grepcent / static financial knowledge base

WEST BANCORPORATION INC (WTBA)

CIK: 0001166928. SIC: 6022 State Commercial Banks. Latest 10-K as of: 2026-02-26.

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

SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=1166928. Latest filing source: 0001166928-26-000010.

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

Business

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

Risk Factors

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

Selected Fundamentals

MetricValueUnitFYFiled
Revenue192,225,000USD20252026-02-26
Net income32,560,000USD20252026-02-26
Assets4,142,244,000USD20252026-02-26

Financials

Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-02-26. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001166928.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.

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

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

Metric20122016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Revenue64,994,00073,034,00084,793,00098,675,000100,233,000107,280,000123,349,000160,305,000190,066,000192,225,000
Net income23,016,00023,070,00028,508,00028,690,00032,712,00049,607,00046,399,00024,137,00024,050,00032,560,000
Diluted EPS1.421.411.741.741.982.952.761.441.421.92
Operating cash flow24,289,00029,357,00034,744,00036,967,00042,285,00057,878,00059,439,00025,249,00039,808,00046,479,000
Capital expenditures12,802,0001,055,000210,0001,048,0002,319,0008,743,00021,311,00036,387,00026,136,0003,326,000
Dividends paid10,800,00011,499,00012,696,00013,578,00013,815,00015,543,00016,619,00016,704,00016,806,00016,914,000
Assets1,854,204,0002,114,377,0002,296,568,0002,473,691,0003,185,744,0003,500,201,0003,613,218,0003,825,758,0004,014,991,0004,142,244,000
Liabilities1,688,828,0001,936,279,0002,105,545,0002,261,871,0002,962,049,0003,239,873,0003,402,106,0003,600,715,0003,787,116,0003,876,259,000
Stockholders' equity165,376,000178,098,000191,023,000211,820,000223,695,000260,328,000211,112,000225,043,000227,875,000265,985,000
Free cash flow28,302,00034,534,00035,919,00039,966,00049,135,00038,128,000-11,138,00013,672,00043,153,000

Ratios

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

Metric20122016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Net margin35.41%31.59%33.62%29.08%32.64%46.24%37.62%15.06%12.65%16.94%
Return on equity13.92%12.95%14.92%13.54%14.62%19.06%21.98%10.73%10.55%12.24%
Return on assets1.24%1.09%1.24%1.16%1.03%1.42%1.28%0.63%0.60%0.79%
Liabilities / equity10.2110.8711.0210.6813.2412.4516.1216.0016.6214.57

Industry Peer Context

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

Net margin peer context

WTBA Net margin versus SIC peer range. Source: grepcent computed from latest SEC companyfacts ratios for SIC industry 6022; peer count 149.WTBA Net margin versus SIC peer range. Source: grepcent computed from latest SEC companyfacts ratios for SIC industry 6022; peer count 149.149 SIC peersMin -52.5%Median 21.9%Max 46.5%WTBA 16.9%

ROE peer context

WTBA ROE versus SIC peer range. Source: grepcent computed from latest SEC companyfacts ratios for SIC industry 6022; peer count 149.WTBA ROE versus SIC peer range. Source: grepcent computed from latest SEC companyfacts ratios for SIC industry 6022; peer count 149.149 SIC peersMin -22.0%Median 9.6%Max 17.5%WTBA 12.2%

ROA peer context

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

Financial Bridges

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

Free cash flow = operating cash flow - capital expenditures

WTBA FY2025 free cash flow bridge from reported figures.WTBA FY2025 free cash flow bridge from reported figures.WTBA free cash flow bridgeFY2025: operating cash flow less capital expendituresSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Free cash flow bridgeReported amount$0.0B$125.0M$250.0M$46.5MOperating cash flow-$3.3MCapex$43.2MFree cash flow

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts FY 2025. Operating cash flow: accession 0001166928-26-000010; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities | Capital expenditures: accession 0001166928-26-000010; concept PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment | Free cash flow: accession 0001166928-26-000010; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment

Financial Charts

WTBA revenue, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA revenue, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA RevenueLatest point: FY2025 = $192.2MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearReported revenue$0.0B$125.0M$250.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001166928-26-000010; filed 2026-02-26. Concept: InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating. Source concepts: us-gaap:InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating.

WTBA net income, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA net income, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA Net incomeLatest point: FY2025 = $32.6MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearNet income$0.0B$125.0M$250.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001166928-26-000010; filed 2026-02-26. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.

WTBA diluted eps, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA diluted eps, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA Diluted EPSLatest point: FY2025 = $1.92/shareSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearDiluted EPS (USD/share)$0.00/share$2.00/share$4.00/shareFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001166928-26-000010; filed 2026-02-26. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.

WTBA operating cash flow, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA operating cash flow, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA Operating cash flowLatest point: FY2025 = $46.5MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearOperating cash flow$0.0B$125.0M$250.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001166928-26-000010; filed 2026-02-26. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities.

WTBA capital expenditures, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA capital expenditures, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA Capital expendituresLatest point: FY2025 = $3.3MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearCapital expenditures$0.0B$125.0M$250.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001166928-26-000010; filed 2026-02-26. Concept: PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.

WTBA dividends paid, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA dividends paid, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA Dividends paidLatest point: FY2025 = $16.9MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearDividends paid$0.0B$125.0M$250.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001166928-26-000010; filed 2026-02-26. Concept: PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock.

WTBA assets, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA assets, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA AssetsLatest point: FY2025 = $4.1BSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearAssets$0.0B$3.0B$6.0BFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001166928-26-000010; filed 2026-02-26. Concept: Assets. Source concepts: us-gaap:Assets.

WTBA liabilities, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA liabilities, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA LiabilitiesLatest point: FY2025 = $3.9BSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearLiabilities$0.0B$2.0B$4.0BFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001166928-26-000010; filed 2026-02-26. Concept: Liabilities. Source concepts: us-gaap:Liabilities.

WTBA stockholders' equity, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA stockholders' equity, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA Stockholders' equityLatest point: FY2025 = $266.0MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearStockholders' equity$0.0B$250.0M$500.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001166928-26-000010; filed 2026-02-26. Concept: StockholdersEquity. Source concepts: us-gaap:StockholdersEquity.

WTBA free cash flow, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA free cash flow, last 5 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts FY2025.WTBA Free cash flowLatest point: FY2025 = $43.2MSource: SEC companyfacts FY2025.Fiscal yearFree cash flow-$250.0M$0.0B$250.0MFY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001166928-26-000010; filed 2026-02-26. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.

Quarterly

Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-07-23. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001166928.json.

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

QuarterEnd DateRevenueNet IncomeDiluted EPSMethod
2022-Q32022-09-300.69reported discrete quarter
2023-Q12023-03-310.47reported discrete quarter
2023-Q22023-06-300.35reported discrete quarter
2023-Q32023-09-3041,092,0005,906,0000.35reported discrete quarter
2023-Q42023-12-3142,683,0004,525,000derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD
2024-Q12024-03-3144,570,0005,809,0000.35reported discrete quarter
2024-Q22024-06-3047,568,0005,192,0000.31reported discrete quarter
2024-Q32024-09-3048,612,0005,952,0000.35reported discrete quarter
2024-Q42024-12-3149,316,0007,097,000derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD
2025-Q12025-03-3146,136,0007,842,0000.46reported discrete quarter
2025-Q22025-06-3047,962,0007,979,0000.47reported discrete quarter
2025-Q32025-09-3048,925,0009,314,0000.55reported discrete quarter
2025-Q42025-12-3149,202,0007,425,000derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD
2026-Q12026-03-3147,391,00010,572,0000.61reported discrete quarter
2026-Q22026-06-3048,474,00011,073,0000.64reported discrete quarter

Quarterly Charts

WTBA quarterly revenue, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.WTBA quarterly revenue, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.WTBA Quarterly RevenueLatest point: 2026-Q2 = $48.5MSource: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.Fiscal quarterQuarterly Revenue$0.0B$125.0M$250.0M2023-Q32023-Q42024-Q12024-Q22024-Q32024-Q42025-Q12025-Q22025-Q32025-Q42026-Q12026-Q2

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-06-30; accession 0001166928-26-000034; filed 2026-07-23. Concept: InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating. Source concepts: us-gaap:InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating.

WTBA quarterly net income, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.WTBA quarterly net income, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.WTBA Quarterly Net incomeLatest point: 2026-Q2 = $11.1MSource: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.Fiscal quarterQuarterly Net income$0.0B$125.0M$250.0M2023-Q32023-Q42024-Q12024-Q22024-Q32024-Q42025-Q12025-Q22025-Q32025-Q42026-Q12026-Q2

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-06-30; accession 0001166928-26-000034; filed 2026-07-23. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.

WTBA quarterly diluted eps, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.WTBA quarterly diluted eps, last 12 periods. Source: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.WTBA Quarterly Diluted EPSLatest point: 2026-Q2 = $0.64/shareSource: SEC companyfacts 2026-Q2.Fiscal quarterQuarterly Diluted EPS (USD/share)$0.00/share$0.50/share$1.00/share2022-Q32023-Q12023-Q22023-Q32024-Q12024-Q22024-Q32025-Q12025-Q22025-Q32026-Q12026-Q2

Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-06-30; accession 0001166928-26-000034; filed 2026-07-23. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.

Macro Cross-References

Latest quarter (10-Q)

Latest 10-Q source: 0001166928-26-000034.

Extracted structurally from real Item 2 body heading to real Item 3/4 boundary. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2026-07-23. Report date: 2026-06-30.

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

"SAFE HARBOR" CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this report, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to the Company’s business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are “forward-looking statements” within the meanings of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). 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. Forward-looking statements may appear throughout this report. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “targets,” “future,” “confident,” “potentially,” “probably,” “outlook,” “may,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “will,” “strategy,” “plan,” “opportunity,” “will be,” “will likely result,” “will continue” or similar references, as well as the negative of such words, or references to estimates, predictions or future events. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent management's current expectations and forecasts regarding future events, many of which are inherently uncertain and outside of our control. Such forward-looking statements are based upon certain underlying assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Because of the possibility that the underlying assumptions are incorrect or do not materialize as expected in the future, actual results may differ, possibly materially, from these forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may affect future results include, but are not limited to: interest rate risk, including the effects of changes in interest rates; fluctuations in the values of the securities held in our investment portfolio, including as a result of rising interest rates; competitive pressures, including from non-bank competitors such as credit unions, "fintech" companies and digital asset service providers; technological changes implemented by us and other parties, including third-party vendors, which may be more difficult to implement or more expensive than anticipated or which may have unforeseen consequences to us and our customers, including the development and implementation of tools incorporating artificial intelligence; pricing pressures on loans and deposits; our ability to successfully manage liquidity risk; changes in credit and other risks posed by the Company’s loan portfolio, including declines in commercial or residential real estate values or changes in the allowance for credit losses dictated by new market conditions, accounting standards or regulatory requirements; the concentration of large deposits from certain clients, including those who have balances above current FDIC insurance limits; the threat or imposition of domestic or foreign tariffs or other governmental policies impacting the global supply chain and the value of products produced by our commercial borrowers; effects on the U.S. economy resulting from actions taken by the federal government, including executive orders and immigration enforcement; changes in local, national and international economic conditions, including the level and impact of inflation, and future monetary policies of the Federal Reserve in response thereto, and possible recession; the impact of bank failures or adverse developments at other banks and related negative publicity about the banking industry in general or investor and depositor sentiment regarding the stability and liquidity of banks; changes in legal and regulatory requirements, limitations and costs; changes in customers’ acceptance of the Company’s products and services; the occurrence of fraudulent activity, breaches or failures of our or our third-party partners' information security controls or cyber-security related incidents, including as a result of sophisticated attacks using artificial intelligence and similar tools; unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving the Company; the monetary, trade and other regulatory policies of the U.S. government; the effects of acts of war or terrorism, including the wars in Iran and Ukraine, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, and other international military conflicts that can increase levels of political and economic unpredictability, contribute to rising energy and commodity prices, affect global supply chains, increase the volatility of financial markets, and other matters beyond our control; widespread disease, pandemics or epidemics, or other adverse external events; risks related to climate change and the negative impact it may have on our customers and their business; changes to U.S. tax laws, regulations and guidance; potential changes in federal policy and at regulatory agencies; talent and labor shortages; emerging issues related to the development and use of artificial intelligence that could give rise to legal or regulatory action, damage our reputation or otherwise materially harm our business or customers; the availability of future equity and debt issuances and other capital raising opportunities on favorable terms; and any other risks described in the “Risk Factors” sections of this and other reports filed by the Company with the SEC. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Moreover, any of the forward-looking statements that the Company makes in this report or the documents the Company files with or furnishes to the SEC are based only on information then actually known to the Company and upon management's beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made, which may turn out to be wrong because of inaccurate assumptions they might make, because of the factors described above or because of other factors that the Company cannot foresee. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to revise or update such forward-looking statements to reflect current or future events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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West Bancorporation, Inc.

Management's Discussion and Analysis

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The discussion and analysis of the Company's financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company's consolidated financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of the Company's financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. These estimates are based upon historical experience and on various other assumptions that management believes are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The estimates and judgments that management believes involve the most complex and subjective estimates and judgments and have the greatest effect on the Company's reported financial position and results of operations are described as critical accounting policies in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, as filed with the SEC on February 26, 2026. There have been no significant changes in the critical accounting policies or the assumptions and judgments utilized in applying these policies since December 31, 2025.

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West Bancorporation, Inc.

Management's Discussion and Analysis

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This report contains references to financial measures that are not defined in GAAP. Such non-GAAP financial measures include the Company’s presentation of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent (FTE) basis, and the presentation of the efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis, excluding certain income and expenses. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to both management and investors to analyze and evaluate the Company’s financial performance. These measures are considered standard measures of comparison within the banking industry. Additionally, management believes providing measures on a FTE basis enhances the comparability of income arising from taxable and nontaxable sources. Limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures include the risks that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items included in these measures and that different companies might calculate these measures differently. These non-GAAP disclosures should not be considered an alternative to the Company’s GAAP results for the periods indicated.

The following table reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures of net interest income and net interest margin on a FTE basis and efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis to their most directly comparable measures under GAAP.

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2026202520262025
Reconciliation of net interest income and net interest margin on a FTE basis to GAAP:
Net interest income (GAAP)$25,521$21,419$49,906$42,274
Tax-equivalent adjustment (1)7559147125
Net interest income on a FTE basis (non-GAAP)25,59621,47850,05342,399
Average interest-earning assets3,820,0413,799,0813,820,7483,758,487
Net interest margin on a FTE basis (non-GAAP)2.69%2.27%2.64%2.27%
Reconciliation of efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis to GAAP:
Net interest income on a FTE basis (non-GAAP)$25,596$21,478$50,053$42,399
Noninterest income2,5962,4105,1504,653
Adjustment for losses on disposal of premises and equipment, net28308
Adjusted income28,22023,88855,23347,060
Noninterest expense13,76713,48527,23226,548
Efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis (non-GAAP)(2)48.78%56.45%49.31%56.41%

(1)    Computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent, adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the financial results, as it enhances the comparability of income arising from taxable and nontaxable sources.

(2)     The efficiency ratio expresses noninterest expense as a percent of fully taxable equivalent net interest income and noninterest income, excluding specific noninterest income and expenses. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the Company's financial performance. It is a standard measure of comparison within the banking industry. A lower ratio is more desirable.

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West Bancorporation, Inc.

Management's Discussion an

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

Latest 10-K MD&A

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2026-02-26. Report date: 2025-12-31.

ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

INTRODUCTION

The Company’s financial highlights and key performance measures are presented in the table below.

As of and for the Years Ended December 31,
202520242023
Performance Ratios
Return on average assets0.81%0.61%0.66%
Return on average equity13.47%10.71%11.42%
Efficiency ratio (1)(2)54.11%63.25%60.73%
Nonperforming assets/total assets (1)0.00%0.00%0.01%
Net interest margin(2)2.35%1.91%2.01%
Dividends and Per Share Data
Basic earnings per common share$1.92$1.43$1.44
Diluted earnings per common share1.921.421.44
Cash dividends per common share1.001.001.00
Dividend payout ratio51.95%69.88%69.21%
Dividend yield4.51%4.62%4.72%
Operating Results and Year-End Balances
Net income$32,560$24,050$24,137
Total assets4,142,2444,014,9913,825,758
Securities available for sale468,447544,565623,919
Loans3,001,6903,004,8602,927,535
Deposits3,468,4703,357,5962,973,779
Borrowings376,406392,629592,637
Stockholders’ equity265,985227,875225,043
Average equity to average assets ratio6.02%5.65%5.77%

Definition of ratios:

•Return on average assets - net income divided by average assets.

•Return on average equity - net income divided by average equity.

•Efficiency ratio - noninterest expense (excluding other real estate owned expense and write-down of premises) divided by noninterest income (excluding net securities gains/losses and gains/losses on disposition of premises and equipment) plus tax-equivalent net interest income.

•Nonperforming assets to total assets - total nonperforming assets divided by total assets.

•Net interest margin - tax-equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

•Dividend payout ratio - dividends paid to common stockholders divided by net income.

•Dividend yield - dividends per share paid to common stockholders divided by closing year-end stock price.

•Average equity to average assets ratio - average equity divided by average assets.

(1) A lower ratio is more desirable.

(2) As presented, this is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the section "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" of this item.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The Company’s 2025 net income was $32,560, compared to $24,050 in 2024. Basic and diluted earnings per common share for 2025 were $1.92 and $1.92, respectively, compared to $1.43 and $1.42, respectively, in 2024. During 2025, we paid our common stockholders $16,914 ($1.00 per common share) in dividends compared to $16,806 ($1.00 per common share) in 2024. The dividend declared and paid in the first quarter of 2026 was $0.25 per common share.

Total assets were $4,142,244 at December 31, 2025, compared to $4,014,991 at December 31, 2024, a 3.2 percent increase. Our loan portfolio declined to $3,001,690 as of December 31, 2025, from $3,004,860 as of December 31, 2024. Deposits increased to $3,468,470 as of December 31, 2025, from $3,357,596 as of December 31, 2024.

The Company compares three key performance metrics to those of an identified peer group for evaluating its results. The peer group for 2025 consists of 20 Midwestern, publicly traded financial institutions including Bank First Corporation, Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc., ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc., Civista Bancshares, Inc., Equity Bancshares, Inc., Farmers National Banc Corp., Farmers & Merchants Bancorp., First Business Financial Services, Inc., First Financial Corp., First Mid Bancshares, Inc., German American Bancorp, Inc., HBT Financial, Inc., Hills Bancorporation, Isabella Bank Corporation, LCNB Corp., Mercantile Bank Corporation, MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc., Nicolet Bankshares, Inc., Peoples Bancorp, Inc., and Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc. The Company is in the middle of the group in terms of asset size. The Company's goal is to perform at or near the top of this peer group relative to what we consider to be three key metrics: return on average equity, efficiency ratio and nonperforming assets to total assets. We believe these measures encompass the factors that define the performance of a community bank. Company and peer results for the key financial performance measures are summarized below.

West Bancorporation, Inc.Peer Group Range
As of and for the year ended December 31, 2025As of and for the year ended December 31, 2025
Return on average equity13.47%3.40%-15.25%
Efficiency ratio(1)54.11%45.67%-69.11%
Nonperforming assets to total assets0.00%0.10%-1.07%

(1)    The efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of this report.

The following discussion describes the consolidated operations and financial condition of the Company, including its subsidiary West Bank and West Bank’s special purpose subsidiaries. Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2025 are compared to the results for the year ended December 31, 2024 and the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of December 31, 2025 is compared to December 31, 2024. Results of operations and financial condition for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023 can be found in Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Company’s 2024 annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 20, 2025.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

This report is based on the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with GAAP established by the FASB. The preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. These estimates are based upon historical experience and on various other assumptions that management believes are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Based on its consideration of accounting policies that involve the most complex and subjective estimates and judgments, management has identified its most critical accounting policies to be those related to the allowance for credit losses.

Expected credit losses on loans are reflected in the allowance for credit losses (ACL) through a charge to credit loss expense. When the Company deems all or a portion of a loan to be uncollectible, the appropriate amount is written off and the ACL is reduced by the same amount. The Company applies judgment to determine when a loan is deemed uncollectible; however, generally speaking, a loan will be considered uncollectible no later than when all efforts at collection have been exhausted. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the ACL when received.

The Company measures expected credit losses on loans on a collective (pool) basis when the loans share similar risk characteristics and uses a cash flow based model to estimate expected credit losses for each of these pools. The Company’s methodology for estimating the ACL considers available relevant information about the collectability of cash flows, including information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The methodologies apply historical loss information, adjusted for asset-specific characteristics, economic conditions at the measurement date, and forecasts about economic conditions expected to exist through the contractual lives of the financial assets that are reasonable and supportable, to the identified pools of financial assets with similar risk characteristics for which the historical experience was observed. Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis.

The Company uses a cash flow-based model to estimate expected credit losses for all loan segments. For each of the loan segments, the Company calculates a cash flow projection using contractual terms, estimated prepayment speeds, estimated curtailment rates, and other relevant data. The Company uses regression analysis that links historical losses of the Company and a peer group to two economic metrics: national unemployment rate and 10-year treasury rate over 2-year treasury rate spread to establish the loss rates applied to the projected cash flows. For all loan segments, the Company uses a forecast period of four quarters and reverts to a historical loss rate after four quarters. When estimating prepayment speed and curtailment rates, the modeling is based on historical internal data. In addition to the historical loss information, the Company utilizes qualitative factors to adjust the ACL as appropriate. Qualitative factors are based on management’s judgment of the changes in underlying loan composition of specific portfolios, trends relating to credit quality and collateral values, company-specific data, or effects of other factors such as market competition or legal and regulatory requirements.

The allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2025 was $30,525, or 1.02 percent of outstanding loans, compared to $30,432, or 1.01 percent of outstanding loans as of December 31, 2024.

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NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This report contains references to financial measures that are not defined in GAAP. Such non-GAAP financial measures include the Company’s presentation of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent (FTE) basis, and the presentation of the efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis, excluding certain income and expenses. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to both management and investors to analyze and evaluate the Company’s financial performance. These measures are considered standard measures of comparison within the banking industry. Additionally, management believes providing measures on an FTE basis enhances the comparability of income arising from taxable and nontaxable sources. Limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures include the risks that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items included in these measures and that different companies might calculate these measures differently. These non-GAAP disclosures should not be considered an alternative to the Company’s GAAP results. The following table reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent basis and efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis, to their most directly comparable measures under GAAP.

As and for the Years Ended December 31
202520242023
Reconciliation of net interest income and net interest margin on an FTE basis to GAAP:
Net interest income (GAAP)$88,981$71,362$69,031
Tax-equivalent adjustment(1)256182491
Net interest income on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)89,23771,54469,522
Average interest-earning assets3,800,5823,747,5283,465,964
Net interest margin on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)2.35%1.91%2.01%
Reconciliation of efficiency ratio on an FTE basis to GAAP:
Net interest income on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)$89,237$71,544$69,522
Noninterest income6,2648,43410,066
Adjustment for realized securities losses, net3,9591,172431
Adjustment for losses on disposal of premises and equipment, net84729
Adjusted income99,46881,19780,048
Noninterest expense53,82751,35348,611
Efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis (non-GAAP)(2)54.11%63.25%60.73%

(1) Computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent, adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the financial results, as it enhances the comparability of income arising from taxable and nontaxable sources.

(2) The efficiency ratio expresses noninterest expense as a percent of fully taxable equivalent net interest income and noninterest income, excluding specific noninterest income and expenses. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the Company’s financial performance. It is a standard measure of comparison within the banking industry. A lower ratio is more desirable.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - 2025 COMPARED TO 2024

OVERVIEW

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2025 was $32,560, compared to $24,050 for the year ended December 31, 2024. Basic and diluted earnings per common share for 2025 were $1.92 and $1.92, respectively, and for 2024 were $1.43 and $1.42, respectively.

The increase in net income in 2025 compared to 2024 was primarily due to an increase in net interest income, partially offset by a decrease in noninterest income and an increase in noninterest expense. Net interest income increased $17,619, or 24.7 percent, in 2025 compared to 2024. The increase in net interest income was primarily due to the increase in interest income on short-term assets consisting of deposits with banks and securities purchased under agreements to resell and decrease in interest expense on deposits and borrowed funds, partially offset by a decrease in interest income on securities.

The Company recorded no credit loss expense in 2025, compared to a credit loss expense of $1,000 in 2024. The credit loss expense recorded in 2024 included a $2,000 increase in the allowance for credit losses related to loans, which was offset by a $1,000 decrease to the allowance for credit losses related to unfunded commitments.

Noninterest income decreased $2,170, or 25.7 percent, in 2025 compared to 2024, primarily due to an increase in realized losses on the sales of securities, partially offset by a one-time third party contract incentive included in other income. Noninterest expense increased $2,474, or 4.8 percent, in 2025 compared to 2024, primarily due to increases in salaries and employee benefits, occupancy and equipment expense and technology and software expense, partially offset by a decrease in data processing expense and FDIC insurance.

The Company’s ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.00 percent as of both December 31, 2025 and 2024. For more discussion on loan quality, see the “Loan Portfolio” and “Summary of the Allowance for Credit Losses” sections in this Item of this Form 10-K.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income increased to $88,981 for 2025 from $71,362 for 2024, as the impact of the growth in average balances of interest-earning assets and decline in average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities exceeded the effects of the increase in average balances of interest-bearing liabilities. The net interest margin for 2025 increased 44 basis points to 2.35 percent, compared to 1.91 percent for 2024. The average yield on earning assets declined by 2 basis points, while the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities decreased by 53 basis points. For additional analysis of net interest income, see the section captioned “Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity; Interest Rates; and Interest Differential” in this Item of this Form 10-K.

Credit Loss Expense

No credit loss expense was recorded in 2025, compared to a net credit loss expense of $1,000 in 2024. The credit loss expense recorded in 2024 included a $2,000 increase in the allowance for credit losses related to loans, which was offset by a $1,000 decrease to the allowance for credit losses related to unfunded commitments. The credit loss expense associated with loans recorded in 2024 was primarily due to changes in forecasted loss rates, driven by an increase in forecasted unemployment rate, and an adjustment to qualitative factors within the commercial real estate segment. The negative $1,000 credit loss expense recorded in 2024 related to unfunded commitments was primarily due to a decrease in the balance of unfunded commitments, primarily from the funding of construction loans. Management believed the allowance for credit losses on loans at December 31, 2025 was adequate to absorb expected losses in the loan portfolio as of that date.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Noninterest Income

The following table shows the variance from the prior year in the noninterest income categories shown in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Years ended December 31
Noninterest income:20252024ChangeChange %
Service charges on deposit accounts$1,941$1,843$985.3%
Debit card interchange income1,8941,919(25)(1.3)%
Trust services3,4363,449(13)(0.4)%
Increase in cash value of bank-owned life insurance1,2021,126766.7%
Realized securities losses, net(3,959)(1,172)(2,787)(237.8)%
Other income1,7501,26948137.9%
Total noninterest income$6,264$8,434$(2,170)(25.7)%

In 2025, the Company sold $63,690 of securities from the available for sale securities portfolio and realized a net loss of $3,959, compared to sales of $11,841 of securities available for sale and a realized net loss of $1,172 in 2024. The transaction in 2025 improves balance sheet flexibility and will be used to improve our long-term earnings profile through redeployment of the proceeds into higher-earning assets or repayment of higher-costing borrowings.

The increase in other income was primarily due to a one-time third party contract incentive.

Noninterest Expense

The following table shows the variance from the prior year in the noninterest expense categories shown in the Consolidated Statements of Income. In addition, accounts within the “Other expenses” category that represent a significant portion of the total or a significant variance are shown.

Years ended December 31
Noninterest expense:20252024ChangeChange %
Salaries and employee benefits$29,383$27,588$1,7956.5%
Occupancy and equipment8,1707,32085011.6%
Data processing2,5962,991(395)(13.2)%
Technology and software3,1602,8962649.1%
FDIC insurance2,3692,560(191)(7.5)%
Professional fees1,2111,04117016.3%
Other expenses:
Business development8988039511.8%
Insurance expense92582110412.7%
Director fees778828(50)(6.0)%
Trust76366310015.1%
Consulting fees608262346132.1%
Marketing8797(10)(10.3)%
Low income housing projects amortization526571(45)(7.9)%
New markets tax credit project amortization and management fees267919(652)(70.9)%
All other2,0861,993934.7%
Total other6,9386,957(19)(0.3)%
Total noninterest expense$53,827$51,353$2,4744.8%

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Salaries and employee benefits increased in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to an increase in incentive compensation related accruals and normal merit increases. Occupancy and equipment expense increased in 2025 compared to 2024, as 2025 was the first full year of occupancy in both the new headquarters building in West Des Moines, Iowa and the new Owatonna, Minnesota office. Insurance expense increased in 2025 due to increased coverage related to these new bank buildings and general increases in insurance costs.

Data processing expense decreased in 2025 compared to 2024 due to contract adjustments. Technology and software expense increased in 2025 compared to 2024 due to ongoing updates in information technology and security solutions. Professional fees increased in 2025 compared to 2024 due to a one-time tax related consulting project. Consulting fees increased in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to a one-time contract consulting fee recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025. New markets tax credit project amortization declined with the expiration of the related tax credit.

Income Taxes

The Company records a provision for income tax expense currently payable, along with a provision for those taxes payable or refundable in the future (deferred taxes). Deferred taxes arise from differences in the timing of certain items for financial statement reporting compared to income tax reporting and are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Federal income tax expense for 2025 and 2024 was $6,928 and $1,928, respectively, while state income tax expense was $1,930 and $1,465, respectively. The effective rate of income tax expense as a percent of income before income taxes was 21.3 percent and 12.3 percent, respectively, for 2025 and 2024. In 2024, income tax expense included a $1,842 tax benefit for an energy-related investment tax credit associated with the construction of the Company’s new headquarters building. In 2025, the Company recorded an additional tax benefit of $614 due to a change in estimate of this same 2024 energy-related investment tax credit.

The effective income tax rates differ from the federal statutory income tax rates primarily due to tax-exempt interest income, the tax-exempt increase in cash value of bank-owned life insurance, disallowed interest expense, stock compensation, state income taxes and the investment tax credit mentioned above. The effective tax rate for both 2025 and 2024 was also impacted by federal low income housing and new markets tax credits of approximately $660 and $1,508, respectively. The decrease in these federal income tax credits was primarily due to the expiration of the new markets tax credit at the end of 2024. The Company continues to maintain a valuation allowance against the tax effect of state net operating losses carryforwards as management believes it is likely that a portion of such carryforwards will expire without being utilized.

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DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY; INTEREST RATES; AND INTEREST DIFFERENTIAL

Average Balances and an Analysis of Average Rates Earned and Paid

The following table shows average balances and interest income or interest expense, with the resulting average yield or rate by category of average interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities for the years indicated. Interest income and the resulting net interest income are shown on a fully taxable basis. Interest expense includes the effect of interest rate swaps, if applicable.

202520242023
Average BalanceRevenue/ ExpenseYield/ RateAverage BalanceRevenue/ ExpenseYield/ RateAverage BalanceRevenue/ ExpenseYield/ Rate
Assets
Interest-earning assets:
Loans: (1) (2)
Commercial$512,116$32,9856.44%$519,568$34,4236.63%$520,116$32,0676.17%
Real estate (3)2,452,633132,5095.40%2,451,830130,8295.34%2,270,662110,4314.86%
Consumer and other22,2041,4736.64%14,4251,0657.38%9,4786657.02%
Total loans2,986,953166,9675.59%2,985,823166,3175.57%2,800,256143,1635.11%
Securities:
Taxable419,91410,4712.49%472,35113,0302.76%516,11813,6962.65%
Tax-exempt (3)122,4803,0342.48%141,0333,3062.34%146,7343,7682.57%
Total securities542,39413,5052.49%613,38416,3362.66%662,85217,4642.63%
Deposits with banks217,7089,3594.30%148,3217,5955.12%2,8561695.94%
Securities purchased under
agreements to resell53,5272,6504.95%%%
Total interest-earning assets (3)3,800,582192,4815.06%3,747,528190,2485.08%3,465,964160,7964.64%
Noninterest-earning assets:
Cash and due from banks23,35923,69923,139
Premises and equipment, net109,744101,41367,281
Other, less allowance for
credit losses84,29899,110106,194
Total noninterest-earning assets217,401224,222196,614
Total assets$4,017,983$3,971,750$3,662,578
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand$493,8007,8941.60%$466,2388,6841.86%$467,1746,9841.49%
Savings and money market1,752,79755,4503.16%1,560,13657,1403.66%1,357,67543,5693.21%
Time586,02224,4064.16%639,27831,4604.92%424,32016,2433.83%
Total deposits2,832,61987,7503.10%2,665,65297,2843.65%2,249,16966,7962.97%
Borrowed funds:
Federal funds purchased and
other short-term borrowings%75,7364,2485.61%194,8029,5324.89%
Subordinated notes, net80,0254,4255.53%79,7604,4315.55%79,5014,4425.59%
Federal Home Loan Bank
advances270,0009,1023.37%312,36310,3133.30%265,6447,6942.90%
Long-term debt39,9401,9674.93%45,0552,4285.39%49,9382,8105.63%
Total borrowed funds389,96515,4943.97%512,91421,4204.18%589,88524,4784.15%
Total interest-bearing liabilities3,222,584103,2443.20%3,178,566118,7043.73%2,839,05491,2743.21%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
Demand deposits515,389528,391586,903
Other liabilities38,31340,30825,218
Stockholders’ equity241,697224,485211,403
Total liabilities and
stockholders’ equity$4,017,983$3,971,750$3,662,578
Net interest income (4)/net interest spread (3)$89,2371.86%$71,5441.35%$69,5221.43%
Net interest margin (3) (4)2.35%1.91%2.01%

(1)Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans. Interest income recognized on nonaccrual loans has been included.

(2)Interest income on loans includes amortization of loan fees and costs and prepayment penalties collected, which are not material.

(3)Tax-exempt income has been adjusted to a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent and is adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans.

(4)Net interest income (FTE) and net interest margin (FTE) are non-GAAP financial measures. For further information, refer to the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this Item.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Net Interest Income

The Company’s largest component of net income is net interest income, which is the difference between interest earned on interest-earning assets, consisting primarily of loans and securities, and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities, consisting of deposits and borrowings. Fluctuations in net interest income can result from the combination of changes in the average balances of asset and liability categories and changes in interest rates. Interest rates earned and paid are also affected by general economic conditions, particularly changes in market interest rates, and by competitive factors, government policies and the actions of regulatory authorities. The FOMC decreased the target federal funds interest rate by a total of 100 basis points from September through December of 2024, and an additional 75 basis points from September through December of 2025, which impacted the comparability of the net interest margin between 2025 and 2024.

Net interest margin on an FTE basis, a non-GAAP financial measure, is a measure of the net return on interest-earning assets and is computed by dividing annualized tax-equivalent net interest income by total average interest-earning assets for the period. For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis was 2.35, 1.91 and 2.01 percent, respectively. Tax-equivalent net interest income increased $17,693 in 2025 compared to 2024.

Rate and Volume Analysis

The rate and volume analysis shown below, on a tax-equivalent basis, is used to determine how much of the change in interest income or expense is the result of a change in volume or a change in interest yield or rate. The change in interest that is due to both volume and rate has been allocated to the change due to volume and the change due to rate in proportion to the absolute value of the change in each.

2025 Compared to 20242024 Compared to 2023
VolumeRateTotalVolumeRateTotal
Interest Income
Loans: (1)
Commercial$(489)$(949)$(1,438)$(34)$2,390$2,356
Real estate (2)431,6371,6809,19711,20120,398
Consumer and other525(117)40836436400
Total loans (including fees)795716509,52713,62723,154
Securities:
Taxable(1,372)(1,187)(2,559)(1,193)527(666)
Tax-exempt (2)(452)180(272)(142)(320)(462)
Total securities(1,824)(1,007)(2,831)(1,335)207(1,128)
Deposits with banks3,129(1,365)1,7647,452(26)7,426
Securities purchased under
agreements to resell2,6502,650
Total interest income (2)4,034(1,801)2,23315,64413,80829,452
Interest Expense
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand492(1,282)(790)(14)1,7141,700
Savings and money market6,599(8,289)(1,690)6,9696,60213,571
Time(2,479)(4,575)(7,054)9,7315,48615,217
Total deposits4,612(14,146)(9,534)16,68613,80230,488
Borrowed funds:
Federal funds purchased and
other short-term borrowings(4,248)(4,248)(6,514)1,230(5,284)
Subordinated debt, net15(21)(6)14(25)(11)
Federal Home Loan Bank advances(1,424)213(1,211)1,4591,1602,619
Long-term debt(262)(199)(461)(267)(115)(382)
Total borrowed funds(5,919)(7)(5,926)(5,308)2,250(3,058)
Total interest expense(1,307)(14,153)(15,460)11,37816,05227,430
Net interest income (2) (3)$5,341$12,352$17,693$4,266$(2,244)$2,022

(1)Average balances of nonaccrual loans were included for computational purposes.

(2)Tax-exempt income has been converted to a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent and is adjusted for the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans.

(3)Net interest income (FTE) is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this Item.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Tax-equivalent interest income and fees on loans increased $650 for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to 2024. The improvement was driven by a combination of an increase in the average balance of total loans and an increase in the total loan yield in 2025 compared to 2024. The average balance of total loans increased $1,130 in 2025 compared to 2024, while total loan yield increased by 2 basis points in 2025 compared to 2024. Loan originations and renewals for the fixed-rate loan portfolio continued to reprice at prevailing market rates in 2025, which exceeded the current weighted average portfolio rate. This repricing benefit in the fixed-rate loan portfolio was partially offset by a decrease in loan yields on the variable-rate loan portfolio. The decrease in the yield on variable-rate loans was primarily due to reductions in the prime rate and Secured Overnight Financing Rates (SOFR) driven by the reductions in the federal funds target rate that occurred in 2024 and 2025.

The yield on the Company’s loan portfolio is affected by the portfolio’s loan mix, the interest rate environment, the effects of competition, the level of nonaccrual loans and reversals of previously accrued interest on charged-off loans. The yield on the loan portfolio is expected to increase in flat and rising rate environments as variable-rate loans reprice at higher rates and renewals and new originations are priced at prevailing market rates, which exceed the roll-off rate of principal repayments and maturities of existing loans. In a declining rate environment, the yield on variable-rate loans will decline; however, as long as market rates remain higher than the yield on the fixed-rate portfolio, renewals and originations will continue to increase the yield on the fixed-rate portfolio, which is what we experienced in 2025. The political and economic environments can also influence the volume of new loan originations and the mix of variable-rate versus fixed-rate loans.

Tax-equivalent interest income on securities decreased $2,831 for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to 2024. The average balance of securities available for sale in 2025 was $70,990 lower than in 2024, primarily due to principal paydowns and sales of securities. The proceeds from principal paydowns and sales of securities have increased liquidity and improved balance sheet flexibility to allow for improvement in our long-term earnings profile. Additionally, the yield on available for sale securities decreased by 17 basis points in 2025 compared to 2024.

Interest income on deposits with banks increased $1,764 in 2025 compared to 2024. This was primarily due to the increase in the average balances of interest-earning deposits with banks, partially offset by a decline in rates. This increase in balance sheet liquidity was driven by the growth in average customer deposit balances and the decline in average balance of securities available for sale. Additionally, the Company began investing in securities purchased under agreements to resell in 2025. These produced interest income of $2,650 in 2025.

Interest expense on deposits decreased $9,534 for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to 2024. The rates paid on deposits decreased 55 basis points in 2025 compared to 2024, while the average balance of interest-bearing deposits increased $166,967. The decrease in cost of deposits was primarily driven by the reductions in the federal funds target rate since September 2024.

Interest expense on borrowed funds decreased $5,926 for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to 2024, due to a combination of lower average balances of borrowed funds and lower average rate paid on borrowed funds. The average balance of borrowed funds decreased $122,949 in 2025 compared to 2024. The average balance of federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings decreased $75,736 in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to increases in average customer deposits and decline in average balance of securities available for sale. The average balance of FHLB advances declined by $42,363 in 2025 compared to 2024. This decline in average balances was primarily due to FHLB advances with a total balance of $45,000 maturing in the fourth quarter of 2024.

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SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

The balance of securities available for sale decreased by $76,118 as of December 31, 2025, compared to December 31, 2024. This decrease was primarily due to principal paydowns on securities and the sale of $63,690 of securities in the fourth quarter of 2025, partially offset by a decrease in unrealized losses on securities since December 31, 2024. The proceeds from the sale in December 2025 improve balance sheet flexibility and will be used to improve our long-term earnings profile through redeployment of the net proceeds into higher-earning assets or repayment of higher-cost borrowings.

As of December 31, 2025, approximately 62 percent of the available for sale securities portfolio consisted of government agency guaranteed collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities. We believe those securities have little to no credit risk and provide cash flows for liquidity and repricing opportunities. All collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities consist of residential and commercial mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations guaranteed by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), or the Small Business Administration (SBA). The securities issued by state and political subdivisions are diversified among municipalities in 25 states.

The following table sets forth the weighted average yield by contractual maturity by security type as of December 31, 2025. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. The collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities have monthly paydowns that are not reflected in the table.

Within one yearAfter one year but within five yearsAfter five years but within ten yearsAfter ten yearsTotal
Securities available for sale:
State and political subdivisions (1)%%1.86%2.05%2.04%
Collateralized mortgage obligations1.481.48
Mortgage-backed securities1.201.721.681.66
Collateralized loan obligations5.505.50
Corporate notes3.263.26
%1.20%2.35%1.72%1.78%

(1)    Yields on tax-exempt obligations have been computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent and are adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt investment securities.

Total gross unrealized losses in the securities available for sale portfolio were $93,270 at December 31, 2025 compared to $128,838 at December 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2025, the Company did not have the intent to sell, nor was it more likely than not that we would be required to sell any of the securities in an unrealized loss position prior to recovery. As of December 31, 2025, the Company also determined that no individual securities in an unrealized loss position represented credit losses that would require an allowance for credit losses. Management concluded that the unrealized losses in the portfolio are the result of increases in risk-free market interest rates since the securities were purchased and are not an indication of declining credit quality. Unrealized losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax.

For additional information regarding the Company’s securities portfolio, see Note 3 and Note 18 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

LOAN PORTFOLIO

The Company seeks to create growth in commercial lending, which primarily includes commercial real estate, multi-family, and commercial and industrial lending, by offering customer-focused products and competitive pricing and by capitalizing on the positive trends in its market areas. It is the objective of the Company’s credit policies to diversify the commercial loan portfolio to limit concentrations in any single industry. As of December 31, 2025, total loans were approximately 86.5 percent of total deposits and 72.5 percent of total assets.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Loans outstanding at the end of 2025 decreased 0.1 percent compared to the end of 2024. Changes in the loan portfolio during 2025 included decreases of $81,314 in construction, land and land development loans and $9,173 in commercial and industrial loans and an increase of $68,571 in commercial real estate loans. The Company continues to focus on business development efforts in all of its markets. The political and economic environments could influence the volume of future loan originations and the mix of variable-rate versus fixed-rate loans.

For a description of the loan segments, see Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The interest rates charged on loans vary with the degree of risk and the amount and terms of the loan. Competitive pressures, the creditworthiness of the borrower, market interest rates, the availability of funds, and government regulations further influence the rate charged on a loan.

The Company follows a loan policy approved by West Bank’s Board of Directors. The loan policy is reviewed at least annually and is updated as considered necessary. The policy establishes lending limits, review criteria and other guidelines for loan administration and the allowance for credit losses, among other things. Loans are approved in accordance with the applicable guidelines and underwriting policies. Loans to any one borrower are limited by state banking laws. Loan officer lending authorities vary according to the individual loan officer’s experience and expertise.

As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, there were no loans that were past due 30 days or more.

Nonperforming loans declined to $0 at December 31, 2025, compared to $133 at December 31, 2024. The decrease was due to a full payoff on the single loan included in nonperforming loans as of December 31, 2024.

The watch classification of loans increased to $52,227 as of December 31, 2025 from $8,349 as of December 31, 2024. The increase in the balance of watch classification loans was primarily due to additions of loans within the commercial and commercial real estate loan segments and associated with the transportation and trucking industry.

Loans Secured by Real Estate

The commercial real estate market continues to be a significant source of business for West Bank. Management places a strong emphasis on monitoring the composition of the Company’s commercial real estate loan portfolio. The Company has an established lending policy which includes a number of underwriting factors to be considered in making a commercial real estate loan, including, but not limited to, location, loan-to-value ratio (LTV), cash flow and debt service coverage, collateral and the credit history and expertise of the borrower. The lending policy also includes guidelines for real estate appraisals and evaluations, including minimum appraisal and evaluation standards.

Although repayment risk exists on all loans, different factors influence repayment risk for each type of loan. The primary risks associated with commercial real estate loans are the quality of the borrower’s management and the health of the national and regional economies. Underwriting on commercial properties is primarily based on the economic viability of the project with heavy consideration given to the creditworthiness and experience of the borrower. Recognizing that debt is paid via cash flow, the projected cash flows of the project are critical in underwriting because these determine the ultimate value of the property and the ability to service debt. Therefore, in most commercial real estate projects, we generally require a minimum stabilized debt service coverage ratio of 1.20 to 1.35, depending on the real estate type. Exceptions to this policy can be made for certain borrowers that exhibit other credit quality strengths. Exceptions to the policy are monitored by management. Our strategy with respect to the management of these types of risks is to consistently follow prudent loan policies and underwriting practices.

The Company recognizes that a diversified loan portfolio contributes to reducing risk. The specific loan portfolio mix is subject to change based on loan demand, the business environment and various economic factors. The Company actively monitors concentrations within the loan portfolio to ensure appropriate diversification is maintained. In addition, management tracks the level of owner occupied commercial real estate loans versus non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans. Owner occupied commercial real estate loans are generally considered to have less risk than non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans.

In accordance with regulatory guidelines, the Company exercises heightened risk management practices when non-owner occupied commercial real estate lending exceeds 300 percent of total risk-based capital or construction, land development, and other land loans exceed 100 percent of total risk-based capital. Although the Company’s loan portfolio is heavily concentrated in real estate and its real estate portfolio levels exceed these regulatory guidelines, it has established risk management policies and procedures to regularly monitor the commercial real estate portfolio.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The Bank’s Executive Loan Committee (ELC), which is made up of the Chief Executive Officer, Bank President, Chief Risk Officer, Minnesota Group President, Chief Credit Officer and Credit Department Manager, approves all commercial loan relationships in excess of $500 in total credit exposure and annually reviews all commercial loan relationships of $1,000 and greater. Credit approval authorities for individual officers are reviewed, at least annually, by the ELC and approved by the Board of Directors.

Executive management regularly reviews available market data. Commercial real estate portfolio monitoring practices include quarterly stress testing and quarterly trend analysis of underwriting exceptions, average loan-to-value and average debt service coverage for significant real estate segments.

The Company maintains an annual independent loan review program. The Company engages a third party to evaluate credit quality, assigned risk ratings, underwriting standards and collateral documentation. The review covers a significant portion of the loan portfolio and is carried out on a semi-annual basis. Findings are reported to the ELC and the Board of Directors. The Company also maintains an internal loan audit department that performs certain pre- and post-closing procedural and documentation reviews. The internal findings are reported quarterly to the ELC.

Commercial loans secured by real estate, including construction, land and land development, totaled $2,356,599, or 78.4 percent of total loans, at December 31, 2025. Non-owner occupied commercial real estate loan concentrations and the weighted average LTV by property type as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 are shown in the following table. LTV is determined using the maximum credit exposure of the loan compared to the most recent appraisal data on the property obtained in accordance with the Company’s lending policies.

As of December 31
20252024
Balance% of Non-owner Occupied CREWeighted Average LTVBalance% of Non-owner Occupied CREWeighted Average LTV
Non-owner occupied:
Multifamily$581,10631.2%67%$542,32228.5%69%
Medical & senior care facilities129,8707.062180,1449.564
Warehouse & trucking170,6739.262160,7838.460
Hotels252,96213.663253,93913.364
Mixed use106,4945.76898,9885.267
Offices107,5125.863126,2706.668
Land for development97,9425.25589,9744.756
All other415,41022.3not available452,77223.8not available
$1,861,969100.0%$1,905,192100.0%

The following table summarizes non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans by property type and risk rating as of December 31, 2025. Risk ratings are defined in Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

As of December 31, 2025
Risk Rating
Total1-345678
Non-owner occupied:
Multifamily$581,106$40,863$433,049$95,793$11,401$$
Medical & senior care facilities129,87017,79695,71516,359
Warehouse & trucking170,67396,28163,42610,966
Hotel252,962195,95657,006
Mixed use106,49427,51752,99725,980
Offices107,5128,82489,5779,111
Land for development97,9427,51588,9241,503
All other415,41081,432237,34996,629
$1,861,969$280,228$1,256,993$313,347$11,401$$

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

As of December 31, 2025, there were no non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans that were past due 30 days or more.

Maturities of Loans

The contractual maturities of the Company’s loan portfolio are shown in the following tables. Actual repayments may differ from contractual maturities because individual borrowers may have the right to prepay loans with or without prepayment penalties.

As of December 31, 2025
Within one yearAfter one but within five yearsAfter five but within 15 yearsAfter 15 yearsTotal
Commercial$174,094$267,526$63,439$$505,059
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development276,777147,9752,081426,833
1-4 family residential first mortgages23,57369,27327693,122
Home equity10,55515,53326,088
Commercial382,9441,226,597298,04022,1851,929,766
Consumer and other8,28115,09323,374
$876,224$1,741,997$363,836$22,185$3,004,242
After one but within five yearsAfter five but within 15 yearsAfter 15 years
Loan maturities after one year with:
Fixed rates
Commercial$201,049$13,057$
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development11,699
1-4 family residential first mortgages67,323276
Home equity4,981
Commercial1,056,813118,523
Consumer and other14,389
Total fixed-rate loans1,356,254131,856
Variable rates
Commercial66,47750,382
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development136,2762,081
1-4 family residential first mortgages1,950
Home equity10,552
Commercial169,784179,51722,185
Consumer and other704
Total variable-rate loans385,743231,98022,185
$1,741,997$363,836$22,185

SUMMARY OF THE ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES

The credit loss expense recorded on the income statement includes charges made to earnings to maintain an adequate allowance for credit losses. The adequacy of the allowance for credit losses is evaluated quarterly by management and reviewed by the Board. The allowance for credit losses is management’s estimate of expected lifetime losses in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Factors considered by management in establishing an appropriate allowance include: the borrower’s financial condition; the value and adequacy of loan collateral; the condition of the local economy and the borrower’s specific industry; the levels and trends of loans by segment; and a review of delinquent and classified loans. The quarterly evaluation focuses on factors such as specific loan reviews, changes in the components of the loan portfolio given economic conditions, and historical loss experience. Any one of the following conditions may result in the review of a specific loan: concern about whether the borrower’s cash flow or net worth is sufficient to repay the loan; delinquency status; criticism of the loan in a regulatory examination; the suspension of interest accrual; or other factors, including whether the loan has other special or unusual characteristics that suggest special monitoring is warranted. The Company’s concentration risks include geographic concentration in central and eastern Iowa and southern Minnesota. The local economies are composed primarily of major financial services companies, healthcare providers, educational institutions, technology and agribusiness companies, and state and local governments.

West Bank has a significant portion of its loan portfolio in commercial real estate loans, commercial lines of credit, commercial term loans, and construction and land development loans. West Bank’s typical commercial borrower is a small- or medium-sized, privately owned business entity. Compared to residential mortgages or consumer loans, commercial loans typically have larger balances and repayment usually depends on the borrowers’ successful business operations. Commercial loans also generally are not fully repaid over the loan period and, thus, may require refinancing or a large payoff at maturity. When the general economy turns downward, commercial borrowers may not be able to repay their loans, and the value of their assets, which are usually pledged as collateral, may decrease rapidly and significantly.

While management uses available information to recognize credit losses, further reduction in the carrying amounts of loans may be necessary based on changes in circumstances, changes in the overall economy in the markets we currently serve, or later acquired information. Identifiable sectors within the general economy are subject to additional volatility, which at any time may have a substantial impact on the loan portfolio. In addition, regulatory agencies, as integral parts of their examination processes, periodically review the credit quality of the loan portfolio and the level of the allowance for credit losses. Such agencies may require West Bank to recognize additional charge-offs or provisions for credit losses based on such agencies’ review of information available to them at the time of their examinations.

The following table shows the ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries to loans outstanding, broken out by loan segment, along with ratios of the allowance and nonaccrual loans to total loans at the end of the period.

Analysis of the Allowance for Credit Losses for the Years Ended December 31
202520242023
Ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries during the
period to average loans outstanding by segment:
Commercial%%%
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development
1-4 family residential first mortgages
Home equity
Commercial
Consumer and other
Total0.00%0.00%0.00%
Ratio of allowance for credit losses to total
loans at the end of period1.02%1.01%0.97%
Ratio of nonaccrual loans to total loans at
end of period0.00%0.00%0.01%
Ratio of allowance for credit losses to total
nonaccrual loans at the end of periodN/A22,881.20%9,575.00%
Ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries to total
loans at end of period0.00%0.00%0.00%

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Nonperforming loans at December 31, 2025 totaled $0, a slight decrease from $133, or 0.00 percent of total loans, at December 31, 2024. The decrease in nonperforming loans at December 31, 2025, compared to December 31, 2024, was due to a full payoff on the single loan included in the nonaccrual balance on December 31, 2024. Nonperforming loans include loans on nonaccrual status, loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest, and loans that have been considered to be loan restructurings made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. The Company held no other real estate owned properties as of December 31, 2025 or 2024.

The following table sets forth information concerning the Company’s allocation of the allowance for credit losses by loan segment as of the dates indicated.

As of December 31
202520242023
Amount%*Amount%*Amount%*
Balance at end of
period applicable to:
Commercial$5,70016.81%$5,48917.10%$5,29118.13%
Real estate:
Construction, land
and land development3,74414.214,35416.893,66814.11
1-4 family residential
first mortgages6873.106502.927043.64
Home equity2740.872000.641420.50
Commercial19,79564.2319,54461.8818,42063.25
Consumer and other3250.781950.571170.37
$30,525100.00%$30,432100.00%$28,342100.00%

* Percent of loans in each category to total loans.

As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, there was no allowance for credit losses related to loans individually evaluated for credit losses. The portion of the allowance for credit losses related to loans collectively evaluated for credit losses increased to $30,525, or 1.02 percent of outstanding loans as of December 31, 2025, compared to $30,432, or 1.01 percent of outstanding loans as of December 31, 2024. The increase was primarily due to net recoveries for the year ended December 31, 2025. Management believed the allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2025 was adequate to absorb the expected losses in the portfolio as of that date.

DEPOSITS

Deposits totaled $3,468,470 as of December 31, 2025, which was an increase of 3.3 percent compared to December 31, 2024. Deposit growth in 2025 included a mix of public funds and commercial and consumer deposits. Deposit inflows and outflows are influenced by prevailing market interest rates, competition, local and national economic conditions, and fluctuations in our business customers’ own liquidity needs.

At December 31, 2025, the Company had $154,564 in brokered deposits, compared to $266,418 at December 31, 2024. Brokered deposits included fixed-rate time deposits with maturities through September 2026 and variable-rate deposits with terms through February 2027. The decrease in brokered deposits during 2025 was primarily due to core deposit growth. When necessary, brokered deposits are utilized, along with other wholesale funding sources, to fund loan growth and offset core deposit outflows.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following table sets forth the average balances for each major category of deposits and the weighted average interest rate paid for those deposits during the years indicated.

Years ended December 31
202520242023
AverageAverageAverageAverageAverageAverage
BalanceRateBalanceRateBalanceRate
Noninterest-bearing demand$515,389%$528,391%$586,903%
Interest-bearing demand:
Insured cash sweep188,7372.78150,7743.44137,0272.48
Other interest-bearing demand305,0630.87315,4641.11330,1471.09
Money market:
Insured cash sweep272,7093.33241,4444.00249,5743.58
Other money market1,294,1973.341,161,5663.85973,8533.47
Savings185,8911.66157,1261.73134,2480.61
Time586,0224.16639,2784.92424,3203.83
$3,348,008$3,194,043$2,836,072

Management reduced interest rates on deposits in 2024 and 2025 as a result of the reductions in the target federal funds rate by the Federal Reserve in 2024 and 2025. Any deposit rate changes in 2026 will be dependent on market rates, liquidity needs and competition for deposit balances. To limit the Company’s exposure to market interest rate changes, interest rate swaps are in place on $70,000 of deposit balances that effectively convert certain customer deposits with variable rates to fixed-rate instruments.

Additionally, in 2025, the Company entered into three interest rate collar agreements with a total notional amount of $100,000 to mitigate interest rate risk on certain customer deposits. The structure of the interest rate collars is such that the Company pays the counterparty an incremental amount if the index rate falls below the floor rate. Conversely, the Company receives an incremental amount if the index rate rises above the cap rate.

Approximately 99 percent of the total time deposits issued by West Bank mature in the next year, including brokered time deposits. It is anticipated that a significant portion of the core time deposits will be renewed. In the event a substantial volume of core time deposits are not renewed, management believes the Company has sufficient liquid assets and funding sources to offset the potential runoff.

The following table shows the amounts and remaining maturities of time deposits with balances of $100 or more as of December 31, 2025.

3 months or less$165,091
Over 3 through 6 months153,292
Over 6 through 12 months160,234
Over 12 months1,224
$479,841

West Bank participates in a reciprocal deposit network, which enables depositors to receive FDIC insurance coverage on deposits otherwise exceeding the maximum insurable amount. We consider these reciprocal deposits to be in-market deposits as distinguished from traditional out-of-market brokered deposits. Time deposits as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, included $155,150 and $162,148, respectively, of reciprocal deposits. Included in total deposits as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, were $244,476 and $220,627, respectively, of reciprocal interest-bearing checking and $264,033 and $273,126, respectively, of reciprocal money market deposits.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Total estimated uninsured deposits were $1,744,989, $1,562,981 and $1,435,406 as of December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The uninsured deposit amounts are estimated based on the methodologies and assumptions used for regulatory reporting requirements and include collateralized public unit deposits. The following table shows the amount of time deposits in excess of the insurance limit by maturity.

3 months or less$72,426
Over 3 through 6 months47,797
Over 6 through 12 months81,774
$201,997

BORROWED FUNDS

The Company had $270,000 of FHLB advances outstanding at December 31, 2025, and 2024. As of December 31, 2025, all FHLB advances were hedged with long-term interest rate swaps as part of the Company’s rolling funding program. These interest rate swaps have maturity dates ranging from July 2026 through June 2029 and fixed rates ranging from 1.86 percent to 4.32 percent. This strategy of hedging short-term rolling funding effectively provides fixed cost wholesale funding through the maturity dates of the various interest rate swaps.

The Company has a credit agreement with an unaffiliated commercial bank. As of December 31, 2025, this borrowing had a balance of $26,250. Interest is payable quarterly. Required quarterly principal payments are $1,250, with the remaining balance due February 2027. The Company may make additional principal payments without penalty. The interest rate is variable at the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate minus 1.00 percent, which was 5.75 percent as of December 31, 2025. The Company has an interest rate swap contract that effectively converts $20,000 of this borrowing to a fixed rate of 6.40 percent through its maturity date.

In June 2022, the Company issued $60,000 of subordinated notes (Notes). The Notes initially bear interest at 5.25 percent per annum, with interest payable semi-annually for the first five years of the Notes. Beginning June 15, 2027, the interest rate will reset quarterly to a floating rate per annum that will be three-month term SOFR plus 2.41 percent, with payments due quarterly. The Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, on and after June 15, 2027 at a price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Notes will mature on June 15, 2032 if they are not earlier redeemed.

The Company has $20,619 in junior subordinated debentures which mature in 2033 and carry a variable interest rate. The Company has an interest rate swap with a notional amount of $20,000 which converts the variable-rate subordinated debentures to fixed-rate debt based on the 3-month term SOFR plus 0.26161 percent tenor spread adjustment plus 3.05 percent. This interest rate swap has a fixed rate of 4.81 percent and matures in September 2026.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

In the normal course of business, West Bank commits to extend credit in the form of loan commitments and standby letters of credit in order to meet the financing needs of its customers. These commitments expose West Bank to varying degrees of credit and market risks in excess of the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets and are subject to the same credit policies as are the loans recorded on the balance sheets.

West Bank’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. West Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. Commitments to lend are subject to borrowers’ continuing compliance with existing credit agreements. Off-balance sheet commitments are more fully discussed in Note 17 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

As of December 31, 2025, the allowance for credit losses related to off-balance sheet commitments was $1,544, which was unchanged from December 31, 2024. The allowance for credit losses for off-balance-sheet credit exposures is presented in the “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” line of the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The objectives of liquidity management are to ensure the availability of sufficient cash flows to meet all financial commitments and to capitalize on opportunities for profitable business expansion. The Company’s principal source of funds is deposits. Other sources include loan principal repayments, proceeds from the maturity and sale of securities, principal payments on amortizing securities, federal funds purchased, advances from the FHLB, other wholesale funding and funds provided by operations. Liquidity management is conducted on both a daily and a long-term basis. Investments in liquid assets are adjusted based on expected loan demand, projected loan and securities maturities and payments, expected deposit flows and the objectives set by West Bank’s asset-liability management policy. The Company had liquid assets (cash and cash equivalents) of $471,086 as of December 31, 2025 compared with $243,478 as of December 31, 2024.

Our deposit growth strategy emphasizes core deposit growth. Deposit inflows and outflows can vary widely and are influenced by prevailing market interest rates, competition, local and national economic conditions, operating cycles of public fund deposits and fluctuations in our business customers’ own liquidity needs. The Company utilizes brokered deposits and other wholesale funding to supplement core deposit fluctuations and loan growth. Brokered deposits are obtained through various programs with third party brokers. At December 31, 2025, the Company had $154,564 in brokered deposits, which included fixed-rate time deposits with maturities through September 2026 and variable-rate deposits with terms through February 2027.

As of December 31, 2025, West Bank had additional borrowing capacity available from the FHLB of approximately $649,000, as well as approximately $38,341 through the Federal Reserve discount window and $75,000 through unsecured federal funds lines of credit. Net cash from continuing operating activities contributed $46,479, $39,808 and $25,249 to liquidity for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Management believed that the combination of high levels of liquid and potentially liquid assets, unencumbered securities, cash flows from operations and additional borrowing capacity provided the Company with sufficient liquidity as of December 31, 2025.

The Company’s total stockholders’ equity increased to $265,985 as of December 31, 2025 from $227,875 as of December 31, 2024. The increase was primarily the result of growth in retained earnings and the increase in the market value of our available for sale investment portfolio. While accumulated other comprehensive losses reduce tangible common equity, they have no impact on regulatory capital. At December 31, 2025, tangible common equity as a percent of tangible assets was 6.42 percent compared to 5.68 percent as of December 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had no intangible assets.

The Company and West Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal and state banking agencies. Capital requirements are more fully discussed under the heading “Supervision and Regulation” included in Item 1 and in Note 16 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. As of December 31, 2025, the Company and West Bank met all capital adequacy requirements to which they were subject, and the Company’s and West Bank’s capital ratios were in excess of the requirements to be considered well-capitalized under capital regulations. Also, as of December 31, 2025, the ratios for the Company and West Bank were sufficient to meet the capital conservation buffer.

EFFECTS OF NEW STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

A discussion of the effects of new financial accounting standards and developments as they relate to the Company is located in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

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: 0001166928-25-000012.

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2025-02-20. Report date: 2024-12-31.

ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

INTRODUCTION

The Company’s financial highlights and key performance measures are presented in the table below.

As of and for the Years Ended December 31,
202420232022
Performance Ratios
Return on average assets0.61%0.66%1.32%
Return on average equity10.71%11.42%20.71%
Efficiency ratio (1)(2)63.25%60.73%43.70%
Nonperforming assets/total assets (1)0.00%0.01%0.01%
Net interest margin(2)1.91%2.01%2.76%
Dividends and Per Share Data
Basic earnings per common share$1.43$1.44$2.79
Diluted earnings per common share1.421.442.76
Cash dividends per common share1.001.001.00
Dividend payout ratio69.88%69.21%35.82%
Dividend yield4.62%4.72%3.91%
Operating Results and Year-End Balances
Net income$24,050$24,137$46,399
Total assets4,014,9913,825,7583,613,218
Securities available for sale544,565623,919664,115
Loans3,004,8602,927,5352,742,836
Deposits3,357,5962,973,7792,880,408
Borrowings392,629592,637485,855
Stockholders’ equity227,875225,043211,112
Average equity to average assets ratio5.65%5.77%6.39%

Definition of ratios:

•Return on average assets - net income divided by average assets.

•Return on average equity - net income divided by average equity.

•Efficiency ratio - noninterest expense (excluding other real estate owned expense and write-down of premises) divided by noninterest income (excluding net securities gains/losses and gains/losses on disposition of premises and equipment) plus tax-equivalent net interest income.

•Nonperforming assets to total assets - total nonperforming assets divided by total assets.

•Net interest margin - tax-equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

•Dividend payout ratio - dividends paid to common stockholders divided by net income.

•Dividend yield - dividends per share paid to common stockholders divided by closing year-end stock price.

•Average equity to average assets ratio - average equity divided by average assets.

(1) A lower ratio is more desirable.

(2) As presented, this is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the section "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" of this item.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The Company’s 2024 net income was $24,050, compared to $24,137 in 2023. Basic and diluted earnings per common share for 2024 were $1.43 and $1.42, respectively, compared to $1.44 and $1.44, respectively, in 2023. During 2024, we paid our common stockholders $16,806 ($1.00 per common share) in dividends compared to $16,704 ($1.00 per common share) in 2023. The dividend declared and paid in the first quarter of 2025 was $0.25 per common share.

Total assets were $4,014,991 at December 31, 2024, compared to $3,825,758 at December 31, 2023, a 4.9 percent increase. Our loan portfolio grew to $3,004,860 as of December 31, 2024, from $2,927,535 as of December 31, 2023. Deposits increased to $3,357,596 as of December 31, 2024, from $2,973,779 as of December 31, 2023.

The Company compares three key performance metrics to those of an identified peer group for evaluating its results. The peer group for 2024 consists of 21 Midwestern, publicly traded financial institutions including Bank First Corporation, Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc., ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc., Civista Bancshares, Inc., CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc., Equity Bancshares, Inc., Farmers National Banc Corp., Farmers & Merchants Bancorp., First Business Financial Services, Inc., First Financial Corp., First Mid Bancshares, Inc., German American Bancorp, Inc., HBT Financial, Inc., Hills Bancorporation, Isabella Bank Corporation, LCNB Corp., Mercantile Bank Corporation, MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc., Nicolet Bankshares, Inc., Peoples Bancorp, Inc., and Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc. The Company is in the middle of the group in terms of asset size. The Company's goal is to perform at or near the top of this peer group relative to what we consider to be three key metrics: return on average equity, efficiency ratio and nonperforming assets to total assets. We believe these measures encompass the factors that define the performance of a community bank. Company and peer results for the key financial performance measures are summarized below.

West Bancorporation, Inc.Peer Group Range
As of and for the year ended December 31, 2024As of and for the year ended December 31, 2024
Return on average equity10.71%(11.08%)-14.44%
Efficiency ratio(1)63.25%46.23%-73.19%
Nonperforming assets to total assets0.00%0.01%-0.80%

(1)    The efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of this report.

The following discussion describes the consolidated operations and financial condition of the Company, including its subsidiary West Bank and West Bank’s special purpose subsidiaries. Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 are compared to the results for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of December 31, 2024 is compared to December 31, 2023. Results of operations and financial condition for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 can be found in Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Company’s 2023 annual report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on February 23, 2024.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

This report is based on the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with GAAP established by the FASB. The preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. These estimates are based upon historical experience and on various other assumptions that management believes are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Based on its consideration of accounting policies that involve the most complex and subjective estimates and judgments, management has identified its most critical accounting policies to be those related to the allowance for credit losses.

Expected credit losses on loans are reflected in the allowance for credit losses (ACL) through a charge to credit loss expense. When the Company deems all or a portion of a loan to be uncollectible, the appropriate amount is written off and the ACL is reduced by the same amount. The Company applies judgment to determine when a loan is deemed uncollectible; however, generally speaking, a loan will be considered uncollectible no later than when all efforts at collection have been exhausted. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the ACL when received.

The Company measures expected credit losses on loans on a collective (pool) basis when the loans share similar risk characteristics and uses a cash flow based model to estimate expected credit losses for each of these pools. The Company’s methodology for estimating the ACL considers available relevant information about the collectability of cash flows, including information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The methodologies apply historical loss information, adjusted for asset-specific characteristics, economic conditions at the measurement date, and forecasts about economic conditions expected to exist through the contractual lives of the financial assets that are reasonable and supportable, to the identified pools of financial assets with similar risk characteristics for which the historical experience was observed. Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis.

The Company uses a cash flow based model to estimate expected credit losses for all loan segments. For each of the loan segments, the Company calculates a cash flow projection using contractual terms, estimated prepayment speeds, estimated curtailment rates, and other relevant data. The Company uses regression analysis that links historical losses of the Company and a peer group to two economic metrics: national unemployment rate and 10-year treasury rate over 2-year treasury rate spread to establish the loss rates applied to the projected cash flows. For all loan segments, the Company uses a forecast period of four quarters and reverts to a historical loss rate after four quarters. When estimating prepayment speed and curtailment rates, the modeling is based on historical internal data. In addition to the historical loss information, the Company utilizes qualitative factors to adjust the ACL as appropriate. Qualitative factors are based on management’s judgment of the changes in underlying loan composition of specific portfolios, trends relating to credit quality and collateral values, company-specific data, or effects of other factors such as market competition or legal and regulatory requirements.

The allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2024 was $30,432, or 1.01 percent of outstanding loans, compared to $28,342, or 0.97 percent of outstanding loans as of December 31, 2023.

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NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This report contains references to financial measures that are not defined in GAAP. Such non-GAAP financial measures include the Company’s presentation of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent (FTE) basis, and the presentation of the efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis, excluding certain income and expenses. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to both management and investors to analyze and evaluate the Company’s financial performance. These measures are considered standard measures of comparison within the banking industry. Additionally, management believes providing measures on an FTE basis enhances the comparability of income arising from taxable and nontaxable sources. Limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures include the risks that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items included in these measures and that different companies might calculate these measures differently. These non-GAAP disclosures should not be considered an alternative to the Company’s GAAP results. The following table reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent basis and efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis, to their most directly comparable measures under GAAP.

As and for the Years Ended December 31
202420232022
Reconciliation of net interest income and net interest margin on an FTE basis to GAAP:
Net interest income (GAAP)$71,362$69,031$91,740
Tax-equivalent adjustment(1)1824911,122
Net interest income on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)71,54469,52292,862
Average interest-earning assets3,747,5283,465,9643,361,091
Net interest margin on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)1.91%2.01%2.76%
Reconciliation of efficiency ratio on an FTE basis to GAAP:
Net interest income on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)$71,544$69,522$92,862
Noninterest income8,43410,06610,208
Adjustment for realized securities losses, net1,172431
Adjustment for losses on disposal of premises and equipment, net472929
Adjusted income81,19780,048103,099
Noninterest expense51,35348,61145,051
Efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis (non-GAAP)(2)63.25%60.73%43.70%

(1) Computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent, adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the financial results, as it enhances the comparability of income arising from taxable and nontaxable sources.

(2) The efficiency ratio expresses noninterest expense as a percent of fully taxable equivalent net interest income and noninterest income, excluding specific noninterest income and expenses. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the Company’s financial performance. It is a standard measure of comparison within the banking industry. A lower ratio is more desirable.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - 2024 COMPARED TO 2023

OVERVIEW

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $24,050, compared to $24,137 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Basic and diluted earnings per common share for 2024 were $1.43 and $1.42, respectively, and for 2023 were $1.44 and $1.44, respectively.

The modest decrease in net income in 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily due to an increase in noninterest expense and decrease in noninterest income, partially offset by an increase in net interest income and decrease in income tax expense. Net interest income increased $2,331, or 3.4 percent, in 2024 compared to 2023. The increase in net interest income was primarily due to an increase in interest income on loans and interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions, partially offset by an increase in interest expense on deposits.

The Company recorded a credit loss expense of $1,000 in 2024, compared to a credit loss expense of $700 in 2023. The credit loss expense recorded in 2024 included a $2,000 increase in the allowance for credit losses related to loans, which was offset by a $1,000 decrease to the allowance for credit losses related to unfunded commitments.

Noninterest income decreased $1,632, or 16.2 percent, in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to an increase in realized losses on the sales of securities, a decrease in loan swap fees, and a nonrecurring gain from bank-owned life insurance in 2023, partially offset by an increase in trust services revenue. Noninterest expense increased $2,742, or 5.6 percent, in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to increases in occupancy and equipment expense, technology and software expense and FDIC insurance, partially offset by a decrease in business development expenses.

The Company’s ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.00 percent and 0.01 percent as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. For more discussion on loan quality, see the “Loan Portfolio” and “Summary of the Allowance for Credit Losses” sections in this Item of this Form 10-K.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income increased to $71,362 for 2024 from $69,031 for 2023, as the impact of the growth of interest-earning assets and increases in average yields on interest-earning assets exceeded the effects of an increase in average balances of interest-bearing liabilities and increase in average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. The net interest margin for 2024 decreased 10 basis points to 1.91 percent, compared to 2.01 percent for 2023. The average yield on earning assets increased by 44 basis points, while the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities increased by 52 basis points. For additional analysis of net interest income, see the section captioned “Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity; Interest Rates; and Interest Differential” in this Item of this Form 10-K.

Credit Loss Expense

A credit loss expense of $1,000 was recorded in 2024, compared to a credit loss expense of $700 in 2023. The credit loss expense recorded in 2024 included a $2,000 increase in the allowance for credit losses related to loans, which was offset by a $1,000 decrease to the allowance for credit losses related to unfunded commitments. The credit loss expense associated with loans recorded in 2024 was primarily due to changes in forecasted loss rates, driven by an increase in forecasted unemployment rate, and an adjustment to qualitative factors within the commercial real estate segment. The negative $1,000 credit loss expense recorded in 2024 related to unfunded commitments was primarily due to a decrease in the balance of unfunded commitments, primarily from the funding of construction loans. The credit loss expense recorded in 2023 included an allocation of $500 to the allowance for credit losses related to loans and $200 to the allowance for credit losses related to unfunded commitments. The credit loss expense in 2023 was primarily due to growth in loans and unfunded loan commitments. Management believed the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2024 was adequate to absorb expected losses in the loan portfolio as of that date.

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Noninterest Income

The following table shows the variance from the prior year in the noninterest income categories shown in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Years ended December 31
Noninterest income:20242023ChangeChange %
Service charges on deposit accounts$1,843$1,859$(16)(0.9)%
Debit card usage fees1,9191,980(61)(3.1)%
Trust services3,4493,06838112.4%
Increase in cash value of bank-owned life insurance1,1261,044827.9%
Gain from bank-owned life insurance691(691)(100.0)%
Loan swap fees431(431)(100.0)%
Realized securities losses, net(1,172)(431)(741)(171.9)%
Other income1,2691,424(155)(10.9)%
Total noninterest income$8,434$10,066$(1,632)(16.2)%

Revenue from trust services was higher in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to increases in one-time estate fees and the higher market value of trust assets. The gain from bank-owned life insurance that occurred in 2023 was the result of a death benefit claim. Loan swap fees in 2023 consisted of fees earned in the back-to-back swap program.

In 2024, the Company sold $11,841 of securities from the available for sale securities portfolio and realized a net loss of $1,172, compared to sales of $11,285 of securities available for sale and a realized net loss of $431 in 2023. The proceeds from both periods were reinvested in the loan portfolio. The estimated earn back period of the 2024 transaction is approximately two years.

Noninterest Expense

The following table shows the variance from the prior year in the noninterest expense categories shown in the Consolidated Statements of Income. In addition, accounts within the “Other expenses” category that represent a significant portion of the total or a significant variance are shown.

Years ended December 31
Noninterest expense:20242023ChangeChange %
Salaries and employee benefits$27,588$27,060$5282.0%
Occupancy and equipment7,3205,5071,81332.9%
Data processing2,9912,7902017.2%
Technology and software2,8962,34155523.7%
FDIC insurance2,5601,75081046.3%
Professional fees1,0411,026151.5%
Director fees828892(64)(7.2)%
Other expenses:
Insurance expense821793283.5%
Business development8031,263(460)(36.4)%
Trust663622416.6%
Consulting fees26225751.9%
Marketing97163(66)(40.5)%
Charitable contributions180(180)(100.0)%
Low income housing projects amortization571589(18)(3.1)%
New markets tax credit project amortization and management fees919919%
All other1,9932,459(466)(19.0)%
Total other6,1297,245(1,116)(15.4)%
Total noninterest expense$51,353$48,611$2,7425.6%

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Occupancy and equipment expense increased in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to an increase in occupancy costs related to bank buildings, including the Company’s new headquarters building. Technology and software expense increased in 2024 compared to 2023 due to the addition of new technology, product updates and fraud management and security solutions. FDIC insurance expense increased in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to increases in average assets and the assessment rate.

Income Taxes

The Company records a provision for income tax expense currently payable, along with a provision for those taxes payable or refundable in the future (deferred taxes). Deferred taxes arise from differences in the timing of certain items for financial statement reporting compared to income tax reporting and are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Federal income tax expense for 2024 and 2023 was $1,928 and $3,711, respectively, while state income tax expense was $1,465 and $1,938, respectively. The effective rate of income tax expense as a percent of income before income taxes was 12.3 percent and 18.9 percent, respectively, for 2024 and 2023. In 2024, income tax expense included a $1,842 tax benefit for an energy-related investment tax credit associated with the construction of the Company’s new headquarters building.

The effective income tax rates differ from the federal statutory income tax rates primarily due to tax-exempt interest income, the tax-exempt increase in cash value of bank-owned life insurance, tax-exempt gain from bank-owned life insurance, disallowed interest expense, stock compensation, state income taxes and the investment tax credit mentioned above. The effective tax rate for both 2024 and 2023 was also impacted by federal income tax credits, including low income housing tax credits and a new markets tax credit from West Bank’s investment in a qualified community development entity, of approximately $1,508 and $1,498, respectively. The Company continues to maintain a valuation allowance against the tax effect of state net operating losses carryforwards as management believes it is likely that a portion of such carryforwards will expire without being utilized.

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DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY; INTEREST RATES; AND INTEREST DIFFERENTIAL

Average Balances and an Analysis of Average Rates Earned and Paid

The following table shows average balances and interest income or interest expense, with the resulting average yield or rate by category of average interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities for the years indicated. Interest income and the resulting net interest income are shown on a fully taxable basis. Interest expense includes the effect of interest rate swaps, if applicable.

202420232022
Average BalanceRevenue/ ExpenseYield/ RateAverage BalanceRevenue/ ExpenseYield/ RateAverage BalanceRevenue/ ExpenseYield/ Rate
Assets
Interest-earning assets:
Loans: (1) (2)
Commercial$519,568$34,4236.63%$520,116$32,0676.17%$487,151$22,7424.67%
Real estate (3)2,451,830130,8295.34%2,270,662110,4314.86%2,061,77784,5234.10%
Consumer and other14,4251,0657.38%9,4786657.02%5,7482824.91%
Total loans2,985,823166,3175.57%2,800,256143,1635.11%2,554,676107,5474.21%
Securities:
Taxable472,35113,0302.76%516,11813,6962.65%592,18612,5242.11%
Tax-exempt (3)141,0333,3062.34%146,7343,7682.57%155,8034,1972.69%
Total securities613,38416,3362.66%662,85217,4642.63%747,98916,7212.24%
Interest-bearing deposits148,3217,5955.12%2,8561695.94%58,4262030.35%
Total interest-earning assets (3)3,747,528190,2485.08%3,465,964160,7964.64%3,361,091124,4713.70%
Noninterest-earning assets:
Cash and due from banks23,69923,13923,842
Premises and equipment, net101,41367,28143,299
Other, less allowance for
credit losses99,110106,19480,553
Total noninterest-earning assets224,222196,614147,694
Total assets$3,971,750$3,662,578$3,508,785
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand$466,2388,6841.86%$467,1746,9841.49%$505,8892,4580.49%
Savings and money market1,560,13657,1403.66%1,357,67543,5693.21%1,452,03415,8141.09%
Time639,27831,4604.92%424,32016,2433.83%291,7324,3571.49%
Total deposits2,665,65297,2843.65%2,249,16966,7962.97%2,249,65522,6291.01%
Borrowed funds:
Federal funds purchased and
other short-term borrowings75,7364,2485.61%194,8029,5324.89%62,9011,7642.80%
Subordinated notes, net79,7604,4315.55%79,5014,4425.59%52,8732,8675.42%
Federal Home Loan Bank
advances312,36310,3133.30%265,6447,6942.90%128,8632,6692.07%
Long-term debt45,0552,4285.39%49,9382,8105.63%51,4891,6803.26%
Total borrowed funds512,91421,4204.18%589,88524,4784.15%296,1268,9803.03%
Total interest-bearing liabilities3,178,566118,7043.73%2,839,05491,2743.21%2,545,78131,6091.24%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
Demand deposits528,391586,903708,667
Other liabilities40,30825,21830,284
Stockholders’ equity224,485211,403224,053
Total liabilities and
stockholders’ equity$3,971,750$3,662,578$3,508,785
Net interest income (4)/net interest spread (3)$71,5441.35%$69,5221.43%$92,8622.46%
Net interest margin (3) (4)1.91%2.01%2.76%

(1)Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans. Interest income recognized on nonaccrual loans has been included.

(2)Interest income on loans includes amortization of loan fees and costs and prepayment penalties collected, which are not material.

(3)Tax-exempt income has been adjusted to a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent and is adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans.

(4)Net interest income (FTE) and net interest margin (FTE) are non-GAAP financial measures. For further information, refer to the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this Item.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Net Interest Income

The Company’s largest component of net income is net interest income, which is the difference between interest earned on interest-earning assets, consisting primarily of loans and securities, and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities, consisting of deposits and borrowings. Fluctuations in net interest income can result from the combination of changes in the balances of asset and liability categories and changes in interest rates. Interest rates earned and paid are also affected by general economic conditions, particularly changes in market interest rates, and by competitive factors, government policies and the actions of regulatory authorities. The Federal Reserve increased the target federal funds interest rate by a total of 425 basis points in 2022 and an additional 100 basis points in 2023. In 2024, the Federal Reserve decreased the target federal funds rate by a total of 100 basis points. The timing and extent of additional interest rate changes by the Federal Reserve is not known at this time.

Net interest margin on an FTE basis, a non-GAAP financial measure, is a measure of the net return on interest-earning assets and is computed by dividing annualized tax-equivalent net interest income by total average interest-earning assets for the period. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company’s net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis was 1.91, 2.01 and 2.76 percent, respectively. Tax-equivalent net interest income increased $2,022 in 2024 compared to 2023.

Rate and Volume Analysis

The rate and volume analysis shown below, on a tax-equivalent basis, is used to determine how much of the change in interest income or expense is the result of a change in volume or a change in interest yield or rate. The change in interest that is due to both volume and rate has been allocated to the change due to volume and the change due to rate in proportion to the absolute value of the change in each.

2024 Compared to 20232023 Compared to 2022
VolumeRateTotalVolumeRateTotal
Interest Income
Loans: (1)
Commercial$(34)$2,390$2,356$1,625$7,700$9,325
Real estate (2)9,19711,20120,3989,12516,78325,908
Consumer and other36436400230153383
Total loans (including fees)9,52713,62723,15410,98024,63635,616
Securities:
Taxable(1,193)527(666)(1,746)2,9181,172
Tax-exempt (2)(142)(320)(462)(238)(191)(429)
Total securities(1,335)207(1,128)(1,984)2,727743
Interest-bearing deposits7,452(26)7,426(366)332(34)
Total interest income (2)15,64413,80829,4528,63027,69536,325
Interest Expense
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand(14)1,7141,700(202)4,7284,526
Savings and money market6,9696,60213,571(1,092)28,84727,755
Time9,7315,48615,2172,6779,20911,886
Total deposits16,68613,80230,4881,38342,78444,167
Borrowed funds:
Federal funds purchased and
other short-term borrowings(6,514)1,230(5,284)5,7322,0367,768
Subordinated debt, net14(25)(11)1,485901,575
Federal Home Loan Bank advances1,4591,1602,6193,6541,3715,025
Long-term debt(267)(115)(382)(52)1,1821,130
Total borrowed funds(5,308)2,250(3,058)10,8194,67915,498
Total interest expense11,37816,05227,43012,20247,46359,665
Net interest income (2) (3)$4,266$(2,244)$2,022$(3,572)$(19,768)$(23,340)

(1)Average balances of nonaccrual loans were included for computational purposes.

(2)Tax-exempt income has been converted to a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent and is adjusted for the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans.

(3)Net interest income (FTE) is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this Item.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Tax-equivalent interest income and fees on loans increased $23,154 for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 2023. The improvement was driven by a combination of an increase in the average balance of loans and an increase in loan yields in 2024 compared to 2023. The average balance of loans increased $185,567 in 2024 compared to 2023, while loan yields increased by 46 basis points in 2024 compared to 2023. Loan originations and renewals in 2024 continued to reprice at prevailing market rates which exceeded the current weighted average portfolio rate.

The yield on the Company’s loan portfolio is affected by the portfolio’s loan mix, the interest rate environment, the effects of competition, the level of nonaccrual loans and reversals of previously accrued interest on charged-off loans. The yield on the loan portfolio is expected to increase in flat and rising rate environments as variable-rate loans reprice at higher rates and renewals and new originations are priced at prevailing market rates, which exceed the roll-off rate of principal repayments and maturities of existing loans. In a declining rate environment, the yield on variable-rate loans will decline; however, as long as market rates remain higher than the yield on the fixed-rate portfolio, renewals and originations will continue to increase the yield on the fixed-rate portfolio. The political and economic environments can also influence the volume of new loan originations and the mix of variable-rate versus fixed-rate loans.

Tax-equivalent interest income on securities decreased $1,128 for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 2023. The average balance of securities available for sale in 2024 was $49,468 lower than in 2023, primarily due to principal paydowns on securities, sales of securities, and the decline in fair value of available for sale securities during 2024 resulting from the increase in market interest rates during 2024. The yield on available for sale securities increased by 3 basis points in 2024 compared to 2023.

Interest income on interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions increased $7,426 in 2024 compared to 2023. This was primarily due to the increase in the average balance of interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions, which was driven by the impact that the increase in average customer deposit balances had on the Company’s cash liquidity.

Interest expense on deposits increased $30,488 for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 2023. The average balance of interest bearing deposits increased $416,483 in 2024 compared to 2023, while the rates paid on deposits increased 68 basis points in 2024 compared to 2023. The increase in interest expense on deposits was primarily due to the increase in deposit balances, higher deposit rates resulting from higher market rates and increased competition for deposit balances, and changes in deposit mix.

Interest expense on borrowed funds decreased $3,058 for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 2023. The average balance of borrowed funds decreased $76,971 in 2024 compared to 2023. The average balance of federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings decreased $119,066 in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to increases in deposits. The average balance of FHLB advances increased by $46,719 in 2024 compared to 2023. This increase in average balances was primarily due to an increase in rolling one-month FHLB advances that are hedged with long-term interest rate swap agreements to provide fixed-cost wholesale funding. The average rate paid on FHLB advances increased 40 basis points in 2024 compared to 2023.

SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

The balance of securities available for sale decreased by $79,354 as of December 31, 2024, compared to December 31, 2023. This decrease was primarily due to principal paydowns on securities, a decline in fair value of securities during 2024 resulting from the increase in market interest rates and the sale of $11,841 of securities in the fourth quarter of 2024. The proceeds from this sale were reinvested into the loan portfolio. The Company expects the securities portfolio as a percentage of total assets to decrease over time as the proceeds from paydowns and maturities may be used for loan growth or repayment of borrowed funds.

As of December 31, 2024, approximately 62 percent of the available for sale securities portfolio consisted of government agency guaranteed collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities. We believe those securities have little to no credit risk and provide cash flows for liquidity and repricing opportunities. All collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities consist of residential and commercial mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations guaranteed by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), or the Small Business Administration (SBA). The securities issued by state and political subdivisions are diversified among municipalities in 26 states.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following table sets forth the weighted average yield by contractual maturity by security type as of December 31, 2024. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. The collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities have monthly paydowns that are not reflected in the table.

Within one yearAfter one year but within five yearsAfter five years but within ten yearsAfter ten yearsTotal
Securities available for sale:
State and political subdivisions (1)%%1.73%2.06%2.03%
Collateralized mortgage obligations2.271.641.64
Mortgage-backed securities1.361.611.551.55
Collateralized loan obligations6.536.53
Corporate notes3.263.26
%1.36%3.09%1.77%1.92%

(1)    Yields on tax-exempt obligations have been computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent and are adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt investment securities.

Total gross unrealized losses in the securities available for sale portfolio were $128,838 at December 31, 2024 compared to $121,806 at December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2024, the Company did not have the intent to sell, nor was it more likely than not that we would be required to sell any of the securities in an unrealized loss position prior to recovery. As of December 31, 2024, the Company also determined that no individual securities in an unrealized loss position represented credit losses that would require an allowance for credit losses. Management concluded that the unrealized losses in the portfolio are the result of increases in risk-free market interest rates since the securities were purchased and are not an indication of declining credit quality. Unrealized losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax.

For additional information regarding the Company’s securities portfolio, see Note 3 and Note 18 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

LOAN PORTFOLIO

The Company seeks to create growth in commercial lending, which primarily includes commercial real estate, multi-family, and commercial and industrial lending, by offering customer-focused products and competitive pricing and by capitalizing on the positive trends in its market areas. It is the objective of the Company’s credit policies to diversify the commercial loan portfolio to limit concentrations in any single industry. As of December 31, 2024, total loans were approximately 89.5 percent of total deposits and 74.8 percent of total assets.

Loans outstanding at the end of 2024 increased 2.6 percent compared to the end of 2023. Changes in the loan portfolio during 2024 included an increase of $94,670 in construction, land and land development loans and decreases of $18,830 in 1-4 family residential first mortgage loans and $17,362 in commercial and industrial loans. The Company continues to focus on business development efforts in all of its markets. The political and economic environments could influence the volume of future loan originations and the mix of variable-rate versus fixed-rate loans.

For a description of the loan segments, see Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The interest rates charged on loans vary with the degree of risk and the amount and terms of the loan. Competitive pressures, the creditworthiness of the borrower, market interest rates, the availability of funds, and government regulations further influence the rate charged on a loan.

The Company follows a loan policy approved by West Bank’s Board of Directors. The loan policy is reviewed at least annually and is updated as considered necessary. The policy establishes lending limits, review criteria and other guidelines for loan administration and the allowance for credit losses, among other things. Loans are approved in accordance with the applicable guidelines and underwriting policies. Loans to any one borrower are limited by state banking laws. Loan officer lending authorities vary according to the individual loan officer’s experience and expertise.

As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were no loans that were past due 30 days or more.

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Nonperforming loans declined to $133 at December 31, 2024, compared to $296 at December 31, 2023. The decrease was due to a payoff on the single loan included in nonperforming loans as of December 31, 2023, partially offset by the addition of one loan as of December 31, 2024.

The watch classification of loans increased to $8,349 as of December 31, 2024 from $144 as of December 31, 2023. Commercial loans for three borrowers with a total balance of $7,768 were added to the watchlist in 2024 due to a decline in financial performance at the companies. These loans are considered well collateralized and no required payments are past due.

Loans Secured by Real Estate

The commercial real estate market continues to be a significant source of business for West Bank. Management places a strong emphasis on monitoring the composition of the Company’s commercial real estate loan portfolio. The Company has an established lending policy which includes a number of underwriting factors to be considered in making a commercial real estate loan, including, but not limited to, location, loan-to-value ratio (LTV), cash flow and debt service coverage, collateral and the credit history and expertise of the borrower. The lending policy also includes guidelines for real estate appraisals and evaluations, including minimum appraisal and evaluation standards.

Although repayment risk exists on all loans, different factors influence repayment risk for each type of loan. The primary risks associated with commercial real estate loans are the quality of the borrower’s management and the health of the national and regional economies. Underwriting on commercial properties is primarily based on the economic viability of the project with heavy consideration given to the creditworthiness and experience of the borrower. Recognizing that debt is paid via cash flow, the projected cash flows of the project are critical in underwriting because these determine the ultimate value of the property and the ability to service debt. Therefore, in most commercial real estate projects, we generally require a minimum stabilized debt service coverage ratio of 1.20 to 1.35, depending on the real estate type. Exceptions to this policy can be made for certain borrowers that exhibit other credit quality strengths. Exceptions to the policy are monitored by management. Our strategy with respect to the management of these types of risks is to consistently follow prudent loan policies and underwriting practices.

The Company recognizes that a diversified loan portfolio contributes to reducing risk. The specific loan portfolio mix is subject to change based on loan demand, the business environment and various economic factors. The Company actively monitors concentrations within the loan portfolio to ensure appropriate diversification is maintained. In addition, management tracks the level of owner occupied commercial real estate loans versus non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans. Owner occupied commercial real estate loans are generally considered to have less risk than non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans.

In accordance with regulatory guidelines, the Company exercises heightened risk management practices when non-owner occupied commercial real estate lending exceeds 300 percent of total risk-based capital or construction, land development, and other land loans exceed 100 percent of total risk-based capital. Although the Company’s loan portfolio is heavily concentrated in real estate and its real estate portfolio levels exceed these regulatory guidelines, it has established risk management policies and procedures to regularly monitor the commercial real estate portfolio.

The Bank’s Executive Loan Committee (ELC), which is made up of the Chief Executive Officer, Bank President, Chief Risk Officer, Minnesota Group President, Chief Credit Officer and Credit Department Manager, approves all commercial loan relationships in excess of $500 in total credit exposure and annually reviews all commercial loan relationships of $1,000 and greater. Credit approval authorities for individual officers are reviewed, at least annually, by the ELC and approved by the Board of Directors.

Executive management regularly reviews available market data. Commercial real estate portfolio monitoring practices include quarterly stress testing and quarterly trend analysis of underwriting exceptions, average loan-to-value and average debt service coverage for significant real estate segments.

The Company maintains an annual independent loan review program. The Company engages a third party to evaluate credit quality, assigned risk ratings, underwriting standards and collateral documentation. The review covers a significant portion of the loan portfolio and is carried out on a semi-annual basis. Findings are reported to the ELC and the Board of Directors. The Company also maintains an internal loan audit department that performs certain pre- and post-closing procedural and documentation reviews. The internal findings are reported quarterly to the ELC.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Commercial loans secured by real estate, including construction, land and land development, totaled $2,369,342, or 78.8 percent of total loans, at December 31, 2024. Non-owner occupied commercial real estate loan concentrations and the weighted average LTV by property type as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 are shown in the following table. LTV is determined using the maximum credit exposure of the loan compared to the most recent appraisal data on the property obtained in accordance with the Company’s lending policies.

As of December 31
20242023
Balance% of Non-owner Occupied CREWeighted Average LTVBalance% of Non-owner Occupied CREWeighted Average LTV
Non-owner occupied:
Multifamily$542,32228.5%69%$453,95824.2%69%
Medical & senior care facilities180,1449.564225,31412.063
Warehouse & trucking160,7838.460167,0308.963
Hotels253,93913.364251,49713.466
Mixed use98,9885.26796,4885.267
Offices126,2706.668137,4687.470
Land for development89,9744.756110,8745.964
All other452,77223.8not available430,51523.0not available
$1,905,192100.0%$1,873,144100.0%

The following table summarizes non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans by property type and risk rating as of December 31, 2024. Risk ratings are defined in Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

As of December 31, 2024
Risk Rating
Total1-345678
Non-owner occupied:
Multifamily$542,322$49,934$371,917$120,471$$$
Medical & senior care facilities180,14434,418125,74519,981
Warehouse & trucking160,783101,40447,27412,105
Hotel253,939183,34470,595
Mixed use98,98828,58842,74527,655
Offices126,27012,127107,5396,604
Land for development89,9745,56678,2766,132
All other452,77281,813304,73566,224
$1,905,192$313,850$1,261,575$329,767$$$

As of December 31, 2024, there were no non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans that were past due 30 days or more.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Maturities of Loans

The contractual maturities of the Company’s loan portfolio are shown in the following tables. Actual repayments may differ from contractual maturities because individual borrowers may have the right to prepay loans with or without prepayment penalties.

As of December 31, 2024
Within one yearAfter one but within five yearsAfter five but within 15 yearsAfter 15 yearsTotal
Commercial$201,447$249,014$63,771$$514,232
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development306,670195,1026,375508,147
1-4 family residential first mortgages19,37067,66482487,858
Home equity6,99012,2792519,294
Commercial218,9871,150,390462,12229,6961,861,195
Consumer and other12,7641,9232,60017,287
$766,228$1,676,372$535,717$29,696$3,008,013
After one but within five yearsAfter five but within 15 yearsAfter 15 years
Loan maturities after one year with:
Fixed rates
Commercial$186,232$17,080$
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development64,803470
1-4 family residential first mortgages65,022794
Home equity3,211
Commercial1,091,090236,3095,946
Consumer and other1,226
Total fixed-rate loans1,411,584254,6535,946
Variable rates
Commercial62,78246,691
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development130,2995,905
1-4 family residential first mortgages2,64230
Home equity9,06825
Commercial59,300225,81323,750
Consumer and other6972,600
Total variable-rate loans264,788281,06423,750
$1,676,372$535,717$29,696

SUMMARY OF THE ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES

The credit loss expense recorded on the income statement includes charges made to earnings to maintain an adequate allowance for credit losses. The adequacy of the allowance for credit losses is evaluated quarterly by management and reviewed by the Board. The allowance for credit losses is management’s estimate of expected lifetime losses in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date.

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Factors considered by management in establishing an appropriate allowance include: the borrower’s financial condition; the value and adequacy of loan collateral; the condition of the local economy and the borrower’s specific industry; the levels and trends of loans by segment; and a review of delinquent and classified loans. The quarterly evaluation focuses on factors such as specific loan reviews, changes in the components of the loan portfolio given economic conditions, and historical loss experience. Any one of the following conditions may result in the review of a specific loan: concern about whether the borrower’s cash flow or net worth is sufficient to repay the loan; delinquency status; criticism of the loan in a regulatory examination; the suspension of interest accrual; or other factors, including whether the loan has other special or unusual characteristics that suggest special monitoring is warranted. The Company’s concentration risks include geographic concentration in central and eastern Iowa and southern Minnesota. The local economies are composed primarily of major financial services companies, healthcare providers, educational institutions, technology and agribusiness companies, and state and local governments.

West Bank has a significant portion of its loan portfolio in commercial real estate loans, commercial lines of credit, commercial term loans, and construction and land development loans. West Bank’s typical commercial borrower is a small- or medium-sized, privately owned business entity. Compared to residential mortgages or consumer loans, commercial loans typically have larger balances and repayment usually depends on the borrowers’ successful business operations. Commercial loans also generally are not fully repaid over the loan period and, thus, may require refinancing or a large payoff at maturity. When the general economy turns downward, commercial borrowers may not be able to repay their loans, and the value of their assets, which are usually pledged as collateral, may decrease rapidly and significantly.

While management uses available information to recognize credit losses, further reduction in the carrying amounts of loans may be necessary based on changes in circumstances, changes in the overall economy in the markets we currently serve, or later acquired information. Identifiable sectors within the general economy are subject to additional volatility, which at any time may have a substantial impact on the loan portfolio. In addition, regulatory agencies, as integral parts of their examination processes, periodically review the credit quality of the loan portfolio and the level of the allowance for credit losses. Such agencies may require West Bank to recognize additional charge-offs or provisions for credit losses based on such agencies’ review of information available to them at the time of their examinations.

The following table shows the ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries to loans outstanding, broken out by loan segment, along with ratios of the allowance and nonaccrual loans to total loans at the end of the period.

Analysis of the Allowance for Credit Losses for the Years Ended December 31
202420232022
Ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries during the
period to average loans outstanding by segment:
Commercial%%%
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development
1-4 family residential first mortgages
Home equity
Commercial(0.02)%
Consumer and other
Total0.00%0.00%(0.02)%
Ratio of allowance for credit losses to total
loans at the end of period1.01%0.97%0.93%
Ratio of nonaccrual loans to total loans at
end of period0.00%0.01%0.01%
Ratio of allowance for credit losses to total
nonaccrual loans at the end of period22,881.20%9,575.00%7,910.87%
Ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries to total
loans at end of period0.00%0.00%(0.01)%

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Nonperforming loans at December 31, 2024 totaled $133, or 0.00 percent of total loans, a slight decrease from $296, or 0.01 percent of total loans, at December 31, 2023. The decrease in nonperforming loans at December 31, 2024, compared to December 31, 2023, was due a payoff on the single loan included in the nonaccrual balance on December 31, 2023, partially offset by the addition of one loan as of December 31, 2024. Nonperforming loans include loans on nonaccrual status, loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest, and loans that have been considered to be loan restructurings made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. The Company held no other real estate owned properties as of December 31, 2024 or 2023.

The following table sets forth information concerning the Company’s allocation of the allowance for credit losses by loan segment as of the dates indicated.

As of December 31
202420232022
Amount%*Amount%*Amount%*
Balance at end of
period applicable to:
Commercial$5,48917.10%$5,29118.13%$4,80418.90%
Real estate:
Construction, land
and land development4,35416.893,66814.113,54813.21
1-4 family residential
first mortgages6502.927043.643572.74
Home equity2000.641420.501010.38
Commercial19,54461.8818,42063.2516,57564.50
Consumer and other1950.571170.37880.27
$30,432100.00%$28,342100.00%$25,473100.00%

* Percent of loans in each category to total loans.

As of December 31, 2024 and 2023 there was no allowance for credit losses related to loans individually evaluated for credit losses. The portion of the allowance for credit losses related to loans collectively evaluated for credit losses increased to $30,432, or 1.01 percent of outstanding loans as of December 31, 2024, compared to $28,342, or 0.97 percent of outstanding loans as of December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to the credit loss expense of $2,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024. The credit loss expense for loans in 2024 was primarily due to changes in forecasted loss rates, driven by an increase in forecasted unemployment rate, and an adjustment to qualitative factors within the commercial real estate segment. The Company recorded a credit loss expense related to loans of $500 in 2023. The credit loss expense in 2023 was primarily due to growth in loans. Management believed the allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2024 was adequate to absorb the expected losses in the portfolio as of that date.

DEPOSITS

Deposits totaled $3,357,596 as of December 31, 2024, which was an increase of 12.9 percent compared to December 31, 2023. Deposit growth in 2024 included a mix of public funds and commercial and consumer deposits. Deposit inflows and outflows are influenced by prevailing market interest rates, competition, local and national economic conditions, and fluctuations in our business customers’ own liquidity needs.

At December 31, 2024, the Company had $266,418 in brokered deposits, compared to $305,411 at December 31, 2023. Brokered deposits included fixed-rate time deposits with maturities through September 2025 and variable-rate deposits with terms through February 2026. The decrease in brokered deposits during 2024 was primarily due to core deposit growth. When necessary, brokered deposits are utilized, along with other wholesale funding sources, to fund loan growth and offset core deposit outflows.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following table sets forth the average balances for each major category of deposits and the weighted average interest rate paid for those deposits during the years indicated.

Years ended December 31
202420232022
AverageAverageAverageAverageAverageAverage
BalanceRateBalanceRateBalanceRate
Noninterest-bearing demand$528,391%$586,903%$708,667%
Interest-bearing demand:
Insured cash sweep150,7743.44137,0272.48139,8070.80
Other interest-bearing demand315,4641.11330,1471.09366,0820.37
Money market:
Insured cash sweep241,4444.00249,5743.58323,9701.01
Other money market1,161,5663.85973,8533.47967,9531.26
Savings157,1261.73134,2480.61160,1110.24
Time639,2784.92424,3203.83291,7321.49
$3,194,043$2,836,072$2,958,322

Management reduced interest rates on deposits in the fourth quarter of 2024 as a result of the reductions in the target federal funds rate by the Federal Reserve. Any deposit rate changes in 2025 will be dependent on market rates, liquidity needs and competition for deposit balances. To limit the Company’s exposure to market interest rate changes, interest rate swaps are in place on $110,000 of deposit balances that effectively convert certain customer deposits with variable rates to fixed-rate instruments.

Approximately 99 percent of the total time deposits issued by West Bank mature in the next year, including brokered time deposits. It is anticipated that a significant portion of the core time deposits will be renewed. In the event a substantial volume of core time deposits are not renewed, management believes the Company has sufficient liquid assets and funding sources to offset the potential runoff.

The following table shows the amounts and remaining maturities of time deposits with balances of $100 or more as of December 31, 2024.

3 months or less$246,691
Over 3 through 6 months166,024
Over 6 through 12 months183,137
Over 12 months2,038
$597,890

West Bank participates in the IntraFi® ICS and CDARS reciprocal deposit network, which enables depositors to receive FDIC insurance coverage on deposits otherwise exceeding the maximum insurable amount. We consider these reciprocal deposits to be in-market deposits as distinguished from traditional out-of-market brokered deposits. Time deposits as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, included $162,148 and $152,160, respectively, of reciprocal deposits. Included in total deposits as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, were $220,627 and $165,858, respectively, of reciprocal interest-bearing checking and $273,126 and $254,504, respectively, of reciprocal money market deposits.

Total estimated uninsured deposits were $1,562,981, $1,435,406 and $1,412,955 as of December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The uninsured deposit amounts are estimated based on the methodologies and assumptions used for regulatory reporting requirements and include collateralized public unit deposits. The following table shows the amount of time deposits in excess of the insurance limit by maturity.

3 months or less$103,813
Over 3 through 6 months65,597
Over 6 through 12 months97,033
Over 12 months810
$267,253

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BORROWED FUNDS

The fluctuation in the balances of federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings is based on customer loan and deposit activity and the Company’s balance sheet management objectives, which from time to time may require the Company to draw on the federal funds purchased lines with our correspondent banks or FHLB advances. Federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings decreased from $150,270 as of December 31, 2023 to $0 as of December 31, 2024. This decrease was primarily due to the increase in customer deposits.

The Company had $270,000 of FHLB advances outstanding at December 31, 2024, compared to $315,000 at December 31, 2023. This decrease was due to two FHLB advances that matured in 2024 and were not renewed. One advance, with a balance of $20,000, was a term advance and the other advance, with a balance of $25,000, was part of the Company’s rolling funding program and associated with a corresponding interest rate swap agreement that also matured. As of December 31, 2024, all FHLB advances were hedged with long-term interest rate swaps as part of the Company’s rolling funding program. These interest rate swaps have maturity dates ranging from July 2026 through June 2029 and fixed rates ranging from 1.86 percent to 4.32 percent. This strategy of hedging short-term rolling funding effectively provides fixed cost wholesale funding through the maturity dates of the various interest rate swaps.

The Company has a credit agreement with an unaffiliated commercial bank. As of December 31, 2024, this borrowing had a balance of $31,250. Interest is payable quarterly. Required quarterly principal payments are $1,250, with the remaining balance due February 2027. The Company may make additional principal payments without penalty. The interest rate is variable at the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate minus 1.00 percent, which was 6.50 percent as of December 31, 2024. The Company has an interest rate swap contract that effectively converts $20,000 of this borrowing to a fixed rate of 6.40 percent through its maturity date.

In June 2022, the Company issued $60,000 of subordinated notes (Notes). The Notes initially bear interest at 5.25 percent per annum, with interest payable semi-annually for the first five years of the Notes. Beginning June 15, 2027, the interest rate will reset quarterly to a floating rate per annum that will be three-month term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus 2.41 percent, with payments due quarterly. The Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, on and after June 15, 2027 at a price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Notes will mature on June 15, 2032 if they are not earlier redeemed. Proceeds from this debt issuance were used to make a $58,650 capital injection into West Bank, the Company’s subsidiary to fund organic growth.

The Company has an interest rate swap with a notional amount of $20,000 which converts variable-rate subordinated debentures to fixed-rate debt. The interest rate is a variable rate based on the 3-month term SOFR plus 0.26161 percent tenor spread adjustment plus 3.05 percent. This interest rate swap has a fixed rate of 4.81 percent and matures in September 2026.

West Bank’s new markets tax credit special purpose subsidiary has a credit agreement for $11,486 as of December 31, 2024. Interest is payable monthly over the term of the agreement with an interest rate of 1.00 percent. Monthly principal payments begin in January 2026, and the agreement matures in December 2048.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

In the normal course of business, West Bank commits to extend credit in the form of loan commitments and standby letters of credit in order to meet the financing needs of its customers. These commitments expose West Bank to varying degrees of credit and market risks in excess of the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets and are subject to the same credit policies as are the loans recorded on the balance sheets.

West Bank’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. West Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. Commitments to lend are subject to borrowers’ continuing compliance with existing credit agreements. Off-balance sheet commitments are more fully discussed in Note 17 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

As of December 31, 2024, the allowance for credit losses related to off-balance sheet commitments was $1,544. In 2024, the Company recorded a credit loss expense of negative $1,000 for unfunded commitments. The negative credit loss expense was primarily due to the decrease in the balance of unfunded commitments resulting from the funding of construction loans. The allowance for credit losses for off-balance-sheet credit exposures is presented in the “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” line of the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The objectives of liquidity management are to ensure the availability of sufficient cash flows to meet all financial commitments and to capitalize on opportunities for profitable business expansion. The Company’s principal source of funds is deposits. Other sources include loan principal repayments, proceeds from the maturity and sale of securities, principal payments on amortizing securities, federal funds purchased, advances from the FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank, other wholesale funding and funds provided by operations. Liquidity management is conducted on both a daily and a long-term basis. Investments in liquid assets are adjusted based on expected loan demand, projected loan and securities maturities and payments, expected deposit flows and the objectives set by West Bank’s asset-liability management policy. The Company had liquid assets (cash and cash equivalents) of $243,478 as of December 31, 2024 compared with $65,357 as of December 31, 2023.

Our deposit growth strategy emphasizes core deposit growth. Deposit inflows and outflows can vary widely and are influenced by prevailing market interest rates, competition, local and national economic conditions, and fluctuations in our business customers’ and municipal customers’ own liquidity needs. The Company utilizes brokered deposits and other wholesale funding to supplement core deposit fluctuations and loan growth. Brokered deposits are obtained through various programs administered by IntraFi® and through other third party brokers. At December 31, 2024, the Company had $266,418 in brokered deposits, which included fixed-rate time deposits with maturities through September 2025 and variable-rate deposits with terms through February 2026.

As of December 31, 2024, West Bank had additional borrowing capacity available from the FHLB of approximately $610,000, as well as approximately $116,840 through the Federal Reserve discount window and $75,000 through unsecured federal funds lines of credit. Net cash from continuing operating activities contributed $39,808, $25,249 and $59,439 to liquidity for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Management believed that the combination of high levels of potentially liquid assets, unencumbered securities, cash flows from operations and additional borrowing capacity provided the Company with sufficient liquidity as of December 31, 2024.

The Company’s total stockholders’ equity increased to $227,875 as of December 31, 2024 from $225,043 as of December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to retained income, partially offset by an increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss. At December 31, 2024, tangible common equity as a percent of tangible assets was 5.68 percent compared to 5.88 percent as of December 31, 2023. The increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss was driven by the increase in net unrealized losses on available for sale securities between December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2024, due to the increase in market interest rates. While accumulated other comprehensive losses reduce tangible common equity, they have no impact on regulatory capital. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had no intangible assets.

The Company and West Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal and state banking agencies. Capital requirements are more fully discussed under the heading “Supervision and Regulation” included in Item 1 and in Note 16 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. As of December 31, 2024, the Company and West Bank met all capital adequacy requirements to which they were subject, and the Company’s and West Bank’s capital ratios were in excess of the requirements to be considered well-capitalized under capital regulations. Also, as of December 31, 2024, the ratios for the Company and West Bank were sufficient to meet the capital conservation buffer.

EFFECTS OF NEW STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

A discussion of the effects of new financial accounting standards and developments as they relate to the Company is located in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

FY 2023 10-K MD&A

SEC filing source: 0001166928-24-000017.

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Published MD&A gate trimmed front/tail over-capture. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2024-02-22. Report date: 2023-12-31.

ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

INTRODUCTION

The Company’s financial highlights and key performance measures are presented in the table below.

As of and for the Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
Performance Ratios
Return on average assets0.66%1.32%1.52%
Return on average equity11.42%20.71%20.33%
Efficiency ratio (1)(2)60.73%43.70%40.91%
Nonperforming assets/total assets (1)0.01%0.01%0.26%
Net interest margin(2)2.01%2.76%3.05%
Dividends and Per Share Data
Basic earnings per common share$1.44$2.79$3.00
Diluted earnings per common share1.442.762.95
Cash dividends per common share1.001.000.94
Dividend payout ratio69.21%35.82%31.33%
Dividend yield4.72%3.91%3.03%
Operating Results and Year-End Balances
Net income$24,137$46,399$49,607
Total assets3,825,7583,613,2183,500,201
Securities available for sale623,919664,115758,822
Loans2,927,5352,742,8362,456,196
Deposits2,973,7792,880,4083,016,005
Borrowings592,637485,855199,866
Stockholders’ equity225,043211,112260,328
Average equity to average assets ratio5.77%6.39%7.46%

Definition of ratios:

•Return on average assets - net income divided by average assets.

•Return on average equity - net income divided by average equity.

•Efficiency ratio - noninterest expense (excluding other real estate owned expense and write-down of premises) divided by noninterest income (excluding net securities gains/losses and gains/losses on disposition of premises and equipment) plus tax-equivalent net interest income.

•Nonperforming assets to total assets - total nonperforming assets divided by total assets.

•Net interest margin - tax-equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

•Dividend payout ratio - dividends paid to common stockholders divided by net income.

•Dividend yield - dividends per share paid to common stockholders divided by closing year-end stock price.

•Average equity to average assets ratio - average equity divided by average assets.

(1) A lower ratio is more desirable.

(2) As presented, this is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the section "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" of this item.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The Company’s 2023 net income was $24,137, compared to $46,399 in 2022. Basic and diluted earnings per common share for 2023 were $1.44 and $1.44, respectively, compared to $2.79 and $2.76, respectively, in 2022. During 2023, we paid our common stockholders $16,704 ($1.00 per common share) in dividends compared to $16,619 ($1.00 per common share) in 2022. The dividend declared and paid in the first quarter of 2024 was $0.25 per common share.

Total assets were $3,825,758 at December 31, 2023, compared to $3,613,218 at December 31, 2022, a 5.9 percent increase. Our loan portfolio grew to $2,927,535 as of December 31, 2023, from $2,742,836 as of December 31, 2022. Deposits increased to $2,973,779 as of December 31, 2023, from $2,880,408 as of December 31, 2022.

The Company compares three key performance metrics to those of an identified peer group for evaluating its results. The peer group for 2023 consists of 22 Midwestern, publicly traded financial institutions including Bank First Corporation, Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc., ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc., Civista Bancshares, Inc., CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc., Equity Bancshares, Inc., Farmers National Banc Corp., Farmers & Merchants Bancorp., First Business Financial Services, Inc., First Financial Corp., First Mid Bancshares, Inc., German American Bancorp, Inc., HBT Financial, Inc., Hills Bancorporation, Isabella Bank Corporation, LCNB Corp., Macatawa Bank Corporation, Mercantile Bank Corporation, MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc., Nicolet Bankshares, Inc., Peoples Bancorp, Inc., and Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc. The Company is in the middle of the group in terms of asset size. The Company's goal is to perform at or near the top of this peer group relative to what we consider to be three key metrics: return on average equity, efficiency ratio and nonperforming assets to total assets. We believe these measures encompass the factors that define the performance of a community bank. Company and peer results for the key financial performance measures are summarized below.

West Bancorporation, Inc.Peer Group Range
As of and for the year ended December 31, 2023As of and for the year ended December 31, 2023
Return on average equity11.42%1.85%-17.24%
Efficiency ratio(1)60.73%45.85%-70.02%
Nonperforming assets to total assets0.01%0.00%-0.73%

(1)    The efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of this report.

The following discussion describes the consolidated operations and financial condition of the Company, including its subsidiary West Bank and West Bank’s special purpose subsidiaries. Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 are compared to the results for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of December 31, 2023 is compared to December 31, 2022. Results of operations and financial condition for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 can be found in Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Company’s 2022 annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 23, 2023.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

This report is based on the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with GAAP established by the FASB. The preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. These estimates are based upon historical experience and on various other assumptions that management believes are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Based on its consideration of accounting policies that involve the most complex and subjective estimates and judgments, management has identified its most critical accounting policies to be those related to the fair value of financial instruments and the allowance for credit losses.

The fair value of a financial instrument is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the market in which the reporting entity transacts business. A framework has been established for measuring the fair value of financial instruments that considers the attributes specific to particular assets or liabilities and includes a three-level hierarchy for determining fair value based on the transparency of inputs to each valuation as of the measurement date. The Company estimates the fair value of financial instruments using a variety of valuation methods. When financial instruments are actively traded and have quoted market prices, quoted market prices are used for fair value and are classified as Level 1. When financial instruments, such as securities and derivatives, are not actively traded, the Company determines fair value based on various sources and may apply matrix pricing with observable prices for similar instruments where a price for the identical instrument is not observable. The fair values of these financial instruments, which are classified as Level 2, are determined by pricing models that consider observable market data such as interest rate volatilities, yield curves, credit spreads, prices from external market data providers and/or nonbinding broker-dealer quotations. When observable inputs do not exist, the Company estimates fair value based on available market data, and these values are classified as Level 3. Imprecision in estimating fair values can impact the carrying value of assets and the amount of revenue or loss recorded.

Expected credit losses are reflected in the allowance for credit losses (ACL) through a charge to credit loss expense. When the Company deems all or a portion of a loan to be uncollectible, the appropriate amount is written off and the ACL is reduced by the same amount. The Company applies judgment to determine when a loan is deemed uncollectible; however, generally speaking, a loan will be considered uncollectible no later than when all efforts at collection have been exhausted. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the ACL when received.

The Company measures expected credit losses of loans on a collective (pool) basis when the loans share similar risk characteristics and uses a cash flow based method to estimate expected credit losses for each of these pools. The Company’s methodology for estimating the ACL considers available relevant information about the collectability of cash flows, including information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The methodologies apply historical loss information, adjusted for asset-specific characteristics, economic conditions at the measurement date, and forecasts about economic conditions expected to exist through the contractual lives of the financial assets that are reasonable and supportable, to the identified pools of financial assets with similar risk characteristics for which the historical experience was observed. Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis.

The Company uses a cash flow based model to estimate expected credit losses for all loan segments. For each of the loan segments, the Company calculates a cash flow projection using contractual terms, estimated prepayment speeds, estimated curtailment rates, and other relevant data. The Company uses regression analysis that links historical losses of the Company and a peer group to two economic metrics: national unemployment rate and 10-year treasury rate over 2-year treasury rate spread to establish the loss rates applied to the projected cash flows. For all loan segments, the Company uses a forecast period of four quarters and reverts to a historical rate after four quarters. When estimating prepayment speed and curtailment rates, the modeling is based on historical internal data. In addition to the historical loss information, the Company utilizes qualitative factors to adjust the ACL as appropriate. Qualitative factors are based on management’s judgment of the changes in underlying loan composition of specific portfolios, trends relating to credit quality and collateral values, company-specific data, or effects of other factors such as market competition or legal and regulatory requirements.

The allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2023 was $28,342, or 0.97 percent of outstanding loans, compared to $25,473, or 0.93 percent of outstanding loans as of December 31, 2022. The allowance for credit losses for 2023 was measured under the current expected credit losses, or CECL, model, while the allowance for credit losses for 2022 was measured under the previous incurred loss model.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This report contains references to financial measures that are not defined in GAAP. Such non-GAAP financial measures include the Company’s presentation of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent (FTE) basis, and the presentation of the efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis, excluding certain income and expenses. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to both management and investors to analyze and evaluate the Company’s financial performance. These measures are considered standard measures of comparison within the banking industry. Additionally, management believes providing measures on an FTE basis enhances the comparability of income arising from taxable and nontaxable sources. Limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures include the risks that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items included in these measures and that different companies might calculate these measures differently. These non-GAAP disclosures should not be considered an alternative to the Company’s GAAP results. The following table reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent basis and efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis, to their most directly comparable measures under GAAP.

As and for the Years Ended December 31
202320222021
Reconciliation of net interest income and net interest margin on an FTE basis to GAAP:
Net interest income (GAAP)$69,031$91,740$95,059
Tax-equivalent adjustment(1)4911,1221,202
Net interest income on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)69,52292,86296,261
Average interest-earning assets3,465,9643,361,0913,152,138
Net interest margin on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)2.01%2.76%3.05%
Reconciliation of efficiency ratio on an FTE basis to GAAP:
Net interest income on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)$69,522$92,862$96,261
Noninterest income10,06610,2089,729
Adjustment for realized securities (gains) losses, net431(51)
Adjustment for losses on disposal of premises and equipment, net292984
Adjusted income80,048103,099106,023
Noninterest expense48,61145,05143,380
Efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis (non-GAAP)(2)60.73%43.70%40.91%

(1) Computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent, adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the financial results, as it enhances the comparability of income arising from taxable and nontaxable sources.

(2) The efficiency ratio expresses noninterest expense as a percent of fully taxable equivalent net interest income and noninterest income, excluding specific noninterest income and expenses. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the Company’s financial performance. It is a standard measure of comparison within the banking industry. A lower ratio is more desirable.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - 2023 COMPARED TO 2022

OVERVIEW

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $24,137, compared to $46,399 for the year ended December 31, 2022. Basic and diluted earnings per common share for 2023 were $1.44 and $1.44, respectively, and were $2.79 and $2.76, respectively for 2022.

The decrease in net income in 2023 compared to 2022 was primarily due to the decrease in net interest income. Net interest income declined $22,709, or 24.7 percent, in 2023 compared to 2022. The decrease in net interest income was due to an increase in interest expense on deposits and borrowings that exceeded an increase in interest income on loans and securities, primarily due to rapidly rising short-term interest rates, an inverted yield curve and changes in funding mix.

The Company recorded a credit loss expense of $700 in 2023 compared to a credit loss expense of negative $2,500 in 2022. The credit loss expense recorded in 2023 was primarily due to loan growth. The negative credit loss expense recorded in 2022 was due to the reversal of a specific reserve on an impaired loan and the reduction of certain qualitative factors resulting from the sustained performance of loans after the expiration of COVID-19 modifications and continued improvement in classified loans. The credit loss expense recorded in 2023 was made under the current expected credit losses, or CECL, model, while the negative credit loss expense recorded in 2022 was made under the previous incurred loss model.

Noninterest income decreased $142, or 1.4 percent, in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to realized losses on the sales of securities and a decrease in loan swap fees, partially offset by a gain from bank-owned life insurance. Noninterest expense increased $3,560, or 7.9 percent, in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to increases in salaries and employee benefits, occupancy and equipment expense and FDIC insurance expense.

The Company’s ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.01 percent as of both December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. For more discussion on loan quality, see the “Loan Portfolio” and “Summary of the Allowance for Credit Losses” sections in this Item of this Form 10-K.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income decreased to $69,031 for 2023 from $91,740 for 2022, as the impact of the increase in average rates paid on and growth in average balances of interest-bearing liabilities exceeded the benefits of the growth in average balances and increase in average yields on interest-earning assets. The net interest margin for 2023 decreased 75 basis points to 2.01 percent, compared to 2.76 percent for 2022. The average yield on earning assets increased by 94 basis points, while the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities increased by 197 basis points. For additional analysis of net interest income, see the section captioned “Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity; Interest Rates; and Interest Differential” in this Item of this Form 10-K.

Credit Loss Expense, Allowance for Credit Losses, and Loan Quality

The allowance for credit losses, which totaled $28,342 as of December 31, 2023, represented 0.97 percent of total loans, compared to 0.93 percent as of December 31, 2022. The allowance for credit losses for 2023 was measured under the current expected credit losses, or CECL, model, while the allowance for credit losses for 2022 was measured under the previous incurred loss model. A credit loss expense of $700 was recorded in 2023, compared to a credit loss expense of negative $2,500 in 2022. The credit loss expense recorded in 2023 included an allocation of $500 to the allowance for credit losses related to loans and $200 to the allowance for credit losses related to unfunded commitments. This credit loss expense was primarily due to growth in loans and unfunded loan commitments. The negative credit loss expense recorded in 2022 was due to the reversal of a specific reserve on an impaired loan and the reduction of certain qualitative factors resulting from the sustained performance of loans after the expiration of COVID-19 modifications and continued improvement in classified loans. Management believed the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2023 was adequate to absorb expected losses in the loan portfolio as of that date.

Nonperforming loans at December 31, 2023 totaled $296, or 0.01 percent of total loans, a slight decrease from $322, or 0.01 percent of total loans, at December 31, 2022. The decrease in nonperforming loans at December 31, 2023, compared to December 31, 2022, was due to scheduled payments made on the single loan included in the nonaccrual balance in both periods. Nonperforming loans include loans on nonaccrual status, loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest, and loans that have been considered to be loan restructurings made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. The Company held no other real estate owned properties as of December 31, 2023 or 2022.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Noninterest Income

The following table shows the variance from the prior year in the noninterest income categories shown in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Years ended December 31
Noninterest income:20232022ChangeChange %
Service charges on deposit accounts$1,859$2,194$(335)(15.3)%
Debit card usage fees1,9801,969110.6%
Trust services3,0682,70935913.3%
Increase in cash value of bank-owned life insurance1,044964808.3%
Gain from bank-owned life insurance691691N/A
Loan swap fees431835(404)(48.4)%
Realized securities losses, net(431)(431)N/A
Other income1,4241,537(113)(7.4)%
Total noninterest income$10,066$10,208$(142)(1.4)%

The decline in service charges on deposit accounts was primarily attributable to a higher earnings credit rate on commercial accounts. Revenue from trust services was higher in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to increases in one-time estate fees. An increase in trust assets and accounts since December 31, 2022 also contributed to the increase in trust service fees. The gain from bank-owned life insurance in 2023 was the result of a death benefit claim. Loan swap fees in 2023 and 2022 consist of fees earned in the back-to-back swap program. In 2023, the Company sold $11,285 of securities from the available for sale securities portfolio and realized a net loss of $431. The proceeds from this sale were reinvested in the loan portfolio.

Noninterest Expense

The following table shows the variance from the prior year in the noninterest expense categories shown in the Consolidated Statements of Income. In addition, accounts within the “Other expenses” category that represent a significant portion of the total or a significant variance are shown.

Years ended December 31
Noninterest expense:20232022ChangeChange %
Salaries and employee benefits$27,060$25,838$1,2224.7%
Occupancy and equipment5,5074,91359412.1%
Data processing2,7902,5971937.4%
Technology and software2,3412,1372049.5%
FDIC insurance1,75099675475.7%
Professional fees1,02687415217.4%
Director fees892814789.6%
Other expenses:
Business development1,2631,14711610.1%
Insurance expense7937177610.6%
Trust6225398315.4%
Consulting fees257339(82)(24.2)%
Charitable contributions180180N/A
Marketing163246(83)(33.7)%
Low income housing projects amortization589540499.1%
New markets tax credit project amortization and management fees919919%
All other2,4592,435241.0%
Total other7,2456,8823635.3%
Total noninterest expense$48,611$45,051$3,5607.9%

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Salaries and employee benefits increased in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to wage increases in response to market conditions and competition in retaining and recruiting talent. Additionally, the number of full-time equivalent employees has increased with growth in our commercial banking team and information technology department. Occupancy and equipment expense increased in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to an increase in depreciation expense related to the new bank buildings in St. Cloud and Mankato, Minnesota, along with scheduled increases in rent expense on existing leases. FDIC insurance expense increased in 2023 when compared to 2022 primarily due to the FDIC’s increase in the minimum assessment rate, which was announced in 2022 and effective as of the first quarter of 2023. Business development expenses increased in 2023 due to an increase in the size of our commercial banking team and a general increase in sponsorships and business development activity.

Income Taxes

The Company records a provision for income tax expense currently payable, along with a provision for those taxes payable or refundable in the future (deferred taxes). Deferred taxes arise from differences in the timing of certain items for financial statement reporting compared to income tax reporting and are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Federal income tax expense for 2023 and 2022 was $3,711 and $9,165, respectively, while state income tax expense was $1,938 and $3,833, respectively. The effective rate of income tax expense as a percent of income before income taxes was 18.9 percent and 21.9 percent, respectively, for 2023 and 2022. In 2022, income tax expense included a one-time increase in state income tax expense related to the June 2022 enactment of changes in the Iowa bank franchise tax rates. This legislation reduced the Iowa bank franchise tax rate applied to apportioned income for 2023 and future years. The future reduction in the state tax rate required the Company to reduce net deferred tax assets by $671 and in turn caused the one-time increase in 2022 tax expense.

The effective income tax rates differ from the federal statutory income tax rates primarily due to tax-exempt interest income, the tax-exempt increase in cash value of bank-owned life insurance, tax-exempt gain from bank-owned life insurance, disallowed interest expense, stock compensation and state income taxes. The effective tax rate for both 2023 and 2022 was also impacted by federal income tax credits, including low income housing tax credits and a new markets tax credit from West Bank’s investment in a qualified community development entity, of approximately $1,498 and $1,468, respectively. The Company continues to maintain a valuation allowance against the tax effect of state net operating losses carryforwards as management believes it is likely that such carryforwards will expire without being utilized.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY; INTEREST RATES; AND INTEREST DIFFERENTIAL

Average Balances and an Analysis of Average Rates Earned and Paid

The following table shows average balances and interest income or interest expense, with the resulting average yield or rate by category of average interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities for the years indicated. Interest income and the resulting net interest income are shown on a fully taxable basis. Interest expense includes the effect of interest rate swaps, if applicable.

202320222021
Average BalanceRevenue/ ExpenseYield/ RateAverage BalanceRevenue/ ExpenseYield/ RateAverage BalanceRevenue/ ExpenseYield/ Rate
Assets
Interest-earning assets:
Loans: (1) (2)
Commercial$520,116$32,0676.17%$487,151$22,7424.67%$525,228$23,3654.45%
Real estate (3)2,270,662110,4314.86%2,061,77784,5234.10%1,796,11872,5794.04%
Consumer and other9,4786657.02%5,7482824.91%4,1931824.34%
Total loans2,800,256143,1635.11%2,554,676107,5474.21%2,325,53996,1264.13%
Securities:
Taxable516,11813,6962.65%592,18612,5242.11%450,9108,5421.89%
Tax-exempt (3)146,7343,7682.57%155,8034,1972.69%141,8163,5222.48%
Total securities662,85217,4642.63%747,98916,7212.24%592,72612,0642.04%
Interest-bearing deposits2,8561695.94%58,4262030.35%233,8732920.12%
Total interest-earning assets (3)3,465,964160,7964.64%3,361,091124,4713.70%3,152,138108,4823.44%
Noninterest-earning assets:
Cash and due from banks23,13923,84241,141
Premises and equipment, net67,28143,29931,291
Other, less allowance for
credit losses106,19480,55346,612
Total noninterest-earning assets196,614147,694119,044
Total assets$3,662,578$3,508,785$3,271,182
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand$467,1746,9841.49%$505,8892,4580.49%$477,9887690.16%
Savings and money market1,357,67543,5693.21%1,452,03415,8141.09%1,413,8785,6410.40%
Time424,32016,2433.83%291,7324,3571.49%208,1641,5380.74%
Total deposits2,249,16966,7962.97%2,249,65522,6291.01%2,100,0307,9480.38%
Borrowed funds:
Federal funds purchased and
other short-term borrowings194,8029,5324.89%62,9011,7642.80%4,62050.11%
Subordinated notes, net79,5014,4425.59%52,8732,8675.42%20,4581,0084.93%
Federal Home Loan Bank
advances265,6447,6942.90%128,8632,6692.07%140,2742,9442.10%
Long-term debt49,9382,8105.63%51,4891,6803.26%20,9953161.51%
Total borrowed funds589,88524,4784.15%296,1268,9803.03%186,3474,2732.29%
Total interest-bearing liabilities2,839,05491,2743.21%2,545,78131,6091.24%2,286,37712,2210.53%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
Demand deposits586,903708,667709,009
Other liabilities25,21830,28431,783
Stockholders’ equity211,403224,053244,013
Total liabilities and
stockholders’ equity$3,662,578$3,508,785$3,271,182
Net interest income (4)/net interest spread (3)$69,5221.43%$92,8622.46%$96,2612.91%
Net interest margin (3) (4)2.01%2.76%3.05%

(1)Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans. Interest income recognized on nonaccrual loans has been included.

(2)Interest income on loans includes amortization of loan fees and costs and prepayment penalties collected, which are not material.

(3)Tax-exempt income has been adjusted to a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent and is adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans.

(4)Net interest income (FTE) and net interest margin (FTE) are non-GAAP financial measures. For further information, refer to the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this Item.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Net Interest Income

The Company’s largest component of net income is net interest income, which is the difference between interest earned on interest-earning assets, consisting primarily of loans and securities, and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities, consisting of deposits and borrowings. Fluctuations in net interest income can result from the combination of changes in the balances of asset and liability categories and changes in interest rates. Interest rates earned and paid are also affected by general economic conditions, particularly changes in market interest rates, and by competitive factors, government policies and the actions of regulatory authorities. The Federal Reserve increased the target federal funds interest rate by a total of 425 basis points in 2022 and an additional 100 basis points in 2023. The potential for additional target federal funds interest rate changes in 2024 is unknown at this time. The increases that occurred throughout 2022 and 2023 have had a significant impact on the comparability of net interest income between 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Net interest margin on an FTE basis, a non-GAAP financial measure, is a measure of the net return on interest-earning assets and is computed by dividing annualized tax-equivalent net interest income by total average interest-earning assets for the period. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company’s net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis was 2.01, 2.76 and 3.05 percent, respectively. Tax-equivalent net interest income decreased $23,340 in 2023 compared to 2022.

Rate and Volume Analysis

The rate and volume analysis shown below, on a tax-equivalent basis, is used to determine how much of the change in interest income or expense is the result of a change in volume or a change in interest yield or rate. The change in interest that is due to both volume and rate has been allocated to the change due to volume and the change due to rate in proportion to the absolute value of the change in each.

2023 Compared to 20222022 Compared to 2021
VolumeRateTotalVolumeRateTotal
Interest Income
Loans: (1)
Commercial$1,625$7,700$9,325$(1,744)$1,121$(623)
Real estate (2)9,12516,78325,90810,8771,06711,944
Consumer and other2301533837426100
Total loans (including fees)10,98024,63635,6169,2072,21411,421
Securities:
Taxable(1,746)2,9181,1722,9031,0793,982
Tax-exempt (2)(238)(191)(429)363312675
Total securities(1,984)2,7277433,2661,3914,657
Interest-bearing deposits(366)332(34)(335)246(89)
Total interest income (2)8,63027,69536,32512,1383,85115,989
Interest Expense
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand(202)4,7284,526471,6421,689
Savings and money market(1,092)28,84727,75515610,01710,173
Time2,6779,20911,8867952,0242,819
Total deposits1,38342,78444,16799813,68314,681
Borrowed funds:
Federal funds purchased and
other short-term borrowings5,7322,0367,7685911,1681,759
Subordinated debt, net1,485901,5751,7481111,859
Federal Home Loan Bank advances3,6541,3715,025(237)(38)(275)
Long-term debt(52)1,1821,1307566081,364
Total borrowed funds10,8194,67915,4982,8581,8494,707
Total interest expense12,20247,46359,6653,85615,53219,388
Net interest income (2) (3)$(3,572)$(19,768)$(23,340)$8,282$(11,681)$(3,399)

(1)Average balances of nonaccrual loans were included for computational purposes.

(2)Tax-exempt income has been converted to a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent and is adjusted for the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans.

(3)Net interest income (FTE) is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this Item.

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Tax-equivalent interest income and fees on loans increased $35,616 for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2022. The improvement was primarily due to an increase in the average yield on loans of 90 basis points in 2023 compared to 2022. Rising market interest rates have resulted in increasing rates on variable-rate loans and higher interest rates on loan renewals and new originations compared to existing portfolio rates. Additionally, the average balance of loans increased $245,580 in 2023 compared to 2022.

The Company continues to focus on expanding existing and entering into new customer relationships while maintaining strong credit quality. The yield on the Company's loan portfolio is affected by the portfolio’s loan mix, the interest rate environment, the effects of competition, the level of nonaccrual loans and reversals of previously accrued interest on charged-off loans. The yield on the loan portfolio is expected to increase in a rising rate environment as variable-rate loans reprice at higher rates and fixed rate loan renewals and new originations are priced at prevailing market rates, which exceed the average rate on existing fixed rate loans. The political and economic environments can also influence the volume of new loan originations and the mix of variable-rate versus fixed-rate loans.

Tax-equivalent interest income on securities increased $743 for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2022. The average balance of securities available for sale in 2023 was $85,137 lower than in 2022, primarily due to principal paydowns on securities, sales of securities, and the decline in fair value of available for sale securities during 2023 resulting from the increase in market interest rates during 2023. The yield on available for sale securities increased by 39 basis points in 2023 compared to 2022.

Interest expense on deposits increased $44,167 for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2022. The average balance of interest bearing deposits decreased $486 in 2023 compared to 2022. The rates paid on deposits increased 196 basis points in 2023 compared to 2022. The increase in the cost of deposits was primarily due to increases in deposit rates in response to increases in the target federal funds rate and market interest rates, increased competition for deposit balances, and changes in deposit mix. The Federal Reserve increased the target federal funds rate by a total of 425 basis points in 2022 and an additional 100 basis points in 2023. These increases have had an adverse impact on the cost of deposits and have increased market competition.

Interest expense on borrowed funds increased $15,498 for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2022. The average balance of borrowed funds increased $293,759 in 2023 compared to 2022. The Company issued $60,000 of subordinated debt in June 2022. Additionally, average balances of federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings increased $131,901 in 2023 compared to 2022. The average rate paid on federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings increased 209 basis points in 2023 compared to 2022. This increase in average rates paid on federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings was driven by the increases in the target federal funds rate by the Federal Reserve. The average balances of FHLB advances increased by $136,781 in 2023 compared to 2022. This increase in average balances was primarily due to increases in our rolling funding program whereby rolling one-month FHLB advances are hedged with long-term interest rate swap agreements to provide long-term fixed cost wholesale funding. The average rate paid on FHLB advances increased 83 basis points in 2023 compared to 2022.

SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

The balance of securities available for sale decreased by $40,196 as of December 31, 2023, compared to December 31, 2022. This decrease was primarily due to principal paydowns on securities and a sale of $11,285 of securities in the fourth quarter of 2023. The proceeds from this sale were reinvested into the loan portfolio. The Company expects the securities portfolio as a percentage of total assets to decrease over time as the proceeds from paydowns and maturities may be used for loan growth or repayment of borrowed funds.

As of December 31, 2023, approximately 61 percent of the available for sale securities portfolio consisted of government agency guaranteed collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities. We believe those securities have little to no credit risk and provide cash flows for liquidity and repricing opportunities. All collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities consist of residential and commercial mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations guaranteed by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), or the Small Business Administration (SBA). The securities issued by state and political subdivisions are diversified among municipalities in 26 states.

The following table sets forth the weighted average yield by contractual maturity by security type as of December 31, 2023. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. The collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities have monthly paydowns that are not reflected in the table.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Within one yearAfter one year but within five yearsAfter five years but within ten yearsAfter ten yearsTotal
Securities available for sale:
State and political subdivisions (1)%%1.93%2.15%2.13%
Collateralized mortgage obligations2.381.561.56
Mortgage-backed securities1.451.611.651.63
Collateralized loan obligations7.357.35
Corporate notes3.263.26
%1.45%4.07%1.77%2.07%

(1)    Yields on tax-exempt obligations have been computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent and are adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt investment securities.

Total gross unrealized losses in the securities available for sale portfolio were $121,806 at December 31, 2023 compared to $138,736 at December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2023, the Company did not have the intent to sell, nor was it more likely than not that we would be required to sell any of the securities in an unrealized loss position prior to recovery. As of December 31, 2023, the Company also determined that no individual securities in an unrealized loss position represented credit losses that would require an allowance for credit losses. Management concluded that the unrealized losses in the portfolio are the result of increases in risk-free market interest rates since the securities were purchased and are not an indication of declining credit quality. Unrealized losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax.

For additional information regarding the Company’s securities portfolio, see Note 3 and Note 18 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

LOAN PORTFOLIO

The Company seeks to create growth in commercial lending, which primarily includes commercial real estate, multi-family, and commercial and industrial lending, by offering customer-focused products and competitive pricing and by capitalizing on the positive trends in its market areas. It is the objective of the Company’s credit policies to diversify the commercial loan portfolio to limit concentrations in any single industry. As of December 31, 2023, total loans were approximately 98.4 percent of total deposits and 76.5 percent of total assets.

Loans outstanding at the end of 2023 increased 6.7 percent compared to the end of 2022. Changes in the loan portfolio during 2023 included increases of $82,570 in commercial real estate loans, $50,463 in construction, land and land development loans and $31,477 in 1-4 family residential first mortgage loans. The Company continues to focus on business development efforts in all of its markets. We believe that loan growth could slow down in 2024 as a result of uncertainty and diversity in economic outlooks, labor and wage challenges and the impact of higher interest rates on overall cash flows and debt service capabilities.

For a description of the loan segments, see Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The interest rates charged on loans vary with the degree of risk and the amount and terms of the loan. Competitive pressures, the creditworthiness of the borrower, market interest rates, the availability of funds, and government regulations further influence the rate charged on a loan.

The Company follows a loan policy approved by West Bank’s Board of Directors. The loan policy is reviewed at least annually and is updated as considered necessary. The policy establishes lending limits, review criteria and other guidelines for loan administration and the allowance for credit losses, among other things. Loans are approved in accordance with the applicable guidelines and underwriting policies. Loans to any one borrower are limited by state banking laws. Loan officer lending authorities vary according to the individual loan officer’s experience and expertise.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were no loans that were past due 30 days or more.

Nonperforming loans declined slightly to $296 at December 31, 2023, compared to $322 at December 31, 2022. The decrease was due to scheduled payments made on the one loan that was included in nonaccrual loans in both periods.

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The watch classification of loans decreased to $144 as of December 31, 2023 from $54,231 as of December 31, 2022. Commercial real estate loans of approximately $52,600 were upgraded and removed from the watch list during the second quarter of 2023. These loans related to one borrowing relationship that had been downgraded during the COVID-19 pandemic. The upgrade resulted from the borrowers’ ability to return to normal operations and financial performance for an extended period of time.

Loans Secured by Real Estate

The commercial real estate market continues to be a significant source of business for West Bank. Management places a strong emphasis on monitoring the composition of the Company’s commercial real estate loan portfolio. The Company has an established lending policy which includes a number of underwriting factors to be considered in making a commercial real estate loan, including, but not limited to, location, loan-to-value ratio (LTV), cash flow and debt service coverage, collateral and the credit history and expertise of the borrower. The lending policy also includes guidelines for real estate appraisals and evaluations, including minimum appraisal and evaluation standards.

Although repayment risk exists on all loans, different factors influence repayment risk for each type of loan. The primary risks associated with commercial real estate loans are the quality of the borrower’s management and the health of the national and regional economies. Underwriting on commercial properties is primarily based on the economic viability of the project with heavy consideration given to the creditworthiness and experience of the borrower. Recognizing that debt is paid via cash flow, the projected cash flows of the project are critical in underwriting because these determine the ultimate value of the property and the ability to service debt. Therefore, in most commercial real estate projects, we generally require a minimum stabilized debt service coverage ratio of 1.20 to 1.35, depending on the real estate type. Exceptions to this policy can be made for certain borrowers that exhibit other credit quality strengths. Exceptions to the policy are monitored by management. Our strategy with respect to the management of these types of risks is to consistently follow prudent loan policies and underwriting practices.

The Company recognizes that a diversified loan portfolio contributes to reducing risk. The specific loan portfolio mix is subject to change based on loan demand, the business environment and various economic factors. The Company actively monitors concentrations within the loan portfolio to ensure appropriate diversification is maintained. In addition, management tracks the level of owner occupied commercial real estate loans versus non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans. Owner occupied commercial real estate loans are generally considered to have less risk than non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans.

In accordance with regulatory guidelines, the Company exercises heightened risk management practices when non-owner occupied commercial real estate lending exceeds 300 percent of total risk-based capital or construction, land development, and other land loans exceed 100 percent of total risk-based capital. Although the Company’s loan portfolio is heavily concentrated in real estate and its real estate portfolio levels exceed these regulatory guidelines, it has established risk management policies and procedures to regularly monitor the commercial real estate portfolio.

The Bank’s Executive Loan Committee (ELC), which is made up of the Chief Executive Officer, Bank President, Chief Risk Officer, Minnesota Group President, Chief Credit Officer and Credit Department Manager, approves all commercial loan relationships in excess of $500 in total credit exposure and annually reviews all commercial loan relationships of $1,000 and greater. Credit approval authorities for individual officers are reviewed, at least annually, by the ELC and approved by the Board of Directors.

Executive management regularly reviews available market data. Commercial real estate portfolio monitoring practices include quarterly stress testing and quarterly trend analysis of underwriting exceptions, average loan-to-value and average debt service coverage for significant real estate segments.

The Company maintains an annual independent loan review program. The Company engages a third party to evaluate credit quality, assigned risk ratings, underwriting standards and collateral documentation. The review covers a significant portion of the loan portfolio and is carried out on a semi-annual basis. Findings are reported to the ELC and the Board of Directors. The Company also maintains an internal loan audit department that performs certain pre- and post-closing procedural and documentation reviews. The internal findings are reported quarterly to the ELC.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Commercial loans secured by real estate, including construction, land and land development, totaled $2,267,987, or 77.4 percent of total loans, at December 31, 2023. Non-owner occupied commercial real estate loan concentrations and the weighted average LTV by property type as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are shown in the following table. LTV is determined using the maximum credit exposure of the loan compared to the most recent appraisal data on the property obtained in accordance with the Company’s lending policies.

As of December 31
20232022
Balance% of Non-owner Occupied CREWeighted Average LTVBalance% of Non-owner Occupied CREWeighted Average LTV
Non-owner occupied:
Multifamily$453,95824.2%69%$371,22421.0%69%
Medical & senior care facilities225,31412.063249,12714.165
Warehouse & trucking167,0308.963169,4629.667
Hotels251,49713.466216,53912.368
Mixed use96,4885.267100,9855.767
Offices137,4687.470139,1637.971
Land for development110,8745.964114,4286.562
All other430,51523.0not available405,26122.9not available
$1,873,144100.0%$1,766,189100.0%

The following table summarizes non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans by property type by risk rating as of December 31, 2023. Risk ratings are defined in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

As of December 31, 2023
Risk Rating
Total1-345678
Non-owner occupied:
Multifamily$453,958$30,893$339,817$83,248$$$
Medical & senior care facilities225,31470,896123,68030,738
Warehouse & trucking167,03055,59395,61615,821
Hotel251,497151,95799,540
Mixed use96,48813,28055,96527,243
Offices137,46816,566100,89120,011
Land for development110,8742,025105,7463,103
All other430,51567,516358,3074,692
$1,873,144$256,769$1,331,979$284,396$$$

As of December 31, 2023, there were no non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans that were past due 30 days or more.

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Maturities of Loans

The contractual maturities of the Company’s loan portfolio are shown in the following tables. Actual repayments may differ from contractual maturities because individual borrowers may have the right to prepay loans with or without prepayment penalties.

As of December 31, 2023
Within one yearAfter one but within five yearsAfter five but within 15 yearsAfter 15 yearsTotal
Commercial$166,171$270,955$94,468$$531,594
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development195,018187,34631,113413,477
1-4 family residential first mortgages7,30998,1271,252106,688
Home equity5,3109,30814,618
Commercial118,0431,128,177571,85036,4401,854,510
Consumer and other6,3144,61610,930
$498,165$1,698,529$698,683$36,440$2,931,817
After one but within five yearsAfter five but within 15 yearsAfter 15 years
Loan maturities after one year with:
Fixed rates
Commercial$185,004$39,956$
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development110,91111,964
1-4 family residential first mortgages80,4321,198
Home equity3,365
Commercial1,095,562342,67711,803
Consumer and other1,537
Total fixed-rate loans1,476,811395,79511,803
Variable rates
Commercial85,95154,512
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development76,43519,149
1-4 family residential first mortgages17,69554
Home equity5,943
Commercial32,615229,17324,637
Consumer and other3,079
Total variable-rate loans221,718302,88824,637
$1,698,529$698,683$36,440

SUMMARY OF THE ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES

The Company adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-13 effective January 1, 2023 using the modified retrospective method for financial assets measured at amortized cost and off-balance sheet credit exposures. See Notes 1 and 4 to the Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information.

The credit loss expense recorded on the income statement includes charges made to earnings to maintain an adequate allowance for credit losses. The adequacy of the allowance for credit losses is evaluated quarterly by management and reviewed by the Board. The allowance for credit losses is management’s estimate of expected lifetime losses in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date.

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Factors considered by management in establishing an appropriate allowance include: the borrower’s financial condition; the value and adequacy of loan collateral; the condition of the local economy and the borrower’s specific industry; the levels and trends of loans by segment; and a review of delinquent and classified loans. The quarterly evaluation focuses on factors such as specific loan reviews, changes in the components of the loan portfolio given economic conditions, and historical loss experience. Any one of the following conditions may result in the review of a specific loan: concern about whether the borrower’s cash flow or net worth is sufficient to repay the loan; delinquency status; criticism of the loan in a regulatory examination; the suspension of interest accrual; or other factors, including whether the loan has other special or unusual characteristics that suggest special monitoring is warranted. The Company’s concentration risks include geographic concentration in central and eastern Iowa and southern Minnesota. The local economies are composed primarily of major financial services companies, healthcare providers, educational institutions, technology and agribusiness companies, and state and local governments.

West Bank has a significant portion of its loan portfolio in commercial real estate loans, commercial lines of credit, commercial term loans, and construction and land development loans. West Bank’s typical commercial borrower is a small- or medium-sized, privately owned business entity. Compared to residential mortgages or consumer loans, commercial loans typically have larger balances and repayment usually depends on the borrowers’ successful business operations. Commercial loans also generally are not fully repaid over the loan period and, thus, may require refinancing or a large payoff at maturity. When the general economy turns downward, commercial borrowers may not be able to repay their loans, and the value of their assets, which are usually pledged as collateral, may decrease rapidly and significantly.

While management uses available information to recognize credit losses, further reduction in the carrying amounts of loans may be necessary based on changes in circumstances, changes in the overall economy in the markets we currently serve, or later acquired information. Identifiable sectors within the general economy are subject to additional volatility, which at any time may have a substantial impact on the loan portfolio. In addition, regulatory agencies, as integral parts of their examination processes, periodically review the credit quality of the loan portfolio and the level of the allowance for credit losses. Such agencies may require West Bank to recognize additional charge-offs or provisions for credit losses based on such agencies’ review of information available to them at the time of their examinations.

The following table shows the ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries to loans outstanding, broken out by loan segment, along with ratios of the allowance and nonaccrual loans to total loans at the end of the period.

Analysis of the Allowance for Credit Losses for the Years Ended December 31
202320222021
Ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries during the
period to average loans outstanding by segment:
Commercial%%0.02%
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development
1-4 family residential first mortgages
Home equity
Commercial(0.02)%
Consumer and other
Total0.00%(0.02)%0.02%
Ratio of allowance for credit losses to total
loans at the end of period0.97%0.93%1.15%
Ratio of nonaccrual loans to total loans at
end of period0.01%0.01%0.36%
Ratio of allowance for credit losses to total
nonaccrual loans at the end of period9,575.00%7,910.87%316.99%
Ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries to total
loans at end of period0.00%(0.01)%0.02%

(1) As presented, this is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this item.

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The following table sets forth information concerning the Company’s allocation of the allowance for credit losses by loan segment as of the dates indicated.

As of December 31
202320222021
Amount%*Amount%*Amount%*
Balance at end of
period applicable to:
Commercial$5,29118.13%$4,80418.90%$4,77620.03%
Real estate:
Construction, land
and land development3,66814.113,54813.213,64614.60
1-4 family residential
first mortgages7043.643572.743392.69
Home equity1420.501010.38910.34
Commercial18,42063.2516,57564.5019,46662.19
Consumer and other1170.37880.27460.15
$28,342100.00%$25,473100.00%$28,364100.00%

* Percent of loans in each category to total loans.

As of December 31, 2023 there was no allowance for credit losses related to loans individually evaluated for credit losses. As of December 31, 2022, there were no specific reserves related to loans individually evaluated for impairment. The portion of the allowance for credit losses related to loans collectively evaluated for credit losses increased to $28,342, or 0.97 percent of outstanding loans as of December 31, 2023, compared to $25,473, or 0.93 percent of outstanding loans as of December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to the $2,458 adjustment to the allowance on January 1, 2023 related to the adoption of ASU No. 2016-13, also known as the current expected credit loss, or CECL, standard. Additionally, there was a credit loss expense of $500 related to loans for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was due primarily to loan growth. The provision for loan losses recorded in 2022 was negative $2,500. This negative provision in 2022 was due to the reversal of a specific reserve on an impaired loan and the reduction of certain qualitative factors resulting from the sustained performance of loans after the expiration of COVID-19 modifications and continued improvement in classified loans. Management believed the allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2023 was adequate to absorb the expected losses in the portfolio as of that date.

DEPOSITS

Deposits totaled $2,973,779 as of December 31, 2023, which was an increase of 3.2 percent compared to December 31, 2022. Deposit inflows and outflows are influenced by prevailing market interest rates, competition, local and national economic conditions, fluctuations in our business customers’ own liquidity needs and recent developments in the financial services industry. In particular, significant competition for deposits driven by high interest rate alternatives for depositors is currently impacting deposit fluctuations and increasing our cost of deposits.

At December 31, 2023, the Company had $305,411 in brokered deposits, compared to $272,691 at December 31, 2022. Brokered deposits included fixed-rate time deposits with maturities through December 2025 and variable-rate deposits with terms through February 2025. Brokered deposits are utilized, along with other wholesale funding sources, to fund loan growth and offset core deposit outflows.

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The following table sets forth the average balances for each major category of deposits and the weighted average interest rate paid for those deposits during the years indicated.

Years ended December 31
202320222021
AverageAverageAverageAverageAverageAverage
BalanceRateBalanceRateBalanceRate
Noninterest-bearing demand$586,903%$708,667%$709,009%
Interest-bearing demand:
Insured cash sweep137,0272.48139,8070.80125,4020.34
Other interest-bearing demand330,1471.09366,0820.37352,5860.10
Money market:
Insured cash sweep249,5743.58323,9701.01308,1360.36
Other money market973,8533.47967,9531.26959,3140.45
Savings134,2480.61160,1110.24146,4280.14
Time424,3203.83291,7321.49208,1640.74
$2,836,072$2,958,322$2,809,039

Management believes interest rates on deposits could continue to increase in 2024 in response to ongoing competition for deposit balances and high short-term market rates. To limit the Company’s exposure to market interest rate changes, interest rate swaps are in place on $110,000 of deposit balances that effectively convert certain customer deposits with variable rates to fixed-rate instruments.

Approximately 93 percent of the total time deposits issued by West Bank mature in the next year, including brokered time deposits. It is anticipated that a significant portion of the core time deposits will be renewed. In the event a substantial volume of core time deposits are not renewed, management believes the Company has sufficient liquid assets and funding sources to offset the potential runoff.

The following table shows the amounts and remaining maturities of time deposits with balances of $100 or more as of December 31, 2023.

3 months or less$231,110
Over 3 through 6 months123,674
Over 6 through 12 months91,151
Over 12 months28,283
$474,218

West Bank participates in the IntraFi® ICS and CDARS reciprocal deposit network, which enables depositors to receive FDIC insurance coverage on deposits otherwise exceeding the maximum insurable amount. We consider these reciprocal deposits to be in-market deposits as distinguished from traditional out-of-market brokered deposits. Time deposits as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, included $152,160 and $122,915, respectively, of reciprocal deposits. Included in total deposits as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, were $165,858 and $155,888, respectively, of reciprocal interest-bearing checking and $254,504 and $186,160, respectively, of reciprocal money market deposits.

Total estimated uninsured deposits were $1,435,406, $1,412,955 and $1,312,933 as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The uninsured deposit amounts are estimated based on the methodologies and assumptions used for regulatory reporting requirements and include brokered funds and collateralized public unit deposits. The following table shows the amount of time deposits in excess of the insurance limit by maturity.

3 months or less$148,585
Over 3 through 6 months65,890
Over 6 through 12 months27,038
Over 12 months24,538
$266,051

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BORROWED FUNDS

The fluctuation in the balances of federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings is based on customer loan and deposit activity and the Company’s balance sheet management objectives, which from time to time may require the Company to draw on the federal funds purchased lines with our correspondent banks or FHLB advances. Federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings decreased from $200,000 as of December 31, 2022 to $150,270 as of December 31, 2023.

The Company had $315,000 of FHLB advances outstanding at December 31, 2023, compared to $155,000 at December 31, 2022. During 2023, the Company increased its rolling funding program by entering into seven long-term interest rate swap agreements hedging interest payments of one-month rolling funding with a total notional amount of $140,000. As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s rolling funding program, funded with short-term FHLB advances and hedged with long-term interest rate swaps, totaled $295,000. These interest rate swaps have maturity dates ranging from August 2024 through June 2029 and fixed rates ranging from 1.69 percent to 4.65 percent. This strategy of hedging short-term rolling funding effectively provides fixed cost wholesale funding through the maturity dates of the various interest rate swaps.

In December 2021, the Company entered into a credit agreement with an unaffiliated commercial bank and borrowed $40,000. This credit agreement replaced a prior credit agreement with the same commercial bank that had a remaining balance of $5,500. The additional borrowing was used to make a capital injection into the Company’s subsidiary, West Bank. Interest is payable quarterly. Required quarterly principal payments began in May 2023. The Company may make additional principal payments without penalty. The interest rate is variable at the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate minus 1.00 percent, which was 7.50 percent as of December 31, 2023. During 2023, the Company entered into an interest rate swap contract that effectively converts $20,000 of this borrowing to a fixed rate of 6.40 percent through its maturity date. As of December 31, 2023, this borrowing had a balance of $36,250.

In June 2022, the Company issued $60,000 of subordinated notes (Notes). The Notes initially bear interest at 5.25 percent per annum, with interest payable semi-annually for the first five years of the Notes. Beginning June 15, 2027, the interest rate will reset quarterly to a floating rate per annum that is expected to be three-month term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus 2.41 percent, with payments due quarterly. The Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, on and after June 15, 2027 at a price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Notes will mature on June 15, 2032 if they are not earlier redeemed. Proceeds from this debt issuance were used to make a $58,650 capital injection into West Bank, the Company’s subsidiary.

The Company has an interest rate swap with a notional amount of $20,000 which converts variable-rate subordinated debentures to fixed-rate debt. The interest rate is a variable rate based on the 3-month term SOFR plus 0.26161 percent tenor spread adjustment plus 3.05 percent. This interest rate swap has a fixed rate of 4.81 percent and matures in September 2026.

West Bank’s new markets tax credit special purpose subsidiary has a credit agreement for $11,486. Interest is payable monthly over the term of the agreement with an interest rate of 1.00 percent. Monthly principal payments begin in January 2026, and the agreement matures in December 2048.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

In the normal course of business, West Bank commits to extend credit in the form of loan commitments and standby letters of credit in order to meet the financing needs of its customers. These commitments expose West Bank to varying degrees of credit and market risks in excess of the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets and are subject to the same credit policies as are the loans recorded on the balance sheets.

West Bank’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. West Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. Commitments to lend are subject to borrowers’ continuing compliance with existing credit agreements. Off-balance sheet commitments are more fully discussed in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

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As of December 31, 2023, the allowance for credit losses related to off-balance sheet unfunded commitments was $2,544. Upon the adoption of ASU No. 2016-13, the Company recorded an allowance for credit losses associated with unfunded commitments of $2,344. In 2023, the Company recorded a credit loss expense of $200 for unfunded commitments. The allowance for credit losses for off-balance-sheet credit exposures is presented in the “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” line of the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The objectives of liquidity management are to ensure the availability of sufficient cash flows to meet all financial commitments and to capitalize on opportunities for profitable business expansion. The Company’s principal source of funds is deposits. Other sources include loan principal repayments, proceeds from the maturity and sale of securities, principal payments on amortizing securities, federal funds purchased, advances from the FHLB, other wholesale funding and funds provided by operations. Liquidity management is conducted on both a daily and a long-term basis. Investments in liquid assets are adjusted based on expected loan demand, projected loan and securities maturities and payments, expected deposit flows and the objectives set by West Bank’s asset-liability management policy. The Company had liquid assets (cash and cash equivalents) of $65,357 as of December 31, 2023 compared with $26,539 as of December 31, 2022.

Our deposit growth strategy emphasizes core deposit growth. Deposit inflows and outflows can vary widely and are influenced by prevailing market interest rates, competition, local and national economic conditions, fluctuations in our corporate customers’ and municipal customers’ own liquidity needs and recent developments in the financial services industry. The Company utilizes brokered deposits and other wholesale funding to supplement core deposit fluctuations and loan growth. Brokered deposits are obtained through various programs administered by IntraFi® and through other third party brokers. At December 31, 2023, the Company had $305,411 in brokered deposits, which included fixed-rate time deposits with maturities through December 2025 and variable-rate deposits with terms through February 2025.

As of December 31, 2023, West Bank had additional borrowing capacity available from the FHLB of approximately $528,000, as well as approximately $2,282 through the Federal Reserve discount window, $35,000 through unsecured federal funds lines of credit with correspondent banks and $89,000 through the BTFP. The BTFP was established by the Federal Reserve in March 2023 to provide an additional source of liquidity against high-quality securities. As of December 31, 2023, West Bank had pledged approximately $89,000 in eligible securities to facilitate participation in the program. No funds were borrowed from the Federal Reserve discount window or BTFP as of December 31, 2023. The Federal Reserve has announced that it is ending the BTFP and will cease making new loans under this program on March 11, 2024. Net cash from continuing operating activities contributed $25,249, $59,439 and $57,878 to liquidity for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Management believed that the combination of high levels of potentially liquid assets, unencumbered securities, cash flows from operations and additional borrowing capacity provided the Company with sufficient liquidity as of December 31, 2023.

West Bank has entered into a construction contract for the construction of a new headquarters building in West Des Moines, Iowa. West Bank will pay the contractor a contract price consisting of the cost of work plus a fee, with anticipated construction completed in 2024. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had a remaining commitment of $13,019 under this contract.

The Company’s total stockholders’ equity increased to $225,043 as of December 31, 2023 from $211,112 as of December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to net income less dividends paid and the decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss. At December 31, 2023, tangible common equity as a percent of tangible assets was 5.88 percent compared to 5.84 percent as of December 31, 2022. The decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss was driven by the decrease in the net unrealized losses on available for sale securities between December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023. While accumulated other comprehensive losses reduce tangible common equity, they have no impact on regulatory capital. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had no intangible assets.

The Company and West Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal and state banking agencies. Capital requirements are more fully discussed under the heading “Supervision and Regulation” included in Item 1 and in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. As of December 31, 2023, the Company and West Bank met all capital adequacy requirements to which they were subject, and the Company’s and West Bank’s capital ratios were in excess of the requirements to be well-capitalized under capital regulations. Also, as of December 31, 2023, the ratios for the Company and West Bank were sufficient to meet the capital conservation buffer.

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EFFECTS OF NEW STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

A discussion of the effects of new financial accounting standards and developments as they relate to the Company is located in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

FY 2022 10-K MD&A

SEC filing source: 0001166928-23-000028.

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Published MD&A gate trimmed front/tail over-capture. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2023-02-23. Report date: 2022-12-31.

ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

INTRODUCTION

The Company’s financial highlights and key performance measures are presented in the table below.

As of and for the Years Ended December 31
202220212020
Performance Ratios
Return on average assets1.32%1.52%1.19%
Return on average equity20.71%20.33%15.49%
Efficiency ratio (1)(2)43.70%40.91%41.96%
Nonperforming assets/total assets (1)(3)0.01%0.26%0.51%
Net interest margin(2)2.76%3.05%3.20%
Dividends and Per Share Data
Basic earnings per common share$2.79$3.00$1.99
Diluted earnings per common share2.762.951.98
Cash dividends per common share1.000.940.84
Dividend payout ratio35.82%31.33%42.23%
Dividend yield3.91%3.03%4.35%
Operating Results and Year-End Balances
Net income$46,399$49,607$32,712
Total assets3,613,2183,500,2013,185,744
Securities available for sale664,115758,822420,571
Loans2,742,8362,456,1962,280,575
Deposits2,880,4083,016,0052,700,994
Borrowings485,855199,866222,385
Stockholders’ equity211,112260,328223,695
Average equity to average assets ratio6.39%7.46%7.71%

Definition of ratios:

•Return on average assets - net income divided by average assets.

•Return on average equity - net income divided by average equity.

•Efficiency ratio - noninterest expense (excluding other real estate owned expense and write-down of premises) divided by noninterest income (excluding net securities gains/losses and gains/losses on disposition of premises and equipment) plus tax-equivalent net interest income.

•Nonperforming assets to total assets - total nonperforming assets divided by total assets.

•Net interest margin - tax-equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

•Dividend payout ratio - dividends paid to common stockholders divided by net income.

•Dividend yield - dividends per share paid to common stockholders divided by closing year-end stock price.

•Average equity to average assets ratio - average equity divided by average assets.

(1) A lower ratio is better.

(2) As presented, this is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the section "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" of this item.

(3) As of December 31.

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The Company’s 2022 net income was $46,399, compared to $49,607 in 2021. Basic and diluted earnings per common share for 2022 were $2.79 and $2.76, respectively, compared to $3.00 and $2.95, respectively, in 2021. During 2022, we paid our common stockholders $16,619 ($1.00 per common share) in dividends compared to $15,543 ($0.94 per common share) in 2021. The dividend declared and paid in the first quarter of 2023 was $0.25 per common share.

Total assets were $3,613,218 at December 31, 2022, compared to $3,500,201 at December 31, 2021, a 3.2 percent increase. Our loan portfolio grew to $2,742,836 as of December 31, 2022, from $2,456,196 as of December 31, 2021. Loans included $1,117 of PPP loans as of December 31, 2022, compared to $22,206 as of December 31, 2021. Deposits decreased to $2,880,408 as of December 31, 2022, from $3,016,005 as of December 31, 2021. The decline in deposit balances was primarily attributable to customers using their own liquidity to fund business transactions, instead of incurring debt, and customers seeking higher yielding investment options.

The U.S economy continues to be affected by the Federal Reserve’s accommodative monetary policies initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current economic concerns include the impact of sharp increases in interest rates as the Federal Reserve responds to inflationary trends, labor shortages and wage pressures, and the uncertainty of additional increases in the Federal Reserve target federal funds rate. In response to increasing inflation rates, the Federal Reserve increased the target federal funds rate by a total of 425 basis points in 2022. Additional rate increases are expected to occur in 2023. The extent of rate increases in 2023 will be largely dependent on inflation and employment data and how this data is interpreted by the Federal Reserve.

The Company compares three key performance metrics to those of an identified peer group for evaluating its results. The peer group for 2022 consists of 19 Midwestern, publicly traded financial institutions including Bank First Corporation, Civista Bancshares, Inc., CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc., Equity Bancshares, Inc., Farmers National Banc Corp., Farmers & Merchants Bancorp., First Business Financial Services, Inc., First Financial Corp., First Mid Bancshares, Inc., German American Bancorp, Inc., Hills Bancorporation, Isabella Bank Corporation, LCNB Corp., Macatawa Bank Corporation, Mercantile Bank Corporation, MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc., Nicolet Bankshares, Inc., Peoples Bancorp, Inc., and Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc. The Company is in the middle of the group in terms of asset size. The Company's goal is to perform at or near the top of this peer group relative to what we consider to be three key metrics: return on average equity, efficiency ratio and nonperforming assets to total assets. We believe these measures encompass the factors that define the performance of a community bank. Company and peer results for the key financial performance measures are summarized below.

West Bancorporation, Inc.Peer Group Range
As of and for the year ended December 31, 2022As of and for the year ended December 31, 2022
Return on average equity20.71%9.97%-17.24%
Efficiency ratio(1)43.70%43.15%-63.62%
Nonperforming assets to total assets0.01%0.02%-1.08%

(1)    The efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of this report.

The following discussion describes the consolidated operations and financial condition of the Company, including its subsidiary West Bank and West Bank’s special purpose subsidiaries. Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 are compared to the results for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of December 31, 2022 is compared to December 31, 2021. Results of operations and financial condition for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 can be found in Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Company’s 2021 annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 24, 2022.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

This report is based on the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with GAAP established by the FASB. The preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. These estimates are based upon historical experience and on various other assumptions that management believes are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Based on its consideration of accounting policies that involve the most complex and subjective estimates and judgments, management has identified its most critical accounting policies to be those related to the fair value of financial instruments and the allowance for loan losses.

The fair value of a financial instrument is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the market in which the reporting entity transacts business. A framework has been established for measuring the fair value of financial instruments that considers the attributes specific to particular assets or liabilities and includes a three-level hierarchy for determining fair value based on the transparency of inputs to each valuation as of the measurement date. The Company estimates the fair value of financial instruments using a variety of valuation methods. When financial instruments are actively traded and have quoted market prices, quoted market prices are used for fair value and are classified as Level 1. When financial instruments, such as securities and derivatives, are not actively traded, the Company determines fair value based on various sources and may apply matrix pricing with observable prices for similar instruments where a price for the identical instrument is not observable. The fair values of these financial instruments, which are classified as Level 2, are determined by pricing models that consider observable market data such as interest rate volatilities, yield curves, credit spreads, prices from external market data providers and/or nonbinding broker-dealer quotations. When observable inputs do not exist, the Company estimates fair value based on available market data, and these values are classified as Level 3. Imprecision in estimating fair values can impact the carrying value of assets and the amount of revenue or loss recorded.

The allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense. Loans are charged against the allowance for loan losses when management believes that collectability of the principal is unlikely. The Company has policies and procedures for evaluating the overall credit quality of its loan portfolio, including timely identification of potential problem loans. On a quarterly basis, management reviews the appropriate level for the allowance for loan losses, incorporating a variety of risk considerations, both quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative factors include the Company’s historical loss experience. Qualitative factors include the general economic environment in the Company’s market areas and the expected trend of those economic conditions, delinquency and charge-off trends, collateral values, known information about individual loans and other factors. While management uses the best information available to make its evaluation, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary if there are significant changes in economic conditions or the other factors considered. To the extent that actual results differ from forecasts and management’s judgment, the allowance for loan losses may be greater or less than future charge-offs.

The measurement of the allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2022 included quantitative and qualitative factors. The historical net loan loss experience had virtually no impact on the measurement of the allowance for loan losses as West Bank has had cumulative net loan recoveries over the past five years. Management’s assessment of qualitative factors applied to loans collectively evaluated for impairment were influenced by economic conditions, trends in past due and classified loans and loan mix. Certain qualitative factors decreased in 2022 based upon the sustained performance of loans after the expiration of COVID-19 modifications, continued improvement in classified loans and no past due loans over 30 days for six consecutive quarters. The portion of the allowance for loan losses related to loans collectively evaluated for impairment decreased $391 to a total of $25,473, or 0.93 percent of outstanding loans, as of December 31, 2022 compared to $25,864, or 1.05 percent of outstanding loans, as of December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2022, there were no specific reserves related to loans individually evaluated for impairment compared to $2,500 as of December 31, 2021. The specific reserve in 2021 was related to the credit quality of one borrower due to the severe economic impact of COVID-19 on its business. The specific impairment was determined after evaluating the value of the underlying collateral. This impaired loan was settled in the second quarter of 2022, resulting in a charge-off of $451.

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NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This report contains references to financial measures that are not defined in GAAP. Such non-GAAP financial measures include the Company’s presentation of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent (FTE) basis, the presentation of the efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis, excluding certain income and expenses, loans, net of PPP loans, and the presentation of the allowance for loan losses ratio, excluding PPP loans. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to both management and investors to analyze and evaluate the Company’s financial performance. These measures are considered standard measures of comparison within the banking industry. Additionally, management believes providing measures on an FTE basis enhances the comparability of income arising from taxable and nontaxable sources. Limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures include the risks that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items included in these measures and that different companies might calculate these measures differently. These non-GAAP disclosures should not be considered an alternative to the Company’s GAAP results. The following table reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent basis, efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis, loans, net of PPP loans and allowance for loan losses ratio, excluding PPP loans to their most directly comparable measures under GAAP.

As and for the Years Ended December 31
202220212020
Reconciliation of net interest income and net interest margin on an FTE basis to GAAP:
Net interest income (GAAP)$91,740$95,059$82,833
Tax-equivalent adjustment(1)1,1221,202707
Net interest income on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)92,86296,26183,540
Average interest-earning assets3,361,0913,152,1382,614,342
Net interest margin on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)2.76%3.05%3.20%
Reconciliation of efficiency ratio on an FTE basis to GAAP:
Net interest income on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)$92,862$96,261$83,540
Noninterest income10,2089,7299,602
Adjustment for realized securities gains, net(51)(77)
Adjustment for losses on disposal of premises and equipment, net29849
Adjusted income103,099106,02393,074
Noninterest expense45,05143,38039,054
Efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis (non-GAAP)(2)43.70%40.91%41.96%
Reconciliation of allowance for loan losses ratio, excluding PPP loans:
Loans outstanding (GAAP)$2,742,836$2,456,196$2,280,575
Less: PPP loans(1,117)(22,206)(180,757)
Loans, net of PPP loans (non-GAAP)2,741,7192,433,9902,099,818
Allowance for loan losses25,47328,36429,436
Allowance for loan losses ratio, excluding PPP loans (non-GAAP)(3)0.93%1.17%1.40%

(1) Computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent, adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the financial results, as it enhances the comparability of income arising from taxable and nontaxable sources.

(2) The efficiency ratio expresses noninterest expense as a percent of fully taxable equivalent net interest income and noninterest income, excluding specific noninterest income and expenses. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the Company’s financial performance. It is a standard measure of comparison within the banking industry. A lower ratio is more desirable.

(3)    Management believes that presenting the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans excluding PPP loans is useful in assessing the credit quality of the Company’s core portfolio.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - 2022 COMPARED TO 2021

OVERVIEW

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $46,399, compared to $49,607 for the year ended December 31, 2021. Basic and diluted earnings per common share for 2022 were $2.79 and $2.76, respectively, and were $3.00 and $2.95, respectively for 2021.

The decrease in 2022 net income compared to 2021 was primarily due to a decrease in net interest income and an increase in noninterest expense, partially offset by a larger negative provision for loan losses and an increase in noninterest income. Net interest income declined $3,319, or 3.5 percent, in 2022 compared to 2021. The decrease in net interest income was primarily due to an increase in interest expense on deposits and borrowings due to rising rates, partially offset by an increase in interest income on loans and securities.

The Company recorded a negative provision for loan losses of $2,500 in 2022 compared to a negative provision for loan losses of $1,500 in 2021. The negative provision in 2022 was due to the reversal of a specific reserve on an impaired loan and the reduction of certain qualitative factors resulting from sustained performance of loans after the expiration of COVID-19 modifications and continued improvement in classified loans. The negative provision in 2021 was due to the reduction of certain qualitative factors resulting from improvement in economic conditions and lack of loan losses for the Company during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Noninterest income increased $479, or 4.9 percent, in 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to an increase in loan swap fees. Noninterest expense grew $1,671, or 3.9 percent, in 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to an increase in salaries and employee benefits, partially offset by a decrease in FDIC insurance expense.

The Company’s ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets decreased to 0.01 percent as of December 31, 2022, compared to 0.26 percent as of December 31, 2021. This decrease was primarily due to the settlement of an impaired loan in 2022. For more discussion on loan quality, see the “Loan Portfolio” and “Summary of the Allowance for Loan Losses” sections in this Item of this Form 10-K.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income decreased to $91,740 for 2022 from $95,059 for 2021, as the impact of the growth in average balances of interest-bearing liabilities and increase in average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities exceeded the effects of the growth in average balances of interest-earning assets and increase in average yields on interest-earning assets. The net interest margin for 2022 decreased 29 basis points to 2.76 percent compared to 3.05 percent for 2021. The average yield on earning assets increased by 26 basis points, while the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities increased by 71 basis points. For additional analysis of net interest income, see the section captioned “Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity; Interest Rates; and Interest Differential” in this Item of this Form 10-K.

Provision for Loan Losses and Loan Quality

The allowance for loan losses, which totaled $25,473 as of December 31, 2022, represented 0.93 percent of total loans and 7,910.87 percent of nonperforming loans at year end, compared to 1.15 percent and 316.99 percent, respectively, as of December 31, 2021. A negative provision for loan losses of $2,500 was recorded in 2022 compared to a negative provision of $1,500 in 2021. The negative provision in 2022 was due to the reduction of certain qualitative factors resulting from sustained performance of loans after the expiration of the COVID-19 modifications, continued improvement in classified loans and the reversal of a specific reserve on an impaired loan. The impaired loan, which had a specific reserve of $2,500, was settled in 2022, resulting in a charge-off of $451. The negative provision in 2021 was due to the reduction of certain qualitative factors resulting from improvements in economic conditions and lack of loan losses for the Company during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nonperforming loans at December 31, 2022 totaled $322, or 0.01 percent of total loans, a decrease from $8,948, or 0.36 percent of total loans, at December 31, 2021. The decrease in nonperforming loans at December 31, 2022, compared to December 31, 2021, was due to the settlement of an impaired loan in 2022 that previously had a $2,500 specific reserve. Nonperforming loans include loans on nonaccrual status, loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest, and loans that have been considered to be troubled debt restructured (TDR) due to the borrowers’ financial difficulties. The Company held no other real estate owned properties as of December 31, 2022 or 2021.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Noninterest Income

The following table shows the variance from the prior year in the noninterest income categories shown in the Consolidated Statements of Income. In addition, accounts within the “Other income” category that represent a significant portion of the total or a significant variance are shown.

Years ended December 31
Noninterest income:20222021ChangeChange %
Service charges on deposit accounts$2,194$2,352$(158)(6.7)%
Debit card usage fees1,9691,948211.1%
Trust services2,7092,671381.4%
Increase in cash value of bank-owned life insurance964923414.4%
Loan swap fees835667691,165.2%
Realized securities gains, net51(51)(100.0)%
Other income:
All other1,5371,718(181)(10.5)%
Total other income1,5371,718(181)(10.5)%
Total noninterest income$10,208$9,729$4794.9%

The increase in noninterest income in 2022 compared to 2021 was primarily due to loan swap fees of $835 earned in 2022 compared to $66 earned in 2021. Additionally, revenue from trust services increased in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to one-time estate fees earned in 2022. The decrease in other income for 2022 compared to 2021 was primarily due to the recognition of net swap termination gains totaling $181 in 2021. Interest rate swaps with a total notional amount of $150,000 were terminated and the pre-tax gains and losses were recorded in noninterest income. Additional information on interest rate swaps is included in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

Noninterest Expense

The following table shows the variance from the prior year in the noninterest expense categories shown in the Consolidated Statements of Income. In addition, accounts within the “Other expenses” category that represent a significant portion of the total or a significant variance are shown.

Years ended December 31
Noninterest expense:20222021ChangeChange %
Salaries and employee benefits$25,838$23,226$2,61211.2%
Occupancy4,9135,162(249)(4.8)%
Data processing2,5972,4651325.4%
Subscriptions and service contracts2,1371,77736020.3%
FDIC insurance9961,818(822)(45.2)%
Professional fees874946(72)(7.6)%
Director fees814765496.4%
Other expenses:
Business development1,14799914814.8%
Insurance expense71750221542.8%
Trust539593(54)(9.1)%
Consulting fees3393023712.3%
Marketing246224229.8%
Charitable contributions890(890)(100.0)%
Low income housing projects amortization540701(161)(23.0)%
New markets tax credit project amortization and management fees919919%
All other2,4352,09134416.5%
Total other6,8827,221(339)(4.7)%
Total noninterest expense$45,051$43,380$1,6713.9%

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Salaries and employee benefits increased in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to an increase in expense related to restricted stock units, the addition of five commercial bankers since the third quarter of 2021, and normal operating increases. Subscriptions and service contracts increased in 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to increases in information technology and information security solutions. FDIC insurance expense decreased in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to a reduction in the assessment rate resulting from capital injections into West Bank in December 2021 and June 2022.

Business development expenses increased in 2022 as business development efforts have normalized following the initial period of the pandemic with increased in-person activities, and the addition of five commercial bankers. Insurance expense increased in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to expenses incurred in 2022 related to bank buildings that are under construction.

Income Taxes

The Company records a provision for income tax expense currently payable, along with a provision for those taxes payable or refundable in the future (deferred taxes). Deferred taxes arise from differences in the timing of certain items for financial statement reporting compared to income tax reporting and are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Federal income tax expense for 2022 and 2021 was $9,165 and $9,833, respectively, while state income tax expense was approximately $3,833 and $3,468, respectively. The effective rate of income tax expense as a percent of income before income taxes was 21.9 percent and 21.2 percent, respectively, for 2022 and 2021. In 2022, income tax expense included a one-time increase in state income tax expense related to the June 2022 enactment of changes in the Iowa bank franchise tax rates. This legislation reduces the Iowa bank franchise tax rate applied to apportioned income for 2023 and future years. The future reduction in the state tax rate required the Company to reduce net deferred tax assets by $671 and in turn caused the one-time increase in 2022 tax expense.

The effective income tax rates differ from the federal statutory income tax rates primarily due to tax-exempt interest income, the tax-exempt increase in cash value of bank-owned life insurance, disallowed interest expense, stock compensation and state income taxes. The effective tax rate for both 2022 and 2021 was also impacted by federal income tax credits, including low income housing tax credits and a new markets tax credit from West Bank’s investment in a qualified community development entity, of approximately $1,468 and $1,368, respectively. The Company continues to maintain a valuation allowance against the tax effect of state net operating losses carryforwards as management believes it is likely that such carryforwards will expire without being utilized.

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DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY; INTEREST RATES; AND INTEREST DIFFERENTIAL

Average Balances and an Analysis of Average Rates Earned and Paid

The following table shows average balances and interest income or interest expense, with the resulting average yield or rate by category of average interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities for the years indicated. Interest income and the resulting net interest income are shown on a fully taxable basis. Interest expense includes the effect of interest rate swaps, if applicable.

202220212020
Average BalanceRevenue/ ExpenseYield/ RateAverage BalanceRevenue/ ExpenseYield/ RateAverage BalanceRevenue/ ExpenseYield/ Rate
Assets
Interest-earning assets:
Loans: (1) (2)
Commercial$487,151$22,7424.67%$525,228$23,3654.45%$566,593$22,3283.94%
Real estate (3)2,061,77784,5234.10%1,796,11872,5794.04%1,574,33968,4444.35%
Consumer and other5,7482824.91%4,1931824.34%6,2222724.36%
Total loans2,554,676107,5474.21%2,325,53996,1264.13%2,147,15491,0444.24%
Securities:
Taxable592,18612,5242.11%450,9108,5421.89%322,6957,8182.42%
Tax-exempt (3)155,8034,1972.69%141,8163,5222.48%55,5891,7743.19%
Total securities747,98916,7212.24%592,72612,0642.04%378,2849,5922.54%
Interest-bearing deposits58,4262030.35%233,8732920.12%88,9043040.34%
Total interest-earning assets (3)3,361,091124,4713.70%3,152,138108,4823.44%2,614,342100,9403.86%
Noninterest-earning assets:
Cash and due from banks23,84241,14153,874
Premises and equipment, net43,29931,29128,957
Other, less allowance for
loan losses80,55346,61242,610
Total noninterest-earning assets147,694119,044125,441
Total assets$3,508,785$3,271,182$2,739,783
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand$505,8892,4580.49%$477,9887690.16%$371,1537470.20%
Savings and money market1,452,03415,8141.09%1,413,8785,6410.40%1,128,6317,0080.62%
Time291,7324,3571.49%208,1641,5380.74%215,2243,5011.63%
Total deposits2,249,65522,6291.01%2,100,0307,9480.38%1,715,00811,2560.66%
Borrowed funds:
Federal funds purchased and
other short-term borrowings62,9011,7642.80%4,62050.11%4,397230.52%
Subordinated notes, net52,8732,8675.42%20,4581,0084.93%20,4451,0164.97%
Federal Home Loan Bank
advances128,8632,6692.07%140,2742,9442.10%178,1914,7052.64%
Long-term debt51,4891,6803.26%20,9953161.51%24,9124001.61%
Total borrowed funds296,1268,9803.03%186,3474,2732.29%227,9456,1442.70%
Total interest-bearing liabilities2,545,78131,6091.24%2,286,37712,2210.53%1,942,95317,4000.90%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
Demand deposits708,667709,009544,211
Other liabilities30,28431,78341,399
Stockholders’ equity224,053244,013211,220
Total liabilities and
stockholders’ equity$3,508,785$3,271,182$2,739,783
Net interest income (4)/net interest spread (3)$92,8622.46%$96,2612.91%$83,5402.96%
Net interest margin (3) (4)2.76%3.05%3.20%

(1)Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans. Interest income recognized on nonaccrual loans has been included.

(2)Interest income on loans includes amortization of loan fees and costs and prepayment penalties collected, which are not material.

(3)Tax-exempt income has been adjusted to a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent and is adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans.

(4)Net interest income (FTE) and net interest margin (FTE) are non-GAAP financial measures. For further information, refer to the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this Item.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Net Interest Income

The Company’s largest component of net income is net interest income, which is the difference between interest earned on interest-earning assets, consisting primarily of loans and securities, and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities, consisting of deposits and borrowings. Fluctuations in net interest income can result from the combination of changes in the balances of asset and liability categories and changes in interest rates. Interest rates earned and paid are also affected by general economic conditions, particularly changes in market interest rates, and by competitive factors, government policies and the actions of regulatory authorities. The Federal Reserve increased the target federal funds interest rate by a total of 425 basis points in 2022 and is expected to continue to raise the target federal funds rate in 2023. The magnitude and pace of increases in 2023 is unknown at this time. The increases in 2022 have had an impact on the Company’s net interest income and net interest margin and will impact the comparability of net interest income between 2022 and 2021.

Net interest margin is a measure of the net return on interest-earning assets and is computed by dividing annualized tax-equivalent net interest income by total average interest-earning assets for the period. For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, the Company’s net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis was 2.76, 3.05 and 3.20 percent, respectively. There was a decrease of $3,399 in tax-equivalent net interest income in 2022 compared to 2021.

Rate and Volume Analysis

The rate and volume analysis shown below, on a tax-equivalent basis, is used to determine how much of the change in interest income or expense is the result of a change in volume or a change in interest yield or rate. The change in interest that is due to both volume and rate has been allocated to the change due to volume and the change due to rate in proportion to the absolute value of the change in each.

2022 Compared to 20212021 Compared to 2020
VolumeRateTotalVolumeRateTotal
Interest Income
Loans: (1)
Commercial$(1,744)$1,121$(623)$(1,706)$2,743$1,037
Real estate (2)10,8771,06711,9449,189(5,054)4,135
Consumer and other7426100(88)(2)(90)
Total loans (including fees)9,2072,21411,4217,395(2,313)5,082
Securities:
Taxable2,9031,0793,9822,669(1,945)724
Tax-exempt (2)3633126752,218(470)1,748
Total securities3,2661,3914,6574,887(2,415)2,472
Interest-bearing deposits(335)246(89)269(281)(12)
Total interest income (2)12,1383,85115,98912,551(5,009)7,542
Interest Expense
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand471,6421,689190(168)22
Savings and money market15610,01710,1731,509(2,876)(1,367)
Time7952,0242,819(111)(1,852)(1,963)
Total deposits99813,68314,6811,588(4,896)(3,308)
Borrowed funds:
Federal funds purchased and
other short-term borrowings5911,1681,7591(19)(18)
Subordinated debt, net1,7481111,8591(9)(8)
Federal Home Loan Bank advances(237)(38)(275)(897)(864)(1,761)
Long-term debt7566081,364(60)(24)(84)
Total borrowed funds2,8581,8494,707(955)(916)(1,871)
Total interest expense3,85615,53219,388633(5,812)(5,179)
Net interest income (2) (3)$8,282$(11,681)$(3,399)$11,918$803$12,721

(1)Average balances of nonaccrual loans were included for computational purposes.

(2)Tax-exempt income has been converted to a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent and is adjusted for the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans.

(3)Net interest income (FTE) is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this Item.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Tax-equivalent interest income and fees on loans increased $11,421 for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 2021. The improvement was primarily due to an increase of $229,137 in the average balance of loans in 2022 compared to 2021. Additionally, the average yield on loans increased 8 basis points in 2022 compared to 2021. Average loan balances for the year ended December 31, 2022 included $5,656 of PPP loans, compared to average PPP loan balances of $98,593 for the year ended December 31, 2021. Interest income recognized on PPP loans, which includes the amortization of origination fees paid by the Small Business Administration (SBA), was $759 for the year ended December 31, 2022, resulting in a yield of 13.41 percent. Interest income recognized on PPP loans in 2021 was $6,731, resulting in a yield of 6.83 percent. Exclusive of PPP loans, the yield on loans was 4.19 percent and 4.01 percent for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase in the yield on loans was primarily due to the repricing of variable rate loans and loan growth and renewals in a rising rate environment.

The Company continues to focus on expanding existing and entering into new customer relationships while maintaining strong credit quality. The yield on the Company's loan portfolio is affected by the portfolio's loan mix, the interest rate environment, the effects of competition, the level of nonaccrual loans and reversals of previously accrued interest on charged-off loans. The yield on the loan portfolio is expected to increase in a rising rate environment as variable-rate loans and loan renewals reprice at higher rates. The political and economic environments can also influence the volume of new loan originations and the mix of variable-rate versus fixed-rate loans.

Tax-equivalent interest income on securities increased $4,657 for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 2021. The average balance of securities available for sale in 2022 was $155,263 higher than in 2021, primarily as a result of securities purchased during 2021 and 2022 to improve the yield on excess liquidity. The yield on available for sale securities increased by 20 basis points in 2022 compared to 2021.

Interest expense on deposits increased $14,681 for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 2021. The average balance of interest bearing deposits increased $149,625 in 2022 compared to 2021, which included an increase of average brokered deposits of $64,161. The rates paid on deposits increased 63 basis points in 2022 compared to 2021. The increase in the cost of deposits was primarily due to increases in short-term brokered deposit balances and other changes in deposit mix, increases in certain deposit rates in response to increases in the target federal funds rate and market interest rate competition. The Federal Reserve increased the targeted federal funds rate by a total of 425 basis points in 2022, which has had a direct impact on the cost of deposits and market competition. The cost of deposits will likely increase further in a rising rate environment.

Interest expense on borrowed funds increased $4,707 for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 2021. The average balance of borrowed funds increased $109,779 in 2022 compared to 2021. The rate paid on borrowed funds increased 74 basis points in 2022 compared to 2021. The Company increased variable-rate long-term debt by $34,500 in December 2021 and issued subordinated debt of $60,000 in June 2022. Average balances of federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings increased $58,281 in 2022 compared to 2021 to support loan growth. The average rate of these federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings increased by 269 basis points in 2022 compared to 2021. The cost of borrowed funds will likely increase further in a rising rate environment.

The Federal Reserve increased the target federal funds rate by a total of 425 basis points in 2022. The Federal Reserve may continue to make additional rate increases in 2023. These rate increases could improve reinvestment rates on loans and securities, but also increase the Company’s cost of deposits and borrowed funds and increase the unrealized losses in the Company’s securities portfolio.

SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

The balance of securities available for sale decreased by $94,707 as of December 31, 2022, compared to December 31, 2021. In the first quarter of 2022, the Company purchased securities to improve the yield on excess liquidity while monitoring duration and interest rate risk. The purchases were offset by principal paydowns and the change in the fair value of the portfolio, which declined $132,008 in 2022. The decline in fair value was the result of increases in market interest rates and is not an indication of declining credit quality. These unrealized losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax. Future increases in market interest rates could result in a further increase of the unrealized losses in the securities portfolio.

Securities available for sale as a percentage of total assets is elevated over historical levels which resulted from the deployment of excess liquidity during 2021 and 2022 to the securities portfolio as an earning asset alternative for excess liquidity from increased levels of core deposits. The Company expects the securities portfolio as a percentage of total assets to decrease over time as the proceeds from paydowns and maturities are used to fund loan growth.

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As of December 31, 2022, approximately 63 percent of the available for sale securities portfolio consisted of government agency guaranteed collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities. Those securities have little to no credit risk and provide cash flows for liquidity and repricing opportunities. All collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities consist of residential and commercial mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations guaranteed by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), or the SBA. The securities issued by state and political subdivisions are diversified among municipalities in 26 states.

The following table sets forth the weighted average yield by contractual maturity by security type as of December 31, 2022. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. The collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities have monthly paydowns that are not reflected in the table.

Within one yearAfter one year but within five yearsAfter five years but within ten yearsAfter ten yearsTotal
Securities available for sale:
State and political subdivisions (1)%%1.85%2.39%2.35%
Collateralized mortgage obligations2.481.671.68
Mortgage-backed securities1.611.721.69
Collateralized loan obligations5.895.89
Corporate notes3.263.26
%%3.35%1.91%2.11%

(1)    Yields on tax-exempt obligations have been computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent and are adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt investment securities.

As of December 31, 2022, the gross unrealized losses of $138,736 in the Company’s securities portfolio were considered to be temporary in nature due to market interest rate fluctuations, not reduced estimated cash flows. The Company has the ability and the intent to hold the related securities with unrealized losses for a period of time sufficient to allow for a recovery, which may be at maturity. However, management may decide to sell securities with unrealized losses at a future date for liquidity purposes, or to manage interest rate risk.

For additional information regarding the Company’s securities portfolio, see Note 3 and Note 18 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

LOAN PORTFOLIO

The Company seeks to create growth in commercial lending, which primarily includes commercial real estate, multi-family, and commercial and industrial lending, by offering customer-focused products and competitive pricing and by capitalizing on the positive trends in its market areas. It is the objective of the Company’s credit policies to diversify the commercial loan portfolio to limit concentrations in any single industry. As of December 31, 2022, the majority of all loans were originated directly by West Bank to borrowers within West Bank’s market areas. As of December 31, 2022, total loans were approximately 95.2 percent of total deposits and 75.9 percent of total assets.

Loans outstanding at the end of 2022 increased 11.7 percent compared to the end of 2021. Changes in the loan portfolio during 2022 included increases of $241,722 in commercial real estate loans and $26,381 in commercial loans. Exclusive of PPP loans, loan growth in 2022 was $307,729, or 12.6 percent. The Company continues to focus on business development efforts in all of its markets. We believe that loan growth could slow down in 2023 as a result of uncertainty and diversity in economic outlooks, labor and wage challenges and the impact of higher interest rates on overall cash flows and debt service capabilities.

For a description of the loan segments, see Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The interest rates charged on loans vary with the degree of risk and the amount and terms of the loan. Competitive pressures, the creditworthiness of the borrower, market interest rates, the availability of funds, and government regulations further influence the rate charged on a loan.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The Company follows a loan policy approved by West Bank’s Board of Directors. The loan policy is reviewed at least annually and is updated as considered necessary. The policy establishes lending limits, review criteria and other guidelines for loan administration and the allowance for loan losses, among other things. Loans are approved in accordance with the applicable guidelines and underwriting policies. Loans to any one borrower are limited by state banking laws. Loan officer lending authorities vary according to the individual loan officer’s experience and expertise.

As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, there were no loans that were past due 30 days or more.

Nonperforming loans declined to $322 at December 31, 2022, compared to $8,948 at December 31, 2021. The decrease was due to the settlement of an impaired loan in 2022. The nonperforming loans at December 31, 2022 and 2021 consisted of one and two borrowing relationships, respectively.

The watch classification of loans decreased to $54,231 as of December 31, 2022 from $64,025 as of December 31, 2021. The decrease was primarily due to the improvement in risk rating for a previously classified commercial real estate loan. This relationship was upgraded primarily due to the sustained improvement in financial performance.

Loans Secured by Real Estate

The commercial real estate market continues to be a significant source of business for West Bank. Management places a strong emphasis on monitoring the composition of the Company’s commercial real estate loan portfolio. The Company has an established lending policy which includes a number of underwriting factors to be considered in making a commercial real estate loan, including, but not limited to, location, loan-to-value ratio (LTV), cash flow, collateral and the credit history of the borrower. The lending policy also includes guidelines for real estate appraisals and evaluations, including minimum appraisal and evaluation standards.

Although repayment risk exists on all loans, different factors influence repayment risk for each type of loan. The primary risks associated with commercial real estate loans are the quality of the borrower’s management and the health of the national and regional economies. Underwriting on commercial properties is primarily based on the economic viability of the project with heavy consideration given to the creditworthiness and experience of the borrower. Recognizing that debt is paid via cash flow, the projected cash flows of the project are critical in underwriting because these determine the ultimate value of the property and the ability to service debt. Therefore, in most commercial real estate projects, we generally require a minimum stabilized debt service coverage ratio of 1.20 to 1.35, depending on the real estate type. Exceptions to this policy can be made for certain borrowers that exhibit other credit quality strengths. Exceptions to the policy are monitored by management. Our strategy with respect to the management of these types of risks is to consistently follow prudent loan policies and underwriting practices.

The Company recognizes that a diversified loan portfolio contributes to reducing risk. The specific loan portfolio mix is subject to change based on loan demand, the business environment and various economic factors. The Company actively monitors concentrations within the loan portfolio to ensure appropriate diversification is maintained. In addition, management tracks the level of owner occupied commercial real estate loans versus non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans. Owner occupied commercial real estate loans are generally considered to have less risk than non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans.

In accordance with regulatory guidelines, the Company exercises heightened risk management practices when non-owner occupied commercial real estate lending exceeds 300 percent of total risk-based capital or construction, land development, and other land loans exceed 100 percent of total risk-based capital. Although the Company’s loan portfolio is heavily concentrated in real estate and its real estate portfolio levels exceed these regulatory guidelines, it has established risk management policies and procedures to regularly monitor the commercial real estate portfolio.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Commercial loans secured by real estate, including construction, land and land development, totaled $2,134,954, or 77.7 percent of total loans, at December 31, 2022. Non-owner occupied commercial real estate loan concentrations and the weighted average LTV by property type as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 are shown in the following table. LTV is determined using the maximum credit exposure of the loan compared to the most recent appraisal data on the property obtained in accordance with the Company’s lending policies.

As of December 31
20222021
Balance% of CRE non-owner occupied PortfolioWeighted Average LTVBalance% of CRE non-owner occupied PortfolioWeighted Average LTV
Non-owner occupied:
Multifamily$371,22421.0%69%$435,09727.8%71%
Medical & senior care facilities249,12714.165220,72614.159
Warehouse & trucking169,4629.667153,0229.869
Hotels216,53912.368203,96713.068
Mixed use100,9855.76772,0394.663
Offices139,1637.971134,1068.670
Land for development114,4286.56296,6876.263
All other405,26122.9not available249,26515.9not available
$1,766,189100.0%$1,564,909100.0%

The following table summarizes non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans by property type by risk rating as of December 31, 2022. Risk ratings are defined in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

As of December 31, 2022
Risk Rating
Total1-345678
Non-owner occupied:
Multifamily$371,224$25,451$263,872$81,901$$$
Medical & senior care facilities249,12793,983127,33727,807
Warehouse & trucking169,46257,15796,86615,439
Hotel216,53992,22778,85645,456
Mixed use100,98512,72357,07923,5137,670
Offices139,16316,549103,68418,930
Land for development114,4282,621107,9963,76447
All other405,26171,374330,0673,820
$1,766,189$279,858$1,179,128$254,030$53,173$$

As of December 31, 2022, there were no non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans that were past due 30 days or more.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Maturities of Loans

The contractual maturities of the Company’s loan portfolio are shown in the following tables. Actual repayments may differ from contractual maturities because individual borrowers may have the right to prepay loans with or without prepayment penalties.

As of December 31, 2022
Within one yearAfter one but within five yearsAfter five but within 15 yearsAfter 15 yearsTotal
Commercial$179,987$229,801$96,118$13,290$519,196
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development190,273158,33314,408363,014
1-4 family residential first mortgages6,76464,9213,52675,211
Home equity3,4806,84210,322
Commercial62,8171,005,599665,67737,8471,771,940
Consumer and other5,0962,1967,292
$448,417$1,467,692$779,729$51,137$2,746,975
After one but within five yearsAfter five but within 15 yearsAfter 15 years
Loan maturities after one year with:
Fixed rates
Commercial$148,531$56,042$
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development112,1929,078
1-4 family residential first mortgages62,4251,681
Home equity1,035
Commercial964,167444,02512,326
Consumer and other1,805
Total fixed-rate loans1,290,155510,82612,326
Variable rates
Commercial81,27040,07613,290
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development46,1415,330
1-4 family residential first mortgages2,4961,845
Home equity5,807
Commercial41,432221,65225,521
Consumer and other391
Total variable-rate loans177,537268,90338,811
$1,467,692$779,729$51,137

SUMMARY OF THE ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

The provision for loan losses represents charges made to earnings to maintain an adequate allowance for loan losses. The adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is evaluated quarterly by management and reviewed by the Board of Directors. The allowance for loan losses is management’s best estimate of probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date.

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Factors considered in establishing an appropriate allowance include: the borrower’s financial condition; the value and adequacy of loan collateral; the condition of the local economy and the borrower’s specific industry; the levels and trends of loans by segment; and a review of delinquent and classified loans. The quarterly evaluation focuses on factors such as specific loan reviews, changes in the components of the loan portfolio given economic conditions, and historical loss experience. Any one of the following conditions may result in the review of a specific loan: concern about whether the customer’s cash flow or net worth is sufficient to repay the loan; delinquency status; criticism of the loan in a regulatory examination; the suspension of interest accrual; or other factors, including whether the loan has other special or unusual characteristics that suggest special monitoring is warranted. The Company’s concentration risks include geographic concentration in central and eastern Iowa and southern Minnesota. The local economies are composed primarily of agriculture, financial service and health care industries, and state and county governments.

West Bank has a significant portion of its loan portfolio in commercial real estate loans, commercial lines of credit, commercial term loans, and construction and land development loans. West Bank’s typical commercial borrower is a small- or medium-sized, privately owned business entity. Compared to residential mortgages or consumer loans, commercial loans typically have larger balances and repayment usually depends on the borrowers’ successful business operations. Commercial loans also generally are not fully repaid over the loan period and, thus, may require refinancing or a large payoff at maturity. When the general economy turns downward, commercial borrowers may not be able to repay their loans, and the value of their assets, which are usually pledged as collateral, may decrease rapidly and significantly.

While management uses available information to recognize losses on loans, further reduction in the carrying amounts of loans may be necessary based on changes in circumstances, changes in the overall economy in the markets we currently serve, or later acquired information. Identifiable sectors within the general economy are subject to additional volatility, which at any time may have a substantial impact on the loan portfolio. In addition, regulatory agencies, as integral parts of their examination processes, periodically review the credit quality of the loan portfolio and the level of the allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require West Bank to recognize additional losses based on such agencies’ review of information available to them at the time of their examinations.

The following table shows the ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries to loans outstanding, broken out by loan segment, along with ratios of the allowance and nonaccrual loans to total loans at the end of the period.

Analysis of the Allowance for Loan Losses for the Years Ended December 31
202220212020
Ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries during the
period to average loans outstanding by segment:
Commercial%0.02%%
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development
1-4 family residential first mortgages
Home equity
Commercial(0.02)%
Consumer and other
Total(0.02)%0.02%0.01%
Ratio of allowance for loan losses to total
loans at the end of period0.93%1.15%1.29%
Ratio of allowance for loan losses to total
loans at the end of period, excluding PPP
loans(1)0.93%1.17%1.40%
Ratio of nonaccrual loans to total loans at
end of period0.01%0.36%0.71%
Ratio of allowance for loan losses to total
nonaccrual loans at the end of period7,910.87%316.99%181.77%
Ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries to total
loans at end of period(0.01)%0.02%0.01%

(1) As presented, this is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this item.

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Breakdown of Allowance for Loan Losses by Category

The following table sets forth information concerning the Company’s allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan segment as of the dates indicated.

As of December 31
202220212020
Amount%*Amount%*Amount%*
Balance at end of
period applicable to:
Commercial$4,80418.90%$4,77620.03%$4,71826.40%
Real estate:
Construction, land
and land development3,54813.213,64614.602,63410.32
1-4 family residential
first mortgages3572.743392.693602.58
Home equity1010.38910.341140.41
Commercial16,57564.5019,46662.1921,53560.04
Consumer and other880.27460.15750.25
$25,473100.00%$28,364100.00%$29,436100.00%

* Percent of loans in each category to total loans.

The allocation of the allowance for loan losses is dependent upon the change in balances outstanding in the various categories; the historical net loss experience by category, which can vary over time; specific reserves for loans considered impaired; and management’s assessment of economic and other qualitative factors that may influence potential losses in the loan portfolio. The U.S. economy continues to be affected by the Federal Reserve’s accommodative monetary policies initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current economic concerns include the impact of sharp increases in interest rates as the Federal Reserve responds to inflationary trends, labor shortages and wage pressures, and the uncertainty of additional increases in the Federal Reserve target federal funds rate. In response to increasing inflation rates, the Federal Reserve increased the target federal funds rate by a total of 425 basis points in 2022. Additional rate increases are expected to occur in 2023. The Company decreased certain qualitative factors used in the allowance for loan losses evaluation in 2022 based upon the sustained performance of loans after the expiration of COVID-19 modifications and continued improvement in classified loans, no past due loans over 30 days, and the settlement of an impaired loan in 2022 that previously had a $2,500 specific reserve. This resulted in a negative provision for 2022.

As of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were $0 and $2,500 in specific reserves related to loans individually evaluated for impairment, respectively. The specific reserve in 2021 resulted from the downgrade in credit quality of one borrower due to the severe economic impact of COVID-19 on its business. This impaired loan was settled in 2022, resulting in a net charge-off of $451. The portion of the allowance for loan losses related to loans collectively evaluated for impairment decreased $391 to a total of $25,473, or 0.93 percent of outstanding loans, as of December 31, 2022 compared to $25,864, or 1.05 percent of outstanding loans, as of December 31, 2021. Based upon the quarterly evaluations, management determined a provision for loan losses of negative $2,500 was appropriate for the year ended December 31, 2022. This negative provision was due to the reversal of a specific reserve on an impaired loan and the sustained performance of loans after the expiration of COVID-19 modifications and continued improvement in classified loans. Management believed the allowance for loan losses as of December 31, 2022 was adequate to absorb the losses inherent in the loan portfolio.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326). The amendments in this update require a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. Under the update, the income statement will reflect the measurement of credit losses for newly recognized financial assets, as well as the estimated increases or decreases of expected credit losses that have taken place during the period. The amendment requires enhanced disclosures to help financial statement users better understand significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, in addition to the credit quality of the Company’s portfolio.

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The Company adopted the CECL standard effective January 1, 2023. During the first quarter of 2023, the Company will finalize all internal processes related to the adoption of CECL. The Company will also recognize a one-time cumulative effect adjustment to the allowance for credit losses in the first quarter of 2023 with the offset to retained earnings, net of tax. Based on preliminary projections, the Company is estimating an increase to the allowance for credit losses, including the allowance for unfunded commitments, of between $4,500 and $5,500 upon adoption. The Company does not expect a material allowance for credit losses to be recorded on the available for sale securities portfolio under the newly codified CECL model. See Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the Company’s adoption of CECL.

Additional details on the allowance for loan losses are included in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

DEPOSITS

Deposits totaled $2,880,408 as of December 31, 2022, which was 4.5 percent lower than the total as of December 31, 2021. Deposit inflows and outflows are influenced by prevailing market interest rates, competition, local and national economic conditions, and fluctuations in our business customers’ own liquidity needs. The decline in deposit balances was primarily due to customers using their own liquidity to fund business transactions, instead of incurring debt, and customers seeking higher yielding investment options. A large corporate customer completed significant business transactions during 2022 that were funded by accumulated cash balances, accounting for a significant portion of the decrease in deposits. Also, large core depositors who had accumulated excess discretionary balances sought higher yields in Treasury securities and other investment options primarily as a result of the sharp increase in shorter term interest rates.

At December 31, 2022, the Company had $272,691 in brokered deposits, compared to $176,008 at December 31, 2021. Brokered deposits included fixed-rate time deposits with maturities through September 2024 and variable-rate deposits with terms through February 2024. Brokered deposits are utilized, along with other wholesale funding sources, to fund loan growth and offset core deposit outflows.

The following table sets forth the average balances for each major category of deposits and the weighted average interest rate paid for those deposits during the years indicated.

Years ended December 31
202220212020
AverageAverageAverageAverageAverageAverage
BalanceRateBalanceRateBalanceRate
Noninterest-bearing demand$708,667%$709,009%$544,211%
Interest-bearing demand:
Reward Me checking54,6410.1252,9600.0847,4350.15
Insured cash sweep139,8070.80125,4020.3494,0420.46
Other interest-bearing demand311,4410.41299,6260.10229,6770.11
Money market:
Insured cash sweep323,9701.01308,1360.36266,8370.60
Other money market967,9531.26959,3140.45737,8010.70
Savings160,1110.24146,4280.14123,9930.18
Time291,7321.49208,1640.74215,2241.63
$2,958,322$2,809,039$2,259,220

Management expects the average interest rates on deposits will increase in 2023 as the Federal Reserve increased the target federal funds rate throughout 2022 by a total of 425 basis points and is expected to continue to increase the target federal funds rate in 2023. To limit the Company’s exposure to market interest rate changes, interest rate swaps are in place on $110,000 of deposit balances that effectively convert certain customer deposits with variable rates to fixed-rate instruments.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following table shows the amounts and remaining maturities of time certificates of deposit with balances of $100 or more as of December 31, 2022.

3 months or less$146,167
Over 3 through 6 months110,865
Over 6 through 12 months116,934
Over 12 months8,885
$382,851

Approximately 91 percent of the total time deposits issued by West Bank mature in the next year, including brokered time deposits. It is anticipated that a significant portion of these time deposits will be renewed. In the event a substantial volume of core time deposits is not renewed, management believes the Company has sufficient liquid assets and borrowing lines to offset the potential runoff.

We participate in a reciprocal deposit network which enables depositors to receive FDIC insurance coverage for deposits otherwise exceeding the maximum insurable amount. We consider these reciprocal deposits to be in-market deposits as distinguished from traditional out-of-market brokered deposits. Time deposits as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, included $122,915 and $92,210, respectively, of reciprocal deposits. Included in total deposits as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, were $155,888 and $178,366, respectively, of reciprocal interest-bearing checking and $186,160 and $412,027, respectively, of reciprocal money market deposits.

The following table shows the portion of time deposits in excess of the insurance limit by maturity.

3 months or less$99,763
Over 3 through 6 months66,873
Over 6 through 12 months53,735
Over 12 months2,002
$222,373

Total uninsured deposits were $1,412,955, $1,312,933 and $1,297,848 as of December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

BORROWED FUNDS

The fluctuation in the balances of federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings is based on customer loan and deposit activity and the Company’s balance sheet management objectives, which from time to time may require the Company to draw on the federal funds purchased lines with our correspondent banks or FHLB advances. Federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings increased from $2,880 as of December 31, 2021 to $200,000 as of December 31, 2022. The $200,000 as of December 31, 2022 was comprised of overnight and short-term FHLB advances.

The Company had $155,000 of short-term FHLB advances outstanding at December 31, 2022 associated with long-term interest rate swaps. The Company has entered into long-term interest rate swap agreements with a total notional amount of $155,000 to hedge the interest payments of one-month rolling funding consisting of FHLB advances or brokered deposits. These interest rate swaps have maturity dates ranging from September 2023 through June 2029 and fixed rates ranging from 1.63 percent to 3.64 percent. This strategy of hedging short-term rolling funding effectively provides fixed cost wholesale funding through the maturity dates of the various interest rate swaps.

On December 15, 2021, the Company entered into a credit agreement with an unaffiliated commercial bank and borrowed $40,000. This credit agreement replaced a prior credit agreement with the same commercial bank that had a remaining balance of $5,500. The additional borrowing was used to make a capital injection into the Company’s subsidiary, West Bank. Interest is payable quarterly. Required quarterly principal payments begin in May 2023. The Company may make additional principal payments without penalty. The interest rate is variable at the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate minus 1.00 percent, which was 6.50 percent as of December 31, 2022.

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On June 14, 2022, the Company issued $60,000 of subordinated notes (Notes). The Notes initially bear interest at 5.25 percent per annum, with interest payable semi-annually for the first five years of the Notes. Beginning June 15, 2027, the interest rate will reset quarterly to a floating rate per annum that is expected to be three-month term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus 2.41 percent, with payments due quarterly. The Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, on and after June 15, 2027 at a price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Notes will mature on June 15, 2032 if they are not earlier redeemed. Proceeds from this debt issuance were used to make a $58,650 capital injection into West Bank, the Company’s subsidiary.

The Company has an interest rate swap with a notional amount of $20,000 which converts variable-rate subordinated debentures to fixed-rate debt. The interest rate is a variable rate based on the 3-month LIBOR plus 3.05 percent. This interest rate swap has a fixed rate of 4.81 percent and matures in September 2026.

West Bank’s new markets tax credit special purpose subsidiary has a credit agreement for $11,486. Interest is payable monthly over the term of the agreement with an interest rate of 1.00 percent. Monthly principal payments begin in January 2026, and the agreement matures in December 2048.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

In the normal course of business, West Bank commits to extend credit in the form of loan commitments and standby letters of credit in order to meet the financing needs of its customers. These commitments expose West Bank to varying degrees of credit and market risks in excess of the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets and are subject to the same credit policies as are the loans recorded on the balance sheets.

West Bank’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. West Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. Commitments to lend are subject to borrowers’ continuing compliance with existing credit agreements. Management of the Company does not expect any significant losses as a result of these commitments. Off-balance sheet commitments are more fully discussed in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The objectives of liquidity management are to ensure the availability of sufficient cash flows to meet all financial commitments and to capitalize on opportunities for profitable business expansion. The Company’s principal source of funds is deposits. Other sources include loan principal repayments, proceeds from the maturity and sale of investment securities, principal payments on amortizing securities, federal funds purchased, advances from the FHLB, other wholesale funding and funds provided by operations. Liquidity management is conducted on both a daily and a long-term basis. Investments in liquid assets are adjusted based on expected loan demand, projected loan and securities maturities and payments, expected deposit flows and the objectives set by West Bank’s asset-liability management policy.

Our deposit growth strategy emphasizes core deposit growth. Deposit inflows and outflows can vary widely and are influenced by prevailing market interest rates, competition, local and national economic conditions and fluctuations in our corporate customers’ and municipal customers’ own liquidity needs. The Company may utilize brokered deposits to supplement core deposit fluctuations and loan growth. Brokered deposits are obtained through various programs administered by IntraFi, including IntraFi Network Deposits and IntraFi Funding, and through other third parties. At December 31, 2022, the Company had $272,691 in brokered deposits, which included fixed-rate time deposits with maturities through September 2024 and variable-rate deposits with terms through February 2024.

As of December 31, 2022, West Bank had additional borrowing capacity available from the FHLB of approximately $372,000, as well as approximately $3,830 at the Federal Reserve discount window and $67,000 through unsecured federal funds lines of credit with correspondent banks. West Bank had no amounts outstanding at the Federal Reserve discount window or under the unsecured federal funds lines as of December 31, 2022. Net cash from continuing operating activities contributed $59,439, $57,878 and $42,285 to liquidity for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Management believed that the combination of high levels of potentially liquid assets, cash flows from operations and additional borrowing capacity provided the Company with sufficient liquidity as of December 31, 2022.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

West Bank has entered into a construction contract for the construction of a new headquarters building in West Des Moines, Iowa. West Bank will pay the contractor a contract price consisting of the cost of work plus a fee, subject to a guaranteed maximum price of $42,309, with anticipated construction completed in 2024. As of December 31, 2022, $7,371 had been paid under this construction contract. Additionally, West Bank began construction of a new office in Mankato, Minnesota in 2022, which had a remaining construction commitment of $6,520 as of December 31, 2022.

The Company’s total stockholders’ equity decreased to $211,112 as of December 31, 2022 from $260,328 as of December 31, 2021. The decrease was primarily the result of the increased accumulated other comprehensive loss, partially offset by net income less dividends paid. At December 31, 2022, tangible common equity as a percent of tangible assets was 5.84 percent compared to 7.44 percent as of December 31, 2021. The increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss was the result of the negative effect that rising interest rates have had on the market value adjustment of our available for sale securities portfolio. While accumulated other comprehensive losses reduce tangible common equity, they have no impact on regulatory capital. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had no intangible assets.

The Company and West Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal and state banking agencies. Capital requirements are more fully discussed under the heading “Supervision and Regulation” included in Item 1 and in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. As of December 31, 2022, the Company and West Bank met all capital adequacy requirements to which they were subject, and the Company’s and West Bank’s capital ratios were in excess of the requirements to be well-capitalized under capital regulations. Also, as of December 31, 2022, the ratios for the Company and West Bank were sufficient to meet the capital conservation buffer.

EFFECTS OF NEW STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

A discussion of the effects of new financial accounting standards and developments as they relate to the Company is located in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

FY 2021 10-K MD&A

SEC filing source: 0001166928-22-000019.

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Published MD&A gate trimmed front/tail over-capture. Confidence: high. Filing date: 2022-02-24. Report date: 2021-12-31.

ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

INTRODUCTION

The Company’s financial highlights and key performance measures are presented in the table below.

As of and for the Years Ended December 31
202120202019
Performance Ratios
Return on average assets1.52%1.19%1.20%
Return on average equity20.33%15.49%14.34%
Efficiency ratio (1)(2)40.91%41.96%50.96%
Texas ratio (1)(3)3.10%6.40%0.23%
Net interest margin(2)3.05%3.20%2.95%
Dividends and Per Share Data
Basic earnings per common share$3.00$1.99$1.75
Diluted earnings per common share2.951.981.74
Cash dividends per common share0.940.840.83
Dividend payout ratio31.33%42.23%47.33%
Dividend yield3.03%4.35%3.24%
Operating Results and Year-End Balances
Net income$49,607$32,712$28,690
Total assets3,500,2013,185,7442,473,691
Securities available for sale758,822420,571398,578
Loans2,456,1962,280,5751,941,663
Deposits3,016,0052,700,9942,014,756
Borrowings199,866222,385225,388
Stockholders’ equity260,328223,695211,820
Average equity to average assets ratio7.46%7.71%8.38%

Definition of ratios:

•Return on average assets - net income divided by average assets.

•Return on average equity - net income divided by average equity.

•Efficiency ratio - noninterest expense (excluding other real estate owned expense and write-down of premises) divided by noninterest income (excluding net securities gains/losses and gains/losses on disposition of premises and equipment) plus tax-equivalent net interest income.

•Texas ratio - total nonperforming assets divided by tangible common equity plus the allowance for loan losses.

•Net interest margin - tax-equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

•Dividend payout ratio - dividends paid to common stockholders divided by net income.

•Dividend yield - dividends per share paid to common stockholders divided by closing year-end stock price.

•Average equity to average assets ratio - average equity divided by average assets.

(1) A lower ratio is better.

(2) As presented, this is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the section "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" of this item.

(3) As of December 31.

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The Company’s 2021 net income was $49,607 compared to $32,712 in 2020. Net income for 2021 was a record for the Company. Basic and diluted earnings per common share for 2021 were $3.00 and $2.95, respectively, compared to $1.99 and $1.98, respectively, in 2020. During 2021, we paid our common stockholders $15,543 ($0.94 per common share) in dividends compared to $13,815 ($0.84 per common share) in 2020. The dividend declared and paid in the first quarter of 2022 was $0.25 per common share compared to $0.24 per common share for the fourth quarter of 2021, and was the highest quarterly dividend ever paid by the Company.

Our loan portfolio grew to $2,456,196 as of December 31, 2021, from $2,280,575 as of December 31, 2020. Loans included $22,206 of PPP loans as of December 31, 2021, compared to $180,757 as of December 31, 2020. Deposits increased to $3,016,005 as of December 31, 2021, from $2,700,994 as of December 31, 2020. The growth in deposit balances was primarily due to changes in customer behavior as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and our customers’ desire to retain liquidity, as well as a result of additional funds provided to individuals and businesses by government relief programs. The increase in deposit balances had a direct impact on our asset balances and liquidity position during 2021 as funds were deployed in loan originations, investment security purchases and federal funds sold.     Total assets were $3,500,201 at December 31, 2021, compared to $3,185,744 at December 31, 2020, a 9.9 percent increase.

The Company compares three key performance metrics to those of an identified peer group for evaluating its results. The peer group for 2021 consists of 20 Midwestern, publicly traded financial institutions including Bank First Corporation, Civista Bancshares, Inc., CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc., Equity Bancshares, Inc., Farmers National Banc Corp., Farmers & Merchants Bancorp., First Business Financial Services, Inc., First Financial Corp., First Mid Bancshares, Inc., German American Bancorp, Inc., Hills Bancorporation, Isabella Bank Corporation, LCNB Corp., Level One Bancorp, Inc., Macatawa Bank Corporation, Mercantile Bank Corporation, MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc., Nicolet Bankshares, Inc., Peoples Bancorp, Inc., and Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc. The Company is in the middle of the group in terms of asset size. The Company's goal is to perform at or near the top of this peer group relative to what we consider to be three key metrics: return on average equity, efficiency ratio and average Texas ratio. We believe these measures encompass the factors that define the performance of a community bank. Company and peer results for the key financial performance measures are summarized below.

West Bancorporation, Inc.Peer Group Range
As of and for the year ended December 31, 2021As of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 (2)
Return on average equity20.33%4.43% - 17.00%
Efficiency ratio* (1)40.91%42.88% - 64.71%
Texas ratio* (3)5.26%1.95% - 17.29%
* A lower ratio is better.

(1)    As presented, this is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this Item.

(2)    Latest data available.

(3)    The Texas ratios reported in this table are the average of the quarter-end Texas ratios for the respective periods presented.

Our earnings outlook is positive, and we have strong capital resources. We anticipate the Company will be profitable in 2022 at a level that compares with that of our peers. The amount of our future profit is dependent, in large part, on our ability to continue to grow the loan portfolio, the amount of loan losses we incur, fluctuations in market interest rates and the strength of the local and national economy. We continue to monitor the impact COVID-19 is having on the local economies we operate in and the uncertainty of the long-term ramifications to our customers and operations. Current considerations include the lasting effects of government aid programs as stimulus packages taper, the ability to control COVID-19 variants globally, increasing inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions and labor shortages.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Bank lowered its rates on all deposit products and experienced an immediate positive impact on our cost of deposits. We responded to lower market rates for lending by lowering rates offered on our loan products. Given the rates offered by the Bank in 2021 on new loans and prepayments on existing loans, the yield on the total loan portfolio continued to decrease. With significant cash inflows realized from growth in deposit balances and forgiveness of PPP loans, the yields on reinvested funds into new securities were lower than existing investment portfolio yields. If short term rates increase in 2022, as the Federal Reserve has indicated, that could improve reinvestment rates for loans and investments and it could increase our cost of deposits and borrowed funds.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following discussion describes the consolidated operations and financial condition of the Company, including its subsidiary West Bank and West Bank’s special purpose subsidiaries. Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 are compared to the results for the year ended December 31, 2020 and the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of December 31, 2021 is compared to December 31, 2020. Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the results for the year ended December 31, 2019 can be found in Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Company’s 2020 annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2021.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

This report is based on the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with GAAP established by the FASB. The preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. These estimates are based upon historical experience and on various other assumptions that management believes are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Based on its consideration of accounting policies that involve the most complex and subjective estimates and judgments, management has identified its most critical accounting policies to be those related to the fair value of financial instruments and the allowance for loan losses.

The fair value of a financial instrument is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the market in which the reporting entity transacts business. A framework has been established for measuring the fair value of financial instruments that considers the attributes specific to particular assets or liabilities and includes a three-level hierarchy for determining fair value based on the transparency of inputs to each valuation as of the measurement date. The Company estimates the fair value of financial instruments using a variety of valuation methods. When financial instruments are actively traded and have quoted market prices, quoted market prices are used for fair value and are classified as Level 1. When financial instruments, such as securities and derivatives, are not actively traded, the Company determines fair value based on various sources and may apply matrix pricing with observable prices for similar instruments where a price for the identical instrument is not observable. The fair values of these financial instruments, which are classified as Level 2, are determined by pricing models that consider observable market data such as interest rate volatilities, yield curves, credit spreads, prices from external market data providers and/or nonbinding broker-dealer quotations. When observable inputs do not exist, the Company estimates fair value based on available market data, and these values are classified as Level 3. Imprecision in estimating fair values can impact the carrying value of assets and the amount of revenue or loss recorded.

The allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense. Loans are charged against the allowance for loan losses when management believes that collectability of the principal is unlikely. The Company has policies and procedures for evaluating the overall credit quality of its loan portfolio, including timely identification of potential problem loans. On a quarterly basis, management reviews the appropriate level for the allowance for loan losses, incorporating a variety of risk considerations, both quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative factors include the Company’s historical loss experience. Qualitative factors include the general economic environment in the Company’s market areas and the expected trend of those economic conditions, delinquency and charge-off trends, collateral values, known information about individual loans and other factors. While management uses the best information available to make its evaluation, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary if there are significant changes in economic conditions or the other factors considered. To the extent that actual results differ from forecasts and management’s judgment, the allowance for loan losses may be greater or less than future charge-offs.

The measurement of the allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2021 included quantitative and qualitative factors. The historical net loan loss experience had virtually no impact on the measurement of the allowance for loan losses as West Bank has had cumulative net loan recoveries over the past five years. Management’s assessment of qualitative factors applied to loans collectively evaluated for impairment were influenced by economic conditions, trends in past due and classified loans and loan mix. The portion of the allowance for loan losses related to loans collectively evaluated for impairment decreased $572 to a total of $25,864, or 1.05 percent of outstanding loans, as of December 31, 2021 compared to $26,436, or 1.16 percent of outstanding loans, as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2021, there were $2,500 in specific reserves related to loans individually evaluated for impairment compared to $3,000 as of December 31, 2020. The specific reserves in both periods were related to the credit quality of one borrower due to the severe economic impact of COVID-19 on its business. The specific impairment was determined after evaluating the value of the underlying collateral.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This report contains references to financial measures that are not defined in GAAP. Such non-GAAP financial measures include the Company’s presentation of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent (FTE) basis, the presentation of the efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis, excluding certain income and expenses, loans, net of PPP loans, and the presentation of the allowance for loan losses ratio, excluding PPP loans. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to both management and investors to analyze and evaluate the Company’s financial performance. These measures are considered standard measures of comparison within the banking industry. Additionally, management believes providing measures on an FTE basis enhances the comparability of income arising from taxable and nontaxable sources. Limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures include the risks that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items included in these measures and that different companies might calculate these measures differently. These non-GAAP disclosures should not be considered an alternative to the Company’s GAAP results. The following table reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent basis, efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis, loans, net of PPP loans and allowance for loan losses ratio, excluding PPP loans to their most directly comparable measures under GAAP.

As and for the Years Ended December 31
202120202019
Reconciliation of net interest income and net interest margin on an FTE basis to GAAP:
Net interest income (GAAP)$95,059$82,833$66,430
Tax-equivalent adjustment(1)1,202707834
Net interest income on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)96,26183,54067,264
Average interest-earning assets3,152,1382,614,3422,277,461
Net interest margin on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)3.05%3.20%2.95%
Reconciliation of efficiency ratio on an FTE basis to GAAP:
Net interest income on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)$96,261$83,540$67,264
Noninterest income9,7299,6028,318
Adjustment for realized securities (gains) losses, net(51)(77)87
Adjustment for losses on disposal of premises and equipment, net849
Adjustment for gain on sale of premises(307)
Adjusted income106,02393,07475,362
Noninterest expense43,38039,05438,406
Efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis (non-GAAP)(2)40.91%41.96%50.96%
Reconciliation of allowance for loan losses ratio, excluding PPP loans:
Loans outstanding (GAAP)$2,456,196$2,280,575$1,941,663
Less: PPP loans(22,206)(180,757)
Loans, net of PPP loans (non-GAAP)2,433,9902,099,8181,941,663
Allowance for loan losses28,36429,43617,235
Allowance for loan losses ratio, excluding PPP loans (non-GAAP)(3)1.17%1.40%0.89%

(1) Computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent, adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the financial results, as it enhances the comparability of income arising from taxable and nontaxable sources.

(2) The efficiency ratio expresses noninterest expense as a percent of fully taxable equivalent net interest income and noninterest income, excluding specific noninterest income and expenses. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the Company’s financial performance. It is a standard measure of comparison within the banking industry. A lower ratio is more desirable.

(3)    Management believes that presenting the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans excluding PPP loans is useful in assessing the credit quality of the Company’s core portfolio.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - 2021 COMPARED TO 2020

OVERVIEW

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $49,607, compared to $32,712 for the year ended December 31, 2020. Basic and diluted earnings per common share for 2021 were $3.00 and $2.95, respectively, and were $1.99 and $1.98, respectively for 2020.

The increase in 2021 net income compared to 2020 was primarily the result of a decrease in provision for loan losses and an increase in net interest income, partially offset by an increase in noninterest expense. Net interest income grew $12,226, or 14.8 percent, in 2021 compared to 2020. The increase in net interest income was primarily due to an increase in interest income on loans and securities and a decrease in interest expense on deposits and borrowed funds. Interest expense in 2021 decreased $5,179, or 29.8 percent, compared to 2020.

The Company recorded a negative provision for loan losses of $1,500 in 2021 compared to a provision for loan losses of $12,000 in 2020. The provision in 2020 was due primarily to uncertainty surrounding economic conditions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The negative provision for 2021 was due primarily to the improvement in economic conditions and reduction in specific impairments, offset in part by loan growth.

Noninterest income increased $127, or 1.3 percent, in 2021 compared to 2020, primarily due to an increase in trust revenue and a greater increase in cash value of bank-owned life insurance, partially offset by a decrease in loan swap fees. Noninterest expense grew $4,326, or 11.1 percent, in 2021 compared to 2020, primarily due to increases in salaries and employee benefits, charitable contributions and FDIC insurance expense.

The Texas ratio, which is the ratio of nonperforming assets to tangible common equity plus the allowance for loan losses, decreased to 3.10 percent as of December 31, 2021, compared to 6.40 percent as of December 31, 2020. A lower Texas ratio indicates a stronger credit quality condition. The decrease in our Texas ratio in 2021 was primarily due to a decrease in nonperforming loans resulting from payments received on nonaccrual loans. For more discussion on loan quality, see the “Loan Portfolio” and “Summary of the Allowance for Loan Losses” sections in this Item of this Form 10-K.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income increased to $95,059 for 2021 from $82,833 for 2020, as the impact of the growth of interest-earning assets and decrease in average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities exceeded the effects of an increase in average balance of interest-bearing liabilities and decrease in average yields on interest-earning assets. The net interest margin for 2021 decreased 15 basis points to 3.05 percent compared to 3.20 percent for 2020. The average yield on earning assets decreased by 42 basis points, while the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities decreased by 37 basis points. For additional analysis of net interest income, see the section captioned “Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity; Interest Rates; and Interest Differential” in this Item of this Form 10-K.

Provision for Loan Losses and Loan Quality

The allowance for loan losses, which totaled $28,364 as of December 31, 2021, represented 1.15 percent of total loans and 316.99 percent of nonperforming loans at year end, compared to 1.29 percent and 181.77 percent, respectively, as of December 31, 2020. A negative provision for loan losses of $1,500 was recorded in 2021 compared to a provision of $12,000 in 2020. The provision in 2020 was due primarily to an increase in certain qualitative factors resulting from the uncertainty surrounding economic conditions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in specific reserves on impaired loans. The negative provision recorded in 2021 was primarily due to a reduction in certain qualitative factors resulting from improvements in economic conditions and expiration of COVID-19 related payment deferrals, net recoveries of previously charged-off loans and a reduction in specific reserves on impaired loans. These benefits were partially offset by loan growth.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Nonperforming loans at December 31, 2021 totaled $8,948, or 0.36 percent of total loans, a decrease from $16,194, or 0.71 percent of total loans, at December 31, 2020. The decrease in nonperforming loans at December 31, 2021, compared to December 31, 2020, was due to payments received on nonaccrual loans. Nonperforming loans include loans on nonaccrual status, loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest, and loans that have been considered to be troubled debt restructured (TDR) due to the borrowers’ financial difficulties. The Company held no other real estate owned properties as of December 31, 2021 or 2020.

Noninterest Income

The following table shows the variance from the prior year in the noninterest income categories shown in the Consolidated Statements of Income. In addition, accounts within the “Other income” category that represent a significant portion of the total or a significant variance are shown.

Years ended December 31
Noninterest income:20212020ChangeChange %
Service charges on deposit accounts$2,352$2,360$(8)(0.3)%
Debit card usage fees1,9481,63231619.4%
Trust services2,6712,07859328.5%
Increase in cash value of bank-owned life insurance92359333055.6%
Loan swap fees661,572(1,506)(95.8)%
Realized securities gains, net5177(26)33.8%
Other income:
All other1,7181,29042833.2%
Total other income1,7181,29042833.2%
Total noninterest income$9,729$9,602$1271.3%

Debit card usage fees increased in 2021 compared to 2020, due to an increase in transaction volume as consumers responded to the reopening of the economy. Revenue from trust services increased in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily as a result of an increase in the value of trust assets in 2021 compared to 2020. The greater increase in cash value of bank-owned life insurance was driven by the purchase of additional life insurance in the third quarter of 2020, increasing total life insurance investments for 2021 in comparison to 2020. The Company offers loan level interest rate swaps to its customers and offsets its exposure from such contracts by entering into mirror image swaps with a swap counterparty (back-to-back swap program). Loan swap fees consist of fees earned in the back-to-back swap program at contract origination and are dependent on the timing and volume of customer activity. The increase in other income for 2021 compared to 2020 was partially due to the recognition of net swap termination gains totaling $181 in 2021. Interest rate swaps with a total notional amount of $150,000 were terminated and the pre-tax gains and losses were recorded in other noninterest income. Additional information on interest rate swaps is included in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Noninterest Expense

The following table shows the variance from the prior year in the noninterest expense categories shown in the Consolidated Statements of Income. In addition, accounts within the “Other expenses” category that represent a significant portion of the total or a significant variance are shown.

Years ended December 31
Noninterest expense:20212020ChangeChange %
Salaries and employee benefits$23,226$21,591$1,6357.6%
Occupancy5,1624,8792835.8%
Data processing2,4652,3311345.7%
FDIC insurance1,8181,21060850.2%
Professional fees946927192.0%
Director fees765868(103)(11.9)%
Other expenses:
Subscriptions and service contracts1,7771,33344433.3%
Business development99970429541.9%
Charitable contributions890180710394.4%
Trust59346213128.4%
Insurance expense5024406214.1%
Consulting fees302323(21)(6.5)%
Marketing224211136.2%
Low income housing projects amortization70143226962.3%
New markets tax credit project amortization and management fees919919%
All other2,0912,244(153)(6.8)%
Total other8,9987,2481,75024.1%
Total noninterest expense$43,380$39,054$4,32611.1%

Salaries and employee benefits increased in 2021 compared to 2020, primarily due to an increase in expense related to restricted stock units and the addition of two commercial bankers in the Des Moines market in the second half of 2021. FDIC insurance expense increased in 2021 compared to 2020 due to increases in both the Company’s average assets and assessment rate. Business development expense increased in 2021 compared to 2020. Business development activities were significantly limited as a result of COVID-19 shutdowns and social distancing guidelines that began in the second quarter of 2020. Subscriptions and service contracts increased primarily due to increases in information technology and information security solutions. Business development activities increased in 2021 as local economies returned to more normal activities. Charitable contributions expense increased in 2021 compared to 2020 due to an increase in the Company’s contribution to the West Bancorporation Foundation and a one-time contribution to a local municipality’s special housing program. All other expenses were lower for 2021 compared to 2020 due primarily to losses in 2020 from a check fraud incident.

Income Taxes

The Company records a provision for income tax expense currently payable, along with a provision for those taxes payable or refundable in the future (deferred taxes). Deferred taxes arise from differences in the timing of certain items for financial statement reporting compared to income tax reporting and are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Federal income tax expense for 2021 and 2020 was approximately $9,833 and $6,209, respectively, while state income tax expense was approximately $3,468 and $2,460, respectively. The effective rate of income tax expense as a percent of income before income taxes was 21.2 percent and 20.9 percent, respectively, for 2021 and 2020.

The effective income tax rates differ from the federal statutory income tax rates primarily due to tax-exempt interest income, the tax-exempt increase in cash value of bank-owned life insurance, disallowed interest expense, stock compensation and state income taxes. The effective tax rate for both 2021 and 2020 was also impacted by federal income tax credits, including low income housing tax credits and a new markets tax credit from West Bank’s investment in a qualified community development entity, of approximately $1,368 and $1,239, respectively. The Company continues to maintain a valuation allowance against the tax effect of state net operating losses carryforwards as management believes it is likely that such carryforwards will expire without being utilized.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY; INTEREST RATES; AND INTEREST DIFFERENTIAL

Average Balances and an Analysis of Average Rates Earned and Paid

The following table shows average balances and interest income or interest expense, with the resulting average yield or rate by category of average interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities for the years indicated. Interest income and the resulting net interest income are shown on a fully taxable basis. Interest expense includes the effect of interest rate swaps, if applicable.

202120202019
Average BalanceRevenue/ ExpenseYield/ RateAverage BalanceRevenue/ ExpenseYield/ RateAverage BalanceRevenue/ ExpenseYield/ Rate
Assets
Interest-earning assets:
Loans: (1) (2)
Commercial$525,228$23,3654.45%$566,593$22,3283.94%$387,137$19,4935.04%
Real estate (3)1,796,11872,5794.04%1,574,33968,4444.35%1,405,17566,0784.70%
Consumer and other4,1931824.34%6,2222724.36%6,8763354.87%
Total loans2,325,53996,1264.13%2,147,15491,0444.24%1,799,18885,9064.77%
Securities:
Taxable450,9108,5421.89%322,6957,8182.42%354,72710,0312.83%
Tax-exempt (3)141,8163,5222.48%55,5891,7743.19%69,5052,4623.54%
Total securities592,72612,0642.04%378,2849,5922.54%424,23212,4932.94%
Federal funds sold233,8732920.12%88,9043040.34%54,0411,1102.05%
Total interest-earning assets (3)3,152,138108,4823.44%2,614,342100,9403.86%2,277,46199,5094.37%
Noninterest-earning assets:
Cash and due from banks41,14153,87441,036
Premises and equipment, net31,29128,95730,351
Other, less allowance for
loan losses46,61242,61037,793
Total noninterest-earning assets119,044125,441109,180
Total assets$3,271,182$2,739,783$2,386,641
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand$477,9887690.16%$371,1537470.20%$318,7941,6880.53%
Savings and money market1,413,8785,6410.40%1,128,6317,0080.62%1,018,21517,8601.75%
Time208,1641,5380.74%215,2243,5011.63%255,7705,6662.22%
Total deposits2,100,0307,9480.38%1,715,00811,2560.66%1,592,77925,2141.58%
Borrowed funds:
Federal funds purchased4,62050.11%4,397230.52%10,2292412.35%
Subordinated notes20,4581,0084.93%20,4451,0164.97%20,4311,0225.01%
Federal Home Loan Bank
advances140,2742,9442.10%178,1914,7052.64%137,4715,1313.73%
Long-term debt20,9953161.51%24,9124001.61%23,8386372.67%
Total borrowed funds186,3474,2732.29%227,9456,1442.70%191,9697,0313.66%
Total interest-bearing liabilities2,286,37712,2210.53%1,942,95317,4000.90%1,784,74832,2451.81%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
Demand deposits709,009544,211379,231
Other liabilities31,78341,39922,647
Stockholders’ equity244,013211,220200,015
Total liabilities and
stockholders’ equity$3,271,182$2,739,783$2,386,641
Net interest income (4)/net interest spread (3)$96,2612.91%$83,5402.96%$67,2642.56%
Net interest margin (3) (4)3.05%3.20%2.95%

(1)Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans. Interest income recognized on nonaccrual loans has been included.

(2)Interest income on loans includes amortization of loan fees and costs and prepayment penalties collected, which are not material.

(3)Tax-exempt income has been adjusted to a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent and is adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans.

(4)Net interest income (FTE) and net interest margin (FTE) are non-GAAP financial measures. For further information, refer to the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this Item.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Net Interest Income

The Company’s largest component of net income is net interest income, which is the difference between interest earned on interest-earning assets, consisting primarily of loans and securities, and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities, consisting of deposits and borrowings. Fluctuations in net interest income can result from the combination of changes in the balances of asset and liability categories and changes in interest rates. Interest rates earned and paid are also affected by general economic conditions, particularly changes in market interest rates, and by competitive factors, government policies and the actions of regulatory authorities. The Federal Reserve decreased the targeted federal funds interest rate by a total of 150 basis points in March 2020, reaching its current range of 0.0 - 0.25 percent. The Federal Reserve has signaled that it could increase the targeted federal funds interest rate in 2022.

Net interest margin is a measure of the net return on interest-earning assets and is computed by dividing annualized tax-equivalent net interest income by total average interest-earning assets for the period. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis was 3.05, 3.20 and 2.95 percent, respectively. There was an increase of $12,721 in tax-equivalent net interest income in 2021 compared to 2020. This was primarily due to a decrease in interest rates paid on deposits and borrowed funds and an increase in average loan and securities balances, partially offset by a decrease in yield on loans and investments.

Rate and Volume Analysis

The rate and volume analysis shown below, on a tax-equivalent basis, is used to determine how much of the change in interest income or expense is the result of a change in volume or a change in interest yield or rate. The change in interest that is due to both volume and rate has been allocated to the change due to volume and the change due to rate in proportion to the absolute value of the change in each.

2021 Compared to 20202020 Compared to 2019
VolumeRateTotalVolumeRateTotal
Interest Income
Loans: (1)
Commercial$(1,706)$2,743$1,037$7,699$(4,864)$2,835
Real estate (2)9,189(5,054)4,1357,586(5,220)2,366
Consumer and other(88)(2)(90)(30)(33)(63)
Total loans (including fees)7,395(2,313)5,08215,255(10,117)5,138
Securities:
Taxable2,669(1,945)724(856)(1,357)(2,213)
Tax-exempt (2)2,218(470)1,748(460)(228)(688)
Total securities4,887(2,415)2,472(1,316)(1,585)(2,901)
Federal funds sold269(281)(12)456(1,262)(806)
Total interest income (2)12,551(5,009)7,54214,395(12,964)1,431
Interest Expense
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand190(168)22241(1,182)(941)
Savings and money market1,509(2,876)(1,367)1,757(12,609)(10,852)
Time(111)(1,852)(1,963)(809)(1,356)(2,165)
Total deposits1,588(4,896)(3,308)1,189(15,147)(13,958)
Borrowed funds:
Federal funds purchased1(19)(18)(61)(157)(218)
Subordinated debt1(9)(8)1(7)(6)
Federal Home Loan Bank advances(897)(864)(1,761)1,296(1,722)(426)
Long-term debt(60)(24)(84)(34)(203)(237)
Total borrowed funds(955)(916)(1,871)1,202(2,089)(887)
Total interest expense633(5,812)(5,179)2,391(17,236)(14,845)
Net interest income (2) (3)$11,918$803$12,721$12,004$4,272$16,276

(1)Average balances of nonaccrual loans were included for computational purposes.

(2)Tax-exempt income has been converted to a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent and is adjusted for the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans.

(3)Net interest income (FTE) is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this Item.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Tax-equivalent interest income and fees on loans increased $5,082 for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to 2020. The improvement was primarily due to an increase of $178,385 in the average balance of loans in 2021 compared to 2020, which was partially offset by the overall decline in loan yields. The average yield on loans decreased 11 basis points in 2021 compared to 2020. Average loan balances for the year ended December 31, 2021 included $98,593 of PPP loans, compared to average PPP loan balances of $151,074 for the year ended December 31, 2020. Interest income recognized on PPP loans, which includes the amortization of origination fees paid by the SBA, was $6,731 for the year ended December 31, 2021, resulting in a yield of 6.83 percent. Interest income recognized on PPP loans in 2020 was $4,752, resulting in a yield of 3.15 percent. The PPP loans contributed to the increase in interest income and increase in the yield on commercial loans and had a positive impact on overall net interest margin in 2021.

The Company continues to focus on expanding existing and entering into new customer relationships while maintaining strong credit quality. The yield on the Company's loan portfolio is affected by the portfolio's loan mix, the interest rate environment, the effects of competition, the level of nonaccrual loans and reversals of previously accrued interest on charged-off loans. The political and economic environments can also influence the volume of new loan originations and the mix of variable-rate versus fixed-rate loans.

The average balance of securities available for sale in 2021 was $214,442 higher than in 2020, primarily as a result of securities purchased during 2021 to improve the yield on excess liquidity. Due to the interest rate environment during 2021 and 2020, securities added to the portfolio have been at significantly lower yields than the existing portfolio holdings, resulting in an overall decline in the securities portfolio yield.

The average balance of federal funds sold increased $144,969 in 2021 compared to 2020. The higher average balance in 2021 at a yield of 0.12 percent contributed to the decline in the net interest margin in 2021 compared to 2020.

The average balance of savings and money market deposits increased $285,247 in 2021 compared to 2020. The increase was primarily due to an increase in average balances of money market accounts. The growth in these deposit balances was primarily due to changes in customer behavior as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and our customers’ desire to retain liquidity, as well as a result of additional funds provided to individuals and businesses by government relief programs. The average rate paid on savings and money market deposits in 2021 decreased by 22 basis points compared to 2020. The average balance of time deposits decreased $7,060 in 2021 compared to 2020. The average rate paid on time deposits decreased 89 basis points in 2021 compared to 2020. The decreases were primarily due to decreasing interest rates on all deposit products in response to the unprecedented decrease in the targeted federal funds rate that occurred in March 2020.

The average balance of borrowed funds decreased $41,598 in 2021 compared to 2020. The rate paid on borrowed funds declined 41 basis points in 2021 compared to 2020. These declines were primarily due to the decrease in average balance of FHLB advances and rate paid on FHLB advances. The average balance of FHLB advances decreased $37,917 in 2021 compared to 2020, while the rate paid on FHLB advances declined 54 basis points in 2021 compared to 2020. These declines were primarily due to the repayment of $50,000 of FHLB advances in the second quarter of 2021 and the maturity of long-term, high rate FHLB advances in the second and third quarters of 2020.

If short-term rates increase in 2022, as the Federal Reserve has indicated, that could improve reinvestment rates on loans and securities, but it could also increase our cost of deposits and borrowed funds.

SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

The balance of securities available for sale increased by $338,251 as of December 31, 2021, compared to December 31, 2020. Throughout 2021, securities were purchased to improve the yield on excess liquidity. Securities available for sale are a part of the Company’s interest rate risk management strategy and may be repositioned in response to changes in interest rates, changes in prepayment risk, liquidity management and other factors. The Company continues to evaluate the investment portfolio as part of an overall strategy to produce reasonable and consistent margins where feasible, while attempting to limit risks inherent in the Company’s balance sheet.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

As of December 31, 2021, approximately 63 percent of the available for sale securities portfolio consisted of government agency guaranteed collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities. Those securities increased by $251,348 as of December 31, 2021, compared to December 31, 2020. In the current interest rate environment, those securities provide acceptable yields, have little to no credit risk, and provide fairly consistent cash flows. All collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities consist of residential and commercial mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations guaranteed by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), or the SBA.

The securities issued by state and political subdivisions increased by $88,115 as of December 31, 2021, compared to December 31, 2020. The securities issued by state and political subdivisions are diversified among municipalities in 25 states.

The following table sets forth the weighted average yield by contractual maturity by security type as of December 31, 2021. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. The collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities have monthly paydowns that are not reflected in the table.

Within one yearAfter one year but within five yearsAfter five years but within ten yearsAfter ten yearsTotal
Securities available for sale:
State and political subdivisions (1)%%1.53%2.41%2.38%
Collateralized mortgage obligations1.481.48
Mortgage-backed securities1.681.601.62
Collateralized loan obligations1.771.77
Corporate notes3.273.27
%%1.91%1.81%1.83%

(1)    Yields on tax-exempt obligations have been computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent and are adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt investment securities.

As of December 31, 2021, the existing gross unrealized losses of $11,800 in the Company’s securities portfolio were considered to be temporary in nature due to market interest rate fluctuations, not reduced estimated cash flows. The Company has the ability and the intent to hold the related securities with unrealized losses for a period of time sufficient to allow for a recovery, which may be at maturity. However, management may decide to sell securities with unrealized losses at a future date for liquidity purposes, to manage interest rate risk, or to enhance interest income.

For additional information regarding the Company’s securities portfolio, see Note 3 and Note 18 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

LOAN PORTFOLIO

The Company seeks to create growth in commercial lending, which primarily includes commercial real estate, multi-family, and commercial and industrial lending, by offering customer-focused products and competitive pricing and by capitalizing on the positive trends in its market area. It is the objective of the Company’s credit policies to diversify the commercial loan portfolio to limit concentrations in any single industry. As of December 31, 2021, the majority of all loans were originated directly by West Bank to borrowers within West Bank’s principal market areas. As of December 31, 2021, total loans were approximately 81.4 percent of total deposits and 70.2 percent of total assets.

Loans outstanding at the end of 2021 increased 7.7 percent compared to the end of 2020. Changes in the loan portfolio during 2021 included increases of $157,211 in commercial real estate loans and $123,165 in construction, land and land development loans. Commercial loans declined $110,784, which included a $158,551 decline in PPP loans. As of December 31, 2021, PPP loans outstanding totaled $22,206, which was made up of $1,118 from round one of the program originated in 2020 and $21,088 from round two originated in 2021. Exclusive of PPP loans, loan growth in 2021 was $334,172, or 15.9 percent. The Company continues to focus on business development efforts in all of its markets. We believe that loan growth could slow down in 2022 as a result of anticipated increases in the targeted federal funds rate and economic conditions, including high inflation and labor shortages.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

For a description of the loan segments, see Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The interest rates charged on loans vary with the degree of risk and the amount and terms of the loan. Competitive pressures, the creditworthiness of the borrower, market interest rates, the availability of funds, and government regulations further influence the rate charged on a loan.

The Company follows a loan policy approved by West Bank’s Board of Directors. The loan policy is reviewed at least annually and is updated as considered necessary. The policy establishes lending limits, review criteria and other guidelines for loan administration and the allowance for loan losses, among other things. Loans are approved by West Bank’s Board of Directors and/or designated officers in accordance with the applicable guidelines and underwriting policies. Loans to any one borrower are limited by state banking laws. Loan officer lending authorities vary according to the individual loan officer’s experience and expertise.

During 2020 and 2021, the Company provided short-term loan modifications and additional accommodations to borrowers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At December 31, 2021, there were no longer any loans subject to a COVID-19 related loan modification. All COVID-19-related modifications expired during 2021 and those loans returned to regular payment status.

As of December 31, 2021, there were no loans that were past due 30 days or more.

Nonperforming loans declined to $8,948 at December 31, 2021, compared to $16,194 at December 31, 2020. The decrease was due to payments received on nonaccrual loans. The nonperforming loans at both December 31, 2021 and 2020 consisted of two borrowing relationships.

The watch classification of loans increased to $64,025 as of December 31, 2021 from $26,715 as of December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to the addition of hotel loans related to one borrowing group. This relationship was downgraded to watch classification primarily due to a slower rebound in its hotel occupancy rates compared to other market data. The loans in this borrowing group are considered well collateralized with a weighted average loan to value ratio of 62 percent and no required payments are past due.

Loans Secured by Real Estate

The commercial real estate market continues to be a significant source of business for West Bank. Management places a strong emphasis on monitoring the composition of the Company’s commercial real estate loan portfolio. The Company has an established lending policy which includes a number of underwriting factors to be considered in making a commercial real estate loan, including, but not limited to, location, loan-to-value ratio (LTV), cash flow, collateral and the credit history of the borrower. The lending policy also includes guidelines for real estate appraisals and evaluations, including minimum appraisal and evaluation standards.

Although repayment risk exists on all loans, different factors influence repayment risk for each type of loan. The primary risks associated with commercial real estate loans are the quality of the borrower’s management and the health of the national and regional economies. Underwriting on commercial properties is primarily based on the economic viability of the project with heavy consideration given to the creditworthiness and experience of the borrower. Recognizing that debt is paid via cash flow, the projected cash flows of the project are critical in underwriting because these determine the ultimate value of the property and the ability to service debt. Therefore, in most commercial real estate projects, we generally require a minimum stabilized debt service coverage ratio of 1.20 to 1.35, depending on the real estate type. Exceptions to this policy can be made for certain borrowers that exhibit other credit quality strengths. Exceptions to the policy are monitored by management. Our strategy with respect to the management of these types of risks is to consistently follow prudent loan policies and underwriting practices.

The Company recognizes that a diversified loan portfolio contributes to reducing risk. The specific loan portfolio mix is subject to change based on loan demand, the business environment and various economic factors. The Company actively monitors concentrations within the loan portfolio to ensure appropriate diversification is maintained. In addition, management tracks the level of owner occupied commercial real estate loans versus non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans. Owner occupied commercial real estate loans are generally considered to have less risk than non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans.

In accordance with regulatory guidelines, the Company exercises heightened risk management practices when non-owner occupied commercial real estate lending exceeds 300 percent of total risk-based capital or construction, land development, and other land loans exceed 100 percent of total risk-based capital. Although the Company’s loan portfolio is heavily concentrated in real estate and its real estate portfolio levels exceed these regulatory guidelines, it has established risk management policies and procedures to regularly monitor the commercial real estate portfolio.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Commercial loans secured by real estate, including construction, land and land development, totaled $1,889,476, or 76.8 percent of total loans, at December 31, 2021. Non-owner occupied commercial real estate loan concentrations and the weighted average LTV by property type as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 are shown in the following table. LTV is determined using the maximum credit exposure of the loan compared to the most recent appraisal data on the property obtained in accordance with the Company’s lending policies.

As of December 31
20212020
Balance% of CRE non-owner occupied PortfolioWeighted Average LTVBalance% of CRE non-owner occupied PortfolioWeighted Average LTV
Non-owner occupied:
Multifamily$435,09727.8%71%$313,20524.0%69%
Medical & senior care facilities220,72614.159203,95415.665
Warehouse & trucking153,0229.869146,17811.269
Hotels203,96713.068164,72112.664
Mixed use72,0394.66383,6816.474
Offices134,1068.670140,29910.872
Land for development96,6876.26369,3455.359
All other249,26515.9not available183,10614.1not available
$1,564,909100.0%$1,304,489100.0%

The following table summarizes non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans by property type by risk rating as of December 31, 2021. Risk ratings are defined in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

As of December 31, 2021
Risk Rating
Total1-345678
Non-owner occupied:
Multifamily$435,097$25,759$325,115$70,136$14,087$$
Medical & senior care facilities220,72690,698101,26528,763
Warehouse & trucking153,02256,03186,6019,640750
Hotel203,96783,74885,44534,774
Mixed use72,03911,02128,57024,5037,945
Offices134,10615,400113,8594,847
Land for development96,68790,8607725,055
All other249,26528,115214,4046,746
$1,564,909$227,024$1,044,422$230,852$62,611$$

As of December 31, 2021, there were no non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans that were past due 30 days or more.

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(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Maturities of Loans

The contractual maturities of the Company’s loan portfolio are shown in the following tables. Actual repayments may differ from contractual maturities because individual borrowers may have the right to prepay loans with or without prepayment penalties.

As of December 31, 2021
Within one yearAfter one but within five yearsAfter five but within 15 yearsAfter 15 yearsTotal
Commercial$167,713$214,514$71,223$39,365$492,815
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development124,456208,6957,59418,513359,258
1-4 family residential first mortgages4,96257,5123,74266,216
Home equity2,5615,8618,422
Commercial92,870678,992733,21925,1371,530,218
Consumer and other2,1351,6623,797
$394,697$1,167,236$815,778$83,015$2,460,726
After one but within five yearsAfter five but within 15 yearsAfter 15 years
Loan maturities after one year with:
Fixed rates
Commercial$157,259$49,720$
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development155,9763,798
1-4 family residential first mortgages55,4701,833
Home equity1,303
Commercial642,944510,79212,830
Consumer and other1,233
Total fixed rate loans1,014,185566,14312,830
Variable rates
Commercial57,25521,50339,365
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development52,7193,79618,513
1-4 family residential first mortgages2,0421,909
Home equity4,558
Commercial36,048222,42712,307
Consumer and other429
Total variable rate loans153,051249,63570,185
$1,167,236$815,778$83,015

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SUMMARY OF THE ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

The provision for loan losses represents charges made to earnings to maintain an adequate allowance for loan losses. The adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is evaluated quarterly by management and reviewed by the Board of Directors. The allowance for loan losses is management’s best estimate of probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date.

Factors considered in establishing an appropriate allowance include: the borrower’s financial condition; the value and adequacy of loan collateral; the condition of the local economy and the borrower’s specific industry; the levels and trends of loans by segment; and a review of delinquent and classified loans. The quarterly evaluation focuses on factors such as specific loan reviews, changes in the components of the loan portfolio given economic conditions, and historical loss experience. Any one of the following conditions may result in the review of a specific loan: concern about whether the customer’s cash flow or net worth is sufficient to repay the loan; delinquency status; criticism of the loan in a regulatory examination; the suspension of interest accrual; or other factors, including whether the loan has other special or unusual characteristics that suggest special monitoring is warranted. The Company’s concentration risks include geographic concentration in central and eastern Iowa and southern Minnesota. The local economies are composed primarily of agriculture, service industries and state and county governments.

West Bank has a significant portion of its loan portfolio in commercial real estate loans, commercial lines of credit, commercial term loans, and construction and land development loans. West Bank’s typical commercial borrower is a small- or medium-sized, privately owned business entity. Compared to residential mortgages or consumer loans, commercial loans typically have larger balances and repayment usually depends on the borrowers’ successful business operations. Commercial loans also generally are not fully repaid over the loan period and, thus, may require refinancing or a large payoff at maturity. When the general economy turns downward, commercial borrowers may not be able to repay their loans, and the value of their assets, which are usually pledged as collateral, may decrease rapidly and significantly.

While management uses available information to recognize losses on loans, further reduction in the carrying amounts of loans may be necessary based on changes in circumstances, changes in the overall economy in the markets we currently serve, or later acquired information. Identifiable sectors within the general economy are subject to additional volatility, which at any time may have a substantial impact on the loan portfolio. In addition, regulatory agencies, as integral parts of their examination processes, periodically review the credit quality of the loan portfolio and the level of the allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require West Bank to recognize additional losses based on such agencies’ review of information available to them at the time of their examinations.

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The following table shows the ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries to loans outstanding, broken out by loan segment, along with ratios of the allowance and nonaccrual loans to total loans at the end of the period.

Analysis of the Allowance for Loan Losses for the Years Ended December 31
202120202019
Ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries during the
period to average loans outstanding by segment:
Commercial0.02%%(0.01)%
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development
1-4 family residential first mortgages
Home equity
Commercial
Consumer and other
Total0.02%0.01%0.00%
Ratio of allowance for loan losses to total
loans at the end of period1.15%1.29%0.89%
Ratio of allowance for loan losses to total
loans at the end of period, excluding PPP
loans(1)1.17%1.40%0.89%
Ratio of nonaccrual loans to total loans at
end of period0.36%0.71%0.03%
Ratio of allowance for loan losses to total
nonaccrual loans at the end of period316.99%181.77%3,203.53%
Ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries to total
loans at end of period0.02%0.01%0.00%

(1) As presented, this is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this item.

Breakdown of Allowance for Loan Losses by Category

The following table sets forth information concerning the Company’s allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan segment as of the dates indicated.

As of December 31
202120202019
Amount%*Amount%*Amount%*
Balance at end of
period applicable to:
Commercial$4,77620.03%$4,71826.40%$3,87522.17%
Real estate:
Construction, land
and land development3,64614.602,63410.322,37513.59
1-4 family residential
first mortgages3392.693602.582162.80
Home equity910.341140.411270.64
Commercial19,46662.1921,53560.0410,56560.45
Consumer and other460.15750.25770.35
$28,364100.00%$29,436100.00%$17,235100.00%

* Percent of loans in each category to total loans.

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The allocation of the allowance for loan losses is dependent upon the change in balances outstanding in the various categories; the historical net loss experience by category, which can vary over time; specific reserves for loans considered impaired; and management’s assessment of economic and other qualitative factors that may influence potential losses in the loan portfolio. In 2020, the U.S. economy deteriorated rapidly and significantly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of economic uncertainties. The national unemployment rate jumped from 4.4 percent in March 2020 to 14.8 percent in April 2020 amid nationwide shutdowns and other governmental restrictions implemented in the interest of public health and safety. In 2021, the economy began to recover; however some economic measures still lag pre-pandemic levels. The Company increased certain qualitative factors used in the allowance for loan losses evaluation in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on improvement in national and local economic performance measures, the relative success of vaccination efforts and the lifting or easing of pandemic-related restrictions in the Company’s market areas, the Company decreased certain qualitative factors used in the allowance for loan losses evaluation in 2021. However, the qualitative factors overall remain higher at December 31, 2021 than they were prior to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic related adjustments because new COVID-19 variants, increasing inflationary trends, labor shortages and supply chain issues in 2021 have created new stresses on the economy.

As of December 31, 2021, there were $2,500 in specific reserves related to loans individually evaluated for impairment. The specific reserves resulted from the downgrade in credit quality of one borrower due to the severe economic impact of COVID-19 on its business. The borrower has been evaluating debt reduction options, including downsizing its operations. The specific impairment was determined after evaluating the value of the underlying collateral. The portion of the allowance for loan losses related to loans collectively evaluated for impairment decreased $572 to a total of $25,864, or 1.05 percent of outstanding loans, as of December 31, 2021 compared to $26,436, or 1.16 percent of outstanding loans, as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2021, the allowance for loan losses was 1.17 percent of outstanding loans, excluding $22,206 of PPP loans, compared to 1.40 percent, excluding $180,757 of PPP loans as of December 31, 2020. Based upon the quarterly evaluations, management determined a provision for loan losses of negative $1,500 was appropriate for the year ended December 31, 2021. This negative provision was primarily due to the reduction of certain qualitative factors, a reduction in specific reserves, and net recoveries, which was partially offset by loan growth. Management believed the allowance for loan losses as of December 31, 2021 was adequate to absorb the losses inherent in the loan portfolio.

Additional details on the allowance for loan losses is included in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

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DEPOSITS

Deposits totaled $3,016,005 as of December 31, 2021, which was 11.7 percent higher than the total as of December 31, 2020. The growth in deposit balances was primarily due to changes in customer behavior as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and our customers’ desire to retain liquidity, as well as a result of additional funds provided to individuals and businesses by government relief programs. We believe that deposit levels could decrease in 2022 as a result of the end of broad government stimulus programs relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following table sets forth the average balances for each major category of deposits and the weighted average interest rate paid for those deposits during the years indicated.

Years ended December 31
202120202019
AverageAverageAverageAverageAverageAverage
BalanceRateBalanceRateBalanceRate
Noninterest-bearing demand$709,009%$544,211%$379,231%
Interest-bearing demand:
Reward Me checking52,9600.0847,4350.1544,2060.41
Insured cash sweep125,4020.3494,0420.4679,9761.20
Other interest-bearing demand299,6260.10229,6770.11194,6120.28
Money market:
Insured cash sweep308,1360.36266,8370.60256,6702.11
Other money market959,3140.45737,8010.70649,0321.85
Savings146,4280.14123,9930.18112,5130.40
Time208,1640.74215,2241.63255,7702.22
$2,809,039$2,259,220$1,972,010

Management expects the average interest rates on deposits could increase in 2022 as the Federal Reserve is signaling increases to the targeted federal funds rate. To limit the Company’s exposure to market interest rate changes, interest rate swaps are in place on $110,000 of deposit balances that effectively convert certain customer deposits with variable rates to fixed-rate instruments.

The following table shows the amounts and remaining maturities of time certificates of deposit with balances of $100 or more as of December 31, 2021.

3 months or less$59,051
Over 3 through 6 months25,209
Over 6 through 12 months63,276
Over 12 months13,983
$161,519

Approximately 88 percent of the total time deposits issued by West Bank mature in the next year. It is anticipated that a significant portion of these time deposits will be renewed. In the event a substantial volume of time deposits is not renewed, management believes the Company has sufficient liquid assets and borrowing lines to fund the potential runoff.

Time deposits as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, included $92,210 and $71,286, respectively, of Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service deposits, which is a program that coordinates, on a reciprocal basis, a network of banks to spread deposits exceeding the FDIC insurance coverage limits out to numerous institutions in order to provide insurance coverage for all participating deposits.

The following table shows the portion of time deposits in excess of the insurance limit by maturity.

3 months or less$19,126
Over 3 through 6 months2,320
Over 6 through 12 months7,495
Over 12 months3,078
$32,019

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Also included in total deposits as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, were $178,366 and $85,348, respectively, of Insured Cash Sweep (ICS) interest-bearing checking and $412,027 and $304,077, respectively, of ICS money market deposits. These are also reciprocal programs providing insurance coverage for all participating deposits.

Total uninsured deposits were $1,312,933, $1,297,848 and $784,057 as of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

BORROWED FUNDS

The fluctuation in the balances of federal funds purchased is based on customer loan and deposit activity and the Company’s balance sheet management objectives, which from time to time may require the Company to draw on the federal funds purchased lines with our correspondent banks or on overnight FHLB advances.

The Company had $125,000 of short-term FHLB advances outstanding at December 31, 2021. The Company repaid $50,000 of FHLB advances at maturity in the second quarter of 2021 to reduce unneeded funding as a result of high deposit balances and excess liquidity. The Company has entered into long-term interest rate swap agreements with a total notional amount of $125,000 to hedge the interest payments of one-month rolling funding consisting of FHLB advances or brokered deposits. These interest rate swaps have maturity dates ranging from September 2023 through June 2029 and fixed rates ranging from 1.63 percent to 2.01 percent. This strategy of hedging short-term rolling funding effectively provides fixed cost wholesale funding through the maturity dates of the various interest rate swaps.

On December 15, 2021, the Company entered into a credit agreement with an unaffiliated commercial bank and borrowed $40,000. This credit agreement replaced a prior credit agreement with the same commercial bank that had a remaining balance of $5,500. The additional borrowing was used to make a capital injection into the Company’s subsidiary, West Bank. Interest is payable quarterly over five years with the first payment due February 2022. Required quarterly principal payments begin in May 2023. The Company may make additional principal payments without penalty. The interest rate is variable at the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate minus 1.00 percent.

The Company has an interest rate swap with a notional amount of $20,000 which converts variable-rate subordinated notes to fixed-rate debt. The interest rate is a variable rate based on the 3-month LIBOR plus 3.05 percent. This interest rate swap has a fixed rate of 4.81 percent and matures in September 2026.

West Bank’s new markets tax credit special purpose subsidiary has a credit agreement for $11,486. Interest is payable monthly over the term of the agreement with an interest rate of 1.00 percent. Monthly principal payments begin in January 2026, and the agreement matures in December 2048.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

In the normal course of business, West Bank commits to extend credit in the form of loan commitments and standby letters of credit in order to meet the financing needs of its customers. These commitments expose West Bank to varying degrees of credit and market risks in excess of the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets and are subject to the same credit policies as are the loans recorded on the balance sheets.

West Bank’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. West Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. Commitments to lend are subject to borrowers’ continuing compliance with existing credit agreements. Management of the Company does not expect any significant losses as a result of these commitments. Off-balance sheet commitments are more fully discussed in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The objective of liquidity management is to ensure the availability of sufficient cash flows to meet all financial commitments and to capitalize on opportunities for profitable business expansion. The Company’s principal source of funds is deposits. Other sources include loan principal repayments, proceeds from the maturity and sale of investment securities, principal payments on amortizing securities, federal funds purchased, advances from the FHLB, and funds provided by operations. Liquidity management is conducted on both a daily and a long-term basis. Investments in liquid assets are adjusted based on expected loan demand, projected loan and investment securities maturities and payments, expected deposit flows and the objectives set by West Bank’s asset-liability management policy.

The Company experienced significant increases in deposits in 2021 and 2020. Those deposits resulted in a significant increase in liquidity and total assets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, compared to December 31, 2019. We believe that deposit levels could decrease in 2022 as a result of the end of broad government stimulus programs.

As of December 31, 2021, West Bank had additional borrowing capacity available from the FHLB of approximately $556,000, as well as approximately $16,258 at the Federal Reserve discount window and $67,000 through unsecured federal funds lines of credit with correspondent banks. West Bank had no amounts outstanding at the Federal Reserve discount window or under the unsecured federal funds lines as of December 31, 2021. Net cash from continuing operating activities contributed $57,878, $42,285 and $36,967 to liquidity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Management believed that the combination of high levels of potentially liquid assets, cash flows from operations and additional borrowing capacity provided the Company with sufficient liquidity as of December 31, 2021.

The Company’s total stockholders’ equity increased to $260,328 as of December 31, 2021 from $223,695 as of December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily the result of net income less dividends paid. At December 31, 2021, tangible common equity as a percent of tangible assets was 7.44 percent compared to 7.02 percent as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had no intangible assets.

The Company and West Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal and state banking agencies. Capital requirements are more fully discussed under the heading “Supervision and Regulation” included in Item 1 and in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. As of December 31, 2021, the Company and West Bank met all capital adequacy requirements to which they were subject, and the Company’s and West Bank’s capital ratios were in excess of the requirements to be well-capitalized under capital regulations. Also, as of December 31, 2021, the ratios for the Company and West Bank were sufficient to meet the fully phased-in capital conservation buffer.

EFFECTS OF NEW STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

A discussion of the effects of new financial accounting standards and developments as they relate to the Company is located in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.