Pacific Premier Bancorp - 10-Q quarterly report FY

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010

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 0-22193

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

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 [ X ] No [_]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files). Yes [_] No [_]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definition of “accelerated filer”, “large accelerated filer”, and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes [ ] No [X]

 

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock as of November 5, 2010 was 10,033,836.

PACIFIC PREMIER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

FORM 10-Q

INDEX

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

Accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

Accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

PACIFIC PREMIER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

September 30, 2010

(UNAUDITED)

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. (the “Corporation”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Pacific Premier Bank (the “Bank”) (collectively, the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”).  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

In the opinion of management, the consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2010, December 31, 2009, and September 30, 2009 and the results of its operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, comprehensive income and cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.  Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or the full year ending December 31, 2010.

Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  The unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2009.

The Company accounts for its investments in its wholly owned special purpose entity, PPBI Trust I, under the equity method whereby the subsidiary’s net earnings are recognized in the Company’s statement of income.

In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2010-06, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820):  Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements.”  ASU 2010-06 revises two disclosure requirements concerning fair value measurements and clarifies two others.  It requires separate presentation of significant transfers into and out of Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy and disclosure of the reasons for such transfers.  It will also require the presentation of purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements within Level 3 on a gross basis rather than a net basis.  The amendments also clarify that disclosures should be disaggregated by class of asset or liability and that disclosures about inputs and valuation techniques should be provided for both recurring and non-recurring fair value measurements.  The Company’s disclosures about fair value measurements are presented in Note 6 – Fair Value Disclosures.  These new disclosure requirements were effective for the period ended September 30, 2010, except for the requirement concerning gross presentation of Level 3 activity, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010.  There was no significant effect to the Company’s financial statement disclosure upon adoption of this ASU.

Future Application of Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-20, “Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses,” which will require the Company to provide a greater level of disaggregated information about the credit quality of the Company’s loans and leases and the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses (the “Allowance”).  This ASU will also require the Company to disclose additional information related to credit quality indicators, past due information, and information related to loans modified in a troubled debt restructuring.  The provisions of this ASU are effective for the Company’s reporting period ending December 31, 2010.  As this ASU amends only the disclosure requirements fo r loans and leases and the allowance, the adoption will have no impact on the Company’s statements of income or condition.

In March 2004, the Corporation issued $10.3 million of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the “Subordinated Debentures”) to PPBI Trust I, which funded the payment of $10.0 million of Floating Rate Trust Preferred Securities issued by PPBI Trust I in March 2004. The net proceeds from the offering of Trust Preferred Securities were contributed as capital to the Bank to support further growth.  Interest is payable quarterly on the Subordinated Debentures at three-month LIBOR plus 2.75% per annum, for an effective rate of 3.28% per annum as of September 30, 2010.

The Corporation is not allowed to consolidate PPBI Trust I into the Company’s financial statements.  The resulting effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements is to report the Subordinated Debentures as a component of liabilities.

Basic earnings per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income or loss available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period, excluding common shares in treasury.  Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted from the issuance of common stock that would then share in earnings and excludes common shares in treasury.  Stock options exercisable for 505,057 shares of common stock for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and stock options exercisable for 565,935 shares of common stock for the three months ended September 30, 2009 were not included in the computation of earnings per share because their exe rcise price exceeded the average market price during the respective periods.  Stock options exercisable for 494,935 shares of common stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and stock options exercisable for 565,551 shares of common stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were not included in the computation of earnings per share because their exercise price exceeded the average market price for the respective periods.

The following table sets forth the Company’s unaudited earnings per share calculations for the periods indicated:

The Company’s estimated fair value amounts have been determined by the Company using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies.  However, considerable judgment is required to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could have realized in a current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts. Although management is not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the estimated fair value amounts, such amounts have not been comprehensively revalued for purposes of these financial statements since the balance sheet date and, therefore, current estimates o f fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented.  The following methods were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments identified in the table immediately below.

Cash and Cash Equivalents—The carrying amount approximates fair value due to their short-term repricing characteristics.

 

Securities Available for Sale—Fair values are based on quoted market prices from securities dealers or readily available market quote systems.

Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) of San Francisco and Federal Reserve Bank Stock —The carrying value approximates the fair value based upon the redemption provisions of the stock.

 

Loans Held for Sale—Fair values are based on quoted market prices or dealer quotes.

 

Loans Held for Investment—The fair value of gross loans receivable has been estimated using the present value of cash flow method, discounting expected future cash flows by estimated market interest rates for loans with similar characteristics, including credit ratings and maturities.  Consideration is also given to estimated prepayments and credit losses.

Accrued Interest Receivable/Payable—The carrying amount approximates fair value.

 

Deposit Accounts—The fair value disclosed for checking, passbook and money market accounts is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date.  The fair value of certificates of deposit accounts is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation based on interest rates currently offered for certificate of deposits of similar remaining maturities.

 

FHLB Advances and Other Borrowings—The fair value disclosed for FHLB advances and other borrowings is determined by discounting contractual cash flows at current market interest rates for similar instruments with similar terms.

Subordinated Debentures—The fair value of subordinated debentures is estimated by discounting the balance by the current three-month LIBOR rate plus the current market spread.  The fair value is determined based on the maturity date as the Company does not currently have intentions to call the debenture.

Off-balance sheet commitments and standby letters of credit—The notional amount disclosed for off-balance sheet commitments and standby letters of credit is the amount available to be drawn down on all lines and letters of credit.  The cost to assume is calculated at 10% of the notional amount.

 

Based on the above methods and pertinent information available to management as of the periods indicated, the following table presents the carrying amount and estimated fair value of our financial instruments:

The Company determines the fair market values of certain financial instruments based on the fair value hierarchy established in GAAP under ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, and as modified  by ASU No. 2010-06, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820):  Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements”.  GAAP requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value and describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value.

The following provides a summary of the hierarchical levels used to measure fair value:

Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 1 assets and liabilities may include debt and equity securities that are actively traded in an exchange market or an over-the-counter market and are considered highly liquid. This category generally includes U.S. Government and agency mortgage-backed debt securities.

Level 2—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 for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 2 assets and liabilities may include debt securities with quoted prices that are traded less frequently than exchange-traded instruments and other instruments whose value is determined using a pricing model with inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. This category generally includes corporate debt securities, derivative contracts, residential mortgage and loans held-for-sale.

Level 3—Unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. This category generally includes certain private equity investments, retained residual interests in securitizations, residential mortgage servicing rights, asset-backed securities (“ABS”), highly structured or long-term derivative contracts and certain collateralized debt obligations (“CDO”) where independent pricing information could not be obtained for a significant portion of the underlying assets.

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis include securities available for sale and equity securities.  Securities available for sale include U.S. Treasuries, municipal bonds and mortgage-backed securities.  The Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis include impaired loans and other real estate owned (“OREO”).

Marketable Securities.  Where possible, the Company utilizes quoted market prices to measure debt and equity securities; such items are classified as Level 1 in the hierarchy and include equity securities, U.S. Treasuries and securities issued by government sponsored enterprises (“GSE”).  When quoted market prices for identical assets are unavailable or the market for the asset is not sufficiently active, varying valuation techniques are used.  Common inputs in valuing these assets include, among others, benchmark yields, issuer spreads, forward mortgage-backed securities trade prices and recently reported trades.  Such assets are classified as Level 2 in the hierarchy and typically include private labe l mortgage-backed securities and corporate bonds. Pricing on these securities are provided to the Company by a pricing service vendor.  In the Level 3 category, the Company is classifying all the securities that its pricing service vendor cannot price due to lack of trade activity in these securities.

Impaired Loans.  A loan is considered impaired when it is probable that payment of interest and principal will not be made in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Impairment is measured based on the fair value of the underlying collateral less the anticipated selling costs or the discounted expected future cash flows.  The Company does not measure loan impairment on loans less than $100,000.  As such, the Company records impaired loans as non-recurring Level 2 when the fair value of the underlying collateral is based on an observable market price or current appraised value. When current market prices are not available or the Company determines that the fair value of the underlying collateral is furthe r impaired below appraised values, the Company records impaired loans as Level 3. At September 30, 2010, substantially all the Company’s impaired loans were evaluated based on the fair value of their underlying collateral based upon the most recent appraisal available to management.

OREO.  The Company generally obtains an appraisal and/or a market evaluation from a qualified third party on all OREO prior to obtaining possession. After foreclosure, an updated appraisal and/or a market evaluation is periodically performed, as deemed appropriate by management, due to changing market conditions or factors specifically attributable to the property’s condition.  If the carrying value of the property exceeds its fair value less estimated cost to sell, a charge to operations is recorded and the OREO value is reduced accordingly.

 

The Company’s valuation methodologies may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values.  While management believes the Company’s valuation methodologies are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date.

The following fair value hierarchy table presents information about the Company’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at the date indicated:

The following table provides a summary of the changes in balance sheet carrying values associated with Level 3 financial instruments for the period indicated:

 

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains information and statements that are considered “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  These forward-looking statements represent plans, estimates, objectives, goals, guidelines, expectations, intentions, projections and statements of our beliefs concerning future events, business plans, objectives, expected operating results and the assumptions upon which those statements are based.  Forward-looking statements include without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and are typically identified with words such as “may,” “could,” 8220;should,” “will,” “would,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” or words or phases of similar meaning.  We caution that the forward-looking statements are based largely on our expectations and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on factors which are, in many instances, beyond our control.  Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, or implied by the forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause our financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in such forward-looking statements:

If one or more of the factors affecting our forward-looking information and statements proves incorrect, then our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, forward-looking information and statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other reports and registration statements filed by us with the SEC.  Therefore, we caution you not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking information and statements.  We will not update the forward-looking information and statements to reflect actual results or changes in the factors affecting the forward-looking information and statements.  The above factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, as supplemented by the risk fact ors contained in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Forward-looking information and statements should not be viewed as predictions, and should not be the primary basis upon which investors evaluate us.  Any investor in our common stock should consider all risks and uncertainties disclosed in our filings with the SEC, all of which are accessible on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

This discussion should be read in conjunction with our Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, plus the unaudited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the year ending December 31, 2010.

We are a California-based bank holding company incorporated in the state of Delaware and registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (“BHCA”).  Our wholly owned subsidiary, Pacific Premier Bank, is a California state chartered commercial bank.  As a bank holding company, the Corporation is subject to regulation and supervision by the Federal Reserve. We are required to file with the Federal Reserve quarterly and annual reports and such additional information as the Federal Reserve may require pursuant to the BHCA. The Federal Reserve may conduct examinations of bank holding companies, such as the Corporation, and their subsidiaries.  The Corporation is also a bank holding company within the meaning of the California Financial Code (the “Financ ial Code”). As such, the Corporation and its subsidiaries are subject to examination by, and may be required to file reports with, the California Department of Financial Institutions (“DFI”).

Under a policy of the Federal Reserve, a bank holding company is required to serve as a source of financial strength to its subsidiary depository institutions and to commit resources to support such institutions in circumstances where it might not do so absent such a policy. The Federal Reserve, under the BHCA, has the authority to require a bank holding company to terminate any activity or to relinquish control of a nonbank subsidiary (other than a nonbank subsidiary of a bank) upon the Federal Reserve’s determination that such activity or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial soundness and stability of any bank subsidiary of the bank holding company.

As a California state-chartered commercial bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve System, the Bank is subject to supervision, periodic examination and regulation by the DFI and the Federal Reserve. The Bank’s deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) through the Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”).  In general terms, insurance coverage is unlimited for non-interest bearing transaction accounts until December 31, 2012 and up to $250,000 per depositor for all other accounts in accordance with the recently enacted Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”).  As a result of this deposit insurance function, the FDIC also has certain supervisory authority and powers over our bank as well as all other FDIC insur ed institutions. If, as a result of an examination of the Bank, the regulators should determine that the financial condition, capital resources, asset quality, earnings prospects, management, liquidity or other aspects of the Bank’s operations are unsatisfactory or that the Bank or our management is violating or has violated any law or regulation, various remedies are available to the regulators. Such remedies include the power to enjoin unsafe or unsound practices, to require affirmative action to correct any conditions resulting from any violation or practice, to issue an administrative order that can be judicially enforced, to direct an increase in capital, to restrict growth, to assess civil monetary penalties, to remove officers and directors and ultimately to request the FDIC to terminate the Bank’s deposit insurance. As a California-chartered commercial bank, the Bank is also subject to certain provisions of California law.

We provide banking services within our targeted markets in Southern California to businesses, including the owners and employees of those businesses, professionals, real estate investors and non-profit organizations, as well as consumers in the communities we serve. The Bank operates six depository branches in Southern California located in the cities of Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, San Bernardino, and Seal Beach.  Our corporate headquarters are located in Costa Mesa, California.  Through our branches and our web site at www.ppbi.com, we offer a broad array of deposit products and services for both business and consumer customers, including checking, money market and savings accounts, cash management services, electronic ban king, and on-line bill payment.  We also offer a variety of loan products, including commercial business loans, lines of credit, commercial real estate loans, U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans, residential home loans, and home equity loans.  The Bank funds it’s lending and investment activities with retail deposits obtained through its branches, advances from the FHLB, lines of credit, and wholesale and brokered certificates of deposits.

Our principal source of income is the net spread between interest earned on loans and investments and the interest costs associated with deposits and borrowings used to finance the loan and investment portfolios.  Additionally, the Bank generates fee income from loan and investment sales and various products and services offered to both depository and loan customers.

On July 21 2010, sweeping financial regulatory reform legislation entitled the “Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act” was signed into law by President Obama. The Dodd-Frank Act implements far-reaching changes across the financial regulatory landscape, including provisions that, among other things, will:

Many aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act are subject to rulemaking and will take effect over several years, making it difficult to anticipate the overall financial impact on the Company, its customers or the financial industry generally.  Provisions in the legislation that affect deposit insurance assessments, payment of interest on demand deposits and interchange fees could increase the costs associated with deposits as well as place limitations on certain revenues those deposits may generate.

Management has established various accounting policies which govern the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America in the preparation of our financial statements.  Our significant accounting policies are described in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended.  Certain accounting policies require management to make estimates and assumptions which have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities; management considers these to be critical accounting policies.  The estimates and assumptions management uses are based on historical experience and other factors, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Actual results could differ significantly f rom these estimates and assumptions, which could have a material impact on the carrying value of assets and liabilities at balance sheet dates and our results of operations for future reporting periods.

We consider the allowance for loan losses to be a critical accounting policy that requires judicious estimates and assumptions in the preparation of our financial statements that is particularly susceptible to significant change. For further information, see “Allowances for Loan Losses” discussed later in this report and in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended.

In the third quarter of 2010, we recorded net income of $1.8 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $7,000 or less than $0.01 per share for the third quarter of 2009.

The Company’s pre-tax income totaled $2.9 million in the third quarter of 2010, compared with a pre-tax loss of $111,000 from the same period in the prior year.  The $3.0 million favorable change between quarters was primarily due to:

Partially offsetting those favorable items was a $690,000 increase in noninterest expense, essentially spread throughout all of our expense categories.

For the three months ended September 30, 2010, our return on average assets was 0.91% and return on average equity was 9.62%, compared to a negative return on average assets of less than 0.01% and a negative return on average equity of 0.05% for the same comparable period of 2009.

For the first nine months of 2010, the Company’s net income totaled $2.6 million or $0.24 per share on a diluted basis, compared with a net loss of $183,000 or $0.04 per share in the first nine months of 2009.

Our earnings are derived predominately from net interest income, which is the difference between the interest income earned on interest-earning assets, primarily loans and securities, and the interest expense incurred on interest-bearing liabilities, primarily deposits and borrowings.  The spread between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities and the relative dollar amounts of these assets and liabilities principally affect net interest income.

Net interest income totaled $7.4 million in the third quarter of 2010, up $1.6 million or 28.7% from the third quarter of 2009.  The increase reflected a higher net interest margin of 3.86% in the current quarter, compared with 2.98% in the prior year quarter, partially offset by a $4.4 million decrease in average interest-earning assets in the current quarter.  The increase in the current quarter net interest margin of 88 basis points reflected the average costs on interest-bearing liabilities decreasing more rapidly than the average yield on interest-earning assets.  The decrease in costs on our interest-bearing liabilities of 98 basis points resulted from the decline in our cost of deposits of 72 basis points and borrowings of 39 basis points during the current quarter.  These lower costs were p artially offset by a lower yield on our current quarter interest-earning assets primarily associated with a decrease in the yield on investment securities of 130 basis points compared to the same quarter in the prior year.  The lower yield on our investment securities was primarily due to the decision to reduce our credit risk exposure in our securities portfolio by selling private label securities with higher credit risk and replacing them with lower yielding, lower credit risk GSE securities.  These GSE securities also enhanced our regulatory capital as they have a lower asset risk weighting than private label securities.

For the first nine months of 2010, net interest income totaled $20.9 million, up $3.9 million or 22.8% from the same period in the prior year.  The increase was associated with a higher net interest margin, which increased by 63 basis points to 3.72%, and higher interest-earning assets, which grew by $15.7 million to $749.5 million.

The following tables present for the periods indicated the average dollar amounts from selected balance sheet categories calculated from daily average balances and the total dollar amount, including adjustments to yields and costs, of:

The tables also set forth our net interest income, net interest rate spread and net interest rate margin for the periods indicated.  The net interest rate margin reflects the relative level of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities and equals our net interest rate spread divided by average interest-earning assets for the periods indicated.

 
 

 

 
 

Changes in our net interest income are a function of changes in both volumes and rates of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  The following table presents the impact the volume and rate changes have had on our net interest income for the periods indicated.  For each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, we have provided information on changes to our net interest income with respect to:

During the third quarter of 2010, the provision for loan losses totaled $397,000, a decrease of $1.6 million from the third quarter of 2009.  Net loan charge-offs amounted to $396,000 for the third quarter of 2010, a decrease of $656,000 from the same period in the prior year.  The current period loan charge-offs related to the continued general economic weakness in the California economy, as reflected in high unemployment figures, sluggish commercial real estate markets and other economic factors, which adversely affect our borrowers, our borrowers’ businesses and the collateral securing our loans.

For the first nine months of 2010, the provision for loan losses totaled $2.1 million and net loan charge-offs were $1.8 million.  This compares with a provision for loan losses of $5.5 million and net charge-offs of $3.3 million for the first nine months of 2009.

Our Loss Mitigation Department continues collection efforts on loans previously written down and/or charged-off to maximize potential recoveries.  See “Allowance for Loan Losses” discussed below in this report.

Our noninterest income increased $418,000 or 163.3% from $256,000 in the third quarter of 2009 to $674,000 in the third quarter of 2010.  This increase between third quarters was primarily due to higher gains from the sale of investment securities available for sale of $369,000 and a favorable reduction in other-than-temporary impairment charges on our private label securities of $147,000.

For the first nine months of 2010, our noninterest loss totaled $1.1 million, compared with income of $558,000 for the same period a year ago.  The unfavorable change was primarily related to the sale of $26.3 million in loans during the first nine months of 2010 at a $2.7 million loss, which loss was entirely related to $12.0 million of sub-performing and nonperforming loans included in the loan sale.  Partially offsetting this loss was an improvement in other-than-temporary impairment charges of $692,000 and higher gains on sales of investment securities available for sale of $440,000 for the first nine months of 2010, compared to same period in prior year.

Noninterest expense totaled $4.8 million in the third quarter of 2010, up $690,000 or 16.8% from the same period in the prior year.  The increase was primarily associated with higher costs within our legal and audit expense category of $261,000, primarily associated with loan workouts, with the remainder of the increase spread through various expense categories.

For the first nine months of 2010, noninterest expense totaled $13.9 million, up $1.3 million or 10.3% from the first nine months of 2009.  The increase primarily related to higher costs within our other real estate owned operations, net category of $830,000, due primarily to increased write downs of $536,000 and an unfavorable change from gains to losses on sales of $199,000, with the remainder of the increase spread through various expense categories.

For the three months ended September 30, 2010, we had a tax provision of $1.0 million, compared to a tax benefit of $104,000 for the same period in 2009.  The change in income taxes was primarily due to a favorable change in net income (loss) before taxes of $3.0 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we had a tax provision of $1.1 million, compared to a tax benefit of $416,000 for the same period in 2009.  The change in income taxes for the year-to-date periods was primarily due to a favorable change in net income (loss) before taxes of $4.4 million.   At September 30, 2010, we had no valuation allowance against our deferred tax asset of $10.3 million based on management’s analysis that the asset was more-likely-than-not to be realized.

At September 30, 2010, assets totaled $821.3 million, down $26.5 million or 3.1% from September 30, 2009, but up $14.0 million or 1.7% from December 31, 2009.  During the third quarter of 2010, assets increased $24.1 million, primarily due to increases in cash of $16.6 million and investment securities available for sale of $8.7 million.

At September 30, 2010, net loans held for investment totaled $543.3 million, down $33.2 million or 5.8% from September 30, 2009 and $23.3 million or 4.1% from December 31, 2009.

The following table sets forth the composition of our loan portfolio in dollar amounts, as a percentage of the portfolio and gives the weighted average interest rate by loan category at the dates indicated: