NorthEast Community Bancorp, Inc./MD/ (NECB)
SIC breadcrumb: Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate > Depository Institutions > SIC 6036 Savings Institutions, Not Federally Chartered
SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=1847398. Latest filing source: 0001104659-26-027566.
Informational only - descriptive public-record data, not investment advice.
Business
Read NECB's verbatim Item 1 Business section from its latest 10-K: Business.
Risk Factors
Read NECB's verbatim Item 1A Risk Factors from its latest 10-K: Risk Factors.
Selected Fundamentals
| Metric | Value | Unit | FY | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 154,118,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-03-13 |
| Net income | 44,413,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-03-13 |
| Assets | 2,063,508,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-03-13 |
Financials
Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-03-13. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001847398.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.
| Metric | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 48,977,000 | 48,404,000 | 72,002,000 | 132,488,000 | 160,013,000 | 154,118,000 | |
| Net income | 12,329,000 | 11,905,000 | 24,843,000 | 46,276,000 | 47,074,000 | 44,413,000 | |
| Diluted EPS | 0.76 | 0.75 | 1.58 | 3.32 | 3.52 | 3.25 | |
| Operating cash flow | 15,663,000 | 21,556,000 | 27,539,000 | 42,835,000 | 48,686,000 | 52,588,000 | |
| Capital expenditures | 1,262,000 | 6,451,000 | 3,304,000 | 626,000 | 517,000 | 1,747,000 | |
| Dividends paid | 1,008,000 | 2,261,000 | 6,868,000 | 3,652,000 | 7,861,000 | 13,322,000 | |
| Share buybacks | 9,318,000 | 28,710,000 | 3,200,000 | 1,581,000 | |||
| Assets | 968,221,000 | 1,225,070,000 | 1,424,963,000 | 1,764,135,000 | 2,009,581,000 | 2,063,508,000 | |
| Liabilities | 814,396,000 | 973,688,000 | 1,162,974,000 | 1,484,810,000 | 1,691,240,000 | 1,711,808,000 | |
| Stockholders' equity | 142,113,000 | 153,825,000 | 251,382,000 | 261,989,000 | 279,325,000 | 318,341,000 | 351,700,000 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 69,191,000 | 152,269,000 | 95,308,000 | 68,671,000 | 78,259,000 | 81,175,000 | |
| Free cash flow | 14,401,000 | 15,105,000 | 24,235,000 | 42,209,000 | 48,169,000 | 50,841,000 |
Ratios
| Metric | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | 25.17% | 24.60% | 34.50% | 34.93% | 29.42% | 28.82% | |
| Return on equity | 8.01% | 4.74% | 9.48% | 16.57% | 14.79% | 12.63% | |
| Return on assets | 1.27% | 0.97% | 1.74% | 2.62% | 2.34% | 2.15% | |
| Liabilities / equity | 5.29 | 3.87 | 4.44 | 5.32 | 5.31 | 4.87 |
Industry Peer Context
Net margin peer context
ROE peer context
ROA peer context
Financial Bridges
Free cash flow = operating cash flow - capital expenditures
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts FY 2025. Operating cash flow: accession 0001104659-26-027566; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities | Capital expenditures: accession 0001104659-26-027566; concept PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment | Free cash flow: accession 0001104659-26-027566; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Financial Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027566; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating. Source concepts: us-gaap:InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027566; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027566; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027566; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027566; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027566; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: PaymentsOfDividends. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsOfDividends.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027566; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027566; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: Assets. Source concepts: us-gaap:Assets.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027566; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: Liabilities. Source concepts: us-gaap:Liabilities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027566; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: StockholdersEquity. Source concepts: us-gaap:StockholdersEquity.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027566; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue. Source concepts: us-gaap:CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027566; filed 2026-03-13. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.
Quarterly
Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-05-08. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001847398.json.
| Quarter | End Date | Revenue | Net Income | Diluted EPS | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-Q2 | 2022-06-30 | 0.35 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2022-Q3 | 2022-09-30 | 0.49 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q1 | 2023-03-31 | 0.77 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q2 | 2023-03-31 | 11,244,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q2 | 2023-06-30 | 31,714,000 | 0.75 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2023-Q3 | 2023-06-30 | 11,087,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q3 | 2023-09-30 | 35,137,000 | 0.80 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2023-Q4 | 2023-12-31 | 37,126,000 | 12,101,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2024-Q1 | 2024-03-31 | 38,121,000 | 11,374,000 | 0.86 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q2 | 2024-03-31 | 11,374,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2024-Q2 | 2024-06-30 | 40,237,000 | 0.97 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2024-Q3 | 2024-06-30 | 12,798,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2024-Q3 | 2024-09-30 | 41,183,000 | 0.95 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2024-Q4 | 2024-12-31 | 40,472,000 | 10,216,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2025-Q1 | 2025-03-31 | 38,207,000 | 10,567,000 | 0.78 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q2 | 2025-03-31 | 10,567,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2025-Q2 | 2025-06-30 | 38,039,000 | 0.82 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2025-Q3 | 2025-06-30 | 11,170,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2025-Q3 | 2025-09-30 | 39,279,000 | 0.87 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2025-Q4 | 2025-12-31 | 38,593,000 | 10,811,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2026-Q1 | 2026-03-31 | 35,969,000 | 9,952,000 | 0.74 | reported discrete quarter |
Quarterly Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0001104659-26-057657; filed 2026-05-08. Concept: InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating. Source concepts: us-gaap:InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0001104659-26-057657; filed 2026-05-08. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0001104659-26-057657; filed 2026-05-08. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Macro Cross-References
- CPIAUCSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
- UNRATE - Unemployment Rate
- FEDFUNDS - Federal Funds Effective Rate
- CES0500000003 - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private
- DFEDTARU - Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit
- DFEDTARL - Federal Funds Target Range - Lower Limit
- DGS3MO - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 3-Month Constant Maturity
- DGS2 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 2-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS10 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 10-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS30 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 30-Year Constant Maturity
- T10Y2Y - 10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus 2-Year Treasury Constant Maturity
- CPILFESL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items Less Food and Energy
- CPIUFDSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Food
- CPIENGSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Energy
- CUSR0000SAH1 - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Shelter
- PCEPI - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Chain-type Price Index
- PCEPILFE - Personal Consumption Expenditures Excluding Food and Energy: Chain-type Price Index
- PPIACO - Producer Price Index by Commodity: All Commodities
- T10YIE - 10-Year Breakeven Inflation Rate
- U6RATE - Total Unemployed, Plus All Marginally Attached Workers Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons
- PAYEMS - All Employees, Total Nonfarm
- CIVPART - Labor Force Participation Rate
- EMRATIO - Employment-Population Ratio
- UNEMPLOY - Unemployed
- CE16OV - Employment Level
- ICSA - Initial Claims
- JTSJOL - Job Openings: Total Nonfarm
- JTSQUR - Quits: Total Nonfarm
- GDPC1 - Real Gross Domestic Product
- A191RL1Q225SBEA - Real Gross Domestic Product: Percent Change from Preceding Period
- INDPRO - Industrial Production: Total Index
- TCU - Capacity Utilization: Total Index
- HOUST - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units
- PERMIT - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Authorized in Permit-Issuing Places: Total Units
- RSAFS - Advance Retail Sales: Retail Trade
- PCE - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- DSPIC96 - Real Disposable Personal Income
- PSAVERT - Personal Saving Rate
- M2SL - M2
- BOPGSTB - U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Balance
- MSPUS - Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States
- HSN1F - New One Family Houses Sold: United States
- RHORUSQ156N - Homeownership Rate in the United States
- TTLCONS - Total Construction Spending: Total Construction in the United States
- RRVRUSQ156N - Rental Vacancy Rate in the United States
- TOTALSL - Total Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- REVOLSL - Revolving Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- DRCCLACBS - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks
- GDP - Gross Domestic Product
- GPDI - Gross Private Domestic Investment
- GCE - Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
- PCEC - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- NETEXP - Net Exports of Goods and Services
- GFDEBTN - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt
- GFDEGDQ188S - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product
- FYFSD - Federal Surplus or Deficit
- FGRECPT - Federal Government Current Receipts
- FGEXPND - Federal Government: Current Expenditures
- MANEMP - All Employees, Manufacturing
- USCONS - All Employees, Construction
- USTRADE - All Employees, Retail Trade
- USFIRE - All Employees, Financial Activities
- USGOVT - All Employees, Government
- AWHAETP - Average Weekly Hours of All Employees, Total Private
- DGORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Durable Goods
- NEWORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Nondefense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft
- BUSINV - Total Business Inventories
- EXPGS - Exports of Goods and Services
- IMPGS - Imports of Goods and Services
- IR - Import Price Index (End Use): All Commodities
- PPIFIS - Producer Price Index by Commodity: Final Demand
Latest quarter (10-Q)
Latest 10-Q source: 0001104659-26-057657.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this report that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), which involve significant risks and uncertainties. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and is including this statement for purposes of invoking these safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies and expectations of the Company, are generally identifiable by the use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” or similar expressions. The Company’s ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain and actual results may differ from those predicted. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the future.
The Company cautions readers of this report that a number of important factors could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those predicted and could affect the future prospects of the Company include, but are not limited to:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (i) | General economic conditions, including higher inflation or recessionary conditions, either nationally or in our market area, that are worse than expected; |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (ii) | Changes in the interest rate environment that reduce our interest margins, reduce the fair value of financial instruments or reduce the demand for our loan products; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (iii) | Increased competitive pressures among financial services companies; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (iv) | Changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (v) | Changes in the quality and composition of our loan or investment portfolios and the adequacy of credit loss allowances; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (vi) | Changes in real estate market values in our market area; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (vii) | Decreased demand for loan products, deposit flows, competition, or decreased demand for financial services in our market area; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (viii) | Major catastrophes such as earthquakes, floods or other natural or human disasters and pandemics or infectious disease outbreaks, the related disruption to local, regional and global economic activity and financial markets, and the impact that any of the foregoing may have on us and our customers and other constituencies; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (ix) | Legislative, regulatory or policy changes, including those relating, but not limited, to banking, securities, rent regulation and housing, financial accounting and reporting, environmental protection and insurance matters and the impact of such changes, as well as our ability to comply such changes in a timely manner |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (x) | Changes in the monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (xi) | The impacts of tariffs, sanctions and other trade policies of the United States and its global trading counterparts and the impact of changing political conditions or federal government shutdowns; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (xii) | Technological changes that may be more difficult or expensive than expected; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (xiii) | Success or consummation of new business initiatives may be more difficult or expensive than expected; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (xiv) | The inability to successfully integrate acquired businesses and financial institutions into our business operations; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (xv) | Adverse changes in the securities markets; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (xvi) | The impact of failures or disruptions in or breaches of the Company’s operational or security systems, data or infrastructure, or those of third parties, including as a result of cyberattacks or campaigns; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (xvii) | The inability of third party service providers to perform; and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (xviii) | Changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by bank regulatory agencies or the Financial Accounting Standards Board. |
Critical Accounting Policies
We consider accounting policies involving significant judgements and assumptions by management that have, or could have, a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets or on income to be critical accounting policies. We consider these accounting policies to be our crucial accounting policies. The judgements and assumptions we use are based on historical experience and other factors, which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these judgements and estimates under different conditions, resulting in a change that could have a material impact on the carrying values of our assets and liabilities and our results of operations. There have been no changes in the critical accounting policies since the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025.
Balance Sheet Analysis
General
Total assets decreased $38.4 million, or 1.9%, to $2.0 billion at March 31, 2026, from $2.1 billion at December 31, 2025. The decrease in assets was primarily due to decreases in net loans of $31.8 million, cash and cash equivalents of $5.0 million, and other assets of $2.0 million.
Cash and cash equivalents decreased $5.0 million, or 6.1%, to $76.1 million at March 31, 2026 from $81.2 million at December 31, 2025. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents partially funded a decrease of $50.0 million in borrowings.
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Equity securities increased $879,000, or 3.3%, to $27.4 million at March 31, 2026 from $26.6 million at December 31, 2025. The increase in equity securities was attributable to the purchase of $1.0 million in equity securities during the three months ended March 31, 2026, partially offset by market depreciation of $121,000 due to market interest rate volatility during the three months ended March 31, 2026.
Securities held-to-maturity decreased $150,000, or 0.8%, to $18.2 million at March 31, 2026 from $18.3 million at December 31, 2025 due to pay-downs of various investment securities.
Loans, net of the allowance for credit losses, decreased $31.8 million, or 1.7%, to $1.8 billion at March 31, 2026 from $1.9 billion at December 31, 2025. The decrease in loans consisted of decreases of $16.1 million in construction loans, $14.3 million in multi-family loans, $610,000 in commercial and industrial loans, $494,000 in mixed-use loans, $258,000 in non-residential loans, $34,000 in one-to-four family loans, and $21,000 in consumer loans. The decrease in our construction loan portfolio was due to normal pay-downs and principal reductions as construction projects were completed and either condominium units were sold to end buyers or multi-family rental buildings were refinanced by other financial institutions.
During the three months ended March 31, 2026, we originated loans totaling $266.1 million, which includes commitments and funded loans, consisting primarily of $244.2 million in construction loans and $21.8 million in commercial and industrial loans. The $244.2 million in construction loans had $99.5 million, or 40.7%, disbursed at loan closing, with the remaining funds to be disbursed over the terms of the construction loans. The commercial and industrial loans had $18.9 million, or 86.7%, disbursed at loan closing.
The allowance for credit losses related to loans decreased to $4.6 million as of March 31, 2026, from $4.7 million as of December 31, 2025. The decrease in the allowance for credit losses related to loans was due to charge-offs totaling $27,000 and a provision for credit losses reduction of $112,000 to the allowance for credit losses related to loans due to a decrease of $31.8 million in the loan portfolio. The provision for credit losses reduction of $112,000 to the allowance for credit losses related to loans was offset by a provision for credit losses of $112,000 to the allowance for credit losses related to off-balance sheet commitments.
Premises and equipment decreased $199,000, or 0.8%, to $25.2 million at March 31, 2026 from $25.4 million at December 31, 2025 primarily due to the amortization of fixed assets. Federal Home Loan Bank stock was $410,000 and property held for investment was $1.3 million at both March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025. Bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) increased $179,000, or 0.7%, to $26.6 million at March 31, 2026 from $26.4 million at December 31, 2025 due to increases in the BOLI cash value. Accrued interest receivable decreased $152,000, or 1.2%, to $12.1 million at March 31, 2026 from $12.2 million at December 31, 2025 due to a decrease of $31.9 million in the loan portfolio.
Right of use assets — operating decreased $179,000, or 3.8%, to $4.5 million at March 31, 2026 from $4.7 million at December 31, 2025, primarily due to depreciation of the right of use assets.
Other assets decreased $2.0 million, or 18.0%, to $9.0 million at March 31, 2026 from $11.0 million at December 31, 2025 due to decreases of $2.2 million in tax assets, partially offset by increases of $143,000 in prepaid expenses and $57,000 in suspense accounts.
Total deposits increased $9.4 million, or 0.6%, to $1.6 billion at March 31, 2026 from $1.6 billion at December 31, 2025. The increase in deposits was primarily due to increases in NOW/money market accounts of $50.0 million, or 16.5% and non-interest bearing deposits of $25.0 million, or 9.2%, partially offset by decreases in certificates of deposit of $57.1 million, or 6.3%, and savings account balances of $8.5 million, or 6.0%. The decrease of $57.1 million in certificates of deposit consisted of decreases in brokered certificates of deposit of $40.6 million, or 11.0%, non-brokered listing services certificates of deposit of $5.4 million, or 6.2%, and retail certificates of deposit of $11.2 million, or 2.5%.
The decrease in brokered certificates of deposit and non-brokered listing services certificates of deposit was due to management’s strategy to reduce the cost of funds by “calling” higher rate brokered deposits on their call dates and to rely less on brokered deposits and non-brokered listing service deposits. The decrease in retail certificates of deposit was due to a shift in deposits to our retail high yield money market accounts.
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Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance increased $572,000, or 24.3%, to $2.9 million at March 31, 2026 from $2.4 million at December 31, 2025 due primarily to accumulation of real estate tax payments from borrowers.
Borrowings decreased $50.0 million, or 71.4%, to $20.0 million at March 31, 2026 from $70.0 million at December 31, 2025 due primarily to management’s strategy to reduce the cost of funds.
Lease liability – operating decreased $163,000, or 3.4%, to $4.6 million at March 31, 2026 from $4.8 million at December 31, 2025, primarily due to the amortization of the lease liability.
Accounts paya
[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]
Latest 10-K MD&A
ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This discussion and analysis reflects our consolidated financial statements and other relevant statistical data, and is intended to enhance your understanding of our financial condition and results of operations. The information in this section has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company that appear beginning on page F-1 of this report.
Executive Summary
Our results of operations depend primarily on our net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between the interest income we earn on our interest-earning assets, consisting primarily of loans, investment securities, mortgage-backed securities and other interest-earning assets (primarily cash and cash equivalents), and the interest we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities, consisting of money market accounts, statement savings accounts, individual retirement accounts and certificates of deposit. Our results of operations also are affected by our provisions for credit losses, non-interest income and non-interest expense. Non-interest income currently consists primarily of loan fees, service charges, and earnings on bank owned life insurance. Non-interest expense currently consists primarily of salaries and employee benefits, deposit insurance premiums, directors’ fees, occupancy and equipment, data processing and professional fees. Our results of operations also may be affected significantly by general and local economic and competitive conditions, changes in market interest rates, governmental policies and actions of regulatory authorities.
Business Strategy
Growing our assets with a continued focus on the origination of construction loans.
At December 31, 2025, $1.3 billion, or 71.8%, of our total loan portfolio, net of loans in process, consisted of construction loans primarily located in high demand and high absorption areas in the New York Metropolitan Area. There continues to be a significant need for construction financing within the high absorption, homogeneous
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communities served by the Bank and we intend to continue to support the growth of these communities through the financing of condominium and apartment construction loans within the communities.
Maintaining strong asset quality and managing credit risk.
Strong asset quality is a key to the long-term financial success of any financial institution. We have been successful in maintaining strong asset quality in recent years. Our ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was 0.00%, 0.25%, and 0.33%, at December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We attribute this credit quality to a conservative credit culture and an effective credit risk management environment. We have an experienced team of credit professionals, well-defined and implemented credit policies and procedures, what we believe to be conservative loan underwriting criteria, and active credit monitoring policies and procedures. Our senior management team also spends substantial time conducting construction site visits and visiting regularly with community leaders and borrowers in our high absorption communities, which enables us to understand the needs of our communities and to stay informed as to matters affecting those communities.
Continuing to grow our non-interest bearing deposit accounts through the maintenance of low customer fees and charges.
We believe that as a community bank we should maintain the fees and charges we charge our customers as low as possible. By doing so, we have been able to attract and retain supermarkets and other businesses as customers of the Bank and at the same time increase the amount of our non-interest bearing business accounts.
Expanding our franchise through de novo branching or branch acquisitions.
As the communities we serve continue to grow and expand into new areas, we believe there will be branch expansion opportunities within our market area and in the newly developing communities expanding outward from existing high absorption, homogeneous communities where our branches are currently located. We intend to continue to explore opportunities as they arise to expand our branch network.
Expanding our employee base, infrastructure and technology, as necessary, to support future growth.
We have already made significant investments in our infrastructure, technology and employee base to support the growth in our construction portfolio and the increased compliance responsibilities due to such growth, including experienced Bank Secrecy Act professionals. The additional capital raised in the 2021 second-step conversion offering provided us with additional resources to attract and retain the necessary talent and continue to enhance our infrastructure and technology to support our growth following the conversion.
Implement a stockholder-focused strategy for management of our capital.
We recognize that a strong capital position is essential to achieving our long-term objective of building stockholder value, and we believe that our capital position will support our future growth and expansion, and will give us flexibility to pursue other capital management strategies to enhance stockholder value.
Critical Accounting Policies
In the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, we have adopted various accounting policies that govern the application of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and to general practices within the banking industry. Our significant accounting policies are described in note one to the consolidated financial statements included in this report.
Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by us that have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities. We consider these accounting policies, which are discussed below, to be critical accounting policies. The judgments and assumptions we use are based on historical experience and other factors, which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these judgments and estimates under different conditions, resulting in a change that could have a material impact on the carrying values of our assets and liabilities and our results of operations.
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Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans
The allowance for credit losses related to loans is a valuation reserve established and maintained by charges against income and is deducted from the amortized cost basis of loans to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. Loans, or portions thereof, are charged off against the ACL when they are deemed uncollectible. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off.
The ACL is an estimate of expected credit losses, measured over the contractual life of a loan, that considers our historical loss experience, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions. Determination of an appropriate ACL is inherently subjective and may have significant changes from period to period.
The methodology for determining the ACL has two main components: evaluation of expected credit losses for certain groups of homogeneous loans that share similar risk characteristics and evaluation of loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans.
The allowance for credit losses related to loans is measured on a collective (pool) basis when similar risk characteristics exist. If the risk characteristics of a loan change, such that they are no longer similar to other loans in the pool, the Company will evaluate the loan with a different pool of loans that share similar risk characteristics. If the loan does not share risk characteristics with other loans, the Company will evaluate the loan on an individual basis. The Company evaluates the pooling methodology at least annually. Loans are charged off against the allowance for credit losses related to loans when the Company believes the balances to be uncollectible. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged off or expected to be charged off.
The Company has chosen to segment its portfolio consistent with the manner in which it manages credit risk. Such segments include residential real estate, non-residential real estate, construction, commercial and industrial business, and consumer. For most segments, the Company calculates estimated credit losses using a probability of default and loss given default methodology, the results of which are applied to each individual loan within the segment. The point in time probability of default and loss given default are then conditioned by macroeconomic scenarios to incorporate reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount.
The Company estimates the allowance for credit losses related to loans via a quantitative analysis which considers relevant available information from internal and external sources related to past events and current conditions, as well as the incorporation of reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company evaluates a variety of factors including third party economic forecasts, industry trends and other available published economic information in arriving at its forecasts. Expected credit losses are estimated over the contractual term of the loans, adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate. The contractual term excludes expected extensions, renewals, and modifications unless either of the following applies: management has a reasonable expectation at the reporting date that a troubled debt restructuring will be executed with an individual borrower or the renewal option is included in the original or modified contract at the reporting date and are not unconditionally cancelable by the Company.
Also included in the allowance for credit losses related to loans are qualitative reserves to cover losses that are expected but, in the Company’s assessment, might not be adequately represented in the quantitative analysis or the forecasts described above. Factors that the Company considers include changes in lending policies and procedures, business conditions, the nature and size of the portfolio, portfolio concentrations, the volume and severity of past due loans and non-accrual loans, the effect of external factors such as competition, legal and regulatory requirements, among others. Qualitative loss factors are applied to each portfolio segment with the amounts judgmentally determined by the relative risk to the most severe loss periods identified in the historical loan charge-offs of the Company.
The Company has elected to exclude accrued interest receivable from the measurement of its ACL. When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, any outstanding accrued interest is reversed against interest income.
On a case-by-case basis, the Company may conclude that a loan should be evaluated on an individual basis based on the loan’s disparate risk characteristics. When the Company determines that a loan no longer shares similar risk characteristics with other loans in the portfolio, the allowance will be determined on an individual basis using the present value of expected cash flows or, the loan’s observable market price or, for collateral-dependent loans, the fair
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value of the collateral as of the reporting date, less estimated selling costs, as applicable. If the fair value of the collateral is less than the amortized cost basis of the loan, the Company will charge off the difference between the fair value of the collateral, less costs to sell at the reporting date and the amortized cost basis of the loan.
Balance Sheet Analysis
General
Total assets increased $53.9 million, or 2.7%, to $2.1 billion at December 31, 2025, from $2.0 billion at December 31, 2024. The increase in assets was primarily due to increases in net loans of $47.8 million, equity securities of $4.6 million, securities held-to-maturity of $3.7 million, and cash and cash equivalents of $2.9 million, partially offset by decreases in real estate owned of $5.1 million and accrued interest receivable of $1.3 million.
Cash and cash equivalents increased $2.9 million, or 3.7%, to $81.2 million at December 31, 2025 from $78.3 million at December 31, 2024. The increase in cash and cash equivalents was a result of an increase of $70.0 million in borrowings that funded increases of $47.8 million in loans, $4.6 million in equity securities, and $3.7 million in securities held-to-maturity, and a decrease of $53.5 million in deposits.
Equity securities increased $4.6 million, or 20.8%, to $26.6 million at December 31, 2025 from $22.0 million at December 31, 2024. The increase in equity securities was attributable to the purchase of $4.0 million in equity securities during the year ended December 31, 2025 and market appreciation of $521,000 due to market interest rate volatility during the year ended December 31, 2025.
Securities held-to-maturity increased $3.7 million, or 25.3%, to $18.3 million at December 31, 2025 from $14.6 million at December 31, 2024 due to purchases of $4.8 million in municipal bonds, partially offset by $1.1 million in maturities and pay-downs of various investment securities.
Loans, net of the allowance for credit losses, increased $47.8 million, or 2.6%, to $1.9 billion at December 31, 2025 from $1.8 billion at December 31, 2024. The increase in loans consisted of increases of $99.9 million in multi-family loans of which $59.6 million is attributed to residential cooperative building loans, $31.7 million in commercial and industrial loans, and $9.0 million in non-residential loans. The increases in these loan categories were partially offset by decreases of $89.8 million in construction loans, $1.6 million in consumer loans, $1.4 million in mixed-use loans, and $358,000 in one-to-four family loans. The decrease in our construction loan portfolio was due to normal pay-downs and principal reductions as construction projects were completed and either condominium units were sold to end buyers or multi-family rental buildings were refinanced by other financial institutions.
During the year ended December 31, 2025, we originated loans totaling $860.7 million consisting primarily of $665.1 million in construction loans, $119.9 million in multi-family loans of which $49.6 million is attributed to residential cooperative building loans, $64.0 million in commercial and industrial loans, $11.1 million in non-residential loans, and $730,000 in mixed-use loans. The $665.1 million in construction loans had 41.2% disbursed at loan closing, with the remaining funds to be disbursed over the terms of the construction loans.
The allowance for credit losses related to loans decreased to $4.7 million as of December 31, 2025, from $4.8 million as of December 31, 2024. The decrease in the allowance for credit losses related to loans was due to charge-offs totaling $701,000 and negative provision for credit losses totaling $272,000, offset by recoveries totaling $875,000.
Premises and equipment increased $572,000, or 2.3%, to $25.4 million at December 31, 2025 from $24.8 million at December 31, 2024 primarily due to the purchases of additional fixed assets and the expansion of our Kiryas Joel branch office.
Federal Home Loan Bank stock increased $13,000, or 3.3%, to $410,000 at December 31, 2025 from $397,000 at December 31, 2024 primarily due to an increase in mortgage-related assets.
Bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) increased $695,000, or 2.7%, to $26.4 million at December 31, 2025 from $25.7 million at December 31, 2024 due to increases in the BOLI cash value.
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Accrued interest receivable decreased $1.3 million, or 9.3%, to $12.2 million at December 31, 2025 from $13.5 million at December 31, 2024 due to a 75 basis point decrease in the Prime Rate that occurred in 2025, partially offset by an increase of $47.4 million in the loan portfolio.
Real estate owned decreased $5.1 million, or 100.0%, to none at December 31, 2025 from $5.1 million at December 31, 2024 due to the sale of two foreclosed properties to two independent third parties.
Property held for investment decreased $36,000, or 2.6%, to $1.3 million at December 31, 2025 from $1.4 million at December 31, 2024 due to the amortization of property.
Right of use assets — operating increased $655,000, or 16.4%, to $4.7 million at December 31, 2025 from $4.0 million at December 31, 2024, primarily due to the physical expansion of a branch office and the resulting amendment of the operating lease and the renewal of another branch operating lease, partially offset by the amortization of the right of use assets.
Other assets decreased $621,000, or 5.4%, to $11.0 million at December 31, 2025 from $11.6 million at December 31, 2024 due to decreases of $2.5 million in tax assets and $9,000 in miscellaneous assets, partially offset by increases of $1.1 million in prepaid expenses and $819,000 in suspense accounts.
Total deposits decreased $53.5 million, or 3.2%, to $1.6 billion at December 31, 2025 from $1.7 billion at December 31, 2024. The decrease in deposits was primarily due to decreases in certificates of deposit of $101.3 million, or 10.1% and non-interest bearing deposits of $15.2 million, or 5.3%, partially offset by increases in NOW/money market accounts of $59.1 million, or 24.3%, and savings account balances of $3.9 million, or 2.9%. The decrease of $101.3 million in certificates of deposit consisted of decreases in retail certificates of deposit of $69.8 million, or 13.6% and brokered certificates of deposit of $65.5 million, or 15.0%, partially offset by an increase in non-brokered listing services certificates of deposit of $34.0 million, or 101.3%.
The decrease in brokered certificates of deposit was due to management’s strategy to reduce the cost of funds by “calling” higher rate brokered deposits on their call dates and to rely less on brokered deposits. The decrease in retail certificates of deposit was due to a shift in deposits to our retail high yield money market accounts. The increase in non-brokered listing services certificates of deposits was due to management’s strategy to diversify funding sources.
Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance increased $734,000, or 45.4%, to $2.4 million at December 31, 2025 from $1.6 million at December 31, 2024 due primarily to accumulation of real estate tax payments from borrowers.
Borrowings increased to $70.0 million at December 31, 2025 from none at December 31, 2024 due primarily to management’s strategy to diversify funding sources.
Lease liability – operating increased $688,000, or 16.7%, to $4.8 million at December 31, 2025 from $4.1 million at December 31, 2024, primarily due to the physical expansion of a branch office and the resulting amendment of the operating lease and the renewal of another branch operating lease, partially offset by the amortization of the lease liability.
Accounts payable and accrued expenses increased $2.8 million, or 19.2%, to $17.3 million at December 31, 2025 from $14.5 million at December 31, 2024 due primarily to increases in accrued expense of $812,000, accrued dividends payable of $673,000, deferred compensation of $615,000, accrued borrowing interest expense of $512,000, and the allowance for credit losses for off-balance sheet commitments of $175,000, partially offset by a decrease in suspense account-loan closings of $12,000.
The allowance for credit losses for off-balance sheet commitments increased $175,000, or 24.9%, to $879,000 at December 31, 2025 from $704,000 at December 31, 2024 due primarily to an increase of $117.7 million, or 20.9%, in off-balance sheet commitments from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2025.
Stockholders’ equity increased $33.4 million, or 10.5% to $351.7 million at December 31, 2025, from $318.3 million at December 31, 2024. The increase in stockholders’ equity was due to net income of $44.4 million for
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the year ended December 31, 2025, an increase of $1.1 million in earned employee stock ownership plan shares coupled with a reduction of $869,000 in unearned employee stock ownership plan shares, the amortization expense of $2.0 million relating to restricted stock and stock options granted under the Company’s 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, and $9,000 in other comprehensive income, partially offset by dividends declared of $13.4 million, stock repurchases of $1.6 million, and $18,000 in stock options exercised.
Loans
Our loan portfolio consists primarily of construction loans, commercial and industrial loans, multifamily and mixed-use residential real estate loans and non-residential real estate loans. We also have a limited amount of one- to four-family residential real estate loans, which we no longer originate, and consumer loans, which we originate on a very limited basis.
The following table shows the loan portfolio at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | 2025 | | 2024 | |||||||
| | | Amount | | Percent | | Amount | | Percent | |||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | | | | | |||
| One- to four-family | | $ | 3,114 | 0.17 | % | $ | 3,472 | 0.19 | % | ||
| Multifamily | | 306,508 | 16.48 | | 206,606 | 11.40 | | ||||
| Mixed-use | | 25,197 | 1.35 | | 26,571 | 1.47 | | ||||
| Total residential real estate loans | | 334,819 | 18.00 | | 236,649 | 13.06 | | ||||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 38,463 | 2.07 | | 29,446 | 1.62 | | ||||
| Construction loans | | 1,336,329 | 71.84 | | 1,426,167 | 78.68 | | ||||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 150,397 | 8.09 | | 118,736 | 6.55 | | ||||
| Consumer loans | | 58 | 0.00 | | 1,649 | 0.09 | | ||||
| Total loans | | 1,860,066 | 100.00 | % | 1,812,647 | 100.00 | % | ||||
| Allowance for credit losses | | (4,731) | | | (4,830) | | | ||||
| Deferred loan (fees) costs, net | | 268 | | | (49) | | | ||||
| Loans, net | | $ | 1,855,603 | | | | $ | 1,807,768 | | |
Loan Maturity. The following table sets forth certain information at December 31, 2025 regarding the dollar amount of loan principal repayments becoming due during the periods indicated. The tables do not include any estimate of prepayments which significantly shorten the average life of all loans and may cause our actual repayment experience
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to differ from that shown below. Demand loans having no stated schedule of repayments and no stated maturity are reported as due in one year or less.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | Non- | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Residential | | Residential | | | | | Commercial | | | | | | | |||
| | | Real | | Real | | | | | and | | | | | Total | ||||
| December 31, 2025 | | Estate | | Estate | | Construction | | Industrial | | Consumer | | Loans | ||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Amounts due in: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
| One year or less | | $ | 14,057 | | $ | 15,728 | | $ | 960,856 | | $ | 108,624 | | $ | 58 | | $ | 1,099,323 |
| More than 1-5 years | | | 201,494 | | | 5,982 | | | 375,473 | | | 35,306 | | | — | | | 618,255 |
| More than 5-15 years | | | 114,372 | | | 16,753 | | | — | | | 6,467 | | | — | | | 137,592 |
| More than 15 years | | | 4,896 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 4,896 |
| Total | | $ | 334,819 | | $ | 38,463 | | $ | 1,336,329 | | $ | 150,397 | | $ | 58 | | $ | 1,860,066 |
The following table sets forth all loans at December 31, 2025 that are due after December 31, 2025 and have either fixed interest rates or floating or adjustable interest rates:
| | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | Floating or | | Total at | ||
| | | Fixed Rates | | Adjustable Rates | | December 31, 2025 | |||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | |||
| Residential real estate loans | | $ | 194,268 | | $ | 126,494 | | $ | 320,762 |
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 1,245 | | 21,490 | | 22,735 | |||
| Construction loans | | — | | 375,473 | | 375,473 | |||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 22,626 | | 19,147 | | 41,773 | |||
| Total | | $ | 218,139 | | $ | 542,604 | | $ | 760,743 |
Securities
Our investment portfolio consists primarily of mutual funds, residential mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae primarily with stated final maturities of 10 years or more, and municipal securities with maturities of one year or more.
The following table sets forth the stated maturities and weighted average yields of investment securities at December 31, 2025. Weighted average yields on tax-exempt securities are presented on a tax equivalent basis using a combined federal and state marginal rate of 28.4%. Certain securities have adjustable interest rates and will reprice monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually within the various maturity ranges. Equity securities are not included in the table based on lack of a maturity date. The table presents contractual maturities for mortgage-backed securities and does not reflect repricing or the effect of prepayments.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | | Due after One but within | | Due after Five but within | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
| | | Due within One Year | | Five Years | | Ten Years | | Due after Ten Years | | Total | | |||||||||||||||
| | | | | | Weighted | | | | Weighted | | | | Weighted | | | | Weighted | | | | Weighted | |||||
| | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | ||||||
| December 31, 2025 | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | ||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Securities held-to-maturity: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | | $ | — | — | % | $ | 3 | 5.51 | % | $ | 808 | 2.15 | % | $ | 1,590 | 2.31 | % | $ | 2,401 | 2.27 | % | |||||
| U.S. agency collateralized mortgage obligations | | | — | — | | | — | — | | | — | — | | | 2,673 | 1.48 | | | 2,673 | 1.48 | | |||||
| Municipal bonds | | | 881 | 3.89 | | | 3,591 | 2.27 | | | 3,385 | 2.13 | | | 5,510 | 1.58 | | | 13,367 | 2.06 | | |||||
| Total held-to-maturity | | $ | 881 | 3.89 | % | $ | 3,594 | 2.27 | % | $ | 4,193 | 2.13 | % | $ | 9,773 | 1.67 | % | $ | 18,441 | 2.00 | % | |||||
| Total investment securities | | $ | 881 | 3.89 | % | $ | 3,594 | 2.27 | % | $ | 4,193 | 2.13 | % | $ | 9,773 | 1.67 | % | $ | 18,441 | 2.00 | % |
Deposits
Deposits are a major source of our funds for lending and other investment purposes, and our deposits are provided primarily by individuals within our market area. In addition, we rely on brokered, listing and military deposits, which represent a viable and cost effective addition to our deposit gathering and maintenance strategy, often at a lower “all-in” cost when compared to our retail branch network. Use of these types of deposits allows us to match the maturity
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of these deposits to the term of our construction loans. The following table sets forth the deposits as a percentage of total deposits for the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| | | 2025 | | 2024 | |||||||||||||
| | | Average | | | | | | | Average | | | | | | |||
| | | Outstanding | | | | | Average | | Outstanding | | | | | Average | |||
| | | Balance | | Percent | | Rate | | Balance | | Percent | | Rate | |||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
| Demand deposits: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| Non-interest bearing | | $ | 274,033 | | | 17.54% | — | | $ | 277,957 | | | 17.82% | — | | ||
| NOW and money market | | 292,998 | | | 18.76% | 3.09% | | 209,993 | | | 13.46% | 3.41% | | ||||
| Total | | | 567,031 | | | 36.30% | | 1.63% | | | 487,950 | | | 31.28% | | 1.56% | |
| Savings accounts | | 136,894 | | | 8.76% | 2.05% | | 154,430 | | | 9.90% | 2.16% | | ||||
| Certificates of deposit | | 858,115 | | | 54.94% | 3.97% | | 917,665 | | | 58.82% | 4.71% | | ||||
| Total | | $ | 1,562,040 | | | 100.00% | 2.97% | | $ | 1,560,045 | | | 100.00% | 3.50% | |
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the aggregate amount of uninsured deposits (deposits in amounts greater than $250,000, which is the maximum amount for federal deposit insurance) was $361.0 million and $346.9 million, respectively. In addition, as of December 31, 2025, the aggregate amount of all our uninsured certificates of deposit was $172.0 million. We have no deposits that are uninsured for any reason other than being in excess of the maximum amount for federal deposit insurance.
The following table sets forth the portion of the Bank’s certificates of deposit, by remaining time until maturity, that are in excess of the FDIC insurance limit as of December 31, 2025:
| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| | | At | |
| | | December 31, 2025 | |
| | | (In thousands) | |
| Maturity Period: | | | |
| Three months or less | | $ | 28,547 |
| Over three through six months | | 20,485 | |
| Over six through twelve months | | 100,340 | |
| Over twelve months | | 22,662 | |
| Total | | $ | 172,034 |
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Average Balance Sheets
The following tables set forth average balance sheets, average yields and costs, and certain other information for the years indicated. No tax-equivalent yield adjustments have been made, as the effects would be immaterial. All average balances are daily average balances. Non-accrual loans were included in the computation of average balances. The yields set forth below include the effect of deferred fees, discounts, and premiums that are amortized or accreted to interest income or interest expense. Deferred loan cost totaled $268,000 and deferred loan fees totaled $49,000 for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Loan balances exclude loans held for sale.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended December 31, | | | |||||||||||||||||
| | | 2025 | | | 2024 | | |||||||||||||||
| | | Average | | | | | | | | Average | | | | | | | |||||
| | | Outstanding | | | | | | Average | | | Outstanding | | | | | | Average | | | ||
| | | Balance | | | Interest | | Yield/Rate | | | Balance | | | Interest | | Yield/Rate | | |||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest-earning assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Loans receivable | | $ | 1,805,645 | | | $ | 149,624 | 8.29 | % | | $ | 1,701,079 | | | $ | 153,902 | 9.05 | % | | ||
| Securities | | | 39,311 | | | | 1,082 | 2.75 | | | | 34,765 | | | | 839 | 2.41 | | | ||
| Federal Home Loan Bank stock | | | 580 | | | | 42 | 7.24 | | | | 677 | | | | 70 | 10.34 | | | ||
| Other interest-earning assets | | | 71,763 | | | | 3,370 | 4.70 | | | | 92,610 | | | | 5,202 | 5.62 | | | ||
| Total interest-earning assets | | | 1,917,299 | | | | 154,118 | 8.04 | | | | 1,829,131 | | | | 160,013 | 8.75 | | | ||
| Allowance for credit losses | | | (4,856) | | | | | | | | | | (4,940) | | | | | | | | |
| Noninterest-earning assets | | | 93,183 | | | | | | | | | 90,675 | | | | | | | | | |
| Total assets | | $ | 2,005,626 | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,914,866 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest-bearing liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest-bearing demand deposits | | $ | 292,998 | | | $ | 9,881 | | 3.37 | % | | $ | 209,993 | | | $ | 8,498 | | 4.05 | % | |
| Savings and club accounts | | | 136,894 | | | | 2,942 | | 2.15 | | | | 154,430 | | | | 3,799 | | 2.46 | | |
| Certificates of deposit | | | 858,115 | | | | 36,895 | | 4.30 | | | | 917,665 | | | | 43,322 | | 4.72 | | |
| Interest-bearing deposits | | | 1,288,007 | | | | 49,718 | | 3.86 | | | | 1,282,088 | | | | 55,619 | 4.34 | | | |
| Borrowings | | | 83,933 | | | | 3,664 | | 4.37 | | | | 33,117 | | | | 1,602 | | 4.84 | | |
| Total interest-bearing liabilities | | | 1,371,940 | | | $ | 53,382 | | 3.89 | | | | 1,315,205 | | | $ | 57,221 | 4.35 | | | |
| Noninterest-bearing demand deposits | | | 274,033 | | | | | | | | | | 277,957 | | | | | | | | |
| Other noninterest-bearing liabilities | | | 21,194 | | | | | | | | | | 19,739 | | | | | | | | |
| Total liabilities | | | 1,667,167 | | | | | | | | | | 1,612,901 | | | | | | | | |
| Total shareholders’ equity | | | 338,459 | | | | | | | | | | 301,965 | | | | | | | | |
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | | $ | 2,005,626 | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,914,866 | | | | | | | | |
| Net interest income | | | | | | $ | 100,736 | | | | | | | | | $ | 102,792 | | | | |
| Net interest rate spread (1) | | | | | | | | | 4.15 | % | | | | | | | | | 4.40 | % | |
| Net interest margin (3) | | | | | | | | | 5.25 | % | | | | | | | | | 5.62 | % | |
| Net interest-earning assets (2) | | $ | 545,359 | | | | | | | | | $ | 513,926 | | | | | | | | |
| Average interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities | | | 139.75 | % | | | | | | | | | 139.08 | % | | | | | | | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average rate of interest-bearing liabilities. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (2) | Net interest-earning assets represent total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (3) | Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets. |
Rate/Volume Analysis
The following table sets forth the effects of changing rates and volumes on our net interest income. The rate column shows the effects attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume). The volume column shows the effects attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate). The total column represents the sum of the prior columns. or purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume,
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which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately based on the changes due to rate and the changes due to volume.
| | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended 12/31/2025 | |||||||
| | | Compared to | |||||||
| | | Year Ended 12/31/2024 | |||||||
| | | Increase (Decrease) | |||||||
| | | Due to | |||||||
| | | Volume | | Rate | | Total | |||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||
| Interest income: | | | | | | | |||
| Loans receivable | | $ | 9,124 | | $ | (13,402) | | $ | (4,278) |
| Securities | | 117 | | 126 | | 243 | |||
| Federal Home Loan Bank stock | | | (9) | | | (19) | | | (28) |
| Other interest-earning assets | | (1,060) | | (772) | | (1,832) | |||
| Total | | $ | 8,172 | | $ | (14,067) | | $ | (5,895) |
| Interest expense: | | | | | | | |||
| Interest bearing demand deposit | | $ | 2,965 | | $ | (1,582) | | $ | 1,383 |
| Savings accounts | | (406) | | (451) | | (857) | |||
| Certificates of deposits | | (2,706) | | (3,721) | | (6,427) | |||
| Borrowed money | | 2,233 | | (171) | | 2,062 | |||
| Total | | 2,086 | | (5,925) | | (3,839) | |||
| Net change in net interest income | | $ | 6,086 | | $ | (8,142) | | $ | (2,056) |
Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024
Financial Highlights
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2025 was $44.4 million compared to net income of $47.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2025 was lower than net income for the year ended December 31, 2024 primarily due to a decrease in net interest income and an increase in non-interest expense, partially offset by a decrease in the provision for credit losses, an increase in non-interest income, and a decrease in income tax expense.
Summary Income Statements
The following table sets forth the income summary for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | Change Fiscal 2025/2024 | ||||
| | | 2025 | | 2024 | | $ | | % | ||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Net interest income | | $ | 100,735 | | $ | 102,792 | | $ | (2,057) | | (2.00) | % |
| Provision for (reversal of) credit losses | | (99) | | 740 | | (839) | | (113.38) | % | |||
| Non-interest income | | 4,093 | | 2,783 | | 1,310 | | 47.07 | % | |||
| Non-interest expenses | | 42,668 | | 39,062 | | 3,606 | | 9.23 | % | |||
| Income tax expense | | 17,846 | | 18,699 | | (853) | | (4.56) | % | |||
| Net income | | $ | 44,413 | | $ | 47,074 | | $ | (2,661) | | (5.65) | % |
| Return on average assets | | 2.21 | % | 2.46 | % | | | | | | ||
| Return on average equity | | 13.12 | % | 15.59 | % | | | | | |
Net Interest Income
Net interest income totaled $100.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $102.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in net interest income of $2.1 million, or 2.0%, was primarily due to a decrease in interest income that exceeded a decrease in interest expense caused by a decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets that exceeded the decrease in the cost of funds for interest-bearing liabilities. The
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decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of funds for interest-bearing liabilities was due primarily to a 175 basis points decrease in the Federal Funds rate from September 2024 to December 2025.
The decrease in yields and cost of funds was partially offset by an increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets that exceeded an increase in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities. In this regard, the increase in the average balances of loans receivable and investment securities exceeded the decrease in the average balances of FHLB stock and other interest-earning assets. In addition, the increase in the average balances of interest-bearing demand deposits and borrowed money exceeded the decrease in the average balances of certificates of deposits and savings and club deposits.
Total interest and dividend income decreased $5.9 million, or 3.7%, to $154.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $160.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in interest and dividend income was due to a decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets by 71 basis points from 8.75% for the year ended December 31, 2024 to 8.04% for the year ended December 31, 2025, partially offset by an increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets of $88.2 million, or 4.8%, to $1.9 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $1.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024.
The increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets was due to an increase in the average balances of loans receivable of $104.6 million, or 6.1%, to $1.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $1.7 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024 and an increase in the average balances of investment securities of $4.5 million, or 13.1%, to $39.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $34.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in the average balances of other interest-earning assets of $20.8 million, or 22.5%, to $71.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $92.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 and a decrease in the average balances of FHLB stock of $97,000, or 14.3%, to $580,000 for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $677,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Interest expense decreased $3.9 million, or 6.7%, to $53.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $57.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in interest expense was due to a decrease in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities by 46 basis points from 4.35% for the year ended December 31, 2024 to 3.89% for the year ended December 31, 2025, partially offset by an increase in average interest-bearing liabilities of $56.7 million, or 4.3%, to $1.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $1.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024.
The cost of interest-bearing liabilities was partially impacted by a shift to interest-bearing demand deposits and borrowed money from savings and club deposits and interest-bearing certificates of deposits. In this regard, the average balances of interest-bearing demand deposits increased by $83.0 million, or 39.5%, to $293.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $210.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 and the average balances of borrowed money increased by $50.8 million, or 153.4%, to $83.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $33.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The average balances of interest-bearing certificates of deposits decreased by $59.6 million, or 6.5%, to $858.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $917.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 and the average balances of savings and club deposits decreased by $17.5 million, or 11.4%, to $136.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $154.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. In addition, the average balances of our non-interest bearing demand deposits decreased by $3.9 million, or 1.4%, from $277.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 to $274.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2025.
The increase in the average balances of interest-bearing demand deposits and borrowed money was used primarily to fund the loan portfolio growth and the decreases in other interest-earning assets, interest-bearing certificates of deposits, savings and club deposits, and non-interest bearing demand deposits.
Net interest margin decreased 37 basis points, or 6.6%, to 5.25% for the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to 5.62% for the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in the net interest margin was due to a 175 basis points decrease in the Federal Funds rate from September 2024 to December 2025 that resulted in a decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets, partially offset by a larger decrease in the cost of funds on interest-bearing liabilities.
Credit Loss Expense. A credit loss expense reduction of $97,000 was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to a credit loss expense of $740,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024. The credit loss expense
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reduction of $97,000 for the year ended December 31, 2025 was comprised of a credit loss expense reduction for loans of $272,000, offset by a credit loss expense for off-balance sheet commitments of $175,000.
The credit loss expense reduction for loans of $272,000 for the year ended December 31, 2025 was primarily due to a credit loss expense reduction of $334,000 during the fourth quarter of 2025 due to a recovery of unused interest reserve deposits totaling $334,000 from a foreclosed construction loan, offset by a credit loss expense of $62,000 during the first quarter of 2025 due to an increase in the multi-family loan portfolio.
The credit loss expense of $740,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024 was comprised of a credit loss expense for loans of $1.0 million, partially offset by a credit loss expense reduction for off-balance sheet commitments of $334,000 and a credit loss expense reduction for held-to-maturity investment securities of $10,000.
The credit loss expense for loans of $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 was primarily attributed to charge-offs totaling $1.3 million, partially offset by favorable trends in the economy. The credit loss expense reduction for off-balance sheet commitments of $334,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024 was primarily attributed to a reduction of $157.6 million in the level of off-balance sheet commitments. The credit loss expense reduction for held-to-maturity investment securities of $10,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024 was primarily attributed to a reduction of $708,000 in the level of applicable held-to-maturity investment securities.
We charged-off $702,000 during the year ended December 31, 2025 as compared to charge-offs of $347,000 during the year ended December 31, 2024. The charge-offs in both years were against various unpaid overdrafts in our demand deposit accounts.
We recorded recoveries of $875,000 during the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to no recoveries during the year ended December 31, 2024. The recoveries of $875,000 during the year ended December 31, 2025 were comprised of recoveries of $350,000 from a previously charged-off non-residential mortgage loan, $334,000 from unused interest reserve deposits from a construction loan, and $191,000 from previously charged-off unpaid overdrafts on demand deposit accounts.
Based on a review of our loan portfolio, held-to-maturity investment securities, and off-balance sheet commitments at December 31, 2025, management believes that the allowance is maintained at a level that represents its best estimate of expected future losses in the loan portfolio, held-to-maturity investment securities, and off-balance sheet commitments that were both probable and reasonably estimable.
Management uses available information to establish the appropriate level of the allowance for credit losses. Future additions or reductions to the allowance may be necessary based on estimates that are susceptible to change as a result of changes in economic conditions and other factors. As a result, our allowance for credit losses may not be sufficient to cover actual loan losses, and future provisions for credit losses could materially adversely affect our operating results. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review our allowance for credit losses. Such agencies may require us to recognize adjustments to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.
Non-Interest Income
The following table sets forth a summary of non-interest income for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended December 31, | ||||
| | | 2025 | | 2024 | ||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||
| Other loan fees and service charges | | $ | 2,714 | | $ | 2,098 |
| (Loss) gain on disposition of equipment | | (6) | | 22 | ||
| Earnings on bank-owned life insurance | | 695 | | 656 | ||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities | | 576 | | (109) | ||
| Other | | 114 | | 116 | ||
| Total | | $ | 4,093 | | $ | 2,783 |
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Non-interest income for the year ended December 31, 2025 was $4.1 million compared to non-interest income of $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in total non-interest income of $1.3 million, or 47.1%, was primarily due to increases of $686,000 in unrealized gain on equity securities, $616,000 in other loan fees and service charges, and $39,000 in BOLI income, partially offset by decreases of $28,000 in net gain on disposition of fixed assets and $2,000 in miscellaneous other non-interest income.
The increase in unrealized gain on equity securities was due to an unrealized gain of $577,000 on equity securities during the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to an unrealized loss of $109,000 on equity securities during the year ended December 31, 2024. Both the unrealized gain/loss on equity securities during the 2025 and 2024 periods were due to market interest rate volatility during the respective periods. The increase of $616,000 in other loan fees and service charges was due to increases of $425,000 in miscellaneous loan fees, $188,000 in ATM/debit card/ACH fees, and $2,000 in deposit account fees. The increase in BOLI income of $39,000 was due to an increase in the yield on BOLI assets.
Regarding the sale/disposition of fixed assets, we recorded losses of $6,000 during the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to gains of $22,000 during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Non-Interest Expense
The following table sets forth an analysis of non-interest expense for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended December 31, | ||||
| | | 2025 | | 2024 | ||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||
| Salaries and employee benefits | | $ | 23,184 | | $ | 20,942 |
| Occupancy expense | | 2,992 | | 2,828 | ||
| Equipment | | 868 | | 890 | ||
| Outside data processing | | 3,078 | | 2,604 | ||
| Advertising | | 426 | | 418 | ||
| Real estate owned expense | | 845 | | 731 | ||
| Other | | 11,275 | | 10,649 | ||
| Total | | $ | 42,668 | | $ | 39,062 |
Non-interest expense increased $3.6 million, or 9.2%, to $42.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $39.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase resulted primarily from increases of $2.2 million in salaries and employee benefits, $626,000 in other operating expense, $474,000 in outside data processing expense, $164,000 in occupancy expense, $114,000 in real estate owned expense, and $8,000 in advertising expense, partially offset by a decrease of $22,000 in equipment expense.
Salaries and employee benefits increased by $2.2 million, or 10.7%, to $23.2 million in 2025 from $20.9 million in 2024 primarily due to the hiring of additional personnel to support the growth of the Company, an increase in personnel compensation and benefits cost in order to remain competitive in recruiting and retaining personnel, an increase in the ESOP compensation cost due to an increase in the value of the Company’s stock, and an increase in the amortization of expenses related to the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan awards of restricted stocks and options, partially offset by an increase in loan origination offset expenses related to loan origination fees due to an increase in loan originations.
Other non-interest expense increased by $626,000 or 5.9%, to $11.3 million in 2025 from $10.6 million in 2024 due mainly to increases of $426,000 in miscellaneous other non-interest expense, $371,000 in legal fees, $84,000 in service contracts expense, $55,000 in dues and subscriptions, $14,000 in audit and accounting fees, $14,000 in insurance expense, and $9,000 in recruitment expense. These increases were partially offset by decreases of $234,000 in directors compensation, $42,000 in consulting fees, $30,000 in telephone expense, $23,000 in directors, officers, and employee expenses, and $9,000 in office supplies.
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The increase of $426,000 in miscellaneous other non-interest expense was mainly due to increases of $280,000 in regulatory insurance premiums and assessments due to an increase in our total assets, $137,000 in other non-interest expense, $71,000 in public company expense, $21,000 in check charges and correspondent bank service charges, and $10,000 in postage expense, partially offset by a decrease of $93,000 in miscellaneous charge-offs.
Real estate owned expense increased by $114,000, or 15.6%, to $845,000 in 2025 from $731,000 in 2024 due to the write down and losses totaling $495,000 on the sale of a foreclosed property located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, $232,000 in closing costs related to the sale of a foreclosed property located in the Bronx in 2025, and operating expenses totaling $118,000. In 2024, we wrote down $689,000 in the value of the Pittsburgh foreclosed property and experienced operating expenses totaling $42,000. The write downs on the fair market value of the Pittsburgh foreclosed property in 2025 and 2024 was due to the decrease in demand for office space in that area.
Outside data processing expense increased by $474,000, or 18.2%, to $3.1 million in 2025 from $2.6 million in 2024 to an increase in transactions and additional services required in 2025 to support the Company’s growth. Occupancy expense increased by $164,000, or 5.8%, to $3.0 million in 2025 from $2.8 million in 2024 primarily as a result of the increased cost of operating office space. Advertising expenses increased by $8,000, or 1.9%, to $426,000 in 2025 from $418,000 in 2024 due mainly to a nominal increase in promotional products and advertisements. Equipment expense decreased by $22,000, or 2.5%, to $868,000 in 2025 from $890,000 in 2024 due to a reduced need to purchase additional equipment in 2025.
Income Taxes. The Company recorded income tax expense of $17.8 million and $18.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company had approximately $867,000 in tax exempt income, compared to $$802,000 in tax exempt income for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in tax exempt income was due to an increase in tax exempt municipal bonds to $13.4 million as of December 31, 2025 from $9.1 million as of December 31, 2024 and an increase of $40,000 in BOLI income from 2024 to 2025.
Risk Management
Overview
Managing risk is an essential part of successfully managing a financial institution. Our most prominent risk exposures are credit risk, interest rate risk and market risk. Credit risk is the risk of not collecting the interest and/or the principal balance of a loan or investment when it is due. Interest rate risk is the potential reduction of interest income as a result of changes in interest rates. Market risk arises from fluctuations in interest rates that may result in changes in the values of financial instruments, such as available-for-sale securities that are accounted for at fair value. Other risks that we face are operational risk, liquidity risk and reputation risk. Operational risk includes risks related to fraud, regulatory compliance, processing errors, technology, and disaster recovery. Liquidity risk is the possible inability to fund obligations to depositors, lenders or borrowers. Reputation risk is the risk that negative publicity or press, whether true or not, could cause a decline in our customer base or revenue.
Management of Credit Risk
The objective of our credit risk management strategy is to quantify and manage credit risk and to limit the risk of loss resulting from an individual customer default. Our credit risk management strategy focuses on conservatism, an excellent knowledge of the communities we lend in, and significant levels of monitoring. Our lending practices include conservative exposure limits and underwriting, extensive documentation and collection standards. Our credit risk management strategy also emphasizes diversification at the borrower level as well as regular credit examinations, continuous site visits by executive management and management reviews of large credit exposures and credits that might experience deterioration of credit quality.
As part of its risk management process, the Bank conducts stress testing on its commercial real estate portfolio, performs a global cash flow analysis for loans associated with multiple properties and/or guarantors and also operates a loan review program for all real estate loans (including construction loans) with terms more than 12 months. In addition, we track our board approved limits for each commercial real estate category on a monthly basis.
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Analysis of Non-Performing, Troubled Debt Restructurings and Classified Assets.
Classified Assets. FDIC regulations and our Asset Classification Policy provide that loans and other assets considered to be of lesser quality be classified as “substandard,” “doubtful” or “loss” assets. An asset is considered “substandard” if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. “Substandard” assets include those characterized by the “distinct possibility” that the institution will sustain “some loss” if the deficiencies are not corrected. Assets classified as “doubtful” have all of the weaknesses inherent in those classified as “substandard,” with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make “collection or liquidation in full,” on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, “highly questionable and improbable.” Assets classified as “loss” are those considered “uncollectible” and of such little value that their continuance as assets without the establishment of a specific loss reserve is not warranted. We classify an asset as “special mention” if the asset has a potential weakness that warrants management’s escalated level of attention. While such assets are not impaired, management has concluded that if the potential weakness in the asset is not addressed, the value of the asset may deteriorate, adversely affecting the repayment of the asset. Loans classified as impaired for financial reporting purposes are generally those loans classified as substandard or doubtful for regulatory reporting purposes.
An insured institution is required to establish allowances for credit losses in an amount deemed prudent by management for loans classified as substandard or doubtful, as well as for other problem loans. General allowances represent loss allowances which have been established to recognize the inherent losses associated with lending activities, but which, unlike specific allowances, have not been allocated to particular problem assets. When an insured institution classifies problem assets as “loss,” it is required to charge off such amounts. An institution’s determination as to the classification of its assets and the amount of its valuation allowances is subject to review by the FDIC.
The following table sets forth information with respect to our non-performing assets at the dates indicated.
| | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||||
| | | 2025 | | | 2024 | |||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||
| Total non-accrual loans | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
| Total accruing loans past due 90 days or more | | | — | | | — | | |
| Total non-performing loans | | | — | | | — | | |
| Real estate owned | | | — | | | 5,120 | | |
| Total non-performing assets | | $ | — | | | $ | 5,120 | |
| Total non-performing loans to total loans | | — | % | | — | % | ||
| Total non-performing assets to total assets | | — | % | | 0.25 | % |
We had no non-performing assets at December 31, 2025 compared to $5.1 million in non-performing assets at December 31, 2024. Non-performing assets as of December 31, 2024 consisted of a foreclosed property totaling $4.3 million located in the Bronx, New York and a foreclosed property totaling $767,000 located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Bronx property was sold on June 30, 2025 to a third-party buyer at no loss to the Company which, in connection therewith, we provided the financing to complete the multi-family project. We charged off $222,000 in September 2025 on the Pittsburgh property and we sold the property on December 30, 2025 at a loss of $273,000.
In 2025, we collected no interest income from loans that were in non-accrual status in 2025. In 2024, we collected no interest income from loans that were in non-accrual status in 2024.
From time to time, as part of our loss mitigation strategy, we may modify loans to borrowers in financial distress by providing principal forgiveness, term extension, an other-than-insignificant payment delay, or interest rate reduction. When principal forgiveness is provided, the amount of forgiveness is charged-off against the allowance for credit losses. There were no new loan modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. At December 31, 2025 and 2024, we had no loans modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty.
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The following table summarizes classified and criticized assets of all portfolio types at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||
| | | 2025 | | 2024 | ||
| | | (In thousands) | ||||
| Classified loans: | | | | | | |
| Substandard | | $ | — | | $ | 241 |
| Doubtful | | — | | — | ||
| Loss | | — | | — | ||
| Total classified loans | | — | | 241 | ||
| Special mention | | 226 | | — | ||
| Total criticized loans | | $ | 226 | | $ | 241 |
On the basis of management’s review of our assets, we had no loans classified as substandard at December 31, 2025 compared to one loan with a balance of $241,000 classified as substandard at December 31, 2024. This one loan with a current balance of $226,000 was subsequently upgraded to special mention at December 31, 2025, representing all of our special mention loans as of that date, compared to no loans classified as special mention at December 31, 2024. This loan was current and performing according to its loan terms at December 31, 2025.
There were no assets classified as doubtful or loss at December 31, 2025 or 2024. The loan portfolio is reviewed on a regular basis to determine whether any loans require classification in accordance with applicable regulations. Not all classified assets constitute non-performing assets.
Delinquent Loans
The following table provides information about delinquencies in our loan portfolio at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| | | 2025 | | 2024 | ||||||||||||||
| | | Days Past Due | | Days Past Due | ||||||||||||||
| | | 30 – 59 | | 60 – 89 | | 90 or more | | 30 – 59 | | 60 – 89 | | 90 or more | ||||||
| | | (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||
| Multi-family | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 931 | | $ | — | | $ | — |
| Consumer loan: | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
| Construction loan: | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | ||||||
| Total | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 931 | | $ | — | | $ | — |
Analysis and Determination of the Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans
The allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) is a valuation account that reflects management's evaluation of expected future losses in the loan portfolio. We evaluate the need to establish allowances against credit losses on loans on a quarterly basis. When additional allowances are necessary, a provision for credit losses is charged to earnings. The ACL is maintained at a level that management considers adequate to provide for estimated losses and impairment based upon an evaluation of known and inherent risk in the loan portfolio. The ACL consists of two elements: (1) identification of loans that must be individually analyzed for credit loss and (2) establishment of an ACL for loans collectively analyzed.
Individually Analyzed Loans. Management regularly monitors the condition of borrowers and assesses both internal and external factors in determining whether any relationships have deteriorated, considering factors such as historical loss experience, trends in delinquency and non-performing loans, changes in risk composition and underwriting standards, and regional and national economic conditions and trends.
Our loan officers, loan servicing staff, and internal loan review personnel identify and manage potential problem loans within our mortgage, construction, and commercial and industrial loan portfolio. Non-performing assets within
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these loan portfolios are transferred to the Special Assets Department for workout or litigation. The Special Assets Department reports directly to the Executive Committee. Changes in management, financial or operating performance, company behavior, industry factors and external events and circumstances are evaluated on an ongoing basis to determine whether potential impairment is evident and additional analysis is needed. For our loan portfolio, risk ratings are assigned to each individual loan to differentiate risk within the portfolio and are reviewed on an ongoing basis by the Internal Loan Review Department and revised, if needed, to reflect the borrower’s current risk profiles and the related collateral positions.
The risk ratings consider factors such as property location, property type, loan duration, debt capacity and coverage ratios, absorption rate and marketability, borrower’s experience, borrower’s financial condition, and borrower’s credit quality. When a credit’s risk rating is downgraded to a certain level, the relationship must be reviewed and detailed reports completed that document risk management strategies for the credit going forward, and the appropriate accounting actions to take in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. When credits are downgraded beyond a certain level, our Special Assets Department becomes responsible for managing the credit risk.
The Executive Committee reviews risk rating actions (specifically downgrades or upgrades between pass and the criticized and classified categories) recommended by Internal Loan Review and/or Special Assets Departments on a quarterly basis. Our Lending, Loan Servicing and Internal Loan Review Departments monitor our mortgage, construction, and commercial and industrial loan portfolios for credit risk and deterioration considering factors such as delinquency, loan to value ratios and credit scores.
When problem loans are identified that are secured with collateral, management examines the loan files to evaluate the nature and type of collateral supporting the loans. Management documents the collateral type, date of the most recent valuation, and whether any liens exist, to determine the value to compare against the committed loan amount. If a loan is identified as impaired and is collateral dependent, an in-house analysis is performed and/or an updated appraisal is obtained to provide a baseline in determining the property’s fair value. A collateral dependent impaired loan is written down to its appraised value and an allowance is established to cover potential selling costs. If the collateral value is subject to significant volatility (due to location of asset, obsolescence, etc.) an appraisal is obtained more frequently. In-house revaluations are typically performed on a quarterly basis and updated appraisals are obtained annually, if determined necessary.
When we determine that the value of an impaired loan is less than its carrying amount, we recognize impairment through a charge-off to the allowance for credit losses. We perform these assessments on an ongoing basis. For mortgage, construction, and commercial and industrial loans, a charge-off is recorded when management determines we will not collect 100% of a loan based on the fair value of the collateral or the net present value of expected future cash flows. The collateral deficiency on consumer loans and residential loans are generally charged-off when deemed to be uncollectible or delinquent 180 days, whichever comes first, unless it can be clearly demonstrated that repayment will occur regardless of the delinquency status. Examples that would demonstrate repayment include a loan that is secured by adequate collateral and is in the process of collection, a loan supported by a valid guarantee or insurance, or a loan supported by a valid claim against a solvent estate.
Collectively Analyzed Loans. Additionally, we reserve for certain inherent, but undetected, losses that are probable within the loan portfolio. This is due to several factors, such as, but not limited to, inherent delays in obtaining information regarding a customer’s financial condition or changes in their unique business conditions and the interpretation of economic trends. While this analysis is conducted at least quarterly, we have the ability to revise the allowance factors whenever necessary to address improving or deteriorating credit quality trends or specific risks associated with a given loan pool classification.
A comprehensive analysis of the allowance for credit losses on loans is performed on a quarterly basis. The entire allowance for credit losses on loans is available to absorb losses in the loan portfolio irrespective of the amount of each separate element of the ACL. Our principal focus, therefore, is on the adequacy of the total allowance for credit losses.
Although we believe we have established and maintained the ACL on loans at appropriate levels, changes in reserves may be necessary if actual economic and other conditions differ substantially from the forecast used in estimating
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the ACL. See note 1 to our consolidated financial statements for a detailed discussion of our accounting policies and methodologies for establishing the ACL.
The allowance for credit losses is subject to review by our banking regulators. The FDIC and the New York State Department of Financial Services, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review our allowance for credit losses and make an assessment regarding its adequacy and the methodology employed in its determination. As a result, our banking regulators could require us to increase our allowance for credit losses - loans.
The following table sets forth the breakdown of the allowance for credit losses by loan category at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| | | 2025 | | | 2024 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | % of Allowance | | % of Loans in | | | | | | % of Allowance | | % of Loans in | |
| | | | | | Amount to Total | | Category to Total | | | | | | Amount to Total | | Category to Total | |
| | | Amount | | Allowance | | Loans | | | Amount | | Allowance | | Loans | |||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | | |||||||||||||
| Residential real estate loans | | $ | 1,646 | 34.79 | % | 18.00 | % | | $ | 1,900 | 39.33 | % | 13.06 | % | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 249 | 5.26 | 2.07 | | 308 | 6.38 | 1.62 | | |||||||
| Construction loans | | 2,035 | 43.01 | 71.84 | | 1,937 | 40.10 | 78.68 | | |||||||
| Commercial and industrial | | 743 | 15.70 | 8.09 | | 520 | 10.77 | 6.55 | | |||||||
| Consumer loans | | 58 | 1.23 | 0.00 | | 165 | 3.42 | 0.09 | | |||||||
| Total allowance for credit losses | | $ | 4,731 | 100.00 | % | 100.00 | % | | $ | 4,830 | 100.00 | % | 100.00 | % |
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The following table sets forth an analysis of the activity in the allowance for credit losses related to loans for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At or For the Year Ended December 31, | | ||||
| | | 2025 | | 2024 | | ||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | | ||||
| | | | | | | | |
| Total loans net of deferred (fees) costs | | $ | 1,860,334 | | $ | 1,812,598 | |
| Average loans outstanding | | 1,805,645 | | 1,701,079 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Allowance at beginning of period | | $ | 4,830 | | $ | 5,093 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Net charge-offs: | | | | | | ||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | | ||
| One- to four-family | | — | | — | | ||
| Multifamily | | — | | — | | ||
| Mixed-use | | — | | — | | ||
| Total residential real estate loans | | — | | — | | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | (350) | | — | | ||
| Construction loans | | (334) | | — | | ||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | — | | 1,000 | | ||
| Consumer loans | | 511 | | 347 | | ||
| Total net (recovery) charge-offs | | (173) | | 1,347 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Provision for credit losses | | (272) | | 1,084 | | ||
| Allowance at end of period | | $ | 4,731 | | $ | 4,830 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Average loan outstanding: | | | | | | ||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | | ||
| One- to four-family | | 3,756 | | 4,213 | | ||
| Multifamily | | 265,725 | | 198,372 | | ||
| Mixed-use | | 28,305 | | 27,965 | | ||
| Total residential real estate loans | | 297,786 | | 230,550 | | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 36,276 | | 26,152 | | ||
| Construction loans | | 1,346,021 | | 1,327,180 | | ||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 124,642 | | 115,807 | | ||
| Consumer loans | | 920 | | 1,390 | | ||
| Total | | 1,805,645 | | 1,701,079 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Net (recovery) charge-offs as a percentage of average loans outstanding | | | | | | ||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | | ||
| One- to four-family | | — | % | — | % | ||
| Multifamily | | — | | — | | ||
| Mixed-use | | — | | — | | ||
| Total residential real estate loans | | — | | — | | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | (0.96) | | — | | ||
| Construction loans | | (0.02) | | — | | ||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | — | | 0.86 | | ||
| Consumer loans | | 55.54 | | 24.96 | | ||
| Total net (recovery) charge-offs | | (0.01) | % | 0.08 | % | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Credit Quality Ratios: | | | | | | | |
| As a percentage of year-end loans, net of deferred fees: | | | | | | | |
| Allowance for credit loss | | 0.25 | % | 0.27 | % | ||
| Nonaccrual loans | | | — | % | | — | % |
| Nonperforming loans | | | — | % | | — | % |
| Allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual loans | | NA | % | NA | % | ||
| Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans | | NA | % | NA | % |
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The allowance for credit losses related to loans decreased by $99,000 to $4.7 million at December 31, 2025 from $4.8 million at December 31, 2024. The decrease in the allowances for credit losses was due primarily to the charge-offs of $702,000 during the year ended December 31, 2025 that were comprised of charge-offs against various unpaid overdrafts in our demand deposit accounts, partially offset by a provision for credit losses reduction of $272,000 and recoveries totaling $875,000.
The credit loss expense reduction for loans of $272,000 for the year ended December 31, 2025 was primarily due to a credit loss expense reduction of $334,000 during the fourth quarter of 2025 resulting from a recovery of unused interest reserve deposits totaling $334,000 from a foreclosed construction loan, offset by a credit loss expense of $62,000 during the first quarter of 2025 due to an increase in the multi-family loan portfolio.
We recorded recoveries of $875,000 during the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to no recoveries during the year ended December 31, 2024. The recoveries of $875,000 during the year ended December 31, 2025 were comprised of recoveries of $350,000 from a previously charged-off non-residential mortgage loan, $334,000 from unused interest reserve deposits from a construction loan, and $191,000 from previously charged-off unpaid overdrafts on demand deposit accounts.
Loans evaluated collectively totaled $1.9 billion at December 31, 2025 compared to $1.8 billion at December 31, 2024. We had no loans evaluated individually at December 31, 2025 compared to $241,000 at December 31, 2024.
The allowance for credit losses related to off-balance sheet commitments increased by $175,000 to $879,000 at December 31, 2025 from $704,000 at December 31, 2024 due primarily to an increase in the amount of off-balance sheet commitments. The allowance for credit losses related to held-to-maturity of debt securities remained the same at $126,000 at December 31, 2025 and 2024.
Interest Rate Risk Management
Interest rate risk is defined as the exposure to current and future earnings and capital that arises from adverse movements in interest rates. Depending on a bank’s asset/liability structure, adverse movements in interest rates could be either rising or falling interest rates. For example, a bank with predominantly long-term fixed-rate assets and short-term liabilities could have an adverse earnings exposure to a rising rate environment. Conversely, a short-term or variable-rate asset base funded by longer-term liabilities could be negatively affected by falling rates. This is referred to as re-pricing or maturity mismatch risk.
Interest rate risk also arises from changes in the slope of the yield curve (yield curve risk), from imperfect correlations in the adjustment of rates earned and paid on different instruments with otherwise similar re-pricing characteristics (basis risk), and from interest rate related options embedded in our assets and liabilities (option risk).
Our objective is to manage our interest rate risk by determining whether a given movement in interest rates affects our net interest income and the market value of our portfolio equity in a positive or negative way and to execute strategies to maintain interest rate risk within established limits. The results at December 31, 2025 indicate the level of risk within the parameters of our model. Our management believes that the December 31, 2025 results indicate a profile that reflects interest rate risk exposures in both rising and declining rate environments for both net interest income and economic value.
Model Simulation Analysis. We view interest rate risk from two different perspectives. The traditional accounting perspective, which defines and measures interest rate risk as the change in net interest income and earnings caused by a change in interest rates, provides the best view of short-term interest rate risk exposure. We also view interest rate risk from an economic perspective, which defines and measures interest rate risk as the change in the market value of portfolio equity caused by changes in the values of assets and liabilities, which fluctuate due to changes in interest rates. The market value of portfolio equity, also referred to as the economic value of equity, is defined as the present value of future cash flows from existing assets, minus the present value of future cash flows from existing liabilities.
These two perspectives give rise to income simulation and economic value simulation, each of which presents a unique picture of our risk of any movement in interest rates. Income simulation identifies the timing and magnitude of
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changes in income resulting from changes in prevailing interest rates over a short-term time horizon (usually one or two years). Economic value simulation reflects the interest rate sensitivity of assets and liabilities in a more comprehensive fashion, reflecting all future time periods. It can identify the quantity of interest rate risk as a function of the changes in the economic values of assets and liabilities, and the corresponding change in the economic value of equity of the Bank. Both types of simulation assist in identifying, measuring, monitoring and controlling interest rate risk and are employed by management to ensure that variations in interest rate risk exposure will be maintained within policy guidelines.
We produce these simulation reports and discuss them with our management Asset and Liability Committee on a quarterly basis. The simulation reports compare baseline (no interest rate change) to the results of an interest rate shock, to illustrate the specific impact of the interest rate scenario tested on income and equity. The model, which incorporates asset and liability rate information, simulates the effect of various interest rate movements on income and equity value. The reports identify and measure our interest rate risk exposure present in our current asset/liability structure. Management considers both a static (current position) and dynamic (forecast changes in volume) analysis as well as non-parallel and gradual changes in interest rates and the yield curve in assessing interest rate exposures.
If the results produce quantifiable interest rate risk exposure beyond our limits, then the testing will have served as a monitoring mechanism to allow us to initiate asset/liability strategies designed to reduce and therefore mitigate interest rate risk. The table below sets forth an approximation of our interest rate risk exposure. The simulation uses projected repricing of assets and liabilities at December 31, 2025. The income simulation analysis presented represents a one-year impact of the interest scenario assuming a static balance sheet. Various assumptions are made regarding the prepayment speed and optionality of loans, investment securities and deposits, which are based on analysis and market information. The assumptions regarding optionality, such as prepayments of loans and the effective lives and repricing of non-maturity deposit products, are documented periodically through evaluation of current market conditions and historical correlations to our specific asset and liability products under varying interest rate scenarios.
Because the prospective effects of hypothetical interest rate changes are based on a number of assumptions, these computations should not be relied upon as indicative of actual results. While we believe such assumptions to be reasonable, assumed prepayment rates may not approximate actual future prepayment activity on mortgage-backed securities or agency issued collateralized obligations (secured by one- to four-family loans and multifamily loans). Further, the computation does not reflect any actions that management may undertake in response to changes in interest rates and assumes a constant asset base. Management periodically reviews the rate assumptions based on existing and projected economic conditions and consults with industry experts to validate our model and simulation results.
The table below sets forth, as of December 31, 2025, the Bank’s net portfolio value, the estimated changes in our net portfolio value and net interest income that would result from the designated instantaneous parallel changes in market interest rates.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Twelve Month | | | | | | | | |
| | | Net Interest Income | | | Net Portfolio Value | | | |||
| | | Percent | | | | | | Percent | | |
| Change in Interest Rates (Basis Points) | | of Change | | | Estimated NPV | | of Change | | ||
| +300 | 25.83 | % | | $ | 386,025 | 2.50 | % | | ||
| +200 | 17.36 | | | | 383,474 | 1.82 | | | ||
| +100 | 8.69 | | | 380,641 | 1.07 | | | |||
| 0 | — | | | 376,603 | — | | | |||
| -100 | (9.61) | % | | $ | 369,509 | (1.88) | % | | ||
| -200 | (19.27) | | | | 358,709 | (4.75) | | | ||
| -300 | (27.76) | | | | 346,848 | (7.90) | | |
As of December 31, 2025, based on the scenarios above, net interest income would increase by approximately 8.69% to 25.83%, over a one-year time horizon in a rising interest rate environment. One-year net interest income would decrease by approximately 9.61% to 27.76% in a declining interest rate environment over the same period.
Economic value at risk would be positively impacted by a rise in interest rates and negatively impacted by a decline in interest rates. We have established an interest rate floor of zero percent for measuring interest rate risk. The
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difference between the two results reflects the relatively long terms of a portion of our assets which is captured by the economic value at risk but has less impact on the one year net interest income sensitivity.
Overall, our December 31, 2025 results indicate that we are adequately positioned with an acceptable net interest income and economic value at risk and that all interest rate risk results continue to be within our policy guidelines.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We maintain liquid assets at levels we believe are adequate to meet our liquidity needs. We established a liquidity ratio policy that identify three liquidity ratios consisting of (1) Cash/Deposits & Short-Term Borrowings (“Cash Liquidity”), (2) Cash & Investments/Deposits & Short-Term Borrowings (“On Balance Sheet Liquidity”), and (3) Cash & Investments & Borrowing Capacity/Deposits & Short-Term Borrowings (“On Balance Sheet Liquidity & Borrowing Capacity”) to assist in the management of our liquidity. We also establish targets of 2.0% for the Cash Liquidity ratio, 5.0% for the On Balance Sheet Liquidity ratio, and 20.0% for the On Balance Sheet Liquidity & Borrowing Capacity ratio.
Our Cash Liquidity ratio, On Balance Sheet Liquidity ratio, and On Balance Sheet Liquidity & Borrowing Capacity ratio averaged 5.0%, 7.4%, and 59.9%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to 6.7%, 8.8%, and 65.6%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2024. We adjust our liquidity levels to fund deposit outflows, pay real estate taxes on real estate loans, repay our borrowings, and to fund loan commitments. We also adjust liquidity as appropriate to meet asset and liability management objectives. However, during the interest rate environment in 2024, we have strategically allowed these metrics to fall below the minimum thresholds at times to provide for the effective management of extension risk and other interest rate risks.
Our liquidity ratios cannot be calculated using amounts disclosed in our consolidated financial statements, as many of the calculations involve monthly, quarterly or annual averages. To calculate our liquidity ratios, the average liquidity base from the prior month is used as the denominator to calculate a daily liquidity ratio. The liquidity base consists of savings account balances, certificates of deposit balances, checking and money market balances, deposit loans and borrowings. The daily balances of these components are averaged to arrive at the liquidity base for the month, and the daily cash balances in selected general ledger accounts are used to derive our liquidity position. A daily liquidity ratio is calculated using the liquidity for the day divided by the prior month’s average liquidity base. At the end of each month, a monthly liquidity position is calculated using the average liquidity position for the month divided by the prior month’s average liquidity base. To calculate quarterly and annual liquidity ratios, we take the average liquidity for the three- or twelve-month period, respectively, and average it.
Given the rapid movement of deposits in today’s banking environment, the Company also manages its liquidity position through a time-series approach to liquidity availability. Traditional liquidity management focuses on on-balance sheet capacity; however, converting those assets into cash may involve delays or market-driven losses. To address this, the Company emphasizes the actual accessibility of liquidity as measured by when cash becomes available in the Company’s Cash Accounts rather than simply its balance sheet presence.
This time-series liquidity framework is analyzed across the following intervals: Minute 1, Day 1, Week 1, Month 1, and Year 1. This structure ensures a proactive and disciplined approach to managing liquidity risk.
Minute 1: Represents the amount of cash the Company can immediately access and disperse within one minute while remaining solvent. It is defined as the cash and cash equivalents currently on the balance sheet and typically covers daily cash needs.
Day 1: In the event of a liquidity run, this is the amount of cash that the Company can access and disperse within one day. It includes Minute 1 liquidity plus total borrowing capacity from the Federal Home Loan Bank, Federal Reserve Bank, and other secured and unsecured sources.
Week 1: In a prolonged liquidity event, this is the amount of cash available over one week. Week 1 liquidity includes Day 1 liquidity plus the estimated collateral value of unpledged investments that can be pledged or sold, as well
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as a portion (typically 10% each) of the Company’s brokered and listing service deposit capacity expected to be accessible within the week.
Month 1: Represents the total cash the Company can access and disperse over a one-month period while remaining solvent. It includes Week 1 liquidity plus the remaining brokered and listing service deposit capacity not already included in Week 1.
Year 1: Reflects the amount of liquidity the Company can access and deploy over a one-year time period. It includes Month 1 liquidity plus the value of unpledged but pledgeable loans available on the balance sheet.
To assess the adequacy of its liquidity, the Company compares time-series liquidity against Total Non-Contractual Deposits defined as total deposits less (1) brokered deposits outstanding, (2) other contractual funding outstanding, and (3) collateralized municipal deposits outstanding.
At December 31, 2025, the Company’s ratios of Cash and Borrowing Capacity/Total Non-Contractual Deposits and Cash, Borrowing Capacity and Sourced Deposits Capacity/Total Non-Contractual Deposits were 71.7% and 119.4%, respectively. These figures demonstrate that the Company has sufficient liquidity resources to meet sudden and unexpected deposit outflow.
Our primary sources of liquidity are deposits, amortization and prepayment of loans and mortgage-backed securities, maturities of investment securities, other short-term investments, earnings, and funds provided from operations. While scheduled principal repayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities are a relatively predictable source of funds, deposit flows and loan prepayments are greatly influenced by market interest rates, economic conditions, and rates offered by our competition. We set the interest rates on our deposits to maintain a desired level of total deposits. In addition, we invest excess funds in short-term interest-earning assets, which provide liquidity to meet lending requirements.
Our cash flows are derived from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included with the Consolidated Financial Statements which begin on page F-1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Our primary investing activities are the origination of construction loans, commercial and industrial loans, multifamily loans, and to a lesser extent, mixed-use real estate loans and other loans. For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, our loan originations totaled $860.7 million and $656.0 million, respectively. Cash received from the sales, calls, maturities and pay-downs on securities totaled $1.1 million and $1.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. We purchased $8.8 million and $4.0 million in securities for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Deposit flows are generally affected by the level of interest rates we offer, the interest rates and products offered by local competitors, and other factors. Total deposits decreased by $53.5 million at December 31, 2025 due to decreases in certificates of deposits and non-interest bearing demand deposits, offset by increases in NOW/money market deposits and savings account deposits.
Liquidity management is both a daily and long-term function of business management. If we require funds beyond our ability to generate them internally, borrowing agreements exist with the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York to provide advances. As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, we are required to own capital stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and are authorized to apply for advances on the security of such stock and certain of our mortgage loans and other assets (principally securities which are obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States), provided certain standards related to credit-worthiness have been met. We had an available borrowing limit of $35.8 million and $18.2 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. We had no Federal Home Loan Bank advances at December 31, 2025 and 2024.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“FRBNY”) approved on August 30, 2023 the Bank’s eligibility to pledge loans under the Borrower-in-Custody program of the FRBNY thereby allowing the Bank to borrow from the Discount Window at the FRBNY. We had an available borrowing limit of $768.8 million and $834.7 million from the
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FRBNY as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. We had $70.0 million in FRBNY borrowings at December 31, 2025 compared to no FRBNY borrowings at December 31, 2024.
In addition, we have a borrowing agreement with Atlantic Community Bankers Bank (“ACBB”) to provide short-term borrowings of $8.0 million at December 31, 2025 and 2024. There were no outstanding borrowings with ACBB at December 31, 2025 and 2024.
We have elected to withdraw the loans we have pledged to secure Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances and some of our correspondent banking services to become effective in or around March 2026, but we will remain a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York after such withdrawals become effective. We intend to utilize the FRBNY for some of our future correspondent banking services.
At December 31, 2025, we had unfunded commitments on construction loans of $404.8 million, unfunded commitments under lines of credit of $71.0 million, outstanding commitments to originate loans of $189.7 million, and unfunded standby letters of credit of $14.2 million. At December 31, 2025, certificates of deposit scheduled to mature in less than one year totaled $832.2 million. Based on prior experience, management believes that a significant portion of such deposits will remain with us, although there can be no assurance that this will be the case. In the event a significant portion of our deposits are not retained by us, we will have to utilize other funding sources, such as various types of sourced deposits, Federal Home Loan Bank advances, and/or FRBNY borrowings, in order to maintain our level of assets. Alternatively, we could reduce our level of liquid assets, such as our cash and cash equivalents. In addition, the cost of such deposits may be significantly higher or lower depending on market interest rates at the time of renewal.
The Company is a separate legal entity from the Bank and must provide for its own liquidity. In addition to its operating expenses, the Company is responsible for paying any dividends declared to its stockholders, and interest and principal on outstanding debt, if any. The Company’s primary sources of income are interest income derived from investments in loans and interest bearing accounts at other financial institutions and dividends received from the Bank. At December 31, 2025, the Company had liquid assets of $5.2 million and $3.1 million in loan participations originated by the Bank which are held by the Company.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
For the year ended December 31, 2025, we did not engage in any off-balance sheet transactions reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash-flows.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For a discussion of the impact of recent accounting pronouncements, see note 23 in the notes to the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in this report.
Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices
The consolidated financial statements and related notes of the Company have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which generally requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without consideration for changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The primary impact of inflation is reflected in the increased cost of our operations. Unlike industrial companies, our assets and liabilities are primarily monetary in nature. As a result, changes in market interest rates have a greater impact on performance than the effects of inflation.
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: 0001558370-25-002975.
ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This discussion and analysis reflects our consolidated financial statements and other relevant statistical data, and is intended to enhance your understanding of our financial condition and results of operations. The information in this section has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company that appear beginning on page F-1 of this report.
Executive Summary
Our results of operations depend primarily on our net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between the interest income we earn on our interest-earning assets, consisting primarily of loans, investment securities, mortgage-backed securities and other interest-earning assets (primarily cash and cash equivalents), and the interest we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities, consisting of money market accounts, statement savings accounts, individual retirement accounts and certificates of deposit. Our results of operations also are affected by our provisions for credit losses, non-interest income and non-interest expense. Non-interest income currently consists primarily of loan fees, service charges, and earnings on bank owned life insurance. Non-interest expense currently consists primarily of salaries and employee benefits, deposit insurance premiums, directors’ fees, occupancy and equipment, data processing and professional fees. Our results of operations also may be affected significantly by general and local economic and competitive conditions, changes in market interest rates, governmental policies and actions of regulatory authorities.
Business Strategy
Growing our assets with a continued focus on the origination of construction loans.
At December 31, 2024, $1.4 billion, or 78.6%, of our total loan portfolio, net of loans in process, consisted of construction loans primarily located in high demand and high absorption areas in the New York Metropolitan Area. There continues to be a significant need for construction financing within the high absorption, homogeneous communities served by the Bank and we intend to continue to support the growth of these communities through the financing of condominium and apartment construction loans within the communities.
Maintaining strong asset quality and managing credit risk.
Strong asset quality is a key to the long-term financial success of any financial institution. We have been successful in maintaining strong asset quality in recent years. Our ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was 0.25%, 0.33%, and 0.10%, at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We attribute this credit quality to a
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conservative credit culture and an effective credit risk management environment. We have an experienced team of credit professionals, well-defined and implemented credit policies and procedures, what we believe to be conservative loan underwriting criteria, and active credit monitoring policies and procedures. Our senior management team also spends substantial time conducting construction site visits and visiting regularly with community leaders and borrowers in our high absorption communities, which enables us to understand the needs of our communities and to stay informed as to matters affecting those communities.
Continuing to grow our non-interest bearing deposit accounts through the maintenance of low customer fees and charges.
We believe that as a community bank we should maintain the fees and charges we charge our customers as low as possible. By doing so, we have been able to attract and retain supermarkets and other businesses as customers of the Bank and at the same time increase the amount of our non-interest bearing business accounts.
Expanding our franchise through de novo branching or branch acquisitions.
As the communities we serve continue to grow and expand into new areas, we believe there will be branch expansion opportunities within our market area and in the newly developing communities expanding outward from existing high absorption, homogeneous communities where our branches are currently located. We intend to continue to explore opportunities as they arise to expand our branch network.
Expanding our employee base, infrastructure and technology, as necessary, to support future growth.
We have already made significant investments in our infrastructure, technology and employee base to support the growth in our construction portfolio and the increased compliance responsibilities due to such growth, including experienced Bank Secrecy Act professionals. The additional capital raised in the 2021 second-step conversion offering provided us with additional resources to attract and retain the necessary talent and continue to enhance our infrastructure and technology to support our growth following the conversion.
Implement a stockholder-focused strategy for management of our capital.
We recognize that a strong capital position is essential to achieving our long-term objective of building stockholder value, and we believe that our capital position will support our future growth and expansion, and will give us flexibility to pursue other capital management strategies to enhance stockholder value.
Critical Accounting Policies
In the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, we have adopted various accounting policies that govern the application of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and to general practices within the banking industry. Our significant accounting policies are described in note one to the consolidated financial statements included in this report.
Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by us that have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities. We consider these accounting policies, which are discussed below, to be critical accounting policies. The judgments and assumptions we use are based on historical experience and other factors, which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these judgments and estimates under different conditions, resulting in a change that could have a material impact on the carrying values of our assets and liabilities and our results of operations.
Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans
The allowance for credit losses related to loans is a valuation reserve established and maintained by charges against income and is deducted from the amortized cost basis of loans to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. Loans, or portions thereof, are charged off against the ACL when they are deemed uncollectible. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off.
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The ACL is an estimate of expected credit losses, measured over the contractual life of a loan, that considers our historical loss experience, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions. Determination of an appropriate ACL is inherently subjective and may have significant changes from period to period.
The methodology for determining the ACL has two main components: evaluation of expected credit losses for certain groups of homogeneous loans that share similar risk characteristics and evaluation of loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans.
The allowance for credit losses related to loans is measured on a collective (pool) basis when similar risk characteristics exist. If the risk characteristics of a loan change, such that they are no longer similar to other loans in the pool, the Company will evaluate the loan with a different pool of loans that share similar risk characteristics. If the loan does not share risk characteristics with other loans, the Company will evaluate the loan on an individual basis. The Company evaluates the pooling methodology at least annually. Loans are charged off against the allowance for credit losses related to loans when the Company believes the balances to be uncollectible. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged off or expected to be charged off.
The Company has chosen to segment its portfolio consistent with the manner in which it manages credit risk. Such segments include residential real estate, non-residential real estate, construction, commercial and industrial business, and consumer. For most segments, the Company calculates estimated credit losses using a probability of default and loss given default methodology, the results of which are applied to each individual loan within the segment. The point in time probability of default and loss given default are then conditioned by macroeconomic scenarios to incorporate reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount.
The Company estimates the allowance for credit losses related to loans via a quantitative analysis which considers relevant available information from internal and external sources related to past events and current conditions, as well as the incorporation of reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company evaluates a variety of factors including third party economic forecasts, industry trends and other available published economic information in arriving at its forecasts. Expected credit losses are estimated over the contractual term of the loans, adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate. The contractual term excludes expected extensions, renewals, and modifications unless either of the following applies: management has a reasonable expectation at the reporting date that a troubled debt restructuring will be executed with an individual borrower or the renewal option is included in the original or modified contract at the reporting date and are not unconditionally cancelable by the Company.
Also included in the allowance for credit losses related to loans are qualitative reserves to cover losses that are expected but, in the Company’s assessment, might not be adequately represented in the quantitative analysis or the forecasts described above. Factors that the Company considers include changes in lending policies and procedures, business conditions, the nature and size of the portfolio, portfolio concentrations, the volume and severity of past due loans and non-accrual loans, the effect of external factors such as competition, legal and regulatory requirements, among others. Qualitative loss factors are applied to each portfolio segment with the amounts judgmentally determined by the relative risk to the most severe loss periods identified in the historical loan charge-offs of the Company.
The Company has elected to exclude accrued interest receivable from the measurement of its ACL. When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, any outstanding accrued interest is reversed against interest income.
On a case-by-case basis, the Company may conclude that a loan should be evaluated on an individual basis based on the loan’s disparate risk characteristics. When the Company determines that a loan no longer shares similar risk characteristics with other loans in the portfolio, the allowance will be determined on an individual basis using the present value of expected cash flows or, the loan’s observable market price or, for collateral-dependent loans, the fair value of the collateral as of the reporting date, less estimated selling costs, as applicable. If the fair value of the collateral is less than the amortized cost basis of the loan, the Company will charge off the difference between the fair value of the collateral, less costs to sell at the reporting date and the amortized cost basis of the loan.
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Balance Sheet Analysis
General
Total assets increased $245.4 million, or 13.9%, to $2.0 billion at December 31, 2024, from $1.8 billion at December 31, 2023. The increase in assets was primarily due to increases in net loans of $226.0 million, cash and cash equivalents of $9.6 million, equity securities of $3.9 million, real estate owned of $3.7 million, and other assets of $3.5 million.
Cash and cash equivalents increased $9.6 million, or 14.0%, to $78.3 million at December 31, 2024 from $68.7 million at December 31, 2023. The increase in cash and cash equivalents was a result of an increase in deposits of $270.3 million, partially offset by a decrease in borrowings of $64.0 million, an increase of $227.0 million in net loans, dividends to shareholders of $8.7 million, and stock repurchases of $2.4 million.
Equity securities increased $3.9 million, or 21.5%, to $22.0 million at December 31, 2024 from $18.1 million at December 31, 2023. The increase in equity securities was attributable to the purchase of $4.0 million in equity securities during the second half of 2024, offset by market depreciation of $109,000 due to market interest rate volatility during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Securities held-to-maturity decreased $1.3 million, or 7.8%, to $14.6 million at December 31, 2024 from $15.9 million at December 31, 2023 due to $1.3 million in maturities and pay-downs of various investment securities, partially offset by a decrease of $10,000 in the allowance for credit losses for held-to-maturity securities.
Loans, net of the allowance for credit losses, increased $226.0 million, or 14.3%, to $1.8 billion at December 31, 2024 from $1.6 billion at December 31, 2023. The increase in loans, net of the allowance for credit losses, was primarily due to loan originations of $656.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2024, consisting primarily of $573.8 million in construction loans with respect to which approximately 36.3% of the funds were disbursed at loan closings, with the remaining funds to be disbursed over the terms of the construction loans. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2024, we originated $54.9 million in commercial and industrial loans, $14.0 million in non-residential loans, $12.6 million in multi-family loans, and $600,000 in mixed-use loans. We also originated $9.2 million in letters of credit.
Loan originations during the year ended December 31, 2024 resulted in a net increase of $206.8 million in construction loans, $7.6 million in commercial and industrial loans, $8.3 million in non-residential loans, $7.7 million in multi-family loans, and $409,000 in consumer loans. The increase in our loan portfolio was partially offset by decreases of $3.1 million in mixed-use loans and $1.8 million in residential loans, coupled with normal pay-downs and principal reductions.
The allowance for credit losses related to loans decreased to $4.8 million as of December 31, 2024, from $5.1 million as of December 31, 2023. The decrease in the allowance for credit losses related to loans was due to charge-offs totaling $1.3 million, offset by provision for credit losses totaling $1.1 million.
Premises and equipment decreased $647,000, or 2.5%, to $24.8 million at December 31, 2024 from $25.5 million at December 31, 2023 primarily due to the depreciation of fixed assets.
Investments in Federal Home Loan Bank stock decreased $532,000, or 57.3%, to $397,000 at December 31, 2024 from $929,000 at December 31, 2023. The decrease was due primarily to the mandatory redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank stock totaling $630,000 in connection with the maturity of $14.0 million in advances in 2024, offset by purchases of Federal Home Loan Bank stock totaling $98,000 due to the growth of our mortgage loan portfolio.
Bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) increased $656,000, or 2.6%, to $25.7 million at December 31, 2024 from $25.1 million at December 31, 2023 due to increases in the BOLI cash value.
Accrued interest receivable increased $1.2 million, or 9.5%, to $13.5 million at December 31, 2024 from $12.3 million at December 31, 2023 due to an increase in the loan portfolio.
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Real estate owned increased $3.7 million, or 251.6%, to $5.1 million at December 31, 2024 from $1.5 million at December 31, 2023 due to foreclosure of a property, with a book value of $4.4 million, located in the Bronx, New York, offset by charge-offs totaling $689,000 resulting from a decrease in the estimated fair value of a foreclosed property located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Right of use assets — operating decreased $565,000, or 12.4%, to $4.0 million at December 31, 2024 from $4.6 million at December 31, 2023, primarily due to amortization.
Other assets increased $3.5 million, or 44.0%, to $11.6 million at December 31, 2024 from $8.0 million at December 31, 2023 due to increases of $3.1 million in tax assets, $476,000 in suspense accounts, and $6,000 in miscellaneous assets, partially offset by decreases of $40,000 in prepaid expenses and $2,000 in securities receivables.
Total deposits increased $270.3 million, or 19.3%, to $1.7 billion at December 31, 2024 from $1.4 billion at December 31, 2023. The increase in deposits was primarily due to the Bank offering competitive interest rates to attract deposits. This resulted in a shift in deposits whereby certificates of deposit increased $239.7 million, or 31.5%, and NOW/money market accounts increased $98.0 million, or 67.4%, partially offset by decreases in savings account balances of $54.3 million, or 28.2%, and non-interest bearing demand deposits of $14.7 million, or 4.9%.
Federal Reserve Bank borrowings of $50.0 million at December 31, 2023 and Federal Home Loan Bank advances of $14.0 million at December 31, 2023 were paid-off during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance decreased $402,000, or 19.9%, to $1.6 million at December 31, 2024 from $2.0 million at December 31, 2023 due primarily to real estate tax payments for borrowers.
Lease liability – operating decreased $517,000, or 11.2%, to $4.1 million at December 31, 2024 from $4.6 million at December 31, 2023, primarily due to amortization.
Accounts payable and accrued expenses increased $972,000, or 7.2%, to $14.5 million at December 31, 2024 from $13.6 million at December 31, 2023 due primarily to increases in dividends payable and other payables of $856,000 and deferred compensation of $729,000, partially offset by decreases in accrued interest expense of $102,000, suspense account for loan closings of $99,000, and accrued expense of $79,000. The allowance for credit losses for off-balance sheet commitments decreased $334,000, or 32.1%, to $704,000 at December 31, 2024 from $1.0 million at December 31, 2023.
Stockholders’ equity increased $39.0 million, or 14.0% to $318.3 million at December 31, 2024, from $279.3 million at December 31, 2023. The increase in stockholders’ equity was due to net income of $47.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, the amortization expense of $2.0 million relating to restricted stock and stock options granted under the Company’s 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, an increase of $1.3 million in earned employee stock ownership plan shares coupled with a reduction of $475,000 in unearned employee stock ownership plan shares, and an exercise of stock options totaling $14,000, partially offset by dividends paid and declared of $8.7 million, stock repurchases and stock repurchase excise taxes totaling $2.5 million, awarding restricted stock totaling $725,000. and $93,000 in other comprehensive income.
Loans
Our loan portfolio consists primarily of construction loans, commercial and industrial loans, multifamily and mixed-use residential real estate loans and non-residential real estate loans. We also have a limited amount of one- to four-family residential real estate loans, which we no longer originate, and consumer loans, which we originate on a very limited basis.
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The following table shows the loan portfolio at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | 2024 | | 2023 | |||||||
| | | Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent | ||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | |||||||
| One- to four-family | | $ | 3,472 | 0.19 | % | $ | 5,252 | 0.33 | % | ||
| Multifamily | | 206,606 | 11.40 | | 198,927 | 12.54 | | ||||
| Mixed-use | | 26,571 | 1.47 | | 29,643 | 1.87 | | ||||
| Total residential real estate loans | | 236,649 | 13.06 | | 233,822 | 14.74 | | ||||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 29,446 | 1.62 | | 21,130 | 1.33 | | ||||
| Construction loans | | 1,426,167 | 78.68 | | 1,219,413 | 76.85 | | ||||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 118,736 | 6.55 | | 111,116 | 7.00 | | ||||
| Consumer loans | | 1,649 | 0.09 | | 1,240 | 0.08 | | ||||
| Total loans | | 1,812,647 | 100.00 | % | 1,586,721 | 100.00 | % | ||||
| Allowance for credit losses | | (4,830) | | | (5,093) | | |||||
| Deferred loan (fees) costs, net | | (49) | | | 176 | | |||||
| Loans, net | | $ | 1,807,768 | | | | $ | 1,581,804 | |
Loan Maturity. The following table sets forth certain information at December 31, 2024 regarding the dollar amount of loan principal repayments becoming due during the periods indicated. The tables do not include any estimate of prepayments which significantly shorten the average life of all loans and may cause our actual repayment experience to differ from that shown below. Demand loans having no stated schedule of repayments and no stated maturity are reported as due in one year or less.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | | | Non- | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
| | | One- to | | | | | | | | Residential | | | | | Commercial | | | | | | | |||
| | | Four- | | Multi- | | Mixed- | | Real | | | | | and | | | | | Total | ||||||
| December 31, 2024 | Family | Family | Use | Estate | Construction | Industrial | Consumer | Loans | ||||||||||||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts due in: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||
| One year or less | | $ | — | | $ | 1,688 | | $ | 1,733 | | $ | 947 | | $ | 1,039,799 | | $ | 93,222 | | $ | 1,648 | | $ | 1,139,037 |
| More than 1-5 years | | | 453 | | | 144,589 | | | 9,901 | | | 10,033 | | | 386,368 | | | 16,780 | | | 1 | | | 568,125 |
| More than 5-15 years | | | 317 | | | 57,860 | | | 14,937 | | | 18,466 | | | — | | | 8,734 | | | — | | | 100,314 |
| More than 15 years | | | 2,702 | | | 2,469 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 5,171 |
| Total | | $ | 3,472 | | $ | 206,606 | | $ | 26,571 | | $ | 29,446 | | $ | 1,426,167 | | $ | 118,736 | | $ | 1,649 | | $ | 1,812,647 |
The following table sets forth all loans at December 31, 2024 that are due after December 31, 2025 and have either fixed interest rates or floating or adjustable interest rates:
| | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | Floating or | Total at | |||||
| | | Fixed Rates | | Adjustable Rates | | December 31, 2024 | |||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||||
| One- to four-family | | $ | 3,019 | | $ | 453 | | $ | 3,472 |
| Multifamily | | 140,138 | | 64,780 | | 204,918 | |||
| Mixed-use | | 2,320 | | 22,518 | | 24,838 | |||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 1,328 | | 27,171 | | 28,499 | |||
| Construction loans | | — | | 386,368 | | 386,368 | |||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 17,085 | | 7,429 | | 24,514 | |||
| Consumer loans | | 1 | | — | | 1 | |||
| Total | | $ | 163,891 | | $ | 508,719 | | $ | 672,610 |
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Securities
Our investment portfolio consists primarily of mutual funds, residential mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae primarily with stated final maturities of 10 years or more, and municipal securities with maturities of one year or more.
The following table sets forth the stated maturities and weighted average yields of investment securities at December 31, 2024. Weighted average yields on tax-exempt securities are presented on a tax equivalent basis using a combined federal and state marginal rate of 28.4%. Certain securities have adjustable interest rates and will reprice monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually within the various maturity ranges. Equity securities are not included in the table based on lack of a maturity date. The table presents contractual maturities for mortgage-backed securities and does not reflect repricing or the effect of prepayments.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | | Due after One but within | | Due after Five but within | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
| | | Due within One Year | | Five Years | | Ten Years | | Due after Ten Years | | Total | | |||||||||||||||
| | | | Weighted | | Weighted | | Weighted | | Weighted | | Weighted | |||||||||||||||
| | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | ||||||
| December 31, 2024 | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | ||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Securities held-to-maturity: | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | | $ | — | — | % | $ | 3 | 4.62 | % | $ | 1,008 | 2.10 | % | $ | 1,855 | 2.24 | % | $ | 2,866 | 2.20 | % | |||||
| U.S. agency collateralized mortgage obligations | | | — | — | | | — | — | | | — | — | | | 2,782 | 1.49 | | | 2,782 | 1.49 | | |||||
| Municipal bonds | | | 527 | 1.73 | | | 1,818 | 1.76 | | | 1,715 | 1.45 | | | 5,034 | 1.46 | | | 9,094 | 1.53 | | |||||
| Total held-to-maturity | | $ | 527 | 1.73 | % | $ | 1,821 | 1.76 | % | $ | 2,723 | 1.69 | % | $ | 9,671 | 1.62 | % | $ | 14,742 | 1.65 | % | |||||
| Total investment securities | | $ | 527 | 1.73 | % | $ | 1,821 | 1.76 | % | $ | 2,723 | 1.69 | % | $ | 9,671 | 1.62 | % | $ | 14,742 | 1.65 | % |
Deposits
Deposits are a major source of our funds for lending and other investment purposes, and our deposits are provided primarily by individuals within our market area. In addition, we rely on brokered, listing and military deposits, which represent a viable and cost effective addition to our deposit gathering and maintenance strategy, often at a lower “all-in” cost when compared to our retail branch network. Use of these types of deposits allows us to match the maturity of these deposits to the term of our construction loans. The following table sets forth the deposits as a percentage of total deposits for the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| | | 2024 | | 2023 | |||||||||||||
| | | Average | | | | | Average | | | | | ||||||
| | | Outstanding | | | | | Average | | Outstanding | | | | | Average | |||
| | Balance | Percent | Rate | Balance | Percent | Rate | |||||||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
| Demand deposits: | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
| Non-interest bearing | | $ | 277,957 | | | 17.82% | — | | $ | 322,185 | | | 25.18% | — | | ||
| NOW and money market | | 209,993 | | | 13.46% | 3.41% | | 93,426 | | | 7.30% | 3.07% | | ||||
| Total | | | 487,950 | | | 31.28% | | 1.56% | | | 415,611 | | | 32.48% | | 1.00% | |
| Savings accounts | | 154,430 | | | 9.90% | 2.16% | | 248,755 | | | 19.44% | 2.71% | | ||||
| Certificates of deposit | | 917,665 | | | 58.82% | 4.71% | | 615,124 | | | 48.08% | 4.62% | | ||||
| Total | | $ | 1,560,045 | | | 100.00% | 3.50% | | $ | 1,279,490 | | | 100.00% | 3.20% | |
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the aggregate amount of uninsured deposits (deposits in amounts greater than or equal to $250,000, which is the maximum amount for federal deposit insurance) was $346.9 million and $344.8 million, respectively. In addition, as of December 31, 2024, the aggregate amount of all our uninsured certificates of
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deposit was $187.2 million. We have no deposits that are uninsured for any reason other than being in excess of the maximum amount for federal deposit insurance.
The following table sets forth the portion of the Bank’s certificates of deposit, by remaining time until maturity, that are in excess of the FDIC insurance limit as of December 31, 2024:
| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| | At | ||
| | | December 31, 2024 | |
| | | (In thousands) | |
| Maturity Period: | | ||
| Three months or less | | $ | 54,390 |
| Over three through six months | | 111,482 | |
| Over six through twelve months | | 6,045 | |
| Over twelve months | | 15,260 | |
| Total | | $ | 187,177 |
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Average Balance Sheets
The following tables set forth average balance sheets, average yields and costs, and certain other information for the years indicated. No tax-equivalent yield adjustments have been made, as the effects would be immaterial. All average balances are daily average balances. Non-accrual loans were included in the computation of average balances. The yields set forth below include the effect of deferred fees, discounts, and premiums that are amortized or accreted to interest income or interest expense. Deferred loan fees totaled $49,000 and deferred loan costs totaled $176,000 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Loan balances exclude loans held for sale.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended December 31, | | | |||||||||||||||||
| | | 2024 | | | 2023 | | |||||||||||||||
| | | Average | | | | | Average | | | | | ||||||||||
| | | Outstanding | | | | | | Average | | | Outstanding | | | | | | Average | | | ||
| | | Balance | | | Interest | | Yield/Rate | | | Balance | | | Interest | | Yield/Rate | | |||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest-earning assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Loans receivable | | $ | 1,701,079 | | | $ | 153,902 | 9.05 | % | | $ | 1,401,492 | | | $ | 127,486 | 9.10 | % | | ||
| Securities | | | 34,765 | | | | 839 | 2.41 | | | | 37,819 | | | | 777 | 2.05 | | | ||
| Federal Home Loan Bank stock | | | 677 | | | | 70 | 10.34 | | | | 984 | | | | 82 | 8.33 | | | ||
| Other interest-earning assets | | | 92,610 | | | | 5,202 | 5.62 | | | | 76,542 | | | | 4,143 | 5.41 | | | ||
| Total interest-earning assets | | | 1,829,131 | | | | 160,013 | 8.75 | | | | 1,516,837 | | | | 132,488 | 8.73 | | | ||
| Allowance for credit losses | | | (4,940) | | | | | | | | | | (4,676) | | | | | | | | |
| Noninterest-earning assets | | | 90,675 | | | | | | | | | 84,287 | | | | | | | | | |
| Total assets | | $ | 1,914,866 | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,596,448 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest-bearing liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest-bearing demand deposits | | $ | 209,993 | | | $ | 8,498 | | 4.05 | % | | $ | 93,426 | | | $ | 2,459 | | 2.63 | % | |
| Savings and club accounts | | | 154,430 | | | | 3,799 | | 2.46 | | | | 248,755 | | | | 6,777 | | 2.72 | | |
| Certificates of deposit | | | 917,665 | | | | 43,322 | | 4.72 | | | | 615,124 | | | | 24,945 | | 4.06 | | |
| Interest-bearing deposits | | | 1,282,088 | | | | 55,619 | | 4.34 | | | | 957,305 | | | | 34,181 | 3.57 | | | |
| Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other | | | 33,117 | | | | 1,602 | | 4.84 | | | | 29,007 | | | | 1,116 | | 3.85 | | |
| Total interest-bearing liabilities | | | 1,315,205 | | | $ | 57,221 | | 4.35 | | | | 986,312 | | | $ | 35,297 | 3.58 | | | |
| Noninterest-bearing demand deposits | | | 277,957 | | | | | | | | | | 322,185 | | | | | | | | |
| Other noninterest-bearing liabilities | | | 19,739 | | | | | | | | | | 17,139 | | | | | | | | |
| Total liabilities | | | 1,612,901 | | | | | | | | | | 1,325,636 | | | | | | | | |
| Total shareholders’ equity | | | 301,965 | | | | | | | | | | 270,812 | | | | | | | | |
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | | $ | 1,914,866 | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,596,448 | | | | | | | | |
| Net interest income | | | | | | $ | 102,792 | | | | | | | | | $ | 97,191 | | | | |
| Net interest rate spread (1) | | | | | | | | | 4.40 | % | | | | | | | | | 5.15 | % | |
| Net interest margin (3) | | | | | | | | | 5.62 | % | | | | | | | | | 6.41 | % | |
| Net interest-earning assets (2) | | $ | 513,926 | | | | | | | | | $ | 530,525 | | | | | | | | |
| Average interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities | | | 139.08 | % | | | | | | | | | 153.79 | % | | | | | | | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average rate of interest-bearing liabilities. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (2) | Net interest-earning assets represent total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (3) | Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets. |
Rate/Volume Analysis
The following table sets forth the effects of changing rates and volumes on our net interest income. The rate column shows the effects attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume). The volume column shows the effects attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate). The total column represents the sum of the prior columns. or purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume,
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which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately based on the changes due to rate and the changes due to volume.
| | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended 12/31/2024 | |||||||
| | | Compared to | |||||||
| | | Year Ended 12/31/2023 | |||||||
| | | Increase (Decrease) | |||||||
| | | Due to | |||||||
| | Volume | Rate | Total | ||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||
| Interest income: | | | | ||||||
| Loans receivable | | $ | 27,108 | | $ | (692) | | $ | 26,416 |
| Securities | | (66) | | 128 | | 62 | |||
| Federal Home Loan Bank stock | | | (29) | | | 17 | | | (12) |
| Other interest-earning assets | | 898 | | 161 | | 1,059 | |||
| Total | | $ | 27,911 | | $ | (386) | | $ | 27,525 |
| Interest expense: | | | | | |||||
| Interest bearing demand deposit | | $ | 4,221 | | $ | 1,818 | | $ | 6,039 |
| Savings accounts | | (2,371) | | (607) | | (2,978) | |||
| Certificates of deposits | | 13,779 | | 4,598 | | 18,377 | |||
| Borrowed money | | 173 | | 313 | | 486 | |||
| Total | | 15,802 | | 6,122 | | 21,924 | |||
| Net change in net interest income | | $ | 12,109 | | $ | (6,508) | | $ | 5,601 |
Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
Financial Highlights
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $47.1 million compared to net income of $46.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was greater than the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily due to an increase in net interest income and provision for credit losses reduction, partially offset by a decrease in non-interest income, an increase in non-interest expenses, and an increase in income tax expense.
Summary Income Statements
The following table sets forth the income summary for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | Change Fiscal 2024/2023 | ||||
| | 2024 | 2023 | $ | % | ||||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Net interest income | | $ | 102,792 | | $ | 97,191 | | $ | 5,601 | | 5.76 | % |
| Provision for credit losses | | 740 | | 972 | | (232) | | (23.87) | % | |||
| Non-interest income | | 2,783 | | 3,743 | | (960) | | (25.65) | % | |||
| Non-interest expenses | | 39,062 | | 35,221 | | 3,841 | | 10.91 | % | |||
| Income tax expense | | 18,699 | | 18,465 | | 234 | | 1.27 | % | |||
| Net income | | $ | 47,074 | | $ | 46,276 | | $ | 798 | | 1.72 | % |
| Return on average assets | | 2.50 | % | 2.90 | % | | | | ||||
| Return on average equity | | 15.83 | % | 17.09 | % | | | |
Net Interest Income
Net interest income totaled $102.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $97.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in net interest income of $5.6 million, or 5.8%, was primarily due to an increase in interest income that exceeded an increase in interest expense.
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The increase in interest income is attributable to increases in loans and interest-bearing deposits, partially offset by decreases in investment securities and FHLB stock. The increase in interest income is also attributable to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate increases during 2023 that continued until September 2024. However, the Federal Reserve’s decrease of interest rates starting in September 2024 impacted the yield on our interest earning assets.
The increase in market interest rates in 2023 that continued until September 2024 also caused an increase in our interest expense. As a result, the increase in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 was due to an increase in the cost of funds on our deposits and borrowed money. The increase in interest expense was also due to increases in the average balances on our certificates of deposits, our interest-bearing demand deposits, and our borrowed money, offset by a decrease in the average balance of our savings and club deposits.
Total interest and dividend income increased $27.5 million, or 20.8%, to $160.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $132.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in interest and dividend income was due to an increase in the average balance of interest earning assets of $312.3 million, or 20.6%, to $1.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $1.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023 and an increase in the yield on interest earning assets by two basis points from 8.73% for the year ended December 31, 2023 to 8.75% for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Interest expense increased $21.9 million, or 62.1%, to $57.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $35.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in interest expense was due to an increase in the cost of interest bearing liabilities by 77 basis points from 3.58% for the year ended December 31, 2023 to 4.35% for the year ended December 31, 2024, and an increase in average interest bearing liabilities of $328.9 million, or 33.3%, to $1.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $986.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The increase in the cost of interest bearing liabilities was also partially due to a shift to interest bearing certificates of deposits and interest bearing demand deposits from savings accounts as the average balances of interest bearing certificates of deposits increased by $302.5 million, or 49.2%, from $615.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 to $917.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 and the average balances of interest bearing demand deposits increased by $116.6 million, or 124.8%, from $93.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 to $210.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. During the same time period, the average balances of savings accounts decreased by $94.3 million, or 37.9%, from $248.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 to $154.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in the average balances of interest bearing certificates of deposits and interest bearing demand deposits were used primarily to fund the loan portfolio growth and decreases in savings and club deposits and non-interest bearing demand deposits.
The average balances of our non-interest bearing demand deposits decreased by $44.2 million, or 13.7%, from $322.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 to $278.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Net interest margin decreased by 79 basis points, or 12.3%, for the year ended December 31, 2024 to 5.62% compared to 6.41% for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in the net interest margin was due to an increase in the average balance of interest earning assets of $312.3 million or 20.6% that outpaced an increase in the net interest income of $5.6 million, or 5.8%.
Credit Loss Expense. A credit loss expense of $740,000 was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to a credit loss expense of $972,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The credit loss expense of $740,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024 was comprised of a credit loss expense for loans of $1.0 million, partially offset by a credit loss expense reduction for off-balance sheet commitments of $334,000 and a credit loss expense reduction for held-to-maturity investment securities of $10,000.
The credit loss expense for loans of $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 was primarily attributed to charge-offs totaling $1.3 million, partially offset by favorable trends in the economy.
The credit loss expense reduction for off-balance sheet commitments of $334,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024 was primarily attributed to a reduction of $157.6 million in the level of off-balance sheet commitments. The credit loss expense reduction for held-to-maturity investment securities of $10,000 for the year ended December 31,
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2024 was primarily attributed to a reduction of $708,000 in the level of applicable held-to-maturity investment securities.
The credit loss expense of $972,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 was comprised of credit loss expense for loans of $1.5 million and credit loss expense for held-to-maturity investment securities of $5,000, partially offset by a credit loss expense reduction for off-balance sheet commitments of $548,000.
We charged-off $1.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to charge-offs of $313,000 during the year ended December 31, 2023. The charge-offs of $1.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 were comprised of a complete charge-off of $1.0 million against a potential non-performing commercial and industrial loan whereby the borrower pleaded guilty and faces incarceration due to loan fraud not related to our commercial and industrial loan and charge-offs totaling $347,000 against various unpaid overdrafts in our demand deposit accounts. The charge-offs of $313,000 during the year ended December 31, 2023 were comprised of a charge-off of $159,000 related to three performing construction loans on the same project whereby we sold the loans to a third-party at a loss of $159,000. The remaining charge-offs of $154,000 for the 2023 period were against various unpaid overdrafts in our demand deposit accounts.
We recorded no recoveries from previously charged-off loans during the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Based on a review of our loan portfolio, held-to-maturity investment securities, and off-balance sheet commitments at December 31, 2024, management believes that the allowance is maintained at a level that represents its best estimate of expected future losses in the loan portfolio, held-to-maturity investment securities, and off-balance sheet commitments that were both probable and reasonably estimable.
Management uses available information to establish the appropriate level of the allowance for credit losses. Future additions or reductions to the allowance may be necessary based on estimates that are susceptible to change as a result of changes in economic conditions and other factors. As a result, our allowance for credit losses may not be sufficient to cover actual loan losses, and future provisions for credit losses could materially adversely affect our operating results. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review our allowance for credit losses. Such agencies may require us to recognize adjustments to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.
Non-Interest Income
The following table sets forth a summary of non-interest income for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Year Ended December 31, | |||||
| | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||
| Other loan fees and service charges | | $ | 2,098 | | $ | 1,891 |
| Gain (loss) on disposition of equipment | | 22 | | (18) | ||
| Earnings on bank-owned life insurance | | 656 | | 1,013 | ||
| Investment advisory fees | | — | | 458 | ||
| Realized and unrealized (loss) gain on equity securities | | (109) | | 294 | ||
| Other | | 116 | | 105 | ||
| Total | | $ | 2,783 | | $ | 3,743 |
The decrease in total non-interest income of $960,000, or 25.6%, was primarily due to decreases of $458,000 in investment advisory fees, $403,000 in unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities, and $357,000 in BOLI income, partially offset by increases of $207,000 in other loan fees and service charges, $40,000 from sale/disposition of fixed assets, and $11,000 in miscellaneous other non-interest income.
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The decrease in investment advisory fees was due to the disposition in January 2024 of the Bank’s assets relating to the Harbor West Wealth Management Group. As a result of the transaction, the Bank no longer generates investment advisory fees. The decrease in unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities was due to an unrealized loss of $109,000 on equity securities during the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to an unrealized gain of $294,000 on equity securities during the year ended December 31, 2023. The unrealized loss of $109,000 on equity securities during the 2024 period was due to market interest rate volatility during the year ended December 31, 2024.
The decrease in BOLI income was primarily due to two death claims totaling $1.8 million on BOLI policies that resulted in additional BOLI income of $404,000 in the year ended December 31, 2023.
The increase of $207,000 in other loan fees and service charges was due to increases of $148,000 in other loan fees and loan servicing fees, $51,000 in ATM/debit card/ACH fees, and $7,000 in deposit account fees.
Regarding the sale/disposition of fixed assets, we recorded gains of $22,000 during the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to losses of $18,000 during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Non-Interest Expense
The following table sets forth an analysis of non-interest expense for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Year Ended December 31, | |||||
| | | 2024 | | 2023 | ||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||
| Salaries and employee benefits | | $ | 20,942 | | $ | 18,839 |
| Occupancy expense | | 2,828 | | 2,595 | ||
| Equipment | | 890 | | 1,055 | ||
| Outside data processing | | 2,604 | | 2,210 | ||
| Advertising | | 418 | | 521 | ||
| Loss on disposition of business | | | — | | | 138 |
| Real estate owned expense | | 731 | | 93 | ||
| Other | | 10,649 | | 9,770 | ||
| Total | | $ | 39,062 | | $ | 35,221 |
Non-interest expense increased $3.8 million, or 10.9%, to $39.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $35.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase resulted primarily from increases of $2.1 million in salaries and employee benefits, $879,000 in other operating expense, $638,000 in real estate owned expense, $394,000 in outside data processing expense, and $233,000 in occupancy expense, partially offset by decreases of $165,000 in equipment expense, $138,000 in loss on the disposition of the Bank’s assets relating to the Harbor West Wealth Management Group, and $103,000 in advertising expense.
Salaries and employee benefits increased by $2.1 million, or 11.2%, to $20.9 million in 2024 from $18.8 million in 2023 primarily due to the hiring of additional personnel to support the growth of the Company, an increase in personnel compensation in order to remain competitive in recruiting and retaining personnel, an increase in the ESOP compensation cost due to an increase in the value of the Company’s stock, an increase in the amortization of expenses related to the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan awards of restricted stocks and options, and a decrease in loan origination expenses related to loan origination fees due to a decrease in loan originations.
Other non-interest expense increased by $879,000 or 9.0%, to $10.6 million in 2024 from $9.8 million in 2023 due mainly to increases of $448,000 in miscellaneous other non-interest expense, $310,000 in service contracts expense, $252,000 in directors compensation, $59,000 in directors, officers, and employee expenses, $40,000 in audit and accounting fees, $29,000 in office supplies, $26,000 in expenses related to the hiring of personnel, and $17,000 in insurance expense. These increases were partially offset by decreases of $222,000 in legal fees, $44,000 in consulting fees, and $36,000 in telephone expense.
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The increase of $448,000 in miscellaneous other non-interest expense was mainly due to an increase of $384,000 in regulatory insurance premiums and assessments due to an increase in our total assets, an increase of $43,000 in dues and subscriptions and $21,000 in other non-interest expense.
Real estate owned expense increased by $638,000, or 686.0%, to $731,000 in 2024 from $93,000 in 2023 due to the write down of $689,000 in the value of a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania foreclosed property in 2024, partially offset by a decrease of $50,000 in operating expenses to maintain that real estate owned property in 2024. The write down of $689,000 on the fair market value of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania foreclosed property in 2024 was due to the decrease in demand for office space in that area.
Outside data processing expense increased by $394,000, or 17.8%, to $2.6 million in 2024 from $2.2 million in 2023 due to an increase in transactions and additional services required in 2024 to support the Company’s expansion. Occupancy expense increased by $233,000, or 9.0%, to $2.8 million in 2024 from $2.6 million in 2023 primarily as a result of the increased cost of operating office space.
Equipment expense decreased by $165,000, or 15.6%, to $890,000 in 2024 from $1.1 million in 2023 due to a reduced need to purchase additional equipment in 2024. Advertising expense decreased by $103,000, or 19.8%, to $418,000 in 2024 from $521,000 in 2023 due mainly to a decrease in promotional products.
There was no disposition of a business segment in 2024 compared to a loss of $138,000 in the disposition of Harbor West in 2023.
Income Taxes. The Company recorded income tax expense of $18.7 million and $18.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company had approximately $802,000 in tax exempt income, compared to $1.1 million in tax exempt income for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in tax exempt income was due to two death claims totaling $1.8 million on BOLI policies during the year ended December 31, 2023. Our effective income tax rates were 28.4% and 28.5% for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Risk Management
Overview
Managing risk is an essential part of successfully managing a financial institution. Our most prominent risk exposures are credit risk, interest rate risk and market risk. Credit risk is the risk of not collecting the interest and/or the principal balance of a loan or investment when it is due. Interest rate risk is the potential reduction of interest income as a result of changes in interest rates. Market risk arises from fluctuations in interest rates that may result in changes in the values of financial instruments, such as available-for-sale securities that are accounted for at fair value. Other risks that we face are operational risk, liquidity risk and reputation risk. Operational risk includes risks related to fraud, regulatory compliance, processing errors, technology, and disaster recovery. Liquidity risk is the possible inability to fund obligations to depositors, lenders or borrowers. Reputation risk is the risk that negative publicity or press, whether true or not, could cause a decline in our customer base or revenue.
Management of Credit Risk
The objective of our credit risk management strategy is to quantify and manage credit risk and to limit the risk of loss resulting from an individual customer default. Our credit risk management strategy focuses on conservatism, an excellent knowledge of the communities we lend in, and significant levels of monitoring. Our lending practices include conservative exposure limits and underwriting, extensive documentation and collection standards. Our credit risk management strategy also emphasizes diversification at the borrower level as well as regular credit examinations, continuous site visits by executive management and management reviews of large credit exposures and credits that might experience deterioration of credit quality.
As part of its risk management process, the Bank conducts stress testing on its commercial real estate portfolio, performs a global cash flow analysis for loans associated with multiple properties and/or guarantors and also operates a
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loan review program for all real estate loans (including construction loans) with terms more than 12 months. In addition, we track our board approved limits for each commercial real estate category on a monthly basis.
Analysis of Non-Performing, Troubled Debt Restructurings and Classified Assets.
Classified Assets. FDIC regulations and our Asset Classification Policy provide that loans and other assets considered to be of lesser quality be classified as “substandard,” “doubtful” or “loss” assets. An asset is considered “substandard” if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. “Substandard” assets include those characterized by the “distinct possibility” that the institution will sustain “some loss” if the deficiencies are not corrected. Assets classified as “doubtful” have all of the weaknesses inherent in those classified as “substandard,” with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make “collection or liquidation in full,” on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, “highly questionable and improbable.” Assets classified as “loss” are those considered “uncollectible” and of such little value that their continuance as assets without the establishment of a specific loss reserve is not warranted. We classify an asset as “special mention” if the asset has a potential weakness that warrants management’s escalated level of attention. While such assets are not impaired, management has concluded that if the potential weakness in the asset is not addressed, the value of the asset may deteriorate, adversely affecting the repayment of the asset. Loans classified as impaired for financial reporting purposes are generally those loans classified as substandard or doubtful for regulatory reporting purposes.
An insured institution is required to establish allowances for credit losses in an amount deemed prudent by management for loans classified as substandard or doubtful, as well as for other problem loans. General allowances represent loss allowances which have been established to recognize the inherent losses associated with lending activities, but which, unlike specific allowances, have not been allocated to particular problem assets. When an insured institution classifies problem assets as “loss,” it is required to charge off such amounts. An institution’s determination as to the classification of its assets and the amount of its valuation allowances is subject to review by the FDIC.
The following table sets forth information with respect to our non-performing assets at the dates indicated.
| | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||||
| | 2024 | | 2023 | |||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||
| Total non-accrual loans | | $ | — | | | $ | 4,385 | |
| Total accruing loans past due 90 days or more | | | — | | | — | | |
| Total non-performing loans | | | — | | | 4,385 | | |
| Real estate owned | | | 5,120 | | | 1,456 | | |
| Total non-performing assets | | $ | 5,120 | | | $ | 5,841 | |
| Total non-performing loans to total loans | | — | % | | 0.37 | % | ||
| Total non-performing assets to total assets | | 0.25 | % | | 0.33 | % |
During the year ended December 31, 2024, non-performing assets decreased by $721,000, or 12.3%, to $5.1 million as of December 31, 2024 from $5.8 million as of December 31, 2023. At December 31, 2023, we had two non-performing construction loans totaling $4.4 million secured by the same project located in the Bronx, New York. We successfully foreclosed on these two loans on October 21, 2024 and the balances were transferred to foreclosed real estate. As a result, at December 31, 2024, we had two non-performing assets consisting of two foreclosed properties, with one foreclosed property totaling $4.4 million located in the Bronx, New York and one foreclosed property totaling $767,000 located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
In 2024, we collected no interest income from loans that were in non-accrual status in 2024. In 2023, we collected no interest income from loans that were in non-accrual status in 2023.
From time to time, as part of our loss mitigation strategy, we may modify loans to borrowers in financial distress by providing principal forgiveness, term extension, an other-than-insignificant payment delay, or interest rate reduction. When principal forgiveness is provided, the amount of forgiveness is charged-off against the allowance for credit losses. There were no new loan modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties during the years
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ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had no loans modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty.
The following table summarizes classified and criticized assets of all portfolio types at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||
| | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| | | (In thousands) | ||||
| Classified loans: | | | | |||
| Substandard | | $ | 241 | | $ | 4,385 |
| Doubtful | | — | | — | ||
| Loss | | — | | — | ||
| Total classified loans | | 241 | | 4,385 | ||
| Special mention | | — | | 915 | ||
| Total criticized loans | | $ | 241 | | $ | 5,300 |
On the basis of management’s review of our assets, we had one loan with a balance of $241,000 classified as substandard at December 31, 2024 compared to two loans totaling $4.4 million classified as substandard at December 31, 2023. In addition, we had no loans classified as special mention at December 31, 2024 compared to one loan with a balance of $915,000 classified as special mention at December 31, 2023.
There were no assets classified as doubtful or loss at December 31, 2024 or 2023. The loan portfolio is reviewed on a regular basis to determine whether any loans require classification in accordance with applicable regulations. Not all classified assets constitute non-performing assets.
The decrease in substandard assets was due to the addition of a performing commercial and industrial loan with a balance of $241,000 at December 31, 2024 that experienced a significant decline in sales revenue in 2024, offset by the successful foreclosure and transfer to real estate owned in 2024 of two non-performing, non-accrual construction loans totaling $4.4 million secured by the same project located in the Bronx, New York.
The decrease in special mention assets was due to the removal from special mention of one multi-family loan with a balance of $915,000 at December 31, 2023 that has been performing during 2024.
Delinquent Loans
The following table provides information about delinquencies in our loan portfolio at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| | | 2024 | | 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| | | Days Past Due | | Days Past Due | ||||||||||||||
| | | 30 – 59 | 60 – 89 | 90 or more | 30 – 59 | 60 – 89 | 90 or more | |||||||||||
| | | (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | | | | |||||||||||
| Multi-family | | $ | 931 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — |
| Consumer loan: | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 1 | | | — | | | — |
| Construction loan: | | — | | — | | — | | 2,319 | | — | | 4,385 | ||||||
| Total | | $ | 931 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 2,320 | | $ | — | | $ | 4,385 |
Analysis and Determination of the Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans
The allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) is a valuation account that reflects management's evaluation of expected future losses in the loan portfolio. We evaluate the need to establish allowances against credit losses on loans on a quarterly basis. When additional allowances are necessary, a provision for credit losses is charged to earnings. The ACL is maintained at a level that management considers adequate to provide for estimated losses and impairment based upon an
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evaluation of known and inherent risk in the loan portfolio. The ACL consists of two elements: (1) identification of loans that must be individually analyzed for credit loss and (2) establishment of an ACL for loans collectively analyzed.
Individually Analyzed Loans. Management regularly monitors the condition of borrowers and assesses both internal and external factors in determining whether any relationships have deteriorated, considering factors such as historical loss experience, trends in delinquency and non-performing loans, changes in risk composition and underwriting standards, and regional and national economic conditions and trends.
Our loan officers, loan servicing staff, and internal loan review personnel identify and manage potential problem loans within our mortgage, construction, and commercial and industrial loan portfolio. Non-performing assets within these loan portfolios are transferred to the Special Assets Department for workout or litigation. The Special Assets Department reports directly to the Executive Committee. Changes in management, financial or operating performance, company behavior, industry factors and external events and circumstances are evaluated on an ongoing basis to determine whether potential impairment is evident and additional analysis is needed. For our loan portfolio, risk ratings are assigned to each individual loan to differentiate risk within the portfolio and are reviewed on an ongoing basis by the Internal Loan Review Department and revised, if needed, to reflect the borrower’s current risk profiles and the related collateral positions.
The risk ratings consider factors such as property location, property type, loan duration, debt capacity and coverage ratios, absorption rate and marketability, borrower’s experience, borrower’s financial condition, and borrower’s credit quality. When a credit’s risk rating is downgraded to a certain level, the relationship must be reviewed and detailed reports completed that document risk management strategies for the credit going forward, and the appropriate accounting actions to take in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. When credits are downgraded beyond a certain level, our Special Assets Department becomes responsible for managing the credit risk.
The Executive Committee reviews risk rating actions (specifically downgrades or upgrades between pass and the criticized and classified categories) recommended by Internal Loan Review and/or Special Assets Departments on a quarterly basis. Our Lending, Loan Servicing and Internal Loan Review Departments monitor our mortgage, construction, and commercial and industrial loan portfolios for credit risk and deterioration considering factors such as delinquency, loan to value ratios and credit scores.
When problem loans are identified that are secured with collateral, management examines the loan files to evaluate the nature and type of collateral supporting the loans. Management documents the collateral type, date of the most recent valuation, and whether any liens exist, to determine the value to compare against the committed loan amount. If a loan is identified as impaired and is collateral dependent, an in-house analysis is performed and/or an updated appraisal is obtained to provide a baseline in determining the property’s fair value. A collateral dependent impaired loan is written down to its appraised value and an allowance is established to cover potential selling costs. If the collateral value is subject to significant volatility (due to location of asset, obsolescence, etc.) an appraisal is obtained more frequently. In-house revaluations are typically performed on a quarterly basis and updated appraisals are obtained annually, if determined necessary.
When we determine that the value of an impaired loan is less than its carrying amount, we recognize impairment through a charge-off to the allowance for credit losses. We perform these assessments on an ongoing basis. For mortgage, construction, and commercial and industrial loans, a charge-off is recorded when management determines we will not collect 100% of a loan based on the fair value of the collateral or the net present value of expected future cash flows. The collateral deficiency on consumer loans and residential loans are generally charged-off when deemed to be uncollectible or delinquent 180 days, whichever comes first, unless it can be clearly demonstrated that repayment will occur regardless of the delinquency status. Examples that would demonstrate repayment include a loan that is secured by adequate collateral and is in the process of collection, a loan supported by a valid guarantee or insurance, or a loan supported by a valid claim against a solvent estate.
Collectively Analyzed Loans. Additionally, we reserve for certain inherent, but undetected, losses that are probable within the loan portfolio. This is due to several factors, such as, but not limited to, inherent delays in obtaining
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information regarding a customer’s financial condition or changes in their unique business conditions and the interpretation of economic trends. While this analysis is conducted at least quarterly, we have the ability to revise the allowance factors whenever necessary to address improving or deteriorating credit quality trends or specific risks associated with a given loan pool classification.
A comprehensive analysis of the allowance for credit losses on loans is performed on a quarterly basis. The entire allowance for credit losses on loans is available to absorb losses in the loan portfolio irrespective of the amount of each separate element of the ACL. Our principal focus, therefore, is on the adequacy of the total allowance for credit losses.
Although we believe we have established and maintained the ACL on loans at appropriate levels, changes in reserves may be necessary if actual economic and other conditions differ substantially from the forecast used in estimating the ACL. See note 1 to our consolidated financial statements for a detailed discussion of our accounting policies and methodologies for establishing the ACL.
The allowance for credit losses is subject to review by our banking regulators. The FDIC and the New York State Department of Financial Services, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review our allowance for credit losses and make an assessment regarding its adequacy and the methodology employed in its determination. As a result, our banking regulators could require us to increase our allowance for credit losses - loans.
The following table sets forth the breakdown of the allowance for credit losses by loan category at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| | | 2024 | | | 2023 | |||||||||||
| | | | | % of Allowance | % of Loans in | | | | % of Allowance | % of Loans in | ||||||
| | | | | | Amount to Total | | Category to Total | | | | | | Amount to Total | | Category to Total | |
| | | Amount | | Allowance | | Loans | | | Amount | | Allowance | | Loans | |||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | | |||||||||||||
| Residential real estate loans | | $ | 1,900 | 39.34 | % | 13.06 | % | | $ | 2,433 | 47.77 | % | 14.74 | % | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 308 | 6.38 | 1.62 | | 126 | 2.47 | 1.33 | | |||||||
| Construction loans | | 1,937 | 40.10 | 78.68 | | 1,914 | 37.58 | 76.85 | | |||||||
| Commercial and industrial | | 520 | 10.77 | 6.55 | | 472 | 9.27 | 7.00 | | |||||||
| Consumer loans | | 165 | 3.42 | 0.09 | | 148 | 2.91 | 0.08 | | |||||||
| Total allowance for credit losses | | $ | 4,830 | 100.00 | % | 100.00 | % | | $ | 5,093 | 100.00 | % | 100.00 | % |
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The following table sets forth an analysis of the activity in the allowance for credit losses related to loans for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At or For the Year Ended December 31, | | ||||
| | | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | | ||||
| | | | | | | | |
| Total loans net of deferred (fees) costs | | $ | 1,812,598 | | $ | 1,586,897 | |
| Average loans outstanding | | 1,701,079 | | 1,401,492 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Allowance at beginning of period | | $ | 5,093 | | $ | 5,474 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Impact of adopting ASC 326 | | | — | | | (1,584) | |
| Net charge-offs: | | | | ||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||
| One- to four-family | | — | | — | | ||
| Multifamily | | — | | — | | ||
| Mixed-use | | — | | — | | ||
| Total residential real estate loans | | — | | — | | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | — | | — | | ||
| Construction loans | | — | | 159 | | ||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 1,000 | | — | | ||
| Consumer loans | | 347 | | 154 | | ||
| Total net charge-offs | | 1,347 | | 313 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Provision for credit losses | | 1,084 | | 1,516 | | ||
| Allowance at end of period | | $ | 4,830 | | $ | 5,093 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Average loan outstanding: | | | | ||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||
| One- to four-family | | 4,213 | | 5,240 | | ||
| Multifamily | | 198,372 | | 141,836 | | ||
| Mixed-use | | 27,965 | | 28,034 | | ||
| Total residential real estate loans | | 230,550 | | 175,110 | | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 26,152 | | 23,196 | | ||
| Construction loans | | 1,327,180 | | 1,088,219 | | ||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 115,807 | | 113,908 | | ||
| Consumer loans | | 1,390 | | 1,059 | | ||
| Total | | 1,701,079 | | 1,401,492 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans outstanding | | | | ||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||
| One- to four-family | | — | % | — | % | ||
| Multifamily | | — | | — | | ||
| Mixed-use | | — | | — | | ||
| Total residential real estate loans | | — | | — | | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | — | | — | | ||
| Construction loans | | — | | 0.01 | | ||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 0.86 | | — | | ||
| Consumer loans | | 24.96 | | 14.54 | | ||
| Total net charge-offs | | 0.08 | % | 0.02 | % | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Credit Quality Ratios: | | | | | | | |
| As a percentage of year-end loans, net of deferred fees: | | | | | | | |
| Allowance for credit loss | | 0.27 | % | 0.32 | % | ||
| Nonaccrual loans | | | — | % | | 0.28 | % |
| Nonperforming loans | | | — | % | | 0.28 | % |
| Allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual loans | | NA | % | 116.15 | % | ||
| Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans | | NA | % | 116.15 | % |
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The allowance for credit losses related to loans decreased by $263,000 to $4.8 million at December 31, 2024 from $5.1 million at December 31, 2023. The decrease in the allowances for credit losses was due primarily to the charge-offs of $1.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 that were comprised of a complete charge-off of $1.0 million against a potential non-performing commercial and industrial loan whereby the borrower pleaded guilty and faces incarceration due to loan fraud not related to our commercial and industrial loan and charge-offs totaling $347,000 against various unpaid overdrafts in our demand deposit accounts, partially offset by provision for credit losses related to loans totaling $1.0 million during 2024.
The increase in the provision for credit losses related to loans was due to increases in the construction, multi-family mortgage, non-residential mortgage, and commercial and industrial loan portfolio, partially offset by a decrease in the mixed-use mortgage loan portfolio.
We had no recoveries in 2024 and 2023. Loans evaluated collectively totaled $1.8 billion at December 31, 2024 compared to $1.6 billion at December 31, 2023. Loans evaluated individually totaled $241,000 at December 31, 2024 compared to $4.4 million at December 31, 2023.
The allowance for credit losses related to off-balance sheet commitments decreased by $334,000 to $704,000 at December 31, 2024 from $1.0 million at December 31, 2023 due primarily to a decrease in the amount of off-balance sheet commitments.
The allowance for credit losses related to held-to-maturity of debt securities decreased by $10,000 to $126,000 at December 31, 2024 from $136,000 at December 31, 2023 due primarily to a decrease in the amount of applicable held-to-maturity debt securities.
Interest Rate Risk Management
Interest rate risk is defined as the exposure to current and future earnings and capital that arises from adverse movements in interest rates. Depending on a bank’s asset/liability structure, adverse movements in interest rates could be either rising or falling interest rates. For example, a bank with predominantly long-term fixed-rate assets and short-term liabilities could have an adverse earnings exposure to a rising rate environment. Conversely, a short-term or variable-rate asset base funded by longer-term liabilities could be negatively affected by falling rates. This is referred to as re-pricing or maturity mismatch risk.
Interest rate risk also arises from changes in the slope of the yield curve (yield curve risk), from imperfect correlations in the adjustment of rates earned and paid on different instruments with otherwise similar re-pricing characteristics (basis risk), and from interest rate related options embedded in our assets and liabilities (option risk).
Our objective is to manage our interest rate risk by determining whether a given movement in interest rates affects our net interest income and the market value of our portfolio equity in a positive or negative way and to execute strategies to maintain interest rate risk within established limits. The results at December 31, 2024 indicate the level of risk within the parameters of our model. Our management believes that the December 31, 2024 results indicate a profile that reflects interest rate risk exposures in both rising and declining rate environments for both net interest income and economic value.
Model Simulation Analysis. We view interest rate risk from two different perspectives. The traditional accounting perspective, which defines and measures interest rate risk as the change in net interest income and earnings caused by a change in interest rates, provides the best view of short-term interest rate risk exposure. We also view interest rate risk from an economic perspective, which defines and measures interest rate risk as the change in the market value of portfolio equity caused by changes in the values of assets and liabilities, which fluctuate due to changes in interest rates. The market value of portfolio equity, also referred to as the economic value of equity, is defined as the present value of future cash flows from existing assets, minus the present value of future cash flows from existing liabilities.
These two perspectives give rise to income simulation and economic value simulation, each of which presents a unique picture of our risk of any movement in interest rates. Income simulation identifies the timing and magnitude of changes in income resulting from changes in prevailing interest rates over a short-term time horizon (usually one or
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two years). Economic value simulation reflects the interest rate sensitivity of assets and liabilities in a more comprehensive fashion, reflecting all future time periods. It can identify the quantity of interest rate risk as a function of the changes in the economic values of assets and liabilities, and the corresponding change in the economic value of equity of the Bank. Both types of simulation assist in identifying, measuring, monitoring and controlling interest rate risk and are employed by management to ensure that variations in interest rate risk exposure will be maintained within policy guidelines.
We produce these simulation reports and discuss them with our management Asset and Liability Committee on a quarterly basis. The simulation reports compare baseline (no interest rate change) to the results of an interest rate shock, to illustrate the specific impact of the interest rate scenario tested on income and equity. The model, which incorporates asset and liability rate information, simulates the effect of various interest rate movements on income and equity value. The reports identify and measure our interest rate risk exposure present in our current asset/liability structure. Management considers both a static (current position) and dynamic (forecast changes in volume) analysis as well as non-parallel and gradual changes in interest rates and the yield curve in assessing interest rate exposures.
If the results produce quantifiable interest rate risk exposure beyond our limits, then the testing will have served as a monitoring mechanism to allow us to initiate asset/liability strategies designed to reduce and therefore mitigate interest rate risk. The table below sets forth an approximation of our interest rate risk exposure. The simulation uses projected repricing of assets and liabilities at December 31, 2024. The income simulation analysis presented represents a one-year impact of the interest scenario assuming a static balance sheet. Various assumptions are made regarding the prepayment speed and optionality of loans, investment securities and deposits, which are based on analysis and market information. The assumptions regarding optionality, such as prepayments of loans and the effective lives and repricing of non-maturity deposit products, are documented periodically through evaluation of current market conditions and historical correlations to our specific asset and liability products under varying interest rate scenarios.
Because the prospective effects of hypothetical interest rate changes are based on a number of assumptions, these computations should not be relied upon as indicative of actual results. While we believe such assumptions to be reasonable, assumed prepayment rates may not approximate actual future prepayment activity on mortgage-backed securities or agency issued collateralized obligations (secured by one- to four-family loans and multifamily loans). Further, the computation does not reflect any actions that management may undertake in response to changes in interest rates and assumes a constant asset base. Management periodically reviews the rate assumptions based on existing and projected economic conditions and consults with industry experts to validate our model and simulation results.
The table below sets forth, as of December 31, 2024, the Bank’s net portfolio value, the estimated changes in our net portfolio value and net interest income that would result from the designated instantaneous parallel changes in market interest rates.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Twelve Month | | | | | | | | |
| | | Net Interest Income | | | Net Portfolio Value | | | |||
| | | Percent | | | | | | Percent | | |
| Change in Interest Rates (Basis Points) | of Change | | Estimated NPV | of Change | | |||||
| +300 | 23.83 | % | | $ | 364,108 | 4.64 | % | | ||
| +200 | 16.09 | | | | 359,276 | 3.25 | | | ||
| +100 | 8.20 | | | 354,127 | 1.77 | | | |||
| 0 | — | | | 347,958 | — | | | |||
| -100 | (8.93) | % | | $ | 338,651 | (2.67) | % | | ||
| -200 | (18.03) | | | | 327,376 | (5.92) | | | ||
| -300 | (28.08) | | | | 313,474 | (9.91) | | |
As of December 31, 2024, based on the scenarios above, net interest income would increase by approximately 8.20% to 23.83%, over a one-year time horizon in a rising interest rate environment. One-year net interest income would decrease by approximately 8.93% to 28.08% in a declining interest rate environment over the same period.
Economic value at risk would be positively impacted by a rise in interest rates and negatively impacted by a decline in interest rates. We have established an interest rate floor of zero percent for measuring interest rate risk. The
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difference between the two results reflects the relatively long terms of a portion of our assets which is captured by the economic value at risk but has less impact on the one year net interest income sensitivity.
Overall, our December 31, 2024 results indicate that we are adequately positioned with an acceptable net interest income and economic value at risk and that all interest rate risk results continue to be within our policy guidelines.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We maintain liquid assets at levels we believe are adequate to meet our liquidity needs. We established a liquidity ratio policy that identify three liquidity ratios consisting of (1) Cash/Deposits & Short-Term Borrowings (“Cash Liquidity”), (2) Cash & Investments/Deposits & Short-Term Borrowings (“On Balance Sheet Liquidity”), and (3) Cash & Investments & Borrowing Capacity/Deposits & Short-Term Borrowings (“On Balance Sheet Liquidity & Borrowing Capacity”) to assist in the management of our liquidity. We also establish targets of 2.0% for the Cash Liquidity ratio, 8.0% for the On Balance Sheet Liquidity ratio, and 20.0% for the On Balance Sheet Liquidity & Borrowing Capacity ratio.
Our Cash Liquidity ratio, On Balance Sheet Liquidity ratio, and On Balance Sheet Liquidity & Borrowing Capacity ratio averaged 6.7%, 8.8%, and 65.6%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 6.7%, 9.6%, and 32.7%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2023. We adjust our liquidity levels to fund deposit outflows, pay real estate taxes on real estate loans, repay our borrowings, and to fund loan commitments. We also adjust liquidity as appropriate to meet asset and liability management objectives. However, during the interest rate environment in 2024, we have strategically allowed these metrics to fall below the minimum thresholds at times to provide for the effective management of extension risk and other interest rate risks.
Our liquidity ratios cannot be calculated using amounts disclosed in our consolidated financial statements, as many of the calculations involve monthly, quarterly or annual averages. To calculate our liquidity ratios, the average liquidity base from the prior month is used as the denominator to calculate a daily liquidity ratio. The liquidity base consists of savings account balances, certificates of deposit balances, checking and money market balances, deposit loans and borrowings. The daily balances of these components are averaged to arrive at the liquidity base for the month, and the daily cash balances in selected general ledger accounts are used to derive our liquidity position. A daily liquidity ratio is calculated using the liquidity for the day divided by the prior month’s average liquidity base. At the end of each month, a monthly liquidity position is calculated using the average liquidity position for the month divided by the prior month’s average liquidity base. To calculate quarterly and annual liquidity ratios, we take the average liquidity for the three- or twelve-month period, respectively, and average it.
Our primary sources of liquidity are deposits, amortization and prepayment of loans and mortgage-backed securities, maturities of investment securities, other short-term investments, earnings, and funds provided from operations. While scheduled principal repayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities are a relatively predictable source of funds, deposit flows and loan prepayments are greatly influenced by market interest rates, economic conditions, and rates offered by our competition. We set the interest rates on our deposits to maintain a desired level of total deposits. In addition, we invest excess funds in short-term interest-earning assets, which provide liquidity to meet lending requirements.
Our cash flows are derived from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included with the Consolidated Financial Statements which begin on page F-1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Our primary investing activities are the origination of construction loans, commercial and industrial loans, multifamily loans, and to a lesser extent, mixed-use real estate loans and other loans. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, our loan originations totaled $656.0 million and $815.8 million, respectively. Cash received from the sales, calls, maturities and pay-downs on securities totaled $1.2 million and $11.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We purchased $4.0 million and $806,000 in securities for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
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Deposit flows are generally affected by the level of interest rates we offer, the interest rates and products offered by local competitors, and other factors. Total deposits increased by $270.3 million at December 31, 2024 due to increases in certificates of deposits and NOW/money market deposits, offset by decreases in savings account deposits, and non-interest bearing demand deposits.
Liquidity management is both a daily and long-term function of business management. If we require funds beyond our ability to generate them internally, borrowing agreements exist with the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York to provide advances. As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, we are required to own capital stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and are authorized to apply for advances on the security of such stock and certain of our mortgage loans and other assets (principally securities which are obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States), provided certain standards related to credit-worthiness have been met. We had an available borrowing limit of $18.2 million and $29.7 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We had no Federal Home Loan Bank advances at December 31, 2024 compared to $14.0 million in Federal Home Loan Bank advances at December 31, 2023.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“FRBNY”) approved on August 30, 2023 the Bank’s eligibility to pledge loans under the Borrower-in-Custody program of the FRBNY thereby allowing the Bank to borrow from the Discount Window at the FRBNY. We had an available borrowing limit of $834.7 million and $865.1 million from the FRBNY as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We had no FRBNY borrowings at December 31, 2024 compared to $50.0 million in FRBNY borrowings at December 31, 2023
In addition, we have a borrowing agreement with Atlantic Community Bankers Bank (“ACBB”) to provide short-term borrowings of $8.0 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023. There were no outstanding borrowings with ACBB at December 31, 2024 and 2023.
At December 31, 2024, we had unfunded commitments on construction loans of $399.6 million, unfunded commitments under lines of credit of $86.2 million, outstanding commitments to originate loans of $61.2 million, and unfunded standby letters of credit of $14.9 million. At December 31, 2024, certificates of deposit scheduled to mature in less than one year totaled $918.4 million. Based on prior experience, management believes that a significant portion of such deposits will remain with us, although there can be no assurance that this will be the case. In the event a significant portion of our deposits are not retained by us, we will have to utilize other funding sources, such as various types of sourced deposits, Federal Home Loan Bank advances, and/or FRBNY borrowings, in order to maintain our level of assets. Alternatively, we could reduce our level of liquid assets, such as our cash and cash equivalents. In addition, the cost of such deposits may be significantly higher or lower depending on market interest rates at the time of renewal.
The Company is a separate legal entity from the Bank and must provide for its own liquidity. In addition to its operating expenses, the Company is responsible for paying any dividends declared to its stockholders, and interest and principal on outstanding debt, if any. The Company’s primary sources of income are interest income derived from investments in loans and interest bearing accounts at other financial institutions and dividends received from the Bank. At December 31, 2024, the Company had liquid assets of $5.8 million and $15.2 million in loan participations originated by the Bank which are held by the Company.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we did not engage in any off-balance sheet transactions reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash-flows.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For a discussion of the impact of recent accounting pronouncements, see note 23 in the notes to the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in this report.
Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices
The consolidated financial statements and related notes of the Company have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which generally requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical
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dollars without consideration for changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The primary impact of inflation is reflected in the increased cost of our operations. Unlike industrial companies, our assets and liabilities are primarily monetary in nature. As a result, changes in market interest rates have a greater impact on performance than the effects of inflation.
FY 2023 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001558370-24-004281.
ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This discussion and analysis reflects our consolidated financial statements and other relevant statistical data, and is intended to enhance your understanding of our financial condition and results of operations. The information in this section has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company that appear beginning on page F-1 of this report.
Executive Summary
Our results of operations depend primarily on our net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between the interest income we earn on our interest-earning assets, consisting primarily of loans, investment securities, mortgage-backed securities and other interest-earning assets (primarily cash and cash equivalents), and the interest we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities, consisting of money market accounts, statement savings accounts, individual retirement accounts and certificates of deposit. Our results of operations also are affected by our provisions for credit losses, non-interest income and non-interest expense. Non-interest income currently consists primarily of loan fees, service charges, and earnings on bank owned life insurance. Non-interest expense currently consists primarily of salaries and employee benefits, deposit insurance premiums, directors’ fees, occupancy and equipment, data processing and professional fees. Our results of operations also may be affected significantly by general and local economic and competitive conditions, changes in market interest rates, governmental policies and actions of regulatory authorities.
Business Strategy
Growing our assets with a continued focus on the origination of construction loans.
At December 31, 2023, $1.2 billion, or 76.9%, of our total loan portfolio, net of loans in process, consisted of construction loans primarily located in high demand and high absorption areas in the New York Metropolitan Area. There continues to be a significant need for construction financing within the high absorption, homogeneous communities served by the Bank and we intend to continue to support the growth of these communities through the financing of condominium and apartment construction loans within the communities.
Maintaining strong asset quality and managing credit risk.
Strong asset quality is a key to the long-term financial success of any financial institution. We have been successful in maintaining strong asset quality in recent years. Our ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was 0.33%, 0.10%, and 0.16% at December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. We attribute this credit quality to a conservative credit culture and an effective credit risk management environment. We have an experienced team of credit professionals, well-defined and implemented credit policies and procedures, what we believe to be conservative loan underwriting criteria, and active credit monitoring policies and procedures. Our senior management team also
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spends substantial time conducting construction site visits and visiting regularly with community leaders and borrowers in our high absorption communities, which enables us to understand the needs of our communities and to stay informed as to matters affecting those communities.
Continuing to grow our non-interest bearing deposit accounts through the maintenance of low customer fees and charges.
We believe that as a community bank we should maintain the fees and charges we charge our customers as low as possible. By doing so, we have been able to attract and retain food service and other businesses as customers of the Bank and at the same time increase the amount of our non-interest bearing business accounts.
Expanding our franchise through de novo branching or branch acquisitions.
As the communities we serve continue to grow and expand into new areas, we believe there will be branch expansion opportunities within our market area and in the newly developing communities expanding outward from existing high absorption, homogeneous communities where our branches are currently located. To this end, we opened a new branch office in Sullivan County, New York during the year ended December 31, 2022. We intend to explore additional opportunities as they arise to expand our branch network.
Expanding our employee base, infrastructure and technology, as necessary, to support future growth.
We have already made significant investments in our infrastructure, technology and employee base to support the growth in our construction portfolio and the increased compliance responsibilities due to such growth, including experienced Bank Secrecy Act professionals. The additional capital raised in the 2021 second-step conversion offering provided us with additional resources to attract and retain the necessary talent and continue to enhance our infrastructure and technology to support our growth following the conversion.
Implement a stockholder-focused strategy for management of our capital.
We recognize that a strong capital position is essential to achieving our long-term objective of building stockholder value, and we believe that our capital position will support our future growth and expansion, and will give us flexibility to pursue other capital management strategies to enhance stockholder value.
Critical Accounting Policies
In the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, we have adopted various accounting policies that govern the application of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and to general practices within the banking industry. Our significant accounting policies are described in note one to the consolidated financial statements included in this report.
Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by us that have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities. We consider these accounting policies, which are discussed below, to be critical accounting policies. The judgments and assumptions we use are based on historical experience and other factors, which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these judgments and estimates under different conditions, resulting in a change that could have a material impact on the carrying values of our assets and liabilities and our results of operations.
Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in 2023:
Effective January 1, 2023, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Topic 326, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses” which replaced the previously existing U.S. GAAP “incurred loss” approach to “expected credit losses” approach, which is referred as Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”). CECL measures the credit loss associated with financial assets carried at amortized cost, including loan receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, off balance sheet credit exposures.
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The company adopted Topic 326 using the modified retrospective method for all financial assets measured at amortized cost and off-balances sheet exposures. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2023 are presented under Topic 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP. Upon adoption, we recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment totaling $134,000, or $99,000, net of tax, to reduce retained earnings. The transition adjustment includes the adoption and changes to the three applicable components of the allowance for credit losses (“ACL”): a decrease of $1.6 million in the allowance for credit losses related to loans, an increase of $132,000 in the allowance for credit losses related to held-to-maturity debt securities, and an increase of $1.6 million in the allowance for credit losses related to off-balance sheet items.
The following table illustrates the impact of adopting ASC 326:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | January 1, 2023 | ||||
| | | Pre-Adoption | | Adoption Impact | | As Reported |
| | | (In Thousands) | ||||
| Assets | | | | | | |
| ACL on debt securities held-to-maturity | | | | | | |
| Municipal Bonds | $ | - | $ | 132 | $ | 132 |
| ACL on loan receivables | | | | | | |
| Residential real estate | | 528 | | 895 | | 1,423 |
| Non-residential real estate | | 131 | | 7 | | 138 |
| Construction | | 3,835 | | (2,086) | | 1,749 |
| Commercial and industrial | | 955 | | (437) | | 518 |
| Consumer | | 18 | | 44 | | 62 |
| Unallocated | | 7 | | (7) | | - |
| | | | | | | |
| Liabilities | | | | | | |
| ACL for off-balance sheet exposure | | - | | 1,586 | | 1,586 |
| | $ | 5,474 | $ | 134 | $ | 5,608 |
Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans
The allowance for credit losses related to loans is a valuation reserve established and maintained by charges against income and is deducted from the amortized cost basis of loans to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. Loans, or portions thereof, are charged off against the ACL when they are deemed uncollectible. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off.
The ACL is an estimate of expected credit losses, measured over the contractual life of a loan, that considers our historical loss experience, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions. Determination of an appropriate ACL is inherently subjective and may have significant changes from period to period.
The methodology for determining the ACL has two main components: evaluation of expected credit losses for certain groups of homogeneous loans that share similar risk characteristics and evaluation of loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans.
The allowance for credit losses related to loans is measured on a collective (pool) basis when similar risk characteristics exist. If the risk characteristics of a loan change, such that they are no longer similar to other loans in the pool, the Company will evaluate the loan with a different pool of loans that share similar risk characteristics. If the loan does not share risk characteristics with other loans, the Company will evaluate the loan on an individual basis. The Company evaluates the pooling methodology at least annually. Loans are charged off against the allowance for credit losses related to loans when the Company believes the balances to be uncollectible. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged off or expected to be charged off.
The Company has chosen to segment its portfolio consistent with the manner in which it manages credit risk. Such segments include residential real estate, non-residential real estate, construction, commercial and industrial business, and consumer. For most segments the Company calculates estimated credit losses using a probability of
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default and loss given default methodology, the results of which are applied to each individual loan within the segment. The point in time probability of default and loss given default are then conditioned by macroeconomic scenarios to incorporate reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount.
The Company estimates the allowance for credit losses related to loans via a quantitative analysis which considers relevant available information from internal and external sources related to past events and current conditions, as well as the incorporation of reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company evaluates a variety of factors including third party economic forecasts, industry trends and other available published economic information in arriving at its forecasts. Expected credit losses are estimated over the contractual term of the loans, adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate. The contractual term excludes expected extensions, renewals, and modifications unless either of the following applies: management has a reasonable expectation at the reporting date that a troubled debt restructuring will be executed with an individual borrower or the renewal option is included in the original or modified contract at the reporting date and are not unconditionally cancelable by the Company.
Also included in the allowance for credit losses related to loans are qualitative reserves to cover losses that are expected but, in the Company’s assessment, might not be adequately represented in the quantitative analysis or the forecasts described above. Factors that the Company considers include changes in lending policies and procedures, business conditions, the nature and size of the portfolio, portfolio concentrations, the volume and severity of past due loans and non-accrual loans, the effect of external factors such as competition, legal and regulatory requirements, among others. Qualitative loss factors are applied to each portfolio segment with the amounts judgmentally determined by the relative risk to the most severe loss periods identified in the historical loan charge-offs of the Company.
The Company has elected to exclude accrued interest receivable from the measurement of its ACL. When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, any outstanding accrued interest is reversed against interest income.
On a case-by-case basis, the Company may conclude that a loan should be evaluated on an individual basis based on the loan’s disparate risk characteristics. When the Company determines that a loan no longer shares similar risk characteristics with other loans in the portfolio, the allowance will be determined on an individual basis using the present value of expected cash flows or, the loan’s observable market price or, for collateral-dependent loans, the fair value of the collateral as of the reporting date, less estimated selling costs, as applicable. If the fair value of the collateral is less than the amortized cost basis of the loan, the Company will charge off the difference between the fair value of the collateral, less costs to sell at the reporting date and the amortized cost basis of the loan.
Allowance for Credit Losses – Held-to-Maturity Debt Securities
The allowance for credit losses related to held-to-maturity debt securities is a valuation reserve established and maintained by charges against income and is deducted from the amortized cost basis of held-to-maturity debt securities to present the net amount expected to be collected on the held-to-maturity debt securities. Losses, or portions thereof, are charged off against the ACL when they are deemed uncollectible. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off.
The Company has elected to exclude accrued interest receivable from the measurement of its ACL. When an investment is placed on non-accrual status, any outstanding accrued interest is reversed against interest income.
Allowance for Credit Losses Related to Off-Balance Sheet Credit Exposures
The Company estimates expected credit losses over the contractual period in which the Company is exposed to credit risk via a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by the Company. The allowance for credit losses related to off-balance sheet credit exposures is adjusted through credit loss expense. The estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over its estimated life.
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Based on management’s comprehensive analysis of the loan portfolio, the applicable held-to-maturity debt securities portfolio, and the off-balance sheet credit exposures, management believes the allowance for credit losses is appropriate as of December 31, 2023.
Balance Sheet Analysis
General
Total assets increased by $339.2 million, or 23.8%, to $1.8 billion at December 31, 2023, from $1.4 billion at December 31, 2022. The increase in assets was primarily due to an increase in net loans of $369.6 million, partially offset by decreases in cash and cash equivalents of $26.6 million and securities held-to-maturity of $10.5 million.
Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $26.6 million, or 27.9%, to $68.7 million at December 31, 2023 from $95.3 million at December 31, 2022. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents was a result of an increase of $369.6 million in net loans and stock repurchases of $28.7 million, partially offset by an increase in deposits of $278.1 million, an increase in borrowings of $43.0 million and a decrease in securities held-to-maturity of $10.5 million.
Equity securities increased by $61,000, or 0.3%, to $18.1 million at December 31, 2023 from $18.0 million at December 31, 2022. The increase in equity securities was attributable to market appreciation of $61,000 due to market interest rate volatility during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Securities held-to-maturity decreased by $10.5 million, or 39.9%, to $15.9 million at December 31, 2023 from $26.4 million at December 31, 2022 due to the maturity of $10.0 million in U.S. Treasury holdings, the establishment of $137,000 in an allowance for credit losses for held-to-maturity securities, and to maturities and pay-downs of various investment securities.
The allowance for credit losses for held-to-maturity securities totaling $137,000 was established pursuant to the adoption in 2023 of the current expected credit losses model (“CECL”) on held-to-maturity investment securities loss exposures. In this regard, we recognized a one-time credit of $132,000 due to the adoption of CECL at January 1, 2023 and a provision for credit loss totaling $5,000 during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Loans, net of the allowance for credit losses, increased by $369.6 million, or 30.5%, to $1.6 billion at December 31, 2023 from $1.2 billion at December 31, 2022. The increase in loans, net of the allowance for credit losses, was primarily due to loan originations of $815.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, consisting primarily of $703.4 million in construction loans with respect to which approximately 38.4% of the funds were disbursed at loan closings, with the remaining funds to be disbursed over the terms of the construction loans. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2023, we originated $70.7 million in multi-family loans, $26.6 million in commercial and industrial loans, $11.3 million in mixed-use loans, and $3.8 million in non-residential loans.
Loan originations during 2023 resulted in a net increase of $288.8 million in construction loans, $75.5 million in multi-family loans, $7.7 million in mixed-use loans, $1.0 million in commercial and industrial loans, and $694,000 in consumer loans. The increase in our loan portfolio was partially offset by decreases of $4.2 million in non-residential loans, and $215,000 in residential loans, coupled with normal pay-downs and principal reductions.
The allowance for credit losses related to loans decreased to $5.1 million as of December 31, 2023 from $5.5 million as of December 31, 2022. The decrease in the allowance for credit losses related to loans was due to a one-time decrease of $1.6 million due to the adoption of CECL at January 1, 2023 and charge-offs of $313,000, partially offset by provision for credit losses totaling $1.5 million.
Premises and equipment decreased by $611,000, or 2.3%, to $25.5 million at December 31, 2023 from $26.1 million at December 31, 2022 primarily due to the depreciation of fixed assets.
Investments in Federal Home Loan Bank stock decreased by $309,000, or 25.0%, to $929,000 at December 31, 2023 from $1.2 million at December 31, 2022 due primarily to the mandatory redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank stock in connection with the maturity of $7.0 million in advances in 2023.
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Bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) decreased by $814,000, or 3.1%, to $25.1 million at December 31, 2023 from $25.9 million at December 31, 2022 due to two death claims totaling $1.8 million on BOLI policies, partially offset by increases in the BOLI cash value.
Accrued interest receivable increased by $3.7 million, or 43.2%, to $12.3 million at December 31, 2023 from $8.6 million at December 31, 2022 due to an increase in the loan portfolio and interest rate increases in 2023 that resulted in an increase in the interest rates on loans in our construction loan portfolio.
The agreement to sell all of the Bank’s assets relating to Harbor West Wealth Management Group to a third party was executed in December 2023, with the transaction closing in January 2024. As a result, goodwill decreased to zero at December 31, 2023 from $200,000 at December 31, 2022.
Foreclosed real estate was $1.5 million at both December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
Right of use assets — operating increased by $2.3 million, or 97.5%, to $4.6 million at December 31, 2023 from $2.3 million at December 31, 2022, primarily due to the leasing of additional space to support the current and anticipated future operations of the Company.
Other assets increased by $2.7 million, or 50.7%, to $8.0 million at December 31, 2023 from $5.3 million at December 31, 2022 due to an increase in tax assets of $2.2 million and an increase in suspense accounts of $484,000.
Total deposits increased by $278.1 million, or 24.8%, to $1.4 billion at December 31, 2023 from $1.1 billion at December 31, 2022. The increase in deposits was due to the Bank offering competitive interest rates to attract deposits. This resulted in a shift in deposits whereby certificates of deposit increased by $378.8 million, or 98.7% and NOW/money market accounts increased by $56.7 million, or 64.3%, partially offset by decreases in savings account balances of $81.2 million, or 29.7%, and non-interest bearing demand deposits of $76.1 million, or 20.2%.
Federal Home Loan Bank advances decreased by $7.0 million, or 33.3%, to $14.0 million at December 31, 2023 from $21.0 million at December 31, 2022 due to the maturity of borrowings in 2023. Federal Reserve Bank borrowings increased to $50.0 million at December 31, 2023 from no such borrowings outstanding at December 31, 2022.
Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance decreased by $349,000, or 14.7%, to $2.0 million at December 31, 2023 from $2.4 million at December 31, 2022 due primarily to remittance of real estate tax payments for our borrowers.
Lease liability – operating increased by $2.3 million, or 95.7%, to $4.6 million at December 31, 2023 from $2.4 million at December 31, 2022, primarily due to the leasing of additional space to support the current and anticipated future operations of the Company.
Accounts payable and accrued expenses decreased by $1.2 million, or 8.1%, to $13.6 million at December 31, 2023 from $14.8 million at December 31, 2022 due primarily to a decrease in suspense accounts for loan closings of $2.7 million and a decrease in accounts payable of $132,000, partially offset by increases in the allowance for credit losses for off-balance sheet commitments of $1.0 million, deferred compensation of $102,000, accrued interest expense of $102,000, and accrued expense of $89,000.
The allowance for credit losses for off-balance sheet commitments was $1.0 million at December 31, 2023 due to a one-time credit of $1.6 million resulting from the adoption of CECL at January 1, 2023, partially offset by a provision for credit loss reduction totaling $548,000 during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Stockholders’ equity increased by $17.3 million, or 6.6% to $279.3 million at December 31, 2023, from $262.0 million at December 31, 2022. The increase in stockholders’ equity was due to net income of $46.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, $1.7 million in the amortization of restricted stock and stock options granted under the Company’s 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, a reduction of $869,000 in unearned employee stock ownership plan shares coupled with an increase of $445,000 in earned employee stock ownership plan shares, and $161,000 in other
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comprehensive income, partially offset by stock repurchases totaling $28.7 million, dividends paid and declared of $3.3 million, and a one-time adjustment to retained earnings of $99,000 due to the adoption of CECL.
Loans
Our loan portfolio consists primarily of construction loans, commercial and industrial loans, multifamily and mixed-use residential real estate loans and non-residential real estate loans. We also have a limited amount of one- to four-family residential real estate loans, which we no longer originate, and consumer loans, which we originate on a very limited basis.
The following table shows the loan portfolio at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | 2023 | | 2022 | |||||||
| | | Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent | ||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | |||||||
| One- to four-family | | $ | 5,252 | 0.33 | % | $ | 5,467 | 0.45 | % | ||
| Multifamily | | 198,927 | 12.54 | | 123,385 | 10.14 | | ||||
| Mixed-use | | 29,643 | 1.87 | | 21,902 | 1.80 | | ||||
| Total residential real estate loans | | 233,822 | 14.74 | | 150,754 | 12.39 | | ||||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 21,130 | 1.33 | | 25,324 | 2.08 | | ||||
| Construction loans | | 1,219,413 | 76.85 | | 930,628 | 76.45 | | ||||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 111,116 | 7.00 | | 110,069 | 9.04 | | ||||
| Consumer loans | | 1,240 | 0.08 | | 546 | 0.04 | | ||||
| Total loans | | 1,586,721 | 100.00 | % | 1,217,321 | 100.00 | % | ||||
| Allowance for credit losses | | (5,093) | | | (5,474) | | |||||
| Deferred loan costs, net | | 176 | | | 372 | | |||||
| Loans, net | | $ | 1,581,804 | | | | $ | 1,212,219 | |
Loan Maturity. The following table sets forth certain information at December 31, 2023 regarding the dollar amount of loan principal repayments becoming due during the periods indicated. The tables do not include any estimate of prepayments which significantly shorten the average life of all loans and may cause our actual repayment experience
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to differ from that shown below. Demand loans having no stated schedule of repayments and no stated maturity are reported as due in one year or less.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | | | Non- | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
| | | One- to | | | | | | | | Residential | | | | | Commercial | | | | | | | |||
| | | Four- | | Multi- | | Mixed- | | Real | | | | | and | | | | | Total | ||||||
| December 31, 2023 | Family | Family | Use | Estate | Construction | Industrial | Consumer | Loans | ||||||||||||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts due in: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||
| One year or less | | $ | — | | $ | 1,657 | | $ | 973 | | $ | 1,558 | | $ | 788,107 | | $ | 94,392 | | $ | 1,238 | | $ | 887,925 |
| More than 1-5 years | | | 2,111 | | | 113,462 | | | 9,509 | | | 12,461 | | | 431,306 | | | 10,668 | | | 2 | | | 579,519 |
| More than 5-15 years | | | 346 | | | 81,235 | | | 19,161 | | | 7,111 | | | — | | | 6,056 | | | — | | | 113,909 |
| More than 15 years | | | 2,795 | | | 2,573 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 5,368 |
| Total | | $ | 5,252 | | $ | 198,927 | | $ | 29,643 | | $ | 21,130 | | $ | 1,219,413 | | $ | 111,116 | | $ | 1,240 | | $ | 1,586,721 |
The following table sets forth all loans at December 31, 2023 that are due after December 31, 2024 and have either fixed interest rates or floating or adjustable interest rates:
| | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | Floating or | Total at | |||||
| | | Fixed Rates | | Adjustable Rates | | December 31, 2023 | |||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||||
| One- to four-family | | $ | 3,141 | | $ | 2,111 | | $ | 5,252 |
| Multifamily | | 128,520 | | 68,750 | | 197,270 | |||
| Mixed-use | | 5,268 | | 23,402 | | 28,670 | |||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 8,479 | | 11,093 | | 19,572 | |||
| Construction loans | | — | | 431,306 | | 431,306 | |||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 14,577 | | 2,147 | | 16,724 | |||
| Consumer loans | | 2 | | — | | 2 | |||
| Total | | $ | 159,987 | | $ | 538,809 | | $ | 698,796 |
Securities
Our investment portfolio consists primarily of mutual funds, residential mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae primarily with stated final maturities of 10 years or more, and municipal securities with maturities of one year or more.
The following table sets forth the stated maturities and weighted average yields of investment securities at December 31, 2023. Weighted average yields on tax-exempt securities are presented on a tax equivalent basis using a combined federal and state marginal rate of 28.5%. Certain securities have adjustable interest rates and will reprice monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually within the various maturity ranges. Equity securities are not included in the table based on lack of a maturity date. The table presents contractual maturities for mortgage-backed securities and does not reflect repricing or the effect of prepayments.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | | Due after One but within | | Due after Five but within | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
| | | Due within One Year | | Five Years | | Ten Years | | Due after Ten Years | | Total | | |||||||||||||||
| | | | Weighted | | Weighted | | Weighted | | Weighted | | Weighted | |||||||||||||||
| | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | ||||||
| December 31, 2023 | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | ||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Securities held-to-maturity: | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | | $ | 4 | 6.29 | % | $ | 5 | 3.71 | % | $ | 1,187 | 1.91 | % | $ | 2,109 | 2.09 | % | $ | 3,305 | 2.03 | % | |||||
| U.S. agency collateralized mortgage obligations | | | — | — | | | — | — | | | — | — | | | 2,889 | 1.50 | | | 2,889 | 1.50 | | |||||
| Municipal bonds | | | 708 | 1.61 | | | 2,019 | 1.80 | | | 1,685 | 1.45 | | | 5,390 | 1.46 | | | 9,802 | 1.54 | | |||||
| Total held-to-maturity | | $ | 712 | 1.64 | % | $ | 2,024 | 1.80 | % | $ | 2,872 | 1.64 | % | $ | 10,388 | 1.60 | % | $ | 15,996 | 1.63 | % | |||||
| Total investment securities | | $ | 712 | 1.64 | % | $ | 2,024 | 1.80 | % | $ | 2,872 | 1.64 | % | $ | 10,388 | 1.60 | % | $ | 15,996 | 1.63 | % |
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Deposits
Deposits are a major source of our funds for lending and other investment purposes, and our deposits are provided primarily by individuals within our market area. In addition, we rely on brokered, listing and military deposits, which represent a viable and cost effective addition to our deposit gathering and maintenance strategy, often at a lower “all-in” cost when compared to our retail branch network. Use of these types of deposits allows us to match the maturity of these deposits to the term of our construction loans. The following table sets forth the deposits as a percentage of total deposits for the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| | | 2023 | | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| | | Average | | | | | Average | | | | | ||||||
| | | Outstanding | | | | | Average | | Outstanding | | | | | Average | |||
| | Balance | Percent | Rate | Balance | Percent | Rate | |||||||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
| Demand deposits: | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
| Non-interest bearing | | $ | 322,185 | | | 25.18% | — | | $ | 355,118 | | | 36.31% | — | | ||
| NOW and money market | | 93,426 | | | 7.30% | 3.07% | | 108,077 | | | 11.05% | 0.95% | | ||||
| Total | | | 415,611 | | | 32.48% | | 1.00% | | | 463,195 | | | 47.36% | | 0.18% | |
| Savings accounts | | 248,755 | | | 19.44% | 2.71% | | 228,811 | | | 23.40% | 2.68% | | ||||
| Certificates of deposit | | 615,124 | | | 48.08% | 4.62% | | 285,991 | | | 29.24% | 2.52% | | ||||
| Total | | $ | 1,279,490 | | | 100.00% | 3.20% | | $ | 977,997 | | | 100.00% | 1.59% | |
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the aggregate amount of uninsured deposits (deposits in amounts greater than or equal to $250,000, which is the maximum amount for federal deposit insurance) was $344.8 million and $672.8 million, respectively. In addition, as of December 31, 2023, the aggregate amount of all our uninsured certificates of deposit was $178.1 million. We have no deposits that are uninsured for any reason other than being in excess of the maximum amount for federal deposit insurance.
The following table sets forth the portion of the Bank’s certificates of deposit, by remaining time until maturity, that are in excess of the FDIC insurance limit as of December 31, 2023:
| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| | At | ||
| | | December 31, 2023 | |
| | | (In thousands) | |
| Maturity Period: | | ||
| Three months or less | | $ | 70,969 |
| Over three through six months | | 23,029 | |
| Over six through twelve months | | 58,365 | |
| Over twelve months | | 25,749 | |
| Total | | $ | 178,112 |
Average Balance Sheets
The following tables set forth average balance sheets, average yields and costs, and certain other information for the years indicated. No tax-equivalent yield adjustments have been made, as the effects would be immaterial. All average balances are daily average balances. Non-accrual loans were included in the computation of average balances. The yields set forth below include the effect of deferred fees, discounts, and premiums that are amortized or accreted to
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interest income or interest expense. Deferred loan fees totaled $176,000 and $372,000 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Loan balances exclude loans held for sale.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended December 31, | | | |||||||||||||||||
| | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | |||||||||||||||
| | | Average | | | | | Average | | | | | ||||||||||
| | | Outstanding | | | | | | Average | | | Outstanding | | | | | | Average | | | ||
| | | Balance | | | Interest | | Yield/Rate | | | Balance | | | Interest | | Yield/Rate | | |||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest-earning assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Loans receivable | | $ | 1,401,492 | | | $ | 127,486 | 9.10 | % | | $ | 1,054,577 | | | $ | 69,992 | 6.64 | % | | ||
| Securities | | | 37,819 | | | | 777 | 2.05 | | | | 42,771 | | | | 681 | 1.59 | | | ||
| Federal Home Loan Bank stock | | | 984 | | | | 82 | 8.33 | | | | 1,299 | | | | 69 | 5.31 | | | ||
| Other interest-earning assets | | | 76,542 | | | | 4,143 | 5.41 | | | | 101,999 | | | | 1,260 | 1.24 | | | ||
| Total interest-earning assets | | | 1,516,837 | | | | 132,488 | 8.73 | | | | 1,200,646 | | | | 72,002 | 6.00 | | | ||
| Allowance for credit losses | | | (4,676) | | | | | | | | | | (5,387) | | | | | | | | |
| Noninterest-earning assets | | | 84,287 | | | | | | | | | 79,835 | | | | | | | | | |
| Total assets | | $ | 1,596,448 | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,275,094 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest-bearing liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest-bearing demand deposits | | $ | 93,426 | | | $ | 2,459 | | 2.63 | % | | $ | 108,077 | | | $ | 918 | | 0.85 | % | |
| Savings and club accounts | | | 248,755 | | | | 6,777 | | 2.72 | | | | 228,811 | | | | 2,688 | | 1.17 | | |
| Certificates of deposit | | | 615,124 | | | | 24,945 | | 4.06 | | | | 285,991 | | | | 3,938 | | 1.38 | | |
| Interest-bearing deposits | | | 957,305 | | | | 34,181 | | 3.57 | | | | 622,879 | | | | 7,544 | 1.21 | | | |
| Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other | | | 29,007 | | | | 1,116 | | 3.85 | | | | 22,247 | | | | 583 | | 2.62 | | |
| Total interest-bearing liabilities | | | 986,312 | | | $ | 35,297 | | 3.58 | | | | 645,126 | | | $ | 8,127 | 1.26 | | | |
| Noninterest-bearing demand deposits | | | 322,185 | | | | | | | | | | 355,118 | | | | | | | | |
| Other noninterest-bearing liabilities | | | 17,139 | | | | | | | | | | 16,137 | | | | | | | | |
| Total liabilities | | | 1,325,636 | | | | | | | | | | 1,016,381 | | | | | | | | |
| Total shareholders’ equity | | | 270,812 | | | | | | | | | | 258,713 | | | | | | | | |
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | | $ | 1,596,448 | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,275,094 | | | | | | | | |
| Net interest income | | | | | | $ | 97,191 | | | | | | | | | $ | 63,875 | | | | |
| Net interest rate spread (1) | | | | | | | | | 5.15 | % | | | | | | | | | 4.74 | % | |
| Net interest margin (3) | | | | | | | | | 6.41 | % | | | | | | | | | 5.32 | % | |
| Net interest-earning assets (2) | | $ | 530,525 | | | | | | | | | $ | 555,520 | | | | | | | | |
| Average interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities | | | 153.79 | % | | | | | | | | | 186.11 | % | | | | | | | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average rate of interest-bearing liabilities. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (2) | Net interest-earning assets represent total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (3) | Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets. |
Rate/Volume Analysis
The following table sets forth the effects of changing rates and volumes on our net interest income. The rate column shows the effects attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume). The volume column shows the effects attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate). The total column represents the sum of the prior columns. or purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume,
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which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately based on the changes due to rate and the changes due to volume.
| | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended 12/31/2023 | |||||||
| | | Compared to | |||||||
| | | Year Ended 12/31/2022 | |||||||
| | | Increase (Decrease) | |||||||
| | | Due to | |||||||
| | Volume | Rate | Total | ||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||
| Interest income: | | | | ||||||
| Loans receivable | | $ | 27,037 | | $ | 30,457 | | $ | 57,494 |
| Securities | | (85) | | 181 | | 96 | |||
| Federal Home Loan Bank stock | | | (20) | | | 33 | | | 13 |
| Other interest-earning assets | | (388) | | 3,271 | | 2,883 | |||
| Total | | $ | 26,544 | | $ | 33,942 | | $ | 60,486 |
| Interest expense: | | | | | |||||
| Interest bearing demand deposit | | $ | (140) | | $ | 1,681 | | $ | 1,541 |
| Savings accounts | | 253 | | 3,836 | | 4,089 | |||
| Certificates of deposits | | 7,809 | | 13,198 | | 21,007 | |||
| Borrowed money | | 210 | | 323 | | 533 | |||
| Total | | 8,132 | | 19,038 | | 27,170 | |||
| Net change in net interest income | | $ | 18,412 | | $ | 14,904 | | $ | 33,316 |
Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
Financial Highlights
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $46.3 million compared to net income of $24.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2023 was greater than the year ended December 31, 2022 primarily due to an increase in net interest income and an increase in non-interest income, partially offset by an increase in provision for credit losses expense, an increase in non-interest expenses, and an increase in income tax expense.
Summary Income Statements
The following table sets forth the income summary for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | Change Fiscal 2023/2022 | ||||
| | 2023 | 2022 | $ | % | ||||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Net interest income | | $ | 97,191 | | $ | 63,875 | | $ | 33,316 | | 52.16 | % |
| Provision for credit losses | | 972 | | 439 | | 533 | | 121.41 | % | |||
| Non-interest income | | 3,743 | | 1,683 | | 2,060 | | 122.40 | % | |||
| Non-interest expenses | | 35,221 | | 30,690 | | 4,531 | | 14.76 | % | |||
| Income tax expense | | 18,465 | | 9,586 | | 8,879 | | 92.62 | % | |||
| Net income | | $ | 46,276 | | $ | 24,843 | | $ | 21,433 | | 86.27 | % |
| Return on average assets | | 2.90 | % | 1.95 | % | | | | ||||
| Return on average equity | | 17.09 | % | 9.60 | % | | | |
Net Interest Income
Net interest income totaled $97.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $63.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in net interest income of $33.3 million, or 52.2%, was primarily
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due to an increase in interest income that exceeded an increase in interest expense in a manner consistent with the increase in interest rates attributable to the Federal Reserve’s rate increases during the year ended December 31, 2023.
The increase in net interest income was also due to increases in the average balances of loans, partially offset by decreases in the average balances of interest-earning deposits at other financial institutions, investment securities, and Federal Home Loan Bank stock as we continued to grow the Company by leveraging the proceeds raised in our July 2021 second-step conversion.
The increase in market interest rates in 2023 also caused an increase in our interest expense. As a result, the increase in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2023 was due to an increase in the cost of funds on our deposits and our borrowed money. The increase in interest expense was also due to increases in the average balances on our certificates of deposits, our savings and club deposits, and our borrowed money, offset by a decrease in the average balances on our interest-bearing demand deposits.
Total interest and dividend income increased by $60.5 million, or 84.0%, to $132.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $72.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in interest and dividend income was due to an increase in the average balance of interest earning assets of $316.2 million, or 26.3%, to $1.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $1.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2022 and an increase in the yield on interest earning assets by 273 basis points from 6.00% for the year ended December 31, 2022 to 8.73% for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Interest expense increased by $27.2 million, or 334.3%, to $35.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $8.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in interest expense was due to an increase in the cost of interest bearing liabilities by 232 basis points from 1.26% for the year ended December 31, 2022 to 3.58% for the year ended December 31, 2023, and an increase in average interest bearing liabilities of $341.2 million, or 52.9%, to $986.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $645.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The increase in the cost of interest bearing liabilities was also partially due to a shift to interest bearing certificates of deposits and savings accounts from interest bearing demand deposits as the average balances of interest bearing certificates of deposits increased by $329.1 million, or 115.1%, from $286.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to $615.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the average balances of savings accounts increased by $19.9 million, or 8.7%, from $228.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to $248.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. During the same time period, the average balances of interest bearing demand deposits decreased by $14.7 million, or 13.7%, from $108.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to $93.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in the average balances of interest bearing certificates of deposits was primarily due to the funding of the loan portfolio growth.
In addition, the average balances of our non-interest bearing demand deposits decreased by $32.9 million, or 9.3%, from $355.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to $322.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Net interest margin increased by 109 basis points, or 20.5%, for the year ended December 31, 2023 to 6.41% compared to 5.32% for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in the net interest margin was due to an increase in the net interest income of $33.3 million, or 52.2%, partially offset by an increase in the average balance of interest earning assets of $316.2 million, or 26.3%.
Credit Loss Expense. A provision for credit losses of $972,000 was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to $439,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The credit loss expense of $972,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 was comprised of credit loss expense for loans of $1.5 million and credit loss expense for held-to-maturity investment securities of $5,000, partially offset by a credit loss expense reduction for off-balance sheet commitments of $548,000. The credit loss expense of $439,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily attributable to the charge-offs totaling $414,000 against the sale of four loans and charge-offs of $34,000 against various unpaid overdrafts in our demand deposit accounts.
We charged-off $313,000 during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to charge-offs of $449,000 during the year ended December 31, 2022. The charge-offs of $313,000 during the year ended December 31, 2023 were comprised of a charge-off of $159,000 related to three performing construction loans on the same project whereby we
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sold the loans to a third-party at a loss of $159,000, as well as charge-offs of $154,000 against various unpaid overdrafts in our demand deposit accounts.
The charge-offs of $449,000 during the year ended December 31, 2022 were comprised of a $328,000 charge-off against one construction project in connection with the sale of the project’s two non-performing loans to a third party precipitated by legal action between the two partners/borrowers in the project, an $86,000 charge-off against two mixed-use loans to a borrower in connection with the sale of the two performing troubled debt restructured loans to a third party, and $35,000 charge-offs against various unpaid overdrafts in our demand deposit accounts.
We recorded no recoveries from previously charged-off loans during the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to recoveries of $242,000 during the year ended December 31, 2022, which was comprised of $146,000 from a previously charged-off loan secured by a multi-family property, $53,000 from a previously charged-off loan secured by a non-residential property, and $43,000 regarding a previously charged-off loan secured by a mixed-use property.
Based on a review of our loan portfolio, held-to-maturity investment securities, and off-balance sheet commitments at December 31, 2023, management believes that the allowance is maintained at a level that represents its best estimate of expected future losses in the loan portfolio, held-to-maturity investment securities, and off-balance sheet commitments that were both probable and reasonably estimable.
Management uses available information to establish the appropriate level of the allowance for credit losses. Future additions or reductions to the allowance may be necessary based on estimates that are susceptible to change as a result of changes in economic conditions and other factors. As a result, our allowance for credit losses may not be sufficient to cover actual loan losses, and future provisions for credit losses could materially adversely affect our operating results. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review our allowance for credit losses. Such agencies may require us to recognize adjustments to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.
Non-Interest Income
The following table sets forth a summary of non-interest income for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Year Ended December 31, | |||||
| | 2023 | 2022 | ||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||
| Other loan fees and service charges | | $ | 1,891 | | $ | 1,994 |
| (Loss) gain on disposition of equipment | | (18) | | 98 | ||
| Earnings on bank-owned life insurance | | 1,013 | | 604 | ||
| Investment advisory fees | | 458 | | 474 | ||
| Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities | | 294 | | (1,573) | ||
| Other | | 105 | | 86 | ||
| Total | | $ | 3,743 | | $ | 1,683 |
The increase in total non-interest income was primarily due to an increase of $1.9 million in unrealized gain in our equity securities, an increase of $409,000 in BOLI income, and an increase of $19,000 in other non-interest income. These were partially offset by a decrease of $116,000 in gain/loss on sale of fixed assets, a decrease of $103,000 in loan fees and service charges, and a decrease of $16,000 in investment advisory fees.
The increase of $1.9 million in unrealized gain on equity was due to an unrealized gain of $294,000 on equity securities during the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to an unrealized loss of $1.6 million on equity securities during the year ended December 31, 2022. The unrealized gain of $294,000 on equity securities during 2023 was due to market interest rate volatility during the year ended December 31, 2023.
The increase of $409,000 in BOLI income was primarily due to two death claims totaling $1.8 million on BOLI policies that resulted in additional BOLI income of $404,000 during the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase of $19,000 in other non-interest income was due to an increase in miscellaneous income from our branch operations.
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The decrease of $116,000 in gain/loss on sale of fixed assets was due to a loss of $18,000 on sale of fixed assets in 2023 compared to a gain of $98,000 on sale of fixed assets in 2022. The decrease of $103,000 in other loan fees and service charges was due to a decrease of $174,000 in other loan fees and loan servicing fees and a decrease of $10,000 in deposit account fees, partially offset by an increase of $81,000 in ATM/debit card/ACH fees. The decrease in investment advisory fees was due to a decrease in assets under management of Harbor West, our former wealth management division, and a decrease in commission income from Harbor West due to market conditions.
Non-Interest Expense
The following table sets forth an analysis of non-interest expense for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Year Ended December 31, | |||||
| | | 2023 | | 2022 | ||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||
| Salaries and employee benefits | | $ | 18,839 | | $ | 15,549 |
| Occupancy expense | | 2,595 | | 2,428 | ||
| Equipment | | 1,055 | | 1,107 | ||
| Outside data processing | | 2,210 | | 1,886 | ||
| Advertising | | 521 | | 299 | ||
| Impairment loss on goodwill | | — | | 451 | ||
| Loss on disposition of business | | | 138 | | | — |
| Real estate owned expense | | 93 | | 623 | ||
| Other | | 9,770 | | 8,347 | ||
| Total | | $ | 35,221 | | $ | 30,690 |
Non-interest expense increased by $4.5 million, or 14.8%, to $35.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $30.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase resulted primarily from increases of $3.3 million in salaries and employee benefits, $1.4 million in other operating expense, $324,000 in outside data processing expense, $222,000 in advertising expense, $167,000 in occupancy expense, and $138,000 in loss on the disposition of the Bank’s assets relating to the Harbor West Wealth Management Group, partially offset by decreases of $530,000 in real estate owned expense, $451,000 in goodwill impairment charges, and $52,000 in equipment expense.
Salaries and employee benefits increased by $3.3 million, or 21.2%, to $18.8 million in 2023 from $15.5 million in 2022 primarily due to the hiring of additional personnel to support the growth of the Company, the amortization of expenses related to the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan awards of restricted stocks and options, and a decrease in loan origination expenses related to loan origination fees due to a decrease in loan originations.
Other non-interest expense increased by $1.4 million, or 17.0%, to $9.8 million in 2023 from $8.3 million in 2022 due mainly to increases of $1.2 million in miscellaneous other non-interest expense, $331,000 in service contracts expense, $216,000 in directors compensation, $62,000 in telephone expense, $30,000 in office supplies, and $24,000 in insurance expense. These increases were partially offset by decreases of $170,000 in consulting fees, $148,000 in legal fees, $69,000 in audit and accounting fees, $63,000 in expenses related to the hiring of personnel, and $7,000 in directors, officers, and employee expenses.
The increase of $1.2 million in miscellaneous other non-interest expense was mainly due to an increase of $1.0 million in regulatory insurance premiums and assessments due to an increase in our total assets and an increase of $242,000 in dues and subscriptions.
Outside data processing expense increased by $324,000, or 17.2%, to $2.2 million in 2023 from $1.9 million in 2022 due to an increase in transactions and additional services required in 2023 to support the Company’s expansion. Advertising expense increased by $222,000, or 74.2%, to $521,000 in 2023 from $299,000 in 2022 due mainly to the resumption of advertising to promote interest rates offered on our deposit products. Occupancy expense increased by $167,000, or 6.9%, to $2.6 million in 2023 from $2.4 million in 2022 primarily as a result of the increased cost of operating office space.
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Real estate owned expense decreased by $530,000, or 85.1%, to $93,000 in 2023 from $623,000 in 2022 due to the write down of $540,000 in the value of the one foreclosed property in 2022, partially offset by an increase of $10,000 in operating expenses to maintain the one real estate owned property in 2023. The write down of $540,000 on the fair market value of a foreclosed property in 2022 was due to the increase in interest rates resulting in an increase in the capitalization rate thereby reducing the calculated fair market value of the property.
Equipment expense decreased by $52,000, or 4.7%, to $1.1 million in 2023 from $1.1 million in 2022 due to a reduced need to purchase additional equipment in 2023.
There was no goodwill impairment expense in 2023 compared to a goodwill impairment expense of $451,000 in 2022. The goodwill was recorded in connection with the acquisition of Harbor West Financial Planning Wealth Management Group in 2007, which then operated as a division of the Bank until January 2024, when the Bank sold all assets related to Harbor West and discontinued offering wealth management services. The goodwill impairment in 2022 was caused primarily by the expected decrease in revenue from this division due to a decrease in clients and the resulting decrease in assets under management.
Income Taxes. The Company recorded income tax expense of $18.5 million and $9.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $1.1 million in tax exempt income, compared to approximately $740,000 in tax exempt income for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company’s effective income tax rates were 28.5% and 27.8% for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Risk Management
Overview
Managing risk is an essential part of successfully managing a financial institution. Our most prominent risk exposures are credit risk, interest rate risk and market risk. Credit risk is the risk of not collecting the interest and/or the principal balance of a loan or investment when it is due. Interest rate risk is the potential reduction of interest income as a result of changes in interest rates. Market risk arises from fluctuations in interest rates that may result in changes in the values of financial instruments, such as available-for-sale securities that are accounted for at fair value. Other risks that we face are operational risk, liquidity risk and reputation risk. Operational risk includes risks related to fraud, regulatory compliance, processing errors, technology, and disaster recovery. Liquidity risk is the possible inability to fund obligations to depositors, lenders or borrowers. Reputation risk is the risk that negative publicity or press, whether true or not, could cause a decline in our customer base or revenue.
Management of Credit Risk
The objective of our credit risk management strategy is to quantify and manage credit risk and to limit the risk of loss resulting from an individual customer default. Our credit risk management strategy focuses on conservatism, an excellent knowledge of the communities we lend in, and significant levels of monitoring. Our lending practices include conservative exposure limits and underwriting, extensive documentation and collection standards. Our credit risk management strategy also emphasizes diversification at the borrower level as well as regular credit examinations, continuous site visits by executive management and management reviews of large credit exposures and credits that might experience deterioration of credit quality.
As part of its risk management process, the Bank conducts stress testing on its commercial real estate portfolio, performs a global cash flow analysis for loans associated with multiple properties and/or guarantors and also operates a loan review program for all real estate loans (including construction loans) with terms more than 12 months. In addition, we track our board approved limits for each commercial real estate category on a monthly basis.
Analysis of Non-Performing, Troubled Debt Restructurings and Classified Assets.
Classified Assets. FDIC regulations and our Asset Classification Policy provide that loans and other assets considered to be of lesser quality be classified as “substandard,” “doubtful” or “loss” assets. An asset is considered “substandard” if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the
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collateral pledged, if any. “Substandard” assets include those characterized by the “distinct possibility” that the institution will sustain “some loss” if the deficiencies are not corrected. Assets classified as “doubtful” have all of the weaknesses inherent in those classified as “substandard,” with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make “collection or liquidation in full,” on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, “highly questionable and improbable.” Assets classified as “loss” are those considered “uncollectible” and of such little value that their continuance as assets without the establishment of a specific loss reserve is not warranted. We classify an asset as “special mention” if the asset has a potential weakness that warrants management’s escalated level of attention. While such assets are not impaired, management has concluded that if the potential weakness in the asset is not addressed, the value of the asset may deteriorate, adversely affecting the repayment of the asset. Loans classified as impaired for financial reporting purposes are generally those loans classified as substandard or doubtful for regulatory reporting purposes.
An insured institution is required to establish allowances for credit losses in an amount deemed prudent by management for loans classified as substandard or doubtful, as well as for other problem loans. General allowances represent loss allowances which have been established to recognize the inherent losses associated with lending activities, but which, unlike specific allowances, have not been allocated to particular problem assets. When an insured institution classifies problem assets as “loss,” it is required to charge off such amounts. An institution’s determination as to the classification of its assets and the amount of its valuation allowances is subject to review by the FDIC.
The following table sets forth information with respect to our non-performing assets at the dates indicated.
| | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||||
| | 2023 | | 2022 | |||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||
| Total non-accrual loans | | $ | 4,385 | | | $ | — | |
| Total accruing loans past due 90 days or more | | | — | | | — | | |
| Total non-performing loans | | | 4,385 | | | — | | |
| Real estate owned | | | 1,456 | | | 1,456 | | |
| Total non-performing assets | | $ | 5,841 | | | $ | 1,456 | |
| Total non-performing loans to total loans | | 0.37 | % | | — | % | ||
| Total non-performing assets to total assets | | 0.33 | % | | 0.10 | % |
During the year ended December 31, 2023, non-performing assets increased by $4.4 million, or 301.2%, to $5.8 million from $1.5 million as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2023, we had two non-performing, non-accrual construction loans totaling $4.4 million secured by the same project located in the Bronx, New York. At December 31, 2022, we had no non-performing, non-accrual loans. The other non-performing assets consisted of one foreclosed property at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
In 2023, we collected no interest income from loans that were in non-accrual status in 2023. In 2022, we collected no interest income from loans that were in non-accrual status in 2022.
From time to time, as part of our loss mitigation strategy, we may modifies loans to borrowers in financial distress by providing principal forgiveness, term extension, an other-than-insignificant payment delay, or interest rate reduction. When principal forgiveness is provided, the amount of forgiveness is charged-off against the allowance for credit losses. There were no new loan modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties during the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
At December 31, 2023, we had no loans modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. At December 31, 2022, we had two modified loans with an aggregate balance of $855,000 to one borrower and secured by two adjacent mixed-use properties but were performing in accordance with their restructured terms for the requisite period of time (generally at least six consecutive months) to be returned to accrual status. We subsequently sold these two loans to a third party in January 2023 at a loss of $86,000.
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The following table summarizes classified and criticized assets of all portfolio types at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||
| | 2023 | 2022 | ||||
| | | (In thousands) | ||||
| Classified loans: | | | | |||
| Substandard | | $ | 4,385 | | $ | 855 |
| Doubtful | | — | | — | ||
| Loss | | — | | — | ||
| Total classified loans | | 4,385 | | 855 | ||
| Special mention | | 915 | | 946 | ||
| Total criticized loans | | $ | 5,300 | | $ | 1,801 |
On the basis of management’s review of our assets, we had two loans totaling $4.4 million classified as substandard at December 31, 2023 compared to two loans totaling $855,000 classified as substandard at December 31, 2022. In addition, we had the same one loan classified as special mention at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, with balances of $915,000 and $946,000, respectively.
There were no assets classified as doubtful or loss at December 31, 2023 or 2022. The loan portfolio is reviewed on a regular basis to determine whether any loans require classification in accordance with applicable regulations. Not all classified assets constitute non-performing assets.
The increase in substandard assets was due to the addition of two non-performing, non-accrual construction loans totaling $4.4 million secured by the same project located in the Bronx, New York, partially offset by the sale to a third-party in January 2023 of two performing mixed-use mortgage loans totaling $855,000 that were classified as TDRs and as substandard.
Delinquent Loans
The following table provides information about delinquencies in our loan portfolio at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| | | 2023 | | 2022 | ||||||||||||||
| | | Days Past Due | | Days Past Due | ||||||||||||||
| | | 30 – 59 | 60 – 89 | 90 or more | 30 – 59 | 60 – 89 | 90 or more | |||||||||||
| | | (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | | | | |||||||||||
| Multi-family | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 946 | | $ | — |
| Consumer loan: | | | 1 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
| Construction loan: | | 2,319 | | — | | 4,385 | | — | | — | | — | ||||||
| Total | | $ | 2,320 | | $ | — | | $ | 4,385 | | $ | — | | $ | 946 | | $ | — |
Analysis and Determination of the Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans
The allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) is a valuation account that reflects management's evaluation of expected future losses in the loan portfolio. We evaluate the need to establish allowances against credit losses on loans on a quarterly basis. When additional allowances are necessary, a provision for credit losses is charged to earnings. The ACL is maintained at a level that management considers adequate to provide for estimated losses and impairment based upon an evaluation of known and inherent risk in the loan portfolio. The ACL consists of two elements: (1) identification of loans that must be individually analyzed for credit loss and (2) establishment of an ACL for loans collectively analyzed.
Individually Analyzed Loans. Management regularly monitors the condition of borrowers and assesses both internal and external factors in determining whether any relationships have deteriorated, considering factors such as historical loss experience, trends in delinquency and non-performing loans, changes in risk composition and underwriting standards, and regional and national economic conditions and trends.
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Our loan officers, loan servicing staff, and internal loan review personnel identify and manage potential problem loans within our mortgage, construction, and commercial and industrial loan portfolio. Non-performing assets within these loan portfolios are transferred to the Special Assets Department for workout or litigation. The Special Assets Department reports directly to the Executive Committee. Changes in management, financial or operating performance, company behavior, industry factors and external events and circumstances are evaluated on an ongoing basis to determine whether potential impairment is evident and additional analysis is needed. For our loan portfolio, risk ratings are assigned to each individual loan to differentiate risk within the portfolio and are reviewed on an ongoing basis by the Internal Loan Review Department and revised, if needed, to reflect the borrower’s current risk profiles and the related collateral positions.
The risk ratings consider factors such as property location, property type, loan duration, debt capacity and coverage ratios, absorption rate and marketability, borrower’s experience, borrower’s financial condition, and borrower’s credit quality. When a credit’s risk rating is downgraded to a certain level, the relationship must be reviewed and detailed reports completed that document risk management strategies for the credit going forward, and the appropriate accounting actions to take in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. When credits are downgraded beyond a certain level, our Special Assets Department becomes responsible for managing the credit risk.
The Executive Committee reviews risk rating actions (specifically downgrades or upgrades between pass and the criticized and classified categories) recommended by Internal Loan Review and/or Special Assets Departments on a quarterly basis. Our Lending, Loan Servicing and Internal Loan Review Departments monitor our mortgage, construction, and commercial and industrial loan portfolios for credit risk and deterioration considering factors such as delinquency, loan to value ratios and credit scores.
When problem loans are identified that are secured with collateral, management examines the loan files to evaluate the nature and type of collateral supporting the loans. Management documents the collateral type, date of the most recent valuation, and whether any liens exist, to determine the value to compare against the committed loan amount. If a loan is identified as impaired and is collateral dependent, an in-house analysis is performed and/or an updated appraisal is obtained to provide a baseline in determining the property’s fair value. A collateral dependent impaired loan is written down to its appraised value and an allowance is established to cover potential selling costs. If the collateral value is subject to significant volatility (due to location of asset, obsolescence, etc.) an appraisal is obtained more frequently. In-house revaluations are typically performed on a quarterly basis and updated appraisals are obtained annually, if determined necessary.
When we determine that the value of an impaired loan is less than its carrying amount, we recognize impairment through a charge-off to the allowance for credit losses. We perform these assessments on an ongoing basis. For mortgage, construction, and commercial and industrial loans, a charge-off is recorded when management determines we will not collect 100% of a loan based on the fair value of the collateral or the net present value of expected future cash flows. The collateral deficiency on consumer loans and residential loans are generally charged-off when deemed to be uncollectible or delinquent 180 days, whichever comes first, unless it can be clearly demonstrated that repayment will occur regardless of the delinquency status. Examples that would demonstrate repayment include a loan that is secured by adequate collateral and is in the process of collection, a loan supported by a valid guarantee or insurance, or a loan supported by a valid claim against a solvent estate.
Collectively Analyzed Loans. Additionally, we reserve for certain inherent, but undetected, losses that are probable within the loan portfolio. This is due to several factors, such as, but not limited to, inherent delays in obtaining information regarding a customer’s financial condition or changes in their unique business conditions and the interpretation of economic trends. While this analysis is conducted at least quarterly, we have the ability to revise the allowance factors whenever necessary to address improving or deteriorating credit quality trends or specific risks associated with a given loan pool classification.
A comprehensive analysis of the allowance for credit losses on loans is performed on a quarterly basis. The entire allowance for credit losses on loans is available to absorb losses in the loan portfolio irrespective of the amount of each separate element of the ACL. Our principal focus, therefore, is on the adequacy of the total allowance for credit losses.
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Although we believe we have established and maintained the ACL on loans at appropriate levels, changes in reserves may be necessary if actual economic and other conditions differ substantially from the forecast used in estimating the ACL. See note 1 to our consolidated financial statements for a detailed discussion of our accounting policies and methodologies for establishing the ACL.
The allowance for credit losses is subject to review by our banking regulators. The FDIC and the New York State Department of Financial Services, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review our allowance for credit losses and make an assessment regarding its adequacy and the methodology employed in its determination. As a result, our banking regulators could require us to increase our allowance for credit losses - loans.
The following table sets forth the breakdown of the allowance for credit losses by loan category at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| | | 2023 | | | 2022 | |||||||||||
| | | | | % of Allowance | % of Loans in | | | | % of Allowance | % of Loans in | ||||||
| | | | | | Amount to Total | | Category to Total | | | | | | Amount to Total | | Category to Total | |
| | | Amount | | Allowance | | Loans | | | Amount | | Allowance | | Loans | |||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | | |||||||||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | | |||||||||||
| One- to four-family | | $ | 44 | 0.86 | % | 0.33 | % | | $ | 11 | 0.20 | % | 0.45 | % | ||
| Multifamily | | 2,186 | 42.92 | 12.54 | | 479 | 8.75 | 10.14 | | |||||||
| Mixed-use | | 203 | 3.99 | 1.87 | | 38 | 0.69 | 1.80 | | |||||||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 126 | 2.47 | 1.33 | | 131 | 2.39 | 2.08 | | |||||||
| Construction loans | | 1,914 | 37.58 | 76.85 | | 3,835 | 70.06 | 76.45 | | |||||||
| Commercial and industrial | | 472 | 9.27 | 7.00 | | 955 | 17.45 | 9.04 | | |||||||
| Consumer loans | | 148 | 2.91 | 0.08 | | 18 | 0.33 | 0.04 | | |||||||
| Total general allowance | | $ | 5,093 | 100.00 | % | 100.00 | % | | $ | 5,467 | 99.87 | % | 100.00 | % | ||
| Unallocated | | — | - | — | | 7 | 0.13 | — | ||||||||
| Total allowance for credit losses | | $ | 5,093 | 100.00 | % | 100.00 | % | | $ | 5,474 | 100.00 | % | 100.00 | % |
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The following table sets forth an analysis of the activity in the allowance for credit losses related to loans for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At or For the Year Ended December 31, | | ||||
| | | 2023 | 2022 | ||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | | ||||
| | | | | | | | |
| Total loans net of deferred fees | | $ | 1,586,897 | | $ | 1,217,693 | |
| Average loans outstanding | | 1,401,492 | | 1,054,577 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Allowance at beginning of period | | $ | 5,474 | | $ | 5,242 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Impact of adopting ASC 326 | | | (1,584) | | | — | |
| Net charge-offs: | | | | ||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||
| One- to four-family | | — | | — | | ||
| Multifamily | | — | | — | | ||
| Mixed-use | | — | | (103) | | ||
| Total residential real estate loans | | — | | (103) | | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | — | | (53) | | ||
| Construction loans | | 159 | | 328 | | ||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | — | | — | | ||
| Consumer loans | | 154 | | 35 | | ||
| Total net charge-offs | | 313 | | 207 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Provision for credit losses | | 1,516 | | 439 | | ||
| Allowance at end of period | | $ | 5,093 | | $ | 5,474 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Average loan outstanding: | | | | ||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||
| One- to four-family | | 5,240 | | 6,213 | | ||
| Multifamily | | 141,836 | | 83,907 | | ||
| Mixed-use | | 28,034 | | 24,333 | | ||
| Total residential real estate loans | | 175,110 | | 114,453 | | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 23,196 | | 33,531 | | ||
| Construction loans | | 1,088,219 | | 795,340 | | ||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 113,908 | | 110,452 | | ||
| Consumer loans | | 1,059 | | 501 | | ||
| Total | | 1,401,492 | | 1,054,277 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans outstanding | | | | ||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||
| One- to four-family | | — | % | — | % | ||
| Multifamily | | — | | — | | ||
| Mixed-use | | — | | (0.42) | | ||
| Total residential real estate loans | | — | | (0.09) | | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | — | | (0.16) | | ||
| Construction loans | | 0.01 | | 0 | | ||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | — | | — | | ||
| Consumer loans | | 14.54 | | 6.99 | | ||
| Total net charge-offs | | 0.02 | % | 0.02 | % | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Credit Quality Ratios: | | | | | | | |
| As a percentage of year-end loans, net of unearned income: | | | | | | | |
| Allowance for credit loss | | 0.32 | % | 0.45 | % | ||
| Nonaccrual loans | | | 0.28 | % | | — | % |
| Nonperforming loans | | | 0.28 | % | | — | % |
| Allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual loans | | 116.15 | % | — | % | ||
| Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans | | 116.15 | % | — | % |
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The allowance for credit losses related to loans decreased by $381,000 to $5.1 million at December 31, 2023 from $5.5 million at December 31, 2022. The decrease in the allowances for credit losses was due primarily to the adoption of CECL which reduced the allowance by $1.6 million and charge-offs totaling $313,000 that comprised of a charge-off of $159,000 related to three performing construction loans on the same project whereby we sold the loans to a third-party at a loss of $159,000 and charge-offs of $154,000 against various unpaid overdrafts in our demand deposit accounts, partially offset by provision for credit losses related to loans totaling $1.5 million at December 31, 2023.
The increase in the provision for credit losses related to loans was due to increases in the construction, multi-family mortgage, mixed-use mortgage, and commercial and industrial loan portfolio, partially offset by a decrease in the non-residential mortgage loan portfolio.
We had no recoveries in 2023 compared to recoveries totaling $241,000 in 2022. Loans evaluated collectively totaled $1.6 billion at December 31, 2023 compared to $1.2 billion at December 31, 2022. Loans evaluated individually totaled $4.4 million at December 31, 2023 compared to $855,000 at December 31, 2022.
The allowance for credit losses related to off-balance sheet commitments of $1.1 million comprised of the adoption of CECL totaling $1.6 million, partially offset by a credit loss expense reduction of $548,000 at December 31, 2023.
The allowance for credit losses related to held-to-maturity of debt securities of $137,000 comprised of the adoption of CECL totaling $132,000 and provision for credit loss expense of $5,000 at December 31, 2023.
Interest Rate Risk Management
Interest rate risk is defined as the exposure to current and future earnings and capital that arises from adverse movements in interest rates. Depending on a bank’s asset/liability structure, adverse movements in interest rates could be either rising or falling interest rates. For example, a bank with predominantly long-term fixed-rate assets and short-term liabilities could have an adverse earnings exposure to a rising rate environment. Conversely, a short-term or variable-rate asset base funded by longer-term liabilities could be negatively affected by falling rates. This is referred to as re-pricing or maturity mismatch risk.
Interest rate risk also arises from changes in the slope of the yield curve (yield curve risk), from imperfect correlations in the adjustment of rates earned and paid on different instruments with otherwise similar re-pricing characteristics (basis risk), and from interest rate related options embedded in our assets and liabilities (option risk).
Our objective is to manage our interest rate risk by determining whether a given movement in interest rates affects our net interest income and the market value of our portfolio equity in a positive or negative way and to execute strategies to maintain interest rate risk within established limits. The results at December 31, 2023 indicate the level of risk within the parameters of our model. Our management believes that the December 31, 2023 results indicate a profile that reflects interest rate risk exposures in both rising and declining rate environments for both net interest income and economic value.
Model Simulation Analysis. We view interest rate risk from two different perspectives. The traditional accounting perspective, which defines and measures interest rate risk as the change in net interest income and earnings caused by a change in interest rates, provides the best view of short-term interest rate risk exposure. We also view interest rate risk from an economic perspective, which defines and measures interest rate risk as the change in the market value of portfolio equity caused by changes in the values of assets and liabilities, which fluctuate due to changes in interest rates. The market value of portfolio equity, also referred to as the economic value of equity, is defined as the present value of future cash flows from existing assets, minus the present value of future cash flows from existing liabilities.
These two perspectives give rise to income simulation and economic value simulation, each of which presents a unique picture of our risk of any movement in interest rates. Income simulation identifies the timing and magnitude of changes in income resulting from changes in prevailing interest rates over a short-term time horizon (usually one or two years). Economic value simulation reflects the interest rate sensitivity of assets and liabilities in a more comprehensive fashion, reflecting all future time periods. It can identify the quantity of interest rate risk as a function of
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the changes in the economic values of assets and liabilities, and the corresponding change in the economic value of equity of the Bank. Both types of simulation assist in identifying, measuring, monitoring and controlling interest rate risk and are employed by management to ensure that variations in interest rate risk exposure will be maintained within policy guidelines.
We produce these simulation reports and discuss them with our management Asset and Liability Committee on a quarterly basis. The simulation reports compare baseline (no interest rate change) to the results of an interest rate shock, to illustrate the specific impact of the interest rate scenario tested on income and equity. The model, which incorporates asset and liability rate information, simulates the effect of various interest rate movements on income and equity value. The reports identify and measure our interest rate risk exposure present in our current asset/liability structure. Management considers both a static (current position) and dynamic (forecast changes in volume) analysis as well as non-parallel and gradual changes in interest rates and the yield curve in assessing interest rate exposures.
If the results produce quantifiable interest rate risk exposure beyond our limits, then the testing will have served as a monitoring mechanism to allow us to initiate asset/liability strategies designed to reduce and therefore mitigate interest rate risk. The table below sets forth an approximation of our interest rate risk exposure. The simulation uses projected repricing of assets and liabilities at December 31, 2023. The income simulation analysis presented represents a one-year impact of the interest scenario assuming a static balance sheet. Various assumptions are made regarding the prepayment speed and optionality of loans, investment securities and deposits, which are based on analysis and market information. The assumptions regarding optionality, such as prepayments of loans and the effective lives and repricing of non-maturity deposit products, are documented periodically through evaluation of current market conditions and historical correlations to our specific asset and liability products under varying interest rate scenarios.
Because the prospective effects of hypothetical interest rate changes are based on a number of assumptions, these computations should not be relied upon as indicative of actual results. While we believe such assumptions to be reasonable, assumed prepayment rates may not approximate actual future prepayment activity on mortgage-backed securities or agency issued collateralized obligations (secured by one- to four-family loans and multifamily loans). Further, the computation does not reflect any actions that management may undertake in response to changes in interest rates and assumes a constant asset base. Management periodically reviews the rate assumptions based on existing and projected economic conditions and consults with industry experts to validate our model and simulation results.
The table below sets forth, as of December 31, 2023, the Bank’s net portfolio value, the estimated changes in our net portfolio value and net interest income that would result from the designated instantaneous parallel changes in market interest rates.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Twelve Month | | | | | | | | |
| | | Net Interest Income | | | Net Portfolio Value | | | |||
| | | Percent | | | | | | Percent | | |
| Change in Interest Rates (Basis Points) | of Change | | Estimated NPV | of Change | | |||||
| +300 | 18.68 | % | | $ | 298,388 | 4.25 | % | | ||
| +200 | 12.61 | | | | 294,494 | 2.89 | | | ||
| +100 | 6.39 | | | 291,602 | 1.88 | | | |||
| 0 | — | | | 286,231 | — | | | |||
| -100 | (8.07) | % | | $ | 277,917 | (2.90) | % | | ||
| -200 | (16.37) | | | | 267,564 | (6.52) | | | ||
| -300 | (24.50) | | | | 254,985 | (10.92) | | |
As of December 31, 2023, based on the scenarios above, net interest income would increase by approximately 6.39% to 18.68%, over a one-year time horizon in a rising interest rate environment. One-year net interest income would decrease by approximately 8.07% to 24.50% in a declining interest rate environment over the same period.
Economic value at risk would be positively impacted by a rise in interest rates and negatively impacted by a decline in interest rates. We have established an interest rate floor of zero percent for measuring interest rate risk. The difference between the two results reflects the relatively long terms of a portion of our assets which is captured by the economic value at risk but has less impact on the one year net interest income sensitivity.
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Overall, our December 31, 2023 results indicate that we are adequately positioned with an acceptable net interest income and economic value at risk and that all interest rate risk results continue to be within our policy guidelines.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We maintain liquid assets at levels we believe are adequate to meet our liquidity needs. We established a liquidity ratio policy that identify three liquidity ratios consisting of (1) Cash/Deposits & Short-Term Borrowings (“Cash Liquidity”), (2) Cash & Investments/Deposits & Short-Term Borrowings (“On Balance Sheet Liquidity”), and (3) Cash & Investments & Borrowing Capacity/Deposits & Short-Term Borrowings (“On Balance Sheet Liquidity & Borrowing Capacity”) to assist in the management of our liquidity. We also establish targets of 2.0% for the Cash Liquidity ratio, 8.0% for the On Balance Sheet Liquidity ratio, and 20.0% for the On Balance Sheet Liquidity & Borrowing Capacity ratio.
Our Cash Liquidity ratio, On Balance Sheet Liquidity ratio, and On Balance Sheet Liquidity & Borrowing Capacity ratio averaged 6.7%, 9.6%, and 32.7%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to 11.2%, 15.5%, and 19.0%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022. We adjust our liquidity levels to fund deposit outflows, pay real estate taxes on real estate loans, repay our borrowings, and to fund loan commitments. We also adjust liquidity as appropriate to meet asset and liability management objectives. However, during the interest rate environment in 2023, we have strategically allowed these metrics to fall below the minimum thresholds at times to provide for the effective management of extension risk and other interest rate risks.
Our liquidity ratios cannot be calculated using amounts disclosed in our consolidated financial statements, as many of the calculations involve monthly, quarterly or annual averages. To calculate our liquidity ratios, the average liquidity base from the prior month is used as the denominator to calculate a daily liquidity ratio. The liquidity base consists of savings account balances, certificates of deposit balances, checking and money market balances, deposit loans and borrowings. The daily balances of these components are averaged to arrive at the liquidity base for the month, and the daily cash balances in selected general ledger accounts are used to derive our liquidity position. A daily liquidity ratio is calculated using the liquidity for the day divided by the prior month’s average liquidity base. At the end of each month, a monthly liquidity position is calculated using the average liquidity position for the month divided by the prior month’s average liquidity base. To calculate quarterly and annual liquidity ratios, we take the average liquidity for the three- or twelve-month period, respectively, and average it.
Our primary sources of liquidity are deposits, amortization and prepayment of loans and mortgage-backed securities, maturities of investment securities, other short-term investments, earnings, and funds provided from operations. While scheduled principal repayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities are a relatively predictable source of funds, deposit flows and loan prepayments are greatly influenced by market interest rates, economic conditions, and rates offered by our competition. We set the interest rates on our deposits to maintain a desired level of total deposits. In addition, we invest excess funds in short-term interest-earning assets, which provide liquidity to meet lending requirements.
Our cash flows are derived from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included with the Consolidated Financial Statements which begin on page F-1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Our primary investing activities are the origination of construction loans, commercial and industrial loans, multifamily loans, and to a lesser extent, mixed-use real estate loans and other loans. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, our loan originations totaled $815.8 million and $700.1 million, respectively. Cash received from the sales, calls, maturities and pay-downs on securities totaled $11.2 million and $1.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We purchased $806,000 and $10.0 million in securities for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Deposit flows are generally affected by the level of interest rates we offer, the interest rates and products offered by local competitors, and other factors. Total deposits increased by $278.1 million at December 31, 2023 due to
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increases in certificates of deposits and NOW/money market deposits, offset by decreases in savings account deposits, and non-interest bearing demand deposits.
Liquidity management is both a daily and long-term function of business management. If we require funds beyond our ability to generate them internally, borrowing agreements exist with the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York to provide advances. As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, we are required to own capital stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and are authorized to apply for advances on the security of such stock and certain of our mortgage loans and other assets (principally securities which are obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States), provided certain standards related to credit-worthiness have been met. We had an available borrowing limit of $29.7 million and $31.5 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Federal Home Loan Bank advances were $14.0 million and $21.0 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“FRBNY”) approved on August 30, 2023 the Bank’s eligibility to pledge loans under the Borrower-in-Custody program of the FRBNY thereby allowing the Bank to borrow from the Discount Window at the FRBNY. As of December 31, 2023, we had $50.0 million in FRBNY borrowings and an available borrowing limit of $865.1 million.
In addition, we have a borrowing agreement with Atlantic Community Bankers Bank (“ACBB”) to provide short-term borrowings of $8.0 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022. There were no outstanding borrowings with ACBB at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
At December 31, 2023, we had unfunded commitments on construction loans of $489.7 million, outstanding commitments to originate loans of $125.9 million, unfunded commitments under lines of credit of $103.0 million, and unfunded standby letters of credit of $9.5 million. At December 31, 2023, certificates of deposit scheduled to mature in less than one year totaled $596.1 million. Based on prior experience, management believes that a significant portion of such deposits will remain with us, although there can be no assurance that this will be the case. In the event a significant portion of our deposits are not retained by us, we will have to utilize other funding sources, such as various types of sourced deposits, Federal Home Loan Bank advances, and/or FRBNY borrowings, in order to maintain our level of assets. Alternatively, we could reduce our level of liquid assets, such as our cash and cash equivalents. In addition, the cost of such deposits may be significantly higher or lower depending on market interest rates at the time of renewal.
The Company is a separate legal entity from the Bank and must provide for its own liquidity. In addition to its operating expenses, the Company is responsible for paying any dividends declared to its stockholders, and interest and principal on outstanding debt, if any. The Company’s primary sources of income are interest income derived from investments in loans and interest bearing accounts at other financial institutions and dividends received from the Bank. At December 31, 2023, the Company had liquid assets of $4.3 million and $14.1 million in loan participations originated by the Bank which are held by the Company.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
For the year ended December 31, 2023, we did not engage in any off-balance sheet transactions reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash-flows.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For a discussion of the impact of recent accounting pronouncements, see note 24 in the notes to the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in this report.
Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices
The consolidated financial statements and related notes of the Company have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which generally requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without consideration for changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The primary impact of inflation is reflected in the increased cost of our operations. Unlike industrial companies, our assets
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and liabilities are primarily monetary in nature. As a result, changes in market interest rates have a greater impact on performance than the effects of inflation.
FY 2022 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001558370-23-005059.
ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This discussion and analysis reflects our consolidated financial statements and other relevant statistical data, and is intended to enhance your understanding of our financial condition and results of operations. The information in this section has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company that appear beginning on page F-1 of this report.
Executive Summary
Our results of operations depend primarily on our net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between the interest income we earn on our interest-earning assets, consisting primarily of loans, investment securities, mortgage-backed securities and other interest-earning assets (primarily cash and cash equivalents), and the interest we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities, consisting of money market accounts, statement savings accounts, individual retirement accounts and certificates of deposit. Our results of operations also are affected by our provisions for loan losses, non-interest income and non-interest expense. Non-interest income currently consists primarily of loan fees, service charges, and earnings on bank owned life insurance. Non-interest expense currently consists primarily of salaries and employee benefits, deposit insurance premiums, directors’ fees, occupancy and equipment, data processing and professional fees. Our results of operations also may be affected significantly by general and local economic and competitive conditions, changes in market interest rates, governmental policies and actions of regulatory authorities.
Business Strategy
Growing our assets with a continued focus on the origination of construction loans.
At December 31, 2022, $852.7 million, or 70.1%, of our total loan portfolio, net of loans in process, consisted of construction loans primarily located in high demand and high absorption areas in the New York Metropolitan Area. There continues to be a significant need for construction financing within the high absorption, homogeneous communities served by the Bank and we intend to continue to support the growth of these communities through the financing of condominium and apartment construction loans within the communities.
Maintaining strong asset quality and managing credit risk.
Strong asset quality is a key to the long-term financial success of any financial institution. We have been successful in maintaining strong asset quality in recent years. Our ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was 0.10%, 0.16%, and 0.58% at December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We attribute this credit quality to a conservative credit culture and an effective credit risk management environment. We have an experienced team of credit professionals, well-defined and implemented credit policies and procedures, what we believe to be conservative loan underwriting criteria, and active credit monitoring policies and procedures. Our senior management team also spends
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substantial time conducting construction site visits and visiting regularly with community leaders and borrowers in our high absorption communities, which enables us to understand the needs of our communities and to stay informed as to matters affecting those communities.
Continuing to grow our non-interest bearing deposit accounts through the maintenance of low customer fees and charges.
We believe that as a community bank we should maintain the fees and charges we charge our customers as low as possible. By doing so, we have been able to attract and retain food service and other businesses as customers of the Bank and at the same time increase the amount of our non-interest bearing business accounts.
Expanding our franchise through de novo branching or branch acquisitions.
As the communities we serve continue to grow and expand into new areas, we believe there will be branch expansion opportunities within our market area and in the newly developing communities expanding outward from existing high absorption, homogeneous communities where our branches are currently located. To this end, we opened a new branch office in Sullivan County, New York during the year ended December 31, 2022. We intend to explore additional opportunities as they arise to expand our branch network.
Expanding our employee base, infrastructure and technology, as necessary, to support future growth.
We have already made significant investments in our infrastructure, technology and employee base to support the growth in our construction portfolio and the increased compliance responsibilities due to such growth, including experienced Bank Secrecy Act professionals. The additional capital raised in the 2021 second-step conversion offering provided us with additional resources to attract and retain the necessary talent and continue to enhance our infrastructure and technology to support our growth following the conversion.
Implement a stockholder-focused strategy for management of our capital.
We recognize that a strong capital position is essential to achieving our long-term objective of building stockholder value, and we believe that our capital position will support our future growth and expansion, and will give us flexibility to pursue other capital management strategies to enhance stockholder value.
Critical Accounting Policies
In the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, we have adopted various accounting policies that govern the application of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and to general practices within the banking industry. Our significant accounting policies are described in note one to the consolidated financial statements included in this report.
Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by us that have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities. We consider these accounting policies, which are discussed below, to be critical accounting policies. The judgments and assumptions we use are based on historical experience and other factors, which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these judgments and estimates under different conditions, resulting in a change that could have a material impact on the carrying values of our assets and liabilities and our results of operations.
Allowance for Loan Losses
We consider the allowance for loan losses to be a critical accounting policy. The allowance for loan losses represents management’s estimate of losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the statement of financial condition date and is recorded as a reduction to loans. The allowance for loan losses is increased by the provision for loan losses, and decreased by charge-offs, net of recoveries. Loans deemed to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance for loan losses, and subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. All, or part, of the principal balance of loans receivable are charged off to the allowance as soon as it is determined that the repayment of all, or part, of the principal balance is highly unlikely.
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The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level considered adequate to provide for losses that can be reasonably anticipated. Management performs a quarterly evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance. The allowance is based on our past loan loss experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral, composition of the loan portfolio, current economic conditions, and other relevant factors. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates that may be susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.
The allowance consists of general reserves. If an impairment is identified, we charge off the impaired portion immediately. A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired.
Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment records, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. Impairment is measured on a loan-by-loan basis.
The general component of the allowance calculation is also based on the loss factors that reflect our historical charge-off experience adjusted for current economic conditions applied to loan groups with similar characteristics or classifications in the current portfolio. To help ensure that risk ratings are accurate and reflect the present and future capacity of borrowers to repay a loan as agreed, we have a proprietary structured loan rating process which allows for a periodic review of our loan portfolio and the early identification of potential impaired loans. These proprietary systems, depending on the type of loan, take into consideration factors such as project location, loan duration, loan to value or loan to cost, property condition, borrower experience, guarantor strength, tenant concentration, projected debt-service coverage, absorption rate, sponsor’s experience, and as well as other factors.
Loans whose terms are modified are classified as troubled debt restructurings if we grant such borrowers concessions and it is deemed that those borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty. Concessions granted under a troubled debt restructuring generally involve a temporary reduction in interest rate or an extension of a loan’s stated maturity date at a below market rate. Adversely classified, non-accrual troubled debt restructurings may be returned to accrued status if principal and interest payments, under the modified terms, are current for six consecutive months after modification. All troubled debt restructured loans are classified as impaired.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 replaces the incurred loss model with an expected loss model, which is referred to as the current expected credit loss model, or CECL, ASU 2016-13. We previously elected to defer the adoption of ASU 2016-13 until December 31, 2020. As permitted by the CARES Act, and based on legislation enacted in December 2020 which extended certain provision of the CARES Act, we elected to extend the adoption of CECL until January 1, 2023 in accordance with the recent legislation. This standard requires earlier recognition of expected credit losses on loans and certain other instruments, compared to the incurred loss model.
Based on management’s comprehensive analysis of the loan portfolio, management believes the allowance for loan losses is appropriate as of December 31, 2022.
Balance Sheet Analysis
General
Total assets increased by $200.0 million, or 16.3%, to $1.4 billion at December 31, 2022, from $1.2 billion at December 31, 2021. The increase in assets was primarily due to increases in net loans of $244.1 million, investment securities held-to-maturity of $8.5 million, accrued interest receivable of $4.3 million, and premises and equipment of $2.2 million, partially offset by decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $57.0 million and investment in equity securities of $1.9 million.
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Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $57.0 million, or 37.4%, to $95.3 million at December 31, 2022 from $152.3 million at December 31, 2021. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents was a result of cash being deployed to fund an increase in net loans of $245.1 million, an increase in securities held-to-maturity of $8.5 million, an increase in property and equipment of $2.2 million due primarily to the purchase of property and equipment for a new branch office, and a reduction in FHLB advances of $7.0 million.
Equity securities decreased by $1.9 million, or 9.5%, to $18.0 million at December 31, 2022 from $19.9 million at December 31, 2021. The decrease in equity securities was attributable to market depreciation of $1.9 million as market interest rates increased during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Securities held-to-maturity increased by $8.5 million, or 47.6%, to $26.4 million at December 31, 2022 from $17.9 million at December 31, 2021 due primarily to the purchases of securities, partially offset by maturities and pay-downs.
Loans, net of the allowance for loan losses, increased by $244.1 million, or 25.2%, to $1.2 billion at December 31, 2022 from $968.1 million at December 31, 2021. The increase in loans, net of the allowance for loan losses, was primarily due to loan originations of $700.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2022, consisting primarily of $580.7 million in construction loans with respect to which approximately 31.3% of the funds were disbursed at loan closings, with the remaining funds to be disbursed over the terms of the construction loans.
Loan originations resulted in a net increase of $246.8 million in construction loans, $39.0 million in multi-family loans, and $277,000 in consumer loans. The increase in our loan portfolio was partially offset by decreases in non-residential loans of $24.7 million, commercial and industrial loans of $8.3 million, mixed-use loans of $6.8 million, and residential loans of $1.7 million, coupled with normal pay-downs and principal reductions.
Premises and equipment increased by $2.2 million, or 9.0%, to $26.1 million at December 31, 2022 from $23.9 million at December 31, 2021 due to the acquisition of property and equipment for a new branch site located in Bloomingburg, New York.
Investments in Federal Home Loan Bank stock decreased by $331,000, or 21.1%, to $1.2 million at December 31, 2022 from $1.6 million at December 31, 2021 due primarily to a reduction in mandatory Federal Home Loan Bank stock in connection with the maturity of $7.0 million in advances during the quarter ended March 31, 2022.
Accrued interest receivable increased by $4.3 million, or 100.7%, to $8.6 million at December 31, 2022 from $4.3 million at December 31, 2021 due to an increase in the loan portfolio and seven interest rate increases in 2022 that resulted in an increase in the interest rates on loans in our construction loan portfolio.
Foreclosed real estate decreased by $540,000, or 27.1%, to $1.5 million at December 31, 2022 from $2.0 million at December 31, 2021 due to a write down on the fair market value of the property because the increase in interest rates caused an increase in the capitalization rate thereby resulting in a reduction in the calculated fair market value of the property.
Right of use assets — operating decreased by $252,000, or 9.8%, to $2.3 million at December 31, 2022 from $2.6 million at December 31, 2021, primarily due to amortization.
Other assets increased by $655,000, or 14.0%, to $5.3 million at December 31, 2022 from $4.7 million at December 31, 2021 due to increases in suspense accounts of $641,000, tax assets of $24,000, and prepaid expense of $12,000, partially offset by decreases in securities and principal receivables of $19,000 and miscellaneous assets of $2,000.
Total deposits increased by $194.8 million, or 21.0%, to $1.1 billion at December 31, 2022 from $927.2 million at December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily due to increases in certificates of deposit of $90.7 million, or 31.0%, savings account balances of $88.9 million, or 48.1%, and non-interest bearing demand deposits of $45.4 million, or 13.7%. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in NOW/money market accounts of $30.3 million, or 25.6%, from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022.
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Federal Home Loan Bank advances decreased by $7.0 million, or 25.0%, to $21.0 million at December 31, 2022 from $28.0 million at December 31, 2021 due to maturity of borrowings.
Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance increased by $485,000, or 25.7%, to $2.4 million at December 31, 2022 from $1.9 million at December 31, 2021 due primarily to the accumulation of tax payments from borrowers.
Lease liability – operating decreased by $241,000, or 9.3%, to $2.4 million at December 31, 2022 from $2.6 million at December 31, 2021, primarily due to amortization.
Accounts payable and accrued expenses increased by $1.2 million, or 9.0%, to $14.8 million at December 31, 2022 from $13.5 million at December 31, 2021 due primarily to an increase in accrued bonus expense of $1.1 million for employees.
Stockholders’ equity increased by $10.6 million, or 4.2% to $262.0 million at December 31, 2022, from $251.4 million at December 31, 2021. The increase in stockholders’ equity was due to net income of $24.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, a reduction of $869,000 in unearned employee stock ownership plan shares coupled with an increase of $206,000 in earned employee stock ownership plan shares, $295,000 in other comprehensive income, and $208,000 in the amortization of restricted stock and stock options awarded in connection with the Company’s 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, partially offset by stock repurchases totaling $9.3 million and dividends paid and declared of $6.5 million.
Loans
Our loan portfolio consists primarily of construction loans, commercial and industrial loans, multifamily and mixed-use residential real estate loans and non-residential real estate loans. We also have a limited amount of one- to four-family residential real estate loans, which we no longer originate, and consumer loans, which we originate on a very limited basis.
The following table shows the loan portfolio at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | 2022 | | 2021 | |||||||
| | | Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent | ||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | |||||||
| One- to four-family | | $ | 5,467 | 0.45 | | $ | 7,189 | 0.74 | % | ||
| Multifamily | | 123,385 | 10.14 | | 84,425 | 8.68 | | ||||
| Mixed-use | | 21,902 | 1.80 | | 28,744 | 2.95 | | ||||
| Total residential real estate loans | | 150,754 | 12.39 | | 120,358 | 12.37 | | ||||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 25,324 | 2.08 | | 50,016 | 5.14 | | ||||
| Construction loans | | 930,628 | 76.45 | | 683,830 | 70.29 | | ||||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 110,069 | 9.04 | | 118,378 | 12.17 | | ||||
| Consumer loans | | 546 | 0.04 | | 269 | 0.03 | | ||||
| Total loans | | 1,217,321 | 100.00 | % | 972,851 | 100.00 | % | ||||
| Allowance for losses | | (5,474) | | | (5,242) | | |||||
| Deferred loan costs, net | | 372 | | | 484 | | |||||
| Loans, net | | $ | 1,212,219 | | | | $ | 968,093 | |
Loan Maturity. The following table sets forth certain information at December 31, 2022 regarding the dollar amount of loan principal repayments becoming due during the periods indicated. The tables do not include any estimate of prepayments which significantly shorten the average life of all loans and may cause our actual repayment experience
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to differ from that shown below. Demand loans having no stated schedule of repayments and no stated maturity are reported as due in one year or less.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | | | Non- | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
| | | One- to | | | | | | | | Residential | | | | | Commercial | | | | | | | |||
| | | Four- | | Multi- | | Mixed- | | Real | | | | | and | | | | | Total | ||||||
| December 31, 2022 | Family | Family | Use | Estate | Construction | Industrial | Consumer | Loans | ||||||||||||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts due in: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||
| One year or less | | $ | — | | $ | 7,487 | | $ | 2,207 | | $ | 4,452 | | $ | 500,530 | | $ | 70,203 | | $ | 544 | | $ | 585,423 |
| More than 1-5 years | | | 1,814 | | | 24,387 | | | 8,329 | | | 13,906 | | | 409,428 | | | 34,577 | | | 2 | | | 492,443 |
| More than 5-15 years | | | 314 | | | 87,012 | | | 10,920 | | | 6,841 | | | 20,670 | | | 5,289 | | | — | | | 131,046 |
| More than 15 years | | | 3,339 | | | 4,499 | | | 446 | | | 125 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 8,409 |
| Total | | $ | 5,467 | | $ | 123,385 | | $ | 21,902 | | $ | 25,324 | | $ | 930,628 | | $ | 110,069 | | $ | 546 | | $ | 1,217,321 |
The following table sets forth all loans at December 31, 2022 that are due after December 31, 2022 and have either fixed interest rates or floating or adjustable interest rates:
| | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | Floating or | Total at | |||||
| | | Fixed Rates | | Adjustable Rates | | December 31, 2022 | |||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||||
| One- to four-family | | $ | 3,278 | | $ | 2,190 | | $ | 5,468 |
| Multifamily | | 57,616 | | 58,282 | | 115,898 | |||
| Mixed-use | | 2,534 | | 17,161 | | 19,695 | |||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 4,878 | | 15,995 | | 20,873 | |||
| Construction loans | | 12,469 | | 417,628 | | 430,097 | |||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 13,605 | | 26,260 | | 39,865 | |||
| Consumer loans | | 2 | | — | | 2 | |||
| Total | | $ | 94,382 | | $ | 537,516 | | $ | 631,898 |
Securities
Our investment portfolio consists primarily of mutual funds, residential mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae primarily with stated final maturities of 10 years or more, and municipal securities with maturities of one year or more.
The following table sets forth the stated maturities and weighted average yields of investment securities at December 31, 2022. Weighted average yields on tax-exempt securities are presented on a tax equivalent basis using a combined federal and state marginal rate of 24.9%. Certain securities have adjustable interest rates and will reprice monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually within the various maturity ranges. Equity securities are not included in the table based on lack of a maturity date. The table presents contractual maturities for mortgage-backed securities and does not reflect repricing or the effect of prepayments.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | | Due after One but within | | Due after Five but within | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
| | | Due within One Year | | Five Years | | Ten Years | | Due after Ten Years | | Total | | |||||||||||||||
| | | | Weighted | | Weighted | | Weighted | | Weighted | | Weighted | |||||||||||||||
| | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | ||||||
| December 31, 2022 | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | ||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | | $ | — | — | % | $ | 1 | 2.92 | % | $ | — | — | % | $ | — | — | % | $ | 1 | 2.92 | % | |||||
| Total available-for-sale | | $ | — | — | % | $ | 1 | 2.92 | % | $ | — | — | % | $ | — | — | % | $ | 1 | 2.92 | % | |||||
| Securities held-to-maturity: | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | | $ | — | — | % | $ | 11 | 3.77 | % | $ | 1,402 | 1.86 | % | $ | 2,379 | 1.83 | % | $ | 3,792 | 1.85 | % | |||||
| U.S. agency collateralized mortgage obligations | | | | — | | | — | — | | | — | — | | | 3,043 | 1.55 | | | 3,043 | 1.55 | | |||||
| U.S. Treasury securities | | | 10,014 | | 2.25 | | | — | | — | | | — | | — | | | — | | — | | | 10,014 | | 2.25 | |
| Municipal bonds | | | 549 | 1.36 | | | 1,597 | 1.43 | | | 1,665 | 1.45 | | | 5,735 | 1.45 | | | 9,546 | 1.44 | | |||||
| Total held-to-maturity | | $ | 10,563 | 2.20 | % | $ | 1,608 | 1.45 | % | $ | 3,067 | 1.64 | % | $ | 11,157 | 1.56 | % | $ | 26,395 | 1.82 | % | |||||
| Total investment securities | | $ | 10,563 | 2.20 | % | $ | 1,609 | 1.45 | % | $ | 3,067 | 1.64 | % | $ | 11,157 | 1.56 | % | $ | 26,396 | 1.82 | % |
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Deposits
Deposits are a major source of our funds for lending and other investment purposes, and our deposits are provided primarily by individuals within our market area. In addition, we rely on brokered, listing and military deposits, which represent a viable and cost effective addition to our deposit gathering and maintenance strategy, often at a lower “all-in” cost when compared to our retail branch network. Use of these types of deposits allows us to match the maturity of these deposits to the term of our construction loans. The following table sets forth the deposits as a percentage of total deposits for the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| | | 2022 | | 2021 | |||||||||||||
| | | Average | | | | | Average | | | | | ||||||
| | | Outstanding | | | | | Average | | Outstanding | | | | | Average | |||
| | Balance | Percent | Rate | Balance | Percent | Rate | |||||||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
| Demand deposits: | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
| Non-interest bearing | | $ | 355,118 | | | 36.31% | — | | $ | 260,529 | | | 32.52% | — | | ||
| NOW and money market | | 108,077 | | | 11.05% | 0.95% | | 114,940 | | | 14.35% | 0.53% | | ||||
| Total | | | 463,195 | | | 47.36% | | 0.18% | | | 375,469 | | | 46.87% | | 0.14% | |
| Savings accounts | | 228,811 | | | 23.40% | 2.68% | | 108,877 | | | 13.59% | 0.63% | | ||||
| Certificates of deposit | | 285,991 | | | 29.24% | 2.52% | | 316,690 | | | 39.54% | 0.97% | | ||||
| Total | | $ | 977,997 | | | 100.00% | 1.59% | | $ | 801,036 | | | 100.00% | 0.50% | |
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the aggregate amount of uninsured deposits (deposits in amounts greater than or equal to $250,000, which is the maximum amount for federal deposit insurance) was $672.8 million and $548.2 million, respectively. In addition, as of December 31, 2022, the aggregate amount of all our uninsured certificates of deposit was $205.8 million. We have no deposits that are uninsured for any reason other than being in excess of the maximum amount for federal deposit insurance. The following table sets forth the portion of the Bank’s certificates of deposit, by account, that are in excess of the FDIC insurance limit, by remaining time until maturity, as of December 31, 2022:
| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| | At | ||
| | | December 31, 2022 | |
| | | (In thousands) | |
| Maturity Period: | | ||
| Three months or less | | $ | 9,613 |
| Over three through six months | | 50,700 | |
| Over six through twelve months | | 69,464 | |
| Over twelve months | | 76,068 | |
| Total | | $ | 205,845 |
Average Balance Sheets
The following tables set forth average balance sheets, average yields and costs, and certain other information for the years indicated. No tax-equivalent yield adjustments have been made, as the effects would be immaterial. All average balances are daily average balances. Non-accrual loans were included in the computation of average balances. The yields set forth below include the effect of deferred fees, discounts, and premiums that are amortized or accreted to
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interest income or interest expense. Deferred loan fees totaled $372,000 and $484,000 for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Loan balances exclude loans held for sale.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended December 31, | | | |||||||||||||||||
| | | 2022 | | | 2021 | | |||||||||||||||
| | | Average | | | | | Average | | | | | ||||||||||
| | | Outstanding | | | | | | Average | | | Outstanding | | | | | | Average | | | ||
| | | Balance | | | Interest | | Yield/Rate | | | Balance | | | Interest | | Yield/Rate | | |||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest-earning assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Loans receivable | | $ | 1,054,577 | | | $ | 69,992 | 6.64 | % | | $ | 866,518 | | | $ | 47,898 | 5.53 | % | | ||
| Securities | | | 42,771 | | | | 681 | 1.59 | | | | 23,026 | | | | 320 | 1.39 | | | ||
| Federal Home Loan Bank stock | | | 1,299 | | | | 69 | 5.31 | | | | 1,576 | | | | 71 | 4.51 | | | ||
| Other interest-earning assets | | | 101,999 | | | | 1,260 | 1.24 | | | | 91,999 | | | | 115 | 0.13 | | | ||
| Total interest-earning assets | | | 1,200,646 | | | | 72,002 | 6.00 | | | | 983,119 | | | | 48,404 | 4.92 | | | ||
| Allowance for Loan Losses | | | (5,387) | | | | | | | | | | (5,154) | | | | | | | | |
| Noninterest-earning assets | | | 79,835 | | | | | | | | | 72,855 | | | | | | | | | |
| Total assets | | $ | 1,275,094 | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,050,820 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest-bearing liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest-bearing demand deposits | | $ | 108,077 | | | $ | 918 | | 0.85 | % | | $ | 114,940 | | | $ | 696 | 0.61 | % | | |
| Savings and club accounts | | | 228,811 | | | | 2,688 | | 1.17 | | | | 108,877 | | | | 328 | | 0.30 | | |
| Certificates of deposit | | | 285,991 | | | | 3,938 | | 1.38 | | | | 316,690 | | | | 3,335 | 1.05 | | | |
| Interest-bearing deposits | | | 622,879 | | | | 7,544 | | 1.21 | | | | 540,507 | | | | 4,359 | 0.81 | | | |
| Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other | | | 22,247 | | | | 583 | | 2.62 | | | | 28,000 | | | | 742 | 2.65 | | | |
| Total interest-bearing liabilities | | | 645,126 | | | $ | 8,127 | | 1.26 | | | | 568,507 | | | $ | 5,101 | 0.90 | | | |
| Noninterest-bearing demand deposits | | | 355,118 | | | | | | | | | | 260,529 | | | | | | | | |
| Other noninterest-bearing liabilities | | | 16,137 | | | | | | | | | | 24,310 | | | | | | | | |
| Total liabilities | | | 1,016,381 | | | | | | | | | | 853,346 | | | | | | | | |
| Total shareholders’ equity | | | 258,713 | | | | | | | | | | 197,474 | | | | | | | | |
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | | $ | 1,275,094 | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,050,820 | | | | | | | | |
| Net interest income | | | | | | $ | 63,875 | | | | | | | | | $ | 43,303 | | | | |
| Net interest rate spread (1) | | | | | | | | | 4.74 | % | | | | | | | | | 4.02 | % | |
| Net interest margin (3) | | | | | | | | | 5.32 | % | | | | | | | | | 4.40 | % | |
| Net interest-earning assets (2) | | $ | 555,520 | | | | | | | | | $ | 414,612 | | | | | | | | |
| Average interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities | | | 186.11 | % | | | | | | | | | 172.93 | % | | | | | | | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average rate of interest-bearing liabilities. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (2) | Net interest-earning assets represent total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (3) | Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets. |
Rate/Volume Analysis
The following table sets forth the effects of changing rates and volumes on our net interest income. The rate column shows the effects attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume). The volume column shows the effects attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate). The total column represents the sum of the prior columns. or purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume,
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which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately based on the changes due to rate and the changes due to volume.
| | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended 12/31/2022 | |||||||
| | | Compared to | |||||||
| | | Year Ended 12/31/2021 | |||||||
| | | Increase (Decrease) | |||||||
| | | Due to | |||||||
| | Volume | Rate | Total | ||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||
| Interest income: | | | | ||||||
| Loans receivable | | $ | 11,479 | | $ | 10,615 | | $ | 22,094 |
| Securities | | 309 | | 52 | | 361 | |||
| Federal Home Loan Bank stock | | | (14) | | | 12 | | | (2) |
| Other interest-earning assets | | 14 | | 1,131 | | 1,145 | |||
| Total | | $ | 11,788 | | $ | 11,810 | | $ | 23,598 |
| Interest expense: | | | | | |||||
| Interest bearing demand deposit | | $ | (44) | | $ | 266 | | $ | 222 |
| Savings accounts | | 650 | | 1,710 | | 2,360 | |||
| Certificates of deposits | | (347) | | 950 | | 603 | |||
| Borrowed money | | (151) | | (8) | | (159) | |||
| Total | | 108 | | 2,918 | | 3,026 | |||
| Net change in net interest income | | $ | 11,680 | | $ | 8,892 | | $ | 20,572 |
Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
Financial Highlights
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $24.8 million compared to net income of $11.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2022 was greater than the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily due to an increase in net interest income and a decrease in provision for loan losses expense, partially offset by a decrease in non-interest income, an increase in non-interest expenses, and an increase in income tax expense.
Summary Income Statements
The following table sets forth the income summary for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | Change Fiscal 2022/2021 | ||||
| | 2022 | 2021 | $ | % | ||||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Net interest income | | $ | 63,875 | | $ | 43,303 | | $ | 20,572 | | 11.03 | % |
| Provision for loan losses | | 439 | | 3,610 | | (3,171) | | 343.49 | % | |||
| Non-interest income | | 1,683 | | 2,354 | | (671) | | (6.33) | % | |||
| Non-interest expenses | | 30,690 | | 26,473 | | 4,217 | | 5.52 | % | |||
| Income tax expense | | 9,586 | | 3,669 | | 5,917 | | 11.79 | % | |||
| Net income | | $ | 24,843 | | $ | 11,905 | | $ | 12,938 | | (3.44) | % |
| Return on average assets | | 1.95 | % | 1.13 | % | | | | ||||
| Return on average equity | | 9.60 | % | 6.03 | % | | | |
Net Interest Income
Net interest income totaled $63.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to $43.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in net interest income of $20.6 million, or 47.5%, was primarily due to an increase in interest income that exceeded an increase in interest expense in a manner consistent with the increase in
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interest rates attributable to the Federal Reserve’s rate increases during the year ended December 31, 2022. In this regard, our yield on interest earning assets increased much greater than our cost of interest bearing liabilities as our yield on interest earning assets repriced faster due to higher rates than our cost of interest bearing liabilities.
The increase in net interest income was also due to increases in loans and investment securities, partially offset by decreases in interest-bearing deposits at other financial institutions and Federal Home Loan Bank stock as we continued to grow the Company by leveraging the proceeds raised in our July 2021 second-step conversion.
Interest and dividend income increased by $23.6 million, or 48.8%, due to an increase in the yield on interest earning assets by 107 basis points from 4.92% for the year ended December 31, 2021 to 6.00% for the year ended December 31, 2022 and an increase in the average interest earning assets of $217.5 million, or 22.1%, from $983.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to $1.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Interest expense increased by $3.0 million, or 59.3%, due to an increase in average interest bearing liabilities of $76.6 million, or 13.5%, from $568.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to $645.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and an increase in the cost of interest bearing liabilities by 36 basis points from 0.90% for the year ended December 31, 2021 to 1.26% for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The increase in the cost of interest bearing liabilities was also partially due to a shift to savings accounts from interest bearing certificates of deposits and interest bearing demand deposits as the average balances of savings accounts increased by $119.9 million, or 110.2%, from $108.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to $228.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. During the same time period, the average balances of interest bearing certificates of deposits decreased by $30.7 million, or 9.7%, from $316.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to $286.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the average balances of interest bearing demand deposits decreased by $6.9 million, or 6.0%, from $114.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to $108.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in the average balances of interest bearing certificates of deposits occurred from January to August 2022 and was partially offset by an increase in the average balances of interest bearing certificates of deposits from September 2022 to December 2022.
In addition, the average balances of our non-interest bearing demand deposits increased by $94.6 million, or 36.3%, from $260.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to $355.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Net interest margin increased by 92 basis points, or 20.8%, during the year ended December 31, 2022 to 5.32% compared to 4.40% at December 31, 2021.
Provision for Loan Losses. A provision for loan losses of $439,000 was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The provision for loan losses during 2022 was primarily attributable to charge-offs totaling $426,000 comprising of a $328,000 charge-off against one construction project in connection with the sale to a third party of the project’s two non-performing loans precipitated by legal action between the two partners/borrowers in the project, an $86,000 charge-off against two mixed-used loans to a borrower in connection with the sale of the two performing troubled debt restructured loans to a third party, and a $34,000 charge-off against various unpaid overdrafts in our demand deposit accounts.
The provision for loan losses recorded for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to the charge-off of the previously disclosed non-residential bridge loan with a balance of $3.6 million secured by commercial real estate located in Greenwich, Connecticut. The loan is secured by commercial real estate located in Greenwich, Connecticut and guaranteed by the two borrowers. The loan originated in 2016 as a two-year bridge loan and, upon the borrower’s failure to satisfy the loan at the maturity date, the loan was accelerated and a foreclosure action was instituted. Although the loan was fully charged-off, the loan remains in foreclosure and management and the borrower negotiated a standstill agreement which allows the borrowers to retain, at their own expense, the zoning and planning consultants necessary to obtain re-approvals from the town to proceed with the original planned residential condominium development. The Company intends to aggressively seek recovery of all amounts due from the personal guarantors of the loan. If successful against the guarantors, any recovery received would be added back to the allowance for loan losses and an analysis will be performed at that time to determine the appropriateness of the recovery into income. There has been no change in the status of the recovery action during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2022.
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We also charged-off $23,000 during the year ended December 31, 2021 against various unpaid overdrafts in our demand deposit accounts.
We recorded recoveries of $242,000 during the year ended December 31, 2022 comprised of recoveries of $146,000 regarding a previously charged-off multi-family property, $53,000 regarding a previously charged-off non-residential property, and $43,000 regarding a previously charged-off mixed-use property. We recorded recoveries of $160,000 during the year ended December 31, 2021 comprised primarily of recoveries of $150,000 regarding a previously charged-off multi-family property.
Based on a review of the loans that were in our loan portfolio at December 31, 2022, management believes that the allowance is maintained at a level that represents its best estimate of inherent losses in the loan portfolio that were both probable and reasonably estimable.
Management uses available information to establish the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses. Future additions or reductions to the allowance may be necessary based on estimates that are susceptible to change as a result of changes in economic conditions and other factors. As a result, our allowance for loan losses may not be sufficient to cover actual loan losses, and future provisions for loan losses could materially adversely affect our operating results. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review our allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require us to recognize adjustments to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.
Non-Interest Income
The following table sets forth a summary of non-interest income for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Year Ended December 31, | |||||
| | 2022 | 2021 | ||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||
| Other loan fees and service charges | | $ | 1,994 | | $ | 1,568 |
| Gain on disposition of equipment | | 98 | | 7 | ||
| Earnings on bank-owned life insurance | | 604 | | 600 | ||
| Investment advisory fees | | 474 | | 514 | ||
| Realized and unrealized loss on equity securities | | (1,573) | | (389) | ||
| Other | | 86 | | 54 | ||
| Total | | $ | 1,683 | | $ | 2,354 |
The decrease in total non-interest income was primarily due to an unrealized loss of $1.9 million in our equity securities, partially offset by a one-time capital gains distribution of $329,000 from our equity securities resulting in a net unrealized loss on equity securities of $1.6 million in 2022 compared to an unrealized loss of $389,000 in 2021. The net unrealized loss of $1.6 million on equity securities during the 2022 period was due to a rising interest rate environment and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate increases during the year ended December 31, 2022.
The decrease in total non-interest income was also due to a decrease of $40,000 in investment advisory fees, partially offset by an increase of $426,000 in other loan fees and service charges, an increase of $91,000 on gain from the sale of fixed assets, an increase of $31,000 in other non-interest income, and an increase of $5,000 in bank-owned life insurance income.
The decrease in investment advisory fees was due to a decrease in assets under management of Harbor West and a decrease in commission income from Harbor West due to market conditions.
The increase in other loan fees and service charges was due to increases of $375,000 in loan servicing fees and $194,000 in ATM and debit card usage fees, partially offset by decreases of $139,000 in loan fees and $3,000 in deposit accounts fees.
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Non-Interest Expense
The following table sets forth an analysis of non-interest expense for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Year Ended December 31, | |||||
| | | 2022 | | 2021 | ||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||
| Salaries and employee benefits | | $ | 15,549 | | $ | 14,996 |
| Occupancy expense | | 2,428 | | 2,115 | ||
| Equipment | | 1,107 | | 993 | ||
| Outside data processing | | 1,886 | | 1,652 | ||
| Advertising | | 299 | | 139 | ||
| Impairment loss on goodwill | | 451 | | — | ||
| Real estate owned expense | | 623 | | 93 | ||
| Other | | 8,347 | | 6,485 | ||
| Total | | $ | 30,690 | | $ | 26,473 |
Non-interest expense increased by $4.2 million, or 15.9%, to $30.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 from $26.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase resulted primarily from increases of $1.9 million in other operating expense, $553,000 in salaries and employee benefits, $530,000 in real estate owned expense, $451,000 in goodwill impairment loss, $313,000 in occupancy expense, $234,000 in outside data processing expense, $160,000 in advertising expense, and $114,000 in equipment expense.
Other non-interest expense increased by $1.9 million, or 28.7%, to $8.3 million in 2022 from $6.5 million in 2021 due mainly to increases of $880,000 in miscellaneous other non-interest expense, $534,000 in legal fees, $178,000 in service contracts expense, $135,000 in directors compensation, $69,000 in insurance expense, $68,000 in audit and accounting fees, $65,000 in recruitment expenses related to the hiring of additional personnel, $33,000 in telephone expense, and $8,000 in office supplies, partially offset by decreases of $94,000 in consulting services and $14,000 in directors, officers and employee expense.
The increase of $880,000 in miscellaneous other non-interest expense was due to increases of $473,000 in FDIC insurance premiums and New York State regulatory assessments, $156,000 in public company expense, $129,000 in dues and subscriptions, and $111,000 in miscellaneous charge-offs and various over and short in branch operations.
Salaries and employee benefits increased by $553,000, or 3.7%, to $15.5 million in 2022 from $15.0 million in 2021. The increase was due to an increase in bonuses paid to employees and loan production personnel and an increase in the number of full-time equivalent employees to 137 as of December 31, 2022 from 131 as of December 31, 2021. The increase in bonuses paid to employees and loan production personnel was due to the strong earnings and an increase in the loan portfolio in 2022. The increase in full-time equivalent employees was due to our efforts to expand our operations.
Occupancy expense increased by $313,000, or 14.8%, to $2.4 million in 2022 from $2.1 million in 2021 primarily as a result of the cost of operating an additional branch office to accommodate our expansion. Equipment expense increased by $114,000, or 11.5%, to $1.1 million in 2022 from $993,000 in 2021 due to an increase in the purchases of additional equipment with the addition of a new branch office in 2022.
Real estate owned expense increased by $530,000, or 569.9%, to $623,000 in 2022 from $93,000 in 2021 due to the write down of $540,000 in the value of the one foreclosed property in 2022, partially offset by a reduction of
$10,000 in operating expenses to maintain the one real estate owned property in 2022. The write down of $540,000 on the fair market value of a foreclosed property was due to the increase in interest rates resulting in an increase in the capitalization rate thereby reducing the calculated fair market value of the property.
Outside data processing expense increased by $234,000, or 14.2%, to $1.9 million in 2022 from $1.7 million in 2021 due to the cost of operating an additional branch and additional services required in 2022 to enable the company to expand.
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There was a goodwill impairment expense of $451,000 in 2022 compared to no goodwill impairment expense in 2021. The goodwill was recorded in connection with the acquisition of Harbor West Financial Planning Wealth Management Group in 2007, which is operated as a division of the Bank. The goodwill impairment in 2022 was caused primarily by the expected decrease in revenue from this division due to a decrease in clients and the resulting decrease in assets under management.
Advertising expense increased by $160,000, or 115.1%, to $299,000 in 2022 from $139,000 in 2021 due mainly to the resumption of advertising and promotional products to promote the opening of an additional branch office.
Income Taxes. The Company recorded income tax expense of $9.6 million and $3.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company had approximately $740,000 in tax exempt income, compared to approximately $711,000 in tax exempt income for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Company’s effective income tax rates were 27.8% and 23.6% for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Risk Management
Overview
Managing risk is an essential part of successfully managing a financial institution. Our most prominent risk exposures are credit risk, interest rate risk and market risk. Credit risk is the risk of not collecting the interest and/or the principal balance of a loan or investment when it is due. Interest rate risk is the potential reduction of interest income as a result of changes in interest rates. Market risk arises from fluctuations in interest rates that may result in changes in the values of financial instruments, such as available-for-sale securities that are accounted for at fair value. Other risks that we face are operational risk, liquidity risk and reputation risk. Operational risk includes risks related to fraud, regulatory compliance, processing errors, technology, and disaster recovery. Liquidity risk is the possible inability to fund obligations to depositors, lenders or borrowers. Reputation risk is the risk that negative publicity or press, whether true or not, could cause a decline in our customer base or revenue.
Management of Credit Risk
The objective of our credit risk management strategy is to quantify and manage credit risk and to limit the risk of loss resulting from an individual customer default. Our credit risk management strategy focuses on conservatism, an excellent knowledge of the communities we lend in, and significant levels of monitoring. Our lending practices include conservative exposure limits and underwriting, extensive documentation and collection standards. Our credit risk management strategy also emphasizes diversification at the borrower level as well as regular credit examinations, continuous site visits by executive management and management reviews of large credit exposures and credits that might experience deterioration of credit quality.
As part of its risk management process, the Bank conducts stress testing on its commercial real estate portfolio, performs a global cash flow analysis for loans associated with multiple properties and/or guarantors and also operates a loan review program for all real estate loans (including construction loans) with terms more than 12 months. In addition, we track our board approved limits for each commercial real estate category on a monthly basis.
Analysis of Non-Performing, Troubled Debt Restructurings and Classified Assets.
Classified Assets. FDIC regulations and our Asset Classification Policy provide that loans and other assets considered to be of lesser quality be classified as “substandard,” “doubtful” or “loss” assets. An asset is considered “substandard” if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. “Substandard” assets include those characterized by the “distinct possibility” that the institution will sustain “some loss” if the deficiencies are not corrected. Assets classified as “doubtful” have all of the weaknesses inherent in those classified as “substandard,” with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make “collection or liquidation in full,” on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, “highly questionable and improbable.” Assets classified as “loss” are those considered “uncollectible” and of such little value that their continuance as assets without the establishment of a specific loss reserve is not warranted. We classify an asset as “special mention” if the asset has a potential weakness that warrants management’s escalated level of attention. While
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such assets are not impaired, management has concluded that if the potential weakness in the asset is not addressed, the value of the asset may deteriorate, adversely affecting the repayment of the asset. Loans classified as impaired for financial reporting purposes are generally those loans classified as substandard or doubtful for regulatory reporting purposes.
An insured institution is required to establish allowances for loan losses in an amount deemed prudent by management for loans classified as substandard or doubtful, as well as for other problem loans. General allowances represent loss allowances which have been established to recognize the inherent losses associated with lending activities, but which, unlike specific allowances, have not been allocated to particular problem assets. When an insured institution classifies problem assets as “loss,” it is required to charge off such amounts. An institution’s determination as to the classification of its assets and the amount of its valuation allowances is subject to review by the FDIC.
The following table sets forth information with respect to our non-performing assets at the dates indicated.
| | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||||
| | 2022 | | 2021 | |||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||
| Total non-accrual loans | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
| Total accruing loans past due 90 days or more | | | — | | | — | | |
| Total non-performing loans | | | — | | | — | | |
| Real estate owned | | | 1,456 | | | 1,996 | | |
| Total non-performing assets | | $ | 1,456 | | | $ | 5,568 | |
| Total non-performing loans to total loans | | — | % | | — | % | ||
| Total non-performing assets to total assets | | 0.10 | % | | 0.16 | % |
During the year ended December 31, 2022, non-performing assets decreased by $540,000, or 27.1%, to $1.5 million from $2.0 million as of December 31, 2021. The decrease in non-performing assets was primarily due to the previously disclosed write down of $540,000 in the value of the one foreclosed property in 2022. The write down of $540,000 on the fair market value of a foreclosed property was due to the increase in interest rates resulting in an increase in the capitalization rate thereby reducing the calculated fair market value of the property.
We had no non-performing loans at December 31, 2022 and at December 31, 2021. In 2022, we collected no interest income from a loan that was in non-accrual status in 2022 and was charge-off in 2022. In 2021, we collected no interest income from a loan that was in non-accrual status in 2021 and was charge-off in 2021.
From time to time, as part of our loss mitigation strategy, we may renegotiate the loan terms based on the economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties. There were no new troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) during the years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. TDRs may be considered to be non-performing and if so are placed on non-accrual, except for those that have established a sufficient performance history (generally a minimum of six consecutive months of performance) under the terms of the restructured loan.
At December 31, 2021, four loans with aggregate balances of $1.6 million were considered TDRs but were performing in accordance with their restructured terms for the requisite period of time to be returned to accrual status. Of the four TDR loans at December 31, 2021, two of the TDR loans totaling $746,000 were to one borrower and secured by the same non-residential property that had a charge-off of $67,000 on one of the loans in prior years. The borrower satisfied these two loans in 2022 as noted in the following paragraph. The remaining two TDR loans with an aggregate balance of $855,000 at December 31, 2022 were to one borrower and secured by two adjacent non-residential properties but were performing in accordance with their restructured terms for the requisite period of time (generally at least six consecutive months) to be returned to accrual status. We subsequently sold these two loans to a third party on January 5, 2023 at a loss of $86,000.
We had two impaired loans at December 31, 2022 totaling $855,000 consisting of the two aforementioned TDR loans that were subsequently sold to a third party in January 2023. We had four impaired loans at December 31, 2021 totaling $1.6 million consisting of the four aforementioned TDR loans whereby two of the impaired TDR loans totaling
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$746,000 loans were satisfied in 2022 and the other two impaired TDR loans totaling $855,000 were sold to a third party on January 5, 2023 at a loss of $86,000.
The following table summarizes classified and criticized assets of all portfolio types at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||
| | 2022 | 2021 | ||||
| | | (In thousands) | ||||
| Classified loans: | | | | |||
| Substandard | | $ | 855 | | $ | 746 |
| Doubtful | | — | | — | ||
| Loss | | — | | — | ||
| Total classified loans | | 855 | | 746 | ||
| Special mention | | 946 | | — | ||
| Total criticized loans | | $ | 1,801 | | $ | 746 |
On the basis of management’s review of our assets, we had one loan totaling $946,000 classified as special mention at December 31, 2022 compared to no assets classified as special mention at December 31, 2021. In addition, we classified $855,000 as substandard at December 31, 2022 compared to $746,000 at December 31, 2021. There were no assets classified as doubtful or loss at December 31, 2022 or 2021. The loan portfolio is reviewed on a regular basis to determine whether any loans require classification in accordance with applicable regulations. Not all classified assets constitute non-performing assets.
The increase in special mention assets was due to the deterioration of the property securing the only special mention loan as of December 31, 2022. The increase in substandard assets was primarily due to the addition of two performing mixed-use mortgage loans totaling $855,000 that were classified as TDRs and as substandard because we incurred a loss of $83,000 on the sale to a third-party of these two loans on January 5, 2023, partially offset by the satisfaction in 2022 of two performing non-residential mortgage loans totaling $746,000 that were classified as TDRs and impaired loans but has been performing and management decided at classified as substandard at December 31, 2021. For more information, see the discussion of TDR loans included above.
Delinquent Loans
The following table provides information about delinquencies in our loan portfolio at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| | | 2022 | | 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| | | Days Past Due | | Days Past Due | ||||||||||||||
| | | 30 – 59 | 60 – 89 | 90 or more | 30 – 59 | 60 – 89 | 90 or more | |||||||||||
| | | (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | | | | |||||||||||
| Multi-family | | $ | — | | $ | 946 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — |
| Non-residential real estate loans | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | ||||||
| Total | | $ | — | | $ | 946 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — |
Analysis and Determination of the Allowance for Loan Losses
Our allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level necessary to absorb loan losses which are both probable and reasonably estimable. Management, in determining the allowance for loan losses, considers the losses inherent in its loan portfolio and changes in the nature and volume of loan activities, along with the general economic and real estate market conditions. We utilize a two-tier approach: (1) identification of impaired loans; and (2) establishment of general valuation allowances on the remainder of our loan portfolio. We maintain a loan review system, which allows for a periodic review of our loan portfolio and the early identification of potential impaired loans. Such system takes into consideration, among other things, delinquency status, size of loans, type and market value of collateral and financial condition of the borrowers. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2012, we discontinued the use of specific allowances. If an impairment is identified, we now charge off the impaired portion immediately. A loan evaluated for impairment is
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considered to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. All loans identified as impaired are evaluated independently. We do not aggregate such loans for evaluation purposes. Loan impairment is measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or, as a practical expedient, at the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. The interest on these loans is accounted for on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method, until qualifying for return to accrual status. Should full collection of principal be expected, cash collected on non-accrual loans can be recognized as interest income.
The general component consists of quantitative and qualitative factors and covers non-impaired loans. The quantitative factors are based on historical loss experience adjusted for qualitative factors. This actual loss experience is supplemented with other qualitative factors based on the risks present for each portfolio segment. These qualitative factors include consideration of the following:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Levels and trends in delinquencies and impaired loans; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Levels and trends in charge-offs and recoveries; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Trends in volume and terms of loans; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Effects of any changes in risk selection and underwriting standards; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral-dependent loans |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Other changes in lending policies, procedures and practices; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Experience, ability and depth of lending management and other relevant staff; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | National and local economic trends and conditions; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Industry conditions; and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Effects of changes in credit concentrations. |
The allowance is increased through provisions charged against current earnings, and offset by recoveries of previously charged-off loans. Loans which are determined to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance. Management uses available information to recognize probable and reasonably estimable loan losses, but future loss provisions may be necessary based on changing economic conditions. The allowance for loan losses as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 was maintained at a level that represents management’s best estimate of losses inherent in the loan portfolio. In addition, the FDIC and the New York State Department of Financial Services, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review our allowance for loan losses and could require us to increase our allowance for loan losses.
Each quarter, management evaluates the total balance of the allowance for loan losses based on several factors that are not loan specific, but are reflective of the inherent losses in the loan portfolio. This process includes, but is not limited to, a periodic review of loan collectability in light of historical experience, the nature and volume of loan activity, conditions that may affect the ability of the borrower to repay, underlying value of collateral, if applicable, and economic conditions in our market areas. First, we group loans by delinquency status. All loans 90 days or more delinquent and all loans classified as substandard or doubtful are evaluated individually, based primarily on the value of the collateral securing the loan. Loans are segregated by type and delinquency status and a loss allowance is established by using loss experience data and management’s judgment concerning other matters it considers significant. The allowance is allocated to each category of loan based on the results of the above analysis.
This analysis process is inherently subjective, as it requires us to make estimates that are susceptible to revisions as more information becomes available. Although we believe that we have established the allowance at a level
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to absorb probable and estimable losses, additions may be necessary if economic or other conditions in the future differ from the current environment.
The following table sets forth the breakdown of the allowance for loan losses by loan category at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |||||||||||
| | | | | % of Allowance | % of Loans in | | | | % of Allowance | % of Loans in | ||||||
| | | | | | Amount to Total | | Category to Total | | | | | | Amount to Total | | Category to Total | |
| | | Amount | | Allowance | | Loans | | | Amount | | Allowance | | Loans | |||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | | |||||||||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | | |||||||||||
| One- to four-family | | $ | 11 | 0.20 | % | 0.45 | % | | $ | 17 | 0.32 | % | 0.74 | % | ||
| Multifamily | | 479 | 8.75 | 10.14 | | 481 | 9.18 | 8.68 | | |||||||
| Mixed-use | | 38 | 0.69 | 1.73 | | 73 | 1.39 | 2.95 | | |||||||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 131 | 2.39 | 2.08 | | 381 | 7.27 | 5.14 | | |||||||
| Construction loans | | 3,835 | 70.06 | 75.32 | | 3,143 | 59.96 | 70.29 | | |||||||
| Commercial and industrial | | 955 | 17.45 | 10.24 | | 973 | 18.56 | 12.17 | | |||||||
| Consumer loans | | 18 | 0.33 | 0.04 | | 10 | 0.19 | 0.03 | | |||||||
| Total general allowance | | $ | 5,467 | 99.87 | % | 100.00 | % | | $ | 5,078 | 96.87 | % | 100.00 | % | ||
| Unallocated | | 7 | 0.13 | — | | 164 | 3 | — | ||||||||
| Total allowance for loan losses | | $ | 5,474 | 100.00 | % | 100.00 | % | | $ | 5,242 | 100.00 | % | 100.00 | % |
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The following table sets forth an analysis of the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At or For the Year Ended December 31, | | ||||
| | | 2022 | 2021 | ||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | | ||||
| | | | | | | | |
| Total loans net of deferred fees | | $ | 1,217,693 | | $ | 973,335 | |
| Average loans outstanding | | 1,054,577 | | 866,518 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Allowance at beginning of period | | $ | 5,242 | | $ | 5,088 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Net charge-offs: | | | | ||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||
| One- to four-family | | — | | — | | ||
| Multifamily | | — | | (150) | | ||
| Mixed-use | | (103) | | — | | ||
| Total residential real estate loans | | (103) | | (150) | | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | (53) | | 3,591 | | ||
| Construction loans | | 328 | | — | | ||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | — | | — | | ||
| Consumer loans | | 35 | | 15 | | ||
| Total net charge-offs | | 207 | | 3,456 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Provision for loan losses | | 439 | | 3,610 | | ||
| Allowance at end of period | | $ | 5,474 | | $ | 5,242 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Average loan outstanding: | | | | ||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||
| One- to four-family | | 6,213 | | 5,490 | | ||
| Multifamily | | 83,907 | | 84,748 | | ||
| Mixed-use | | 24,333 | | 28,263 | | ||
| Total residential real estate loans | | 114,453 | | 118,501 | | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 33,531 | | 52,094 | | ||
| Construction loans | | 795,340 | | 602,585 | | ||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 110,452 | | 93,101 | | ||
| Consumer loans | | 501 | | 237 | | ||
| Total | | 1,054,277 | | 866,518 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans outstanding | | | | ||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||
| One- to four-family | | — | % | — | % | ||
| Multifamily | | — | | (0.18) | | ||
| Mixed-use | | (0.42) | | — | | ||
| Total residential real estate loans | | (0.09) | | (0.13) | | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | (0.16) | | 6.89 | | ||
| Construction loans | | 0.04 | | — | | ||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | — | | — | | ||
| Consumer loans | | 6.99 | | 6.33 | | ||
| Total net charge-offs | | 0.02 | % | 0.40 | % | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Credit Quality Ratios: | | | | | | | |
| As a percentage of year-end loans, net of unearned income: | | | | | | | |
| Allowance for loan loss | | 0.45 | % | 0.54 | % | ||
| Nonaccrual loans | | | — | % | | — | % |
| Nonperforming loans | | | — | % | | — | % |
| Allowance for loan losses to nonaccrual loans | | — | % | — | % | ||
| Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans | | — | % | — | % |
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The allowance for loan losses increased by $232,000 to $5.5 million at December 31, 2022 from $5.2 million at December 31, 2021. The increase in the allowances for loan losses was due primarily to provision for loan losses of $439,000, which reflected the charge-off of $449,000 which had an unfavorable impact on the historical loss factors, and increases in the construction loan and consumer loan portfolio, partially offset by decreases in the residential, mixed-use, and non-residential mortgage loan portfolio and the commercial and industrial loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses was also impacted the reduction of the TDRs in 2022. We had recoveries totaling $241,000 in 2022 and $160,000 in 2021.
The historical loss percentage factor for multifamily, non-residential, and commercial and industrial loans declined while the historical loss percentage factor for mixed-use, construction, and consumer loans increased. The historical loss percentage factor declined because one single charge-off of $152,000 in 2017 for multifamily loans, one single loan charge-off of $125,000 in 2017 for non-residential loans were out of the historical loss look back period, and therefore were not included in the historical loss rate calculation at December 31, 2022. The historical loss percentage factor for commercial and industrial loans decreased due to decreased historical loss as a percentage of total historical loss over the years. The historical loss percentage factor for mixed-use, construction, and consumer loans increased due to loan charge-offs in 2022. Other adjustments in provision for loan loss include movements in the qualitative factors as risks in each respective segment change.
Loans evaluated collectively totaled $1.2 billion at December 31, 2022 compared to $971.2 million at December 31, 2021. Loans evaluated individually totaled $855,000 at December 31, 2022 compared to $1.6 million at December 31, 2021.
Interest Rate Risk Management
Interest rate risk is defined as the exposure to current and future earnings and capital that arises from adverse movements in interest rates. Depending on a bank’s asset/liability structure, adverse movements in interest rates could be either rising or falling interest rates. For example, a bank with predominantly long-term fixed-rate assets and short-term liabilities could have an adverse earnings exposure to a rising rate environment. Conversely, a short-term or variable-rate asset base funded by longer-term liabilities could be negatively affected by falling rates. This is referred to as re-pricing or maturity mismatch risk.
Interest rate risk also arises from changes in the slope of the yield curve (yield curve risk), from imperfect correlations in the adjustment of rates earned and paid on different instruments with otherwise similar re-pricing characteristics (basis risk), and from interest rate related options embedded in our assets and liabilities (option risk).
Our objective is to manage our interest rate risk by determining whether a given movement in interest rates affects our net interest income and the market value of our portfolio equity in a positive or negative way and to execute strategies to maintain interest rate risk within established limits. The results at December 31, 2022 indicate the level of risk within the parameters of our model. Our management believes that the December 31, 2022 results indicate a profile that reflects interest rate risk exposures in both rising and declining rate environments for both net interest income and economic value.
Model Simulation Analysis. We view interest rate risk from two different perspectives. The traditional accounting perspective, which defines and measures interest rate risk as the change in net interest income and earnings caused by a change in interest rates, provides the best view of short-term interest rate risk exposure. We also view interest rate risk from an economic perspective, which defines and measures interest rate risk as the change in the market value of portfolio equity caused by changes in the values of assets and liabilities, which fluctuate due to changes in interest rates. The market value of portfolio equity, also referred to as the economic value of equity, is defined as the present value of future cash flows from existing assets, minus the present value of future cash flows from existing liabilities.
These two perspectives give rise to income simulation and economic value simulation, each of which presents a unique picture of our risk of any movement in interest rates. Income simulation identifies the timing and magnitude of changes in income resulting from changes in prevailing interest rates over a short-term time horizon (usually one or two years). Economic value simulation reflects the interest rate sensitivity of assets and liabilities in a more
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comprehensive fashion, reflecting all future time periods. It can identify the quantity of interest rate risk as a function of the changes in the economic values of assets and liabilities, and the corresponding change in the economic value of equity of the Bank. Both types of simulation assist in identifying, measuring, monitoring and controlling interest rate risk and are employed by management to ensure that variations in interest rate risk exposure will be maintained within policy guidelines.
We produce these simulation reports and discuss them with our management Asset and Liability Committee on a quarterly basis. The simulation reports compare baseline (no interest rate change) to the results of an interest rate shock, to illustrate the specific impact of the interest rate scenario tested on income and equity. The model, which incorporates asset and liability rate information, simulates the effect of various interest rate movements on income and equity value. The reports identify and measure our interest rate risk exposure present in our current asset/liability structure. Management considers both a static (current position) and dynamic (forecast changes in volume) analysis as well as non-parallel and gradual changes in interest rates and the yield curve in assessing interest rate exposures.
If the results produce quantifiable interest rate risk exposure beyond our limits, then the testing will have served as a monitoring mechanism to allow us to initiate asset/liability strategies designed to reduce and therefore mitigate interest rate risk. The table below sets forth an approximation of our interest rate risk exposure. The simulation uses projected repricing of assets and liabilities at December 31, 2022. The income simulation analysis presented represents a one-year impact of the interest scenario assuming a static balance sheet. Various assumptions are made regarding the prepayment speed and optionality of loans, investment securities and deposits, which are based on analysis and market information. The assumptions regarding optionality, such as prepayments of loans and the effective lives and repricing of non-maturity deposit products, are documented periodically through evaluation of current market conditions and historical correlations to our specific asset and liability products under varying interest rate scenarios.
Because the prospective effects of hypothetical interest rate changes are based on a number of assumptions, these computations should not be relied upon as indicative of actual results. While we believe such assumptions to be reasonable, assumed prepayment rates may not approximate actual future prepayment activity on mortgage-backed securities or agency issued collateralized obligations (secured by one- to four-family loans and multifamily loans). Further, the computation does not reflect any actions that management may undertake in response to changes in interest rates and assumes a constant asset base. Management periodically reviews the rate assumptions based on existing and projected economic conditions and consults with industry experts to validate our model and simulation results.
The table below sets forth, as of December 31, 2022, the Bank’s net portfolio value, the estimated changes in our net portfolio value and net interest income that would result from the designated instantaneous parallel changes in market interest rates.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Twelve Month | | | | | | | | |
| | | Net Interest Income | | | Net Portfolio Value | | | |||
| | | Percent | | | | | | Percent | | |
| Change in Interest Rates (Basis Points) | of Change | | Estimated NPV | of Change | | |||||
| +200 | 19.92 | % | | $ | 314,474 | 5.00 | % | | ||
| +100 | 9.98 | | | 308,494 | 3.00 | | | |||
| 0 | — | | | 299,513 | — | | | |||
| -100 | (10.75) | % | | $ | 287,788 | (3.91) | % | |
As of December 31, 2022, based on the scenarios above, net interest income would increase by approximately 9.98% to 19.92%, over a one-year time horizon in a rising interest rate environment. One-year net interest income would decrease by approximately 10.75% in a declining interest rate environment over the same period.
Conversely, economic value at risk would be negatively impacted by a rise in interest rates. We have established an interest rate floor of zero percent for measuring interest rate risk. The difference between the two results reflects the relatively long terms of a portion of our assets which is captured by the economic value at risk but has less impact on the one year net interest income sensitivity.
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Overall, our December 31, 2022 results indicate that we are adequately positioned with an acceptable net interest income and economic value at risk and that all interest rate risk results continue to be within our policy guidelines.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We maintain liquid assets at levels we believe are adequate to meet our liquidity needs. We established a liquidity ratio policy that identify three liquidity ratios consisting of (1) Cash/Deposits & Short Term Borrowings (“Cash Liquidity”), (2) Cash & Investments/Deposits & Short Term Borrowings (“On Balance Sheet Liquidity”), and (3) Cash & Investments & Borrowing Capacity/Deposits & Short Term Borrowings (“On Balance Sheet Liquidity & Borrowing Capacity”) to assist in the management of our liquidity. We also establish targets of 2.0% for the Cash Liquidity ratio, 8.0% for the On Balance Sheet Liquidity ratio, and 20.0% for the On Balance Sheet Liquidity & Borrowing Capacity ratio.
Our Cash Liquidity ratio, On Balance Sheet Liquidity ratio, and On Balance Sheet Liquidity & Borrowing Capacity ratio averaged 11.2%, 15.5%, and 19.0%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to 12.7%, 15.7%, and 21.7%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2021. We adjust our liquidity levels to fund deposit outflows, pay real estate taxes on real estate loans, repay our borrowings, and to fund loan commitments. We also adjust liquidity as appropriate to meet asset and liability management objectives. However, during the existing low interest rate environment, we have strategically allowed these metrics to fall below the minimum thresholds at times to provide for the effective management of extension risk and other interest rate risks.
Our liquidity ratios cannot be calculated using amounts disclosed in our consolidated financial statements, as many of the calculations involve monthly, quarterly or annual averages. To calculate our liquidity ratios, the average liquidity base from the prior month is used as the denominator to calculate a daily liquidity ratio. The liquidity base consists of savings account balances, certificates of deposit balances, checking and money market balances, deposit loans and borrowings. The daily balances of these components are averaged to arrive at the liquidity base for the month, and the daily cash balances in selected general ledger accounts are used to derive our liquidity position. A daily liquidity ratio is calculated using the liquidity for the day divided by the prior month’s average liquidity base. At the end of each month, a monthly liquidity position is calculated using the average liquidity position for the month divided by the prior month’s average liquidity base. To calculate quarterly and annual liquidity ratios, we take the average liquidity for the three- or twelve-month period, respectively, and average it.
Our primary sources of liquidity are deposits, amortization and prepayment of loans and mortgage-backed securities, maturities of investment securities, other short-term investments, earnings, and funds provided from operations. While scheduled principal repayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities are a relatively predictable source of funds, deposit flows and loan prepayments are greatly influenced by market interest rates, economic conditions, and rates offered by our competition. We set the interest rates on our deposits to maintain a desired level of total deposits. In addition, we invest excess funds in short-term interest-earning assets, which provide liquidity to meet lending requirements.
Our cash flows are derived from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included with the Consolidated Financial Statements which begin on page F-1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Our primary investing activities are the origination of construction loans, commercial and industrial loans, multifamily loans, and to a lesser extent, mixed-use real estate loans and other loans. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, our loan originations totaled $700.1 million and $727.3 million, respectively. Cash received from the sales, calls, maturities and pay-downs on securities totaled $1.5 million and $4.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. We purchased $10.0 million and $25.3 million in securities for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Deposit flows are generally affected by the level of interest rates we offer, the interest rates and products offered by local competitors, and other factors. Total deposits increased by $194.8 million at December 31, 2022 due to
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increases in non-interest bearing demand deposits, savings account deposits, and certificates of deposits, offset by a decrease in NOW/money market balances.
Liquidity management is both a daily and long-term function of business management. If we require funds beyond our ability to generate them internally, borrowing agreements exist with the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York to provide advances. As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, we are required to own capital stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and are authorized to apply for advances on the security of such stock and certain of our mortgage loans and other assets (principally securities which are obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States), provided certain standards related to credit-worthiness have been met. We had an available borrowing limit of $31.5 million and $29.4 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Federal Home Loan Bank advances were $21.0 million and $28.0 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
In addition, we have a borrowing agreement with Atlantic Community Bankers Bank (“ACBB”) to provide short-term borrowings of $8.0 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021. There were no outstanding borrowings with ACBB at December 31, 2022 and 2021.
At December 31, 2022, we had unfunded commitments on construction loans of $637.4 million, outstanding commitments to originate loans of $164.9 million, unfunded commitments under lines of credit of $133.9 million, and unfunded standby letters of credit of $12.5 million. At December 31, 2022, certificates of deposit scheduled to mature in less than one year totaled $258.9 million. Based on prior experience, management believes that a significant portion of such deposits will remain with us, although there can be no assurance that this will be the case. In the event a significant portion of our deposits are not retained by us, we will have to utilize other funding sources, such as various types of sourced deposits, and/or Federal Home Loan Bank advances, in order to maintain our level of assets. Alternatively, we could reduce our level of liquid assets, such as our cash and cash equivalents. In addition, the cost of such deposits may be significantly higher or lower depending on market interest rates at the time of renewal.
The Company is a separate legal entity from the Bank and must provide for its own liquidity. In addition to its operating expenses, The Company is responsible for paying any dividends declared to its stockholders, and interest and principal on outstanding debt, if any. The Company’s primary sources of income are interest income derived from investments in loans and interest bearing accounts at other financial institutions and dividends received from the Bank. At December 31, 2022, the Company had liquid assets of $20.3 million.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we did not engage in any off-balance sheet transactions reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash-flows.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For a discussion of the impact of recent accounting pronouncements, see note 24 in the notes to the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in this report.
Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices
The consolidated financial statements and related notes of the have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which generally requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without consideration for changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The primary impact of inflation is reflected in the increased cost of our operations. Unlike industrial companies, our assets and liabilities are primarily monetary in nature. As a result, changes in market interest rates have a greater impact on performance than the effects of inflation.
FY 2021 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001558370-22-004780.
ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This discussion and analysis reflects our consolidated financial statements and other relevant statistical data, and is intended to enhance your understanding of our financial condition and results of operations. The information in this section has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company that appear beginning on page F-1 of this report.
Executive Summary
Our results of operations depend primarily on our net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between the interest income we earn on our interest-earning assets, consisting primarily of loans, investment securities, mortgage-backed securities and other interest-earning assets (primarily cash and cash equivalents), and the interest we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities, consisting of money market accounts, statement savings accounts, individual retirement accounts and certificates of deposit. Our results of operations also are affected by our provisions for loan losses, non-interest income and non-interest expense. Non-interest income currently consists primarily of loan fees, service charges, and earnings on bank owned life insurance. Non-interest expense currently consists primarily of salaries and employee benefits, deposit insurance premiums, directors’ fees, occupancy and equipment, data processing and
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professional fees. Our results of operations also may be affected significantly by general and local economic and competitive conditions, changes in market interest rates, governmental policies and actions of regulatory authorities.
Business Strategy
Growing our assets with a continued focus on the origination of construction loans.
At December 31, 2021, $640.7 million, or 65.9%, of our total loan portfolio, net of loans in process, consisted of construction loans primarily located in high absorption areas in the New York Metropolitan Area. There continues to be a significant need for construction financing within the high absorption, homogeneous communities served by the Bank and we intend to continue to support the growth of these communities through the financing of condominium and apartment construction loans within the communities.
Maintaining strong asset quality and managing credit risk.
Strong asset quality is a key to the long-term financial success of any financial institution. We have been successful in maintaining strong asset quality in recent years. Our ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was 0.16%, 0.58% and 0.64% at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. We attribute this credit quality to a conservative credit culture and an effective credit risk management environment. We have an experienced team of credit professionals, well-defined and implemented credit policies and procedures, what we believe to be conservative loan underwriting criteria, and active credit monitoring policies and procedures. Our senior management team also spends substantial time conducting construction site visits and visiting regularly with community leaders and borrowers in our high absorption communities, which enables us to understand the needs of our communities and to stay informed as to matters affecting those communities.
Continuing to grow our non-interest bearing deposit accounts through the maintenance of low customer fees and charges.
We believe that as a community bank we should maintain the fees and charges we charge our customers as low as possible. By doing so, we have been able to attract and retain food service and other businesses as customers of the Bank and at the same time increase the amount of our non-interest bearing business accounts. We intend to continue this strategy following the conversion.
Expanding our franchise through de novo branching or branch acquisitions.
As the communities we serve continue to grow and expand into new areas, we believe there will be branch expansion opportunities within our market area and in the newly developing communities expanding outward from existing high absorption, homogeneous communities where our branches are currently located. To this end, we currently expect to open a new branch office in Sullivan County, New York during the second quarter of 2022. We intend to explore additional opportunities as they arise to expand our branch network.
Expanding our employee base, infrastructure and technology, as necessary, to support future growth.
We have already made significant investments in our infrastructure, technology and employee base to support the growth in our construction portfolio and the increased compliance responsibilities due to such growth, including experienced Bank Secrecy Act professionals. The additional capital being raised in the offering will provide us with additional resources to attract and retain the necessary talent and continue to enhance our infrastructure and technology to support our growth following the conversion.
Implement a stockholder-focused strategy for management of our capital.
We recognize that a strong capital position is essential to achieving our long-term objective of building stockholder value, and we believe that our capital position will support our future growth and expansion, and will give us flexibility to pursue other capital management strategies to enhance stockholder value.
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Critical Accounting Policies
In the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, we have adopted various accounting policies that govern the application of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and to general practices within the banking industry. Our significant accounting policies are described in note one to the consolidated financial statements included in this report.
Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by us that have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities. We consider these accounting policies, which are discussed below, to be critical accounting policies. The judgments and assumptions we use are based on historical experience and other factors, which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these judgments and estimates under different conditions, resulting in a change that could have a material impact on the carrying values of our assets and liabilities and our results of operations.
Allowance for Loan Losses
We consider the allowance for loan losses to be a critical accounting policy. The allowance for loan losses represents management’s estimate of losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the statement of financial condition date and is recorded as a reduction to loans. The allowance for loan losses is increased by the provision for loan losses, and decreased by charge-offs, net of recoveries. Loans deemed to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance for loan losses, and subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. All, or part, of the principal balance of loans receivable are charged off to the allowance as soon as it is determined that the repayment of all, or part, of the principal balance is highly unlikely.
The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level considered adequate to provide for losses that can be reasonably anticipated. Management performs a quarterly evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance. The allowance is based on our past loan loss experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral, composition of the loan portfolio, current economic conditions, and other relevant factors. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates that may be susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.
The allowance consists of general reserves. If an impairment is identified, we charge off the impaired portion immediately. A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired.
Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment records, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. Impairment is measured on a loan-by-loan basis.
The general component of the allowance calculation is also based on the loss factors that reflect our historical charge-off experience adjusted for current economic conditions applied to loan groups with similar characteristics or classifications in the current portfolio. To help ensure that risk ratings are accurate and reflect the present and future capacity of borrowers to repay a loan as agreed, we have a proprietary structured loan rating process which allows for a periodic review of our loan portfolio and the early identification of potential impaired loans. These proprietary systems, depending on the type of loan, take into consideration factors such as project location, loan duration, loan to value or loan to cost, property condition, borrower experience, guarantor strength, tenant concentration, projected debt-service coverage, absorption rate, sponsor’s experience, and as well as other factors.
Loans whose terms are modified are classified as troubled debt restructurings if we grant such borrowers concessions and it is deemed that those borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty. Concessions granted under a troubled debt restructuring generally involve a temporary reduction in interest rate or an extension of a loan’s stated
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maturity date at a below market rate. Adversely classified, non-accrual troubled debt restructurings may be returned to accrued status if principal and interest payments, under the modified terms, are current for six consecutive months after modification. All troubled debt restructured loans are classified as impaired.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 replaces the incurred loss model with an expected loss model, which is referred to as the current expected credit loss model, or CECL, ASU 2016-13. We previously elected to defer the adoption of ASU 2016-13 until December 31, 2020. As permitted by the CARES Act, and based on legislation enacted in December 2020 which extended certain provision of the CARES Act, we elected to extend the adoption of CECL until January 1, 2023 in accordance with the recent legislation. This standard requires earlier recognition of expected credit losses on loans and certain other instruments, compared to the incurred loss model.
Based on management’s comprehensive analysis of the loan portfolio, management believes the allowance for loan losses is appropriate as of December 31, 2021.
Balance Sheet Analysis
General
Total assets increased by $256.8 million, or 26.5%, to $1.2 billion at December 31, 2021, from $968.2 million at December 31, 2020. The increase in assets was primarily due to increases in net loans of $148.4 million, cash and cash equivalents of $83.1 million, investment securities held-to-maturity of $10.5 million, investment in equity securities of $9.6 million, and premises and equipment of $5.2 million.
Cash and cash equivalents increased by $83.1 million, or 120.1%, to $152.3 million at December 31, 2021 from $69.2 million at December 31, 2020. The increase in cash was primarily attributable to an increase in deposits of $155.5 million coupled with an increase in stockholders’ equity primarily due to the completion of the second-step conversion offering that increased stockholders’ equity by $88.4 million, net of conversion costs. These sources of funds were deployed via an increase in loans of $148.4 million, an increase in investment securities held-to-maturity of $10.5 million, an increase in equity securities of $9.6 million, an increase in property and equipment of $5.2 million due primarily to the purchase of property for a new branch office, and cash dividends of $2.3 million.
Equity securities increased by $9.6 million, or 93.0%, to $19.9 million at December 31, 2021 from $10.3 million at December 31, 2020. The increase in equity securities was primarily attributable to the purchase of equity securities totaling $10.0 million, partially offset by market depreciation of $389,000.
Securities held-to-maturity increased by $10.5 million, or 142.2%, to $17.9 million at December 31, 2021 from $7.4 million at December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to purchases of investment securities totaling $15.3 million, partially offset by maturities and pay-downs of $4.8 million.
Loans, net of the allowance for loan losses, increased by $148.4 million, or 18.1%, to $968.1 million at December 31, 2021 from $819.7 million at December 31, 2020. The increase in loans, net of the allowance for loan losses, was primarily due to loan originations of $727.3 million, consisting primarily of $603.4 million in construction loans with respect to which approximately 36.8% of the funds were disbursed at loan closings and the remaining funds to be disbursed over the terms of the construction loans.
Loan originations resulted in a net increase of $138.0 million in construction loans, $27.8 million in commercial and industrial loans, $1.3 million in mixed-use loans, and $1.0 million in one- to four-family loans. The increases in our loan portfolio were partially offset by decreases in non-residential loans of $13.7 million and multi-family loans of $6.1 million, coupled with normal pay-downs and principal reductions.
Premises and equipment increased by $5.2 million, or 28.0%, to $23.9 million at December 31, 2021 from $18.7 million at December 31, 2020 due to the acquisition of property for a new branch site located in Monsey, New York.
Foreclosed real estate was $2.0 million at both December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
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Right of use assets — operating decreased by $530,000, or 17.1%, to $2.6 million at December 31, 2021 from $3.1 million at December 31, 2020, primarily due to amortization.
Other assets decreased by $377,000, or 7.5%, to $4.7 million at December 31, 2021 from $5.1 million at December 31, 2020 due to a decrease in tax assets of $708,000 and a decrease in suspense accounts of $55,000, partially offset by an increase in prepaid expense of $365,000.
Total deposits increased by $155.5 million, or 20.1%, to $927.2 million at December 31, 2021 from $771.7 million at December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to an increase in non-interest bearing demand deposits of $109.5 million, or 49.5%, an increase in savings account balances of $83.2 million, or 81.8%, and an increase in NOW/money market accounts of $17.5 million, or 17.3%, from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in certificates of deposit of $54.7 million, or 15.7%, from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021.
Federal Home Loan Bank advances were $28.0 million at both December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance decreased by $374,000, or 16.6%, to $1.9 million at December 31, 2021 from $2.3 million at December 31, 2020 due primarily to the reduction in the commercial real estate loan portfolio.
Lease liability – operating decreased by $511,000, or 16.4%, to $2.6 million at December 31, 2021 from $3.1 million at December 31, 2020, primarily due to amortization.
Accounts payable and accrued expenses increased by $4.7 million, or 52.9%, to $13.5 million at December 31, 2021 from $8.8 million at December 31, 2020 due primarily to an increase in suspense accounts for loan closings of $2.7 million, an increase in deferred compensation of $496,000, an increase in dividend declared but not paid of $782,000, and an increase in accrued expenses of $692,000.
Stockholders’ equity increased by $97.6 million, or 63.4% to $251.4 million at December 31, 2021, from $153.8 million at December 31, 2020. The increase in stockholders’ equity was primarily a result of the completion of the second-step conversion offering which increased stockholders’ equity by $88.4 million, net of conversion costs, coupled with a $7.0 million from the retirement of treasury shares, offset by the $7.8 million cost related to the implementation of an employee stock ownership plan in connection with the second-step conversion.
The increase in stockholders’ equity was also due to net income of $11.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and a reduction of $931,000 in unearned employee stock ownership plan shares, partially offset by dividends paid/declared of $2.9 million and $46,000 in other comprehensive income.
Loans
Our loan portfolio consists primarily of construction loans, commercial and industrial loans, multifamily and mixed-use residential real estate loans and non-residential real estate loans. We also have a limited amount of one- to four-family residential real estate loans, which we no longer originate, and consumer loans, which we originate on a very limited basis.
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The following table shows the loan portfolio at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | 2021 | | 2020 | |||||||
| | | Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent | ||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | |||||||
| One- to four-family | | $ | 7,189 | 0.74 | | $ | 6,170 | 0.75 | % | ||
| Multifamily | | 84,425 | 8.68 | | 90,506 | 10.97 | | ||||
| Mixed-use | | 28,744 | 2.95 | | 30,508 | 3.70 | | ||||
| Total residential real estate loans | | 120,358 | 12.37 | | 127,184 | 15.42 | | ||||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 50,016 | 5.14 | | 60,665 | 7.36 | | ||||
| Construction loans | | 683,830 | 70.29 | | 545,788 | 66.18 | | ||||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 118,378 | 12.17 | | 90,577 | 10.98 | | ||||
| Consumer loans | | 269 | 0.03 | | 494 | 0.06 | | ||||
| Total loans | | 972,851 | 100.00 | % | 824,708 | 100.00 | % | ||||
| Allowance for losses | | (5,242) | | | (5,088) | | |||||
| Deferred loan costs, net | | 484 | | | 113 | | |||||
| Loans, net | | $ | 968,093 | | | | $ | 819,733 | |
Loan Maturity. The following table sets forth certain information at December 31, 2021 regarding the dollar amount of loan principal repayments becoming due during the periods indicated. The tables do not include any estimate of prepayments which significantly shorten the average life of all loans and may cause our actual repayment experience to differ from that shown below. Demand loans having no stated schedule of repayments and no stated maturity are reported as due in one year or less.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | | | Non- | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
| | | One- to | | | | | | | | Residential | | | | | Commercial | | | | | | | |||
| | | Four- | | Multi- | | Mixed- | | Real | | | | | and | | | | | Total | ||||||
| December 31, 2021 | Family | Family | Use | Estate | Construction | Industrial | Consumer | Loans | ||||||||||||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts due in: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||
| One year or less | | $ | — | | $ | 9,498 | | $ | 1,030 | | $ | 12,787 | | $ | 406,854 | | $ | 90,993 | | $ | 258 | | $ | 521,420 |
| More than 1-5 years | | | 2,304 | | | 27,642 | | | 10,867 | | | 21,238 | | | 266,456 | | | 24,717 | | | 11 | | | 353,235 |
| More than 5-15 years | | | 1,191 | | | 43,255 | | | 15,803 | | | 15,858 | | | 10,520 | | | 2,668 | | | — | | | 89,295 |
| More than 15 years | | | 3,694 | | | 4,030 | | | 1,044 | | | 133 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 8,901 |
| Total | | $ | 7,189 | | $ | 84,425 | | $ | 28,744 | | $ | 50,016 | | $ | 683,830 | | $ | 118,378 | | $ | 269 | | $ | 972,851 |
The following table sets forth all loans at December 31, 2021 that are due after December 31, 2022 and have either fixed interest rates or floating or adjustable interest rates:
| | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | Floating or | Total at | |||||
| | | Fixed Rates | | Adjustable Rates | | December 31, 2021 | |||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||||
| One- to four-family | | $ | 3,628 | | $ | 3,561 | | $ | 7,189 |
| Multifamily | | 22,810 | | 52,117 | | 74,927 | |||
| Mixed-use | | 4,233 | | 23,481 | | 27,714 | |||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 12,426 | | 24,803 | | 37,229 | |||
| Construction loans | | 2,663 | | 274,313 | | 276,976 | |||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 4,298 | | 23,087 | | 27,385 | |||
| Consumer loans | | 11 | | — | | 11 | |||
| Total | | $ | 50,069 | | $ | 401,362 | | $ | 451,431 |
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Securities
Our investment portfolio consists primarily of mutual funds, residential mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae primarily with stated final maturities of 10 years or more, and municipal securities with maturities of one year or more.
The following table sets forth the stated maturities and weighted average yields of investment securities at December 31, 2021. Weighted average yields on tax-exempt securities are presented on a tax equivalent basis using a combined federal and state marginal rate of 23.6%. Certain securities have adjustable interest rates and will reprice monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually within the various maturity ranges. Equity securities are not included in the table based on lack of a maturity date. The table presents contractual maturities for mortgage-backed securities and does not reflect repricing or the effect of prepayments.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | | Due after One but within | | Due after Five but within | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
| | | Due within One Year | | Five Years | | Ten Years | | Due after Ten Years | | Total | | |||||||||||||||
| | | | Weighted | | Weighted | | Weighted | | Weighted | | Weighted | |||||||||||||||
| | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | | Carrying | | Average | ||||||
| December 31, 2021 | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | | Value | | Yield | ||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Securities available-for-sale: | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | | $ | — | — | % | $ | 1 | 2.29 | % | $ | — | — | % | $ | — | — | % | $ | 1 | 2.29 | % | |||||
| Total available-for-sale | | $ | — | — | % | $ | 1 | 2.29 | % | $ | — | — | % | $ | — | — | % | $ | 1 | 2.29 | % | |||||
| Securities held-to-maturity: | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | | $ | 1 | 2.11 | % | $ | 18 | 2.27 | % | $ | 12 | 1.90 | % | $ | 4,379 | 1.85 | % | $ | 4,410 | 1.86 | % | |||||
| U.S. agency collateralized mortgage obligations | | | | — | | | — | — | | | — | — | | | 3,453 | 1.60 | | | 3,453 | 1.60 | | |||||
| Municipal bonds | | | 537 | 1.33 | | | 1,761 | 1.36 | | | 1,640 | 1.45 | | | 6,079 | 1.45 | | | 10,017 | 1.43 | | |||||
| Total held-to-maturity | | $ | 538 | 1.33 | % | $ | 1,779 | 1.37 | % | $ | 1,652 | 1.45 | % | $ | 13,911 | 1.61 | % | $ | 17,880 | 1.57 | % | |||||
| Total investment securities | | $ | 538 | 1.33 | % | $ | 1,780 | 1.37 | % | $ | 1,652 | 1.45 | % | $ | 13,911 | 1.61 | % | $ | 17,881 | 1.57 | % |
Deposits
Deposits are a major source of our funds for lending and other investment purposes, and our deposits are provided primarily by individuals within our market area. In addition, we rely on brokered, listing and military deposits, which represent a viable and cost effective addition to our deposit gathering and maintenance strategy, often at a lower “all-in” cost when compared to our retail branch network. Use of these types of deposits allows us to match the maturity of these deposits to the term of our construction loans. The following table sets forth the deposits as a percentage of total deposits for the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| | | 2021 | | 2020 | |||||||||||||
| | | Average | | | | | Average | | | | | ||||||
| | | Outstanding | | | | | Average | | Outstanding | | | | | Average | |||
| | Balance | Percent | Rate | Balance | Percent | Rate | |||||||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
| Demand deposits: | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
| Non-interest bearing | | $ | 260,529 | | | 32.52% | — | | $ | 172,508 | | | 22.97% | — | | ||
| NOW and money market | | 114,940 | | | 14.35% | 0.53% | | 104,390 | | | 13.90% | 0.50% | | ||||
| Total | | | 375,469 | | | 46.87% | | 0.14% | | | 276,898 | | | 36.86% | | 0.16% | |
| Savings accounts | | 108,877 | | | 13.59% | 0.63% | | 101,738 | | | 13.54% | 0.33% | | ||||
| Certificates of deposit | | 316,690 | | | 39.54% | 0.97% | | 372,535 | | | 49.59% | 1.35% | | ||||
| Total | | $ | 801,036 | | | 100.00% | 0.50% | | $ | 751,171 | | | 100.00% | 0.72% | |
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the aggregate amount of uninsured deposits (deposits in amounts greater than or equal to $250,000, which is the maximum amount for federal deposit insurance) was $548.2 million and $381.9 million, respectively. In addition, as of December 31, 2021, the aggregate amount of all our uninsured certificates of deposit was $134.7 million. We have no deposits that are uninsured for any reason other than being in excess of the maximum amount for federal deposit insurance. The following table sets forth the portion of the Bank’s certificates of
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deposit, by account, that are in excess of the FDIC insurance limit, by remaining time until maturity, as of December 31, 2021:
| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| | At | ||
| | | December 31, 2021 | |
| | | (In thousands) | |
| Maturity Period: | | ||
| Three months or less | | $ | 7,830 |
| Over three through six months | | 31,309 | |
| Over six through twelve months | | 33,020 | |
| Over twelve months | | 62,574 | |
| Total | | $ | 134,733 |
Average Balance Sheets
The following tables set forth average balance sheets, average yields and costs, and certain other information for the years indicated. No tax-equivalent yield adjustments have been made, as the effects would be immaterial. All average balances are daily average balances. Non-accrual loans were included in the computation of average balances. The yields set forth below include the effect of deferred fees, discounts, and premiums that are amortized or accreted to interest income or interest expense. Deferred loan fees totaled $484,000 and $113,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Loan balances exclude loans held for sale.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended December 31, | | | |||||||||||||||||
| | | 2021 | | | 2020 | | |||||||||||||||
| | | Average | | | | | Average | | | | | ||||||||||
| | | Outstanding | | | | | | Average | | | Outstanding | | | | | | Average | | | ||
| | | Balance | | | Interest | | Yield/Rate | | | Balance | | | Interest | | Yield/Rate | | |||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest-earning assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Loans receivable | | $ | 866,518 | | | $ | 47,898 | 5.53 | % | | $ | 797,735 | | | $ | 48,202 | 6.04 | % | | ||
| Securities | | | 23,026 | | | | 320 | 1.39 | | | | 18,705 | | | | 333 | 1.78 | | | ||
| Federal Home Loan Bank stock | | | 1,576 | | | | 71 | 4.51 | | | | 1,559 | | | | 82 | 5.26 | | | ||
| Other interest-earning assets | | | 91,999 | | | | 115 | 0.13 | | | | 58,438 | | | | 360 | 0.62 | | | ||
| Total interest-earning assets | | | 983,119 | | | | 48,404 | 4.92 | | | | 876,437 | | | | 48,977 | 5.59 | | | ||
| Allowance for Loan Losses | | | (5,154) | | | | | | | | | | (4,965) | | | | | | | | |
| Noninterest-earning assets | | | 72,855 | | | | | | | | | 67,494 | | | | | | | | | |
| Total assets | | $ | 1,050,820 | | | | | | | | | $ | 938,966 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest-bearing liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest-bearing demand deposits | | $ | 114,940 | | | $ | 696 | | 0.61 | % | | $ | 104,390 | | | $ | 768 | 0.74 | % | | |
| Savings and club accounts | | | 108,877 | | | | 328 | | 0.30 | | | | 101,738 | | | | 626 | | 0.62 | | |
| Certificates of deposit | | | 316,690 | | | | 3,335 | | 1.05 | | | | 372,535 | | | | 7,860 | 2.11 | | | |
| Interest-bearing deposits | | | 540,507 | | | | 4,359 | | 0.81 | | | | 578,663 | | | | 9,254 | 1.60 | | | |
| Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other | | | 28,000 | | | | 742 | | 2.65 | | | | 26,811 | | | | 723 | 2.70 | | | |
| Total interest-bearing liabilities | | | 568,507 | | | $ | 5,101 | | 0.90 | | | | 605,474 | | | $ | 9,977 | 1.65 | | | |
| Noninterest-bearing demand deposits | | | 260,529 | | | | | | | | | | 172,508 | | | | | | | | |
| Other noninterest-bearing liabilities | | | 24,310 | | | | | | | | | | 12,595 | | | | | | | | |
| Total liabilities | | | 853,346 | | | | | | | | | | 790,577 | | | | | | | | |
| Total shareholders’ equity | | | 197,474 | | | | | | | | | | 148,389 | | | | | | | | |
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | | $ | 1,050,820 | | | | | | | | | $ | 938,966 | | | | | | | | |
| Net interest income | | | | | | $ | 43,303 | | | | | | | | | $ | 39,000 | | | | |
| Net interest rate spread (1) | | | | | | | | | 4.02 | % | | | | | | | | | 3.94 | % | |
| Net interest margin (3) | | | | | | | | | 4.40 | % | | | | | | | | | 4.45 | % | |
| Net interest-earning assets (2) | | $ | 414,612 | | | | | | | | | $ | 270,963 | | | | | | | | |
| Average interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities | | | 172.93 | % | | | | | | | | | 144.75 | % | | | | | | | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average rate of interest-bearing liabilities. |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (2) | Net interest-earning assets represent total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (3) | Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets. |
Rate/Volume Analysis
The following table sets forth the effects of changing rates and volumes on our net interest income. The rate column shows the effects attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume). The volume column shows the effects attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate). The total column represents the sum of the prior columns. or purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume, which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately based on the changes due to rate and the changes due to volume.
| | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended 12/31/2021 | |||||||
| | | Compared to | |||||||
| | | Year Ended 12/31/2020 | |||||||
| | | Increase (Decrease) | |||||||
| | | Due to | |||||||
| | Volume | Rate | Total | ||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||
| Interest income: | | | | ||||||
| Loans receivable | | $ | 3,978 | | $ | (4,282) | | $ | (304) |
| Securities | | 79 | | (103) | | (24) | |||
| Other interest-earning assets | | 138 | | (383) | | (245) | |||
| Total | | $ | 4,195 | | $ | (4,768) | | $ | (573) |
| Interest expense: | | | | | |||||
| Interest bearing demand deposit | | $ | 73 | | $ | (145) | | $ | (72) |
| Savings accounts | | 41 | | (339) | | (298) | |||
| Certificates of deposits | | (1,042) | | (3,483) | | (4,525) | |||
| Borrowed money | | 32 | | (13) | | 19 | |||
| Total | | (896) | | (3,980) | | (4,876) | |||
| Net change in net interest income | | $ | 5,091 | | $ | (788) | | $ | 4,303 |
Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Financial Highlights
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $11.9 million compared to net income of $12.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2021 was lower than the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to an increase in provision for loan losses expense, an increase in non-interest expenses, a decrease in other income, and an increase in income tax expense. These were partially offset by an increase in net interest income.
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Summary Income Statements
The following table sets forth the income summary for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | Change Fiscal 2021/2020 | ||||
| | 2021 | 2020 | $ | % | ||||||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Net interest income | | $ | 43,303 | | $ | 39,000 | | $ | 4,303 | | 11.03 | % |
| Provision for loan losses | | 3,610 | | 814 | | 2,796 | | 343.49 | % | |||
| Non-interest income | | 2,354 | | 2,513 | | (159) | | (6.33) | % | |||
| Non-interest expenses | | 26,473 | | 25,088 | | 1,385 | | 5.52 | % | |||
| Income tax expense | | 3,669 | | 3,282 | | 387 | | 11.79 | % | |||
| Net income | | $ | 11,905 | | $ | 12,329 | | $ | (424) | | (3.44) | % |
| Return on average assets | | 1.13 | % | 1.31 | % | | | | ||||
| Return on average equity | | 6.03 | % | 8.31 | % | | | |
Net Interest Income
Net interest income totaled $43.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $39.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in net interest income of $4.3 million, or 11.0%, was primarily due to a decrease in interest expense that exceeded a decrease in interest income in a manner consistent with the decrease in interest rates during the third and fourth quarters of 2019 coupled with an additional 150 basis point cut in interest rates in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, our cost of interest bearing liabilities decreased much greater than our yield on interest earning assets as our interest bearing liabilities repriced much faster to lower rates than our yield on interest earning assets.
Interest and dividend income decreased by $573,000, or 1.2%, due to a decrease in the yield on interest earning assets by 67 basis points from 5.59% for the year ended December 31, 2020 to 4.92% for the year ended December 31, 2021, partially offset by an increase in the average interest earning assets of $106.7 million, or 12.2%, from $876.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to $983.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Interest expense decreased by $4.9 million, or 48.9%, due to a decrease in average interest bearing liabilities of $37.0 million, or 6.1%, from $605.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to $568.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and a decrease in the cost of interest bearing liabilities by 75 basis points from 1.65% to 0.90%. The decrease in the cost of interest bearing liabilities was also partially due to a shift to non-interest bearing demand deposits from interest bearing certificates of deposits as the average balances of non-interest bearing demand deposits increased by $88.0 million, or 51.0%, from $172.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to $260.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the average balances of certificates of deposits decreased by $55.8 million, or 15.0% from $372.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to $316.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Net interest margin decreased by 5 basis points, or 1.0%, during the year ended December 31, 2021 to 4.40% compared to 4.45% at December 31, 2020.
Provision for Loan Losses. A provision for loan losses of $3.6 million was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to $814,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. During 2021, we charged-off a total of $3.6 million against one non-performing non-residential mortgage loan and various unpaid overdrafts in our demand deposit accounts. During 2020, we charged-off a total of $364,000 against one non-performing non-residential mortgage loan, one non-performing commercial and industrial loan, and various unpaid overdrafts in our demand deposit accounts. We recorded recoveries of $160,000 and $27,000 during the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
The increase in provision level was primarily attributed to the charge-off of $3.6 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2021 relating to a non-residential bridge loan secured by real estate with a balance of $3.6 million. The loan is secured by commercial real estate located in Greenwich, Connecticut and guaranteed by the two borrowers. The loan was originated in 2016 as a two-year bridge loan and, upon the borrower’s failure to satisfy the loan at the
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maturity date, the loan was accelerated and a foreclosure action was instituted. The loan remains in foreclosure but is subject to Connecticut’s continuing foreclosure backlog. The property securing the loan is subject to a parking easement and based on a recently updated appraisal showing the property’s value with the parking easement to be zero, the Company determined to write off the $3.6 million loan as a non-cash charge against the allowance for loan losses.
The Company is aggressively seeking recovery of all amounts due from the personal guarantors of the loan. However, the recovery process is uncertain and may take an extended period of time to resolve this matter. In the event the Company is successful against the guarantors, any recovery received would be added back to the allowance for loan losses and an analysis would be performed at that time to determine the appropriateness of the recovery into income.
The provision recorded for the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily attributable to the perceived potential credit risk associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, although no specific or probable losses were identified at that time. Although the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting recession has impacted the local economy, we have not experienced any significant deterioration of our borrowers’ ability to keep current in accordance with the terms of their obligations. Based on a review of the loans that were in the loan portfolio at December 31, 2021, management believes that the allowance is maintained at a level that represents its best estimate of inherent losses in the loan portfolio that were both probable and reasonably estimable.
Management uses available information to establish the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses. Future additions or reductions to the allowance may be necessary based on estimates that are susceptible to change as a result of changes in economic conditions and other factors. As a result, our allowance for loan losses may not be sufficient to cover actual loan losses, and future provisions for loan losses could materially adversely affect our operating results. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review our allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require us to recognize adjustments to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.
Non-Interest Income
The following table sets forth a summary of non-interest income for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Year Ended December 31, | |||||
| | 2021 | 2020 | ||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||
| Other loan fees and service charges | | $ | 1,568 | | $ | 1,045 |
| Gain (loss) on disposition of equipment | | 7 | | (61) | ||
| Earnings on bank-owned life insurance | | 600 | | 609 | ||
| Investment advisory fees | | 514 | | 425 | ||
| Unrealized (loss) gain on equity securities | | (389) | | 288 | ||
| Other | | 54 | | 207 | ||
| Total | | $ | 2,354 | | $ | 2,513 |
The decrease in total other income was primarily due to an unrealized loss of $389,000 in our equity securities in 2021 compared to an unrealized gain of $288,000 in 2020, a decrease of $153,000 in other non-interest income, and a decrease of $9,000 in bank owned life insurance income. These were partially offset by an increase of $523,000 in other loan fees and service charges, an increase of $89,000 in investment advisory fees, and a net gain of $7,000 on the sale of fixed assets in 2021 compared to a net loss of $61,000 on the sale of fixed assets in 2020.
The unrealized loss of $389,000 in our equity securities was primarily due to an increase in the medium to long-term interest rates. The decrease in other non-interest income was primarily due to a gain of $125,000 in the quarter ended March 31, 2020 on a foreclosure sale of a delinquent mortgage loan and a decrease in miscellaneous income from our branch operations.
The increase in other loan fees and service charges was due to increases of $240,000 in ATM and debit card usage fees, $167,000 in loan servicing fees, and $137,000 in loan fees, partially offset by decreases of $15,000 in safe deposit fees and $6,000 in deposit accounts fees.
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The increase in investment advisory fees was due to an increase in fees generated by an increase in assets under management of Harbor West and an increase in commission income from Harbor West.
Non-Interest Expense
The following table sets forth an analysis of non-interest expense for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Year Ended December 31, | |||||
| | | 2021 | | 2020 | ||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||
| Salaries and employee benefits | | $ | 14,996 | | $ | 13,809 |
| Occupancy expense | | 2,115 | | 1,932 | ||
| Equipment | | 993 | | 917 | ||
| Outside data processing | | 1,652 | | 1,771 | ||
| Advertising | | 139 | | 168 | ||
| Impairment loss on goodwill | | — | | 98 | ||
| Real estate owned expense | | 93 | | 313 | ||
| Other | | 6,485 | | 6,080 | ||
| Total | | $ | 26,473 | | $ | 25,088 |
Non-interest expense increased by $1.4 million, or 5.5%, to $26.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $25.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase resulted primarily from increases of $1.2 million in salaries and employee benefits, $405,000 in other operating expense, $183,000 in occupancy expense, and $76,000 in equipment expense, partially offset by decreases of $220,000 in real estate owned expense, $119,000 in outside data processing expense, $98,000 in impairment loss on goodwill, and $29,000 in advertising expense.
Salaries and employee benefits increased by $1.2 million, or 8.6%, to $15.0 million in 2021 from $13.8 million in 2020. The was due to the payment of bonuses to branch personnel in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in bonuses paid to loan production personnel, and an increase in the number of full-time equivalent employees to 131 as of December 31, 2021 from 123 as of December 31, 2020. The increase in bonuses paid to loan production personnel was due to an increase in the construction loan portfolio. The increase in full-time equivalent employees was due to our efforts to expand our operations.
Other non-interest expense increased by $405,000, or 6.7%, to $6.5 million in 2021 from $6.1 million in 2020 due mainly to increases of $280,000 in consulting services, $137,000 in audit and accounting fees, $108,000 in service contracts expense, $27,000 in telephone expense, $24,000 in recruitment expenses related to the hiring of additional personnel, $20,000 in directors compensation, and $1,000 in office supplies, partially offset by decreases of $100,000 in miscellaneous other non-interest expense, $52,000 in legal fees, $26,000 in insurance expense, and $14,000 in directors, officers and employee expense. The decrease of $100,000 in miscellaneous other non-interest expense was due to a decrease of $218,000 in FDIC insurance premiums, partially offset by increases of $64,000 in dues and subscriptions expenses and $57,000 in various service charges.
Occupancy expense increased by $183,000, or 9.5%, to $2.1 million in 2021 from $1.9 million in 2020 primarily as a result of the cost of operating additional office space to accommodate our expansion. Equipment expense increased by $76,000, or 8.3%, to $993,000 in 2021 from $917,000 in 2020 due to an increase in the purchases of additional equipment.
Real estate owned expense decreased by $220,000, or 70.3%, to $93,000 in 2021 from $313,000 in 2020 due to the write down of $169,000 in the value of the one foreclosed property in 2020 and a reduction in operating expenses to maintain the one real estate owned property in 2021.
Outside data processing expense decreased by $119,000, or 6.7%, to $1.7 million in 2021 from $1.8 million in 2020 due to additional services required in 2020 to enable the company to expand and additional expense incurred to allow employees to work remotely.
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There was no goodwill impairment expense of in 2021 compared to a goodwill impairment expense of $98,000 in 2020. The goodwill was recorded in connection with the acquisition of Harbor West Financial Planning Wealth Management Group in 2007, which is operated as a division of the Bank. The goodwill impairment in 2020 was caused primarily by the expected decrease in revenue from this division due to a decrease in clients and the resulting decrease in assets under management.
Advertising expense decreased by $29,000, or 17.3%, to $139,000 in 2021 from $168,000 in 2020 as we reduced advertising and promotional products in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Income Taxes. The Company recorded income tax expense of $3.7 million and $3.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company had approximately $711,000 in tax exempt income, compared to approximately $671,000 in tax exempt income for the year ended December 31, 2020. The Company’s effective income tax rates were 23.6% and 21.0% for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Risk Management
Overview
Managing risk is an essential part of successfully managing a financial institution. Our most prominent risk exposures are credit risk, interest rate risk and market risk. Credit risk is the risk of not collecting the interest and/or the principal balance of a loan or investment when it is due. Interest rate risk is the potential reduction of interest income as a result of changes in interest rates. Market risk arises from fluctuations in interest rates that may result in changes in the values of financial instruments, such as available-for-sale securities that are accounted for at fair value. Other risks that we face are operational risk, liquidity risk and reputation risk. Operational risk includes risks related to fraud, regulatory compliance, processing errors, technology, and disaster recovery. Liquidity risk is the possible inability to fund obligations to depositors, lenders or borrowers. Reputation risk is the risk that negative publicity or press, whether true or not, could cause a decline in our customer base or revenue.
Management of Credit Risk
The objective of our credit risk management strategy is to quantify and manage credit risk and to limit the risk of loss resulting from an individual customer default. Our credit risk management strategy focuses on conservatism, an excellent knowledge of the communities we lend in, and significant levels of monitoring. Our lending practices include conservative exposure limits and underwriting, extensive documentation and collection standards. Our credit risk management strategy also emphasizes diversification at the borrower level as well as regular credit examinations, continuous site visits by executive management and management reviews of large credit exposures and credits that might experience deterioration of credit quality.
As part of its risk management process, the Bank conducts stress testing on its commercial real estate portfolio, performs a global cash flow analysis for loans associated with multiple properties and/or guarantors and also operates a loan review program for all real estate loans (including construction loans) with terms more than 12 months. In addition, we track our board approved limits for each commercial real estate category on a monthly basis.
Analysis of Non-Performing, Troubled Debt Restructurings and Classified Assets.
Classified Assets. FDIC regulations and our Asset Classification Policy provide that loans and other assets considered to be of lesser quality be classified as “substandard,” “doubtful” or “loss” assets. An asset is considered “substandard” if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. “Substandard” assets include those characterized by the “distinct possibility” that the institution will sustain “some loss” if the deficiencies are not corrected. Assets classified as “doubtful” have all of the weaknesses inherent in those classified as “substandard,” with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make “collection or liquidation in full,” on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, “highly questionable and improbable.” Assets classified as “loss” are those considered “uncollectible” and of such little value that their continuance as assets without the establishment of a specific loss reserve is not warranted. We classify an asset as “special mention” if the asset has a potential weakness that warrants management’s escalated level of attention. While
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such assets are not impaired, management has concluded that if the potential weakness in the asset is not addressed, the value of the asset may deteriorate, adversely affecting the repayment of the asset. Loans classified as impaired for financial reporting purposes are generally those loans classified as substandard or doubtful for regulatory reporting purposes.
An insured institution is required to establish allowances for loan losses in an amount deemed prudent by management for loans classified as substandard or doubtful, as well as for other problem loans. General allowances represent loss allowances which have been established to recognize the inherent losses associated with lending activities, but which, unlike specific allowances, have not been allocated to particular problem assets. When an insured institution classifies problem assets as “loss,” it is required to charge off such amounts. An institution’s determination as to the classification of its assets and the amount of its valuation allowances is subject to review by the FDIC.
The following table sets forth information with respect to our non-performing assets at the dates indicated.
| | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||||
| | 2021 | | 2020 | |||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||
| Total non-accrual loans | | | — | | | 3,572 | | |
| Total accruing loans past due 90 days or more | | | — | | | — | | |
| Total non-performing loans | | | — | | | 3,572 | | |
| Real estate owned | | | 1,996 | | | 1,996 | | |
| Total non-performing assets | | $ | 1,996 | | | $ | 5,568 | |
| Total non-performing loans to total loans | | — | % | | 0.43 | % | ||
| Total non-performing assets to total assets | | 0.16 | % | | 0.58 | % |
During the year ended December 31, 2021, non-performing assets decreased by $3.6 million, or 64.2%, to $2.0 million from $5.6 million as of December 31, 2020. The decrease in non-performing assets was primarily due to the previously disclosed charge-off of $3.6 million on a non-accrual, non-residential bridge loan during 2021.
We had no non-performing loans at December 31, 2021, as compared to one loan at December 31, 2020. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, gross interest income of $173,000 and $236,000, respectively, would have been recorded had the non-accrual loans at the end of the period been on accrual status throughout the period. In 2021, we collected no interest income from a loan that was in non-accrual status in 2021 and was charge-off in 2021. In 2020, we collected $85,000 in interest income from a loan that was in non-accrual status in 2019 and was satisfied in 2020.
From time to time, as part of our loss mitigation strategy, we may renegotiate the loan terms based on the economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties. There were no new troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) during the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. TDRs may be considered to be non-performing and if so are placed on non-accrual, except for those that have established a sufficient performance history (generally a minimum of six consecutive months of performance) under the terms of the restructured loan.
At December 31, 2021, four loans with aggregate balances of $1.6 million were considered TDRs but were performing in accordance with their restructured terms for the requisite period of time (generally at least six consecutive months) to be returned to accrual status. At December 31, 2020, five loans with aggregate balances of $2.8 million were considered TDRs but were performing in accordance with their restructured terms for the requisite period of time to be returned to accrual status.
Impaired loans at December 31, 2021 totaled $746,000 and consisted of two non-residential mortgage loans. These two loans are performing according to their loan terms but we had charged-off $67,000 on one of the loans.
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The following table summarizes classified and criticized assets of all portfolio types at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||
| | 2021 | 2020 | ||||
| | | (In thousands) | ||||
| Classified loans: | | | | |||
| Substandard | | $ | 746 | | $ | 3,722 |
| Doubtful | | — | | — | ||
| Loss | | — | | — | ||
| Total classified loans | | 746 | | 3,722 | ||
| Special mention | | — | | 301 | ||
| Total criticized loans | | $ | 746 | | $ | 4,023 |
On the basis of management’s review of our assets, we had no assets classified as special mention at December 31, 2021 compared to $301,000 classified as special mention at December 31, 2020. In addition, we classified $746,000 as classified as substandard at December 31, 2021 compared to $3.7 million at December 31, 2020. There were no assets classified as doubtful or loss at December 31, 2021 or 2020. The loan portfolio is reviewed on a regular basis to determine whether any loans require classification in accordance with applicable regulations. Not all classified assets constitute non-performing assets.
The decrease in special mention assets was due to the improvement of the borrower’s financial condition and substantial pay down of principal balance for one loan and the satisfaction of the other loan. The decrease in substandard assets was primarily due to the previously disclosed charge-off of $3.6 million on a non-accrual, non-residential bridge loan during 2021 and the satisfaction of a performing, non-residential loan with a balance of $150,000 during 2021, partially offset by the addition of two non-residential mortgage loans totaling $746,000 that were classified as impaired loans but has been performing and management decided to classified as substandard.
Delinquent Loans
The following table provides information about delinquencies in our loan portfolio at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| | | 2021 | | 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| | | Days Past Due | | Days Past Due | ||||||||||||||
| | | 30 – 59 | 60 – 89 | 90 or more | 30 – 59 | 60 – 89 | 90 or more | |||||||||||
| | | (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | | | | |||||||||||
| Mixed-use | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — |
| Non-residential real estate loans | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 3,572 | ||||||
| Total | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 3,572 |
Analysis and Determination of the Allowance for Loan Losses
Our allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level necessary to absorb loan losses which are both probable and reasonably estimable. Management, in determining the allowance for loan losses, considers the losses inherent in its loan portfolio and changes in the nature and volume of loan activities, along with the general economic and real estate market conditions. We utilize a two-tier approach: (1) identification of impaired loans; and (2) establishment of general valuation allowances on the remainder of our loan portfolio. We maintain a loan review system, which allows for a periodic review of our loan portfolio and the early identification of potential impaired loans. Such system takes into consideration, among other things, delinquency status, size of loans, type and market value of collateral and financial condition of the borrowers. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2012, we discontinued the use of specific allowances. If an impairment is identified, we now charge off the impaired portion immediately. A loan evaluated for impairment is considered to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. All loans identified as impaired are evaluated independently. We do not aggregate such loans for evaluation purposes. Loan impairment is measured based on the
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present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or, as a practical expedient, at the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. The interest on these loans is accounted for on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method, until qualifying for return to accrual status. Should full collection of principal be expected, cash collected on non-accrual loans can be recognized as interest income.
The general component consists of quantitative and qualitative factors and covers non-impaired loans. The quantitative factors are based on historical loss experience adjusted for qualitative factors. This actual loss experience is supplemented with other qualitative factors based on the risks present for each portfolio segment. These qualitative factors include consideration of the following:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Levels and trends in delinquencies and impaired loans; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Levels and trends in charge-offs and recoveries; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Trends in volume and terms of loans; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Effects of any changes in risk selection and underwriting standards; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral-dependent loans |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Other changes in lending policies, procedures and practices; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Experience, ability and depth of lending management and other relevant staff; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | National and local economic trends and conditions; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Industry conditions; and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Effects of changes in credit concentrations. |
The allowance is increased through provisions charged against current earnings, and offset by recoveries of previously charged-off loans. Loans which are determined to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance. Management uses available information to recognize probable and reasonably estimable loan losses, but future loss provisions may be necessary based on changing economic conditions. The allowance for loan losses as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 was maintained at a level that represents management’s best estimate of losses inherent in the loan portfolio. In addition, the FDIC and the New York State Department of Financial Services, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review our allowance for loan losses and could require us to increase our allowance for loan losses.
Each quarter, management evaluates the total balance of the allowance for loan losses based on several factors that are not loan specific, but are reflective of the inherent losses in the loan portfolio. This process includes, but is not limited to, a periodic review of loan collectability in light of historical experience, the nature and volume of loan activity, conditions that may affect the ability of the borrower to repay, underlying value of collateral, if applicable, and economic conditions in our market areas. First, we group loans by delinquency status. All loans 90 days or more delinquent and all loans classified as substandard or doubtful are evaluated individually, based primarily on the value of the collateral securing the loan. Loans are segregated by type and delinquency status and a loss allowance is established by using loss experience data and management’s judgment concerning other matters it considers significant. The allowance is allocated to each category of loan based on the results of the above analysis.
This analysis process is inherently subjective, as it requires us to make estimates that are susceptible to revisions as more information becomes available. Although we believe that we have established the allowance at a level to absorb probable and estimable losses, additions may be necessary if economic or other conditions in the future differ from the current environment.
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The following table sets forth the breakdown of the allowance for loan losses by loan category at the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| | | 2021 | | | 2020 | |||||||||||
| | | | | % of Allowance | % of Loans in | | | | % of Allowance | % of Loans in | ||||||
| | | | | | Amount to Total | | Category to Total | | | | | | Amount to Total | | Category to Total | |
| | | Amount | | Allowance | | Loans | | | Amount | | Allowance | | Loans | |||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | | |||||||||||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | | | |||||||||||
| One- to four-family | | $ | 17 | 0.32 | % | 0.74 | % | | $ | 16 | 0.32 | % | 0.75 | % | ||
| Multifamily | | 481 | 9.18 | 8.68 | | 602 | 11.83 | 10.93 | | |||||||
| Mixed-use | | 73 | 1.39 | 2.95 | | 89 | 1.75 | 3.62 | | |||||||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 381 | 7.27 | 5.14 | | 519 | 10.20 | 6.87 | | |||||||
| Construction loans | | 3,143 | 59.96 | 70.29 | | 3,068 | 60.30 | 66.70 | | |||||||
| Commercial and industrial | | 973 | 18.56 | 12.17 | | 774 | 15.21 | 11.07 | | |||||||
| Consumer loans | | 10 | 0.19 | 0.03 | | 20 | 0.39 | 0.06 | | |||||||
| Total general allowance | | $ | 5,078 | 96.87 | % | 100.00 | % | | $ | 5,088 | 100.00 | % | 100.00 | % | ||
| Unallocated | | 164 | 3.13 | — | | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Total allowance for loan losses | | $ | 5,242 | 100.00 | % | 100.00 | % | | $ | 5,088 | 100.00 | % | 100.00 | % |
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The following table sets forth an analysis of the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | At or For the Year Ended December 31, | | ||||
| | | 2021 | 2020 | ||||
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | | ||||
| Total loans net of deferred fees | | $ | 972,851 | | $ | 824,708 | |
| Average loans outstanding | | 866,518 | | 797,735 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Allowance at beginning of period | | $ | 5,088 | | $ | 4,611 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Net charge-offs: | | | | ||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||
| One- to four-family | | — | | — | | ||
| Multifamily | | (150) | | (3) | | ||
| Mixed-use | | — | | — | | ||
| Total residential real estate loans | | (150) | | (3) | | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 3,591 | | 56 | | ||
| Construction loans | | — | | — | | ||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | — | | 256 | | ||
| Consumer loans | | 15 | | 28 | | ||
| Total net charge-offs | | 3,456 | | 337 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Provision for loan losses | | 3,610 | | 814 | | ||
| Allowance at end of period | | $ | 5,242 | | $ | 5,088 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Average loan outstanding: | | | | ||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||
| One- to four-family | | 5,490 | | 7,478 | | ||
| Multifamily | | 84,748 | | 90,720 | | ||
| Mixed-use | | 28,263 | | 29,438 | | ||
| Total residential real estate loans | | 118,501 | | 127,636 | | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 52,094 | | 60,152 | | ||
| Construction loans | | 602,585 | | 523,112 | | ||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | 93,101 | | 86,405 | | ||
| Consumer loans | | 237 | | 430 | | ||
| Total | | 866,518 | | 797,735 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans outstanding | | | | ||||
| Residential real estate loans: | | | | ||||
| One- to four-family | | — | % | — | % | ||
| Multifamily | | (0.18) | | — | | ||
| Mixed-use | | — | | — | | ||
| Total residential real estate loans | | (0.13) | | (0.00) | | ||
| Non-residential real estate loans | | 6.89 | | 0.09 | | ||
| Construction loans | | — | | — | | ||
| Commercial and industrial loans | | — | | 0.30 | | ||
| Consumer loans | | 6.33 | | 6.51 | | ||
| Total net charge-offs | | 0.40 | % | 0.04 | % | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Credit Quality Ratios: | | | | | | | |
| As a percentage of year-end loans, net of unearned income: | | | | | | | |
| Allowance for loan loss | | 0.54 | % | 0.62 | % | ||
| Nonaccrual loans | | | — | % | | 0.43 | % |
| Nonperforming loans | | | — | % | | 0.43 | % |
| Allowance for loan losses to nonaccrual loans | | — | % | 142.44 | % | ||
| Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans | | — | % | 142.44 | % |
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The allowance for loan losses increased by $154,000 to $5.2 million at December 31, 2021 from $5.1 million at December 31, 2020. The increase in the allowances for loan losses was due primarily to the increase in the provision for loan losses, which reflected the increase in the charge-off levels which had an unfavorable impact on the historical loss factors and an increase in the construction loan, commercial and industrial loan, and residential loan portfolio, partially offset by the reduction of the non-performing asset levels and a decrease in the multifamily, mixed-use, and non-residential mortgage loan portfolio. We had recoveries totaling $160,000 in 2021.
The increase on provision for loan loss recorded were primarily attributed to the previously disclosed charge-off of $3.6 million in 2021 of a non-residential bridge loan secured by real estate with a balance of $3.6 million. The loan is secured by commercial real estate located in Greenwich, Connecticut and guaranteed by the two borrowers. The loan was originated in 2016 as a two-year bridge loan and, upon the borrower’s failure to satisfy the loan at the maturity date, the loan was accelerated and a foreclosure action was instituted. The loan remains in foreclosure but is subject to Connecticut’s continuing foreclosure backlog. The property securing the loan is subject to a parking easement and based on a recently updated appraisal showing the property’s value with the parking easement to be zero, the Company has determined to write off the $3.6 million loan as a non-cash charge against the allowance for loan losses. The Company intends to aggressively seek recovery of all amounts due from the personal guarantors of the loan. However, the recovery process is uncertain and might take an extended period of time to resolve this matter. In the event the Company is successful against the guarantors, any recovery received would be added back to the allowance for loan losses and an analysis will be performed at that time to determine the appropriateness of recognizing the recovery into income.
Additionally the provision expenses recorded for commercial and industrial loan and construction loan segments were primarily due to increased loan balances, and the credit provision recorded for residential real estate loan segment was due to decreased loan balance.
The historical loss percentage factor for multifamily and mixed-use loans declined while the historical loss percentage factor for non-residential, commercial and industrial, and consumer loans increased. The historical loss percentage factor declined because one single loan charge off of $246,000 in 2016 for multifamily loans and one single loan charge off of $103,000 in 2016 for mixed-use loans were out the historical loss look back period, and therefore were not included in the historical loss rate calculation at December 31, 2021. The historical loss percentage factor for non-residential loans increased due to decreased average loan balances over the years. The historical loss percentage factor for commercial and industrial and consumer loans increased due to the average loan charge offs increased slightly in recent years. Other adjustments in provision for loan loss include movements in the qualitative factors as risks in each respective segment change.
Loans evaluated collectively totaled $971.2 million at December 31, 2021 compared to $818.2 million at December 31, 2020. Loans evaluated individually totaled $1.6 million at December 31, 2021 compared to $6.5 million at December 31, 2020.
Interest Rate Risk Management
Interest rate risk is defined as the exposure to current and future earnings and capital that arises from adverse movements in interest rates. Depending on a bank’s asset/liability structure, adverse movements in interest rates could be either rising or falling interest rates. For example, a bank with predominantly long-term fixed-rate assets and short-term liabilities could have an adverse earnings exposure to a rising rate environment. Conversely, a short-term or variable-rate asset base funded by longer-term liabilities could be negatively affected by falling rates. This is referred to as re-pricing or maturity mismatch risk.
Interest rate risk also arises from changes in the slope of the yield curve (yield curve risk), from imperfect correlations in the adjustment of rates earned and paid on different instruments with otherwise similar re-pricing characteristics (basis risk), and from interest rate related options embedded in our assets and liabilities (option risk).
Our objective is to manage our interest rate risk by determining whether a given movement in interest rates affects our net interest income and the market value of our portfolio equity in a positive or negative way and to execute strategies to maintain interest rate risk within established limits. The results at December 31, 2021 indicate the level of
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risk within the parameters of our model. Our management believes that the December 31, 2021 results indicate a profile that reflects interest rate risk exposures in both rising and declining rate environments for both net interest income and economic value.
Model Simulation Analysis. We view interest rate risk from two different perspectives. The traditional accounting perspective, which defines and measures interest rate risk as the change in net interest income and earnings caused by a change in interest rates, provides the best view of short-term interest rate risk exposure. We also view interest rate risk from an economic perspective, which defines and measures interest rate risk as the change in the market value of portfolio equity caused by changes in the values of assets and liabilities, which fluctuate due to changes in interest rates. The market value of portfolio equity, also referred to as the economic value of equity, is defined as the present value of future cash flows from existing assets, minus the present value of future cash flows from existing liabilities.
These two perspectives give rise to income simulation and economic value simulation, each of which presents a unique picture of our risk of any movement in interest rates. Income simulation identifies the timing and magnitude of changes in income resulting from changes in prevailing interest rates over a short-term time horizon (usually one or two years). Economic value simulation reflects the interest rate sensitivity of assets and liabilities in a more comprehensive fashion, reflecting all future time periods. It can identify the quantity of interest rate risk as a function of the changes in the economic values of assets and liabilities, and the corresponding change in the economic value of equity of the Bank. Both types of simulation assist in identifying, measuring, monitoring and controlling interest rate risk and are employed by management to ensure that variations in interest rate risk exposure will be maintained within policy guidelines.
We produce these simulation reports and discuss them with our management Asset and Liability Committee on a quarterly basis. The simulation reports compare baseline (no interest rate change) to the results of an interest rate shock, to illustrate the specific impact of the interest rate scenario tested on income and equity. The model, which incorporates asset and liability rate information, simulates the effect of various interest rate movements on income and equity value. The reports identify and measure our interest rate risk exposure present in our current asset/liability structure. Management considers both a static (current position) and dynamic (forecast changes in volume) analysis as well as non-parallel and gradual changes in interest rates and the yield curve in assessing interest rate exposures.
If the results produce quantifiable interest rate risk exposure beyond our limits, then the testing will have served as a monitoring mechanism to allow us to initiate asset/liability strategies designed to reduce and therefore mitigate interest rate risk. The table below sets forth an approximation of our interest rate risk exposure. The simulation uses projected repricing of assets and liabilities at December 31, 2021. The income simulation analysis presented represents a one-year impact of the interest scenario assuming a static balance sheet. Various assumptions are made regarding the prepayment speed and optionality of loans, investment securities and deposits, which are based on analysis and market information. The assumptions regarding optionality, such as prepayments of loans and the effective lives and repricing of non-maturity deposit products, are documented periodically through evaluation of current market conditions and historical correlations to our specific asset and liability products under varying interest rate scenarios.
Because the prospective effects of hypothetical interest rate changes are based on a number of assumptions, these computations should not be relied upon as indicative of actual results. While we believe such assumptions to be reasonable, assumed prepayment rates may not approximate actual future prepayment activity on mortgage-backed securities or agency issued collateralized obligations (secured by one- to four-family loans and multifamily loans). Further, the computation does not reflect any actions that management may undertake in response to changes in interest rates and assumes a constant asset base. Management periodically reviews the rate assumptions based on existing and projected economic conditions and consults with industry experts to validate our model and simulation results.
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The table below sets forth, as of December 31, 2021, the Bank’s net portfolio value, the estimated changes in our net portfolio value and net interest income that would result from the designated instantaneous parallel changes in market interest rates.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Twelve Month | | | | | | | | |
| | | Net Interest Income | | | Net Portfolio Value | | | |||
| | | Percent | | | | | | Percent | | |
| Change in Interest Rates (Basis Points) | of Change | | Estimated NPV | of Change | | |||||
| +200 | 33.02 | % | | $ | 292,809 | 7.89 | % | | ||
| +100 | 16.49 | | | 282,924 | 4.25 | | | |||
| 0 | — | | | 271,387 | — | | | |||
| -100 | (4.55) | % | | $ | 269,489 | (0.70) | % | |
As of December 31, 2021, based on the scenarios above, net interest income would increase by approximately 16.49% to 33.02%, over a one-year time horizon in a rising interest rate environment. One-year net interest income would decrease by approximately 4.55% in a declining interest rate environment over the same period.
Conversely, economic value at risk would be negatively impacted by a rise in interest rates. We have established an interest rate floor of zero percent for measuring interest rate risk. The difference between the two results reflects the relatively long terms of a portion of our assets which is captured by the economic value at risk but has less impact on the one year net interest income sensitivity.
Overall, our December 31, 2021 results indicate that we are adequately positioned with an acceptable net interest income and economic value at risk and that all interest rate risk results continue to be within our policy guidelines.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We maintain liquid assets at levels we believe are adequate to meet our liquidity needs. We established a liquidity ratio policy that identify three liquidity ratios consisting of (1) Cash/Deposits & Short Term Borrowings (“Cash Liquidity”), (2) Cash & Investments/Deposits & Short Term Borrowings (“On Balance Sheet Liquidity”), and (3) Cash & Investments & Borrowing Capacity/Deposits & Short Term Borrowings (“On Balance Sheet Liquidity & Borrowing Capacity”) to assist in the management of our liquidity. We also establish targets of 2.0% for the Cash Liquidity ratio, 8.0% for the On Balance Sheet Liquidity ratio, and 20.0% for the On Balance Sheet Liquidity & Borrowing Capacity ratio.
Our Cash Liquidity ratio, On Balance Sheet Liquidity ratio, and On Balance Sheet Liquidity & Borrowing Capacity ratio averaged 12.7%, 15.7%, and 21.7%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to 8.9%, 11.3%, and 19.9%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2020. We adjust our liquidity levels to fund deposit outflows, pay real estate taxes on real estate loans, repay our borrowings, and to fund loan commitments. We also adjust liquidity as appropriate to meet asset and liability management objectives. However, during the existing low interest rate environment, we have strategically allowed these metrics to fall below the minimum thresholds at times to provide for the effective management of extension risk and other interest rate risks.
Our liquidity ratios cannot be calculated using amounts disclosed in our consolidated financial statements, as many of the calculations involve monthly, quarterly or annual averages. To calculate our liquidity ratios, the average liquidity base from the prior month is used as the denominator to calculate a daily liquidity ratio. The liquidity base consists of savings account balances, certificates of deposit balances, checking and money market balances, deposit loans and borrowings. The daily balances of these components are averaged to arrive at the liquidity base for the month, and the daily cash balances in selected general ledger accounts are used to derive our liquidity position. A daily liquidity ratio is calculated using the liquidity for the day divided by the prior month’s average liquidity base. At the end of each month, a monthly liquidity position is calculated using the average liquidity position for the month divided by the prior month’s average liquidity base. To calculate quarterly and annual liquidity ratios, we take the average liquidity for the three- or twelve-month period, respectively, and average it.
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Our primary sources of liquidity are deposits, amortization and prepayment of loans and mortgage-backed securities, maturities of investment securities, other short-term investments, earnings, and funds provided from operations. While scheduled principal repayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities are a relatively predictable source of funds, deposit flows and loan prepayments are greatly influenced by market interest rates, economic conditions, and rates offered by our competition. We set the interest rates on our deposits to maintain a desired level of total deposits. In addition, we invest excess funds in short-term interest-earning assets, which provide liquidity to meet lending requirements.
Our cash flows are derived from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included with the Consolidated Financial Statements which begin on page F-1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Our primary investing activities are the origination of construction loans, commercial and industrial loans, multifamily loans, and to a lesser extent, mixed-use real estate loans and other loans. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, our loan originations totaled $727.3 million and $389.7 million, respectively. Cash received from the sales, calls, maturities and pay-downs on securities totaled $4.8 million and $2.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We purchased $25.3 million and $189,000 in securities for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Deposit flows are generally affected by the level of interest rates we offer, the interest rates and products offered by local competitors, and other factors. Total deposits increased by $155.5 million at December 31, 2021 due to increases in non-interest bearing demand deposits, savings account deposits, and NOW/money market deposits, offset by a decrease in certificates of deposits balances.
Liquidity management is both a daily and long-term function of business management. If we require funds beyond our ability to generate them internally, borrowing agreements exist with the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York to provide advances. As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, we are required to own capital stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and are authorized to apply for advances on the security of such stock and certain of our mortgage loans and other assets (principally securities which are obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States), provided certain standards related to credit-worthiness have been met. We had an available borrowing limit of $29.4 million and $49.4 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Federal Home Loan Bank advances were $28.0 million at both December 31, 2021 and 2020.
In addition, we have a borrowing agreement with Atlantic Community Bankers Bank (“ACBB”) to provide short-term borrowings of $8.0 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020. There were no outstanding borrowings with ACBB at December 31, 2021 and 2020.
At December 31, 2021, we had unfunded commitments on construction loans of $436.9 million, outstanding commitments to originate loans of $174.4 million, unfunded commitments under lines of credit of $130.7 million, and unfunded standby letters of credit of $6.9 million. At December 31, 2021, certificates of deposit scheduled to mature in less than one year totaled $189.2 million. Based on prior experience, management believes that a significant portion of such deposits will remain with us, although there can be no assurance that this will be the case. In the event a significant portion of our deposits are not retained by us, we will have to utilize other funding sources, such as various types of sourced deposits, and/or Federal Home Loan Bank advances, in order to maintain our level of assets. Alternatively, we could reduce our level of liquid assets, such as our cash and cash equivalents. In addition, the cost of such deposits may be significantly higher or lower depending on market interest rates at the time of renewal.
The Company is a separate legal entity from the Bank and must provide for its own liquidity. In addition to its operating expenses, The Company is responsible for paying any dividends declared to its stockholders, and interest and principal on outstanding debt, if any. The Company’s primary source of income is dividends received from the Bank. At December 31, 2021, the Company had liquid assets of $44.4 million.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we did not engage in any off-balance sheet transactions reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash-flows.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For a discussion of the impact of recent accounting pronouncements, see note 23 in the notes to the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in this report.
Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices
The consolidated financial statements and related notes of the have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which generally requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without consideration for changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The primary impact of inflation is reflected in the increased cost of our operations. Unlike industrial companies, our assets and liabilities are primarily monetary in nature. As a result, changes in market interest rates have a greater impact on performance than the effects of inflation.