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, 2020
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 001-37624
EQUITY BANCSHARES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Kansas
72-1532188
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
7701 East Kellogg Drive, Suite 300
Wichita, KS
67207
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 316.612.6000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Class A, Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol
EQBK
Name of each exchange on which registered
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
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, 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 Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No
As of October 23, 2020, the registrant had 14,853,487 shares of Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part I
Financial Information
5
Item 1.
Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
6
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
7
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
8
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
10
Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
12
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
43
Overview
Critical Accounting Policies
45
Results of Operations
48
Financial Condition
59
Liquidity and Capital Resources
70
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
72
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
75
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
77
Part II
Other Information
78
Legal Proceedings
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
79
Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5.
Item 6.
Exhibits
Important Notice about Information in this Quarterly Report
Unless we state otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references in this Quarterly Report to “we,” “our,” “us,” “the Company” and “Equity” refer to Equity Bancshares, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Equity Bank, which we sometimes refer to as “Equity Bank,” “the Bank” or “our Bank.”
The information contained in this Quarterly Report is accurate only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and as of the dates specified herein.
2
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “goal,” “target,” “would” and “outlook,” or the negative variations of those words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control, particularly with regard to developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements described under the heading “Item 1A - Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 10, 2020, and in Item 1A – Risk Factors of this Quarterly Report.
There are or will be important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following:
•
a continued economic downturn related to the COVID-19 pandemic; especially one affecting our core market areas;
inability of borrowers on deferral to make payments on their loans following the end of the deferral period;
the occurrence of various events that negatively impact the real estate market, since a significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real estate;
generally difficult or unfavorable conditions in the market for financial products and services;
interest rate fluctuations, which could have an adverse effect on our profitability;
external economic and/or market factors, such as changes in monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including the interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), inflation or deflation, changes in the demand for loans, and fluctuations in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits, which may have an adverse impact on our financial condition;
continued or increasing competition from other financial institutions, credit unions, and non-bank financial services companies, many of which are subject to different regulations than we are;
costs arising from the environmental risks associated with making loans secured by real estate;
losses resulting from a decline in the credit quality of the assets that we hold;
the adoption of ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, and its impact on our allowance for loan losses and capital;
the effects of new federal tax laws, or changes to existing federal tax laws;
inadequacies in our allowance for loan losses, which could require us to take a charge to earnings and thereby adversely affect our financial condition;
differences in our qualitative factors used in our calculation of the allowance for loan losses from actual results;
inaccuracies or changes in the appraised value of real estate securing the loans that we originate, which could lead to losses if the real estate collateral is later foreclosed upon and sold at a price lower than the appraised value;
potential fraud related to Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loan applications through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) as part of the U.S. Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”);
the costs of integrating the businesses we acquire, which may be greater than expected;
challenges arising from unsuccessful attempts to expand into new geographic markets, products, or services;
a lack of liquidity resulting from decreased loan repayment rates, lower deposit balances, or other factors;
restraints on the ability of Equity Bank to pay dividends to us, which could limit our liquidity;
3
the loss of our largest loan and depositor relationships;
limitations on our ability to lend and to mitigate the risks associated with our lending activities as a result of our size and capital position;
additional regulatory requirements and restrictions on our business, which could impose additional costs on us;
increased capital requirements imposed by banking regulators, which may require us to raise capital at a time when capital is not available on favorable terms or at all;
a failure in the internal controls we have implemented to address the risks inherent to the business of banking;
inaccuracies in our assumptions about future events, which could result in material differences between our financial projections and actual financial performance;
the departure of key members of our management personnel or our inability to hire qualified management personnel;
disruptions, security breaches, or other adverse events, failures or interruptions in, or attacks on, our information technology systems;
unauthorized access to nonpublic personal information of our customers, which could expose us to litigation or reputational harm;
disruptions, security breaches, or other adverse events affecting the third-party vendors who perform several of our critical processing functions;
required implementation of new accounting standards that significantly change certain of our existing recognition practices;
the occurrence of adverse weather or man-made events, which could negatively affect our core markets or disrupt our operations;
the effects of pandemic and widespread public health emergencies;
an increase in FDIC deposit insurance assessments, which could adversely affect our earnings;
the impact of the transition from London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and our ability to adequately manage such transition;
an inability to keep pace with the rate of technological advances due to a lack of resources to invest in new technologies;
expiration of our emerging growth company designation will impose additional compliance obligations and costs; and
other factors that are discussed in “Item 1A - Risk Factors.”
The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with other cautionary statements that are included in this Quarterly Report. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what we anticipate. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict those events or how they may affect us. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or verbal forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue.
4
PART I
Item 1: Financial Statements
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
September 30,
December 31,
2020
2019
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks
$
65,534
88,973
Federal funds sold
305
318
Cash and cash equivalents
65,839
89,291
Interest-bearing time deposits in other banks
499
2,498
Available-for-sale securities
798,576
142,067
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value of $0 and $783,911
—
769,059
Loans held for sale
9,053
5,933
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of $34,087 and $12,232
2,691,626
2,544,420
Other real estate owned, net
8,727
8,293
Premises and equipment, net
86,087
84,478
Bank-owned life insurance
76,555
75,103
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock
32,545
31,137
Interest receivable
18,110
15,738
Goodwill
31,601
136,432
Core deposit intangibles, net
17,101
19,907
Other
29,252
25,222
Total assets
3,865,571
3,949,578
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Deposits
Demand
693,967
481,298
Total non-interest-bearing deposits
Savings, NOW and money market
1,816,307
1,749,048
Time
623,344
833,170
Total interest-bearing deposits
2,439,651
2,582,218
Total deposits
3,133,618
3,063,516
Federal funds purchased and retail repurchase agreements
46,295
35,708
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
167,862
324,373
Bank stock loan
8,990
Subordinated debt
87,537
14,561
Contractual obligations
5,478
5,836
Interest payable and other liabilities
22,609
18,534
Total liabilities
3,463,399
3,471,518
Commitments and contingent liabilities, see Notes 11 and 12
Stockholders’ equity, see Note 7
Common stock
174
Additional paid-in capital
386,017
382,731
Retained earnings
38,299
125,757
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
21,074
(3
)
Employee stock loans
(43
(77
Treasury stock
(43,349
(30,522
Total stockholders’ equity
402,172
478,060
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
See accompanying condensed notes to interim consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Three and Nine Months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
Interest and dividend income
Loans, including fees
32,278
38,051
99,281
112,611
Securities, taxable
3,476
4,673
12,113
14,724
Securities, nontaxable
923
1,045
2,769
3,143
Federal funds sold and other
405
780
1,409
2,037
Total interest and dividend income
37,082
44,549
115,572
132,515
Interest expense
3,064
10,507
13,827
32,381
25
50
80
116
471
1,957
2,198
5,103
Federal Reserve Bank discount window
198
415
507
1,415
311
1,953
955
Total interest expense
4,975
13,023
18,479
39,062
Net interest income
32,107
31,526
97,093
93,453
Provision for loan losses
815
679
23,255
17,299
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
31,292
30,847
73,838
76,154
Non-interest income
Service charges and fees
1,706
2,268
5,097
6,431
Debit card income
2,491
2,205
6,735
6,129
Mortgage banking
877
820
2,298
1,699
Increase in value of bank-owned life insurance
489
1,452
1,494
Net gain (loss) from securities transactions
17
922
768
1,929
2,577
Total non-interest income
6,485
6,572
17,523
18,347
Non-interest expense
Salaries and employee benefits
13,877
13,039
40,076
40,204
Net occupancy and equipment
2,224
2,177
6,578
6,332
Data processing
2,817
2,673
8,243
7,436
Professional fees
991
3,187
3,375
Advertising and business development
598
806
1,697
2,174
Telecommunications
486
523
1,363
1,593
FDIC insurance
360
111
1,291
1,119
Courier and postage
366
352
1,103
1,020
Free nationwide ATM cost
439
459
1,186
1,240
Amortization of core deposit intangibles
1,030
784
2,806
2,348
Loan expense
107
165
628
608
Other real estate owned
133
(88
710
326
Merger expenses
915
Goodwill impairment
104,831
2,690
2,231
6,831
6,099
Total non-interest expense
130,835
24,223
180,530
74,789
Income (loss) before income taxes
(93,058
13,196
(89,169
19,712
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(2,653
2,790
(1,711
4,147
Net income (loss) and net income (loss) allocable to common stockholders
(90,405
10,406
(87,458
15,565
Basic earnings (loss) per share
(6.01
0.67
(5.75
0.99
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
0.66
0.98
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Net income (loss)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized holding gain (loss) arising during the period on
available-for-sale securities
(1,843
952
2,321
5,240
Unrealized holding gain arising from the transfer of
held-to-maturity securities to available-for-sale
24,848
Amortization of unrealized loss on held-to-maturity securities
620
209
988
714
Total other comprehensive income
23,625
1,161
28,157
5,954
Tax effect
(5,941
(293
(7,080
(1,510
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
17,684
868
21,077
4,444
Comprehensive income (loss)
(72,721
11,274
(66,381
20,009
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For the Three Months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share data)
Common Stock
Additional
Accumulated
Employee
Total
Shares
Outstanding
Amount
Paid-In
Capital
Retained
Earnings
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Stock
Loans
Treasury
Stockholders’
Equity
Balance at July 1, 2019
15,563,873
173
381,133
105,337
(1,291
(83
(26,863
458,406
Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss),
net of tax effects
Stock-based compensation
617
Common stock issued under
stock-based incentive plan
450
1
employee stock purchase plan
19,221
Repayment on employee stock loans
Treasury stock purchases
(143,210
(3,659
Balance at September 30, 2019
15,440,334
382,155
115,743
(423
467,050
Balance at July 1, 2020
15,218,301
384,955
128,704
3,390
(37,414
479,766
812
Common stock issued upon
exercise of stock options
500
380
17,829
242
(383,523
(5,935
Balance at September 30, 2020
14,853,487
For the Nine Months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019
Income (loss)
Balance at January 1, 2019
15,793,095
379,085
101,326
(4,867
(121
(19,655
455,941
9,104
2,349
17,502
316
22,428
44
(421,016
(10,867
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle from
implementation of ASU 2017-08
(1,148
Balance at January 1, 2020
15,444,434
17,703
2,670
1,150
20
34,591
34,593
596
34
(678,984
(12,827
9
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Cash flows from operating activities
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation
2,780
2,637
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use asset
462
465
Amortization of cloud computing implementation costs
81
73
Net (accretion) amortization of purchase accounting adjustments
(1,627
(3,639
Amortization (accretion) of premiums and discounts on securities
4,406
4,315
Amortization of intangibles
2,843
2,385
Deferred income taxes
(5,015
(383
Federal Home Loan Bank stock dividends
(585
(704
Loss (gain) on sales and valuation adjustments on other real estate owned
120
(143
Change in unrealized loss (gain) on equity securities
(12
(17
Loss (gain) on disposal of premises and equipment
(10
Loss (gain) on sale of foreclosed assets
280
11
Loss (gain) on sales of loans
(1,895
(1,405
Originations of loans held for sale
(87,429
(71,483
Proceeds from the sale of loans held for sale
85,780
67,076
Increase in the value of bank-owned life insurance
(1,452
(1,494
Change in fair value of derivatives recognized in earnings
411
502
Payments on operating lease payable
(544
(583
Net change in:
(2,371
394
Other assets
(5,729
(3,104
2,627
760
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
36,430
30,866
Cash flows from (to) investing activities
Purchases of available-for-sale securities
(91,495
Purchases of held-to-maturity securities
(2,754
(106,019
Proceeds from sales, calls, pay-downs and maturities of available-for-sale securities
73,588
20,096
Proceeds from calls, pay-downs and maturities of held-to-maturity securities
156,963
86,565
Net change in interest-bearing time deposits in other banks
1,999
Net change in loans
(172,154
(26,499
Capitalized construction cost of other real estate owned
(62
(56
Purchase of premises and equipment
(6,388
(6,020
Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment
16
Proceeds from sale of foreclosed assets
1,991
312
Net redemption (purchase) of Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve
Bank stock
(823
(1,792
Proceeds from sale of other real estate owned
3,947
1,331
Net cash received from acquisition of MidFirst locations
85,360
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(35,172
54,782
Cash flows from (to) financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in deposits
70,019
(115,208
Net change in federal funds purchased and retail repurchase agreements
10,587
(9,416
Net borrowings (payments) on Federal Home Loan Bank line of credit
(157,223
27,453
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank term advances
253,000
Principal payments on Federal Home Loan Bank term advances
(252,273
(2,240
Proceeds from Federal Reserve Bank discount window
62,000
Principal payments on Federal Reserve Bank discount window
(62,000
Proceeds from bank stock loan
38,354
7,208
Principal payments on bank stock loan
(47,344
(7,888
Principal payments on employee stock loans
Proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options
317
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan
Proceeds from subordinated notes
75,000
Debt issuance cost
(2,295
Purchase of treasury stock
Net change in contractual obligations
(358
(221
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(24,710
(110,413
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
(23,452
(24,765
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
192,818
Ending cash and cash equivalents
168,053
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid
19,730
37,536
Income taxes paid, net of refunds
2,208
1,786
Supplemental noncash disclosures:
Other real estate owned acquired in settlement of loans
2,456
906
Other real estate owned transferred from premise and equipment
1,982
Operating leases recognized
3,546
Total fair value of assets acquired in purchase of MidFirst locations
13,246
Total fair value of liabilities acquired in purchase of MidFirst locations
98,606
CONDENSED NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2020
NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Equity Bancshares, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiaries, EBAC, LLC and Equity Bank and Equity Bank’s wholly owned subsidiaries, EBHQ, LLC and SA Holdings, Inc. These entities are collectively referred to as the “Company”. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The accompanying unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with guidance provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial information. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the opinion of management, the interim statements reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company on a consolidated basis and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. These financial statements and the accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2020. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020, or any other period.
Reclassifications
Some items in prior financial statements were reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Management determined the items reclassified are immaterial to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole and did not result in a change in equity or net income for the periods reported.
Risk and Uncertainties
The outbreak of COVID-19 has adversely impacted a broad range of industries in which the Company’s customers operate and could impair their ability to fulfill their financial obligations to the Company. The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 to be a global pandemic indicating that almost all public commerce and related business activities must be, to varying degrees, curtailed with the goal of decreasing the rate of new infections. The spread of the outbreak has caused significant disruptions in the U.S. economy and has disrupted banking and other financial activity in the areas in which the Company operates. While there has been no material impact to the Company’s employees to date, COVID-19 could also potentially create widespread business continuity issues for the Company.
Congress, the President, and the Federal Reserve have taken several actions designed to cushion the economic fallout. Most notably, the CARES Act was signed into law at the end of March 2020 as a $2 trillion legislative package. The goal of the CARES Act is to prevent a severe economic downturn through various measures, including direct financial aid to American families and economic stimulus to significantly impacted industry sectors. The package also includes extensive emergency funding for hospitals and medical providers. In addition to the general impact of COVID-19, certain provisions of the CARES Act as well as other recent legislative and regulatory relief efforts are expected to have a material impact on the Company’s operations.
The Company’s business is dependent upon the willingness and ability of its employees and customers to conduct banking and other financial transactions. If the global response to contain COVID-19 is unsuccessful, the Company could experience a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. While it is not possible to know the full universe or extent that the impact of COVID-19, and resulting measures to curtail its spread, will have on the Company’s operations, the Company is disclosing potentially material items of which it is aware.
Financial position and results of operations
The Company’s interest income and fees could be reduced due to COVID-19. In keeping with guidance from regulators, the Company is actively working with COVID-19 affected borrowers to defer their payments, interest, and fees. While interest and fees will still accrue to income, through normal GAAP accounting, should eventual credit losses on these deferred payments emerge, interest income and fees accrued would need to be reversed. In such a scenario, interest income in future periods could be negatively impacted. At this time, the Company is unable to project the materiality of such an impact but recognizes the breadth of the economic impact may affect its borrowers’ ability to repay in future periods.
Capital and liquidity
As of September 30, 2020, all our capital ratios, and our subsidiary bank’s capital ratios, were in excess of regulatory requirements. While we are currently classified as well capitalized, an extended economic recession brought about by COVID-19 could adversely impact our reported and regulatory capital ratios by further credit losses. The Company relies on cash on hand as well as dividends from its subsidiary bank to service its debt. If the Company’s subsidiary bank’s capital deteriorates such that it is unable to pay dividends to the Company for an extended period of time, the Company may not be able to service its debt.
The Company maintains access to multiple sources of liquidity. Wholesale funding markets have remained open to us, but rates for short term funding have historically been volatile. If funding costs are elevated for an extended period of time, it could have an adverse effect on the Company’s net interest margin. If an extended recession caused large numbers of the Company’s deposit customers to withdraw their funds, the Company might become more reliant on volatile or more expensive sources of funding.
Asset valuation
Currently, the Company does not expect COVID-19 to affect its ability to account timely for the assets on its balance sheet; however, this could change in future periods. While certain valuation assumptions and judgments will change to account for pandemic-related circumstances such as widening credit spreads, the Company does not anticipate significant changes in methodology used to determine the fair value of assets measured in accordance with GAAP.
At September 30, 2020, the Company performed a quantitative analysis to assess goodwill for impairment of Equity Bancshares, Inc., the sole reporting unit. Consideration was given to the on-going economic market disruption, the movement of the Company’s stock price in relation to other bank indexes and the length of time that the market value of the reporting unit has been below its book value as triggering events and completed a quantitative analysis to assess whether or not goodwill was impaired. This analysis determined that goodwill was impaired and subsequently the Company booked a non-cash impairment charge of $104,831 to goodwill on September 30, 2020.
The determination of the fair value of the reporting unit incorporates assumptions that marketplace participants would use in their estimates of fair value in a change in control transaction, as prescribed by ASC Topic 820. To arrive at a conclusion of fair value, we utilized both the income approach and the market approach and then applied weighting factors to each approach. Weighting factors represent our best business judgement of the weightings a market participant would utilize in arriving at fair value of the reporting unit. In performing the analysis, Company management made numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance, reporting unit business performance, economic and market conditions and various other matters, many of which require significant management judgement. Projections related to business unit performance over the next five years assumed an economic downturn over a 12-month time horizon subsequently returning to conservative positive growth rates in loan and deposits after that time period. The analysis performed and the assumptions that are incorporated into the analysis reflect the best currently available estimates and judgements as to the expected future financial performance of the reporting unit. At September 30, 2020, the Company had goodwill of $31,601 which could be at risk of further impairment with further declines in performance, stock price or market conditions for bank stocks.
Processes, controls and business continuity plan
As of September 30, 2020, all the Company’s bank locations were open to customers with social distancing measures in place, allowing full access for customer use. Customers are served by appointment, calling ahead, curbside and drive-through but offered full lobby access during normal hours. The Company does not anticipate incurring additional material cost related to its continued deployment of the preparedness plan and no material operational or internal control challenges or risks have been identified to date. The Company does not anticipate significant challenges to its ability to maintain its systems and controls in light of the measures the Company has taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Company has not experienced any material resource constraints through the implementation of its business continuity plans.
13
Lending operations and accommodations to borrowers
In keeping with regulatory guidance to work with borrowers during this unprecedented situation and as outlined in the CARES Act, the Company has worked with customers affected by COVID-19 and offered short-term assistance in accordance with regulatory guidelines. Commercial borrowers needing assistance have been offered either a 90-day principal and interest deferral or a 180-day principal only deferral. Commercial borrowers that originally requested a 90-day deferral can request an additional 90-day deferral by providing their previous year financial information, current year interim financial information, projections for the balance of the calendar year and information related to their cash reserves to show a need for the additional 90-day deferral. Consumers needing assistance have been offered a 90-day principal and interest deferral with an option to request an additional 90-day deferral. At the end of the deferral period, the interest will be capitalized and the loan re-amortized generally causing a minimal increase to payments for most consumers. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had 68 remaining deferrals on outstanding loan balances of $41,228, with interest deferred of $306. In accordance with interagency guidance issued in March 2020, these short-term deferrals are not automatically considered troubled debt restructurings, are not reflected in past due loan balances and have not been reported as a classified loan solely due to a deferral. These deferred loans are subject to ongoing monitoring and will be downgraded or placed on nonaccrual if a noted weakness exists.
The following table lists loans by category that have been deferred under the payment deferral program at September 30, 2020.
Commercial real estate
4,965
Commercial and industrial
25,746
Residential real estate
9,752
Agricultural real estate
643
Consumer
122
Total loans
41,228
With the passage of the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), administered by the Small Business Administration (“SBA”), the Company actively participated in assisting its customers with applications for resources through the program. PPP loans originated prior to June 5, 2020, have a two-year term and originated on or after June 5, 2020, have a five-year term, unless the lender and borrower agree differently. All PPP loans earn interest at 1.0%. As of September 30, 2020, there were 3,221 loans with an outstanding balance of $367,844 that were originated under the PPP program. It is the Company’s understanding that loans funded through the PPP program are fully guaranteed by the U.S. government. Should those circumstances change, the Company could be required to establish additional allowance for loan loss through additional provision for loan loss expense charged to earnings.
Credit
As a result of the current economic environment caused by the COVID-19 virus, the Company is engaging in frequent communication with borrowers to better understand their situation and the challenges faced, allowing the Company to respond proactively as needs and issues arise. Should economic conditions worsen, the Company could experience further increases in its required allowance for loan losses and record additional provision for loan losses. It is possible that the Company’s asset quality measures could worsen at future measurement periods if the effects of COVID-19 are prolonged.
Many industries have and will continue to experience adverse impacts as a result of COVID-19. Our exposure from outstanding loans and commitments to industries which we consider a higher risk totaled approximately $285,943 in hospitality and $65,088 in aircraft manufacturing.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, which will change how the Company measures credit losses for most of its financial assets. This guidance is applicable to loans held for investment, off-balance-sheet credit exposures, such as loan commitments and standby letters of credit, and held-to-maturity investment securities. The Company is required to use a new forward-looking current expected credit losses (CECL) model that is anticipated to result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. For available-for-sale securities with unrealized losses, the Company will measure credit losses in a manner similar to current practice but will recognize those credit losses as allowances rather than reductions in the amortized cost of the securities. In addition, the ASU requires significantly more disclosure including information about credit quality by year of origination for most loans. The amendments will be applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. The ASU was effective for the Company beginning in the
14
first quarter of 2020; however, the CARES Act, issued in 2020, provided temporary relief related to the implementation of this accounting guidance until the earlier of the date on which the national emergency concerning the COVID-19 virus terminates or December 31, 2020. The Company has elected to utilize this relief and has calculated the allowance for loan losses and the resulting provision for loan losses using the prior incurred loss method at September 30, 2020. When the temporary relief expires the implementation of this accounting guidance is expected to be applied retroactively back to January 1, 2020. The Company completed the process of developing credit models and model implementation during the fourth quarter of 2019 and is in the final stages of implementing the internal controls, accounting, financial reporting and governance processes to comply with the new guidance. The adoption of CECL is expected to result in an increase to our total allowance for credit losses (ACL) on loans held for investment and will require a reclassification of purchased credit-impaired discount from loans to the allowance for credit losses. The expected increase in the ACL is largely attributable to the longer duration of the real estate portfolios. The ultimate impact to the Company’s financial condition and results of operations of the ASU, at both adoption and each subsequent reporting period, is highly dependent on credit quality, macroeconomic forecasts and conditions, the composition of our loan portfolio and other management judgements.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other, which has simplified the subsequent measurement of goodwill. Goodwill and other intangibles must be assessed for impairment annually. If an entity’s assessment determines that the fair value of an entity is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill, previously, the measurement of goodwill impairment required that the entity’s identifiable net assets be valued following procedures similar to determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Under ASU 2017-04, goodwill impairment is measured to the extent that the carrying amount of an entity exceeds its fair value. The amendments in this update are effective for the Company’s annual goodwill impairment tests beginning in 2020. The amendments are applied on a prospective basis and the impact from the accounting guidance is highly dependent on changes in financial markets and future events. The Company will monitor indicators of goodwill impairment on a quarterly basis and will record impairment when it is determined to have occurred.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements by requiring that Level 3 fair value disclosures include the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop those fair value measurements. For certain unobservable inputs, an entity may disclose other quantitative information in lieu of the weighted average if the entity determines that other quantitative information would be a more reasonable and rational method to reflect the distribution of unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2020, and did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statement disclosures.
In March 2020, various regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, (“the agencies”) issued an interagency statement on loan modifications and reporting for financial institutions working with customers affected by the Coronavirus. The interagency statement was effective immediately and impacted accounting for loan modifications. This interagency statement was later revised in April 2020 to clarify the interaction between the original interagency statement and section 4013 of the CARES Act, as well as the agencies’ views on consumer protection considerations. Under Accounting Standards Codification 310-40, Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors, (“ASC 310-40”), a restructuring of debt constitutes a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) if the creditor, for economic or legal reasons related to the debtor’s financial difficulties, grants a concession to the debtor that it would not otherwise consider. The agencies confirmed with the staff of the FASB that short-term modifications made on a good faith basis in response to COVID-19 to borrowers who were current prior to any relief, are not to be considered TDRs. This includes short-term (e.g., six months) modifications such as payment deferrals, fee waivers, extensions of repayment terms, or other delays in payment that are insignificant. Borrowers considered current are those that are less than 30 days past due on their contractual payments at the time a modification program is implemented. This interagency guidance is expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements; however, this impact cannot be quantified at this time.
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. ASU 2020-04 provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The transactions primarily include contract modifications; hedging relationships; and sale or transfer of debt securities classified as held-to-maturity. The guidance was effective immediately for the Company and the amendments may be applied prospectively through December 31, 2022. The Company is in the process of evaluating the guidance, and its effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows has not yet been determined.
In October 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-08, Codification Improvements to Subtopic 310-20, Receivables-Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs. ASU 2020-08 clarifies that the Company should reevaluate whether a callable debt security is within the scope of the guidance of premium amortization of purchased callable debt securities, at each reporting date. If there is no remaining premium or if there are no further call dates the Company shall reset the effective yield using the payment terms of the debt security. ASU 2020-08 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020 and early application is not permitted. The guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
15
NOTE 2 – SECURITIES
The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale securities and the related gross unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are listed below.
Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Losses
Fair
Value
U.S. Government-sponsored entities
995
1,029
Mortgage-backed securities
Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities
581,265
23,605
604,870
Private label residential mortgage-backed securities
21,165
(81
21,084
Corporate
44,508
514
(158
44,864
Small Business Administration loan pools
1,227
49
1,276
State and political subdivisions
121,262
4,245
(54
125,453
770,422
28,447
December 31, 2019
141,082
1,261
(276
The amortized cost and fair value of held-to-maturity securities and the related gross unrecognized gains and losses are listed in the following table.
Unrecognized
Held-to-maturity securities
23
(1
2,013
593,236
11,272
(536
603,972
22,992
503
23,495
1,478
1,490
149,362
3,604
(25
152,941
15,414
(562
783,911
The tables above present unrecognized gains and losses on held-to-maturity securities since date of designation. During the third quarter of 2020, all held-to-maturity securities were moved to available-for-sale to better manage the Company’s assets and liabilities and to facilitate opportunities to take advantage of changes in the yield curve or other market factors.
The fair value and amortized cost of debt securities at September 30, 2020, by contractual maturity, is shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Securities not due at a single maturity date, primarily mortgage-backed securities, are shown separately.
Available-for-Sale
Within one year
8,244
8,323
One to five years
27,681
28,504
Five to ten years
64,849
66,478
After ten years
88,383
90,401
Total debt securities
The carrying value of securities pledged as collateral, to secure public deposits and for other purposes, was approximately $717,770 at September 30, 2020, and $780,038 at December 31, 2019.
The following tables show gross unrealized losses and fair value, aggregated by investment category, and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019.
Less Than 12 Months
12 Months or More
Loss
18,515
11,795
3,702
(30
530
(24
4,232
Total temporarily impaired securities
34,012
(269
34,542
2,017
32,466
(273
34,483
999
26,246
(51
96,987
(639
123,233
(690
811
(14
1,771
(4
1,354
(21
3,125
28,828
(69
99,340
(661
128,168
(730
The tables above present unrealized losses on held-to-maturity securities since the date of purchase, independent of the impact associated with changes in cost basis upon transfer from the available-for-sale designation to the held-to-maturity designation. As of September 30, 2020, the Company held 38 available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position.
Unrealized losses on securities have not been recognized into income because the security issuers are of high credit quality, management does not intend to sell, it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the securities prior to their
anticipated recovery and the decline in fair value is largely due to changes in interest rates. The fair value is expected to recover as the securities approach maturity.
There were no proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, or 2019.
NOTE 3 – LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
The following table lists categories of loans at September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019.
1,188,329
1,178,427
857,244
571,647
402,242
503,439
127,349
141,868
67,465
68,378
Agricultural
83,084
92,893
2,725,713
2,556,652
Allowance for loan losses
(34,087
(12,232
Net loans
Included in the commercial and industrial loan balances at September 30, 2020, are $376,040 of loans that were originated under the SBA PPP program.
From time to time, the Company has purchased pools of residential real estate loans originated by other financial institutions to hold for investment with the intent to diversify the residential real estate portfolio. During the first nine months of 2020, the Company purchased one pool of residential real estate loans totaling $752. As of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, residential real estate loans include $96,917 and $144,554 of purchased residential real estate loans.
The unamortized discount of merger purchase accounting adjustments related to non-purchase credit impaired loans included in the loan totals above are $5,945 with related loans of $402,250 at September 30, 2020, and $8,287 with related loans of $624,747 at December 31, 2019.
Overdraft deposit accounts are reclassified and included in consumer loans above. These accounts totaled $674 at September 30, 2020, and $815 at December 31, 2019.
The following tables present the activity in the allowance for loan losses by class for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2020, and 2019.
Commercial
Real Estate
and
Industrial
Residential
Real
Estate
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning balance
9,467
10,168
5,315
975
7,343
810
34,078
(218
1,361
(591
468
(47
Loans charged-off
(308
(153
(167
(244
(875
Recoveries
22
33
69
Total ending allowance balance
8,942
11,529
4,593
1,281
6,974
34,087
September 30, 2019
4,712
7,948
2,908
525
1,344
340
17,777
396
(324
131
241
186
(506
(18
(355
(9
(313
(5
(1,206
47
38
625
4,649
7,996
2,679
685
1,345
521
17,875
18
The following tables present the activity in the allowance for loan losses by class for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, and 2019.
3,919
3,061
2,676
1,422
546
12,232
5,189
8,711
2,203
859
6,076
217
(367
(259
(312
(191
(697
(1,827
201
26
427
4,662
2,707
2,320
391
1,070
304
11,454
981
13,979
805
299
973
262
(1,114
(8,756
(934
(994
(11,888
66
488
296
1,010
The following tables present the recorded investment in loans and the balance in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio and class based on impairment method as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019.
Individually evaluated for impairment
910
4,639
536
776
159
7,090
Collectively evaluated for impairment
7,600
5,571
3,930
149
6,904
491
24,645
Purchased credit impaired loans
432
1,319
127
356
118
2,352
Loan Balance:
5,017
28,434
6,378
3,111
259
480
43,679
1,176,817
824,265
393,129
120,346
67,186
80,512
2,662,255
6,495
4,545
2,735
3,892
2,092
19,779
281
199
303
56
39
57
935
3,581
2,848
1,383
11,017
21
93
95
4,375
16,335
7,358
584
381
518
29,551
1,166,106
550,201
493,309
135,776
67,972
90,347
2,503,711
7,946
5,111
2,772
5,508
2,028
23,390
19
The following table presents information related to impaired loans, excluding purchased credit impaired loans which have not deteriorated since acquisition, by class of loans as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019. The recorded investment in loans excludes accrued interest receivable due to immateriality.
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
Recorded
Investment
Allowance for
Loan Losses
Allocated
With no related allowance recorded:
2,166
2,150
19,970
13,857
20,152
14,832
4,506
4,235
4,395
4,324
1,610
1,533
Subtotal
24,476
18,092
28,323
22,839
With an allowance recorded:
8,006
6,452
1,342
3,469
2,749
338
18,913
18,130
5,958
1,845
1,640
213
3,346
2,990
663
3,395
3,244
324
7,247
5,812
1,132
1,142
1,015
430
1,497
277
1,619
1,359
152
39,290
34,653
9,442
11,900
10,388
1,215
63,766
52,745
40,223
33,227
The tables below present average recorded investment and interest income related to impaired loans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, and 2019. Interest income recognized in the following table was substantially recognized on the cash basis. The recorded investment in loans excludes accrued interest receivable due to immateriality.
As of and for the three months ended
Average
Interest
Income
Recognized
35
3,327
808
4,262
7,800
1,750
161
18,137
13,861
6,324
7,032
15,483
190
21,066
3,586
3,891
5,356
28
1,296
271
728
1,435
1,128
32,455
240
35,141
50,592
289
49,002
As of and for the nine months ended
556
36
7,427
82
14,229
2,064
4,299
4,161
566
1,804
31
300
19,650
15,787
137
5,667
7,140
74
9,507
362
18,528
3,573
6,965
3,534
907
772
1,401
24,000
440
34,975
43,650
50,762
264
The following tables present the aging of the recorded investment in past due loans as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, by portfolio and class of loans.
30 - 59
Days
Past Due
60 - 89
Greater
Than
90 Days
Past
Due Still On
Accrual
Nonaccrual
Loans Not
579
158
1,181,140
254
203
31,987
824,800
605
2,720
248
7,225
391,444
121,537
178
66,950
82,004
1,686
3,159
2,667,875
1,191
218
6,913
1,170,105
16,906
554,656
831
1,008
8,013
493,587
4,807
136,924
402
138
67,457
91,510
2,567
1,467
38,379
2,514,239
Credit Quality Indicators
The Company categorizes loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt, such as current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information and current economic trends, among other factors. The Company analyzes loans individually by classifying the loans as to credit risk. Consumer loans are considered pass credits unless downgraded due to payment status or reviewed as part of a larger credit relationship. Loans that participated in the short-term deferral program are not automatically considered classified solely due to a deferral, are subject to ongoing monitoring and will be downgraded or placed on nonaccrual if a noted weakness exists. The Company uses the following definitions for risk ratings.
Pass: Loans classified as pass include all loans that do not fall under one of the three following categories. These loans are considered unclassified.
Special Mention: Loans classified as special mention have a potential weakness that deserves management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or of the Company’s credit position at some future date. These loans are considered classified.
Substandard: Loans classified as substandard are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the institution will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. These loans are considered classified.
Doubtful: Loans classified as doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, highly questionable and improbable. These loans are considered classified.
The risk category of loans by class of loans is as follows as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019.
Unclassified
Classified
1,180,611
7,718
814,402
42,842
395,017
119,977
7,372
67,206
81,317
1,767
2,658,530
67,183
1,167,101
11,326
539,877
31,770
495,418
8,021
132,065
9,803
67,997
88,607
4,286
2,491,065
65,587
Purchased Credit Impaired Loans
The Company has acquired loans, for which there was, at acquisition, evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination and it was probable, at acquisition, that all contractually required payments would not be collected. The table below lists recorded investments in purchased credit impaired loans as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019.
Contractually required principal payments
25,497
29,895
Discount
(5,718
(6,505
Recorded investment
The accretable yield associated with these loans was $2,756 and $3,127 as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019. The
interest income recognized on these loans for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2020, and 2019, was $402 and $1,479. The interest income recognized on these loans for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, and 2019, was $1,263 and $2,011. For the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, there was a provision for loan losses of $54 and $2,072 recorded for these loans. For the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019, there was a provision for loan losses of $28 and $191 recorded for these loans.
Troubled Debt Restructurings
The Company had troubled debt restructurings with an amortized cost of $15,045 and $15,508 as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019. The Company had allocated $367 of allowance for these loans at September 30, 2020. At December 31, 2019, there was no allowance for these loans. At September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, there were no commitments to lend additional amounts on these loans.
There were no loan modifications considered to be troubled debt restructurings that occurred during the three or nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, or 2019.
No restructured loans that were modified within the twelve months preceding September 30, 2020, have subsequently had a payment default. There were no troubled debt restructurings within the twelve months preceding September 30, 2019. Default is determined at 90 or more days past due, charge-off or foreclosure.
As of September 30, 2020, we had 63 deferrals of either the full loan payment or the principal component of the loan payment on outstanding loan balances of $40,232 in connection with the COVID-19 relief provided by the CARES Act. These deferrals were no more than 180 days in duration and were not considered troubled debt restructurings based on interagency guidance issued in March 2020.
NOTE 4 – DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company is exposed to interest-rate risk primarily from the effect of interest rate changes on its interest-earning assets and its sources of funding these assets. The Company will periodically enter into interest rate swaps or interest rate caps/floors to manage certain interest rate risk exposure.
Interest Rate Swaps Designated as Fair Value Hedges
The Company periodically enters into interest rate swaps to hedge the fair value of certain commercial real estate loans. These transactions are designated as fair value hedges. In this type of transaction, the Company typically receives from the counterparty a variable-rate cash flow based on the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a spread to this index and pays a fixed-rate cash flow equal to the customer loan rate. At September 30, 2020, the portfolio of interest rate swaps had a weighted average maturity of 6.5 years, a weighted average pay rate of 5.19% and a weighted average rate received of 3.22%. At December 31, 2019, the portfolio of interest rate swaps had a weighted average maturity of 7.3 years, a weighted average pay rate of 5.19% and a weighted average rate received of 4.78%.
Stand-Alone Derivatives
The Company periodically enters into interest rate swaps with our borrowers and simultaneously enters into swaps with a counterparty with offsetting terms for the purpose of providing our borrowers long-term fixed rate loans. Neither swap is designated as a hedge and both are marked to market through earnings. At September 30, 2020, this portfolio of interest rate swaps had a weighted average maturity of 8.1 years, weighted average pay rate of 4.14% and a weighted average rate received of 4.14%. At December 31, 2019, this portfolio of interest rate swaps had a weighted average maturity of 8.8 years, weighted average pay rate of 4.92% and weighted average rate received of 4.92%.
In 2009, the Company purchased an interest rate cap derivative to assist with interest-rate risk management. This was not designated as a hedging instrument but rather as a stand-alone derivative. During 2019, the interest rate cap derivative matured.
Reconciliation of Derivative Fair Values and Gains/(Losses)
The notional amount of a derivative contract is a factor in determining periodic interest payments or cash flows received or paid. The notional amount of derivatives serves as a level of involvement in various types of derivatives. The notional amount does not represent the Company’s overall exposure to credit or market risk, generally, the exposure is significantly smaller.
The following table shows the notional balances and fair values (including net accrued interest) of the derivatives outstanding by derivative type at September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019.
Notional
Derivative
Assets
Liabilities
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate swaps
5,640
561
5,797
30
177
Total derivatives designated as hedging relationships
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
120,015
7,937
8,738
114,571
3,505
3,899
Interest rate caps/floors
Total derivatives not designated as hedging
instruments
125,655
9,299
120,368
3,535
4,076
Cash collateral
(9,401
(4,186
Netting adjustments
102
182
Net amount presented in Balance Sheet
8,039
3,717
The table below lists designated and qualifying hedged items in fair value hedges at September 30, 2020.
Carrying Amount
Hedging Fair Value Adjustment
Fair Value Adjustments on Discontinued Hedges
Commercial real estate loans
555
The Company reports hedging derivative gains/(losses) as adjustments to loan interest income along with the related net interest settlements and the derivative gains/(losses) and net interest settlements for economic derivatives are reported in other income. For the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, and 2019, the Company recorded net gains/(losses) on derivatives and hedging activities.
Total net gain (loss) related to fair value hedges
Economic hedges:
(180
(407
(501
Total net gains (losses) related to derivatives not
designated as hedging instruments
(502
Net gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities
The following table shows the recorded net gains (losses) on derivatives and the related hedged items in fair value hedging relationships and the impact of those derivatives on the Company’s net interest income for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2020, and 2019.
Gain/(Loss)
on Derivatives
on Hedged
Items
Net Fair Value
Hedge
Effect of
Derivatives on
Net Interest
27
(27
(28
24
307
(307
The following table shows the recorded net gains (losses) on derivatives and the related hedged items in fair value hedging relationships and the impact of those derivatives on the Company’s net interest income for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, and 2019.
(409
409
(61
(489
NOTE 5 – LEASE OBLIGATIONS
Right-of-use asset and lease obligations by type of property for the periods ended September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, are listed below.
Operating Leases
Right-of-Use
Asset
Lease
Liability
Weighted
Lease Term
in Years
Rate
Land and building leases
3,691
3,655
16.6
2.98
%
Total operating leases
4,153
4,112
16.0
2.95
Operating lease costs for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, and 2019, are listed below.
Operating lease cost
184
185
549
540
Short-term lease cost
Variable lease cost
Total operating lease cost
187
197
571
575
There were no sales and leaseback transactions, leverage leases, lease transactions with related parties or leases that had not yet commenced during the three or nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020.
A maturity analysis of operating lease liabilities and reconciliation of the undiscounted cash flows to the total operating lease liability is listed below.
Lease Payments
Due in one year or less
492
Due after one year through two years
504
Due after two years through three years
434
Due after three years through four years
Due after four years through five years
216
Thereafter
2,886
Total undiscounted cash flows
4,772
Discount on cash flows
(1,117
Total operating lease liability
NOTE 6 – BORROWINGS
Federal funds purchased and retail repurchase agreements as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, are listed below.
Federal funds purchased
Retail repurchase agreements
The Company has available federal funds lines of credit with its correspondent banks.
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (retail repurchase agreements) consist of obligations of the Company to other parties. The obligations are secured by residential mortgage-backed securities held by the Company with a fair value of $51,087 and $40,412 at September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019. The agreements are on a day-to-day basis and can be terminated on demand.
Year-to-date average daily balance during the period
44,548
42,459
Maximum month-end balance year-to-date
53,543
45,575
Weighted average interest rate at period-end
0.21
0.40
Federal Home Loan Bank advances as of September 30, 2020, are listed below.
Weighted Average Rate
Weighted Average Term in Years
Federal Home Loan Bank line of credit advances
154,000
0.33
Federal Home Loan Bank fixed-rate term advances
13,821
2.19
1.9
Total principal outstanding
167,821
Merger purchase accounting adjustment
41
Total Federal Home Loan Bank advances
Federal Home Loan Bank advances as of December 31, 2019, are listed below.
311,223
1.79
13,095
2.80
2.7
324,318
55
The advances, Mortgage Partnership Finance credit enhancement obligations and letters of credit were collateralized by certain qualifying loans totaling $785,177 and $811,394 at September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019. Based on this collateral and the Company’s holdings of Federal Home Loan Bank stock, the Company was eligible to borrow an additional $568,848 and $448,278 at September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019.
At September 30, 2020, to support the $275,635 borrowing capacity from the Federal Reserve Bank, the Company has pledged loans with an outstanding balance of $282,617 and securities with a fair value of $66,695. No borrowings were secured from this facility at periods ended September 30, 2020, or 2019.
On March 13, 2017, the Company entered into an agreement with an unaffiliated financial institution that provided for a maximum borrowing facility of $30,000, secured by the Company’s stock in Equity Bank. The borrowing facility was amended on March 11, 2019, to provide a maximum borrowing facility of $40,000 and extend the maturity to May 15, 2020. The loan was extended to August 15, 2020, and subsequently renewed and amended on June 30, 2020, with a maturity date of August 15, 2021. Each draw of funds on the facility will create a separate note that is repayable over a term of five years. Each note will bear interest at the greater of a variable interest rate equal to the prime rate published in the “Money Rates” section of The Wall Street Journal (or any generally recognized successor), floating daily, or a floor of 3.50%. Accrued interest and principal payments will be due quarterly with one final payment of unpaid principal and interest due at the end of the five-year term of each separate note. The Company is also required to pay an unused commitment fee in an amount equal to 20 basis points per annum on the unused portion of the maximum borrowing facility.
On September 30, 2020, there was no outstanding principal balance on the bank stock loan.
Bank stock loan advances as of December 31, 2019, are listed below.
4.75
3.7
The terms of the borrowing facility require the Company and Equity Bank to maintain minimum capital ratios, and other covenants. In the event of default, the lender has the option to declare all outstanding balances immediately due. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the lender has granted the Company a waiver with reference to the return on assets ratio covenant contained within our loan contract. The Company was in compliance with all other terms of the borrowing facility.
Subordinated debt as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, are listed below.
Subordinated debentures
14,793
Subordinated notes
72,744
In conjunction with prior acquisitions, the Company assumed certain subordinated debentures owed to special purpose unconsolidated subsidiaries that are controlled by the Company. These subordinated debentures have the same terms as the trust preferred securities issued by the special purpose unconsolidated subsidiaries.
FCB Capital Trust II (“CTII”): The trust preferred securities issued by CTII accrue and pay distributions quarterly at three-month LIBOR plus 2.00% on the stated liquidation amount of the trust securities. These trust preferred securities are mandatorily redeemable upon maturity on April 15, 2035, or upon earlier redemption.
FCB Capital Trust III (“CTIII”): The trust preferred securities issued by CTIII accrue and pay distributions quarterly at three-month LIBOR plus 1.89% on the stated liquidation amount of the trust securities. These trust preferred securities are mandatorily redeemable upon maturity on June 15, 2037, or upon earlier redemption.
Community First (AR) Statutory Trust I (“CFSTI”): The trust preferred securities issued by CFSTI accrue and pay distributions quarterly at three-month LIBOR plus 3.25% on the stated liquidation amount of the trust securities. These trust preferred securities are mandatorily redeemable upon maturity on December 26, 2032, or upon earlier redemption.
Subordinated debentures as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, are listed below.
CTII subordinated debentures
10,310
2.24
14.5
CTIII subordinated debentures
5,155
2.14
16.7
CFSTI subordinated debentures
3.48
12.2
Total contractual balance
20,620
Fair market value adjustments
(5,827
Total subordinated debentures
3.99
15.3
3.78
17.5
5.20
13.0
(6,059
On June 29, 2020, the Company entered into Subordinated Note Purchase Agreements with certain qualified institutional buyers and institutional accredited investors pursuant to which the Company issued and sold $42,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 7.00% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated notes due 2030. The notes were issued under an Indenture, dated as of June 29, 2020 (the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and UMB Bank, N.A., as trustee. The notes will mature on June 30, 2030. From June 29, 2020, through June 29, 2025, the Company will pay interest on the notes semi-annually in arrears on June 30 and December 30 of each year, commencing on December 30, 2020, at a fixed interest rate of 7.00%. Beginning June 30, 2025, the notes convert to a floating interest rate, to be reset quarterly, equal to the then-current Three-Month Term SOFR, as defined in the Indenture, plus 688 basis points. Interest payments during the floating-rate period will be paid quarterly in arrears on March 30, June 30, September 30 and December 30 of each year, commencing on September 30, 2025. On July 23, 2020, the Company closed on an additional $33,000 of subordinated notes with the same terms as the June 29, 2020, issue.
Subordinated notes as of September 30, 2020, are listed below.
7.00
9.8
(2,256
Total subordinated notes
Future principal repayments
Future principal repayments of the September 30, 2020, outstanding balances are as follows.
Retail Repurchase Agreements
FHLB Advances
Subordinated Debentures
Subordinated Notes
159,357
205,652
2,357
2,107
1,643
95,620
309,736
NOTE 7 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock
The Company’s articles of incorporation provide for the issuance of 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. At September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, there was no preferred stock outstanding.
29
The Company’s articles of incorporation provide for the issuance of 45,000,000 shares of Class A voting common stock (“Class A common stock”) and 5,000,000 shares of Class B non-voting common stock (“Class B common stock”), both of which have a par value of $0.01 per share.
The following table presents shares that were issued and were held in treasury or were outstanding at September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019.
Class A common stock – issued
17,224,530
17,136,493
Class A common stock – held in treasury
(2,371,043
(1,692,059
Class A common stock – outstanding
Class B common stock – issued
234,903
Class B common stock – held in treasury
(234,903
Class B common stock – outstanding
On January 27, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Equity Bancshares, Inc. 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) and reserved 500,000 shares of common stock for issuance. The ESPP was approved by the Company’s stockholders on April 24, 2019. The ESPP enables eligible employees to purchase the Company’s common stock at a price per share equal to 85% of the lower of the fair market value of the common stock at the beginning or end of each offering period. The following table presents the offering periods and costs associated with this program.
Offering Period
Shares Purchased
Cost Per Share
Compensation Expense
February 15, 2019 to August 14, 2019
21.07
August 15, 2019 to February 14, 2020
16,764
21.11
63
February 15, 2020 to August 14, 2020
13.61
Treasury stock is stated at cost, determined by the first-in, first-out method.
On April 18, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 1,100,000 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock, from time to time, beginning April 29, 2019, and concluding October 30, 2020. The repurchase program did not obligate the Company to acquire a specific dollar amount or number of shares and it could be extended, modified or discontinued at any time without notice. Under this program, during the third quarter of 2020, the Company repurchased a total of 383,523 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock at a weighted average price paid of $15.48 per share. Since the inception of the repurchase program, the total authorized amount of 1,100,000 shares have been repurchased at a weighted average price paid of $21.54.
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
At September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consisted of (i) the after-tax effect of unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities and (ii) the after-tax effect of unamortized unrealized gains (losses) on securities transferred from the available-for-sale designation to the held-to-maturity designation.
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, are listed below.
Available-for-
Sale
Securities
Held-to-
Maturity
Net unrealized or unamortized gains (losses)
28,154
985
(988
(248
737
(740
NOTE 8 – REGULATORY MATTERS
Banks and bank holding companies (on a consolidated basis) are subject to regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Capital adequacy guidelines and, additionally for banks, prompt corrective action regulations, involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by regulators. Failure to meet capital requirements can initiate regulatory action. The final rules implementing the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s capital guidelines for U.S. banks (Basel III rules) became effective for the Company on January 1, 2015, and became fully phased in January 1, 2019. The Basel III rules require banks to maintain a Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.5%, a total Tier 1 capital ratio of 8%, a total capital ratio of 10% and a leverage ratio of 5% to be deemed “well capitalized” for purposes of certain rules and prompt corrective action requirements. The risk-based ratios include a “capital conservation buffer” of 2.5% which can limit certain activities of an institution, including payment of dividends, share repurchases and discretionary bonuses to executive officers, if its capital level is below the buffer amount. Management believes as of September 30, 2020, the Company and Bank meet all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.
Prompt corrective action regulations provide five classifications: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized, although these terms are not used to represent overall financial condition. If adequately capitalized, regulatory approval is required to accept brokered deposits. If undercapitalized, capital distributions are limited, as are asset growth and acquisitions, and capital restoration plans are required.
As of September 30, 2020, the most recent notifications from the federal regulatory agencies categorized Equity Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized, Equity Bank must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based, and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the table below. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed Equity Bank’s category.
The Company’s and Equity Bank’s capital amounts and ratios at September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, are presented in the table below. Ratios provided for Equity Bancshares, Inc. represent the ratios of the Company on a consolidated basis.
Actual
Minimum Required for
Capital Adequacy Under Basel III
To Be Well
Capitalized Under
Prompt Corrective
Provisions
Ratio
Total capital to risk weighted assets
Equity Bancshares, Inc.
454,222
17.35
274,873
10.50
N/A
Equity Bank
402,785
15.41
274,446
261,377
10.00
Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets
348,738
13.32
222,516
8.50
370,095
14.16
222,171
209,102
8.00
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets
333,945
12.76
183,249
182,964
169,895
6.50
Tier 1 leverage to average assets
8.76
159,167
4.00
9.31
158,967
198,709
5.00
352,853
12.59
294,341
348,951
12.47
293,917
279,921
340,621
12.15
238,276
336,719
12.03
237,933
223,937
326,060
11.63
196,227
195,945
181,949
9.02
151,072
8.92
150,943
188,679
Equity Bank is subject to certain restrictions on the amount of dividends that it may declare without prior regulatory approval.
32
NOTE 9 – EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
The following table presents earnings (loss) per share for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, and 2019.
Three months ended
Nine months ended
Basic:
Net income (loss) allocable to common stockholders
Weighted average common shares outstanding
15,040,386
15,513,969
15,210,856
15,677,972
Weighted average vested restricted stock units
1,584
Weighted average shares
15,040,407
15,514,042
15,211,901
15,679,556
Basic earnings (loss) per common share
Diluted:
Weighted average common shares outstanding for:
Basic earnings per common share
Dilutive effects of the assumed exercise of stock options
178,285
201,024
Dilutive effects of the assumed vesting of restricted stock units
15,711
16,025
Average shares and dilutive potential common shares
15,708,038
15,896,605
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share
Dilutive shares not included above due to the net loss in the period.
50,376
96,125
32,428
29,486
Dilutive effects of the assumed exercise of ESPP purchases
2,043
3,289
Total dilutive shares
84,847
128,900
Average shares not included in the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share because they were antidilutive are shown in the following table.
Stock options
483,181
347,528
408,300
315,522
Restricted stock units
226,139
141,693
181,344
2,197
Total antidilutive shares
709,320
489,221
589,644
317,719
NOTE 10 – FAIR VALUE
The Company uses fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to disclose the fair value of its financial instruments. Fair value is the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. For disclosure purposes, the Company groups its financial and non-financial assets and liabilities into three different levels based on the nature of the instrument and the availability and reliability of the information that is used to determine fair value. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair values are defined as follows.
Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.
Level 2: Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.
Level 1 inputs are considered to be the most transparent and reliable. The Company assumes the use of the principal market to conduct a transaction of each particular asset or liability being measured and then considers the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. Whenever possible, the Company first looks for quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets (Level 1 inputs) to value each asset or liability. However, when inputs from identical assets or liabilities on active markets are not available, the Company utilizes market observable data for similar assets and liabilities. The Company maximizes the use of observable inputs and limits the use of unobservable inputs to occasions when observable inputs are not available. The need to use unobservable inputs generally results from the lack of market liquidity of the actual financial instrument or of the underlying collateral. Although, in some instances, third party price indications may be available, limited trading activity can challenge the implied value of those quotations.
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of each instrument under the hierarchy.
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis
The fair values of securities available-for-sale and equity securities with readily determinable fair value are carried at fair value on a recurring basis. To the extent possible, observable quoted prices in an active market are used to determine fair value and, as such, these securities are classified as Level 1. For securities where quoted prices are not available, fair values are calculated based on market prices of similar securities, generally determined by matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities (Level 2 inputs). The Company’s available-for-sale securities, including U.S. Government sponsored entity securities, residential mortgage-backed securities (all of which are issued or guaranteed by government sponsored agencies), corporate securities, Small Business Administration securities, and State and Political Subdivision securities are classified as Level 2.
The fair values of derivatives are determined based on a valuation pricing model using readily available observable market parameters such as interest rate yield curves (Level 2 inputs) adjusted for credit risk attributable to the seller of the interest rate derivative. Cash collateral received from or delivered to a derivative counterparty is classified as Level 1.
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized in the following table.
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities:
Mortgage backed securities
Government-sponsored residential mortgage backed securities
Private label residential mortgage backed securities
Derivative assets:
Derivative assets (included in other assets)
Cash collateral held by counterparty and netting adjustments
Total derivative assets
Other assets:
Equity securities with readily determinable fair value
501
Total other assets
603
806,513
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities:
Derivative liabilities (included in other liabilities)
(9,299
Total derivative liabilities
Government-sponsored redisential mortgage backed securities
671
145,602
Cash collateral held by counterparty
(4,004
There were no material transfers between levels during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, or the year ended December 31, 2019. The Company’s policy is to recognize transfers into or out of a level as of the end of a reporting period.
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Non-recurring Basis
Certain assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis when there is evidence of impairment. The fair value of impaired securities is determined as discussed previously for available-for-sale securities. The fair values of impaired loans with specific allocations of the allowance for loan losses are generally based on recent real estate appraisals of the collateral less estimated cost to sell. Declines in the fair values of other real estate owned subsequent to their initial acquisitions are also based on recent real estate appraisals less estimated selling costs.
Real estate appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including comparable sales and the income approach. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable sales and income data available. We routinely value loans other than real estate as multiples of earnings or with the discounted cash flow approach and adjustments are made to observable market data to make the valuation consistent with the underlying credit. Such adjustments made to real estate appraisals and other loan valuations are typically significant and result in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value.
Assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis are summarized below.
Impaired loans:
5,110
5,193
6,979
2,327
4,680
Other real estate owned:
4,956
2,411
15,688
2,920
866
1,549
1,268
42
The Company did not record any liabilities for which the fair value was measured on a non-recurring basis at September 30, 2020, or at December 31, 2019.
Valuations of impaired loans and other real estate owned utilize third party appraisals or broker price opinions and were classified as Level 3 due to the significant judgment involved. Appraisals may include the utilization of unobservable inputs, subjective factors and quantitative data to estimate fair market value.
The following table presents additional information about the unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of financial assets measured on a nonrecurring basis that were categorized with Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Fair Value
Valuation
Technique
Unobservable
Input
Range
(weighted average) or Multiple of Earnings
Impaired real estate loans
20,018
Sales Comparison
Approach
Adjustments for
differences between
comparable sales with additional 15.00% stress
6% - 26%
(16%)
Impaired other real estate owned
5,627
comparable sales with additional 13.29% stress
8% - 45%
(26%)
9,173
comparable sales
3% - 12%
(8%)
Impaired other loans
14,261
Multiple of Earnings
Multiples of earnings for comparable entities
4.5X - 5.5X
(5X)
1,310
10% - 55%
(32%)
37
Carrying amount and estimated fair values of financial instruments at period end were as follows.
Carrying
Estimated
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Financial assets:
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses
2,572,807
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home
Loan Bank stock
Derivative assets
Cash collateral held by derivative counterparty
and netting adjustments
3,624,788
3,473,424
66,442
834,175
Financial liabilities:
3,138,015
Federal funds purchased and retail
repurchase agreements
168,400
Interest payable
2,894
Derivative liabilities
3,443,684
3,448,619
3,457,918
2,538,209
3,604,349
3,581,853
89,962
953,682
3,070,305
4,454
3,457,510
3,464,299
3,468,303
The fair value of off-balance-sheet items is not considered material.
NOTE 11 – COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT RISK
The Company extends credit for commercial real estate mortgages, residential mortgages, working capital financing and loans to businesses and consumers.
Commitments to Originate Loans and Available Lines of Credit
Commitments to originate loans and available lines of credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments and lines of credit generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since a portion of the commitments and lines of credit may expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment and lines of credit amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Each customer’s creditworthiness is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the counterparty. Collateral held varies, but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, commercial real estate and residential real estate. Mortgage loans in the process of origination represent amounts that the Company plans to fund within a normal period of 60 to 90 days, and which are intended for sale to investors in the secondary market.
The contractual amounts of commitments to originate loans and available lines of credit as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, were as follows.
Fixed
Variable
Commitments to make loans
50,686
93,720
41,916
141,685
Mortgage loans in the process of origination
15,272
2,767
9,200
2,473
Unused lines of credit
86,836
168,516
95,866
150,749
The fixed rate loan commitments have interest rates ranging from 2.40% to 7.51% and maturities ranging from 1 month to 121 months.
Standby Letters of Credit
Standby letters of credit are irrevocable commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party once specified pre-conditions are met. Financial standby letters of credit are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements, including commercial paper, bond financing, and similar transactions. Performance standby letters of credit are issued to guarantee performance of certain customers under non-financial contractual obligations. The credit risk involved in issuing standby letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers.
The contractual amounts of standby letters of credit as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, were as follows.
Standby letters of credit
2,988
3,343
2,877
3,352
NOTE 12 – LEGAL MATTERS
The Company is party to various matters of litigation in the ordinary course of business. The Company periodically reviews all outstanding pending or threatened legal proceedings and determines if such matters will have an adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations or cash flows. A loss contingency is recorded when the outcome is probable and reasonably able to be estimated. The following loss contingency has been identified by the Company as reasonably possible to result in an unfavorable outcome for the Company or the Bank.
Equity Bank is a party to a February 3, 2015, lawsuit filed against it by CitiMortgage, Inc. (“Citi”). The lawsuit involves an alleged breach of contract related to loan repurchase obligations and damages of $2,700 plus pre-judgment and post-judgment interest. In January 2018, judgment was entered by the court dismissing Citi’s claims with regard to six loans and holding Equity Bank liable with regard to six loans. A loss contingency of $477 was recorded at December 31, 2017, in connection with this case. Subsequently, Citi appealed the court’s decision. On November 6, 2019, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision affirming the trial court’s findings dismissing Citi’s claims with regard to six loans and holding Equity Bank liable with regard to six loans. Citi unsuccessfully sought en banc review of the portion of the Court’s ruling in Equity Bank’s favor. As a result of the Eighth Circuit’s ruling, Equity Bank will be required to satisfy the total judgment of $1,474, but shall be entitled to a reassignment of loans in which there is existing collateral. At the time of the January 2018 judgment, Citi held four loans with collateral having a total balance of $1,129; however, at this time, the Company has not yet received actual transfer of the loans or been required to pay the judgment and does not have access to up to date loan information, such as, loan balance, loan status or collateral value to reassess the loss contingency that was recorded at December 31, 2017.
Except for the above-mentioned lawsuit, there are no other outstanding claims for potential repurchase or indemnification demands regarding mortgage loans originated by Equity Bank and sold to investors. However, the Company believes there is possible risk it may face similar demands based on comparable demands loan aggregators are facing from their investors, including Government Sponsored Entities such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and or settlement agreements loan aggregators have entered into with those investors. The amount of potential loss and outcome of such possible litigation, if it were commenced, is uncertain and the Company would vigorously contest any claims.
40
On May 13, 2019, a purported stockholder of the Company filed a putative securities class action lawsuit in federal court in the Southern District of New York against the Company and certain of its executive officers. On August 16, 2019, the court appointed lead plaintiffs and on October 15, 2019, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on behalf of a putative class of persons who purchased Company securities between April 20, 2018, and April 23, 2019. Plaintiffs allege that the Company made materially misleading statements about the Company’s financial results, business, operations and prospects starting on April 20, 2018, that these statements caused the Company’s securities to be overvalued and that the “truth” came out on January 24, 2019, when the Company disclosed that a credit relationship was downgraded and further on April 22, 2019, when the Company disclosed a $14,500 provision for loan loss against that credit relationship. On December 6, 2019, the Company filed a motion to dismiss all claims in the lawsuit. On October 14, 2020, the court issued a ruling in favor of the Company finding that the case had no merit and dismissing all claims with prejudice. The plaintiffs have 30 days to appeal the adverse ruling. At this time, the Company is confident the outcome will be resolved in favor of the Company.
NOTE 13 – REVENUE RECOGNITION
The majority of the Company’s revenues come from interest income on financial instruments, including loans, leases, securities and derivatives, which are outside the scope of ASC 606. The Company’s services that fall within the scope of ASC 606 are presented with non-interest income and are recognized as revenue as the Company satisfies its obligation to the customer. Services within the scope of ASC 606 include service charges and fees on deposits, debit card income, investment referral income, insurance sales commissions and other non-interest income related to loans and deposits.
Except for gains or losses from the sale of other real estate owned, all of the Company’s revenue from contracts with customers within the scope of ASC 606 is recognized in non-interest income. The following table presents the Company’s sources of non-interest income for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, and 2019.
Mortgage banking(a)
Increase in bank-owned life insurance(a)
Net gain (loss) from securities transactions(a)
Investment referral income
163
461
Trust income
128
61
283
181
Insurance sales commissions
71
106
Recovery on zero-basis purchased loans(a)
Income from equity method investments(a)
Other non-interest income related to loans
and deposits
539
756
1,659
Other non-interest income not related to
loans and deposits(a)
239
Total other non-interest income
(a) Not within the scope of ASC 606.
NOTE 14 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On October 22, 2020, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City advised the Company that it had no objection to the Company’s authorization of its repurchase of up to 800,000 shares of the Company’s Class A Voting Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, from time to time, beginning October 30, 2020, and concluding October 29, 2021. This follows the completion of a previously authorized 2019 repurchase program in which the Company repurchased 1,100,000 shares at a total cost of $23,695, or an average of $21.54 per share. The Company may repurchase shares in privately negotiated transactions, in the open market, including pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or otherwise in a manner that complies with applicable federal securities laws. The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire a specific dollar amount or number of shares and it may be extended, modified or discontinued at any time without notice.
At the close of business on October 23, 2020, Equity Bank acquired the assets and assumed the deposit liabilities of Almena State Bank (“ASB”), with locations in Almena and Norton, Kansas, pursuant to a Purchase and Assumption Agreement facilitated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Information necessary to recognize the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed remains incomplete. At September 30, 2020, ASB reported total assets of $65,733, which includes total loans of $49,855 and securities of $7,412. Total deposit liabilities reported were $64,941.
Item 2: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2020, and our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. The following discussion contains “forward-looking statements” that reflect our future plans, estimates, beliefs and expected performance. We caution that assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions or beliefs about future events may, and often do, vary from actual results and the differences can be material. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Also, see the risk factors and other cautionary statements described under the heading “Item 1A: Risk Factors” included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and in Item 1A of this Quarterly Report. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law.
This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operation includes the following sections:
Overview – a general description of our business and financial highlights;
Critical Accounting Policies – a discussion of accounting policies that require critical estimates and assumptions;
Recent Developments – a discussion of COVID-19 and the CARES Act
Results of Operations – an analysis of our operating results, including disclosures about the sustainability of our earnings;
Financial Condition – an analysis of our financial position;
Liquidity and Capital Resources – an analysis of our cash flows and capital position; and
Non-GAAP Financial Measures – a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures.
We are a bank holding company headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. Our wholly owned banking subsidiary, Equity Bank, provides a broad range of financial services primarily to businesses and business owners as well as individuals through our network of 49 full-service banking sites located in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. As of September 30, 2020, we had consolidated total assets of $3.87 billion, total loans held for investment of $2.69 billion, net of allowances, total deposits of $3.13 billion and total stockholders’ equity of $402.2 million. Due to a goodwill impairment charge of $104.8 million during the third quarter of 2020, there was net loss of $90.4 million and $87.5 million for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020. During the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019, net income was $10.4 million and $15.6 million.
Selected Financial Data for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts).
June 30,
March 31,
Statement of Income Data (for the quarterly period ended)
37,933
40,557
42,984
5,042
8,462
10,579
32,891
32,095
32,405
12,500
9,940
1,055
Other non-interest income
5,728
5,298
6,644
6,568
Other non-interest expense
26,004
23,937
25,758
24,846
2,186
1,703
13,145
Provision for income taxes
497
445
3,131
1,689
1,258
10,014
0.11
0.08
0.65
Diluted earnings (loss)per share
0.64
Balance Sheet Data (at period end)
178,290
142,252
177,228
187,812
152,680
662,522
721,992
764,163
4,802
6,494
8,784
Gross loans held for investment
2,806,334
2,507,123
2,600,924
21,915
Loans held for investment, net of allowance for loan losses
2,772,256
2,485,208
2,583,049
Goodwill and core deposit intangibles, net
48,702
154,563
155,537
156,339
157,159
Other intangible assets, net
1,154
1,167
1,179
4,205,269
3,943,832
4,074,663
3,247,267
2,960,397
3,106,929
Borrowings
301,694
452,032
481,371
383,632
480,000
3,725,503
3,466,481
3,607,613
477,351
Tangible common equity*
352,328
324,049
320,647
320,542
308,700
Performance ratios
Return on average assets (ROAA) annualized
(8.90
)%
0.16
0.13
1.01
1.02
Return on average equity (ROAE) annualized
(74.45
1.40
1.05
8.39
8.91
Return on average tangible common equity (ROATCE)
annualized*
(108.31
3.03
2.35
13.42
14.38
Yield on loans annualized
4.65
4.68
5.47
5.67
5.70
Cost of interest-bearing deposits annualized
0.50
0.63
1.09
1.32
1.56
Net interest margin annualized
3.47
3.49
3.67
3.61
3.42
Efficiency ratio*
67.38
61.98
68.88
63.63
63.59
Non-interest income / average assets annualized
0.55
Non-interest expense / average assets annualized
12.88
2.31
2.66
2.51
2.38
Capital Ratios
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio
8.52
8.49
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio
12.02
11.67
11.08
Tier 1 Risk Based Capital Ratio
12.57
12.20
11.59
Total Risk Based Capital Ratio
15.33
13.00
12.21
Equity / Assets
10.40
11.41
12.10
11.46
Tangible common equity to tangible assets*
9.23
8.47
8.45
7.88
Book value per share
27.08
31.53
31.41
30.95
30.25
Tangible common book value per share*
23.72
21.29
21.10
20.75
19.99
Tangible common book value per diluted share*
23.57
21.13
20.96
20.39
19.73
* The value noted is considered a Non-GAAP financial measure. For a reconciliation of Non-GAAP financial measures see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this Item 2.
Our significant accounting policies are integral to understanding the results reported. Our accounting policies are described in detail in Note 1 to the December 31, 2019, audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2020. There have been no material changes in our critical accounting policies since that time. We believe that of our significant accounting policies, the following may involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity. We have identified the following accounting policies and estimates that, due to the difficult, subjective or complex judgments and assumptions inherent in those policies and estimates and the potential sensitivity of our financial statements to those judgments and assumptions, are critical to an understanding of our financial condition and results of operations. We believe that the judgments, estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of our financial statements are appropriate.
Loans and allowance for loan losses: The allowance for loan losses is a valuation allowance for probable incurred credit losses. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the collectability of a loan balance is unlikely. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. Management estimates the allowance balance required using past loan loss experience, the nature and volume of the portfolio, information about specific borrower situations and estimated collateral values, economic conditions and other factors. A loan review process, independent of the loan approval process, is utilized by management to verify loans are being made and administered in accordance with company policy, to review loan risk grades and potential losses, to verify that potential problem loans are receiving adequate and timely corrective measures to avoid or reduce losses and to assist in the verification of the adequacy of the loan loss reserve. Allocations of the allowance may be made for specific loans, but the entire allowance is available for any loan that, in management’s judgment, should be charged off.
The allowance consists of specific and general components. The specific component relates to loans that are individually classified as impaired. If a loan is impaired, a portion of the allowance is allocated so that the loan is reported net at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s existing rate or at the fair value of collateral if repayment is expected solely from the sale of the collateral. Troubled debt restructurings are separately identified for impairment disclosures and are measured at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s effective rate at inception. If a troubled debt restructuring is considered to be a collateral dependent loan, the loan is reported, net, at the fair value of the collateral. For troubled debt restructurings that subsequently default, we determine the amount of reserve in accordance with the accounting policy for the allowance for loan losses.
A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect all contractual principal and interest due according to the terms of the loan agreement. All loans are individually evaluated for impairment. Impaired loans are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or on the value of the underlying collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. We evaluate the collectability of both principal and interest when assessing the need for a loss accrual.
Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed.
The general component of the allowance for loan losses covers non-impaired loans and is based on historical loss experience adjusted for current factors. The historical loss experience is determined by portfolio and class and is based on the actual loss history experienced by us. This actual loss experience is then adjusted by comparing current conditions to the conditions that existed during the loss history. We consider the changes related to (i) lending policies, (ii) economic conditions, (iii) nature and volume of the loan portfolio and class, (iv) lending staff, (v) volume and severity of past due, non-accrual and risk graded loans, (vi) loan review system, (vii) value of underlying collateral for collateral dependent loans, (viii) concentration levels and (ix) effects of other external factors.
Goodwill Impairment: Goodwill is assessed at least annually for impairment and any such impairment is recognized and expensed in the period identified. We have selected December 31 as the date to perform our annual goodwill impairment test;
however, if during the year we become aware of quantitative or qualitative data that suggest goodwill impairment may have occurred, we will test on an interim basis as well. At September 30, 2020, the Company considered the on-going economic market disruption, the movement of the Company’s stock price in relation to other bank indexes and the length of time that the market value of the reporting unit has been below its book value as triggering events and has completed a quantitative analysis to assess whether or not goodwill was impaired. This analysis determined that goodwill was impaired and subsequently the Company booked a non-cash impairment charge of $104.8 million for goodwill impairment. At September 30, 2020, we had goodwill of $31.6 million, representing approximately 8% of equity.
Fair Value: Fair values of assets and liabilities are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, collateral values and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular assets and liabilities. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could materially affect the estimates.
Recent Developments
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused economic and social disruption on an unprecedented scale. While some industries have been impacted more severely than others, all businesses have been impacted to some degree. This disruption has resulted in the shuttering of businesses across the country, significant job loss, and aggressive measures by federal, state and local government.
Congress, the President, and the Federal Reserve have taken several actions designed to cushion the economic fallout. Most notably, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was signed into law at the end of March 2020, as a $2 trillion legislative package. The goal of the CARES Act is to prevent a severe economic downturn through various measures, including direct financial aid to American families and economic stimulus to significantly impacted industry sectors. The package also includes extensive emergency funding for hospitals and medical providers. In addition to the general impact of COVID-19, certain provisions of the CARES Act as well as other recent legislative and regulatory relief efforts are expected to have a material impact on our operations. While it is not possible to know the full universe or extent of these impacts as of the date of this filing, we are disclosing potentially material items of which we are aware.
Pertaining to our September 30, 2020, financial condition and results of operations, COVID-19 had a material impact on our allowance for loan losses. While we have not yet experienced any charge-offs related to COVID-19, our allowance for loan losses calculation and resulting provision for loan losses are significantly impacted by changes in economic conditions. Given that economic scenarios have become less certain since the pandemic was declared in early March, we believe our need for additional allowance for loan losses has increased significantly. Refer to our discussion of the allowance for loan losses in Note 1 and Note 3 of our unaudited financial statements as well as further discussion later in this section. Should economic conditions worsen, we could experience further increases in our required allowance for loan losses and record additional provision for loan losses expense. The execution of the payment deferral program discussed in the following commentary improved our ratio of past due loans to total loans. It is possible that our asset quality measures could worsen at future measurement periods if the effects of COVID-19 are prolonged.
Our interest and fee income could be reduced due to COVID-19. In keeping with guidance from regulators, we are actively working with COVID-19 affected borrowers to defer their payments, interest, and fees. While interest and fees will still accrue to income, through normal GAAP accounting, should eventual credit losses on these deferred payments emerge, interest income and fees accrued would need to be reversed. In such a scenario, interest income in future periods could be negatively impacted. At this time, we are unable to project the materiality of such an impact but recognize the breadth of the economic impact may affect our borrowers’ ability to repay in future periods.
As of September 30, 2020, all our capital ratios and our subsidiary bank’s capital ratios were in excess of all regulatory requirements. While we are currently classified as well capitalized, an extended economic recession brought about by COVID-19 could adversely impact our reported and regulatory capital ratios by further credit losses. We rely on cash on hand as well as dividends from our subsidiary bank to service our debt. If our subsidiary bank capital deteriorates such that it is unable to pay dividends to us for an extended period of time, we may not be able to service our debt.
We maintain access to multiple sources of liquidity. Wholesale funding markets have remained open to us, but rates for short term funding may be volatile. If funding costs are elevated for an extended period, it could have an adverse effect on our net interest margin. If an extended recession caused large numbers of our deposit customers to withdraw their funds, we might become more reliant on volatile or more expensive sources of funding.
Currently, we do not expect COVID-19 to affect our ability to account timely for the assets on our balance sheet. However, this could change in future periods. While certain valuation assumptions and judgments will change to account for pandemic-related
46
circumstances such as widening credit spreads, we do not anticipate significant changes in methodology used to determine the fair value of assets measured in accordance with GAAP.
Our processes, controls and business continuity plan
In early March 2020, the Company successfully deployed a modified working strategy, including emphasis on social distancing and remote work as necessary to emphasize the safety of our teams and continuity of our business processes. The Company and its leaders provided timely communication to team members and customers, implemented protocols for team member safety and initiated strategies for monitoring and responding to local COVID-19 impacts – including customer relief efforts. The Company’s preparedness efforts, coupled with quick and decisive plan implementation, resulted in minimal impacts to operations as a result of COVID-19. Prior technology planning resulted in the successful deployment of a portion of our operational team to a remote environment, while the remainder of the team continued to work on location in a workspace emphasizing social distancing. To achieve implementation of our working strategy, during the first quarter of 2020, we incurred a minimal amount of technology spending to provide additional laptops to team members who required them to work remotely. In early May 2020, all the Company’s bank locations were open to customers with social distancing measures in place. The Company continues to serve customers curbside and drive-through but offers full lobby access during normal hours. No material operational or internal control challenges or risks have been identified to date. We continue to anticipate and respond to any future COVID-19 interruptions or developments. As of September 30, 2020, we do not anticipate significant challenges to our ability to maintain our systems and controls considering the measures we have taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Company does not currently face any material resource constraint through the implementation of our business continuity plans.
In keeping with regulatory guidance to work with borrowers during this unprecedented situation, the Company executed a payment deferral program for our commercial lending clients that were adversely affected by the pandemic. Depending on the demonstrated need of the client, the Company originally deferred either the full loan payment or the principal component of the loan payment for 90 or 180 days. Loans originally deferred for 90 days may, dependent on specific qualifications, be approved for an additional 90-day deferral. As of September 30, 2020, the Company has 63 loans, totaling $40.2 million, that have been granted a payment deferral, and remain on deferral, as part of our COVID-19 response. In accordance with interagency guidance issued in March 2020, these short-term deferrals are not automatically considered troubled debt restructurings, are not reflected in past due loan balances and have been reported as a classified loan solely due to a deferral. These deferred loans are subject to ongoing monitoring and will be downgraded or placed on nonaccrual if a noted weakness exists.
With the passage of the PPP, administered by the SBA, the Company is actively participating in assisting our customers with applications for resources through the program. PPP loans generally have a two-year term and earn interest at 1.0%. As of September 30, 2020, we have 3,221 loans, with an outstanding balance of $367.8 million that were originated under this program. It is our understanding that loans funded through the PPP program are fully guaranteed by the U.S. government. Should those circumstances change, we could be required to establish additional allowance for loan losses through additional provision for loan expense charged to earnings.
The Company participates in the Main Street Lending Program (“Program”), created by the Federal Reserve to support lending to small and medium-sized businesses and nonprofit organizations that were in sound financial condition before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a total of $190 thousand outstanding under the Program for the period ended September 30, 2020.
While all industries have and will continue to experience adverse impacts as a result of COVID-19, we had exposures (on balance sheet loans and commitments to lend) in the following loan categories we considered to be most at-risk of a significant impact as of September 30, 2020.
Hospitality Lending:
The Company’s exposure to the hospitality sector at September 30, 2020, approximated $285.9 million, or 12.1%, of total loans excluding PPP loans. As of September 30, 2020, none of these loans were actively participating in a deferral program.
The top 20 loans within this portfolio comprise $223.1 million, or 78.0%, of the total exposure. These loans are geographically diversified and well secured. The borrowers are well known to the Bank and experienced hoteliers who have evidenced efforts to enhance profitability in the current economic environment by driving down costs and creatively occupying their properties, including arrangements with medical professionals and others on the front line of this pandemic. Historically, the portfolio has exhibited strong operational cash flows.
The remainder of the portfolio is comprised of many smaller balance loans.
Aircraft Manufacturing:
The Company’s exposure to the aircraft manufacturing category at September 30, 2020, approximated $65.1 million, or 2.8%, of total loans excluding PPP loans. As of September 30, 2020, none of these loans were actively participating in a deferral program. The portfolio is comprised of experienced industry operators who have historically performed without exception.
We have worked with customers directly affected by COVID-19. We are prepared to offer short-term assistance in accordance with regulator guidelines. As a result of the current economic environment caused by the COVID-19 virus, we are engaging in frequent communication with borrowers to better understand their situation and the challenges faced, allowing us to respond proactively as needs and issues arise.
While management is optimistic about the performance of the above addressed portions of the portfolio as a whole, the Company acknowledges the risks associated with the current economic conditions and related unknowns. These risks are believed to have been addressed and reserved for through our allowance for loan losses and associated provision for loan losses as of and for the period ended September 30, 2020.
Retail operations
The Company is committed to assisting our customers and communities in this time of need. The Company is serving customers curbside and drive-through but offers full lobby access during normal hours. We have introduced temporary changes to help with the financial hardship caused by COVID-19 for both our customers and non-customers.
The Company continues to monitor the safety of our staff through health stations at each work location. Staffing is adequate to address the requests for time off by any of our employees who are impacted by health or childcare issues.
We generate most of our revenue from interest income and fees on loans, interest and dividends on investment securities and non-interest income, such as service charges and fees, debit card income and mortgage banking income. We incur interest expense on deposits and other borrowed funds and non-interest expense, such as salaries and employee benefits and occupancy expenses. On February 8, 2019, we completed our acquisition of the assets and assumption of the deposits and certain other liabilities for two branches in Guymon, Oklahoma and one branch in Cordell, Oklahoma from MidFirst Bank of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (“MidFirst acquisition”). Results of operations from our MidFirst acquisition were included in our financial results beginning February 9, 2019.
Changes in interest rates on interest-earning assets or on interest-bearing liabilities, as well as the volume and types of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities are usually the largest drivers of periodic change in net interest income. Fluctuations in interest rates are driven by many factors, including governmental monetary policies, inflation, deflation, macroeconomic developments, changes in unemployment, the money supply, political and international environments and conditions in domestic and foreign financial markets. Periodic changes in the volume and types of loans in our loan portfolio are affected by, among other factors, economic and competitive conditions in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, as well as developments affecting the commercial, consumer and real estate sectors within these markets.
Net Income
Three months ended September 30, 2020, compared with three months ended September 30, 2019: Net loss and net loss allocable to common stockholders for the three months ended September 30, 2020, was $90.4 million as compared to net income of $10.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, a decrease of $100.8 million. During the three-month period ended September 30, 2020, an increase in non-interest expense of $106.6 million, primarily due to a $104.8 million charge to goodwill impairment, and a decrease in non-interest income of $87 thousand were partially offset by a decrease in provision for income taxes of $5.4 million, an increase in net interest income of $581 thousand and an increase in provision for loan losses of $136 thousand when compared with the three months ended September 30, 2019. The changes in the components of net income are discussed in more detail in the following “Results of Operations” sections.
Nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared with nine months ended September 30, 2019: Net loss and net loss allocable to common stockholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, was $87.5 million as compared to net income of $15.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, a decrease of $103.0 million. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020, an increase in non-interest expense of $105.7 million, primarily due to a $104.8 million charge to goodwill impairment, an increase in provision for loan losses of $6.0 million and a decrease in non-interest income of $824 thousand were partially offset by a decrease in provision for income taxes of $5.9 million and an increase in net interest income of $3.6 million when compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The changes in the components of net income are discussed in more detail in the following “Results of Operations” sections.
Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin Analysis
Net interest income is the difference between interest income on interest-earning assets, including loans and securities, and interest expense incurred on interest-bearing liabilities, including deposits and other borrowed funds. To evaluate net interest income, management measures and monitors (1) yields on loans and other interest-earning assets, (2) the costs of deposits and other funding sources, (3) the net interest spread and (4) net interest margin. Net interest spread is the difference between rates earned on interest-earning assets and rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest margin is calculated as net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. Because non-interest-bearing sources of funds, such as non-interest-bearing deposits and stockholders’ equity also fund interest-earning assets, net interest margin includes the benefit of these non-interest-bearing sources of funds. Net interest income is affected by changes in the amount and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, referred to as a “volume change,” and is also affected by changes in yields earned on interest-earning assets and rates paid on interest-bearing deposits and other borrowed funds, referred to as a “yield/rate change.”
Three months ended September 30, 2020, compared with three months ended September 30, 2019: The following table shows the average balance of each principal category of assets, liabilities and stockholders’ equity and the average yields on interest-earning assets and average rates on interest-bearing liabilities for the three months ended September 30, 2020, and 2019. The yields and rates are calculated by dividing annualized income or annualized expense by the average daily balances of the associated assets or liabilities.
Average Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)
Income/
Expense
Yield/
Rate(3)(4)
Interest-earning assets:
Loans(1)
848,096
8,400
3.94
562,399
8,845
6.24
979,775
12,886
5.23
1,012,393
14,678
5.75
Real estate construction
214,775
2,233
4.14
211,235
3,191
6.00
429,965
4,734
4.38
561,423
6,402
4.52
131,725
1,718
5.19
140,693
2,115
5.96
69,485
1,104
6.32
71,688
1,441
7.97
84,859
1,205
5.65
86,623
1,379
2,758,680
32,280
2,646,454
Taxable securities
683,630
3,475
2.02
782,994
2.37
Nontaxable securities
118,895
3.09
143,845
2.88
117,963
404
1.36
84,677
3.66
Total interest-earning assets
3,679,168
37,081
4.01
3,657,970
4.83
Non-interest-earning assets:
7,332
5,795
87,344
84,797
76,235
74,266
Goodwill, core deposit and other intangibles, net
154,049
158,760
Other non-interest-earning assets
37,060
49,018
4,041,188
4,030,606
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Interest-bearing demand deposits
827,190
0.24
674,681
2,012
1.18
Savings and money market
957,701
374
1,032,778
3,377
1.30
1,784,891
874
0.19
1,707,459
5,389
1.25
Certificates of deposit
645,516
2,189
1.35
965,548
5,118
2.10
2,430,407
3,063
2,673,007
FHLB term and line of credit advances
248,437
0.75
320,528
2.42
0.00
14,770
5.32
79,947
7.04
14,437
Other borrowings
48,774
0.20
40,827
0.48
Total interest-bearing liabilities
2,807,565
4,974
0.70
3,063,569
1.69
Non-interest-bearing liabilities and
stockholders’ equity:
Non-interest-bearing checking accounts
715,403
479,778
Non-interest-bearing liabilities
35,132
24,007
Stockholders’ equity
483,088
463,252
Interest rate spread
3.31
3.14
Net interest margin(2)
Total cost of deposits, including non-interest
bearing deposits
3,145,810
0.39
3,152,785
Average interest-earning assets to
interest-bearing liabilities
131.04
119.40
(1)
Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans.
(2)
Net interest margin is calculated by dividing annualized net interest income by average interest-earnings assets for the period.
(3)
Tax exempt income is not included in the above table on a tax equivalent basis.
(4)
Actual unrounded values are used to calculate the reported yield or rate disclosed. Accordingly, recalculations using the amounts in thousands as disclosed in this report may not produce the same amounts.
Increases and decreases in interest income and interest expense result from changes in average balances (volume) of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, as well as changes in average interest yields/rates. The following table analyzes the change in volume variances and yield/rate variances for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2020, and 2019.
Analysis of Changes in Net Interest Income
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020, and 2019
Increase (Decrease) Due to:
Increase /
Volume(1)
Yield/Rate(1)
(Decrease)
3,531
(3,976
(445
(462
(1,330
53
(1,011
(958
(1,454
(214
(1,668
(129
(268
(397
(294
(337
(146
(174
1,468
(7,239
(5,771
(552
(646
(1,198
(190
67
(123
233
(609
(376
959
(8,427
(7,468
146
(4,661
(4,515
(1,404
(1,525
(2,929
(1,258
(6,186
(7,444
(366
(1,120
(1,486
(198
1,168
(64
(33
(7,403
(8,049
Net Interest Income
1,605
(1,024
581
The effect of changes in volume is determined by multiplying the change in volume by the previous year’s average rate. Similarly, the effect of rate changes is calculated by multiplying the change in average rate by the prior year’s volume. The changes attributable to both volume and rate, which cannot be segregated, have been allocated to the volume variance and the rate variance in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amount of the change in each.
The decrease in loan interest income, including loan fees, was driven by a 105 basis point decrease in yield on the loan portfolio from 5.70% for the three months ended September 30, 2019, to 4.65% for the three months ended September 30, 2020, which was partially offset by an increase in average loan volume. This decrease in yield is largely due to the 1.0% SBA PPP loans added to the portfolio during 2020. The impact to net interest income from loan fees for the three months ended September 30, 2020, was $2.5 million, compared to $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019.
The reduction in expense on interest-bearing deposits was due to a 106 basis point decrease in cost on these deposits from 1.56% for the three months ended September 30, 2019, to 0.50% for the three months ended September 30, 2020. Average borrowings from the FHLB decreased by $72.1 million from an average balance of $320.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, to an average balance of $248.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. FHLB borrowings average rate decreased 167 basis points from 2.42% for the three months ended September 30, 2019, to 0.75% for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The bank stock loan did not carry an outstanding balance during the third quarter of 2020 and therefore there was no interest expense on our bank stock loan for the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to $198 thousand for the same time period in 2019. Total cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased 99 basis points to 0.70% for the three months ended September 30, 2020, from 1.69% for the three months ended September 30, 2019.
The increase in net interest margin is largely due to an increase in non-interest-bearing deposits and a further reduction in cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
51
Nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared with nine months ended September 30, 2019: The following table shows the average balance of each principal category of assets, liabilities and stockholders’ equity and the average yields on interest-earning assets and average rates on interest-bearing liabilities for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, and 2019. The yields and rates are calculated by dividing annualized income or annualized expense by the average daily balances of the associated assets or liabilities.
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
757,773
26,789
4.72
566,658
28,221
6.66
942,478
36,533
5.18
1,035,634
41,401
5.34
245,167
8,644
4.71
204,642
10,449
6.83
464,340
14,528
4.18
518,110
18,192
4.69
133,302
5,574
5.59
138,861
6,105
5.88
67,255
3,461
6.87
70,529
4,060
7.70
86,873
3,752
5.77
86,463
4,183
6.47
2,697,188
4.92
2,620,897
5.74
737,009
2.20
780,813
2.52
125,352
142,735
2.94
102,202
1.84
84,045
3.24
3,661,751
4.22
3,628,490
4.88
7,054
6,079
85,862
83,151
75,755
73,772
155,774
158,551
43,422
44,583
4,029,618
3,994,626
764,477
2,618
0.46
695,807
6,515
990,282
2,305
0.31
1,009,805
10,399
1.38
1,754,759
4,923
0.37
1,705,612
16,914
1.33
728,083
8,904
1.63
997,270
15,467
2.07
2,482,842
0.74
2,702,882
1.60
271,548
1.08
266,118
2.56
3,288
16,111
3.44
12,518
5.42
36,712
7.11
14,364
8.89
44,754
43,162
0.36
2,855,255
0.86
3,039,044
1.72
658,714
474,217
32,562
21,329
483,087
460,036
3.36
3.16
3.54
3,141,556
0.59
3,177,099
Average interest-earning assets to interest-bearing
liabilities
128.25
52
Increases and decreases in interest income and interest expense result from changes in average balances (volume) of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, as well as changes in average interest yields/rates. The following table analyzes the change in volume variances and yield/rate variances for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, and 2019.
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020, and 2019
8,033
(9,465
(1,432
(3,640
(1,228
(4,868
1,819
(3,624
(1,805
(1,788
(1,876
(3,664
(239
(292
(531
(182
(417
(599
(451
(431
4,023
(17,353
(13,330
(794
(1,817
(2,611
(384
(374
377
(1,005
(628
3,222
(20,165
(16,943
(12,382
(11,991
(3,680
(2,883
(6,563
(3,289
(15,265
(18,554
(3,007
(2,905
(92
1,223
(225
998
(40
(36
(1,832
(18,751
(20,583
5,054
(1,414
3,640
The decrease in loan interest income, including loan fees was driven by a 82 basis point decrease in yield on the loan portfolio from 5.74% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, to 4.92% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, partially offset by an increase in average loan volume. This decrease in yield is largely due to the 1.0% SBA PPP loans added to the portfolio during 2020. The impact to net interest income from loan fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, was $5.2 million, compared to $3.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.
The decrease in cost of interest-bearing deposits was created by a 86 basis point decrease in cost on these deposits and to a lesser extent the decreased volume of these deposits. Average borrowings from the FHLB increased by $5.4 million from an average balance of $266.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, to an average balance of $271.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The negative effect of this increase in average FHLB borrowings was more than offset by a decrease in
average rate of 148 basis points from 2.56% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, to 1.08% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Interest expense on our bank stock loan for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, was $415 thousand compared to $507 thousand for the same time period in 2019. Total cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased 86 basis points to 0.86% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, from 1.72% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.
The increase in net interest margin is primarily due to an increase in loans coupled with a decrease in total interest-bearing deposits.
Provision for Loan Losses
We maintain an allowance for loan losses for probable incurred credit losses. The allowance for loan losses is increased by a provision for loan losses, a charge to earnings, and subsequent recoveries of amounts previously charged off, but is decreased by charge-offs when the collectability of a loan balance is unlikely. Management estimates the allowance balance required using past loan loss experience, the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, information about specific borrower situations and estimated collateral values, discounted cash flows, economic conditions and other factors including regulatory guidance, as described in “Part I – Item 2 – Financial Condition – Allowance for Loan Losses.” As these factors change, the amount of the loan loss provision changes.
Three months ended September 30, 2020, compared with three months ended September 30, 2019: The provision for loan losses for the three months ended September 30, 2020, was $815 thousand compared with $679 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2019. Net charge-offs for the three months ended September 30, 2020, were $806 thousand compared to net charge-offs of $581 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2019. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, gross charge-offs were $874 thousand offset by gross recoveries of $68 thousand. In comparison, gross charge-offs were $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, offset by gross recoveries of $625 thousand.
Nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared with nine months ended September 30, 2019: The provision for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, was $23.3 million compared with $17.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Net charge-offs for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, were $1.4 million compared to net charge-offs of $10.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The provision for loan losses during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, was largely the result of increases in qualitative loss factors brought on by the projected economic impact of COVID-19. As part of the process to adjust qualitative factors in response to COVID-19, we considered the loss rates we experienced during the last economic downturn, the level of loan deferrals in the loan portfolio and industries we considered at risk to determine the necessary level of probable incurred loss. Included in the first nine months of 2019 was a $14.5 million provision against one credit relationship that was determined to be an isolated incident that was unique within our portfolio. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, gross charge-offs were $1.8 million offset by gross recoveries of $427 thousand. In comparison, gross charge-offs were $11.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, of which $11.7 million was directly related to the above-mentioned credit relationship, offset by gross recoveries of $1.0 million.
Non-Interest Income
The primary sources of non-interest income are service charges and fees, debit card income, mortgage banking income and increases in the value of bank-owned life insurance. Non-interest income does not include loan origination or other loan fees which are recognized as an adjustment to yield using the interest method.
54
Three months ended September 30, 2020, compared with three months ended September 30, 2019: The following table provides a comparison of the major components of non-interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2020, and 2019.
2020 vs. 2019
Change
(24.8
286
7.0
(3.6
(2
(1.2
109.8
(19
(31.1
Recovery on zero-basis purchased loans
(64.3
Income from equity method investments
(7
(70.0
576
443
30.0
Total other
154
20.1
(1.3
(100.0
(87
Service charges and fees decreased $562 thousand during the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to the same time period during 2019, mostly due to a decline in non-sufficient funds charges. The decrease in service charges and fees was partially offset by increases in debit card income and other non-interest income. Other non-interest income increased $133 thousand, or 30.0%, during the three months ended September 30, 2020, primarily from derivative mark-to-market valuation changes.
Nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared with nine months ended September 30, 2019: The following table provides a comparison of the major components of non-interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, and 2019.
(1,334
(20.7
606
9.9
599
35.3
(42
(2.8
(5.7
56.4
(35
(33.0
9.4
(20
(87.0
1,672
(677
(40.5
(648
(25.1
17,511
18,330
(819
(4.5
(29.4
(824
Service charges and fees decreased $1.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, versus the same time period during 2019, mainly due to decreases in non-sufficient fund charges, which was in part related to government programs linked to COVID-19. Other non-interest income decreased $677 thousand, or 40.5%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2020,
primarily from derivative mark-to-market valuation changes. Debit card income was $6.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of $606 thousand, or 9.9%, from $6.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Mortgage banking increased $599 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to the same time period during 2019, mainly due to origination volume.
Non-Interest Expense
Three months ended September 30, 2020, compared with three months ended September 30, 2019: For the three months ended September 30, 2020, non-interest expense totaled $130.8 million, an increase of $106.6 million, due to the goodwill impairment of $104.8 million. Non-interest expense adjusted for goodwill impairment increased $1.8 million, or 7.4%, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2019. Changes in the various components of non-interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2020, and 2019 are discussed in more detail in the following table.
838
6.4
2.2
144
5.4
(114
(11.5
(208
(25.8
(37
(7.1
249
224.3
4.0
(4.4
Amortization of core deposit intangible
246
31.4
(58
(35.2
221
(251.1
20.6
1,781
7.4
100.0
106,612
440.1
Salaries and employee benefits: There was a $838 thousand increase in salaries and employee benefits for the current quarter, as compared to the same quarter in the prior year. This variance largely was due to increases in restricted stock unit expenses, employee incentives and increases in retirement plan expenses.
Net occupancy and equipment: Net occupancy and equipment includes expenses related to the use of premises and equipment, such as depreciation, operating leases, repairs and maintenance, insurance, property taxes and utilities and is net of incidental rental income of excess facilities.
Data processing: The increase in data processing is mainly attributable to expenses related to the new online banking system installed in 2019.
Professional fees: The variance of $114 thousand, or 11.5%, is principally due to a $123 thousand reduction in attorney fees.
Advertising and business development: Advertising and business development includes media advertising, community sponsorships, customer appreciation expenses and other forms of advertising. The decrease in advertising and business development is primarily because of a reduction in sponsorships and customer appreciation events because of COVID-19.
Other real estate owned: Other real estate owned includes other real estate expenses, including provision for unrealized losses and gains or losses on the sales of other real estate owned and other repossessed property. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, there was $321 thousand in other real estate owned expense, partially offset by a net $188 thousand gain from the sale of other repossessed assets. For the three months ended September 30, 2019, there was $192 thousand gain on the sale of other real estate owned and $8 thousand of other income, partially offset by $112 thousand in other real estate owned expense.
Other: Other non-interest expenses consist of subscriptions, memberships and dues, employee expenses (including travel, meals, entertainment and education), supplies, printing, insurance, account-related losses, correspondent bank fees, customer program expenses, losses net of gains on the sale of fixed assets and other operating expenses. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, employee expenses were $589 thousand, insurance expense was $258 thousand and correspondent bank fees were $193 thousand. For the three months ended September 30, 2019, employee expenses, including travel, meals, entertainment and education, were $802 thousand, insurance expense was $247 thousand and correspondent bank fees were $79 thousand.
Merger expenses: There were no merger expenses for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2020, and 2019.
Nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared with nine months ended September 30, 2019: For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, non-interest expense totaled $180.5 million, an increase of $105.7 million, largely due to a goodwill impairment of $104.8 million. Non-interest expense before goodwill impairment was $75.7 million, or a 2.5% increase, compared with $73.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Changes in the various components of non-interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, and 2019 are discussed in more detail in the following table.
(128
(0.3
3.9
807
10.9
(188
(5.6
(477
(21.9
(230
(14.4
172
15.4
83
8.1
458
19.5
3.3
384
117.8
732
12.0
Sub-Total
75,699
73,874
1,825
2.5
(915
105,741
141.4
Salaries and employee benefits: There was a $128 thousand decrease in salaries and employee benefits for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. This variance largely was due to the deferral of loan origination costs, including salaries and benefits, associated with originating SBA PPP loans, partially offset by increases in incentives and restricted stock unit expense.
Net occupancy and equipment: Net occupancy and equipment includes expenses related to the use of premises and equipment, such as depreciation, operating leases, repairs and maintenance, insurance, property taxes and utilities and is net of incidental rental income of excess facilities. The majority of the increase is due to increases in maintenance and repairs to furniture and equipment, real estate taxes, depreciation and personal property taxes, partially offset by a decrease in maintenance and repairs to buildings.
Data processing: The increase in data processing expense was due to higher debit card volumes, particularly during the first quarter of 2020, and costs related to the online banking system, which was new in 2019.
Professional fees: The decrease is mainly attributable to reductions in consulting and advisory fees of $272 thousand, attorney fees of $173 thousand and regulatory assessment costs of $34 thousand, partially offset by a $291 thousand increase in accounting fees.
Advertising and business development: Advertising and business development includes media advertising, community sponsorships, customer appreciation expenses and other forms of advertising. Sponsorships and customer appreciation events were greatly restricted during the second and third quarters of 2020 causing a reduction in expenses.
Other real estate owned: Other real estate owned includes other real estate expenses, including provision for unrealized losses and gains or losses on the sales of other real estate owned and other repossessed property. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, there was $791 thousand in other real estate owned expense and a $120 thousand loss from sale of other real estate owned, partially offset by $201 thousand of gain from the sale of other repossessed assets. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, there was $632 thousand in other real estate owned expense, partially offset by $291 thousand gain on the sale of other real estate owned and $15 thousand of other income.
Other: Other non-interest expenses consist of subscriptions, memberships and dues, employee expenses (including travel, meals, entertainment and education), supplies, printing, insurance, account-related losses, correspondent bank fees, customer program expenses, losses net of gains on the sale of fixed assets and other operating expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, employee expenses were $1.9 million, insurance expense was $766 thousand and correspondent bank fees were $510 thousand. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, employee expenses, including travel, meals, entertainment and education, were $2.1 million, insurance expense was $687 thousand and correspondent bank fees were $400 thousand.
Merger expenses: There were no merger expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Merger expenses were $915 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.
Efficiency Ratio
The efficiency ratio is a supplemental financial measure utilized in the internal evaluation of performance and is not defined under GAAP. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this Item 2. Our efficiency ratio is computed by dividing non-interest expense, excluding merger expenses and goodwill impairment, by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income, excluding net gain or loss from securities transactions. Generally, an increase in the efficiency ratio indicates that more resources are being utilized to generate the same volume of income, while a decrease would indicate a more efficient allocation of resources.
The efficiency ratio was 67.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared with 63.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2019. The increase was primarily due to an increase in non-interest expense and a decrease in non-interest income, partially offset by an increase in net interest income, as discussed in “Results of Operations – Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin Analysis.”
The efficiency ratio was 66.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared with 66.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Additional discussion can be found in “Results of Operations – Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin Analysis.”
Income Taxes
Income tax expense has been provided based on an estimated annual effective tax rate, which in addition to statutory tax rates, takes into consideration estimated tax-exempt interest income, non-taxable life insurance income and non-deductible expenses in proportion to anticipated annual income before income taxes, as well as federal income tax credits anticipated to be available in each annual period. Tax effects of the goodwill impairment were separately reflected on a discrete basis in the current period.
Three months ended September 30, 2020, compared with three months ended September 30, 2019: The income tax benefit of $2.7 million recorded for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020 reflects income tax expense provided at an estimated annual effective tax rate of 22.5% on third-quarter income before taxes and total goodwill impairment net of a deferred income tax benefit of $5.3 million associated with the portion of the goodwill impairment which will continue to be amortized for tax purposes. The income tax expense of $2.8 million recorded for the three-month period ended September 30, 2019 was recorded at and estimated annual effective tax rate of 21.1%.
Nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared with nine months ended September 30, 2019: The income tax benefit of $1.7 million recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 reflects income tax expense provided at an estimated annual effective tax rate of 22.5% on income before taxes and total goodwill impairment net of a deferred income tax benefit of $5.3 million associated with the portion of the goodwill impairment which will continue to be amortized for tax purposes. Additional tax expense associated with the settlement of restricted stock units and the exercise of stock options recorded in the nine months ended September 2020 was $70 thousand. Income tax expense of $4.1 million recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was recorded at an estimated annual effective tax rate of 21.1% less tax benefits of $14 thousand associated with the settlement of restricted stock units and the exercise of stock options.
Impact of Inflation
58
The consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars, without considering changes in the relative value of money over time due to inflation or recession.
Unlike many industrial companies, substantially all our assets and liabilities are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates have a more significant impact on our performance than the effects of general levels of inflation. Interest rates may not necessarily move in the same direction or in the same magnitude as the prices of goods and services. However, other operating expenses reflect general levels of inflation.
Total assets decreased $84.0 million from December 31, 2019, to $3.87 billion at September 30, 2020. This variance was primarily due to a decrease of $112.6 million in total securities and a $104.8 million goodwill impairment charge taken in the third quarter, partially offset by an increase of $147.2 million in net loans held for investment. Our total liabilities decreased $8.1 million to $3.46 billion at September 30, 2020. The change in total liabilities came primarily from a decrease in FHLB loan advances of $156.5 million, largely offset by an increase in subordinated debt of $73.0 million and an increase in total deposits of $70.1 million. Total stockholders’ equity decreased $75.9 million from $478.1 million at December 31, 2019, to $402.2 million at September 30, 2020.
Loan Portfolio
Loans are our largest category of earning assets and typically provide higher yields than other types of earning assets. At September 30, 2020, our gross loans held for investment totaled $2.73 billion, an increase of $169.1 million, or 6.6%, compared with December 31, 2019. The overall increase in loan volume consisted of $285.6 million from commercial and industrial and $54.4 million from commercial real estate, partially offset by decreases of $101.2 million from residential real estate, $44.5 million from real estate construction, $14.5 million from agricultural real estate, $9.8 million from agricultural and $913 thousand from consumer. We also had loans classified as held-for-sale totaling $9.1 million at September 30, 2020, as compared to $5.9 million at December 31, 2019.
Our commercial loan portfolio consists of various types of loans, most of which are generally made to borrowers located in the Wichita, Kansas City and Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Areas (“MSAs”), as well as various community markets throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Most of our loan portfolio consists of commercial and industrial and commercial real estate loans and a substantial portion of our borrowers’ ability to honor their obligations is dependent on local economies in which they operate.
At September 30, 2020, gross total loans, including loans held-for-sale, were 87.3% of deposits and 70.7% of total assets. At December 31, 2019, gross total loans, including loans held-for-sale, were 83.6% of deposits and 64.9% of total assets.
We provide commercial lines of credit, working capital loans, commercial real estate-backed loans (including loans secured by owner-occupied commercial properties), term loans, equipment financing, aircraft financing, real property acquisition and development loans, borrowing base loans, real estate construction loans, homebuilder loans, SBA loans, agricultural and agricultural real estate loans, letters of credit and other loan products to national and regional companies, real estate developers, mortgage lenders, manufacturing and industrial companies and other businesses. The types of loans we make to consumers include residential real estate loans, home equity loans, home equity lines of credit, installment loans, unsecured and secured personal lines of credit, overdraft protection and letters of credit.
The following table summarizes our loan portfolio by type of loan as of the dates indicated.
Composition of Loan Portfolio
Percent
22.4
285,597
50.0
Real estate loans:
1,001,158
36.7
946,760
37.0
54,398
5.7
187,171
6.9
231,667
9.1
(44,496
(19.2
14.8
19.7
(101,197
(20.1
4.7
5.5
(14,519
(10.2
Total real estate loans
1,717,920
63.1
1,823,734
71.3
(105,814
(5.8
(913
3.0
3.6
(9,809
(10.6
Total loans held for investment
169,061
6.6
Total loans held for sale
3,120
52.6
Total loans held for investment (net of allowances)
147,206
5.8
Commercial and industrial: Commercial and industrial loans include loans used to purchase fixed assets, provide working capital or meet other financing needs of the business.
Commercial real estate: Commercial real estate loans include all loans secured by nonfarm, nonresidential properties and by multifamily residential properties, as well as 1-4 family investment-purpose real estate loans.
Real estate construction: Real estate construction loans include loans made for the purpose of acquisition, development or construction of real property, both commercial and consumer.
Residential real estate: Residential real estate loans include loans secured by primary or secondary personal residences.
Agricultural real estate, Agricultural, Consumer and other: Agricultural real estate loans are loans related to farmland. Agricultural loans are primarily operating lines subject to annual farming revenues including productivity/yield of the agricultural commodities produced. Consumer loans are generally secured by consumer assets but may be unsecured.
60
The contractual maturity ranges of loans in our loan portfolio and the amount of such loans with predetermined interest rates and floating rates in each maturity range as of September 30, 2020, are summarized in the following table.
Loan Maturity and Sensitivity to Changes in Interest Rates
As of September 30, 2020
One year
or less
After one year
through five
years
After five
193,560
592,208
71,476
Real Estate:
162,782
578,458
259,918
81,183
38,344
67,644
5,584
10,292
386,366
47,154
56,296
23,899
Total real estate
296,703
683,390
737,827
21,913
38,739
6,813
57,173
23,474
2,437
569,349
1,337,811
818,553
Loans with a predetermined fixed interest rate
255,801
1,000,180
284,289
1,540,270
Loans with an adjustable/floating interest rate
313,548
337,631
534,264
1,185,443
The contractual maturity ranges of loans in our loan portfolio and the amount of such loans with predetermined interest rates and floating rates in each maturity range as of December 31, 2019, are summarized in the following table.
As of December 31, 2019
218,717
224,356
128,574
147,977
498,013
300,770
64,528
114,606
52,533
7,357
11,885
484,197
56,064
52,324
33,480
275,926
676,828
870,980
16,268
43,844
8,266
73,487
17,786
1,620
584,398
962,814
1,009,440
281,991
589,383
326,629
1,198,003
302,407
373,431
682,811
1,358,649
We categorize loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt, such as current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information and current economic trends, among other factors. Loans are analyzed individually and classified based on credit risk. Consumer loans are considered pass credits unless downgraded due to payment status or reviewed as part of a larger credit relationship. Loans that participated in the short-term deferral program are not automatically considered classified solely due to a deferral, are subject to ongoing monitoring and will be downgraded or placed on nonaccrual if a noted weakness exists. We use the following definitions for risk ratings.
Special Mention: Loans classified as special mention have a potential weakness that deserves management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or of our credit position at some future date. These loans are considered classified.
Substandard: Loans classified as substandard are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or by the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the institution will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. These loans are considered classified.
The risk category of loans by class of loans is as follows as of September 30, 2020.
Risk Category of Loans by Class
Real estate:
993,487
7,671
187,124
1,695,605
22,315
62
The risk category of loans by class of loans is as follows as of December 31, 2019.
937,090
9,670
230,011
1,656
1,794,584
29,150
At September 30, 2020, loans considered unclassified increased to 97.5% of total loans, up from 97.4% of total loans at December 31, 2019. Classified loans were $67.2 million at September 30, 2020, an increase of $1.6 million, or 2.4%, from $65.6 million at December 31, 2019. As part of our COVID-19 response we have granted payment deferrals to our customers affected by the pandemic and if these loans do not return to normal payments after the deferral period the loans would be at risk of being downgraded in future periods. For additional information see “Lending operations and accommodations to borrowers” earlier in this section.
Nonperforming Assets
The following table presents information regarding nonperforming assets at the dates indicated.
Nonaccrual loans
Accruing loans 90 or more days past due
Restructured loans-accruing
OREO acquired through foreclosure, net
6,745
OREO transferred from property and equipment
for real estate no longer used in operations
Other repossessed assets
236
Total nonperforming assets
61,720
46,908
Ratios:
Nonperforming assets to total assets
1.19
Nonperforming assets to total loans plus OREO
2.26
1.83
Generally, loans are designated as nonaccrual when either principal or interest payments are 90 days or more past due based on contractual terms, unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection. Consumer loans are typically charged off no later than 180 days past due. In all cases, loans are placed on nonaccrual or charged off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, unpaid interest credited to income earned in the current year is reversed against income and unpaid interest earned in prior years is charged off. Future interest income may be recorded on a cash basis after recovery of principal is reasonably assured. Nonaccrual loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured. Nonaccrual loans include purchased loans that were identified upon acquisition as having experienced credit deterioration since origination (“purchased credit impaired loans”). However, if the purchased credit impaired loan included in nonaccrual loans has not experienced further deterioration since acquisition the loan is not considered impaired for purposes of determining the allowance for loan losses. See the
“Critical Accounting Policies – Impaired Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses” sections for information regarding the review of loans for determining impairment and the allowance for loan losses.
The nonperforming loans at September 30, 2020, consisted of 205 separate credits and 150 separate borrowers. We had nine non-performing loan relationships, totaling $41.3 million, with an outstanding balance in excess of $1.0 million as of September 30, 2020.
There are several procedures in place to assist us in maintaining the overall quality of our loan portfolio. We have established underwriting guidelines to be followed by lenders and we also monitor delinquency levels for any negative or adverse trends. In accordance with applicable regulation, appraisals or evaluations are required to independently value real estate and, as an important element, to consider when underwriting loans secured in part or in whole by real estate. The value of real estate collateral provides additional support to the borrower’s credit capacity. There can be no assurance, however, that our loan portfolio will not become subject to increasing pressures from deteriorating borrower credit due to general economic conditions.
Potential Problem Loans
Potential problem loans consist of loans that are performing in accordance with contractual terms, but for which management has concerns about the borrower’s ability to comply with repayment terms because of the borrower’s potential financial difficulties. Potential problem loans are assigned a grade of special mention or substandard. At September 30, 2020, the Company had $14.7 million in potential problem loans which were not included in either non-accrual or 90 days past due categories, compared to $27.2 million at December 31, 2019.
With respect to potential problem loans, all monitored and under-performing loans are reviewed and evaluated to determine if they are impaired. If we determine that a loan is impaired, then we evaluate the borrower’s overall financial condition to determine the need, if any, for possible write downs or appropriate additions to the allowance for loan losses based on the unlikelihood of full repayment of principal and interest in accordance with the contractual terms or the net realizable value of the pledged collateral.
The Company also monitors the aging of loans less than 90 days past due and the loans that have been deferred under the Company’s COVID-19 related payment deferral program as reported in “NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION” and “NOTE 3 – LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES” in the Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.
Allowance for Loan Losses
Please see “Critical Accounting Policies – Allowance for Loan Losses” for additional discussion of our allowance policy.
In connection with our review of the loan portfolio, risk elements attributable to particular loan types or categories are considered when assessing the quality of individual loans. Some of the risk elements include the following items.
Commercial and industrial loans are dependent on the strength of the industries of the related borrowers and the success of their businesses. Commercial and industrial loans are advanced for equipment purchases, to provide working capital or to meet other financing needs of the business. These loans may be secured by accounts receivable, inventory, equipment or other business assets. Financial information is obtained from the borrower to evaluate the debt service coverage and ability to repay the loans.
Commercial real estate loans are dependent on the industries tied to these loans as well as the local commercial real estate market. The loans are secured by the real estate and appraisals are obtained to support the loan amount. An evaluation of the project’s cash flows is performed to evaluate the borrower’s ability to repay the loan at the time of origination and periodically updated during the life of the loan.
Residential real estate loans are affected by the local residential real estate market, the local economy and movement in interest rates. We evaluate the borrower’s repayment ability through a review of credit reports and debt to income ratios. Appraisals are obtained to support the loan amount.
Agricultural real estate loans are real estate loans related to farmland and are affected by the value of farmland. We evaluate the borrower’s ability to repay based on cash flows from farming operations.
Consumer loans are dependent on the local economy. Consumer loans are generally secured by consumer assets but may be unsecured. We evaluate the borrower’s repayment ability through a review of credit scores and an evaluation of debt to income ratios.
Agricultural loans are primarily operating lines subject to annual farming revenues including productivity/yield of the agricultural commodities produced and the market pricing at the time of sale.
Analysis of allowance for loan losses: At September 30, 2020, the allowance for loan losses totaled $34.1 million, or 1.25% of total loans. At December 31, 2019, the allowance for loan losses aggregated $12.2 million, or 0.48% of total loans.
64
The allowance for loan losses on loans collectively evaluated for impairment totaled $24.6 million, or 0.93% of the $2.66 billion in loans collectively evaluated for impairment at September 30, 2020, compared to an allowance for loan losses of $11.0 million, or 0.44% of the $2.50 billion in loans collectively evaluated for impairment at December 31, 2019. The increases in the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans and of loans collectively evaluated for impairment principally reflect management’s evaluation of current environmental conditions and changes in the composition and quality of our loan portfolio. Also considered by management in evaluating the allowance for loan losses are applied loss factors which are based in part on historical loss experience from the last major economic downturn. Allowance for loan losses related to consumer loans increased substantially due to the portfolios higher historical realized loss rates.
The following table presents, as of and for the periods indicated, an analysis of the allowance for loan losses and other related data.
As of and for the Three Months
Ended September 30,
As of and for the Nine Months
Average loans outstanding
Gross loans outstanding at end of period(1)
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of
the period
Charge-offs:
(115
(193
(243
Total charge-offs
(874
Recoveries:
96
194
Total recoveries
68
Net recoveries (charge-offs)
(806
(581
(1,400
(10,878
Allowance for loan losses at end of the
period
Ratio of allowance to period-end loans
0.69
Annualized ratio of net charge-offs
(recoveries) to average loans
0.12
0.09
0.07
(1)Excluding loans held for sale.
65
The following table shows the allocation of the allowance for loan losses among our loan categories and certain other information as of the dates indicated. The total allowance is available to absorb losses from any loan category.
Analysis of the Allowance for Loan Losses
% of
Allowance
Balance of allowance for loan losses applicable to:
33.8
25.0
8,898
26.1
2,704
22.1
0.1
13.5
21.9
3.8
5.0
20.5
11.6
4.5
Total allowance for loan losses
Management believes that the allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2020, was adequate to cover probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio as of such date. There can be no assurance, however, that we will not sustain losses in future periods, which could be substantial in relation to the size of the allowance at September 30, 2020. While COVID-19 began impacting many borrowers in the first nine months of 2020, such loans may not meet the threshold of impaired until future periods as borrowers may not have sufficient levels of liquidity, operating performance and guarantor support to perform in accordance with the terms of their loans in periods beyond September 30, 2020, and the resulting future losses would be recorded in the period incurred. For loans modified that do not meet the definition of trouble debt restructurings, those loans may subsequently default, and such future losses would be recorded when the loss is incurred.
We use our securities portfolio to provide a source of liquidity, to provide an appropriate return on funds invested, to manage interest rate risk, to meet pledging requirements and to meet regulatory capital requirements. At September 30, 2020, the carrying amount of investment securities totaled $798.6 million, a decrease of $112.6 million compared with December 31, 2019. At September 30, 2020, securities represented 20.7% of total assets compared with 23.1% at December 31, 2019.
At the date of purchase, debt securities are classified into one of two categories, held-to-maturity or available-for-sale. We do not purchase securities for trading purposes. At each reporting date, the appropriateness of the classification is reassessed. Investments in debt securities are classified as held-to-maturity and carried at cost, adjusted for the amortization of premiums and the accretion of discounts, only if management has the positive intent and ability to hold those securities to maturity. Debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale and measured at fair value in the financial statements with unrealized gains and losses reported, net of tax, as accumulated comprehensive income or loss until realized. Interest earned on securities is included in total interest and dividend income. Also included in total interest and dividend income are dividends received on stock investments in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and the FHLB of Topeka. These stock investments are stated at cost.
The following table summarizes the amortized cost and fair value by classification of available-for-sale securities as of the dates shown.
Available-For-Sale Securities
Total available-for-sale securities
The following table summarizes the amortized cost and fair value by classification of held-to-maturity securities as of the dates shown.
Held-To-Maturity Securities
U.S. government-sponsored entities
Total held-to-maturity securities
At September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, we did not own securities of any one issuer (other than the U.S. government and its agencies or sponsored entities) for which aggregate adjusted cost exceeded 10% of consolidated stockholders’ equity at the reporting dates noted.
The following tables summarize the contractual maturity of debt securities and their weighted average yields as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Securities not due at a single maturity date, primarily mortgage-backed securities, are shown separately. Available-for-sale securities are shown at fair value and held-to-maturity securities are shown at cost, adjusted for the amortization of premiums and the accretion of discounts.
Due in one year
Due after one
year through
five years
Due after five
years through
10 years
Due after 10
Yield
—%
2.78
5.49
1,657
64,228
2.87
538,971
2.45
2.50
(0.48
5,107
2.17
35,763
4.35
3,994
4.25
4.10
State and political subdivisions(1)
3,216
2.57
27,475
30,715
64,047
2.93
8,337
2.33
30,161
2.54
130,706
3.28
629,372
2.44
2.58
The calculated yield is not presented on a tax equivalent basis.
3.50
142,024
Held-to-maturity securities:
U.S. government-
sponsored entities
1.65
992
2.21
2,826
2.81
71,317
2.96
519,093
2.83
5,095
2.74
17,897
4.94
4.45
Small Business
Administration loan pools
2.73
16,421
0.83
29,082
33,320
2.91
70,539
3.15
2.77
17,420
0.88
37,995
122,534
591,110
2.85
37,999
122,573
733,134
911,126
2.82
Mortgage-backed securities are securities that have been developed by pooling a number of real estate mortgages and which are principally issued by federal agencies such as Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Unlike U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agency securities, which have a lump sum payment at maturity, mortgage-backed securities provide cash flows from regular principal and interest payments and principal prepayments throughout the lives of the securities. Premiums and discounts on mortgage-backed securities are amortized and accreted over the expected life of the security and may be impacted by prepayments. As such, mortgage-backed securities which are purchased at a premium will generally produce decreasing net yields as interest rates drop because homeowners tend to refinance their mortgages resulting in prepayments and an acceleration of premium amortization. Securities purchased at a discount will reflect higher net yields in a decreasing interest rate environment as prepayments result in an acceleration of discount accretion.
The contractual maturity of mortgage-backed securities is not a reliable indicator of their expected lives because borrowers have the right to prepay their obligations at any time. Monthly pay downs on mortgage-backed securities cause the average lives of these securities to be much different than their stated lives. At September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, 89.1% and 89.9% of the government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities held by us had contractual final maturities of more than ten years with a weighted average life of 2.2 years and 4.2 years and a modified duration of 2.2 years and 3.8 years. At September 30, 2020, 100.0% of the private label residential mortgage-backed securities held by us had contractual final maturities of more than ten years with a weighted average life of 0.7 years and a modified duration of 0.7 years. There were no private label residential mortgage-backed securities held by us at December 31, 2019.
If the current economic environment brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic continues for an extended period, it could adversely impact the ability of state and political subdivisions to repay their current debt obligations when due. As part of the Company’s review of potential risk caused by the COVID-19 pandemic we have reviewed the types and amount of bonds that will mature over the next 12 months. At September 30, 2020, we had total general obligation bonds of $84.7 million with $2.0 million maturing in the next 12 months and total revenue bonds of $34.4 million with $571 thousand maturing in the next 12 months.
Goodwill Impairment Assessment
At September 30, 2020, we performed an interim quantitative analysis and determined from this analysis that goodwill was impaired and subsequently booked a $104.8 million non-cash charge for goodwill impairment. For more information on our September 30, 2020, interim analysis, see “Critical Accounting Policies” and “NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION.”
Other Assets
On January 31, 2020, the Company submitted a notice of proposed branch closing with the Federal Reserve for three locations. At their December meeting, the Board of Directors voted to close these branches and to move the loans, deposits and property that would not be sold with the building to other branches that will remain open in the markets of the branches being closed. The three locations were subsequently closed on May 1, 2020. At the present time, the Company does not have an active program in place to locate a buyer, these properties are not listed with a realtor and they are not being actively marketed. These properties were moved to other real estate owned during the third quarter.
Our lending and investing activities are primarily funded by deposits. A variety of deposit accounts are offered with a wide range of interest rates and terms including demand, savings, money market and time deposits. We rely primarily on competitive pricing policies, convenient locations, comprehensive marketing strategy and personalized service to attract and retain these deposits.
The following table shows our composition of deposits at September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019.
Composition of Deposits
of Total
Non-interest-bearing demand
15.7
Interest-bearing demand
870,398
27.8
703,048
23.0
945,909
30.2
1,046,000
34.1
19.9
27.2
Total deposits at September 30, 2020, were $3.13 billion, an increase of $70.1 million, or 2.3%, compared to total deposits of $3.06 billion at December 31, 2019.
Included in interest-bearing demand deposits are brokered deposit balances of $150.9 million at September 30, 2020, and $43.8 million at December 31, 2019. Also included in savings and money market deposits are brokered deposit balances of $5.9 million as of September 30, 2020, and $20.0 million as of December 31, 2019. These balances represent customer funds placed in the Insured Cash Sweep (“ICS”) service that allows Equity Bank to break large money market deposits into smaller amounts and place them in a network of other ICS banks to ensure FDIC insurance coverage on the entire deposit. These deposits are placed through ICS services, but are Equity Bank’s customer relationships that management views as core funding. Brokered certificates of deposit as of September 30, 2020, were $10.1 million and $9.5 million at December 31, 2019. Of these balances, $10.1 million at September 30, 2020, and $9.5 million at December 31, 2019, were reciprocal customer funds placed in the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (“CDARS”) program. CDARS allows Equity Bank to break large time deposits into smaller amounts and place them in a network of other CDARS banks to ensure FDIC insurance coverage on the entire deposit. Reciprocal deposits are not considered brokered deposits as long as the aggregate balance is less than the lesser of 20% of total liabilities or $5.0 billion and Equity Bank is well capitalized and well rated. All non-reciprocal deposits and reciprocal deposits in excess of regulatory limits are considered brokered deposits.
The following table provides information on the maturity distribution of time deposits of $100 thousand or more as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019.
3 months or less
91,694
132,148
(40,454
(30.6
Over 3 through 6 months
76,351
110,714
(34,363
(31.0
Over 6 through 12 months
117,391
163,802
(46,411
(28.3
Over 12 months
98,177
133,337
(35,160
(26.4
Total Time Deposits
383,613
540,001
(156,388
(29.0
Other Borrowed Funds
We utilize borrowings to supplement deposits to fund our lending and investing activities. Short-term borrowings and long-term borrowings include federal funds purchased and retail repurchase agreements, FHLB advances, Federal Reserve Bank discount window, a bank stock loan and subordinated debentures. For additional information see “NOTE 6 – BORROWINGS” in the Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Liquidity
Market and public confidence in our financial strength and financial institutions in general will largely determine access to appropriate levels of liquidity. This confidence is significantly dependent on our ability to maintain sound asset quality and appropriate levels of capital reserves.
Liquidity is defined as the ability to meet anticipated customer demands for future funds under credit commitments and deposit withdrawals at a reasonable cost and on a timely basis. We measure our liquidity position by considering both on and off-balance sheet sources of and demands for funds on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.
Liquidity risk involves the risk of being unable to fund assets with the appropriate duration and rate-based liabilities, as well as the risk of not being able to meet unexpected cash needs. Liquidity planning and management are necessary to ensure the ability to fund operations in a cost-effective manner and to meet current and future potential obligations such as loan commitments, lease obligations and unexpected deposit outflows. In this process, we focus on both assets and liabilities and on the way they combine to provide adequate liquidity to meet our needs.
During the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, and 2019, our liquidity needs have primarily been met by core deposits, security and loan maturities and amortizing investment and loan portfolios. Other funding sources include federal funds purchased, brokered certificates of deposit, borrowings from the FHLB and the Federal Reserve discount window.
Our largest sources of funds are deposits and FHLB borrowings and largest uses of funds are loans and securities. Average loans were $2.70 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of 3.4% over the December 31, 2019, average balance. Excess deposits are primarily invested in our interest-bearing deposit account with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, investment securities, federal funds sold or other short-term liquid investments until the funds are needed to fund loan growth. Our securities portfolio has a weighted average life of 2.8 years and a modified duration of 2.6 years at September 30, 2020.
Cash and cash equivalents were $65.8 million at September 30, 2020, a decrease of $23.5 million from the $89.3 million cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2019. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents is driven primarily by $35.2 million net cash used in investing activities and $24.7 million net cash used in financing activities, partially offset by $36.4 million provided by operating activities. Cash and cash equivalents at January 1, 2020, plus liquidity provided by operating activities, pay downs, sales and maturities of investment securities and FHLB borrowings during the first nine months of 2020 were used to originate or purchase loans and to purchase investment securities. We believe that our daily funding needs can be met through cash provided by operating activities, payments and maturities on loans and investment securities, core deposit base and FHLB advances and other borrowing relationships.
Off-Balance Sheet Items
In the normal course of business, we enter into various transactions, which, in accordance with GAAP, are not included in our consolidated balance sheets. We enter into these transactions to meet the financing needs of our customers. These transactions include commitments to extend credit and standby and commercial letters of credit, which involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets. Our exposure to credit loss is represented by the contractual amounts of these commitments. The same credit policies and procedures are used in making these commitments as for on-balance sheet instruments.
Our commitments associated with outstanding standby and performance letters of credit and commitments to extend credit expiring by period as of September 30, 2020, are summarized below. Since commitments associated with letters of credit and commitments to extend credit may expire unused, the amounts shown do not necessarily reflect the actual future cash funding requirements.
Credit Extensions Commitments
1 Year
or Less
More Than
1 Year but
Less Than
3 Years
3 Years or
More but
5 Years
or More
Standby and performance letters of credit
5,721
400
210
6,331
Commitments to extend credit
266,895
43,581
20,699
86,622
417,797
272,616
43,981
20,909
424,128
Standby and Performance Letters of Credit: Standby letters of credit are irrevocable commitments issued by us to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party once specified pre-conditions are met. Financial standby letters of credit are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements, including commercial paper, bond financing and similar transactions. Performance standby letters of credit are issued to guarantee performance of certain customers under non-financial contractual obligations. The credit risk involved in issuing standby letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers.
Commitments to Extend Credit: Commitments to originate loans and available lines of credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments and lines of credit generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since a portion of the commitments and lines of credit may expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment and lines of credit amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Each customer’s creditworthiness is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the counterparty. Collateral held varies, but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, commercial real estate and residential real estate. Commitments to extend credit include mortgage loans in the process of origination that we plan to fund within a normal period of 60 to 90 days, and which are intended for sale to investors in the secondary market.
Capital Resources
Capital management consists of providing equity to support our current and future operations. The federal bank regulators view capital levels as important indicators of an institution’s financial soundness. As a general matter, FDIC-insured depository institutions and their holding companies are required to maintain minimum capital relative to the amount and types of assets they hold. As a bank holding company and a state-chartered-Fed-member bank, the Company and Equity Bank are subject to regulatory capital requirements.
Capital adequacy guidelines and, additionally for banks, prompt corrective action regulations, involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by regulators. Failure to meet capital requirements can initiate regulatory action. Management believes as of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, the Company and Equity Bank meet all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.
Prompt corrective action regulations provide five classifications: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized, although these terms are not used to represent overall financial condition. If adequately capitalized, regulatory approval is required to accept brokered deposits. If undercapitalized, capital distributions are limited, as are asset growth and acquisitions, and capital restoration plans are required.
Failure to meet capital guidelines could subject the institution to a variety of enforcement remedies by federal bank regulatory agencies, including termination of deposit insurance by the FDIC, restrictions on certain business activities and appointment of the FDIC as conservator or receiver. As of September 30, 2020, the most recent notifications from the federal regulatory agencies categorized Equity Bank as “well capitalized” under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized, Equity Bank must maintain minimum Total capital, Tier 1 capital, Common Equity Tier 1 capital and Tier 1 leverage ratios. For additional information, see “NOTE 8 – REGULATORY MATTERS” in the Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed Equity Bank’s category.
We identify certain financial measures discussed in this Quarterly Report as being “non-GAAP financial measures.” In accordance with SEC’s rules, we classify a financial measure as being a non-GAAP financial measure if that financial measure excludes or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding or including amounts, that are included or excluded, as the case may be, in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time in the United States in our statements of income, balance sheet or statements of cash flows. Non-GAAP financial measures do not include operating and other statistical measures or ratios, or statistical measures calculated using exclusively either financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, operating measures or other measures that are not non-GAAP financial measures or both.
The non-GAAP financial measures that we discuss in this Quarterly Report should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the most directly comparable or other financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Moreover, the way we calculate the non-GAAP financial measures that we discuss in this Quarterly Report may differ from that of other companies reporting measures with similar names. You should understand how such other banking organizations calculate their financial measures similar or with names like the non-GAAP financial measures we have discussed in this Quarterly Report when comparing such non-GAAP financial measures.
Tangible Book Value Per Common Share and Tangible Book Value Per Diluted Common Share: Tangible book value is a non-GAAP measure generally used by financial analysts and investment bankers to evaluate financial institutions. We calculate: (a) tangible common equity as total stockholders’ equity less preferred stock, goodwill, core deposit intangibles (net of accumulated amortization) and other intangible assets (net of amortization); (b) tangible book value per common share as tangible common equity (as described in clause (a)) divided by shares of common stock outstanding; and tangible book value per diluted common share as tangible common equity (as described in clause (a)) divided by diluted shares of common stock outstanding. For tangible book value, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is book value.
Management believes that these measures are important to many investors who are interested in changes from period to period in book value per common share exclusive of changes in intangible assets. Goodwill and other intangible assets have the effect of increasing total book value while not increasing our tangible book value.
The following table reconciles, as of the dates set forth below, total stockholders’ equity to tangible common equity, tangible book value per common share and tangible book value per diluted common share and compares these values with book value per common share.
For the three months ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Less: goodwill
Less: core deposit intangibles, net
18,131
19,105
20,727
Less: mortgage servicing asset, net
Less: naming rights, net
1,141
1,152
1,163
1,174
1,184
Tangible common equity
Common shares issued at period end
15,198,986
Diluted common shares outstanding at period end
14,945,282
15,334,144
15,297,319
15,719,810
15,647,456
Book value per common share
Tangible book value per common share
Tangible book value per diluted common share
Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets: Tangible common equity to tangible assets is a non-GAAP measure generally used by financial analysts and investment bankers to evaluate financial institutions. We calculate (a) tangible common equity as total stockholders’ equity less preferred stock, goodwill, core deposit intangibles (net of accumulated amortization) and other intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization); (b) tangible assets as total assets less goodwill, core deposit intangibles (net of accumulated amortization) and other intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization); and (c) tangible common equity to tangible assets as tangible common equity (as described in clause (a)) divided by tangible assets (as described in clause (b)). For tangible common equity to tangible assets, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is total stockholders’ equity to total assets.
Management believes that this measure is important to many investors in the marketplace who are interested in the relative changes from period to period in common equity and total assets, each exclusive of changes in intangible assets. Goodwill and other intangible assets have the effect of increasing both total stockholders’ equity and total assets while not increasing tangible common equity or tangible assets.
The following table reconciles, as of the dates set forth below, total stockholders’ equity to tangible common equity and total assets to tangible assets.
Tangible assets
3,815,727
4,049,552
3,787,128
3,792,060
3,916,313
Equity to assets
Tangible common equity to tangible assets
Return on Average Tangible Common Equity: Return on average tangible common equity is a non-GAAP measure generally used by financial analysts and investment bankers to evaluate financial institutions. We calculate (a) average tangible common equity as total average stockholders’ equity less average goodwill, core deposit intangibles (net of accumulated amortization) and other intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization); (b) adjusted net income allocable to common stockholders as net income allocable to common stockholders plus intangible asset amortization less tax effect on intangible assets amortization; and (c) return on average tangible common equity as annualized adjusted net income allocable to common stockholders (as described in clause (b)) divided by average tangible common equity (as described in clause (a)). For return on average tangible common equity, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is return on average equity.
Management believes that this measure is important to many investors in the marketplace who are interested in earnings quality on tangible common equity. Goodwill and other intangible assets have the effect of increasing total stockholders’ equity while not increasing tangible common equity.
The following table reconciles, as of the dates set forth below, return on average stockholders’ equity and return on average tangible common equity.
Total average stockholders’ equity
483,605
482,567
473,562
Less: average intangible assets
156,194
157,097
157,993
Average tangible common equity
329,039
327,411
325,470
315,569
304,492
Net income allocable to common stockholders
Amortization of intangible assets
1,043
986
814
833
797
Less: tax effect
5,539
207
171
175
167
Adjusted net income allocable to common
stockholders
9,930
2,468
1,901
10,672
11,036
Return on total average stockholders’ equity
(ROAE) annualized
Return on average tangible common equity
(ROATCE) annualized
12.01
Efficiency Ratio: The efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP measure generally used by financial analysts and investment bankers to evaluate financial institutions. We calculate the efficiency ratio by dividing non-interest expense, excluding merger expenses and goodwill impairment, by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income, excluding net gain (loss) from securities transactions. The GAAP-based efficiency ratio is non-interest expense divided by net interest income plus non-interest income.
In management’s judgment, the adjustments made to non-interest expense and non-interest income allow investors and analysts to better assess operating expenses in relation to operating revenue by removing merger expenses and net gain (loss) from securities transactions.
The following table reconciles, as of the dates set forth below, the efficiency ratio to the GAAP-based efficiency ratio.
Less: goodwill impairment
Non-interest expense, excluding goodwill impairment
5,732
5,306
6,641
Less: net gain (loss) from securities transactions
Non-interest income, excluding net gain (loss) from
securities transactions
Net interest income plus non-interest income,
excluding net gain (loss) from securities transactions
38,592
38,619
37,393
39,049
38,094
Non-interest expense to net interest income
plus non-interest income
339.02
68.87
63.58
Item 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Our asset-liability policy provides guidelines for effective funds management and management has established a measurement system for monitoring net interest rate sensitivity position within established guidelines.
As a financial institution, the primary component of market risk is interest rate volatility. Fluctuations in interest rates will ultimately impact both the level of income and expense recorded on most assets and liabilities and the market value of all interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, other than those which have a short-term maturity. Interest rate risk is the potential of economic gains or losses due to future interest rate changes. These changes can be reflected in future net interest income and/or fair market values. The objective is to measure the effect on net interest income (“NII”) and economic value of equity (“EVE”) and to adjust the balance sheet to minimize the inherent risk while at the same time maximizing income.
We manage interest rate exposure by structuring the balance sheet in the ordinary course of business. We have the ability to enter into instruments such as leveraged derivatives, interest rate swaps, financial options, financial futures contracts or forward delivery contracts for the purpose of reducing interest rate risk. Currently, we do not have a material exposure to these instruments. We also have the ability to enter into interest rate swaps as an accommodation to our customers in connection with an interest rate swap program. Based upon the nature of our operations, we are not subject to foreign exchange or commodity price risk. We do not own any trading assets.
Our exposure to interest rate risk is managed by the Asset Liability Committee (“ALCO”), which is composed of certain members of senior management, in accordance with policies approved by the Board of Directors. ALCO formulates strategies based on appropriate levels of interest rate risk. In determining the appropriate level of interest rate risk, ALCO considers the impact on earnings and capital of the current outlook on interest rates, potential changes in interest rates, regional economies, liquidity, business strategies and other factors. ALCO meets monthly to review, among other things, the sensitivity of assets and liabilities to interest rate changes, the book and market values of assets and liabilities, unrealized gains and losses, securities purchase and sale activities, commitments to originate loans and the maturities of investment securities and borrowings. Additionally, ALCO reviews liquidity, projected cash flows, maturities of deposits and consumer and commercial deposit activity.
ALCO uses a simulation analysis to monitor and manage the pricing and maturity of assets and liabilities in order to diminish the potential adverse impact that changes in interest rates could have on net interest income. The simulation tests the sensitivity of NII and EVE. Contractual maturities and repricing opportunities of loans are incorporated in the simulation model as are prepayment assumptions, maturity data and call options within the investment securities portfolio. Assumptions based on past experience are incorporated into the model for non-maturity deposit accounts. The assumptions used are inherently uncertain and, as a result, the model cannot precisely measure the future NII and EVE. Actual results will differ from the model’s simulated results due to timing,
magnitude and frequency of interest rate changes as well as changes in market conditions and the application and timing of various management strategies.
The change in the impact of net interest income from the base case for September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, was primarily driven by the rate and mix of variable and fixed rate financial instruments, the underlying duration of the financial instruments and the level of response to changes in the interest rate environment. The increase in the level of negative impact to net interest income in the up interest rate shock scenarios is due to the assumed migration of non-term deposit liabilities to higher rate term deposits; the level of fixed rate investments and loans receivable that will not reprice to higher rates; the variable rate Federal Home Loan Bank advances; the variable rate subordinated debentures and the non-term deposits that are assumed not to migrate to term deposits that are variable rate and will reprice to the higher rates; and a portion of our portfolio of variable rate loans contain restrictions on the amount of repricing and frequency of repricing that limit the amount of repricing to the current higher rates. These factors result in the negative impacts to net interest income in the up-interest rate shock scenarios that are detailed in the table below. In the down interest rate shock scenario, the main drivers of the negative impact on net interest income are the decrease in investment income due to the negative convexity features of the fixed rate mortgage backed securities, assumed prepayment of existing fixed rate loans receivable, the downward pricing of variable rate loans receivable, the constraint of the shock on non-term deposits and the level of term deposit repricing. Our mortgage backed security portfolio is comprised of fixed rate investments and as rates decrease, the level of prepayments is assumed to increase and cause the current higher rate investments to prepay and the assumed reinvestment will be at lower interest rates. Similar to our mortgage backed securities, the model assumes that our fixed rate loans receivable will prepay at a faster rate and reinvestment will occur at lower rates. The level of downward shock on the non-term deposits is constrained to limit the downward shock to a non-zero rate which results in a minimal reduction in the average rate paid. Term deposits repricing will only decrease the average cost paid by a minimal amount due to the assumed repricing occurring at maturity. These factors result in the negative impact to net interest income in the down interest rate shock scenario.
The change in the EVE from the base case for September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, is due to being in a liability sensitive position and the level of convexity in pre-payable assets. Generally, with a liability sensitive position, as interest rates increase, the value of assets decrease faster than the value of liabilities and as interest rates decrease, the value of assets increase at a faster rate than liabilities. However, due to the level of convexity in fixed rate pre-payable assets, we do not experience a similar change in the value of assets in a down interest rate shock scenario. In addition, the mix of interest-bearing deposit and non-interest-bearing deposits impact the level of deposit decay and the resulting benefit of discounting from the non-interest-bearing deposits. At September 30, 2020, non-interest-bearing deposits were approximately $694.0 million or 44.2% higher than that deposit type at December 31, 2019. Substantially all investments and approximately 56.5% of loans are pre-payable and fixed rate and as rates decrease, the level of modeled prepayments increase. The prepaid principal is assumed to reprice at the assumed current rates resulting in a smaller positive impact to the EVE.
Management utilizes static balance sheet rate shocks to estimate the potential impact on various rate scenarios. This analysis estimates a percentage of change in the metric from the stable rate base scenario versus alternative scenarios of rising and falling market interest rates by instantaneously shocking a static balance sheet. The following table summarizes the simulated immediate change in net interest income for twelve months as of the dates indicated.
Market Risk
Impact on Net Interest Income
Change in prevailing interest rates
+300 basis points
(8.1
(12.3
+200 basis points
(4.6
(7.6
+100 basis points
(1.8
(3.5
0 basis points
-100 basis points
(1.0
76
The following table summarizes the simulated immediate impact on economic value of equity as of the dates indicated.
Impact on Economic Value
of Equity
8.8
11.2
(3.0
7.6
(0.6
(20.4
Item 4: Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures
An evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q was performed under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives and management was required to apply judgement in evaluating its controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and are effective to provide reasonable assurance that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC rules and forms.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q 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
From time to time, we are a party to various litigation matters incidental to the conduct of our business. See “NOTE 12 – LEGAL MATTERS” of the Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1 to this Quarterly report for a complete discussion of litigation matters.
Item 1A: Risk Factors
In addition to the other information contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the following risk factor represents material updates and additions to the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10- K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additional risks not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Further, to the extent that any of the information contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q constitutes forward-looking statements, the risk factor set forth below also is a cautionary statement identifying important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of us.
The inability of borrowers on deferral to make payments on their loans following the end of the deferral period.
Expiration of our emerging growth company designation will impose additional compliance obligations and costs.
The economic impact of the novel COVID-19 outbreak could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
In December 2019, a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported in China, and, in March 2020, the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic. On March 12, 2020, the President of the United States declared the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States a national emergency. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant economic dislocation in the United States as many state and local governments have ordered non-essential businesses to close and residents to shelter in place at home. This has resulted in an unprecedented slow-down in economic activity and a related increase in unemployment. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, more than 22 million people have filed claims for unemployment and stock markets have declined in value, in particular, bank stocks have significantly declined in value. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Federal Reserve Board has reduced the benchmark fed funds rate to a target range of 0% to 0.25% and the yields on 10 and 30-year treasury notes have declined to historic lows. Various state governments and federal agencies are requiring lenders to provide forbearance and other relief to borrowers (e.g., waiving late payment and other fees). The federal banking agencies have encouraged financial institutions to prudently work with affected borrowers and recently passed legislation has provided relief from reporting loan classifications due to modifications related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Certain industries have been particularly hard hit, including the travel and hospitality industry, the restaurant industry and the retail industry. Finally, the spread of the coronavirus has caused us to modify our business practices, including employee travel, work locations and cancellation of physical participation in meetings, events and conferences. We may take further actions as may be required by government authorities or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers and business partners.
Given the ongoing and dynamic nature of the circumstances, it is difficult to predict the full impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our business. The extent of such impact will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain, including when the coronavirus can be controlled and abated and when and how the economy may be reopened.
Item 2: Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Repurchase of Common Stock
On April 18, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 1,100,000 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock, from time to time, beginning April 29, 2019, and concluding October 30, 2020. The repurchase program does not obligate us to acquire a specific dollar amount or number of shares and it may be extended, modified or discontinued at any time without notice.
The following table presents shares that have been repurchased under the program during the third quarter of 2020.
Period
Total Number of Shares Purchased
Average Price Paid per Share
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Repurchase Plan
Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plan
July 1, 2020 through July 31, 2020
38,489
14.20
345,034
August 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020
278,202
15.44
66,832
September 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020
16.37
383,523
15.48
Item 3: Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None
Item 4: Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5: Other Information
Item 6: Exhibits
Exhibit
No.
Description
4.1
Indenture, dated as of June 29, 2020, by and between Equity Bancshares, Inc. and UMB Bank, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Equity Bancshares, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 2, 2020).
4.2
Form of 7.00% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Note due 2030 (included in Exhibit 4.1) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Equity Bancshares, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 2, 2020).
10.1
Form of Subordinated Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2020, by and among Equity Bancshares, Inc. and the several purchasers thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Equity Bancshares, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 2, 2020).
10.2
Form of Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2020, by and among Equity Bancshares, Inc. and the several purchasers thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Equity Bancshares, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 2, 2020).
10.3
The Fourth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement and Promissory Notes Modification Agreement, dated June 29, 2020, by and among Equity Bancshares, Inc. as Borrower and ServisFirst Bank, as Lender (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Equity Bancshares, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 2, 2020).
31.1*
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1**
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2**
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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).
101.SCH*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
104*
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
*
Filed herewith.
**
These exhibits are furnished herewith and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
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.
October 29, 2020
By:
/s/ Brad S. Elliott
Date
Brad S. Elliott
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Eric R. Newell
Eric R. Newell
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer