Company: GDOT
Filing Date: 2025-03-04
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0001386278-25-000009
Chunk: 13

Company: GREEN DOT CORP
Filing Date: 2025-03-04
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1
Chunk 13
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 in judicial proceedings and to impose civil money penalties.

Dividend and Share Repurchase Restrictions

Green Dot Corporation is a legal entity separate and distinct from Green Dot Bank and its other subsidiaries. There are limitations on capital distributions by BHC's and banks, such as certain cash dividends, payments to repurchase or otherwise acquire shares, and other distributions charged against capital. These limitations apply to the payment of dividends by Green Dot Bank to Green Dot Corporation, as well as by Green Dot Corporation to its shareholders, under applicable banking laws and regulations.

Federal banking regulators are authorized to determine, under certain circumstances relating to the financial condition of a BHC or a bank, that the payment of dividends would be an unsafe or unsound practice and to prohibit payment thereof. In particular, federal banking regulators have stated that paying dividends that deplete a banking organization's capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe and unsound banking practice and that banking organizations should generally pay dividends only out of current operating earnings.

Under Utah’s Financial Institutions Act, Utah-chartered commercial banks, such as Green Dot Bank, may, subject to certain conditions, declare and pay dividends out of their net profits, after providing for all expenses, losses, interest, and taxes accrued or due from the bank.

To the extent that we do not qualify for the community bank leverage framework under the Federal Reserve’s version of the U.S. Basel III Rules, Green Dot Corporation or Green Dot Bank, as applicable, must maintain the applicable capital conservation buffer to avoid becoming subject to restrictions on capital distributions, including dividends and share repurchases. The capital conservation buffer is currently at its fully phased-in level of 2.5%. 

In addition, Federal Reserve policy provides that BHC, such as Green Dot Corporation, should generally pay dividends to shareholders only if (i) the organization’s net income available to common shareholders over the past year has been sufficient to fully fund the dividends; (ii) the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with the organization’s capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition; and (iii) the organization will continue to meet minimum capital adequacy ratios. The policy also provides that a BHC should inform the Federal Reserve reasonably in advance of declaring or paying a dividend that exceeds earnings for the period for which the dividend is being paid or that could result in a material adverse change to the BHC’s capital structure. BHCs are also required to consult with the Federal Reserve before materially increasing dividends and must receive approval before redeeming or repurchasing capital instruments. In