Company: COFS
Filing Date: 2025-03-11
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000950170-25-036839
Chunk: 8

Company: CHOICEONE FINANCIAL SERVICES INC
Filing Date: 2025-03-11
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1A
Chunk 8
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 in a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, or results of operations.

Environmental liability associated with commercial lending could result in losses.

In the course of its business, the Company may acquire, through foreclosure, properties securing loans that are in default. Particularly in commercial real estate lending, there is a risk that hazardous substances could be discovered on these properties. In this event, the Company might be required to remove these substances from the affected properties at the Company’s sole cost and expense. The cost of this removal could substantially exceed the value of affected properties. The Company may not have adequate remedies against the prior owner or other responsible parties and could find it difficult or impossible to sell the affected properties. These events could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

The Company depends upon the accuracy and completeness of information about customers.

In deciding whether to extend credit to customers, the Company relies on information provided to it by its customers, including financial statements and other financial information. The Company may also rely on representations of customers as to the accuracy and completeness of that information and on reports of independent auditors on financial statements. The Company’s financial condition and results of operations could be negatively impacted to the extent that the Company extends credit in reliance on financial statements that do not comply with generally accepted accounting principles or that are misleading or other information provided by customers that is false or misleading.

Our reliance on third party vendors could cause operational losses or business interruptions.

We rely on third party service providers for certain components of our business activity. If these third party service providers experience difficulties or terminate their services and we are unable to replace them with other service providers, our operations could be interrupted. Even if we are able to replace them with another service provider, the replacement may be more expensive or offer an inferior service. Any of these outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

The Company operates in a highly competitive industry and market area.

The Company faces substantial competition in all areas of its operations from a variety of different competitors, many of which are larger and may have more financial resources. Such competitors primarily include national and regional banks within the various markets where the Company operates, as well as internet banks and other financial technology companies. The Company also faces competition from many other types of financial institutions, including savings and loan associations, credit unions, finance companies, brokerage firms, insurance companies and other financial intermediaries. The financial services industry could become even more competitive as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes and