BOK Financial - 10-K annual report 2012

Index

Developments relating to individual aspects of the business of BOK Financial Corporation (“BOK Financial” or “the Company”) are described below. Additional discussion of the Company’s activities during the current year appears within Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

BOK Financial is a financial holding company incorporated in the state of Oklahoma in 1990 whose activities are governed by the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (“BHCA”), as amended by the Financial Services Modernization Act or Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. BOK Financial offers full service banking in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Northwest Arkansas, Colorado, Arizona, and Kansas/Missouri.

BOKF, NA (“the Bank”) is a wholly owned subsidiary bank of BOK Financial. Operating divisions of the Bank include Bank of Albuquerque, Bank of Arizona, Bank of Arkansas, Bank of Kansas City, Bank of Oklahoma, Bank of Texas and Colorado State Bank and Trust. Other wholly owned subsidiaries of BOK Financial include BOSC, Inc., a broker/dealer that engages in retail and institutional securities sales and municipal bond underwriting. Other non-bank subsidiary operations do not have a significant effect on the Company’s financial statements.

Our overall strategic objective is to emphasize growth in long-term value by building on our leadership position in Oklahoma through expansion into other high-growth markets in contiguous states. We operate primarily in the metropolitan areas of Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Denver, Colorado; Phoenix, Arizona, and Kansas City, Kansas/Missouri. Our acquisition strategy targets fairly priced quality organizations with demonstrated solid growth that would supplement our principal lines of business. We provide additional growth opportunities by hiring talent to enhance competitiveness, adding locations and broadening product offerings. Our operating philosophy embraces local decision-making in each of our geographic markets while adhering to common Company standards.

BOK Financial’s corporate headquarters is located at Bank of Oklahoma Tower, P.O. Box 2300, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74192.

The Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports are available on the Company’s website at www.bokf.com as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company electronically files such material with or furnishes it to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

BOK Financial and its subsidiaries are subject to extensive regulations under federal and state laws. These regulations are designed to promote safety and soundness, protect consumers and ensure the stability of the banking system as a whole. The purpose of these regulations is not necessarily to protect shareholders and creditors. As detailed below, these regulations require the Company and its subsidiaries to maintain certain capital balances and require the Company to provide financial support to its subsidiaries. These regulations may restrict the Company’s ability to diversify, to acquire other institutions and to pay dividends on its capital stock. These regulations also include requirements on certain programs and services offered to our customers, including restrictions on fees charged for certain services.

The following information summarizes certain existing laws and regulations that affect the Company’s operations. It does not summarize all provisions of these laws and regulations and does not include all laws and regulations that affect the Company presently or in the future.

As a financial holding company, BOK Financial is regulated under the BHCA and is subject to regular inspection, examination and supervision by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”). Under the BHCA, BOK Financial files quarterly reports and other information with the Federal Reserve Board.

A financial holding company, and the companies under its control, are permitted to engage in activities considered “financial in nature” as defined by the BHCA, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and Federal Reserve Board interpretations. Activities that are “financial in nature” include securities underwriting and dealing, insurance underwriting, merchant banking, operating a mortgage company, performing certain data processing operations, servicing loans and other extensions of credit, providing investment and financial advice, owning and operating savings and loan associations, and leasing personal property on a full pay-out, non-operating basis. In order for a financial holding company to commence any new activity permitted by the BHCA, each insured depository institution subsidiary of the financial holding company must have received a rating of at least satisfactory in its most recent examination under the Community Reinvestment Act. A financial holding company is required to notify the Federal Reserve Board within thirty days of engaging in new activities determined to be “financial in nature.” BOK Financial is engaged in some of these activities and has notified the Federal Reserve Board.

The BHCA requires the Federal Reserve Board’s prior approval for the direct or indirect acquisition of more than five percent of any class of voting stock of any non-affiliated bank. Under the Federal Bank Merger Act, the prior approval of the OCC is required for a national bank to merge with another bank or purchase the assets or assume the deposits of another bank. In reviewing applications seeking approval of merger and acquisition transactions, the bank regulatory authorities consider, among other things, the competitive effect and public benefits of the transactions, the capital position of the combined organization, the applicant’s performance record under the Community Reinvestment Act and fair housing laws and the effectiveness of the subject organizations in combating money laundering activities.

A financial holding company and its subsidiaries are prohibited under the BHCA from engaging in certain tie-in arrangements in connection with the provision of any credit, property or services. Thus, a subsidiary of a financial holding company may not extend credit, lease or sell property, furnish any services or fix or vary the consideration for these activities on the condition that (1) the customer obtain or provide additional credit, property or services from or to the financial holding company or any subsidiary thereof, or (2) the customer may not obtain some other credit, property or services from a competitor, except to the extent reasonable conditions are imposed to insure the soundness of credit extended.

The Bank and other non-bank subsidiaries are also subject to other federal and state laws and regulations. For example, BOSC, Inc., the Company’s broker/dealer subsidiary that engages in retail and institutional securities sales and municipal bond underwriting, is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the Federal Reserve Board, and state securities regulators. As another example, Bank of Arkansas is subject to certain consumer-protection laws incorporated in the Arkansas Constitution, which, among other restrictions, limit the maximum interest rate on general loans to five percent above the Federal Reserve Discount Rate and limit the rate on consumer loans to the lower of five percent above the discount rate or seventeen percent.

On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act") was signed into law, giving federal banking agencies authority to increase regulatory capital requirements, impose additional rules and regulations over consumer financial products and services and limit the amount of interchange fees that may be charged in an electronic debit transaction. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act made permanent the $250,000 limit for federal deposit insurance and provided unlimited federal deposit insurance until January 1, 2013 for non-interest bearing demand deposit accounts. It also repealed prohibitions on payment of interest on demand deposits, which could impact how interest is paid on business transaction and other accounts. Further, the Dodd-Frank Act prohibits banking entities from engaging in proprietary trading and restricts banking entities sponsorship of or investment in private equity funds and hedge funds. Many of the regulations required to implement the Dodd-Frank Act have yet to be adopted and the full impact of this legislation on fee income and operating expense remains unknown. However, the potential reduction in revenue and increase in costs could be significant.

The Durbin Amendment to the Dodd-Frank Act required that interchange fees on electronic debit transactions paid by merchants must be “reasonable and proportional to the cost incurred by the issuer” and prohibited card network rules that have limited price competition among networks. Effective October 1, 2011, the Federal Reserve issued its final ruling to implement the Durbin Amendment. This ruling established a cap on interchange fees banks with more than $10 billion in total assets can charge merchants for certain debit card transactions.  The Durbin Amendment interchange fee cap reduced annual non-interest income by approximately $19 million. See additional discussion in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Other Operating Revenue following. The Durbin Amendment also requires all banks to comply with the prohibition on network exclusivity and routing requirements. Debit card issuers are required to make at least two unaffiliated networks available to merchants. The final network exclusivity and routing requirements, which became effective April 1, 2012, did not have a significant impact on the Company.

The Dodd-Frank Act established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB") with powers to supervise and enforce consumer protection laws. The CFPB has broad rule-making authority for a wide range of consumer protection laws that apply to all banks and savings institutions, including the authority to prohibit "unfair, deceptive or abusive" acts and practices. Established July 21, 2011, the CFPB has examination and enforcement authority over all banks and savings institutions with more than $10 billion in assets for certain designated consumer laws and regulations. The CFPB issued mortgage servicing standards and mortgage lending rules, including “qualified mortgage” that are designed to protect consumers and ensure the reliability of mortgages. Those rules are effective in early 2014.

The proposed Volcker Rule in Title VI of the Dodd-Frank Act which prohibits banking entities from engaging in proprietary trading as defined by the Dodd-Frank Act and restricts sponsorship of, or investment in, private equity funds and hedge funds, subject to limited exceptions. Based on the proposed rules, we expect the Company’s trading activity to be largely unaffected, as our trading activities, as defined by the Volcker Rule, are done for the benefit of the customers and securities traded are mostly exempted under the proposed rules. The Company’s private equity investment activity may be curtailed, but, is not expected to result in a material impact to the Company’s financial statements. A compliance program will be required for activities permitted under the proposed rules resulting in additional operating and compliance costs to the Company.

Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act subjects nearly all derivative transactions to the regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) or SEC. This includes registration, recordkeeping, reporting, capital, margin and business conduct requirements on swap dealers and major swap participants. In 2012, the CFTC and SEC both approved interim final rules on the definition "swap" and “swap dealer" which were effective October 2012. Under these rules, entities transacting in less than $8 billion in notional value of swaps over any 12 month period during the first three years after these rules are effective will be exempt from the definition of "swap dealer." After that three year period, this threshold may be reduced to $3 billion subject to the results of studies the commissions intend to undertake once the derivative rules are effective. The Company currently estimates that the nature and volume of swap activity will not require it to register as a swap dealer any time prior to October 2015. Although the ultimate impact of Title VII remains uncertain, we currently believe its full implementation is likely not to impose significantly higher compliance costs on the Company.

Some of the Company’s subsidiaries conduct underwriting and broker-dealer activities which are subject to regulation by the SEC, FINRA regulations, as well as other regulatory agencies. Such regulations generally include licensing of certain personnel, customer interactions, and trading operations. 

As consumer compliance expectations increase with new regulation and increased oversight, the Company is increasing its investment in compliance management systems, including the appointment of a new Chief Compliance Officer effective January 1, 2013.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (the “FDICIA”), among other things, identifies five capital categories for insured depository institutions from well capitalized to critically undercapitalized and requires the respective federal regulatory agencies to implement systems for prompt corrective action for institutions failing to meet minimum capital requirements within such categories. FDICIA imposes progressively more restrictive covenants on operations, management and capital distributions, depending upon the category in which an institution is classified.

Substantially all of the deposits held by the Bank are insured up to applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) of the FDIC and are subject to deposit insurance assessments to maintain the DIF. In 2011, the FDIC released a final rule to implement provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act that affect deposit insurance assessments. Among other things, the Dodd-Frank Act raised the minimum designated reserve ratio from 1.15% to 1.35% of estimated insured deposits, removed the upper limit of the designated reserve ratio, required that the designated reserve ratio reach 1.35% by September 30, 2020, and required that the FDIC offset the effect of increasing the minimum designated reserve ratio on depository institutions with total assets of less than $10 billion. The Dodd-Frank Act also required that the FDIC redefine the assessment base to average consolidated assets minus average tangible equity. This final rule reduced our deposit insurance assessment beginning in the second half of 2011.

According to Federal Reserve Board policy, a bank holding company is expected to act as a source of financial strength to each subsidiary bank and to commit resources to support each such subsidiary. This support may be required at times when a bank holding company may not be able to provide such support. 

The Federal Reserve Board regulates transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries. Generally, the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation W, as amended by the Dodd-Frank Act, limit the Company’s banking subsidiary and its subsidiaries, to lending and other “covered transactions” with affiliates. The aggregate amount of covered transactions a banking subsidiary or its subsidiaries may enter into with an affiliate may not exceed 10% of the capital stock and surplus of the banking subsidiary. The aggregate amount of covered transactions with all affiliates may not exceed 20% of the capital stock and surplus of the banking subsidiary.

Covered transactions with affiliates are also subject to collateralization requirements and must be conducted on arm’s length terms. Covered transactions include (a) a loan or extension of credit by the banking subsidiary, including derivative contracts, (b) a purchase of securities issued to a banking subsidiary, (c) a purchase of assets by the banking subsidiary unless otherwise exempted by the Federal Reserve, (d) acceptance of securities issued by an affiliate to the banking subsidiary as collateral for a loan, and (e) the issuance of a guarantee, acceptance or letter of credit by the banking subsidiary on behalf of an affiliate. Effective July 21, 2012, the Dodd-Frank Act expanded the scope of the Covered Transaction Rules. These expanded rules may further restrict transactions between BOKF’s subsidiaries.

The Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) and the The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (“PATRIOT Act”) imposes many requirements on financial institutions in the interest of national security and law enforcement. BSA requires banks to maintain records and file suspicious activity reports that are of use to law enforcement and regulators in combating money laundering and other financial crimes. The Company must have a designated BSA Officer, internal controls, independent testing and training programs commensurate with the size and risk profile of the Company. As part of its internal control program, the Company is expected to have effective customer due diligence and enhanced due diligence requirements for high-risk customers, as well as processes to prohibit transaction with entities subject to Office of Foreign Asset Control sanctions. Documentation and recordkeeping requirements, as well as system requirements, aimed identifying and reporting suspicious activity reporting, must increase with the Company's size and complexity.

The Company has a low tolerance for customers, products or services that pose a more-than-normal degree of risk for financial crimes. However, as drug cartels, criminal organizations and terrorist regimes seeking to launder money through the U.S. financial systems have become more sophisticated, the Company is making significant investments in suspicious activity monitoring systems and other program elements, including staffing.

Failure to implement or maintain adequate programs and controls to combat terrorist financing and money laundering may have serious legal and reputational consequences.

The operations of BOK Financial and its subsidiaries are affected by legislative changes and by the policies of various regulatory authorities and, in particular, the policies of the Federal Reserve Board. The Federal Reserve Board has statutory objectives to maximize employment and maintain price stability. Among the instruments of monetary policy used by the Federal Reserve Board to implement these objectives are: open-market operations in U.S. Government securities, changes in the discount rate and federal funds rate on bank borrowings, and changes in reserve requirements on bank deposits. The effect of future changes in such policies on the business and earnings of BOK Financial and its subsidiaries is uncertain.

In response to the significant recession in business activity which began in 2007, the Federal Reserve took aggressive actions to reduce interest rates and provide liquidity. While many of the crisis-related programs have expired or been closed, the Federal Reserve continues to put downward pressure on longer-term interest rates through purchases of longer-term securities. Additionally, the government continues to enact economic stimulus legislation and policies, including increases in government spending, reduction of certain taxes and home affordability programs. The Federal Reserve has indicated its intention to maintain historically low interest rates for the foreseeable future. The short-term effectiveness and long-term impact of these programs on the economy in general and on BOK Financial Corporation in particular are uncertain.

BOK Financial does not engage in operations in foreign countries, nor does it lend to foreign governments.

ITEM 1A.   RISK FACTORS

The United States economy experienced a significant recession from 2007 to 2009. Business activity across a wide range of industries and geographic regions decreased and unemployment increased significantly. The financial services industry and capital markets were adversely affected by significantly declining asset values, rising delinquencies and defaults, and restricted liquidity. Numerous financial institutions failed or required a significant amount of government assistance due to credit losses and liquidity shortages. The rate of economic recovery remains slow and unemployment has remained persistently high. The Federal Reserve Board continues to take steps to promote more robust economic growth including maintaining a historically low federal funds rate for an extended period of time and promoting low intermediate and long-term interest rates. The current effect of these actions reduces earnings by narrowing net interest margins as maturing fixed-rate loans are refinanced and cash flow from the securities portfolio are reinvested at lower current rates. The long-term effect subjects banks to future interest rate risk once rates increase to more normal levels.

Although BOK Financial has developed an operating strategy which it expects to result in continuing improved financial performance, BOK Financial cannot assure that it will be successful in fulfilling this strategy or that this operating strategy will be successful. Achieving success is dependent upon a number of factors, many of which are beyond BOK Financial's direct control. Factors that may adversely affect BOK Financial's ability to implement its operating strategy include:

BOK Financial's business is highly sensitive to:

A significant increase in market interest rates, or the perception that an increase may occur, could adversely affect both BOK Financial's ability to originate new loans and BOK Financial's ability to grow. Conversely, a decrease in interest rates could result in acceleration in the payment of loans, including loans underlying BOK Financial's holdings of residential mortgage-backed securities and termination of BOK Financial's mortgage servicing rights. In addition, changes in market interest rates, changes in the relationships between short-term and long-term market interest rates or changes in the relationships between different interest rate indices, could affect the interest rates charged on interest-earning assets differently than the interest rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities. This difference could result in an increase in interest expense relative to interest income which would reduce the Company’s net interest revenue. In a low interest rate environment, the Company's ability to support net interest revenue through continued securities portfolio growth or further reduce deposit costs could be limited. An increase in market interest rates also could adversely affect the ability of BOK Financial's floating-rate borrowers to meet their higher payment obligations. If this occurred, it could cause an increase in nonperforming assets and net charge-offs, which could adversely affect BOK Financial's business.

Residential mortgage-backed securities are also subject to credit risk from delinquency or default of the underlying loans. BOK Financial mitigates this risk somewhat by investing in securities issued by U.S. government agencies. Principal and interest payments on the loans underlying these securities are guaranteed by these agencies.

The Federal Reserve Board and other government agencies have implemented policies and programs to stimulate the U.S. economy and housing market. These policies and programs have significantly reduced both primary mortgage interest rates, the rates paid by borrowers, and secondary mortgage interest rates, the rates required by investors in mortgage backed securities. They have also reduced barriers to mortgage refinancing such as insufficient home values.

BOK Financial’s subsidiary bank may rely on other financial institutions and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka as a significant source of funds. Our ability to fund loans, manage our interest rate risk and meet other obligations depends on funds borrowed from these sources. The inability to borrow funds at market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

Banking is a competitive business. BOK Financial competes actively for loan, deposit and other financial services business in the southwest region of the United States. BOK Financial's competitors include a large number of small and large local and national banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, trust companies, broker-dealers and underwriters, as well as many financial and nonfinancial firms that offer services similar to BOK Financial's. Large national financial institutions have substantial capital, technology and marketing resources. Such large financial institutions may have greater access to capital at a lower cost than BOK Financial does, which may adversely affect BOK Financial's ability to compete effectively.

BOK Financial has expanded into markets outside of Oklahoma, where it competes with a large number of financial institutions that have an established customer base and greater market share than BOK Financial. BOK Financial may not be able to continue to compete successfully in these markets outside of Oklahoma. With respect to some of its services, BOK Financial competes with non-bank companies that are not subject to regulation. The absence of regulatory requirements may give non-banks a competitive advantage.

BOK Financial and its subsidiaries are extensively regulated under both federal and state law. In particular, BOK Financial is subject to the BHCA, the National Bank Act, the Dodd-Frank Act and many other laws and regulations. In the past, BOK Financial's business has been materially affected by these regulations. For example, regulations limit BOK Financial's business to banking and related businesses, limit the location of BOK Financial's branches and offices, as well as the amount of deposits that it can hold in a particular state and have added pricing constraints to our transaction card business. Regulations may limit BOK Financial's ability to grow and expand into new markets and businesses.

Additionally, under the Community Reinvestment Act, BOK Financial is required to provide services in traditionally underserved areas. BOK Financial's ability to make acquisitions and engage in new business may be limited by these requirements.

Bank regulations require us to maintain specified capital ratios and proposed Dodd-Frank Act and Basel III capital rules will likely increase the levels of required capital, and to stress-test our capital under various economic scenarios. Any risk of failure to meet minimum required capital ratios would limit the growth potential of BOK Financial's business.

Under a long-standing policy of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, a bank holding company is expected to act as a source of financial strength for its subsidiary bank. As a result of that policy, BOK Financial may be required to commit financial and other resources to its subsidiary bank in circumstances where we might not otherwise do so.

The trend of increasingly extensive regulation is likely to continue and become more costly in the future. Laws, regulations or policies currently affecting BOK Financial and its subsidiaries may change. The implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act has and will continue to affect BOK Financial’s businesses, including interchange revenue, mortgage banking, derivative and trading activities on behalf of customers, consumer products and funds management.

Regulatory authorities may change their interpretation of these statutes and regulations and are likely to increase their supervisory activities, including the OCC, our primary regulator, and the CFPB, our new regulator for certain designated consumer laws and regulations. Violations of laws and regulations could limit the growth potential of BOK Financial's businesses.

As a result of the financial crisis and related government intervention to stabilize the banking system, there have been a series of laws and related regulations proposed or enacted in an attempt to ensure the crisis is not repeated. Many of the proposed new regulations are far-reaching. The intervention by the government also impacted populist sentiment with a negative view of financial institutions. This sentiment may increase litigation risk to the Company. While the Company did not participate in the Troubled Asset Relief Program and performed well throughout the downturn, the adverse political environment could have an adverse impact on BOK Financial’s future operations. 

BOK Financial is a financial holding company, and a substantial portion of BOK Financial's cash flow typically comes from dividends that BOK Financial's bank and nonbank subsidiaries pay to BOK Financial. Various statutory provisions restrict the amount of dividends BOK Financial's subsidiaries can pay to BOK Financial without regulatory approval. Management also developed, and the BOK Financial board of directors approved, an internal capital policy that is more restrictive than the regulatory capital standards. Subsidiary creditors are entitled to receive distributions from the assets of that subsidiary in the event of liquidation before BOK Financial, as holder of an equity interest in the subsidiary, is entitled to receive any of the assets of the subsidiary. However, if BOK Financial is a creditor of the subsidiary with recognized claims against it, BOK Financial will be in the same position as other creditors.

A relatively small fraction of BOK Financial's outstanding common stock is actively traded. The risks of low liquidity include increased volatility of the price of BOK Financial's common stock. Low liquidity may also limit holders of BOK Financial's common stock in their ability to sell or transfer BOK Financial's shares at the price, time and quantity desired.

Mr. Kaiser has the right to sell shares of BOK Financial's common stock in compliance with the federal securities laws at any time, or from time to time. The federal securities laws will be the only restrictions on Mr. Kaiser's ability to sell. Because of his current control of BOK Financial, Mr. Kaiser could sell large amounts of his shares of BOK Financial's common stock by

causing BOK Financial to file a registration statement that would allow him to sell shares more easily. In addition, Mr. Kaiser could sell his shares of BOK Financial's common stock without registration under Rule 144 of the Securities Act. Although BOK Financial can make no predictions as to the effect, if any, that such sales would have on the market price of BOK Financial's common stock, sales of substantial amounts of BOK Financial's common stock, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect market prices. If Mr. Kaiser sells or transfers his shares of BOK Financial's common stock as a block, another person or entity could become BOK Financial's controlling shareholder.

As a financial institution, we process a significant number of customer transactions and possess a significant amount of sensitive customer information. We engage certain third-party vendors to support our data processing systems. As technology advances, the ability to initiate transactions and access data has become more widely distributed among mobile phones, personal computers, automated teller machines, remote deposit capture sites and similar access points. These technological advances increase cyber security risk. While the Company maintains programs intended to prevent or limit the effects of cyber security risk, there is no assurance that unauthorized transactions or unauthorized access to customer information will not occur. The financial, reputational and regulatory impact of unauthorized transactions or unauthorized access to customer information could be significant.

ITEM 1B.   UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

BOK Financial and its subsidiaries own and lease improved real estate that is carried at $183 million, net of depreciation and amortization. The Company’s principal offices are located in leased premises in the Bank of Oklahoma Tower in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Banking offices are primarily located in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Denver, Colorado; Phoenix, Arizona; and Kansas City, Kansas/Missouri. Primary operations facilities are located in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Dallas, Texas and Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Company’s facilities are suitable for their respective uses and present needs.

ITEM 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

ITEM 4.   MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

ITEM 5.   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The highest and lowest closing bid price for shares and cash dividends per share of BOK Financial common stock follows:

12

Set forth below is a line graph comparing the change in cumulative shareholder return of the NASDAQ Index, the NASDAQ Bank Index, and the KBW 50 Bank Index for the period commencing December 31, 2007 and ending December 31, 2012.*

 

ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The selected financial data is set forth within Table 1 of Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

The following discussion is management’s analysis to assist in the understanding and evaluation of the financial condition and results of operations of BOK Financial Corporation (“BOK Financial” or “the Company”). This discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and footnotes and selected financial data presented elsewhere in this report.

Following the severe recession from 2007 to 2009, economic growth in the United State has been modest and gradual. National unemployment rates have improved from 8.5% in December of 2011 to 7.8% in December of 2012. With subdued indications of inflation, the U.S. government has provided accommodative economic policy to support growth in the economy and further reduction in the unemployment rate. Long-term and short-term interest rates remained at historic lows throughout the year. Low national mortgage rates during much of the year sustained a record level of mortgage lending activity. This low interest rate environment has presented challenges for all financial institutions as cash flows from loan and securities portfolios are reinvested at current rates. The Federal Reserve has continued to affirm its intention to keep interest rates low for the foreseeable future. Both personal and corporate balance sheets have improved during the year. Corporations have amassed a significant amount of cash, placing the U.S. in a strong position to fund growth opportunities and reinvest. However, this has been hindered by the uncertainty in tax and regulatory policy as we address the high level of national debt and deficit issues.

The Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Company's accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. Management makes significant assumptions and estimates in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes in conformity with GAAP that may be highly subjective, complex and subject to variability. Actual results could differ significantly from these assumptions and estimates. The following discussion addresses the most critical areas where these assumptions and estimates could affect the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company. These critical accounting policies and estimates have been discussed with the appropriate committees of the Board of Directors.

The allowance for loan losses and accrual for off-balance sheet credit risk are assessed by management based on an ongoing quarterly evaluation of the probable estimated losses inherent in the loan portfolio and probable estimated losses on unused commitments to provide financing. A consistent, well-documented methodology has been developed and is applied by an independent Credit Administration department to assure consistency across the Company. The allowance for loan losses consists of specific allowances attributed to certain impaired loans that have not yet been charged down to amounts we expect to recover, general allowances for unimpaired loans that are based on estimated loss rates by loan class and nonspecific allowances for risks beyond factors specific to a particular portfolio segment or loan class. There have been no material changes in the approach or techniques utilized in developing the allowance for loan losses and accrual for off-balance sheet credit risk during 2012.

Loans are considered impaired when it is probable that we will not collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreements, including loans modified in troubled debt restructurings. Internally risk graded loans are evaluated individually for impairment. Substantially all commercial and commercial real estate loans and certain residential mortgage and consumer loans are risk graded through a quarterly evaluation of the borrower's ability to repay. Certain commercial loans and most residential mortgage and consumer loans which represent small balance, homogeneous pools are not risk graded. Non-risk graded loans are identified as impaired based on performance status. Generally, non-risk graded loans are considered impaired when 90 or more days past due, in bankruptcy or modified in a troubled debt restructuring.

Specific allowances for impaired loans that have not yet been charged down to amounts we expect to recover are measured by an evaluation of estimated future cash flows discounted at the loan's initial effective interest rate or the fair value of collateral for certain collateral dependent loans. Collateral value of real property is generally based on third party appraisals that conform to Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, less estimated selling costs. Appraised values are on an “as-is” basis and generally are not adjusted by the Company. Updated appraisals are obtained at least annually or more frequently if market conditions indicate collateral values may have declined. Collateral value of mineral rights is determined by our internal staff of engineers based on projected cash flows under current market conditions. The value of other collateral is generally determined by our special assets staff based on liquidation cash flows under current market conditions. Collateral values and available cash resources that support impaired loans are evaluated quarterly. Historical statistics may be used as a practical way to estimate impairment in limited situations, such as when a collateral dependent loan is identified as impaired near the end of a reporting period until an updated appraisal of collateral value is received or a full assessment of future cash flows is completed. Estimates of future cash flows and collateral values require significant judgments and may be volatile.

General allowances for unimpaired loans are based on estimated loss rates by loan class. The appropriate historical gross loss rate for each loan class is determined by the greater of the current loss rate based on the most recent twelve months or a ten-year average gross loss rate. Recoveries are not directly considered in the estimation of historical loss rates. Recoveries generally do not follow predictable patterns and are not received until well-after the charge-off date as a result of protracted legal proceedings. For risk graded loans, historical loss rates are adjusted for changes in risk rating. For each loan class, the weighted average current risk grade is compared to the weighted average long-term risk grade. This comparison determines whether the risk in each loan class is increasing or decreasing. Historical loss rates are adjusted upward or downward in proportion to changes in weighted average risk grading. General allowances for unimpaired loans also consider inherent risks identified for a given loan class. Inherent risks include consideration of the loss rates that most appropriately represent the current credit cycle and other factors attributable to a specific loan class which have not yet been represented in the historical gross loss rates or risk grading. Examples of these factors include changes in commodity prices or engineering imprecision which may affect the value of reserves that secure our energy loan portfolio, construction risk that may affect commercial real

estate loans, changes in regulations and public policy that may disproportionately impact health care loans and changes in loan product types.

Nonspecific allowances are maintained for risks beyond factors specific to a particular portfolio segment or loan class. These factors include trends in the economy in our primary lending areas, concentrations in loans with large balances and other relevant factors.

Certain assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Fair value is defined by applicable accounting guidance as the price to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal markets for the given asset or liability at the measurement date based on markets conditions at that date. An orderly transaction assumes exposure to the market for a customary period for marketing activities prior to the measurement date and not a forced liquidation or distressed sale.

A hierarchy for fair value has been established that prioritizes the inputs of valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad categories: unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1), other observable inputs that can be observed either directly or indirectly (Level 2) and unobservable inputs for assets or liabilities (Level 3). Fair value may be recorded for certain assets and liabilities every reporting period on a recurring basis or under certain circumstances on a non-recurring basis.

 

Goodwill for each reporting unit is evaluated for impairment annually as of October 1st or more frequently if conditions indicate that impairment may have occurred. The evaluation of possible goodwill impairment involves significant judgment based upon short-term and long-term projections of future performance.

We identify the geographical market underlying each operating segment as reporting units for the purpose of performing the annual goodwill impairment test. This is consistent with the manner in which management assesses the performance of the Company and allocates resources. See additional discussion of the operating segments in the Assessment of Operations - Lines of Business section following.

We perform a qualitative assessment that evaluates, based on the weight of the evidence, the significance of all identified events and circumstances in the context of determining whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting units are less than their carrying amount. This qualitative assessment considers general economic conditions including trends in unemployment rates in our primary geographical areas, our earnings and stock price changes during the year, current and anticipated credit quality performance and the prolonged low interest rate environment and the impact of increased regulation. This qualitative assessment is supplemented by quantitative analysis through which the fair value of each of our reporting units is estimated by the discounted future earnings method. Income growth is projected for each of our reporting units over five years and a terminal value is computed. The projected income stream is converted to current fair value by using a discount rate that reflects a rate of return required by a willing buyer. Assumptions used to value our reporting units are based on growth rates, volatility, discount rate and market risk premium inherent in our current stock price. These assumptions are considered significant unobservable inputs and represent our best estimate of assumptions that market participants would use to determine fair value of the respective reporting units. At December 31, 2012, critical assumptions in our evaluation were a 4% average expected long-term growth rate, a 0.78% volatility factor for BOK Financial common stock, an 11.00% discount rate and an 11.99% market risk premium. The expected long-term growth rate will vary among reporting units and in future years.

The fair value, carrying value and related goodwill of reporting units for which goodwill was attributed as of our annual impairment test performed on October 1, 2012 is as follows in Table 2.

(In thousands)

Based on the results of the primary discounted future earnings test performed as of October 1, 2012, no goodwill impairment was noted.

The fair value of our reporting units determined by the discounted future earnings method was further corroborated by comparison to the market capitalization of publicly traded banks of similar size and characteristics in our geographical footprint. Considering the results of these two methods, management believes that no goodwill impairment existed as of our annual evaluation date.

As of December 31, 2012, the market value of BOK Financial common stock, a primary input in our goodwill impairment analysis, was approximately 8% below the market value used in our most recent annual evaluation. The market value is influenced by factors affecting the overall economy and the regional banks sector of the market. Goodwill impairment may be indicated at our next annual evaluation date if the market value of our stock declines or sooner if we incur significant unanticipated operating losses or if other factors indicate a significant decline in the value of our reporting units. The effect of a sustained 10% negative change in the market value of our common stock on September 30, 2012 was simulated. No additional impairment was noted by this simulation.

Numerous other factors could affect future impairment analyses including credit losses that exceed projected amounts or failure to meet growth projections. Additionally, fee income may be adversely affected by increasing residential mortgage interest rates and changes in federal regulations.

On a quarterly basis, the Company performs separate evaluations of impaired debt and equity investment and available for sale securities to determine if the unrealized losses are temporary or other-than-temporary.

For impaired debt securities, management determines whether it intends to sell or if it is more-likely-than-not that it will be required to sell the impaired securities. This determination considers current and forecasted liquidity requirements, regulatory and capital requirements and securities portfolio management. All impaired debt securities we intend to sell or we expect to be required to sell are considered other-than-temporarily impaired and the full impairment loss is recognized as a charge against earnings. All impaired debt securities we do not intend or expect to be required to sell are evaluated further.

We consider the principal and interest cash flows from the underlying loan pool as well as the remaining credit enhancement coverage as part of our assessment of cash flows available to recover the amortized cost of our securities. The credit enhancement coverage is an estimate of currently remaining subordinated tranches available to absorb losses on pools of loans that support the security.

Credit losses, which are defined as the excess of current amortized cost over the present value of projected cash flows, on other-than-temporarily impaired debt securities are recognized as a charge against earnings. Any remaining impairment attributed to factors other than credit losses are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive losses.

   

We performed a sensitivity analysis of all privately issued residential mortgage-backed securities. Significant assumptions of this analysis included an increase in the unemployment rate to 11% and an additional 10% home price depreciation over the next twelve months. The results of this analysis indicated an additional $3 million of credit losses are possible. An increase in the unemployment rate to 13% with an additional 20% home price depreciation indicates an additional $10 million of credit losses are possible.

Impaired equity securities, including perpetual preferred stocks, are evaluated based on our ability and intent to hold the securities until fair value recovers over a period not to exceed three years. The assessment of the ability and intent to hold these

Determination of income tax expense and related assets and liabilities is complex and requires estimates and judgments when applying tax laws, rules, regulations and interpretations. It also requires judgments as to future earnings and the timing of future events. Accrued income taxes represent an estimate of net amounts due to or from taxing jurisdictions based upon these estimates, interpretations and judgments.

Management evaluates the Company's current tax expense or benefit based upon estimates of taxable income, tax credits and statutory tax rates. Annually, we file tax returns with each jurisdiction where we conduct business and adjust recognized income tax expense or benefit to filed tax returns.

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities based upon the differences between the values of assets and liabilities as recognized in the financial statements and their related tax basis using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion of the entire deferred tax asset may not be realized based on taxes previously paid in net loss carry-back periods and other factors.

We also recognize the benefit of uncertain income tax positions when based upon all relevant evidence it is more-likely-than-not that our position would prevail upon examination, including resolution of related appeals or litigation, based upon the technical merits of the position. Unrecognized tax benefits, including estimated interest and penalties, are part of our current accrued income tax liability. Estimated penalties and interest are recognized in income tax expense. Income tax expense in future periods may decrease if an uncertain tax position is favorably resolved, generally upon completion of an examination by the taxing authorities, expiration of a statute of limitations, or changes in facts and circumstances.

Net Interest Revenue and Net Interest Margin

Net interest revenue is the interest earned on debt securities, loans and other interest-earning assets less interest paid for interest-bearing deposits and other borrowings. The net interest margin is calculated by dividing net interest revenue by average interest-earning assets. Net interest spread is the difference between the average rate earned on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest margin is typically greater than net interest spread due to interest income earned on assets funded by non-interest bearing liabilities such as demand deposits and equity.

Net interest margin may continue to decline in 2013. Our ability to further decrease funding costs is limited and our ability to provide near term net interest revenue support through continued securities portfolio growth may be constrained by our conservative interest rate risk policies. Although we have sufficient capital and liquidity, further securities portfolio growth may result in unacceptable risk should interest rates start to rise. This interest rate risk policy constraint does not affect our ability to continue loan portfolio growth.

(In thousands)

(In thousands)