Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2022
OR
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to .
Commission File Number: 001-13695
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
16-1213679.
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
5790 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, New York
13214-1883.
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(315) 445-2282
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
NONE
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share
CBU
New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
☒
Accelerated filer
☐
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒.
Number of shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, outstanding as of the close of business on October 31, 2022: 53,734,397 shares
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part I.
Financial Information
Page
Item 1.
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Consolidated Statements of Condition September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021
3
Consolidated Statements of Income Three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
4
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) Three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
5
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity Three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
8
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2022
9
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
33
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
56
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
58
Part II.
Other Information
Legal Proceedings
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
59
Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5.
Item 6.
Exhibits
60
2
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION (Unaudited)
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)
September 30,
December 31,
2022
2021
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
247,391
1,875,064
Available-for-sale investment securities includes pledged securities that can be sold or repledged of $427,164 and $485,414, respectively (cost of $6,136,544 and $4,980,102, respectively)
5,170,689
4,934,210
Equity and other securities (cost of $55,665 and $43,917, respectively)
56,603
44,879
Loans, net
8,543,607
7,373,639
Allowance for credit losses
(60,363)
(49,869)
Net loans
8,483,244
7,323,770
Goodwill
844,984
799,109
Core deposit intangibles, net
13,550
9,087
Other intangibles, net
50,690
56,139
Goodwill and intangible assets, net
909,224
864,335
Premises and equipment, net
161,966
160,651
Accrued interest and fees receivable
41,627
35,894
Other assets
523,803
313,854
Total assets
15,594,547
15,552,657
Liabilities:
Noninterest-bearing deposits
4,281,859
3,921,663
Interest-bearing deposits
9,204,462
8,989,505
Total deposits
13,486,321
12,911,168
Overnight borrowings
119,800
0
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase, short-term
352,772
324,720
Other Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings
19,472
1,888
Subordinated notes payable
3,256
3,277
Accrued interest and other liabilities
151,763
210,797
Total liabilities
14,133,384
13,451,850
Commitments and contingencies (See Note J)
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued
Common stock, $1.00 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized; 54,188,008 and 54,092,421 shares issued, respectively
54,188
54,092
Additional paid-in capital
1,048,444
1,041,304
Retained earnings
1,123,641
1,058,286
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(746,381)
(50,627)
Treasury stock, at cost (451,992 shares, including 134,477 shares held by deferred compensation arrangements at September 30, 2022 and 214,374 shares including 146,860 shares held by deferred compensation arrangements at December 31, 2021, respectively)
(26,426)
(10,610)
Deferred compensation arrangements (134,477 and 146,860 shares, respectively)
7,697
8,362
Total shareholders’ equity
1,461,163
2,100,807
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(In Thousands, Except Per-Share Data)
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans
88,434
75,825
238,907
231,446
Interest and dividends on taxable investments
23,737
17,361
71,228
49,325
Interest and dividends on nontaxable investments
3,704
2,480
9,611
7,920
Total interest income
115,875
95,666
319,746
288,691
Interest expense:
Interest on deposits
3,855
2,822
9,111
8,897
Interest on borrowings
1,588
195
2,113
716
Interest on subordinated notes payable
38
115
Interest on subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts
293
Total interest expense
5,481
3,055
11,339
10,021
Net interest income
110,394
92,611
308,407
278,670
Provision for credit losses
5,061
(944)
12,005
(11,001)
Net interest income after provision for credit losses
105,333
93,555
296,402
289,671
Noninterest revenues:
Deposit service fees
17,452
15,442
49,745
43,758
Mortgage banking
171
460
595
1,479
Other banking services
912
996
2,521
2,830
Employee benefit services
27,884
29,923
86,385
83,933
Insurance services
11,332
9,176
31,521
25,538
Wealth management services
7,502
8,322
24,276
24,748
Unrealized (loss) gain on equity securities
(4)
(10)
(24)
14
Total noninterest revenues
65,249
64,309
195,019
182,300
Noninterest expenses:
Salaries and employee benefits
66,190
62,883
193,236
178,407
Occupancy and equipment
10,364
9,867
31,740
31,437
Data processing and communications
14,184
12,966
40,454
38,123
Amortization of intangible assets
3,837
3,703
11,420
10,300
Legal and professional fees
3,194
3,352
10,196
8,885
Business development and marketing
3,616
2,383
9,975
7,071
Litigation accrual
(100)
Acquisition expenses
409
102
4,668
133
Acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustment
400
Other expenses
6,391
5,280
16,327
12,969
Total noninterest expenses
108,185
100,436
318,416
287,225
Income before income taxes
62,397
57,428
173,005
184,746
Income taxes
13,706
12,092
37,454
38,616
Net income
48,691
45,336
135,551
146,130
Basic earnings per share
0.90
0.84
2.51
2.70
Diluted earnings per share
0.83
2.49
2.68
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Unaudited)
(In Thousands)
Pension and other post retirement obligations:
Amortization of actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost, gross
220
911
660
2,733
Tax effect
(53)
(219)
(160)
(657)
Amortization of actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost, net
167
692
500
2,076
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic pension cost, gross
109
50
327
150
(26)
(12)
(79)
(36)
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic pension cost, net
83
248
114
Other comprehensive income related to pension and other post-retirement obligations, net of taxes
250
730
748
2,190
Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities:
Net unrealized losses arising during period, gross
(301,023)
(21,268)
(919,962)
(168,621)
73,119
5,112
223,460
40,528
Other comprehensive loss related to unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities, net of taxes
(227,904)
(16,156)
(696,502)
(128,093)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
(227,654)
(15,426)
(695,754)
(125,903)
Comprehensive (loss) income
(178,963)
29,910
(560,203)
20,227
As of
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss By Component:
Unrealized loss for pension and other post-retirement obligations
(19,637)
(20,624)
4,915
5,154
Net unrealized loss for pension and other post-retirement obligations
(14,722)
(15,470)
Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities
(965,855)
(45,893)
234,196
10,736
Net unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities
(731,659)
(35,157)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)
Three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
Accumulated
Common Stock
Additional
Other
Deferred
Shares
Amount
Paid-In
Retained
Comprehensive
Treasury
Compensation
Outstanding
Issued
Capital
Earnings
Loss
Stock
Arrangements
Total
Balance at June 30, 2022
53,734,027
54,185
1,046,303
1,098,664
(518,727)
(26,369)
7,640
1,661,696
Dividends declared:
Common, $0.44 per share
(23,714)
Common stock activity under employee stock plans
2,892
284
287
Stock-based compensation
1,857
Treasury stock purchased for benefit plans, net
(903)
(57)
57
Balance at September 30, 2022
53,736,016
Balance at June 30, 2021
53,918,695
54,064
1,037,088
1,015,742
(48,400)
(5,632)
8,238
2,061,100
Common, $0.43 per share
(23,142)
8,122
464
472
1,594
(830)
(61)
61
Balance at September 30, 2021
53,925,987
54,072
1,039,146
1,037,936
(63,826)
(5,693)
8,299
2,069,934
Nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
(Loss) Income
Balance at December 31, 2021
53,878,047
Common, $1.30 per share
(70,196)
95,586
96
990
1,086
6,047
Distribution of stock under deferred compensation arrangements
14,934
103
739
(842)
Treasury stock purchased
(250,000)
(16,378)
(2,551)
(177)
177
Balance at December 31, 2020
53,593,127
53,755
1,025,163
960,183
62,077
(6,198)
9,127
2,104,107
Common, $1.27 per share
(68,377)
317,390
317
8,824
9,141
4,836
18,089
323
694
(1,017)
(2,619)
(189)
189
7
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
Operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation
10,956
11,898
Net accretion on securities, loans and borrowings
(14,519)
(17,260)
Amortization of mortgage servicing rights
554
397
Unrealized loss (gain) on equity securities
24
(14)
Income from bank-owned life insurance policies
(1,543)
(1,500)
Net gain on sale of assets
(570)
(408)
Change in other assets and other liabilities
(16,889)
9,646
Net cash provided by operating activities
143,036
153,024
Investing activities:
Proceeds from maturities, calls, and paydowns of available-for-sale investment securities
210,152
313,913
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions of equity and other securities
2,247
2,652
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities
(1,348,400)
(1,284,544)
Purchases of equity and other securities
(6,108)
(210)
Net (increase) decrease in loans
(735,072)
141,491
Cash received (paid) for acquisitions, net of cash acquired of $84,988 and $541, respectively
345
(29,329)
Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment, net
1,928
Purchases of premises and equipment, net
(10,014)
(10,299)
Real estate tax credit investments
(247)
(586)
Net cash used in investing activities
(1,885,169)
(866,809)
Financing activities:
Net increase in deposits
52,858
1,498,847
Net increase in overnight borrowings
Net increase in securities sold under agreement to repurchase, short-term
28,052
32,755
Payments on other Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings
(71)
(3,746)
Payments on subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts
(77,320)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock
Purchases of treasury stock
(16,555)
Increase in deferred compensation arrangements
Cash dividends paid
(69,681)
(67,823)
Withholding taxes paid on share-based compensation
(1,206)
(1,213)
Net cash provided by financing activities
114,460
1,390,641
Change in cash and cash equivalents
(1,627,673)
676,856
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
1,645,805
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
2,322,661
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest
11,793
10,722
Cash paid for income taxes
41,061
34,067
Supplemental disclosures of noncash financing and investing activities:
Dividends declared and unpaid
23,750
23,249
Transfers from loans to other real estate
303
281
Transfers from premises and equipment, net to other assets
5,113
Acquisitions:
Fair value of assets acquired, excluding acquired cash and intangibles
486,077
1,339
Fair value of liabilities assumed
542,668
1,164
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
September 30, 2022
NOTE A: BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The interim financial data as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 is unaudited; however, in the opinion of Community Bank System, Inc. (the “Company”), the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the results for the interim periods in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other interim period. The Company’s unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited annual consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 1, 2022.
NOTE B: ACQUISITIONS
Current and Prior Period Acquisitions
On May 13, 2022, the Company completed the acquisition of Elmira Savings Bank (“Elmira”), a New York State chartered savings bank headquartered in Elmira, New York, for $82.2 million in cash. The acquisition enhances the Company’s presence in five counties in New York’s Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions. In connection with the acquisition, the Company acquired approximately $579.0 million of identifiable assets, including $437.0 million of loans, $11.3 million of investment securities, and $8.0 million of core deposit intangibles, as well as $522.3 million of deposits. Preliminary goodwill of $45.8 million was recognized as a result of the merger. The effects of the acquired assets and liabilities have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date. The Company also recognized a $3.9 million acquisition-related provision for credit losses for loans acquired in the transaction. Revenues of approximately $4.8 million and $7.2 million and direct expenses of approximately $1.2 million and $1.8 million from the Elmira branch network were included in the consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively. The Company incurred certain one-time, transaction-related costs in 2022 in connection with the Elmira acquisition.
On January 1, 2022, the Company, through its subsidiary OneGroup NY, Inc. (“OneGroup”), completed acquisitions of certain assets of three insurance agencies for an aggregate amount of $2.5 million in cash. The Company recorded a $2.5 million customer list intangible asset in conjunction with the acquisitions. The effects of the acquired assets have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date. Revenues of approximately $0.2 million and $0.8 million and direct expenses of approximately $0.1 million and $0.3 million were included in the consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively.
On August 2, 2021, the Company, through its subsidiary OneGroup, completed its acquisition of certain assets and liabilities of the Thomas Gregory Associates Insurance Brokers, Inc. (“TGA”), a specialty-lines insurance broker based in the Boston, Massachusetts area, for $11.6 million in cash plus contingent consideration with a fair value at acquisition date of $1.5 million. The Company recorded a $10.9 million customer list intangible asset and $2.2 million of goodwill in conjunction with the acquisition. The effects of the acquired assets and liabilities have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date. Revenues of approximately $1.0 million and $3.0 million and direct expenses of approximately $0.4 million and $1.1 million from TGA were included in the consolidated income statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively.
The acquisition of TGA includes a contingent consideration arrangement that requires additional consideration to be paid by the Company based on the future retained revenue of TGA over a three-year period. Amounts are payable in two payments, the first of which is two years after the acquisition date, and the second is three years after the acquisition date. The range of the undiscounted amounts the Company could pay under the contingent consideration agreement is between zero and $3.4 million. The fair value of the contingent consideration recognized on the acquisition date of $1.5 million was estimated by applying the income approach, a measure that is based on significant Level 3 inputs not readily observable in the market. Key assumptions at the date of acquisition include (1) a discount rate range of 0.82% to 1.09% applied to present value the payments, and (2) probability adjusted level of retained revenue between $2.3 million and $3.8 million.
The contingent consideration related to the TGA acquisition was revalued at June 30, 2022. The range of the undiscounted amounts the Company could pay under the agreement remained at between zero and $3.4 million. Key assumptions include (1) a discount rate range of 4.44% to 4.55% applied to present value the payments, and (2) probability adjusted level of retained revenue between $3.3 million and $3.7 million. Based on the results of the revaluation, the Company recorded a $0.5 million acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustment as of June 30, 2022 in the consolidated statements of income related to the TGA acquisition, for an adjusted fair value of $2.0 million at June 30, 2022. No adjustments were made to the fair value of the contingent consideration related to the TGA acquisition during the three months ended September 30, 2022.
On July 1, 2021, the Company, through its subsidiary Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc. (“BPA”), completed its acquisition of Fringe Benefits Design of Minnesota, Inc. (“FBD”) for $15.4 million in cash plus contingent consideration with a fair value at acquisition date of $1.4 million. The Company recorded a $14.0 million customer list intangible asset and $2.1 million of goodwill in conjunction with the acquisition. The effects of the acquired assets have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date. Revenues of approximately $0.8 million and $3.3 million and direct expenses of approximately $1.0 million and $3.2 million from FBD were included in the consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively.
The acquisition of FBD includes a contingent consideration arrangement that requires additional consideration to be paid by the Company based on the future retained revenue of FBD over a two-year period. Amounts are payable three years after the acquisition date. The range of the undiscounted amounts the Company could pay under the contingent consideration agreement is between zero and $2.7 million. The fair value of the contingent consideration recognized on the acquisition date of $1.4 million was estimated by applying the income approach; a measure that is based on significant Level 3 inputs not readily observable in the market. Key assumptions at the date of acquisition include (1) a discount rate of 1.05% applied to present value the payment, and (2) probability adjusted level of retained revenue between $5.6 million and $5.8 million.
The contingent consideration related to the FBD acquisition was revalued at June 30, 2022. The range of the undiscounted amounts the Company could pay under the agreement remained at between zero and $2.7 million. Key assumptions include (1) a discount rate of 4.51% applied to present value the payment, and (2) probability adjusted level of retained revenue between $5.2 million and $5.4 million. Based on the results of the revaluation, the Company recorded a reduction to the fair value by $0.1 million as of June 30, 2022 as an acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustment in the consolidated statements of income related to the FBD acquisition, for an adjusted fair value of $1.5 million at June 30, 2022. No adjustments were made to the fair value of the contingent consideration related to the FBD acquisition during the three months ended September 30, 2022.
On June 1, 2021, the Company, through its subsidiary OneGroup, completed its acquisition of certain assets and liabilities of NuVantage Insurance Corp. (“NuVantage”), an insurance agency headquartered in Melbourne, Florida. The Company paid $2.9 million in cash and recorded a $1.4 million customer list intangible asset and $1.4 million of goodwill in conjunction with the acquisition. The effects of the acquired assets and liabilities have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date. Revenues of approximately $0.3 million and $0.9 million and direct expenses of approximately $0.3 million and $0.9 million from NuVantage were included in the consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.
The assets and liabilities assumed in the acquisitions were recorded at their estimated fair values based on management’s best estimates using information available at the dates of the acquisitions, and are subject to adjustment based on updated information not available at the time of the acquisitions. Accrued income taxes and deferred taxes associated with the Elmira acquisition were recorded on a provisional basis and could vary from the actual recorded balance once finalized. During the first and third quarter of 2022, the carrying amount of other liabilities associated with the FBD acquisition was adjusted as a result of an adjustment to working capital based on the purchase agreement, for a total net increase to goodwill of $0.1 million. During the third quarter of 2022, the carrying amount of premises and equipment, other assets, and other liabilities related to the Elmira acquisition were adjusted upon receipt of new information as a result of adjustments to fair value and deferred income taxes. The adjustments resulted in a net decrease of $4.9 million to goodwill recognized from the Elmira acquisition at September 30, 2022.
The acquisitions generally expanded the Company’s geographic presence in New York, Florida, Massachusetts, and Minnesota, and management expects that the Company will benefit from greater geographic diversity and the advantages of other synergistic business development opportunities.
10
The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
(000s omitted)
Elmira
Other(1)
TGA
FBD
NuVantage
Consideration:
Cash
82,179
2,464
84,643
11,620
15,350
2,900
29,870
Contingent consideration
1,500
1,400
Total net consideration
13,120
16,750
32,770
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
84,988
541
Investment securities
11,305
Loans, net of allowance for credit losses on PCD loans
436,948
11,303
279
282
199
760
884
25,637
579
Core deposit intangibles
7,970
Other intangibles
10,900
14,000
1,437
26,337
Deposits
(522,295)
Other liabilities
(2,757)
(229)
(761)
(174)
(1,164)
(17,616)
Total identifiable assets, net
36,367
38,831
10,950
14,641
1,462
27,053
45,812
2,170
2,109
1,438
5,717
The Company has acquired loans from Elmira for which there was evidence of a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination (purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loans). There were no investment securities acquired from Elmira for which there was evidence of a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination. The carrying amount of those loans is as follows at the date of acquisition:
PCD Loans
Par value of PCD loans at acquisition
2,184
Allowance for credit losses at acquisition
Non-credit discount at acquisition
(81)
Fair value of PCD loans at acquisition
2,032
The fair value of checking, savings and money market deposit accounts acquired were assumed to approximate the carrying value as these accounts have no stated maturity and are payable on demand. Certificate of deposit accounts were valued at the present value of the certificates’ expected contractual payments discounted at market rates for similar certificates.
Borrowings assumed with the Elmira acquisition included Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (“FHLB”) borrowings with a fair value of $17.6 million, with maturity dates ranging from January 2023 through March 2027 and a weighted average interest rate of 2.48%.
The core deposit intangibles related to the Elmira acquisition are being amortized using an accelerated method over an estimated useful life of eight years. The other intangibles related to the NuVantage acquisition and the OneGroup asset acquisitions completed in 2022 are being amortized using an accelerated method over their estimated useful of life of eight years for NuVantage and two of the 2022 OneGroup asset acquisitions, and ten years for the third 2022 OneGroup asset acquisition. The other intangibles related to the TGA and FBD acquisitions are being amortized using an accelerated method over their estimated useful life of 13 years and 15 years, respectively. Goodwill, which is not amortized for book purposes, was assigned to the Banking segment for the Elmira acquisition, the All Other segment for the NuVantage and TGA acquisitions, and the Employee Benefit Services segment for the FBD acquisition. Goodwill arising from the Elmira and FBD acquisitions is not deductible for tax purposes. Goodwill arising from the NuVantage and TGA acquisitions is deductible for tax purposes.
Direct costs related to the acquisitions were expensed as incurred. Merger and acquisition integration-related expenses were $0.4 million and $4.7 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, and were $0.1 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. These amounts have been separately stated in the consolidated statements of income.
11
Supplemental Pro Forma Financial Information
The following unaudited condensed pro forma information assumes the Elmira acquisition had been completed as of January 1, 2021 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021. The table below has been prepared for comparative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the actual results that would have been attained had the acquisition occurred as of the beginning of the year presented, nor is it indicative of the Company’s future results. Furthermore, the unaudited pro forma information does not reflect management’s estimate of any revenue-enhancing opportunities nor anticipated cost savings that may have occurred as a result of the integration and consolidation of the acquisition.
The pro forma information set forth below reflects the historical results of Elmira combined with the Company’s consolidated statements of income with adjustments related to (a) certain purchase accounting fair value adjustments and (b) amortization of core deposit intangibles. Acquisition-related expenses totaling $0.4 million and $4.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, related to Elmira were included in the pro forma information as if they were incurred in the first quarter of 2021.
Pro Forma (Unaudited)
(000’s omitted)
September 30, 2021
Total revenue, net of interest expense
175,595
163,627
512,687
480,668
49,016
46,838
141,138
146,529
NOTE C: ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accounting policies of the Company, as applied in the consolidated interim financial statements presented herein, are substantially the same as those followed on an annual basis as presented on pages 76 through 88 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 1, 2022 except as noted below.
Contract Balances
A contract asset balance occurs when an entity performs a service for a customer before the customer pays consideration (resulting in a contract receivable) or before payment is due (resulting in a contract asset). A contract liability balance is an entity’s obligation to transfer a service to a customer for which the entity has already received payment (or payment is due) from the customer. The Company’s noninterest revenue streams are largely based on transactional activity, or standard month-end revenue accruals such as asset management fees based on month-end market values. Consideration is often received immediately or shortly after the Company satisfies its performance obligation and revenue is recognized. The Company does not typically enter into long-term revenue contracts with customers, and therefore, does not experience significant contract balances. As of September 30, 2022, $32.7 million of accounts receivable, including $9.9 million of unbilled fee revenue, and $3.5 million of unearned revenue, was recorded in the consolidated statements of condition. As of December 31, 2021, $31.6 million of accounts receivable, including $9.1 million of unbilled fee revenue and $2.2 million of unearned revenue, was recorded in the consolidated statements of condition.
Premises and Equipment Held for Sale
Premises and equipment designated as held for sale totaling $5.1 million at September 30, 2022 are included in other assets on the consolidated statements of condition and are carried at the lower of cost or fair value.
12
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (Topic 848). The updated guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments in this guidance apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. This new guidance is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Adoption is permitted in any interim periods for which financial statements have not been issued. The Company has established a working group that includes multiple functions to guide the transition from LIBOR to alternative reference rates. The Company has identified all known LIBOR exposures, created a preliminary plan to address the exposures, and new originations either do not utilize LIBOR, or replacement rate language, provisions, and conventions have been specified. The Company continues to evaluate its exposure to LIBOR and communicate with all stakeholders in order to facilitate the transition. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2022 and determined that this guidance does not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as the Company’s exposure to LIBOR-based loans and financial instruments is insignificant.
In August 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-06, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205), Financial Services-Depository and Lending (Topic 942), and Financial Services-Investment Companies (Topic 946): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Final Rule Releases No. 33-10786, Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses, and No. 33-10835, Update of Statistical Disclosures for Bank and Savings and Loan Registrants. This ASU incorporates recent SEC rule changes into the FASB Codification, including SEC Final Rule Releases No. 33-10786, Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses, and No. 33-10835, Update of Statistical Disclosures for Bank and Savings and Loan Registrants. The amendments in this update are effective upon addition to the FASB Codification and the Company determined that this guidance does not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In March 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-02, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures, which addresses and amends areas identified by the FASB as part of its post-implementation review of the accounting standard that introduced the current expected credit losses (“CECL”) model. The amendments eliminate the accounting guidance for troubled debt restructurings by creditors that have adopted the CECL model and enhance the disclosure requirements for loan refinancings and restructurings made with borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. In addition, the amendments require disclosure of current-period gross charge-offs for financing receivables and net investment in leases by year of origination in the vintage disclosures. ASU 2022-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years for entities that have adopted the CECL accounting standard. Early adoption, however, is permitted if an entity has adopted the CECL accounting standard. While the guidance will result in expanded disclosures, the Company does not expect the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
13
NOTE D: INVESTMENT SECURITIES
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 are as follows:
December 31, 2021
Gross
Amortized
Unrealized
Fair
Cost
Gains
Losses
Value
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
5,103,053
827,613
4,275,440
4,064,624
39,997
106,057
3,998,564
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
561,464
496
72,050
489,910
413,019
17,326
430,289
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
449,808
64,974
384,891
474,506
7,615
5,065
477,056
Corporate debt securities
8,000
967
7,033
39
77
7,962
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
14,219
1
805
13,415
19,953
410
20,339
Total available-for-sale investment portfolio
6,136,544
966,409
4,980,102
65,387
111,279
Equity and other Securities:
Equity securities, at fair value
251
198
439
212
463
Federal Home Loan Bank common stock
18,438
7,188
Federal Reserve Bank common stock
33,568
33,916
Other equity securities, at adjusted cost
3,408
750
4,158
2,562
3,312
Total equity and other securities
55,665
948
43,917
962
A summary of investment securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position is as follows:
As of September 30, 2022
Less than 12 Months
12 Months or Longer
#
76
2,797,064
321,932
51
1,478,376
505,681
127
701
407,699
65,889
27
17,786
6,161
728
425,485
636
241,348
30,136
142
140,785
34,838
778
382,133
2,746
254
4,287
713
37
11,761
634
1,623
47
13,384
1,451
3,460,618
418,845
231
1,642,857
547,564
1,682
5,103,475
91
As of December 31, 2021
1,224,101
14,873
900,462
91,184
2,124,563
23,966
147
139,442
2,475
52
67,273
2,590
206,715
4,923
18
3,146
53
19
3,199
240
1,395,578
17,505
66
967,788
93,774
306
2,363,366
The unrealized losses reported pertaining to securities issued by the U.S. government and its sponsored entities include treasuries, agencies, and mortgage-backed securities issued by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, which are currently rated AAA by Moody’s Investor Services, AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and are guaranteed by the U.S. government. The majority of the obligations of state and political subdivisions carry a credit rating of A- or better as well as carry a secondary level of credit enhancement. The Company holds two corporate debt securities in an unrealized loss position, which are currently rated A- or better, and the issuers of the securities both show a low risk of default. The Company does not intend to sell these securities, nor is it more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell these securities prior to recovery of the amortized cost. Timely principal and interest payments continue to be made on the securities. The unrealized losses in the portfolios are primarily attributable to changes in interest rates. As such, management does not believe any individual unrealized loss as of September 30, 2022 represents credit losses and no unrealized losses have been recognized in the provision for credit losses. Accordingly, there is no allowance for credit losses on the Company’s available-for-sale investment portfolio as of September 30, 2022. Accrued interest receivable on available-for-sale debt securities, included in accrued interest and fees receivable on the consolidated statements of condition, totaled $18.5 million at September 30, 2022 and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities at September 30, 2022, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Securities not due at a single maturity date, including government agency mortgage-backed securities and government agency collateralized mortgage obligations, are shown separately.
Available-for-Sale
Due in one year or less
546,740
541,161
Due after one through five years
1,420,259
1,297,201
Due after five years through ten years
2,055,716
1,762,074
Due after ten years
1,649,802
1,171,947
Subtotal
5,672,517
4,772,383
Investment securities with a carrying value of $2.41 billion and $2.32 billion at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, were pledged to collateralize certain deposits and borrowings. Securities pledged to collateralize certain deposits and borrowings included $427.2 million and $485.4 million of U.S. Treasury securities that were pledged as collateral for securities sold under agreement to repurchase at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. All securities sold under agreement to repurchase as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 have an overnight and continuous maturity.
15
NOTE E: LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES
The segments of the Company’s loan portfolio are summarized as follows:
Business lending
3,494,425
3,075,904
Consumer mortgage
2,975,521
2,556,114
Consumer indirect
1,461,235
1,189,749
Consumer direct
179,399
153,811
Home equity
433,027
398,061
Gross loans, including deferred origination costs
Loans, net of allowance for credit losses
The following table presents the aging of the amortized cost basis of the Company’s past due loans by segment as of September 30, 2022:
Past Due
90+ Days Past
30 – 89
Due and
Days
Still Accruing
Nonaccrual
Current
Total Loans
1,039
4,848
5,887
3,488,538
12,138
3,997
20,890
37,025
2,938,496
11,938
215
12,153
1,449,082
956
29
1,023
178,376
1,761
166
2,309
4,236
428,791
27,832
4,416
28,076
60,324
8,483,283
The following table presents the aging of the amortized cost basis of the Company’s past due loans by segment as of December 31, 2021:
5,540
99
24,105
29,744
3,046,160
10,297
3,328
15,027
28,652
2,527,462
87
9,698
1,180,051
796
22
819
152,992
1,778
272
2,532
4,582
393,479
28,022
3,808
41,665
73,495
7,300,144
No interest income on nonaccrual loans was recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. An immaterial amount of accrued interest was written off on nonaccrual loans by reversing interest income.
16
The Company uses several credit quality indicators to assess credit risk in an ongoing manner. The Company’s primary credit quality indicator for its business lending portfolio is an internal credit risk rating system that categorizes loans as “pass”, “special mention”, “classified”, or “doubtful”. Credit risk ratings are applied to loans individually based on a case-by-case evaluation. In general, the following are the definitions of the Company’s credit quality indicators:
Pass
The condition of the borrower and the performance of the loans are satisfactory or better.
Special Mention
The condition of the borrower has deteriorated although the loan performs as agreed. Loss may be incurred at some future date, if conditions deteriorate further.
Classified
The condition of the borrower has significantly deteriorated and the performance of the loan could further deteriorate and incur loss, if deficiencies are not corrected.
Doubtful
The condition of the borrower has deteriorated to the point that collection of the balance is improbable based on current facts and conditions and loss is likely.
The following tables show the amount of business lending loans by credit quality category at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021:
Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year
Revolving
Loans
2020
2019
2018
Prior
Cost Basis
Business lending:
Risk rating
617,776
422,638
306,960
325,181
249,442
710,320
636,686
3,269,003
Special mention
2,236
5,229
3,988
4,442
13,155
64,432
31,447
124,929
836
1,259
3,840
28,498
56,395
8,717
100,493
Total business lending
620,848
428,815
312,207
333,463
291,095
831,147
676,850
2017
524,302
328,885
320,638
248,175
186,074
584,912
524,553
2,717,539
5,969
11,013
10,111
46,318
22,524
57,134
27,444
180,513
1,870
1,767
20,315
40,235
21,904
63,685
27,511
177,287
62
503
565
532,141
341,665
351,064
334,790
230,502
705,731
580,011
The business lending portfolio experienced an improvement in credit quality as a higher proportion of loans were classified as Pass at September 30, 2022 as compared to December 31, 2021. This change was the result of improvements in economic conditions, leading to improvements in the financial condition of the borrowers.
All other loans are underwritten and structured using standardized criteria and characteristics, primarily payment performance, and are monitored collectively on a monthly basis. These are typically loans to individuals in the consumer categories and are delineated as either performing or nonperforming. Performing loans include loans classified as current as well as those classified as 30 - 89 days past due. Nonperforming loans include 90+ days past due and still accruing and nonaccrual loans.
17
The following table details the balances in all other loan categories at September 30, 2022:
Consumer mortgage:
FICO AB(1)
Performing
346,061
516,066
231,558
182,908
103,874
629,948
1,799
2,012,214
Nonperforming
392
422
407
4,619
5,840
Total FICO AB
231,950
183,330
104,281
634,567
2,018,054
FICO CDE(2)
125,340
190,264
120,575
85,509
57,082
336,435
23,215
938,420
238
1,061
1,701
1,443
1,467
13,137
19,047
Total FICO CDE
125,578
191,325
122,276
86,952
58,549
349,572
957,467
Total consumer mortgage
471,639
707,391
354,226
270,282
162,830
984,139
25,014
Consumer indirect:
620,692
453,478
143,702
115,304
62,534
65,310
1,461,020
26
135
35
Total consumer indirect
620,718
453,613
143,737
115,312
62,545
Consumer direct:
72,531
52,234
19,832
15,548
7,045
5,615
6,527
179,332
20
67
Total consumer direct
19,837
15,549
7,074
5,627
6,547
Home equity:
55,553
74,656
39,458
33,137
17,175
44,513
166,060
430,552
122
153
661
1,331
Total home equity
74,666
39,580
33,335
17,328
45,174
167,391
The following table details the balances in all other loan categories at December 31, 2021:
514,680
229,039
183,469
113,618
116,417
566,129
1,723,352
266
131
435
3,236
4,068
229,305
113,749
116,852
569,365
1,727,420
168,870
122,546
85,253
57,973
54,396
300,341
25,028
814,407
522
972
1,465
939
10,389
14,287
123,068
86,225
59,438
55,335
310,730
828,694
683,550
352,373
269,694
173,187
172,187
880,095
590,857
204,529
182,458
107,683
39,385
64,750
1,189,662
34
204,563
107,707
39,402
64,762
72,584
28,905
24,770
12,340
4,396
4,575
6,218
153,788
23
28,909
24,788
12,341
76,041
43,106
35,990
18,824
15,134
35,740
170,422
395,257
64
679
1,781
2,804
43,170
36,037
18,926
15,265
36,419
172,203
Commercial loans greater than $0.5 million that are on nonaccrual are individually assessed, and if necessary, a specific allocation of the allowance for credit losses is provided. A summary of individually assessed business loans as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 follows:
Loans with allowance allocation
7,102
Loans without allowance allocation
3,232
7,417
Carrying balance
14,519
Contractual balance
4,201
16,963
Specifically allocated allowance
566
The average carrying balance of individually assessed loans was $3.2 million and $31.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The average carrying balance of individually assessed loans was $12.2 million and $34.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. No interest income was recognized on individually assessed loans for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.
In the course of working with borrowers, the Company may choose to restructure the contractual terms of certain loans. In this scenario, the Company attempts to work-out an alternative payment schedule with the borrower in order to optimize collectability of the loan. Any loans that are modified are reviewed by the Company to identify if a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) has occurred, which is when, for economic or legal reasons related to a borrower’s financial difficulties, the Company grants a concession to the borrower that it would not otherwise consider. Terms may be modified to fit the ability of the borrower to repay in line with its current financial standing and the restructuring of the loan may include the transfer of assets from the borrower to satisfy the debt, a modification of loan terms, or a combination of the two.
In accordance with the clarified guidance issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), loans that have been discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, but not reaffirmed by the borrower, are classified as TDRs, irrespective of payment history or delinquency status, even if the repayment terms for the loan have not been otherwise modified. The Company’s lien position against the underlying collateral remains unchanged. Pursuant to that guidance, the Company records a charge-off equal to any portion of the carrying value that exceeds the net realizable value of the collateral. The amount of loss incurred in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was immaterial.
Information regarding TDRs as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 is as follows:
Accruing
161
443
1,011
811
1,822
2,408
44
2,041
100
4,449
2,694
2,420
108
5,114
628
72
829
116
217
333
235
232
467
2,685
3,172
194
5,857
81
3,940
151
4,299
8,239
The following table presents information related to loans modified in a TDR during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021. Of the loans noted in the table below, all consumer mortgage loans for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 were modified due to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy as described previously. The financial effects of these restructurings were immaterial.
Number of
loans modified
Balance
1,925
184
71
78
258
459
1,193
222
43
3,348
Allowance for Credit Losses
The following presents by segment the activity in the allowance for credit losses during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021:
Three Months Ended September 30, 2022
Beginning
Charge-
Ending
balance
offs
Recoveries
Provision
23,241
(495)
755
430
23,931
12,631
(113)
1,296
13,818
14,378
(1,706)
1,386
2,960
17,018
(342)
174
361
3,015
1,470
(32)
132
1,581
Unallocated
1,000
Allowance for credit losses – loans
55,542
(2,688)
2,330
5,179
60,363
Liabilities for off-balance-sheet credit exposures
1,223
(118)
1,105
Total allowance for credit losses
56,765
61,468
Three Months Ended September 30, 2021
25,302
(872)
204
(2,315)
22,319
10,001
(127)
(132)
9,745
11,103
(1,365)
973
1,334
12,045
2,548
(309)
163
268
2,670
1,796
(30)
(56)
1,720
51,750
(2,703)
1,353
(901)
49,499
762
(43)
719
52,512
50,218
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
PCD
Allowance at
Acquisition
22,995
(650)
1,249
10,017
(230)
21
4,010
11,737
(5,183)
3,732
6,732
2,306
(859)
577
991
1,814
(69)
(296)
49,869
(6,991)
5,711
11,703
803
302
50,672
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
30,072
(925)
586
(7,414)
10,672
(369)
(580)
13,696
(3,514)
3,402
(1,539)
3,207
(822)
607
(322)
2,222
(145)
(376)
60,869
(5,775)
4,636
(10,231)
1,489
(770)
62,358
A weaker economic forecast, offset, in part, by the continued improvement in non-economic qualitative adjustments resulting from low levels of delinquencies and charge-offs as well as improved risk ratings have resulted in an allowance for credit losses to total loans ratio of 0.71% at September 30, 2022, three basis points higher than the levels at both September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2021. Included in the provision for credit losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 is $3.9 million of acquisition-related provision for credit losses recognized in connection with the Elmira acquisition.
Accrued interest receivable on loans, included in accrued interest and fees receivable on the consolidated statements of condition, totaled $19.8 million at September 30, 2022 and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses and amortized cost basis of loans.
Under ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), also referred to as “CECL”, the Company utilizes the historical loss rate on its loan portfolio as the initial basis for the estimate of credit losses using the cumulative loss, vintage loss and line loss methods, which is derived from the Company’s historical loss experience from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2020. Adjustments to historical loss experience were made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics and to address current period delinquencies, charge-off rates, risk ratings, lack of loan level data through an entire economic cycle, changes in loan sizes and underwriting standards, as well as the addition of acquired loans which were not underwritten by the Company. The Company considered historical losses immediately prior, through and following the Great Recession of 2008 compared to the historical period used for modeling to adjust the historical information to account for longer-term expectations for loan credit performance. Under CECL, the Company is required to consider future economic conditions to determine current expected credit losses. Management selected an eight-quarter reasonable and supportable forecast period using a two-quarter lag adjustment for economic factors that are not dependent on collateral values, and no lag adjustment for factors that do utilize collateral values, with a four-quarter reversion to the historical mean, to use as part of the economic forecast. Management determined that these qualitative adjustments were needed to adjust historical information for expected losses and to reflect changes as a result of current conditions.
For qualitative macroeconomic adjustments, the Company uses third party forecasted economic data scenarios utilizing a base scenario and two alternative scenarios that are weighted, with forecasts available as of September 30, 2022. These forecasts were factored into the qualitative portion of the calculation of the estimated credit losses and include the continued influence of supply chain constraints and inflationary pressures as well as their commensurate impact on collateral values and economic growth. The scenarios utilized forecast stable unemployment levels, offset by deterioration in GDP growth, auto values, residential real estate, and median household income.
Management developed expected loss estimates considering factors for segments as outlined below:
The following table presents the carrying amounts of loans purchased and sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 by portfolio segment:
Business
Consumer
Home
lending
mortgage
indirect
direct
equity
Purchases
125,288
271,408
9,383
12,511
18,429
437,019
Sales
4,541
All purchases of loans were from the acquisition of Elmira. All the sales of consumer mortgages during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 were sales of secondary market eligible residential mortgage loans.
NOTE F: GOODWILL AND IDENTIFIABLE INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for each type of identifiable intangible asset are as follows:
Net
Carrying
Amortization
Amortizing intangible assets:
77,373
(63,823)
69,403
(60,316)
119,263
(68,573)
116,799
(60,660)
Total amortizing intangibles
196,636
(132,396)
64,240
186,202
(120,976)
65,226
The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years ended December 31 is as follows:
Oct - Dec 2022
3,771
2023
13,567
2024
11,482
2025
9,783
2026
8,685
Thereafter
16,952
Shown below are the components of the Company’s goodwill at December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2022:
Activity
45,875
NOTE G: MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SECURITIES
As of September 30, 2022, the Company does not sponsor any business trusts. The Company previously sponsored Community Capital Trust IV (“CCT IV”) until March 15, 2021 when the Company exercised its right to redeem all of the CCT IV debentures and associated preferred securities for a total of $77.3 million. The trust was formed for the purpose of issuing company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities to third-party investors and investing the proceeds from the sale of such preferred securities solely in junior subordinated debt securities of the Company.
NOTE H: BENEFIT PLANS
The Company provides a qualified defined benefit pension to eligible employees and retirees, other post-retirement health and life insurance benefits to certain retirees, an unfunded supplemental pension plan for certain key executives, and an unfunded stock balance plan for certain of its nonemployee directors. The Company accrues for the estimated cost of these benefits through charges to expense during the years that employees earn these benefits. The service cost component of net periodic benefit income is included in the salaries and employee benefits line of the consolidated statements of income, while the other components of net periodic benefit income are included in other expenses. The Company made a $0.1 million contribution to its defined benefit pension plan in the first quarter of 2022. The Company made a $2.8 million contribution to its defined benefit pension plan and a $0.09 million contribution to the Steuben Trust Company Pension Plan in the first quarter of 2021.
The net periodic benefit cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 is as follows:
Pension Benefits
Post-retirement Benefits
Service cost
1,240
1,480
3,720
4,440
Interest cost
4,002
3,777
Expected return on plan assets
(4,756)
(4,696)
(14,268)
(14,087)
Amortization of unrecognized net loss
211
900
633
2,700
Amortization of prior service cost
154
95
462
(45)
(135)
(134)
Net periodic benefit
(1,817)
(962)
(5,451)
(2,886)
(25)
(23)
(75)
(68)
NOTE I: EARNINGS PER SHARE
The two class method is used in the calculations of basic and diluted earnings per share. Under the two class method, earnings available to common shareholders for the period are allocated between common shareholders and participating securities according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. The Company has determined that all of its outstanding non-vested stock awards are participating securities as of September 30, 2022.
Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted-average of the common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share are based on the weighted-average of the shares outstanding and the assumed exercise of stock options during the year. The dilutive effect of options is calculated using the treasury stock method of accounting. The treasury stock method determines the number of common shares that would be outstanding if all the dilutive options were exercised and the proceeds were used to repurchase common shares in the open market at the average market price for the applicable time period. There were approximately 0.4 million and 0.3 million weighted-average anti-dilutive stock options outstanding for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, compared to approximately 0.2 million and 0.1 million weighted-average anti-dilutive stock options outstanding for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, that were not included in the computation below.
The following is a reconciliation of basic to diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021:
(000’s omitted, except per share data)
Income attributable to unvested stock-based compensation awards
(142)
(110)
(386)
(340)
Income available to common shareholders
48,549
45,226
135,165
145,790
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – basic
53,830
54,025
53,915
53,960
Assumed exercise of stock options
385
328
431
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – diluted
54,132
54,410
54,243
54,391
Stock Repurchase Program
At its December 2020 meeting, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to 2.68 million shares of the Company’s common stock, in accordance with securities and banking laws and regulations, through December 31, 2021. At its December 2021 meeting, the Board approved a new stock repurchase program for 2022, authorizing the repurchase of up to 2.70 million shares of the Company’s common stock, in accordance with securities and banking laws and regulations, through December 31, 2022. Any repurchased shares will be used for general corporate purposes, including those related to stock plan activities. The timing and extent of repurchases will depend on market conditions and other corporate considerations as determined at the Company’s discretion. The Company repurchased 250,000 shares under the authorized plan during the first nine months of 2022 and did not repurchase any shares under the authorized plan during the first nine months of 2021. Refer to Part II, Item 2: Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds for additional information regarding repurchases of the Company’s common stock.
NOTE J: COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND RESTRICTIONS
The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments consist primarily of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to customers, generally having fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses that may require payment of a fee. These commitments consist principally of unused commercial and consumer credit lines. Standby letters of credit generally are contingent upon the failure of the customer to perform according to the terms of an underlying contract with a third party. The credit risks associated with commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit are essentially the same as that involved with extending loans to customers and are subject to the Company’s normal credit policies. Collateral may be obtained based on management’s assessment of the customer’s creditworthiness. The fair value of the standby letters of credit is immaterial for disclosure.
The contract amounts of commitments and contingencies are as follows:
Commitments to extend credit
1,561,281
1,443,879
Standby letters of credit
51,635
42,684
1,612,916
1,486,563
25
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject in the normal course of business to various pending and threatened legal proceedings in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. As of September 30, 2022, management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not anticipate that the aggregate ultimate liability arising out of litigation pending or threatened against the Company or its subsidiaries will be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position. On at least a quarterly basis, the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection with such legal proceedings. For those matters where it is probable that the Company will incur losses and the amounts of the losses can be reasonably estimated, the Company records an expense and corresponding liability in its consolidated financial statements. To the extent the pending or threatened litigation could result in exposure in excess of that liability, the amount of such excess is not currently estimable. The range of reasonably possible losses for matters where an exposure is not currently estimable or considered probable, beyond the existing recorded liabilities, is believed to be between $0 and $1 million in the aggregate. This estimated range is based on information currently available to the Company and involves elements of judgment and significant uncertainties. Although the Company does not believe that the outcome of pending or threatened litigation will be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position, it cannot rule out the possibility that such outcomes will be material to the consolidated results of operations for a particular reporting period in the future.
NOTE K: FAIR VALUE
Accounting standards establish a framework for measuring fair value and require certain disclosures about such fair value instruments. It defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e. exit price). Inputs used to measure fair value are classified into the following hierarchy:
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability.
Significant valuation assumptions not readily observable in a market.
A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The following tables set forth the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis. There were no transfers between any of the levels for the periods presented.
Total Fair
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Available-for-sale investment securities:
4,206,653
68,787
Total available-for-sale investment securities
964,036
Equity securities
Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale
Forward sales commitments
Interest rate swap agreements asset
Interest rate swap agreements liability
(2)
4,207,092
964,051
5,171,111
3,900,924
97,640
1,033,286
32
296
(3)
3,901,387
1,033,611
4,935,049
The valuation techniques used to measure fair value for the items in the table above are as follows:
The changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are immaterial.
The fair value information of assets and liabilities measured on a non-recurring basis presented below is not as of the period-end, but rather as of the date the fair value adjustment was recorded closest to the date presented.
Individually assessed loans
1,820
Other real estate owned
527
718
Mortgage servicing rights
1,844
810
(3,500)
(3,100)
(1,129)
Loans are generally not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Periodically, the Company records nonrecurring adjustments to the carrying value of loans based on fair value measurements for partial charge-offs of the uncollectible portions of those loans. Nonrecurring adjustments also include certain impairment amounts for collateral-dependent loans calculated when establishing the allowance for credit losses. Such amounts are generally based on the fair value of the underlying collateral supporting the loan and, as a result, the carrying value of the loan less the calculated valuation amount does not necessarily represent the fair value of the loan. Real estate collateral is typically valued using independent appraisals or other indications of value based on recent comparable sales of similar properties or assumptions generally observable in the marketplace, adjusted for non-observable inputs. Thus, the resulting nonrecurring fair value measurements are generally classified as Level 3. Estimates of fair value used for other collateral supporting commercial loans generally are based on assumptions not observable in the marketplace and, therefore, such valuations classify as Level 3.
Other real estate owned (“OREO”) is valued at the time the loan is foreclosed upon and the asset is transferred to OREO. The value is based primarily on third party appraisals, less costs to sell. The appraisals are sometimes further discounted based on management’s historical knowledge, changes in market conditions from the time of valuation, and/or management’s expertise and knowledge of the customer and customer’s business. Such discounts are significant, ranging from 23.2% to 73.5% at September 30, 2022 and result in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value. OREO is reviewed and evaluated on at least a quarterly basis for additional impairment and adjusted accordingly, based on the same factors identified above. The Company recovers the carrying value of OREO through the sale of the property. The ability to affect future sales prices is subject to market conditions and factors beyond the Company’s control and may impact the estimated fair value of a property.
Originated mortgage servicing rights are recorded at their fair value at the time of sale of the underlying loan, and are amortized in proportion to and over the estimated period of net servicing income. The fair value of mortgage servicing rights is based on a valuation model incorporating inputs that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income. Such inputs include estimates of the cost of servicing loans, appropriate discount rate and prepayment speeds and are considered to be unobservable and contribute to the Level 3 classification of mortgage servicing rights. In accordance with GAAP, the Company must record impairment charges, on a nonrecurring basis, when the carrying value of a stratum exceeds its estimated fair value. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance. There is a valuation allowance of approximately $0.1 million at September 30, 2022 and there was no valuation allowance at December 31, 2021.
The Company has recorded contingent consideration liabilities that arise from acquisition activity. The contingent consideration is recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition. The valuation of contingent consideration is calculated using an income approach method, which provides an estimation of the fair value of the liability based on future cash flows over a discrete projection period, discounted to present value using an appropriate rate of return. The assumptions used in the valuation calculation are based on significant unobservable inputs, therefore such valuations classify as Level 3.
28
The Company determines fair values based on quoted market values, where available, estimates of present values, or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including, but not limited to, the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. In that regard, the derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, may not be realized in immediate settlement of the instrument. The significant unobservable inputs used in the determination of fair value of assets classified as Level 3 on a recurring or non-recurring basis are as follows:
Significant
Unobservable Input
Fair Value at
Range
(000’s omitted, except per loan data)
Valuation Technique
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Weighted Average)
Fair value of collateral
Estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment
23.2% - 73.5% (39.9%)
Discounted cash flow
Embedded servicing value
1.0
%
Weighted average constant prepayment rate
3.5% - 4.1% (3.6%)
Weighted average discount rate
4.6% - 4.8% (4.8%)
Adequate compensation
7/loan
Discount rate
4.4% - 4.6% (4.5%)
Probability adjusted level of retained revenue
$3.3 million - $5.4 million
(000's omitted, except per loan data)
9.0% - 43.1% (43.1%)
31.8% - 42.3% (33.3%)
6.4% - 15.2% (14.0%)
2.3% - 2.7% (2.6%)
1.4% - 1.7% (1.5%)
$3.0 million - $5.8 million
The significant unobservable inputs used in the determination of the fair value of assets classified as Level 3 have an inherent measurement uncertainty that if changed could result in higher or lower fair value measurements of these assets as of the reporting date. The weighted average of the estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment for individually assessed loans was calculated by dividing the total of the book value of the collateral of the individually assessed loans classified as Level 3 by the total of the fair value of the collateral of the individually assessed loans classified as Level 3. The weighted average of the estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment for OREO was calculated by dividing the total of the differences between the appraisal values of the real estate and the book values of the real estate divided by the totals of the appraisal values of the real estate. The weighted average of the constant prepayment rate for mortgage servicing rights was calculated by adding the constant prepayment rates used in each loan pool weighted by the balance in each loan pool. The weighted average of the discount rate for mortgage servicing rights was calculated by adding the discount rates used in each loan pool weighted by the balance in each loan pool. The weighted average of the discount rate for the contingent consideration was calculated by adding the discount rates used for the calculation of the fair value of each payment of contingent consideration, weighted by the amount of the payment as part of the total fair value of contingent consideration.
Certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments are excluded from fair value disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company. The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s other financial instruments that are not accounted for at fair value at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 are as follows:
Fair Value
Financial assets:
8,192,522
7,523,024
Financial liabilities:
13,450,034
12,911,197
19,201
1,907
The following is a further description of the principal valuation methods used by the Company to estimate the fair values of its financial instruments.
Loans have been classified as a Level 3 valuation. Fair values for variable rate loans that reprice frequently are based on carrying values. Fair values for fixed rate loans are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality.
Deposits have been classified as a Level 2 valuation. The fair value of demand deposits, interest-bearing checking deposits, savings accounts, and money market deposits is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair value of time deposit obligations are based on current market rates for similar products.
Borrowings have been classified as a Level 2 valuation. The fair value of short-term borrowings and securities sold under agreement to repurchase, short-term, is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. Fair values for long-term debt are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered on similar securities. The difference between the carrying values of long-term borrowings and their fair values, are not material as of the reporting dates.
Other financial assets and liabilities – Cash and cash equivalents have been classified as a Level 1 valuation, while accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable have been classified as a Level 2 valuation. The fair values of each approximate the respective carrying values because the instruments are payable on demand or have short-term maturities and present relatively low credit risk and interest rate risk.
30
NOTE L: SEGMENT INFORMATION
Operating segments are components of an enterprise, which are evaluated regularly by the “chief operating decision maker” in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Company has identified Banking, Employee Benefit Services and All Other as its reportable operating business segments. Community Bank, N.A. (the “Bank” or “CBNA”) operates the Banking segment that provides full-service banking to consumers, businesses, and governmental units in Upstate New York as well as Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts. Employee Benefit Services, which includes the operating subsidiaries Benefit Plans Administrative Services, LLC, BPAS Actuarial and Pension Services, LLC, BPAS Trust Company of Puerto Rico, Fringe Benefits Design of Minnesota, Inc. (“FBD”), Northeast Retirement Services, LLC (“NRS”), Global Trust Company, Inc. (“GTC”), and Hand Benefits & Trust Company, provides employee benefit trust, collective investment fund, retirement plan administration, fund administration, transfer agency, actuarial, VEBA/HRA, and health and welfare consulting services. The All Other segment is comprised of: (a) wealth management services including trust services provided by the personal trust unit within the Bank, broker-dealer and investment advisory services provided by Community Investment Services, Inc., The Carta Group, Inc. and OneGroup Wealth Partners, Inc. as well as asset management provided by Nottingham Advisors, Inc., and (b) full-service insurance, risk management and employee benefit services provided by OneGroup NY, Inc. The accounting policies used in the disclosure of business segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies (See Note A, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the most recent Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the SEC on March 1, 2022).
Information about reportable segments and reconciliation of the information to the consolidated financial statements follows:
Employee
Consolidated
Banking
Benefit Services
All Other
Eliminations
110,311
75
Noninterest revenues
19,427
28,451
19,210
(1,839)
1,266
1,633
938
Other operating expenses
73,554
17,711
14,513
103,939
49,448
9,182
3,767
Assets
15,373,021
250,784
102,883
(132,141)
735,680
85,381
23,923
Core deposit intangibles & Other intangibles
35,045
15,645
92,539
65
17,696
30,473
17,885
(1,745)
1,102
1,675
926
67,980
17,212
13,184
96,631
41,995
11,651
3,782
15,102,077
246,033
99,721
(116,733)
15,331,098
689,868
85,336
799,127
10,165
41,695
17,117
68,977
31
308,177
210
55,634
88,093
57,065
(5,773)
3,506
4,974
2,940
4,665
212,616
53,026
42,059
301,928
131,019
30,400
11,586
278,411
224
50,507
85,616
51,518
(5,341)
3,666
4,356
2,278
198,145
47,063
36,925
276,792
137,975
34,421
12,350
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) primarily reviews the financial condition and results of operations of Community Bank System, Inc. (the “Company” or “CBSI”) as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, although in some circumstances the second and first quarters of 2022 are also discussed in order to more fully explain recent trends. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes that appear on pages 3 through 32. All references in the discussion of the financial condition and results of operations refer to the consolidated position and results of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. Unless otherwise noted, the term “this year” and equivalent terms refers to results in calendar year 2022, “last year” and equivalent terms refer to calendar year 2021, “third quarter” refers to the three months ended September 30, 2022, “YTD” refers to the nine months ended September 30, 2022, and earnings per share (“EPS”) figures refer to diluted EPS.
This MD&A contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, and business of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements are set herein under the caption, “Forward-Looking Statements,” on page 53.
Critical Accounting Policies
As a result of the complex and dynamic nature of the Company’s business, management must exercise judgment in selecting and applying the most appropriate accounting policies for its various areas of operations. The policy decision process not only ensures compliance with the current accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), but also reflects management’s discretion with regard to choosing the most suitable methodology for reporting the Company’s financial performance. It is management’s opinion that the accounting estimates covering certain aspects of the business have more significance than others due to the relative importance of those areas to overall performance, or the level of subjectivity in the selection process. These estimates affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as well as disclosures of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could meaningfully differ from these estimates. Management believes that the critical accounting estimates include the allowance for credit losses, actuarial assumptions associated with the pension, post-retirement and other employee benefit plans, the provision for income taxes, investment valuation, the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets, and acquired loan valuations. A summary of the accounting policies used by management is disclosed in Note A, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” on pages 76-88 of the most recent Form 10-K (fiscal year ended December 31, 2021) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 1, 2022. A summary of new accounting policies used by management is disclosed in Note C, “Accounting Policies” on pages 12-13 of this Form 10-Q.
Supplemental Reporting of Non-GAAP Results of Operations
The Company also provides supplemental reporting of its results on an “operating,” “adjusted” and “tangible” basis, from which it excludes the after-tax effect of amortization of core deposit and other intangible assets (and the related goodwill, core deposit intangible and other intangible asset balances, net of applicable deferred tax amounts), accretion on acquired non-purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loans, acquisition expenses, acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustments, litigation accrual expenses and the unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities. Although these items are non-GAAP measures, the Company’s management believes this information helps investors and analysts measure underlying core performance and improves comparability to other organizations that have not engaged in acquisitions. In addition, the Company provides supplemental reporting for “adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenues,” which excludes the provision for credit losses, acquisition expenses, acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustments, litigation accrual expenses and the unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities from income before income taxes. Although adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue is a non-GAAP measure, the Company’s management believes this information helps investors and analysts measure and compare the Company’s performance through a credit cycle by excluding the volatility in the provision for credit losses associated with the adoption of the Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”) model and the economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Earnings per share were $0.90 in the third quarter of 2022, up $0.07, or 8.4%, from the third quarter of 2021. Diluted adjusted net earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure, were $0.94 in the third quarter of 2022, compared to $0.87 in the third quarter of 2021, a $0.07 per share, or 8.0%, increase. Adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue, a non-GAAP measure, was $1.25 per weighted average diluted share in the third quarter of 2022, up $0.21, or 20.2%, from the third quarter of 2021. Reconciliations of GAAP amounts with corresponding non-GAAP amounts are presented in Table 10.
Executive Summary
The Company’s business philosophy is to operate as a diversified financial services enterprise providing a broad array of banking and other financial services to retail, commercial and municipal customers. The Company’s banking subsidiary is Community Bank, N.A. (the “Bank” or “CBNA”). The Company’s Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc. (“BPAS”) subsidiary is a leading provider of employee benefits administration, trust services, collective investment fund administration and actuarial consulting services to customers on a national scale. In addition, the Company offers comprehensive financial planning, insurance and wealth management services through its Community Bank Wealth Management Group and OneGroup NY, Inc. (“OneGroup”) operating units.
The Company’s core operating objectives are: (i) optimize the branch network and digital banking delivery systems, primarily through disciplined acquisition strategies and divestitures/consolidations, (ii) build profitable loan and deposit volume using both organic and acquisition strategies, (iii) manage an investment securities portfolio to complement the Company’s loan and deposit strategies and optimize interest rate risk, yield and liquidity, (iv) increase the noninterest component of total revenues through growth in existing banking, employee benefit, insurance and wealth management services business units, and the acquisition of additional financial services and banking businesses, and (v) utilize technology to deliver customer-responsive products and services and improve efficiencies.
Significant factors reviewed by management to evaluate achievement of the Company’s operating objectives and its operating results and financial condition include, but are not limited to: net income and earnings per share; return on assets and equity; components of net interest margin; noninterest revenues; noninterest expenses; asset quality; loan and deposit growth; capital management; performance of individual banking and financial services units; performance of specific product lines and customers; liquidity and interest rate sensitivity; enhancements to customer products and services and their underlying performance characteristics; technology advancements; market share; peer comparisons; and the performance of recently acquired businesses.
On May 13, 2022, the Company completed its merger with Elmira Savings Bank (“Elmira”), a New York State chartered savings bank headquartered in Elmira, New York, for $82.2 million in cash. The merger enhanced the Company’s presence in five counties in New York’s Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions. In connection with the merger, the Company added eight full-service offices to its branch service network and acquired approximately $579.0 million of identifiable assets, including $437.0 million of loans, $11.3 million of investment securities and $8.0 million of core deposit intangibles, as well as $522.3 million of deposits. Preliminary goodwill of $45.8 million was recognized as a result of the merger.
Third quarter net income increased compared to last year’s third quarter by $3.4 million, or 7.4%, while YTD net income decreased compared to the equivalent 2021 timeframe by $10.6 million, or 7.2%. Earnings per share of $0.90 for the third quarter of 2022 was $0.07 more than the third quarter of 2021, whereas 2022 YTD earnings per share of $2.49 was $0.19 lower than 2021 YTD earnings per share. The increases in net income and earnings per share between the quarters were due to increases in net interest income and noninterest revenues and a decrease in fully-diluted average shares outstanding, offset, in part, by higher noninterest expenses and increases in the provision for credit losses and income taxes. The decreases in net income and earnings per share between the YTD periods were due to increases in noninterest expenses and the provision for credit losses, including the impacts from the Elmira acquisition, partially offset by increases in net interest income and noninterest revenues and decreases in income taxes and fully-diluted shares outstanding.
Third quarter and YTD net income adjusted to exclude acquisition expenses, acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustments, acquisition-related provision for credit losses, litigation accrual expenses and the unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities (“operating net income”), a non-GAAP measure, increased $3.7 million, or 8.1%, as compared to the third quarter of 2021 and decreased $3.5 million, or 2.4%, compared to September YTD 2021. Earnings per share adjusted to exclude acquisition expenses, acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustments, acquisition-related provision for credit losses, litigation accrual expenses and the unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities (“operating earnings per share”), a non-GAAP measure, of $0.90 for the third quarter of 2022 increased $0.07 compared to the third quarter of 2021. Operating earnings per share of $2.62 for the first nine months of 2022 decreased $0.06 compared to the prior year period. 2021 results were enhanced by a net benefit recorded in the provision for credit losses and higher Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”)-related revenues than the comparable periods of 2022, which, net of tax, were responsible for a $0.14 decrease in fully-diluted operating earnings per share between the comparable quarters and a $0.45 decrease between the comparable YTD periods. Reconciliations of GAAP amounts with corresponding non-GAAP amounts are presented in Table 10.
Net income adjusted to exclude income taxes, provision for credit losses, acquisition expenses, acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustments, litigation accrual expenses and the unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities (“adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue”), a non-GAAP measure, of $67.9 million for the third quarter increased $11.4 million, or 20.1%, as compared to the third quarter of 2021. Adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue of $190.1 million for the first nine months of 2022 increased $16.3 million, or 9.4%, as compared to the first nine months of 2021. Earnings per share adjusted to exclude income taxes, provision for credit losses, acquisition expenses, acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustments, litigation accrual expenses and the unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities (“adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue per share”), a non-GAAP measure, of $1.25 for the third quarter of 2022 was $0.21 higher than the third quarter of 2021, and 2022 YTD adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue per share of $3.49 was $0.30 higher than the prior YTD period as the increases in revenues outpaced the increase in operating expenses between the periods. Reconciliations of GAAP amounts with corresponding non-GAAP amounts are presented in Table 10.
Loans and deposits increased on both an ending and average basis as compared to the prior year third quarter, reflective of large net inflows of funds from government stimulus programs and PPP lending, along with the Company’s continued enhanced focus on organic loan generation and the second quarter 2022 acquisition of Elmira. The yield on average interest-earning assets increased 35 basis points compared to the prior year third quarter as the yields on average investments including cash equivalents and average loans both increased, while on a YTD basis the yield on average interest-earning assets increased four basis points as the yield on average investments including cash equivalents increased while the yield on average loans decreased. The yield on average investments, including cash equivalents, increased 50 basis points compared to the prior year’s third quarter and increased 33 basis points compared to the prior YTD, as the Company meaningfully shifted the composition of earning assets away from cash equivalents that were earning a low yield in the prior year to higher yielding investment securities between the periods. The yield on average loans for the third quarter increased by seven basis points compared to the third quarter of 2021 and decreased 14 basis points on a YTD basis. The yield on average loans included a decline in PPP-related interest income between the periods, which declined $3.9 million on a quarterly basis and $11.9 million on a YTD basis. The Company’s total cost of funds for the first nine months of 2022 remained consistent with the year earlier period, as the decrease in the Company’s deposit funding cost was offset by an increase in the rate on borrowings from the prior year period. The majority of borrowings are customer repurchase agreements, rather than wholesale borrowings obtained through capital markets and correspondent banks. Customer repurchase agreements have deposit-like features and typically have lower rates of interest than other types of wholesale borrowings.
The provision for credit losses of $5.1 million for the third quarter and $12.0 million for YTD 2022 were up $6.0 million and $23.0 million from the comparable prior year periods, respectively. The third quarter and YTD 2022 provision for credit losses was reflective of a weaker economic forecast and an increase in loans outstanding, partially offset by continued low levels of net charge-offs, delinquent loans and nonperforming loans. The second quarter provision for credit losses included $3.9 million of acquisition-related provision for credit losses due to the Elmira acquisition. Comparatively, at the end of the third quarter of 2021, economic forecasts reflected a post-vaccine economic recovery and included the continuation of elevated real estate and vehicle collateral values, resulting in a release of reserves for the quarter and on a YTD basis. Net charge-offs were $0.4 million for the third quarter and $1.3 million for the first nine months of 2022, compared to net charge-offs of $1.4 million for the prior year third quarter and $1.1 million for the first nine months of 2021. Third quarter 2022 nonperforming and delinquent loan ratios improved in comparison to the third quarter of 2021 largely attributable to the upgrade of several large business loans, primarily customers operating in the hospitality industry whose operations were negatively impacted during the height of the pandemic, from nonaccrual status to accruing status during the fourth quarter of 2021 and first quarter of 2022.
Net Income and Profitability
As shown in Table 1, net income for the third quarter and September YTD of $48.7 million and $135.6 million, respectively, increased $3.4 million, or 7.4%, as compared to the third quarter of 2021 and decreased $10.6 million, or 7.2%, compared to September YTD 2021. Earnings per share of $0.90 for the third quarter was $0.07 higher than the third quarter of 2021, while earnings per share for the first nine months of 2022 of $2.49 was $0.19 lower than the first nine months of 2021. The increases in net income and earnings per share between the quarters were due to increases in net interest income and noninterest revenues and a decrease in fully-diluted average shares outstanding, partially offset by higher noninterest expenses and increases in the provision for credit losses and income taxes. The decreases in net income and earnings per share between the YTD periods were due to increases in noninterest expenses and the provision for credit losses, including the impacts from the Elmira acquisition, partially offset by increases in net interest income and noninterest revenues and decreases in income taxes and fully-diluted shares outstanding. Operating net income, a non-GAAP measure, of $49.0 million and $142.6 million for the third quarter and September YTD, respectively, increased $3.7 million, or 8.1%, as compared to the third quarter of 2021 and decreased $3.5 million, or 2.4%, compared to September YTD 2021. Operating earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure, of $0.90 for the third quarter was up $0.07 compared to the third quarter of 2021, while operating earnings per share of $2.62 for the first nine months of 2022 was down $0.06 compared to the first nine months of 2021. 2021 results were enhanced by a net benefit recorded in the provision for credit losses and higher PPP-related revenues than the comparable periods of 2022, which, net of tax, were responsible for a $0.14 decrease in fully-diluted operating earnings per share between the comparable quarters and a $0.45 decrease between the comparable YTD periods. See Table 10 for Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures.
As reflected in Table 1, third quarter net interest income of $110.4 million was up $17.8 million, or 19.2%, from the comparable prior year period. Net interest income for the first nine months of 2022 increased $29.7 million, or 10.7%, versus the first nine months of 2021. The quarterly and year-over-year improvements resulted from an increase in the yield on interest-earning assets and an increase in interest-earning asset balances, partially offset by an increase in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities and an increase in interest-bearing liability balances.
The provision for credit losses for the third quarter and September YTD increased $6.0 million and $23.0 million as compared to the third quarter and first nine months of 2021, respectively. The third quarter and YTD 2022 provision for credit losses was reflective of a weaker economic forecast and an increase in loans outstanding, partially offset by continued low levels of net charge-offs, delinquent loans and nonperforming loans. The second quarter provision for credit losses included $3.9 million of acquisition-related provision for credit losses due to the Elmira acquisition.
Third quarter and year-to-date noninterest revenues were $65.2 million and $195.0 million, respectively, up $0.9 million, or 1.5%, from the third quarter of 2021 and up $12.7 million, or 7.0%, from the first nine months of 2021. The increase compared to the prior year’s third quarter was a result of increases in insurance services revenue, deposit service charges and fees, debit interchange and ATM fees and unrealized gains and losses on equity securities, partially offset by decreases in employee benefit services revenue, wealth management services revenue, mortgage banking revenue and other banking revenue. The YTD increase was due to increases in insurance services revenue, deposit service charges and fees, employee benefit services revenue and debit interchange and ATM fees, partially offset by decreases in mortgage banking revenue, wealth management services revenue, other banking revenue and unrealized gains and losses on equity securities.
Noninterest expenses of $108.2 million and $318.4 million for the third quarter and September YTD periods, respectively, reflected an increase of $7.8 million, or 7.7%, from the third quarter of 2021 and an increase of $31.2 million, or 10.9%, from the first nine months of 2021. The increase in noninterest expenses for the quarter was due to increases in salaries and benefits, business development and marketing expenses, data processing and communications expenses, other expenses, occupancy and equipment expenses, acquisition expenses, amortization of intangible assets and the absence of a litigation accrual expense adjustment, partially offset by a decrease in legal and professional fees. The YTD increase in noninterest expenses was due to increases in salaries and benefits, acquisition expenses, other expenses, business development and marketing expenses, data processing and communications expenses, legal and professional fees, amortization of intangible assets, acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustments, occupancy and equipment expenses and the absence of a negative litigation accrual expense adjustment. Excluding acquisition expenses, acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustments and litigation accrual expenses, 2022 operating expenses were $7.3 million, or 7.3%, higher for the third quarter and $26.2 million, or 9.1%, higher for the year-to-date timeframe, in part due to the acquisition of Elmira Savings Bank in the second quarter of 2022 and financial services acquisitions.
36
The effective income tax rates were 22.0% and 21.6% for the third quarter and YTD 2022, respectively, as compared to 21.1% and 20.9% for the comparable prior year periods. The effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2021 was driven down by a decrease in the Company’s full year effective tax rate projection. The increase in the YTD effective tax rate was fully attributable to lower levels of tax benefits related to stock-based compensation activity. The effective tax rates adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation tax benefits for both YTD periods were 22.0%.
A condensed income statement is as follows:
Table 1: Condensed Income Statements
Noninterest expenses
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
54,290
54,541
54,516
Net Interest Income
Net interest income is the amount by which interest and fees on interest-earning assets (loans, investments and cash equivalents) exceeds the cost of funds, which consists primarily of interest paid to the Company’s depositors and on customer and external borrowings. Net interest margin is the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities as a percentage of interest-earning assets.
As shown in Table 2a, net interest income (with nontaxable income converted to a fully tax-equivalent basis) for the third quarter was $111.5 million, an increase of $18.1 million, or 19.4%, compared to the same period last year. This was driven by a 35 basis point increase in the average yield on interest-earnings assets and a $1.08 billion increase in average interest-earning assets, partially offset by a nine basis point increase in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities and a $724.5 million increase in average interest-bearing liabilities in comparison to the third quarter of 2021. As reflected in Table 3, net interest income was favorably impacted by $12.5 million due to the increase in the average yield on interest-earning assets and $8.1 million due to the volume increase in interest-earning assets, partially offset by the unfavorable impacts on net interest income of $2.2 million due to an increase in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities and $0.3 million due to the volume increase in interest-bearing liabilities. September YTD net interest income (with nontaxable income converted to a fully tax-equivalent basis), as reflected in Table 2b, of $311.4 million, increased $30.1 million, or 10.7%, from the year-earlier period. The September YTD increase resulted from a $1.24 billion increase in average interest-earning assets and a four basis point increase in the average yield on interest-earning assets, partially offset by an $825.3 million increase in average interest-bearing liabilities and a one basis point increase in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. As reflected in Table 3, for September YTD, the volume increase in interest-earning assets and the increase in the average yield on interest-earning assets had favorable impacts on net interest income of $27.6 million and $3.8 million, respectively, partially offset by the volume increase in interest-bearing liabilities and the increase in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities having unfavorable impacts on net interest income of $0.9 million and $0.4 million, respectively.
The net interest margin of 3.03% for the third quarter of 2022 was 29 basis points higher as compared to the third quarter of 2021. The increase was the result of a 35 basis point increase in the interest-earning asset yield, partially offset by a nine basis point increase in the rate on interest-bearing liabilities. The net interest margin of 2.88% for the first nine months of 2022 was three basis points higher than the comparable period of 2021. The yield on interest-earning assets increased four basis points, while the rate on interest-bearing liabilities increased by one basis point for the first nine months of 2022 as compared to the prior year period.
The 35 basis point increase in the average yield on interest-earning assets for the quarter was the result of increases in the average yield on investments and cash equivalents and the average yield on loans. For the third quarter, the average yield on investments, including cash equivalents, increased 50 basis points and the average yield on loans increased by seven basis points compared to the prior year. The four basis point increase in the yield on interest-earning assets for the first nine months of 2022 was the result of a 33 basis point increase in the average yield on investments, including cash equivalents, partially offset by a 14 basis point decrease in the average yield on loans as compared to the prior year. The changes in the loan yields included declines in PPP-related interest income between the periods. During the third quarter of 2022, the Company recorded $0.5 million of PPP-related interest income, a decrease of $3.9 million from the prior year’s third quarter, while during the first nine months of 2022, the Company recorded $3.2 million of PPP-related interest income, a decrease of $11.9 million from the first nine months of 2021. The increase in investment yields were primarily driven by the Company meaningfully shifting the composition of earning assets away from cash equivalents that were earning a low yield at the time to higher yielding investment securities between the periods.
The average rate on interest-bearing liabilities increased by nine basis points compared to the prior year quarter as the average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits increased four basis points and the average rate paid on external borrowings increased 95 basis points from the comparable prior year period. For the first nine months of 2022, the average rate on interest-bearing liabilities increased by one basis point from the comparable prior year period as the average rate on interest-bearing deposits decreased one basis point, while the average rate on external borrowings increased 27 basis points. The changes in the average rates paid on interest-bearing deposits were driven by increases in the interest rates paid on interest checking and money market deposits, while the interest rate paid on time deposits decreased. The increases in the average cost of borrowings were primarily the result of higher market interest rates and the Company entering into an overnight borrowing position during in the second quarter of 2022.
The third quarter and YTD average balance of investments, including cash equivalents, increased $16.0 million and $742.7 million, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year periods. Investment security maturities, calls and principal payments outpaced purchases during the third quarter while investment security purchases outpaced maturities, calls and principal payments during the YTD period. The cash equivalents component of average earning assets decreased $2.05 billion and $1.47 billion for the third quarter and YTD periods, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. The decrease in cash equivalents was primarily due to the Company meaningfully shifting the composition of earning assets away from cash equivalents that at the time were earning a low yield to higher yielding investment securities and loans. Average loan balances increased $1.06 billion for the quarter and $496.7 million YTD as compared to the prior year, driven by organic and acquired growth during both periods, including the Elmira acquisition in May 2022, despite declines in average PPP loan balances. The change in average loan balances for the quarter and YTD periods included a $215.4 million and $300.1 million decrease in average PPP loans, respectively.
Average interest-bearing deposits increased $479.9 million compared to the prior year quarter and $733.7 million compared to the prior YTD period. The quarterly increase in average interest-bearing deposits was due to increases in all deposit categories, due primarily to large inflows of government stimulus-related deposit funding and the Elmira acquisition in May 2022. The YTD increase in average interest-bearing deposits was due to increases in savings, interest checking and money market deposits, while time deposits declined. The average borrowing balance, including borrowings at the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (collectively referred to as “FHLB”), overnight borrowings at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“Federal Reserve”) and FHLB, subordinated notes payable, subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts and securities sold under agreement to repurchase (customer repurchase agreements), increased $244.5 million and $91.5 million for the quarter and YTD periods, respectively. The increases in average borrowings from the prior year quarter and YTD periods were primarily due to increases in average overnight borrowings and customer repurchase agreements.
Tables 2a and 2b below set forth information related to average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and their associated yields and rates for the periods indicated. Interest income and yields are on a fully tax-equivalent basis (“FTE”) using a marginal income tax rate of 24.1% and 24.2% in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Average balances are computed by totaling the daily ending balances in a period and dividing by the number of days in that period. Loan interest income and yields include amortization of deferred loan income and costs, loan prepayment and other fees and the accretion of acquired loan marks. Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale.
Table 2a: Quarterly Average Balance Sheet
Avg.
Average
Yield/Rate
(000’s omitted except yields and rates)
Interest
Paid
Interest-earning assets:
Cash equivalents
25,730
1.76
2,077,996
794
0.15
Taxable investment securities (1)
5,701,691
23,623
1.64
3,800,978
16,567
1.73
Nontaxable investment securities (1)
551,610
4,681
3.37
384,053
3,137
3.24
Loans (net of unearned discount) (2)
8,333,148
88,575
4.22
7,268,659
75,973
4.15
Total interest-earning assets
14,612,179
116,993
3.18
13,531,686
96,471
2.83
Noninterest-earning assets
941,117
1,495,792
15,553,296
15,027,478
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Interest checking, savings, and money market deposits
8,179,556
2,206
0.11
7,701,717
792
0.04
Time deposits
962,777
1,649
0.68
960,670
2,030
Customer repurchase agreements
269,958
216
0.32
230,906
0.30
188,975
1,226
2.57
0.00
FHLB borrowings
19,463
146
2.97
2,920
2.45
3,261
4.63
3,288
Total interest-bearing liabilities
9,623,990
0.23
8,899,501
0.14
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
Noninterest checking deposits
4,192,615
3,841,646
56,166
182,167
Shareholders’ equity
1,680,525
2,104,164
Net interest earnings
111,512
93,416
Net interest spread
2.95
2.69
Net interest margin on interest-earning assets
3.03
2.74
Fully tax-equivalent adjustment (3)
1,118
Table 2b: Year-to-Date Average Balance Sheet
473,112
1,306
0.37
1,941,329
1,772
0.12
5,655,745
69,921
1.65
3,531,272
47,553
1.80
493,302
3.29
406,835
10,018
7,819,306
239,322
4.09
7,322,581
231,920
4.23
14,441,465
322,702
2.99
13,202,017
291,263
1,092,450
1,436,252
15,533,915
14,638,269
8,230,007
4,037
0.07
7,474,811
941,094
5,074
0.72
962,559
6,588
0.92
292,411
642
0.29
250,638
641
0.34
64,204
1,233
10,890
2.93
4,634
2.15
3,268
4.69
3,294
Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts
20,675
1.89
9,541,874
0.16
8,716,611
4,075,005
3,685,556
96,763
178,402
1,820,273
2,057,700
311,363
281,242
2.80
2.88
2.85
2,956
2,572
As discussed above and disclosed in Table 3 below, the change in net interest income (FTE basis) may be analyzed by segregating the volume and rate components of the changes in interest income and interest expense for each underlying category.
40
Table 3: Rate/Volume
Three months ended September 30, 2022
Nine months ended September 30, 2022
versus September 30, 2021
Increase (Decrease) Due to Change in (1)
Volume
Rate
Net Change
Interest earned on:
(1,493)
813
(680)
(2,078)
1,612
(466)
Taxable investment securities
7,912
(856)
7,056
26,545
(4,177)
22,368
Nontaxable investment securities
1,417
1,544
2,130
2,135
11,295
1,307
12,602
15,378
(7,976)
7,402
Total interest-earning assets (2)
8,076
12,446
20,522
27,652
3,787
31,439
Interest paid on:
Interest checking, savings and money market deposits
1,362
1,414
253
1,475
1,728
(385)
(381)
(144)
(1,370)
(1,514)
98
(97)
123
128
129
(293)
Total interest-bearing liabilities (2)
255
2,171
2,426
922
396
1,318
Net interest earnings (2)
7,798
10,298
18,096
26,686
3,435
30,121
Noninterest Revenues
The Company’s sources of noninterest revenues are of four primary types: 1) general banking services related to loans, including mortgage banking, deposits and other core customer activities typically provided through the branch network and digital banking channels (performed by CBNA); 2) employee benefit trust, collective investment fund, transfer agency, actuarial and benefit plan administration services (performed by BPAS and its subsidiaries); 3) wealth management services, comprised of trust services (performed by the trust unit within CBNA), broker-dealer and investment advisory products and services (performed by Community Investment Services Inc. (“CISI”), OneGroup Wealth Partners, Inc. and The Carta Group, Inc.) and asset management services (performed by Nottingham Advisors, Inc.); and 4) insurance and risk management products and services (performed by OneGroup). Additionally, the Company has other transactions that impact noninterest revenues, including unrealized gains or losses on equity securities.
41
Table 4: Noninterest Revenues
Deposit service charges and fees
10,755
8,816
29,715
24,305
Debit interchange and ATM fees
6,697
6,626
20,030
19,453
Other banking revenues
65,253
64,319
195,043
182,286
Noninterest revenues/operating revenues (FTE basis) (1)
37.2
41.0
38.8
39.6
As displayed in Table 4, noninterest revenues, excluding unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities, were $65.3 million for the third quarter of 2022 and $195.0 million for the first nine months of 2022. This represents an increase of $0.9 million, or 1.5%, for the quarter and an increase of $12.8 million, or 7.0%, for the YTD period in comparison to the equivalent 2021 periods. The increase for the quarterly period was driven by increases in insurance services revenue and banking noninterest revenue, partially offset by declines in employee benefit services revenue and wealth management services revenue. The increase for the YTD period was due to increases in insurance services revenue, banking noninterest revenue and employee benefit services revenue, partially offset by a decline in wealth management services revenue.
Banking noninterest revenue of $18.5 million for the third quarter and $52.9 million for the first nine months of 2022 increased $1.6 million, or 9.7%, and increased $4.8 million, or 10.0%, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year periods. The quarterly and YTD increases were driven by increases in deposit service charges and fees and debit interchange and ATM fees, partially offset by decreases in mortgage banking revenues and other banking revenues. The increases in deposit service charges and fees were reflective of increased post-pandemic transaction activity, including the addition of new deposit relationships from the Elmira acquisition in May 2022. The Company expects to make modifications to its deposit service charges and fees over the next several quarters in order to better align with industry trends and to ensure the Company continues to provide customers with affordable and competitive banking options.
Employee benefit services revenue decreased $2.0 million, or 6.8%, but increased $2.5 million, or 2.9%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, as compared to the equivalent prior year periods. The decline in quarterly revenues was driven by decreases in employee benefit trust and custodial fees, reflecting the adverse impact from market-related headwinds, while the growth on a YTD basis was primarily driven by incremental revenues from the acquisition of Fringe Benefits Design of Minnesota, Inc. (“FBD”) during the third quarter of 2021. Insurance services revenue was up $2.2 million, or 23.5%, and $6.0 million, or 23.4%, for the third quarter and YTD periods, respectively, driven by organic expansion, as well as the second quarter 2021 acquisition of a Florida-based personal lines insurance agency, the third quarter 2021 acquisition of a Boston-based specialty-lines insurance broker and the first quarter 2022 acquisitions of three other insurance agencies. Wealth management services revenue was down $0.8 million, or 9.9%, for the third quarter of 2022 and $0.5 million, or 1.9%, for September 2022 YTD as compared to the same time periods of 2021, primarily driven by more challenging investment market conditions.
42
The ratio of noninterest revenues to operating revenues (FTE basis), as defined in footnote 1 of Table 4 above, was 37.2% for the quarter and 38.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, versus 41.0% and 39.6% for the comparable periods of 2021. The decrease for the year-to-date period is a function of a 7.0% increase in adjusted noninterest revenues while adjusted net interest income (FTE basis) increased 10.7%. The decrease for the quarterly periods is reflective of a 1.5% increase in adjusted noninterest revenues while adjusted net interest income (FTE basis) increased 19.2%.
Noninterest Expenses
Table 5 below sets forth the quarterly results of the major noninterest expense categories for the current and prior year, as well as efficiency ratios (defined below), a standard measure of expense utilization effectiveness commonly used in the banking industry.
Table 5: Noninterest Expenses
Operating expenses(1)/average assets
2.65
2.55
2.60
2.53
Efficiency ratio(2)
59.3
61.7
60.0
60.1
As shown in Table 5, the Company recorded noninterest expenses of $108.2 million and $318.4 million for the third quarter and YTD periods of 2022, respectively, representing increases of $7.8 million, or 7.7%, and $31.2 million, or 10.9%, from the prior year periods, respectively. Acquisition expenses and acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustments of $0.4 million and $5.1 million are included in third quarter and YTD 2022 noninterest expenses, respectively. Salaries and employee benefits increased $3.3 million, or 5.3%, and $14.8 million, or 8.3%, for the third quarter and YTD periods of 2022, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods of 2021. The increase in salaries and benefits expense was driven by increases in merit-related employee wages, acquisition-related additions to staffing, higher payroll taxes and higher employee benefit-related expenses. The remaining change to noninterest expenses are attributed to occupancy and equipment (up $0.5 million for the quarter and up $0.3 million YTD), data processing and communications (up $1.2 million for the quarter and $2.3 million YTD), amortization of intangible assets (up $0.1 million for the quarter and $1.1 million YTD), legal and professional fees (down $0.2 million for the quarter and up $1.3 million YTD), business development and marketing (up $1.2 million for the quarter and $2.9 million YTD) and other expenses (up $1.1 million for the quarter and $3.4 million YTD). Noninterest expenses were generally up due to the increase in the level of business activities and incremental expenses due to the end of most pandemic-related restrictions as well as the costs associated with operating an expanded franchise subsequent to the Elmira and financial services acquisitions, including increases in business development and marketing expenses, insurance and travel-related expenses. The increase in data processing and communications expenses was due to the Company’s continued investment in customer-facing and back office digital technologies between the comparable periods. The slight increase in occupancy and equipment expense was driven by inflationary pressures, partially offset by branch office consolidations between the periods.
The Company’s efficiency ratio (as defined in the table above) was 59.3% for the third quarter, 2.4 percentage points favorable to the comparable quarter of 2021. This resulted from operating expenses (as described above) increasing 7.5%, while operating revenues (as described above) increased 11.8%. The efficiency ratio of 60.0% for the first nine months of 2022 was 0.1 percentage point favorable compared to the first nine months of 2021 due to 9.0% higher operating expenses (as described above), while operating revenues (as described above) increased by 9.3%. Current year operating expenses, excluding amortization of intangible assets, acquisition expenses, acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustments and litigation accrual expenses, as a percentage of average assets increased 0.10 percentage points versus the prior year quarter and increased 0.07 percentage points versus the prior year-to-date period as operating expenses (as defined above) increased at a faster rate than average assets. Operating expenses (as defined above) increased 7.5% for the quarter and increased 9.0% for the year-to-date period, while average assets increased 3.5% for the quarter and increased 6.1% for the year-to-date period as the strong growth of the book value of earning assets was partially offset by a significant decline in the pre-tax market value adjustment on the investment portfolio.
Income Taxes
The third quarter and YTD 2022 effective income tax rates were 22.0% and 21.6%, respectively, as compared to 21.1% and 20.9% for the comparable periods of 2021. The effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2021 was driven down by a decrease in the Company’s full year effective tax rate projection. The increase in the YTD effective tax rate was fully attributable to lower levels of tax benefits related to stock-based compensation activity. The Company recorded a $0.6 million and $2.0 million reduction in income tax expense associated with stock-based compensation tax benefits for YTD 2022 and YTD 2021, respectively. The effective tax rates adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation tax benefits for the third quarter and YTD 2022 were both 22.0%, as compared to 21.1% and 22.0%, for the comparable periods of 2021, respectively.
Investment Securities
The carrying value of investment securities (including unrealized gains and losses) was $5.23 billion at the end of the third quarter, an increase of $248.2 million from December 31, 2021 and $823.9 million higher than September 30, 2021. The carrying value of cash equivalents was $30.0 million at the end of the third quarter, a decrease of $1.69 billion from December 31, 2021 and $2.07 billion from September 30, 2021. The book value of investment securities (excluding unrealized gains and losses) of $6.19 billion at the end of the third quarter increased $1.17 billion from December 31, 2021 and increased $1.74 billion from September 30, 2021. During the first nine months of 2022, the Company purchased $1.14 billion of U.S. Treasury and agency securities with an average yield of 1.62%, $34.6 million of government agency mortgage-backed securities with an average yield of 2.75%, and $182.0 million of obligations of state and political subdivisions with an average yield of 3.96%. Additionally, the Company acquired $11.3 million of investments from Elmira during the second quarter of 2022. These additions were partially offset by $212.4 million of investment maturities, calls and principal payments during the first nine months of 2022. Additionally, there was $14.8 million of net accretion on investment securities during the first nine months of 2022. The effective duration of the investment securities portfolio was 6.5 years at the end of the third quarter of 2022, as compared to 7.5 years at the end of 2021 and 7.6 years at the end of the third quarter of 2021.
The change in the carrying value of investment securities is also impacted by the amount of net unrealized gains or losses. At September 30, 2022, the portfolio had a $964.9 million net unrealized loss, as compared to a $44.9 million net unrealized loss at December 31, 2021 and a $47.5 million net unrealized loss at September 30, 2021. These changes in the net unrealized position of the portfolio were principally driven by the movements in medium to long-term interest rates, as well as the volume and rates associated with the securities purchases and maturities that have occurred over the past 12 months.
The following table sets forth the fair value of the Company’s investment securities portfolio:
Table 6: Investment Securities
3,393,260
421,965
510,676
8,078
24,392
Total available-for-sale portfolio
4,358,371
Equity and Other Securities:
7,251
3,401
45,027
Total investments
5,227,292
4,979,089
4,403,398
Loans ended the third quarter at $8.54 billion, an increase of $1.26 billion, or 17.3%, from one year earlier and an increase of $1.17 billion, or 15.9%, from the end of 2021. The increase during the last twelve months was driven by increases in all loan categories, including consumer mortgage, business lending, consumer indirect, home equity and consumer direct loans, due to the Elmira acquisition and net organic growth, despite a $156.2 million decrease in PPP loans due to loan forgiveness activities.
The business lending portfolio consists of general-purpose business lending to commercial, industrial, non-profit and municipal customers, mortgages on commercial property and dealer floor plan financing. The business lending portfolio increased $402.2 million, or 13.0%, from September 30, 2021 and increased $418.5 million, or 13.6%, from December 31, 2021, including $125.3 million of loans acquired from Elmira in the second quarter of 2022. The increase in the business lending portfolio was driven by the Elmira acquisition and organic growth despite decreases in PPP loans of $156.2 million from September 30, 2021 and $82.0 million from December 31, 2021. Competitive conditions for business lending continue to prevail in both the digital marketplace and geographic regions in which the Company operates. The Company strives to generate growth in its business portfolio in a manner that adheres to its goals of maintaining strong asset quality and producing profitable margins. The Company continues to invest in additional personnel, technology and business development resources to further strengthen its capabilities in this important product category.
Consumer mortgages increased $504.5 million, or 20.4%, from one year ago and increased $419.4 million, or 16.4%, from December 31, 2021, including $271.4 million of loans acquired from Elmira in the second quarter of 2022. In addition to the Elmira acquisition, the increase in consumer mortgages was driven by refinance activities late last year and early this year, the Company’s competitive product offerings and business development efforts, in addition to strong housing demand throughout the past twelve months. Interest rate levels, secondary market premiums, expected duration and ALCO strategies continue to be the most significant factors in determining whether the Company chooses to retain, versus sell and service, portions of its new mortgage production. The Company is currently holding almost all of its new consumer mortgage production in portfolio. Home equity loans increased $37.6 million, or 9.5%, from one year ago, and increased $35.0 million, or 8.8%, from December 31, 2021, including $18.4 million of loans acquired from Elmira in the second quarter of 2022.
45
Consumer installment loans, both those originated directly in the branches (referred to as “consumer direct”) and indirectly in automobile, marine and other recreational vehicle dealerships (referred to as “consumer indirect”), increased $316.7 million, or 23.9%, from one year ago and increased $297.1 million, or 22.1%, from December 31, 2021, including $21.9 million of loans acquired from Elmira in the second quarter of 2022. Despite national vehicle supply shortages, the Company’s market area and dealer network have experienced robust sales activity, which, combined with higher sales prices, have resulted in significant growth in the Company’s consumer indirect portfolio. Although the consumer indirect loan market is highly competitive, the Company is focused on maintaining a profitable in-market and contiguous market indirect portfolio, while continuing to pursue the expansion of its dealer network. Consumer direct loans provide attractive returns, and the Company is committed to providing competitive market offerings to its customers in this important loan category. Despite the strong competition the Company faces from the financing subsidiaries of vehicle manufacturers and other financial intermediaries, the Company will continue to strive to grow these key portfolios through varying market conditions over the long term.
Asset Quality
The following table sets forth the allocation of the allowance for credit losses by loan category as well as the proportional share of each category’s loan balance to total loans. This allocation is based on management’s assessment, as of a given point in time, of the risk characteristics of each of the component parts of the total loan portfolio and is subject to changes when the risk factors of each component part change. The allocation is not indicative of either the specific amounts of the loan categories in which future charge-offs may be taken, nor should it be taken as an indicator of future loss trends. The allocation of the allowance to each category does not restrict the use of the allowance to absorb losses in any category. As shown in Table 7, the total allowance for credit losses at the end of the third quarter was $60.4 million, an increase of $10.9 million, or 21.9%, from one year earlier and an increase of $10.5 million, or 21.0%, from the end of 2021, driven primarily by significant loan growth during the intervening period.
Table 7: Allowance for Credit Losses by Loan Type
(000’s omitted except for ratios)
Allowance
Loan Mix
40.9
41.7
42.5
34.8
34.7
33.9
17.1
16.1
2.1
5.1
5.4
0.0
Total loans
100.0
As demonstrated in Table 7 and discussed previously, business lending and consumer installment carry higher credit risk than residential real estate, and as a result, these loans carry allowance for credit losses that cover a higher percentage of their total portfolio balances. The unallocated allowance is maintained for potential inherent losses in the specific portfolios that are not captured due to model imprecision. The unallocated allowance of $1.0 million at September 30, 2022 was consistent with December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021. The changes in allowance allocations reflect management’s continued refinement of its loss estimation techniques. However, given the inherent imprecision in the many estimates used in the determination of the allocated portion of the allowance, management remained conservative in the approaches used to establish the overall allowance for credit losses. Management considers the allocated and unallocated portions of the allowance for credit losses to be prudent and reasonable. Furthermore, the Company’s allowance for credit losses is general in nature and is available to absorb losses from any loan category.
46
Allowance for credit losses and loan net charge-off ratios are as follows:
Table 8: Loan Ratios
Allowance for credit losses/total loans
0.71
Allowance for credit losses/nonperforming loans
186
110
73
Nonaccrual loans/total loans
0.33
0.57
0.91
Allowance for credit losses/nonaccrual loans
120
Net charge-offs (annualized) to average loans outstanding (quarterly):
(0.03)
0.10
0.08
0.01
0.02
0.09
0.24
0.53
Net charge-offs during the third quarter of 2022 were $0.4 million, a decrease of $1.0 million compared to the third quarter of 2021. The business lending, consumer indirect and consumer mortgage portfolios experienced lower net charge-offs during the third quarter of 2022 as compared to the third quarter of 2021, while the consumer direct portfolio experienced higher net charge-offs as compared to the prior year third quarter, and the net charge-offs in the home equity portfolio were consistent with the equivalent prior year period. The total net charge-off ratio (net charge-offs annualized as a percentage of average loans outstanding for the quarter) for the third quarter was 0.02%, seven and five basis points lower than the ratios for the fourth and third quarters of 2021, respectively. Net charge-off ratios for the third quarter of 2022 for the business lending, consumer indirect and consumer mortgage portfolios were below the Company’s average for the trailing eight quarters, while the net charge-off ratios for the consumer direct and home equity portfolios were above the Company’s average for the trailing eight quarters.
Other real estate owned (“OREO”) at September 30, 2022 was $0.5 million. This compares to $0.7 million at December 31, 2021 and $0.9 million at September 30, 2021. At September 30, 2022, OREO consisted of eight residential properties with a total value of $0.5 million. This compares to two residential properties with a total value of $0.1 million and one commercial property with a value of $0.6 million at December 31, 2021, and five residential properties with a total value of $0.3 million and one commercial property with a value of $0.6 million at September 30, 2021.
Approximately 15% of the nonperforming loans at September 30, 2022 were related to the business lending portfolio, which is comprised of business loans broadly diversified by industry type. The level of nonperforming business loans decreased significantly from the prior year as the economic environment improved and businesses resumed normal operations. The Company upgraded several large business loans for customers in the hospitality industry that had previously requested extended loan repayment forbearance due to pandemic-related hardship from nonaccrual to accruing status during the first quarter of 2022 and fourth quarter of 2021. These borrowers had successfully restored all past due payment to current status, resumed their pre-forbearance payment obligations for a period of at least nine months, and demonstrated sufficient repayment capacity and cash reserves to be reclassified to accruing status.
Approximately 77% of nonperforming loans at September 30, 2022 were comprised of consumer mortgages. Collateral values of residential properties within the Company’s geographic footprint have generally remained stable or have increased over the past several years. Additionally, strong economic conditions prior to COVID-19 and the generally positive economic recovery following, including low unemployment levels, have positively impacted consumers and resulted in generally more favorable nonperforming consumer mortgage ratios throughout the past few years. The remaining 8% of nonperforming loans relate to consumer installment and home equity loans, with home equity nonperforming loan levels being driven by the same factors that were identified for consumer mortgages. The allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans ratio, a general measure of coverage adequacy, was 186% at the end of the third quarter, as compared to 110% at year-end 2021 and 73% at September 30, 2021. The increase in this ratio between the annual quarterly periods was primarily driven by the decrease in nonperforming business loans noted above combined with a $10.9 million increase in the allowance for credit losses.
The Company will continue to closely monitor the impact that forecasted weakening economic conditions could have on its level of delinquent loans, nonperforming assets and ultimately credit-related losses and proactively engage with our customers to strive to limit the potential losses.
The Company’s senior management, special asset officers and lenders review all delinquent and nonaccrual loans and OREO regularly in order to identify deteriorating situations, monitor known problem credits and discuss any needed changes to collection efforts, if warranted. Based on this analysis, a relationship may be assigned a special assets officer or other senior lending officer to review the loan, meet with the borrowers, assess the collateral and recommend an action plan. This plan could include foreclosure, restructuring loans, issuing demand letters or other actions. The Company’s larger criticized credits are also reviewed on a quarterly basis by senior credit administration management, special assets officers and business lending management to monitor their status and discuss relationship management plans. Business lending management reviews the criticized business loan portfolio on a monthly basis.
Delinquent loans (30 days past due through nonaccruing) as a percent of total loans was 0.71% at the end of the third quarter, 29 basis points below the 1.00% at year-end 2021 and 57 basis points below the 1.28% at September 30, 2021. The business lending delinquency ratio at the end of the third quarter of 0.17% was 80 basis points below the level of 0.97% at December 31, 2021 and 155 basis points below the level of 1.72% at September 30, 2021, largely attributable to the reclassification of certain business loans’ status from nonaccrual to accruing during the fourth quarter of 2021 and first quarter of 2022. The delinquency ratio for the home equity portfolio decreased as compared to the levels at both December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021, while consumer installment and consumer mortgage increased slightly relative to those same periods.
Prediction of future delinquency and credit loss performance is difficult, because although, until recently, economic growth had been above average for most of 2021 and the unemployment rate remains low, there continues to be uncertainty regarding the economic fallout created by supply chain constraints and inflationary pressures, as well as a rising interest rate environment. Due to the Company’s continued focus on maintaining strict underwriting standards and the effective utilization of its collection capabilities, the Company expects that its credit performance will eventually return to levels consistent with its average long-term historical results once public health, government intervention, and economic conditions return to a more normalized state.
The Company recorded a $5.1 million provision for credit losses in the third quarter of 2022, including a $0.1 million net benefit related to off-balance sheet credit exposures. The third quarter provision for credit losses was $6.0 million higher than the equivalent prior year period’s net benefit in the provision for credit losses of $0.9 million, which was reflective of an economic recovery related to the cessation of most pandemic-related restrictions and included the continuation of elevated real estate and vehicle collateral values, resulting in a release of reserves in that quarter. The allowance for credit losses of $60.4 million as of September 30, 2022 increased $10.5 million compared to December 31, 2021 and increased $10.9 million compared to September 30, 2021, due in part to increases in non-PPP loans outstanding, including $437.0 million of loans acquired from Elmira in the second quarter of 2022, combined with weaker economic forecasts during the third quarter of 2022. The allowance for credit losses to total loans ratio was 0.71% at September 30, 2022, an increase of three basis points from the levels at both December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021. Refer to Note E: Loans of the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of management’s methodology used to estimate the allowance for credit losses.
As of September 30, 2022, the net purchase discount related to the $1.28 billion of remaining non-PCD acquired loan balances was approximately $25.6 million, or 1.99% of that portfolio.
48
As shown in Table 9, average deposits of $13.33 billion in the third quarter were $830.9 million, or 6.6%, higher than the third quarter of 2021, primarily due to larger than anticipated net inflows of funds related to government stimulus and PPP programs in 2021 and the addition of acquired Elmira deposit liabilities during the second quarter of 2022. The Company acquired $522.3 million of deposits in the Elmira acquisition, including $356.5 million of non-time deposits and $165.8 million of time deposits. Total average deposit balances increased $502.8 million, or 3.9%, from the fourth quarter of last year, primarily due to the addition of acquired Elmira deposit liabilities between the periods. Average noninterest checking deposits as a percentage of average total deposits was 31.4% in the third quarter compared to 30.7% in the third quarter of 2021 and the fourth quarter of last year. Non-maturity deposits (noninterest checking, interest checking, savings and money markets) represent 92.8% of the Company’s average deposit funding base during the third quarter of 2022, while time deposits represent 7.2% of total average deposits. The quarterly average cost of deposits was 0.11% for the third quarter of 2022, compared to 0.08% for the fourth quarter of 2021 and 0.09% in the third quarter of 2021, reflective of increases in the interest rates paid on interest checking and money market deposits, while the interest rate paid on time deposits decreased. The Company continues to focus on expanding its core deposit relationship base through its proactive marketing efforts, competitive product offerings and high quality customer service.
Average nonpublic fund deposits for the third quarter of 2022 increased $839.6 million, or 7.5%, versus the fourth quarter of 2021 and increased $983.5 million, or 8.9%, versus the year-earlier period. Average public fund deposits for the third quarter decreased $336.8 million, or 20.2%, from the fourth quarter of 2021 and decreased $152.6 million, or 10.3%, from the third quarter of 2021. Average public fund deposits as a percentage of total average deposits decreased from 11.9% in the third quarter of 2021 to 10.0% in the third quarter of 2022.
Table 9: Quarterly Average Deposits
3,935,586
Interest checking deposits
3,299,612
3,215,815
3,147,360
Savings deposits
2,460,915
2,227,776
2,197,592
Money market deposits
2,419,029
2,510,766
2,356,765
942,205
13,334,948
12,832,148
12,504,033
Nonpublic fund deposits
12,005,491
11,165,894
11,022,010
Public fund deposits
1,329,457
1,666,254
1,482,023
Borrowings
Borrowings, excluding securities sold under agreement to repurchase, at the end of the third quarter of 2022 totaled $142.5 million. This was $137.4 million higher than borrowings at December 31, 2021 and $136.3 million above the level at the end of the third quarter of 2021. The increases were primarily due to an increase in overnight borrowings of $119.8 million to support the funding of strong loan growth and $17.6 million of FHLB borrowings acquired from the Elmira acquisition during the second quarter of 2022.
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase, also referred to as customer repurchase agreements, represent collateralized municipal and commercial customer accounts that price and operate similar to a deposit instrument. Customer repurchase agreements were $352.8 million at the end of the third quarter of 2022, an increase of $28.1 million and $36.0 million from their levels at December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021, respectively.
49
Shareholders’ Equity and Regulatory Capital
Total shareholders’ equity was $1.46 billion at the end of the third quarter, down $639.6 million from the balance at December 31, 2021. The decrease was driven by $695.7 million of other comprehensive loss, net of tax, dividends declared of $70.2 million and common stock repurchased of $16.4 million, partially offset by net income of $135.6 million, net activity under the Company’s employee stock plan of $1.6 million, and $5.5 million recognized from employee stock options earned. The other comprehensive loss, net of tax, was comprised of a $696.5 million decrease in the after-tax market value adjustment on the available-for-sale investment portfolio due to a significant amount of securities being purchased and a meaningful upward movement in market interest rates between the periods, partially offset by a positive $0.8 million adjustment to the funded status of the Company’s retirement plans. Over the past 12 months, total shareholders’ equity decreased $608.8 million, as a decrease in the market value adjustment on investments, dividends declared and common stock repurchase activity more than offset net income, the issuance of common stock in association with the employee stock plan and the Company’s benefit plans, and the change in the funded status of the Company’s defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans.
The dividend payout ratio (dividends declared divided by net income) for the first nine months of 2022 was 51.8%, compared to 46.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Dividends declared for the first nine months of 2022 increased 2.7% compared to the first nine months of 2021, as the Company’s quarterly dividend per share was raised from $0.43 to $0.44 in the third quarter of 2022, while net income decreased 7.2% versus the equivalent year-to-date period due to increases in the provision for credit losses, acquisition-related provision for credit losses and noninterest expenses, including a $4.9 million increase in acquisition-related noninterest expenses, partially offset by increases in net interest income and noninterest revenues. The 2022 dividend increase marked the Company’s 30th consecutive year of increased dividend payouts to common shareholders. Additionally, the number of common shares outstanding decreased 0.4% over the last twelve months, as common stock repurchases outweighed issuance activity in the Company’s employee stock plans.
The Company and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s and the Bank’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company’s and the Bank’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.
The Company and the Bank are required to maintain a “capital conservation buffer,” composed entirely of common equity Tier 1 capital, in addition to minimum risk-based capital ratios. The required capital conservation buffer is 2.5% as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. Therefore, to satisfy both the minimum risk-based capital ratios and the capital conservation buffer as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company and the Bank must maintain:
(i) Common equity Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets (“Common equity tier 1 capital ratio”) of at least 7.0%,
(ii) Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets (“Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio”) of at least 8.5%, and
(iii) Total capital (Tier 1 capital plus Tier 2 capital) to total risk-weighted assets (“Total risk-based capital ratio”) of at least 10.5%.
In addition, the Company and Bank must maintain a ratio of ending Tier 1 capital to adjusted quarterly average assets (“Tier 1 leverage ratio”) of at least 5.0% to be considered “well capitalized” under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.
As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company and Bank meet all applicable capital adequacy requirements to be considered “well capitalized”. As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the regulatory capital ratios for the Company and Bank are presented below.
Community Bank
Community
System, Inc.
Bank, N.A.
Tier 1 leverage ratio
8.78
7.03
9.09
7.26
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
15.50
12.44
18.60
14.92
Total risk-based capital ratio
16.19
13.14
19.28
15.62
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio
The Company’s Tier 1 leverage ratio was 8.78% at the end of the third quarter, down 31 basis points from year-end 2021 and 44 basis points below its level one year earlier. The decrease in the Tier 1 leverage ratio in comparison to December 31, 2021 was the result of ending shareholders’ equity, excluding intangibles and other comprehensive income, increasing 1.2%, as the impact of net earnings retention outweighed the intangible assets added from the Elmira acquisition and share repurchases, while average assets, excluding intangibles and the market value adjustment on investments, increased 4.8%, primarily due to strong organic loan growth and the Elmira acquisition. The Tier 1 leverage ratio decreased compared to the prior year’s third quarter as shareholders’ equity, excluding intangibles and other comprehensive income, increased 2.9%, as the impact of earnings retention outweighed Elmira acquisition-related intangible assets and share repurchases, while average assets excluding intangibles and the market value adjustment on investments, increased 8.1% primarily due to continued inflows of customer deposits, organic loan growth and the acquisition of Elmira. The net tangible equity-to-assets ratio (a non-GAAP measure) of 4.08% decreased 4.61 percentage points from December 31, 2021 and decreased 4.51 percentage points versus September 30, 2021 (See Table 10 for Reconciliation of Quarterly GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures). The decrease in the net tangible equity to net tangible assets ratio (non-GAAP) from one year prior was primarily driven by a $644.8 million, or 51.8%, decrease in tangible equity due to the decline in the after-tax market value adjustment on available-for-sale investment securities and a $41.1 million net increase in intangible assets due primarily to the Elmira acquisition and a $227.5 million, or 1.6%, increase in tangible assets due to the Elmira acquisition and net inflows of deposits. The decrease in the net tangible equity to net tangible assets ratio (non-GAAP) from the fourth quarter of 2021 was driven by a $679.8 million decrease in tangible equity due to the impact of the Elmira acquisition, the purchase of securities in late 2021 and early 2022 and higher market interest rates on the after-tax market value adjustment on available-for-sale investment securities, while tangible assets increased $1.7 million.
Liquidity
Liquidity risk is a measure of the Company’s ability to raise cash when needed at a reasonable cost and minimize any loss. The Company maintains appropriate liquidity levels in both normal operating conditions as well as stressed environments. The Company must be capable of meeting all obligations to its customers at any time and, therefore, the active management of its liquidity position remains an important management objective. The Bank has appointed the Asset Liability Committee (“ALCO”) to manage liquidity risk using policy guidelines and limits on indicators of potential liquidity risk. The indicators are monitored using a scorecard with three risk level limits. These risk indicators measure core liquidity and funding needs, capital at risk and change in available funding sources. The risk indicators are monitored using such metrics as the core basic surplus ratio, unencumbered securities to average assets, free loan collateral to average assets, loans to deposits, deposits to total funding and borrowings to total funding ratios.
Given the uncertain nature of the Company’s customers’ demands, as well as the Company’s desire to take advantage of earnings enhancement opportunities, the Company must have adequate sources of on and off-balance sheet funds available that can be utilized when needed. Accordingly, in addition to the liquidity provided by balance sheet cash flows, liquidity must be supplemented with additional sources such as credit lines from correspondent banks and borrowings from the FHLB and the Federal Reserve. Other funding alternatives may also be appropriate from time to time, including wholesale and retail repurchase agreements, large certificates of deposit and the brokered CD market. The primary source of non-deposit funds are FHLB or Federal Reserve overnight advances, of which there were $119.8 million of outstanding borrowings at September 30, 2022.
The Company’s primary sources of liquidity are its liquid assets, as well as unencumbered loans and securities that can be used to collateralize additional funding. At September 30, 2022, the Bank had $247.4 million of cash and cash equivalents of which $30.0 million are interest-earning deposits held at the Federal Reserve, FHLB and other correspondent banks. The Company also had $1.76 billion in unused FHLB borrowing capacity based on the Company’s quarter-end loan collateral levels and had $487.7 million of funding availability at the Federal Reserve’s discount window. Additionally, the Company has $2.57 billion of unencumbered securities that could be pledged at the FHLB or Federal Reserve to obtain additional funding. There was $25.0 million available in unsecured lines of credit with other correspondent banks at quarter end.
The Company’s primary approach to measuring short-term liquidity is known as the Basic Surplus/Deficit model. It is used to calculate liquidity over two time periods: first, the amount of cash that could be made available within 30 days (calculated as liquid assets less short-term liabilities as a percentage of average assets); and second, a projection of subsequent cash availability over an additional 60 days. As of September 30, 2022, this ratio was 15.1% for 30-days and 15.3% for 90-days, excluding the Company’s capacity to borrow additional funds from the FHLB and other sources. This is considered to be a sufficient amount of liquidity based on the Company’s internal policy requirement of 7.5%.
A sources and uses statement is used by the Company to measure intermediate liquidity risk over the next twelve months. As of September 30, 2022, there is more than enough liquidity available during the next year to cover projected cash outflows. In addition, stress tests on the cash flows are performed in various scenarios ranging from high probability events with a low impact on the liquidity position to low probability events with a high impact on the liquidity position. The results of the stress tests as of September 30, 2022 indicate the Company has sufficient sources of funds for the next year in all simulated stressed scenarios.
To measure longer-term liquidity, a baseline projection of loan and deposit growth for five years is made to reflect how liquidity levels could change over time. This five-year measure reflects ample liquidity for loan and other asset growth over the next five years.
Though remote, the possibility of a funding crisis exists at all financial institutions. Accordingly, management has addressed this issue by formulating a Liquidity Contingency Plan, which has been reviewed and approved by both the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and the Company’s ALCO. The plan addresses the actions that the Company would take in response to both a short-term and long-term funding crisis.
A short-term funding crisis would most likely result from a shock to the financial system, either internal or external, which disrupts orderly short-term funding operations. Such a crisis would likely be temporary in nature and would not involve a change in credit ratings. A long-term funding crisis would most likely be the result of drastic credit deterioration at the Company. Management believes that both potential circumstances have been fully addressed through the establishment of trigger points for monitoring such events and detailed action plans that would be initiated if those trigger points are reached.
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains comments or information that constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which involve significant risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements often use words such as “anticipate,” “could,” “target,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “forecast,” “believe,” or other words of similar meaning. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Moreover, the Company’s plans, objectives and intentions are subject to change based on various factors (some of which are beyond the Company’s control). Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include: (1) the macroeconomic and other challenges and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, variants of COVID-19, related vaccine and booster rollouts and efficacies, and government measures taken in response thereto, including the negative impacts and disruptions on public health, the Company’s corporate and consumer customers, the communities the Company serves, and the domestic and global economy, which may have an adverse effect on the Company’s business; (2) current and future economic and market conditions, including the effects of changes in housing or vehicle prices, unemployment rates, labor shortages, supply chain disruption, inability to obtain raw materials and supplies, U.S. fiscal debt, budget and tax matters, geopolitical matters, and any slowdown in global economic growth; (3) the effect of, and changes in, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including future changes in Federal and state statutory income tax rates and interest rate and other policy actions of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (4) the effect of changes in the level of checking or savings account deposits on the Company’s funding costs and net interest margin; (5) future provisions for credit losses on loans and debt securities; (6) changes in nonperforming assets; (7) the effect of a fall in stock market or bond prices on the Company’s fee income businesses, including its employee benefit services, wealth management, and insurance businesses; (8) risks related to credit quality; (9) inflation, interest rate, liquidity, market and monetary fluctuations; (10) the strength of the U.S. economy in general and the strength of the local economies where the Company conducts its business; (11) the timely development of new products and services and customer perception of the overall value thereof (including features, pricing and quality) compared to competing products and services; (12) changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; (13) technological changes and implementation and financial risks associated with transitioning to new technology-based systems involving large multi-year contracts; (14) the ability of the Company to maintain the security of its financial, accounting, technology, data processing and other operating systems and facilities; (15) effectiveness of the Company’s risk management processes and procedures, reliance on models which may be inaccurate or misinterpreted, the Company’s ability to manage its credit or interest rate risk, the sufficiency of its allowance for credit losses and the accuracy of the assumptions or estimates used in preparing the Company’s financial statements and disclosures; (16) failure of third parties to provide various services that are important to the Company’s operations; (17) any acquisitions or mergers that might be considered or consummated by the Company and the costs and factors associated therewith, including differences in the actual financial results of the acquisition or merger compared to expectations and the realization of anticipated cost savings and revenue enhancements; (18) the ability to maintain and increase market share and control expenses; (19) the nature, timing and effect of changes in banking regulations or other regulatory or legislative requirements affecting the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, including changes in laws and regulations concerning taxes, accounting, banking, service fees, risk management, securities and other aspects of the financial services industry; (20) changes in the Company’s organization, compensation and benefit plans and in the availability of, and compensation levels for, employees in its geographic markets; (21) the outcome of pending or future litigation, government proceedings and local, state and Federal tax audits; (22) the effects of climate change and natural disasters on the Company’s operations or the operations of its customers; (23) other risk factors outlined in the Company’s filings with the SEC from time to time; and (24) the success of the Company at managing the risks of the foregoing.
The foregoing list of important factors is not all-inclusive. For more information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations, refer to the discussion under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 10, 2022 for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made. If the Company does update or correct one or more forward-looking statements, investors and others should not conclude that the Company will make additional updates or corrections with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements.
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
Table 10: GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations
Income statement data
Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue
Net income (GAAP)
Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue (non-GAAP)
67,458
56,484
185,010
173,745
Adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue (non-GAAP)
67,871
56,496
190,102
173,764
Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue per share
Diluted earnings per share (GAAP)
0.25
0.22
0.69
1.15
1.05
3.39
(0.01)
(0.20)
Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue per share (non-GAAP)
1.25
1.04
3.40
3.19
Adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue per share (non-GAAP)
3.49
Tax effect of acquisition expenses
(90)
(21)
(1,009)
(27)
Subtotal (non-GAAP)
49,010
45,417
139,210
146,236
Tax effect of acquisition-related contingent consideration adjustment
(86)
139,524
Acquisition-related provision for credit losses
3,927
Tax effect of acquisition-related provision for credit losses
(848)
142,603
Tax effect of unrealized loss (gain) on equity securities
(1)
(5)
49,013
45,425
142,622
146,224
Tax effect of litigation accrual
Operating net income (non-GAAP)
45,346
146,145
Amortization of intangibles
Tax effect of amortization of intangibles
(843)
(780)
(2,472)
(2,155)
52,007
48,269
151,570
154,290
Acquired non-PCD loan accretion
(1,397)
(906)
(3,154)
(3,177)
Tax effect of acquired non-PCD loan accretion
307
191
685
666
Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)
50,917
47,554
149,101
151,779
54
(000's omitted)
Return on average assets
Average total assets
Adjusted return on average assets (non-GAAP)
1.30
1.26
1.28
1.39
Return on average equity
Average total equity
Adjusted return on average equity (non-GAAP)
12.02
8.97
10.95
9.86
Earnings per common share
(0.02)
2.56
2.62
Operating earnings per share (non-GAAP)
0.21
0.19
(0.05)
(0.04)
0.95
0.89
2.78
(0.06)
Diluted adjusted net earnings per share (non-GAAP)
0.94
0.87
Noninterest operating expenses
Noninterest expenses (GAAP)
(3,837)
(3,703)
(11,420)
(10,300)
(409)
(102)
(4,668)
(133)
(400)
Total adjusted noninterest expenses (non-GAAP)
96,731
276,892
Efficiency ratio
Adjusted noninterest expenses (non-GAAP) - numerator
Fully tax-equivalent net interest income
Operating revenues (non-GAAP) - denominator
175,368
156,829
503,252
460,351
Efficiency ratio (non-GAAP)
55
Balance sheet data - at end of quarter
Total assets (GAAP)
Intangible assets
(909,224)
(864,335)
(868,104)
Deferred taxes on intangible assets
48,893
44,160
43,768
Total tangible assets (non-GAAP)
14,734,216
14,732,482
14,506,762
Total common equity
Shareholders’ Equity (GAAP)
Total tangible common equity (non-GAAP)
600,832
1,280,632
1,245,598
Net tangible equity-to-assets ratio at quarter end
Total tangible common equity (non-GAAP) - numerator
Total tangible assets (non-GAAP) - denominator
Net tangible equity-to-assets ratio at quarter end (non-GAAP)
4.08
8.69
8.59
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market risk is the risk of loss in a financial instrument arising from adverse changes in market rates, prices or credit risk. Credit risk associated with the Company’s loan portfolio has been previously discussed in the asset quality section of the MD&A. Management believes that the tax risk of the Company’s municipal investments associated with potential future changes in statutory, judicial and regulatory actions is minimal. Treasury, agency, mortgage-backed and collateralized mortgage obligation securities issued by government agencies comprise 90.8% of the total portfolio and are currently rated AAA by Moody’s Investor Services and AA+ by Standard & Poor’s. Obligations of state and political subdivisions account for 9.1% of the total portfolio, of which, 96.4% carry a minimum rating of A-. The remaining 0.1% of the portfolio is comprised of other investment grade securities. The Company does not have material foreign currency exchange rate risk exposure. Therefore, almost all the market risk in the investment portfolio is related to interest rates.
The ongoing monitoring and management of both interest rate risk and liquidity over the short and long term time horizons is an important component of the Company’s asset/liability management process, which is governed by guidelines established in the policies reviewed and approved annually by the Company’s Board. The Board delegates responsibility for carrying out the policies to the ALCO, which meets each month. The committee is made up of the Company’s senior management as well as regional and line-of-business managers who oversee specific earning asset classes and various funding sources. As the Company does not believe it is possible to reliably predict future interest rate movements, it has maintained an appropriate process and set of measurement tools, which enables it to identify and quantify sources of interest rate risk in varying rate environments. The primary tool used by the Company in managing interest rate risk is income simulation. This begins with the development of a base case scenario, which projects net interest income (“NII”) over the next twelve month period. The base case scenario NII may increase or decrease significantly from quarter to quarter reflective of changes during the most recent quarter in the Company’s: (i) earning assets and liabilities balances, (ii) composition of earning assets and liabilities, (iii) earning asset yields, (iv) cost of funds and (v) model projections, as well as current market interest rates, including the slope of the yield curve and projected changes in the slope of the yield curve over the twelve month period. Due to increases in market interest rates on new loans and a significant increase in the Company’s loan balances during the third quarter of 2022, the base case NII projection increased significantly between the second quarter income simulation and the third quarter income simulation.
While a wide variety of strategic balance sheet and treasury yield curve scenarios are tested on an ongoing basis, the following reflects the Company’s estimated NII sensitivity as compared to the base case scenario over the subsequent twelve months based on:
Net Interest Income Sensitivity Model
Calculated annualized increase
(decrease) in projected net interest
income at September 30, 2022
Interest rate scenario
(%)
+300 basis points
($8,243)
(1.8%)
+200 basis points
($5,702)
(1.2%)
+100 basis points
($3,217)
(0.7%)
-100 basis points
($763)
(0.2%)
-200 basis points
($2,455)
(0.5%)
-300 basis points
($9,804)
(2.1%)
Projected NII over the 12-month forecast period decreases in the rising rate environments largely due to deposits and overnight borrowings repricing higher in year 1, which are only partially offset by loans repricing higher. Over the longer time period, the growth in NII begins to improve in all rising rate environments as the impact from lower yielding assets maturing and being replaced at higher rates is significantly more material than the increase in funding costs.
In the falling rate scenarios, the Company shows interest rate risk exposure to lower rates on all terms. During the first twelve months, net interest income declines largely due to lower assumed rates on loan originations, and certain adjustable and variable rate loans. Modestly lower funding costs associated with deposits and borrowings only partially offset the decrease in interest income.
The analysis does not represent a Company forecast and should not be relied upon as being indicative of expected operating results. These hypothetical estimates are based upon numerous assumptions: the nature and timing of interest rate levels (including yield curve shape), prepayments on loans and securities, deposit decay rates, pricing decisions on loans and deposits, reinvestment/replacement of asset and liability cash flows, and other factors. While the assumptions are developed based upon a reasonable outlook for national and local economic and market conditions, the Company cannot make any assurances as to the predictive efficacy of these assumptions, including how customer preferences or competitor influences might change. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis does not reflect actions that the ALCO might take in responding to or anticipating changes in interest rates and other developments.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a -15(e) and 15d – 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the “Exchange Act”), designed to ensure information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is: (i) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on management’s evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, it has concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2022.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company regularly assesses the adequacy of its internal controls over financial reporting. There have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting in connection with the evaluation referenced in the paragraph above that occurred during the Company’s quarter ended September 30, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Part II.Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject in the normal course of business to various pending and threatened legal proceedings in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. As of September 30, 2022, management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not anticipate that the aggregate ultimate liability arising out of litigation pending or threatened against the Company or its subsidiaries will be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position. On at least a quarterly basis, the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection with such legal proceedings. For those matters where it is probable that the Company will incur losses and the amounts of the losses can be reasonably estimated, the Company records an expense and corresponding liability in its consolidated financial statements. To the extent the pending or threatened litigation could result in exposure in excess of that liability, the amount of such excess is not currently estimable. The range of reasonably possible losses for matters where an exposure is not currently estimable or considered probable, beyond the existing recorded liabilities, is believed to be between $0 and $1 million in the aggregate. This estimated range is based on information currently available to the Company and involves elements of judgment and significant uncertainties. Information on current legal proceedings is set forth in Note J to the consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1. Although the Company does not believe that the outcome of pending litigation will be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position, it cannot rule out the possibility that such outcomes will be material to the consolidated results of operations for a particular reporting period in the future.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There has not been any material change in the risk factors disclosure from that contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC on March 1, 2022, and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, as filed with the SEC on May 10, 2022.
Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
The following table presents stock purchases made during the third quarter of 2022:
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Total Number of Shares
Maximum Number of
Purchased as Part of
Shares That May Yet Be
Price Paid
Publicly Announced
Purchased Under the Plans
Period
Purchased
Per Share
Plans or Programs
or Programs
July 1-31, 2022
903
63.64
2,447,000
August 1-31, 2022
September 1-30, 2022
Total (1)
Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5.Other Information
Item 6.Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description
10.1
Amendment to Employment Agreement, effective August 24, 2022, by and among Community Bank System, Inc., Community Bank, N.A., and Dimitar Karaivanov. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 26, 2022 (Registration No. 001-13695). (1)
10.2
Retirement Agreement, dated August 24, 2022, by and among Community Bank System, Inc., Community Bank, N.A., and Joseph F. Serbun. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 26, 2022 (Registration No. 001-13695). (1)
31.1
Certification of Mark E. Tryniski, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (2)
31.2
Certification of Joseph E. Sutaris, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (2)
32.1
Certification of Mark E. Tryniski, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (3)
32.2
Certification of Joseph E. Sutaris, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (3)
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. (2)
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (2)
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (2)
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (2)
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (2)
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (2)
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) (2)
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Community Bank System, Inc.
Date: November 9, 2022
/s/ Mark E. Tryniski
Mark E. Tryniski, President and Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Joseph E. Sutaris
Joseph E. Sutaris, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer