EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 740663
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 740663_10-K_2024_0001437749-24-007156.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
General
The First of Long Island Corporation (“Registrant”), a one-bank holding company, was incorporated on February 7, 1984 for the purpose of providing financial services through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The First National Bank of Long Island. The consolidated entity is referred to as the "Corporation," and the Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the "Bank."
The Bank was organized in 1927 as a national banking association under the laws of the United States of America. The Bank has one wholly-owned subsidiary: FNY Service Corp., an investment company. The Bank and FNY Service Corp. jointly own another subsidiary, The First of Long Island REIT, Inc., a real estate investment trust.
All the financial operations of the Corporation are aggregated in one reportable operating segment. All revenues are attributed to and all long-lived assets are located in the United States.
The Bank’s revenues are derived principally from interest on loans and investment securities, service charges and fees on deposit accounts and bank-owned life insurance (“BOLI”).
The Bank did not commence, abandon or significantly change any of its lines of business during 2023.
Markets Served and Products Offered
The Bank serves the financial needs of small to middle market businesses, professional service firms, not-for-profits, municipalities and consumers primarily in Nassau and Suffolk Counties of Long Island, and the boroughs of New York City (“NYC”). The Bank has 40 branch locations including 16 branches in Nassau, 16 in Suffolk, five in Queens, two in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan. During 2023, the Bank closed one branch in Nassau and relocated two of its branches in Suffolk, offering an improved customer experience and modern design. The Bank continues to evaluate the strategic placement of its branch network and invests in digital channels to best serve customer demand both within and beyond its physical locations.
The Bank’s loan portfolio is primarily comprised of loans to borrowers on Long Island and in the boroughs of NYC, and its real estate loans are principally secured by properties located in those areas. The Bank’s investment securities portfolio is comprised of direct obligations of the U.S. government and its agencies, obligations of the Small Business Administration ("SBA"), corporate bonds of large U.S. financial institutions and highly rated obligations of states and political subdivisions.
The Bank offers trust, estate, custody and investment services through a partnership with Financial Resources Group, an affiliate of LPL Financial ("LPL"). The Bank offers residential mortgage loans through a co-marketing referral agreement with Rocket Mortgage®.
In addition to its loan, investment and deposit products, the Bank offers a wide array of banking services to its customers through its branch network, mobile applications and interactive website.
Competition
The Bank encounters substantial competition in its banking business from numerous other financial services organizations that have offices located in the communities served by the Bank. Principal competitors are large money center, regional and community banks located within the Bank’s market area, mortgage brokers, brokerage firms, credit unions and fintech or e-commerce companies. The Bank competes for loans and deposits by offering a high level of customer service, flexible product structures, competitive pricing, convenient locations and maintaining a well-designed website. Cash management tools and digital channels support our loan and deposit offerings.
Investment Activities
The Bank’s investment policy, as approved by the Asset Liability Committee of the Board (“ALCO”) and supervised by both the ALCO and the Management Asset Liability Committee, is intended to promote investment practices which are both safe and sound and in full compliance with applicable regulations. Investment authority is granted and amended as necessary by the Board of Directors or ALCO.
The Bank's investment decisions seek to optimize income while keeping both credit and interest rate risk at acceptable levels, provide for the Bank's liquidity needs and provide securities that can be pledged, as needed, to secure deposits and borrowings.
The Bank’s investment policy generally limits individual maturities on municipal bonds to 20 years and estimated average lives on collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) and other mortgage-backed securities to ten years. At the time of purchase, bonds of states and political subdivisions must generally be rated AA or better, notes of states and political subdivisions must generally be rated MIG-1 (or equivalent), commercial paper must be rated A-1 or P-1, and corporate bonds of large U.S. based financial institutions must have a rating of BBB+ or better. In addition, management periodically reviews the creditworthiness of all securities in the Bank’s portfolio other than those issued by the U.S. government or its agencies. Any significant deterioration in the creditworthiness of an issuer is analyzed and action is taken if deemed appropriate.
At year end 2023 and 2022, there were no holdings of securities of any one issuer, other than the U.S. government and its agencies, in an amount greater than 10% of stockholders’ equity.
The Bank’s investment portfolio at December 31, 2023 was comprised of available-for-sale (“AFS”) securities totaling $695.9 million and was made up of state and municipal securities of $143.6 million, pass-through mortgage securities of $138.6 million, CMOs of $182.3 million, SBA agency obligations of $125.5 million and corporate bonds of $105.9 million. Substantially all the municipal securities are rated AA or better. The pass-through mortgage securities and CMOs are issued by Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”). GNMA is a U.S. government agency and FNMA and FHLMC are U.S. government-sponsored agencies. SBA agency obligations are floating rate, government guaranteed securities backed by $92.2 million of commercial mortgages and $33.3 million of equipment finance loans at December 31, 2023. The corporate bonds are investment grade securities issued by large U.S. based financial institutions with variable rates that reset quarterly based on the ten-year swap rate.
The Bank has not engaged in the purchase and sale of securities for the primary purpose of producing trading profits and its current investment policy does not allow for such activity.
Lending Activities
General. The Bank’s lending is subject to written underwriting standards and loan origination procedures, as approved by the Loan Committee of the Board (“Loan Committee”) and contained in the Bank’s loan policy. The loan policy allows for exceptions and sets forth specific exception approval requirements. Decisions on loan applications are based on the borrower’s credit history, the financial strength of the borrower, estimates of the borrower’s ability to repay the loan and the value of the collateral and guarantees, if any. All real estate appraisals must meet the requirements of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (“Dodd-Frank Act”), banking agency guidance and, for those loans in excess of $250,000, be reviewed by the Bank’s independent appraisal review function.
The Bank’s loan portfolio is primarily comprised of loans to small and middle market businesses, professional service firms, real estate investors and consumers on Long Island and in the boroughs of NYC. The Bank’s range of lending services includes commercial mortgage loans, commercial and industrial loans, SBA loans, construction and land development loans, consumer loans and standby letters of credit. During 2023, the Bank discontinued the origination of residential mortgages. Commercial lending is emphasized and supported by increases in credit and lending staff.
The Bank makes both fixed and variable rate loans. Variable rate loans reprice primarily with changes in the prime interest rate as published in The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Treasury rates and the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”).
Commercial and Industrial Loans. Commercial and industrial loans include short-term business loans and lines of credit; revolving credit facilities, term and installment loans; common interest realty association (“CIRA”) loans, asset-based loans, leveraged loans and small business loans as described hereinafter. Commercial and industrial loans may be secured by general business assets, specific equipment, cash and other liquid collateral, or real estate. The Bank makes commercial and industrial loans on a demand basis, short-term basis, installment or revolving basis. Short-term business loans are generally due and payable within one year and should be self-liquidating during the normal course of the borrower’s business cycle. Lines of credit are reaffirmed annually and generally require an annual cleanup period. Revolving credit facilities, term and installment loans are usually due and payable within five years. The Bank’s loan policy delineates the minimum required guarantee based on specific loan categories.
Commercial Mortgage Loans. The Bank makes commercial mortgage loans secured by owner-occupied and investment properties, including multifamily properties. Applicants will be considered for approval provided they, as well as any guarantors, have satisfactory credit history and can demonstrate the ability to repay through documentation such as financial statements, leases and rent rolls. The Bank obtains independent appraisals in accordance with regulatory requirements and an appropriate environmental assessment. All properties are inspected by Bank personnel and/or approved third-party vendors before closing on the mortgage and annually thereafter for loans over $2.5 million. Properties may also be re-inspected if concerns arise during the Bank’s annual review process described below. Commercial mortgage loans generally mature in 10 years with amortization schedules ranging between 20 and 30 years. We strive to reprice commercial mortgage loans every five years although pricing may be fixed for longer terms. The Bank will generally not lend more than 75% of appraised value for investment properties, including multifamily properties.
Construction Loans. From time to time, the Bank makes loans to finance the construction of both residential and commercial properties. The maturity of such loans is generally 24 months or less and advances are made as the construction progresses. The advances can require the submission of bills and lien waivers by the contractor, verification by a Bank-approved inspector that the work has been performed, and title insurance updates to ensure that no intervening liens have been placed. The Bank also will consider loans on unimproved land subject to a maximum loan-to-value of 50% and a maximum 10 year term and amortization. Variable rate construction and land development loans are included in commercial mortgages on the consolidated balance sheets.
Consumer Loans and Lines. The Bank makes secured and unsecured consumer loans, establishes revolving overdraft lines of credit and issues VISA® credit cards. Consumer loans are generally made on an installment basis over terms not in excess of five years. In reviewing loans and lines for approval, the Bank generally considers the borrower’s ability to repay, stability of employment and residence and past credit history.
Sources of Funds
The Bank’s primary sources of cash are deposits, maturities and amortization of loans and investment securities, operations and borrowings. The Bank uses cash from these and other sources to fund loan growth, purchase investment securities, repay deposits and borrowings, expand and improve its physical facilities and pay cash dividends to the Corporation. The Corporation uses dividends from the Bank to pay stockholder dividends, repurchase its common stock and for general corporate purposes.
The Bank offers checking and interest-bearing deposit products. The Bank has a variety of business and personal checking products that differ in minimum balance requirements and fees, if any. Interest-bearing deposit products, which have a wide range of interest rates and terms, consist of negotiable order of withdrawal (“NOW”) accounts, interest on lawyer accounts, escrow service accounts, rent security accounts, personal and nonpersonal money market and savings accounts, time deposits and individual retirement accounts.
The Bank relies primarily on its branch network, customer service, calling programs, lending relationships, referral sources, competitive pricing and advertising to attract and retain local deposits. The flow of deposits is influenced by general economic conditions, changes in interest rates and competition.
Human Capital Resources
We aspire to provide all employees equal opportunity to realize their maximum potential with the Bank. We are a diverse workplace that encourages open and honest employee comment without retaliation. We seek to attract, recruit and retain a workforce which is reflective of the communities in which we live and work. By encouraging different viewpoints, styles, experiences, cultures, ethnicities, sexual orientations and gender identities, we build a more flexible, creative and competitive corporate culture while remaining socially accountable to our local communities. Using employee feedback, we implemented initiatives to improve communication and enhance employee development opportunities.
Employee Profile. At December 31, 2023, we had approximately 288 full time equivalent employees in locations across the New York ("NY") metropolitan area. This represents a decrease of 15 employees, or 5.0%, from December 31, 2022 due to factors such as reducing branch hours, improving technology and eliminating our residential mortgage sales department.
Total Rewards. As part of our compensation philosophy, we believe that we must offer and maintain market competitive total rewards programs for our employees in order to attract and retain superior talent. In addition to base wages, additional programs include annual equity and/or cash incentive opportunities, a Company matched 401(k) plan, a defined benefit pension plan, healthcare and insurance benefits, health savings accounts, transit benefits, flexible spending accounts, paid time off, family leave and employee assistance programs.
Health and Safety. The success of our business is fundamentally connected to the well-being of our people. Accordingly, we are committed to the health, safety and wellness of our employees. We provide our employees and their families with access to a variety of flexible and convenient health and welfare programs, including benefits that support their physical and mental health. We provide tools and resources to help them and their families experience healthier living.
Training and Development. We are committed to the ongoing success and development of our employees at every level to promote and foster individual and organizational effectiveness. Employees take part in recurring training that covers regulatory compliance, cybersecurity, sales and retail strategies and other programs tailored to specific job functions. Additional professional development and leadership training is offered for growth opportunities.
Talent. A core tenet of maintaining our highly skilled workforce is to foster career opportunities for existing staff while actively recruiting seasoned bankers for certain roles. Hiring entry level staff is also important as we prepare for our future. These approaches create loyalty in our employee base while also bringing in new perspectives and ideas to help us grow the business, expand our product lines and benefit our customers. We believe a favorable reputation in the marketplace and our corporate headquarters centrally located in Melville on Long Island allows us to attract highly skilled workers. We use internal and external resources to identify the best job candidates while encouraging employee referrals for open positions.
Our performance management framework includes annual reviews, a review of goals achieved and a discussion of future goals and employee development, including training opportunities, and annual merit-based salary adjustments.
Employee retention helps us operate efficiently and achieve one of our business objectives, which is being a high-quality, efficient provider of financial services. We believe our commitment to core values, prioritizing concern for our employees’ well-being, supporting our employees’ career goals, offering competitive wages and providing valuable benefits aids in the retention of our employees.
Supervision and Regulation
General. The banking industry is highly regulated. Statutory and regulatory controls are designed primarily for the protection of depositors and the banking system, and not for the purpose of protecting shareholders. The following discussion is not intended to be a complete list of all the activities regulated by banking laws or of the impact of such laws and regulations on the Corporation and the Bank. Changes in applicable laws or regulations and their interpretation and application by regulatory agencies cannot be predicted and may have a material effect on our business and results of operations.
As a registered bank holding company, the Corporation is regulated under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (“BHC Act”), and subject to inspection, examination and supervision by the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”). In general, the BHC Act limits the business of bank holding companies to banking, managing or controlling banks, performing servicing activities for subsidiaries and engaging in activities that the FRB has determined, by order or regulation, are so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto under the BHC Act. The Corporation is also subject to the disclosure and regulatory requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Our common stock is listed on the Capital Market tier of the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “FLIC” and is subject to NASDAQ rules for listed companies.
As a national bank, the Bank is subject to regulation and examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). Insured banks, such as the Bank, are subject to extensive regulation of many aspects of their businesses. These regulations generally relate to: (1) the nature and amount of loans that may be made by the Bank and the rates of interest that may be charged; (2) types and amounts of other investments; (3) branching; (4) anti-money laundering and Office of Foreign Control ("OFAC"); (5) permissible activities; (6) reserve requirements; (7) information security and technology; and (8) dealings with officers, directors and affiliates.
The Dodd-Frank Act made extensive changes in the regulation of depository institutions and their holding companies. For example, the Dodd-Frank Act created a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) as an independent bureau of the FRB. The CFPB has assumed responsibility for the implementation of the federal financial consumer protection and fair lending laws and regulations, a function previously assigned to principal federal banking regulators, and has authority to impose new requirements. However, institutions of less than $10 billion in assets, such as the Bank, continue to be examined for compliance with consumer protection and fair lending laws and regulations by, and subject to the enforcement authority of, their primary federal regulator, although the CFPB has limited back-up authority to examine such institutions.
Bank Holding Company Regulation. The BHC Act requires the prior approval of the FRB for the acquisition by a bank holding company of 5% or more of the voting stock or substantially all of the assets of any bank or bank holding company. Also, under the BHC Act, bank holding companies are prohibited, with certain exceptions, from engaging in, or from acquiring 5% or more of the voting stock of any company engaging in activities other than (1) banking or managing or controlling banks, (2) furnishing services to or performing services for their subsidiaries, or (3) activities that the FRB has determined to be so closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto. Bank holding companies that meet certain criteria specified by the FRB may elect to be regulated as a “financial holding company” and thereby engage in a broader array of financial activities including insurance and investment banking.
Payment of Dividends. The source of the Corporation’s liquidity is dividends from the Bank. Prior approval of the OCC is required if the total of all dividends declared by a national bank in any calendar year would exceed the sum of the bank’s net profits for that year and its retained net profits for the preceding two calendar years, less any required transfers to surplus. Under the foregoing dividend restrictions, and while maintaining its “well capitalized” status and absent affirmative governmental approvals, during 2024 the Bank could declare dividends to the Corporation of approximately $25.1 million plus any 2024 net profits retained to the date of the dividend declaration.
In addition, the Corporation and the Bank are subject to other regulatory policies and requirements relating to the payment of dividends, including requirements to maintain adequate capital above regulatory minimum capital levels. The FRB is authorized to determine under certain circumstances relating to the financial condition of a bank holding company or a bank that the payment of dividends would be an unsafe or unsound practice and to prohibit payment thereof. FRB guidance sets forth the supervisory expectation that bank holding companies will inform and consult with FRB staff in advance of declaring a dividend that exceeds earnings for the quarter and should inform the FRB and should eliminate, defer or significantly reduce dividends if (1) net income available to shareholders for the past four quarters, net of dividends previously paid during that period, is not sufficient to fully fund the dividends, (2) the prospective rate of earnings retention is not consistent with the bank holding company’s capital needs and overall current and prospective financial condition, or (3) the bank holding company will not meet, or is in danger of not meeting, its minimum regulatory capital adequacy ratios.
Stock Repurchases. Current FRB regulations provide that a bank holding company that is not well capitalized or well managed, as such terms are defined in the regulations, or that is subject to any unresolved supervisory issues, is required to give the FRB prior written notice of any repurchase or redemption of its outstanding equity securities if the gross consideration for repurchase or redemption, when combined with the net consideration paid for all such repurchases or redemptions during the preceding 12 months, will be equal to 10% or more of the company’s consolidated net worth. The FRB may disapprove such a repurchase or redemption if it determines that the proposal would constitute an unsafe and unsound practice or violate a law or regulation. FRB guidance generally provides for bank holding company consultation with FRB staff prior to engaging in a repurchase or redemption of a bank holding company’s stock, even if a formal written notice is not required.
Transactions with Affiliates. Federal laws strictly limit the ability of banks to engage in transactions with their affiliates, including their bank holding companies. Regulations promulgated by the FRB limit the types and amounts of these transactions (including loans due and extensions of credit from their U.S. bank subsidiaries) that may take place and generally require those transactions to be on an arm’s-length basis. In general, these regulations require that any “covered transactions” between a subsidiary bank and its parent company or the nonbank subsidiaries of the bank holding company be limited to 10% of the bank subsidiary’s capital and surplus and, with respect to such parent company and all such nonbank subsidiaries, to an aggregate of 20% of the bank subsidiary’s capital and surplus. Further, loans and extensions of credit to affiliates generally are required to be secured by eligible collateral in specified amounts.
Source of Strength Doctrine. FRB policy has historically required bank holding companies to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to their subsidiary banks. The Dodd-Frank Act codified this policy as a statutory requirement. Under this requirement, the Corporation is expected to commit resources to support the Bank, including at times when the Corporation may not be in a financial position to provide such resources. Any capital loans by a bank holding company to any of its subsidiary banks are subordinate in right of payment to depositors and to certain other indebtedness of such subsidiary banks. In the event of a bank holding company’s bankruptcy, any commitment by the bank holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a subsidiary bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to priority of payment.
Capital Requirements. As a bank holding company, the Corporation is subject to consolidated regulatory capital requirements administered by the FRB. The Bank is subject to similar capital requirements administered by the OCC.
The Corporation and the Bank are subject to the Basel III regulatory capital standards (“Basel III”) issued by the FRB and the OCC. Under the Basel III capital requirements, the Corporation and the Bank are required to maintain minimum ratios of Tier 1 capital to average assets of 4.00%, Common equity tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets of 4.50%, Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets of 6.00% and Total capital to risk weighted assets of 8.00%. Common equity tier 1 capital, Tier 1 capital, Total capital, risk weighted assets and average assets are defined in the Basel III rules. Failure to meet the minimum capital requirements can result in certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by the regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the financial statements of the Corporation and Bank. The Corporation and the Bank opted to exclude accumulated other comprehensive income components from Tier 1 and Total regulatory capital.
Basel III also requires the Corporation and the Bank to maintain a capital conservation buffer of 2.50% in order to avoid being subject to limitations on capital distributions, including dividend payments, and discretionary bonus payments to executive officers. The capital ratio requirements, including the capital conservation buffer, for banks with $250 billion or less in total assets are 7.00% for Common equity tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets, 8.50% for Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets and 10.50% for Total capital to risk weighted assets.
In accordance with the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, the federal banking agencies adopted a final rule whereby financial institutions and financial institution holding companies that have less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets and meet other qualifying criteria, including a leverage ratio of greater than 9% (“qualifying community banking organizations”), are eligible to opt into a community bank leverage ratio (“CBLR”) framework. Qualifying community banking organizations that elect to use the CBLR framework and that maintain a leverage ratio of greater than 9% are considered to have satisfied the generally applicable risk-based and leverage capital requirements in the agencies’ capital rules and will be considered to have met the well capitalized ratio requirements under the prompt corrective action (“PCA”) statutes. The agencies reserved the authority to disallow the use of the CBLR framework by a financial institution or holding company, based on the risk profile of the organization. On January 1, 2020, the CBLR framework became effective, and management elected to adopt the alternative framework. As a qualifying community banking organization, the Corporation and the Bank may opt out of the CBLR framework in any subsequent quarter by completing its regulatory agency reporting using the traditional capital rules.
The Corporation’s capital management policy is designed to build and maintain capital levels that exceed regulatory standards and appropriately provide for growth. The leverage ratio of the Corporation and the Bank at December 31, 2023 was 10.05% and 10.13%, respectively. The Corporation and the Bank elected the optional five-year transition period provided by the federal banking agencies for recognizing the regulatory capital impact of the implementation of the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) methodology.
PCA Regulations. The Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended (“FDIA”), requires that the federal banking agencies take “prompt corrective action” with respect to banks that do not meet minimum capital requirements. The FDIA sets forth the following five capital tiers for purposes of implementing the PCA regulations: “well capitalized,” “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” and “critically undercapitalized.” As of December 31, 2023, the Bank was well capitalized.
Deposit Insurance. The FDIC imposes an assessment on financial institutions for deposit insurance. The assessment is based on the FDIC’s statistical model for estimating the institution’s probability of failure over a three-year period and the institution’s average total assets and average tangible equity. The FDIC periodically adjusts the deposit insurance assessment rates, which may raise or lower the cost to an institution of maintaining FDIC insurance coverage.
The FDIC may terminate an institution’s deposit insurance upon a finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC. Management is not aware of any practice, condition or violation that might lead to termination of the Bank’s deposit insurance.
Safety and Soundness Standards. The FDIA requires the federal bank regulatory agencies to prescribe standards, through regulations or guidelines, relating to internal controls, information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate risk exposure, asset growth, asset quality, earnings, stock valuation and compensation, fees and benefits, and such other operational and managerial standards as the agencies deem appropriate. Guidelines adopted by the federal bank regulatory agencies establish general standards relating to internal controls and information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, compensation, fees and benefits. In general, the guidelines require appropriate systems and practices to identify and manage the risk and exposures specified in the guidelines. The guidelines prohibit excessive compensation as an unsafe and unsound practice and describe compensation as excessive when the amounts paid are unreasonable or disproportionate to the services performed by an executive officer, employee, director or principal stockholder. In addition, the agencies adopted regulations that authorize, but do not require, an agency to order an institution that has been given notice by an agency that it is not satisfying one or more of the safety and soundness standards to submit a compliance plan. If, after being so notified, an institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan or fails in any material respect to implement an acceptable compliance plan, the agency must issue an order directing action to correct the deficiency and may issue an order directing other actions of the types to which an undercapitalized institution is subject under the PCA provisions of the FDIA. If an institution fails to comply with such an order, the agency may seek to enforce such order in judicial proceedings and to impose civil money penalties.
Community Reinvestment Act and Fair Lending Laws. The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (“CRA”) requires depository institutions to assist in meeting the credit needs of their market areas consistent with safe and sound banking practice. Under the CRA, each depository institution is required to help meet the credit needs of its market areas by providing credit to low- and moderate-income individuals and communities. Depository institutions are periodically examined for compliance with the CRA and are assigned ratings. Banking regulators take into account CRA ratings when considering approval of proposed acquisition transactions. The Bank received a “Satisfactory” CRA rating on its most recent CRA examination. The Bank and the Corporation are firmly committed to the practice of fair lending and maintaining strict adherence to all federal and state fair lending laws which prohibit discriminatory lending practices.
On May 5, 2022, the federal banking agencies released a notice of proposed rulemaking to “strengthen and modernize” the CRA regulations and the related regulatory framework. This final rule was codified on October 24, 2023 with an effective date of April 1, 2024. Under the final rule, banks with assets of at least $2 billion as of December 31 in both of the prior two calendar years will be a "large bank." The agencies will evaluate large banks under four performance tests: the Retails Lending test, the Retail Services and Products Test, the Community Development Financing Test and the Community Development Services Test. The applicability date for the majority of the provisions in the CRA regulations is January 1, 2026, and additional requirements will be applicable on January 1, 2027. The Bank is committed to comply with the changes, much of which are programmatic changes that will address technology changes in the banking industry and providing greater clarity, consistency and transparency in the application of the CRA.
Federal Home Loan Bank System. The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System (“FHLB System”), which consists of 11 regional Federal Home Loan Banks (each a “FHLB”). The FHLB System provides a central credit facility primarily for member banks. As a member of the FHLB of New York ("FHLBNY"), the Bank is required to acquire and hold shares of capital stock in the FHLB in an amount equal to 4.5% of its borrowings from the FHLB (transaction-based stock) plus 0.125% of the total principal amount at the beginning of the year of the Bank’s unpaid residential real estate loans, commercial real estate loans, home equity loans, CMOs and other similar obligations (membership stock). At December 31, 2023, the Bank was in compliance with the FHLB’s capital stock ownership requirement.
Financial Privacy. Federal regulations require the Bank to disclose its privacy policy, including identifying with whom it shares “nonpublic personal information,” to its customers at the time the customer establishes a relationship with the Bank and annually thereafter. In addition, we are required to provide our customers with the ability to “opt-out” of having the Bank share their nonpublic personal information with nonaffiliated third parties before we can disclose that information, subject to certain exceptions.
The federal banking agencies adopted guidelines establishing standards for safeguarding our customer information. The guidelines describe the agencies’ expectation that regulated entities create, implement and maintain an information security program, which would include administrative, technical and physical safeguards appropriate to the size and complexity and the nature and scope of our activities. The standards set forth in the guidelines are intended to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer records and information, protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of customer records, and protect against unauthorized access to records or information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to customers. Additionally, the guidance states that banks, such as the Bank, should develop and implement a response program to address security breaches involving customer information, including customer notification procedures. The Bank has developed such a program.
Anti-Money Laundering and the USA PATRIOT Act. A major focus of governmental policy on financial institutions in recent years has been aimed at combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (“Patriot Act”) substantially broadened the scope of U.S. anti-money laundering laws and regulations by imposing significant new compliance and due diligence obligations, creating new crimes and penalties and expanding the extra-territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The U.S. Treasury Department has issued a number of regulations that apply various requirements of the Patriot Act to financial institutions such as the Bank. These regulations impose obligations on financial institutions to maintain appropriate policies, procedures and controls to detect, prevent and report money laundering and terrorist financing and to verify the identity of their customers. Certain of those regulations impose specific due diligence requirements on financial institutions that maintain correspondent or private banking relationships with non-U.S. financial institutions or persons. Failure of a financial institution to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, or to comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious legal, financial and reputational consequences for the institution. The Bank and the Corporation are firmly committed to maintaining strong policies, procedures and controls to ensure compliance with anti-money laundering laws and regulations and to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. In recent months, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FinCEN"), a division of the U.S. Treasury Department, has begun to promulgate regulations to establish a national beneficial owner registry for legal entities, as mandated under the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (“AMLA”) and the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”). The AMLA and CTA are included in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020, passed in December of 2020. The AMLA and CTA establish a federal beneficial ownership registry, new-and-enhanced Bank Secrecy Act penalties, expands the ability to subpoena foreign banks and creates an expanded whistleblower reward program. On January 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's FinCEN began accepting beneficial ownership information reports as part of the promulgated registry.
Office of Foreign Assets Control. The OFAC of the U.S. Department of the Treasury administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign countries and regimes, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers, those engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and other threats to the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States. The Bank maintains a risk based OFAC program to screen applicable transactions against the required watchlists. Additionally, the Bank remains aware of geo-political and high-risk jurisdiction guidance that is released by government agencies periodically.
Legislative Initiatives and Regulatory Reform. From time to time, various legislative and regulatory initiatives are introduced in Congress and state legislatures, as well as by regulatory agencies. Such initiatives may include proposals to expand or contract the powers of bank holding companies and depository institutions or proposals to change substantially the financial institution regulatory system. Such legislation could change banking statutes and the operating environment in substantial and unpredictable ways. If enacted, such legislation could increase or decrease the cost of doing business, limit or expand permissible activities or affect the competitive balance among banks, savings associations, credit unions and other financial institutions. The Corporation cannot predict whether any such legislation will be enacted, and, if enacted, the effect that it, or any implementing regulations, would have on our financial condition or results of operations. A change in statutes, regulations or regulatory policies applicable to the Corporation could have a material effect on our business.
Availability of Reports
The Bank maintains a website at www.fnbli.com. The Corporation’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, amendments to these reports and proxy materials filed with or furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge through the Bank’s website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. To access these reports go to the homepage of the Bank’s website, hover over FLIC and click on “FLIC Investor Relations,” place the cursor over “Financial Information” and click on “SEC Filings.” This will bring you to a listing of the Corporation’s reports. Information on our website shall not be considered a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our SEC filings are also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The Corporation is exposed to a variety of risks, some of which are inherent in the banking business. The more significant of these are addressed by the Corporation’s written policies and procedures. While management is responsible for identifying, assessing and managing risk, the Board of Directors is responsible for risk oversight. The Board fulfills its risk oversight responsibilities largely through its committees. The following provides information regarding material risk factors faced by the Corporation. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Corporation, or that the Corporation currently deems to be immaterial, could also have a material impact on the Corporation’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
Economic and Market Area
A worsening of national or local economic conditions could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Deteriorating economic conditions could significantly affect the markets in which we do business, the value of our loans and investments, the value of real estate collateral securing our mortgage loans, the financial strength of our borrowers and our on-going operations, costs and profitability. A recession or slowed economic conditions could lead to decreased consumer spending and lower profits, while rising interest rates could increase borrower costs and make it more difficult for companies to access capital. Declines in real estate values, sales volumes and employment levels together with increased vacancy rates, particularly in the NY metropolitan area, may result in greater loan delinquencies, increases in our nonperforming, criticized and classified assets and a decline in demand for our products and services. These events may cause us to increase our credit loss reserves, incur credit losses and may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. The majority of our loan portfolio is secured by real estate in the NY metropolitan area.
A concentration of loans in our primary market area may increase the risk of higher nonperforming assets.
Our success depends primarily on the general economic conditions in Nassau and Suffolk Counties of Long Island, and the boroughs of NYC as nearly all of our loans are to customers in these markets. Accordingly, the local economic conditions in these market areas have a significant impact on the ability of our borrowers to repay loans as well as our ability to originate new loans. A decline in real estate values in these market areas would also lower the value of the collateral securing loans on properties in these market areas.
Inflationary pressures and rising prices may affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Inflation rose sharply in 2021, remained elevated through 2022, and the rate of inflation began to moderate in 2023. Inflation may present a significant risk as it can lead to increased costs and reduced purchasing power for consumers. Small to medium-sized businesses may be impacted more during periods of high inflation as they are not able to leverage economies of scale to mitigate cost pressures compared to larger businesses. Consequently, the ability of our business customers to repay their loans may deteriorate, and in some cases this deterioration may occur quickly. Furthermore, a prolonged period of inflation could cause wages and other operating costs to increase. These factors could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Competition within our market area could limit our ability to increase interest-earning assets and noninterest income.
Competition in the banking and financial services industry is intense. In our market area, we compete with numerous commercial banks, savings institutions, mortgage brokers, credit unions, finance companies, mutual funds, fintech or e-commerce companies, insurance companies and brokerage and investment banking firms operating locally and elsewhere. Some of our competitors have substantially greater resources and lending limits than we have and have greater name recognition and market presence that benefit them in attracting business. In addition, large competitors may be able to price loans and deposits more aggressively than we do, and some have recently eliminated certain noninterest income charges such as overdraft fees. Furthermore, fintech developments such as peer-to-peer platforms, blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies have the potential to disrupt the financial services industry and change the way banks do business. Competitive forces may limit our ability to increase our interest-earning assets or maintain the current level of noninterest income. Our profitability depends upon our continued ability to successfully compete in our market area. For additional information see “Item 1 - Business - Competition.”
Severe weather, acts of terrorism and other external events could impact our ability to conduct business.
Weather-related events have adversely impacted our market area, especially areas located near coastal waters and flood prone areas. Such events that may cause significant flooding and other storm-related damage may become more common events in the future. Financial institutions have been, and continue to be, targets of terrorist threats aimed at compromising operating and communication systems and the NY metropolitan area remains central targets for potential acts of terrorism. Such events could cause significant damage, impact the stability of our facilities and result in additional expenses, impair the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans, reduce the value of collateral securing repayment of our loans, and result in the loss of revenue. While we have established and regularly test disaster recovery procedures, the occurrence of any such event could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.
Additionally, global markets may be adversely affected by natural disasters, the emergence of widespread health emergencies or pandemics, cyber attacks or campaigns, military conflict such as the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East, supply chain disruptions, terrorism or other geopolitical events. Global market fluctuations may affect our business liquidity. Also, any sudden or prolonged market downturn in the U.S. or abroad, resulting from the above factors or otherwise, could result in a decline in revenue and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition, including capital and liquidity levels.
Interest Rates and Asset Quality
Declines in the value of investment securities, loans and BOLI may result in impairment charges and may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
There is always the risk that the Bank will be unable to realize the full carrying value of our investment securities, loans and BOLI. Fluctuations in the market value of investment securities may be caused by changes in market interest rates, lower market prices, rating downgrades and limited investor demand. Management periodically reviews the creditworthiness of all securities in the Bank’s portfolio, other than those issued by the U.S. government or its agencies, and all BOLI carriers. Any significant deterioration in the creditworthiness of an issuer or carrier will be analyzed and action taken if deemed appropriate. If an investment's value is deemed other-than-temporarily impaired, the Bank must write down the fair value of the debt security which may involve a charge to earnings.
The credit risk within the Bank’s loan portfolio primarily stems from factors such as changes in the borrower’s financial condition, credit concentrations, changes in collateral values, economic conditions, rent regulation and environmental contamination of properties securing mortgage loans. The Bank’s commercial loans, including those secured by mortgages, are primarily made to small and medium-sized businesses. Such loans sometimes involve a higher degree of risk than those to larger companies because such businesses may have shorter operating histories, higher debt-to-equity ratios and may lack sophistication in internal record keeping and financial and operational controls. In addition, most of the Bank’s loans are made to businesses and consumers on Long Island and in the boroughs of NYC, and a large percentage of these loans are mortgage loans secured by properties located in those areas. At December 31, 2023, residential mortgage loans, including home equity lines of credit, amounted to approximately $1.2 billion and comprised approximately 37% of total loans. The primary source of repayment for residential mortgage loans is cash flows from individual borrowers and co-borrowers. At December 31, 2023, multifamily loans amounted to approximately $857.2 million and comprised approximately 45% of the Bank’s total commercial mortgage portfolio and approximately 26% of total loans. The primary source of repayment for multifamily loans is cash flows from the underlying properties, which generally involves a greater risk than residential real estate loans because of legislation and government regulations involving rent control, rent stabilization and eviction, which are outside the control of the borrower or the Bank and could impair the value of the collateral for the loans. Cash flows for both residential mortgage and multifamily loans are dependent on the strength of the local economy.
Environmental impairment of properties securing mortgage loans is always a risk. However, the Bank is not aware of any existing loans in the portfolio where there is environmental pollution originating on or near the mortgaged properties that would materially affect the value of the portfolio.
Changes in interest rates and the shape of the yield curve could negatively impact our earnings.
The Bank’s financial condition and results of operations are subject to risk resulting from interest rate fluctuations and having assets and liabilities that have different maturity, repricing and prepayment/withdrawal characteristics. The Bank defines interest rate risk as the risk that the Bank's net interest income and/or economic value of equity (“EVE”) will change when interest rates change.
In a period of rising interest rates, the interest income earned on the Bank’s assets may not increase as rapidly as the interest paid on its liabilities such as deposits and FHLB advances. The Bank’s cost of funds is expected to increase more rapidly than interest earned on its loan and investment portfolios as its primary source of funds is deposits and FHLB advances with generally shorter maturities or repricing characteristics than the maturities and repricing characteristics of its loans and investments. At December 31, 2023, 21.6% of the Bank’s loans and securities reprice or mature within one year. This makes the balance sheet more liability sensitive in the short-term. In addition, in a period of rising interest rates, noninterest-bearing deposits may convert to interest-bearing deposits further increasing the Bank’s funding costs. The current economic environment, characterized by a high rate of inflation, a pause after a period of rapidly rising interest rates and an inverted yield curve, presents significant financial challenges to the Corporation.
When interest rates decline, borrowers may refinance higher rate loans to lower rates causing prepayments on mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities to be elevated. Under those circumstances, the Bank may not be able to reinvest the resulting cash flows in new interest-earning assets with rates as favorable as those that prepaid. In addition, subject to the floors contained in many of the Bank’s loan agreements, the Bank’s loans at variable interest rates may adjust to lower rates at their reset dates. While lower rates may reduce the Bank’s cost of funds on non-maturity deposits, certificates of deposit (“CDs”) and FHLB advances, the cost savings could be somewhat constrained because decreases in the Bank’s funding rates may occur more slowly than decreases in yields earned on the Bank’s assets and a significant portion of the Bank’s funding is currently derived from noninterest-bearing checking deposits and capital. In addition, in a prolonged low interest rate environment, the Bank’s deposit products could reach an effective floor rate close to zero which would not allow for any further reduction in its cost of funds.
Changes in interest rates also affect the value of our interest-earning assets and in particular our securities and loan portfolios. Generally, the value of securities fluctuates inversely with changes in interest rates. At December 31, 2023, our AFS securities portfolio totaled $695.9 million. Unrealized gains and losses on AFS securities are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Therefore, decreases in the fair value of AFS securities resulting from increases in interest rates could have an adverse effect on stockholders’ equity.
In addition to the risks arising from changes in interest rates, the shape of the yield curve could create downward pressure on net interest income and net interest margin. In the current flat or inverted yield curve environment, asset growth could negatively impact the Bank’s earnings and/or profitability metrics. As a result, the Bank may be unable to increase earnings, or maintain the current level of earnings, until the yield curve steepens.
The performance of our multifamily real estate loans could be adversely impacted by regulation.
Multifamily real estate loans generally involve a greater risk of non-payment and loss than one-to-four family residential real estate loans. Repayment of the loans often depends on the successful operation of the properties and the sale of such properties securing the loans. Such loans typically involve larger loan balances to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers compared to one-to-four family residential loans. If loans that are collateralized by real estate become troubled and the value of the real estate has been significantly impaired, then we may not be able to recover the full contractual amount of principal and interest that we anticipated at the time we originated the loan, which could cause us to increase our provision for credit losses and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
Additionally, legislation and government regulations involving rent control and rent stabilization which are outside the control of the borrower or the Bank, could impair the value of the collateral for the loan or the future cash flow of such properties. As an example, on June 14, 2019, the New York State legislature passed the New York Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019. This legislation represents the most extensive reform of New York State’s rent laws in several decades and generally limits a landlord’s ability to increase rents on rent regulated apartments and makes it more difficult to convert rent regulated apartments to market rate apartments. As a result, the value of the collateral located in New York State securing the Company’s multifamily loans or the future net operating income of such properties could potentially become impaired which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. To date, the Company has not experienced any material negative impacts as a result of this legislation.
Management’s estimate of the Allowance for Credit Losses (“ACL” or “allowance”) may not be sufficient and could result in increased provisions and adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
The Bank maintains an ACL in an amount believed to be adequate to absorb current expected lifetime credit losses in its loan portfolio. The maintenance of the ACL is governed by a board committee approved ACL policy. In arriving at the ACL, an individual evaluation is performed on each loan with disparate risk characteristics or information suggesting that the Bank will be unable to collect all the principal and interest due according to contractual terms. In addition, current expected lifetime credit losses for all other loans in the Bank’s portfolio are determined on a pooled basis using the CECL model and taking into account historical loss experience and numerous quantitative and qualitative factors (“Q-factors”), including current and forecasted economic conditions measured by such things as gross domestic product (“GDP”), unemployment levels, vacancies, changes in the value of underlying collateral, average growth in loan pools, concentrations of credit, changes in lending policies and procedures, experience, ability and depth of lending staff, changes in quality of the loan review function, environmental risks and loan risk ratings. Because estimating the ACL is highly subjective in nature and involves a variety of estimates and assumptions that are inherently uncertain, there is the risk that management’s estimate may not accurately capture probable lifetime losses in the loan portfolio. The Bank’s allowance may need to be increased based on additional information that comes to light after the estimate is made, changes in circumstances or a recommendation by bank regulators based on their review of the Bank’s loan portfolio. The impact of one or more of these factors on the Bank’s allowance could result in the need for a significant increase in the Bank’s provision for credit losses and have a material adverse impact on the Bank’s financial condition and results of operations.
Regulatory Matters
If our regulators impose limitations on our commercial real estate lending activities, earnings could be adversely affected, and we may face greater risk in our loan portfolio.
In 2006, the federal bank regulatory agencies issued joint guidance entitled “Concentrations in Commercial Real Estate Lending, Sound Risk Management Practices” (the “CRE Guidance”). Although the CRE Guidance did not establish specific lending limits, it provides that a bank’s commercial mortgage lending exposure may receive increased supervisory scrutiny where total non-owner occupied commercial mortgages, including loans secured by apartment buildings, investor commercial mortgages and construction and land loans ("CRE loans"), represent 300% or more of an institution’s total risk-based capital and the outstanding balance of the CRE loan portfolio has increased by 50% or more during the preceding 36 months ("CRE growth rate"). The Company’s CRE loans, equaled 361% of total risk-based capital at December 31, 2023 and the Company's CRE growth rate during the 36-month period ended December 31, 2023 was 30.7%. The Company did not meet the combined thresholds for increased supervisory scrutiny. However, if our regulators were to impose restrictions on the amount of CRE loans we can hold in our portfolio or require higher capital ratios as a result of the level of CRE loans held, our earnings would be adversely affected.
If we are limited in our ability to originate loans secured by commercial real estate, we may incur greater risk in our loan portfolio. For example, we are and may continue to seek to further increase our growth rate in commercial and industrial loans, including both secured and unsecured commercial and industrial loans. Unsecured loans generally involve a higher degree of risk of loss than do secured loans because, without collateral, repayment is wholly dependent upon the success of the borrowers’ businesses and personal guarantees. Secured commercial and industrial loans are generally collateralized by accounts receivable, inventory, equipment or other assets owned by the borrower and typically include a personal guaranty of the business owner. Compared to real estate, that type of collateral is more difficult to monitor, its value is harder to ascertain, it may depreciate more rapidly, and it may not be as readily saleable if repossessed. Therefore, we may be exposed to greater risk of loss on these credits.
The Bank is subject to the CRA and fair lending laws, and failure to comply with these laws could lead to material penalties.
The CRA, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act and other fair lending laws and regulations impose non-discriminatory lending requirements on financial institutions. With respect to the Bank, the FRB, U.S. Department of Justice and other federal and state agencies are responsible for enforcing these laws and regulations. A successful regulatory challenge to an institution’s performance under the CRA or fair lending laws and regulations could result in a wide variety of sanctions, including the required payment of damages and civil money penalties, injunctive relief, imposition of restrictions on mergers and acquisitions activity and restrictions on expansion. Private parties may also have the ability to challenge an institution’s performance under fair lending laws in private class action litigation. Such actions could have a material adverse effect on the Bank’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
Changes in laws, government regulation and supervisory guidance could have a significant negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
The Corporation and the Bank are subject to regulation, supervision and examination by, among others, the FRB, OCC and FDIC. The FDIC also insures the Bank’s deposits. Regulation and supervision govern the activities in which a bank and its holding company may engage and are intended primarily for the protection of depositors. Regulatory requirements affect virtually all aspects of the Corporation’s and the Bank’s business, including investment and lending practices, deposit offerings and capital levels. The regulators have extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities, including imposing restrictions on Bank operations and expansion plans, imposing deposit insurance premiums and other assessments, setting required levels for the ACL, capital and liquidity, and imposing restrictions on the ability to pay cash dividends and other capital distributions to stockholders. Changes in laws, regulations and supervisory guidance, or the Corporation’s and the Bank’s compliance with these laws and regulations as judged by the regulators, could have a significant negative impact on the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations.
Increasing scrutiny and evolving expectations from customers, regulators, investors and other stakeholders with respect to our environmental, social and governance practices may impose additional costs on us or expose us to new or additional risks.
Companies are facing increasing scrutiny from customers, regulators, investors and other stakeholders related to their environmental, social and governance ("ESG") practices and disclosure. Investor advocacy groups, investment funds and influential investors are also increasingly focused on these practices, especially as they relate to the environment, health and safety, diversity, labor conditions and human rights. Increased ESG related compliance costs could result in increases to our overall operational costs. Failure to adapt to or comply with regulatory requirements or stakeholder expectations could negatively impact our reputation, ability to do business with certain partners and our stock price. New government regulations could also result in new or more stringent forms of ESG oversight and expanding mandatory or voluntary reporting, diligence and disclosure.
Business Issues
Our stock price may be negatively impacted by unrelated bank failures and negative depositor confidence in depository institutions. Further, if we are unable to adequately manage our liquidity, deposits, capital levels and interest rate risk, which have come under greater scrutiny in light of recent bank failures, it may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
On March 9, 2023, Silvergate Bank, La Jolla, California, announced its decision to voluntarily liquidate its assets and wind down operations. On March 10, 2023, Silicon Valley Bank, Santa Clara, California, was closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (“DFPI”), on March 12, 2023, Signature Bank, New York, New York, was closed by the New York State Department of Financial Services, and on May 1, 2023, First Republic Bank, San Francisco, California, was closed by the DFPI, and in each case the FDIC was appointed receiver for the failed institution. These banks had elevated levels of uninsured deposits, which may be less likely to remain at the bank over time and a less stable source of funding than insured deposits. These failures have led to volatility and declines in the market for bank stocks and questions about depositor confidence in depository institutions.
These events have led to a greater focus by institutions, investors and regulators on the on-balance sheet liquidity of and funding sources for financial institutions, the composition of its deposits, including the amount of uninsured deposits, the amount of accumulated other comprehensive loss, capital levels and interest rate risk management. If we are unable to adequately manage our liquidity, deposits, capital levels and interest rate risk, it may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
There can be no assurance that we will continue to declare cash dividends.
The declaration and payment of any dividend is subject to the approval of our Board of Directors and our dividend may be discontinued or reduced at any time. Our ability to pay cash dividends is limited by restrictions or limitations on our ability to obtain sufficient funds through dividends from the Bank. There can be no assurance that the current payout ratio is sustainable or that we will be able to declare cash dividends in the future in any particular amounts, or at all. For additional information, see "Item 1 - Business - Payment of Dividends."
The Bank and Corporation may not have sufficient funds or funding sources to meet liquidity demands.
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Bank will not have sufficient funds to accommodate loan growth, meet deposit outflows or make contractual payments on borrowing arrangements. The Bank encounters significant competition for deposits in its market area from larger banks, various community banks, credit unions and other financial services organizations. This competition for deposits, particularly in the recent rapidly rising interest rate environment, could result in significant outflows and further exert upward pressure on the Bank’s funding costs. In addition, the Bank’s concentration of deposits with certain customers could limit our ability to favorably reprice deposits and grow net interest income, net interest margin and earnings.
The Bank has both internal and external sources of liquidity that can be used to fund loan growth and accommodate deposit outflows. The Bank’s primary internal sources of liquidity are overnight investments and maturities and monthly payments on its investment securities and loan portfolios.
The Bank is a member of the FRB of NY (“FRBNY”) and the FHLBNY and has a federal funds line with a commercial bank. In addition to customer deposits, the Bank’s primary external sources of liquidity are secured borrowings from the FHLBNY and FRBNY. In addition, the Bank can purchase overnight federal funds under its existing line and the Corporation may raise funds through its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (“DRIP”). However, the Bank’s FRBNY membership, FHLBNY membership and federal funds line do not represent legal commitments to extend credit to the Bank. The amount that the Bank can potentially borrow is currently dependent on the amount of unencumbered eligible securities and loans that the Bank can use as collateral and the collateral margins required by the lenders. The Bank’s borrowing capacity may be adjusted by the FRBNY or the FHLBNY and may take into account factors such as the Bank’s tangible common equity ratio, collateral margins required by the lender or other factors. A possible future downgrade of securities and loans pledged as collateral could also impact the amount of available funding. Regulatory or strategic changes affecting the access to and availability of funding from the FHLBNY could adversely impact the Bank’s liquidity.
The Corporation relies on dividends from the Bank to fund its operating expenses, dividends to shareholders and repurchases of common stock. The OCC restricts the dividends the Bank may pay to the Corporation to its retained net profits for the preceding two calendar years plus current year retained net profits. These restrictions may limit the Corporation’s ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares. In addition, the Corporation may not be successful in raising funds from the issuance of its stock under the DRIP or otherwise.
Our funding sources may prove insufficient to replace deposits at maturity and support our future growth. A lack of liquidity could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and result in regulatory limits being placed on the Corporation.
The Bank must maintain sufficient funds to respond to the needs of depositors and borrowers. Deposits have traditionally been our primary source of funds for use in lending and investment activities. We also receive funds from loan repayments, investment maturities and income on other interest-earning assets. While we emphasize the generation of low-cost core deposits as a source of funding, there is strong competition for such deposits in our market area. Additionally, deposit balances can decrease if customers perceive alternative investments as providing a better risk/return tradeoff. Accordingly, as part of our liquidity management, we must use a number of funding sources in addition to deposits and repayments and maturities of loans and investments, including FHLB advances, federal funds purchased and brokered CDs. Adverse operating results or changes in industry conditions could lead to difficulty or an inability to access these additional funding sources.
Our financial flexibility will be severely constrained if we are unable to maintain access to funding or if adequate financing is not available to accommodate future growth at acceptable interest rates. Further, if we are required to rely more heavily on more expensive funding sources to support liquidity and future growth, our revenues may not increase proportionately to cover the increased costs. In this case, our operating margins and profitability would be adversely affected. Alternatively, we may need to sell a portion of our securities and/or loan portfolio to raise funds which, depending upon market conditions, could result in us realizing a loss on the sale of such assets. As of December 31, 2023, we had a net unrealized loss of $71.9 million on our AFS securities portfolio resulting from the change in the interest rate environment. Investment securities totaled $695.9 million, or 16% of total assets, at December 31, 2023.
Any decline in available funding could adversely impact our ability to originate loans, invest in securities, pay our expenses, or fulfill obligations such as repaying our borrowings or meeting deposit withdrawal demands, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity, business, financial condition and results of operations.
A lack of liquidity could also attract increased regulatory scrutiny and potential restraints imposed on us by regulators. Depending on the capitalization status and regulatory treatment of depository institutions, including whether an institution is subject to a supervisory PCA directive, certain additional regulatory restrictions and prohibitions may apply, including restrictions on growth, restrictions on interest rates paid on deposits, restrictions or prohibitions on payment of dividends and restrictions on the acceptance of brokered deposits.
A decline in the Corporation’s market capitalization could negatively impact the price, trading volume and liquidity of our common stock.
The Corporation’s common stock is included in the Russell 3000 and Russell 2000 Indexes, which are reconstituted annually. Upon reconstitution in May 2023, the median market capitalization of the Russell 2000 index was $896.6 million, the capitalization of the largest company in the index was $6.0 billion and the capitalization of the smallest company in the index was $159.5 million. The Corporation’s market capitalization was approximately $299 million on December 31, 2023. If the Corporation’s market capitalization falls below the minimum necessary to be included in the indexes at any future reconstitution date, the price, trading volume and liquidity of its common stock may be negatively impacted.
The Bank’s internal controls and those of its third-party service providers (“TPSPs”) may be ineffective or circumvented, resulting in significant financial loss, adverse action by governmental bodies and damaged reputation.
The Corporation relies on its system of internal controls and the internal controls of its TPSPs to ensure that transactions are captured, recorded, processed and reported properly; confidential customer information is safeguarded; and fraud by employees and persons outside the Corporation is detected and prevented. The Corporation’s internal controls and/or those of its TPSPs may prove to be ineffective or employees of the Corporation and/or its TPSPs may fail to comply with or override the controls, either of which could result in significant financial loss to the Corporation, adverse action by bank regulatory authorities or the SEC and damage to the Corporation’s reputation.
The Bank’s inability to keep pace with technological advances could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The delivery of financial products and services has increasingly become technology driven. The Bank’s ability to competitively meet the needs of its customers in a cost-efficient manner is dependent on its ability to keep pace with technological advances and to invest in new technology as it becomes available. The ability to keep pace with technological change is important, and failure to do so could have a material adverse impact on the Corporation’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
The inability to attract, motivate or retain qualified key personnel could negatively impact our performance.
The Corporation’s future success depends in part on the continued service of its executive officers and other key members of management and its staff, as well as its ability to continue to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified employees. The loss of services of key personnel and our inability to timely recruit or promote qualified replacements could have an adverse effect on the Bank’s business, operating results and financial condition. Their skills, knowledge of the Bank’s market and years of industry experience may be difficult to replace.
The inability to control the risks associated with social media and other internet postings could adversely impact the Corporation's business and reputation.
Customers, shareholders, employees and outsiders could potentially share sensitive or inaccurate information on social media platforms or engage in behavior that may reflect poorly on the company and lead to adverse impacts on the Corporation’s business. While social media activity may provide benefits like increased brand awareness, even positive social media posts have the potential to create controversy and increase the Corporation's risk profile.
Mergers and acquisitions involve numerous risks and uncertainties.
The Corporation may in the future pursue mergers and acquisitions opportunities. Mergers and acquisitions involve a number of risks and challenges, including the expenses involved; potential diversion of management’s attention from other strategic matters; integration of branches and operations acquired; outflow of customers from the acquired branches; retention of personnel from acquired companies or branches; competing effectively in geographic areas not previously served; managing growth resulting from the transaction; and dilution in the acquirer's book and tangible book value per share.
Security
System failures, interruptions and security breaches could negatively impact our customers, reputation and results of operations.
The Bank outsources most of its data processing to TPSPs. If TPSPs encounter difficulties, or if the Bank has difficulty communicating with them, the Bank’s ability to adequately process and account for customer transactions could be affected, and the Bank’s business operations could be adversely impacted. Threats to information security also exist in the processing of customer information through TPSPs. The Bank’s website and online banking products have been the target of cyberattacks in the past. While the Bank and its TPSPs believe they have successfully blocked attempts to infiltrate the Bank’s systems, there is always the possibility that successful attacks have not yet been identified and future attacks may not be blocked. A significant cybersecurity incident may be determined to be material insider information and would prohibit corporate insiders from trading in the Corporation’s stock until appropriate public disclosures are made.
Opportunistic cyberattacks and malicious financial crimes have been growing globally in number and complexity and increase the cost of technology, compliance and labor. The Bank makes use of logon and user access controls, multifactor and out of band authentication, transaction limits, firewalls, antivirus software, intrusion protection monitoring and vulnerability scans and conducts independent penetration testing and cybersecurity audits. Bank communications encourage employee and executive awareness of cybersecurity trends.
These precautions may not protect our systems from all compromises or breaches of security and there can be no assurance that such events will not occur or that they will be adequately addressed if they do. The Bank carries a cyber liability insurance policy to mitigate the risks of financial loss. However, the occurrence of any systems failure, interruption or breach of security could damage the Bank’s reputation and result in a loss of customers and business, could subject the Bank to additional regulatory scrutiny or could expose the Bank to civil litigation and possible financial liability beyond any insurance coverage. Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations.
Risks associated with cybersecurity could negatively affect our earnings.
The financial services industry has experienced an increase in both the number and severity of reported cyberattacks aimed at gaining unauthorized access to bank systems as a way to misappropriate assets and sensitive information, corrupt and destroy data, or cause operational disruptions.
We have established policies and procedures to prevent or limit the impact of security breaches, but such events may still occur or may not be adequately addressed if they do occur. Although we rely on security safeguards to secure our data, these safeguards may not fully protect our systems from compromises or breaches.
We also rely on the integrity and security of a variety of third-party processors, payment, clearing and settlement systems, as well as the various participants involved in these systems, many of which have no direct relationship with us. Failure by these participants or their systems to protect our customers’ transaction data may put us at risk for possible losses due to fraud or operational disruption.
Our customers are also the target of cyberattacks and identity theft. Large scale identity theft could result in customers’ accounts being compromised and fraudulent activities being performed in their name. We have implemented certain safeguards against these types of activities, but they may not fully protect us from fraudulent financial losses.
The occurrence of a breach of security involving our customers’ information, regardless of its origin, could damage our reputation and result in a loss of customers and business and subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny, and could expose us to litigation and possible financial liability. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
While our Board of Directors takes an oversight role in cybersecurity risk tolerance, we rely to a large degree on management and outside consultants in overseeing cybersecurity risk management.
Our Board of Directors takes an oversight role in the cybersecurity risk tolerance of the Corporation and all members receive cybersecurity training annually. The Board approves information technology policies, including those relative to cybersecurity. Furthermore, our Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing all audit findings related to information technology general controls, internal and external vulnerability, and penetration testing. We also engage outside consultants to support our cybersecurity efforts. However, our directors do not have significant experience in cybersecurity risk management outside of the Corporation and therefore, its ability to fulfill its oversight function remains dependent on the input it receives from management and outside consultants.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Corporation neither owns nor leases any real estate. Office facilities of the Corporation are located at 275 Broadhollow Road, Melville, NY and the Bank’s main branch is located at 10 Glen Head Road, Glen Head, NY in office space leased by the Bank.
As of December 31, 2023, the Bank owns 19 buildings and leases 30 other facilities, all of which are in Nassau and Suffolk Counties of Long Island and the NYC boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. Included in the leased facilities is one branch location that was closed in 2023 and one closed in 2022 for which the Bank continues to be obligated to make lease payments. One owned building is classified as held-for-sale and currently in contract to be sold. The Corporation believes that the remaining physical facilities of the Bank are suitable and adequate at present and are being fully utilized.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, the Corporation is involved in various legal actions and claims arising in the normal course of its business. In the opinion of management, these legal actions and claims are not expected to have a material adverse impact on the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
The Corporation’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market tier of the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “FLIC.” At December 31, 2023, there were 765 stockholders of record of the Corporation’s common stock. The number of stockholders of record includes banks and brokers who act as nominees, each of whom may represent more than one stockholder. The Corporation declared cash dividends of $0.84 per share for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to cash dividends declared in 2022 of $0.82 per share. The timing and amount of future dividends are at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon a number of economic and company-specific factors.
Performance Graph
The following performance graph compares the Corporation's total stockholder return with the NASDAQ U.S. Benchmark, NASDAQ U.S. Benchmark Banks and the ABA Community Bank NASDAQ Indexes over a five-year measurement period assuming $100 invested on January 1, 2019, and dividends reinvested in the Corporation’s stock. In 2023, the ABA Community Bank NASDAQ Index was selected to replace the NASDAQ U.S. Benchmark Banks Index as we concluded it more closely reflects the size and characteristics of the Corporation.
Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities
The Corporation has a stock repurchase program under which it is authorized to purchase shares of its common stock from time to time through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or in any other manner that is compliant with applicable securities laws. The Corporation did not repurchase any shares of its own common stock in the fourth quarter of 2023.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. RESERVED

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Interest Income
$ 155,483
$ 134,210
$ 122,959
$ 131,216
$ 143,850
Interest Expense
68,618
18,497
16,152
29,188
43,681
Net Interest Income
86,865
115,713
106,807
102,028
100,169
Provision (Credit) for Credit Losses
(326 )
2,331
(2,573 )
3,006
Net Income
26,239
46,932
43,089
41,203
41,555
PER SHARE DATA:
Basic Earnings
$ 1.16
$ 2.05
$ 1.82
$ 1.73
$ 1.68
Diluted Earnings
1.16
2.04
1.81
1.72
1.67
Cash Dividends Declared
0.84
0.82
0.78
0.74
0.70
Dividend Payout Ratio
72.41 %
40.20 %
43.09 %
43.02 %
41.92 %
Book Value
$ 16.83
$ 16.24
$ 17.81
$ 17.11
$ 16.26
BALANCE SHEET DATA AT YEAR END:
Total Assets
$ 4,235,900
$ 4,281,511
$ 4,068,789
$ 4,069,141
$ 4,097,843
Loans
3,248,064
3,311,733
3,105,036
3,033,454
3,188,249
Allowance for Credit Losses
28,992
31,432
29,831
33,037
29,289
Deposits
3,270,986
3,464,634
3,315,245
3,321,588
3,144,016
Borrowed Funds
542,500
411,000
311,322
306,097
528,182
Stockholders' Equity
380,146
364,536
413,812
407,118
389,108
AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Total Assets
$ 4,235,989
$ 4,247,052
$ 4,151,577
$ 4,140,867
$ 4,194,355
Loans
3,260,903
3,276,589
2,976,061
3,110,512
3,217,530
Allowance for Credit Losses
30,291
30,604
31,300
33,180
30,080
Deposits
3,431,990
3,536,709
3,425,976
3,257,317
3,276,699
Borrowed Funds
397,928
289,584
281,191
457,939
494,785
Stockholders' Equity
367,496
386,839
416,885
393,662
391,613
FINANCIAL RATIOS:
Return on Average Assets (ROA)
0.62 %
1.11 %
1.04 %
1.00 %
0.99 %
Return on Average Equity (ROE)
7.14 %
12.13 %
10.34 %
10.47 %
10.61 %
Average Equity to Average Assets
8.68 %
9.11 %
10.04 %
9.51 %
9.34 %
Overview - 2023 Versus 2022
Analysis of 2023 Earnings. Net income and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) for 2023 were $26.2 million and $1.16, respectively. Dividends per share increased 2.4% from $0.82 for 2022 to $0.84 for 2023. ROA and ROE for 2023 were 0.62% and 7.14%, respectively, compared to 1.11% and 12.13%, respectively, for 2022.
Net income and EPS for 2023 were $26.2 million and $1.16, respectively, compared to $46.9 million and $2.04, respectively, in 2022. The principal drivers of the decreases were declines in net interest income of $28.8 million, or 24.9%, and a loss on sale of securities of $3.5 million. These items were partially offset by a decrease in income tax expense of $8.1 million and a decrease in the provision for credit losses of $2.7 million. The decline in net interest income primarily resulted from the current rate environment’s impact on the Bank’s liability sensitive balance sheet. Reductions in net income negatively impacted key financial ratios for the year as compared to historical results. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the ROA was 0.62%, ROE was 7.14%, the net interest margin was 2.16%, and the efficiency ratio was 65.52%.
Over the second half of 2023, the pace of the decline in the net interest margin slowed considerably. After a 57 basis point reduction in the margin during the first two quarters of 2023, over the final two quarters of 2023 the margin decreased 17 basis points ("bps"). The slowing downward trend in the net interest margin largely resulted from a large portion of the wholesale funding and time deposits being repriced to higher market rates by mid-2023 and two balance sheet repositioning transactions in the first quarter of 2023 that helped reduce the Bank’s liability sensitive position. Additionally, as the federal funds rate held steady in the second half of the year, the demand for higher rates from depositors slowed.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, net interest income declined due to an increase in interest expense of $50.1 million that was only partially offset by a $21.3 million increase in interest income. Year over year, the cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased 186 bps while the yield on interest-earning assets increased 48 bps. Also contributing to the decline in net interest income was a shift in the mix of funding as average noninterest-bearing deposits decreased $217.9 million while average interest-bearing liabilities increased $221.6 million as depositors took advantage of interest rates not seen in over a decade.
Noninterest income declined $2.8 million year over year excluding the net gains and losses on sales of securities and the disposition of premises and fixed assets. The primary factor reducing noninterest income for the current year was a $2.3 million decline in the net pension credit, excluding service costs. The remaining difference was related to a payment received in 2022 for the conversion of the Bank’s retail broker and advisory accounts to LPL.
Noninterest expense declined $3.0 million, or 4.4%, for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the prior year. Reductions in salaries and employee benefits of $3.7 million primarily drove the decline as short-term incentive compensation and stock-based compensation costs were substantially lower than 2022 based on the Company falling short of established performance metrics for 2023. The primary offset to the lower salaries and employee benefits was a $782,000 increase in FDIC insurance expense due to higher assessment rates.
The Bank recorded a credit loan loss provision of $326,000 during 2023. Changes in the loan loss reserve were driven largely by adjustments for economic conditions offset by net chargeoffs of $2.1 million, or 6 bps of average loans. The ACL to total loans ("reserve coverage ratio") at year end 2023 was 0.89% of total loans as compared to 0.95% of total loans at December 31, 2022. Past due loans and nonaccrual loans were modest at $3.1 million and $1.1 million, respectively, at December 31, 2023. During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Bank partially charged off a previously identified substandard commercial and industrial loan relationship in the amount of $1.4 million. The remaining outstanding balance of $632,000 is fully reserved and represents the majority of outstanding nonaccrual loans. Overall credit quality in the loan and investment portfolios remains strong.
Income tax expense decreased $8.1 million and the effective tax rate (income tax expense as a percentage of pre-tax book income) declined from 19.4% in 2022 to 11.0% in 2023. The decline in the effective tax rate is mainly due to an increase in the percentage of pre-tax income derived from the Bank's REIT and BOLI. The decrease in income tax expense reflects the lower effective tax rate and a decline in pre-tax income.
Asset Quality. The Bank’s reserve coverage ratio was 0.89% at December 31, 2023, compared to 0.95% at December 31, 2022. The decrease in the reserve coverage ratio was mainly due to improvements in historical loss rates and other portfolio metrics, partially offset by specific reserves taken against two commercial and industrial loans. Gross loan chargeoffs and recoveries were $2.2 million and $96,000, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Nonaccrual loans were $1.1 million, or 0.03% of total loans outstanding, at December 31, 2023. The Bank had no nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2022. Loans modified for borrowers experiencing financial difficulty prior to 2023 amounted to $431,000, or 0.01% of total loans outstanding, at December 31, 2023, compared to $480,000, or 0.01%, at December 31, 2022. All such modifications are performing in accordance with their modified terms at December 31, 2023. Loans past due 30 through 89 days amounted to $3.1 million, or 0.10% of total loans outstanding, at December 31, 2023, compared to $750,000, or 0.02%, at December 31, 2022.
The Bank’s mortgage securities are backed by mortgages underwritten on conventional terms, with 26% of these securities being full faith and credit obligations of the U.S. government and the balance being obligations of U.S. government sponsored entities. The remainder of the Bank’s securities portfolio principally consists of high quality, general obligation municipal securities rated AA or better by major rating agencies and investment grade corporate bonds of large U.S. financial institutions. In selecting securities for purchase, the Bank uses credit agency ratings for screening purposes only and then performs its own credit analysis. On an ongoing basis, the Bank periodically assesses the credit strength of the securities in its portfolio and makes decisions to hold or sell based on such assessments.
Looking Forward to 2024. Management is encouraged by recent declines in inflation figures that may lead to reductions in short-term rates in 2024. Our liability-sensitive balance sheet should perform well in a falling rate environment. Current expectations are for our net interest margin to remain under pressure during the first half of 2024 before improving in the second half of the year based on falling rate assumptions and an improving yield curve.
Management continues to pursue ways to reduce noninterest expense as a tactic to offset the impact of the decline in net interest income yet remains cognizant of preventing short term expense reductions that could have longer term negative impacts on shareholder value. We invested in upgrades to the Bank’s core system, business online banking, branch systems and other ancillary systems that were completed in the first quarter of 2024. Both customer facing technology and back-office operations will see benefits. We anticipate a lower run rate of noninterest expenses in 2024 including the cost associated with making these technology upgrades.
Overview -2022 Versus 2021
Analysis of 2022 Earnings. Net income and diluted EPS for 2022 were $46.9 million and $2.04, respectively. Dividends per share increased 5.1% from $0.78 for 2021 to $0.82 for 2022. ROA and ROE for 2022 were 1.11% and 12.13%, respectively, compared to 1.04% and 10.34%, respectively, for 2021.
Net income for 2022 was $46.9 million, an increase of $3.8 million, or 8.9%, as compared to 2021. The increase was primarily due to growth in net interest income of $8.9 million and a decrease in noninterest expense of $1.1 million. These items were partially offset by increases in the provision for credit losses of $4.9 million and income tax expense of $1.1 million.
The increase in net interest income reflected growth in interest income on loans of $10.1 million due to higher average loans outstanding of $300.5 million in 2022 offset by $2.3 million of growth in interest expense on total interest-bearing liabilities resulting from increases in short-term rates. Also contributing to the increase was a favorable shift in the mix of funding as an increase in average checking deposits of $96.1 million outpaced the growth in average interest-bearing liabilities of $23.0 million resulting in average checking deposits comprising a larger portion of total funding. Net interest margin for 2022 was 2.89% versus 2.74% for 2021.
In 2022, we originated $656 million in mortgage loans at a weighted average rate of approximately 3.69% which included $452 million and $204 million of commercial and residential mortgages at weighted average rates of 3.66% and 3.74%, respectively. The Bank’s commercial and industrial loan portfolio grew $18.1 million to $108 million in 2022 and had a weighted average rate of 6.34%.
The provision for credit losses increased $4.9 million when comparing the full year periods from a credit of $2.6 million in 2021 to a charge of $2.3 million in 2022. The provision for 2022 was mainly due to an increase in outstanding loans, deteriorating economic conditions and low net chargeoffs, partially offset by lower historical loss rates.
Total noninterest income remained flat from the prior year although several line items had ups and downs. BOLI and merchant card services revenues increased by $618,000 and $410,000, respectively. The Bank received a final transition payment of $477,000 for the conversion of the Bank’s retail broker and advisory accounts. Service charges on deposit accounts increased $232,000. These increases were offset by a decrease in investment services income of $693,000 as the shift to an outside service provider resulted in a revenue sharing agreement and less assets under management. Also, there were no net gains on sales of securities in 2022 down from $1.1 million in 2021.
The decrease in noninterest expense of $1.1 million reflected the reduction in debt extinguishment costs from 2021. The Bank did have increases in noninterest expense during 2022. Salaries and benefits expense increased $1.3 million due to the hiring of seasoned banking professionals, competitive mid-year salary increases in 2022 and higher stock-based compensation expense. The Bank had a net loss of $553,000 on the disposition of premises and fixed assets relating to the Bank’s former buildings in Glen Head and costs relating to the branding initiative in the Bank’s branches of $531,000. Other items contributing to increases in noninterest expense included the cost of new branch locations on the east end of Long Island, two branch relocations, new corporate office space in Melville, NY, higher marketing expense and increases in other costs of operating the business. All increases in expenses were offset by branch optimization and back-office consolidation initiatives.
Income tax expense increased $1.1 million and the effective tax rate increased from 19.2% to 19.4% when comparing the full year periods. The increase in the effective tax rate was mainly due to a decrease in the percentage of pre-tax income derived from tax-exempt sources. The increase in income tax expense was due to higher pre-tax earnings in 2022 as compared to the prior year and the higher effective tax rate.
Asset Quality. The Bank’s reserve coverage ratio was 0.95% at December 31, 2022, compared to 0.96% at December 31, 2021. The decrease in the reserve coverage ratio was mainly due to improvements in historical loss rates, partially offset by current and forecasted economic conditions. Gross loan chargeoffs and recoveries were $884,000 and $154,000, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The Bank had no nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2022, compared to $1.2 million, or 0.04% of total loans outstanding, at December 31, 2021. Modifications negotiated prior to 2022 amounted to $480,000, or 0.01% of total loans outstanding, at December 31, 2022, compared to $554,000, or 0.02%, at December 31, 2021. All such modifications were performing in accordance with their modified terms at December 31, 2022. Loans past due 30 through 89 days amounted to $750,000, or 0.02% of total loans outstanding, at December 31, 2022, compared to $460,000, or 0.01%, at December 31, 2021.
Application of Critical Accounting Policies
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported asset and liability balances and revenue and expense amounts. Our determination of the ACL is a critical accounting estimate because it is based on our subjective evaluation of a variety of factors at a specific point in time and involves difficult and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain. In the event that management’s estimate needs to be adjusted based on additional information that comes to light after the estimate is made or changes in circumstances, such adjustment could result in the need for a significantly different ACL and thereby materially impact, either positively or negatively, the Bank’s results of operations.
The Bank’s Allowance for Credit Losses Committee (“ACL Committee”), which is a management committee chaired by the Chief Credit Officer, meets on a quarterly basis and is responsible for determining the ACL after considering the results of credit reviews performed by the Bank’s independent loan review consultants and the Bank’s credit department. In addition, and in consultation with the Bank’s Chief Financial Officer, the ACL Committee is responsible for implementing and maintaining accounting policies and procedures surrounding the calculation of the required allowance. The Loan Committee reviews and approves the Bank’s loan policy at least once each calendar year. The Bank’s ACL is reviewed and ratified by the Loan Committee on a quarterly basis and is subject to periodic examination by the OCC whose safety and soundness examination includes a determination as to the adequacy of the allowance to absorb current expected credit losses.
The ACL is a valuation amount that is deducted from the loans’ amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the Bank’s loan portfolio. The allowance is established through provisions for credit losses charged against income. When available information confirms that specific loans, or portions thereof, are uncollectible, these amounts are charged against the ACL, and subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.
Management estimates the ACL balance using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Historical loss information from the Bank’s own loan portfolio has been compiled since December 31, 2007 and generally provides a starting point for management’s assessment of expected credit losses. A historical look-back period that begins in 2007 covers an entire economic cycle and impacts the average historical loss rates used to calculate the final ACL. Adjustments to historical loss information are made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics such as differences in underwriting standards, portfolio mix, delinquency level or term as well as for current and potential future changes in economic conditions over a one year to two year forecasting horizon, such as unemployment rates, GDP, vacancy rates or other relevant factors. The immediate reversion method is applied for periods beyond the forecasting horizon. The ACL is an amount that management currently believes will be adequate to absorb expected lifetime losses in the Bank’s loan portfolio. The process for estimating credit losses and determining the ACL as of any balance sheet date is subjective in nature and requires material estimates and judgements. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
The ACL is measured on a collective (pool) basis when similar risk characteristics exist. Management segregates its loan portfolio into ten distinct pools: (1) commercial and industrial; (2) small business credit scored; (3) multifamily; (4) owner-occupied; (5) other commercial real estate; (6) construction and land development; (7) residential mortgage; (8) revolving home equity; (9) consumer; and (10) municipal loans. The vintage method is applied to measure the historical loss component of lifetime credit losses inherent in most of its loan pools. For the revolving home equity and small business credit scored pools, the lifetime PD/LGD (probability of default/loss given default) method is used to measure historical losses.
Management believes that the methods selected fairly reflect the historical loss component of expected losses inherent in the Bank’s loan portfolio. However, since future losses could vary significantly from those experienced in the past, on a quarterly basis management adjusts its historical loss experience to reflect current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. In doing so, management considers a variety of Q-factors and then subjectively determines the weight to assign to each in estimating losses. The factors include: (1) changes in lending policies and procedures; (2) experience, ability and depth of lending staff; (3) trends in average loan growth and concentrations; (4) changes in the quality of the loan review function; (5) delinquencies; (6) environmental risks; (7) current and forecasted economic conditions as judged by things such as unemployment levels and GDP; (8) changes in the value of underlying collateral as judged by things such as median home prices and forecasted vacancy rates in the Bank’s service area; and (9) direction and magnitude of risks in the portfolio. The Bank’s ACL allocable to its loan pools results primarily from these Q-factor adjustments to historical loss experience with the largest sensitivity of the ACL arising from loan growth, loan concentrations and economic forecasts of unemployment, GDP and vacancies. At December 31, 2023, the ACL was composed approximately 77% of Q-factors, 21% of historical losses and 2% reserves on individually evaluated loans. Because of the nature of the Q-factors and the difficulty in assessing their impact, management’s resulting estimate of losses may not accurately reflect lifetime losses in the portfolio.
Loans that do not share similar risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis. Such disparate risk characteristics may include internal or external credit ratings, risk ratings, collateral type, size of loan, effective interest rate, term, geographic location, industry or historical or expected loss pattern. Estimated losses for loans individually evaluated are based on either the fair value of collateral or the discounted value of expected future cash flows. For all collateral dependent loans evaluated on an individual basis, credit losses are measured based on the fair value of the collateral. In estimating the fair value of real estate collateral, management utilizes appraisals or evaluations adjusted for costs to dispose and a distressed sale adjustment, if needed. Estimating the fair value of collateral other than real estate is also subjective in nature and sometimes requires difficult and complex judgements. Determining expected future cash flows can be more subjective than determining fair values. Expected future cash flows could differ significantly, both in timing and amount, from the cash flows received over the loan’s remaining life. Individually evaluated loans are not included in the estimation of credit losses from the pooled portfolio.
Net Interest Income
Average Balance Sheet; Interest Rates and Interest Differential. The following table sets forth the average daily balances for each major category of assets, liabilities and stockholders’ equity as well as the amounts and average rates earned or paid on each major category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. The average balances of loans include nonaccrual loans. The average balances of investment securities exclude unrealized gains and losses on AFS securities in the 2023 and 2022 periods and include such amounts in the 2021 period. Unrealized gains and losses were immaterial in 2021.
Average
Interest/
Average
Average
Interest/
Average
Average
Interest/
Average
(dollars in thousands)
Balance
Dividends
Rate
Balance
Dividends
Rate
Balance
Dividends
Rate
Assets:
Interest-earning bank balances
$ 48,879
$ 2,508
5.13 %
$ 35,733
$
1.89 %
$ 200,063
$
0.13 %
Investment securities:
Taxable
584,450
20,155
3.45
442,758
9,121
2.06
455,532
7,901
1.73
Nontaxable (1)
196,341
6,271
3.19
318,836
10,206
3.20
345,688
10,799
3.12
Loans (1)
3,260,903
127,868
3.92
3,276,589
116,357
3.55
2,976,061
106,271
3.57
Total interest-earning assets
4,090,573
156,802
3.83
4,073,916
136,358
3.35
3,977,344
125,232
3.15
Allowance for credit losses
(30,291 )
(30,604 )
(31,300 )
Net interest-earning assets
4,060,282
4,043,312
3,946,044
Cash and due from banks
30,847
33,471
33,808
Premises and equipment, net
32,027
37,376
38,700
Other assets
112,833
132,893
133,025
$ 4,235,989
$ 4,247,052
$ 4,151,577
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Savings, NOW & money market deposits
$ 1,657,947
32,164
1.94
$ 1,728,897
7,180
0.42
$ 1,782,789
4,414
0.25
Time deposits
553,096
19,267
3.48
368,922
5,296
1.44
300,374
5,712
1.90
Total interest-bearing deposits
2,211,043
51,431
2.33
2,097,819
12,476
0.59
2,083,163
10,126
0.49
Short-term borrowings
17,529
5.42
57,119
1,207
2.11
54,416
1,427
2.62
Long-term debt
380,399
16,237
4.27
232,465
4,814
2.07
226,775
4,599
2.03
Total interest-bearing liabilities
2,608,971
68,618
2.63
2,387,403
18,497
0.77
2,364,354
16,152
0.68
Checking deposits
1,220,947
1,438,890
1,342,813
Other liabilities
38,575
33,920
27,525
3,868,493
3,860,213
3,734,692
Stockholders' equity
367,496
386,839
416,885
$ 4,235,989
$ 4,247,052
$ 4,151,577
Net interest income (1)
$ 88,184
$ 117,861
$ 109,080
Net interest spread (1)
1.20 %
2.58 %
2.47 %
Net interest margin (1)
2.16 %
2.89 %
2.74 %
(1) Tax-equivalent basis. Interest income on a tax-equivalent basis includes the additional amount of interest income that would have been earned if the Corporation's investment in tax-exempt loans and investment securities had been made in loans and investment securities subject to federal income taxes yielding the same after-tax income. The tax-equivalent amount of $1.00 of nontaxable income was $1.27 for each period presented using the statutory federal income tax rate of 21%.
Rate/Volume Analysis. The following table sets forth the effect of changes in volumes and rates on tax-equivalent interest income, interest expense and net interest income. The changes attributable to a combined impact of volume and rate have been allocated to the changes due to volume and the changes due to rate.
2023 Versus 2022
2022 Versus 2021
Increase (decrease) due to changes in:
Increase (decrease) due to changes in:
Net
Net
(in thousands)
Volume
Rate
Change
Volume
Rate
Change
Interest Income:
Interest-earning bank balances
$
$ 1,509
$ 1,834
$ (381 )
$
$
Investment securities:
Taxable
3,550
7,484
11,034
(244 )
1,464
1,220
Nontaxable
(3,900 )
(35 )
(3,935 )
(855 )
(593 )
Loans
(594 )
12,105
11,511
10,707
(621 )
10,086
Total interest income
(619 )
21,063
20,444
9,227
1,899
11,126
Interest Expense:
Savings, NOW & money market deposits
(226 )
25,210
24,984
(98 )
2,864
2,766
Time deposits
3,652
10,319
13,971
1,140
(1,556 )
(416 )
Short-term borrowings
(1,239 )
(257 )
(287 )
(220 )
Long-term debt
4,277
7,146
11,423
Total interest expense
6,464
43,657
50,121
1,229
1,116
2,345
(Decrease) increase in net interest income
$ (7,083 )
$ (22,594 )
$ (29,677 )
$ 7,998
$
$ 8,781
Net Interest Income - 2023 Versus 2022
Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis was $88.2 million in 2023, a decrease of $29.7 million, or 25.2%, from $117.9 million in 2022. Net interest income declined due to an increase in interest expense that was only partially offset by an increase in interest income. Year over year, the cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased 186 bps while the yield on interest-earning assets increased 48 bps. Also contributing to the decline in net interest income was a shift in the mix of funding as average noninterest-bearing deposits decreased $217.9 million while average interest-bearing liabilities increased $221.6 million as depositors took advantage of interest rates not seen in over a decade.
Net Interest Income - 2022 Versus 2021
Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis was $117.9 million in 2022, an increase of $8.8 million, or 8.1%, from $109.1 million in 2021. The increase in net interest income reflected growth in interest income on loans of $10.1 million due to higher average loans outstanding of $300.5 million, or 10.1%, to $3.3 billion in 2022, offset by $2.3 million of growth in interest expense on total interest-bearing liabilities. Also contributing to the increase was a favorable shift in the mix of funding as an increase in average checking deposits of $96.1 million, or 7.2%, outpaced the growth in average interest-bearing liabilities of $23.0 million, or 1.0%, resulting in average checking deposits comprising a larger portion of total funding.
Noninterest Income
Noninterest income includes service charges on deposit accounts, gains or losses on sales of securities and other assets, income on BOLI, and all other items of income, other than interest, resulting from the business activities of the Corporation.
Noninterest income was $6.3 million in 2023 compared to $11.9 million in 2022. Excluding the net gains and losses on sales of securities and the disposition of premises and fixed assets, noninterest income was $9.6 million in 2023 compared to $12.4 million in 2022. The primary factor reducing noninterest income for the current year was a $2.3 million decline in the net pension credit, excluding service costs. The remaining difference was related to a payment received in 2022 for the conversion of the Bank’s retail broker and advisory accounts to LPL.
Total noninterest income in 2022 of $11.9 million decreased $0.7 million from the prior year. Investment services income decreased $693,000 as the shift to an outside service provider resulted in a revenue sharing agreement and less assets under management. The Bank had a net loss of $553,000 on the disposition of premises and fixed assets relating to the Bank’s former buildings in Glen Head, NY and there were no net gains on sales of securities in 2022 down from $1.1 million in 2021. These decreases were offset by increases in BOLI and merchant card services revenues of $618,000 and $410,000, respectively. Service charges on deposit accounts increased $232,000 and the Bank received a final transition payment of $477,000 for the conversion of the Bank’s retail broker and advisory accounts.
Noninterest Expense
Noninterest expense is comprised of salaries and employee benefits and other personnel expense, occupancy and equipment expense and other operating expenses incurred in supporting the various business activities of the Corporation.
Noninterest expense declined $3.0 million, or 4.4%, for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to 2022. Reductions in salaries and employee benefits of $3.7 million primarily drove the decline as short-term incentive compensation and stock-based compensation costs were substantially lower than 2022 based on the Company falling short of established performance metrics for 2023. The primary offset to the lower salaries and employee benefits was a $782,000 increase in FDIC insurance expense due to higher assessment rates.
Noninterest expense was $67.0 million in 2022, compared to $68.6 million in 2021. The decrease reflects the reduction in debt extinguishment costs from 2021. The Bank did have increases in noninterest expense during 2022. Salaries and benefits expense increased $1.3 million due to the hiring of seasoned banking professionals, competitive mid-year salary increases in 2022 and higher stock-based compensation expense. Other items contributing to the increase in noninterest expense include the cost of new branch locations on the east end of Long Island, two branch relocations, new corporate office space in Melville, NY, higher marketing expense, costs relating to the branding initiative in the Bank’s branches of $531,000 and increases in other costs of operating the business. All increases in expenses were offset by branch optimization and back-office consolidation initiatives.
Income Taxes
The Corporation’s effective tax rate was 11.0% and 19.4% in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The effective tax rate reflects the tax benefits derived from the Bank’s municipal securities portfolio, ownership of BOLI and maintenance of a captive REIT.
2023 Versus 2022. Income tax expense decreased $8.1 million due to lower pre-tax earnings in 2023 and a decrease in the effective tax rate. The decrease in the effective tax rate is mainly due to an increase in the percentage of pre-tax income derived from the REIT and BOLI in 2023.
2022 Versus 2021. Income tax expense increased $1.1 million due to higher pre-tax earnings in 2022 and an increase in the effective tax rate. The increase in the effective tax rate was mainly due to a decrease in the percentage of pre-tax income derived from tax-exempt municipal securities and BOLI in 2022.
Financial Condition
Total assets were $4.2 billion at December 31, 2023, a decrease of $45.6 million, or 1.1%, from the previous year end. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in loans of $63.7 million, or 1.9%, partially offset by an increase in securities of $22.5 million, or 3.3%. Total deposits decreased $193.6 million to $3.3 billion at December 31, 2023. Total borrowings increased $131.5 million, or 32.0%, due to an increase in short-term borrowings of $70.0 million and long-term debt of $61.5 million. Stockholders’ equity increased $15.6 million, or 4.3%, from December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to net income of $26.2 million and an increase in the after-tax value of the Bank’s AFS investment securities of $6.2 million, partially offset by cash dividends declared of $18.9 million.
Investment Securities. The following table presents the estimated fair value of AFS securities at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
(in thousands)
State and municipals
$ 143,621
$ 305,247
Pass-through mortgage securities
138,603
148,520
Collateralized mortgage obligations
182,262
113,394
SBA agency obligations
125,476
-
Corporate bonds
105,915
106,252
$ 695,877
$ 673,413
The following table presents the maturities and weighted average tax equivalent yields of the Bank’s AFS investment securities at December 31, 2023. Yields on AFS securities have been computed based on amortized cost.
Principal Maturing (1)
Within
After One But
After Five But
After
One Year
Within Five Years
Within Ten Years
Ten Years
(dollars in thousands)
Amount
Yield
Amount
Yield
Amount
Yield
Amount
Yield
State and municipals
$ 3,076
3.26 %
$ 11,315
2.83 %
$ 33,999
3.09 %
$ 95,231
3.22 %
Pass-through mortgage securities
-
-
2.58
-
-
138,536
1.59
Collateralized mortgage obligations
-
-
-
-
-
-
182,262
3.52
SBA agency obligations
-
-
-
-
30,960
6.29
94,516
6.47
Corporate bonds
-
-
105,915
4.20
-
-
-
-
$ 3,076
3.26 %
$ 117,297
4.07 %
$ 64,959
4.62 %
$ 510,545
3.49 %
(1) Maturities shown are stated maturities, except in the case of municipal securities, which are shown at the earlier of their stated maturity or pre-refunded dates. Securities backed by mortgages, which include pass-through mortgage securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and certain SBA agency obligations, are expected to have periodic repayments resulting in average lives shorter than the stated maturities shown in the table above.
During 2023, the Bank sold $148.9 million of fixed rate municipal securities at a loss of $3.5 million. In 2021, the Bank sold $70.6 million of mortgage-backed securities at a gain of $1.1 million. No securities were sold in 2022.
During 2023, the Bank received cash dividends of $2.0 million on its FRB and FHLB stock, representing an average yield of 7.61%.
Loans. The composition of the Bank’s loan portfolio is set forth below.
December 31,
(in thousands)
Commercial and industrial
$ 116,163
$ 108,493
Commercial mortgages:
Multifamily
857,163
906,498
Other
829,090
789,140
Owner-occupied
233,461
220,855
Residential mortgages:
Closed end
1,166,887
1,240,144
Revolving home equity
44,070
45,213
Consumer and other
1,230
1,390
3,248,064
3,311,733
Allowance for credit losses
(28,992 )
(31,432 )
$ 3,219,072
$ 3,280,301
Maturity information for loans outstanding at December 31, 2023 is set forth below. Variable rate loans have varying repricing dates but are disclosed at their contractual maturity.
Maturity
Within
After One But Within
After Five But Within
After
One Year
Five Years
Fifteen Years
Fifteen Years
Total
(in thousands)
Fixed
Variable
Fixed
Variable
Fixed
Variable
Commercial and industrial
$ 58,430
$ 29,190
$ 10,074
$ 18,469
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 116,163
Commercial mortgages:
Multifamily
-
33,847
59,164
139,038
406,586
34,245
184,283
857,163
Other
37,551
103,332
23,814
316,624
215,541
22,938
109,290
829,090
Owner-occupied
4,070
4,877
122,521
30,045
71,616
233,461
Residential mortgages:
Closed end (1)
13,746
75,710
17,789
557,153
502,826
1,167,393
Revolving home equity
2,285
-
12,884
1,152
27,749
-
-
44,070
Consumer and other
-
-
-
-
1,230
$ 98,982
$ 184,253
$ 111,431
$ 673,514
$ 697,710
$ 614,665
$ 868,015
$ 3,248,570
(1) Certain fixed rate residential mortgage loans are included in a fair value hedging relationship. The amortized cost excludes a contra asset of $506,000 related to basis adjustments for loans in the closed portfolio under the portfolio layer method at December 31, 2023. These basis adjustments would be allocated to the amortized cost of specific loans within the pool if the hedge was de-designated. See "Note 7 - Derivatives" to the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements of this Form 10-K for more information on the fair value hedge.
Asset Quality. Information about the Corporation’s risk elements is set forth below. Risk elements include nonaccrual loans, other real estate owned, loans that are contractually past due 30 days or more and modifications made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. These risk elements present more than the normal risk that the Corporation will be unable to eventually collect or realize their full carrying value.
December 31,
(in thousands)
Loans including modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty:
Modified and performing according to their modified terms
$
$
Past due 30 through 89 days
3,086
Past due 90 days or more and still accruing
-
-
Nonaccrual
1,053
-
4,570
1,230
Other real estate owned
-
-
$ 4,570
$ 1,230
The past due status of a loan is based on the contractual terms in the loan agreement. Unless a loan is well secured and in the process of collection, the accrual of interest income is discontinued when a loan becomes 90 days past due as to principal or interest payments. The accrual of interest income on a loan is also discontinued when it is determined that the borrower will not be able to make principal and interest payments according to the contractual terms of the current loan agreement. When the accrual of interest income is discontinued on a loan, any accrued but unpaid interest is reversed against current period income.
Loan Risk Ratings. Risk ratings of the Corporation’s loans are set forth in the tables below. Risk ratings are defined in “Note C - Loans” to the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements of this Form 10-K. Deposit account overdrafts are not assigned a risk rating and appear as “not rated” in the following tables.
December 31, 2023
Internally Assigned Risk Rating
Special
(in thousands)
Pass
Watch
Mention
Substandard
Doubtful
Not Rated
Total
Commercial and industrial
$ 112,732
$ 2,709
$ -
$
$ -
$ -
$ 116,163
Commercial mortgages:
Multifamily
857,163
-
-
-
-
-
857,163
Other
807,630
-
20,544
-
-
829,090
Owner-occupied
228,107
5,354
-
-
-
-
233,461
Residential mortgages:
Closed end
1,166,556
-
-
-
-
1,166,887
Revolving home equity
44,070
-
-
-
-
-
44,070
Consumer and other
1,123
-
-
-
-
1,230
$ 3,217,381
$ 8,979
$ -
$ 21,597
$ -
$
$ 3,248,064
December 31, 2022
Internally Assigned Risk Rating
Special
(in thousands)
Pass
Watch
Mention
Substandard
Doubtful
Not Rated
Total
Commercial and industrial
$ 96,154
$ 12,339
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 108,493
Commercial mortgages:
Multifamily
900,199
6,299
-
-
-
-
906,498
Other
781,343
-
6,863
-
-
789,140
Owner-occupied
215,576
5,279
-
-
-
-
220,855
Residential mortgages:
Closed end
1,239,865
-
-
-
-
1,240,144
Revolving home equity
45,213
-
-
-
-
-
45,213
Consumer and other
1,257
-
-
-
-
1,390
$ 3,279,607
$ 25,130
$ -
$ 6,863
$ -
$
$ 3,311,733
Allowance and Provision for Credit Losses. The ACL decreased by $2.4 million during 2023 amounting to $29.0 million, or 0.89% of total loans, on December 31, 2023, compared to $31.4 million, or 0.95% of total loans, at December 31, 2022. The decrease in the reserve coverage ratio was mainly due to improvements in historical loss rates and other portfolio metrics, partially offset by reserves taken against two individually evaluated commercial and industrial loans. Nonaccrual loans, modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty and loans past due 30 through 89 days remain at low levels.
During 2023, the Bank had loan chargeoffs of $2.2 million, recoveries of $96,000 and recorded a credit provision for credit losses of $326,000. The credit provision recorded in 2023 was mainly due to improvements in historical loss rates, economic forecasts of unemployment and GDP, and other portfolio metrics and a decrease in outstanding mortgage loans, partially offset by net chargeoffs and reserves for individually evaluated loans.
During 2022, the Bank had loan chargeoffs of $884,000, recoveries of $154,000 and recorded a provision for credit losses of $2.3 million. The provision was mainly attributable to loan growth, economic conditions and net chargeoffs of $730,000, partially offset by improvements in historical loss rates.
The ACL is an amount that management currently believes will be adequate to absorb expected lifetime losses in the Bank’s loan portfolio. As more fully discussed in the “Application of Critical Accounting Policies” section of this document, the process for estimating credit losses and determining the ACL as of any balance sheet date is subjective in nature and requires material estimates and judgements. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Other detailed information on the Bank’s loan portfolio and ACL can be found in “Note C - Loans” to the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements of this Form 10-K.
The following table sets forth balances and credit ratios of the Bank’s loan portfolio.
December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Total loans outstanding
$ 3,248,064
$ 3,311,733
Average loans outstanding
3,260,903
3,276,589
Allowance for credit losses
28,992
31,432
Total nonaccrual loans
1,053
-
Net chargeoffs
2,114
Allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans
0.89 %
0.95 %
Nonaccrual loans as a percentage of total loans
0.03 %
- %
Net chargeoffs as a percentage of average loans outstanding
0.06 %
0.02 %
Allowance for credit losses as a multiple of nonaccrual loans
27.5x
-
The following table sets forth net chargeoffs by loan type, average loans during the period and the percentage of net chargeoffs over average loans.
December 31,
Net
Average
% of Average
Net
Average
% of Average
(dollars in thousands)
Chargeoffs
Loans
Loans
Chargeoffs
Loans
Loans
Commercial and industrial
$ 1,945
$ 108,453
1.79 %
$
$ 104,883
0.34 %
SBA PPP
-
-
-
-
7,565
-
Commercial mortgages:
Multifamily
-
861,758
-
-
922,463
-
Other
(15 )
801,772
-
-
757,119
-
Owner-occupied
-
242,917
-
-
219,449
-
Residential mortgages:
Closed end
1,199,594
0.01
1,218,741
0.03
Revolving home equity
-
45,321
-
-
45,429
-
Consumer and other
1,088
0.74
0.11
$ 2,114
$ 3,260,903
0.06 %
$
$ 3,276,589
0.02 %
The following table sets forth the allocation of the Bank’s total ACL by loan type.
December 31,
% of Loans
% of Loans
to Total
to Total
(dollars in thousands)
Amount
Loans
Amount
Loans
Commercial and industrial
$ 2,030
3.6 %
$ 1,543
3.3 %
Commercial mortgages:
Multifamily
6,817
26.4
8,430
27.4
Other
7,850
25.5
7,425
23.8
Owner-occupied
3,104
7.2
3,024
6.7
Residential mortgages:
Closed end
8,838
35.9
10,633
37.4
Revolving home equity
1.4
1.4
Consumer and other
-
-
$ 28,992
100.0 %
$ 31,432
100.0 %
The amount of future chargeoffs and provisions for credit losses will be affected by economic conditions on Long Island and in the boroughs of NYC. Such conditions could affect the financial strength of the Bank’s borrowers and will affect the value of real estate collateral securing the Bank’s mortgage loans. Loans secured by real estate represent approximately 96% of the Bank’s total loans outstanding at December 31, 2023. The majority of these loans are collateralized by properties located on Long Island and in the boroughs of NYC. While business activity in the NY metropolitan area continues to improve, inflation, increasing interest rates and housing legislation pose new economic challenges and may result in higher chargeoffs and provisions.
Future provisions and chargeoffs could also be affected by environmental impairment of properties securing the Bank’s mortgage loans. At the present time, management is not aware of any environmental pollution originating on or near properties securing the Bank’s loans that would materially affect the carrying value of such loans.
Deposits and Other Borrowings. Total deposits were $3.3 billion at December 31, 2023, compared to $3.5 billion at December 31, 2022. Decreases in noninterest-bearing checking deposits of $191.0 million, or 14.4%, and savings, NOW and money market deposits of $115.1 million, or 6.9%, was partially offset by growth in time deposits of $112.5 million, or 23.5%.
The aggregate amount of uninsured deposits (amounts greater than or equal to $250,000, which is the maximum amount for federal deposit insurance) was $1.7 billion at December 31, 2023 and $2.0 billion at December 31, 2022.
The following table sets forth the remaining maturity of uninsured time deposits, by account.
(in thousands)
December 31, 2023
3 months or less
$ 28,662
Over 3 through 6 months
19,605
Over 6 through 12 months
18,967
Over 12 months
3,070
$ 70,304
Borrowings include short-term and long-term FHLB advances. Total borrowings increased $131.5 million from $411.0 million at year-end 2022 to $542.5 million at year-end 2023. Short-term borrowings and long-term debt increased $70.0 million and $61.5 million, respectively. The increase in long-term debt includes $275.0 million new FHLB advances partially offset by maturities of $213.5 million.
Capital. Stockholders’ equity totaled $380.1 million at December 31, 2023, an increase of $15.6 million from $364.5 million at December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily attributable to net income of $26.2 million and an increase in the after-tax value of the Bank’s AFS investment securities of $6.2 million, partially offset by cash dividends declared of $18.9 million.
The Corporation and the Bank elected to adopt the CBLR framework in 2020. As a qualifying community banking organization, the Corporation and the Bank may opt out of the CBLR framework in any subsequent quarter by completing its regulatory agency reporting using the traditional capital rules.
The Corporation’s ROE was 7.14%, 12.13% and 10.34% for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively and its ROA was 0.62%, 1.11% and 1.04%, respectively. Book value per share increased 3.6% during 2023 to $16.83 at December 31, 2023, from $16.24 at December 31, 2022. The decrease in ROE in 2023 as compared to 2022 was due to lower net income as well as a decrease in the net unrealized loss in the AFS securities portfolio. Based on the Corporation’s market value per share at December 31, 2023 of $13.24, the dividend yield is 6.34%.
The Corporation’s capital management policy is designed to build and maintain capital levels that exceed regulatory standards and appropriately provide for growth. The leverage ratio of the Corporation and the Bank at December 31, 2023 was 10.05% and 10.13%, respectively. The Corporation and the Bank elected the optional five-year transition period provided by the federal banking agencies for recognizing the regulatory capital impact of the implementation of CECL.
The Corporation has a stock repurchase program under which it is authorized to purchase shares of its common stock from time to time through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or in any other manner that is compliant with applicable securities laws. The stock repurchase program does not obligate the Corporation to purchase shares and there is no guarantee as to the exact number of shares that may be repurchased pursuant to this program, which is subject to market conditions, the cost of repurchasing shares, the availability of alternative investment opportunities, liquidity and other factors deemed appropriate. Under this program, the Corporation has approval to repurchase another $15 million. No shares were repurchased in 2023.
Cash Flows and Liquidity
Cash Flows. During 2023, the Corporation’s cash and cash equivalent position decreased by $13.3 million, from $74.2 million at December 31, 2022 to $60.9 million at December 31, 2023. The decrease occurred primarily because cash used to repay deposits and borrowings, purchase securities, originate loans and pay cash dividends exceeded cash provided by sales, paydowns or repayments of securities and loans, deposit inflows, proceeds from long-term debt and operations.
Liquidity. The Bank has a board committee-approved liquidity policy and liquidity contingency plan, which are intended to ensure that the Bank has sufficient liquidity to meet the ongoing needs of its customers in terms of credit and deposit outflows, take advantage of earnings enhancement opportunities and respond to liquidity stress conditions should they arise.
Based on securities and loan collateral in place at the FRBNY and FHLBNY, the Bank had borrowing capacity of approximately $1.5 billion at December 31, 2023, which includes $386.1 million of unencumbered AFS securities. The Bank’s borrowing capacity may be adjusted by the FRBNY or the FHLBNY and may take into account factors such as the Bank’s tangible common equity ratio, collateral margins required by the lender or other factors. A possible future downgrade of securities and loans pledged as collateral could also impact the amount of available funding.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations. Commitments to extend credit and letters of credit arise in the normal course of the Bank’s business of meeting the financing needs of its customers and involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets. Since some of the commitments to extend credit and letters of credit are expected to expire without being drawn upon and, with respect to unused home equity, small business and certain other lines, can be frozen, reduced or terminated by the Bank based on the financial condition of the borrower, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.
The Bank's exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the other party to financial instruments for commitments to extend credit and letters of credit is represented by the contractual notional amount of these instruments. The Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments to extend credit, and generally uses the same credit policies for letters of credit, as it does for on-balance sheet instruments such as loans.
The Corporation believes that its current sources of liquidity are sufficient to fulfill the obligations it has at December 31, 2023 pursuant to off-balance sheet arrangements and contractual obligations.

---

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Bank invests in interest-earning assets, which are funded by interest-bearing deposits and borrowings, noninterest-bearing deposits and capital. The Bank’s results of operations are subject to risk resulting from interest rate fluctuations generally and having assets and liabilities that have different maturity, repricing, and prepayment/withdrawal characteristics. The Bank defines interest rate risk as the risk that the Bank's net interest income and/or EVE will change when interest rates change. The principal objective of the Bank’s asset liability management activities is to optimize current and future net interest income while at the same time maintain acceptable levels of interest rate and liquidity risk and facilitate the funding needs of the Bank.
The Bank monitors and manages interest rate risk through a variety of techniques including traditional gap analysis and the use of interest-rate sensitivity models. Both gap analysis and interest rate sensitivity modeling involve a variety of significant estimates and assumptions and are done at a specific point in time. Changes in the estimates and assumptions made in gap analysis and interest rate sensitivity modeling could have a significant impact on projected results and conclusions. Therefore, these techniques may not accurately reflect the actual impact of changes in the interest rate environment on the Bank’s net interest income or EVE.
Through the use of interest rate sensitivity modeling, the Bank projects net interest income over a five-year time period assuming a static balance sheet and no changes in interest rates from current levels. Utilization of a static balance sheet ensures that interest rate risk embedded in the Bank’s current balance sheet is not masked by assumed balance sheet growth or contraction. Net interest income is projected over a five-year time period utilizing various interest rate change scenarios, including both ramped and shocked changes as well as changes in the shape of the yield curve. The interest rate scenarios modeled are based on the shape of the current yield curve and the relative level of rates and management’s expectations as to potential future yield curve shapes and rate levels.
The Bank also uses interest rate sensitivity modeling to calculate EVE in the current rate environment assuming shock increases and decreases in interest rates. EVE is the difference between the present value of expected future cash flows from the Bank’s assets and the present value of the expected future cash flows from the Bank’s liabilities. Present values are determined using discount rates that management believes are reflective of current market conditions. EVE can capture long-term interest rate risk that would not be captured in a five-year projection of net interest income.
In utilizing interest rate sensitivity modeling to project net interest income and calculate EVE, management makes a variety of estimates and assumptions which include the following: (1) how much and when yields and costs on individual categories of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities will change in response to projected changes in market interest rates; (2) future cash flows, including prepayments of mortgage assets and calls of municipal securities; (3) cash flow reinvestment assumptions; (4) appropriate discount rates to be applied to loan, deposit and borrowing cash flows; and (5) decay or runoff rates for nonmaturity deposits such as checking, savings, NOW and money market accounts. The repricing of loans and borrowings and the reinvestment of loan and security cash flows are generally assumed to be impacted by the full amount of each assumed rate change, while the repricing of nonmaturity deposits is not. For nonmaturity deposits, management makes estimates of how much and when it will need to change the rates paid on the Bank’s various nonmaturity deposit products in response to changes in general market interest rates. These estimates are based on product type, management’s experience with needed deposit rate adjustments in prior interest rate change cycles, the results of a nonmaturity deposit study conducted by an independent consultant and updated on a periodic basis and management’s assessment of competitive conditions in its marketplace.
The information provided in the following table is based on a variety of estimates and assumptions that management believes to be reasonable, the more significant of which are set forth hereinafter. The base case information in the table shows: (1) a calculation of the Corporation’s EVE at December 31, 2023 arrived at by discounting estimated future cash flows at rates that management believes are reflective of current market conditions; and (2) an estimate of net interest income for the year ending December 31, 2024 assuming a static balance sheet, the adjustment of repricing balances to current rate levels, and the reinvestment at current rate levels of cash flows from maturing assets and liabilities in a mix of assets and liabilities that is intended to reflect a static balance sheet. In addition, in calculating EVE, cash flows for nonmaturity deposits are assumed to have an overall life of 6.2 years based on the current mix of such deposits and the most recently updated nonmaturity deposit study.
The rate change information in the following table shows estimates of net interest income for the year ending December 31, 2024 and calculations of EVE at December 31, 2023 assuming rate changes of plus and minus 100, 200 and 300 bps. The rate change scenarios were selected based on the relative level of current interest rates and: (1) are assumed to be shock or immediate changes for both EVE and net interest income; (2) occur uniformly across the yield curve regardless of the duration to maturity or repricing of specific assets and liabilities; and (3) impact the repricing and reinvestment of all assets and liabilities, except nonmaturity deposits, by the full amount of the rate change. In projecting future net interest income under the indicated rate change scenarios, activity is simulated by assuming that cash flows from maturing assets and liabilities are reinvested in a mix of assets and liabilities that is intended to reflect a static balance sheet. The changes in EVE from the base case have not been tax affected.
Economic Value of Equity
Net Interest Income for
at December 31, 2023
Percent Change
Percent Change
From
From
Rate Change Scenario (dollars in thousands)
Amount
Base Case
Amount
Base Case
+ 300 basis point rate shock
$ 333,169
-31.2%
$ 57,283
-23.2%
+ 200 basis point rate shock
380,224
-21.5%
62,966
-15.6%
+ 100 basis point rate shock
435,902
-10.0%
69,099
-7.4%
Base case (no rate change)
484,094
-
74,632
-
- 100 basis point rate shock
525,465
8.5%
79,690
6.8%
- 200 basis point rate shock
547,540
13.1%
83,398
11.7%
- 300 basis point rate shock
554,726
14.6%
86,104
15.4%
As shown in the preceding table, assuming a static balance sheet, an immediate increase in interest rates of 100, 200 or 300 bps could negatively impact the Bank’s net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2024 because the Bank might need to increase the rates paid on its nonmaturity deposits to remain competitive and any time deposits or borrowings that mature would reprice at a higher interest rate. In addition, the Bank’s securities portfolio, excluding corporate bonds and SBA agency obligations, and a large portion of its loan portfolio do not immediately reprice with changes in market rates. At December 31, 2023, approximately $853 million of the Bank's loans and securities, or 21% of total assets, reprice or mature within one year. An immediate decrease in interest rates of 100, 200 or 300 bps could positively impact the Bank’s net interest income for the same time period because the Bank would pay less for time deposits or borrowings that mature and reprice at a lower interest rate and would be able to reduce non-maturity deposit rates while the downward repricing of its assets would lag. The positive impact on net interest income of an immediate decrease in interest rates is somewhat constrained because the decrease is assumed to occur uniformly across the inverted yield curve. Changes in management’s estimates as to the rates that will need to be paid on nonmaturity deposits could have a material impact on the net interest income amounts shown for each scenario in the table. The negative impact of rising interest rates on net interest income in 2024 could be more significant than the amounts shown in the table.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K and the documents incorporated into it by reference contain or may contain various forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements of goals; intentions and expectations; estimates of risks and of future costs and benefits; assessments of probable loan losses; assessments of market risk; and statements of the ability to achieve financial and other goals. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “would,” “should,” “could,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project” and other similar words and expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which may change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We do not assume any duty and do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements. Because forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those that we anticipated in our forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance.
Our forward-looking statements are subject to the following principal risks and uncertainties: the recent global pandemic, general economic conditions and trends, either nationally or locally; conditions in the securities markets; fluctuations in the trading price of our common stock; changes in interest rates; changes in the shape of the yield curve; changes in deposit flows, and in the demand for deposit and loan products and other financial services; our ability to maintain liquidity, including the percentage of uninsured deposits in our portfolio; changes in real estate values; changes in the quality or composition of our loan or investment portfolios; changes in competitive pressures among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions; our ability to retain key members of management; changes in legislation, regulation, and policies; and a variety of other matters which, by their nature, are subject to significant uncertainties. We provide greater detail regarding some of these factors in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” included in this report. Our forward-looking statements may also be subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those that we may discuss elsewhere in other documents we file with the SEC from time to time.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, (dollars in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 60,887 $ 74,178
Investment securities available-for-sale, at fair value
695,877 673,413
Loans:
Commercial and industrial
116,163 108,493
Secured by real estate:
Commercial mortgages
1,919,714 1,916,493
Residential mortgages
1,166,887 1,240,144
Home equity lines
44,070 45,213
Consumer and other
1,230 1,390
3,248,064 3,311,733
Allowance for credit losses
(28,992 ) (31,432 )
3,219,072 3,280,301
Restricted stock, at cost
32,659 26,363
Bank premises and equipment, net
31,414 31,660
Right-of-use asset - operating leases
22,588 23,952
Bank-owned life insurance
114,045 110,848
Pension plan assets, net
10,740 11,049
Deferred income tax benefit
28,996 31,124
Other assets
19,622 18,623
$ 4,235,900 $ 4,281,511
Liabilities:
Deposits:
Checking
$ 1,133,184 $ 1,324,141
Savings, NOW and money market
1,546,369 1,661,512
Time
591,433 478,981
3,270,986 3,464,634
Short-term borrowings
70,000 -
Long-term debt
472,500 411,000
Operating lease liability
24,940 25,896
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
17,328 15,445
3,855,754 3,916,975
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Note L)
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock, par value $0.10 per share: Authorized, 80,000,000 shares; Issued and outstanding, 22,590,942 and 22,443,380 shares
2,259 2,244
Surplus
79,728 78,462
Retained earnings
355,887 348,597
437,874 429,303
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax
(57,728 ) (64,767 )
380,146 364,536
$ 4,235,900 $ 4,281,511
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Year Ended December 31, (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Interest and dividend income:
Loans
$ 127,866 $ 116,352 $ 106,266
Investment securities:
Taxable
22,663 9,795 8,162
Nontaxable
4,954 8,063 8,531
155,483 134,210 122,959
Interest expense:
Savings, NOW and money market deposits
32,164 7,180 4,414
Time deposits
19,267 5,296 5,712
Short-term borrowings
950 1,207 1,427
Long-term debt
16,237 4,814 4,599
68,618 18,497 16,152
Net interest income
86,865 115,713 106,807
Provision (credit) for credit losses
(326 ) 2,331 (2,573 )
Net interest income after provision (credit) for credit losses
87,191 113,382 109,380
Noninterest income:
Bank-owned life insurance
3,197 3,017 2,399
Service charges on deposit accounts
3,034 3,157 2,925
Net gain (loss) on sales of securities
(3,489 ) - 1,104
Gain (loss) on disposition of premises and fixed assets
240 (553 ) -
Other
3,354 6,242 6,146
6,336 11,863 12,574
Noninterest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits
37,373 41,096 39,753
Occupancy and equipment
13,140 13,407 15,338
Debt extinguishment
- - 1,021
Other
13,546 12,523 12,535
64,059 67,026 68,647
Income before income taxes
29,468 58,219 53,307
Income tax expense
3,229 11,287 10,218
Net income
$ 26,239 $ 46,932 $ 43,089
Weighted average:
Common shares
22,550,562 22,868,658 23,655,635
Dilutive stock options and restricted stock units
82,609 99,895 107,348
22,633,171 22,968,553 23,762,983
Earnings per share:
Basic
$ 1.16 $ 2.05 $ 1.82
Diluted
$ 1.16 $ 2.04 $ 1.81
Cash dividends declared per share
$ 0.84 $ 0.82 $ 0.78
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Year Ended December 31, (in thousands)
Net income
$ 26,239 $ 46,932 $ 43,089
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities
9,133 (83,835 ) (10,633 )
Change in funded status of pension plan
1,183 (8,176 ) (1,341 )
Change in net unrealized loss on derivative instruments
- 1,750 3,535
Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes
10,316 (90,261 ) (8,439 )
Income tax expense (benefit)
3,277 (27,807 ) (2,556 )
Other comprehensive income (loss)
7,039 (62,454 ) (5,883 )
Comprehensive income (loss)
$ 33,278 $ (15,522 ) $ 37,206
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accumulated
Other
Common Stock
Retained
Comprehensive
(dollars in thousands)
Shares
Amount
Surplus
Earnings
Income/(Loss)
Total
Balance, January 1, 2021
23,790,589 $ 2,379 $ 105,547 $ 295,622 $ 3,570 $ 407,118
Net income
43,089 43,089
Other comprehensive loss
(5,883 ) (5,883 )
Repurchase of common stock
(679,873 ) (68 ) (14,433 ) (14,501 )
Shares withheld upon the vesting and conversion of RSUs
(18,822 ) (2 ) (359 ) (361 )
Common stock issued under stock compensation plans
105,674 11 259 270
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan
43,028 4 831 835
Stock-based compensation
1,635 1,635
Cash dividends declared
(18,390 ) (18,390 )
Balance, December 31, 2021
23,240,596 2,324 93,480 320,321 (2,313 ) 413,812
Net income
46,932 46,932
Other comprehensive loss
(62,454 ) (62,454 )
Repurchase of common stock
(915,868 ) (92 ) (17,797 ) (17,889 )
Shares withheld upon the vesting and conversion of RSUs
(27,287 ) (3 ) (573 ) (576 )
Common stock issued under stock compensation plans
100,973 10 52 62
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan
44,966 5 834 839
Stock-based compensation
2,466 2,466
Cash dividends declared
(18,656 ) (18,656 )
Balance, December 31, 2022
22,443,380 2,244 78,462 348,597 (64,767 ) 364,536
Net income
26,239 26,239
Other comprehensive income
7,039 7,039
Shares withheld upon the vesting and conversion of RSUs
(48,941 ) (5 ) (865 ) (870 )
Common stock issued under stock compensation plans
133,796 14 46 60
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan
62,707 6 836 842
Stock-based compensation
1,249 1,249
Cash dividends declared
(18,949 ) (18,949 )
Balance, December 31, 2023
22,590,942 $ 2,259 $ 79,728 $ 355,887 $ (57,728 ) $ 380,146
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Year Ended December 31, (in thousands)
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income
$ 26,239 $ 46,932 $ 43,089
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision (credit) for credit losses
(326 ) 2,331 (2,573 )
Provision (credit) for deferred income taxes
(1,149 ) 670 (56 )
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment
3,108 3,612 4,905
Amortization of right-of-use asset - operating leases
2,644 2,699 3,774
Premium amortization on investment securities, net
2,227 1,578 2,247
Net (gain) loss on sales of securities
3,489 - (1,104 )
Loss on debt extinguishment
- - 1,021
(Gain) loss on disposition of premises and fixed assets
(240 ) 553 -
Stock-based compensation expense
1,249 2,466 1,635
Accretion of cash surrender value on bank-owned life insurance
(3,197 ) (3,017 ) (2,399 )
Pension expense (credit)
1,492 (129 ) (329 )
Decrease in other liabilities
(384 ) (3,770 ) (2,522 )
Other decreases (increases) in assets
(2,990 ) (2,501 ) 3,093
Net cash provided by operating activities
32,162 51,424 50,781
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Available-for-sale securities:
Proceeds from sales
145,451 - 71,695
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions
56,413 45,054 113,736
Purchases
(220,911 ) (69,562 ) (268,803 )
Net decrease (increase) in loans
61,555 (207,427 ) (72,215 )
Net increase in restricted stock
(6,296 ) (4,839 ) (710 )
Purchases of premises and equipment, net
(2,862 ) (3,598 ) (7,697 )
Proceeds from disposition of premises and fixed assets
2,291 6,601 -
Purchases of bank-owned life insurance
- - (20,000 )
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
35,641 (233,771 ) (183,994 )
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net increase (decrease) in deposits
(193,648 ) 149,389 (6,343 )
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings
70,000 (125,000 ) 64,905
Proceeds from long-term debt
275,000 300,000 -
Repayment of long-term debt
(213,500 ) (75,322 ) (60,701 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of shares withheld
(28 ) 263 607
Repurchase of common stock
- (17,889 ) (14,501 )
Cash dividends paid
(18,918 ) (18,591 ) (18,261 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(81,094 ) 212,850 (34,294 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(13,291 ) 30,503 (167,507 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
74,178 43,675 211,182
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$ 60,887 $ 74,178 $ 43,675
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures:
Cash paid for interest
$ 64,319 $ 17,142 $ 16,713
Cash paid for income taxes
3,676 11,610 11,650
Operating cash flows from operating leases
3,072 4,148 2,475
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities
1,280 18,386 -
Cash dividends payable
4,744 4,713 4,648
Bank premises transferred to held-for-sale
- 2,407 3,796
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE A - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The First of Long Island Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary, The First National Bank of Long Island, and subsidiaries wholly-owned by the Bank, either directly or indirectly, FNY Service Corp. and The First of Long Island REIT, Inc. (“REIT”). The Corporation’s financial condition and operating results principally reflect those of the Bank and its subsidiaries. The consolidated entity is referred to as the “Corporation,” and the Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Bank.” All intercompany balances have been eliminated.
The accounting and reporting policies of the Corporation reflect banking industry practice and conform to generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States. The following is a summary of the Corporation’s significant accounting policies.
In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported asset and liability balances, revenue and expense amounts, and the disclosures provided, including disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, based on available information. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Information available which could affect these judgements include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates, changes in the performance of the economy and changes in the financial condition of borrowers.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash and deposits with other financial institutions that generally mature within 90 days. Net cash flows are reported for customer loan and deposit transactions.
Investment Securities
Current accounting standards require that investment securities be classified as held-to-maturity (“HTM”), available-for-sale (“AFS”) or trading. The trading category is not applicable to any securities in the Bank's portfolio because the Bank does not buy or hold debt or equity securities principally for the purpose of selling in the near term. HTM securities, or debt securities which the Bank has the intent and ability to hold to maturity, are reported at amortized cost, net of allowance for credit losses (“ACL” or “allowance”), if any. AFS securities, or debt securities which are neither HTM securities nor trading securities, are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of the related income tax effect, included in other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”). Equity securities, if any, are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value reported in net income. Equity securities without readily determinable fair values are carried at cost, minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment.
Interest income includes amortization or accretion of purchase premium or discount. Premiums and discounts on securities are amortized or accreted using the level-yield method. Prepayments are anticipated for mortgage-backed securities. Premiums on municipal securities are amortized to the earlier of the stated maturity date or the first call date, while discounts on municipal securities are accreted to the stated maturity date. Realized gains and losses on the sale of securities are determined using the specific identification method.
Management measures expected credit losses on HTM debt securities, if any, on a collective basis by major security type. Accrued interest receivable on HTM debt securities is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.
For AFS securities in an unrealized loss position, management first evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from an actual or estimated credit loss event. Management considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, changes to the rating of the security, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss is likely, management then assesses whether it has the intent to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost and determines the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security as compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, an allowance is recorded for the estimated credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance is recognized in OCI. Accrued interest receivable on AFS securities is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.
Loans Held-for-Sale
Loans held-for-sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value. Any subsequent declines in fair value below the initial carrying value are recorded as a valuation allowance established through a charge to noninterest income.
Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses
Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at amortized cost, net of the ACL. Amortized cost is the principal balance outstanding plus or minus net deferred loan costs and fees. Accrued interest receivable is reported in “Other assets” on the consolidated balance sheets and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses. Interest on loans is credited to income based on the principal amount outstanding. Direct loan origination costs, net of loan origination fees, are deferred and recognized in interest income using the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments.
The past due status of a loan is based on the contractual terms in the loan agreement. Unless a loan is well secured and in the process of collection, the accrual of interest income is discontinued when a loan becomes 90 days past due as to principal or interest payments. The accrual of interest income on a loan is also discontinued when it is determined that the borrower will not be able to make principal and interest payments according to the contractual terms of the current loan agreement. When the accrual of interest income is discontinued on a loan, any accrued but unpaid interest is reversed against current period income. Interest received on nonaccrual loans is applied to the outstanding principal balance until the loans qualify for return to an accrual status, if ever. Return to an accrual status occurs when all the principal and interest amounts contractually past due are brought current and all future payments are reasonably assured.
The ACL is a valuation account that is deducted from the loans’ amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the Bank’s loan portfolio. The ACL is established through provisions for credit losses charged against income. When available information confirms that specific loans, or portions thereof, are uncollectible, these amounts are charged against the ACL, and subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the ACL.
Management identifies loans in the Bank’s portfolio that must be individually evaluated for loss due to disparate risk characteristics. For loans individually evaluated, an allowance is estimated based on either the fair value of collateral or the discounted value of expected future cash flows. In estimating the fair value of real estate collateral, management utilizes appraisals or evaluations adjusted for costs to dispose and a distressed sale adjustment, if needed. Estimating the fair value of collateral other than real estate is also subjective in nature and sometimes requires difficult and complex judgements. Determining expected future cash flows can be more subjective than determining fair values. Expected future cash flows could differ significantly, both in timing and amount, from the cash flows actually received over the loan’s remaining life. Individually evaluated loans are excluded from the estimation of credit losses for the pooled portfolio.
For loans collectively evaluated for credit loss, management segregates its loan portfolio into distinct pools, certain of which are combined in reporting loans outstanding by class of loans: (1) commercial and industrial; (2) small business credit scored; (3) multifamily; (4) owner-occupied; (5) other commercial real estate; (6) construction and land development; (7) closed end residential mortgage; (8) revolving home equity; (9) consumer; and (10) municipal loans. Historical loss information from the Bank’s own loan portfolio from December 31, 2007 to present provides a basis for management’s assessment of expected credit losses. The choice of a historical look-back period that begins in 2007 covers an entire economic cycle and impacts the average historical loss rates used to calculate the final ACL. Due to the extensive loss data available, management selected the vintage approach to measure the historical loss component of credit losses for most of its loan pools. For the revolving home equity and small business credit scored pools, the lifetime PD/LGD (probability of default/loss given default) method is used to measure historical losses.
Modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty are included in loans collectively evaluated for credit loss. An assessment of whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty is made on the date of a modification. A charge to the allowance for credit losses is generally not recorded upon modification.
Management believes that the methods selected fairly reflect the historical loss component of expected losses inherent in the Bank’s loan portfolio. However, since future losses could vary significantly from those experienced in the past, on a quarterly basis management adjusts its historical loss experience to reflect current and forecasted conditions. In doing so, management considers a variety of general qualitative and quantitative factors (“Q-factors”) and then subjectively determines the weight to assign to each in estimating losses. Qualitative characteristics include differences in underwriting standards, policies, lending staff and environmental risks. Management also considers whether further adjustments to historical loss information are needed to reflect the extent to which current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts over a one year to two year forecasting horizon differ from the conditions that existed during the historical loss period. These quantitative adjustments reflect changes to relevant data such as changes in unemployment rates, gross domestic product (“GDP”), vacancies, average growth in pools of loans, delinquencies or other factors associated with the financial assets. The immediate reversion method is applied for periods beyond the forecasting horizon. The Bank’s ACL allocable to pools of loans that are collectively evaluated for credit loss results primarily from these qualitative and quantitative adjustments to historical loss experience. Because of the nature of the Q-factors and the degree of judgement involved in assessing their impact, management’s resulting estimate of losses may not accurately reflect current and future losses in the portfolio.
The ACL is an amount that management currently believes will be adequate to absorb current expected credit losses in the Bank’s loan portfolio. The process for estimating credit losses and determining the ACL as of any balance sheet date is subjective in nature and requires material estimates. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Transfers of Financial Assets
Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been relinquished. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when the assets have been isolated from the Corporation, the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and the Corporation does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.
Bank Premises and Equipment and Operating Leases
Land is carried at cost. Other bank premises and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Buildings are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which range from 31 to 40 years. Building and leasehold improvements are depreciated using the straight-line method over the remaining lives of the buildings or leases, as applicable, or their estimated useful lives, whichever is shorter. The lives of the respective leases range from five years to fifteen years. Furniture, fixtures and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which range from three years to ten years. Premises and equipment held-for-sale, if any, is included in “other assets” on the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheets and carried at the lower of cost or fair value. Writedowns upon transfer to held-for-sale are included in “other noninterest expense” on the consolidated income statements. Fair value is based on an appraisal, where available, adjusted for estimated costs to sell.
The Bank determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and recognizes a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and lease liability at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of the Bank’s leases do not provide an implicit interest rate, the Bank uses its incremental borrowing rate to determine the present value of the lease payments. Leases with an initial lease term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets. The Bank’s ROU asset and lease liability may include options to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Bank will exercise that option. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Bank-owned Life Insurance
The Bank is the owner and beneficiary of insurance policies on the lives of certain current and past employed officers. Bank-owned life insurance (“BOLI”) is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the contract at the balance sheet date, which is the cash surrender value adjusted for other charges or amounts due that are probable at settlement, if any.
Restricted Stock
The Bank is a member of and is required to own stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank of NY (“FHLBNY”) and the Federal Reserve Bank of NY (“FRBNY”). The amount of FHLBNY stock held is based on membership and the level of FHLBNY advances. The amount of FRBNY stock held is based on the Bank’s capital and surplus balances. These stocks do not have a readily determinable fair value, are carried at cost, classified as restricted stock and periodically evaluated for impairment based on the prospects for the ultimate recovery of cost. Cash dividends, if any, are reported as interest income on taxable investment securities.
Other Real Estate Owned
Real estate acquired through foreclosure or by deed-in-lieu of foreclosure is initially recorded at the lower of cost or fair value, less estimated selling costs and is included in “other assets” on the consolidated balance sheets. Chargeoffs recorded at the time of acquisition are charged to the ACL. Subsequently, decreases in the property’s estimated fair value are charged to earnings and credited to a valuation allowance and recoveries in fair value are credited to earnings and charged to the valuation allowance. Such adjustments to earnings are included in other noninterest expense along with any additional property maintenance costs incurred in owning the property. Rental income received from tenants of other real estate owned is included in other noninterest income.
Long-term Assets
Premises and equipment, intangible assets, BOLI and other long-term assets, if any, are reviewed for impairment when events indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable from future undiscounted cash flows. If impaired, the assets are recorded at fair value.
Loan Commitments and Related Financial Instruments
Financial instruments include off-balance sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans, commercial letters of credit and standby letters of credit. The face amount of these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering collateral held or ability to repay. The Bank estimates credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures by considering the likelihood of an outstanding commitment converting into an outstanding loan and applying an estimate of expected lifetime credit losses used on similar portfolio segments, unless the obligation is unconditionally cancellable by the Bank. The ACL on off-balance sheet credit exposures is recorded in the line item “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheets and totaled $590,000 and $421,000, respectively, at December 31, 2023 and 2022. The ACL is adjusted through a provision (credit) for credit loss expense which is included in the line item “other noninterest expense” in the consolidated statements of income and amounted to $169,000, ($71,000) and $82,000 in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Off-balance sheet credit instruments are recorded on the balance sheet when they are funded or drawn down.
Derivatives
At the inception of a derivative contract, the Corporation designates the derivative as one of three types based on the Corporation's intentions and belief as to likely effectiveness as a hedge. These three types are (1) a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment ("fair value hedge"), (2) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability ("cash flow hedge"), or (3) an instrument with no hedging designation ("non-designated derivative"). For a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative, as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item is attributable to the hedged risk, are recognized in current earnings as fair values change. For a cash flow hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative is recorded in OCI and is reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The changes in the fair value of a derivative that is not designated is recorded currently in earnings, as noninterest income.
Net cash settlements on derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting are recorded in interest income or interest expense, based on the item being hedged. Net cash settlements on derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting are reported in noninterest income or noninterest expense. Cash flows from hedges are classified in the consolidated statements of cash flows in the same manner as the items being hedged.
The Corporation formally documents the relationship between derivatives and hedged items, as well as the risk management objective and the strategy for undertaking hedge transactions at the inception of the hedging relationship. This documentation includes linking cash flow hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions. The Corporation also formally assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivative instruments that are used are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the hedged item. The Corporation discontinues hedge accounting when it determines that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the hedged item, the derivative is settled or terminated, a hedged forecasted transaction is no longer probable, a hedged firm commitment is no longer firm or treatment of the derivative as a hedge is no longer appropriate or intended.
When hedge accounting is discontinued, subsequent changes in fair value of the derivative are recorded as interest expense. When a cash flow hedge is discontinued but the hedged cash flows or forecasted transactions are still expected to occur, gains or losses that were accumulated in OCI are amortized into earnings over the same periods which the hedged transactions will affect earnings.
Income Taxes
A current tax liability or asset is recognized for the estimated taxes payable or refundable on tax returns for the current year. A deferred tax liability or asset is recognized for the estimated future tax effects attributable to temporary differences and carryforwards. The measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by the amount of any tax benefits that, based on available evidence, are not expected to be realized. The measurement of current and deferred tax liabilities and assets is based on provisions of the enacted tax law. The effects of future changes in tax laws or rates are not considered. The Corporation recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in noninterest income or noninterest expense as appropriate.
Retirement Plans
Pension expense is the sum of service cost, interest cost, amortization of actuarial gains and losses and plan expenses, net of the expected return on plan assets and participant contributions. The service cost component of pension expense is included in salaries and employee benefits on the consolidated statements of income. All other components of pension expense are included in other noninterest income. Employee 401(k) plan expense is equal to the amount of the Corporation’s matching contributions and is included in salaries and employee benefits in the consolidated statements of income.
Loss Contingencies
Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated.
Operating Segments
While management monitors the revenue streams of the Bank’s various products and services, the identifiable segments are not material and operations are managed and financial performance is evaluated on a company-wide basis. Accordingly, all of the financial operations of the Bank are aggregated in one reportable operating segment.
Investment Services
Assets held in a fiduciary capacity are not assets of the Corporation and, accordingly, are not included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The Bank records investment services fees on the accrual basis.
Reclassifications
When appropriate, items in the prior year financial statements are reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
Earnings Per Share
The Corporation calculates basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) using the treasury stock method. Basic EPS excludes the dilutive effect of outstanding restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if outstanding RSUs were converted into shares of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the Corporation. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive RSUs. There were 101,480 and 33,017 RSUs excluded from the calculation of EPS at December 31, 2023 and 2022, because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. There were no anti-dilutive RSUs at December 31, 2021. Other than the RSUs described in “Note I - Stock-Based Compensation,” the Corporation has no securities that could be converted into common stock nor does the Corporation have any contracts that could result in the issuance of common stock.
Stock-based Compensation
The Corporation’s stock-based compensation plans are described in “Note I - Stock-Based Compensation.” Compensation cost is determined for RSUs issued to employees and non-employee directors based on the grant date fair value of the award.
Compensation expense for RSUs is recognized over the applicable performance or service period, which is usually the vesting period. Compensation expense is adjusted at the end of the performance period, if applicable, to reflect the actual number of shares of the Corporation’s common stock into which the RSUs will be converted. The Corporation accounts for forfeitures as they occur.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income and OCI. OCI includes revenues, expenses, gains and losses that under GAAP are included in comprehensive income but excluded from net income. OCI for the Corporation consists of net unrealized holding gains or losses on AFS securities and derivative instruments and changes in the funded status of the Bank’s defined benefit pension plan, all net of related income taxes. Accumulated OCI is recognized as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.
The following sets forth the components of accumulated OCI, net of tax:
Current
Balance
Period
Balance
(in thousands)
12/31/2022
Change
12/31/2023
Unrealized holding loss on available-for-sale securities
$ (56,055 ) $ 6,246 $ (49,809 )
Unrealized actuarial loss on pension plan
(8,712 ) 793 (7,919 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax
$ (64,767 ) $ 7,039 $ (57,728 )
The components of OCI and the related tax effects are as follows:
(in thousands)
Change in net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
Change arising during the period
$ 5,644 $ (83,835 ) $ (9,529 )
Reclassification adjustment for loss (gain) included in net income (1)
3,489 - (1,104 )
9,133 (83,835 ) (10,633 )
Tax effect
2,887 (25,825 ) (3,163 )
6,246 (58,010 ) (7,470 )
Change in funded status of pension plan:
Unrecognized net gain (loss) arising during the period
165 (8,176 ) (1,341 )
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in pension expense (2)
1,018 - -
1,183 (8,176 ) (1,341 )
Tax effect
390 (2,520 ) (438 )
793 (5,656 ) (903 )
Change in unrealized loss on derivative instrument:
Amount of gain during the period
- 1,324 668
Reclassification adjustment for net interest expense included in net income (3)
- 426 2,867
- 1,750 3,535
Tax effect
- 538 1,045
- 1,212 2,490
Other comprehensive income (loss)
$ 7,039 $ (62,454 ) $ (5,883 )
(1) Represents net realized gains and losses arising from the sale of AFS securities, included in the consolidated statements of income in the line item “Net gain (loss) on sales of securities.” See “Note B - Investment Securities” for the income tax expense related to these net realized gains, included in the consolidated statements of income in the line item “Income tax expense.”
(2) Represents the amortization of net actuarial loss relating to the Corporation's defined benefit pension plan. This item is a component of net periodic pension cost (see "Note J - Retirement Plans") and included in the consolidated statements of income in the line item "Salaries and employee benefits."
(3) Represents the net interest expense recorded from derivative transactions and included in the consolidated statements of income under “Interest expense.”
Adoption of New Accounting Standards
The Corporation did not adopt any new accounting standards in 2023.
Impact of Issued But Not Yet Effective Accounting Standards
There were no issued but not yet effective pronouncements at December 31, 2023 that could materially impact the Corporation’s financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
NOTE B - INVESTMENT SECURITIES
The following tables set forth the amortized cost and estimated fair values of the Bank’s AFS investment securities at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Gross
Gross
Amortized
Unrealized
Unrealized
Fair
(in thousands)
Cost
Gains
Losses
Value
State and municipals
$ 155,294 $ 317 $ (11,990 ) $ 143,621
Pass-through mortgage securities
165,734 - (27,131 ) 138,603
Collateralized mortgage obligations
201,500 1,836 (21,074 ) 182,262
SBA agency obligations
126,228 331 (1,083 ) 125,476
Corporate bonds
119,000 - (13,085 ) 105,915
$ 767,756 $ 2,484 $ (74,363 ) $ 695,877
State and municipals
$ 321,700 $ 136 $ (16,589 ) $ 305,247
Pass-through mortgage securities
179,655 - (31,135 ) 148,520
Collateralized mortgage obligations
134,070 - (20,676 ) 113,394
Corporate bonds
119,000 - (12,748 ) 106,252
$ 754,425 $ 136 $ (81,148 ) $ 673,413
Small Business Administration ("SBA") agency obligations are floating rate, government guaranteed securities backed by $92.2 million of commercial mortgages and $33.3 million of equipment finance loans at December 31, 2023.
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, investment securities with a carrying value of $203.9 million and $350.8 million, respectively, were pledged as collateral to secure public deposits and borrowed funds.
There were no holdings of securities of any one issuer, other than the U.S. government and its agencies, in an amount greater than 10% of stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
There was no allowance for credit losses associated with the investment securities portfolio at December 31, 2023 or 2022.
Securities With Unrealized Losses. The following tables set forth securities with unrealized losses at December 31, 2023 and 2022 presented by length of time the securities had been in a continuous unrealized loss position.
Less than
12 Months
12 Months
or More
Total
Fair
Unrealized
Fair
Unrealized
Fair
Unrealized
(in thousands)
Value
Loss
Value
Loss
Value
Loss
State and municipals
$ 29,522 $ (719 ) $ 95,725 $ (11,271 ) $ 125,247 $ (11,990 )
Pass-through mortgage securities
2,361 (1 ) 134,558 (27,130 ) 136,919 (27,131 )
Collateralized mortgage obligations
- - 102,528 (21,074 ) 102,528 (21,074 )
SBA agency obligations
98,879 (1,083 ) - - 98,879 (1,083 )
Corporate bonds
- - 105,915 (13,085 ) 105,915 (13,085 )
Total temporarily impaired
$ 130,762 $ (1,803 ) $ 438,726 $ (72,560 ) $ 569,488 $ (74,363 )
Less than 12 Months
12 Months or More Total
Fair Unrealized Fair Unrealized Fair Unrealized
(in thousands)
Value Loss Value Loss Value Loss
State and municipals
$ 238,157 $ (12,047 ) $ 13,934 $ (4,542 ) $ 252,091 $ (16,589 )
Pass-through mortgage securities
12,667 (979 ) 135,853 (30,156 ) 148,520 (31,135 )
Collateralized mortgage obligations
42,560 (1,515 ) 70,834 (19,161 ) 113,394 (20,676 )
Corporate bonds
- - 106,252 (12,748 ) 106,252 (12,748 )
Total temporarily impaired
$ 293,384 $ (14,541 ) $ 326,873 $ (66,607 ) $ 620,257 $ (81,148 )
Following is a discussion of unrealized losses by type of security, none of which are considered impaired at December 31, 2023.
State and Municipals
At December 31, 2023, approximately $125.2 million of state and municipal bonds had an unrealized loss of $12.0 million. Substantially all the state and municipal bonds are considered high investment grade and rated Aa2/AA- or higher. The unrealized loss is attributable to changes in interest rates and illiquidity and not credit quality. The issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments on the bonds. The Bank has the ability to hold these securities and it is likely that it will not be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery. The fair value is expected to recover as the bonds approach maturity.
Pass-through Mortgage Securities
At December 31, 2023, pass-through mortgage securities of approximately $136.9 million had an unrealized loss of $27.1 million. These securities were issued by U.S. government and government-sponsored agencies and are considered high investment grade. The unrealized loss is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality. The issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments on the bonds. The Bank has the ability to hold these securities and it is likely that it will not be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery. The fair value is expected to recover as the bonds approach maturity.
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations
At December 31, 2023, collateralized mortgage obligations of approximately $102.5 million had an unrealized loss of $21.1 million. These securities were issued by U.S. government and government-sponsored agencies and are considered high investment grade. The unrealized loss is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality. The issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments on the bonds. The Bank has the ability to hold these securities and it is likely that it will not be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery. The fair value is expected to recover as the bonds approach maturity.
SBA Agency Obligations
At December 31, 2023, SBA agency obligations of approximately $98.9 million had an unrealized loss of $1.1 million. These securities were issued by the SBA, a U.S. government agency and are considered high investment grade. The unrealized loss is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality. The issuer continues to make timely principal and interest payments on the bonds. The Bank has the ability to hold these securities and it is likely that it will not be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery. The fair value is expected to recover as the bonds approach maturity.
Corporate Bonds
At December 31, 2023, approximately $105.9 million of corporate bonds had an unrealized loss of $13.1 million. The corporate bonds represent senior unsecured debt obligations of six of the largest U.S. based financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo. Each of the corporate bonds has a stated maturity of ten years and matures in 2028. The bonds reprice quarterly based on the ten year constant maturity swap rate.
Each of the financial institutions is considered medium investment grade and rated A3 or higher. The unrealized loss is attributable to changes in credit spreads and interest rates and the illiquid nature of the securities. The Bank does not have the intent to sell these securities and it is likely that it will not be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery. Each of these financial institutions has diversified revenue streams, is well capitalized and continues to make timely interest payments. Management evaluates the quarterly financial statements of each company to determine if full payment of principal and interest is in doubt and does not believe there is any impairment at December 31, 2023.
Sales of AFS Securities. Sales of AFS securities were as follows:
(in thousands)
Proceeds
$ 145,451 $ - $ 71,695
Gains
$ - $ - $ 1,120
Losses
(3,489 ) - (16 )
Net gain (loss)
$ (3,489 ) $ - $ 1,104
The income tax expense (benefit) related to these net realized gains and losses was ($1.1 million) and $340,000 in 2023 and 2021, respectively, and is included in the consolidated statements of income in the line item “Income tax expense.”
Sales of HTM Securities. The Bank did not have any securities classified as HTM in 2023, 2022 or 2021.
Maturities. The following table sets forth by maturity the amortized cost and fair value of the Bank’s state and municipal securities and corporate bonds at December 31, 2023 based on the earlier of their stated maturity or, if applicable, their pre-refunded date. The remaining securities in the Bank’s investment securities portfolio are mortgage and asset-backed securities, consisting of pass-through mortgage securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and SBA agency obligations. Although these securities are expected to have substantial periodic repayments they are reflected in the table below in aggregate amounts.
(in thousands)
Amortized Cost
Fair Value
Within one year
$ 3,078 $ 3,076
After 1 through 5 years
130,736 117,230
After 5 through 10 years
35,930 33,999
After 10 years
104,550 95,231
Mortgage and asset-backed securities
493,462 446,341
$ 767,756 $ 695,877
NOTE C - LOANS
The following table sets forth the loans outstanding by class of loans for the periods indicated.
December 31,
(in thousands)
2023 2022
Commercial and industrial
$ 116,163 $ 108,493
Commercial mortgages:
Multifamily
857,163 906,498
Other
829,090 789,140
Owner-occupied
233,461 220,855
Residential mortgages:
Closed end
1,166,887 1,240,144
Revolving home equity
44,070 45,213
Consumer and other
1,230 1,390
$ 3,248,064 $ 3,311,733
The following tables present the activity in the ACL for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Balance at
Provision (Credit) for Balance at
(in thousands)
1/1/2023
Chargeoffs
Recoveries
Credit Losses
12/31/2023
Commercial and industrial
$ 1,543 $ 2,026 $ 81 $ 2,432 $ 2,030
Commercial mortgages:
Multifamily
8,430 - - (1,613 ) 6,817
Other
7,425 - 15 410 7,850
Owner-occupied
3,024 - - 80 3,104
Residential mortgages:
Closed end
10,633 176 - (1,619 ) 8,838
Revolving home equity
362 - - (23 ) 339
Consumer and other
15 8 - 7 14
$ 31,432 $ 2,210 $ 96 $ (326 ) $ 28,992
Balance at
Provision
(Credit) for
Balance at
(in thousands)
1/1/2022
Chargeoffs
Recoveries
Credit Losses
12/31/2022
Commercial and industrial
$ 888 $ 511 $ 154 $ 1,012 $ 1,543
SBA PPP
46 - - (46 ) -
Commercial mortgages:
Multifamily
8,154 - - 276 8,430
Other
6,478 - - 947 7,425
Owner-occupied
2,515 - - 509 3,024
Residential mortgages:
Closed end
11,298 372 - (293 ) 10,633
Revolving home equity
449 - - (87 ) 362
Consumer and other
3 1 - 13 15
$ 29,831 $ 884 $ 154 $ 2,331 $ 31,432
Balance at
Provision (Credit) for
Balance at
(in thousands)
1/1/2021
Chargeoffs
Recoveries
Credit Losses
12/31/2021
Commercial and industrial
$ 1,416 $ 307 $ 205 $ (426 ) $ 888
SBA PPP
209 - - (163 ) 46
Commercial mortgages:
Multifamily
9,474 544 - (776 ) 8,154
Other
4,913 - - 1,565 6,478
Owner-occupied
1,905 165 91 684 2,515
Residential mortgages:
Closed end
14,706 189 22 (3,241 ) 11,298
Revolving home equity
407 - 254 (212 ) 449
Consumer and other
7 1 1 (4 ) 3
$ 33,037 $ 1,206 $ 573 $ (2,573 ) $ 29,831
The credit provision recorded in 2023 was mainly due to improvements in historical loss rates, the economic forecasts of unemployment and GDP and other portfolio metrics and a decrease in outstanding mortgage loans, partially offset by net chargeoffs and allowances for individually evaluated loans. The provision recorded in 2022 was mainly due to an increase in outstanding mortgage loans, chargeoffs and deteriorating economic conditions, partially offset by lower historical loss rates. The credit provision recorded in 2021 was mainly due to improvements in economic conditions, asset quality and other portfolio metrics, partially offset by an increase in outstanding commercial mortgage loans and net chargeoffs.
Aging of Loans. The following tables present the aging of loans past due and loans in nonaccrual status by class of loans.
December 31, 2023
Past Due
Nonaccrual
(in thousands)
30-59 Days
60-89 Days
90 Days or More and Still Accruing With an Allowance for Credit Loss With No Allowance for Credit Loss Total Past Due Loans & Nonaccrual Loans Current
Total Loans
Commercial and industrial
$ 73 $ - $ - $ 722 $ - $ 795 $ 115,368 $ 116,163
Commercial mortgages:
Multifamily
- - - - - - 857,163 857,163
Other
1,624 - - - - 1,624 827,466 829,090
Owner-occupied
- - - - - - 233,461 233,461
Residential mortgages:
Closed end
1,389 - - - 331 1,720 1,165,167 1,166,887
Revolving home equity
- - - - - - 44,070 44,070
Consumer and other
- - - - - - 1,230 1,230
$ 3,086 $ - $ - $ 722 $ 331 $ 4,139 $ 3,243,925 $ 3,248,064
December 31, 2022
Commercial and industrial
$ 297 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 297 $ 108,196 $ 108,493
Commercial mortgages:
Multifamily
- - - - - - 906,498 906,498
Other
- - - - - - 789,140 789,140
Owner-occupied
- - - - - - 220,855 220,855
Residential mortgages:
Closed end
452 - - - - 452 1,239,692 1,240,144
Revolving home equity
- - - - - - 45,213 45,213
Consumer and other
1 - - - - 1 1,389 1,390
$ 750 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 750 $ 3,310,983 $ 3,311,733
There were no loans in the process of foreclosure nor did the Bank hold any foreclosed residential real estate property at December 31, 2023, 2022 or 2021.
Accrued interest receivable from loans totaled $10.4 million and $9.2 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and is included in the line item “Other assets” on the consolidated balance sheets.
Loans to Directors and Executive Officers. At December 31, 2023, loans outstanding to executive officers and directors, including their immediate families and companies in which they are principal owners totaled $1.6 million. There were no such loans outstanding at December 31, 2022.
Loan Modifications. From time to time, the Bank may modify the terms of loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty in the form of principal forgiveness, an interest reduction, an other-than-insignificant payment delay or a term extension. In order to determine whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty, an evaluation is performed of the probability that the borrower will be in payment default on any of its debt in the foreseeable future without the modification. The Bank performs the evaluation under its internal underwriting policy.
The Bank did not modify any loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty during 2023, 2022 or 2021.
There were no modifications for which there was a payment default during 2023, 2022 and 2021 that were modified during the 12 month period prior to default. A loan is considered to be in payment default once it is 90 days contractually past due under the modified terms.
Risk Characteristics. Credit risk within the Bank’s loan portfolio primarily stems from factors such as changes in the borrower’s financial condition, credit concentrations, changes in collateral values, economic conditions, rent regulation and environmental contamination of properties securing mortgage loans. The Bank’s commercial loans, including those secured by real estate mortgages, are primarily made to small and medium-sized businesses. Such loans sometimes involve a higher degree of risk than those to larger companies because such businesses may have shorter operating histories, higher debt-to-equity ratios and may lack sophistication in internal record keeping and financial and operational controls. In addition, most of the Bank’s loans are made to businesses and consumers on Long Island and in the boroughs of New York City (“NYC”), and a large percentage of these loans are mortgage loans secured by properties located in those areas. The primary sources of repayment for residential and commercial mortgage loans include employment and other income of the borrowers, the businesses of the borrowers and cash flows from the underlying properties. In the case of multifamily mortgage loans, a substantial portion of the underlying properties are rent stabilized or rent controlled. These sources of repayment are dependent on the strength of the local economy.
Credit Quality Indicators. The Bank categorizes loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the borrower’s ability to service their debt including, but not limited to, current financial information for the borrower and any guarantors, payment experience, credit underwriting documentation, public records, due diligence checks and current economic trends. Management analyzes loans individually and classifies them using risk rating matrices consistent with regulatory guidance as follows.
Watch: The borrower’s cash flow has a high degree of variability and subject to economic downturns. Liquidity is strained and the ability of the borrower to access traditional sources of credit is diminished.
Special Mention: The borrower has potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or in the Bank’s credit position at some future date. Special mention assets are not adversely classified and do not expose the Bank to risk sufficient to warrant adverse classification.
Substandard: Loans are inadequately protected by the current sound worth and paying capacity of the borrower or 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 Bank will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.
Doubtful: Loans have all the inherent weaknesses of those classified substandard with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, based on existing facts, conditions and values, highly questionable and improbable.
Risk ratings on commercial and industrial loans and commercial mortgages are initially assigned during the underwriting process and affirmed as part of the approval process. The ratings are periodically reviewed and evaluated based on borrower contact, credit department review or independent loan review.
The Bank's loan risk rating and review policy establishes requirements for the annual review of commercial real estate and commercial and industrial loans. The requirements include details of the scope of coverage and selection process based on loan-type and risk rating. The Bank reviews at least 80% of its commercial real estate loan portfolio on an annual basis. Lines of credit are also reviewed annually at each proposed reaffirmation. The frequency of the review of other loans is determined by minimum principal balance thresholds and the Bank’s ongoing assessments of the borrower’s condition.
Residential mortgage loans, revolving home equity lines and other consumer loans are initially evaluated utilizing the borrower’s credit score. A credit score is a tool used in the Bank’s loan approval process, and a minimum score of 680 is generally required for new loans. Credit scores for each borrower are updated at least annually. However, regardless of credit score, loans may be classified, criticized or placed on management’s watch list if relevant information comes to light.
The following tables present the amortized cost basis of loans by class of loans, vintage and risk rating. Loans shown as Pass are all loans other than those risk rated Watch, Special Mention, Substandard or Doubtful. Also presented are gross chargeoffs and recoveries recorded in 2023 by year of origination.
December 31, 2023
Term Loans by Origination Year
Revolving
(in thousands)
Prior
Loans (1)
Total
Commercial and industrial:
Risk rating:
Pass
$ 46,086 $ 20,928 $ 22,289 $ 5,283 $ 1,978 $ 5,209 $ 10,959 $ 112,732
Watch
- - 2,709 - - - - 2,709
Special Mention
- - - - - - - -
Substandard
- 632 - - - - 90 722
Doubtful
- - - - - - - -
$ 46,086 $ 21,560 $ 24,998 $ 5,283 $ 1,978 $ 5,209 $ 11,049 $ 116,163
Current-period gross chargeoffs
$ - $ (1,354 ) $ - $ - $ - $ - $ (672 ) $ (2,026 )
Current-period recoveries
- - - - - - 81 81
Current-period net chargeoffs
$ - $ (1,354 ) $ - $ - $ - $ - $ (591 ) $ (1,945 )
Commercial mortgages - multifamily:
Risk rating:
Pass
$ 42,030 $ 191,738 $ 176,836 $ 37,340 $ 116,805 $ 292,289 $ 125 $ 857,163
Watch
- - - - - - - -
Special Mention
- - - - - - - -
Substandard
- - - - - - - -
Doubtful
- - - - - - - -
$ 42,030 $ 191,738 $ 176,836 $ 37,340 $ 116,805 $ 292,289 $ 125 $ 857,163
Current-period gross chargeoffs
$ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
Current-period recoveries
- - - - - - - -
Current-period net chargeoffs
$ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
Commercial mortgages - other:
Risk rating:
Pass
$ 72,098 $ 195,215 $ 221,488 $ 97,080 $ 33,645 $ 188,078 $ 26 $ 807,630
Watch
- - - - - 916 - 916
Special Mention
- - - - - - - -
Substandard
- - - - - 20,544 - 20,544
Doubtful
- - - - - - - -
$ 72,098 $ 195,215 $ 221,488 $ 97,080 $ 33,645 $ 209,538 $ 26 $ 829,090
Current-period gross chargeoffs
$ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
Current-period recoveries
- - - - - 15 - 15
Current-period net chargeoffs
$ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 15 $ - $ 15
Commercial mortgages - owner-occupied:
Risk rating:
Pass
$ 21,841 $ 53,796 $ 53,073 $ 23,638 $ 40,347 $ 32,618 $ 2,794 $ 228,107
Watch
277 - 5,077 - - - - 5,354
Special Mention
- - - - - - - -
Substandard
- - - - - - - -
Doubtful
- - - - - - - -
$ 22,118 $ 53,796 $ 58,150 $ 23,638 $ 40,347 $ 32,618 $ 2,794 $ 233,461
Current-period gross chargeoffs
$ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
Current-period recoveries
- - - - - - - -
Current-period net chargeoffs
$ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
December 31, 2023
Term Loans by Origination Year
Revolving
(in thousands)
Prior
Loans (1)
Total
Residential mortgages (2):
Risk rating:
Pass
$ 27,649 $ 195,602 $ 162,898 $ 34,055 $ 15,452 $ 731,406 $ 44,070 $ 1,211,132
Watch
- - - - - - - -
Special Mention
- - - - - - - -
Substandard
- - - - - 331 - 331
Doubtful
- - - - - - - -
$ 27,649 $ 195,602 $ 162,898 $ 34,055 $ 15,452 $ 731,737 $ 44,070 $ 1,211,463
Current-period gross chargeoffs
$ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ (176 ) $ - $ (176 )
Current-period recoveries
- - - - - - - -
Current-period net chargeoffs
$ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ (176 ) $ - $ (176 )
Consumer and other:
Risk rating:
Pass
$ 45 $ 220 $ - $ - $ 100 $ 1 $ 757 $ 1,123
Watch
- - - - - - - -
Special Mention
- - - - - - - -
Substandard
- - - - - - - -
Doubtful
- - - - - - - -
Not Rated
- - - - - - 107 107
$ 45 $ 220 $ - $ - $ 100 $ 1 $ 864 $ 1,230
Current-period gross chargeoffs
$ - $ (8 ) $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ (8 )
Current-period recoveries
- - - - - - - -
Current-period net chargeoffs
$ - $ (8 ) $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ (8 )
Total Loans
$ 210,026 $ 658,131 $ 644,370 $ 197,396 $ 208,327 $ 1,271,392 $ 58,928 $ 3,248,570
Total net chargeoffs
$ - $ (1,362 ) $ - $ - $ - $ (161 ) $ (591 ) $ (2,114 )
(1)
Includes revolving lines converted to term of $2.6 million of commercial and industrial, $1.0 million of owner-occupied commercial mortgage and $7.0 million of residential home equity.
(2) Certain fixed rate residential mortgage loans are included in a fair value hedging relationship. The amortized cost excludes a contra asset of $506,000 related to basis adjustments for loans in the closed portfolio under the portfolio layer method at December 31, 2023. These basis adjustments would be allocated to the amortized cost of specific loans within the pool if the hedge was de-designated. See "Note O - Derivatives" for more information on the fair value hedge.
NOTE D - PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT AND OPERATING LEASES
Premises and equipment. Bank premises and equipment consist of the following:
December 31,
(in thousands)
Land
$ 9,002 $ 8,552
Buildings and improvements
22,250 22,120
Leasehold improvements
12,412 12,002
Furniture and equipment
37,010 36,595
Construction in process
642 433
81,316 79,702
Accumulated depreciation and amortization
(49,902 ) (48,042 )
$ 31,414 $ 31,660
In 2022, the Bank incurred a net loss of $553,000 on the disposition of certain premises and fixed assets. The net loss includes a gain on sale of five Glen Head, NY buildings, a writedown and transfer to held-for-sale of a remaining building in Glen Head and a write-off of all related equipment and fixed assets including a nearby freestanding ATM location. In 2023, the Bank sold the remaining Glen Head building held-for-sale and realized a net gain of $240,000.
Land and buildings held-for-sale at December 31, 2023 and 2022 amounted to $383,000 and $2.4 million, respectively.
Operating Leases. The Bank leases certain branch and back-office locations under long-term, non-cancelable operating lease agreements. The leases expire at various dates through 2038 and had a weighted average remaining term of 11.15 and 11.79 years at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Many of the Bank’s leases include renewal options of up to 10 years with the longest option extending to 25 years. The exercise of lease renewal options is at the Bank’s sole discretion.
The weighted average discount rate for leases in place at December 31, 2023 and 2022 was 3.29% and 3.24%, respectively. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. The Bank had one such lease in 2023 and 2022 and recognized rent expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. There were no short-term leases in 2021.
The Bank’s branch optimization strategy resulted in charges of $905,000 in 2022 and $3.1 million in 2021 related to the closing or relocation of leased branch office space. The charges include rent and depreciation expenses, lease acceleration costs and asset disposal charges. These charges are included in the consolidated statements of income in “occupancy and equipment expense” and, in 2022, partially included in “loss on disposition of premises and fixed assets.”
Rental payments required by the Bank’s lease agreements may increase over time based on certain variable components such as real estate taxes and common area maintenance charges.
The components of rent expense were as follows:
December 31,
(in thousands)
Operating lease cost
$ 3,480 $ 3,271 $ 4,462
Variable lease cost
463 490 405
Short-term lease cost
78 10 -
$ 4,021 $ 3,771 $ 4,867
The following is a maturity analysis of the operating lease liability at December 31, 2023.
Year (dollars in thousands)
Total
$ 3,522
3,379
3,097
2,750
1,879
Thereafter
15,422
Total lease payments
30,049
Less: interest
5,109
$ 24,940
NOTE E - DEPOSITS
The following table sets forth the remaining maturities of the Bank’s time deposits at December 31, 2023.
Year (dollars in thousands)
Total
$ 528,784
15,455
11,194
18,209
16,218
Thereafter
1,573
$ 591,433
Time deposits that meet or exceed the FDIC insurance limit of $250,000 totaled $70.3 million and $104.7 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Deposits from executive officers, directors and their affiliates at December 31, 2023 and 2022 were approximately $8.4 million and $8.8 million, respectively. Time deposits maturing in 2024 include $176.0 million of brokered deposits.
NOTE F - BORROWED FUNDS
Borrowings at December 31, 2023 and 2022 consisted of overnight and fixed rate Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances as follows.
December 31,
(in thousands)
Short-term borrowings:
FHLB overnight advances
$ 70,000 $ -
Long-term debt:
FHLB advances
472,500 411,000
$ 542,500 $ 411,000
Accrued interest payable on borrowed funds is included in “accrued expenses and other liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheets and amounted to $1.4 million and $535,000 at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
FHLB advances are collateralized by a blanket lien on residential and commercial mortgage loans with a lendable value of $1.9 billion and $2.2 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Each advance is non-amortizing and, for those advances with a term greater than one day, subject to a prepayment penalty. Short-term FHLB advances are those with original maturities of 90 days or less.
The following table sets forth as of December 31, 2023 the contractual maturities and weighted average interest rates of FHLB advances for each of the next five years. There are no FHLB advances with contractual maturities beyond three years at December 31, 2023.
Contractual Maturity (dollars in thousands)
Amount
Weighted Average Rate
Overnight
$ 70,000 5.64 %
387,500 4.79
75,000 4.51
10,000 2.12
- -
- -
After 2028
- -
472,500 4.69
$ 542,500 4.81 %
NOTE G - INCOME TAXES
The Corporation, the Bank and it’s subsidiaries, except for the REIT, file a consolidated federal income tax return. Income taxes charged to earnings in 2023, 2022 and 2021 had effective tax rates of 11.0%, 19.4% and 19.2%, respectively. The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the Corporation’s effective tax rate.
Year Ended December 31,
Statutory federal income tax rate
21.0 % 21.0 % 21.0 %
State and local income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit
(4.8 ) 1.7 2.1
Tax-exempt income, net of disallowed cost of funding
(3.3 ) (2.8 ) (3.3 )
BOLI income
(2.3 ) (1.1 ) (0.9 )
Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation
0.4 - 0.1
Non-deductible officer compensation
- 0.1 -
Other
- 0.5 0.2
11.0 % 19.4 % 19.2 %
Provision for Income Taxes. The following table sets forth the components of the provision for income taxes.
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
Current:
Federal
$ 3,469 $ 9,287 $ 8,807
State and local
909 1,330 1,467
4,378 10,617 10,274
Deferred:
Federal
1,771 358 (76 )
State and local
(2,920 ) 312 20
(1,149 ) 670 (56 )
$ 3,229 $ 11,287 $ 10,218
Net Deferred Tax Asset. The following table sets forth the components of the Corporation’s net deferred tax asset.
December 31,
(in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Unrealized loss on AFS securities
$ 22,070 $ 24,957
Allowance for credit losses and off-balance sheet credit exposure
9,036 9,767
Operating lease liability
7,627 7,951
Net operating loss carryforwards
2,869 -
Stock-based compensation
519 865
Asset writedown
51 51
Retirement expense
35 38
Interest on nonperforming loans
14 6
Contract incentive
- 139
Accrued bonuses and severance
- 50
42,221 43,824
Valuation allowance
- -
42,221 43,824
Deferred tax liabilities:
Right-of-use asset
6,908 7,354
Prepaid pension
3,274 3,370
Depreciation
1,509 272
Deferred loan costs
1,365 1,545
Prepaid expenses
146 159
Interest rate swap fair market value adjustment
23 -
13,225 12,700
Net deferred tax asset
$ 28,996 $ 31,124
The Corporation had no material unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2023, 2022 or 2021. The Corporation has not taken any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase within the next 12 months.
The Corporation is subject to Federal, New York State ("NYS"), NYC, New Jersey and Connecticut income taxes. The Corporation did not incur any amounts for interest and penalties due taxing authorities for calendar years 2023, 2022 or 2021. The tax years 2021 through 2023 remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service, NYS, NYC, New Jersey and Connecticut.
NOTE H - REGULATORY MATTERS
Minimum Regulatory Capital Requirements. The Corporation and the Bank are subject to the Basel III regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Capital adequacy guidelines and, additionally for banks, prompt corrective action (“PCA”) regulations, involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Failure to meet the minimum capital requirements can result in certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by the regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the financial statements of the Corporation and Bank. The most recent regulatory notifications categorized the Bank as well capitalized under the PCA provisions and there are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed that category.
In accordance with the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, the federal banking agencies adopted, effective January 1, 2020, a final rule whereby financial institutions and financial institution holding companies that have less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets and meet other qualifying criteria, including a leverage ratio of greater than 9% (“qualifying community banking organizations”), are eligible to opt into a community bank leverage ratio (“CBLR”) framework. Qualifying community banking organizations that elect to use the CBLR framework and that maintain a leverage ratio of greater than 9% are considered to have satisfied the generally applicable risk-based and leverage capital requirements in the agencies’ capital rules and will be considered to have met the well capitalized ratio requirements under the PCA statutes. The agencies reserved the authority to disallow the use of the CBLR framework by a financial institution or holding company, based on the risk profile of the organization.
The Corporation and the Bank elected to adopt the CBLR framework. As a qualifying community banking organization, the Corporation and the Bank may opt out of the CBLR framework in any subsequent quarter by completing its regulatory agency reporting using the traditional capital rules.
The Corporation and the Bank exclude accumulated OCI components from Tier 1 and Total regulatory capital.
During 2020, the Corporation and the Bank elected the optional five-year transition period provided by the federal banking agencies for recognizing the regulatory capital impact of the implementation of CECL.
The Corporation’s and the Bank’s actual and required capital amounts and ratios under the CBLR rules at December 31, 2023 and 2022 are presented in the tables below.
Actual Capital
To Be Well Capitalized Under CBLR Framework
(dollars in thousands)
Amount
Ratio
Amount
Ratio
Tier 1 capital to average assets:
Consolidated
$ 435,643 10.05 % $ 389,969 9.00 %
Bank
438,648 10.13 389,874 9.00
Actual Capital
To Be Well Capitalized Under CBLR Framework
(dollars in thousands)
Amount
Ratio
Amount
Ratio
Tier 1 capital to average assets:
Consolidated
$ 430,366 9.83 % $ 394,017 9.00 %
Bank
429,377 9.81 393,883 9.00
Other Matters. The source of funds for the Corporation’s dividend payments to shareholders is dividends received from the Bank. Banking regulations limit the amount of dividends that may be paid by the Bank without prior approval of regulatory agencies. Under these regulations, the amount of dividends that the Bank may pay in any calendar year is limited to the current year’s net profits, combined with the retained net profits of the preceding two years, subject to the minimum capital requirements described above. During 2024, the Bank could, without prior approval, declare dividends of approximately $25.1 million plus any 2024 net profits retained to the date of the dividend declaration.
Regulation D of the Board of Governors of The Federal Reserve System may require banks to maintain reserves against certain deposit balances. There was no reserve requirement in 2023 or 2022.
NOTE I - STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
On April 20, 2021, the stockholders of the Corporation approved the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (“2021 Plan”). Upon approval of the 2021 Plan, no further awards could be made under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (“2014 Plan”).
2021 Plan. Under the 2021 Plan, awards may be granted to employees and non-employee directors as stock options, restricted stock awards or RSUs, with a one year minimum vesting period for at least 95% of the awards granted. All awards granted under the 2021 Plan will immediately vest upon an involuntary termination following a change in control, total and permanent disability, as defined, or death.
The Corporation has 750,000 shares of common stock reserved for awards under the 2021 Plan, plus 23,167 shares that remained available for grant as full value RSUs or restricted stock awards under the 2014 Plan. RSUs granted under the 2014 Plan that expire or are forfeited after April 20, 2021 are added to the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance of awards under the 2021 Plan. At December 31, 2023, 524,573 equity awards remain available to be granted under the 2021 Plan.
2014 Plan. Under the 2014 Plan, awards were granted to employees and non-employee directors as non-qualified stock options, restricted stock awards and RSUs. Substantially all of the awards granted under the 2014 Plan were RSUs. All awards granted under the 2014 Plan will immediately vest upon an involuntary termination following a change in control, total and permanent disability, as defined, or death, and with certain exceptions, will immediately vest in the event of retirement, as defined.
Details of RSUs. The following table summarizes the vesting schedule of RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2023.
Total
Number of RSUs:
Vested and convertible at December 31, 2023
6,641
Scheduled to vest during:
119,983
35,770
42,276
6,060
3,149
213,879
The RSUs in the table above include performance-based RSUs with vesting based on the financial performance of the Corporation in 2023 and 2024 and service-based RSUs with various service-based vesting periods. The grant date fair value of RSUs is equal to the market price of the shares underlying the awards on the grant date, discounted for dividends that are not paid on these RSUs.
The fair values of awards made in 2023, 2022 and 2021, and the assumptions utilized in determining such values, are presented below.
Performance-Based
Service-Based
Vesting
Vesting
Grant date fair value
$16.57 $11.77 to $16.57
Market price on grant date
$18.14 $12.57 to $18.14
Expected annual dividend
$0.84 $0.84
Expected term (in years)
2.0 1.0 to 5.0
Risk-free interest rate
4.24% 4.01% to 4.80%
Grant date fair value
$20.07 $17.70 to $20.07
Market price on grant date
$21.64 $18.12 to $21.64
Expected annual dividend
$0.80 $0.42 to $0.80
Expected term (in years)
2.0 1.0 to 5.0
Risk-free interest rate
1.12% 1.12% to 4.56%
Grant date fair value
$15.31 $15.31 to $20.54
Market price on grant date
$16.83 $16.83 to $21.58
Expected annual dividend
$0.76 $0.76 to $0.80
Expected term (in years)
2.0 1.0 to 3.0
Risk-free interest rate
0.13% 0.08% to 0.52%
In January 2024, 185,911 RSUs were awarded under the 2021 Plan, including 118,298 performance-based RSUs and 67,613 service-based RSUs.
The following table presents a summary of RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2023 and changes during the year then ended.
Weighted-
Weighted-
Average
Aggregate
Average
Remaining
Intrinsic
Number of
Grant-Date
Contractual
Value
RSUs
Fair Value
Term (yrs.)
(in thousands)
Outstanding at January 1, 2023
246,993 $ 18.35
Granted
182,811 15.43
Converted
(122,114 ) 18.32
Forfeited
(93,811 ) 17.97
Outstanding at December 31, 2023
213,879 $ 16.04 0.98 $ 2,832
Vested and convertible at December 31, 2023
6,641 $ 16.57 - $ 88
RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2023 include 42,847 performance-based RSUs granted in 2023, of which 6,641 are vested and convertible at year-end, and 171,032 service-based RSUs. The performance-based RSUs have a maximum payout potential of 1.50 shares of the Corporation’s common stock for each RSU awarded. Based on the Corporation’s performance in 2023, 63,917 shares were forfeited on the performance-based RSUs and reflected in the table above. Service-based RSUs have a maximum payout potential of one share of the Corporation’s common stock for each RSU awarded.
The total intrinsic value of RSUs converted in 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $2.2 million, $2.0 million and $1.6 million, respectively.
Stock Option Activity. During 2022, the 750 stock options outstanding at December 31, 2021 were forfeited. There were no stock options outstanding at December 31, 2023 or 2022.
No stock options were exercised in 2023 or 2022. The total intrinsic value of options exercised in 2021 was $55,000. Cash received from option exercises in 2021 was $133,000 and the tax benefit from these exercises was $17,000.
Compensation Expense. The Corporation recorded expense for share-based payments of $1.2 million, $2.5 million and $1.6 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and related income tax benefits of $383,000, $760,000 and $420,000, respectively.
Unrecognized Compensation Cost. As of December 31, 2023, there was $1.8 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested RSUs. The total cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years.
Other. No cash was used to settle stock options in 2022 or 2021. The Corporation uses newly issued shares for the conversion of RSUs. During 2023, 2022 and 2021, 4,573, 3,315 and 6,580 shares, respectively, of the Corporation’s common stock were issued to members of the Board of Directors in payment of director fees.
NOTE J - RETIREMENT PLANS
The Bank has a 401(k) plan and a defined benefit pension plan (“Pension Plan” or “Plan”). Employees are immediately eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan provided they are at least 18 years of age. Participants may elect to contribute up to 100% of gross compensation, as defined, subject to the limitations of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Bank may, at its sole discretion, make matching contributions to each participant's account based on the amount of the participant's contributions. Participants are fully vested in their elective contributions and, after five years of participation in the 401(k) plan, are fully vested (20% vesting per year) in the matching contributions, if any, made by the Bank. The Bank’s expense for matching contributions was $571,000, $530,000 and $519,000 for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
An internal management committee (the “Committee”) oversees the affairs of the Pension Plan and acts as named fiduciary. The Committee has retained Vanguard Group, Inc., including its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Vanguard”), to act as discretionary investment agent, trustee and custodian for the Plan. Vanguard has formulated investment recommendations customized to meet the Committee’s objectives and, after approval by the Committee, such investment recommendations are incorporated into the investment guidelines and policies contained in the investment management agreement between the Bank and Vanguard (the “Investment Management Agreement”). The Committee utilizes a formal Investment Policy Statement which includes the investment guidelines and policies contained in the Investment Management Agreement. The Investment Policy Statement is periodically revised by the Committee as deemed appropriate.
Employees are eligible to participate in the Pension Plan after attaining 21 years of age and completing 12 full months of service. Pension benefits are generally based on a percentage of average annual compensation during the period of creditable service. The Bank makes contributions to the Pension Plan which, when taken together with participant contributions equal to 2% of their compensation, will be sufficient to fund these benefits. The Bank’s funding method, the unit credit actuarial cost method, is consistent with the funding requirements of applicable federal laws and regulations which set forth both minimum required and maximum tax deductible contributions. Employees become fully vested after four years of participation in the Pension Plan (no vesting occurs during the four year period).
Significant Actuarial Assumptions. The following table sets forth the significant actuarial assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation at December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 and the benefit cost for each of the Plan years then ended.
Weighted average assumptions used to determine the
benefit obligation at year end:
Discount rate
5.16% 5.44% 2.97%
Rate of increase in compensation levels
4.00% 3.50% 3.50%
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net pension cost:
Discount rate
5.44% 2.97% 2.67%
Rate of increase in compensation levels
3.50% 3.50% 3.50%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets
6.00% 5.25% 5.25%
The decrease in the discount rate from 5.44% in 2022 to 5.16% in 2023 increased the projected benefit obligation at December 31, 2023 by approximately $1.5 million. The increase in the salary scale from 3.50% in 2022 to 4.00% in 2023 increased the projected benefit obligation at December 31, 2023 by approximately $296,000. Changes due to experience, including changes in participant demographics, resulted in a net actuarial loss of approximately $1.0 million during 2023.
The increase in the discount rate from 2.97% in 2021 to 5.44% in 2022 decreased the projected benefit obligation at December 31, 2022 by approximately $15.3 million. Changes due to experience, including changes in participant demographics, resulted in a net actuarial loss of approximately $1.6 million during 2022.
Net Pension Cost. The following table sets forth the components of net periodic pension cost.
(in thousands)
Service cost plus expected expenses and net of expected plan
participant contributions
$ 1,378 $ 2,133 $ 2,131
Interest cost
2,341 1,641 1,454
Expected return on plan assets
(3,245 ) (3,903 ) (3,914 )
Amortization of net actuarial loss
1,018 - -
Net pension cost (credit)
$ 1,492 $ (129 ) $ (329 )
The components of net pension credit other than the service cost component were included in the line item “Other noninterest income” in the consolidated statements of income. The service cost component was included in the line item “Salaries and employee benefits” in the consolidated statements of income.
Funded Status of the Plan. The following table sets forth the change in the projected benefit obligation and Plan assets for each year and, as of the end of each year, the funded status of the Plan and accumulated benefit obligation.
(in thousands)
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year
$ 44,460 $ 56,587 $ 55,642
Service cost
1,630 2,357 2,340
Interest cost
2,341 1,641 1,454
Benefits paid
(2,430 ) (2,361 ) (2,264 )
Assumption changes
1,778 (15,343 ) (2,173 )
Experience loss and other
1,019 1,579 1,588
Projected benefit obligation at end of year
48,798 44,460 56,587
Change in fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
55,509 75,684 75,751
Actual return on plan assets
6,127 (18,113 ) 1,906
Plan participant contributions
455 425 413
Benefits paid
(2,430 ) (2,361 ) (2,264 )
Expenses
(123 ) (126 ) (122 )
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
59,538 55,509 75,684
Funded status at end of year
$ 10,740 $ 11,049 $ 19,097
Accumulated benefit obligation
$ 45,185 $ 41,551 $ 52,362
During 2023, the Bank did not make a contribution to the Plan and the Bank has no minimum required pension contribution for the Plan year ending September 30, 2024. The Bank does not expect to make a contribution in 2024.
Plan Assets. The objective for the Plan’s assets is to generate long-term investment returns from both income and capital appreciation which outpaces the rate of inflation, while maintaining sufficient liquidity to ensure the Plan’s ability to pay all anticipated benefit and expense obligations when due. The Plan will maintain a de minimis amount of cash equivalents, with the remaining assets allocated across two broadly-defined financial asset categories: (1) equity, both domestic and international; and (2) fixed income of various durations and issuer type. The goal of the equity allocation is to supplement the Bank’s contributions to the Plan when the Plan is underfunded and increase surplus when the Plan is overfunded. The fixed income component will include longer-duration bonds designed to match and hedge the characteristics of the Plan’s liabilities. Cash equivalents, under normal circumstances, will be temporary holdings for the purpose of paying expenses and monthly benefits.
For fixed income investments: (1) the minimum average credit quality shall be investment grade (Standard & Poor’s BBB or Moody’s Baa) or higher; and (2) no more than 5% of the portfolio may be invested in securities with ratings below investment grade, and none may be rated below investment grade at the time of purchase.
Reasonable precautions are taken to avoid excessive concentrations to protect the portfolio against unfavorable outcomes within an asset class. Specifically, the following guidelines are in place:
●
With the exception of fixed income investments explicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government, no single investment security shall represent more than 5% of total Plan assets; and
●
With the exception of passively managed investment vehicles seeking to match the returns of broadly diversified market indices or diversified investment vehicles chosen specifically to hedge the interest rate risk embedded in Plan liabilities, no single investment pool or investment company (mutual fund) shall comprise more than 10% of total plan assets.
The portfolio will be rebalanced to the target asset allocation, if needed, no less often than quarterly. Unless expressly authorized in writing by the Committee, the following investing activities are prohibited:
●
Purchasing securities on margin;
●
Pledging or hypothecating securities, except for loans of securities that are fully collateralized;
●
Purchasing or selling derivative securities for speculation or leverage; and
●
Engaging in investment strategies that have the potential to amplify or distort the risk of loss beyond a level that is reasonably expected given the objectives of the portfolio.
The Plan’s actual asset allocations, target allocations and expected long-term rates of return by asset category are set forth in the following tables.
December 31, 2023
Target Allocation
Percentage of Plan Assets
Weighted Average Expected Long-term Rates of Return
Cash equivalents
0% - 1% 0.3%
<1.00%
Equity mutual funds
20% - 30% 25.0%
6.1% to 8.5%
Fixed income mutual funds
70% - 80% 74.7%
4.9% to 6.1%
100.0%
5.2% to 6.7%
December 31, 2022
Cash equivalents
0% - 1% 0.3%
<1.00%
Equity mutual funds
20% - 30% 24.8%
6.3% to 8.8%
Fixed income mutual funds
70% - 80% 74.9%
4.3% to 5.6%
100.0%
4.8% to 6.3%
The ranges for the weighted average expected long-term rates of return for equity funds, bond funds and total plan assets set forth in the preceding table represent expected 25th to 75th percentile returns provided by Vanguard. For these purposes Vanguard utilizes a proprietary capital markets model (the “model”) developed and maintained by Vanguard’s primary investment research and advice teams. The model forecasts distributions of future returns for a wide array of broad asset classes. The theoretical and empirical foundation of the model is that the returns of various asset classes reflect the compensation investors require for bearing different types of systematic risk. At the core of the model are estimates of the dynamic statistical relationship between risk factors and asset returns, obtained from statistical analysis based on available historical monthly financial and economic data.
At December 31, 2023, the equity and fixed income components of Plan assets consisted of the following Vanguard institutional funds:
Equity
●
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VITSX). This fund seeks to track the performance of the Center for Research in Security Prices (CRSP) U.S. Total Market Index. The fund is passively managed using index sampling and consists of large, small and mid-cap equity securities diversified across growth and value styles.
●
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VTSNX). This fund seeks to track the performance of the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) Global All Cap ex U.S. Index. The fund is passively managed and includes broad exposure across developed and emerging non-U.S. equity markets.
Fixed Income
●
Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund (VWETX). This fund seeks high and sustainable current income. Investments are selected using a fundamental, bottom-up credit selection process and consist of long-term, high-quality bonds broadly diversified by issuer and industry sector.
●
Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Index Fund (VLGIX). This fund seeks to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Long Treasury Bond Index. The fund is passively managed using index sampling and includes long-term, fixed income securities issued by the U.S. Treasury.
Fair Value of Plan Assets. The fair value of Plan assets at December 31, 2023 and 2022 is summarized below.
Fair Value Measurements Using:
(in thousands)
Total
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
December 31, 2023:
Cash equivalents:
Vanguard Prime Money Market Mutual Fund
$ 196 $ - $ 196 $ -
Total cash equivalents
196 - 196 -
Equity mutual funds:
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VITSX)
8,940 8,940 - -
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VTSNX)
5,928 5,928 - -
Total equity mutual funds
14,868 14,868 - -
Fixed income mutual funds:
Vanguard Long-Term Investment Grade Fund (VWETX)
33,062 33,062 - -
Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Index Fund (VLGIX)
11,412 11,412 - -
Total fixed income mutual funds
44,474 44,474 - -
Total Plan Assets
$ 59,538 $ 59,342 $ 196 $ -
December 31, 2022:
Cash equivalents:
Vanguard Prime Money Market Mutual Fund
$ 192 $ - $ 192 $ -
Total cash equivalents
192 - 192 -
Equity mutual funds:
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VITSX)
8,131 8,131 - -
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VTSNX)
5,663 5,663 - -
Total equity mutual funds
13,794 13,794 - -
Fixed income mutual funds:
Vanguard Long-Term Investment Grade Fund (VWETX)
30,869 30,869 - -
Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Index Fund (VLGIX)
10,654 10,654 - -
Total fixed income mutual funds
41,523 41,523 - -
Total Plan Assets
$ 55,509 $ 55,317 $ 192 $ -
The fair values of the Vanguard mutual funds represent their net asset values (“NAV”) at December 31, 2023 and 2022. On an ongoing basis, the Plan has the ability to readily redeem its investments in these funds at their NAV per share with no advance notification.
An explanation of matrix pricing and the definitions of Level 1, 2 and 3 fair value measurements are included in “Note M - Fair Value of Financial Instruments” to these consolidated financial statements.
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Plan’s cash and cash equivalents amounted to 0.3% of the Plan’s total assets and represented investments in the Vanguard Prime Money Market Mutual Fund.
Estimated Future Benefit Payments. The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service as appropriate, are expected to be made by the Plan.
Year (in thousands)
Amount
$ 2,824
2,997
3,139
3,272
3,418
2029 - 2033 18,393
NOTE K - OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES
Expenses included in other operating expenses that exceed one percent of the aggregate of total interest income and noninterest income in one or more of the years shown are as follows.
(in thousands)
FDIC Insurance
$ 1,944
$ 1,162
$ 1,092
Computer services
1,436
1,501
1,646
Telecommunications
1,354
1,669
1,658
Director Fees
1,293
1,100
1,375
NOTE L - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
Financial Instruments With Off-Balance-Sheet Risk. In the normal course of business, the Bank enters into various types of off-balance-sheet arrangements to meet the financing needs of its customers. These off-balance-sheet financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and commercial letters of credit. These instruments involve varying degrees of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets and expose the Bank to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the Bank’s customers. The Bank's exposure to credit loss is represented by the contractual notional amount of these instruments. The Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments to extend credit, and generally uses the same credit policies for letters of credit, as it does for on-balance sheet instruments such as loans.
Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk are as follows:
(in thousands)
Fixed Rate
Variable Rate
Fixed Rate
Variable Rate
Commitments to extend credit
$ 1,877 $ 237,083 $ 27,694 $ 222,470
Standby letters of credit
6,852 - 8,706 -
A commitment to extend credit is a legally binding agreement to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Unused home equity, small business and commercial lines of credit are a large component of the Bank’s variable rate loan commitments. Since some of the commitments to extend credit and letters of credit are expected to expire without being drawn upon and, with respect to unused lines of credit, can be frozen, reduced or terminated by the Bank based on the financial condition of the borrower, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Home equity lines generally expire ten years from their date of origination and small business lines generally have a three year term. Other real estate loan commitments generally expire within 60 to 90 days and commercial line commitments generally expire within one year. The amount of collateral obtained, if any, by the Bank upon extension of credit is based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrower. Collateral held varies but may include mortgages on commercial and residential real estate, securities, deposit accounts with the Bank or other financial institutions and security interests in business assets and equipment. At December 31, 2023, the Bank’s fixed rate loan commitments are primarily overdraft lines of credit on deposit accounts.
Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Bank to assure the performance or financial obligations of a customer to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing standby letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers. The Bank generally holds collateral and/or obtains personal guarantees supporting these commitments. Standby letters of credit are considered financial guarantees and are recorded at fair value.
Employment Agreements. At December 31, 2023, the Corporation’s chief executive officer and executive vice presidents, collectively referred to as the senior executives, have employment agreements with the Corporation under which they are entitled to severance compensation in the event that their employment is terminated without cause or they terminate their employment following an event constituting Good Reason, as defined. The chief executive officer’s amended and restated employment agreement has a term of three years beginning January 1, 2022. Each of the other senior executives has an employment agreement with a term of two years and various effective dates. These two year and three year employment agreements automatically renew for an additional period of one year on January 1 of each year unless the Corporation gives written notice of non-renewal at least 30 days prior to such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of these employment agreements expire on December 31 of the calendar year in which the executive attains normal retirement age (“Retirement Age Termination Date”), which for these purposes is age 65. At the appropriate time and at its option, the Corporation can extend the employment agreements for two years beyond their retirement age termination dates. The current aggregate annual salaries provided for in these employment agreements is $2.7 million.
Litigation. From time to time the Corporation may be a named defendant in legal actions incidental to the business. For some of these actions there is always a possibility that the Corporation will sustain a financial loss. Management believes that none of the possible losses are material.
NOTE M - FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Financial Instruments Recorded at Fair Value. When measuring fair value, the Corporation uses a fair value hierarchy, which is designed to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The hierarchy involves three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Corporation can access at the measurement date.
Level 2: Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect the Corporation’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.
The Corporation deems transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy to have occurred on the date of the event or change in circumstance that caused the transfer. There were no transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy in either 2023 or 2022.
The fair values of the Corporation’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are set forth in the table that follows. The fair values of AFS securities are determined on a recurring basis using matrix pricing (Level 2 inputs). Matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities, does not rely exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather on the relationship of such securities to other benchmark quoted securities. Where no significant other observable inputs were available, Level 3 inputs were used. The fair values of interest rate swaps are based on valuation models using observable market data as of the measurement date resulting in a Level 2 classification.
Fair Value Measurements Using:
Quoted Prices
Significant
in Active
Other
Significant
Markets for
Observable
Unobservable
Identical Assets
Inputs
Inputs
(in thousands)
Total
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
December 31, 2023:
Financial Assets:
Available-for-Sale Securities:
State and municipals
$ 143,621 $ - $ 143,429 $ 192
Pass-through mortgage securities
138,603 - 138,603 -
Collateralized mortgage obligations
182,262 - 182,262 -
SBA agency obligations
125,476 - 125,476 -
Corporate bonds
105,915 - 105,915 -
695,877 - 695,685 192
Derivative - interest rate swaps
582 - 582 -
$ 696,459 $ - $ 696,267 $ 192
December 31, 2022:
Financial Assets:
Available-for-Sale Securities:
State and municipals
$ 305,247 $ - $ 304,680 $ 567
Pass-through mortgage securities
148,520 - 148,520 -
Collateralized mortgage obligations
113,394 - 113,394 -
Corporate bonds
106,252 - 106,252 -
$ 673,413 $ - $ 672,846 $ 567
State and municipal AFS securities measured using Level 3 inputs. The Bank held three non-rated bond anticipation notes with a book value of $192,000 at December 31, 2023. These bonds have a one year maturity and are issued by local municipalities that are customers of the Bank. Due to the short duration of the bonds, book value approximates fair value at December 31, 2023.
Land and Buildings. Premises and facilities held-for-sale of $383,000 and $2.4 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, are reported in the line item “Other assets” in the consolidated balance sheets and are measured at lower of cost or fair value on a nonrecurring basis.
Financial Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value. Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time. Such estimates are generally subjective in nature and dependent upon a number of significant assumptions associated with each financial instrument or group of similar financial instruments, including estimates of discount rates, liquidity, risks associated with specific financial instruments, estimates of future cash flows, and relevant available market information. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates. In addition, fair value estimates do not reflect the value of anticipated future business, premiums or discounts that could result from offering for sale at one time the Corporation’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument, or the income tax consequences of realizing gains or losses on the sale of financial instruments.
The following table sets forth the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial instruments that are not recorded at fair value in the Corporation’s financial statements.
Level of
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
Fair Value
Carrying
Carrying
(in thousands)
Hierarchy
Amount
Fair Value
Amount
Fair Value
Financial Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Level 1
$ 60,887 $ 60,887 $ 74,178 $ 74,178
Loans, net (1)
Level 3
3,219,072 2,945,864 3,280,301 3,064,849
Restricted stock
n/a 32,659 n/a 26,363 n/a
Financial Liabilities:
Checking deposits
Level 1
1,133,184 1,133,184 1,324,141 1,324,141
Savings, NOW and money market deposits
Level 1
1,546,369 1,546,369 1,661,512 1,661,512
Time deposits
Level 2
591,433 586,856 478,981 467,986
Short-term borrowings
Level 1
70,000 70,000 - -
Long-term debt
Level 2
472,500 471,276 411,000 407,890
(1)
The decrease in fair value of net loans is mainly due to an increase in interest rates.
NOTE N - REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS
The noninterest income section of the consolidated statements of income includes the following types of revenues earned from the Bank's contracts with customers.
Deposit Account Revenues. Fees are earned and collected on a monthly basis for account maintenance and activity-based service charges on deposit accounts. The services are performed for customers over time, requiring a time-based measure of progress. Customers may be required to maintain minimum balances and average balances. Additional fees may also be earned for overdrafts, replacement of debit cards, bill payment, lockbox services and ACH services and are earned and collected as transactions take place. All deposit account fees are accrued to income as earned, either monthly or at the point of sale, and included in the consolidated statements of income in the line item "Service charges on deposit accounts."
Transaction and Branch Service Fees. The following revenue streams are components of “Other noninterest income” on the consolidated statements of income. These components totaled $3.3 million, $2.9 million and $2.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Other items included in “Other noninterest income,” such as non-service components of net pension cost, real estate tax refunds and gains on sales of fixed assets are outside of the scope of Accounting Standards Codification 606.
Debit/Credit Card Revenues. The Bank earns a fee when its customers use their debit or credit cards in point-of-sale transactions. These fees are generally known as interchange fees. Interchange fees from cardholder transactions represent a percentage of the underlying transaction value and are recorded daily, concurrently with the transaction processing services provided to the cardholder.
Merchant Card Services. Together with a third-party vendor, the Bank offers its small business customers debit/credit card readers for them to accept and process card payments. The vendor aggregates the charges, collects the fees and remits the Bank’s portion on a monthly basis. Fees are accrued to income as earned and collected.
Branch Services Revenues. The Bank charges fees for safe deposit box rentals, wire transfers, money orders, checkbook printing, official checks and ATM usage. Fees are earned, collected and generally recorded as revenue when the service is provided.
Investment Services Revenues. Customer assets are held in a fiduciary capacity and the Bank provides trust services to those customers as it transitions its remaining accounts to the LPL Financial platform. The services are performed for customers over time, requiring a time-based measure of progress. Fees are assessed based on market values of customer assets held as of a certain point in time, and income cannot be estimated prior to the end of the measurement period. Volatility in equity and other market values impacts the amount of revenue earned. Fees are generally earned and collected on a monthly or quarterly basis and accrued to income as earned.
Investment Management Services. The Bank provides investment management, trust, estate and custody services and offers retail investment services through a partnership with an outside service provider, LPL Financial. Fees are variable and based on various factors including the market value of financial assets under management. Fees are accrued to income as earned and collected.
NOTE O - DERIVATIVES
As part of its asset liability management activities, the Corporation may utilize interest rate swaps to help manage its interest rate risk position. The notional amount of an interest rate swap does not represent the amount exchanged by the parties. The exchange of cash flows is determined by reference to the notional amount and the other terms of the interest rate swap agreements.
Fair Value Hedge. On March 16, 2023, the Bank entered into a three year interest rate swap with a notional amount totaling $300 million which was designated as a fair value portfolio layer hedge of certain fixed rate residential mortgages. The Bank pays a fixed rate of 3.82% and receives a floating rate based on the secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) for the life of the agreement without an exchange of the underlying notional amount. The hedge was determined to be effective during the year ended December 31, 2023 and the Corporation expects the hedge to remain effective during the remaining term of the swap. The gain or loss on the derivative as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk is recognized in interest income.
The following table summarizes information about the interest rate swap designated as a fair value hedge.
December 31, 2023
Notional amount (in millions)
$ 300
Fixed pay rate
3.82 %
Overnight SOFR receive rate
5.38 %
Maturity (in years)
2.21
The following table presents the amount recorded on the balance sheet related to cumulative basis adjustments for the fair value hedge as of the years indicated.
December 31,
(in thousands)
Loans - Residential Mortgages:
Carrying amount of the hedged asset (1)
$ 465,495 $ -
Fair value hedging adjustment included in the carrying amount of the hedged asset
(506 ) -
(1) This amount represents the amortized cost basis of the closed loan portfolio used to designate the hedging relationship in which the hedged item is the stated amount of assets in the closed portfolio anticipated to be outstanding for the designated hedge period. At December 31, 2023, the amortized cost basis of the closed portfolio used in this hedging relationship was $466.0 million. The cumulative basis adjustment associated with this hedging relationship was $506,000 and the amount of the designated hedged item was $582,000.
During 2023, the Bank recorded a $3.1 million credit from the swap transaction as a component of interest income in the consolidated statements of income.
Cash Flow Hedge. The Bank entered into a five year interest rate swap with a notional amount totaling $50 million on January 17, 2019, which was designated as a cash flow hedge of certain FHLB advances and included in short-term borrowings on the consolidated balance sheets. In April 2022, the swap was terminated and the FHLB advance was paid off. Termination fees were immaterial.
In May 2021 a second interest rate swap with a notional amount totaling $150 million expired and the Bank paid off $150 million of brokered certificates of deposit used in the cash flow hedge.
Interest expense recorded on the swap transactions, which totaled $426,000 and $2.9 million for 2022 and 2021, respectively, was recorded as a component of interest expense in the consolidated statements of income. Amounts reported in accumulated OCI related to the swaps were reclassified to interest expense as interest payments were made on the Bank’s variable rate liabilities. During 2022 and 2021, the Corporation had $426,000 and $2.9 million, respectively, of reclassifications to interest expense. The Bank did not have any outstanding cash flow hedges in 2023.
The following table presents the activity recorded in the consolidated statements of income and the consolidated statements of comprehensive income relating to the interest rate swaps for the years indicated.
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
Interest rate contract:
Amount of gain recognized in OCI (effective portion)
$ - $ 1,324 $ 668
Amount of loss reclassified from OCI to interest expense
- 426 2,867
Amount of loss recognized in other noninterest income (ineffective portion)
- - -
NOTE P - PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Condensed financial information for the Corporation (parent company only) is as follows:
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
(in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and due from banks
$
$
Investment in subsidiary bank, at equity
383,151
363,547
Prepaid income taxes
3,712
Deferred income tax benefits
1,010
1,088
Other assets
$ 384,907
$ 369,269
Liabilities:
Other liabilities
$
$
Cash dividends payable
4,744
4,713
4,761
4,733
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock
2,259
2,244
Surplus
79,728
78,462
Retained earnings
355,887
348,597
437,874
429,303
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax
(57,728 )
(64,767 )
380,146
364,536
$ 384,907
$ 369,269
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
Income:
Dividends from subsidiary bank
$ 15,000
$ 36,450
$ 33,200
Interest on deposits with subsidiary bank
Other
-
-
15,019
36,455
33,203
Expenses:
Salaries
2,065
1,365
Other operating expenses
1,070
1,849
2,860
2,026
Income before income taxes
13,170
33,595
31,177
Income tax expense (benefit)
(504 )
(791 )
Income before undistributed earnings of subsidiary bank
13,674
34,386
31,088
Equity in undistributed earnings
12,565
12,546
12,001
Net income
$ 26,239
$ 46,932
$ 43,089
Comprehensive income (loss)
$ 33,278
$ (15,522 )
$ 37,206
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income
$ 26,239
$ 46,932
$ 43,089
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Undistributed earnings of subsidiary bank
(12,565 )
(12,546 )
(12,001 )
Deferred income tax provision (credit)
(199 )
Stock-based compensation expense
1,249
2,466
1,635
Decrease (increase) in other assets
(1 )
-
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities
(3 )
Other decreases (increases)
3,730
(530 )
(1,112 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
18,744
36,127
32,145
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital contributions to Bank subsidiary
-
-
-
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Repurchase of common stock
-
(17,889 )
(14,501 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of shares withheld
(28 )
Cash dividends paid
(18,918 )
(18,591 )
(18,261 )
Net cash used in financing activities
(18,946 )
(36,217 )
(32,155 )
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents*
(202 )
(90 )
(10 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
$
$
$
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Financing Activities:
Cash dividends payable
$ 4,744
$ 4,713
$ 4,648
* Cash and cash equivalents is defined as cash and due from banks and includes the checking and money market accounts with the Corporation’s wholly-owned bank subsidiary.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Shareholders and the Board of Directors of
The First of Long Island Corporation
Melville, New York
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The First of Long Island Corporation (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework:(2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework:(2013) issued by COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements and an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Qualitative and Quantitative Loss Factors in the Allowance for Credit Losses
The methodology for determining the allowance for credit losses requires substantial judgment by management. As of December 31, 2023, the balance of the allowance for credit losses was $28.9 million. As described in Note A to the consolidated financial statements, management estimates the allowance for credit losses balance using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts.
Management adjusts its historical loss experience to reflect current and forecasted conditions. In doing so, management considers a variety of general qualitative and quantitative loss factors (“Q-factors”). We consider management’s application of the Q-factors in the allowance for credit losses to be a critical audit matter due to the extent of audit effort and degree of auditor judgment required to evaluate the Q-factors given the volume and nature of inputs and the significant management judgment required.
To address this matter, we tested the design and operating effectiveness of the Company's controls related to the Q-factors, including the following:
●
Management’s application of qualitative and quantitative judgments related to the Q-factors and the resulting allocation to the allowance for credit losses;
●
Management's review over the completeness and accuracy of the data used as the basis for the Q-factors;
●
Management's testing over the mathematical accuracy of the allowance for credit losses calculation; and
●
Management committee review of the allowance for credit losses and provision for credit losses.
Our substantive procedures related to the Q-factors included the following:
●
Evaluating the reasonableness of management’s application of Q-factors and the resulting allocation to the allowance for credit losses;
●
Testing the completeness and accuracy of certain data used in the qualitative factor calculations; and
●
Testing the mathematical accuracy of the allowance for credit loss calculation.
/s/ CROWE LLP
Crowe LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2003.
New York, New York
March 8, 2024

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Corporation’s Principal Executive Officer, Christopher Becker, and Principal Financial Officer, Janet T. Verneuille, have evaluated the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, they have concluded that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The management of The First of Long Island Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework:(2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). The First of Long Island Corporation’s system of internal control over financial reporting was designed by or under the supervision of the Corporation’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the preparation of the Corporation’s financial statements for external and regulatory reporting purposes, in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The First of Long Island Corporation’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework:(2013) issued by COSO. Based on the assessment, management determined that, as of December 31, 2023, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting is effective.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Crowe LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has expressed an opinion on the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 in their report which appears on page 68.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
During the fourth quarter of 2023, none of our directors or officers adopted or terminated any contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of the Corporation’s securities that was intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) or any “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as that term is used in Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information regarding directors, executive officers and corporate governance is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 16, 2024 that was filed with the SEC.
The Corporation has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, chief risk officer, controller and persons performing similar functions. The Corporation’s Code of Ethics and amendments to and waivers from the Code of Ethics are posted on the Bank’s website. To access the Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers go to the homepage of the Bank’s Internet website at www.fnbli.com and click on “FLIC Investor Relations,” place the cursor over “Corporate Governance,” click on “Corporate Governance Documents” and then click on “Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers.”

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information regarding executive compensation is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 16, 2024 that was filed with the SEC.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and related stockholder matters is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 16, 2024 that was filed with the SEC.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information regarding certain relationships and related transactions and director independence is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 16, 2024 that was filed with the SEC.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information regarding principal accountant fees and services is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 16, 2024 that was filed with the SEC.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) 1. Consolidated Financial Statements
The following consolidated financial statements of the Corporation and its subsidiary and report of independent registered public accounting firm thereon as required by this Item are included in Part II, Item 8.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Income
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 173)
(a) 2. Financial Statement Schedules
None applicable.
(a) 3. Listing of Exhibits
See Index of Exhibits that follows.