market.

Corporate includes certain activities not allocated to specific business segments. These activities include holding company financing and investing activities, merchant banking investment opportunities, and management and administrative services to support the overall operations of the Company.

The eliminations of intercompany transactions are included in “All Other and Eliminations.” Additional information concerning our reportable segments is presented in Note 28, Segment and Related Information, in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.

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The following table presents certain information about the continuing operating results of our reportable segments (in thousands). This table serves as a basis for the discussion and analysis in the segment operating results sections that follow.

Year Ended December 31,Variance 2022 vs 2021Variance 2021 vs 2020
202220212020AmountPercentAmountPercent
Net interest income (expense):
Banking$413,603$406,524$390,871$7,0792$15,6534
Broker-Dealer51,59743,29639,9128,301193,3848
Mortgage Origination(10,529)(20,400)(10,489)9,87148(9,911)(94)
Corporate(13,135)(17,239)(14,192)4,10424(3,047)(21)
All Other and Eliminations17,43910,80118,0646,63861(7,263)(40)
Hilltop Continuing Operations$458,975$422,982$424,166$35,9939$(1,184)(0)
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses:
Banking$8,250$(58,175)$96,326$66,425NM$(154,501)NM
Broker-Dealer59(38)16597NM(203)NM
Mortgage Origination--
Corporate--
All Other and Eliminations--
Hilltop Continuing Operations$8,309$(58,213)$96,491$66,522NM$(154,704)NM
Noninterest income:
Banking$49,307$45,113$41,376$4,1949$3,7379
Broker-Dealer341,943381,125491,355(39,182)(10)(110,230)(22)
Mortgage Origination452,915986,9901,172,450(534,075)(54)(185,460)(16)
Corporate7,5259,1333,945(1,608)(18)5,188132
All Other and Eliminations(19,230)(12,086)(18,646)(7,144)(59)6,56035
Hilltop Continuing Operations$832,460$1,410,275$1,690,480$(577,815)(41)$(280,205)(17)
Noninterest expense:
Banking$235,190$226,915$232,447$8,2754$(5,532)(2)
Broker-Dealer355,713380,798415,463(25,085)(7)(34,665)(8)
Mortgage Origination478,904731,056753,917(252,152)(34)(22,861)(3)
Corporate59,03050,50753,0408,52317(2,533)(5)
All Other and Eliminations(1,838)(1,878)(1,064)402(814)(77)
Hilltop Continuing Operations$1,126,999$1,387,398$1,453,803$(260,399)(19)$(66,405)(5)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes:
Banking$219,470$282,897$103,474$(63,427)(22)$179,423173
Broker-Dealer37,76843,661115,639(5,893)(13)(71,978)(62)
Mortgage Origination(36,518)235,534408,044(272,052)(116)(172,510)(42)
Corporate(64,640)(58,613)(63,287)(6,027)(10)4,6747
All Other and Eliminations47593482(546)(92)11123
Hilltop Continuing Operations$156,127$504,072$564,352$(347,945)(69)$(60,280)(11)

NMNot meaningful

Key Performance Indicators

We utilize several key indicators of financial condition and operating performance to evaluate the various aspects of our business. In addition to traditional financial metrics, such as revenue and growth trends, we monitor several other financial measures and non-financial operating metrics to help us evaluate growth trends, measure the adequacy of our capital based on regulatory reporting requirements, measure the effectiveness of our operations and assess operational efficiencies. These indicators change from time to time as the opportunities and challenges in our businesses change.

Specifically, performance ratios and asset quality ratios are typically used for measuring the performance of banking and financial institutions. We consider return on average stockholders’ equity, return on average assets and net interest margin to be important supplemental measures of operating performance that are commonly used by securities analysts, investors and other parties interested in the banking and financial industry. The net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans outstanding ratio is also considered a key measure for our banking segment as it indicates the performance of our loan portfolio.

In addition, we consider regulatory capital ratios to be key measures that are used by us, as well as banking regulators, investors and analysts, to assess our regulatory capital position and to compare our regulatory capital to that of other financial services companies. We monitor our capital strength in terms of both leverage ratio and risk-based capital ratios

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based on capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. The risk-based capital ratios are minimum supervisory ratios generally applicable to banking organizations, but banking organizations are widely expected to operate with capital positions well above the minimum ratios. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

How We Generate Revenue

We generate revenue from net interest income and from noninterest income. Net interest income represents the difference between the income earned on our assets, including our loans and investment securities, and our cost of funds, including the interest paid on the deposits and borrowings that are used to support our assets. Net interest income is a significant contributor to our operating results. Fluctuations in interest rates, as well as the amounts and types of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities we hold, affect net interest income. We generated $459.0 million in net interest income during 2022, compared with net interest income of $423.0 million and $424.2 million during 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in net interest income during 2022, compared with 2021, was primarily due to increases within each of our mortgage origination, broker-dealer and banking segments.

The other component of our revenue is noninterest income, which is primarily comprised of the following:

Column 1Column 2Column 3
(i)Income from broker-dealer operations. Through Securities Holdings, we provide investment banking and other related financial services that generated $266.5 million, $296.3 million and $274.0 million in securities commissions and fees and investment and securities advisory fees and commissions, and $61.1 million, $75.2 million and $203.1 million in gains from derivative and trading portfolio activities (included within other noninterest income) during 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(ii)Income from mortgage operations. Through PrimeLending, we generate noninterest income by originating and selling mortgage loans. During 2022, 2021 and 2020, we generated $452.0 million, $986.0 million and $1.2 billion, respectively, in net gains from sale of loans, other mortgage production income (including income associated with retained mortgage servicing rights), and mortgage loan origination fees.

In the aggregate, we generated $0.8 billion, $1.4 billion and $1.7 billion in noninterest income during 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The decrease in noninterest income from continuing operations during 2022, compared with 2021, was predominantly attributable to a decrease of $534.0 million in net gains from sale of loans, other mortgage production income and mortgage loan origination fees within our mortgage origination segment and a decrease of $14.1 million in gains from derivative and trading portfolio activities within our broker-dealer segment.

We also incur noninterest expenses in the operation of our businesses. Our businesses engage in labor intensive activities and, consequently, employees’ compensation and benefits represent the majority of our noninterest expenses.

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Consolidated Operating Results

Income from continuing operations applicable to common stockholders during 2022 was $113.1 million, or $1.60 per diluted share, compared with $374.5 million, or $4.61 per diluted share, during 2021, and $409.4 million, or $4.58 per diluted share, during 2020. Hilltop’s financial results from continuing operations during 2022 included a significant decrease in year-over-year mortgage origination segment net gains from sales of loans and other mortgage production income, while the banking segment recorded a provision for credit losses as opposed to a reversal of credit losses in the prior year.

Hilltop’s financial results from continuing operations during 2021 reflected a significant decrease in year-over-year mortgage origination segment net gains from sales of loans and other mortgage production income as well as declines in net revenues within the broker-dealer segment’s structured finance business and fixed income services lines, while the banking segment reflected positive changes in macroeconomic and loan expected loss rates during 2021 as opposed to a significant build in the allowance for credit losses given the market disruption and economic uncertainties caused by COVID-19 during 2020. Including income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, income applicable to common stockholders was $447.8 million, or $5.01 per diluted share, during 2020.

Certain items included in net income during 2022, 2021 and 2020 resulted from purchase accounting associated with the PlainsCapital Merger, the FNB Transaction, the SWS Merger and the BORO Acquisition (collectively, the “Bank Transactions”). Income before income taxes during 2022, 2021 and 2020 included net accretion on earning assets and liabilities of $10.8 million, $19.2 million and $18.9 million, respectively, and amortization of identifiable intangibles of $4.5 million, $5.2 million and $6.3 million, respectively, related to the Bank Transactions.

The information shown in the table below includes certain key performance indicators on a consolidated basis.

Year Ended December 31,
202220212020
Return on average stockholders' equity (1)5.11%15.38%20.03%
Return on average assets (2)0.69%2.17%2.88%
Net interest margin (3) (4)2.87%2.57%2.85%
Leverage ratio (5) (end of year)11.47%12.58%12.64%
Common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio (6) (end of year)18.23%21.22%18.97%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Return on average stockholders’ equity is defined as consolidated income attributable to Hilltop divided by average total Hilltop stockholders’ equity.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Return on average assets is defined as consolidated net income divided by average assets.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Net interest margin is defined as net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. We consider net interest margin as a key indicator of profitability as it represents interest earned on our interest-earning assets compared to interest incurred.
Column 1Column 2
(4)The securities financing operations within our broker-dealer segment had the effect of lowering both net interest margin and taxable equivalent net interest margin by 21 basis points, 16 basis points and 25 basis points during 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Column 1Column 2
(5)The leverage ratio is a regulatory capital ratio and is defined as Tier 1 risk-based capital divided by average consolidated assets.
Column 1Column 2
(6)The common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio is a regulatory capital ratio and is defined as common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital divided by risk weighted assets. Common equity includes common equity Tier 1 capital (common stockholders’ equity and certain minority interests in the equity capital accounts of consolidated subsidiaries, but excluding goodwill and various intangible assets) and additional Tier 1 capital (certain qualifying minority interests not included in common equity Tier 1 capital, certain preferred stock and related surplus, and certain subordinated debt).

We present net interest margin and net interest income below on a taxable-equivalent basis. Net interest margin (taxable equivalent), a non-GAAP measure, is defined as taxable equivalent net interest income divided by average interest earning assets. Taxable equivalent adjustments are based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rate of 21% for all periods presented. The interest income earned on certain earning assets is completely or partially exempt from federal income tax. As such, these tax-exempt instruments typically yield lower returns than taxable investments. To provide more meaningful comparisons of net interest margins for all earning assets, we use net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis in calculating net interest margin by increasing the interest income earned on tax-exempt assets to make it fully equivalent to interest income earned on taxable investments.

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During 2022, 2021 and 2020, purchase accounting contributed 7, 12 and 14 basis points, respectively, to our consolidated taxable equivalent net interest margin of 2.88%, 2.58% and 2.85%, respectively. The purchase accounting activity is primarily related to the accretion of discount of loans which totaled $10.5 million, $18.8 million and $18.8 million during 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, associated with the Bank Transactions.

The table below provides additional details regarding our consolidated net interest income (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202220212020
AverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualized
OutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield or
Balanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRate
Assets
Interest-earning assets
Loans held for sale$1,221,235$52,3154.28%$2,293,543$64,7672.82%$2,306,203$74,4673.23%
Loans held for investment, gross (1)7,840,848363,8924.71%7,645,292339,5484.44%7,618,723358,8444.71%
Investment securities - taxable2,819,28275,8052.69%2,493,84847,5821.91%1,897,85949,9362.63%
Investment securities - non-taxable (2)310,31511,6083.74%313,70311,4483.65%231,8247,9183.42%
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell162,5754,0982.52%152,2733720.24%90,9611380.15%
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions2,306,96031,7051.37%2,078,6662,9420.14%1,257,9023,1650.25%
Securities borrowed1,298,27644,4143.37%1,445,46461,6674.21%1,435,57251,3603.58%
Other55,2808,87316.05%50,9293,3326.54%59,4123,6876.21%
Interest-earning assets, gross (2)16,014,771592,7103.70%16,473,718531,6583.23%14,898,456549,5153.69%
Allowance for credit losses(92,828)(129,689)(122,148)
Interest-earning assets, net15,921,94316,344,02914,776,308
Noninterest-earning assets1,488,9701,451,9281,537,269
Total assets$17,410,913$17,795,957$16,313,577
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing deposits$7,561,501$50,4120.67%$7,722,584$23,6240.31%$7,397,121$47,0400.64%
Securities loaned1,184,49838,5703.26%1,374,14250,9743.71%1,336,87342,8173.20%
Notes payable and other borrowings1,293,13343,1583.34%1,216,38132,3932.66%1,222,04433,2492.72%
Total interest-bearing liabilities10,039,132132,1401.32%10,313,107106,9911.04%9,956,038123,1061.24%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
Noninterest-bearing deposits4,455,7794,157,9623,304,475
Other liabilities675,628863,976791,002
Total liabilities15,170,53915,335,04514,051,515
Stockholders’ equity2,213,7332,435,1852,235,690
Noncontrolling interest26,64125,72726,372
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$17,410,913$17,795,957$16,313,577
Net interest income (2)$460,570$424,667$426,409
Net interest spread (2)2.38%2.19%2.45%
Net interest margin (2)2.88%2.58%2.85%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Average balance includes non-accrual loans.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Presented on a taxable equivalent basis with taxable equivalent adjustments based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rate of 21% for the periods presented. The adjustment to interest income was $1.6 million, $1.7 million and $1.2 million during 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The banking segment’s net interest margin exceeds our consolidated net interest margin shown above. Our consolidated net interest margin includes certain items that are not reflected in the calculation of our net interest margin within our banking segment and reduce our consolidated net interest margin, such as the borrowing costs of Hilltop and the yields and costs associated with certain items within interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, such as securities borrowed in the broker-dealer segment and securities loaned in the broker-dealer segment, including items related to securities financing operations that particularly decrease net interest margin. In addition, yields and costs on certain interest-earning assets, such as lines of credit extended to other operating segments by the banking segment, are eliminated from the consolidated financial statements. Our consolidated net interest margins during 2020 and, to a lesser

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extent, 2021 were also negatively impacted by certain actions taken by management during 2020 to strengthen our available liquidity position. Such actions, including increasing overall cash balances by raising brokered money market and brokered time deposits and raising capital through the issuance of subordinated debt, were taken out of an abundance of caution in light of extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets beginning in March 2020 resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and its negative impact on the economy.

On a consolidated basis, the changes in net interest income from continuing operations during 2022, compared with 2021, were primarily due to the effects of volume and rate changes within the mortgage warehouse lending, securities and deposits portfolios within the banking segment, increased net yields on mortgage loans held for sale and decreases in average warehouse line balance with an unaffiliate bank within the mortgage origination segment and changes within the broker-dealer segment related to its structured finance and fixed income services business lines. Refer to the discussion in the “Banking Segment” section that follows for more details on the changes in net interest income, including the component changes in the volume of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in the rates earned or paid on those items.

The provision for (reversal of) credit losses is determined by management as the amount necessary to maintain the allowance for credit losses at the amount of expected credit losses inherent within the loans held for investment portfolio. The amount of expense and the corresponding level of allowance for credit losses for loans are based on our evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio based on historical loss experience, reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other significant qualitative and quantitative factors. Substantially all of our consolidated provision for (reversal of) credit losses is related to the banking segment. During 2022, the provision for credit losses was driven by a deteriorating U.S. economic outlook since December 31, 2021. During 2021, the reversal of credit losses was primarily impacted by the banking segment’s reduction in reserves associated with collectively evaluated loans within the portfolio attributable to improvements in both macroeconomic forecast assumptions and credit quality metrics on COVID-19 impacted industry sector exposures primarily related to the economic uncertainties during the prior year. Refer to the discussion in the “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” section that follows for more details regarding the significant assumptions and estimates involved in estimating credit losses.

Noninterest income from continuing operations decreased during 2022, compared with 2021, primarily due to decreases in total mortgage loan sales volume and average loan sales margin within our mortgage origination segment, and net declines in investment advisory fees and trading gains primarily within the broker-dealer segment’s public finance services and structured finance business lines. The decrease in noninterest income from continuing operations during 2021, compared with 2020, was primarily due to changes in net fair value and related derivative activity and a decrease in average loan sales margin, partially offset by a slight increase in total mortgage loan sales volume within our mortgage origination segment, as well as decreases in structured finance and fixed income services net revenues within our broker-dealer segment.

Noninterest expense from continuing operations decreased during 2022, compared with 2021, primarily due to decreases in both variable and non-variable compensation within our mortgage origination segment associated with the decreased mortgage loan originations, and a decline in variable compensation within our broker-dealer segment, partially offset by increases within our banking segment. We have experienced an increase in certain noninterest expenses during 2022, including compensation, occupancy, and software costs, due to inflationary pressures. We expect such inflationary headwinds to continue and result in higher fixed costs into 2023. The decrease in noninterest expense from continuing operations during 2021, compared with 2020, was primarily due to decreases in both variable and non-variable compensation within our mortgage origination segment associated with the decreased mortgage loan originations, and a decline in variable compensation within our broker-dealer segment.

Effective income tax rates from continuing operations were 23.6%, 23.4% and 23.6% for 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and approximated statutory rates including the effect of investments in tax-exempt instruments, offset by nondeductible expenses.

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Segment Results from Continuing Operations

Banking Segment

The following table presents certain information about the operating results of our banking segment (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2022202120202022 vs 20212021 vs 2020
Net interest income$413,603$406,524$390,871$7,079$15,653
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses8,250(58,175)96,32666,425(154,501)
Noninterest income49,30745,11341,3764,1943,737
Noninterest expense235,190226,915232,4478,275(5,532)
Income before income taxes$219,470$282,897$103,474$(63,427)$179,423

The decrease in income before income taxes during 2022, compared with 2021, was primarily due to the impact of reversals of credit losses throughout 2021 and the combined impact of net interest income volume and rate changes within the loans held for investment and mortgage warehouse lending portfolios. Changes to net interest income related to the component changes in the volume of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in the rates earned or paid on those items are discussed in more detail below.

The information shown in the table below includes certain key indicators of the performance and asset quality of our banking segment.

Year Ended December 31,
202220212020
Efficiency ratio (1)50.81%50.25%53.78%
Return on average assets (2)1.19%1.55%0.63%
Net interest margin (3)3.11%3.07%3.31%
Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans outstanding (4)(0.06)%0.01%(0.30)%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Efficiency ratio is defined as noninterest expenses divided by the sum of total noninterest income and net interest income for the period. We consider the efficiency ratio to be a measure of the banking segment’s profitability.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Return on average assets is defined as net income divided by average assets.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Net interest margin is defined as net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. We consider net interest margin as a key indicator of profitability, as it represents interest earned on interest-earning assets compared to interest incurred.
Column 1Column 2
(4)Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans outstanding is defined as the greater of recoveries or charge-offs during the reported period minus charge-offs or recoveries divided by average loans outstanding. We use the ratio to measure the credit performance of our loan portfolio.

The banking segment presents net interest margin and net interest income in the following discussion and table below, on a taxable equivalent basis. Net interest margin (taxable equivalent), a non-GAAP measure, is defined as taxable equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. Taxable equivalent adjustments are based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rates of 21% for all periods presented. The interest income earned on certain earning assets is completely or partially exempt from federal income tax. As such, these tax-exempt instruments typically yield lower returns than taxable investments. To provide more meaningful comparisons of net interest margins for all earning assets, we use net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis in calculating net interest margin by increasing the interest income earned on tax-exempt assets to make it fully equivalent to interest income earned on taxable investments.

During 2022, 2021 and 2020, purchase accounting contributed 9, 16 and 18 basis points, respectively, to the banking segment’s taxable equivalent net interest margin of 3.11%, 3.08% and 3.31%, respectively. These purchase accounting items are primarily related to accretion of discount of loans associated with the Bank Transactions as discussed in the Consolidated Operating Results section.

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The table below provides additional details regarding our banking segment’s net interest income (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202220212020
AverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualized
OutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield or
Balanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRate
Assets
Interest-earning assets
Loans held for investment, gross (1)$7,371,397$339,3564.60%$7,069,485$323,1364.57%$7,152,783$341,3834.77%
Subsidiary warehouse lines of credit1,128,57658,1535.08%2,124,70080,7613.75%2,073,08779,4883.83%
Investment securities - taxable2,377,48345,2821.90%2,026,18929,2151.44%1,377,57827,6512.01%
Investment securities - non-taxable (2)109,9113,8713.52%114,1183,9053.42%111,4713,7893.40%
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell118,6862,1901.87%30,395890.30%46010.18%
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions2,174,52931,7051.46%1,837,1962,4590.13%1,038,6471,8880.18%
Other36,8433,87610.52%36,8134601.25%42,9773770.88%
Interest-earning assets, gross (2)13,317,425484,4333.64%13,238,896440,0253.32%11,797,003454,5773.85%
Allowance for credit losses(92,377)(129,303)(121,770)
Interest-earning assets, net13,225,04813,109,59311,675,233
Noninterest-earning assets919,618966,296967,690
Total assets$14,144,666$14,075,889$12,642,923
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing deposits$7,379,265$63,1480.86%$7,578,963$30,9880.41%$7,306,143$60,2970.83%
Notes payable and other borrowings311,7356,8642.20%142,7051,5861.11%205,4482,6421.29%
Total interest-bearing liabilities7,691,00070,0120.91%7,721,66832,5740.42%7,511,59162,9390.84%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
Noninterest-bearing deposits4,695,2654,512,2273,412,212
Other liabilities145,272155,979128,795
Total liabilities12,531,53712,389,87411,052,598
Stockholders’ equity1,613,1291,686,0151,590,325
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$14,144,666$14,075,889$12,642,923
Net interest income (2)$414,421$407,451$391,638
Net interest spread (2)2.73%2.90%3.01%
Net interest margin (2)3.11%3.08%3.31%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Average balance includes non-accrual loans.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Presented on a taxable equivalent basis with taxable equivalent adjustments based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rates of 21% for all periods presented. The adjustment to interest income was $0.8 million, $0.8 million and $0.8 million during 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The banking segment’s net interest margin exceeds our consolidated net interest margin. Our consolidated net interest margin includes certain items that are not reflected in the calculation of our net interest margin within our banking segment and reduce our consolidated net interest margin, such as the borrowing costs of Hilltop and the yields and costs associated with certain items within interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, such as securities borrowed in the broker-dealer segment and securities loaned in the broker-dealer segment, including items related to securities financing operations that particularly decrease net interest margin. In addition, yields and costs on certain interest-earning assets, such as lines of credit extended to other operating segments by the banking segment, are eliminated from the consolidated financial statements. The banking segment’s net interest margins during 2021 and 2020 were negatively impacted by certain actions taken by management during 2020 to strengthen the Bank’s available liquidity position. Such actions, including increasing overall cash balances by raising brokered money market and brokered time deposits were taken out of an abundance of caution in light of the extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets beginning in March 2020 resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and its negative impact on the economy.

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The following table summarizes the changes in the banking segment’s net interest income for the periods indicated below, including the component changes in the volume of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in the rates earned or paid on those items (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
2022 vs. 20212021 vs. 2020
Change Due To (1)Change Due To (1)
VolumeYield/RateChangeVolumeYield/RateChange
Interest income
Loans held for investment, gross (2)$13,797$2,423$16,220$(3,973)$(14,274)$(18,247)
Subsidiary warehouse lines of credit (3)(37,355)14,747(22,608)1,979(706)1,273
Investment securities - taxable5,05911,00816,06713,019(11,455)1,564
Investment securities - non-taxable (4)(144)110(34)9026116
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell2651,8362,101553388
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions43928,80729,2461,451(880)571
Other3,4163,416(54)13783
Total interest income (4)(17,939)62,34744,40812,567(27,119)(14,552)
Interest expense
Deposits$(819)$32,979$32,160$2,252$(31,561)$(29,309)
Notes payable and other borrowings1,8763,4025,278(807)(249)(1,056)
Total interest expense1,05736,38137,4381,445(31,810)(30,365)
Net interest income (4)$(18,996)$25,966$6,970$11,122$4,691$15,813
Column 1Column 2
(1)Changes attributable to both volume and yield/rate are included in yield/rate column.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Changes in the yields earned on loans held for investment, gross included a decline during 2022, compared with 2021, of $16.6 million, compared with an increase of $11.5 million during 2021, compared with 2020, in PPP loan-related fee income, while changes in accretion of discount on loans during 2022, compared with 2021, included a decline of $8.3 million. The change in accretion of discount on loans during 2021, compared with 2020, was de minimis. Accretion of discount on loans is expected to decrease in future periods as loans acquired in the Bank Transaction are repaid, refinanced or renewed.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Subsidiary warehouse lines of credit extended to PrimeLending are eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.
Column 1Column 2
(4)Annualized taxable equivalent.

With regard to net interest income, as of December 31, 2022, the banking segment maintained an asset sensitive rate risk position, meaning the amount of its interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within a given period exceeds the amount of its interest-bearing liabilities also maturing or repricing within that time period. During a period of rising interest rates, being asset sensitive tends to result in an increase in net interest income, but during a period of declining interest rates, tends to result in a decrease in net interest income.

Our portfolio includes loans that periodically reprice or mature prior to the end of an amortized term. The extent and timing of this impact on interest income will ultimately be driven by the timing, magnitude and frequency of interest rate and yield curve movements, as well as changes in market conditions and timing of management strategies. At December 31, 2022, approximately $734 million of our floating rate loans held for investment remained at or below their applicable rate floor, exclusive of our mortgage warehouse lending program, of which approximately 80% are not scheduled to reprice for more than one year based upon agreed-upon terms. If interest rates rise further, yields on the portion of our loan portfolio that remain at applicable rate floors would rise more slowly than increases in market interest rates, unless such loans are refinanced or repaid. Competition for loan growth could also continue to put pressure on new loan origination rates. If interest rates were to fall, the impact on our interest income for certain variable-rate loans would be limited by these rate floors.

Additionally, within our banking segment, the composition of the deposit base and ultimate cost of funds on deposits and net interest income are affected by the level of market interest rates, the interest rates and products offered by competitors, the volatility of equity markets and other factors. Deposit products and pricing structures relative to the market are regularly evaluated to maintain competitiveness over time. During a period of rising interest rates, the cost of

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funds on deposits, and therefore, interest expense, tends to increase. Currently, given the ongoing competition for liquidity by some participants in our markets, we expect that the Bank’s interest expense related to certain deposits will continue to increase during 2023 as customers seek higher yields on deposits.

To help mitigate net interest income spread compression between our assets and liabilities as the Federal Reserve increases interest rates, management continues to execute certain derivative trades, as either cash flow hedges or fair value hedges, that benefit the banking segment as interest rates rise. Any changes in interest rates across the term structure will continue to impact net interest income and net interest margin. The impact of rate movements will change with the shape of the yield curve, including any changes in steepness or flatness and inversions at any points on the yield curve.

During 2022, 2021 and 2020, the banking segment retained approximately $532 million, $778 million and $193 million, respectively, in mortgage loans originated by the mortgage origination segment. These loans are purchased by the banking segment at par. For origination services provided, the banking segment reimburses the mortgage origination segment for direct origination costs associated with these mortgage loans, in addition to payment of a correspondent fee. The correspondent fees are eliminated in consolidation. The determination of mortgage loan retention levels by the banking segment will be impacted by, among other things, an ongoing review of the prevailing mortgage rates, balance sheet positioning at Hilltop and the banking segment’s outlook for commercial loan growth.

The banking segment’s provision for (reversal of) credit losses has been subject to significant year-over-year and quarterly changes primarily attributable to the effects of the changing economic outlook, macroeconomic forecast assumptions and resulting impact on reserves. Specifically, during 2022, the banking segment’s provision for credit losses was driven by a deteriorating U.S. economic outlook since December 31, 2021. The change in the allowance during 2022 was also impacted by net charge-offs of $4.2 million. During 2021, the banking segment had net reversals of credit losses on expected losses of collectively evaluated loans of $58.3 million, primarily due to improvements in both macroeconomic forecast assumptions and credit quality metrics on COVID-19 impacted industry sector exposures. The change in the allowance during 2021 was also impacted by net recoveries of $0.5 million. During 2020, the significant build in the allowance included provision for credit losses on individually evaluated loans of $20.1 million, while the provision for credit losses on expected losses of collectively evaluated loans accounted for $76.1 million of the total provision primarily due to the increase in the expected lifetime credit losses under CECL attributable to the deteriorating economic outlook associated with the impact of the market disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The change in the allowance during 2020 was also impacted by net charge-offs of $21.1 million, primarily associated with loans specifically reserved for during the first quarter of 2020. The changes in the allowance for credit losses during the noted periods also reflected other factors including, but not limited to, loan growth, loan mix, and changes in risk grades. Refer to the discussion in the “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” section that follows for more details regarding the significant assumptions and estimates involved in estimating credit losses.

The banking segment’s noninterest income increased during 2022, compared to 2021, primarily due to increased wealth management fees. Noninterest income during 2021, compared to 2020, increased primarily due to increased service charges on depositor accounts and wealth management fees.

The banking segment’s noninterest expenses increased during 2022, compared to 2021, primarily due to increases in expenses associated with employees’ compensation and benefits and professional fees. The noninterest expenses decreased during 2021, compared to 2020, primarily due to the decrease in the allowance for unfunded commitments attributable to year-over-year improvements in loan expected loss rates as well as reductions in legal and other real estate owned (“OREO”) expenses, partially offset by increases in FDIC assessment and software related expense.

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Broker-Dealer Segment

The following table provides additional details regarding our broker-dealer segment operating results (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2022202120202022 vs 20212021 vs 2020
Net interest income:
Wealth management:
Securities lending$5,844$10,693$8,544$(4,849)$2,149
Clearing services7,5987,3146,916284398
Structured finance6,6802,8575,4303,823(2,573)
Fixed income services19,09619,24912,173(153)7,076
Other12,3793,1836,8499,196(3,666)
Total net interest income51,59743,29639,9128,3013,384
Noninterest income:
Securities commissions and fees by business line (1):
Fixed income services32,89347,84449,573(14,951)(1,729)
Wealth management:
Retail76,21373,14969,7183,0643,431
Clearing services28,74922,47830,0186,271(7,540)
Structured finance11,2163,2751,8247,9411,451
Other3,6844,0164,761(332)(745)
152,755150,762155,8941,993(5,132)
Investment and securities advisory fees and commissions by business line:
Public finance services86,573108,37296,186(21,799)12,186
Fixed income services7,1438,4426,395(1,299)2,047
Wealth management:
Retail30,74431,45324,023(709)7,430
Clearing services1,7411,9451,649(204)296
Structured finance8631,8502,732(987)(882)
Other335381342(46)39
127,399152,443131,327(25,044)21,116
Other:
Structured finance47,19277,424157,465(30,232)(80,041)
Fixed income services13,698(2,197)45,36515,895(47,562)
Other8992,6931,304(1,794)1,389
61,78977,920204,134(16,131)(126,214)
Total noninterest income341,943381,125491,355(39,182)(110,230)
Net revenue (2)393,540424,421531,267(30,881)(106,846)
Noninterest expense:
Variable compensation (3)138,705161,264205,464(22,559)(44,200)
Non-variable compensation and benefits112,440114,912106,932(2,472)7,980
Segment operating costs (4)104,627104,584103,232431,352
Total noninterest expense355,772380,760415,628(24,988)(34,868)
Income before income taxes$37,768$43,661$115,639$(5,893)$(71,978)
Column 1Column 2
(1)Securities commissions and fees includes income of $13.6 million, $6.9 million, and $13.2 million during 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively, that is eliminated in consolidation.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Net revenue is defined as the sum of total net interest income and total noninterest income. We consider net revenue to be a key performance measure in the

evaluation of the broker-dealer segment’s financial position and operating performance as we believe it is a primary revenue performance measure used by investors and analysts. Net revenue provides for some level of comparability of trends across the financial services industry as it reflects both noninterest income, including

investment and securities advisory fees and commissions, as well as net interest income. Internally, we assess the broker-dealer segment’s performance on a revenue

basis for comparability with our banking segment.

Column 1Column 2
(3)Variable compensation represents performance-based commissions and incentives.
Column 1Column 2
(4)Segment operating costs include provision for credit losses associated with the broker-dealer segment within other noninterest expenses.

During 2022, the change in net revenue and income before income taxes was primarily related to the combined impacts of the rising interest rate environment and market turbulence, which impacted period-over-period customer demand and volumes within our various business lines. Specifically, the broker-dealer segment’s structured finance business line experienced a decline in year-over-year net revenues due to lower production volumes and continued rate volatility. The decrease in net revenues in the broker-dealer segment’s public finance business line was due to the unfavorable issuance trends both nationally and in Texas in 2022, compared to 2021. The wealth management business line’s net revenue increased in 2022, compared to 2021, as customer balance revenues increased despite weaker retail division production due to higher rates and an overall decline in the equity markets. The decrease in the fixed income services business line’s net revenues primarily resulted from declines within the taxable fixed income division as a result of lower customer demand and a less favorable trading environment given higher interest rates.

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In addition, the revenue declines previously noted during 2022, compared to 2021, within our public finance and structured finance business lines and commission revenue declines within our wealth management business line were the primary drivers of the significant decrease in variable compensation.

The broker-dealer segment is subject to interest rate risk as a consequence of maintaining inventory positions, trading in interest rate sensitive financial instruments and maintaining a matched stock loan book. Changes in interest rates are likely to have a meaningful impact on our overall financial performance. Our broker-dealer segment has historically earned a significant portion of its revenues from advisory fees upon the successful completion of client transactions, which could be adversely impacted by interest rate volatility. Rapid or significant changes in interest rates could adversely affect the broker-dealer segment’s bond trading, sales, underwriting activities and other interest spread-sensitive activities described below. The broker-dealer segment also receives administrative fees for providing money market and FDIC investment alternatives to clients, which tend to be sensitive to short term interest rates. In addition, the profitability of the broker-dealer segment depends, to an extent, on the spread between revenues earned on customer loans and excess customer cash balances, and the interest expense paid on customer cash balances, as well as the interest revenue earned on trading securities, net of financing costs. The broker-dealer segment is also exposed to interest rate risk through its structured finance business line, which is dependent on mortgage loan production that tends to be adversely impacted by increasing interest rates and may result in valuation-related adjustments.

As noted under the section titled “Asset Valuation” earlier in this Item 7, the broker-dealer segment has experienced lower-than-forecasted operating results during 2022 given trends related to the combination of rapid or significant changes in interest rates, the sharp decline in mortgage loan origination volumes, customer sensitivity to interest rates and resulting demand for certain products. Such trends have resulted in a challenging environment associated with the broker-dealer segment’s short- and long-term financial condition and operating results. In the event future operating performance remains challenged and below our forecasted projections, there are negative changes to long-term growth rates or discount rates increase, the fair value of the broker-dealer segment reporting unit may decline and we may be required to record a goodwill impairment charge. These conditions will continue to be considered during future impairment evaluations of reporting unit goodwill.

In the broker-dealer segment, interest is earned from securities lending activities, interest charged on customer margin loan balances and interest earned on investment securities used to support sales, underwriting and other customer activities. The improvement in net interest income during 2022, compared to 2021, was primarily due to the increases in net interest income from our structured finance business line and other divisions within our public finance and wealth management business lines, partially offset by the decline in net interest income within the securities lending division of our wealth management business line. With the 37-basis point decrease in the weighted average interest rate spread during 2022, net interest earned within the broker-dealer segment’s stock lending business decreased $4.8 million during 2022, compared to 2021. The increase in net interest income during 2021, compared to 2020, was primarily due to increases in net interest income from our fixed income business line and securities lending division of our wealth management business line partially offset by intercompany interest expense.

Noninterest income decreased during 2022, compared to 2021, primarily due to declines in investment banking and advisory fees as well as other noninterest income. Noninterest income decreased during 2021, compared to 2020, primarily due to decreases in other noninterest income and securities commissions and fees, partially offset by the increase in investment banking and advisory fees.

Securities commissions and fees increased during 2022, compared to 2021, primarily due to an increase in money market and FDIC sweep revenues and commission and fees earned on commodities sales transactions, partially offset by a decrease in customer demand for fixed income services as previously discussed. As money market and FDIC sweep revenues are closely correlated to short-term interest rates, any additional increases in short-term interest rates may cause these revenues to rise. In addition, securities commissions and fees during 2022, compared to 2021, were impacted by decreases in commissions earned in insurance product sales transactions, commissions earned on fixed income products, and net clearing revenues due to the decrease in clearing fees. Securities commissions and fees decreased during 2021, compared to 2020, primarily due to a decrease in commissions earned in our wealth management line of business given a $10.6 million decline in our money market and FDIC sweep revenues as a result of the lower interest rate environment and decreases in commissions earned from our wind-down of the equity capital markets division. These decreases were

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partially offset by increases in commissions earned on mutual fund, insurance product and commodities contract sales transactions.

Investment and securities advisory fees and commissions decreased during 2022, compared to 2021, primarily due to decreases in fees earned from our municipal advisory and underwriting transactions. Public finance national issuance volume declined approximately 21% during 2022 compared to 2021. Investment and securities advisory fees and commissions increased during 2021, compared with 2020, primarily due to increases in fees earned from our public finance municipal transactions and from improved wealth management advisory services fees.

The decreases in other noninterest income during 2022, compared to 2021, were primarily due to decreases in trading gains earned from our structured finance business line’s derivative activities, given decreased volumes and interest rate volatility as previously discussed. Specifically, the decreased volumes were due to lower mortgage originations, with loan lock volumes totaling $3.8 billion in 2022, a 46% decline when compared with 2021. The decrease in other noninterest income during 2022, compared with the same period in 2021, also reflected a decline within our broker-dealer segment’s deferred compensation plan of $2.8 million. With the expected rise in interest rates continuing into 2023, we anticipate continued volatility and generally lower levels of other noninterest income related to our structured finance and fixed income services business lines. Other noninterest income decreased during 2021, compared to 2020, primarily due to decreases in trading gains earned from our structured finance business line’s derivative activities resulting from decreased volumes and interest rate volatility. The year-over-year decrease in other noninterest income was heightened by decreases within our fixed income services business line within our taxable and municipal securities trading portfolios.

The declines in noninterest expenses during 2022, compared to 2021, were primarily due to the impact of changes in variable compensation as previously discussed. Noninterest expenses decreased during 2021, compared to 2020, primarily due to decreases in variable compensation, partially offset by increased non-variable compensation and benefits and expenses associated with the deployment of the new back-office and accounting systems.

Selected information concerning the broker-dealer segment, including key performance indicators, follows (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202220212020
Total compensation as a % of net revenue (1)63.8%65.1%58.8%
Pre-tax margin (2)9.6%10.3%21.8%
FDIC insured program balances at the Bank (end of year)$1,122,091$803,941$700,006
Other FDIC insured program balances (end of year)$695,873$1,503,277$1,892,974
Customer funds on deposit, including short credits (end of year)$278,670$499,476$480,200
Public finance services:
Number of issues (3)8941,1431,252
Aggregate amount of offerings (3)$38,952,431$59,929,698$57,105,263
Structured finance:
Lock production/TBA volume$3,763,743$7,007,564$9,075,232
Fixed income services:
Total volumes$219,791,737$244,643,358$169,559,201
Net inventory (end of year)$701,923$551,289$613,413
Wealth management (Retail and Clearing services groups):
Retail employee representatives (end of year) (3)99106118
Independent registered representatives (end of year)163177189
Correspondents (end of year)111122129
Correspondent receivables (end of year)$156,859$306,064$180,173
Customer margin balances (end of year)$274,339$426,584$256,682
Wealth management (Securities lending group):
Interest-earning assets - stock borrowed (end of year)$1,012,573$1,518,372$1,338,855
Interest-bearing liabilities - stock loaned (end of year)$916,570$1,432,196$1,245,066
Column 1Column 2
(1)Total compensation includes the sum of non-variable compensation and benefits and variable compensation. We consider total compensation as a percentage of net revenue to be a key performance measure and indicator of segment profitability.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Pre-tax margin is defined as income before income taxes divided by net revenue. We consider pre-tax margin to be a key performance measure given its use as a profitability metric representing the percentage of net revenue earned that results in a profit.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Noted balances during all prior periods include certain reclassifications to conform to current period presentation.

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Mortgage Origination Segment

The following table presents certain information regarding the operating results of our mortgage origination segment (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2022202120202022 vs 20212021 vs 2020
Net interest income (expense)$(10,529)$(20,400)$(10,489)$9,871$(9,911)
Noninterest income452,915986,9901,172,450(534,075)(185,460)
Noninterest expense478,904731,056753,917(252,152)(22,861)
Income (loss) before income taxes$(36,518)$235,534$408,044$(272,052)$(172,510)

The mortgage lending business is subject to variables that can impact loan origination volume, including seasonal transaction volumes and interest rate fluctuations. Historically, the mortgage origination segment has experienced increased loan origination volume from purchases of homes during the spring and summer months, when more people tend to move and buy or sell homes. An increase in mortgage interest rates tends to result in decreased loan origination volume from refinancings, while a decrease in mortgage interest rates tends to result in increased loan origination volume from refinancings. While changes in mortgage interest rates have historically had a lesser impact on home purchases volume than on refinancing volume, increases in mortgage interest rates during 2022 have also negatively impacted home purchase volume. See details regarding loan origination volume in the table below.

Recent trends, as well as typical historical patterns in loan origination volume from purchases of homes or from refinancings because of movements in mortgage interest rates, may not be indicative of future loan origination volumes. During 2022, certain events adversely impacted origination volumes because of their effect on the economy, including inflation and rising interest rates, the negative residual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve’s actions and communications, and geopolitical threats. These events have also adversely impacted the willingness and ability of the mortgage origination segment’s customers to conduct mortgage transactions. Specifically, current home inventory shortages and affordability challenges, in addition to supply chain problems, are impacting customers’ abilities to purchase homes. The increase in interest rates during 2022, which has led to a sharp reduction in national refinancing volume and the reduction of willing and eligible home buyers, has resulted in competitive mortgage pricing pressure, leading to a decline in average loans sales margin. In addition to decreased loan volumes, the negative trend in sales margin has contributed to a decrease in combined net gains from mortgage loan sales and mortgage loan origination fees. Currently, we anticipate that lower seasonal transaction volumes and the continuation of the mortgage loan production and operating results trends experienced by the mortgage origination segment during 2022 will continue into 2023. Given these expectations, the mortgage origination segment continues to evaluate its cost structure to address the current mortgage environment.

We believe that current initiatives are critical to improving the mortgage origination segment’s short- and long-term financial condition and operating results. As noted under the section titled “Asset Valuation” earlier in this Item 7, the mortgage origination segment has experienced lower-than-forecasted operating results during 2022, due to conditions discussed in detail within this discussion of segment results. In the event future operating performance remains challenged and below our forecasted projections, there are negative changes to long-term growth rates or discount rates increase, the fair value of the mortgage origination reporting unit may decline and we may be required to record a goodwill impairment charge. These conditions will continue to be considered during future impairment evaluations of reporting unit goodwill.

Income before income taxes decreased significantly in 2022, compared with 2021. This decrease was primarily the result of a decrease in interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”) related to a decrease in mortgage loan applications, in addition to a decrease in the average value of individual IRLCs. The impact of these trends was partially offset by an increase in average mortgage loan origination fees and a decrease in noninterest expense as discussed in more detail below.

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Since March 2020, the CARES Act has provided borrowers the ability to request forbearance of residential mortgage loan payments. A significant increase in nationwide forbearance requests that began at that time resulted in the reduction of third-party mortgage servicers willing to purchase mortgage servicing rights, which resulted in the mortgage origination segment beginning to reduce the amount of servicing it retained as the willingness of third-party mortgage servicers to purchase mortgage servicing rights improved. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2020, the mortgage origination segment was able to reduce the amount of servicing it retained compared to the retention rates in the second and third quarters of 2020, as the willingness of third-party mortgage servicers to purchase mortgage servicing rights has improved. Since the first quarter of 2021, the mortgage origination segment’s quarterly retention rates ranged between 11% and 50%. The mortgage origination segment utilizes a third-party to manage its servicing portfolio. Therefore, barring third-party servicers increasing their pricing, we do not expect significant fluctuations in infrastructure costs to manage changes in the mortgage origination segment’s servicing portfolio if we experience a significant increase in the amount of retained servicing.

During 2022, the U.S. 10-Year Treasury Rate and mortgage interest rates significantly increased. This compares to declines in these rates during 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, followed in 2021 by an increase in mortgage interest rates that remained lower on average during 2021, compared to 2020. Average interest rates during 2022 exceeded average interest rates during 2021, and refinancing volume as a percentage of total origination volume decreased during 2022, as compared to 2021. Refinancing volume as a percentage of total origination volume during 2022 decreased to 14.5% from 36.3% during 2021. During the second half of 2022, refinancing volume as a percentage of total origination volume was 7.0%. Although we anticipate the percentage of refinancing volume relative to total loan origination volume during 2023 to approximate the percentage experienced during the second half of 2022, a higher refinance percentage could be driven by a slowing of purchase volume due to the negative impact on new and existing home sales resulting from existing home inventory shortages, affordability challenges, and supply chain problems related to new home construction, and/or an increase in all-cash buyers.

The mortgage origination segment primarily originates its mortgage loans through a retail channel, with limited lending through its affiliated business arrangements (“ABAs”). For 2022, funded volume through ABAs was approximately 10% of the mortgage origination segment’s total loan volume. During the majority of 2022, PrimeLending owned a greater than 50% interest in five ABAs. During the fourth quarter of 2022, interest in one of the five ABAs was dissolved. We expect total production within the ABA channel to again approximate 10% of loan volume of the mortgage origination segment during 2023.

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The following table provides further details regarding our mortgage loan originations and sales for the periods indicated below (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202220212020
% of% of% ofVariance
AmountTotalAmountTotalAmountTotal2022 vs 20212021 vs 2020
Mortgage Loan Originations - units41,12177,26384,209(36,142)(6,946)
Mortgage Loan Originations - volume:
Conventional$8,276,43465.37%$15,787,94269.65%$16,519,49871.92%$(7,511,508)$(731,556)
Government2,572,25720.32%3,387,27014.94%4,473,76319.48%(815,013)(1,086,493)
Jumbo1,052,5088.31%2,511,44211.08%1,219,4925.31%(1,458,934)1,291,950
Other758,9576.00%981,6294.33%757,4413.29%(222,672)224,188
$12,660,156100.00%$22,668,283100.00%$22,970,194100.00%$(10,008,127)$(301,911)
Home purchases$10,823,00285.49%$14,429,19063.65%$13,413,54558.40%$(3,606,188)$1,015,645
Refinancings1,837,15414.51%8,239,09336.35%9,556,64941.60%(6,401,939)(1,317,556)
$12,660,156100.00%$22,668,283100.00%$22,970,194100.00%$(10,008,127)$(301,911)
Texas$2,910,75422.99%$4,224,69118.64%$4,280,83118.64%$(1,313,937)$(56,140)
California1,077,9068.51%2,692,19811.88%2,497,06610.87%(1,614,292)195,132
Florida613,8964.85%1,013,2064.47%1,403,1966.11%(399,310)(389,990)
South Carolina569,2064.50%950,0284.19%929,7104.05%(380,822)20,318
Arizona562,5904.44%1,045,2184.61%1,045,2984.55%(482,628)(80)
New York546,0434.31%705,6013.11%641,3872.79%(159,558)64,214
Ohio529,9394.19%868,3783.83%869,3933.78%(338,439)(1,015)
Missouri398,8263.15%742,2203.27%777,3893.38%(343,394)(35,169)
North Carolina391,2243.09%740,1693.27%719,9363.13%(348,945)20,233
Washington333,1912.63%703,2393.10%736,1353.20%(370,048)(32,896)
All other states4,726,58137.34%8,983,33539.63%9,069,85339.50%(4,256,754)(86,518)
$12,660,156100.00%$22,668,283100.00%$22,970,194100.00%$(10,008,127)$(301,911)
Mortgage Loan Sales - volume:
Third parties$12,668,25295.97%$22,280,87296.62%$22,321,59999.14%$(9,612,620)$(40,727)
Banking segment532,2194.03%778,2883.38%192,5710.86%(246,069)585,717
$13,200,471100.00%$23,059,160100.00%$22,514,170100.00%$(9,858,689)$544,990

We consider the mortgage origination segment’s total loan origination volume to be a key performance measure. Loan origination volume is central to the segment’s ability to generate income by originating and selling mortgage loans, resulting in net gains from the sale of loans, other mortgage production income and other mortgage loan origination fees. Total loan origination volume is a measure utilized by management, our investors, and analysts in assessing market share and growth of the mortgage origination segment.

The mortgage origination segment’s total loan origination volume during 2022 decreased 44.2%, compared with 2021, while income before income taxes during 2022 decreased 115.5%, compared with 2021. The decrease in income before income taxes during 2022 was primarily due to decreases in net gains from sale of loans. Mortgage loan origination fees decreased slightly during 2022 compared with 2021, as average mortgage loan origination fees increased. The decrease in net gains from sale of loans was partially offset by decreases in variable compensation, and to a lesser extent, decreases in non-variable compensation and benefits expense, segment operating costs, and net interest expense. During 2021, the mortgage origination segment’s total loan origination volume decreased 1.3% compared with 2020, while income before income taxes during 2021 decreased 42.3%, compared with 2020. The decrease in income before income taxes during 2021 was primarily due to a decrease in the net fair value and related derivative activity of IRLCs. This decrease was primarily the result of a decrease in IRLCs related to a decrease in mortgage loan applications, in addition to a decrease in the average value of individual IRLCs. Also contributing to the decrease to a lesser extent was a decrease in net gain on sale of loans.

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The information shown in the table below includes certain key performance indicators for the mortgage origination segment.

Year Ended December 31,
202220212020
Net gains from mortgage loan sales (basis points):
Loans sold to third parties263375409
Impact of loans retained by banking segment(11)(13)(3)
As reported252362406
Variable compensation as a percentage of total compensation51.9%65.8%69.0%
Mortgage servicing rights asset ($000's) (end of year) (1)$100,825$86,990$143,742
Column 1Column 2
(1)Reported on a consolidated basis and therefore does not include mortgage servicing rights assets related to loans serviced for the banking segment, which are eliminated in consolidation.

Net interest expense was comprised of interest income earned on loans held for sale offset by interest incurred on warehouse lines of credit primarily held with the Bank, and related intercompany financing costs. The changes in net interest expense during 2022, compared with 2021, included the effects of increased net yields on mortgage loans held for sale between the two periods, and during 2021, compared with 2020, included the effects of decreased net yields on mortgage loans held for sale between the two periods.

Noninterest income was comprised of the items set forth in the table below (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2022202120202022 vs 20212021 vs 2020
Net gains from sale of loans$332,732$834,580$913,474$(501,848)$(78,894)
Mortgage loan origination fees and other related income149,598160,011172,096(10,413)(12,085)
Other mortgage production income:
Change in net fair value and related derivative activity:
IRLCs and loans held for sale(69,668)(67,714)81,560(1,954)(149,274)
Mortgage servicing rights asset2,7332,446(30,119)28732,565
Servicing fees37,52057,66735,439(20,147)22,228
Total noninterest income$452,915$986,990$1,172,450$(534,075)$(185,460)

The decrease in net gains from sale of loans during 2022, compared to 2021, was primarily the result of decreases in total loan sales volume, in addition to a decrease in average loan sales margin. Since PrimeLending sells substantially all mortgage loans it originates to various investors in the secondary market, the decrease in loan sales volume during 2022 was consistent with the decrease in loan origination volume during the period. The decrease in average loan sales margins during 2022 was primarily attributable to competitive pricing pressure resulting from home inventory shortages and a reduction in national refinancing volume.

The decrease in mortgage loan origination fees during 2022, compared to 2021, was primarily the result of a decrease in loan origination volume, partially offset by an increase in average mortgage loan origination fees. Fluctuations in mortgage loan origination fees are not always aligned with fluctuations in loan origination volume since customers may opt to pay PrimeLending discount fees on their mortgage loans in exchange for a lower interest rate.

We consider the mortgage origination segment’s net gains from sale of loans margin, in basis points, to be a key performance measure. Net gains from sale of loans margin is defined as net gains from sale of loans divided by loan sales volume. The net gains from sale of loans is central to the segment’s generation of income and may include loans sold to third parties and loans sold to and retained by the banking segment. For origination services provided, the mortgage origination segment was reimbursed direct origination costs associated with loans retained by the banking segment, in addition to payment of a correspondent fee. The reimbursed origination costs and correspondent fee are included in the mortgage origination segment operating results, and the correspondent fees are eliminated in consolidation. Loan volumes to be originated on behalf of and retained by the banking segment are evaluated each quarter. Loans sold to and retained by the banking segment during 2022, 2021 and 2020 were $532 million, $778 million and $193 million, respectively. Loan volumes to be originated on behalf of and retained by the banking segment are expected to be impacted by, among other things, an ongoing review of the prevailing mortgage rates, balance sheet positioning at Hilltop and the banking segment’s outlook for commercial loan growth.

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Noninterest income included changes in the net fair value of the mortgage origination segment’s IRLCs and loans held for sale and the related activity associated with forward commitments used by the mortgage origination segment to mitigate interest rate risk associated with its IRLCs and mortgage loans held for sale. The decrease in fair value of IRLCs and loans held for sale during 2022, compared to 2021, was the result of a decrease in the average value of individual IRLCs and loans held for sale and the total volume of individual IRLCs and loans held for sale.

The mortgage origination segment sells substantially all mortgage loans it originates to various investors in the secondary market. In addition, the mortgage origination segment originates loans on behalf of the Bank. The mortgage origination segment’s determination of whether to retain or release servicing on mortgage loans it sells is impacted by, among other things, changes in mortgage interest rates, and refinancing and market activity. During 2022, 2021 and 2020, the mortgage origination segment retained servicing on approximately 25%, 29% and 67% of loans sold, respectively. A reduction in third-party mortgage servicers purchasing mortgage servicing rights, while modest, may result in PrimeLending increasing the rate of retained servicing on mortgage loans sold during 2023. The mortgage origination segment may, from time to time, manage its MSR asset through different strategies, including varying the percentage of mortgage loans sold servicing released and opportunistically selling MSR assets. The mortgage origination segment has also retained servicing on certain loans sold to and retained by the banking segment. Gains and losses associated with such sales to the banking segment and the related MSR asset are eliminated in consolidation.

The mortgage origination segment uses derivative financial instruments, including U.S. Treasury bond futures and options, to mitigate interest rate risk associated with its MSR asset. Changes in the net fair value of the MSR asset and the related derivatives associated with normal customer payments, changes in discount rates, prepayment speed assumptions and customer payoffs resulted in net gains (losses) as noted in the table above. During 2022, the operating results of the mortgage origination segment were positively impacted by the noted increase of $21.9 million in the net fair value of the MSR asset. This increase was primarily driven by changes in the prepayment and discount rates used as inputs to value the MSR asset to address the impact of increased mortgage rates reducing consumer refinancing activity and recent market trends related to MSR sales. During 2022, the mortgage origination segment sold MSR assets of approximately $65 million with a serviced loan volume totaling $3.7 billion. During 2021 and 2020, the mortgage origination segment sold MSR assets of approximately $143 million and $37 million, respectively, with a serviced loan volume totaling $12.4 billion and $3.8 billion, respectively.

Noninterest expenses were comprised of the items set forth in the table below (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2022202120202022 vs 20212021 vs 2020
Variable compensation$183,804$373,929$405,116$(190,125)$(31,187)
Non-variable compensation and benefits170,169194,292181,597(24,123)12,695
Segment operating costs92,631113,020125,104(20,389)(12,084)
Lender paid closing costs13,37120,45821,696(7,087)(1,238)
Servicing expense18,92929,35720,404(10,428)8,953
Total noninterest expense$478,904$731,056$753,917$(252,152)$(22,861)

Total employees’ compensation and benefits accounted for the majority of the noninterest expenses incurred during all periods presented. Specifically, variable compensation comprised the majority of total employees’ compensation and benefits expenses during 2022, 2021 and 2020. Variable compensation, which is primarily driven by loan origination volume, tends to fluctuate to a greater degree than loan origination volume, because mortgage loan originator and fulfillment staff incentive compensation plans are structured to pay at increasing rates as higher monthly volume tiers are achieved. However, certain other incentive compensation plans driven by non-mortgage production criteria may alter this trend.

While total loan origination volumes decreased 44.2% during 2022, compared to 2021, the aggregate non-variable compensation and benefits of the mortgage origination segment decreased by 12.4%. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in salaries associated with a reduction in underwriting and loan fulfillment, operations and corporate support staff in response to the decreases in loan origination volume that started in the fourth quarter of 2021, and continued through 2022. Severance costs, included in non-variable compensation above, incurred because of this initiative was

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$2.7 million during 2022. PrimeLending remains committed to evaluating its staffing levels and maintaining an appropriate cost structure to address the dynamic mortgage loan origination trends. Segment operating costs decreased during 2022, compared to 2021, primarily due to decreases in business development, professional fees, occupancy and loan-related costs. During 2021, compared to 2020, segment operating costs decreased primarily due to declines in loan related costs, software amortization expense and software license maintenance costs.

In exchange for a higher interest rate, customers may opt to have PrimeLending pay certain costs associated with the origination of their mortgage loan (“lender paid closing costs”). Fluctuations in lender paid closing costs are not always aligned with fluctuations in loan origination volume. Other loan pricing conditions, including the mortgage loan interest rate, loan origination fees paid by the customer, and a customer’s willingness to pay closing costs, may influence fluctuations in lender paid closing costs.

Between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2022, the mortgage origination segment sold mortgage loans totaling $152.1 billion. These loans were sold under sales contracts that generally include provisions that hold the mortgage origination segment responsible for errors or omissions relating to its representations and warranties that loans sold meet certain requirements, including representations as to underwriting standards and the validity of certain borrower representations in connection with the loan. In addition, the sales contracts typically require the refund of purchased servicing rights plus certain investor servicing costs if a loan experiences an early payment default. While the mortgage origination segment sold loans prior to 2013, it does not anticipate experiencing significant losses in the future on loans originated prior to 2013 because of investor claims under these provisions of its sales contracts.

When a claim for indemnification of a loan sold is made by an agency, investor, or other party, the mortgage origination segment evaluates the claim and determines if the claim can be satisfied through additional documentation or other deliverables. If the claim is valid and cannot be satisfied in that manner, the mortgage origination segment negotiates with the claimant to reach a settlement of the claim. Settlements typically result in either the repurchase of a loan or reimbursement to the claimant for losses incurred on the loan.

Following is a summary of the mortgage origination segment’s claims resolution activity relating to loans sold between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands).

Original Loan BalanceLoss Recognized
% of% of
AmountLoans SoldAmountLoans Sold
Claims resolved with no payment$231,6440.15%$-%
Claims resolved because of a loan repurchase or payment to an investor for losses incurred (1)262,9700.18%15,1890.01%
$494,6140.33%$15,1890.01%
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(1)Losses incurred include refunded purchased servicing rights.

For each loan the mortgage origination segment concludes its obligation to a claimant is both probable and reasonably estimable, the mortgage origination segment has established a specific claims indemnification liability reserve. An additional indemnification liability reserve has been established for probable agency, investor or other party losses that may have been incurred, but not yet reported to the mortgage origination segment based upon a reasonable estimate of such losses. In addition to other factors, the mortgage origination segment has considered that GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC have imposed certain restrictions on loans the agencies will accept under a forbearance agreement resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, which could increase the magnitude of indemnification losses on these loans.

At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the mortgage origination segment’s total indemnification liability reserve totaled $20.5 million and $27.4 million, respectively. The related provision for indemnification losses was $1.5 million, $10.0 million, and $11.2 million during 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

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Corporate

The following table presents certain financial information regarding the operating results of corporate (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2022202120202022 vs 20212021 vs 2020
Net interest income (expense)$(13,135)$(17,239)$(14,192)$4,104$(3,047)
Noninterest income7,5259,1333,945(1,608)5,188
Noninterest expense59,03050,50753,0408,523(2,533)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes$(64,640)$(58,613)$(63,287)$(6,027)$4,674

Corporate includes certain activities not allocated to specific business segments. These activities include holding company financing and investing activities, merchant banking investment opportunities and management and administrative services to support the overall operations of the Company. Hilltop’s merchant banking investment activities include the identification of attractive opportunities for capital deployment in companies engaged in non-financial activities through its merchant bank subsidiary, Hilltop Opportunity Partners LLC. These merchant banking activities currently include investments within various industries, including power generation, consumer services, industrial equipment manufacturing and animal health, with an aggregate carrying value of approximately $47 million at December 31, 2022.

As a holding company, Hilltop’s primary investment objectives are to support capital deployment for organic growth and to preserve capital to be deployed through acquisitions, dividend payments and potential stock repurchases. Investment and interest income earned during 2022 was primarily comprised of dividend income from merchant banking investment activities, in addition to interest income earned on intercompany notes.

Interest expense from continuing operations during 2022, 2021 and 2020 included recurring annual interest expense of $7.7 million incurred on our $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5% senior notes due 2025 (“Senior Notes”). During 2022, 2021 and 2020, we incurred interest expense of $12.3 million, $12.3 million and $7.9 million, respectively, on our $200 million aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Notes (defined hereafter), which were issued in May 2020. Additionally, we incurred interest expense of $1.6 million and $2.8 million during 2021 and 2020, respectively, on junior subordinated debentures of $67.0 million issued by PCC (the “Debentures”). As discussed in more detail in the section titled “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Junior Subordinated Debentures” below, during the third quarter of 2021, PCC fully redeemed all outstanding Debentures.

Noninterest income from continuing operations during each period included activity related to our investment in a real estate development in Dallas’ University Park, which also serves as headquarters for both Hilltop and the Bank, and net noninterest income associated with activity within our merchant bank subsidiary. During 2021, noninterest income included an aggregate of $6.5 million in pre-tax gains associated with observable transactions related to two merchant bank equity investments.

Noninterest expenses from continuing operations were primarily comprised of employees’ compensation and benefits, occupancy expenses and professional fees, including corporate governance, legal and transaction costs. During 2022, compared with 2021, the increase in noninterest expenses was primarily due to inflationary increases associated with software and occupancy costs, as well as increases in professional fees. During 2021, compared with 2020, the decrease in noninterest expenses was primarily due to decreases in expenses associated with employees’ incentive compensation and professional fees.

Results from Discontinued Operations

Insurance Segment

As previously discussed, on June 30, 2020, we completed the sale of NLC. Accordingly, insurance segment results for 2020 have been presented as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements. Additional details are presented in Note 3, Discontinued Operations, in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. All activity associated with the insurance segment was recognized in 2020, therefore, there was no income from discontinued

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operations before taxes during 2022 and 2021, while income from discontinued operations before income taxes was $2.1 million during 2020.

Corporate

As a result of the previously noted sale of NLC on June 30, 2020 for cash proceeds of $154.1 million, during 2020, Hilltop recognized an aggregate pre-tax gain on sale within discontinued operations of corporate of $36.8 million, net of customary transaction costs of $5.1 million. The resulting book gain from this sale transaction was not recognized for tax purposes pursuant to the rules under the Internal Revenue Code.

Financial Condition

The following discussion contains a more detailed analysis of our financial condition at December 31, 2022 as compared to December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.

Securities Portfolio

At December 31, 2022, investment securities consisted of securities of the U.S. Treasury, U.S. government and its agencies, obligations of municipalities and other political subdivisions, primarily in the State of Texas, as well as mortgage-backed, corporate debt, and equity securities. We may categorize investments as trading, available for sale, held to maturity and equity securities.

Trading securities are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term and are carried at fair value, marked to market through operations and held at the Bank and the Hilltop Broker-Dealers. Securities classified as available for sale may, from time to time, be bought and sold in response to changes in market interest rates, changes in securities’ prepayment risk, increases in loan demand, general liquidity needs and to take advantage of market conditions that create more economically attractive returns. Such securities are carried at estimated fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Equity investments are carried at fair value, with all changes in fair value recognized in net income. Securities are classified as held to maturity based on the intent and ability of our management, at the time of purchase, to hold such securities to maturity. These securities are carried at amortized cost.

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The table below summarizes our securities portfolio from continuing operations (in thousands).

December 31,
202220212020
Trading securities, at fair value
U.S. Treasury securities$10,466$3,728$40,491
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds20,8783,41040
Residential mortgage-backed securities214,100152,093336,081
Commercial mortgage-backed securities876
Collateralized mortgage obligations182,717126,38969,172
Corporate debt securities42,68560,67162,481
States and political subdivisions260,271285,376171,573
Private-label securitized product9,26511,3778,571
Other14,6504,9544,970
755,032647,998694,255
Securities available for sale, at fair value
U.S. Treasury securities19,14414,862
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds202,25744,13382,806
Residential mortgage-backed securities406,358898,446641,611
Commercial mortgage-backed securities175,499210,699124,538
Collateralized mortgage obligations818,894916,866565,908
States and political subdivisions36,61445,56247,342
1,658,7662,130,5681,462,205
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost
U.S. government agencies:
Residential mortgage-backed securities301,5839,89213,547
Commercial mortgage-backed securities180,942145,742152,820
Collateralized mortgage obligations314,70543,99074,932
States and political subdivisions78,30268,06070,645
875,532267,684311,944
Equity securities, at fair value200250140
Total securities portfolio$3,289,530$3,046,500$2,468,544

We had net unrealized losses of $129.8 million and $18.1 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, compared with net unrealized gains of $26.3 million at December 31, 2020 related to the available for sale investment portfolio. Within the held to maturity portfolio, we had net unrealized losses of $90.2 million at December 31, 2022, compared with net unrealized gains of $8.6 million and $14.7 million at December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Equity securities included net unrealized gains of $0.1 million, $0.2 million and $0.1 million at December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The noted significant change in net unrealized gains (losses) within our available for sale investment portfolio from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022 was related to increases in market interest rates since purchase and the resulting decline in associated estimated fair values of such portfolio investments. In future periods, changes in prevailing market interest rates, coupled with changes in the aggregate size of the investment portfolio, are expected to be significant drivers to changes in the unrealized losses or gains in these portfolios.

We transferred certain agency-issued securities from the available-for-sale to held-to-maturity portfolio on March 31, 2022 having a book value of approximately $782 million and a market value of approximately $708 million. As of the date of transfer, the related pre-tax net unrecognized losses of approximately $74 million within the accumulated other comprehensive loss balance are being amortized over the remaining term of the securities using the effective interest method. This transfer was completed after careful consideration of our intent and ability to hold these securities to maturity. Factors used in assessing the ability to hold these securities to maturity were future liquidity needs and sources of funding.

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Banking Segment

The banking segment’s securities portfolio plays a role in the management of our interest rate sensitivity and generates additional interest income. In addition, the securities portfolio is used to meet collateral requirements for public and trust deposits, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other purposes. The available for sale and equity securities portfolios serve as a source of liquidity. Historically, the Bank’s policy has been to invest primarily in securities of the U.S. government and its agencies, obligations of municipalities in the State of Texas and other high grade fixed income securities to minimize credit risk. At December 31, 2022, the banking segment’s securities portfolio of $2.5 billion was comprised of trading securities of $0.1 million, available for sale securities of $1.7 billion, held to maturity securities of $876 million and equity securities of $0.2 million, in addition to $12.1 million of other investments included in other assets within the consolidated balance sheets.

Broker-Dealer Segment

The broker-dealer segment holds securities to support sales, underwriting and other customer activities. The interest rate risk inherent in holding these securities is managed by setting and monitoring limits on the size and duration of positions and on the length of time the securities can be held. The Hilltop Broker-Dealers are required to carry their securities at fair value and record changes in the fair value of the portfolio to the statements of operations. Accordingly, the securities portfolio of the Hilltop Broker-Dealers included trading securities of $754.9 million at December 31, 2022. In addition, the Hilltop Broker-Dealers enter into transactions that represent commitments to purchase and deliver securities at prevailing future market prices to facilitate customer transactions and satisfy such commitments. Accordingly, the Hilltop Broker-Dealers’ ultimate obligation may exceed the amount recognized in the financial statements. These securities, which are carried at fair value and reported as securities sold, not yet purchased in the consolidated balance sheets, had a value of $53.0 million at December 31, 2022.

Corporate

At December 31, 2022, the corporate portfolio included other investments, including those associated with merchant banking, of $39.8 million in other assets within the consolidated balance sheets.

Allowance for Credit Losses for Available for Sale Securities and Held to Maturity Securities

We have evaluated available for sale debt securities that are in an unrealized loss position and have determined that any declines in value are unrelated to credit loss and related to changes in market interest rates since purchase. None of the available for sale debt securities held were past due at December 31, 2022. In addition, as of December 31, 2022, we had evaluated our held to maturity debt securities, considering the current credit ratings and recognized losses, and determined the potential credit loss to be minimal. With respect to these securities, we considered the risk of credit loss to be negligible, and therefore, no allowance was recognized on the debt securities portfolio at December 31, 2022.

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The following table sets forth the estimated maturities of our debt securities, excluding trading securities, at December 31, 2022. Contractual maturities may be different (dollars in thousands, yields are tax-equivalent).

One YearOne Year toFive Years toGreater Than
Or LessFive YearsTen YearsTen YearsTotal
U.S. Treasury securities:
Amortized cost$14,676$4,979$19,655
Fair value$14,679$4,465$19,144
Weighted average yield (1)4.66%0.87%3.70%
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds:
Amortized cost$17,943$67,225$50,302$67,364$202,834
Fair value$17,719$67,030$50,132$67,376$202,257
Weighted average yield (1)2.64%4.94%4.69%4.80%4.63%
Residential mortgage-backed securities:
Amortized cost$2,142$85,671$668,891$756,704
Fair value$2,093$80,699$595,422$678,214
Weighted average yield (1)2.89%2.39%2.34%2.34%
Commercial mortgage-backed securities:
Amortized cost$99,660$239,335$25,213$364,208
Fair value$95,574$223,655$22,277$341,506
Weighted average yield (1)3.10%3.59%3.44%3.44%
Collateralized mortgage obligations:
Amortized cost$8$16,995$222,079$963,144$1,202,226
Fair value$8$16,580$215,039$863,629$1,095,256
Weighted average yield (1)2.29%3.58%3.95%2.98%3.16%
States and political subdivisions:
Amortized cost$1,695$9,622$37,353$69,792$118,462
Fair value$1,690$9,452$35,720$60,862$107,724
Weighted average yield (1)3.06%3.37%3.66%3.46%3.51%
Total securities portfolio:
Amortized cost$34,322$200,623$634,740$1,794,404$2,664,089
Fair value$34,096$195,194$605,245$1,609,566$2,444,101
Weighted average yield (1)3.52%3.71%3.65%2.83%3.10%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Weighted average yield is defined as interest earned by average interest-earning assets.

Loan Portfolio

Consolidated loans held for investment are detailed in the tables below, classified by portfolio segment (in thousands).

December 31,
Loan Held for Investment202220212020
Commercial real estate$3,245,873$3,042,729$3,133,903
Commercial and industrial1,639,9801,875,4202,627,774
Construction and land development980,896892,783828,852
1-4 family residential1,767,0991,303,430629,938
Consumer27,60232,34935,667
Broker-dealer431,223733,193437,007
Loans held for investment, gross8,092,6737,879,9047,693,141
Allowance for credit losses(95,442)(91,352)(149,044)
Loans held for investment, net of allowance$7,997,231$7,788,552$7,544,097

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Banking Segment

The loan portfolio constitutes the primary earning asset of the banking segment and typically offers the best alternative for obtaining the maximum interest spread above the banking segment’s cost of funds. The overall economic strength of the banking segment generally parallels the quality and yield of its loan portfolio.

The banking segment’s total loans held for investment, net of the allowance for credit losses, were $8.5 billion, $8.8 billion and $9.6 billion at December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. At December 31, 2022, the banking segment’s loan portfolio included warehouse lines of credit extended to PrimeLending and its ABAs of $2.1 billion, of which $0.9 billion was drawn. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, amounts drawn on the available warehouse lines of credit were $1.7 billion and $2.5 billion, respectively. Amounts advanced against the warehouse lines of credit are eliminated from net loans held for investment on our consolidated balance sheets. The banking segment does not generally participate in syndicated loan transactions and has no foreign loans in its portfolio.

At December 31, 2022, the banking segment had loan concentrations (loans to borrowers engaged in similar activities) that exceeded 10% of total loans in its real estate portfolio. The areas of concentration within our real estate portfolio were non-construction commercial real estate loans, non-construction residential real estate loans, and construction and land development loans, which represented 42.4%, 23.2% and 12.8%, respectively, of the banking segment’s total loans held for investment at December 31, 2022. The banking segment’s loan concentrations were within regulatory guidelines at December 31, 2022.

In addition, the Bank’s loan portfolio includes collateralized loans extended to businesses that depend on the energy industry, including those within the exploration and production, field services, pipeline construction and transportation sectors. Crude oil prices have increased since historical lows observed in 2020, but uncertainty remains given future supply and demand for oil are influenced by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, return to business travel, new energy policies and government regulation, and the pace of transition towards renewable energy resources. At December 31, 2022, the Bank’s energy loan exposure was approximately $58 million of loans held for investment with unfunded commitment balances of approximately $20 million. The allowance for credit losses on the Bank’s energy portfolio was $0.1 million, or 0.3% of loans held for investment at December 31, 2022.

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The following table provides information regarding the maturities of the banking segment’s gross loans held for investment, net of unearned income (in thousands).

December 31, 2022
Due WithinDue From OneDue from FiveDue After
One YearTo Five YearsTo Fifteen YearsFifteen YearsTotal
Commercial real estate$756,952$1,383,170$1,003,180$102,571$3,245,873
Commercial and industrial2,022,266326,031173,4192,521,716
Construction and land development763,366167,75444,1705,606980,896
1-4 family residential151,939278,432495,968840,7601,767,099
Consumer12,81914,4413251727,602
Total$3,707,342$2,169,828$1,717,062$948,954$8,543,186
Fixed rate loans$1,633,262$1,794,746$1,426,440$944,570$5,799,018
Floating rate loans2,074,080375,082290,6224,3842,744,168
Total$3,707,342$2,169,828$1,717,062$948,954$8,543,186

In the table above, commercial and industrial includes amounts advanced against the warehouse lines of credit extended to PrimeLending. Floating rate loans that have reached their applicable rate floor or ceiling are classified as fixed rate loans rather than floating rate loans. As of December 31, 2022, floating rate loans totaling $733.8 million had reached their applicable rate floor and were expected to reprice, subject to their scheduled repricing timing and frequency terms. An additional $1.6 million of floating rate loans would be adjustable if published rates increase by a sufficient amount to move past their floored levels. The majority of floating rate loans carry an interest rate tied to The Wall Street Journal Prime Rate, as published in The Wall Street Journal.

Broker-Dealer Segment

The loan portfolio of the broker-dealer segment consists primarily of margin loans to customers and correspondents that are due within one year. The interest rate on margin accounts is computed on the settled margin balance at a fixed rate established by management. These loans are collateralized by the securities purchased or by other securities owned by the clients and, because of collateral coverage ratios, are believed to present minimal collectability exposure. Additionally, these loans are subject to a number of regulatory requirements as well as the Hilltop Broker-Dealers’ internal policies. The broker-dealer segment’s total loans held for investment, net of the allowance for credit losses, were $431.0 million, $733.0 million and $436.8 million at December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The decrease from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022, was primarily attributable to a decrease of $152.2 million, or 35.7%, in customer margin accounts and a decrease of $149.2 million, or 48.8%, in receivables from correspondents. The increase from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021, was primarily attributable to an increase of $169.9 million or 66.2%, in customer margin accounts and an increase of $125.9 million, or 69.9%, in receivables from correspondents.

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Mortgage Origination Segment

The loan portfolio of the mortgage origination segment consists of loans held for sale, primarily single-family residential mortgages funded through PrimeLending, and IRLCs with customers pursuant to which we agree to originate a mortgage loan on a future date at an agreed-upon interest rate. The components of the mortgage origination segment’s loans held for sale and IRLCs are as follows (in thousands).

December 31,
202220212020
Loans held for sale:
Unpaid principal balance$850,277$1,728,255$2,411,626
Fair value adjustment5,42054,336109,778
$855,697$1,782,591$2,521,404
IRLCs:
Unpaid principal balance$506,278$1,283,152$2,470,013
Fair value adjustment1,76725,48976,048
$508,045$1,308,641$2,546,061

The mortgage origination segment uses forward commitments to mitigate interest rate risk associated with its loans held for sale and IRLCs. The notional amounts of these forward commitments at December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 were $1.2 billion, $2.4 billion and $4.0 billion, respectively, while the related estimated fair values were $3.3 million, $0.4 million and ($28.0) million, respectively.

Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans

For additional information regarding the allowance for credit losses, refer to the section captioned “Critical Accounting Estimates” included in this Form 10-K.

Loans Held for Investment

The Bank has lending policies in place with the goal of establishing an asset portfolio that will provide a return on stockholders’ equity sufficient to maintain capital to assets ratios that meet or exceed established regulations. Loans are underwritten with careful consideration of the borrower’s financial condition, the specific purpose of the loan, the primary sources of repayment and any collateral pledged to secure the loan.

Underwriting procedures address financial components based on the size and complexity of the credit. The financial components include, but are not limited to, current and projected cash flows, shock analysis and/or stress testing, and trends in appropriate balance sheet and statement of operations ratios. The Bank’s loan policy provides specific underwriting guidelines by portfolio segment, including commercial and industrial, real estate, construction and land development, and consumer loans. The guidelines for each individual portfolio segment set forth permissible and impermissible loan types. With respect to each loan type, the guidelines within the Bank’s loan policy provide minimum requirements for the underwriting factors listed above. The Bank’s underwriting procedures also include an analysis of any collateral and guarantor. Collateral analysis includes a complete description of the collateral, as well as determined values, monitoring requirements, loan to value ratios, concentration risk, appraisal requirements and other information relevant to the collateral being pledged. Guarantor analysis includes liquidity and cash flow evaluation based on the significance with which the guarantors are expected to serve as secondary repayment sources.

The Bank maintains a loan review department that reviews credit risk in response to both external and internal factors that potentially impact the performance of either individual loans or the overall loan portfolio. The loan review process reviews the creditworthiness of borrowers and determines compliance with the loan policy. The loan review process complements and reinforces the risk identification and assessment decisions made by lenders and credit personnel. Results of these reviews are presented to management, the Bank’s board of directors and the Risk Committee of the board of directors of the Company.

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The allowance for credit losses for loans held for investment represents management’s best estimate of all expected credit losses over the expected contractual life of our existing portfolio. Determining the appropriateness of the allowance is complex and requires judgment by management about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Subsequent evaluations of the then-existing loan portfolio, in light of the factors then prevailing, may result in significant changes in the allowance for credit losses in those future periods. Such future changes in the allowance for credit losses are expected to be volatile given dependence upon, among other things, the portfolio composition and quality, as well as the impact of significant drivers, including prepayment assumptions and macroeconomic conditions and forecasts.

Significant judgment is required to estimate the severity and duration of the current economic uncertainties, as well as its potential impact on borrower default and loss severity. In particular, macroeconomic conditions and forecasts are rapidly changing and remain highly uncertain.

One of the most significant judgments involved in estimating our allowance for credit losses relates to the macroeconomic forecasts used to estimate credit losses over the reasonable and supportable forecast period. To determine the allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2022, we utilized a single macroeconomic alternative scenario, or S7, published by Moody’s Analytics in December 2022.

During our previous quarterly macroeconomic assessment as of September 30, 2022, we utilized the same single macroeconomic alternative scenario published by Moody’s Analytics in September 2022.

The following table summarizes the U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) growth rates and unemployment rate assumptions used in our economic forecast to determine our best estimate of expected credit losses.

As of
December 31,September 30,June 30,March 31,December 31,
20222022202220222021
GDP growth rates:
Q4 20216.7%
Q1 20220.7%3.6%
Q2 20222.6%4.7%3.5%
Q3 20221.3%2.0%2.4%2.3%
Q4 20220.8%0.4%0.6%2.6%2.7%
Q1 20230.1%0.3%0.9%2.9%3.0%
Q2 2023(1.4)%(1.8)%1.0%3.0%2.4%
Q3 2023(2.5)%(2.2)%(1.0)%3.1%
Q4 2023(2.4)%(2.2)%(3.0)%
Q1 20240.4%0.7%
Q2 20241.1%
Unemployment rates:
Q4 20214.3%
Q1 20223.9%4.3%
Q2 20223.6%3.7%4.0%
Q3 20223.7%3.5%3.5%3.8%
Q4 20223.7%3.9%3.6%3.4%3.6%
Q1 20234.0%4.0%3.6%3.4%3.7%
Q2 20234.6%4.6%3.6%3.3%3.7%
Q3 20235.3%5.5%5.0%3.2%
Q4 20236.0%6.2%6.4%
Q1 20245.9%6.0%
Q2 20245.6%

As of December 31, 2022, our economic forecast was updated from September 30, 2022 to reflect higher interest rate expectations and slower real GDP growth during the reasonable and supportable period. The Federal Reserve increased the federal funds rate target twice during the quarter to 4.25% to 4.50% and the current quarter’s economic forecast now assumes an average federal funds rate of 5.3% by the second quarter of 2023. As interest rates increased, inflation rates have decreased from historical highs as the goods sector improves; however, we still observe supply chain disruptions

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especially in the services sector. Unemployment rate forecasts were updated based on recent economic data as tight labor market conditions continued.

During 2022, our economic outlook was updated to reflect our expectations of a period of below trend economic growth beginning this year and a mild U.S. recession in 2023. COVID cases receded in the United States but continued to disrupt global supply chains and tight labor market conditions. The Russian invasion of Ukraine contributed to global oil prices increasing to near $120 per barrel and further disrupted supply chains due to economic sanctions imposed by the United States and other trade partners. Inflation rates initially expected to be transitory proved to trend persistently higher as the consumer price index rose to 9.1% on an annual basis in June. In response, the Federal Reserve adjusted monetary policy by increasing its federal funds rate target from 0.0% - 0.25% in March 2022 to 4.25% - 4.50% by December 2022. With lower government spending/stimulus and net exports, U.S. real GDP growth rates declined to (1.6%) and (0.6%) during the first and second quarters of 2022. While the Company and most economists downgraded their economic outlooks, the U.S. did not enter a recession. Real GDP growth improved to 3.2% during the third quarter of 2022 and U.S. labor markets proved resilient as unemployment rates decreased during the year from 4.0% to 3.5%.

During 2021, our economic forecast improved year-over-year due to a third round of $1.9 trillion in government stimulus enacted in March 2021 through the American Rescue Plan Act. As a result of additional stimulus checks, enhanced unemployment benefits, extended lending from the PPP program, and expanded tax credits, consumer and business spending accelerated the U.S. real GDP growth rate in the second quarter of 2021 to 6.3% and in the third quarter of 2021 to 6.7%. Also, in March 2021, President Biden implemented new programs to extend COVID-19 testing and vaccine eligibility for most adults in the United States by May 2021. Most states also ended their participation in federal pandemic unemployment benefit programs in early summer 2021. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased from 6.7% in December 2020 to 5.9% in June 2021 and decreased further to 4.2% by November 2021. In August 2021, a second wave of COVID-19 cases progressed within the United States and Texas due to the delta variant, which slowed U.S. economic growth and real GDP growth rates to 2.3% in the third quarter of 2021. Then, in November 2021, Congress passed a fourth round of $0.6 trillion in government stimulus through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and during December 2021, a third wave of COVID-19 cases progressed in the United States and Texas due to the omicron variant.

During 2020, our baseline economic forecast changed significantly year-over-year in response to weak economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as developments occurred rapidly in February and March 2020 associated with fiscal and monetary stimulus measures and the expected beneficial impacts of the CARES Act and certain regulatory interagency guidance. As of December 31, 2019, we assumed the U.S. economy was in the late stages of the economic cycle with unemployment rates near historical lows of 3.6% increasing to 3.8% in the fourth quarter of 2020 and reverting to historical data in the fourth quarter of 2022. Downside risks to the economy were concerns over international trade war between the U.S. and its trading partners and potential fallout from a Brexit in 2020. Interest rate expectations assumed one rate cut in 2020 with the Federal Reserve target range of the federal funds rate at 1.25% to 1.50% before reverting to historical data in 2023. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve twice cut federal funds rate targets in March 2020 to 0% to 0.25% with interest rate expectations as of December 31, 2020 unchanged until late 2023. Several U.S. fiscal and monetary policy changes during early 2020 were enacted to counter a severe, but short U.S. recession during the first half of 2020 and support a strong economic recovery during the second half of 2020 with U.S. budget deficits increasing to more than $3 trillion during the year. U.S. unemployment rates reached 14.8% in April 2020 before declining to 6.7% as of December 31, 2020, which was 3.1% higher than the unemployment rate as of December 31, 2019. Annualized real GDP growth rates declined 31.4% in the second quarter of 2020 and increased 33.4% in the third quarter of 2020. The U.S. presidential election later in 2020 resulted in several changes, as Presidential Candidate Joe Biden won the electoral vote to replace President Donald Trump in 2021 and majority control of the U.S. Congress moved from Republican to Democratic parties. As economic growth slowed during the fourth quarter of 2020, additional government stimulus of approximately $900 billion was approved.

Effective January 1, 2020, we adopted the new CECL standard and recorded transition adjustment entries that resulted in an allowance for credit losses for loans held for investment of $73.7 million, an increase of $12.6 million. This increase reflected credit losses of $18.9 million from the expansion of the loss horizon to life of loan and also takes into account forecasts of expected future macroeconomic conditions, partially offset by the elimination of the non-credit component within the historical allowance related to previously categorized PCI loans of $6.3 million. This increase, net of tax, was

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largely reflected within the banking segment and included a decrease of $5.7 million to opening retained earnings at January 1, 2020.

During 2022, the increase in the allowance for credit losses was driven by a deteriorating U.S. economic outlook since December 31, 2021. The net impact to the allowance of changes associated with collectively evaluated loans included a provision of credit losses of $10.0 million, while individually evaluated loans during 2022 included reversals of credit losses of $1.7 million. The change in the allowance for credit losses during 2022 was primarily attributable to the Bank and also reflected other factors including, but not limited to, loan mix, and changes in loan balances and qualitative factors from the prior period. The change in the allowance during 2022 was also impacted by net charge-offs of $4.2 million.

As discussed under the section titled “Loan Portfolio” earlier in this Item 7, the Bank’s actions beginning in 2020 included supporting our impacted banking clients experiencing an increased level of risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic through loan modifications. This deteriorating economic outlook resulted in a significant build in the allowance and included provision for credit losses through the second quarter of 2020. During 2021, improvement in both economic results and the macroeconomic outlook, coupled with government stimulus and positive risk rating grade migration within the Bank, resulted in aggregate reversals of a significant portion of previously recorded credit losses. During 2022, the impact of changes in the U.S. economic outlook and resulting impact on collectively evaluated loans has resulted in a build in the allowance since December 31, 2021. As a result, the allowance for credit losses as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs, was 1.27% as of December 31, 2022, down from 1.37% as of December 31, 2021, and a high of 2.63% as of September 30, 2020, following the initial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The respective distribution of the allowance for credit losses as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs, are presented in the following table (dollars in thousands).

Allowance For
Credit Losses
Totalas a % of
TotalAllowanceTotal Loans
Loans Heldfor CreditHeld For
December 31, 2022For InvestmentLossesInvestment
Commercial real estate$3,245,873$63,2551.95%
Commercial and industrial (1)1,439,11115,9331.11%
Construction and land development980,8966,0510.62%
1-4 family residential1,767,0999,3130.53%
Consumer27,6025542.01%
7,460,58195,1061.27%
Broker-dealer431,2232340.05%
Mortgage warehouse lending200,8691020.05%
$8,092,673$95,4421.18%
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(1)Commercial and industrial portfolio amounts reflect balances excluding banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs.

Allowance Model Sensitivity

Our allowance model was designed to capture the historical relationship between economic and portfolio changes. As such, evaluating shifts in individual portfolio attributes or macroeconomic variables in isolation may not be indicative of past or future performance. It is difficult to estimate how potential changes in any one factor or input might affect the overall allowance for credit losses because we consider a wide variety of factors and inputs in the allowance for credit losses estimate. Changes in the factors and inputs considered may not occur at the same rate and may not be consistent across all geographies or product types, and changes in factors and input may be directionally inconsistent, such that improvement in one factor may offset deterioration in others.

However, to consider the sensitivity of credit loss estimates to alternative macroeconomic forecasts, we compared the Company’s allowance for credit loss estimates as of December 31, 2022, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer

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segment, and the banking segment mortgage warehouse programs, with modeled results using both upside (“S1”) and downside (“S3”) economic scenario forecasts published by Moody’s Analytics.

Compared to our economic forecast, the upside scenario assumes the economic impacts from military conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and global supply chain concerns recede faster than expected. Real GDP is expected to grow 3.3% in the first quarter of 2023, 3.5% in the second quarter of 2023, 3.4% in the third quarter of 2023, and 3.7% in the fourth quarter of 2023. Average unemployment rates are expected to remain low in 2023 and decline slightly to 3.4% by the first quarter of 2024. Inflation is expected to trend back toward the Federal Reserve’s target sooner than expected and we expect the federal funds rate to increase to 4.7% during 2023, but return to 3.7% by the end of 2024.

Compared to our economic forecast, the downside scenario assumes consumer and business confidence declines as the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine worsens significantly and persists longer than anticipated and global supply chain issues intensify, thereby increasing inflation rates substantially. Consumer confidence and spending erode causing the economy to fall back into recession during the first quarter of 2023. Real GDP is expected to decrease 2.9% in the first quarter of 2023, 3.6% in the second quarter of 2023, and 3.0% in the third quarter of 2023. Average unemployment rates are expected to increase to 7.8% by the first quarter of 2024, but improve to 6.7% by year-end 2024 and revert back to historical average rates over time. The Federal Reserve increases the federal funds rate to 5.2% by the second quarter of 2023 to slow inflation, but proceeds to reduce it to a 1.3% target by the first quarter of 2025 to support the economy. Disagreements in Congress prevent any additional stimulus from being enacted beyond the American Rescue Plan and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts passed in 2021.

The impact of applying all of the assumptions of the upside economic scenario during the reasonable and supportable forecast period would have resulted in a decrease in the allowance for credit losses of approximately $28 million or a weighted average expected loss rate of 0.8% as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and the banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs.

The impact of applying all of the assumptions of the downside economic scenario during the reasonable and supportable forecast period would have resulted in an increase in the allowance for credit losses of approximately $32 million or a weighted average expected loss rate of 1.7% as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and the banking segment mortgage warehouse lending programs.

This analysis relates only to the modeled credit loss estimates and is not intended to estimate changes in the overall allowance for credit losses as they do not reflect any potential changes in the adjustment to the quantitative calculation, which would also be influenced by the judgment management applies to the modeled lifetime loss estimates to reflect the uncertainty and imprecision of these modeled lifetime loss estimates based on then-current circumstances and conditions.

Our allowance for credit losses reflects our best estimate of current expected credit losses, which is highly dependent on several assumptions, including the macroeconomic outlook, inflationary pressures and labor market conditions, the Russian-Ukraine conflict and its impact on supply chains, and the impact of the pandemic continuing to recede. Future allowance for credit losses may vary considerably for these reasons.

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Allowance Activity

The following table presents the activity in our allowance for credit losses within our loan portfolio for the periods presented (in thousands). Substantially all of the activity shown below occurred within the banking segment.

Year Ended December 31,
Loans Held for Investment202220212020
Balance, beginning of year$91,352$149,044$61,136
Transition adjustment for adoption of CECL accounting standard12,562
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses8,309(58,213)96,491
Recoveries of loans previously charged off:
Commercial real estate128266613
Commercial and industrial2,7462,6561,834
Construction and land development2
1-4 family residential13354654
Consumer289281392
Broker-dealer
Total recoveries3,2963,7492,895
Loans charged off:
Commercial real estate3104,517
Commercial and industrial6,9452,24918,158
Construction and land development2
1-4 family residential138312748
Consumer432357615
Broker-dealer
Total charge-offs7,5153,22824,040
Net recoveries (charge-offs)(4,219)521(21,145)
Balance, end of year$95,442$91,352$149,044
Average total loans for the year$7,840,848$7,645,292$7,618,723
Total loans held for investment (end of year)$8,092,673$7,879,904$7,693,141
Ratios:
Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average total loans held for investment (1)(0.05)%0.01%(0.28)%
Non-accrual loans to total loans held for investment (end of year)0.30%0.60%0.87%
Allowance for credit losses on loans held for investment to:
Total loans held for investment (end of year)1.18%1.16%1.94%
Non-accrual loans held for investment (end of year)386.81%193.08%222.14%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average total loans held for investment ratio presented on a consolidated basis for all periods given relative immateriality of resulting measure by loan portfolio segment.

Total non-accrual loans decreased by $20.7 million from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022, compared to a decrease of $27.8 million from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021. These changes in non-accrual loans were impacted by loans secured by residential real estate within our mortgage origination segment, which were classified as loans held for sale, of $4.8 million, $2.9 million and $10.9 million at December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

In addition to changes in non-accrual loans classified as loans held for sale, the decrease in non-accrual loans during 2022 was primarily due to principal paydowns, settlements and charge-offs associated with several commercial and industrial, single family residential loan and commercial real estate owner occupied loan relationships, while the decrease in non-accrual loans during 2021 was primarily due to principal paydowns associated with several commercial and industrial and commercial real estate owner occupied relationships.

As previously discussed in detail within this section, the allowance for credit losses has fluctuated significantly from period to period, which impacted the resulting ratios noted in the table above. During 2020, the significant build in the allowance was primarily due to the adoption of the new CECL standard and recorded transition adjustment entries as well as the deteriorating economic outlook due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while during 2021 the significant decline in the allowance for credit losses reflected improvement in both realized economic results and the macroeconomic outlook due to

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improvements in both macroeconomic forecast assumptions and credit quality metrics on COVID-19 impacted industry sector exposures.

The distribution of the allowance for credit losses among loan types and the percentage of the loans for that type to gross loans, excluding unearned income, within our loan portfolio is presented in the table below (dollars in thousands).

December 31,
202220212020
% of% of% of
GrossGrossGross
Allocation of the Allowance for Credit LossesReserveLoansReserveLoansReserveLoans
Commercial real estate$63,25540.11%$59,35438.61%$109,62940.74%
Commercial and industrial16,03520.26%21,98223.80%27,70334.16%
Construction and land development6,05112.12%4,67411.33%6,67710.77%
1-4 family residential9,31321.84%4,58916.54%3,9468.19%
Consumer5540.34%5780.41%8760.46%
Broker-dealer2345.33%1759.31%2135.68%
Total$95,442100.00%$91,352100.00%$149,044100.00%

The following table summarizes historical levels of the allowance for credit losses on loans held for investment, distributed by portfolio segment (in thousands).

December 31,September 30,June 30,March 31,December 31,
20222022202220222021
Commercial real estate$63,255$63,200$63,719$60,361$59,354
Commercial and industrial16,03516,10819,83620,13021,982
Construction and land development6,0514,7684,9965,5154,674
1-4 family residential9,3136,6125,5544,3404,589
Consumer554574542499578
Broker-dealer234521651340175
$95,442$91,783$95,298$91,185$91,352

Unfunded Loan Commitments

In order to estimate the allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments, the Bank uses a process similar to that used in estimating the allowance for credit losses on the funded portion. The allowance is based on the estimated exposure at default, multiplied by the lifetime probability of default grade and loss given default grade for that particular loan segment. The Bank estimates expected losses by calculating a commitment usage factor based on industry usage factors. The commitment usage factor is applied over the relevant contractual period. Loss factors from the underlying loans to which commitments are related are applied to the results of the usage calculation to estimate any liability for credit losses related for each loan type. Letters of credit are not currently reserved because they are issued primarily as credit enhancements and the likelihood of funding is low.

Changes in the allowance for credit losses for loans with off-balance sheet credit exposures are shown below (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202220212020
Balance, beginning of year$5,880$8,388$2,075
Transition adjustment CECL accounting standard3,837
Other noninterest expense1,904(2,508)2,476
Balance, end of year$7,784$5,880$8,388

As previously discussed, we adopted the new CECL standard and recorded a transition adjustment entry that resulted in an allowance for credit losses for unfunded commitments of $5.9 million as of January 1, 2020. During 2021, the decrease in the allowance for unfunded commitments was primarily due to improvements in loan expected loss rates.

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During 2022, the increase in the allowance for unfunded commitments was due to increases in both loan expected loss rates and available commitment balances.

Potential Problem Loans

Potential problem loans consist of loans that are performing in accordance with contractual terms but for which management has concerns about the ability of an obligor to continue to comply with repayment terms because of the obligor’s potential operating or financial difficulties. Management monitors these loans and reviews their performance on a regular basis. Potential problem loans contain potential weaknesses that could improve, persist or further deteriorate. If such potential weaknesses persist without improving, the loan is subject to downgrade, typically to substandard, in three to six months. Potential problem loans are assigned a grade of special mention within our risk grading matrix. Potential problem loans do not include purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loans because PCD loans exhibited evidence of more than insignificant credit deterioration at acquisition that made it probable that all contractually required principal payments would not be collected. Additionally, potential problem loans do not include loans that have been modified in connection with our COVID-19 payment deferment programs which allow for a deferral of principal and/or interest payments. Within our loan portfolio, we had four credit relationships totaling $4.0 million of potential problem loans at December 31, 2022, compared with two credit relationships totaling $3.1 million of potential problem loans at December 31, 2021 and seven credit relationships totaling $11.3 million of potential problem loans at December 31, 2020.

Non-Performing Assets

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARES Act was passed in March 2020, which among other things, allowed the Bank to suspend the TDR requirements for certain loan modifications to be categorized as a TDR. Subsequent legislation extended such provisions through January 1, 2022. Starting in March 2020, the Bank implemented several actions to better support our impacted banking clients and allow for loan modifications such as principal and/or interest payment deferrals, participation in the PPP as an SBA preferred lender and personal banking assistance including waived fees, increased daily spending limits and suspension of residential foreclosure activities. The COVID-19 payment deferment programs allowed for a deferral of principal and/or interest payments with such deferred principal payments due and payable on the maturity date of the existing loan.

The following table presents components of our non-performing assets (dollars in thousands).

December 31,Variance
2022202120202022 vs 20212021 vs 2020
Loans accounted for on a non-accrual basis:
Commercial real estate$4,269$6,601$11,133$(2,332)$(4,532)
Commercial and industrial9,09522,47834,049(13,383)(11,571)
Construction and land development1982507196(505)
1-4 family residential15,94121,12332,263(5,182)(11,140)
Consumer142328(9)(5)
Broker-dealer
$29,517$50,227$77,980$(20,710)$(27,753)
Troubled debt restructurings included in accruing loans held for investment8039221,954(119)(1,032)
Non-performing loans$30,320$51,149$79,934$(20,829)$(28,785)
Non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans0.33%0.52%0.76%(0.19)%(0.24)%
Other real estate owned$2,325$2,833$21,289$(508)$(18,456)
Other repossessed assets$$$101$$(101)
Non-performing assets$32,645$53,982$101,324$(21,337)$(47,342)
Non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets0.20%0.29%0.60%(0.09)%(0.31)%
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing$92,099$60,775$243,630$31,324$(182,855)

At December 31, 2022, non-accrual loans included 40 commercial and industrial relationships with loans secured by accounts receivable, automobiles, equipment and notes receivable. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2022 also

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included $4.8 million of loans secured by residential real estate which were classified as loans held for sale. At December 31, 2021, non-accrual loans included 45 commercial and industrial relationships with loans secured by accounts receivable, life insurance, oil and gas, livestock and equipment. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2021 also included $2.9 million of loans secured by residential real estate which were classified as loans held for sale. At December 31, 2020, non-accrual loans included 60 commercial and industrial relationships with loans secured by accounts receivable, life insurance, livestock, oil and gas, and equipment. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2020 also included $10.9 million of loans secured by residential real estate which were classified as loans held for sale.

At December 31, 2022, TDRs were comprised of $0.8 million of loans that are considered to be performing and accruing, and $5.8 million of loans considered to be non-performing reported in non-accrual loans. At December 31, 2021, TDRs were comprised of $0.9 million of loans that were considered to be performing and accruing, and $5.9 million of loans that were considered to be non-performing reported in non-accrual loans. At December 31, 2020, TDRs were comprised of $2.0 million of loans that were considered to be performing and accruing, and $16.0 million of loans considered to be non-performing reported in non-accrual loans. In March 2020, the CARES Act was passed, which, among other things, allowed the Bank to suspend the requirements for certain loan modifications to be categorized as a TDR. Therefore, the Bank has not reported COVID-19 related modifications as TDRs through January 1, 2022 when the provisions expired. At December 31, 2022, the Bank had no loans remaining under the COVID-19 related modifications program.

OREO decreased from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022, primarily due to disposals and valuation adjustments totaling $1.8 million, partially offset by additions totaling $1.3 million. OREO decreased from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021, primarily due to disposals and valuation adjustments totaling $22.0 million, partially offset by additions totaling of $3.6 million.

Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing at December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 were primarily comprised of loans held for sale and guaranteed by U.S. government agencies, including GNMA related loans subject to repurchase within our mortgage origination segment. The significant decrease in loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing at December 31, 2021, compared to December 31, 2020, was due to the sale of mortgage loans previously included within this non-performing assets category. As of December 31, 2022, $43.8 million of loans subject to repurchase were under a forbearance agreement resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. During May 2020, GNMA announced it will temporarily exclude any new GNMA lender delinquencies, occurring on or after April 2020, when calculating the delinquency ratios for the purposes of enforcing compliance with its delinquency rate thresholds. This exclusion is extended automatically to GNMA lenders that were compliant with GNMA’s delinquency rate thresholds as reflected by their April 2020 investor accounting report. The mortgage origination segment qualified for this exclusion as of December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, $43.8 million of loans subject to repurchase under a forbearance agreement had delinquencies on or after April 2020.

Deposits

The banking segment’s major source of funds and liquidity is its deposit base. Deposits provide funding for its investments in loans and securities. Interest paid for deposits must be managed carefully to control the level of interest expense and overall net interest margin. The composition of the deposit base (time deposits versus interest-bearing demand deposits and savings), as discussed in more detail within the section titled “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Banking Segment” below, is constantly changing due to the banking segment’s needs and market conditions. Currently, the banking segment is facing significant competition for its deposit base as customers seek higher yields on deposits. Separately, in an effort to assist its customers in avoiding overdraft-related fees, our banking segment implemented certain fee enhancements beginning October 1, 2022. Such fee enhancements are not expected to have a material impact on its overall operating results.

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The table below presents the average balance of, and rate paid on, consolidated deposits (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202220212020
AverageAverageAverageAverageAverageAverage
BalanceRate PaidBalanceRate PaidBalanceRate Paid
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits$4,455,7790.00%$4,157,9620.00%$3,304,4750.00%
Interest-bearing demand deposits6,320,6540.68%6,077,6600.19%5,284,5820.31%
Savings deposits330,7430.22%295,0750.06%231,9960.07%
Time deposits910,1040.73%1,349,8490.86%1,880,5431.11%
$12,017,2800.42%$11,880,5460.20%$10,701,5960.35%

The following table presents the scheduled maturities of uninsured deposits greater than $250,000 as of December 31, 2022 (in thousands).

Months to maturity:
3 months or less$45,058
3 months to 6 months32,812
6 months to 12 months128,392
Over 12 months161,094
$367,356

Borrowings

Our consolidated borrowings associated with continuing operations are shown in the table below (dollars in thousands).

December 31,
202220212020
AverageAverageAverage
BalanceRate PaidBalanceRate PaidBalanceRate Paid
Short-term borrowings$970,0562.27%$859,4441.22%$695,7981.46%
Notes payable346,6544.33%387,9045.79%381,9874.54%
Junior subordinated debentures%3.45%67,0124.13%
$1,316,7102.86%$1,247,3481.32%$1,144,7972.51%

Short-term borrowings consisted of federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, borrowings at the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”), short-term bank loans and commercial paper. The increase in short-term borrowings at December 31, 2022, compared with December 31, 2021, primarily reflected increases in federal funds purchased by the banking segment and securities sold under agreements to repurchase by the broker-dealer segment, partially offset by decreases in commercial paper and short-term bank loans within the broker-dealer segment. The decrease in short-term borrowings at December 31, 2021 compared with December 31, 2020 included increases in short-term bank loans and commercial paper used by the Hilltop Broker-Dealers to finance their activities, partially offset by a decrease in securities sold under agreements to repurchase by the Hilltop Broker-Dealers given increased utilization of internal funds.

Notes payable at December 31, 2022 was comprised of $149.3 million related to the Senior Notes, net of loan origination fees, Subordinated Notes (defined hereafter), net of origination fees, of $197.4 million and mortgage origination segment borrowings of $0 million. Notes payable at December 31, 2021 was comprised of $149.1 million related to Senior Notes, net of loan origination fees, Subordinated Notes, net of origination fees, of $197.1 million and mortgage origination segment borrowings of $41.7 million. Notes payable at December 31, 2020 was comprised of $148.9 million related to Senior Notes, net of loan origination fees, Subordinated Notes, net of origination fees, of $196.8 million and mortgage origination segment borrowings of $36.2 million. As discussed in more detail within the section titled “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Junior Subordinated Debentures” below, during the third quarter of 2021, PCC fully redeemed all outstanding Debentures.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Hilltop is a financial holding company whose assets primarily consist of the stock of its subsidiaries and invested assets. Hilltop’s primary investment objectives, as a holding company, are to support capital deployment for organic growth and to preserve capital to be deployed through acquisitions, dividend payments and stock repurchases. At December 31, 2022, Hilltop had $172.5 million in cash and cash equivalents, a decrease of $195.4 million from $367.9 million at December 31, 2021. This decrease in cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to cash outflows of $442.3 million in stock repurchases related to the tender offer, $43.0 million in cash dividends declared, and other general corporate expenses, partially offset by the receipt of $328.2 million of dividends from subsidiaries. Subject to regulatory restrictions, Hilltop has received, and may also continue to receive, dividends from its subsidiaries. If necessary or appropriate, we may also finance acquisitions with the proceeds from equity or debt issuances. We believe that Hilltop’s liquidity is sufficient for the foreseeable future, with current short-term liquidity needs including operating expenses, interest on debt obligations, dividend payments to stockholders and potential stock repurchases.

Economic Environment

As previously discussed, operational and financial headwinds during 2022 have had, and are expected to continue to have, an adverse impact on our operating results during 2023. The impacts of noted headwinds in 2023 are highly uncertain and will depend on several developments outside of our control, including, among others, timing and significance of changes in U.S. treasury yields and mortgage interest rates, exposure to increasing funding costs, inflationary pressures associated with compensation, occupancy and software costs and labor market conditions, the Russian-Ukraine conflict and its impact on supply chains, as well as the impact of the pandemic continuing to recede. As demonstrated during the extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets beginning in March 2020 resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and its negative impact on the economy, we will continue to monitor the economic environment and evaluate appropriate actions to enhance our financial flexibility, protect capital, minimize losses and ensure target liquidity levels.

Dividend Program and Declaration

In October 2016, we announced that our board of directors authorized a dividend program under which we intend to pay quarterly dividends on our common stock, subject to quarterly declarations by our board of directors. During 2022, we declared and paid cash dividends of $0.60 per common share, or $43.0 million.

On January 26, 2023, our board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per common share, payable on February 24, 2023 to all common stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 10, 2023.

Future dividends on our common stock are subject to the determination by the board of directors based on an evaluation of our earnings and financial condition, liquidity and capital resources, the general economic and regulatory climate, our ability to service any equity or debt obligations senior to our common stock and other factors.

Stock Repurchases

In January 2022, our board of directors authorized a new stock repurchase program through January 2023, pursuant to which we were originally authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $100.0 million of our outstanding common stock, inclusive of repurchases to offset dilution related to grants of stock-based compensation. As a result of share repurchases during 2022, including the tender offer described below, we had no further available share repurchase capacity associated with our previously authorized stock repurchase program.

In January 2023, our board of directors authorized a new stock repurchase program through January 2024, pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $75.0 million of our outstanding common stock, inclusive of repurchases to offset dilution related to grants of stock-based compensation. Under the stock repurchase program authorized, we may repurchase shares in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions as permitted under Rule 10b-18 promulgated under the Exchange Act. The extent to which we repurchase our shares and the timing of such

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repurchases depends upon market conditions and other corporate considerations, as determined by Hilltop’s management team. Repurchased shares will be returned to our pool of authorized but unissued shares of common stock.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, signed into law during August 2022, introduced a nondeductible excise tax equal to 1% of the fair market value of certain shares repurchased beginning in 2023, subject to certain limitations. While we may complete transactions subject to the new excise tax, we do not expect the tax to have a material impact to our financial condition or results of operations.

Tender Offer

On May 2, 2022, we announced the commencement of a modified “Dutch auction” tender offer to purchase shares of our common stock for an aggregate cash purchase price of up to $400 million, inclusive of the aforementioned stock repurchase program. On May 27, 2022 including the exercise of our right to purchase up to an additional 2% of our outstanding shares, we completed our tender offer, repurchasing 14,868,469 shares of outstanding common stock at a price of $29.75 per share for a total of $442.3 million. We funded the tender offer with cash on hand.

Senior Notes due 2025

On April 9, 2015, we completed an offering of $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 5% senior notes due 2025 (“Senior Unregistered Notes”) in a private offering that was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Senior Unregistered Notes were offered within the United States only to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and to persons outside of the United States under Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Senior Unregistered Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of April 9, 2015 (the “indenture”), by and between Hilltop and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting estimated fees and expenses and the initial purchasers’ discounts, were approximately $148 million. We used the net proceeds of the offering to redeem all of our outstanding Series B Preferred Stock at an aggregate liquidation value of $114.1 million, plus accrued but unpaid dividends of $0.4 million, and Hilltop utilized the remainder for general corporate purposes.

In connection with the issuance of the Senior Unregistered Notes, on April 9, 2015, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the Senior Unregistered Notes. Under the terms of the registration rights agreement, we agreed to offer to exchange the Senior Unregistered Notes for notes registered under the Securities Act (the “Senior Registered Notes”). The terms of the Senior Registered Notes are substantially identical to the Senior Unregistered Notes for which they were exchanged (including principal amount, interest rate, maturity and redemption rights), except that the Senior Registered Notes generally are not subject to transfer restrictions. On May 22, 2015, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Senior Registered Notes prospectus, we commenced an offer to exchange the outstanding Senior Unregistered Notes for Senior Registered Notes. Substantially all of the Senior Unregistered Notes were tendered for exchange, and on June 22, 2015, we fulfilled all of the requirements of the registration rights agreement for the Senior Unregistered Notes by issuing Senior Registered Notes in exchange for the tendered Senior Unregistered Notes. We refer to the Senior Registered Notes and the Senior Unregistered Notes that remain outstanding collectively as the “Senior Notes.”

The Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 5% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears in cash on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on October 15, 2015. The Senior Notes will mature on April 15, 2025, unless we redeem the Senior Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, on or after January 15, 2025 (three months prior to the maturity date of the Senior Notes) at our election at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. At December 31, 2022, $150.0 million of our Senior Notes was outstanding.

The indenture contains covenants that limit our ability to, among other things and subject to certain significant exceptions: (i) dispose of or issue voting stock of certain of our bank subsidiaries or subsidiaries that own voting stock of our bank subsidiaries, (ii) incur or permit to exist any mortgage, pledge, encumbrance or lien or charge on the capital stock of certain of our bank subsidiaries or subsidiaries that own capital stock of our bank subsidiaries and (iii) sell all or substantially all of our assets or merge or consolidate with or into other companies. The indenture also provides for

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certain events of default, which, if any of them occurs, would permit or require the principal amount, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on the then outstanding Senior Notes to be declared immediately due and payable.

Subordinated Notes due 2030 and 2035

On May 7, 2020, we completed a public offering of $50 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due May 15, 2030 (the “2030 Subordinated Notes”) and $150 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% fixed-to-floating subordinated notes due May 15, 2035 (the “2035 Subordinated Notes”). We collectively refer to the 2030 Subordinated Notes and the 2035 Subordinated Notes as the “Subordinated Notes”. The price to the public for the Subordinated Notes was 100% of the principal amount of the Subordinated Notes. The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and fees and expenses of $3.4 million, were $196.6 million.

We may redeem the Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time, subject to obtaining Federal Reserve approval, beginning with the interest payment date of May 15, 2025 for the 2030 Subordinated Notes and beginning with the interest payment date of May 15, 2030 for the 2035 Subordinated Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Subordinated Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the date of redemption.

The 2030 Subordinated Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.75% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears commencing on November 15, 2020. The interest rate for the 2030 Subordinated Notes will reset quarterly beginning May 15, 2025 to an interest rate, per year, equal to the then-current benchmark rate, which is expected to be three-month term SOFR rate, plus 5.68%, payable quarterly in arrears. The 2035 Subordinated Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.125% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears commencing on November 15, 2020. The interest rate for the 2035 Subordinated Notes will reset quarterly beginning May 15, 2030 to an interest rate, per year, equal to the then-current benchmark rate, which is expected to be three-month term SOFR rate plus 5.80%, payable quarterly in arrears. At December 31, 2022, $200.0 million of our Subordinated Notes was outstanding.

Junior Subordinated Debentures

Following receipt of regulatory approval, during June, July and August 2021, PCC submitted to the trustees of each of the statutory trusts a notice to redeem in full outstanding Debentures of $67.0 million issued by PCC, which resulted in the full redemption to the holders of the associated preferred securities and common securities during the third quarter of 2021.

The Debentures, which were held by four statutory trusts created for the sole purpose of issuing and selling preferred securities and common securities used to acquire the Debentures, had an original stated term of 30 years with original maturities ranging from July 2031 to February 2038. The Debentures were callable at PCC’s discretion with a minimum of a 45- to 60- day notice. At December 31, 2022, PCC had no remaining borrowings associated with the Debentures. The redemptions noted above were funded from available cash balances held at PCC.

Regulatory Capital

We are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements may prompt certain actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Under capital adequacy and regulatory requirements, we must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of our assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Our capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.

In order to avoid limitations on capital distributions, including dividend payments, stock repurchases and certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers, Basel III requires banking organizations to maintain a capital conservation buffer above minimum risk-based capital requirements measured relative to risk-weighted assets.

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The following table shows PlainsCapital’s and Hilltop’s actual capital amounts and ratios in accordance with Basel III compared to the regulatory minimum capital requirements including conservation buffer ratio in effect at December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands). Based on actual capital amounts and ratios shown in the following table, PlainsCapital’s ratios place it in the “well capitalized” (as defined) capital category under regulatory requirements. Actual capital amounts and ratios as of December 31, 2022 reflect PlainsCapital’s and Hilltop’s decision to elect the transition option as issued by the federal banking regulatory agencies in March 2020 that permits banking institutions to mitigate the estimated cumulative regulatory capital effects from CECL over a five-year transitionary period.

Minimum
Capital
Requirements
Including
ConservationTo Be Well
December 31, 2022BufferCapitalized
AmountRatioRatioRatio
Tier 1 capital (to average assets):
PlainsCapital$1,405,16410.26%4.0%5.0%
Hilltop1,900,70111.47%4.0%N/A
Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets):
PlainsCapital1,405,16414.98%7.0%6.5%
Hilltop1,900,70118.23%7.0%N/A
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets):
PlainsCapital1,405,16414.98%8.5%8.0%
Hilltop1,900,70118.23%8.5%N/A
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets):
PlainsCapital1,492,57615.91%10.5%10.0%
Hilltop2,187,65220.98%10.5%N/A

We discuss regulatory capital requirements in more detail in Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements, as well as under the caption “Government Supervision and Regulation — Corporate — Capital Adequacy Requirements and BASEL III” set forth in Part I, Item I. of this Annual Report.

Banking Segment

Within our banking segment, our primary uses of cash are for customer withdrawals and extensions of credit as well as our borrowing costs and other operating expenses. Our corporate treasury group is responsible for continuously monitoring our liquidity position to ensure that our assets and liabilities are managed in a manner that will meet our short-term and long-term cash requirements. Our goal is to manage our liquidity position in a manner such that we can meet our customers’ short-term and long-term deposit withdrawals and anticipated and unanticipated increases in loan demand without penalizing earnings. Funds invested in short-term marketable instruments, the continuous maturing of other interest-earning assets, cash flows from self-liquidating investments such as mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, the possible sale of available for sale securities, and the ability to securitize certain types of loans provide sources of liquidity from an asset perspective. The liability base provides sources of liquidity through deposits and the maturity structure of short-term borrowed funds. For short-term liquidity needs, we utilize federal fund lines of credit with correspondent banks, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, borrowings from the Federal Reserve and borrowings under lines of credit with other financial institutions. For intermediate liquidity needs, we utilize advances from the FHLB. To supply liquidity over the longer term, we have access to brokered time deposits, term loans at the FHLB and borrowings under lines of credit with other financial institutions.

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The above sources of liquidity allow the banking segment to meet increased liquidity demands without adversely affecting daily operations. The Bank’s borrowing capacity through access to secured funding sources is summarized in the following table (in millions).

December 31,
20222021
FHLB capacity$4,139$4,221
Investment portfolio (available)1,6061,478
Fed deposits (excess daily requirements)1,3322,686
$7,077$8,385

As noted in the table above, the Bank’s available liquidity position and borrowing capacity at December 31, 2022 and 2021 continued to be at a heightened level. The Bank targets available liquidity from collateralized sources of between approximately $5 billion and $6 billion. Available liquidity does not include borrowing capacity available through the discount window at the Federal Reserve.

Within our banking segment, deposit flows are affected by the level of market interest rates, the interest rates and products offered by competitors, the volatility of equity markets and other factors. An economic recovery and improved commercial real estate investment outlook may result in an outflow of deposits at an accelerated pace as customers utilize such available funds for expanded operations and investment opportunities. The Bank regularly evaluates its deposit products and pricing structures relative to the market to maintain competitiveness over time. Currently, the Bank is facing significant competition from bank and non-bank competitors for its deposit base and expects that its interest expense on certain deposits will continue to increase during 2023 as customers seek higher yields on deposits.

The Bank’s 15 largest depositors, excluding Hilltop and Hilltop Securities, collectively accounted for 8.93% of the Bank’s total deposits, and the Bank’s five largest depositors, excluding Hilltop and Hilltop Securities, collectively accounted for 4.63% of the Bank’s total deposits at December 31, 2022. The loss of one or more of our largest Bank customers, or a significant decline in our deposit balances due to ordinary course fluctuations related to these customers’ businesses, could adversely affect our liquidity and might require us to raise deposit rates to attract new deposits, purchase federal funds or borrow funds on a short-term basis to replace such deposits.

Broker-Dealer Segment

The Hilltop Broker-Dealers rely on their equity capital, short-term bank borrowings, interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing client credit balances, correspondent deposits, securities lending arrangements, repurchase agreement financing, commercial paper issuances and other payables to finance their assets and operations, subject to their respective compliance with broker-dealer net capital and customer protection rules. At December 31, 2022, Hilltop Securities had credit arrangements with three unaffiliated banks, with maximum aggregate commitments of up to $500.0 million. These credit arrangements are used to finance securities owned, securities held for correspondent accounts, receivables in customer margin accounts and underwriting activities. These credit arrangements are provided on an “as offered” basis and are not committed lines of credit. In addition, Hilltop Securities has committed revolving credit facilities with three unaffiliated banks, with aggregate availability of up to $250.0 million. At December 31, 2022, Hilltop Securities had $57.5 million in borrowings under its credit arrangements and had no borrowings under its credit facilities.

Hilltop Securities uses the net proceeds (after deducting related issuance expenses) from the sale of two commercial paper programs for general corporate purposes, including working capital and the funding of a portion of its securities inventories. The commercial paper notes (“CP Notes”) may be issued with maturities of 14 days to 270 days from the date of issuance. The CP Notes are issued under two separate programs, Series 2019-1 CP Notes and Series 2019-2 CP Notes, in maximum aggregate amounts of $300 million and $200 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, the weighted average maturity of the CP Notes was 138 days at a rate of 4.96%, with a weighted average remaining life of 65 days. At December 31, 2022, the aggregate amount outstanding under these secured arrangements was $217.6 million, which was collateralized by securities held for Hilltop Securities accounts valued at $239.4 million.

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Mortgage Origination Segment

PrimeLending funds the mortgage loans it originates through a warehouse line of credit maintained with the Bank which had a total commitment of $2.0 billion, of which $859 million was drawn at December 31, 2022. PrimeLending sells substantially all mortgage loans it originates to various investors in the secondary market, historically with the majority with servicing released. As these mortgage loans are sold in the secondary market, PrimeLending pays down its warehouse line of credit with the Bank. In addition, PrimeLending has an available line of credit with an unaffiliated bank of up to $1.0 million, of which no borrowings were drawn at December 31, 2022.

PrimeLending owns a 100% membership interest in PrimeLending Ventures Management, LLC (“Ventures Management”) which holds a controlling ownership interest in and is the managing member of certain ABAs. At December 31, 2022, these ABAs had combined available lines of credit totaling $115 million, $40 million of which was with a single unaffiliated bank, and the remaining $75.0 million of which was with the Bank. At December 31, 2022, Ventures Management had outstanding borrowings of $29.0 million, all of which was with the Bank.

Other Material Contractual Obligations, Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Commitments and Guarantees

The following table presents information regarding other material contractual obligations at December 31, 2022 not previously discussed (in thousands). Payments related to leases are based on actual payments specified in the underlying contracts, and the table below includes all leases that had commenced as of December 31, 2022.

Payments Due by Period
More than 13 Years or
1 yearYear but LessMore but Less5 Years
or Lessthan 3 Yearsthan 5 Yearsor MoreTotal
Finance lease obligations$1,280$2,049$1,261$149$4,739
Operating lease obligations35,12347,67229,44628,765141,006
Total$36,403$49,721$30,707$28,914$145,745

Additionally, in the normal course of business, we enter into various transactions, which, in accordance with GAAP, are not included in our consolidated balance sheets. We enter into these transactions to meet the financing needs of our customers. These transactions include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit, which involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in our consolidated balance sheets.

Banking Segment

We enter into contractual loan commitments to extend credit, normally with fixed expiration dates or termination clauses, at specified rates and for specific purposes. Substantially all of our commitments to extend credit are contingent upon customers maintaining specific credit standards until the time of loan funding. We minimize our exposure to loss under these commitments by subjecting them to credit approval and monitoring procedures. We assess the credit risk associated with certain commitments to extend credit and have recorded a liability related to such credit risk in our consolidated financial statements.

Standby letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by us 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, we would be required to fund the commitment. The maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make is represented by the contractual amount of the commitment. If the commitment is funded, we would be entitled to seek recovery from the customer. Our policies generally require that standby letter of credit arrangements contain security and debt covenants similar to those contained in loan agreements.

In the aggregate, the Bank had outstanding unused commitments to extend credit of $2.5 billion at December 31, 2022 and outstanding financial and performance standby letters of credit of $75.8 million at December 31, 2022.

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Broker-Dealer Segment

The Hilltop Broker-Dealers execute, settle and finance various securities transactions that may expose the Hilltop Broker-Dealers to off-balance sheet risk in the event that a customer or counterparty does not fulfill its contractual obligations. Examples of such transactions include the sale of securities not yet purchased by customers or for the account of the Hilltop Broker-Dealers, use of derivatives to support certain non-profit housing organization clients, clearing agreements between the Hilltop Broker-Dealers and various clearinghouses and broker-dealers, secured financing arrangements that involve pledged securities, and when-issued underwriting and purchase commitments.

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

Our consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which presently require us 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 our operations is reflected in increased operating costs. Historically, changes in interest rates affect the financial condition of a financial institution to a far greater degree than changes in the inflation rate. However, inflation rose sharply at the end of 2021 and has continued rising in 2022 at levels not seen for over 40 years. Inflationary pressures are currently expected to remain elevated throughout 2023. Furthermore, a prolonged period of inflation could cause our costs, including compensation, occupancy and software costs, to increase, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

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 our control, including changes in the expected rate of inflation, the influence of general and local economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities.

Critical Accounting Estimates

We have identified certain accounting estimates which involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. Our accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. Actual amounts and values as of the balance sheet dates may be materially different than the amounts and values reported due to the inherent uncertainty in the estimation process. Also, future amounts and values could differ materially from those estimates due to changes in values and circumstances after the balance sheet date. The critical accounting estimates, as summarized below, which we believe to be the most critical in preparing our consolidated financial statements relate to allowance for credit losses, mortgage servicing rights asset, goodwill and identifiable intangible assets and mortgage loan indemnification liability.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The allowance for credit losses for loans represents management’s estimate of all expected credit losses over the expected contractual life of our existing loan portfolio. Determining the appropriateness of the allowance is complex and requires judgment by management about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Subsequent evaluations of the then existing loan portfolio, in light of the factors then prevailing, may result in significant changes in the allowance for credit losses in those future periods.

We employ a disciplined process and methodology to establish our allowance for credit losses that has two basic components: first, an asset-specific component involving individual loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans and the measurement of expected credit losses for such individual loans; and second, a pooled component for estimated expected credit losses for pools of loans that share similar risk characteristics.

The credit loss estimation process for both on and off-balance sheet exposures involves procedures to appropriately consider the unique characteristics of our loan portfolio segments, which are further disaggregated into loan classes, the level at which credit risk is monitored. When computing allowance levels, credit loss assumptions are estimated using

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models that analyze loans according to credit risk ratings, loss history, delinquency status and other credit trends and risk characteristics, including current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. Significant variables that impact the modeled losses across our loan portfolios are the U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, growth rates and unemployment rate assumptions. Future factors and forecasts may result in significant changes in the allowance and provision for (reversal of) credit losses in those future periods.

Credit quality is assessed and monitored by evaluating various attributes, such as credit risk ratings, historic loss experience, past due status and other credit trends and risk characteristics, including current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. The results of these continuous credit quality evaluations help form our underwriting criteria for new loans and also factor into the process for estimation of the allowance for credit losses. The allowance level is influenced by loan volumes, loan asset quality, delinquency status, historic loss experience and other conditions influencing loss expectations, such as reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions. The allowance for credit losses will primarily reflect estimated losses for pools of loans that share similar risk characteristics, but will also consider individual loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans.

In estimating the component of the allowance for credit losses for loans that share similar risk characteristics with other loans, such loans are segregated into loan classes. Loans are designated into loan classes based on loans pooled by product types and similar risk characteristics or areas of risk concentration. In determining the allowance for credit losses, we derive an estimated credit loss assumption from a model that categorizes loan pools based on loan type and internal risk rating or delinquency bucket.

When a loan moves to a substandard non-accrual or worse risk rating grade, it is removed from the collective evaluation allowance methodology and is subject to individual evaluation. A problem asset report is prepared for each loan in excess of a predetermined threshold and the net realizable value of the loan is determined. This value is compared to the appropriate loan basis (depending on whether the loan is a PCD loan or a non-PCD loan) to determine the required allowance for credit loss reserve amount.

Estimating the timing and amounts of future losses is subject to significant management judgment as these loss cash flows rely upon estimates such as default rates, loss severities, collateral valuations, the amounts and timing of principal payments (including any expected prepayments) or other factors that are reflective of current or future expected conditions. These estimates, in turn, depend on the duration of current overall economic conditions, industry, borrower, or portfolio specific conditions, the expected outcome of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, as well as, in certain circumstances, other economic factors, including the level of current and future real estate prices. All of these estimates and assumptions require significant management judgment and certain assumptions that are highly subjective. Model imprecision also exists in the allowance for credit losses estimation process due to the inherent time lag of available industry information and differences between expected and actual outcomes.

The provision for (reversal of) credit losses recorded through earnings, and reduced by the charge-off of loan amounts, net of recoveries, is the amount necessary to maintain the allowance for credit losses at the amount of expected credit losses inherent within the loans held for investment portfolio. The amount of expense and the corresponding level of allowance for credit losses for loans are based on our evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio based on historical loss experience, reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other significant qualitative and quantitative factors. Refer to “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” and Notes 1 and 7 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the methodology used in establishing the allowance and changes during the relevant period in the provision for (reversal of) credit losses.

Mortgage Servicing Rights Asset

The Company measures its residential mortgage servicing rights asset using the fair value method. Under the fair value method, the retained MSR assets are carried in the balance sheet at fair value and the changes in fair value are reported in earnings within other noninterest income in the period in which the change occurs. Retained MSR assets are measured at fair value as of the date of sale of the related mortgage loan. Subsequent fair value measurements are determined using a discounted cash flow model. In order to determine the fair value of the MSR asset, the present value of expected future

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cash flows is estimated. Assumptions used include market discount rates, anticipated prepayment speeds, delinquency and foreclosure rates, and ancillary fee income.

The model assumptions and the MSR asset fair value estimates are compared to observable trades of similar portfolios as well as to MSR asset broker valuations and industry surveys, as available. The expected life of the loan can vary from management’s estimates due to prepayments by borrowers, especially when rates fall. Prepayments in excess of management’s estimates would adversely impact the recorded value of the MSR asset. The value of the MSR asset is also dependent upon the discount rate used in the model, which is based on current market rates and is reviewed by management on an ongoing basis. An increase in the discount rate would result in a decrease in the value of the MSR asset. Refer to Notes 1, 4 and 11 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the methodology used in establishing the MSR asset and changes during the relevant period thereof.

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets

Goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets are initially recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Goodwill and other intangible assets having an indefinite useful life are not amortized for financial statement purposes. In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the goodwill or other identifiable intangible assets may be impaired, an interim impairment test would be required. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives. We perform required annual impairment tests of our goodwill and other intangible assets as of October 1st for our reporting units.

The goodwill impairment test requires us to make judgments and assumptions. The test consists of estimating the fair value of each reporting unit based on valuation techniques, including a discounted cash flow model using revenue and profit forecasts and recent industry transaction and trading multiples of our peers, and comparing those estimated fair values with the carrying values of the assets and liabilities of each reporting unit, which includes the allocated goodwill. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, we will recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, any loss recognized will not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

This evaluation includes multiple assumptions, including estimated discounted cash flows and other estimates that may change over time. If future discounted cash flows become less than those projected by us, future impairment charges may become necessary that could have a materially adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition in the period in which the write-off occurs.

Mortgage Loan Indemnification Liability

The mortgage origination segment may be responsible for errors or omissions relating to its representations and warranties that the mortgage loans sold meet certain requirements, including representations as to underwriting standards and the validity of certain borrower representations in connection with a mortgage loan. If determined to be at fault, the mortgage origination segment either repurchases the mortgage loans from the investors or reimburses the investors’ losses (a “make-whole” payment). The mortgage origination segment has established an indemnification liability for such probable losses based upon, among other things, the level of current unresolved repurchase requests, the volume of estimated probable future repurchase requests, our ability to cure the defects identified in the repurchase requests, and the severity of an estimated loss upon repurchase. Although we consider this reserve to be appropriate, there can be no assurance that the reserve will prove to be appropriate over time to cover ultimate losses due to conditions outside of our control such as unanticipated adverse changes in the economy and historical loss patterns, discrete events adversely affecting specific borrowers or industries, or actions taken by institutions or investors. The impact of such matters will be considered in the reserving process when known. Refer to “Segment Results from Continuing Operations—Mortgage Origination Segment” and Notes 1 and 20 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the methodology used in establishing the mortgage loan indemnification liability and changes during the relevant period thereof.

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FY 2021 10-K MD&A

SEC filing source: 0001558370-22-001187.

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2022-02-15. Report date: 2021-12-31.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion is intended to help the reader understand our results of operations and financial condition and is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto commencing on page F-1. In addition to historical financial information, the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our results and the timing of selected events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those discussed under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”

Unless the context otherwise indicates, all references in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, or MD&A, to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “ours” or similar words are to Hilltop Holdings Inc. and its direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, references to “Hilltop” refer solely to Hilltop Holdings Inc., references to “PCC” refer to PlainsCapital Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop), references to “Securities Holdings” refer to Hilltop Securities Holdings LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop), references to “Hilltop Securities” refer to Hilltop Securities Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Securities Holdings), references to “Momentum Independent Network” refer to Momentum Independent Network Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Securities Holdings), Hilltop Securities and Momentum Independent Network are collectively referred to as the “Hilltop Broker-Dealers,” references to the “Bank” refer to PlainsCapital Bank (a wholly owned subsidiary of PCC), references to “FNB” refer to First National Bank, references to “SWS” refer to the former SWS Group, Inc., references to “PrimeLending” refer to PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank) and its subsidiaries as a whole, references to “NLC” refer to National Lloyds Corporation (formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop) and its wholly owned subsidiaries.

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OVERVIEW

We are a financial holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. Our primary line of business is to provide business and consumer banking services from offices located throughout Texas through the Bank. We also provide an array of financial products and services through our broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments. The following includes additional details regarding the financial products and services provided by each of our primary business units.

PCC. PCC is a financial holding company that provides, through its subsidiaries, traditional banking and wealth, investment and treasury management services primarily in Texas and residential mortgage loans throughout the United States.

Securities Holdings. Securities Holdings is a holding company that provides, through its subsidiaries, investment banking and other related financial services, including municipal advisory, sales, trading and underwriting of taxable and tax-exempt fixed income securities, clearing, securities lending, structured finance and retail brokerage services throughout the United States.

The following historical consolidated data for the periods indicated has been derived from our historical consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report (dollars in thousands, except per share data and weighted average shares outstanding).

202120202019
Statement of Operations Data:
Net interest income$422,982$424,166$438,979
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses(58,213)96,4917,206
Total noninterest income1,410,2751,690,4801,062,817
Total noninterest expense1,387,3981,453,8031,211,889
Income from continuing operations before income taxes504,072564,352282,701
Income tax expense117,976133,07163,714
Income from continuing operations before income taxes386,096431,281218,987
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes38,39613,990
Net income386,096469,677232,977
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest11,60121,8417,686
Income attributable to Hilltop$374,495$447,836$225,291
Per Share Data:
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations$4.61$4.58$2.29
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding$81,173$89,304$92,394
Book value per common share$31.95$28.28$23.20
Tangible book value per common share (1)$28.37$24.77$19.65
Cash dividends declared per common share$0.48$0.36$0.32
Dividend payout ratio (2)10.34%7.18%13.12%
Balance Sheet Data:
Total assets of continuing operations$18,689,080$16,944,264$14,924,019
Cash and due from banks2,823,1381,062,560433,626
Securities3,046,5002,468,5441,987,561
Loans held for sale1,878,1902,788,3862,106,361
Loans held for investment, net of unearned income7,879,9047,693,1417,381,400
Allowance for credit losses(91,352)(149,044)(61,136)
Total deposits12,818,07711,242,3199,032,214
Notes payable387,904381,987256,269
Total stockholders' equity2,549,2032,350,6472,128,796
Capital Ratios (3):
Common equity to assets ratio13.50%13.72%13.86%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (1)12.17%12.22%12.00%
Column 1Column 2
(1)For a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure, see “—Reconciliation and Management’s Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
Column 1Column 2
(2)Dividend payout ratio is defined as cash dividends declared per common share divided by basic earnings per common share.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Ratios and financial data presented on a consolidated basis and includes discontinued operations for 2020 and 2019 periods and those assets and liabilities classified as discontinued as of December 31, 2019.

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Income from continuing operations before income taxes during 2021 included the following contributions from our reportable business segments.

Column 1Column 2Column 3
The banking segment contributed $282.9 million of income before income taxes during 2021;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
The broker-dealer segment contributed $43.7 million of income before income taxes during 2021; and
Column 1Column 2Column 3
The mortgage origination segment contributed $235.5 million of income before income taxes during 2021.

During 2021, we paid an aggregate of $123.6 million to repurchase shares of our common stock, and declared and paid total common dividends of $39.0 million.

On January 27, 2022, our board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per common share, payable on February 28, 2022 to all common stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 15, 2022.

Reconciliation and Management’s Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We present certain measures in our selected financial data that are not measures of financial performance recognized by GAAP. “Tangible book value per common share” is defined as our total stockholders’ equity reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by total common shares outstanding. “Tangible common equity to tangible assets” is defined as our total stockholders’ equity reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by total assets reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets. These measures are important to investors interested in changes from period to period in tangible common equity per share exclusive of changes in intangible assets. For companies such as ours that have engaged in business combinations, purchase accounting can result in the recording of significant amounts of goodwill and other intangible assets related to those transactions.

You should not view this disclosure as a substitute for results determined in accordance with GAAP, and our disclosure is not necessarily comparable to that of other companies that use non-GAAP measures.

The following table reconciles these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures, “book value per common share” and “equity to total assets” (dollars in thousands, except per share data).

December 31,
202120202019
Book value per common share$31.95$28.28$23.20
Effect of goodwill and intangible assets per share(3.58)(3.51)(3.55)
Tangible book value per common share$28.37$24.77$19.65
Hilltop stockholders’ equity$2,522,668$2,323,939$2,103,039
Less: goodwill and intangible assets, net282,731287,811321,590
Tangible common equity$2,239,937$2,036,128$1,781,449
Total assets$18,689,080$16,944,264$15,172,448
Less: goodwill and intangible assets, net282,731287,811321,590
Tangible assets$18,406,349$16,656,453$14,850,858
Equity to assets13.50%13.72%13.86%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets12.17%12.22%12.00%

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Recent Developments

COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic and related governmental control measures severely disrupted financial markets and overall economic conditions throughout 2020. While the impact of the pandemic and the uncertainties have remained into 2022, significant progress associated with COVID-19 vaccination levels in the United States has resulted in easing of restrictive measures in the United States even as additional variants have emerged. Further, the U.S. federal government enacted policies to provide fiscal stimulus to the economy and relief to those affected by the pandemic, with the stimulus intended to bolster household finances as well as those of small businesses, states and municipalities. Throughout the pandemic, we have taken a number of precautionary steps to safeguard our business and our employees from COVID-19, including, but not limited to, banking by appointment, implementing employee travel restrictions and telecommuting arrangements, while maintaining business continuity so that we can continue to deliver service to and meet the demands of our clients. In 2021, we returned a majority of our employees to their respective office locations beginning in the second quarter of 2021 based initially on a rotational team schedule to better ensure that appropriate social distancing measures were followed, and with limited exceptions due to the emergence of new variants of the virus, have generally returned to pre-pandemic work arrangements with available hybrid options for designated roles. We are continuing to monitor and assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a regular basis.

In light of the extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets beginning in March 2020 resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and its negative impact on the economy, we took a number of precautionary actions beginning in March 2020 to enhance our financial flexibility, protect capital, minimize losses and ensure target liquidity levels. As a result of the short-term rate adjustments by the Federal Open Markets Committee (“FOMC”) and the stressed economic outlook during March 2020, mortgage rates fell to historically low levels. Given our exposure to the mortgage market, this precipitous decline in rates resulted in significant growth in mortgage originations at both PrimeLending and Hilltop Securities through its partnerships with certain housing finance authorities. To improve our already strong liquidity position, we raised brokered and other wholesale funding to support the enhanced mortgage activity. To meet increased liquidity demands, we raised brokered deposits during 2020 that have a remaining balance of approximately $228 million at December 31, 2021, down from approximately $731 million at December 31, 2020. Further, beginning in March 2020, additional deposits were swept from Hilltop Securities into the Bank. Since June 30, 2020, given the continued strong cash and liquidity levels at the Bank, the total funds swept from Hilltop Securities into the Bank was reduced, and was approximately $800 million as of December 31, 2021.

Asset Valuation

At each reporting date between annual impairment tests, we consider potential indicators of impairment. Given the current economic uncertainties surrounding COVID-19, we considered whether the events and circumstances resulted in it being more likely than not that the fair value of any reporting unit and other intangible assets were less than their respective carrying value. Impairment indicators considered comprised the condition of the economy and financial services industry; government intervention and regulatory updates; the impact of recent events to financial performance and cost factors of the reporting unit; performance of our stock and other relevant events.

Given the potential impacts as a result of economic uncertainties associated with the pandemic, actual results may differ materially from our current estimates as the scope of such impacts evolves or if the duration of business disruptions is longer than currently anticipated. The Company further considered the amount by which fair value exceeded book value in the most recent quantitative analysis and sensitivities performed. At the conclusion of the annual assessment, the Company determined that as of October 1, 2021 it was more likely than not that the fair value of goodwill and other intangible assets exceeded their respective carrying values. We continue to monitor developments regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and measures implemented in response to the pandemic, market capitalization, overall economic conditions and any other triggering events or circumstances that may indicate an impairment in the future.

To the extent a sustained decline in our stock price or the occurrence of what management would deem to be a triggering event that could, under certain circumstances, cause us to perform impairment tests on our goodwill and other intangible assets, and result in an impairment charge being recorded for that period. In the event that we conclude that all or a portion of our goodwill and other intangible assets are impaired, a non-cash charge for the respective amount of such impairment would be recorded to earnings. Such a charge would have no impact on tangible capital or regulatory capital.

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Loan Portfolio

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (the “PPP/HCE Act”) were passed in March 2020, which were intended to provide emergency relief to several groups and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the numerous provisions contained in the CARES Act was the creation of a $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), which was later expanded by an additional $310 billion, that provides federal government loan forgiveness for Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Section 7(a) loans for small businesses, which may include our customers, to pay up to eight weeks of employee compensation and other basic expenses such as electric and telephone bills. PPP loans have: (a) an interest rate of 1.0%; (b) a two-year loan term to maturity; and (c) principal and interest payments deferred for six months from the date of disbursement. Further, the CARES Act and subsequent legislation allowed the Bank to suspend the troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) requirements for certain loan modifications to be categorized as a TDR through January 1, 2022.

Starting in March 2020, the Bank implemented several actions to better support our impacted banking clients and allow for loan modifications such as principal and/or interest payment deferrals, participation in the PPP as an SBA preferred lender and personal banking assistance including waived fees, increased daily spending limits and suspension of residential foreclosure activities. The COVID-19 payment deferment programs allow for a deferral of principal and/or interest payments with such deferred principal payments due and payable on the maturity date of the existing loan. The Bank’s actions during 2020 included approval of approximately $1.0 billion in COVID-19 related loan modifications as of December 31, 2020.

During 2021, the Bank has continued to support its impacted banking clients through the approval of COVID-19 related loan modifications, which resulted in an additional $16 million of new COVID-19 related loan modifications during 2021. The portfolio of active deferrals that have not reached the end of their deferral period was approximately $4 million as of December 31, 2021. While the majority of the portfolio of COVID-19 related loan modifications no longer require deferral, such loans represent elevated risk, and therefore management continues to monitor these loans.

While all industries could experience adverse impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, certain of our loan portfolio industry sectors and subsectors, including real estate collateralized by office buildings, have an increased level of risk. The following table provides information on those loans held for investment balances, by portfolio industry sector, including collectively evaluated allowance for credit losses, that include active COVID-19 payment deferrals (dollars in thousands).

Allowance forAllowance for
ActiveCredit LossesCredit Losses
Active90 DayClassifiedAllowanceas a % ofas a % of
90 DayInterest andTotalandforTotalClassified
PrincipalPrincipalActive ModificationsCriticizedCreditActiveand Criticized
December 31, 2021DeferralsDeferrals($)(#)LoansLossesModificationsLoans
Hotel$$$$$%%
Restaurants%%
Transportation & Warehousing%%
1-4 Family Residential3,5733,573303,080541.5%1.8%
Retail%%
Real Estate & Rental & Leasing%%
Healthcare and Social Assistance%%
All Other%%
$$3,573$3,57330$3,080$541.5%1.8%

In addition, the Bank’s loan portfolio includes collateralized loans extended to businesses that depend on the energy industry, including those within the exploration and production, field services, pipeline construction and transportation sectors. Crude oil prices have increased since historical lows observed in 2020, but uncertainty remains as economies continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination programs evolve, and future supply and demand for oil are influenced by a return to business travel, new energy policies and government regulation, and the pace of transition towards renewable energy resources. At December 31, 2021, the Bank’s energy loan exposure was approximately $75 million of loans held for investment with unfunded commitment balances of approximately $39 million. The allowance for credit losses on the Bank’s energy portfolio was $0.3 million, or 0.4% of loans held for investment at December 31, 2021.

As noted above, the Bank’s actions during the second quarter of 2020 and again during the first and second quarters of 2021 included supporting our impacted banking clients through the PPP effort. These efforts included approval and funding of over 4,100 PPP loans, with approximately $78 million outstanding at December 31, 2021. The PPP loans made by the Bank are guaranteed by the SBA and, if used by the borrower for authorized purposes, may be fully forgiven. On October 2, 2020, the SBA began approving PPP forgiveness applications and remitting forgiveness payments to PPP lenders for PPP borrowers. Through February 11, 2022, the SBA had approved approximately 3,700 initial and second round PPP forgiveness

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applications from the Bank totaling approximately $840 million, with PPP loans of approximately $4 million currently pending SBA review and approval.

Refer to the discussion in the “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” section that follows for more details regarding the significant assumptions and estimates involved in estimating credit losses given the economic uncertainties associated with COVID-19.

Outlook

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted financial markets and overall economic conditions, and is expected to continue to have implications on our business and operations. The extent of the impact of the pandemic on our operational and financial performance for 2022 is currently uncertain and will depend on certain developments outside of our control, including, among others, the ongoing distribution and effectiveness of vaccines, the emergence of new variants of the virus, government stimulus, the ultimate impact of the pandemic on our customers and clients, and additional, or extended, federal, state and local government orders and regulations that might be imposed in response to the pandemic.

Additionally, our balance sheet, operating results and certain metrics during 2021 reflected strong credit quality, significant reversals of credit losses, heightened capital and liquidity levels, and low mortgage interest rates. The extent of the impact on 2022 of expected headwinds including tight housing inventories on mortgage volumes, a return to normalized credit loss exposures, declining deposit balances, the timing and magnitude of interest rate changes, and inflationary pressures associated with compensation, occupancy and software costs within our business segments is currently uncertain.

See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for additional discussion of the potential adverse impact of COVID-19 on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Factors Affecting Results of Operations

As a financial institution providing products and services through our banking, broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments, we are directly affected by general economic and market conditions, many of which are beyond our control and unpredictable. A key factor impacting our results of operations includes changes in the level of interest rates in addition to twists in the shape of the yield curve with the magnitude and direction of the impact varying across the different lines of business. Other factors impacting our results of operations include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in volume and price levels of securities, inflation, political events, investor confidence, investor participation levels, legal, regulatory, and compliance requirements and competition. All of these factors have the potential to impact our financial position, operating results and liquidity. In addition, the recent economic and political environment has led to legislative and regulatory initiatives, both enacted and proposed, that could substantially change the regulation of the financial services industry and may significantly impact us.

Factors Affecting Comparability of Results of Operations

NLC Sale

On June 30, 2020, we completed the sale of all of the outstanding capital stock of NLC, which comprised the operations of our former insurance segment, for cash proceeds of $154.1 million. During 2020, Hilltop recognized an aggregate gain associated with this transaction of $36.8 million, net of $5.1 million in transaction costs and was subject to post-closing adjustments. The resulting book gain from this sale transaction was not recognized for tax purposes due to the excess tax basis over book basis being greater than the recorded book gain. Any tax loss related to this transaction is deemed disallowed pursuant to the rules under the Internal Revenue Code. We also entered into an agreement at closing to refrain for a specified period from certain activities that compete with the business of NLC. As a result, NLC’s results and its assets and liabilities have been presented as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements, and we no longer have an insurance segment. Unless otherwise noted, for purposes of this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, “consolidated” refers to our consolidated financial position and consolidated results of operations, including discontinued operations and assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations.

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Subordinated Notes due 2030 and 2035

On May 7, 2020, we completed a public offering of $50 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due May 15, 2030 (the “2030 Subordinated Notes”) and $150 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due May 15, 2035 (the “2035 Subordinated Notes”). We collectively refer to the 2030 Subordinated Notes and the 2035 Subordinated Notes as the “Subordinated Notes”. The price for the Subordinated Notes was 100% of the principal amount of the Subordinated Notes. The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and fees and expenses of $3.4 million, were $196.6 million. We intend to use the net proceeds of the offerings for general corporate purposes.

The 2030 Subordinated Notes and the 2035 Subordinated Notes will mature on May 15, 2030 and May 15, 2035, respectively. We may redeem the Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time, subject to obtaining Federal Reserve approval, beginning with the interest payment date of May 15, 2025 for the 2030 Subordinated Notes and beginning with the interest payment date of May 15, 2030 for the 2035 Subordinated Notes, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Subordinated Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the date of redemption.

The 2030 Subordinated Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.75% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears commencing on November 15, 2020. The interest rate for the 2030 Subordinated Notes will reset quarterly beginning May 15, 2025 to an interest rate, per year, equal to the then-current benchmark rate, which is expected to be three-month term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) rate, plus 5.68%, payable quarterly in arrears. The 2035 Subordinated Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.125% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears commencing on November 15, 2020. The interest rate for the 2035 Subordinated Notes will reset quarterly beginning May 15, 2030 to an interest rate, per year, equal to the then-current benchmark rate, which is expected to be three-month term SOFR rate, plus 5.80%, payable quarterly in arrears.

LIBOR

In July 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced that it intends to cease compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. Most recently in March 2021, the FCA and the Intercontinental Exchange (“ICE”) Benchmark Administration concurrently confirmed their original intention to stop requesting banks to submit the rates required to calculate LIBOR after the 2021 calendar year and additionally announced firm target dates for the phase out of various LIBOR tenors. Pursuant to the announcement, one week and two-month LIBOR ceased to be published on December 31, 2021, and all remaining USD LIBOR tenors will cease to be published or lose representativeness immediately after June 30, 2023.

Working groups comprised of various regulators and other industry groups have been formed in the United States and other countries in order to provide guidance on this topic. In particular, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee (“ARRC”) has proposed that the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) is the rate that represents best practice as the alternative to LIBOR for use in derivatives and other financial contracts that are currently indexed to LIBOR. The ARRC has also published recommended fallback language for LIBOR-linked financial instruments, among numerous other areas of guidance.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance in March 2020 intended to provide temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the GAAP guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from LIBOR and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. Additionally, the FASB issued specific accounting guidance that permits the use of the Overnight Index Swap rate based on the SOFR to be designated as a benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes.

Certain loans we originated bear interest at a floating rate based on LIBOR. We also pay interest on certain borrowings and are counterparty to derivative agreements that are based on LIBOR and have existing contracts with payment calculations that use LIBOR as the reference rate. The cessation of publication of LIBOR will create various risks surrounding the financial, operational, compliance and legal aspects associated with changing certain elements of existing contracts.

ARRC has proposed a paced market transition plan to SOFR from LIBOR, and organizations are currently working on industry-wide and company-specific transition plans as it relates to derivatives and cash markets exposed to LIBOR. The ARRC has formally recommended SOFR as its preferred alternative rate for LIBOR. However, at this time, no consensus exists as to what rate or rates may become acceptable alternatives to LIBOR and it is impossible to predict the effect of any such alternatives on the value of LIBOR-based securities and variable rate loans, or other securities or financial arrangements, given LIBOR’s role in determining market interest rates globally.

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We have completed our targeted assessment of exposures across the organization associated with the migration away from LIBOR and have transitioned to the impact assessment and implementation stages. In light of the above described recent changes to the LIBOR phase out dates being pushed out to 2023, we have begun taking necessary actions, including negotiating certain of our agreements based on alternative benchmark rates that have been established. Since the third quarter of 2020, PrimeLending has been originating conventional adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM, loan products utilizing a SOFR rate with terms consistent with government-sponsored enterprise, or GSE, guidelines. In addition, the Bank’s management team continues to work with its commercial relationships that have LIBOR-based contracts maturing after 2021 to amend terms and establish an alternative benchmark rate. We also continue to evaluate the impacts of the LIBOR phase-out and transition requirements as it pertains to contracts, models and systems. To date, an immaterial amount of expenses have been incurred as a result of our efforts; however, in the future we may incur additional expenses as we finalize the transition of our systems and processes away from LIBOR.

Brokered Deposits

In December 2020, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) finalized revisions to its rules and prior guidance regarding brokered deposits (the “Revisions”). The Revisions are intended to modernize the FDIC's framework for regulating brokered deposits and ensure that the classification of a deposit as brokered appropriately reflects changes in the banking landscape. In addition, the Revisions are intended to modify the interest rate restrictions applicable to certain depository institutions and clarify the application of the brokered deposit requirements to non-maturity deposits. The Revisions became effective on April 1, 2021, but full compliance is not required during a transitionary period ending January 1, 2022. We have evaluated the Revisions and published FDIC guidance and, after consulting with the FDIC, expect that, effective January 1, 2022, we will continue to treat deposits swept to the banking segment from the broker-dealer segment as non-brokered. At that time, the cost of these sweep deposits will be based on a current market rate of interest rather than a per account fee.

Company Background

From January 2007 until November 2012, our primary operations were limited to providing fire and homeowners insurance to low value dwellings and manufactured homes primarily in Texas and other areas of the southern United States through NLC’s wholly owned insurance subsidiaries. As previously discussed, on June 30, 2020, we completed the sale of all of the outstanding capital stock of NLC.

On November 30, 2012, we acquired PlainsCapital Corporation pursuant to a plan of merger whereby PlainsCapital Corporation merged with and into our wholly owned subsidiary (the “PlainsCapital Merger”), which continued as the surviving entity under the name “PlainsCapital Corporation”. Concurrent with the consummation of the PlainsCapital Merger, Hilltop became a financial holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.

On September 13, 2013 (the “Bank Closing Date”), the Bank assumed substantially all of the liabilities, including all of the deposits, and acquired substantially all of the assets of Edinburg, Texas-based FNB from the FDIC, as receiver, and reopened former branches of FNB acquired from the FDIC under the “PlainsCapital Bank” name (the “FNB Transaction”).

On January 1, 2015, we acquired SWS in a stock and cash transaction (the “SWS Merger”), whereby SWS’s broker-dealer subsidiaries became subsidiaries of Securities Holdings and SWS’s banking subsidiary, Southwest Securities, FSB, was merged into the Bank. On October 5, 2015, Southwest Securities, Inc. was renamed “Hilltop Securities Inc.”

On August 1, 2018, we acquired privately-held, Houston-based BORO in an all-cash transaction (“BORO Acquisition”). In connection with the BORO Acquisition, we merged BORO into the Bank, and all customer accounts were converted to the PlainsCapital Bank platform.

Segment Information

As previously discussed, on June 30, 2020, we completed the sale of all of the outstanding capital stock of NLC, which comprised the operations of the former insurance segment. As a result, insurance segment results and its assets and liabilities have been presented as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements, and we no longer have an insurance segment. Additional details are presented in Note 3, Discontinued Operations, in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.

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Following the above-noted sale of NLC, we have two primary business units within continuing operations, PCC (banking and mortgage origination) and Securities Holdings (broker-dealer). Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), our continuing operations business units are comprised of three reportable business segments organized primarily by the core products offered to the segments’ respective customers: banking, broker-dealer and mortgage origination. Consistent with our historical segment operating results, we anticipate that future revenues will be driven primarily from the banking segment, with the remainder being generated by our broker-dealer and mortgage origination segments. Operating results for the mortgage origination segment have historically been more volatile than operating results for the banking and broker-dealer segments.

The banking segment includes the operations of the Bank. The banking segment primarily provides business and consumer banking services from offices located throughout Texas and generates revenue from its portfolio of earning assets. The Bank’s results of operations are primarily dependent on net interest income. The Bank also derives revenue from other sources, including service charges on customer deposit accounts and trust fees.

The broker-dealer segment includes the operations of Securities Holdings, which operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries Hilltop Securities, Momentum Independent Network and Hilltop Securities Asset Management, LLC. The broker-dealer segment generates a majority of its revenues from fees and commissions earned from investment advisory and securities brokerage services. Hilltop Securities is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and a member of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Momentum Independent Network is an introducing broker-dealer that is also registered with the SEC and FINRA. Hilltop Securities, Momentum Independent Network and Hilltop Securities Asset Management, LLC are registered investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

The mortgage origination segment includes the operations of PrimeLending, which offers a variety of loan products and generates revenue predominantly from fees charged on the origination and servicing of loans and from selling these loans in the secondary market.

Corporate includes certain activities not allocated to specific business segments. These activities include holding company financing and investing activities, merchant banking investment opportunities, and management and administrative services to support the overall operations of the Company.

The eliminations of intercompany transactions are included in “All Other and Eliminations.” Additional information concerning our reportable segments is presented in Note 29, Segment and Related Information, in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.

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The following table presents certain information about the continuing operating results of our reportable segments (in thousands). This table serves as a basis for the discussion and analysis in the segment operating results sections that follow.

Year Ended December 31,Variance 2021 vs 2020Variance 2020 vs 2019
202120202019AmountPercentAmountPercent
Net interest income (expense):
Banking$406,524$390,871$379,258$15,6534$11,6133
Broker-Dealer43,29639,91251,3083,3848(11,396)(22)
Mortgage Origination(20,400)(10,489)(6,273)(9,911)(94)(4,216)(67)
Corporate(17,239)(14,192)(5,541)(3,047)(21)(8,651)(156)
All Other and Eliminations10,80118,06420,227(7,263)(40)(2,163)(11)
Hilltop Continuing Operations$422,982$424,166$438,979$(1,184)(0)$(14,813)(3)
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses:
Banking$(58,175)$96,326$7,280$(154,501)NM$89,046NM
Broker-Dealer(38)165(74)(203)NM239NM
Mortgage Origination--
Corporate--
All Other and Eliminations--
Hilltop Continuing Operations$(58,213)$96,491$7,206$(154,704)NM$89,285NM
Noninterest income:
Banking$45,113$41,376$41,753$3,7379$(377)(1)
Broker-Dealer381,125491,355404,411(110,230)(22)86,94421
Mortgage Origination986,9901,172,450634,992(185,460)(16)537,45885
Corporate9,1333,9452,1045,1881321,84188
All Other and Eliminations(12,086)(18,646)(20,443)6,560351,7979
Hilltop Continuing Operations$1,410,275$1,690,480$1,062,817$(280,205)(17)$627,66359
Noninterest expense:
Banking$226,915$232,447$231,524$(5,532)(2)$9230
Broker-Dealer380,798415,463366,031(34,665)(8)49,43214
Mortgage Origination731,056753,917563,998(22,861)(3)189,91934
Corporate50,50753,04050,968(2,533)(5)2,0724
All Other and Eliminations(1,878)(1,064)(632)(814)(77)(432)(68)
Hilltop Continuing Operations$1,387,398$1,453,803$1,211,889$(66,405)(5)$241,91420
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes:
Banking$282,897$103,474$182,207$179,423173$(78,733)(43)
Broker-Dealer43,661115,63989,762(71,978)(62)25,87729
Mortgage Origination235,534408,04464,721(172,510)(42)343,323530
Corporate(58,613)(63,287)(54,405)4,6747(8,882)(16)
All Other and Eliminations593482416111236616
Hilltop Continuing Operations$504,072$564,352$282,701$(60,280)(11)$281,651100

NMNot meaningful

Key Performance Indicators

We utilize several key indicators of financial condition and operating performance to evaluate the various aspects of our business. In addition to traditional financial metrics, such as revenue and growth trends, we monitor several other financial measures and non-financial operating metrics to help us evaluate growth trends, measure the adequacy of our capital based on regulatory reporting requirements, measure the effectiveness of our operations and assess operational efficiencies. These indicators change from time to time as the opportunities and challenges in our businesses change.

Specifically, performance ratios and asset quality ratios are typically used for measuring the performance of banking and financial institutions. We consider return on average stockholders’ equity, return on average assets and net interest margin to be important supplemental measures of operating performance that are commonly used by securities analysts, investors and other parties interested in the banking and financial industry. The net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans outstanding ratio is also considered a key measure for our banking segment as it indicates the performance of our loan portfolio.

In addition, we consider regulatory capital ratios to be key measures that are used by us, as well as banking regulators, investors and analysts, to assess our regulatory capital position and to compare our regulatory capital to that of other financial services companies. We monitor our capital strength in terms of both leverage ratio and risk-based capital ratios based on capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. The risk-based capital ratios are minimum supervisory ratios generally applicable to banking organizations, but banking organizations are widely expected to operate with capital positions well above the minimum ratios. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

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How We Generate Revenue

We generate revenue from net interest income and from noninterest income. Net interest income represents the difference between the income earned on our assets, including our loans and investment securities, and our cost of funds, including the interest paid on the deposits and borrowings that are used to support our assets. Net interest income is a significant contributor to our operating results. Fluctuations in interest rates, as well as the amounts and types of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities we hold, affect net interest income. We generated $423.0 million in net interest income during 2021, compared with net interest income of $424.2 million and $439.0 million during 2020 and 2019, respectively. Changes in net interest income during 2021, compared with 2020, primarily due to an increase within our banking segment, significantly offset by a decrease within our mortgage origination segment.

The other component of our revenue is noninterest income, which is primarily comprised of the following:

Column 1Column 2Column 3
(i)Income from broker-dealer operations. Through Securities Holdings, we provide investment banking and other related financial services that generated $296.3 million, $274.0 million and $241.5 million in securities commissions and fees and investment and securities advisory fees and commissions, and $75.2 million, $203.1 million and $150.0 million in gains from derivative and trading portfolio activities (included within other noninterest income) during 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(ii)Income from mortgage operations. Through PrimeLending, we generate noninterest income by originating and selling mortgage loans. During 2021, 2020 and 2019, we generated $986.0 million, $1.2 billion and $634.9 million, respectively, in net gains from sale of loans, other mortgage production income (including income associated with retained mortgage servicing rights), and mortgage loan origination fees.

In the aggregate, we generated $1.4 billion, $1.7 billion and $1.1 billion in noninterest income during 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The decrease in noninterest income from continuing operations during 2021, compared with 2020, was predominantly attributable to a decrease of $186.9 million in net gains from sale of loans, other mortgage production income and mortgage loan origination fees within our mortgage origination segment and a decrease of $127.9 million in gains from derivative and trading portfolio activities within our broker-dealer segment.

We also incur noninterest expenses in the operation of our businesses. Our businesses engage in labor intensive activities and, consequently, employees’ compensation and benefits represent the majority of our noninterest expenses.

Consolidated Operating Results

Income from continuing operations applicable to common stockholders during 2021 was $374.5 million, or $4.61 per diluted share, compared with $409.4 million, or $4.58 per diluted share, during 2020, and $211.3 million, or $2.29 per diluted share, during 2019. Hilltop’s financial results from continuing operations during 2021 reflect a significant decrease in year-over-year mortgage origination segment net gains from sales of loans and other mortgage production income as well as declines in net revenues within the broker-dealer segment’s structured finance business and fixed income services lines, while the banking segment reflected positive changes in macroeconomic and loan expected loss rates during 2021 as opposed to a significant build in the allowance for credit losses given the market disruption and economic uncertainties caused by COVID-19 during 2020.

Including income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, income applicable to common stockholders was $447.8 million, or $5.01 per diluted share, during 2020, and $225.3 million, or $2.44 per diluted share, during 2019.

Certain items included in net income during 2021, 2020 and 2019 resulted from purchase accounting associated with the PlainsCapital Merger, the FNB Transaction, the SWS Merger and the BORO Acquisition (collectively, the “Bank Transactions”). Income before income taxes during 2021, 2020 and 2019 included net accretion on earning assets and liabilities of $19.2 million, $18.9 million and $28.5 million, respectively, and amortization of identifiable intangibles of $5.2 million, $6.3 million and $7.6 million, respectively, related to the Bank Transactions.

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The information shown in the table below includes certain key performance indicators on a consolidated basis.

Year Ended December 31,
202120202019
Return on average stockholders' equity (1)15.38%20.03%11.18%
Return on average assets (2)2.17%2.88%1.66%
Net interest margin (3) (4)2.57%2.85%3.48%
Leverage ratio (5) (end of year)12.58%12.64%12.71%
Common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio (6) (end of year)21.22%18.97%16.70%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Return on average stockholders’ equity is defined as consolidated income attributable to Hilltop divided by average total Hilltop stockholders’ equity.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Return on average assets is defined as consolidated net income divided by average assets.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Net interest margin is defined as net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. We consider net interest margin as a key indicator of profitability as it represents interest earned on our interest-earning assets compared to interest incurred.
Column 1Column 2
(4)The securities financing operations within our broker-dealer segment had the effect of lowering both net interest margin and taxable equivalent net interest margin by 16 basis points, 25 basis points and 40 basis points during 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Column 1Column 2
(5)The leverage ratio is a regulatory capital ratio and is defined as Tier 1 risk-based capital divided by average consolidated assets.
Column 1Column 2
(6)The common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio is a regulatory capital ratio and is defined as common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital divided by risk weighted assets. Common equity includes common equity Tier 1 capital (common stockholders’ equity and certain minority interests in the equity capital accounts of consolidated subsidiaries, but excluding goodwill and various intangible assets) and additional Tier 1 capital (certain qualifying minority interests not included in common equity Tier 1 capital, certain preferred stock and related surplus, and certain subordinated debt).

We present net interest margin and net interest income below on a taxable-equivalent basis. Net interest margin (taxable equivalent), a non-GAAP measure, is defined as taxable equivalent net interest income divided by average interest earning assets. Taxable equivalent adjustments are based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rate of 21% for all periods presented. The interest income earned on certain earning assets is completely or partially exempt from federal income tax. As such, these tax-exempt instruments typically yield lower returns than taxable investments. To provide more meaningful comparisons of net interest margins for all earning assets, we use net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis in calculating net interest margin by increasing the interest income earned on tax-exempt assets to make it fully equivalent to interest income earned on taxable investments.

During 2021, 2020 and 2019, purchase accounting contributed 12, 14 and 25 basis points, respectively, to our consolidated taxable equivalent net interest margin of 2.58%, 2.85% and 3.48%, respectively. The purchase accounting activity is primarily related to the accretion of discount of loans which totaled $18.8 million, $18.8 million and $28.7 million during 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, associated with the Bank Transactions.

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The table below provides additional details regarding our consolidated net interest income (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202120202019
AverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualized
OutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield or
Balanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRate
Assets
Interest-earning assets
Loans held for sale$2,293,543$64,7672.82%$2,306,203$74,4673.23%$1,501,154$64,8304.32%
Loans held for investment, gross (1)7,645,292339,5484.44%7,618,723358,8444.71%7,088,208395,6415.58%
Investment securities - taxable2,493,84847,5821.91%1,897,85949,9362.63%1,803,62261,9833.44%
Investment securities - non-taxable (2)313,70311,4483.65%231,8247,9183.42%233,7136,8032.91%
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell152,2733720.24%90,9611380.15%63,5981,2361.94%
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions2,078,6662,9420.14%1,257,9023,1650.25%371,3128,4692.28%
Securities borrowed1,445,46461,6674.21%1,435,57251,3603.58%1,550,32269,5824.49%
Other50,9293,3326.54%59,4123,6876.21%75,2986,8699.12%
Interest-earning assets, gross (2)16,473,718531,6583.23%14,898,456549,5153.69%12,687,227615,4134.85%
Allowance for credit losses(129,689)(122,148)(57,690)
Interest-earning assets, net16,344,02914,776,30812,629,537
Noninterest-earning assets1,451,9281,537,2691,397,420
Total assets$17,795,957$16,313,577$14,026,957
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing deposits$7,722,584$23,6240.31%$7,397,121$47,0400.64%$5,916,491$71,5091.21%
Securities loaned1,374,14250,9743.71%1,336,87342,8173.20%1,423,84760,0864.22%
Notes payable and other borrowings1,216,38132,3932.66%1,222,04433,2492.72%1,398,55941,9283.00%
Total interest-bearing liabilities10,313,107106,9911.04%9,956,038123,1061.24%8,738,897173,5231.99%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
Noninterest-bearing deposits4,157,9623,304,4752,635,924
Other liabilities863,976791,002614,164
Total liabilities15,335,04514,051,51511,988,985
Stockholders’ equity2,435,1852,235,6902,014,535
Noncontrolling interest25,72726,37223,437
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$17,795,957$16,313,577$14,026,957
Net interest income (2)$424,667$426,409$441,890
Net interest spread (2)2.19%2.45%2.86%
Net interest margin (2)2.58%2.85%3.48%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Average balance includes non-accrual loans.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Presented on a taxable equivalent basis with taxable equivalent adjustments based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rate of 21% for the periods presented. The adjustment to interest income was $1.7 million, $1.2 million and $0.6 million during 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The banking segment’s net interest margin exceeds our consolidated net interest margin shown above. Our consolidated net interest margin includes certain items that are not reflected in the calculation of our net interest margin within our banking segment and reduce our consolidated net interest margin, such as the borrowing costs of Hilltop and the yields and costs associated with certain items within interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities in the broker-dealer segment, including items related to securities financing operations that particularly decrease net interest margin. In addition, yields and costs on certain interest-earning assets, such as warehouse lines of credit extended to subsidiaries (operating segments) by the banking segment, are eliminated from the consolidated financial statements. Our consolidated net interest margins during 2020 and, to a lesser extent, 2021 were also negatively impacted by certain actions taken by management during 2020 to strengthen our available liquidity position. Such actions, including increasing overall cash balances by raising brokered money market and brokered time deposits and raising capital through the issuance of subordinated debt, were taken out of an abundance of caution in light of extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets beginning in March 2020 resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and its negative impact on the economy.

On a consolidated basis, net interest income from continuing operations decreased during 2021, compared with 2020, primarily due to the effects of decreased net yields on loans held for investment and mortgage loans held for sale, year-over-year increase in interest incurred related to the Subordinated Notes at corporate beginning in May 2020, and the decrease in market interest rates on deposits within the banking segment. Net interest income from continuing operations decreased during

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2020, compared with 2019, primarily due to decreases in interest earned on loans held for investment, interest incurred beginning in May 2020 related to the Subordinated Notes at corporate and decreases in net interest income from our stock lending business, customer margin loans and other customer activities within the broker-dealer segment. Refer to the discussion in the “Banking Segment” section that follows for more details on the changes in net interest income, including the component changes in the volume of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in the rates earned or paid on those items.

The provision for (reversal of) credit losses is determined by management as the amount necessary to maintain the allowance for credit losses at the amount of expected credit losses inherent within the loans held for investment portfolio. The amount of expense and the corresponding level of allowance for credit losses for loans are based on our evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio based on historical loss experience, reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other significant qualitative and quantitative factors. Substantially all of our consolidated provision for (reversal of) credit losses is related to the banking segment. During 2021, the reversal of credit losses was primarily impacted by the banking segment’s reduction in reserves associated with collectively evaluated loans within the portfolio attributable to improvements in both macroeconomic forecast assumptions and credit quality metrics on COVID-19 impacted industry sector exposures. During 2020, the provision for credit losses was significantly impacted by the banking segment’s build in reserves associated with the increase in the expected lifetime credit losses under the Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”) methodology attributable to the market disruption and related economic uncertainties caused by COVID-19. Refer to the discussion in the “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” section that follows for more details regarding the significant assumptions and estimates involved in estimating credit losses.

Noninterest income from continuing operations decreased during 2021, compared with 2020, primarily due to changes in net fair value and related derivative activity and a decrease in average loan sales margin, partially offset by a slight increase in total mortgage loan sales volume within our mortgage origination segment, as well as decreases in structured finance and fixed income services net revenues within our broker-dealer segment. The increase in noninterest income from continuing operations during 2020, compared with 2019, was primarily due to increases in total mortgage loan sales volume and changes in net fair value and related derivative activity within our mortgage origination segment, as well as increases in fixed income services, public finance services and structured finance net revenues within our broker-dealer segment.

Noninterest expense from continuing operations decreased during 2021, compared with 2020, primarily due to decreases in both variable and non-variable compensation within our mortgage origination segment associated with the decreased mortgage loan originations, and a decline in variable compensation within our broker-dealer segment. We expect inflationary headwinds related to certain noninterest expenses, including compensation, occupancy, and software costs, to result in higher fixed costs during 2022. The increase in noninterest expense from continuing operations during 2020, compared with 2019, was primarily due to increases in variable compensation and segment operating costs associated with the increased mortgage loan originations within our mortgage origination segment and increases in variable compensation within our broker-dealer segment.

Effective income tax rates from continuing operations were 23.4%, 23.6% and 22.5% for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and approximated applicable statutory rates for such periods.

Segment Results from Continuing Operations

Banking Segment

The following table presents certain information about the operating results of our banking segment (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2021202020192021 vs 20202020 vs 2019
Net interest income$406,524$390,871$379,258$15,653$11,613
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses(58,175)96,3267,280(154,501)89,046
Noninterest income45,11341,37641,7533,737(377)
Noninterest expense226,915232,447231,524(5,532)923
Income before income taxes$282,897$103,474$182,207$179,423$(78,733)

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The increase in income before income taxes during 2021, compared with 2020, was primarily due to the impact of reversals of credit losses throughout 2021, which reflected improvement in both realized economic results and the macroeconomic outlook, as opposed to significant increases in the provision for credit losses during the first half 2020 associated with the adoption of the CECL model and the significant market disruption caused by COVID-19. Changes to net interest income related to the component changes in the volume of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in the rates earned or paid on those items are discussed in more detail below.

The information shown in the table below includes certain key indicators of the performance and asset quality of our banking segment.

Year Ended December 31,
202120202019
Efficiency ratio (1)50.25%53.78%54.99%
Return on average assets (2)1.55%0.63%1.36%
Net interest margin (3)3.07%3.31%4.00%
Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans outstanding (4)0.01%(0.30)%(0.08)%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Efficiency ratio is defined as noninterest expenses divided by the sum of total noninterest income and net interest income for the period. We consider the efficiency ratio to be a measure of the banking segment’s profitability.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Return on average assets is defined as net income divided by average assets.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Net interest margin is defined as net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. We consider net interest margin as a key indicator of profitability, as it represents interest earned on interest-earning assets compared to interest incurred.
Column 1Column 2
(4)Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans outstanding is defined as the greater of recoveries or charge-offs during the reported period minus charge-offs or recoveries divided by average loans outstanding. We use the ratio to measure the credit performance of our loan portfolio.

The banking segment presents net interest margin and net interest income in the following discussion and table below, on a taxable equivalent basis. Net interest margin (taxable equivalent), a non-GAAP measure, is defined as taxable equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. Taxable equivalent adjustments are based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rates of 21% for all periods presented. The interest income earned on certain earning assets is completely or partially exempt from federal income tax. As such, these tax-exempt instruments typically yield lower returns than taxable investments. To provide more meaningful comparisons of net interest margins for all earning assets, we use net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis in calculating net interest margin by increasing the interest income earned on tax-exempt assets to make it fully equivalent to interest income earned on taxable investments.

During 2021, 2020 and 2019, purchase accounting contributed 16, 18 and 33 basis points, respectively, to the banking segment’s taxable equivalent net interest margin of 3.08%, 3.31% and 4.01%, respectively. These purchase accounting items are primarily related to accretion of discount of loans associated with the Bank Transactions as discussed in the Consolidated Operating Results section.

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The table below provides additional details regarding our banking segment’s net interest income (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202120202019
AverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualizedAverageInterestAnnualized
OutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield orOutstandingEarnedYield or
Balanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRateBalanceor PaidRate
Assets
Interest-earning assets
Loans held for investment, gross (1)$7,069,485$323,1364.57%$7,152,783$341,3834.77%$6,564,748$367,9035.60%
Subsidiary warehouse lines of credit2,124,70080,7613.75%2,073,08779,4883.83%1,374,05161,8124.50%
Investment securities - taxable2,026,18929,2151.44%1,377,57827,6512.01%1,181,19829,8792.53%
Investment securities - non- taxable (2)114,1183,9053.42%111,4713,7893.40%96,1863,2673.40%
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell30,395890.30%46010.18%44710.17%
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions1,837,1962,4590.13%1,038,6471,8880.18%202,4784,5252.23%
Other36,8134601.25%42,9773770.88%55,4032,5344.57%
Interest-earning assets, gross (2)13,238,896440,0253.32%11,797,003454,5773.85%9,474,511469,9214.96%
Allowance for credit losses(129,303)(121,770)(57,546)
Interest-earning assets, net13,109,59311,675,2339,416,965
Noninterest-earning assets966,296967,690938,663
Total assets$14,075,889$12,642,923$10,355,628
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing deposits$7,578,963$30,9880.41%$7,306,143$60,2970.83%$5,654,663$79,8051.41%
Notes payable and other borrowings142,7051,5861.11%205,4482,6421.29%481,92410,2332.12%
Total interest-bearing liabilities7,721,66832,5740.42%7,511,59162,9390.84%6,136,58790,0381.47%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
Noninterest-bearing deposits4,512,2273,412,2122,622,229
Other liabilities155,979128,79593,861
Total liabilities12,389,87411,052,5988,852,677
Stockholders’ equity1,686,0151,590,3251,502,951
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$14,075,889$12,642,923$10,355,628
Net interest income (2)$407,451$391,638$379,883
Net interest spread (2)2.90%3.01%3.49%
Net interest margin (2)3.08%3.31%4.01%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Average balance includes non-accrual loans.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Presented on a taxable equivalent basis with taxable equivalent adjustments based on the applicable corporate federal income tax rates of 21% for all periods presented. The adjustment to interest income was $0.8 million, $0.8 million and $0.6 million during 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The banking segment’s net interest margin exceeds our consolidated net interest margin. Our consolidated net interest margin includes certain items that are not reflected in the calculation of our net interest margin within our banking segment and reduce our consolidated net interest margin, such as the borrowing costs of Hilltop and the yields and costs associated with certain items within interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities in the broker-dealer segment, including items related to securities financing operations that particularly decrease net interest margin. In addition, the banking segment’s interest-earning assets include warehouse lines of credit extended to other subsidiaries, which are eliminated from the consolidated financial statements. The banking segment’s net interest margins during 2021 and 2020 were negatively impacted by certain actions taken by management during 2020 to strengthen the Bank’s available liquidity position. Such actions, including increasing overall cash balances by raising brokered money market and brokered time deposits were taken out of an abundance of caution in light of the extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets beginning in March 2020 resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and its negative impact on the economy.

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The following table summarizes the changes in the banking segment’s net interest income for the periods indicated below, including the component changes in the volume of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in the rates earned or paid on those items (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
2021 vs. 20202020 vs. 2019
Change Due To (1)Change Due To (1)
VolumeYield/RateChangeVolumeYield/RateChange
Interest income
Loans held for investment, gross$(3,973)$(14,274)$(18,247)$32,930$(59,450)$(26,520)
Subsidiary warehouse lines of credit1,979(706)1,27331,446(13,770)17,676
Investment securities - taxable13,019(11,455)1,5644,968(7,196)(2,228)
Investment securities - non-taxable (2)90261165193522
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell553388
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions1,451(880)57118,685(21,322)(2,637)
Other(54)13783(568)(1,589)(2,157)
Total interest income (2)12,567(27,119)(14,552)87,980(103,324)(15,344)
Interest expense
Deposits$2,252$(31,561)$(29,309)$23,308$(42,816)$(19,508)
Notes payable and other borrowings(807)(249)(1,056)(5,871)(1,720)(7,591)
Total interest expense1,445(31,810)(30,365)17,437(44,536)(27,099)
Net interest income (2)$11,122$4,691$15,813$70,543$(58,788)$11,755
Column 1Column 2
(1)Changes attributable to both volume and yield/rate are included in yield/rate column.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Taxable equivalent.

Changes in the yields earned on interest-earning assets decreased taxable equivalent net interest income during 2021, compared with 2020, primarily as a result of lower reinvestment yield on the securities portfolio and a reduction in yields on loans held for investment and the slight decrease in accretion of discount on loans. Accretion of discount on loans is expected to decrease in future periods as loans acquired in the Bank Transactions are repaid, refinanced or renewed. Changes in the volume of interest-earning assets increased taxable equivalent net interest income during 2021, compared with 2020, primarily due to increases in investment securities portfolio balances. Changes in rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities increased taxable equivalent net interest income during 2021, compared with 2020, as deposit costs declined more than interest income declined. Our portfolio includes loans that periodically reprice or mature prior to the end of an amortized term. Approximately 68% of our variable-rate loans remained at applicable rate floors at December 31, 2021, which may delay and/or limit changes in net interest income during a period of changing rates. If interest rates were to rise, yields on the portion of our loan portfolio that remain at applicable rate floors would rise more slowly than increases in market interest rates. If interest rates were to fall further, the impact on our net interest income for certain variable-rate loans would be limited by these rate floors. In addition, declining interest rates may reduce our cost of funds on deposits. The extent of this impact will ultimately be driven by the timing, magnitude and frequency of interest rate and yield curve movements, as well as changes in market conditions and timing of management strategies. Any changes in interest rates across the term structure will continue to impact net interest income and net interest margin. The impact of rate movements will change with the shape of the yield curve, including any changes in steepness or flatness and inversions at any points on the yield curve.

Changes in the yields earned on interest-earning assets decreased taxable equivalent net interest income during 2020, compared with 2019, primarily as a result of lower loan yields due to decreased market rates, the addition of 1% note rate PPP loans, and the decrease in accretion of discount on loans of $9.9 million. Changes in the volume of interest-earning assets, primarily due to the significant increase in mortgage warehouse lending volume and new PPP loan originations, increased taxable equivalent net interest income during 2020, compared with 2019. Changes in rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities increased taxable equivalent net interest income during 2020, compared with 2019, due to decreases in market interest rates.

Starting in March 2020, the Bank implemented several actions to better support our impacted banking clients and allow for loan modifications such as principal and/or interest payment deferrals, participation in the PPP as an SBA preferred lender and personal banking assistance including waived fees, increased daily spending limits and suspension of residential foreclosure activities. The Bank’s actions during 2020 and 2021 included approval of approximately $1.0 billion in COVID-19 related

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loan modifications. While the majority of the portfolio of COVID-19 related loan modifications no longer require deferral, such loans represent elevated risk, and therefore management continues to monitor these loans.

The adverse economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the banking segment’s business and results of operations, including significantly reduced demand for loan products and services from customers, recognition of credit losses and increases in allowance for credit losses. We will continue to monitor developments regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and measures implemented in response to the pandemic, market capitalization, overall economic conditions, effectiveness of vaccinations, the emergence of new variants, government stimulus, payment deferral programs and any other triggering events or circumstances that may indicate an impairment of goodwill or core deposit intangible assets in the future. See further discussion in the “Recent Developments” section above.

During 2021, 2020 and 2019, the banking segment retained approximately $778 million, $193 million and $149 million, respectively, in mortgage loans originated by the mortgage origination segment. These loans are purchased by the banking segment at par. For origination services provided, the banking segment reimburses the mortgage origination segment for direct origination costs associated with these mortgage loans, in addition to payment of a correspondent fee. The correspondent fees are eliminated in consolidation. In March 2020, the Bank made a decision to sell the previously purchased mortgage loans to the mortgage origination segment, instead of holding them for investment. In October 2020, the Bank resumed purchasing and retaining mortgage loans originated by the mortgage origination segment. We expect loans originated by the mortgage origination segment on behalf of and retained by the banking segment to increase based on approved authority for up to 5% of the mortgage origination segment’s total origination volume during 2022. The determination of mortgage loan retention levels by the banking segment will be impacted by, among other things, an ongoing review of the prevailing mortgage rates, balance sheet positioning at Hilltop and the banking segment’s outlook for commercial loan growth.

The banking segment’s provision for (reversal of) credit losses has been subject to significant year-over-year and quarterly changes primarily attributable to the effects of the deteriorating economic outlook associated with the impact of the market disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in March 2020, and then the reduction in reserves associated with improvements in macroeconomic forecast assumptions beginning in the second half of 2020 and throughout 2021. Specifically, during 2021, the banking segment had net reversals of credit losses on expected losses of collectively evaluated loans of $58.3 million, primarily due to improvements in both macroeconomic forecast assumptions and credit quality metrics on COVID-19 impacted industry sector exposures. The net impact to the allowance of changes associated with individually evaluated loans during 2021 included a provision of credit losses of $0.1 million. The change in the allowance during 2021 was also impacted by net recoveries of $0.5 million. During 2020, the significant build in the allowance included provision for credit losses on individually evaluated loans of $20.1 million, while the provision for credit losses on expected losses of collectively evaluated loans accounted for $76.1 million of the total provision primarily due to the increase in the expected lifetime credit losses under CECL attributable to the deteriorating economic outlook associated with the impact of the market disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The change in the allowance during 2020 was also impacted by net charge-offs of $21.1 million, primarily associated with loans specifically reserved for during the first quarter of 2020. The changes in the allowance for credit losses during the noted periods also reflected other factors including, but not limited to, loan growth, loan mix, and changes in risk grades. Refer to the discussion in the “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” section that follows for more details regarding the significant assumptions and estimates involved in estimating credit losses.

The banking segment’s noninterest income increased during 2021, compared to 2020, primarily due to increased service charges on depositor accounts and trust fees.

The banking segment’s noninterest expenses decreased during 2021, compared to 2020, primarily due to the decrease in the reserve for unfunded commitments attributable to year-over-year improvements in loan expected loss rates

as well as reductions in legal and other real estate owned (“OREO”) expenses, partially offset by increases in FDIC assessment and software related expenses. The noninterest expenses were relatively flat during 2020, compared to 2019, and included an increase in the reserve for unfunded commitments attributable to macroeconomic uncertainties associated with the impact of market disruption caused by COVID-19 conditions, significantly offset by a reduction in legal, business development and other operating expenses.

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Broker-Dealer Segment

The following table provides additional details regarding our broker-dealer segment operating results (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2021202020192021 vs 20202020 vs 2019
Net interest income:
Wealth management:
Securities lending$10,693$8,544$9,496$2,149$(952)
Clearing services7,3146,91611,530398(4,614)
Structured finance (5)2,8575,4308,337(2,573)(2,907)
Fixed income services19,24912,1736,1807,0765,993
Other (5)3,1836,84915,765(3,666)(8,916)
Total net interest income43,29639,91251,3083,384(11,396)
Noninterest income:
Securities commissions and fees by business line (1):
Fixed income services47,84449,57336,997(1,729)12,576
Wealth management:
Retail73,14969,71871,9343,431(2,216)
Clearing services22,47830,01833,787(7,540)(3,769)
Structured finance (5)3,2751,8241,7931,45131
Other (5)4,0164,7614,664(745)97
150,762155,894149,175(5,132)6,719
Investment and securities advisory fees and commissions by business line:
Public finance services (5)108,37296,18676,67912,18619,507
Fixed income services8,4426,3952,9362,0473,459
Wealth management:
Retail31,45324,02320,8207,4303,203
Clearing services1,9451,6491,264296385
Structured finance (5)1,8502,7321,903(882)829
Other38134218539157
152,443131,327103,78721,11627,540
Other:
Structured finance (5)77,424157,465114,192(80,041)43,273
Fixed income services(2,197)45,36535,859(47,562)9,506
Other (5)2,6931,3041,3981,389(94)
77,920204,134151,449(126,214)52,685
Total noninterest income381,125491,355404,411(110,230)86,944
Net revenue (2)424,421531,267455,719(106,846)75,548
Noninterest expense:
Variable compensation (3)161,264205,464163,840(44,200)41,624
Non-variable compensation and benefits (5)114,912106,932104,9097,9802,023
Segment operating costs (4)(5)104,584103,23297,2081,3526,024
Total noninterest expense380,760415,628365,957(34,868)49,671
Income before income taxes$43,661$115,639$89,762$(71,978)$25,877
Column 1Column 2
(1)Securities commissions and fees includes income of $6.9 million, $13.2 million, and $11.4 million during 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, that is eliminated in consolidation.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Net revenue is defined as the sum of total net interest income and total noninterest income. We consider net revenue to be a key performance measure in the

evaluation of the broker-dealer segment’s financial position and operating performance as we believe it is a primary revenue performance measure used by investors and analysts. Net revenue provides for some level of comparability of trends across the financial services industry as it reflects both noninterest income, including

investment and securities advisory fees and commissions, as well as net interest income. Internally, we assess the broker-dealer segment’s performance on a revenue

basis for comparability with our banking segment.

Column 1Column 2
(3)Variable compensation represents performance-based commissions and incentives.
Column 1Column 2
(4)Segment operating costs include provision for credit losses associated with the broker-dealer segment within other noninterest expenses.
Column 1Column 2
(5)Noted balances during all prior periods include certain reclassifications to conform to current period presentation.

During 2021, the broker-dealer segment’s structured finance and fixed income business lines both experienced a decline in net revenues. Structured finance net revenues declined compared to 2020 due to lower production volumes and less favorable market conditions given the expectation of higher interest rates in the near term. Fixed income services business line net revenues also decreased, compared to 2020, primarily due to a decrease in net gains from trading activities. Both the fixed income services and structured finance business lines experienced a reduction in activity and overall demand from the buyside, given the expectation of higher interest rates in the near term. The increase in net revenues in the broker-dealer segment’s public finance services and wealth management business lines partially offset these declines. The improvement in the public finance business line net revenue can primarily be attributed to improved underwriting revenues. Wealth management business line net revenues were higher during 2021, compared to 2020, from improved production and advisory fee income, despite lower money market and FDIC sweep revenues due to the low interest rate environment. Additional information related to the impact of COVID-19 is included within the “Recent Developments” section above.

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The decrease in the broker-dealer segment’s income before income taxes during 2021, compared with 2020, was primarily as a result of the following:

Column 1Column 2Column 3
decrease in the broker-dealer segment’s structured finance net revenues as a result of lower volumes and a less robust market environment resulting in decreases in the business line’s other noninterest income compared with 2020. Specifically, the decrease was due to lower mortgage originations, with loan lock volumes totaling $7.0 billion in 2021, a 23% decline when compared with 2020. The structured finance business line also saw weaker demand from the buyside for call-protected collateral in the fourth quarter of 2021 given the expectation of rising interest rates.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
decrease in the broker-dealer segment’s fixed income services net revenues primarily from declines in noninterest income compared with 2020. During 2021, the broker-dealer segment experienced net revenue declines in each trading division as a result of less robust customer demand and a less favorable trading environment. Additionally, the decline also included a $1.6 million decrease in net revenues due to the wind-down of the equity capital market division. Specifically, the broad decline was experienced across all product areas as customer demand has been less robust when compared to 2020 given the expectation of higher interest rates resulting in weaker customer volumes.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
decrease in compensation expense, of which $44.2 million was primarily due to the decrease in variable compensation associated with revenue declines in our structured finance and fixed income services business lines.

The broker-dealer segment is subject to interest rate risk as a consequence of maintaining inventory positions, trading in interest rate sensitive financial instruments and maintaining a matched stock loan book. Changes in interest rates are likely to have a meaningful impact on our overall financial performance. Our broker-dealer segment has historically earned a significant portion of its revenues from advisory fees upon the successful completion of client transactions, which could be adversely impacted by interest rate volatility. Rapid or significant changes in interest rates could adversely affect the broker-dealer segment’s bond trading, sales, underwriting activities and other interest spread-sensitive activities described below. The broker-dealer segment also receives administrative fees for providing money market and FDIC investment alternatives to clients, which tend to be sensitive to short term interest rates. In addition, the profitability of the broker-dealer segment depends, to an extent, on the spread between revenues earned on customer loans and excess customer cash balances, and the interest expense paid on customer cash balances, as well as the interest revenue earned on trading securities, net of financing costs.

In the broker-dealer segment, interest is earned from securities lending activities, interest charged on customer margin loan balances and interest earned on investment securities used to support sales, underwriting and other customer activities. The increase in net interest income during 2021, compared with 2020, was primarily due to increases in net interest income from our fixed income business line and securities lending division of our wealth management business line partially offset by intercompany interest expense. With the 30 basis point decrease in the weighted average Federal Funds interest rate from 2020 to 2021, the amount of interest earned on customer investment activities decreased as well. The decrease in net interest income during 2020, compared with 2019, was primarily due to decreases in net interest income from our stock lending business, customer margin loans and other customer activities, partially offset by an increase in net interest earnings from the broker-dealers’ taxable securities.

Noninterest income decreased during 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to decreases in other noninterest income and securities commissions and fees, partially offset by the increases in investment banking and advisory fees. Noninterest income increased during 2020 compared to 2019 primarily due to increases in securities commissions and fees, investment and securities advisory fees and commissions, and other noninterest income.

Securities commissions and fees decreased during 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to a decrease in commissions earned in our wealth management line of business given a $10.6 million decline in our money market and FDIC sweep revenues as a result of the lower interest rate environment and decreases in commissions earned from our wind-down of the equity capital markets division. These decreases were partially offset by increases in commissions earned on mutual fund, insurance product and commodities contract sales transactions. Securities commissions and fees increased during 2020 compared to 2019 primarily due to the increases in commissions earned in our fixed income service line of business offset by the decreases in commissions earned through the wind-down of our equity capital markets business line, which resulted in a decrease of $5.5 million. Additionally, the overall increase in securities commissions and fees was offset by the decreases in commissions and fees earned by our wealth management business line from declines in our money market and FDIC sweep revenues.

Investment and securities advisory fees and commissions increased during 2021 compared to 2020, primarily due to increases in fees earned from our public finance municipal transactions and from improved wealth management advisory services fees.

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Investment and securities advisory fees and commissions increased during 2020, compared with 2019, primarily due to increases in municipal advisory and underwriting transactions.

Other noninterest income decreased during 2021, compared to 2020, primarily due to decreases in trading gains earned from our structured finance business line’s derivative activities resulting from decreased volumes and interest rate volatility. The year-over-year decrease in other noninterest income was heightened by decreases within our fixed income services business line within our taxable and municipal securities trading portfolios. Other noninterest income increased during 2020, compared to 2019, primarily due to an increase in trading gains earned from our structured finance business line’s derivative activities due to strong year-over-year volumes and robust customer demand despite heightened market volatility in the first quarter of 2020. Additionally, other noninterest income within our fixed income services business line increased during 2020, compared to 2019, with increases in both our taxable and municipal securities trading portfolio activities, partially offset by a decrease in our securitized mortgage backed securities portfolio.

Noninterest expenses decreased during 2021 compared to 2020, primarily due to decreases in variable compensation, partially offset by increased non-variable compensation and benefits and expenses associated with the deployment of the new back-office and accounting systems. Noninterest expenses increased during 2020, compared to 2019, primarily due to increases in variable compensation and the deployment of a new back-office system in June 2020, partially offset by $2.9 million in pre-tax costs associated with leadership changes and efficiency initiative-related charges in 2019.

Selected information concerning the broker-dealer segment, including key performance indicators, follows (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202120202019
Total compensation as a % of net revenue (1)65.1%58.8%59.0%
Pre-tax margin (2)10.3%21.8%19.7%
FDIC insured program balances at the Bank (end of year)$803,941$700,006$1,304,333
Other FDIC insured program balances (end of year)$1,503,277$1,892,974$666,418
Customer funds on deposit, including short credits (end of year)$499,476$480,200$329,743
Public finance services:
Number of issues1,1491,2521,179
Aggregate amount of offerings$60,243,826$57,107,263$54,395,943
Structured finance:
Lock production/TBA volume$7,007,564$9,075,232$5,876,466
Fixed income services:
Total volumes$244,643,358$169,559,201$83,571,542
Net inventory (end of year)$551,289$613,413$643,371
Wealth management (Retail and Clearing services groups):
Retail employee representatives (end of year)98117122
Independent registered representatives (end of year)177189195
Correspondents (end of year)122129145
Correspondent receivables (end of year)$306,064$180,173$264,201
Customer margin balances (end of year)$426,584$256,682$310,784
Wealth management (Securities lending group):
Interest-earning assets - stock borrowed (end of year)$1,518,372$1,338,855$1,634,782
Interest-bearing liabilities - stock loaned (end of year)$1,432,196$1,245,066$1,555,964
Column 1Column 2
(1)Total compensation includes the sum of non-variable compensation and benefits and variable compensation. We consider total compensation as a percentage of net revenue to be a key performance measure and indicator of segment profitability.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Pre-tax margin is defined as income before income taxes divided by net revenue. We consider pre-tax margin to be a key performance measure given its use as a profitability metric representing the percentage of net revenue earned that results in a profit.

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Mortgage Origination Segment

The following table presents certain information regarding the operating results of our mortgage origination segment (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2021202020192021 vs 20202020 vs 2019
Net interest income (expense)$(20,400)$(10,489)$(6,273)$(9,911)$(4,216)
Noninterest income986,9901,172,450634,992(185,460)537,458
Noninterest expense731,056753,917563,998(22,861)189,919
Income before income taxes$235,534$408,044$64,721$(172,510)$343,323

The mortgage lending business is subject to variables that can impact loan origination volume, including seasonal transaction volumes and interest rate fluctuations. Historically, the mortgage origination segment has experienced increased loan origination volume from purchases of homes during the spring and summer months, when more people tend to move and buy or sell homes. An increase in mortgage interest rates tends to result in decreased loan origination volume from refinancings, while a decrease in mortgage interest rates tends to result in increased loan origination volume from refinancings. Changes in mortgage interest rates have historically had a lesser impact on home purchases volume than on refinancing volume. See details regarding loan origination volume in the table below.

Recent trends, as well as typical historical patterns in loan origination volume from purchases of homes or from refinancings as a result of movements in mortgage interest rates, may not be indicative of future loan origination volumes given continued economic uncertainties stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The mortgage origination segment’s business is dependent upon the willingness and ability of its employees and customers to conduct mortgage transactions. Current home inventory levels, affordability challenges, and supply chain problems related to new home construction have impacted customers’ abilities to purchase homes. Home inventory shortages and affordability challenges present prior to 2020 were amplified by the economic impact of COVID-19, while supply chain problems can be more directly tied to COVID-19. The continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on customers could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the mortgage origination segment. In addition, a further increase in mortgage interest rates and/or continuing home inventory shortages and supply chain issues related to new home construction could adversely affect loan origination volume and/or alter the percentage mix of refinancing and purchase volumes relative to total loan origination volume in 2022.

Income before income taxes decreased in 2021, compared with 2020. This decrease was primarily the result of a decrease in interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”) related to a decrease in mortgage loan applications, in addition to a decrease in the average value of individual IRLCs.

The CARES Act has provided borrowers the ability to request forbearance of residential mortgage loan payments, placing a significant strain on mortgage servicers as they may be required to fund missed or deferred payments related to loans in forbearance. A significant increase in nationwide forbearance requests that began in March 2020 resulted in the reduction of third-party mortgage servicers willing to purchase mortgage servicing rights. As a result of this market dynamic, beginning in the second quarter 2020, we increased the amount of retained servicing on mortgage loan sales. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2020 and continuing into 2021, PrimeLending has reduced the amount of retained servicing. However, amounts retained during the fourth quarter of 2021 continued to exceed amounts retained prior to the second quarter of 2020. PrimeLending utilizes a third-party to manage its servicing portfolio, and we therefore do not expect significant fluctuations in infrastructure costs to manage changes in PrimeLending’s servicing portfolio. However, PrimeLending may be at risk of third-party servicers increasing their pricing to address increased regulatory requirements surrounding servicers. PrimeLending’s liquidity has not been, and we do not expect that it will be, significantly impacted by forbearance requests resulting from the CARES Act. Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) may impose restrictions on loans the agencies will accept, including loans under a forbearance agreement, which could result in PrimeLending seeking non-agency investors or choosing to retain these loans.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. 10-Year Treasury Rate and mortgage interest rates declined during 2020, which was followed in 2021 by an increase in mortgage interest rates that remained lower on average during 2021, compared to 2020. As average mortgage interest rates increased during 2021, compared to a decrease in rates during 2020, refinancing volume as a percentage of total origination volume decreased to 36.3% during 2021, as compared to 41.6% in 2020. If current

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mortgage interest rates remain relatively unchanged during 2022, we anticipate a lower percentage of refinancing volume relative to total loan origination volume during 2022, as compared to 2021. However, a higher refinance percentage could be driven by a slowing of purchase volume due to the negative impact on new and existing home sales resulting from existing home inventory shortages, affordability challenges, and supply chain problems related to new home construction. Refinancing volume as a percentage of total origination volume increased from 24.8% during 2019 to 41.6% during 2020, primarily as a result of average mortgage interest rates decreasing between periods.

The mortgage origination segment primarily originates its mortgage loans through a retail channel, with limited lending through its affiliated business arrangements (“ABAs”). For 2021, funded volume through ABAs was approximately 5% of the mortgage origination segment’s total loan volume. PrimeLending held an interest in three ABAs throughout 2021. In December 2021, interest in a fourth ABA was added. PrimeLending owns a greater than 50% interest in all four ABAs. We expect total production within the ABA channel to increase slightly to approximately 7% loan volume of the mortgage origination segment during 2022.

The following table provides further details regarding our mortgage loan originations and sales for the periods indicated below (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202120202019
% of% of% ofVariance
AmountTotalAmountTotalAmountTotal2021 vs 20202020 vs 2019
Mortgage Loan Originations - units77,26384,20961,045(6,946)23,164
Mortgage Loan Originations - volume:
Conventional$15,787,94269.65%$16,519,49871.92%$9,503,04461.00%$(731,556)$7,016,454
Government3,387,27014.94%4,473,76319.48%3,860,80224.78%(1,086,493)612,961
Jumbo2,511,44211.08%1,219,4925.31%1,309,3178.40%1,291,950(89,825)
Other981,6294.33%757,4413.29%906,2745.82%224,188(148,833)
$22,668,283100.00%$22,970,194100.00%$15,579,437100.00%$(301,911)$7,390,757
Home purchases$14,429,19063.65%$13,413,54558.40%$11,718,77275.22%$1,015,645$1,694,773
Refinancings8,239,09336.35%9,556,64941.60%3,860,66524.78%(1,317,556)5,695,984
$22,668,283100.00%$22,970,194100.00%$15,579,437100.00%$(301,911)$7,390,757
Texas$4,224,69118.64%$4,280,83118.64%$2,999,63319.25%$(56,140)$1,281,198
California2,692,19811.88%2,497,06610.87%1,561,92610.03%195,132935,140
Arizona1,045,2184.61%1,045,2984.55%681,4864.37%(80)363,812
Florida1,013,2064.47%1,403,1966.11%1,113,8277.15%(389,990)289,369
South Carolina950,0284.19%929,7104.05%604,5463.88%20,318325,164
Ohio868,3783.83%869,3933.78%642,1304.12%(1,015)227,263
Missouri742,2203.27%777,3893.38%510,0253.27%(35,169)267,364
North Carolina740,1693.27%719,9363.13%485,6823.12%20,233234,254
New York705,6013.11%641,3872.79%456,6812.93%64,214184,706
Washington703,2393.10%736,1353.20%631,5494.05%(32,896)104,586
All other states8,983,33539.63%9,069,85339.50%5,891,95237.83%(86,518)3,177,901
$22,668,283100.00%$22,970,194100.00%$15,579,437100.00%$(301,911)$7,390,757
Mortgage Loan Sales - volume:
Third parties$22,280,87296.62%$22,321,59999.14%$14,442,92998.98%$(40,727)$7,878,670
Banking segment778,2883.38%192,5710.86%148,7981.02%585,71743,773
$23,059,160100.00%$22,514,170100.00%$14,591,727100.00%$544,990$7,922,443

We consider the mortgage origination segment’s total loan origination volume to be a key performance measure. Loan origination volume is central to the segment’s ability to generate income by originating and selling mortgage loans, resulting in net gains from the sale of loans, other mortgage production income and other mortgage loan origination fees. Total loan origination volume is a measure utilized by management, our investors, and analysts in assessing market share and growth of the mortgage origination segment.

The mortgage origination segment’s total loan origination volume during 2021 decreased 1.3%, compared with 2020, while income before income taxes during 2021 decreased 42.3%, compared with 2020. The decrease in income before income taxes during 2021 was primarily the result of a decrease of IRLCs related to a decrease in mortgage loan applications, and a decrease in the average value of individual IRLCs.

The mortgage origination segment’s total loan origination volume during 2020 increased 47.4% compared with 2019, while income before income taxes during 2020 increased 530.5%, compared with 2019. The increase in income before income taxes during 2020 was primarily due to an increase of IRLCs related to an increase in mortgage loan applications, and an increase in

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the average value of individual IRLCs. These changes were partially offset by increases in variable compensation that varies with the volume of mortgage loan originations, in non-variable compensation, and segment operating costs.

The information shown in the table below includes certain key performance indicators for the mortgage origination segment.

Year Ended December 31,
202120202019
Net gains from mortgage loan sales (basis points):
Loans sold to third parties375409327
Impact of loans retained by banking segment(13)(3)(3)
As reported362406324
Variable compensation as a percentage of total compensation65.8%69.0%60.4%
Mortgage servicing rights asset ($000's) (end of year) (1)$86,990$143,742$55,504
Column 1Column 2
(1)Reported on a consolidated basis and therefore does not include mortgage servicing rights assets related to loans serviced for the banking segment, which are eliminated in consolidation.

Net interest expense was comprised of interest income earned on loans held for sale offset by interest incurred on warehouse lines of credit primarily held with the Bank, and related intercompany financing costs. The changes in net interest expense during 2021, compared with 2020, and during 2020, compared with 2019, included the effects of decreased net yields on mortgage loans held for sale between the two periods.

Noninterest income was comprised of the items set forth in the table below (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2021202020192021 vs 20202020 vs 2019
Net gains from sale of loans$834,580$913,474$473,380$(78,894)$440,094
Mortgage loan origination fees and other related income160,011172,096130,208(12,085)41,888
Other mortgage production income:
Change in net fair value and related derivative activity:
IRLCs and loans held for sale(67,714)81,56021,253(149,274)60,307
Mortgage servicing rights asset2,446(30,119)(15,166)32,565(14,953)
Servicing fees57,66735,43925,31722,22810,122
Total noninterest income$986,990$1,172,450$634,992$(185,460)$537,458

The decrease in net gains from sale of loans during 2021, compared with 2020, was primarily the result of a decrease in average loan sales margin, partially offset by a slight increase in loan sales volume. Since PrimeLending sells substantially all mortgage loans it originates to various investors in the secondary market, the slight increase in loan sales volume during 2021 is consistent with the relatively flat loan origination volume during the period. The decrease in average loan sales margin was primarily attributable to competitive pricing pressure resulting from home inventory shortages and a reduction in national refinancing volume. While average loan sales margins increased between the second and fourth quarters of 2020, margins steadily declined during 2021, approaching margins recognized at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The slight decrease in mortgage loan origination fees during 2021, compared with 2020, was primarily the result of the decrease in average mortgage loan origination fees, in addition to the slight decrease in loan origination volume during 2021, compared to 2020. During 2020, compared with 2019, the increase in net gains from sale of loans was primarily a result of an increase in total loan sales volume, in addition to an increase in average loan sales margin.

We consider the mortgage origination segment’s net gains from sale of loans margin, in basis points, to be a key performance measure. Net gains from sale of loans margin is defined as net gains from sale of loans divided by loan sales volume. The net gains from sale of loans is central to the segment’s generation of income, and may include loans sold to third parties and loans sold to and retained by the banking segment. For origination services provided, the mortgage origination segment was reimbursed direct origination costs associated with loans retained by the banking segment, in addition to payment of a correspondent fee. The reimbursed origination costs and correspondent fee are included in the mortgage origination segment operating results, and the correspondent fees are eliminated in consolidation. Loan volumes to be originated on behalf of and retained by the banking segment are evaluated each quarter. While we anticipate a leveling off in the quarterly rate of loans sold to and retained by the banking segment during 2022 compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, we do not expect these sales to exceed 5% of its total origination volume during this time. In March 2020, the mortgage origination segment executed a letter of intent with the banking segment to purchase mortgage loans previously sold to the banking segment with an unpaid principal balance of approximately $210 million. Such original sales of approximately $121 million and $91 million are reflected in the previous mortgage loan details table within the mortgage loan sales volume to the banking segment in 2020 and 2019,

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respectively. When these loans were sold at par by the mortgage origination segment, the banking segment’s intent was to hold these loans for investment. The mortgage origination segment completed the repurchase of these loans from the banking segment and in turn sold the loans to investors in the secondary market during the second quarter of 2020.

Noninterest income included changes in the net fair value of the mortgage origination segment’s IRLCs and loans held for sale and the related activity associated with forward commitments used by the mortgage origination segment to mitigate interest rate risk associated with its IRLCs and loans held for sale. The decrease in fair value of IRLCs and loans held for sale during 2021, compared to 2020, was the result of decreases in the total volume of individual IRLCs and loans held for sale and the average value of individual IRLCs and loans held for sale. The increase in noninterest income during 2020, compared to 2019, was the result of an increase in the total volume of individual IRLCs and loans held for sale, as well as an increase in the average value of individual IRLCs and loans held for sale.

The mortgage origination segment sells substantially all mortgage loans it originates to various investors in the secondary market, historically with the majority servicing released. In addition, the mortgage origination segment originates loans on behalf of the Bank. The mortgage origination segment’s determination of whether to retain or release servicing on mortgage loans it sells is impacted by, among other things, changes in mortgage interest rates, and refinancing and market activity. During 2021, 2020 and 2019, the mortgage origination segment retained servicing on approximately 29%, 67% and 6% of loans sold, respectively. During both the second and third quarters of 2020, PrimeLending retained servicing on 89% of total mortgage loans sold. The increased rate of retained servicing during this time was due to the reduction in third-party servicing outlets during the second quarter of 2020, resulting from the impact of the CARES Act. The CARES Act permits borrowers of federally-backed mortgage loans to forbear payments, which could negatively impact servicers’ liquidity and their ability to purchase servicing. As forbearance requests leveled off during the latter part of 2020, the third-party market for mortgage servicing rights improved, increasing demand, which allowed PrimeLending to reduce retained servicing to 57% of total mortgage loans sold during the fourth quarter of 2020, and ultimately to 11% of total mortgage loans sold during the fourth quarter of 2021. If the third-party market for mortgage servicing rights continue to improve in 2022, we expect that PrimeLending will continue to reduce retained servicing on mortgage loans sold during that time to levels experienced in 2019. The mortgage origination segment may, from time to time, manage its MSR asset through different strategies, including varying the percentage of mortgage loans sold servicing released and opportunistically selling MSR assets. The mortgage origination segment has also retained servicing on certain loans sold to and retained by the banking segment. Gains and losses associated with such sales to the banking segment and the related MSR asset are eliminated in consolidation. The mortgage origination segment uses derivative financial instruments, including U.S. Treasury bond futures and options, as a means to mitigate interest rate risk associated with its MSR asset. Changes in the net fair value of the MSR asset and the related derivatives associated with normal customer payments, changes in discount rates, prepayment speed assumptions and customer payoffs resulted in net gains (losses) as noted in the table above. Included in the net gains and losses for 2021, are MSR asset fair value adjustment gains totaling $22.8 million, which reflect the difference between the MSR asset carrying values and the sale prices reflected in the letters of intent to sell the applicable MSR assets. During 2021, the mortgage origination segment sold MSR assets of $142.6 million, which represented $12.4 billion of its serviced loan volume at the time of sale. During 2020, the mortgage origination segment sold MSR assets of $36.8 million, which represented $3.8 billion of its serviced loan volume at the time of sale, while there were no sales of MSR assets during 2019. As of December 31, 2021, the mortgage origination segment had executed a letter of intent for a pending sale of MSR assets with a serviced loan volume totaling $156.5 million. The sale of these MSR assets is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2022 at a total price of approximately $2.0 million. The value assigned these MSR assets as of December 31, 2021, reflects the price included in this letter of intent.

Noninterest expenses were comprised of the items set forth in the table below (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2021202020192021 vs 20202020 vs 2019
Variable compensation$373,929$405,116$252,956$(31,187)$152,160
Non-variable compensation and benefits194,292181,597166,17912,69515,418
Segment operating costs113,020125,104112,128(12,084)12,976
Lender paid closing costs20,45821,69619,698(1,238)1,998
Servicing expense29,35720,40413,0378,9537,367
Total noninterest expense$731,056$753,917$563,998$(22,861)$189,919

Total employees’ compensation and benefits accounted for the majority of the noninterest expenses incurred during all periods presented. Specifically, variable compensation comprised the majority of total employees’ compensation and benefits expenses during 2021, 2020 and 2019. The changes in the percentage concentration of variable compensation and benefits for all periods were primarily due to changes in the average incentive rate paid and the impact of incentive plans driven by non-mortgage production criteria. Variable compensation, which is primarily driven by loan origination volume, tends to fluctuate to a greater

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degree than loan origination volume because mortgage loan originator and fulfillment staff incentive compensation plans are structured to pay at increasing rates as higher monthly volume tiers are achieved. However, certain other incentive compensation plans driven by non-mortgage production criteria may alter this trend.

While total loan origination volumes decreased 1.3% during 2021, compared with 2020, the aggregate non-variable compensation and benefits of the mortgage origination segment increased by 7.0%. This increase during 2021, compared with 2020, was primarily due to an increase in salaries mainly resulting from increased underwriting and loan fulfillment staff to support the increase in loan origination volume starting in the second quarter of 2020. These additional staff continued to be needed to support loan origination volumes during the remainder of 2020 and throughout 2021. Segment operating costs decreased in 2021, compared to 2020, primarily due to decreases in loan related costs, software amortization expense and software license and maintenance costs. The mortgage origination segment’s operating costs increased 11.6% during 2020, compared with 2019, while total loan origination volumes increased 47.4%. The increase during 2020, compared with 2019, was primarily due to an increase in overtime expense incurred due to increased loan volume and an increase in salaries resulting from increased underwriting and loan fulfillment staff, to support the increase in loan origination volume beginning in the second quarter of 2020.

In exchange for a higher interest rate, customers may opt to have PrimeLending pay certain costs associated with the origination of their mortgage loan (“lender paid closing costs”). Fluctuations in lender paid closing costs are not always aligned with fluctuations in loan origination volume. Other loan pricing conditions, including the mortgage loan interest rate, loan origination fees paid by the customer, and a customer’s willingness to pay closing costs, may influence fluctuations in lender paid closing costs.

Between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2021, the mortgage origination segment sold mortgage loans totaling $151.9 billion. These loans were sold under sales contracts that generally include provisions that hold the mortgage origination segment responsible for errors or omissions relating to its representations and warranties that loans sold meet certain requirements, including representations as to underwriting standards and the validity of certain borrower representations in connection with the loan. In addition, the sales contracts typically require the refund of purchased servicing rights plus certain investor servicing costs if a loan experiences an early payment default. While the mortgage origination segment sold loans prior to 2012, it does not anticipate experiencing significant losses in the future on loans originated prior to 2012 because of investor claims under these provisions of its sales contracts.

When a claim for indemnification of a loan sold is made by an agency, investor, or other party, the mortgage origination segment evaluates the claim and determines if the claim can be satisfied through additional documentation or other deliverables. If the claim is valid and cannot be satisfied in that manner, the mortgage origination segment negotiates with the claimant to reach a settlement of the claim. Settlements typically result in either the repurchase of a loan or reimbursement to the claimant for losses incurred on the loan.

Following is a summary of the mortgage origination segment’s claims resolution activity relating to loans sold between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2021 (dollars in thousands).

Original Loan BalanceLoss Recognized
% of% of
AmountLoans SoldAmountLoans Sold
Claims resolved with no payment$215,8480.14%$-%
Claims resolved because of a loan repurchase or payment to an investor for losses incurred (1)235,9680.16%9,4520.01%
$451,8160.30%$9,4520.01%
Column 1Column 2Column 3
(1)Losses incurred include refunded purchased servicing rights.

For each loan the mortgage origination segment concludes its obligation to a claimant is both probable and reasonably estimable, the mortgage origination segment has established a specific claims indemnification liability reserve. An additional indemnification liability reserve has been established for probable agency, investor or other party losses that may have been incurred, but not yet reported to the mortgage origination segment based upon a reasonable estimate of such losses. In addition to other factors, the mortgage origination segment has considered that GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC have imposed certain restrictions on loans the agencies will accept under a forbearance agreement resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, which could increase the magnitude of indemnification losses on these loans.

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At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the mortgage origination segment’s total indemnification liability reserve totaled $27.4 million and $21.5 million, respectively. The related provision for indemnification losses was $10.0 million, $11.2 million, and $3.1 million during 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Corporate

The following table presents certain financial information regarding the operating results of corporate (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,Variance
2021202020192021 vs 20202020 vs 2019
Net interest income (expense)$(17,239)$(14,192)$(5,541)$(3,047)$(8,651)
Noninterest income9,1333,9452,1045,1881,841
Noninterest expense50,50753,04050,968(2,533)2,072
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes$(58,613)$(63,287)$(54,405)$4,674$(8,882)

Corporate includes certain activities not allocated to specific business segments. These activities include holding company financing and investing activities, merchant banking investment opportunities and management and administrative services to support the overall operations of the Company. Hilltop’s merchant banking investment activities include the identification of attractive opportunities for capital deployment in companies engaged in non-financial activities through its merchant bank subsidiary, Hilltop Opportunity Partners LLC.

As a holding company, Hilltop’s primary investment objectives are to support capital deployment for organic growth and to preserve capital to be deployed through acquisitions, dividend payments and potential stock repurchases. Investment and interest income earned during 2021 was primarily comprised of dividend income from merchant banking investment activities, in addition to interest income earned on intercompany notes.

Interest expense from continuing operations during 2021, 2020 and 2019 included recurring annual interest expense of $7.7 million incurred on our $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5% senior notes due 2025 (“Senior Notes”). During 2021 and 2020, we incurred interest expense of $12.3 million and $7.9 million on our $200 million aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Notes, which were issued in May 2020. Additionally, we incurred interest expense of $1.6 million, $2.8 million and $3.9 million during 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, on junior subordinated debentures of $67.0 million issued by PCC (the “Debentures”). As discussed in more detail within the section titled “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Junior Subordinated Debentures” below, during the third quarter of 2021, PCC fully redeemed all outstanding Debentures.

Noninterest income from continuing operations during each period included activity related to our investment in a real estate development in Dallas’ University Park, Hilltop Plaza, which also serves as headquarters for both Hilltop and the Bank, and net noninterest income associated with activity within our merchant bank subsidiary. During 2021, noninterest income included an aggregate of $6.5 million in pre-tax gains associated with observable transactions related to two merchant bank equity investments.

Noninterest expenses from continuing operations were primarily comprised of employees’ compensation and benefits, occupancy expenses and professional fees, including corporate governance, legal and transaction costs. During 2021, compared with 2020, the decrease in noninterest expenses was primarily due to decreases in expenses associated with employees’ incentive compensation and professional fees. During 2020, compared with 2019, the increase in noninterest expenses was primarily due to increased employees’ compensation and benefits costs associated with the consolidation of certain common back office functions into corporate and improved operating results, and professional fees, partially offset by a decrease of $6.8 million of aggregate pre-tax costs associated with the leadership changes and efficiency initiative-related charges.

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Results from Discontinued Operations

Insurance Segment

As previously discussed, on June 30, 2020, we completed the sale of NLC. Accordingly, insurance segment results for 2020 and 2019 have been presented as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements. Additional details are presented in Note 3, Discontinued Operations, in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. All activity associated with the insurance segment was recognized in 2020, therefore, there was no income from discontinued operations before taxes during 2021, while income from discontinued operations before income taxes was $2.1 million and $17.6 million during 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Corporate

As a result of the previously noted sale of NLC on June 30, 2020 for cash proceeds of $154.1 million, during 2020, Hilltop recognized an aggregate pre-tax gain on sale within discontinued operations of corporate of $36.8 million, net of customary transaction costs of $5.1 million. The resulting book gain from this sale transaction was not recognized for tax purposes pursuant to the rules under the Internal Revenue Code.

Financial Condition

The following discussion contains a more detailed analysis of our financial condition at December 31, 2021 as compared to December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

Securities Portfolio

At December 31, 2021, investment securities consisted of securities of the U.S. Treasury, U.S. government and its agencies, obligations of municipalities and other political subdivisions, primarily in the State of Texas, as well as mortgage-backed, corporate debt, and equity securities. We may categorize investments as trading, available for sale, held to maturity and equity securities.

Trading securities are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term and are carried at fair value, marked to market through operations and held at the Bank and the Hilltop Broker-Dealers. Securities classified as available for sale may, from time to time, be bought and sold in response to changes in market interest rates, changes in securities’ prepayment risk, increases in loan demand, general liquidity needs and to take advantage of market conditions that create more economically attractive returns. Such securities are carried at estimated fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Equity investments are carried at fair value, with all changes in fair value recognized in net income. Securities are classified as held to maturity based on the intent and ability of our management, at the time of purchase, to hold such securities to maturity. These securities are carried at amortized cost.

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The table below summarizes our securities portfolio from continuing operations (in thousands).

December 31,
202120202019
Trading securities, at fair value
U.S. Treasury securities$3,728$40,491$
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds3,4104024,680
Residential mortgage-backed securities152,093336,081331,601
Commercial mortgage-backed securities126,3898762,145
Collateralized mortgage obligations69,172191,154
Corporate debt securities60,67162,48136,973
States and political subdivisions285,376171,57393,117
Unit investment trusts3,468
Private-label securitized product11,3778,5712,992
Other4,9544,9703,446
647,998694,255689,576
Securities available for sale, at fair value
U.S. Treasury securities14,862
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds44,13382,80685,575
Residential mortgage-backed securities898,446641,611437,029
Commercial mortgage-backed securities210,699124,53812,031
Collateralized mortgage obligations916,866565,908335,616
States and political subdivisions45,56247,34241,242
2,130,5681,462,205911,493
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds24,020
Residential mortgage-backed securities9,89213,54717,776
Commercial mortgage-backed securities145,742152,820161,624
Collateralized mortgage obligations43,99074,932113,894
States and political subdivisions68,06070,64569,012
267,684311,944386,326
Equity securities, at fair value250140166
Total securities portfolio$3,046,500$2,468,544$1,987,561

We had net unrealized losses of $18.1 million at December 31, 2021, compared with net unrealized gains of $26.3 million and $11.7 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to the available for sale investment portfolio and net unrealized gains of $8.6 million, $14.7 million and $2.6 million at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, associated with the securities held to maturity portfolio. Equity securities included net unrealized gains of $0.2 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The noted significant change in net unrealized gains (losses) within our available for sale investment portfolio from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021 was related to increases in market interest rates since purchase and the resulting decline in associated estimated fair values of such portfolio investments. In future periods, changes in prevailing market interest rates, coupled with changes in the aggregate size of the investment portfolio, will be significant drivers to changes in the unrealized losses or gains in these portfolios.

Banking Segment

The banking segment’s securities portfolio plays a role in the management of our interest rate sensitivity and generates additional interest income. In addition, the securities portfolio is used to meet collateral requirements for public and trust deposits, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other purposes. The available for sale and equity securities portfolios serve as a source of liquidity. Historically, the Bank’s policy has been to invest primarily in securities of the U.S. government and its agencies, obligations of municipalities in the State of Texas and other high grade fixed income securities to minimize credit risk. At December 31, 2021, the banking segment’s securities portfolio of $2.4 billion was comprised of trading securities of $0.1 million, available for sale securities of $2.1 billion, held to maturity securities of $267.7 million and equity securities of $0.2 million, in addition to $14.4 million of other investments included in other assets within the consolidated balance sheets.

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Broker-Dealer Segment

The broker-dealer segment holds securities to support sales, underwriting and other customer activities. The interest rate risk inherent in holding these securities is managed by setting and monitoring limits on the size and duration of positions and on the length of time the securities can be held. The Hilltop Broker-Dealers are required to carry their securities at fair value and record changes in the fair value of the portfolio in operations. Accordingly, the securities portfolio of the Hilltop Broker-Dealers included trading securities of $647.9 million at December 31, 2021. In addition, the Hilltop Broker-Dealers enter into transactions that represent commitments to purchase and deliver securities at prevailing future market prices to facilitate customer transactions and satisfy such commitments. Accordingly, the Hilltop Broker-Dealers’ ultimate obligation may exceed the amount recognized in the financial statements. These securities, which are carried at fair value and reported as securities sold, not yet purchased in the consolidated balance sheets, had a value of $96.6 million at December 31, 2021.

Corporate

At December 31, 2021, the corporate portfolio included other investments, including those associated with merchant banking, of $29.0 million in other assets within the consolidated balance sheets.

Allowance for Credit Losses for Available for Sale Securities and Held to Maturity Securities

We have evaluated available for sale debt securities that are in an unrealized loss position and have determined that any declines in value are unrelated to credit loss and related to changes in market interest rates since purchase. None of the available for sale debt securities held were past due at December 31, 2021. In addition, as of December 31, 2021, we had evaluated our held to maturity debt securities, considering the current credit ratings and recognized losses, and determined the potential credit loss to be minimal. With respect to these securities, we considered the risk of credit loss to be negligible, and therefore, no allowance was recognized on the debt securities portfolio at December 31, 2021.

The following table sets forth the estimated maturities of our debt securities, excluding trading securities, at December 31, 2021. Contractual maturities may be different (dollars in thousands, yields are tax-equivalent).

One YearOne Year toFive Years toGreater Than
Or LessFive YearsTen YearsTen YearsTotal
U.S. Treasury securities:
Amortized cost$9,964$4,973$14,937
Fair value$9,962$4,900$14,862
Weighted average yield (1)0.36%0.87%0.53%
U.S. government agencies:
Bonds:
Amortized cost$22,811$4,536$16,101$43,448
Fair value$23,264$4,623$16,246$44,133
Weighted average yield (1)2.14%0.80%1.14%1.63%
Residential mortgage-backed securities:
Amortized cost$3$3,835$97,037$809,101$909,976
Fair value$3$3,989$99,674$805,072$908,738
Weighted average yield (1)2.44%3.31%1.99%1.51%1.57%
Commercial mortgage-backed securities:
Amortized cost$96,821$173,172$95,209$365,202
Fair value$100,109$171,136$90,507$361,752
Weighted average yield (1)2.84%1.78%1.37%1.95%
Collateralized mortgage obligations:
Amortized cost$2,502$120,004$848,267$970,773
Fair value$2,538$119,854$838,940$961,332
Weighted average yield (1)1.86%0.97%1.24%1.21%
States and political subdivisions:
Amortized cost$870$8,432$24,346$78,335$111,983
Fair value$877$8,742$25,392$81,036$116,047
Weighted average yield (1)4.17%3.32%3.59%3.40%3.44%
Total securities portfolio:
Amortized cost$10,837$139,374$419,095$1,847,013$2,416,319
Fair value$10,842$143,542$420,679$1,831,801$2,406,864
Weighted average yield (1)0.67%2.68%1.69%1.46%1.56%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Weighted average yield is defined as interest earned by average interest-earning assets.

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Loan Portfolio

Consolidated loans held for investment are detailed in the tables below, classified by portfolio segment (in thousands).

December 31,
Loan Held for Investment202120202019
Commercial real estate$3,042,729$3,133,903$3,000,523
Commercial and industrial1,875,4202,627,7742,025,720
Construction and land development892,783828,852940,564
1-4 family residential1,303,430629,938791,020
Consumer32,34935,66747,046
Broker-dealer733,193437,007576,527
Loans held for investment, gross7,879,9047,693,1417,381,400
Allowance for credit losses(91,352)(149,044)(61,136)
Loans held for investment, net of allowance$7,788,552$7,544,097$7,320,264

Banking Segment

The loan portfolio constitutes the primary earning asset of the banking segment and typically offers the best alternative for obtaining the maximum interest spread above the banking segment’s cost of funds. The overall economic strength of the banking segment generally parallels the quality and yield of its loan portfolio.

The banking segment’s total loans held for investment, net of the allowance for credit losses, were $8.8 billion, $9.6 billion and $8.6 billion at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The banking segment’s loan portfolio included warehouse lines of credit extended to PrimeLending of $3.3 billion, of which $1.7 billion, $2.5 billion and $1.8 billion was drawn at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Effective January 1, 2022, these warehouse lines of credit were decreased to $2.8 billion to address expected declines in loan origination volumes. Amounts advanced against the warehouse lines of credit are eliminated from net loans held for investment on our consolidated balance sheets. The banking segment does not generally participate in syndicated loan transactions and has no foreign loans in its portfolio.

The banking segment’s loan portfolio included approximately $78 million related to both initial and second round PPP loans at December 31, 2021. While these loans have terms of up to 60 months, borrowers can apply for forgiveness of these loans with the SBA. Through February 11, 2022, the SBA had approved approximately 3,700 initial and second round PPP forgiveness applications from the Bank totaling approximately $840 million, with PPP loans of approximately $4 million currently pending SBA review and approval. We anticipate a significant amount of these remaining PPP loans pending approval being forgiven over the next two quarters. The forgiveness/payoff of the PPP loans would generate an increase in interest income as we would recognize the remaining unamortized origination fee at the time of payoff.

At December 31, 2021, the banking segment had loan concentrations (loans to borrowers engaged in similar activities) that exceeded 10% of total loans in its real estate portfolio. The areas of concentration within our real estate portfolio were non-construction commercial real estate loans, non-construction residential real estate loans, and construction and land development loans, which represented 42.6%, 18.2% and 12.5%, respectively, of the banking segment’s total loans held for investment at December 31, 2021. The banking segment’s loan concentrations were within regulatory guidelines at December 31, 2021.

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The following table provides information regarding the maturities of the banking segment’s gross loans held for investment, net of unearned income (in thousands).

December 31, 2021
Due WithinDue From OneDue from FiveDue After
One YearTo Five YearsTo Fifteen YearsFifteen YearsTotal
Commercial real estate$419,330$1,511,778$964,373$147,248$3,042,729
Commercial and industrial2,936,441495,633156,8803,588,954
Construction and land development372,915384,809129,5945,465892,783
1-4 family residential118,683215,418242,050727,2791,303,430
Consumer20,73811,3672232132,349
Total$3,868,107$2,619,005$1,493,120$880,013$8,860,245
Fixed rate loans$3,623,736$2,357,533$1,423,894$880,013$8,285,176
Floating rate loans244,371261,47269,226575,069
Total$3,868,107$2,619,005$1,493,120$880,013$8,860,245

In the table above, commercial and industrial includes amounts advanced against the warehouse lines of credit extended to PrimeLending. Floating rate loans that have reached their applicable rate floor or ceiling are classified as fixed rate loans rather than floating rate loans. As of December 31, 2021, floating rate loans totaling $1.3 billion had reached their applicable rate floor. The majority of floating rate loans carry an interest rate tied to The Wall Street Journal Prime Rate, as published in The Wall Street Journal.

Broker-Dealer Segment

The loan portfolio of the broker-dealer segment consists primarily of margin loans to customers and correspondents that are due within one year. The interest rate on margin accounts is computed on the settled margin balance at a fixed rate established by management. These loans are collateralized by the securities purchased or by other securities owned by the clients and, because of collateral coverage ratios, are believed to present minimal collectability exposure. Additionally, these loans are subject to a number of regulatory requirements as well as the Hilltop Broker-Dealers’ internal policies. The broker-dealer segment’s total loans held for investment, net of the allowance for credit losses, were $733.0 million, $436.8 million and $576.5 million at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021, was primarily attributable to an increase of $169.9 million, or 66.2%, in customer margin accounts and an increase of $125.9 million, or 69.9%, in receivables from correspondents. The decrease from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2020 was primarily attributable to a decrease of $54.1 million or 17.4%, in customer margin accounts and a decrease of $84.0 million, or 31.8%, in receivables from correspondents.

Mortgage Origination Segment

The loan portfolio of the mortgage origination segment consists of loans held for sale, primarily single-family residential mortgages funded through PrimeLending, and IRLCs with customers pursuant to which we agree to originate a mortgage loan on a future date at an agreed-upon interest rate. The components of the mortgage origination segment’s loans held for sale and IRLCs are as follows (in thousands).

December 31,
202120202019
Loans held for sale:
Unpaid principal balance$1,728,255$2,411,626$1,878,231
Fair value adjustment54,336109,77857,482
$1,782,591$2,521,404$1,935,713
IRLCs:
Unpaid principal balance$1,283,152$2,470,013$914,526
Fair value adjustment25,48976,04818,222
$1,308,641$2,546,061$932,748

The mortgage origination segment uses forward commitments to mitigate interest rate risk associated with its loans held for sale and IRLCs. The notional amounts of these forward commitments at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 were $2.4 billion,

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$4.0 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively, while the related estimated fair values were $0.4 million, ($28.0) million and ($3.8) million, respectively.

Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans

For additional information regarding the allowance for credit losses, refer to the section captioned “Critical Accounting Estimates” included in this Form 10-K.

Loans Held for Investment

The Bank has lending policies in place with the goal of establishing an asset portfolio that will provide a return on stockholders’ equity sufficient to maintain capital to assets ratios that meet or exceed established regulations. Loans are underwritten with careful consideration of the borrower’s financial condition, the specific purpose of the loan, the primary sources of repayment and any collateral pledged to secure the loan.

Underwriting procedures address financial components based on the size and complexity of the credit. The financial components include, but are not limited to, current and projected cash flows, shock analysis and/or stress testing, and trends in appropriate balance sheet and statement of operations ratios. The Bank’s loan policy provides specific underwriting guidelines by portfolio segment, including commercial and industrial, real estate, construction and land development, and consumer loans. The guidelines for each individual portfolio segment set forth permissible and impermissible loan types. With respect to each loan type, the guidelines within the Bank’s loan policy provide minimum requirements for the underwriting factors listed above. The Bank’s underwriting procedures also include an analysis of any collateral and guarantor. Collateral analysis includes a complete description of the collateral, as well as determined values, monitoring requirements, loan to value ratios, concentration risk, appraisal requirements and other information relevant to the collateral being pledged. Guarantor analysis includes liquidity and cash flow evaluation based on the significance with which the guarantors are expected to serve as secondary repayment sources.

The Bank maintains a loan review department that reviews credit risk in response to both external and internal factors that potentially impact the performance of either individual loans or the overall loan portfolio. The loan review process reviews the creditworthiness of borrowers and determines compliance with the loan policy. The loan review process complements and reinforces the risk identification and assessment decisions made by lenders and credit personnel. Results of these reviews are presented to management and the Bank’s board of directors and the Risk Committee of the board of directors of the Company.

The allowance for credit losses for loans held for investment represents management’s best estimate of all expected credit losses over the expected contractual life of our existing portfolio. Determining the appropriateness of the allowance is complex and requires judgment by management about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Subsequent evaluations of the then-existing loan portfolio, in light of the factors then prevailing, may result in significant changes in the allowance for credit losses in those future periods. Such future changes in the allowance for credit losses are expected to be volatile given dependence upon, among other things, the portfolio composition and quality, as well as the impact of significant drivers, including prepayment assumptions and macroeconomic conditions and forecasts.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted financial markets and overall economic conditions that have affected borrowers across our lending portfolios. Significant judgment is required to estimate the severity and duration of the current economic uncertainties, as well as its potential impact on borrower defaults and loss severity. In particular, macroeconomic conditions and forecasts are rapidly changing and remain highly uncertain as COVID-19 cases and vaccine effectiveness, as well as government stimulus and policy measures, evolve nationally and in key geographies. It is difficult to predict exactly how borrower behavior will be impacted by these economic conditions as the effectiveness of vaccinations, government stimulus and policy measures, customer relief and enhanced unemployment benefits have helped mitigate in the short term, but the extent and duration of government stimulus remains uncertain.

One of the most significant judgments involved in estimating our allowance for credit losses relates to the macroeconomic forecasts used to estimate credit losses over the reasonable and supportable forecast period. To determine the allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2021, we utilized a single macroeconomic consensus scenario published by a Moody’s Analytics in December 2021.

During our previous quarterly macroeconomic assessment as of September 30, 2021, we utilized the single macroeconomic alternative baseline, or S7, scenario published by Moody’s Analytics. The change to the consensus scenario as of December

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31, 2021 was based on our evaluation of the Moody’s baseline economic forecast compared to other industry surveys over the reasonable and supportable period and our assessment of the reasonableness of impacts associated with the key monetary and government stimulus policy assumptions. The consensus economic scenario considered several industry surveys in the near-term forecasts and assumes reversion to the long-term trends embedded in the baseline economic scenario before reverting to historical data.

The following table summarizes the U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) growth rates and unemployment rate assumptions used in our economic forecast to determine our best estimate of expected credit losses.

As of
December 31,September 30,June 30,March 31,December 31,
20212021202120212020
GDP growth rates:
Q4 20204.0%
Q1 20215.0%1.6%
Q2 202110.8%6.5%4.5%
Q3 20215.0%6.6%6.7%4.7%
Q4 20216.7%7.5%6.9%4.8%5.8%
Q1 20223.6%4.6%5.4%3.2%4.8%
Q2 20223.5%2.8%2.8%2.5%4.4%
Q3 20222.3%1.3%2.3%2.1%
Q4 20222.7%1.5%1.8%
Q1 20233.0%2.4%
Q2 20232.4%
Unemployment rates:
Q4 20206.7%
Q1 20216.3%6.9%
Q2 20215.8%6.2%7.1%
Q3 20215.2%5.2%5.8%7.0%
Q4 20214.3%4.5%4.5%5.4%6.8%
Q1 20224.3%3.9%4.0%5.1%6.5%
Q2 20224.0%3.5%3.7%4.9%6.2%
Q3 20223.8%3.4%3.6%4.7%
Q4 20223.6%3.3%3.5%
Q1 20233.7%3.3%
Q2 20233.7%

As of December 31, 2021, our economic forecast improved from September 30, 2021 based on updated economic data, including November unemployment rates improving faster than the prior quarter’s forecast despite tight labor market conditions and accelerated rates of the Federal Reserve’s taper of monthly asset purchases. We now assume the Federal Reserve continues to support a target range of the federal funds rate near 0% through monetary policy support and assume interest rates begin to rise as early as the second quarter of 2022. Real GDP growth rates were revised lower due to persistently higher inflation data and observed supply-chain impacts on business and consumer spending due to the delta variant. Given the timing of the Moody’s economic forecast release in early December 2021, the forecast utilized also assumed that COVID-19 cases peaked in January 2021, but did not assume a third wave of COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant into the winter months. The forecast also did not consider uncertainty related to additional fiscal support from the Build Back Better proposal, so our model results were qualitatively adjusted to consider these recent developments as of December 31, 2021.

Since December 31, 2020, our economic forecast improved year-over-year due to a third round of $1.9 trillion in government stimulus enacted in March 2021 through the American Rescue Plan Act. As a result of additional stimulus checks, enhanced unemployment benefits, extended lending from the PPP program, and expanded tax credits, consumer and business spending accelerated the U.S. real GDP growth rate in the second quarter of 2021 to 6.3% and in the third quarter of 2021 to 6.7%. Also, in March 2021, President Biden implemented new programs to extend COVID-19 testing and vaccine eligibility for most adults in the United States by May 2021. Most states also ended their participation in federal pandemic unemployment benefit programs in early summer 2021. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased from 6.7% in December 2020 to 5.9% in June 2021 and decreased further to 4.2% by November 2021. In August 2021, a second wave of COVID-19 cases progressed within the United States and Texas due to the delta variant, which slowed U.S. economic growth and real GDP growth rates to 2.3% in the third quarter of 2021. Then, in November 2021, Congress passed a fourth round of $0.6 trillion in government stimulus

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through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and during December 2021, a third wave of COVID-19 cases progressed in the United States and Texas due to the new omicron variant.

During 2020, our baseline economic forecast changed significantly year-over-year in response to weak economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as developments occurred rapidly in February and March 2020 associated with fiscal and monetary stimulus measures and the expected beneficial impacts of the CARES Act and certain regulatory interagency guidance. As of December 31, 2019, we assumed the U.S. economy was in the late stages of the economic cycle with unemployment rates near historical lows of 3.6% increasing to 3.8% in the fourth quarter of 2020 and reverting to historical data in the fourth quarter of 2022. Downside risks to the economy were concerns over international trade war between the U.S. and its trading partners and potential fallout from a Brexit in 2020. Interest rate expectations assumed one rate cut in 2020 with the Federal Reserve target range of the federal funds rate at 1.25% to 1.50% before reverting to historical data in 2023. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve twice cut federal funds rate targets in March 2020 to 0% to 0.25% with interest rate expectations as of December 31, 2020 unchanged until late 2023. Several U.S. fiscal and monetary policy changes during early 2020 were enacted to counter a severe, but short U.S. recession during the first half of 2020 and support a strong economic recovery during the second half of 2020 with U.S. budget deficits increasing to more than $3 trillion during the year. U.S. unemployment rates reached 14.8% in April 2020 before declining to 6.7% as of December 31, 2020, which was 3.1% higher than the unemployment rate as of December 31, 2019. Annualized real GDP growth rates declined 31.4% in the second quarter of 2020 and increased 33.4% in the third quarter of 2020. The U.S. presidential election later in 2020 resulted in several changes, as Presidential Candidate Joe Biden won the electoral vote to replace President Donald Trump in 2021 and majority control of the U.S. Congress moved from Republican to Democratic parties. As economic growth slowed during the fourth quarter of 2020, additional government stimulus of approximately $900 billion was approved.

As previously discussed, we adopted the new CECL standard and recorded transition adjustment entries that resulted in an allowance for credit losses for loans held for investment of $73.7 million as of January 1, 2020, an increase of $12.6 million. This increase reflected credit losses of $18.9 million from the expansion of the loss horizon to life of loan and also takes into account forecasts of expected future macroeconomic conditions, partially offset by the elimination of the non-credit component within the historical allowance related to previously categorized PCI loans of $6.3 million. This increase, net of tax, was largely reflected within the banking segment and included a decrease of $5.7 million to opening retained earnings at January 1, 2020.

During 2021, the decreases in the allowance for credit losses reflected improvement in both realized economic results and the macroeconomic outlook and were significantly comprised of net reversals of credit losses on expected losses of collectively evaluated loans of $58.3 million. Such reversals were primarily due to improvements in both macroeconomic forecast assumptions and credit quality metrics on COVID-19 impacted industry sector exposures. The net impact to the allowance of changes associated with individually evaluated loans during 2021 included a provision for credit losses of $0.1 million. The change in the allowance for credit losses during 2021 was primarily attributable to the Bank and also reflected other factors including, but not limited to, loan growth, loan mix, and changes in loan balances and qualitative factors. The change in the allowance during 2021 was also impacted by net recoveries of $0.5 million.

As discussed under the section titled “Loan Portfolio” earlier in this Item 7, the Bank’s actions, beginning in the second and third quarters of 2020, included supporting our impacted banking clients experiencing an increased level of risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic through loan modifications. This deteriorating economic outlook resulted in a significant build in the allowance and included provision for credit losses through the second quarter of 2020. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2020, improvement in both economic results and the macroeconomic outlook, coupled with government stimulus and positive risk rating grade migration within the Bank, have resulted in aggregate reversals of a significant portion of previously recorded credit losses. As a result, the allowance for credit losses as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and banking segment mortgage warehouse lending and PPP lending programs, was 1.37% as of December 31, 2021, down from a high of 2.63% as of September 30, 2020.

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The respective distribution of the allowance for credit losses as a percentage of our total loan portfolio and total active loan modifications, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and banking segment mortgage warehouse lending and PPP lending programs, are presented in the following table (dollars in thousands).

Allowance ForAllowanceAllowance For
Credit LossesFor CreditCredit Losses
Totalas a % ofLosses onas a % of
TotalAllowanceTotal LoansActiveActiveActive
Loans Heldfor CreditHeld ForLoanLoanLoan
December 31, 2021For InvestmentLossesInvestmentModificationsModificationsModifications
Commercial real estate$3,042,729$59,3541.95%$$%
Commercial and industrial (1)1,385,70121,7681.57%%
Construction and land development892,7834,6740.52%%
1-4 family residential1,303,4304,5890.35%3,573541.51%
Consumer32,3495781.79%%
6,656,99290,9631.37%3,573541.51%
Broker-dealer733,1931750.02%%
Mortgage warehouse lending411,9732140.05%%
Paycheck Protection Program77,746%%
$7,879,904$91,3521.16%$3,573$541.51%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Commercial and industrial portfolio amounts reflect balances excluding banking segment mortgage warehouse lending and PPP loans.

Allowance Model Sensitivity

Our allowance model was designed to capture the historical relationship between economic and portfolio changes. As such, evaluating shifts in individual portfolio attributes or macroeconomic variables in isolation may not be indicative of past or future performance. It is difficult to estimate how potential changes in any one factor or input might affect the overall allowance for credit losses because we consider a wide variety of factors and inputs in the allowance for credit losses estimate. Changes in the factors and inputs considered may not occur at the same rate and may not be consistent across all geographies or product types, and changes in factors and input may be directionally inconsistent, such that improvement in one factor may offset deterioration in others.

However, to consider the sensitivity of credit loss estimates to alternative macroeconomic forecasts, we compared the Company’s allowance for credit loss estimates as of December 31, 2021, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment, the banking segment mortgage warehouse and PPP lending programs, with modeled results using both upside (“S1”) and downside (“S3”) economic scenario forecasts published by Moody’s Analytics.

Compared to our economic forecast, the upside scenario assumes consumer and business confidence increases as new cases, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 recede faster than expected, while availability and acceptance of vaccines and consumer spending accelerate more than expected. Real GDP is expected to grow 9.3% in the first quarter of 2022, 6.6% in the second quarter of 2022, 4.2% in the third quarter of 2022, and 4.4% in the fourth quarter of 2022. Average unemployment rates decline to 3.7% by the first quarter of 2022 and 3.0% by the end of 2022. Monetary and fiscal policy assumptions include the Federal Reserve maintaining a near 0% target for the federal funds rate until the third quarter of 2022 and additional government infrastructure and social program spending approved in the fourth quarter of 2021 of $2.3 trillion with supply-chain issues resolving more quickly than anticipated.

Compared to our economic forecast, the downside scenario assumes consumer and business confidence declines as new cases, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 diminish more slowly than expected, resulting in fewer people than expected getting vaccinated and increased worries about resistant strains. As a result, consumer confidence and spending erode causing the economy to fall back into recession. Real GDP is expected to decrease 4.0% in the first quarter of 2022, 3.2% in the second quarter of 2022, 1.9% in the third quarter of 2022, and increase 0.3% in the fourth quarter of 2022. Average unemployment rates increase to 6.4% by the first quarter of 2022 and 9.0% by the first quarter of 2023. Average unemployment is expected to remain elevated but improve to 7.1% by the fourth quarter of 2023 and reverts to historical average rates over time. Monetary and fiscal policy assumptions include the Federal Reserve maintaining a near 0% target for the federal funds rate through early 2026, while disagreements in Congress prevent any additional stimulus from being enacted beyond the American Rescue Plan Act passed in March 2021 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in November 2021. Supply chain issues are worse than expected and continue much longer than anticipated, weakening manufacturing.

The impact of applying all of the assumptions of the upside economic scenario during the reasonable and supportable forecast period would have resulted in a decrease in the allowance for credit losses of approximately $7 million or a weighted average

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expected loss rate of 1.1% as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and the banking segment mortgage warehouse lending and PPP lending programs.

The impact of applying all of the assumptions of the downside economic scenario during the reasonable and supportable forecast period would have resulted in an increase in the allowance for credit losses of approximately $45 million or a weighted average expected loss rate of 1.9% as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, excluding margin loans in the broker-dealer segment and the banking segment mortgage warehouse lending and PPP lending programs.

This analysis relates only to the modeled credit loss estimates and is not intended to estimate changes in the overall allowance for credit losses as they do not reflect any potential changes in the adjustment to the quantitative calculation, which would also be influenced by the judgment management applies to the modeled lifetime loss estimates to reflect the uncertainty and imprecision of these modeled lifetime loss estimates based on then-current circumstances and conditions. It also did not consider impacts from recent Bank deferral and customer accommodation efforts or government fiscal and monetary stimulus measures.

Our allowance for credit losses reflects our best estimate of current expected credit losses, which is highly dependent on the path of the virus. We continue to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related policy measures on the economy and if pace and vigor of the expected recovery is worse than expected, further meaningful provisions could be required. Future allowance for credit losses may vary considerably for these reasons.

Allowance Activity

The following table presents the activity in our allowance for credit losses within our loan portfolio for the periods presented (in thousands). Substantially all of the activity shown below occurred within the banking segment.

Year Ended December 31,
Loans Held for Investment202120202019
Balance, beginning of year$149,044$61,136$59,486
Transition adjustment for adoption of CECL accounting standard12,562
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses(58,213)96,4917,206
Recoveries of loans previously charged off:
Commercial real estate2666136
Commercial and industrial2,6561,8342,829
Construction and land development2
1-4 family residential5465461
Consumer28139237
Broker-dealer
Total recoveries3,7492,8952,933
Loans charged off:
Commercial real estate3104,5171,160
Commercial and industrial2,24918,1585,924
Construction and land development2
1-4 family residential312748907
Consumer357615498
Broker-dealer
Total charge-offs3,22824,0408,489
Net recoveries (charge-offs)521(21,145)(5,556)
Balance, end of year$91,352$149,044$61,136
Average total loans for the year$7,645,292$7,618,723$7,088,208
Total loans held for investment, end of year$7,879,904$7,693,141$7,381,400
Ratios:
Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average total loans held for investment (1)0.01%(0.28)%(0.08)%
Non-accrual loans to total loans held for investment0.64%1.01%0.49%
Allowance for credit losses on loans held for investment to:
Total loans held for investment1.16%1.94%0.83%
Non-accrual loans held for investment181.88%191.13%169.28%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average total loans held for investment ratio presented on a consolidated basis for all periods given relative immateriality of resulting measure by loan portfolio segment.

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Total non-accrual loans decreased by $27.8 million from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021, compared to an increase of $41.9 million from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2020. These changes in non-accrual loans were impacted by loans secured by residential real estate within our mortgage origination segment, which were classified as loans held for sale, of $2.9 million, $10.9 million and $4.8 million at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

In addition to changes in non-accrual loans classified as loans held for sale, the decrease in non-accrual loans during 2021 was primarily due to principal paydowns associated with several commercial and industrial and commercial real estate owner occupied loan relationships, while the increase in non-accrual loans during 2020 was primarily due to the reclassification of a number of loans reclassified to non-accrual as a part of the CECL transition and the addition of several relationships within the commercial and industrial, commercial real estate owner occupied and 1-4 family residential loan portfolios to non-accrual status.

As previously discussed in detail within this section, the allowance for credit losses fluctuated significantly during 2020 and 2021, which impacted the resulting ratios noted in the table above. During 2020, the significant build in the allowance was primarily due to the adoption of the new CECL standard and recorded transition adjustment entries as well as the deteriorating economic outlook due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while during 2021 the significant decline in the allowance for credit losses reflected improvement in both realized economic results and the macroeconomic outlook due to improvements in both macroeconomic forecast assumptions and credit quality metrics on COVID-19 impacted industry sector exposures.

The distribution of the allowance for credit losses among loan types and the percentage of the loans for that type to gross loans, excluding unearned income, within our loan portfolio is presented in the table below (dollars in thousands).

December 31,
202120202019
% of% of% of
GrossGrossGross
Allocation of the Allowance for Credit LossesReserveLoansReserveLoansReserveLoans
Commercial real estate$59,35438.61%$109,62940.74%$31,59540.65%
Commercial and industrial21,98223.80%27,70334.16%17,96427.44%
Construction and land development4,67411.33%6,67710.77%4,87812.74%
1-4 family residential4,58916.54%3,9468.19%6,38610.72%
Consumer5780.41%8760.46%2650.64%
Broker-dealer1759.31%2135.68%487.81%
Total$91,352100.00%$149,044100.00%$61,136100.00%

The following table summarizes historical levels of the allowance for credit losses on loans held for investment, distributed by portfolio segment (in thousands).

December 31,September 30,June 30,March 31,December 31,
20212021202120212020
Commercial real estate$59,354$68,535$77,633$104,126$109,629
Commercial and industrial21,98230,54527,86628,51327,703
Construction and land development4,6745,1005,1857,2496,677
1-4 family residential4,5894,5383,6593,3883,946
Consumer578504592944876
Broker-dealer175290334279213
$91,352$109,512$115,269$144,499$149,044

Unfunded Loan Commitments

In order to estimate the allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments, the Bank uses a process similar to that used in estimating the allowance for credit losses on the funded portion. The allowance is based on the estimated exposure at default, multiplied by the lifetime probability of default grade and loss given default grade for that particular loan segment. The Bank estimates expected losses by calculating a commitment usage factor based on industry usage factors. The commitment usage factor is applied over the relevant contractual period. Loss factors from the underlying loans to which commitments are related are applied to the results of the usage calculation to estimate any liability for credit losses related for each loan type. The expected losses on unfunded commitments align with statistically calculated parameters used to calculate the allowance for credit losses on the funded portion. Letters of credit are not currently reserved because they are issued primarily as credit enhancements and the likelihood of funding is low.

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Changes in the allowance for credit losses for loans with off-balance sheet credit exposures are shown below (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202120202019
Balance, beginning of year$8,388$2,075$2,366
Transition adjustment CECL accounting standard3,837
Other noninterest expense(2,508)2,476(291)
Balance, end of year$5,880$8,388$2,075

As previously discussed, we adopted the new CECL standard and recorded a transition adjustment entry that resulted in an allowance for credit losses of $5.9 million as of January 1, 2020. During 2021, the decrease in the reserve for unfunded commitments was primarily due to improvements in loan expected loss rates.

Potential Problem Loans

Potential problem loans consist of loans that are performing in accordance with contractual terms but for which management has concerns about the ability of an obligor to continue to comply with repayment terms because of the obligor’s potential operating or financial difficulties. Management monitors these loans and reviews their performance on a regular basis. Potential problem loans contain potential weaknesses that could improve, persist or further deteriorate. If such potential weaknesses persist without improving, the loan is subject to downgrade, typically to substandard, in three to six months. Potential problem loans are assigned a grade of special mention within our risk grading matrix. Potential problem loans do not include purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loans because PCD loans exhibited evidence of more than insignificant credit deterioration at acquisition that made it probable that all contractually required principal payments would not be collected. Additionally, potential problem loans do not include loans that have been modified in connection with our COVID-19 payment deferment programs which allow for a deferral of principal and/or interest payments. Within our loan portfolio, we had two credit relationships totaling $3.1 million of potential problem loans at December 31, 2021, compared with seven credit relationships totaling $11.3 million of potential problem loans at December 31, 2020 and five credit relationships totaling $16.8 million of potential problem loans at December 31, 2019.

Non-Performing Assets

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARES Act was passed in March 2020, which among other things, allowed the Bank to suspend the TDR requirements for certain loan modifications to be categorized as a TDR. Subsequent legislation extended such provisions through January 1, 2022. Starting in March 2020, the Bank implemented several actions to better support our impacted banking clients and allow for loan modifications such as principal and/or interest payment deferrals, participation in the PPP as an SBA preferred lender and personal banking assistance including waived fees, increased daily spending limits and suspension of residential foreclosure activities. The COVID-19 payment deferment programs allow for a deferral of principal and/or interest payments with such deferred principal payments due and payable on the maturity date of the existing loan.

Specifically, as discussed under the section titled “Loan Portfolio” earlier in this Item 2, the Bank’s actions during 2020 included approval of $1.0 billion of COVID-19 related loan modifications. During 2021, the Bank continued to support its impacted banking clients through the approval of COVID-19 related loan modifications with a portfolio of active deferrals that have not reached the end of their deferral period of approximately $4 million as of December 31, 2021. While the majority of the portfolio of COVID-19 related loan modifications no longer require deferral, such loans represent elevated risk, and therefore management continues to monitor these loans.

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The following table presents components of our non-performing assets (dollars in thousands).

December 31,Variance
2021202020192021 vs 20202020 vs 2019
Loans accounted for on a non-accrual basis:
Commercial real estate$6,601$11,133$7,308$(4,532)$3,825
Commercial and industrial22,47834,04915,262(11,571)18,787
Construction and land development25071,316(505)(809)
1-4 family residential21,12332,26312,204(11,140)20,059
Consumer232826(5)2
Broker-dealer
$50,227$77,980$36,116$(27,753)$41,864
Troubled debt restructurings included in accruing loans held for investment9221,9542,173(1,032)(219)
Non-performing loans$51,149$79,934$38,289$(28,785)$41,645
Non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans0.52%0.76%0.40%(0.24)%0.36%
Other real estate owned$2,833$21,289$18,202$(18,456)$3,087
Other repossessed assets$$101$$(101)$101
Non-performing assets$53,982$101,324$56,491$(47,342)$44,833
Non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets0.29%0.60%0.37%(0.31)%0.23%
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing$60,775$243,630$102,707$(182,855)$140,923

At December 31, 2021, non-accrual loans included 45 commercial and industrial relationships with loans secured by accounts receivable, life insurance, oil and gas, livestock and equipment. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2021 also included $2.9 million of loans secured by residential real estate which were classified as loans held for sale. At December 31, 2020, non-accrual loans included 60 commercial and industrial relationships with loans secured by accounts receivable, life insurance, oil and gas, livestock and equipment. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2020 also included $10.9 million of loans secured by residential real estate which were classified as loans held for sale. At December 31, 2019, non-accrual loans included 23 commercial and industrial relationships with loans secured by accounts receivable, life insurance, livestock, oil and gas, and equipment. Non-accrual loans at December 31, 2019 also included $4.8 million of loans secured by residential real estate which were classified as loans held for sale.

At December 31, 2021, TDRs were comprised of $0.9 million of loans that are considered to be performing and accruing, and $5.9 million of loans considered to be non-performing reported in non-accrual loans. At December 31, 2020, TDRs were comprised of $2.0 million of loans that are considered to be performing and accruing, and $16.0 million of loans considered to be non-performing reported in non-accrual loans. At December 31, 2019, TDRs were comprised of $2.2 million of loans that were considered to be performing and accruing, and $11.9 million of loans considered to be non-performing reported in non-accrual loans. In March 2020, the CARES Act was passed, which, among other things, allowed the Bank to suspend the requirements for certain loan modifications to be categorized as a TDR. Therefore, the Bank has not reported COVID-19 related modifications as TDRs through January 1, 2022 when the provisions expired.

OREO decreased from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021, primarily due to disposals and valuation adjustments totaling $22.0 million, partially offset by additions totaling $3.6 million. OREO increased from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2020, primarily due to additions totaling $13.9 million, partially offset by disposals of $10.8 million.

Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 were primarily comprised of loans held for sale and guaranteed by U.S. government agencies, including GNMA related loans subject to repurchase within our mortgage origination segment. The significant decrease in loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing at December 31, 2021, compared to December 31, 2020, was due to the sale of mortgage loans previously included within this non-performing assets category. As of December 31, 2021, $20.2 million of loans subject to repurchase were under a forbearance agreement resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. During May 2020, GNMA announced it will temporarily exclude any new GNMA lender delinquencies, occurring on or after April 2020, when calculating the delinquency ratios for the purposes of enforcing compliance with its delinquency rate thresholds. This exclusion is extended automatically to GNMA lenders that were compliant with GNMA’s delinquency rate thresholds as reflected by their April 2020 investor accounting report. The mortgage origination segment qualified for this exclusion as of December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, $20.2 million of loans subject to repurchase under a forbearance agreement had delinquencies on or after April 2020.

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Deposits

The banking segment’s major source of funds and liquidity is its deposit base. Deposits provide funding for its investments in loans and securities. Interest paid for deposits must be managed carefully to control the level of interest expense and overall net interest margin. The composition of the deposit base (time deposits versus interest-bearing demand deposits and savings), as discussed in more detail within the section titled “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Banking Segment” below, is constantly changing due to the banking segment’s needs and market conditions.

The table below presents the average balance of, and rate paid on, consolidated deposits (dollars in thousands).

Year Ended December 31,
202120202019
AverageAverageAverageAverageAverageAverage
BalanceRate PaidBalanceRate PaidBalanceRate Paid
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits$4,157,9620.00%$3,304,4750.00%$2,635,9240.00%
Interest-bearing demand deposits6,077,6600.19%5,284,5820.31%4,283,6420.98%
Savings deposits295,0750.06%231,9960.07%186,2350.19%
Time deposits1,349,8490.86%1,880,5431.11%1,446,6142.02%
$11,880,5460.20%$10,701,5960.35%$8,552,4150.84%

The following table presents the scheduled maturities of uninsured deposits greater than $250,000 as of December 31, 2021 (in thousands).

Months to maturity:
3 months or less$112,517
3 months to 6 months79,124
6 months to 12 months173,787
Over 12 months77,891
$443,319

Borrowings

Our consolidated borrowings associated with continuing operations are shown in the table below (dollars in thousands).

December 31,
202120202019
AverageAverageAverage
BalanceRate PaidBalanceRate PaidBalanceRate Paid
Short-term borrowings$859,4441.22%$695,7981.46%$1,424,0102.41%
Notes payable387,9045.79%381,9874.54%256,2694.70%
Junior subordinated debentures3.45%67,0124.13%67,0125.75%
$1,247,3481.32%$1,144,7972.51%$1,747,2912.90%

Short-term borrowings consisted of federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, borrowings at the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”), short-term bank loans and commercial paper. The increase in short-term borrowings at December 31, 2021, compared with December 31, 2020, primarily included increases in short-term bank loans and commercial paper used by the Hilltop Broker-Dealers to finance their activities, partially offset by a decrease in securities sold under agreements to repurchase by the Hilltop Broker-Dealers given increased utilization of internal funds. The decrease in short-term borrowings at December 31, 2020 compared with December 31, 2019 included a decrease in borrowings in our banking and broker-dealer segments primarily associated with the increased utilization of available internal funds, a decrease in FHLB borrowings and a decrease in securities sold under agreements to repurchase by the Hilltop Broker-Dealers, partially offset by an increase in commercial paper used by the Hilltop Broker-Dealers to finance their activities.

Notes payable at December 31, 2021 of $387.9 million was comprised of $149.1 million related to Senior Notes, net of loan origination fees, Subordinated Notes, net of origination fees, of $197.1 million and mortgage origination segment borrowings of $41.7 million. Notes payable at December 31, 2020 of $382.0 million was comprised of $148.9 million related to Senior Notes, net of loan origination fees, Subordinated Notes, net of origination fees, of $196.8 million and mortgage origination

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segment borrowings of $36.2 million. Notes payable at December 31, 2019 of $283.8 million was comprised of $148.8 million related to Senior Notes, net of loan origination fees, FHLB borrowings with an original maturity greater than one year within our banking segment of $28.8 million, and mortgage origination segment borrowings of $78.7 million. As discussed in more detail within the section titled “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Junior Subordinated Debentures” below, during the third quarter of 2021, PCC fully redeemed all outstanding Debentures.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Hilltop is a financial holding company whose assets primarily consist of the stock of its subsidiaries and invested assets. Hilltop’s primary investment objectives, as a holding company, are to support capital deployment for organic growth and to preserve capital to be deployed through acquisitions, dividend payments and stock repurchases. At December 31, 2021, Hilltop had $367.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, a decrease of $6.9 million from $374.8 million at December 31, 2020. This decrease in cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to cash outflows of $39.0 million in cash dividends declared, $123.6 million of stock repurchases, and other general corporate expenses, significantly offset by the receipt of $264.2 million of dividends from subsidiaries. Subject to regulatory restrictions, Hilltop has received, and may also continue to receive, dividends from its subsidiaries. If necessary or appropriate, we may also finance acquisitions with the proceeds from equity or debt issuances. We believe that Hilltop’s liquidity is sufficient for the foreseeable future, with current short-term liquidity needs including operating expenses, interest on debt obligations, dividend payments to stockholders and potential stock repurchases.

COVID-19

As previously discussed, in light of the extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets beginning in March 2020 resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and its negative impact on the economy, we took a number of precautionary actions beginning in March 2020 to enhance our financial flexibility, protect capital, minimize losses and ensure target liquidity levels.

To strengthen the Bank’s available liquidity position during 2020, we raised brokered deposits, as well as swept additional deposits from Hilltop Securities into the Bank. At December 31, 2021, given the continued strong cash and liquidity levels at the Bank, brokered deposits declined to approximately $228 million and the total funds swept from Hilltop Securities into the Bank was approximately $800 million. In addition, we continue to evaluate market conditions to determine the appropriateness of capital market inventory limits at Hilltop Securities.

To meet demand for customer loan advances and satisfy our obligations to repay any debt maturing over the next 12 months, we believe we currently have sufficient liquidity from the available on- and off-balance sheet liquidity sources and our ability to issue debt in the capital markets. We continue to review actions that we may take to further enhance our financial flexibility in the event that market conditions deteriorate further or for an extended period.

Dividend Program and Declaration

In October 2016, we announced that our board of directors authorized a dividend program under which we intend to pay quarterly dividends on our common stock, subject to quarterly declarations by our board of directors. During 2021, we declared and paid cash dividends of $0.48 per common share, or $39.0 million.

On January 27, 2022, our board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per common share, payable on February 28, 2022 to all common stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 15, 2022.

Future dividends on our common stock are subject to the determination by the board of directors based on an evaluation of our earnings and financial condition, liquidity and capital resources, the general economic and regulatory climate, our ability to service any equity or debt obligations senior to our common stock and other factors.

Stock Repurchases

In January 2021, our board of directors authorized a new stock repurchase program through January 2022, pursuant to which we were originally authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $75.0 million of our outstanding common stock. In July 2021, our board of directors authorized an increase to the aggregate amount of common stock we may repurchase under this program by $75.0 million to $150.0 million. Then, in October 2021, our board of directors authorized an increase to the

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aggregate amount of common stock we may repurchase under this program by $50.0 million to $200.0 million, which was inclusive of repurchases to offset dilution related to grants of stock-based compensation.

During 2021, we paid $123.6 million to repurchase an aggregate of 3,632,482 shares of common stock at an average price of $34.01 per share. The purchases were funded from available cash balances.

In January 2022, our board of directors authorized a new stock repurchase program through January 2023, pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to $100.0 million of our outstanding common stock, inclusive of repurchases to offset dilution related to grants of stock-based compensation. Under the stock repurchase program authorized, we may repurchase shares in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions as permitted under Rule 10b-18 promulgated under the Exchange Act. The extent to which we repurchase our shares and the timing of such repurchases depends upon market conditions and other corporate considerations, as determined by Hilltop’s management team. Repurchased shares will be returned to our pool of authorized but unissued shares of common stock.

Senior Notes due 2025

On April 9, 2015, we completed an offering of $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 5% senior notes due 2025 (“Senior Unregistered Notes”) in a private offering that was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Senior Unregistered Notes were offered within the United States only to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and to persons outside of the United States under Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Senior Unregistered Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of April 9, 2015 (the “indenture”), by and between Hilltop and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting estimated fees and expenses and the initial purchasers’ discounts, were approximately $148 million. We used the net proceeds of the offering to redeem all of our outstanding Series B Preferred Stock at an aggregate liquidation value of $114.1 million, plus accrued but unpaid dividends of $0.4 million, and Hilltop utilized the remainder for general corporate purposes.

In connection with the issuance of the Senior Unregistered Notes, on April 9, 2015, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the Senior Unregistered Notes. Under the terms of the registration rights agreement, we agreed to offer to exchange the Senior Unregistered Notes for notes registered under the Securities Act (the “Senior Registered Notes”). The terms of the Senior Registered Notes are substantially identical to the Senior Unregistered Notes for which they were exchanged (including principal amount, interest rate, maturity and redemption rights), except that the Senior Registered Notes generally are not subject to transfer restrictions. On May 22, 2015, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Senior Registered Notes prospectus, we commenced an offer to exchange the outstanding Senior Unregistered Notes for Senior Registered Notes. Substantially all of the Senior Unregistered Notes were tendered for exchange, and on June 22, 2015, we fulfilled all of the requirements of the registration rights agreement for the Senior Unregistered Notes by issuing Senior Registered Notes in exchange for the tendered Senior Unregistered Notes. We refer to the Senior Registered Notes and the Senior Unregistered Notes that remain outstanding collectively as the “Senior Notes.”

The Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 5% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears in cash on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on October 15, 2015. The Senior Notes will mature on April 15, 2025, unless we redeem the Senior Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, on or after January 15, 2025 (three months prior to the maturity date of the Senior Notes) at our election at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. At December 31, 2021, $150.0 million of our Senior Notes was outstanding.

The indenture contains covenants that limit our ability to, among other things and subject to certain significant exceptions: (i) dispose of or issue voting stock of certain of our bank subsidiaries or subsidiaries that own voting stock of our bank subsidiaries, (ii) incur or permit to exist any mortgage, pledge, encumbrance or lien or charge on the capital stock of certain of our bank subsidiaries or subsidiaries that own capital stock of our bank subsidiaries and (iii) sell all or substantially all of our assets or merge or consolidate with or into other companies. The indenture also provides for certain events of default, which, if any of them occurs, would permit or require the principal amount, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on the then outstanding Senior Notes to be declared immediately due and payable.

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Subordinated Notes due 2030 and 2035

On May 7, 2020, we completed a public offering of $50 million aggregate principal amount of 2030 Subordinated Notes and $150 million aggregate principal amount of 2035 Subordinated Notes. The price to the public for the Subordinated Notes was 100% of the principal amount of the Subordinated Notes. The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and fees and expenses of $3.4 million, were $196.6 million.

The 2030 Subordinated Notes and the 2035 Subordinated Notes will mature on May 15, 2030 and May 15, 2035, respectively. We may redeem the Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time, subject to obtaining Federal Reserve approval, beginning with the interest payment date of May 15, 2025 for the 2030 Subordinated Notes and beginning with the interest payment date of May 15, 2030 for the 2035 Subordinated Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Subordinated Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the date of redemption.

The 2030 Subordinated Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.75% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears commencing on November 15, 2020. The interest rate for the 2030 Subordinated Notes will reset quarterly beginning May 15, 2025 to an interest rate, per year, equal to the then-current benchmark rate, which is expected to be three-month term SOFR rate, plus 5.68%, payable quarterly in arrears. The 2035 Subordinated Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.125% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears commencing on November 15, 2020. The interest rate for the 2035 Subordinated Notes will reset quarterly beginning May 15, 2030 to an interest rate, per year, equal to the then-current benchmark rate, which is expected to be three-month term SOFR rate plus 5.80%, payable quarterly in arrears. At December 31, 2021, $200.0 million of our Subordinated Notes was outstanding.

Junior Subordinated Debentures

Following receipt of regulatory approval, in June 2021, PCC submitted to the trustee of one of the statutory trusts a notice to redeem in full outstanding Debentures in the principal amount of $18.0 million on July 31, 2021 (which resulted in the full redemption to the holders of the associated preferred securities and common securities).

Subsequently, during July and August 2021, PCC submitted to the trustees of each of the three remaining statutory trusts a notice to redeem in full outstanding Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $49.0 million during September 2021 (which resulted in the full redemption to the holders of the associated preferred securities and common securities).

The Debentures, which were held by four statutory trusts created for the sole purpose of issuing and selling preferred securities and common securities used to acquire the Debentures, had an original stated term of 30 years with original maturities ranging from July 2031 to February 2038. The Debentures were callable at PCC’s discretion with a minimum of a 45- to 60- day notice. At December 31, 2021, PCC had no remaining borrowings associated with the Debentures. The redemptions noted above were funded from available cash balances held at PCC.

Regulatory Capital

We are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements may prompt certain actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Under capital adequacy and regulatory requirements, we must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of our assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Our capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.

In order to avoid limitations on capital distributions, including dividend payments, stock repurchases and certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers, Basel III requires banking organizations to maintain a capital conservation buffer above minimum risk-based capital requirements measured relative to risk-weighted assets.

The following table shows PlainsCapital’s and Hilltop’s actual capital amounts and ratios in accordance with Basel III compared to the regulatory minimum capital requirements including conservation buffer ratio in effect at December 31, 2021 (dollars in thousands). Based on actual capital amounts and ratios shown in the following table, PlainsCapital’s ratios place it in the “well capitalized” (as defined) capital category under regulatory requirements. Actual capital amounts and ratios as of December 31, 2021 reflect PlainsCapital’s and Hilltop’s decision to elect the transition option as issued by the federal banking regulatory agencies in March 2020 that permits banking institutions to mitigate the estimated cumulative regulatory capital effects from CECL over a five-year transitionary period.

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Minimum
Capital
Requirements
Including
ConservationTo Be Well
December 31, 2021BufferCapitalized
AmountRatioRatioRatio
Tier 1 capital (to average assets):
PlainsCapital$1,469,69510.20%4.0%5.0%
Hilltop2,262,35612.58%4.0%N/A
Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets):
PlainsCapital1,469,69516.00%7.0%6.5%
Hilltop2,262,35621.22%7.0%N/A
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets):
PlainsCapital1,469,69516.00%8.5%8.0%
Hilltop2,262,35621.22%8.5%N/A
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets):
PlainsCapital1,540,10016.77%10.5%10.0%
Hilltop2,532,00823.75%10.5%N/A

We discuss regulatory capital requirements in more detail in Note 23 to our consolidated financial statements, as well as under the caption “Government Supervision and Regulation — Corporate — Capital Adequacy Requirements and BASEL III” set forth in Part I, Item I. of this Annual Report.

Banking Segment

Within our banking segment, our primary uses of cash are for customer withdrawals and extensions of credit as well as our borrowing costs and other operating expenses. Our corporate treasury group is responsible for continuously monitoring our liquidity position to ensure that our assets and liabilities are managed in a manner that will meet our short-term and long-term cash requirements. Our goal is to manage our liquidity position in a manner such that we can meet our customers’ short-term and long-term deposit withdrawals and anticipated and unanticipated increases in loan demand without penalizing earnings. Funds invested in short-term marketable instruments, the continuous maturing of other interest-earning assets, cash flows from self-liquidating investments such as mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, the possible sale of available for sale securities, and the ability to securitize certain types of loans provide sources of liquidity from an asset perspective. The liability base provides sources of liquidity through deposits and the maturity structure of short-term borrowed funds. For short-term liquidity needs, we utilize federal fund lines of credit with correspondent banks, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, borrowings from the Federal Reserve and borrowings under lines of credit with other financial institutions. For intermediate liquidity needs, we utilize advances from the FHLB. To supply liquidity over the longer term, we have access to brokered time deposits, term loans at the FHLB and borrowings under lines of credit with other financial institutions.

As previously discussed, to meet increased liquidity demands and ensure availability of adequate cash to meet both expected and unexpected funding needs without adversely affecting our daily operations and to improve the Bank’s already strong liquidity position, we raised brokered deposits during 2020 that have a remaining balance of approximately $228 million at December 31, 2021, down from approximately $731 million at December 31, 2020. Further, beginning in March 2020, additional deposits were swept from Hilltop Securities into the Bank. Since June 30, 2020, given the continued strong cash and liquidity levels at the Bank, the total funds swept from Hilltop Securities into the Bank was reduced and was approximately $800 million as of December 31, 2021. As a result, the Bank was able to further fortify its borrowing capacity through access to secured funding sources as summarized in the following table (in millions).

December 31,
20212020
FHLB capacity$4,221$4,410
Investment portfolio (available)1,478982
Fed deposits (excess daily requirements)2,686875
$8,385$6,267

As noted in the table above, the Bank’s available liquidity position and borrowing capacity at December 31, 2021 and 2020 continued to be at a heightened level given the uncertain outlook for 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the extent to

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which COVID-19 will impact the Bank remains uncertain, the Bank is targeting available liquidity of between approximately $5 billion and $6 billion during 2022. Available liquidity does not include borrowing capacity available through the discount window at the Federal Reserve.

Within our banking segment, deposit flows are affected by the level of market interest rates, the interest rates and products offered by competitors, the volatility of equity markets and other factors. While the Bank experienced an increase in non-brokered customer deposits during 2020, an economic recovery and improved commercial real estate investment outlook may result in an outflow of deposits at an accelerated pace as customers utilize such available funds for expanded operations and investment opportunities. The Bank regularly evaluates its deposit products and pricing structures relative to the market to maintain competitiveness over time.

The Bank’s 15 largest depositors, excluding Hilltop and Hilltop Securities, collectively accounted for 8.48% of the Bank’s total deposits, and the Bank’s five largest depositors, excluding Hilltop and Hilltop Securities, collectively accounted for 4.16% of the Bank’s total deposits at December 31, 2021. The loss of one or more of our largest Bank customers, or a significant decline in our deposit balances due to ordinary course fluctuations related to these customers’ businesses, could adversely affect our liquidity and might require us to raise deposit rates to attract new deposits, purchase federal funds or borrow funds on a short-term basis to replace such deposits.

Broker-Dealer Segment

The Hilltop Broker-Dealers rely on their equity capital, short-term bank borrowings, interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing client credit balances, correspondent deposits, securities lending arrangements, repurchase agreement financing, commercial paper issuances and other payables to finance their assets and operations, subject to their respective compliance with broker-dealer net capital and customer protection rules. At December 31, 2021, Hilltop Securities had credit arrangements with four unaffiliated banks, with maximum aggregate commitments of up to $600.0 million. These credit arrangements are used to finance securities owned, securities held for correspondent accounts, receivables in customer margin accounts and underwriting activities. These credit arrangements are provided on an “as offered” basis and are not committed lines of credit. In addition, Hilltop Securities has committed revolving credit facilities with three unaffiliated banks, with aggregate availability of up to $250.0 million. At December 31, 2021, Hilltop Securities had borrowed $142.0 million under its credit arrangements and had no borrowings under its credit facilities.

Hilltop Securities uses the net proceeds (after deducting related issuance expenses) from the sale of two commercial paper programs for general corporate purposes, including working capital and the funding of a portion of its securities inventories. The commercial paper notes (“CP Notes”) may be issued with maturities of 14 days to 270 days from the date of issuance. The CP Notes are issued under two separate programs, Series 2019-1 CP Notes and Series 2019-2 CP Notes, in maximum aggregate amounts of $300 million and $200 million, respectively. The CP Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity or subject to voluntary prepayment and do not bear interest, but are sold at a discount to par. The discount to maturity will be based on an interest factor and the CP Notes are secured by a pledge of collateral owned by Hilltop Securities. As of December 31, 2021, the weighted average maturity of the CP Notes was 141 days at a rate of 0.99%, with a weighted average remaining life of 66 days. At December 31, 2021, the aggregate amount outstanding under these secured arrangements was $354.0 million, which was collateralized by securities held for firm accounts valued at $384.7 million.

Mortgage Origination Segment

PrimeLending funds the mortgage loans it originates through a warehouse line of credit maintained with the Bank which had an aggregate commitment of $3.2 billion, of which $1.7 billion was drawn at December 31, 2021. Effective January 1, 2022, this warehouse line of credit was decreased to $2.7 billion to address expected declines in loan origination volumes. PrimeLending sells substantially all mortgage loans it originates to various investors in the secondary market, historically with the majority with servicing released. As these mortgage loans are sold in the secondary market, PrimeLending pays down its warehouse line of credit with the Bank. In addition, PrimeLending has an available line of credit with an unaffiliated bank of up to $1.0 million, of which no borrowings were drawn at December 31, 2021.

PrimeLending owns a 100% membership interest in PrimeLending Ventures Management, LLC (“Ventures Management”) which holds an ownership interest in and is the managing member of certain ABAs. At December 31, 2021, these ABAs had combined available lines of credit totaling $145.0 million, $55.0 million of which was with a single unaffiliated bank, and the remaining $90.0 million of which was with the Bank. At December 31, 2021, Ventures Management had outstanding borrowings of $60.4 million, $18.7 million of which was with the Bank.

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Other Material Contractual Obligations, Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Commitments and Guarantees

The following table presents information regarding other material contractual obligations at December 31, 2021 not previously discussed (in thousands). Payments related to leases are based on actual payments specified in the underlying contracts, and the table below includes all leases that had commenced as of December 31, 2021.

Payments Due by Period
More than 13 Years or
1 yearYear but LessMore but Less5 Years
or Lessthan 3 Yearsthan 5 Yearsor MoreTotal
Finance lease obligations$1,241$2,443$1,699$598$5,981
Operating lease obligations26,60852,71129,19738,511147,027
Total$27,849$55,154$30,896$39,109$153,008

Additionally, in the normal course of business, we enter into various transactions, which, in accordance with GAAP, are not included in our consolidated balance sheets. We enter into these transactions to meet the financing needs of our customers. These transactions include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit, which involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in our consolidated balance sheets.

Banking Segment

We enter into contractual loan commitments to extend credit, normally with fixed expiration dates or termination clauses, at specified rates and for specific purposes. Substantially all of our commitments to extend credit are contingent upon customers maintaining specific credit standards until the time of loan funding. We minimize our exposure to loss under these commitments by subjecting them to credit approval and monitoring procedures. We assess the credit risk associated with certain commitments to extend credit and have recorded a liability related to such credit risk in our consolidated financial statements.

Standby letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by us 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, we would be required to fund the commitment. The maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make is represented by the contractual amount of the commitment. If the commitment is funded, we would be entitled to seek recovery from the customer. Our policies generally require that standby letter of credit arrangements contain security and debt covenants similar to those contained in loan agreements.

In the aggregate, the Bank had outstanding unused commitments to extend credit of $2.2 billion at December 31, 2021 and outstanding financial and performance standby letters of credit of $96.3 million at December 31, 2021.

Broker-Dealer Segment

The Hilltop Broker-Dealers execute, settle and finance various securities transactions that may expose the Hilltop Broker-Dealers to off-balance sheet risk in the event that a customer or counterparty does not fulfill its contractual obligations. Examples of such transactions include the sale of securities not yet purchased by customers or for the account of the Hilltop Broker-Dealers, use of derivatives to support certain non-profit housing organization clients, clearing agreements between the Hilltop Broker-Dealers and various clearinghouses and broker-dealers, secured financing arrangements that involve pledged securities, and when-issued underwriting and purchase commitments.

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

Our consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which presently require us 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 our operations is reflected in increased operating costs. 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 our control, including changes in the expected rate of inflation, the influence of general and local economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities.

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Critical Accounting Estimates

We have identified certain accounting estimates which involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. Our accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. Actual amounts and values as of the balance sheet dates may be materially different than the amounts and values reported due to the inherent uncertainty in the estimation process. Also, future amounts and values could differ materially from those estimates due to changes in values and circumstances after the balance sheet date. The critical accounting estimates, as summarized below, which we believe to be the most critical in preparing our consolidated financial statements relate to allowance for credit losses, mortgage servicing rights asset, goodwill and identifiable intangible assets, mortgage loan indemnification liability and acquisition accounting.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The allowance for credit losses for loans represents management’s estimate of all expected credit losses over the expected contractual life of our existing loan portfolio. Determining the appropriateness of the allowance is complex and requires judgment by management about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Subsequent evaluations of the then existing loan portfolio, in light of the factors then prevailing, may result in significant changes in the allowance for credit losses in those future periods.

We employ a disciplined process and methodology to establish our allowance for credit losses that has two basic components: first, an asset-specific component involving individual loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans and the measurement of expected credit losses for such individual loans; and second, a pooled component for estimated expected credit losses for pools of loans that share similar risk characteristics.

The credit loss estimation process for both on and off-balance sheet exposures involves procedures to appropriately consider the unique characteristics of our loan portfolio segments, which are further disaggregated into loan classes, the level at which credit risk is monitored. When computing allowance levels, credit loss assumptions are estimated using models that analyze loans according to credit risk ratings, loss history, delinquency status and other credit trends and risk characteristics, including current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. Significant variables that impact the modeled losses across our loan portfolios are the U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, growth rates and unemployment rate assumptions. Future factors and forecasts may result in significant changes in the allowance and provision for (reversal of) credit losses in those future periods.

Credit quality is assessed and monitored by evaluating various attributes, such as credit risk ratings, historic loss experience, past due status and other credit trends and risk characteristics, including current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. The results of these continuous credit quality evaluations help form our underwriting criteria for new loans and also factor into the process for estimation of the allowance for credit losses. The allowance level is influenced by loan volumes, loan asset quality, delinquency status, historic loss experience and other conditions influencing loss expectations, such as reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions. The allowance for credit losses will primarily reflect estimated losses for pools of loans that share similar risk characteristics, but will also consider individual loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans.

In estimating the component of the allowance for credit losses for loans that share similar risk characteristics with other loans, such loans are segregated into loan classes. Loans are designated into loan classes based on loans pooled by product types and similar risk characteristics or areas of risk concentration. In determining the allowance for credit losses, we derive an estimated credit loss assumption from a model that categorizes loan pools based on loan type and internal risk rating or delinquency bucket.

When a loan moves to a substandard non-accrual risk rating grade, it is removed from the collective evaluation allowance methodology and is subject to individual evaluation. A problem asset report is prepared for each loan in excess of a predetermined threshold and the net realizable value of the loan is determined. This value is compared to the appropriate loan basis (depending on whether the loan is a PCD loan or a non-PCD loan) to determine the required allowance for credit loss reserve amount.

Estimating the timing and amounts of future loss cash flows is subject to significant management judgment as these loss cash flows rely upon estimates such as default rates, loss severities, collateral valuations, the amounts and timing of principal payments (including any expected prepayments) or other factors that are reflective of current or future expected conditions.

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These estimates, in turn, depend on the duration of current overall economic conditions, industry, borrower, or portfolio specific conditions, the expected outcome of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, as well as, in certain circumstances, other economic factors, including the level of current and future real estate prices. All of these estimates and assumptions require significant management judgment and certain assumptions that are highly subjective. Model imprecision also exists in the allowance for credit losses estimation process due to the inherent time lag of available industry information and differences between expected and actual outcomes.

The provision for (reversal of) credit losses recorded through earnings, and reduced by the charge-off of loan amounts, net of recoveries, is the amount necessary to maintain the allowance for credit losses at the amount of expected credit losses inherent within the loans held for investment portfolio. The amount of expense and the corresponding level of allowance for credit losses for loans are based on our evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio based on historical loss experience, reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other significant qualitative and quantitative factors. Refer to “Financial Condition – Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” and Notes 1 and 7 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the methodology used in establishing the allowance and changes during the relevant period in the provision for (reversal of) credit losses.

Mortgage Servicing Rights Asset

The Company measures its residential mortgage servicing rights asset using the fair value method. Under the fair value method, the retained MSR assets are carried in the balance sheet at fair value and the changes in fair value are reported in earnings within other noninterest income in the period in which the change occurs. Retained MSR assets are measured at fair value as of the date of sale of the related mortgage loan. Subsequent fair value measurements are determined using a discounted cash flow model. In order to determine the fair value of the MSR asset, the present value of expected future cash flows is estimated. Assumptions used include market discount rates, anticipated prepayment speeds, delinquency and foreclosure rates, and ancillary fee income.

The model assumptions and the MSR asset fair value estimates are compared to observable trades of similar portfolios as well as to MSR asset broker valuations and industry surveys, as available. The expected life of the loan can vary from management’s estimates due to prepayments by borrowers, especially when rates fall. Prepayments in excess of management’s estimates would adversely impact the recorded value of the MSR asset. The value of the MSR asset is also dependent upon the discount rate used in the model, which is based on current market rates and is reviewed by management on an ongoing basis. An increase in the discount rate would result in a decrease in the value of the MSR asset. Refer to Notes 1, 4 and 11 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the methodology used in establishing the MSR asset and changes during the relevant period thereof.

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets

Goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets are initially recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Goodwill and other intangible assets having an indefinite useful life are not amortized for financial statement purposes. In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the goodwill or other identifiable intangible assets may be impaired, an interim impairment test would be required. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives. We perform required annual impairment tests of our goodwill and other intangible assets as of October 1st for our reporting units.

The goodwill impairment test requires us to make judgments and assumptions. The test consists of estimating the fair value of each reporting unit based on valuation techniques, including a discounted cash flow model using revenue and profit forecasts and recent industry transaction and trading multiples of our peers, and comparing those estimated fair values with the carrying values of the assets and liabilities of each reporting unit, which includes the allocated goodwill. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, we will recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, any loss recognized will not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

This evaluation includes multiple assumptions, including estimated discounted cash flows and other estimates that may change over time. If future discounted cash flows become less than those projected by us, future impairment charges may become necessary that could have a materially adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition in the period in which the write-off occurs.

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Mortgage Loan Indemnification Liability

The mortgage origination segment may be responsible for errors or omissions relating to its representations and warranties that the mortgage loans sold meet certain requirements, including representations as to underwriting standards and the validity of certain borrower representations in connection with a mortgage loan. If determined to be at fault, the mortgage origination segment either repurchases the mortgage loans from the investors or reimburses the investors’ losses (a “make-whole” payment). The mortgage origination segment has established an indemnification liability for such probable losses based upon, among other things, the level of current unresolved repurchase requests, the volume of estimated probable future repurchase requests, our ability to cure the defects identified in the repurchase requests, and the severity of an estimated loss upon repurchase. Although we consider this reserve to be appropriate, there can be no assurance that the reserve will prove to be appropriate over time to cover ultimate losses due to conditions outside of our control such as unanticipated adverse changes in the economy and historical loss patterns, discrete events adversely affecting specific borrowers or industries, or actions taken by institutions or investors. The impact of such matters will be considered in the reserving process when known. Refer to “Segment Results from Continuing Operations—Mortgage Origination Segment” and Notes 1 and 20 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the methodology used in establishing the mortgage loan indemnification liability and changes during the relevant period thereof.

Acquisition Accounting

We account for business combinations using the acquisition method, which requires an allocation of the purchase price of an acquired entity to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including identifiable intangibles, based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Management applies various valuation methodologies to these acquired assets and assumed liabilities which often involve a significant degree of judgment, as liquid markets often do not exist for certain loans, deposits, identifiable intangible assets and other assets and liabilities acquired or assumed. Our valuation methodologies employ significant estimates and assumptions to value such items, including, among others, projected cash flows, prepayment and default assumptions, discount rates, and realizable collateral values. Purchase date valuations, which are permitted to be revised for up to one year after the acquisition date, determine the amount of goodwill or bargain purchase gain recognized in connection with a business combination. Changes to provisional amounts identified during this measurement period are recognized in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. Certain assumptions and estimates must be updated regularly in connection with the ongoing accounting for purchased loans. Valuation assumptions and estimates may also have to be revisited in connection with our periodic impairment assessments of goodwill, intangible assets and certain other long-lived assets. The use of different assumptions could produce significantly different valuation results, which could have material positive or negative effects on the Company’s results of operations.