EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 721994
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 721994_10-K_2024_0000721994-24-000013.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
The Company
Lakeland Financial Corporation (“Lakeland Financial”), an Indiana corporation incorporated in 1983, is a bank holding company headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana that provides, through its wholly owned subsidiary Lake City Bank (the “Bank” and together with Lakeland Financial, the “Company”), a broad array of financial products and services throughout its Northern and Central Indiana markets. The Company offers commercial and consumer banking services, as well as trust and wealth management, brokerage, and treasury management commercial services. The Company serves a diverse customer base, including commercial customers across a wide variety of industries including, among others, commercial real estate, manufacturing, agriculture, construction, retail, wholesale, finance and insurance, accommodation and food services, and health care. The Company is not dependent upon any single industry or customer. At December 31, 2023, Lakeland Financial had consolidated total assets of $6.5 billion and was the seventh largest independent bank holding company headquartered in the State of Indiana.
Company’s Business. Lakeland Financial is a bank holding company as defined in the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. Lakeland Financial owns all of the outstanding stock of the Bank, a full-service commercial bank organized under Indiana law. Lakeland Financial conducts no business except that which is incidental to its ownership of the outstanding stock of the Bank. Although Lakeland Financial is a corporate entity, legally separate and distinct from its affiliates, bank holding companies such as Lakeland Financial are required to act as a source of financial strength for their subsidiary banks. The principal source of Lakeland Financial’s income is dividends from the Bank. There are certain regulatory restrictions on the extent to which subsidiary banks can pay dividends or otherwise supply funds to their holding companies. See “Supervision and Regulation of the Company” below for further discussion of these matters.
Bank’s Business. The Bank was originally organized in 1872 and has continuously operated under the laws of the State of Indiana since its organization. As of December 31, 2023, the Bank had 53 offices in fifteen counties, including 46 offices in Northern Indiana and seven offices in Central Indiana, in the Indianapolis market. The Bank’s deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) to the maximum extent provided under federal law and FDIC regulations. The Bank’s activities cover all traditional facets of commercial banking, including deposit products, commercial and consumer lending, retail and merchant credit card services, corporate treasury management services, and wealth advisory, trust and brokerage services. On April 10, 2023, the Bank opened its 53rd branch in the 16 Tech Innovation District on the northwest side of Indianapolis.
The Bank’s business strategy is focused on building long-term relationships with its customers based on in person, top-quality service, high ethical standards and safe and sound lending. The Bank operates as a community-based financial services organization augmented by experienced, centralized support in select critical areas. The Bank’s local market orientation is reflected in its regional management, which divides the Bank’s market area into five distinct geographic regions, each headed by a retail and commercial regional manager. This arrangement allows decision making to be as close to the customer as possible and enhances responsiveness to local banking needs. Despite this local-market, community-based focus, the Bank offers many of the products and services available at much larger regional and national competitors. While our strategy encompasses all phases of traditional community banking, including consumer lending and wealth advisory and trust services, we focus on building expansive commercial relationships and developing retail and commercial deposit gathering strategies through relationship-based client services. Substantially all of the Bank’s assets and income are located in and derived from the United States.
The Company is not a party to any collective bargaining agreements, and employee relations are considered strong.
Operating Segment. While the Company has assigned certain management responsibilities by region and business line, the Company’s chief decision-makers monitor and evaluate financial performance on a Company-wide basis. The majority of the Company’s revenue is from the business of banking and the Company’s assigned regions have similar economic characteristics, products, services and customers. Accordingly, all of the Company’s operations are considered by management to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment.
Expansion Strategy. Since 1990, the Company has expanded from 17 offices in four Indiana counties to 53 offices in fifteen Indiana counties primarily through de novo branching. During this period, the Company has grown its assets from $286 million to $6.5 billion, a compound annual growth rate of 10%. Mergers and acquisitions have played an insignificant role as the Company’s expansion strategy over 33 years has been exclusively the result of its organic growth strategy. The Company plans to continue its organic expansion by capturing increased share in existing markets of operation and by growing its branch network in the Indianapolis market and in additional markets that are in close proximity to the Company's footprint. In addition, the Company evaluates new growth markets that are in close proximity to the Company's footprint, such as the nine de novo branches that have been added in the past decade.
The Company has primarily targeted growth in the larger cities located in Northern Indiana and the Indianapolis market in Central Indiana and areas that are two hours from a Lake City Bank branch. The Company believes these areas offer above average growth potential with attractive demographics and potential for commercial lending and deposit gathering opportunities. The Company considers expanding into a market when the Company believes that market would be receptive to its strategic plan to deliver broad-based financial services to businesses with a commitment to local communities. When entering new markets, the Company believes it is critical to attract experienced local management and staff with a similar philosophy in order to provide a basis for success.
Competition. The financial services industry is highly competitive. Competition is based on a number of factors including, among others, customer service, quality and range of products and services offered, price, reputation, interest rates on loans and deposits, lending limits and customer convenience. Our competitors include national, regional and community banks, e-commerce and other Fintech or nonbanking companies offering financial services, private credit funds, thrifts, credit unions, farm credit services, finance companies, personal loan companies, brokerage firms, investment companies, insurance companies, mortgage banking companies, credit card issuers and mutual fund companies. Many of these competitors enjoy fewer regulatory constraints and some may have lower cost structures.
Human Capital. The Bank is committed to being the acknowledged and recognized leader in Indiana community banking. We achieve this mission only through the hard work and dedication of our employees. The Bank team is 655 people strong, including 608 full-time, 35 part-time, and 12 seasonal/temporary employees as of December 31, 2023.
Diversity and Inclusiveness. The Bank is committed to social and governance responsibility, and in 2020, the management team added “inclusivity” as the eighth core value defining our organizational culture. The Bank’s employee Code of Conduct supports diversity and inclusion efforts in our workplace, and a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force is charged with developing and promoting initiatives throughout the corporation. In 2022, every employee participated in a foundational course to establish a base level of awareness and education on the topic of diversity and inclusion. In 2023, these efforts continued with a host of interactive, informative courses being offered to continue the learning process around these important issues. Eighty-three percent of our employees identify as women or people of color. At present, women represent 62% of the Bank’s officers (277 officers - 171 women), 38% (9 of 24 members) of the Senior Leadership Council (which includes those with the title of “Senior Vice President” and above) and 44% (4 of 9 members) of the executive Management Committee. Additionally, four of our 11 board members identify as women or people of color.
Employee Engagement and Development. A positive workplace culture is vital to the Bank’s success. By supporting, respecting, engaging, and appreciating employees, the Bank has built a team well-equipped to show the same commitment to its customers. Building and strengthening this positive workplace culture starts with Lake City University. Founded in 1999, Lake City University is dedicated to helping employees thrive professionally and personally. In 2023, the Bank employees averaged 23.47 hours of instruction per employee through the program. From courses to improve technical skills, product knowledge, and customer service to classes focused on well-being, like personal financial planning and benefits education, Lake City University supports and promotes the personal and professional growth of all the Bank employees. In 2023, 168 employees were promoted and 144 employees were hired externally, demonstrating a commitment to the professional development of Lake City Bank employees.
In addition to the substantial investment in employee professional development, the Bank’s benefit and compensation programs are designed to ensure we recruit and retain top talent. The Bank offers employees a comprehensive health benefits package, a 401(k) match of up to 6% of an employee’s salary to encourage retirement savings, and tuition reimbursement that 22 employees used in 2023. The Bank also structures its bonus program for officers to create meaningful performance-based incentives. These programs, combined with an intentional focus to create a positive, values-based culture, ensures the Bank team will continue as the acknowledged and recognized leader in Indiana community banking.
Forward-looking Statements
This document (including information incorporated by reference) contains, and future oral and written statements of the Company and its management may contain, forward-looking statements, within the meaning of such term in the federal securities law. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “possible,” “continue,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should” or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events.
The Company’s ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain and, accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement made by the Company. Actual results could differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, including, without limitation:
•the effects of economic, business and market conditions and changes, particularly in our Indiana market area, including prevailing interest rates and the rate of inflation;
•governmental monetary and fiscal policies;
•the risks of changes in interest rates on the levels, composition and costs of deposits, loan demand and the values and liquidity of loan collateral, securities and other interest sensitive assets and liabilities;
•changes in borrowers’ credit risks and payment behaviors;
•the failure of assumptions and estimates used in our reviews of our loan portfolio, underlying the establishment of reserves for possible credit losses, our analysis of our capital position and other estimates;
•the effects of disruption and volatility in capital markets on the value of our investment portfolio;
•the performance of our commercial real estate loan portfolio, including the effects of the elevated interest rate environment, the strength of the commercial real estate market in our Indiana markets, and recent changes in retail and office usage patterns;
•risk of cyber-security attacks that could result in damage to the Company's or third-party service providers' networks or data of the Company;
•the effects of competition from a wide variety of local, regional, national and other providers of financial, investment and insurance services;
•the risks related to the recent failures of First Republic Bank, Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, including the effects already recognized and increased deposit volatility;
•the outcome of pending litigation and other claims we may be subject to from time to time;
•the timing and scope of any legislative and regulatory changes, including changes in banking, securities and tax laws and regulations, and their application by our regulators;
•changes in the scope and cost of FDIC insurance, the state of Indiana’s Public Deposit Insurance Fund and other coverages;
•changes in the prices, values and sales volumes of residential real estate;
•the risk of labor shortages, trade policy and tariffs, as well as supply chain constraints could impact loan demand from the manufacturing sector;
•the effects of fraud by or affecting employees, customers or third parties;
•the effects of war or other conflicts, acts of terrorism or other catastrophic events, including storms, droughts, tornados and flooding, that may affect general economic conditions, including agricultural production and demand and prices for agricultural goods and land used for agricultural purposes, generally and in our markets;
•changes in the availability and cost of credit and capital in the financial markets;
•changes in technology or products that may be more difficult or costly, or less effective than anticipated;
•the risks related to mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, including, without limitation, the related time and costs of implementing such transactions, integrating operations as part of these transactions and possible failures to achieve expected gains, revenue growth and/or expense savings from such transactions;
•changes in accounting policies, rules and practices; and
•the risks noted in the Risk Factors discussed under Item 1A of Part 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as other risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.
Internet Website
The Company maintains an internet site at www.lakecitybank.com. The Company makes available free of charge, in the Investor Relations section on this site, its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other statements and reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as soon as reasonably practicable after it electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC. All such documents filed with or furnished to the SEC are also available for free on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). The Company’s Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Code of Conduct and the charters of the various committees of the Company’s board of directors are also available on the Investor Relations section of the website at investors.lakecitybank.com. The Company's website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
SUPERVISION AND REGULATION
General
FDIC-insured institutions, like the Bank, their holding companies and their affiliates are extensively regulated under federal and state law. As a result, our growth and earnings performance may be affected not only by management decisions and general economic conditions, but also by the requirements of federal and state statutes and by the regulations and policies of various bank regulatory agencies, including the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (the “DFI”), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), the FDIC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”). Furthermore, taxation laws administered by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities, accounting rules developed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, securities laws administered by the SEC and state securities authorities, and anti-money laundering laws enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) have an impact on our business. The effect of these statutes, regulations, regulatory policies and accounting rules are significant to our operations and results.
Federal and state banking laws impose a comprehensive system of supervision, regulation and enforcement on the operations of FDIC-insured institutions, their holding companies and affiliates that is intended primarily for the protection of the FDIC-insured deposits and depositors of banks, rather than shareholders. These laws, and the regulations of the bank regulatory agencies issued under them, affect, among other things, the scope of our business, the kinds and amounts of investments we may make, required capital levels relative to our assets, the nature and amount of collateral for loans, the establishment of branches, our ability to merge, consolidate and acquire, dealings with our insiders and affiliates and our payment of dividends. In reaction to the global financial crisis and particularly following passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), we experienced heightened regulatory requirements and scrutiny. Although the reforms primarily targeted systemically important financial service providers, their influence filtered down in varying degrees to community banks over time and caused our compliance and risk management processes, and the costs thereof, to increase. Then, in May 2018, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (“Regulatory Relief Act”) was enacted by Congress in part to provide regulatory relief for community banks and
their holding companies. To that end, the law eliminated questions about the applicability of certain Dodd-Frank Act reforms to community bank systems, including relieving us of any requirement to engage in mandatory stress tests, maintain a risk committee or comply with the Volcker Rule’s complicated prohibitions on proprietary trading and ownership of private funds. We believe these reforms are favorable to our operations.
The supervisory framework for U.S. banking organizations subjects banks and bank holding companies to regular examination by their respective regulatory agencies, which results in examination reports and ratings that are not publicly available and that can impact the conduct and growth of their business. These examinations consider not only compliance with applicable laws and regulations, but also capital levels, asset quality and risk, management ability and performance, earnings, liquidity, and various other factors. The regulatory agencies generally have broad discretion to impose restrictions and limitations on the operations of a regulated entity where the agencies determine, among other things, that such operations are unsafe or unsound, fail to comply with applicable law or are otherwise inconsistent with laws and regulations or with the supervisory policies of these agencies.
The following is a summary of the material elements of the supervisory and regulatory framework applicable to the Company and the Bank, ending with a discussion of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the banking industry. It does not describe all of the statutes, regulations and regulatory policies that apply, nor does it restate all of the requirements of those that are described. The descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to the particular statutory and regulatory provision.
The Role of Capital
Regulatory capital represents the net assets of a banking organization available to absorb losses. Because of the risks attendant to their business, FDIC-insured institutions are generally required to hold more capital than other businesses, which directly affects our earnings capabilities. While capital has historically been one of the key measures of the financial health of both bank holding companies and banks, its role became fundamentally more important in the wake of the global financial crisis, as the banking regulators recognized that the amount and quality of capital held by banks prior to the crisis was insufficient to absorb losses during periods of severe stress. Certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and Basel III, discussed below, establish capital standards for banks and bank holding companies that are meaningfully more stringent than those in place previously.
Capital Levels. Banks have been required to hold minimum levels of capital based on guidelines established by the bank regulatory agencies since 1983. The minimums have been expressed in terms of ratios of "capital" divided by "total assets". The capital guidelines for U.S. banks beginning in 1989 have been based upon international capital accords (known as “Basel" rules) adopted by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, a committee of central banks and bank supervisors that acts as the primary global standard-setter for prudential regulation, as implemented by the U.S. bank regulatory agencies on an interagency basis. The accords recognized that bank assets for the purpose of the capital ratio calculations needed to be risk weighted (the theory being that riskier assets should require more capital) and that off-balance sheet exposures needed to be factored in the calculations.
Following the global financial crisis, the Group of Governors and Heads of Supervision, the oversight body of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, announced agreement on a strengthened set of capital requirements for banking organizations around the world, known as Basel III, to address deficiencies recognized in connection with the global financial crisis.
The Basel III Rule. In July 2013, the U.S. federal banking agencies approved the implementation of the Basel III regulatory capital reforms in pertinent part, and, at the same time, promulgated rules effecting certain changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act (the “Basel III Rule”). In contrast to capital requirements historically, which were in the form of guidelines, Basel III was released in the form of binding regulations by each of the regulatory agencies. The Basel III Rule increased the required quantity and quality of capital and required more detailed categories of risk weighting of riskier, more opaque assets. For nearly every class of assets, the Basel III Rule requires a more complex, detailed and calibrated assessment of risk in the calculation of risk weightings. The Basel III Rule is applicable to all banking organizations that are subject to minimum capital requirements, including federal and state banks and savings and loan associations, as well as to bank and savings and loan holding companies, other than “small bank holding companies” (generally holding companies with consolidated assets of less than $3 billion) and certain qualifying banking organizations that may elect a simplified framework (which we have not done). Thus, the Company and the Bank are each currently subject to the Basel III Rule as described below.
Not only did the Basel III Rule increase most of the required minimum capital ratios in effect prior to January 1, 2015, but, in requiring that forms of capital be of higher quality to absorb loss, it introduced the concept of Common Equity Tier 1 Capital, which consists primarily of common stock, related surplus (net of Treasury stock), retained earnings, and Common
Equity Tier 1 minority interests subject to certain regulatory adjustments. The Basel III Rule also changed the definition of capital by establishing more stringent criteria that instruments must meet to be considered Additional Tier 1 Capital (primarily non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock that meets certain requirements) and Tier 2 Capital (primarily other types of preferred stock and subordinated debt, subject to limitations). The Basel III Rule also constrained the inclusion of minority interests, mortgage-servicing assets, and deferred tax assets in capital and required deductions from Common Equity Tier 1 Capital in the event that such assets exceeded a percentage of a banking institution’s Common Equity Tier 1 Capital.
The Basel III Rule requires minimum capital ratios as follows:
•A ratio of minimum Common Equity Tier 1 Capital equal to 4.5% of risk-weighted assets;
•A ratio of minimum Tier 1 Capital equal to 6% of risk-weighted assets;
•A continuation of the minimum required amount of Total Capital (Tier 1 plus Tier 2) at 8% of risk-weighted assets; and
•A minimum leverage ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total quarterly average assets equal to 4% in all circumstances.
In addition, institutions that seek the freedom to make capital distributions (including for dividends and repurchases of stock) and pay discretionary bonuses to executive officers without restriction must also maintain 2.5% in Common Equity Tier 1 Capital attributable to a capital conservation buffer. The purpose of the conservation buffer is to ensure that banking institutions maintain a buffer of capital that can be used to absorb losses during periods of financial and economic stress. Factoring in the conservation buffer increases the minimum ratios depicted above to 7% for Common Equity Tier 1 Capital, 8.5% for Tier 1 Capital and 10.5% for Total Capital. The federal bank regulators released a joint statement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic reminding the industry that capital and liquidity buffers were meant to give banks the means to support the economy in adverse situations, and that the agencies would support banks that use the buffers for that purpose if undertaken in a safe and sound manner.
Well-Capitalized Requirements. The ratios described above are minimum standards in order for banking organizations to be considered “adequately capitalized.” Bank regulatory agencies uniformly encourage banks to hold more capital and be “well-capitalized” and, to that end, federal law and regulations provide various incentives for banking organizations to maintain regulatory capital at levels in excess of minimum regulatory requirements. For example, a banking organization that is well-capitalized may: (i) qualify for exemptions from prior notice or application requirements otherwise applicable to certain types of activities; (ii) qualify for expedited processing of other required notices or applications; and (iii) accept, roll-over or renew brokered deposits. Higher capital levels could also be required if warranted by the particular circumstances or risk profiles of individual banking organizations. For example, the Federal Reserve’s capital guidelines contemplate that additional capital may be required to take adequate account of, among other things, interest rate risk, or the risks posed by concentrations of credit, nontraditional activities or securities trading activities. Further, any banking organization experiencing or anticipating significant growth would be expected to maintain capital ratios, including tangible capital positions (i.e., Tier 1 Capital less all intangible assets), well above the minimum levels.
Under the capital regulations of the Federal Reserve, in order to be well-capitalized, a banking organization must maintain:
•A Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ratio to risk-weighted assets of 6.5% or more;
•A ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total risk-weighted assets of 8% or more;
•A ratio of Total Capital to total risk-weighted assets of 10% or more; and
•A leverage ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total adjusted average quarterly assets of 5% or greater.
It is possible under the Basel III Rule to be well-capitalized while remaining out of compliance with the capital conservation buffer discussed above.
As of December 31, 2023: (i) the Bank was not subject to a directive from the Federal Reserve to increase its capital and (ii) the Bank was well-capitalized, as defined by Federal Reserve regulations. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had regulatory capital in excess of the Federal Reserve’s requirements and met the Basel III Rule requirements to be well-capitalized. We are also in compliance with the capital conservation buffer.
Prompt Corrective Action. The concept of an institution being “well-capitalized” is part of a regulatory enforcement regime that provides the federal banking regulators with broad power to take “prompt corrective action” to resolve the problems of institutions based on the capital level of each particular institution. The extent of the regulators’ powers depends on whether the institution in question is “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized,” in each case as defined by regulation. Depending upon the capital category to which an institution is assigned, the regulators’ corrective powers include: (i) requiring the institution to submit a capital restoration plan; (ii) limiting the institution’s asset growth and restricting its activities; (iii) requiring the institution to issue additional capital stock (including additional voting stock) or to sell itself; (iv) restricting transactions between the institution and its affiliates; (v) restricting the interest rate that the institution may pay on deposits; (vi) ordering a new election of directors of the institution; (vii) requiring that senior executive officers or directors be dismissed; (viii) prohibiting the institution from accepting deposits from correspondent banks; (ix) requiring the institution to divest certain subsidiaries; (x) prohibiting the payment of principal or interest on subordinated debt; and (xi) ultimately, appointing a receiver for the institution.
Community Bank Capital Simplification. Community banks have long raised concerns with bank regulators about the regulatory burden, complexity, and costs associated with certain provisions of the Basel III Rule. In response, Congress provided an “off-ramp” for institutions, like us, with total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion. Section 201 of the Regulatory Relief Act instructed the federal banking regulators to establish a single "Community Bank Leverage Ratio" (“CBLR”) of between 8 and 10%. Under the final rule, a community banking organization is eligible to elect the new framework if it has: less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets, limited amounts of certain assets and off-balance sheet exposures, and a CBLR greater than 9%. We may elect the CBLR framework at any time but have not currently determined to do so.
Supervision and Regulation of the Company
General. The Company, as the sole shareholder of the Bank, is a bank holding company. As a bank holding company, we are registered with, and subject to regulation by, the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (“BHCA”). We are legally obligated to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to the Bank and to commit resources to support the Bank in circumstances where we might not otherwise do so. Under the BHCA, we are subject to periodic examination by the Federal Reserve and are required to file with the Federal Reserve periodic reports of our operations and such additional information regarding us and the Bank as the Federal Reserve may require.
Acquisitions and Activities. The primary purpose of a bank holding company is to control and manage banks. The BHCA generally requires the prior approval of the Federal Reserve for any merger involving a bank holding company or any acquisition by a bank holding company of another bank or bank holding company. Subject to certain conditions (including deposit concentration limits established by the BHCA), the Federal Reserve may allow a bank holding company to acquire banks located in any state of the United States. In approving interstate acquisitions, the Federal Reserve is required to give effect to applicable state law limitations on the aggregate amount of deposits that may be held by the acquiring bank holding company and its FDIC-insured institution affiliates in the state in which the target bank is located (provided that those limits do not discriminate against out-of-state institutions or their holding companies) and state laws that require that the target bank have been in existence for a minimum period of time (not to exceed five years) before being acquired by an out-of-state bank holding company. Furthermore, in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Act, bank holding companies must be well-capitalized and well-managed in order to effect interstate mergers or acquisitions. For a discussion of the capital requirements, see “The Role of Capital” above.
The BHCA generally prohibits us from acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any company that is not a bank and from engaging in any business other than that of banking, managing and controlling banks or furnishing services to banks and their subsidiaries. This general prohibition is subject to a number of exceptions. The principal exception allows bank holding companies to engage in, and to own shares of companies engaged in, certain businesses found by the Federal Reserve prior to November 11, 1999 to be “so closely related to banking ... as to be a proper incident thereto.” This authority would permit us to engage in a variety of banking-related businesses, including the ownership and operation of a savings association, or any entity engaged in consumer finance, equipment leasing, the operation of a computer service bureau (including software development) and mortgage banking and brokerage services. The BHCA does not place territorial restrictions on the domestic activities of nonbank subsidiaries of bank holding companies.
Additionally, bank holding companies that meet certain eligibility requirements prescribed by the BHCA and elect to operate as financial holding companies may engage in, or own shares in companies engaged in, a wider range of nonbanking activities, including securities and insurance underwriting and sales, merchant banking and any other activity that the Federal Reserve, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines by regulation or order is financial in nature or incidental to any such financial activity or that the Federal Reserve determines by order to be complementary to any such financial activity
and does not pose a substantial risk to the safety or soundness of FDIC-insured institutions or the financial system generally. We have elected to operate as a financial holding company. In order to maintain our status as a financial holding company, the Company and the Bank must be well-capitalized, well-managed, and the Bank must have at least a satisfactory Community Reinvestment Act ("CRA") rating. If the Federal Reserve determines that a financial holding company or any bank subsidiary is not well-capitalized or well-managed, the Federal Reserve will provide a period of time in which to achieve compliance, but, during the period of noncompliance, the Federal Reserve may place any additional limitations on the Company that it deems appropriate. Furthermore, if non-compliance is based on the failure of the Bank to achieve a satisfactory CRA rating, we would not be able to commence any new financial activities or acquire a company that engages in such activities.
Change in Control. Federal law prohibits any person or company from acquiring “control” of an FDIC-insured depository institution or its holding company without prior notice to the appropriate federal bank regulator. “Control” is conclusively presumed to exist upon the acquisition of 25% or more of the outstanding voting securities of a bank or bank holding company, but may arise under certain circumstances between 10% and 24.99% ownership.
Capital Requirements. As a bank holding company, we are required to maintain capital in accordance with Federal Reserve capital adequacy requirements. For a discussion of capital requirements, see “The Role of Capital” above.
Dividend Payments. Our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders may be affected by both general corporate law considerations and policies of the Federal Reserve applicable to bank holding companies. As an Indiana corporation, we are subject to the limitations of Indiana General Business Corporations Law, which prohibit us from paying dividends if we are, or by payment of the dividend would become, insolvent, or if the payment of dividends would render us unable to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business. In addition, under the Basel III Rule, institutions that seek the freedom to pay dividends will have to maintain 2.5% in Common Equity Tier 1 Capital attributable to the capital conservation buffer.
As a general matter, the Federal Reserve has indicated that the board of directors of a bank holding company should eliminate, defer or significantly reduce dividends to shareholders if: (i) the company’s 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; (ii) the prospective rate of earnings retention is inconsistent with the company’s capital needs and overall current and prospective financial condition; or (iii) the company will not meet, or is in danger of not meeting, its minimum regulatory capital adequacy ratios. These factors have come into consideration in the industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and United States banking crisis of 2023. The Federal Reserve also possesses enforcement powers over bank holding companies and their nonbank subsidiaries to prevent or remedy actions that represent unsafe or unsound practices or violations of applicable statutes and regulations. Among these powers is the ability to proscribe the payment of dividends by banks and bank holding companies.
Monetary Policy. The monetary policy of the Federal Reserve has a significant effect on the operating results of financial or bank holding companies and their subsidiaries. Among the tools available to the Federal Reserve to affect the money supply are open market transactions in U.S. government securities and changes in the discount rate on bank borrowings. These means are used in varying combinations to influence overall growth and distribution of bank loans, investments and deposits, and their use may affect interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits.
Federal Securities Regulation. Our common stock is registered with the SEC under the Exchange Act. Consequently, we are subject to the information, proxy solicitation, insider trading and other restrictions and requirements of the SEC under the Exchange Act.
Corporate Governance. The Dodd-Frank Act addressed many investor protection, corporate governance and executive compensation matters that will affect most U.S. publicly traded companies. It increased shareholder influence over boards of directors by requiring companies to give stockholders a nonbinding vote on executive compensation and so-called “golden parachute” payments, and authorizing the SEC to promulgate rules that would allow shareholders to nominate and solicit voters for their own candidates using a company’s proxy materials. The legislation also directed the Federal Reserve to promulgate rules prohibiting excessive compensation paid to executives of bank holding companies, regardless of whether such companies are publicly traded.
Supervision and Regulation of the Bank
General. The Bank is an Indiana-chartered bank. The deposit accounts of the Bank are insured by the FDIC's Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) to the maximum extent provided under federal law and FDIC regulations, currently $250,000 per insured depositor category. The Bank is also a member of the Federal Reserve System (a “member bank”). As an Indiana-chartered FDIC- insured member bank, the Bank is subject to the examination, supervision, reporting and enforcement
requirements of the DFI, the chartering authority for Indiana banks, the Federal Reserve, as the primary federal regulator of member banks, and the FDIC, as administrator of the DIF.
Deposit Insurance. As an FDIC-insured institution, the Bank is required to pay deposit insurance premium assessments to the FDIC. The FDIC has adopted a risk-based assessment system whereby FDIC-insured institutions pay insurance premiums at rates based on their risk classification. For institutions like the Bank that are not considered large and highly complex banking organizations, assessments are based on examination ratings and financial ratios. The total base assessment rates currently range from 2.5 basis points to 32 basis points. At least semi-annually, the FDIC updates its loss and income projections for the DIF and, if needed, increases or decreases the assessment rates, following notice and comment on proposed rulemaking.
For this purpose, the reserve ratio is the FDIC insurance fund balance divided by estimated insured deposits. The Dodd-Frank Act altered the minimum reserve ratio of the DIF, increasing the minimum from 1.15% to 1.35% of the estimated amount of total insured deposits. In the semi-annual update in June 2022, the FDIC projected that the reserve ratio was at risk of not reaching the statutory minimum of 1.35% by September 30, 2028, the statutory deadline. Based on this update, the FDIC approved an increase in initial base deposit insurance assessment rate schedules by two basis points, applicable to all insured depository institutions. The increase was effective on January 1, 2023, applicable to the first quarterly assessment of the 2023 assessment (January 1 through March 31, 2023).
In addition, because the total cost of the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank was approximately $16.3 billion, the FDIC adopted a special assessment for banks having deposits above $5 billion, at an annual rate of 13.4 basis points beginning with the first quarterly assessment period of 2024 (January 1 through March 31, 2024) with an invoice payment date of June 28, 2024, and will continue to collect special assessments for an anticipated total of eight quarterly assessment periods. The base for the special assessment is equal to an insured depository institution’s estimated uninsured deposits for the December 31, 2022 reporting period, adjusted to exclude the first $5 billion in estimated uninsured deposits.
Supervisory Assessments. All Indiana banks are required to pay supervisory assessments to the DFI to fund the operations of that agency. The amount of the assessment is calculated on the basis of the Bank’s total assets. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Bank paid supervisory assessments to the DFI totaling approximately $314,000.
Capital Requirements. Banks are generally required to maintain capital levels in excess of other businesses. For a discussion of capital requirements, see “The Role of Capital” above.
Liquidity Requirements. Liquidity is a measure of the ability and ease with which bank assets may be converted to meet financial obligations, such as deposits or other funding sources. Banks are required to implement liquidity risk management frameworks that ensure they maintain sufficient liquidity, including a cushion of unencumbered, high quality liquid assets, to withstand a range of stress events. The level and speed of deposit outflows contributing to the failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank in the first half of 2023 was unprecedented and contributed to acute liquidity and funding strain. These events have further underscored the importance of liquidity risk management and contingency funding planning by insured depository institutions like the Bank.
The primary roles of liquidity risk management are to: (i) prospectively assess the need for funds to meet financial obligations; and (ii) ensure the availability of cash or collateral to fulfill those needs at the appropriate time by coordinating the various sources of funds available to the institution under normal and stressed conditions. Because the global financial crisis was in part a liquidity crisis, Basel III includes a liquidity framework that requires the largest FDIC-insured institutions to measure their liquidity against specific liquidity tests. One test, referred to as the Liquidity Coverage Ratio, or LCR, is designed to ensure that the banking entity has an adequate stock of unencumbered high-quality liquid assets that can be converted easily and immediately in private markets into cash to meet liquidity needs for a 30-calendar day liquidity stress scenario. The other test, known as the Net Stable Funding Ratio, or NSFR, is designed to promote more medium- and long-term funding of the assets and activities of FDIC-insured institutions over a one-year horizon. These tests provide an incentive for banks and holding companies to increase their holdings in Treasury securities and other sovereign debt as a component of assets, increase the use of long-term debt as a funding source and rely on stable funding like core deposits (in lieu of brokered deposits). While these rules do not, and will not, apply to the Bank, we continue to review our liquidity risk management policies in light of developments.
Dividend Payments. Our primary source of funds is dividends from the Bank. Indiana law prohibits the Bank from paying dividends in an amount greater than its undivided profits. The Bank is required to obtain the approval of the DFI for the payment of any dividend if the total of all dividends declared by the Bank during the calendar year, including the proposed dividend, would exceed the sum of the Bank's net income for the year-to-date combined with its retained net income for the
previous two years. Indiana law defines "retained net income" to mean the net income of a specified period, calculated under the consolidated report of income instructions, less the total amount of all dividends declared for the specified period. The Federal Reserve Act also imposes limitations on the amount of dividends that may be paid by state member banks, such as the Bank. Without Federal Reserve approval, a state member bank may not pay dividends in any calendar year that, in the aggregate, exceed that bank's calendar year-to-date net income plus the bank's retained net income for the two preceding calendar years. Moreover, the payment of dividends by any FDIC- insured institution is affected by the requirement to maintain adequate capital pursuant to applicable capital adequacy guidelines and regulations, and an FDIC-insured institution generally is prohibited from paying any dividends if, following payment thereof, the institution would be undercapitalized. As described above, the Bank exceeded its capital requirements under applicable guidelines as of December 31, 2023. Notwithstanding the availability of funds for dividends, however, the Federal Reserve and the DFI may prohibit the payment of dividends by the Bank if either or both determine such payment would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice. In addition, under the Basel III Rule, institutions that want to pay unrestricted dividends will have to maintain 2.5% in Common Equity Tier 1 Capital attributable to the capital conservation buffer. See “The Role of Capital” above.
State Bank Investments and Activities. The Bank is permitted to make investments and engage in activities directly or through subsidiaries as authorized by Indiana law. However, under federal law, FDIC-insured institutions are prohibited, subject to certain exceptions, from making or retaining equity investments of a type, or in an amount, that are not permissible for a national bank. Federal law also prohibits FDIC-insured state banks and their subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions, from engaging as principal in any activity that is not permitted for a national bank unless the bank meets, and continues to meet, its minimum regulatory capital requirements and the FDIC determines that the activity would not pose a significant risk to the DIF. These restrictions have not had, and are not currently expected to have, a material impact on the operations of the Bank.
Insider Transactions. The Bank is subject to certain restrictions imposed by federal law on “covered transactions” between the Bank and its “affiliates.” The Company is an affiliate of the Bank for purposes of these restrictions, and covered transactions subject to the restrictions include extensions of credit to the Company, investments in the stock or other securities of the Company and the acceptance of the stock or other securities of the Company as collateral for loans made by the Bank. The Dodd-Frank Act enhanced the requirements for certain transactions with affiliates, including an expansion of the definition of “covered transactions” and an increase in the amount of time for which collateral requirements regarding covered transactions must be maintained.
Certain limitations and reporting requirements are also placed on extensions of credit by the Bank to its directors and officers, to directors and officers of the Company and its subsidiaries, to principal shareholders of the Company and to “related interests” of such directors, officers and principal shareholders. In addition, federal law and regulations may affect the terms upon which any person who is a director or officer of the Company or the Bank, or a principal shareholder of the Company, may obtain credit from banks with which the Bank maintains a correspondent relationship.
Safety and Soundness Standards/Risk Management. The federal banking agencies have adopted operational and managerial standards to promote the safety and soundness of FDIC-insured institutions. The standards apply to internal controls, information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, compensation, fees and benefits, asset quality and earnings.
In general, the safety and soundness standards prescribe the goals to be achieved in each area, and each institution is responsible for establishing its own procedures to achieve those goals. While regulatory standards do not have the force of law, if an institution operates in an unsafe and unsound manner, the FDIC-insured institution’s primary federal regulator may require the institution to submit a plan for achieving and maintaining compliance. If an FDIC-insured institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan, or fails in any material respect to implement a compliance plan that has been accepted by its primary federal regulator, the regulator is required to issue an order directing the institution to cure the deficiency. Until the deficiency cited in the regulator’s order is cured, the regulator may restrict the FDIC-insured institution’s rate of growth, require the FDIC-insured institution to increase its capital, restrict the rates the institution pays on deposits or require the institution to take any action the regulator deems appropriate under the circumstances. Noncompliance with safety and soundness may also constitute grounds for other enforcement action by the federal bank regulatory agencies, including cease and desist orders and civil money penalty assessments.
During the past decade, the bank regulatory agencies have increasingly emphasized the importance of sound risk management processes and strong internal controls when evaluating the activities of the FDIC-insured institutions they supervise. Properly managing risks has been identified as critical to the conduct of safe and sound banking activities and has become even more important as new technologies, product innovation, and the size and speed of financial transactions have changed the nature of banking markets. The agencies have identified a spectrum of risks facing a banking institution including, but not limited to, credit, market, liquidity, operational, legal and reputational risk. Bank regulators have identified key risk
themes for 2023 as: credit risk management given the current interest rate environment and persistent inflationary concerns, cybersecurity risk, and commercial and residential real estate concentration risk management. The agencies will also be monitoring banks for Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering (“AML”) compliance, cybersecurity, third-party and change management, climate and environmental, social and governance initiatives, digital assets and CRA performance. The Bank is expected to have active board and senior management oversight; adequate policies, procedures and limits; adequate risk measurement, monitoring and management information systems; and comprehensive internal controls.
Privacy and Cybersecurity. The Bank is subject to many U.S. federal and state laws and regulations governing requirements for maintaining policies and procedures to protect non-public confidential information of their customers. These laws require the Bank to periodically disclose its privacy policies and practices relating to sharing such information and permit consumers to opt out of their ability to share information with unaffiliated third parties under certain circumstances. They also impact the Bank’s ability to share certain information with affiliates and non-affiliates for marketing and/or non-marketing purposes, or to contact customers with marketing offers. In addition, as a part of its operational risk mitigation, the Bank is required to implement a comprehensive information security program that includes administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer records and information and to require the same of its service providers. These security and privacy policies and procedures are in effect across all business lines and geographic locations.
Branching Authority. Indiana banks, such as the Bank, have the authority under Indiana law to establish branches anywhere in the State of Indiana, subject to receipt of all required regulatory approvals. Federal law permits state and national banks to merge with banks in other states subject to: (i) regulatory approval; (ii) federal and state deposit concentration limits; and (iii) state law limitations requiring the merging bank to have been in existence for a minimum period of time (not to exceed five years) prior to the merger. The establishment of new interstate branches has historically been permitted only in those states the laws of which expressly authorize such expansion. The Dodd-Frank Act permits well-capitalized and well-managed banks to establish new interstate branches or the acquisition of individual branches of a bank in another state (rather than the acquisition of an out-of-state bank in its entirety) without impediments.
Community Reinvestment Act Requirements. The CRA requires the Bank to have a continuing and affirmative obligation in a safe and sound manner to help meet the credit needs of the entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Federal regulators regularly assess the Bank’s record of meeting the credit needs of its communities. Applications for acquisitions would be affected by the evaluation of the Bank’s effectiveness in meeting its CRA requirements.
On October 24, 2023, the bank regulatory agencies issued a final rule to strengthen and modernize the CRA regulations (the “CRA Rule”), portions of which become effective on April 1, 2024. The CRA Rule is designed to update how CRA activities qualify for consideration, where CRA activities are considered, and how CRA activities are evaluated. More specifically, the bank regulatory agencies described the goals of the CRA Rule as follows: (i) to expand access to credit, investment, and basic banking services in low and moderate income communities; (ii) to adapt to changes in the banking industry, including mobile and internet banking by modernizing assessment areas while maintaining a focus on branch based areas; (iii) to provide greater clarity, consistency, and transparency in the application of the regulations through the use of standardized metrics as part of CRA evaluation and clarifying eligible CRA activities focused on low and moderate income communities and underserved rural communities; (iv) to tailor CRA rules and data collection to bank size and business model; and (v) to maintain a unified approach among the regulators.
Anti-Money Laundering. The Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) is the common name for a series of laws and regulations enacted in the United States to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. They are designed to deny terrorists and criminals the ability to obtain access to the U.S. financial system and has significant implications for FDIC-insured institutions, brokers, dealers and other businesses involved in the transfer of money. The so-called Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime under the BSA provides a foundation to promote financial transparency and deter and detect those who seek to misuse the U.S. financial system to launder criminal proceeds, financed terrorist acts or move funds for other illicit purposes. The laws require financial services companies to have policies and procedures with respect to measures designed to address: (i) customer identification programs; (ii) money laundering; (iii) terrorist financing; (iv) identifying and reporting suspicious activities and currency transactions; (v) currency crimes; and (vi) cooperation between FDIC-insured institutions and law enforcement authorities.
Concentrations in Commercial Real Estate. Concentration risk exists when FDIC-insured institutions deploy too many assets to any one industry or segment. A concentration in commercial real estate is one example of regulatory concern. The interagency Concentrations in Commercial Real Estate Lending, Sound Risk Management Practices guidance (“CRE Guidance”) provides supervisory criteria, including the following numerical indicators, to assist bank examiners in identifying banks with potentially significant commercial real estate loan concentrations that may warrant greater supervisory scrutiny:
(i) commercial real estate loans exceeding 300% of capital and increasing 50% or more in the preceding three years; or (ii) construction and land development loans exceeding 100% of capital. The CRE Guidance does not limit banks’ levels of commercial real estate lending activities, but rather guides institutions in developing risk management practices and levels of capital that are commensurate with the level and nature of their commercial real estate concentrations. On July 10, 2023, the federal banking agencies issued a statement to reinforce prudent risk-management practices related to CRE lending, having observed substantial growth in many CRE asset and lending markets, increased competitive pressures, rising CRE concentrations in banks and an easing of CRE underwriting standards. The federal bank agencies reminded FDIC-insured institutions to maintain underwriting discipline and exercise prudent risk-management practices to identify, measure, monitor and manage the risks arising from CRE lending. In addition, FDIC-insured institutions must maintain capital commensurate with the level and nature of their CRE concentration risk.
Based on the Bank’s loan portfolio as of December 31, 2023, it did not exceed the 300% guideline for commercial real estate loans nor did it exceed the 100% guideline for construction and land development loans. Also, commercial real estate loans have not increased by 50 percent or more during the previous 36 months.
Consumer Financial Services. The historical structure of federal consumer protection regulation applicable to all providers of consumer financial products and services changed significantly on July 21, 2011, when the CFPB commenced operations to supervise and enforce consumer protection laws. The CFPB has broad rule-making authority for a wide range of consumer protection laws that apply to all providers of consumer products and services, including the Bank, as well as the authority to prohibit “unfair, deceptive or abusive” acts and practices. The CFPB has examination and enforcement authority over providers with more than $10 billion in assets. FDIC-insured institutions with $10 billion or less in assets, like the Bank, continue to be examined by their applicable bank regulators.
Because abuses in connection with residential mortgages were a significant factor contributing to the financial crisis, many new rules issued by the CFPB and required by the Dodd-Frank Act addressed mortgage and mortgage-related products, their underwriting, origination, servicing and sales. The Dodd-Frank Act significantly expanded underwriting requirements applicable to loans secured by 1-4 family residential real property and augmented federal law combating predatory lending practices. In addition to numerous disclosure requirements, the Dodd-Frank Act imposed new standards for mortgage loan originations on all lenders, including banks and savings associations, in an effort to strongly encourage lenders to verify a borrower’s ability to repay, while also establishing a presumption of compliance for certain “qualified mortgages.” The Regulatory Relief Act provided relief in connection with mortgages for banks with assets of less than $10 billion, and, as a result, mortgages the Bank makes are now considered to be qualified mortgages if they are held in portfolio for the life of the loan. The CFPB has from time to time released additional rules as to qualified mortgages and the borrower’s ability to repay, most recently in July of 2021. The CFPB’s rules have not had a significant impact on the Bank’s operations, except for higher compliance costs.
COVID-19 Pandemic
The federal bank regulatory agencies, along with their state counterparts, issued a steady stream of guidance responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and took a number of unprecedented steps to help banks navigate the pandemic and mitigate its impact. These included, without limitation: requiring banks to focus on business continuity and pandemic planning; adding pandemic scenarios to stress testing; encouraging bank use of capital buffers and reserves in lending programs; permitting certain regulatory reporting extensions; reducing margin requirements on swaps; permitting certain otherwise prohibited investments in investment funds; issuing guidance to encourage banks to work with customers affected by the pandemic and encourage loan workouts; and providing credit under the CRA for certain pandemic-related loans, investments and public service. Because of the need for social distancing measures, the agencies revamped the manner in which they conducted periodic examinations of their regulated institutions, including making greater use of off-site reviews.
Moreover, the Federal Reserve issued guidance encouraging banking institutions to utilize its discount window for loans and intraday credit extended by its Reserve Banks to help households and businesses impacted by the pandemic and announced numerous funding facilities. The FDIC also acted to mitigate the deposit insurance assessment effects of participating in the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") and the Federal Reserve's PPP Liquidity Facility and Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, stockholders or prospective investors should carefully consider the following risk factors:
Risks Relating to General Economic Conditions
A downturn in general economic or business conditions, nationally or in markets where our business is concentrated, could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our success depends upon the business activity, population, employment rates, income levels, deposits and real estate activity in our markets in Northern and Central Indiana. Although our customers’ business and financial interests may extend well beyond these market areas, adverse economic conditions that affect these market areas could reduce our growth rate, diminish the ability of our customers to repay their loans to us, decrease the value of any collateral securing our loans and generally adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, because of our geographic concentration, we are less able than other regional or national financial institutions to diversify our credit risks across multiple markets.
Monetary policies of the Federal Reserve could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
In the current environment, economic and business conditions are significantly affected by U.S. monetary policy, particularly the anticipated actions of the Federal Reserve to pivot from its campaign to raise short-term interest rates in an effort to fight elevated levels of inflation impacting the U.S. economy. Beginning in March of 2022, the Federal Reserve substantially increased the target Federal Funds rate in pursuit of its policy mandate to maintain maximum employment and achieve price stability and subsequently paused further rate raises starting in September 2023 as the rate of inflation had significantly subsided from levels experienced in 2022. In December 2023, the Federal Reserve indicated the possibility it would pivot from the current rate tightening cycle, forecasting a series of cuts to the Federal Funds rate in 2024. Rate increases benefited our net interest income during 2022, due to the asset sensitive nature of the Company’s balance sheet. In 2023, funding costs rose substantially as the cost to retain deposits and borrow increased due to market competition and a series of bank failures in the first quarter of 2023. The Company's increase in cost of funds negatively affected net interest income in 2023. A pivot in policy by the Federal Reserve to lower the target Federal Funds rate could further erode the Company’s net interest income due to lags in deposits repricing. However, a reduction in rates would positively impact the fair value of our investment securities portfolio, which had $174.6 million in unrealized losses in available-for-sale investment securities at December 31, 2023. Lower interest rates can also positively affect our customers’ businesses and financial condition, and increase the value of collateral securing loans in our portfolio.
Given the complex factors affecting the strength of the U.S. economy, including uncertainties regarding the persistence of inflation, international geopolitical developments, strength of the banking system, disruptions in the global energy market, labor market conditions and the impact of higher rates on consumers and businesses, there is a meaningful risk that the Federal Reserve and other central banks may underestimate the impact of their tightening policies and potentially cause an economic recession. Restrictive monetary policies could limit economic growth and potentially cause an economic recession. As noted above, this could decrease loan demand, harm the credit characteristics of our existing loan portfolio and decrease the value of collateral securing loans in the portfolio.
Continued elevated levels of inflation could adversely impact our business and results of operations.
The United States has recently experienced elevated levels of inflation, with the rate peaking in 2022 and remaining elevated in 2023. Inflation pressures are currently expected to remain elevated as the inflation rate remains above the Federal Reserve’s target rate of 2%, which is intended to help accomplish its policy. Continued high levels of inflation could have complex effects on our business and results of operations, some of which could be materially adverse. For example, elevated inflation harms consumer purchasing power, which could negatively affect our retail customers and the economic environment and, ultimately, many of our business customers, and could also negatively affect our levels of non-interest expense. In addition, if interest rates continue to rise in response to elevated levels of inflation, the value of our securities portfolio would be negatively impacted. Continued elevated levels of inflation could also cause increased volatility and uncertainty in the business environment, which could adversely affect loan demand and our clients' ability to repay indebtedness. It is also possible that governmental responses to the current inflation environment could adversely affect our business, such as changes to monetary and fiscal policy that are too strict, or the imposition or threatened imposition of price controls. The duration and severity of the current inflationary period cannot be estimated with precision.
Adverse developments or concerns affecting the financial services industry or specific financial institutions could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. The 2023 United States banking crisis could continue to have adverse effects on our business.
Actual events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect financial institutions, transactional counterparties or other companies in the financial services industry or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar events, have in the past and may in the future lead to erosion of customer confidence in the banking system, deposit volatility, liquidity issues, stock price volatility and other adverse developments. For example, the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in March 2023 and First Republic Bank in May 2023 led to disruption and volatility, including deposit outflows and increased need for liquidity, at certain banks. Although depositors of these banks were largely protected, it is not certain that the Federal Reserve or FDIC will treat future bank failures similarly.
Inflation and the rapid increases in interest rates have led to a decline in the trading value of previously issued debt securities with interest rates below current market interest rates. Any sale of investment securities that are held in an unrealized loss position by a financial institution for liquidity or other purposes will cause actual losses to be realized. There can be no assurance that there will not be additional bank failures or issues such as liquidity concerns in the broader financial services industry or in the U.S. financial system as a whole. Adverse financial market and economic conditions can exert downward pressure on stock prices, security prices and credit availability for financial institutions without regard to their underlying financial strength. The volatility and economic disruption resulting from the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank particularly impacted the market valuation of securities issued by financial institutions.
While we did not experience any abnormal changes in our total outstanding deposit balances following these bank closure events, we experienced changes in deposit balances resulting from typical seasonal fluctuations due to the nature of our business. While our deposit base primarily consists of a stable mix of retail, commercial and public fund deposits, we cannot be assured that unusual deposit withdrawal activity will not affect banks generally or the Company specifically in the future. Continued uncertainty regarding or worsening of the severity or duration of volatility in the banking industry could also adversely impact our estimate of our allowance for credit losses and related provision for credit losses.
Additionally, the cost of resolving recent bank failures may prompt the FDIC to charge higher deposit insurance premiums and/or impose special assessments on insured depository institutions, regardless of asset size. These events and any future similar events may also result in changes to laws or regulations governing bank holding companies and banks, including higher capital requirements, or the imposition of restrictions through supervisory or enforcement activities, any of which could have a material adverse effect.
Any of these impacts, or any other impacts resulting from the events described above, could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and capital levels, and our current and/or projected business operations and financial condition and results of operations.
Labor shortages and failure to attract and retain qualified employees could negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
A number of factors may adversely affect the labor force available to us or increase labor costs, including high employment levels, and decreased labor force size and participation rates. Although we have not experienced any material labor shortage to date, we have recently observed an overall tightening and competitive local labor market, especially for commercial lenders. As of December 31, 2023, Indiana's unemployment rate was 3.6%. A sustained labor shortage or increased turnover rates within our employee base could lead to increased costs, such as increased compensation expense to attract and retain employees.
In addition, if we are unable to hire and retain employees capable of performing at a high-level, or if mitigation measures we may take to respond to a decrease in labor availability have unintended negative effects, our business could be adversely affected. An overall labor shortage, lack of skilled labor, increased turnover or labor inflation could have a material adverse impact on our operations, results of operations, liquidity or cash flows.
Interest rate shifts may reduce net interest income and otherwise negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Shifts in short-term interest rates may reduce net interest income, which is the principal component of our earnings. Net interest income is the difference between the amounts received by us on our interest bearing assets and the interest paid by us on our interest bearing liabilities. When interest rates rise, the rate of interest we pay on our liabilities may rise more quickly than the rate of interest that we receive on our interest bearing assets, which may cause our profits to decrease. Conversely,
when interest rates fall, our interest bearing assets generally reprice more quickly than our interest bearing liabilities, given our asset-sensitive balance sheet, which may cause our net interest income to decrease. The impact on earnings is more adverse when the slope of the yield curve flattens, i.e. when short-term interest rates increase more than corresponding changes in long-term interest rates or when long-term interest rates decrease more than corresponding changes in short-term interest rates. In addition, when competition for deposits increases and deposit costs rise more quickly than loan yields, net interest income may be negatively impacted.
Interest rate increases often result in larger payment requirements for our borrowers, which increase the potential for default. At the same time, the value and marketability of any underlying assets securing a loan may be adversely affected by any reduced demand resulting from higher interest rates. In a declining interest rate environment, there may be an increase in prepayments on fixed rate loans, such as mortgages, as borrowers may seek to refinance these loans at lower rates.
Changes in interest rates also can affect the value of loans, securities and other assets. An increase in interest rates that adversely affects the ability of borrowers to pay the principal and interest on loans may lead to an increase in nonperforming assets and a reduction of income recognized, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. Thus, an increase in the amount of nonperforming assets would have an adverse impact on net interest income.
A resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, or a similar health crisis, could adversely affect our business.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant economic impact on the communities in which we operate, our borrowers and depositors, and the national economy generally. While these effects have diminished, future developments and uncertainties are difficult to predict, such as the potential emergence of new variants, the course of the pandemic in other major economies, the persistence of pandemic-related work and lifestyle changes, changes in consumer preferences associated with the emergence of the pandemic, the emergence of a new health crisis and other market disruptions. Any such developments could have a complex and negative effect on our business, including with respect to the prevailing economic environment, our lending and investment activities, and our business operations.
Risks Relating to Our Business
If we do not effectively manage our credit risk, we may experience increased levels of nonperforming loans, charge offs and delinquencies, which could require further increases in our provision for credit losses.
There are risks inherent in making any loan, including risks inherent in working with individual borrowers, risks of nonpayment, risks resulting from uncertainties as to the future value of collateral and risks resulting from changes in economic and industry conditions. In general, these risks have increased as a result of the recent increases in prevailing interest rates and uncertainties associated with inflation, which have potentially increased the risk of a near-term decline in growth or an economic downturn. We cannot assure you that our loan application approval procedures, use of loan concentration limits, credit monitoring, use of independent reviews of outstanding loans or other procedures will reduce these credit risks. If the overall economic climate in the United States, generally, and our market areas, specifically, does not perform in the manner we expect, or even if it does, our borrowers may experience difficulties in repaying their loans, and the level of nonperforming loans, charge offs and delinquencies could rise and require increases in the provision for credit losses, which would cause our net income and return on equity to decrease.
If our allowance for credit losses is not sufficient to absorb losses that may occur in our loan portfolio, our financial condition and liquidity could suffer.
We establish our allowance for credit losses and maintain it at a level considered adequate by management to absorb expected credit losses within the portfolio. Allocations of the allowance are made for specific loans and for pools of similar types of loans, although the entire allowance is available for any loan that, in management's judgment, should be charged against the allowance. Additions to the allowance for credit losses, which are charged to earnings through the provision for credit losses, are determined based on a variety of factors, including an analysis of the loan portfolio, historical loss experience and an evaluation of current economic conditions in our market areas. The actual amount of credit losses is affected by changes in economic, operating and other conditions within our markets, which may be beyond our control, and such losses may exceed current estimates.
At December 31, 2023, our allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.46% and as a percentage of total nonperforming loans was 458%. Because of the nature of our loan portfolio and our concentration in commercial and industrial loans, which tend to be larger loans, the movement of a small number of loans to nonperforming status can have a significant impact on these ratios. Although a formal evaluation of the adequacy of the credit loss allowance is conducted
monthly, we cannot predict credit losses with certainty and we cannot provide assurance that our allowance for credit losses will prove sufficient to cover actual credit losses in the future. Credit losses in excess of our reserves may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Commercial and industrial loans make up a significant portion of our loan portfolio.
Commercial and industrial loans were $1.421 billion, or approximately 29% of our total loan portfolio, as of December 31, 2023. Commercial and industrial loans are often larger and involve greater risks than other types of lending. Because payments on such loans are often dependent on the successful operation of the borrower involved, repayment of such loans is often more sensitive than other types of loans to adverse conditions in the general economy. For example, the cumulative effects of changes in the economy and overall business environment, labor availability shortages and supply chain constraints have adversely affected commercial and industrial loans, and we expect this trend to continue for certain portions of our loan portfolio, particularly if general economic conditions worsen.
Negative economic trends can also harm the value of security for our commercial and industrial loans. These loans are primarily made based on the identified cash flow of the borrower and secondarily on the underlying collateral provided by the borrower. Most often, this collateral is accounts receivable, inventory, machinery or real estate. As a result of the recent increase in interest rates and other factors, we have observed a corresponding decline in the value of commercial real estate securing these loans, substantially all of which are located within our Indiana markets. In the case of loans secured by accounts receivable, the availability of funds for the repayment of these loans may be substantially dependent on the ability of the borrower to collect amounts due from its customers, which could decline in the case of an economic recession.
The collateral securing other loans may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value based on the success of the business. Due to the larger average size of each commercial loan as compared with other loans such as residential loans, as well as collateral that is generally less readily-marketable, losses incurred on a small number of commercial loans could adversely affect our business, results of operations and growth prospects. Historically, the Bank's largest charge offs have been in this segment of the loan portfolio.
Our loan portfolio includes commercial real estate loans, which involve risks specific to real estate value.
Commercial real estate loans were $2.438 billion, or approximately 50% of our total loan portfolio, as of December 31, 2023. The market value of real estate can fluctuate significantly in a short period of time as a result of interest rates and market conditions in our Indiana markets, where substantially all of our commercial real estate collateral is located, and, as a general matter, some of these values have been significantly and negatively affected by the recent rise in prevailing interest rates.
Although a significant portion of such loans are secured by real estate as a secondary form of collateral, these developments and any future adverse developments affecting real estate values in one or more of our markets could increase the credit risk associated with our loan portfolio. Additionally, real estate lending typically involves higher loan principal amounts and the repayment of the loans generally is dependent, in large part, on sufficient income from the properties securing the loans to cover operating expenses and debt service. Economic events or governmental regulations outside of the control of the borrower or lender could negatively impact the future cash flow and market values of the affected properties.
If the 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 of originating the loan, which could cause us to increase our provision for credit losses and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
Our loan portfolio has a notable concentration in agri-business, which has a higher level of uncontrolled risk.
Our agri-business loans, which totaled $388.8 million, or approximately 8% of our total loan portfolio, as of December 31, 2023, are subject to risks outside of our or the borrower’s control. Although our agriculture portfolio is well-diversified, the risks, specific to the agricultural industry, include decreases in livestock and crop prices, increases in labor and input prices, increase in stockpiles of agricultural commodities, the strength of the U.S. dollar, the potential impact of tariffs and other trade restrictions on commodities and the nature of climate and weather conditions. To the extent these or other factors affect the performance or financial condition of our agri-business borrowers, our results of operations and financial performance could suffer.
Our consumer loans generally have a higher degree of risk of default than our other loans.
At December 31, 2023, consumer loans totaled $96.0 million, or 2% of our total loan portfolio. Consumer loans typically have shorter terms and lower balances with higher yields as compared to commercial loans, but generally carry higher risks of default. Consumer loan collections are dependent on the borrower’s continuing financial stability, and thus are more likely to be affected by adverse personal circumstances. Furthermore, the application of various federal and state laws, including bankruptcy and insolvency laws, may limit the amount which can be recovered on these loans.
Nonperforming assets take significant time to resolve and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition and could result in further losses in the future.
Our nonperforming assets adversely affect our net income in various ways. We do not record interest income on nonaccrual loans or other real estate owned, which adversely affects our net income and returns on assets and equity, increases our loan administration costs and adversely affects our efficiency ratio. When we take collateral in foreclosure and similar proceedings, we are required to mark the collateral to its current fair market value at the time of transfer, which may result in a loss. These nonperforming loans and other real estate owned also increase our risk profile and our regulatory capital requirements may increase in light of such risks. The resolution of nonperforming assets requires significant time commitments from management and can be detrimental to the performance of their other responsibilities. If we experience increases in nonperforming loans and other nonperforming assets, our net interest income and provision expense may be negatively impacted and our loan administration costs could increase, each of which could have an adverse effect on our net income and related ratios, such as return on assets and equity.
Liquidity risks could affect operations and jeopardize our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Liquidity is essential to our business. An inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, the sale of loans and other sources could have a substantial, negative effect on our liquidity. Our primary sources of funds consist of deposits, cash from operations and investment security maturities and sales. Additional liquidity is provided by brokered deposits, Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service ("CDARS") deposits, American Financial Exchange overnight borrowings and IntraFi Network’s insured cash sweep program. We are able to borrow from several federal funds lines at correspondent banks and are eligible to borrow from the Federal Reserve and the Federal Home Loan Bank (the “FHLB”) subject to collateral availability. At December 31, 2023, $379.0 million of unpledged investment securities were eligible to serve as collateral for liquidity availability at the FHLB and the Federal Reserve Bank. Our access to funding sources in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize our activities or on terms that are acceptable to us could be impaired by factors that affect us directly or the financial services industry or economy in general, such as disruptions in the financial markets or negative views and expectations about the prospects for the financial services industry. In addition, increased competition with banks and credit unions in our fooprint, brokerage firms and online deposit gatherers for retail deposits may impact our ability to raise funds through deposits and could have a negative effect on our liquidity. For example, as customer deposit levels have increased over the past year, we have observed that our sensitivity to rising deposits costs has increased as competition for deposits has risen.
Any decline in available funding could adversely impact our ability to originate loans, purchase investment securities, meet our expense obligations, pay dividends to our stockholders, 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, results of operations and financial condition.
Any action or steps to change coverages or eliminate Indiana’s Public Deposit Insurance Fund could require us to find alternative, higher-cost funding sources to replace public fund deposits or to provide for collateralization of these deposits.
At December 31, 2023, approximately 27% of our deposits are concentrated in public funds from municipalities and government agencies located in the Bank’s geographic footprint. These accounts represent less than 1% of total customer deposit accounts at December 31, 2023. A shift in funding away from public fund deposits would impact liquidity availability and could increase our cost of funds, as the alternate funding sources, such as brokered certificates of deposit, can be higher-cost, are less favorable deposits and could require additional collateral to be pledged. The inability to maintain these public funds on deposit could result in a material adverse effect on the Bank’s liquidity and could materially impact our ability to grow and remain profitable.
Declines in asset values may result in impairment charges and adversely affect the value of our investment securities, financial performance and capital.
We maintain an investment securities portfolio that includes, but is not limited to, mortgage-backed securities and municipal securities. The market value of these investment securities has been, and may continue to be, affected by factors other than the underlying performance of the servicer of the securities or the mortgages underlying the securities, such as changes in the interest rate environment, negative trends in the residential and commercial real estate markets, ratings downgrades, adverse changes in the business climate and a lack of liquidity in the secondary market for certain investment securities. On a quarterly basis, we evaluate investment securities and other assets for credit and other impairment indicators. We may be required to record additional credit reserve charges if our investment securities suffer a decline in fair value that has resulted from credit losses or other factors. If we determine that a significant reserve is needed, we would be required to charge against earnings the credit-related portion, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in the periods in which the write-offs occur. In addition, we may determine to sell securities in our available-for-sale investment securities portfolio, and any such sale could cause us to realize currently unrealized losses that resulted from the recent increases in the prevailing interest rates.
Risks Relating to Our Corporate Strategy
We may need to raise additional capital in the future to achieve our growth plans, but that capital may not be available when it is needed.
We are required by federal and state regulatory authorities to maintain adequate levels of capital to support our operations. Accordingly, we may need to raise additional capital to support our future growth plans. Our ability to raise additional capital depends on conditions in the capital markets, economic conditions and a number of other factors, including investor perceptions regarding the banking industry, market conditions and governmental activities, and on our financial condition and performance. Accordingly, we cannot make assurances of our ability to raise additional capital, if needed, on terms acceptable to us. In particular, if we were required to raise additional capital in the current interest rate environment, we believe the pricing and other terms investors may require in such an offering may not be attractive to use. If we cannot raise additional capital when needed, our financial condition and our ability to further expand our operations through internal growth or acquisitions could be materially impaired.
We may experience difficulties in managing our growth, and our growth strategy involves risks that may negatively impact our net income.
In addition to our continuing expansion in Indianapolis and larger cities in Northern Indiana, we may expand into additional communities or attempt to strengthen our position in our current markets through opportunistic acquisitions of all or part of other financial institutions, or by opening new branches in or within three hours of our contiguous geographic footprint. To the extent that we undertake acquisitions or new branch openings, we are likely to experience the effects of higher operating expenses relative to operating income from the new operations, which may have an adverse effect on our levels of reported net income, return on average equity and return on average assets. Other effects of engaging in such growth strategies may include potential diversion of our management’s time and attention and general disruption to our business.
To the extent that we grow through acquisitions and branch openings, we cannot assure you that we will be able to adequately and profitably manage this growth. Acquiring other banks and businesses will involve similar risks to those commonly associated with branching but may also involve additional risks, including:
•potential exposure to unknown or contingent liabilities of banks and businesses we acquire;
•exposure to potential asset quality issues of the acquired bank or related business;
•difficulty and expense of integrating the operations and personnel of banks and businesses we acquire; and
•the possible loss of key employees and customers of the banks and businesses we acquire.
We face intense competition in all phases of our business from other banks, financial institutions, private credit funds and nonbank financial service providers.
The banking and financial services business in our market is highly competitive. Our competitors include large national, regional and local community banks, credit unions, Fintech and nonbank financial service providers, securities and brokerage companies, mortgage companies, insurance companies, finance companies, money market mutual funds and farm
credit services. Many of these competitors are not subject to the same operating costs or regulatory restrictions as we are and are able to provide customers with a feasible alternative to traditional banking services.
Increased competition may also result in a decrease in the amounts of our loans and deposits, reduced spreads between loan rates and deposit rates or loan terms that are more favorable to the borrower, particularly in the case of incremental loan growth. Any of these results could have a material adverse effect on our ability to grow and remain profitable. If increased competition causes us to significantly discount the interest rates we offer on loans or increase the amount we pay on deposits, our net interest income could be adversely impacted. If increased competition causes us to relax our underwriting standards, we could be exposed to higher losses from lending activities. Moreover, we rely on deposits to be a low-cost source of funding, and a loss in our deposit base could cause us to incur higher funding costs from wholesale funding sources.
The financial services industry is constantly undergoing rapid technological changes with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. We invest from time to time in investment funds that seek to promote the development of such new and emerging financial technologies. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to effectively incorporate, or otherwise benefit from, such developments.
Additionally, many of our competitors are much larger in total assets and capitalization, have greater access to capital markets, possess larger lending limits and offer a broader range of financial services than we can offer.
Attractive acquisition opportunities may not be available to us in the future.
We expect that other banking and financial service companies, many of which have significantly greater resources than we do, will compete with us in acquiring other financial institutions if we pursue such acquisitions. This competition could increase prices for potential acquisitions that we believe are attractive. Also, acquisitions are subject to various regulatory approvals. If we fail to receive the appropriate regulatory approvals, we will not be able to consummate an acquisition that we believe is in our best interests. Among other things, our regulators consider our capital, liquidity, profitability, regulatory compliance and levels of goodwill and intangibles when considering acquisition and expansion proposals. Any acquisition could be dilutive to our earnings and stockholders’ equity per share of our common stock.
Risks Relating to Regulation, Tax and Accounting
We may be materially and adversely affected by the highly regulated environment in which we operate.
We are subject to extensive federal and state regulation, supervision and examination. A more detailed description of the primary federal and state banking laws and regulations that affect us is contained in the section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K captioned “Supervision and Regulation of the Bank”. Banking regulations are primarily intended to protect depositors’ funds, FDIC funds, customers and the banking system as a whole, rather than our shareholders. These regulations affect our lending practices, capital structure, investment practices, dividend policy and growth, among other things.
As a bank holding company, we are subject to extensive regulation and supervision and undergo periodic examinations by our regulators, who have extensive discretion and authority to prevent or remedy unsafe or unsound practices or violations of law by banks and bank holding companies. Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations or policies could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil monetary penalties and/or damage to our reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on us. Although we have policies and procedures designed to mitigate the risk of any such violations, there can be no assurance that such violations will not occur.
The laws, regulations, rules, standards, policies and interpretations governing us are constantly evolving and may change significantly over time. For example, on July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act was signed into law, which significantly changed the regulation of financial institutions and the financial services industry. The Dodd-Frank Act, together with the regulations to be developed thereunder, includes provisions affecting large and small financial institutions alike, including several provisions that affect how community banks, thrifts and small bank and thrift holding companies operate. In addition, the Federal Reserve, in recent years, has adopted numerous new regulations addressing banks’ overdraft and mortgage lending practices. Further, the CFPB has broad powers to supervise and enforce consumer protection laws, and additional consumer protection legislation and regulatory activity is anticipated in the near future, including with respect to fees charged by banks and other financial companies. Any enforcement actions or other rule-making in these areas could negatively affect our business and our ability to maintain or grow levels of noninterest income.
The recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank are expected to result in modifications to existing laws or the passage of additional laws and regulations governing banks and bank holding companies, including increasing capital
requirements, modifications to regulatory requirements with respect to liquidity risk management, deposit concentrations, capital adequacy, stress testing and contingency planning, safe and sound banking practices and enhanced supervisory or enforcement activities. Other legislative initiatives could detrimentally impact our operations in the future. Regulatory bodies may enact new laws or promulgate new regulations or view matters or interpret existing laws and regulations differently than they have in the past or commence investigations or inquiries into our business practices. For example, the Biden Administration announced a government-wide effort to eliminate “junk fees” which could subject our business practices to further scrutiny. The CFBP’s action on junk fees thus far has largely focused on fees associated with deposit products, such as “surprise” overdraft fees and non-sufficient funds fees. However, what constitutes a “junk fee” remains undefined. The CFPB is actively soliciting consumer input on fee practices associated with other consumer financial products or services, signaling that the “junk fee” initiative is likely to continue to broaden in scope. As a result of this regulatory focus, we have changed how we assess overdraft and non-sufficient funds fees and may be required to implement additional changes based on regulatory directives or guidance. Such changes have led to and may continue to cause a reduction in our noninterest income and thus impact our overall net income.
These provisions, as well as any other aspects of current or proposed regulatory or legislative changes to laws applicable to the financial industry, may impact the profitability of our business activities and may change certain of our business practices, including our ability to offer new products, obtain financing, attract deposits, make loans and achieve satisfactory interest spreads and could expose us to additional costs, including increased compliance costs.
Regulations of the Federal Reserve could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results.
An important function of the Federal Reserve is to regulate the money supply and credit conditions. Among the instruments used by the Federal Reserve to implement these objectives are open market operations in U.S. government securities, adjustments of the discount rate and changes in reserve requirements against bank deposits. These instruments are used in varying combinations to influence overall economic growth and the distribution of credit, bank loans, investments and deposits. Their use also affects interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits.
The monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future. The effects of such policies upon our business, financial condition and results of operations cannot be predicted.
We are required to maintain capital to meet regulatory requirements, and, if we fail to maintain sufficient capital, whether due to losses, an inability to raise additional capital or otherwise, our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, as well as our ability to maintain regulatory compliance, would be adversely affected.
The Company, on a consolidated basis, and the Bank, on a stand-alone basis, must meet certain regulatory capital requirements and maintain sufficient liquidity. We face significant capital and other regulatory requirements as a financial institution, which were heightened with the implementation of the Basel III Rule and the phase-in of capital conservation buffer requirement and could be further impacted by the proposed Basel III Endgame Rule. Our ability to raise additional capital depends on conditions in the capital markets, economic conditions and a number of other factors, including investor perceptions regarding the banking industry, market conditions and governmental activities and on our financial condition and performance. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will be able to raise additional capital if needed or on terms acceptable to us. If we fail to maintain capital to meet regulatory requirements, our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.
We may be subject to a higher consolidated effective tax rate if there is a change in tax laws relating to LCB Investments II, Inc. or if LCB Funding, Inc. fails to qualify as a real estate investment trust.
The Bank holds certain investment securities in its wholly owned subsidiary LCB Investments II, Inc., which is incorporated in Nevada. Pursuant to the State of Indiana’s current tax laws and regulations, we are not subject to Indiana income tax for income earned through that subsidiary. If there are changes in Indiana’s tax laws or interpretations thereof requiring us to pay state taxes for income generated by LCB Investments II, Inc., the resulting tax consequences could increase our effective tax rate or cause us to have a tax liability for prior years.
The Bank also holds certain commercial real estate loans, residential real estate loans and other loans in a real estate investment trust through LCB Investments II, Inc., which is incorporated in Maryland. Qualification as a real estate investment trust involves application of specific provisions of the Internal Revenue Code relating to various asset tests. If LCB Funding, Inc. fails to meet any of the required provisions for real estate investment trusts, it could no longer qualify as a real estate investment trust and the resulting tax consequences would increase our effective tax rate or cause us to have a tax liability for
prior years. Additionally, changes to the State of Indiana's current tax laws and regulations for real estate investment trust income disallowance could increase our effective tax rate or cause us to have a tax liability for prior years.
Our accounting policies and methods are the basis for how we prepare our consolidated financial statements and how we report our financial condition and results of operations, and they require management to make estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain.
Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. Our management must exercise judgment in selecting and applying many of these accounting policies and methods in order to ensure they comply with GAAP and reflect management’s judgment as to the most appropriate manner in which to record and report our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, management must select the accounting policy or method to apply from two or more alternatives, any of which might be reasonable under the circumstances. The application of that chosen accounting policy or method might result in the Company reporting different amounts than would have been reported under a different alternative. If management’s estimates or assumptions are incorrect, the Company may experience material losses.
Management has identified one accounting policy as being “critical” to the presentation of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations because it requires management to make particularly subjective and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and because of the likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. This critical accounting policy relates to the allowance for credit losses. Because of the inherent uncertainty of this estimate, no assurance can be given that the application of alternative policies or methods might not result in the reporting of a different amount of the allowance for credit losses and, accordingly, net income.
From time to time, the FASB and the SEC change the financial accounting and reporting standards or the interpretation of those standards that govern the preparation of our external financial statements. In addition, trends in financial and business reporting, including environmental, social and governance (ESG) related disclosures, could require us to incur additional reporting expense. These changes are beyond our control, can be difficult to predict and could materially impact how we report our financial condition and results of operations. Changes in these standards are continuously occurring, and given the current economic environment, more drastic changes may occur. The implementation of such changes could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We may experience increases to, and volatility in, the balance of the allowance for credit losses and related provision expense due to the adoption of the Current Expected Credit Loss ("CECL") methodology.
We adopted CECL, effective as of January 1, 2021, following the delayed adoption period permitted by the CARES Act and extended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. The CECL methodology requires measurement of anticipated credit losses to occur when a financial asset is first added to the balance sheet and periodically thereafter. These measurements require significant use of management judgments as well as forward-looking information and forecasts. Any failure of these judgments or forecasts to be correct could negatively affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We may be adversely affected by changes in U.S. tax laws and regulations.
Any change in federal or state tax laws or regulations, including any increase in the federal corporate income tax rate from the current level of 21%, could negatively affect our business and results of operations, including as a result of our income tax expense and any impact to the profitability of our loan customers.
Risks Relating to our Operations
Our ability to attract and retain management and key personnel and any damage to our reputation may affect future growth and earnings.
Much of our success and growth has been influenced strongly by our ability to attract and retain management experienced in banking and financial services and familiar with the communities in our market areas. Our ability to retain the executive officers, management teams, branch managers and loan officers at the Bank will continue to be important to the successful implementation of our strategy. It is also critical, as we grow, to be able to attract and retain qualified additional management and loan officers with the appropriate level of experience and knowledge about our market areas to implement our community-based operating strategy. The unexpected loss of services of any key management personnel, or the inability to recruit and retain qualified personnel in the future, could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, our business depends on earning and maintaining the trust of our customers and communities. Harm to our reputation could arise from numerous sources, including employee misconduct, compliance failures, internal control deficiencies, litigation or our failure to deliver appropriate levels of service. If any events or circumstances occur which could undermine our reputation, there can be no assurance that the additional costs and expenses we may incur as a result would not have an adverse impact on our business.
We have a continuing need to adapt to technological change and we may not have the resources to effectively implement new technology.
The financial services industry is constantly undergoing rapid technological changes with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. In addition to better serving customers, the effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to reduce costs. Our future success will depend in part upon our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands for convenience as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations as we continue to grow and expand our market areas. Many of our larger competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements, such as articifical intelligence. As a result, they may be able to offer additional or superior products to those that we will be able to offer, which would put us at a competitive disadvantage. Accordingly, we cannot provide assurances that we will be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing such products and services to our customers.
The Company’s information systems may experience an interruption or breach in security and cyber-attacks, all of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.
The Company relies heavily on internal and outsourced technologies, communications, and information systems to conduct its business, particularly with respect to our core processing provider and our digital banking provider. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Company collects, processes and retains sensitive and confidential information regarding our customers. As the Company’s reliance on technology has increased, so have the potential risks of a technology-related operation interruption (such as disruptions in the Company’s core provider, general ledger, deposit, loan, digital banking or other systems) or the occurrence of a cyber-attack (such as unauthorized access to the Company’s systems). These risks have increased for all financial institutions as new technologies, the use of the Internet and telecommunications technologies (including mobile devices) to conduct financial and other business transactions and the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, perpetrators of fraud, hackers, terrorists and others have increased. In addition to cyber-attacks, business e-mail compromise campaigns or other security breaches involving the theft of sensitive and confidential information, hackers recently have engaged in attacks against financial institutions, particularly denial of service attacks, which are designed to disrupt key business services, such as customer-facing web sites and social engineering attacks that could influence an employee of the Company to click on a link that downloads malware or ransomware to the Company’s system or prompts the employee to enter system credentials. The Company is not able to anticipate or implement effective preventive measures against all security breaches of these types, especially because the techniques used change frequently and because attacks can originate from a wide variety of sources. In addition, it is possible that we may not be able to detect security breaches on a timely basis, or at all, which could increase the costs and risks associated with any such breach.
The Company also faces risks related to cyber-attacks and other security breaches in connection with credit card and debit card transactions that typically involve the transmission of sensitive information regarding the Company’s customers through various third parties, including merchant acquiring banks, payment processors, payment card networks and its processors. Some of these parties have in the past been the target of security breaches and cyber-attacks, and because the
transactions involve third parties and environments such as the point of sale that the Company does not control or secure, future security breaches or cyber-attacks affecting any of these third parties could impact the Company through no fault of its own, and in some cases it may have exposure and suffer losses for breaches or attacks relating to them. In addition, the Company offers its customers protection against fraud and certain losses for unauthorized use of debit cards in order to stay competitive with other financial institutions. Offering such protection exposes the Company to losses that could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations. Further cyber-attacks or other breaches in the future, whether affecting the Company or others, could intensify consumer concern and regulatory focus and result in reduced use of payment cards and increased costs, all of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. To the extent we are involved in any future cyber-attacks or other breaches, the Company’s reputation could be affected, which could also have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are subject to certain operational risks, including, but not limited to, customer or employee fraud and data processing system failures and errors.
Employee errors and misconduct could subject us to financial losses or regulatory sanctions and seriously harm our reputation. Misconduct by our employees could include hiding their own unauthorized activities from us, improper or unauthorized activities on behalf of our customers or improper use of confidential information. It is not always possible to prevent employee errors and misconduct, and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Employee errors could also subject us to financial claims for negligence, among others.
In addition, as a bank, we are susceptible to fraudulent activity that may be committed against us, third parties or our clients, which may result in financial losses or increased costs to us or our clients, disclosure or misuse of our information or our client information, misappropriation of assets, privacy breaches against our clients, litigation or damage to our reputation. Such fraudulent activity may take many forms, including check fraud, electronic fraud, wire fraud, phishing, social engineering and other dishonest acts. For example, as previously disclosed in the second quarter of 2023, the Bank was the victim of international wire fraud resulting in an estimated loss of $18.1 million, prior to additional insurance and loss recoveries of $6.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.
We maintain a system of internal controls and insurance coverage to mitigate operational risks, including data processing system failures and errors, cyber-attacks, and customer or employee fraud. Should our internal controls fail to prevent or detect an occurrence, or if any resulting loss is not insured or exceeds applicable insurance limits, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The Company is and may become involved from time to time in suits, legal proceedings, information-gathering requests, investigations and proceedings by governmental and self-regulatory agencies that may lead to adverse consequences.
Many aspects of our business and operations involve the risk of legal liability, and in some cases we or our subsidiaries have been named or threatened to be named as defendants in various lawsuits arising from our business activities. For example, as previously disclosed in the third quarter of 2019, the Bank discovered potentially fraudulent activity by a former treasury management client involving multiple banks. In the context of resulting bankruptcy proceedings involving the former client, the liquidating trustee has filed a complaint against the Bank, focused on a series of business transactions among the former client, related entities and the Bank. In addition, companies in our industry are frequently the subject of governmental and self-regulatory agency information-gathering requests, reviews, investigations and proceedings. The results of such proceedings could lead to significant civil or criminal penalties, including monetary penalties, damages, adverse judgments, settlements, fines, injunctions, restrictions on the way in which we conduct our business, or reputational harm.
Although we establish accruals for legal proceedings when information related to the loss contingencies represented by those matters indicates both that a loss is probable and that the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated, we do not have accruals for all legal proceedings where we face a risk of loss. In addition, due to the inherent subjectivity of the assessments and unpredictability of the outcome of legal proceedings, amounts accrued may not represent the ultimate loss to us from the legal proceedings in question. Accordingly, our ultimate losses may be higher, and possibly significantly so, than the amounts accrued for legal loss contingencies, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
We have no unresolved SEC staff comments.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company is headquartered in the main office building of the Bank at 202 E. Center Street, Warsaw, Indiana 46580. The Company operates in 60 locations, 51 of which are owned by the Bank and nine of which are leased from third parties.
None of the Company’s real property assets are the subject of any material encumbrances.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Lakeland Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries are subject in the normal course of business to various pending and threatened legal proceedings and other matters in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. On an ongoing basis management, after consultation with legal counsel, assesses the Company's liabilities and contingencies in connection with such proceedings. For those matters where it is probable that the Company will incur losses and the amounts of the losses can be reasonably estimated, the Company records an expense and corresponding liability in its consolidated financial statements. To the extent the pending or threatened litigation could result in exposure in excess of that liability, the amount of such excess is not currently estimable. Although the Company does not believe that the outcome of pending legal matters will be material to the Company's consolidated financial position, it cannot rule out the possibility that such outcomes will be material to the consolidated results of operations for a particular reporting period in the future. See "Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Loss Contingencies" in our audited financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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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 quarterly high and low prices for the Company’s common stock and the cash dividends declared and paid on that common stock are set forth in the table below.
2023 2022
High* Low* Cash Dividend High* Low* Cash Dividend
Fourth quarter $ 67.88 $ 45.59 $ 0.46 $ 83.57 $ 71.37 $ 0.40
Third quarter 57.00 44.47 0.46 81.27 64.05 0.40
Second quarter 62.71 43.05 0.46 79.14 64.84 0.40
First quarter 77.07 59.55 0.46 85.71 72.78 0.40
The common stock of the Company was first quoted on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “LKFN” on August 14, 1997. Currently, the Company’s common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “LKFN.” On February 13, 2024, the Company had approximately 299 stockholders of record.
The Company paid dividends on its common stock as set forth in the table above. The Company’s ability to pay dividends to stockholders is largely dependent upon the dividends it receives from the Bank, and the Bank is subject to regulatory limitations on the amount of cash dividends it may pay. See “Supervision and Regulation of the Company - Dividend Payments” for additional information.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The table below sets forth the following information as of December 31, 2023 for (i) all compensation plans previously approved by the Company’s stockholders and (ii) all compensation plans not previously approved by the Company’s stockholders:
(a)the number of securities to be issued upon the exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights;
(b)the weighted-average exercise price of such outstanding options, warrants and rights; and
(c)other than securities to be issued upon the exercise of such outstanding options, warrants and rights, the number of securities remaining available for future issuance under the plans.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
Plan category Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1)
0 $ 0 279,618
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders 0 0 0
Total 0 $ 0 279,618
(1)Lakeland Financial Corporation 2017 Equity Incentive Plan was adopted on April 12, 2017 by the board of directors.
STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The graph below compares the cumulative total return of the Company, the Nasdaq Market Index, the KBW Nasdaq Bank Index, and the S&P U.S. BMI Banks Index.
Lakeland Financial Corporation
Period Ending
Index 12/31/18 12/31/19 12/31/20 12/31/21 12/31/22 12/31/23
Lakeland Financial Corporation $ 100.00 $ 124.99 $ 140.68 $ 214.86 $ 199.83 $ 184.29
NASDAQ Composite Index 100.00 136.69 198.10 242.03 163.28 236.17
KBW NASDAQ Bank Index 100.00 136.13 122.09 168.88 132.75 131.57
S&P U.S. BMI Banks Index 100.00 137.36 119.83 162.92 135.13 147.41
The above returns assume that $100 was invested on December 31, 2018 and that all dividends were reinvested.
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PARTIES
On January 8, 2019, the Company's board of directors approved a share repurchase program, under which the Company is authorized to repurchase, from time to time as the Company deems appropriate, shares of the Company's common stock with an aggregate purchase price of up to $30 million. Repurchases may be made in the open market, through block trades or otherwise, and in privately negotiated transactions. On April 11, 2023, the Company's board of directors reauthorized and extended the share repurchase program through April 30, 2025. As extended, the repurchase program has remaining aggregate purchase price authority of $30 million as of December 31, 2023. The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to repurchase any dollar amount or number of shares, and the program may be extended, modified, suspended or discontinued at any time. There were no repurchases under this plan during the year ended December 31, 2023.
During the quarter ended December 31, 2023, no director or officer of the Company adopted or terminated any Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or any non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement, in each case as defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K.
The following table provides information about purchases by the Company and its affiliates during the quarter ended December 31, 2023 of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act:
Period Total Number of Shares Purchased (a) Average Price Paid per Share Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs Maximum Number (or Appropriate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (b)
10/01/23 - 10/31/23 0 $ 0.00 0 $ 30,000,000
11/01/23 - 11/30/23 1,580 53.15 0 30,000,000
12/01/23 - 12/31/23 0 0.00 0 30,000,000
Total 1,580 $ 53.15 0 $ 30,000,000
(a) The shares purchased during the quarter were credited to the deferred share accounts of non-employee directors under the Company’s directors’ deferred compensation plan. These shares are held in treasury stock of the Company and were purchased in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice.
(b) Following the renewal and extension of the Company's share repurchase program on April 11, 2023, the maximum dollar value of shares that may bet be repurchased under the program is $30 million as of December 31, 2023. The share repurchase program terminates April 30, 2025.

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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
OVERVIEW
Net income in 2023 was $93.8 million, down 9.7%, from $103.8 million in 2022. Net income for 2022 was 8.4% higher than $95.7 million in 2021.
Diluted net income per common share was $3.65 in 2023, $4.04 in 2022 and $3.74 in 2021. Return on average total assets was 1.45% in 2023, versus 1.62% in 2022 and 1.56% in 2021. Return on average total equity was 15.93% in 2023, versus 17.40% in 2022 and 14.19% in 2021. The dividend payout ratio, with respect to diluted earnings per share, was 50.41% in 2023, versus 39.60% in 2022 and 36.36% in 2021. The average equity to average assets ratio was 9.11% in 2023, compared to 9.28% in 2022 and 10.96% in 2021.
Net income in 2023 was negatively impacted by a $20.5 million increase in noninterest expense and a $5.9 million decrease in net interest income. Offsetting these decreases were an $8.0 million increase in noninterest income and a $3.5 million decrease in provision for credit losses.
On June 30, 2023, the Company discovered that it had been the victim of an international wire fraud resulting in a loss of $18.1 million. During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company recognized $6.3 million in insurance and loss recoveries associated with the wire fraud loss. During 2023, the total impact of the wire fraud loss to income before income tax expense was $10.4 million, net of recoveries and adjustments to salaries and benefits expense, or $7.8 million net of tax, and $0.30 diluted earnings per common share.
Core operational profitability, a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes the impact of the wire fraud loss and related insurance and loss recoveries as well as adjustments to the Company's salaries and employee benefits expense, was $101.6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $2.2 million, or 2.2%, from the full year 2022. Core operational diluted earnings per common share, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, was $3.95, also a decrease of 2.2%, from the full year 2022.
Net income in 2022 was positively impacted by a $24.8 million increase in net interest income. Offsetting the positive impact of net interest income were an $8.3 million increase in provision for credit losses, a $5.9 million increase in noninterest expense and a $2.9 million decrease in noninterest income.
Total assets were $6.524 billion as of December 31, 2023 versus $6.432 billion as of December 31, 2022, an increase of $91.7 million or 1.4%. Balance sheet expansion in 2023 was driven by loan growth of $206.1 million, or 4.4%. Offsetting the increase in loan growth was a decrease in investments securities of $132.1 million, or 10.1%. Balance sheet expansion in 2023 was funded by an increase in deposits of $259.9 million, or 4.8%, and was offset by a decrease in borrowings of $247.0 million.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Certain of the Company’s accounting policies are important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition, since they require management to make difficult, complex or subjective judgments, some of which may relate to matters that are inherently uncertain. Estimates associated with these policies are susceptible to material changes as a result of changes in facts and circumstances. Some of the facts and circumstances which could affect these judgments include changes in interest rates, in the performance of the economy or in the financial condition of borrowers. Management believes that its critical accounting policies include determining the allowance for credit losses.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses to provide for expected credit losses. Losses are charged against the allowance when management believes that the principal is uncollectible. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. Allocations of the allowance are made for specific loans and for pools of similar types of loans, although the entire allowance is available for any loan that, in management’s judgment, should be charged against the allowance. A provision for credit losses is taken based on management’s ongoing evaluation of the appropriate allowance balance. A formal evaluation of the adequacy of the credit loss allowance is conducted monthly. The ultimate recovery of all loans is susceptible to future market factors beyond the Company’s control.
The level of credit loss provision is influenced by growth in the overall loan portfolio, emerging market risk, emerging concentration risk, commercial loan focus and large credit concentration, new industry lending activity, general economic
conditions and historical loss analysis. In addition, management gives consideration to changes in the facts and circumstances of watch list credits, which includes the security position of the borrower, in determining the appropriate level of the credit loss provision. Furthermore, management’s overall view on credit quality is a factor in the determination of the provision.
The determination of the appropriate allowance is inherently subjective, as it requires significant estimates by management. The Company has an established process to determine the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses that generally includes consideration of changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio and overall portfolio quality, along with current and forecasted economic conditions that may affect borrowers’ ability to repay. Consideration is not limited to these factors although they represent the most commonly cited factors. To determine the specific allocation levels for individual credits, management considers the current valuation of collateral and the amounts and timing of expected future cash flows as the primary measures. Management also considers trends in adversely classified loans based upon an ongoing review of those credits. With respect to pools of similar loans, an appropriate level of general allowance is determined by portfolio segment using a probability of default-loss given default (“PD/LGD”) model, subject to a floor. A default can be triggered by one of several different asset quality factors, including past due status, nonaccrual status, material modification to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty or if the loan has had a charge off. This PD is then combined with a LGD derived from historical charge off data to construct a default rate. This loss rate is then supplemented with adjustments for reasonable and supportable forecasts of relevant economic indicators, particularly the unemployment rate forecast from the Federal Open Market Committee’s Summary of Economic Projections, and other environmental factors based on the risks present for each portfolio segment. These environmental factors include consideration of the following: levels of, and trends in, delinquencies and nonperforming loans; trends in volume and terms of loans; changes in collateral strength; effects of any changes in risk selection and underwriting standards; other changes in lending policies, procedure, and practices; experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff; national and local economic trends and conditions; industry conditions; and effects of changes in credit concentrations. It is also possible that these factors could include social, political, economic, and terrorist events or activities. All of these factors are subject to change, which may be significant. As a result of this detailed process, the allowance results in two forms of allocations, specific and general. These two components represent the total allowance for credit losses deemed adequate to cover expected losses inherent in the loan portfolio.
Commercial loans are subject to a dual standardized grading process administered by the credit administration function. These grade assignments are performed independent of each other and a consensus is reached by credit administration and the loan officer. Specific allowances are established in cases where management has identified significant conditions or circumstances related to an individual credit that indicate it should be evaluated on an individual basis. Considerations with respect to specific allocations for these individual credits include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) the sufficiency of the customer’s cash flow or net worth to repay the loan; (b) the adequacy of the discounted value of collateral relative to the loan balance; (c) whether the loan has been criticized in a regulatory examination; (d) whether the loan is nonperforming; (e) any other reasons the ultimate collectability of the loan may be in question; or (f) any unique loan characteristics that require special monitoring.
Allocations are also applied to categories of loans considered not to be individually analyzed, but for which the rate of loss is expected to be consistent with or greater than historical averages. Such allocations are based on past loss experience and information about specific borrower situations and estimated collateral values. These general pooled loan allocations are performed for portfolio segments of commercial and industrial; commercial real estate, multi-family, and construction; agri-business and agricultural; other commercial loans; and consumer 1-4 family mortgage and other consumer loans. General allocations of the allowance are determined by a historical loss rate based on the calculation of each pool’s probability of default-loss given default, subject to a floor. The length of the historical period for each pool is based on the average life of the pool. The historical loss rates are supplemented with consideration of economic conditions and portfolio trends.
Due to the imprecise nature of estimating the allowance for credit losses, the Company’s allowance for credit losses includes an unallocated component. The unallocated component of the allowance for credit losses incorporates the Company’s judgmental determination of potential expected losses that may not be fully reflected in other allocations. As a practical expedient, the Company has elected to state accrued interest separately from loan principal balances on the consolidated balance sheet. Additionally, when a loan is placed on non-accrual, interest payments are reversed through interest income.
For off balance sheet credit exposures outlined in the ASU at 326-20-30-11, it is the Company’s position that nearly all of the unfunded amounts on lines of credit are unconditionally cancellable, and therefore not subject to having a liability recorded.
The allowance is inherently uncertain as it represents the Company’s expectation of the future collectability of loans in its portfolio; actual collections may be greater than or less than expectations. Actual collections may be impacted by wider economic conditions such as changes in the competitive environment or in the levels of business investment or consumer
spending, or by the quality of borrowers’ management teams and the success of their strategy execution. Borrowers’ ability to repay may also change due to the effects of government monetary or fiscal policy, which could affect the level of demand for borrowers’ products or services.
The Company’s allowance for credit losses is subject to changes in the inputs to the model, including the following: the number of delinquent loans, nonaccrual loans, material modification due to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty, or charge offs; the levels of charge offs and recoveries; projected unemployment rates and other economic indicators; the Company’s collateral position on adversely classified loans; or management’s qualitative judgment of the implication of trends in its loan portfolio or in the broader economy.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
The Company's net income in 2023 decreased $10.1 million, or 9.7%, as a result of an increase in noninterest expense of $20.5 million, or 18.6%, and a decrease in net interest income of $5.9 million, or 2.9%. Noninterest income increased $8.0 million, or 19.1%. Provision for credit losses decreased $3.5 million, or 37.6%.
The increases to noninterest expense and noninterest income were primarily driven by the wire fraud loss that occurred during the second quarter of 2023 and related insurance and loss recoveries and adjustments to salaries and benefits expense recorded by the Company as a result of the loss. The wire fraud loss of $18.1 million was the primary driver of the increase to noninterest expense. Insurance and loss recoveries associated with the event of $6.3 million were recorded as noninterest income during the fourth quarter of 2023. Salaries and employee benefits expense was reduced by $1.4 million as a result of adjustments to the Company's long term incentive accrual due to the negative impact of the loss on the Company's net income for the year.
Core operational profitability, a non-GAAP financial measure which excludes the impact of the wire fraud loss and related insurance and loss recoveries and adjustments to the Company's salaries and employee benefits expense, was $101.6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $2.2 million, or 2.2%, from the full year 2022. Core operational diluted earnings per common share, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, was $3.95, also a decrease of 2.2%, from the full year 2022.
The Company's net interest income was negatively impacted in 2023 by increased funding costs, primarily driven by deposit repricing as deposit rates adjusted to the higher interest rate environment as a result of tightened monetary policy by the Federal Reserve. The rise in deposit costs combined with a shift in deposit mix from noninterest bearing deposits to interest bearing deposits were the primary drivers behind the 2.9% decrease in net interest income during 2023.
Asset quality metrics remained stable with watch list loans as a percentage of total loans remaining near historic lows at 3.72% at December 31, 2023, as compared to 3.42% at December 31, 2022. The provision for credit losses decreased $3.5 million, or 37.6%. The near-term outlook includes plans for continued loan growth, disciplined credit philosophy, continued investments in human capital and technological innovations and enhancements, and targeted expansion of our branch network in the Indianapolis market with two new offices planned in the next 24 months.
Selected income statement information for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 is presented in the following table.
(dollars in thousands, except per share data) 2023 2022 2021
Income Statement Summary:
Net interest income (a) $ 197,035 $ 202,887 $ 178,088
Provision for credit losses 5,850 9,375 1,077
Noninterest income (b) 49,858 41,862 44,720
Adjusted Core Noninterest Income (1) 43,558 41,862 44,720
Noninterest expense (c) 130,710 110,210 104,287
Adjusted Core Noninterest Expense (1) 114,049 110,210 104,287
Other Data:
Efficiency ratio (2) 52.94 % 45.03 % 46.81 %
Adjusted Core Efficiency Ratio (1) 47.40 45.03 46.81
Dilutive EPS $ 3.65 $ 4.04 $ 3.74
Total equity 649,793 568,887 704,906
Tangible capital ratio (3) 9.91 % 8.79 % 10.70 %
Adjusted tangible capital ratio (4) 11.99 11.38 10.47
Net charge offs to average loans 0.13 0.10 0.09
Net interest margin 3.31 3.40 3.07
Net interest margin excluding Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans (5) 3.31 3.40 2.95
Noninterest income to total revenue 20.19 17.10 20.07
Pretax Pre-Provision Earnings (6) $ 116,183 $ 134,539 $ 118,521
(1)Non-GAAP financial measure. Calculated by excluding the wire fraud loss and related insurance and loss recoveries and adjustments to salary and benefits. Management believes this is an important measure because meaningful to understanding the company’s core business performance for these periods. See reconciliation on the following pages.
(2)Noninterest expense (c)/(Net interest income (a) plus Noninterest income (b)).
(3)Non-GAAP financial measure. Calculated by subtracting intangible assets, net of deferred tax, from total assets and total equity. Management believes this is an important measure because it is useful for planning and forecasting purposes. See reconciliation on the following pages.
(4)Non-GAAP financial measure. Calculated by removing the fair market value adjustment impact of the available-for-sale investment securities portfolio included in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") from tangible equity and tangible assets. Management believes this is an important measure because it provides better comparability to periods preceding the recent significant rise in prevailing interest rates. See reconciliation on the following pages.
(5)Non-GAAP financial measure. Calculated by subtracting the impact PPP loans had on average earnings assets, loan interest income, average interest bearing liabilities, and interest expense. Management believes this is an important measure because it provides for better comparability to subsequent periods, given the expectation that PPP represented a limited governmental intervention in the lending market, designed to support small businesses through the pandemic, its low fixed interest rate of 1.0% and because the accretion of net loan fee income can be accelerated upon borrower forgiveness and repayment by the SBA. See reconciliation on the following pages.
(6)Non-GAAP financial measure. Pretax pre-provision earnings is calculated by adding net interest income to noninterest income and subtracting noninterest expense. Management believes this is an important measure because it may enable investors to identify the trends in the Company's earnings exclusive of the effects of tax and provision expense, which may vary significantly from period to period. See reconciliation on the following pages.
The Company believes that providing non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with information useful to understanding the company's financial performance. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures is provided below.
The impact of the wire fraud loss, insurance and loss recoveries and adjustments to salaries and benefits is presented below. Management considers these measures of core financial performance to be meaningful to understanding the Company’s business performance for these periods.
Year Ended
Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 Dec. 31, 2021
Noninterest Income $ 49,858 $ 41,862 $ 44,720
Less: Recoveries (6,300) 0 0
Adjusted Core Noninterest Income $ 43,558 $ 41,862 $ 44,720
Noninterest Expense $ 130,710 $ 110,210 $ 104,287
Less: Wire Fraud Loss (18,058) 0 0
Plus: Salaries and Employee Benefits 1,397 0 0
Adjusted Core Noninterest Expense $ 114,049 $ 110,210 $ 104,287
Earnings Before Income Taxes $ 110,333 $ 125,164 $ 117,444
Adjusted Core Impact:
Noninterest Income (6,300) 0 0
Noninterest Expense 16,661 0 0
Total Adjusted Core Impact 10,361 0 0
Adjusted Earnings Before Income Taxes 120,694 125,164 117,444
Tax Effect (19,119) (21,347) (21,711)
Core Operational Profitability $ 101,575 $ 103,817 $ 95,733
Diluted Earnings Per Share $ 3.65 $ 4.04 $ 3.74
Impact of Wire Fraud Loss, Net of Recoveries 0.30 0.00 0.00
Core Operational Diluted Earnings Per Common Share $ 3.95 $ 4.04 $ 3.74
Adjusted Core Efficiency Ratio 47.40 % 45.03 % 46.81 %
Year Ended
(dollars in thousands, except per share data) Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 Dec. 31, 2021
Total Equity $ 649,793 $ 568,887 $ 704,906
Less: Goodwill (4,970) (4,970) (4,970)
Plus: Deferred Tax Assets Related to Goodwill 1,167 1,167 1,176
Tangible Common Equity 645,990 565,084 701,112
Market Value Adjustment in AOCI 154,460 188,154 (17,056)
Adjusted Tangible Common Equity 800,450 753,238 684,056
Assets $ 6,524,029 $ 6,432,371 $ 6,557,323
Less: Goodwill (4,970) (4,970) (4,970)
Plus: Deferred Tax Assets Related to Goodwill 1,167 1,167 1,176
Tangible Assets 6,520,226 6,428,568 6,553,529
Market Value Adjustment in AOCI 154,460 188,154 (17,056)
Adjusted Tangible Assets 6,674,686 6,616,722 6,536,473
Ending Common Shares Issued 25,614,585 25,536,026 25,488,508
Tangible Book Value Per Common Share $ 25.22 $ 22.13 $ 27.50
Tangible Common Equity/Tangible Assets 9.91 % 8.79 % 10.70 %
Adjusted Tangible Common Equity/Adjusted Tangible Assets 11.99 11.38 10.47
Net Interest Income $ 197,035 $ 202,887 $ 178,088
Plus: Noninterest Income 49,858 41,862 44,720
Minus: Noninterest Expense (130,710) (110,210) (104,287)
Pretax Pre-Provision Earnings $ 116,183 $ 134,539 $ 118,521
The impact of the Paycheck Protection Program on Net Interest Margin FTE for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 is presented below (dollars in thousands). The impact of the Paycheck Protection Program on Net Interest Margin FTE for the year ended December 31, 2023 is excluded as the Program had an immaterial impact on average earning assets, interest income and cost of funds during the period.
Year Ended
Dec. 31, 2022 Dec. 31, 2021
Total Average Earnings Assets $ 6,123,163 $ 5,906,640
Less: Average Balance of PPP Loans (7,942) (237,951)
Total Adjusted Earning Assets 6,115,221 5,668,689
Total Interest Income FTE $ 245,194 $ 196,806
Less: PPP Loan Income (772) (14,945)
Total Adjusted Interest Income FTE 244,422 181,861
Adjusted Earning Asset Yield, net of PPP Impact 4.00 % 3.21 %
Total Average Interest Bearing Liabilities $ 3,913,195 $ 3,761,520
Less: Average Balance of PPP Loans (7,942) (237,951)
Total Adjusted Interest Bearing Liabilities 3,905,253 3,523,569
Total Interest Expense FTE $ 36,680 $ 15,131
Less: PPP Cost of Funds (20) (595)
Total Adjusted Interest Expense FTE 36,660 14,536
Adjusted Cost of Funds, net of PPP Impact 0.60 % 0.26 %
Net Interest Margin FTE, net of PPP Impact 3.40 % 2.95 %
Net Income
Net income was $93.8 million in 2023, a decrease of $10.1 million, or 9.7%, versus net income of $103.8 million in 2022. The decrease in net income from 2022 to 2023 was driven by an increase in noninterest expense of $20.5 million, or 18.6% and a decrease in net interest income of $5.9 million, or 2.9%. Offsetting these decreases was an increase in noninterest expense of $8.0 million, or 19.1%, and a decrease in the provision for credit losses of $3.5 million, or 37.6%.
The increases to noninterest expense and noninterest income were a result of the wire fraud loss and related insurance and loss recoveries and adjustments to salaries and employee benefits expense recorded by the Company during 2023. The wire fraud loss, which occurred during the second quarter of 2023, was $18.1 million and was the primary driver of the increase to noninterest expense. Insurance and loss recoveries associated with the event of $6.3 million were recorded as noninterest income during the fourth quarter of 2023. Salaries and employee benefits expense was reduced by $1.4 million as a result of adjustments to the Company's long term incentive accrual due to the negative impact of the loss on the Company's net income for the year.
Core operational profitability, a non-GAAP financial measure which excludes the impact of the wire fraud loss and related insurance and loss recoveries as well as adjustments to the Company's salaries and employee benefits expense, was $101.6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $2.2 million, or 2.2%, from the comparable period of 2022. Core operational diluted earnings per common share, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, was $3.95, also a decrease of 2.2%, from the comparable period of 2022.
Net income was $103.8 million in 2022, an increase of $8.1 million, or 8.4%, versus net income of $95.7 million in 2021. The increase in net income from 2021 to 2022 was primarily due to an increase in net interest income of $24.8 million, or 13.9%, and an increase in the provision for credit losses of $8.3 million, or 770.5%. Noninterest expense increased $5.9 million, or 5.7%, and noninterest income decreased $2.9 million, or 6.4%. Net interest income for 2022 included $772,000 in PPP interest and fee income, compared to $14.9 million for 2021. The increase in provision expense for 2022 was driven primarily by the downgrade of a single commercial relationship, with the remaining increase attributable to loan growth.
Net Interest Income
The following table presents a three-year average balance sheet and, for each major asset and liability category, its related interest income and yield or its expense and rate for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
THREE YEAR AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET AND NET INTEREST ANALYSIS
2023 2022 2021
(fully tax equivalent basis, dollars in thousands) Average Balance Interest Income Yield (1)/ Rate Average Balance Interest Income Yield (1)/ Rate Average Balance Interest Income Yield (1)/ Rate
Earning Assets
Loans:
Taxable (1)(2) $ 4,755,341 $ 304,130 6.40 % $ 4,391,590 $ 202,004 4.60 % $ 4,406,456 $ 170,081 3.86 %
Tax exempt (3) 58,337 4,839 8.29 35,576 2,094 5.89 14,638 594 4.06
Investments: (3)
Securities 1,184,659 33,907 2.86 1,432,287 38,882 2.71 1,068,325 25,582 2.39
Short-term investments 2,425 109 4.49 2,266 30 1.32 2,254 2 0.09
Interest bearing deposits 113,463 5,594 4.93 261,444 2,184 0.84 414,967 547 0.13
Total earning assets $ 6,114,225 $ 348,579 5.70 % $ 6,123,163 $ 245,194 4.00 % $ 5,906,640 $ 196,806 3.33 %
Less: Allowance for credit losses (72,222) (67,717) (72,083)
Nonearning Assets
Cash and due from banks 70,941 72,302 70,035
Premises and equipment 58,633 58,894 59,667
Other nonearning assets 293,403 240,937 189,521
Total assets $ 6,464,980 $ 6,427,579 $ 6,153,780
Interest Bearing Liabilities
Savings deposits $ 347,009 $ 246 0.07 % $ 419,997 $ 327 0.08 % $ 360,915 $ 278 0.08 %
Interest bearing checking accounts 2,909,464 107,471 3.69 2,689,572 31,182 1.16 2,392,220 6,759 0.28
Time deposits:
In denominations under $100,000 202,904 5,106 2.52 185,215 1,289 0.70 218,624 2,038 0.93
In denominations over $100,000 669,545 24,968 3.73 579,797 3,483 0.60 714,353 5,752 0.81
Miscellaneous short-term borrowings 166,821 8,441 5.06 6,559 272 4.15 408 7 1.72
Long-term borrowings 0 0 0.00 32,055 127 0.40 75,000 297 0.40
Total interest bearing liabilities $ 4,295,743 $ 146,232 3.40 % $ 3,913,195 $ 36,680 0.94 % $ 3,761,520 $ 15,131 0.40 %
Noninterest Bearing Liabilities
Demand deposits 1,475,306 1,842,777 1,671,172
Other liabilities 105,264 75,120 46,451
Stockholders' Equity 588,667 596,487 674,637
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 6,464,980 $ 6,427,579 $ 6,153,780
Interest Margin Recap
Interest income/average earning assets 348,579 5.70 % 245,194 4.00 % 196,806 3.33 %
Interest expense/average earning assets 146,232 2.39 36,680 0.60 15,131 0.26
Net interest income and margin $ 202,347 3.31 % $ 208,514 3.40 % $ 181,675 3.07 %
(1)Loan fees are included as taxable loan interest income. Net loan fees attributable to PPP loans were $10,000, $692,000 and $12.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
(2)Nonaccrual loans are included in the average balance of taxable loans.
(3)Tax exempt income was converted to a fully taxable equivalent basis at a 21 percent tax rate. The tax equivalent rate for tax exempt loans and tax exempt securities acquired after January 1, 1983 included the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (“TEFRA”) adjustment applicable to nondeductible interest expenses. Taxable equivalent basis adjustments were $5.3 million, $5.6 million and $3.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The following table shows fluctuations in net interest income attributable to changes in the average balances of assets and liabilities and the yields earned or rates paid for the years ended December 31.
NET INTEREST INCOME - RATE/VOLUME ANALYSIS (fully tax equivalent basis, dollars in thousands)
2023 Over (Under) 2022 (1) 2022 Over (Under) 2021 (1)
Attributable to Total Change Attributable to Total Change
Volume Rate Volume Rate
Interest Income (2)
Loans:
Taxable $ 17,875 $ 84,251 $ 102,126 $ (576) $ 32,499 $ 31,923
Tax exempt 1,674 1,071 2,745 1,141 359 1,500
Investments:
Securities (7,000) 2,025 (4,975) 9,552 3,748 13,300
Short-term investments 2 77 79 0 28 28
Interest bearing deposits (1,863) 5,273 3,410 (272) 1,909 1,637
Total interest income 10,688 92,697 103,385 9,845 38,543 48,388
Interest Expense
Savings deposits (53) (28) (81) 46 3 49
Interest bearing checking accounts 2,750 73,539 76,289 941 23,482 24,423
Time deposits:
In denominations under $100,000 134 3,683 3,817 (282) (467) (749)
In denominations over $100,000 620 20,865 21,485 (966) (1,303) (2,269)
Miscellaneous short-term borrowings 8,096 73 8,169 242 23 265
Long-term borrowings and
subordinated debentures (127) 0 (127) (170) 0 (170)
Total interest expense 11,420 98,132 109,552 (189) 21,738 21,549
Net Interest Income (tax equivalent) $ (732) $ (5,435) $ (6,167) $ 10,034 $ 16,805 $ 26,839
(1)The earning assets and interest bearing liabilities used to calculate interest differentials are based on average daily balances for 2023, 2022 and 2021. The changes in net interest income are created by changes in interest rates and changes in the volumes of loans, investments, deposits and borrowings. In the table above, changes attributable to volume are computed using the change in volume from the prior year multiplied by the previous year’s rate, and changes attributable to rate are computed using the change in rate from the prior year multiplied by the previous year’s volume. The change in interest or expense due to both rate and volume has been allocated between factors in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of the change in each.
(2)Tax exempt income was converted to a fully taxable equivalent basis at a 21 percent tax rate. The tax equivalent rate for tax exempt loans and tax exempt securities acquired after January 1, 1983 included the TEFRA adjustment applicable to nondeductible interest expense.
Net interest income decreased by $5.9 million to $197.0 million in 2023 compared to $202.9 million in 2022, primarily as a result of increased funding costs. Total interest expense increased $109.6 million, or 298.7%. Of this increase, deposit interest expense increased $101.5 million, or 279.8%, as a result of increased rates paid for customer deposits and a shift in deposit mix from noninterest bearing deposits to interest bearing deposits. Funding costs for deposits increased 183 basis points to 2.46% during 2023, a 290.5% increase compared to 0.63% during 2022. Average noninterest bearing deposits decreased $367.5 million, or 19.9%, to $1.48 billion for 2023 as compared to $1.84 billion for 2022. Average interest bearing deposits increased $254.3 million, or 6.6%, to $4.13 billion for 2023 as compared to $3.87 billion for 2022. Contributing further to the increased funding costs was an increase in borrowings expense of $8.0 million, as a result of increased average short-term borrowings to meet the Company's funding needs. Average wholesale funding reliance remained low at 2.90% as of December 31, 2023 compared to 0.70% at December 31, 2022.
Investment securities interest income decreased $4.1 million, or 12.3%, and contributed to the decline in net interest income during 2023. The decrease in investment securities income was driven by a decrease in average securities balances of $247.6 million, or 17.3%, during 2023 as a result of available-for-sale investment securities sales of $105.2 million, maturities, calls and paydowns of $71.8 million, and offset by purchases of CRA securities of $7.2 million. Realized losses of $25,000
were recognized on the securities sales during 2023. The yield on average investment securities increased 15 basis points to 2.86% for 2023, as compared to 2.71% for 2022, partially offsetting the impact of the decrease in securities average balances.
An increase in loans interest income offset the negative impacts to net interest income, increasing $104.3 million, or 51.2%, to $308.0 million during 2023 compared to $203.7 million during 2022. The increase in average loans was driven by loan growth during the period as average loan balances increased $386.5 million, or 8.7%, from $4.43 billion during 2022 to $4.81 billion during 2023. An increase in loan yields of 181 basis points, or 39.3%, from 4.61% for 2022 to 6.42% for 2023 as a result of continued Federal Reserve tightening during 2023 and loan repricing opportunities.
As a result of these effects, net interest margin decreased 9 basis points to 3.31% in 2023 versus 3.40% in 2022. Net interest margin increased to 3.40% in 2022 from 3.07% in 2021, driven by the dramatic tightening of monetary policy by the Federal Reserve during 2022 and 2023 and deposit repricing to reflect the increased rate environment that lagged into 2023. Additionally, net interest margin during the year ended December 31, 2022 was positively impacted by the recognition of nonaccrual interest resulting from the interest recovery of two nonaccrual commercial borrowers during the fourth quarter of 2022. The interest recovery was from two loans placed on nonaccrual status in 2009 and 2021. The $1.9 million of nonaccrual interest income was recognized into loan interest income and contributed 3 basis points to the Company's net interest margin during 2022.
The utilization of commercial and retail lines of credit decreased to 39% at December 31, 2023, down from 42% at December 31, 2022 and 2021. However, available lines of credit have increased by $124.0 million to $4.786 billion at December 31, 2023 compared to $4.662 billion at December 31, 2022, or 2.7% growth. The decrease in line usage is attributable to the conservative approach commercial and industrial borrowers continue to take since the pandemic, due to continued elevated levels of average commercial demand deposits relative to pre-pandemic levels.
Provision for Credit Losses
The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $5.9 million in 2023 compared to $9.4 million in 2022 and $1.1 million in 2021. Provision expense during 2023 was driven primarily by increases in the qualitative and environmental risk factors for certain segments of the Company's loan portfolio that could be impacted by higher borrowing costs and potential economic weakness in the Company's markets. The remainder of expense was driven by growth in the loan portfolio during the year. The Company’s allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2023 was $72.0 million compared to $72.6 million as of December 31, 2022 and $67.8 million as of December 31, 2021. The allowance for credit losses represented 1.46% of total loans as of December 31, 2023 versus 1.54% at December 31, 2022 and 1.58% at December 31, 2021. The company’s credit loss reserve to total loans, excluding PPP loans, which are guaranteed by the United States SBA and have not been allocated for within the allowance for credit losses, was 1.59% at December 31, 2021. The impact of PPP loans had an immaterial impact on the allowance coverage ratio at December 31, 2023 and 2022. Net charge offs of $6.5 million, or 0.13%, and $4.5 million, or 0.10% of average loans, were recorded in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The charge offs for 2023 and 2022 resulted primarily from the deterioration of a single commercial credit. Management believes the charge offs related to this credit were an isolated instance as a result of negative impacts caused by unique circumstances from the pandemic and are not reflective of deteriorating trends in the loan portfolio. The Company’s management continues to monitor the adequacy of the provision based on loan levels, asset quality, economic conditions including the impact of the increased interest rate environment, inflation levels, and other factors that may influence the assessment of the collectability of loans.
The Company adopted CECL on January 1, 2021. Adoption of the standard resulted in a day one impact to the allowance for credit losses of $9.1 million, with an offset, net of taxes, to stockholders' equity.
Noninterest Income
The following table presents changes in the components of noninterest income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
% Change From
Prior Year
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022 2021 2023 2022
Wealth advisory fees $ 9,080 $ 8,636 $ 8,750 5.1 % (1.3) %
Investment brokerage fees 1,815 2,318 1,975 (21.7) 17.4
Service charges on deposit accounts 10,773 11,595 10,608 (7.1) 9.3
Loan and service fees 11,750 12,214 11,922 (3.8) 2.4
Merchant and interchange fee income 3,651 3,560 3,023 2.6 17.8
Bank owned life insurance income 3,133 432 2,467 625.2 (82.5)
Interest rate swap fee income 794 579 1,035 37.1 (44.1)
Mortgage banking income (loss) (254) 633 1,418 (140.1) (55.4)
Net securities gains (losses) (25) 21 797 (219.0) (97.4)
Other income 9,141 1,874 2,725 387.8 (31.2)
Total noninterest income $ 49,858 $ 41,862 $ 44,720 19.1 % (6.4) %
Noninterest income to total revenue 20.2 % 17.1 % 20.1 %
Noninterest income was $49.9 million in 2023 versus $41.9 million in 2022, an increase of $8.0 million, or 19.1%. Adjusted core noninterest income, which excludes the net wire fraud loss, was $43.6 million in 2023, an increase of $1.7 million, or 4.1% compared to 2022. Wealth advisory fees increased by 5.1%, or $444,000, during 2023, from $8.6 million to $9.1 million reflecting continued growth in the business and improving equity market valuations. Service charges on deposit accounts decreased by 7.1%, or $822,000, during 2023 from $11.6 million to $10.8 million due primarily to an increase to earnings allowances on business checking accounts and reduced overdraft and other deposit fees. Loan and service fees declined by 3.8%, or $464,000, during 2023 primarily due to a decline in interchange revenue due to reduced volume and spend per debit card as compared to higher trends during the pandemic. Merchant fee income improved by 2.6%, or $91,000, during 2023.
Other income increased $7.3 million, or 387.8%, due primarily to insurance and loss recoveries of $6.3 million that were recognized during the fourth quarter of 2023. Bank owned life insurance increased $2.7 million, or 625.2%, from improved performance for the Company's variable life insurance policies, which track with the performance of the equity markets. The purchase of traditional bank owned life policies in December 2022 contributed further to the increase in bank owned life insurance income. These increases were offset by decreases to mortgage banking income of $887,000, or 140.1%, and a decrease in investment brokerage fees of $503,000, or 21.7%.
Noninterest income was $41.9 million in 2022 versus $44.7 million in 2021, a decrease of $2.9 million, or 6.4%. Market value declines impacted the overall decrease in noninterest income. Bank owned life insurance income for the year ended December 31, 2022 decreased by $2.0 million, primarily due to declines in the market value of variable life insurance policies that are tied to the equity markets. A reduction of market value of $950,000 was recorded during 2022 compared to market value gains of $1.1 million for 2021. The valuation changes to the variable life insurance policies are offset by similar changes to the deferred compensation expense that is recognized in salary and employee benefits. Excluding the impact of the variable life insurance policy market value changes, noninterest income was $42.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $43.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, a decline of $840,000, or 2.1%. In addition, other income decreased $851,000, mortgage banking income decreased by $785,000, gains on securities sales decreased by $776,000 and interest rate swap fee income decreased by $456,000. Notably, fee-based noninterest income increased by a cumulative $2.0 million primarily due to volume, including improvements in service charges on deposit accounts of $987,000, or 9.3%, merchant and interchange fee income of $537,000, or 17.8%, investment brokerage fees of $343,000, or 17.4%, and loan and service fees of $292,000, or 2.4%. Wealth advisory fees declined by $114,000, or 1.3%, and were negatively impacted by market value declines of 8.0% in trust assets from $2.5 billion at December 31, 2021 to $2.3 billion at December 31, 2022.
Noninterest Expense
The following table presents changes in the components of noninterest expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
% Change From
Prior Year
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022 2021 2023 2022
Salaries and employee benefits $ 59,147 $ 58,530 $ 57,882 1.1 % 1.1 %
Net occupancy expense 6,360 6,287 5,728 1.2 9.8
Equipment costs 5,632 5,763 5,530 (2.3) 4.2
Data processing fees and supplies 14,003 12,826 12,674 9.2 1.2
Corporate and business development 4,807 5,198 4,262 (7.5) 22.0
FDIC insurance and other regulatory fees 3,363 1,999 2,242 68.2 (10.8)
Professional fees 8,583 6,483 7,064 32.4 (8.2)
Wire fraud loss 18,058 0 0 100.0 -
Other expense 10,757 13,124 8,905 (18.0) 47.4
Total noninterest expense $ 130,710 $ 110,210 $ 104,287 18.6 % 5.7 %
Noninterest expense increased by $20.5 million, or 18.6%, for 2023 from $110.2 million to $130.7 million. The increase to noninterest expense during the year was driven by an $18.1 million wire fraud loss that occurred during the second quarter of 2023. Contributing to the increase in noninterest expense during 2023 was an increase to professional fees expense of $2.1 million, or 32.4%, an increase to FDIC insurance and other regulatory fees of $1.4 million, or 68.2%, from increased assessments due to a blanket increase to the assessment rate used by the FDIC to calculate premiums. Data processing fees and supplies expense increased $1.2 million, or 9.2%. Offsetting these increases was a decrease in other expense of $2.4 million, or 18.0%, driven by reduced accruals related to ongoing litigation matters. Adjusted core noninterest expense, a non-GAAP measure, which excludes the impact of the wire fraud loss and corresponding adjustments to salaries and employee benefits, was $114.0 million during 2023, an increase of $3.8 million, or 3.5%, compared to 2022.
Noninterest expense increased by $5.9 million, or 5.7%, for 2022, to $110.2 million compared to $104.3 million for 2021. The increase was due primarily to an increase of $4.2 million in other expense caused by accruals for ongoing legal matters of $3.5 million. See "Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" for additional details regarding loss contingencies. Corporate and business development expense increased $936,000, or 22.0%, driven by increased corporate development spending, advertising expense and charitable and foundation contributions, including contributions associated with the Company's sesquicentennial celebration. Salaries and benefits expense increased $648,000, or 1.1%. Offsetting these increases was a decrease in professional fees of $581,000, or 8.2%, due to a decrease in legal expense incurred during the year. FDIC insurance and other regulatory fee expense decreased by $243,000, or 10.8%, due to declining deposits and reduced total assets of the Company.
Income Taxes
The Company recognized income tax expense in 2023 of $16.6 million, compared to $21.3 million in 2022 and $21.7 million in 2021. The effective tax rate was 15.0% in 2023, compared to 17.1% in 2022 and 18.5% in 2021. The effective tax rate declined due to negative impact of the wire fraud loss and related effects on net income, which lowered income tax expense by $2.6 million for 2023. Additionally, changes to the Indiana Financial Institution Tax rate to 4.9% in 2023, 5.0% in 2022 and 5.5% in 2021, as well as tax-free interest income from municipal securities and loans during 2023 contributed to the decreased effective tax rate. For a detailed analysis of the Company’s income taxes see "Note 12 - Income Taxes".
CERTAIN STATISTICAL DISCLOSURES BY BANK HOLDING COMPANIES
We are required to provide certain statistical disclosures as a bank holding company under the SEC's Industry Guide 3. The following table provides certain of those disclosures.
Year ended December 31,
2023 2022 2021
Return on average assets 1.45 % 1.62 % 1.56 %
Return on equity 15.93 17.40 14.19
Average equity to average assets 9.11 9.28 10.96
Dividend payout ratio 50.41 39.60 36.36
Return on average assets is computed by dividing net income by average assets for each indicated fiscal year. Average assets is computed by adding total assets as of each date during the indicated fiscal year and dividing by the number of days in the fiscal year.
Return on average total equity is computed by dividing net income by average equity for each indicated fiscal year. Average equity is computed by adding the total equity attributable to the Company as of each date during the indicated fiscal year and dividing by the number of days in the fiscal year.
Average equity to average assets is computed by dividing average equity by average assets for each indicated fiscal year, as calculated in accordance with the previous explanation.
Dividend payout ratio is computed by dividing dividends declared per common share by earnings per diluted common share for each indicated fiscal year. The dividend payout ratio increased to 50.4% for 2023 as compared to prior periods due to the wire fraud loss and its negative impact to net income.
Refer to the "Financial Condition - Loan Portfolio", "Financial Condition - Sources of Funds" and "Risk Management - Loan Portfolio" sections of this MD&A and to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K for the other required statistical disclosures.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Overview
Total assets of the Company were $6.524 billion as of December 31, 2023, an increase of $91.7 million, or 1.4%, when compared to $6.432 billion as of December 31, 2022. Total loans outstanding increased by $206.1 million, or 4.4%, to $4.917 billion at December 31, 2023 from $4.710 billion at December 31, 2022. Total deposits increased $259.9 million, from $5.461 billion at December 31, 2022, to $5.721 billion at December 31, 2023, driven by increased commercial and public funds deposits and offset by net retail outflows.
Total cash and equivalents increased $21.5 million, to $151.8 million at December 31, 2023 from $130.3 million at December 31, 2022. Total investment securities decreased by $132.1 million, to $1.182 billion at December 31, 2023 from $1.314 billion at December 31, 2022. The decrease was attributable to a decrease in available-for-sale securities, which decreased by $133.8 million, primarily as a result of investment sales of $105.2 million and maturities, calls and paydowns of $71.8 million, and offset by purchases of $7.2 million and improvement in fair market valuations of $40.7 million. Losses of $25,000 were realized from the sale of available-for-sale securities in 2023. Total borrowings decreased at December 31, 2023, as a result of the liquidity provided by increased levels of deposits at period end and cash inflows from the investment securities portfolio. Total borrowings decreased by $247.0 million to $50.0 million at December 31, 2023 compared to $297.0 million at December 31, 2022.
Uses of Funds
Investment Portfolio
At year end 2023, 2022 and 2021, there were no holdings of securities of any one issuer, other than the U.S. government, government agencies and government sponsored agencies, in an amount greater than 10% of stockholders’ equity. See "Note 2 - Securities" for more information on these investments.
Purchases of securities available-for-sale totaled $7.2 million in 2023, $315.3 million in 2022 and $835.0 million in 2021. Growth of the investment portfolio during 2021 and 2022 served to provide an earning asset alternative for excess balance sheet liquidity stemming from increased levels of liquidity provided by government stimulus programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the recent Federal Reserve monetary tightening cycle starting in March of 2022, the Company deployed $250 million of excess liquidity to the investment securities portfolio during 2022 and $652 million in 2021 to preserve net interest margin. Investment securities represented 18.1% of total assets on December 31, 2023 compared to 20.4% on December 31, 2022 and 21.3% on December 31, 2021. Management expects the investment securities portfolio as a percentage of assets to decrease over time and return to historical levels of approximately 12%-14% during 2014 to 2020 as the proceeds from paydowns and maturities of these investment securities provide liquidity to fund future loan growth.
On April 1, 2022, the Company elected to transfer $151.4 million in net book value of municipal bonds from the available-for-sale securities portfolio to held-to-maturity as an overall balance sheet management strategy. The fair value of these securities transferred was $127.0 million.
Securities sales totaled $105.2 million in 2023, $25.3 million in 2022 and $14.0 million in 2021. Paydowns from prepayments and scheduled payments of $56.2 million, $98.8 million and $113.1 million were received in 2023, 2022 and 2021, and the amortization of premiums, net of the accretion of discounts, was $4.9 million, $6.3 million and $5.0 million, respectively. Maturities and calls of securities totaled $13.6 million, $9.3 million and $24.7 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. No provision for allowance for credit loss was recorded in connection with the investment securities portfolio in 2023, 2022 or 2021. The investment portfolio is managed to provide for an appropriate balance between liquidity, credit risk and investment return and to limit the Company’s exposure to risk to an acceptable level. The longer duration of the investment security portfolio serves to balance the shorter duration of the loan portfolio.
The weighted average yields and maturity distribution for the securities portfolio at December 31, 2023, were as follows:
Within
One Year After One
Within Five Years After Five Years
Within Ten years After Ten
Years
(fully tax equivalent basis, dollars in thousands) Fair
Value Yield Fair
Value Yield Fair
Value Yield Fair
Value Yield
U.S. government sponsor agency $ 0 0.00 % $ 4,376 1.00 % $ 0 0.00 % $ 115,103 1.57 %
Mortgage-backed securities: residential 7 5.00 10,671 2.56 31,632 2.59 405,532 2.11
State and municipal securities 1,191 4.90 3,045 3.95 38,730 2.99 560,656 5.63
Total Securities $ 1,198 4.90 $ 18,092 2.42 $ 70,362 2.81 $ 1,081,291 4.99
The Company does not trade or invest in or sponsor certain unregistered investment companies defined as hedge funds and private equity funds in the Volcker Rule.
Real Estate Mortgage Loans Held-For-Sale
Real estate mortgages held-for-sale increased by $801,000 to $1.2 million at December 31, 2023 from $357,000 at December 31, 2022 as a result of fluctuations in secondary market sales activity. This asset category is subject to a high degree of variability depending on, among other things, recent mortgage loan rates and the quantity and timing of loan sales into the secondary market. The Company generally sells almost all of the conforming mortgage loans it originates in the secondary market. Proceeds from sales totaled $8.0 million in 2023, $36.5 million in 2022 and $126.4 million in 2021.
Loan Portfolio
The loan portfolio by class as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was as follows:
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022 2021
Commercial and industrial loans:
Working capital lines of credit loans $ 604,893 $ 650,948 $ 652,861
Non-working capital loans 815,871 842,101 736,608
Total commercial and industrial loans 1,420,764 1,493,049 1,389,469
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
Construction and land development loans 634,435 517,664 379,813
Owner occupied loans 825,464 758,091 739,371
Nonowner occupied loans 724,101 706,107 588,458
Multi-family loans 253,534 197,232 247,204
Total commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans 2,437,534 2,179,094 1,954,846
Agri-business and agricultural loans:
Loans secured by farmland 162,890 201,200 206,331
Loans for agricultural production 225,874 230,888 239,494
Total agri-business and agricultural loans 388,764 432,088 445,825
Other commercial loans 120,726 113,593 73,490
Total commercial loans 4,367,788 4,217,824 3,863,630
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
Closed end first mortgage loans 258,103 212,742 176,561
Open end and junior lien loans 189,663 175,575 156,238
Residential construction and land development loans 8,421 19,249 11,921
Total consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans 456,187 407,566 344,720
Other consumer loans 96,022 88,075 82,755
Total consumer loans 552,209 495,641 427,475
Gross loans 4,919,997 4,713,465 4,291,105
Less: Allowance for credit losses (71,972) (72,606) (67,773)
Net deferred loan fees (3,463) (3,069) (3,264)
Loans, net $ 4,844,562 $ 4,637,790 $ 4,220,068
The ratio of loans to total loans by portfolio segment as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was as follows:
2023 2022 2021
Commercial and industrial loans 28.89 % 31.68 % 32.38 %
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans 49.54 46.23 45.56
Agri-business and agricultural loans 7.90 9.17 10.39
Other commercial loans 2.45 2.41 1.71
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans 9.27 8.64 8.03
Other consumer loans 1.95 1.87 1.93
Total Loans 100.00 % 100.00 % 100.00 %
In 2023, net loan balances increased by $206.8 million to $4.845 billion, and excludes approximately $8.6 million in loans originated for sale. In 2022, net loan balances increased by $417.7 million to $4.638 billion, and excluded approximately $28.7 million in loans originated for sale. In 2021, net loan balances decreased by $367.7 million to $4.220 billion, and excluded approximately $119.4 million in loans originated for sale.
The mix of The Company's loan portfolio consists primarily of commercial loans, and the Bank's lending focus is on the commercial sector of the Lake City Bank footprint. Owner occupied commercial real estate loans represent in many instances the buildings and factories of our commercial and industrial borrowers. Commercial and industrial loans together with owner occupied commercial real estate loans represented 45.7% and 47.8% of total loans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company has limited exposure to commercial office space borrowers, all of which are located in the Bank's Indiana markets. Loans totaling $71.2 million for this sector represented 1.5% of total loans at December 31, 2023. Loans to the agriculture and agri-business sector of our Indiana footprint represent a significant loan segment of the overall loan portfolio. This loan segment is well diversified with loans to corn, soybean, poultry, dairy, swine, beef and egg growers.
The residential construction and land development loans class included construction loans totaling $1.0 million and $12.0 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. Increases in consumer loans during 2023 resulted from an increased focus on indirect lending to consumers and the introduction of a new adjustable rate mortgage product. The Bank generally sells conforming mortgage loans, which it originates locally, into the secondary market. These loans generally represent mortgage loans that are made to clients with long-term or substantial relationships with the Bank on terms consistent with secondary market requirements. The loan classifications are based on the nature of the loans as of the loan origination date. There were no foreign loans included in the loan portfolio for the periods presented.
Repricing opportunities of the loan portfolio occur either according to predetermined float rate indices, adjustable rate schedules included in the related loan agreements or upon maturity of each principal payment. The following table indicates the scheduled maturities of the loan portfolio as of December 31, 2023:
(dollars in thousands) Commercial and Industrial Commercial Real Estate
and
Multi-family Residential Agri-business and Agricultural Other Commercial Consumer 1-4 Family Mortgage Other Consumer Total Percent
Within one year $ 614,306 $ 601,153 $ 132,955 $ 49,766 $ 13,823 $ 13,778 $ 1,425,781 28.98 %
After one year, within five years 572,286 1,180,447 126,227 27,946 68,673 35,120 2,010,699 40.87
Over five years 222,777 652,687 129,482 43,014 372,860 47,012 1,467,832 29.83
Nonaccrual loans 11,395 3,247 100 0 831 112 15,685 0.32
Total loans $ 1,420,764 $ 2,437,534 $ 388,764 $ 120,726 $ 456,187 $ 96,022 $ 4,919,997 100.00 %
At maturity, credits are reviewed and, if renewed, are renewed at rates and conditions that prevail at the time of maturity.
Based upon the table above, all loans due after one year which have a predetermined interest rate and loans due after one year which have floating or adjustable interest rates as of December 31, 2023 amounted to $2.290 billion and $1.188 billion, respectively.
Bank Owned Life Insurance
Bank owned life insurance increased by $707,000 to $109.1 million at December 31, 2023 and by $10.8 million to $108.4 million at December 31, 2022 from $97.7 million at December 31, 2021. The increase during 2023 was primarily due to increased income from traditional policies purchased in December 2022 and from improved market performance of the Bank's variable bank owned life insurance policies which track with the performance of the equity markets. The increase during 2022 was primarily due to the purchase of life insurance policies on officers of the Bank. Bank owned life insurance investment income is used as an offset to the cost of life insurance purchased by the Bank as a benefit for bank officers.
Sources of Funds
The average daily deposits and borrowings together with the average rates paid on those deposits and borrowings for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are summarized in the following table:
2023 2022 2021 % Balance Change
From Prior Year
(dollars in thousands) Balance Rate Balance Rate Balance Rate 2023 2022
Noninterest bearing demand deposits $ 1,475,306 0.00 % $ 1,842,777 0.00 % $ 1,671,172 0.00 % (19.94) % 10.27 %
Savings and transaction accounts:
Savings deposits 347,009 0.07 419,997 0.08 360,915 0.08 (17.38) 16.37
Interest bearing demand deposits 2,909,464 3.69 2,689,572 1.16 2,392,220 0.28 8.18 12.43
Time deposits:
Deposits of $100,000 or more 669,545 3.73 579,797 0.60 714,353 0.81 15.48 (18.84)
Other time deposits 202,904 2.52 185,215 0.70 218,624 0.93 9.55 (15.28)
Total deposits $ 5,604,228 2.46 % $ 5,717,358 0.63 % $ 5,357,284 0.28 % (1.98) % 6.72 %
FHLB advances and other borrowings 166,821 5.06 38,614 1.03 75,408 0.40 332.02 (48.79)
Total funding sources $ 5,771,049 2.53 % $ 5,755,972 0.64 % $ 5,432,692 0.28 % 0.26 % 5.95 %
Time deposits as of December 31, 2023 will mature as follows:
(dollars in thousands) $100,000
or more $100,000 or less Total % of
Total
Within three months $ 347,896 $ 92,698 $ 440,594 43.33 %
Over three months, within six months 153,827 53,543 207,370 20.39
Over six months, within twelve months 190,803 40,536 231,339 22.75
Over twelve months 100,212 37,306 137,518 13.53
Total time certificates of deposit $ 792,738 $ 224,083 $ 1,016,821 100.00 %
Deposits
Deposits by portfolio segment for December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are presented below:
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
Commercial $ 2,227,147 38.9 % $ 2,085,934 38.2 % $ 2,262,229 39.4 %
Retail 1,794,958 31.4 1,934,787 35.4 2,178,534 38.0
Public fund 1,563,015 27.3 1,429,872 26.1 1,284,641 22.3
Core deposits 5,585,120 97.6 5,450,593 99.7 $ 5,725,404 99.7 %
Brokered deposits 135,405 2.4 10,027 0.3 10,003 0.3
Total $ 5,720,525 100.0 % $ 5,460,620 100.0 % $ 5,735,407 100.0 %
Total deposits increased by $259.9 million to $5.721 billion, at December 31, 2023 compared to $5.461 billion at December 31, 2022. The increase in deposits was attributable to increases in commercial and public fund deposits. Commercial deposits increased $141.2 million, or 6.8% and represented 38.9% and 38.2% of total deposits at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Public fund deposits increased $133.1 million, or 9.3% and represented 27.3% and 26.1% of total deposits at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Additionally, brokered deposits increased $125.4 million, and represented 2.4% and 0.3% of total deposits at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Retail deposits decreased $139.8 million, or 7.2%, and represented 31.4% and 35.4% of deposits at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The decline in retail deposits represents a continued utilization of retail deposits from peak savings levels during 2021.
Total deposits decreased by $274.8 million to $5.461 billion, at December 31, 2022 compared to December 31, 2021. The decrease in deposits was attributable to a decrease in core deposits. Total deposit contraction was led by a decrease of $243.7 million, or 11.2%, in retail deposits. In addition, commercial deposits decreased $176.3 million, or 7.8%, while public funds deposits increased by $145.2 million, or 11.3%. The decrease in deposits during 2022 reflects the normalization of excess
liquidity in our customer's deposit accounts and occurred primarily during the fourth quarter of 2022. Rising inflation is considered a contributor to the decline in deposits during 2022 after the surge in deposits experienced during 2020 and 2021 from PPP funding and COVID-related stimulus programs.
As previously noted, 27.3% of the Company’s deposit base is attributable to public fund entities which consist primarily of customers in the Company’s geographic footprint. A majority of public fund balances represent customers with operating accounts at the Bank. The public fund segment is a stable source of deposit funding and a focus in the treasury management area due to their business needs. A shift in funding away from public fund deposits could require the Company to execute alternative funding plans under the Contingency Funding Plan discussed in further detail under “Liquidity Risk”.
FHLB Advances and Other Borrowings
During 2023, average total short-term borrowings increased by $160.3 million to $166.8 million. Ending balances of short-term and miscellaneous borrowings decreased to $50.0 million at December 31, 2023 compared to $297.0 million at December 31, 2022. Average total long-term borrowings decreased by $32.1 million to zero, as no long-term FHLB advances were outstanding during 2023.
During 2022, average total short-term borrowings increased by $6.2 million to $6.6 million, as the Company's excess liquidity position normalized after experiencing a reduction in cash and short-term investments. Ending balances of short-term and miscellaneous borrowings increased to $297.0 million at December 31, 2022, from zero at December 31, 2021. Average total long-term borrowings decreased by $42.9 million to $32.1 million, due to the repayment of an outstanding long-term advance during the second quarter of 2022.
Capital
The Company believes that a strong, appropriately managed capital position is critical to support continued growth of loans and earnings. Capital is used primarily to fund continued organic loan growth and to support dividends to shareholders. The Company had a total risk-based capital ratio of 15.47%, a Tier I risk-based capital ratio of 14.21% and a common Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 14.21% as of December 31, 2023. These ratios met or exceeded the Federal Reserve Bank’s “well-capitalized” minimums of 10.0%, 8.0% and 6.5%, respectively. The Company also had a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 11.82% and a tangible equity ratio of 9.91%. When excluding the impact of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on tangible common equity, the Company's adjusted tangible common equity to adjusted tangible assets was 11.99%. See "Note 15 - Capital Requirements and Restrictions on Retained Earnings" for more information.
The ability to maintain these ratios is a function of the balance between net income and a prudent dividend policy. Total stockholders’ equity increased by 14.2% to $649.8 million as of December 31, 2023 from $568.9 million as of December 31, 2022. The Company earned $93.8 million in 2023 and $103.8 million in 2022. The Company declared cash dividends of $1.84 per share in 2023, which decreased equity by $47.1 million. The Company declared cash dividends of $1.60 per share in 2022, which decreased equity by $40.9 million. Total stockholder's equity has been impacted by declines in the market value of the Company's available-for-sale investment securities portfolio. The market value decline, resulting from higher interest rate environment, has generated unrealized losses in the available-for-sale portfolio. Unrealized losses from the available-for-sale investment securities portfolio are recorded, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the statement of stockholders' equity. Improvements in the fair value of available-for-sale securities and net defined pension plan gains positively impacted equity by $33.7 million in 2023 compared to a decrease of $205.0 million in 2022. The impact to equity due to other comprehensive income (loss) is not included in regulatory capital.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Overview
The Company, with the oversight of the Corporate Risk Committee of the board of directors, has developed a company-wide risk management program intended to help identify, manage and mitigate the various business risks it faces. Following is a discussion addressing the risks identified as most significant to the Company - Credit, Liquidity, Interest Rate and Market Risk. Item 7A. includes additional discussion about market risk.
Credit Risk
Credit risk represents the risk of loss arising from an obligor’s inability or failure to meet contractual payment or performance terms. Our primary credit risks result from lending and to a lesser extent, investment activities.
Investment Portfolio
The Company’s investment portfolio consists of U.S. treasuries, government agencies and municipal bonds subject to an investment security policy that is approved annually by the board of directors. As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s investment in U.S government sponsored mortgage-backed securities represented approximately 38% of total investment securities fair value consisting of mortgage pools issued by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities are each guaranteed by their respective agencies as to principal and interest. All mortgage securities purchased by the Company in 2023 were within risk tolerances for price, prepayment, extension and original life risk characteristics contained in the Company’s investment policy. As of December 31, 2023, all mortgage-backed securities were performing in a manner consistent with management’s expectations at time of purchase. Municipal securities represent 52% of total investment securities fair value as of December 31, 2023 and were rated investment grade at the time of purchase and continue to be rated investment grade. The Company uses analytics provided by its third party portfolio advisor to evaluate and monitor credit risk for all investments on a quarterly basis. Based upon these analytics as of December 31, 2023, the securities in the combined available-for-sale and held-to-maturity portfolios had an effective duration of approximately 6.5 years. The analysis indicated a negative 18.1% change in market value in the event of a 300 basis point upward, instantaneous rate shock and an approximate positive 6.5% change in market value in the event of a 100 basis point downward, instantaneous rate shock.
Loan Portfolio
The Company has a high percentage of commercial and commercial real estate loans extended to businesses with a broad range of revenue and within a wide variety of industries. Traditionally, this type of lending may have more credit risk than other types of lending because of the size and diversity of the credits. The Company manages this risk by utilizing conservative credit structures, adjusting its pricing to the perceived risk of each individual credit, diversifying the portfolio by customer, product, industry and market area and by obtaining personal loan guarantees.
There were no loan concentrations within industries, which exceeded ten percent of total loans, except commercial real estate. Commercial real estate was $2.438 billion, or 49.5%, of total loans at December 31, 2023. The owner occupied commercial real estate portfolio generally represents the financing of factories and operational facilities for the Bank's commercial and industrial borrowers. The Company’s in-house lending limit is $40.0 million. Manufacturing loans are included in the commercial and industrial loans total and are well diversified by industry. Agri-business and agricultural loans represent 7.9% of total loans as of December 31, 2023 and are not concentrated to any agricultural sector. Substantially all of the Bank’s commercial, industrial, agricultural real estate mortgage, real estate construction mortgage and consumer loans are made within its geographic market areas and to diverse industries. When segmenting the Bank's loan portfolio by North American Industry Classification System code as of December 31, 2023, the largest segments are multifamily housing, agriculture, industrial warehouses and the recreational vehicle industry which represented 11%, 9%, 4% and 4% of total loans, respectively.
The following is a summary of nonperforming loans on an amortized cost basis as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022
Amount of loans outstanding, net of deferred fees, December 31, $ 4,916,534 $ 4,710,396
Commercial and industrial loans
Past due accruing loans (90 days or more) 0 1
Nonaccrual loans 11,395 13,064
Subtotal nonperforming loans 11,395 13,065
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans
Past due accruing loans (90 days or more) 0 0
Nonaccrual loans 3,247 3,065
Subtotal nonperforming loans 3,247 3,065
Agri-business and agricultural loans
Past due accruing loans (90 days or more) 0 0
Nonaccrual loans 100 145
Subtotal nonperforming loans 100 145
Other commercial loans
Past due accruing loans (90 days or more) 0 0
Nonaccrual loans 0 0
Subtotal nonperforming loans 0 0
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans
Past due accruing loans (90 days or more) 27 122
Nonaccrual loans 831 481
Subtotal nonperforming loans 858 603
Other consumer loans
Past due accruing loans (90 days or more) 0 0
Nonaccrual loans 112 209
Subtotal nonperforming loans 112 209
Total nonperforming loans $ 15,712 $ 17,087
Ratio:
Nonperforming loans to total loans 0.32 % 0.36 %
Nonperforming assets of the Company include nonperforming loans (as indicated above), nonaccrual investments, other real estate owned and repossessions, the total of which amounted to $16.1 million and $17.2 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Nonperforming loans remained stable at 0.3% of total loans at December 31, 2023 compared to 0.4% at December 31, 2022. Nonperforming loans decreased by $1.4 million during 2023, due to the net activity of charge offs, paydowns and upgrades. One commercial relationship placed on nonaccrual during 2023 subsequently received a modification to loan terms due to financial difficulty experienced by the borrower.
Loans for which the borrower appears to be unable or unwilling to repay its debt in full or on time, and the collateral is insufficient to cover all principal and accrued interest, will be reclassified as nonperforming to the extent they are unsecured, on or before the date when the loan becomes 90 days delinquent, with the exception of small dollar other consumer loans which are not placed on nonaccrual status since these loans are charged-off when they have been delinquent from 90 to 180 days, and when the related collateral, if any, is not sufficient to offset the indebtedness. When a loan is classified as a nonaccrual loan, interest on the loan is no longer accrued, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed and interest income is subsequently recorded only to the extent cash payments are received. Accrual status is resumed when all contractually due payments are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.
A loan is individually analyzed when full payment under the original loan terms is not expected. Reserves are evaluated in total for smaller-balance loans of similar nature not in nonaccrual status such as residential mortgage, consumer, and credit card loans, and on an individual loan basis for other loans including material modifications made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. If a loan is individually analyzed, a portion of the allowance may be allocated so that the loan is reported, net, at the present value of estimated future cash flow or at the fair value of collateral if repayment is expected solely from the collateral.
Total nonperforming loans were $15.7 million, or 0.32% of total loans, at December 31, 2023 versus $17.1 million, or 0.36% of total loans, at December 31, 2022. There were 33 relationships totaling $16.1 million classified as individually analyzed as of December 31, 2023 versus 39 relationships totaling $31.3 million at the end of 2022. The decrease in individually analyzed loans during 2023 resulted primarily from the payoff of two large commercial relationships and the partial charge off of another commercial relationship. Paydowns and upgrades of other individually analyzed loans further contributed to the decrease for individually analyzed loans for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Loans renegotiated as modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty are those loans for which the Company modifies the terms of loans for borrowers experiencing financial distress by providing the following forms of relief: forgiveness of loan principal, extension of repayment terms, reduction of interest rate or an other than insignificant payment delay. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, there were three loans to three financially distressed commercial borrowers with balances totaling $4.4 million at December 31, 2023 that received such modifications. The Company has no material commitments to lend additional funds to these borrowers. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, no loan modifications were made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty.
The following is a summary of the credit loss experience for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022 2021
Amount of loans outstanding, net of deferred fees, December 31, $ 4,916,534 $ 4,710,396 $ 4,287,841
Average daily loans outstanding during the year ended December 31, $ 4,813,678 $ 4,427,166 $ 4,421,094
Allowance for credit losses, January 1, $ 72,606 $ 67,773 $ 61,408
Impact of adopting ASC 326 0 0 9,050
Loans charged-off:
Commercial and industrial loans 6,341 4,022 5,575
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans 0 597 70
Agri-business and agricultural loans 0 0 0
Other commercial loans 0 0 0
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans 163 42 51
Other consumer loans 828 473 287
Total loans charged-off 7,332 5,134 5,983
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off:
Commercial and industrial loans 180 71 1,559
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans 322 277 14
Agri-business and agricultural loans 0 0 320
Other commercial loans 0 0 0
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans 38 52 122
Other consumer loans 308 192 206
Total recoveries 848 592 2,221
Net loans charged-off 6,484 4,542 3,762
Provision for credit loss charged to expense 5,850 9,375 1,077
Balance, December 31, $ 71,972 $ 72,606 $ 67,773
Ratios:
Net charge offs (recoveries) to average daily loans outstanding:
Commercial and industrial loans 0.13 % 0.09 % 0.09 %
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans (0.01) 0.01 0.00
Agri-business and agricultural loans 0.00 0.00 0.00
Other commercial loans 0.00 0.00 0.00
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans 0.00 0.00 0.00
Other consumer loans 0.01 0.00 0.00
Total ratio of net charge offs (recoveries) 0.13 % 0.10 % 0.09 %
Allowance for credit losses on loans to:
Total loans 1.46 % 1.54 % 1.58 %
Ratio of allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans 458.01 % 424.91 % 449.13 %
The following is a summary of the allocation for credit losses as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022
Allocated allowance for credit losses:
Commercial and industrial loans $ 30,338 $ 35,290
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans 31,335 27,394
Agri-business and agricultural loans 4,150 4,429
Other commercial loans 1,129 917
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans 3,474 3,001
Other consumer loans 1,174 1,021
Total allocated allowance for credit losses 71,600 72,052
Unallocated allowance for credit losses 372 554
Total allowance for credit losses $ 71,972 $ 72,606
At December 31, 2023, the allowance for credit losses was 1.46% of total loans outstanding, versus 1.54% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2022. Management believes the allowance for credit losses is at a level commensurate with the overall risk exposure of the loan portfolio. The process of identifying expected credit losses is a subjective process. Therefore, the Company maintains a general allowance to cover expected credit losses within the entire portfolio. The methodology management uses to determine the adequacy of the credit loss reserve includes the considerations below.
Loans are charged against the allowance for credit losses when management believes that the principal is uncollectible. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. The allowance is an amount that management believes will be adequate for expected credit losses relating to specifically identified loans based on an evaluation of the loans by management, as well as other expected credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The evaluations take into consideration such factors as changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, overall portfolio quality, review of specific problem loans, and current and forecasted economic conditions that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay. Management also considers trends in adversely classified loans based upon a monthly review of those credits. An appropriate level of qualitative and environmental allowance is determined after considering the following factors: changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, overall portfolio quality, changes in collateral strength and current economic conditions that may affect the borrowers’ ability to repay. Consideration is not limited to these factors although they represent the most commonly cited factors. Federal regulations require insured institutions to classify their own assets on a regular basis. The regulations provide for three categories of classified loans: Substandard, Doubtful and Loss. The regulations also contain a Special Mention category. Special Mention is defined as loans that do not currently expose an insured institution to a sufficient degree of risk to warrant classification as Substandard, Doubtful or Loss but do possess credit deficiencies or potential weaknesses deserving management’s close attention. The Company’s policy is to establish a specific allowance for credit losses for any assets where management has identified conditions or circumstances that indicate an asset is nonperforming. If an asset or portion thereof is classified as loss, the Company’s policy is to either establish specific allocations for credit losses in the amount of 100% of the portion of the asset classified loss or charge off such amount.
At December 31, 2023, on the basis of management’s review of the loan portfolio, the Company had 68 credits totaling $183.1 million on the classified loan list versus 58 credits totaling $161.0 million on December 31, 2022. These amounts represent outstanding balances, excluding deferred fees and costs. While the increase in classified loans during 2023 raises concern for the potential for an economic slowdown in the Company's Indiana footprint, it has not translated to broader loan quality issues in the portfolio as the ratio of watch list loans as a percentage of total loans remains near historic lows and was accompanied by a reduction in nonperforming loans during 2023. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $143.6 million of assets classified as Special Mention, $39.4 million classified as Substandard, $0 classified as Doubtful and $0 classified as Loss as compared to $115.7 million, $45.3 million, $0 and $0, respectively, at December 31, 2022. The balances reported in "Note 4 - Allowance for Credit Losses and Credit Quality" include deferred fees and costs.
Included in the classified loan amounts above for December 31, 2023 were loans receiving modifications due to financial difficulty experienced by the borrower during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 for three commercial loans to three commercial borrowers totaling $4.4 million million with total allocations of $2.3 million. There were no loan modifications made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty during the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
Allowance estimates are developed by management taking into account actual loss experience, subject to a floor, adjusted for current economic conditions and a reasonably supportable forecast period. The Company has regular discussions regarding this methodology with regulatory authorities. Allowance estimates are considered a prudent measurement of the risk in the Company's loan portfolio based upon loan segment. In accordance with accounting guidance, the allowance is based on information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectibility of the reported amounts. For a more thorough discussion of the allowance for credit losses methodology see the "Critical Accounting Policies" section of this Item 2.
The allowance for credit losses decreased 0.9%, or $634,000, from $72.6 million at December 31, 2022 to $72.0 million at December 31, 2023 due primarily to net charge offs of $6.5 million and offset by provision expense of $5.9 million recorded during 2023. Pooled loan allocations increased $5.6 million from $58.2 million at December 31, 2022 to $63.8 million at December 31, 2023. The unallocated component of the allowance for credit losses was $372,000 at December 31, 2023, which decreased from $554,000 reported at December 31, 2022. The unallocated component of the allowance for credit losses incorporates the Company’s judgmental determination of expected losses that may not be fully reflected in other allocations.
The Company has experienced organic growth in total loans over the last several years with an increase in gross loans of $206.5 million, or 4.4%, from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023. This growth is primarily concentrated in the commercial loan portfolio, which can result in overall asset quality being influenced by a small number of credits. Management has historically considered growth and portfolio composition when determining credit loss allocations. Management believes that it is prudent to continue to provide for credit losses in a manner consistent with its historical approach due to the loan growth described above and current economic conditions.
Watch list loans increased $22.1 million to $183.1 million as of December 31, 2023, compared to $161.0 million at December 31, 2022, or an increase of 13.7%. Watch list loans represent 3.7% of total loans at December 31, 2023 compared to a historical low of 3.4% at December 31, 2022. PPP loans outstanding of $1.3 million and $1.5 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, had an immaterial impact on these asset quality ratios. The increase in watch list loans resulted primarily from downgraded credits of approximately $112.4 million and offset by upgrades of approximately $55.8 million in addition to paydowns to watch list credits. The Company's continued growth strategy promotes diversification among industries as well as continued focus on the enforcement of a disciplined credit culture and a conservative posture in loan work-out situations.
Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk arises from the possibility that the Company may not be able to satisfy current or future financial commitments or may become unduly reliant on alternative funding sources. Liquidity is monitored and closely managed by the ALCO Committee.
Management maintains a liquidity position that it believes will adequately provide funding for loan demand and deposit run-off that may occur in the normal course of business. The liquidity structure is expressly detailed in the Company’s Contingency Funding Plan, which is discussed below. The Company relies on a number of different sources in order to meet these potential liquidity demands. The primary sources are increases in deposit accounts and cash flows from loan payments and the securities portfolio. The cash flow from the securities portfolio is expected to provide approximately $103.9 million of potential contingent funding in 2024.
The Bank had total available sources of liquidity totaling $3.4 billion at December 31, 2023 compared to $3.0 billion at December 31, 2022. The Company has approval of $3.593 billion in secondary funding sources available as of December 31, 2023, of which $185.4 million was utilized. The Company had $325.0 million of availability in federal funds lines with eleven correspondent banks, of which none was drawn on as of December 31, 2023. The Company has board of directors approval to borrow up to $800.0 million at the FHLB, but given the Company’s current collateral structure and outstanding borrowings as of December 31, 2023, the Company could have only borrowed up to $574.9 million under this authority. The Company has additional collateral that could be pledged to the FHLB of $8.4 million as of December 31, 2023 to generate additional liquidity. Further, the Company had available capacity at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago of up to $1.259 billion given its current collateral structure at the Federal Reserve Bank discount window program and the terms of that facility at December 31, 2023, with no balances outstanding at December 31, 2023. During 2023 the Company also became eligible to borrow funds under the Federal Reserve Bank's Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP); available capacity secured by pledged eligible investment securities was $150.5 million with no outstanding balance at December 31, 2023. The BTFP is scheduled to expire in March 2024. The Company also has established relationships in the brokered time deposit and brokered money market sectors, as well as the IntraFi Network CDARS One-Way Buy program, to access these funds when desired with settlement of funds in one to two weeks’ time. Additionally, the Bank has entered agreements with IntraFi Network relative to their Insured
Cash Sweep One-Way Buy program. As of December 31, 2023, the total amount available to the Bank via this program was $100.0 million, of which $10.0 million was drawn. The Bank is also a member of the American Financial Exchange (AFX) where overnight fed funds purchased can be obtained from other banks on the exchange that have approved the Bank for an unsecured, overnight line. These funds are only available if the approving banks have an ‘offer’ out to sell that day. As of December 31, 2023, the total amount approved for the Bank via AFX banks was $319.0 million and none was outstanding at year end.
The Company had 90% of its securities in the available-for-sale portfolio at December 31, 2023, allowing the Company extensive flexibility to sell securities to meet funding demands. The remaining portion of investments securities were designated as held-to-maturity. Management believes the majority of the securities in investment portfolio are of high quality and marketable. Approximately 48% of this portfolio is comprised of U.S. government agency securities or mortgage-backed securities directly or indirectly backed by the U.S. government. At December 31, 2023, 92% of municipal securities owned by the Company were AAA or AA rated with a diversified geography of state issuer. In addition, the Company has historically sold the majority of its originated mortgage loans on the secondary market to reduce interest rate risk and to create an additional source of funding.
The Company has a formalized Contingency Funding Plan (“CFP”). The Board and management recognize the importance of liquidity during times of normal operations and in times of stress. The CFP was developed to ensure that the multiple liquidity sources available to the Company are readily available. All liquidity sources are tested annually. The CFP specifically considers liquidity at the Bank and the Company level. The CFP identifies the potential funding sources at the Bank level, which includes the FHLB, the Federal Reserve Bank, brokered deposits, one-way buy products via the IntraFi Network (CDARS and ICS) and Federal Funds. The CFP also addresses the Bank’s ability to liquidate its securities portfolio or other liquid assets. The CFP funding sources at the holding company level include a holding company committed line of credit, as well as the ability to transfer securities from the investment subsidiary of the Bank to the Company. The Company’s committed line of credit has availability up to $30.0 million, of which $0 was drawn upon as of December 31, 2023.
Further, the CFP identifies CFP team members and expressly details their respective roles. Potential risk scenarios are identified and the plan includes multiple scenarios, including short-term and long-term funding crisis situations. Under the long-term funding crisis, two additional scenarios are identified: a moderate risk scenario and a highly stressed scenario. The CFP details the responsibilities and the actions to be taken by the CFP team under each scenario. Quarterly reports to management and the Board under the CFP include an early warning indicator matrix and pro forma cash flows for the various scenarios.
The following table discloses information on the maturity of the Company’s contractual long-term obligations as of December 31, 2023.
Payments Due by Period
(dollars in thousands) Total One year
or less 2-3 years 4-5 years After 5 years
Operating leases $ 5,168 $ 744 $ 1,487 $ 1,346 $ 1,591
Pension and SERP plans 2,073 314 591 445 723
Total contractual long-term cash obligations $ 7,241 $ 1,058 $ 2,078 $ 1,791 $ 2,314
During the normal course of business, the Company becomes a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in order to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to make loans and open-ended revolving lines of credit. The Company follows the same credit policy (including requiring collateral, if deemed appropriate) to make such commitments as it follows for those loans that are recorded in its financial statements.
The Company’s exposure to credit losses in the event of nonperformance is represented by the contractual amount of the commitments. Management does not expect any significant losses as a result of these commitments. Off-balance sheet transactions are more fully discussed in "Note 17 - Commitments, Off-Balance Sheet Risks and Contingencies".
The following table discloses information on the maturity of the Company’s commitments.
Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period
(dollars in thousands) Total
Amount Committed One year
or less Over one
year
Unused loan commitments $ 2,871,286 $ 1,505,958 $ 1,365,328
Standby letters of credit 51,383 47,566 3,817
Total commitments and letters of credit $ 2,922,669 $ 1,553,524 $ 1,369,145
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the estimated fair value of the Company’s assets, liabilities and derivative financial instruments will decline as a result of changes in interest rates or financial market volatility, or that net income will be significantly reduced by interest rate changes.
Interest rate risk represents the Company’s primary market risk exposure. The Company does not have material exposure to foreign currency exchange risk and does not maintain a trading portfolio. The Corporate Risk Committee of the Board annually reviews and approves the ALCO policy and the Derivatives and Hedging policy used to manage interest rate risk. These policies set guidelines for balance sheet structure, which are designed to protect the Company from the impact that interest rate changes could have on net income, but it does not necessarily indicate the effect on future net interest income. Generally, the Bank is asset sensitive due to the impact of the variable rate commercial loan portfolio on the Bank's sensitivity to market rates. During 2023, asset sensitivity declined due to a shift to short-term interest bearing deposit accounts such as money market accounts. As a result, the Company expects net interest margin to remain stable in the first 25-50 basis points potential declines in the federal funds rate due to a more neutral posture for balance sheet sensitivity. Deposit re-pricing in a declining interest rate environment is expected to exceed past easing cylces. Earnings can also be affected by the monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government and its agencies, particularly the Federal Reserve Board.
During 2023 the Federal Reserve Board’s Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) increased the target federal funds rate a total of 100 basis points, following an increase of 425 basis points in 2022. Rate increases were implemented during the first half of 2023 at the January, March, May and July FOMC meetings. The combined effect of these actions increased the target federal funds rate to a range of 5.25% to 5.50%. The FOMC statement released for the meeting in December 2023 recognized that inflation has eased over the past year but remains elevated and confirmed that the FOMC remains highly attentive to inflation risks. The updated economic projections released at the December meeting project the median federal funds rate decreasing to 4.6% in 2024 (lowering of the target federal funds rate by 75 basis points), with continued easing to 3.6% in 2025. Additionally, the longer run median forecast for the federal funds rate was left unchanged at 2.50%. The combined result of the increase in the yield on earning assets, which was more than offset by an increase in the cost of funds due to increased competition for deposits experienced during 2023, led to a decrease in net interest margin from 3.40% for 2022 to 3.31% for 2023. The Company’s yield on earning assets increased 170 basis points during 2023 as assets repriced at higher rates primarily due to the FOMC rate increases during both 2022 and 2023 and a higher yield curve for the majority of 2023 as when compared to 2022. The commercial loan portfolio represents 89% of the total loan portfolio. Approximately 64% of the commercial loan portfolio are variable rate loans which are primarily indexed to Prime, One Month Term SOFR and FHLB indices. The increase in earning asset yields was offset by an increase in the Company's funding costs, as depositors sought higher interest bearing deposit products and competition for deposits increased throughout the industry. The rate paid on deposit accounts and purchased funds increased 179 basis points for 2023. The realized increase in the rate paid on deposit accounts and purchased funds was magnified by a decrease in the average balance of non-interest bearing demand deposit accounts for 2023 verses 2022, primarily in commercial deposit accounts. The Company anticipates that cost of funds could continue to rise in 2024 if market competition for deposits continues and if noninterest bearing deposits continue to shift to interest-bearing deposit products.
Future changes in the net interest margin will be dependent upon multiple factors including further actions by the FOMC during 2024 in response to inflation, economic conditions and geopolitical concerns, the results of any of the administration’s changes to economic policy and laws, competitive pressures in the various markets served, and changes in the structure of the balance sheet as a result of changes in customer demands for products and services. In general, we expect loans to reprice quicker than deposits in a rising and falling rate environment as quantified in the sensitivity to market rates table in Item 7A.
The effects of price changes and inflation can vary substantially for most financial institutions. While management believes that inflation affects the growth of total assets, it believes that it is difficult to assess the overall impact. Management believes this to be the case due to the fact that generally neither the timing nor the magnitude of the inflationary changes in the consumer price index (“CPI”) coincides with changes in interest rates. The price of one or more of the components of the CPI may fluctuate considerably and thereby influence the overall CPI without having a corresponding effect on interest rates or upon the cost of those goods and services normally purchased by the Company. In years of high inflation and high interest rates, intermediate and long-term interest rates tend to increase, thereby adversely impacting the market values of investment securities, mortgage loans and other long-term fixed rate loans. In addition, higher short-term interest rates caused by inflation tend to increase the cost of funds. In other years, the reverse situation may occur.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Market Risk
The Company’s primary market risk exposure is interest rate risk. The Company does not have a material exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk and does not maintain a trading portfolio.
The following table provides information regarding the Company’s financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. For loans, securities and liabilities with contractual maturities, the table presents principal cash flows and related weighted-average interest rates by contractual maturities, as well as the Company’s assumptions relative to the impact of interest-rate fluctuations on the prepayment of certain commercial, residential and home equity loans and mortgage-backed securities. Core deposits such as noninterest bearing deposits, interest bearing checking, savings and money market deposits that have no contractual maturity, are shown based on management’s judgment and historical experience that indicates some portion of the balances are retained over time. Weighted-average variable rates are based upon rates existing at the reporting date.
Principal/Notional Amount Maturing in:
(dollars in thousands) Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Thereafter Total Fair
Value 12/31/2023
Rate sensitive assets:
Fixed interest rate loans $ 739,021 $ 448,779 $ 247,462 $ 163,758 $ 72,188 $ 127,235 $ 1,798,443 $ 1,748,419
Average interest rate 4.93 % 5.29 % 5.13 % 5.52 % 5.77 % 5.05 %
Variable interest rate loans $ 1,518,052 $ 515,816 $ 288,064 $ 213,893 $ 180,428 $ 401,838 $ 3,118,091 $ 3,031,362
Average interest rate 8.20 % 7.75 % 7.32 % 7.10 % 7.09 % 6.96 %
Total loans $ 2,257,073 $ 964,595 $ 535,526 $ 377,651 $ 252,616 $ 529,073 $ 4,916,534 $ 4,779,781
Average interest rate 7.13 % 6.61 % 6.31 % 6.42 % 6.71 % 6.50 %
Fixed interest rate securities $ 72,231 $ 59,972 $ 67,025 $ 55,691 $ 66,237 $ 1,056,008 $ 1,377,164 $ 1,170,943
Average interest rate 2.27 % 2.07 % 2.12 % 2.12 % 2.04 % 2.25 %
Variable interest rate securities $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Average interest rate 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 %
Other interest-bearing assets $ 81,373 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 81,373 $ 81,373
Average interest rate 5.35 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 %
Total earning assets $ 2,410,677 $ 1,024,567 $ 602,551 $ 433,342 $ 318,853 $ 1,585,081 $ 6,375,071 $ 6,032,097
Average interest rate 6.92 % 6.34 % 5.84 % 5.86 % 5.74 % 3.67 %
Rate sensitive liabilities:
Noninterest bearing checking $ 230,963 $ 130,956 $ 115,678 $ 102,183 $ 90,262 $ 683,435 $ 1,353,477 $ 1,353,477
Average interest rate 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 %
Savings & interest bearing checking $ 810,190 $ 214,131 $ 188,996 $ 167,764 $ 149,533 $ 1,819,613 $ 3,350,227 $ 3,350,227
Average interest rate 3.72 % 2.87 % 2.95 % 3.02 % 3.08 % 3.82 %
Time deposits $ 879,296 $ 84,752 $ 16,885 $ 31,638 $ 4,110 $ 140 $ 1,016,821 $ 1,010,172
Average interest rate 4.28 % 3.91 % 2.70 % 3.32 % 3.23 % 0.73 %
Total deposits $ 1,920,449 $ 429,839 $ 321,559 $ 301,585 $ 243,905 $ 2,503,188 $ 5,720,525 $ 5,713,876
Average interest rate 3.53 % 2.20 % 1.88 % 2.03 % 1.94 % 2.78 %
Fixed interest rate borrowings $ 50,000 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 50,000 $ 50,000
Average interest rate 5.63 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 %
Variable interest rate borrowings $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Average interest rate 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 %
Total funds $ 1,970,449 $ 429,839 $ 321,559 $ 301,585 $ 243,905 $ 2,503,188 $ 5,770,525 $ 5,763,876
Average interest rate 3.58 % 2.20 % 1.88 % 2.03 % 1.94 % 2.78 %
Interest rate sensitivity gap by period $ 440,228 $ 594,728 $ 280,992 $ 131,757 $ 74,948 $ (918,107)
Cumulative rate sensitivity gap $ 440,228 $ 1,034,956 $ 1,315,948 $ 1,447,705 $ 1,522,653 $ 604,546
Cumulative rate sensitivity ratio
at December 31, 2023 122.3 % 238.4 % 187.4 % 143.7 % 130.7 % 63.3 %
at December 31, 2022 147.2 % 169.1 % 185.3 % 146.7 % 114.2 % 62.8 %
The Company utilizes computer modeling software to measure interest rate risk and to stress test the balance sheet under a wide variety of interest rate scenarios. The model quantifies the income impact of changes in customer preference for products, basis risk between the assets and the liabilities that support them and the risk inherent in different yield curves as well as other factors. The ALCO committee reviews these possible outcomes and makes loan, investment and deposit decisions that maintain reasonable balance sheet structure in light of potential interest rate movements. It is the objective of the Company to monitor and manage risk exposure to net interest income caused by changes in interest rates. It is the goal of the Company’s asset/liability function to provide optimum and stable net interest income. To accomplish this, management uses two asset liability tools: GAP/Interest Rate Sensitivity Reports and Net Interest Income Simulation Modeling, which are constructed, presented and monitored quarterly. Management believes that the Company’s liquidity and interest sensitivity position at December 31, 2023, remained adequate to meet the Company’s primary goal of achieving optimum interest margins while
avoiding undue interest rate risk. The Company places a greater level of credence in net interest income simulation modeling. The GAP/Interest Rate Sensitivity Report is believed by the Company’s management to have two major shortfalls. The GAP/Interest Rate Sensitivity Report fails to precisely gauge how often an interest rate sensitive product reprices, nor is it able to measure the magnitude of potential future rate movements. Although management does not consider GAP ratios in planning, the information can be used in a general fashion to look at asset and liability mismatches. The Company’s cumulative repricing GAP ratio as of December 31, 2023 for the next 12 months using a scenario in which interest rates remained unchanged was a negative 13.78% of earning assets.
Net interest income simulation modeling, or earnings-at-risk, measures the sensitivity of net interest income to various interest rate movements. Interest rate risk modeling is supported by liquidity risk modeling. The Company’s asset liability process monitors simulated net interest income under three separate interest rate scenarios; base, rising and falling. Estimated net interest income for each scenario is calculated over a twelve-month horizon. The immediate and parallel changes to the base case scenario used in the model are presented below. The interest rate scenarios are used for analytical purposes and do not necessarily represent management’s view of future market movements. Rather, these are intended to provide a measure of the degree of volatility interest rate movements may introduce into the earnings of the Company.
The base scenario is highly dependent on numerous assumptions embedded in the model. While the base sensitivity analysis incorporates management’s best estimate of interest rate and balance sheet dynamics under various market rate movements, the actual behavior and resulting earnings impact will likely differ from that projected. For certain assets, the base simulation model captures the expected prepayment behavior under changing interest rate environments. Assumptions and methodologies regarding the interest rate or balance behavior of indeterminate maturity core deposit products, such as savings, money market, NOW and demand deposits reflect management’s best estimate of expected future behavior.
Results for the base, falling 300 basis points, falling 200 basis points, falling 100 basis points, falling 50 basis points, falling 25 basis points, rising 25 basis points, rising 50 basis points, rising 100 basis points, rising 200 basis points, and rising 300 basis points interest rate scenarios are listed below based upon the Company’s rate sensitive assets and liabilities at December 31, 2023. The net interest income shown represents cumulative net interest income over a twelve-month time horizon.
(dollars in thousands) Base Falling (300 Basis Points) Falling (200 Basis Points) Falling (100 Basis Points) Falling (50 Basis Points) Falling (25 Basis Points) Rising (25 Basis Points) Rising (50 Basis Points) Rising (100
Basis
Points) Rising (200
Basis
Points) Rising (300
Basis
Points)
Net interest income $ 210,702 $ 197,914 $ 203,707 $ 207,878 $ 209,476 $ 210,151 $ 211,168 $ 211,542 $ 212,130 $ 213,232 $ 214,375
Variance from Base ($12,788) ($6,995) ($2,824) ($1,226) ($551) $466 $840 $1,428 $ 2,530 $ 3,673
Percent of change from Base (6.07) % (3.32) % (1.34) % (0.58) % (0.26) % 0.22 % 0.40 % 0.68 % 1.20 % 1.74 %
For more information on the Company’s interest rate sensitivity see the Interest Rate Risk discussion in Item 7A. above.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Lakeland Financial Corporation
Warsaw, Indiana
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Lakeland Financial Corporation (the "Company") as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), 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.
Change in Accounting Principle
As discussed in Note 4 to the financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for credit losses effective January 1, 2021 due to the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification No. 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (“ASC 326”). The Company adopted the new credit loss standard using the modified retrospective method such that prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable generally accepted accounting principles.
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 risks 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 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 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.
Allowance for Credit Losses (ACL) - Qualitative Adjustments
As described in Notes 1 and 4 to the consolidated financial statements and referred to in the change in accounting principle explanatory paragraph above, the Company adopted ASC 326 as of January 1, 2021, which among other things, required the Company to recognize expected credit losses over the contractual lives of financial asset carried at amortized costs, including loans receivables, utilizing the Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”) methodology. As of December 31, 2023, the ACL balance was $71,972,000. Estimates of expected credit losses are based on relevant information about current conditions, past events, and reasonable and supportable forward-looking forecasts regarding collectability of the reported amounts. The Company utilized a Probability of Default/ Loss Given Default model derived from historical charge-off data to construct a loss rate for each identified loan segment. The loss rates, subject to a floor, are then adjusted, for reasonable and supportable forecasts of relevant economic indicators as well as other environmental factors based on the risks present for each portfolio segment. The environmental factors (“qualitative adjustments”) include consideration of economic conditions and portfolio trends.
We have identified auditing the qualitative adjustments as a critical audit matter as management’s determination of the qualitative adjustments used in the ACL is subjective and involves significant management judgments; and our audit procedures related to the qualitative adjustments involved a high degree of auditor judgment and required significant audit effort, including the need to involve more experienced audit personnel.
The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:
•Testing the effectiveness of controls over the qualitative adjustments used in the ACL calculation including controls addressing the:
◦Significant assumptions and judgments applied in the development of the qualitative adjustments.
◦Mathematical accuracy of the qualitative adjustments applied to the loan segments in the ACL calculation.
•Substantively testing management's determination of the qualitative adjustments used in the ACL estimate, including:
◦Testing management’s process for developing the qualitative adjustments, which included assessing the relevance and reliability of data used to develop the qualitative adjustments, including evaluating their judgments and assumptions for reasonableness. Among other procedures, our evaluation considered evidence from internal and external sources.
◦Analytically evaluating the qualitative adjustments for directional consistency, testing for reasonableness, and obtaining evidence for significant changes.
◦Testing the mathematical accuracy of the qualitative adjustments applied to the loan segments in the ACL calculation.
/s/ Crowe LLP
Crowe LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1983.
South Bend, Indiana
February 21, 2024
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except share data)
December 31 2023 2022
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks $ 70,451 $ 80,992
Short-term investments 81,373 49,290
Total cash and cash equivalents 151,824 130,282
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value 1,051,728 1,185,528
Securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value of $119,215 and $111,029 respectively)
129,918 128,242
Real estate mortgage loans held-for-sale 1,158 357
Loans, net of allowance for credit losses of $71,972 and $72,606
4,844,562 4,637,790
Land, premises and equipment, net 57,899 58,097
Bank owned life insurance 109,114 108,407
Federal Reserve and Federal Home Loan Bank Stock 21,420 15,795
Accrued interest receivable 30,011 27,994
Goodwill 4,970 4,970
Other assets 121,425 134,909
Total assets $ 6,524,029 $ 6,432,371
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Noninterest bearing deposits $ 1,353,477 $ 1,736,761
Interest bearing deposits 4,367,048 3,723,859
Total deposits 5,720,525 5,460,620
Federal Funds purchased 0 22,000
Federal Home Loan Bank advances 50,000 275,000
Total borrowings 50,000 297,000
Accrued interest payable 20,893 3,186
Other liabilities 82,818 102,678
Total liabilities 5,874,236 5,863,484
Commitments, off-balance sheet risks and contingencies (Notes 1 and 17)
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common stock: 90,000,000 shares authorized, no par value
25,903,686 shares issued and 25,430,566 outstanding as of December 31, 2023
25,825,127 shares issued and 25,349,225 outstanding as of December 31, 2022
127,692 127,004
Retained earnings 692,760 646,100
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (155,195) (188,923)
Treasury stock, at cost (473,120 shares and 475,902 shares as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively)
(15,553) (15,383)
Total stockholders’ equity 649,704 568,798
Noncontrolling interest 89 89
Total equity 649,793 568,887
Total liabilities and equity $ 6,524,029 $ 6,432,371
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (in thousands, except share and per share data)
Years Ended December 31 2023 2022 2021
NET INTEREST INCOME
Interest and fees on loans
Taxable $ 304,130 $ 202,004 $ 170,081
Tax exempt 3,885 1,664 470
Interest and dividends on securities
Taxable 13,153 14,132 9,086
Tax exempt 16,396 19,553 13,033
Other interest income 5,703 2,214 549
Total interest income 343,267 239,567 193,219
Interest on deposits 137,791 36,281 14,827
Interest on borrowings
Short-term 8,441 272 7
Long-term 0 127 297
Total interest expense 146,232 36,680 15,131
NET INTEREST INCOME 197,035 202,887 178,088
Provision for credit losses 5,850 9,375 1,077
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR
CREDIT LOSSES 191,185 193,512 177,011
NONINTEREST INCOME
Wealth advisory fees 9,080 8,636 8,750
Investment brokerage fees 1,815 2,318 1,975
Service charges on deposit accounts 10,773 11,595 10,608
Loan and service fees 11,750 12,214 11,922
Merchant and interchange fee income 3,651 3,560 3,023
Bank owned life insurance income 3,133 432 2,467
Interest rate swap fee income 794 579 1,035
Mortgage banking income (loss) (254) 633 1,418
Net securities gains (losses) (25) 21 797
Other income 9,141 1,874 2,725
Total noninterest income 49,858 41,862 44,720
NONINTEREST EXPENSE
Salaries and employee benefits 59,147 58,530 57,882
Net occupancy expense 6,360 6,287 5,728
Equipment costs 5,632 5,763 5,530
Data processing fees and supplies 14,003 12,826 12,674
Corporate and business development 4,807 5,198 4,262
FDIC insurance and other regulatory fees 3,363 1,999 2,242
Professional fees 8,583 6,483 7,064
Wire fraud loss 18,058 0 0
Other expense 10,757 13,124 8,905
Total noninterest expense 130,710 110,210 104,287
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE 110,333 125,164 117,444
Income tax expense 16,566 21,347 21,711
NET INCOME $ 93,767 $ 103,817 $ 95,733
BASIC WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES 25,604,751 25,528,328 25,475,994
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE $ 3.67 $ 4.07 $ 3.76
DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES 25,723,165 25,712,538 25,620,105
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE $ 3.65 $ 4.04 $ 3.74
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (in thousands)
Years Ended December 31 2023 2022 2021
Net income $ 93,767 $ 103,817 $ 95,733
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Change in available-for-sale and transferred securities:
Unrealized holding gain (loss) on securities available-for-sale arising during the period 40,639 (261,256) (14,553)
Reclassification adjustment for amortization of unrealized losses on securities transferred to held-to-maturity 1,987 1,518 0
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income 25 (21) (797)
Net securities gain (loss) activity during the period 42,651 (259,759) (15,350)
Tax effect (8,957) 54,549 3,224
Net of tax amount 33,694 (205,210) (12,126)
Defined benefit pension plans:
Net gain (loss) on defined benefit pension plans (13) 115 390
Amortization of net actuarial loss 59 144 242
Net gain on activity during the period 46 259 632
Tax effect (12) (65) (157)
Net of tax amount 34 194 475
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 33,728 (205,016) (11,651)
Comprehensive income (loss) $ 127,495 $ (101,199) $ 84,082
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (in thousands, except share and per share data)
Accumulated
Other Total
Common Stock Retained Comprehensive Treasury Stockholders’ Noncontrolling Total
Shares Amount Earnings Income (Loss) Stock Equity Interest Equity
Balance at January 1, 2021 25,239,748 $ 114,927 $ 529,005 $ 27,744 $ (14,581) $ 657,095 $ 89 $ 657,184
Impact of adopting ASC 326, net of tax (6,951) (6,951) (6,951)
Net income 95,733 95,733 95,733
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax (11,651) (11,651) (11,651)
Cash dividends declared, $1.36 per share
(34,653) (34,653) (34,653)
Treasury shares purchased under deferred directors' plan (8,820) 559 (559) 0 0
Treasury shares sold and distributed under deferred directors’ plan 5,664 (115) 115 0 0
Stock activity under equity incentive plans 64,201 (1,914) (1,914) (1,914)
Stock based compensation expense 7,158 7,158 7,158
Balance at December 31, 2021 25,300,793 $ 120,615 $ 583,134 $ 16,093 $ (15,025) $ 704,817 $ 89 $ 704,906
Net income 103,817 103,817 103,817
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax (205,016) (205,016) (205,016)
Cash dividends declared, $1.60 per share
(40,851) (40,851) (40,851)
Treasury shares purchased under deferred directors’ plan (7,641) 579 (579) 0 0
Treasury shares sold and distributed under deferred directors’ plan 8,555 (221) 221 0 0
Stock activity under equity incentive plans 47,518 (1,780) (1,780) (1,780)
Stock based compensation expense 7,811 7,811 7,811
Balance at December 31, 2022 25,349,225 $ 127,004 $ 646,100 $ (188,923) $ (15,383) $ 568,798 $ 89 $ 568,887
Net income 93,767 93,767 93,767
Other comprehensive income, net of tax 33,728 33,728 33,728
Cash dividends declared, $1.84 per share
(47,107) (47,107) (47,107)
Treasury shares purchased under deferred directors’ plan (10,073) 575 (575) 0 0
Treasury shares sold and distributed under deferred directors’ plan 12,855 (405) 405 0 0
Stock activity under equity incentive plans 78,559 (3,135) (3,135) (3,135)
Stock based compensation expense 3,653 3,653 3,653
Balance at December 31, 2023 25,430,566 $ 127,692 $ 692,760 $ (155,195) $ (15,553) $ 649,704 $ 89 $ 649,793
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands)
Years Ended December 31 2023 2022 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 93,767 $ 103,817 $ 95,733
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation 6,173 6,020 6,105
Provision for credit losses 5,850 9,375 1,077
Net loss on sale and write down of other real estate owned 0 96 67
Amortization of loan servicing rights 0 757 2,282
Net change in loan servicing rights valuation allowance 540 (715) 0
Loans originated for sale, including participations (8,601) (28,666) (119,439)
Net gain on sales of loans (292) (1,028) (4,376)
Proceeds from sale of loans, including participations 8,022 36,454 126,391
Net (gain) loss on sale of premises and equipment 3 7 43
Net (gain) loss on sales and calls of securities available-for-sale 25 (21) (797)
Net securities amortization 4,915 6,342 4,959
Stock based compensation expense 3,653 7,811 7,158
Earnings on life insurance (3,133) (432) (2,467)
Gain on life insurance (131) 0 (415)
Tax benefit of stock award issuances (718) (514) (330)
Net change:
Interest receivable and other assets (6,169) (10,711) (1,852)
Interest payable and other liabilities 10,077 40,750 (371)
Total adjustments 20,214 65,525 18,035
Net cash from operating activities 113,981 169,342 113,768
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of securities available-for-sale 105,175 25,332 13,964
Proceeds from maturities, calls and principal paydowns of securities available-for-sale 71,833 108,129 137,812
Proceeds from maturities, calls and principal paydowns of securities held-to-maturity 5 30 0
Purchases of securities available-for-sale (7,178) (315,272) (835,001)
Purchase of life insurance (258) (10,808) (711)
Net (increase) decrease in total loans (212,906) (427,097) 356,660
Proceeds from sales of land, premises and equipment 13 6 8
Purchases of land, premises and equipment (5,991) (4,821) (6,167)
Proceeds from redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank stock 0 932 0
Purchases of Federal Home Loan Bank stock (5,625) (2,955) 0
Proceeds from sales of other real estate owned 0 0 946
Proceeds from life insurance 0 0 943
Net cash from investing activities (54,932) (626,524) (331,546)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net increase (decrease) in total deposits 259,905 (274,787) 698,602
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings (22,000) 22,000 (10,500)
Payments on short-term FHLB borrowings (275,000) 0 0
Proceeds from short-term FHLB borrowings 50,000 275,000 0
Payments on long-term FHLB borrowings 0 (75,000) 0
Proceeds from long-term FHLB borrowings 0 0 0
Common dividends paid (47,094) (40,838) (34,640)
Preferred dividends paid (13) (13) (13)
Payments related to equity incentive plan (3,135) (1,780) (1,914)
Purchase of treasury stock (575) (579) (559)
Sales of treasury stock 405 221 115
Net cash from financing activities (37,507) (95,776) 651,091
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 21,542 (552,958) 433,313
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 130,282 683,240 249,927
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year $ 151,824 $ 130,282 $ 683,240
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest $ 128,525 $ 36,113 $ 18,471
Income taxes 14,075 20,580 25,947
Supplemental non-cash disclosures:
Loans transferred to other real estate owned 284 0 893
Property transferred to held-for-sale 0 0 0
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities 0 1,612 0
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Nature of Operations and Principles of Consolidation:
The consolidated financial statements include Lakeland Financial Corporation (the “Holding Company”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Lake City Bank (the “Bank”), referred to as (the "Company"). On December 18, 2006, LCB Investments II, Inc. was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank incorporated in Nevada to manage a portion of the Bank’s investment portfolio beginning in 2007. On December 21, 2006, LCB Funding, Inc., a real estate investment trust incorporated in Maryland, was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of LCB Investments II, Inc. On December 28, 2012, LCB Risk Management, Inc., a captive insurance company incorporated in Nevada, was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Holding Company. LCB Risk Management, Inc. was dissolved as a corporate entity on December 18, 2023. All assets of the subsidiary were distributed to the Holding Company upon decommissioning. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.
The Company provides financial services through the Bank, a full-service commercial bank with 53 branch offices in fifteen counties in Northern and Central Indiana. The Company provides commercial, retail, trust and investment services to its customers. Commercial products include commercial loans and technology-driven solutions to meet commercial customers’ treasury management needs such as mobile business banking and online treasury management services. Retail banking clients are provided a wide array of traditional retail banking services, including lending, deposit and investment services. Retail lending programs are focused on mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit and traditional retail installment loans. Retail customers utilize the Lake City Bank Digital application to access and transact banking transactions. The Company provides credit card services to retail and commercial customers through its retail card program and merchant processing activity. The Company provides wealth advisory and trust clients with traditional personal and corporate trust services. The Company also provides retail brokerage services, including an array of financial and investment products such as annuities and life insurance. Other financial instruments, which represent potential concentrations of credit risk, include deposit accounts in other financial institutions.
Use of Estimates:
To prepare financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), management makes estimates and assumptions based on available information. These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the disclosures provided and future results could differ.
Cash Flows:
Cash and cash equivalents include cash, demand deposits in other financial institutions and short-term investments and certificates of deposit with maturities of 90 days or less. Cash flows are reported net for customer loan and deposit transactions, and certain short-term borrowings.
Securities:
Securities are classified as available-for-sale when they might be sold before maturity. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. Securities are classified as held-to-maturity and carried at amortized cost when management has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity.
Purchase premiums or discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the terms of the securities or over estimated lives for mortgage-backed securities. Gains and losses on sales are based on the amortized cost of the security sold and recorded on the trade date.
For securities in an unrealized loss position, management considers the extent and duration of the unrealized loss, and the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer. Management also assesses whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell, a security in an unrealized loss position before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the entire difference between amortized cost and fair value is recognized as impairment through earnings. For debt securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, management considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, nature of the security, the underlying collateral, and the financial condition of the issuer, among other factors. If this assessment indicates a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and a valuation allowance for securities losses is recorded for the 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 a valuation allowance for securities losses is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss).
Changes in the valuation allowance for securities losses are recorded as a component of credit loss expense. Losses are charged against the valuation allowance for securities losses when management believes the uncollectibility of the security is confirmed or when either criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met.
A portion of the municipal bond portfolio is classified as held-to-maturity. The Company measures expected credit losses on investment securities held-to-maturity on a collective basis by major security type with each type sharing similar risk characteristics and considers historical credit loss information that is adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company considers (1) issuer bond ratings, (2) historical loss rates for given bond ratings, (3) the financial condition of the issuer, and (4) whether issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments under the contractual terms of the securities. Historical loss rates associated with securities having similar grades as those in the Company's portfolio have been insignificant. After completing this assessment, the Company determined any credit losses as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were not material to the consolidated financial statements.
Real Estate Mortgage Loans Held-for-Sale:
Loans held-for-sale are reported at the lower of cost or fair value on an aggregate basis. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recorded as a valuation allowance and charged to earnings.
Loan sales occur on the delivery date agreed to in the relevant commitment agreement. The Company retains servicing on the majority of loans sold. The carrying value of loans sold is reduced by the amount allocated to the servicing right. The gain or loss on the sale of loans is the difference between the carrying value of the loans sold and the funds received from the sale.
Loans:
Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at the principal balance outstanding, net of unearned interest, deferred loan fees and costs, and an allowance for credit losses.
Interest income is reported on the interest method and includes amortization of net deferred loan fees and costs over the loan term. All classes of commercial and industrial, commercial real estate and multi-family residential, agri-business and agricultural, other commercial and consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans for which collateral is insufficient to cover all principal and accrued interest are reclassified as nonaccrual loans, on or before the date when the loan becomes 90 days delinquent. When a loan is classified as a nonaccrual loan, interest on the loan is no longer accrued, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed and interest income is subsequently recorded on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method. Accrual status is resumed when all contractually due payments are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured. Other consumer loans are not placed on a nonaccrual status since these loans are charged-off when they have been delinquent from 90 to 180 days, and when the related collateral, if any, is not sufficient to offset the indebtedness. Nonaccrual loans and loans past due 90 days still on accrual include both smaller balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated and individually analyzed loans.
The recorded investment in loans is the loan balance net of unamortized deferred loan fees and costs. The total amount of loans accrued interest as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $21.5 million and $18.4 million.
Allowance for Credit Losses:
The allowance for credit losses is a valuation allowance to provide for expected credit losses. Losses are charged against the allowance when management believes that the principal is uncollectible. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. Allocations of the allowance are made for specific loans and for pools of similar types of loans, although the entire allowance is available for any loan that, in management's judgment, should be charged against the allowance. A provision for credit losses is taken based on management's ongoing evaluation of the appropriate allowance balance. A formal evaluation of the adequacy of the credit loss allowance is conducted monthly. The ultimate recovery of all loans is susceptible to future market factors beyond the Company's control.
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
The determination of the appropriate allowance is inherently subjective, as it requires significant estimates by management. The Company has an established process to determine the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses that generally includes consideration of changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio and overall portfolio quality, along with current and forecasted economic conditions that may affect borrowers' ability to repay. Consideration is not limited to these factors although they represent the most commonly cited factors. To determine the specific allocation levels for individual credits, management considers the current valuation of collateral and the amounts and timing of expected future cash flows as the primary measures. Management also considers trends in adversely classified loans based upon an ongoing review of those credits. With respect to pools of similar loans, an appropriate level of general allowance is determined by portfolio segment using a probability of default-loss given default ("PD/LGD") model, subject to a floor. A default can be triggered by one of several different asset quality factors, including past due status, nonaccrual status, material modification to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty or if the loan has had a charge off. This PD is then combined with a LGD derived from historical charge off data to construct a loss rate. This loss rate is then supplemented with adjustments for reasonable and supportable forecasts of relevant economic indicators, particularly the unemployment rate forecast from the Federal Open Market Committee's Summary of Economic Projections, as well as portfolio trends based on the risks present for each portfolio segment. These environmental factors include consideration of portfolio trends and conditions; industry conditions; and effects of changes in credit concentrations. It is also possible that these factors could include social, political, economic, and terrorist events or activities. All of these factors are susceptible to change, which may be significant. As a result of this detailed process, the allowance results in two forms of allocations, specific and general. These two components represent the total allowance for credit losses deemed adequate to cover expected losses within the loan portfolio.
Commercial loans are subject to a dual standardized grading process administered by the credit administration function. These grade assignments are performed independent of each other, and a consensus is reached by credit administration and the loan officer. Specific allowances are established in cases where management has identified significant conditions or circumstances related to an individual credit that indicate it should be evaluated on an individual basis. Considerations with respect to specific allocations for these individual credits include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) the sufficiency of the customer's cash flow or net worth to repay the loan; (b) the adequacy of the discounted value of collateral relative to the loan balance; (c) whether the loan has been criticized in a regulatory examination; (d) whether the loan is nonperforming; (e) any other reasons the ultimate collectability of the loan may be in question; or (f) any unique loan characteristics that require special monitoring.
Allocations are also applied to categories of loans considered not to be individually analyzed, but for which the rate of loss is expected to be consistent with or greater than historical averages. Such allocations are based on past loss experience and information about specific borrower situations and estimated collateral values. These general pooled loan allocations are performed for portfolio segments of commercial and industrial; commercial real estate, multi-family, and construction; agri-business and agricultural; other commercial loans; and consumer 1-4 family mortgage and other consumer loans. General allocations of the allowance are determined by a historical loss rate based on the calculation of each pool's probability of default-loss given default, subject to a floor. The length of the historical period for each pool is based on the average life of the pool. The historical loss rates are all supplemented with consideration of economic conditions and portfolio trends. The risk characteristics of each of the identified portfolio segments are as follows:
Commercial and Industrial - Borrowers may be subject to industry conditions including decreases in product demand; increase in material or other production costs that cannot be immediately recaptured in the sales or distribution cycle; interest rate increases that could have an adverse impact on profitability; non-payment of credit that has been extended under normal vendor terms for goods sold or services; and interruption related to the importing or exporting of production materials or sold products.
Commercial Real Estate and Multi-Family Residential - Borrowers may be subject to potential adverse market conditions that cause a decrease in market value or lease rates; the potential for environmental impairment from events occurring on subject or neighboring properties; and obsolescence in location or function. Multi-family residential is also subject to adverse market conditions associated with a change in governmental or personal funding sources for tenants; over supply of units in a specific region; a shift in population; and reputational risks. Construction and land development risks include slower absorption than anticipated on speculative projects; deterioration in market conditions that may impact a project's value; unforeseen costs not considered in the original construction budget; or any other factors that may impact the completion or success of the project.
Agri-business and Agricultural - Borrowers may be subject to adverse market or weather conditions including changes in local or foreign demand; lower yields than anticipated; political or other impact on storage, distribution or use; foreign trade policies including tariffs; and exposure to increasing commodity prices which result in higher production, distribution or exporting costs.
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Other Commercial - Borrowers may be subject to an interruption in the flow of funds to states and other political subdivisions for the purpose of debt repayments on loans held by the Bank.
Consumer 1-4 Family Mortgage - Borrowers may be subject to adverse employment conditions in the local economy leading to increased default rates; decreased market values from oversupply in a geographic area; and impact to the borrowers' ability to maintain payments in the event of incremental rate increases on adjustable rate mortgages.
Other Consumer - Borrowers may be subject to adverse employment conditions in the local economy which may lead to higher default rates; and decreases in the value of underlying collateral.
A loan is individually analyzed for specific allocation when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Allocations are analyzed individually or in total for smaller-balance loans of similar nature such as all classes of consumer 1-4 family and other consumer loans, and individually for all classes of commercial and industrial, commercial real estate and multi-family, agribusiness and agricultural and other commercial loans. The Company analyzes commercial loans individually by classifying the loans as to credit risk. This analysis is performed on a quarterly basis for Special Mention, Substandard and Doubtful grade loans and annually on Pass grade loans over $250,000. Factors considered by management in determining individual evaluation include payment status, collateral value and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as individually evaluated. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. If a loan is individually evaluated, a portion of the allowance may be allocated so that the loan is reported, net, at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s existing rate or at the fair value of collateral less anticipated costs to sell. All classes of commercial and industrial, commercial real estate and multifamily residential, agribusiness and agricultural, other commercial, consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans and other consumer loans that become delinquent beyond 90 days are analyzed and a charge off is taken when it is determined that the underlying collateral, if any, is not sufficient to offset the indebtedness.
Loans, for which the terms have been modified for borrowers experiencing financial difficulties and a concession has been granted that could materially change the Company's expected future cash flows, are classified as individually evaluated and may be either accruing or non-accruing. Modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties on nonaccrual status follow the same policy as described above for other loans. Individual evaluation for modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty is measured at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s effective rate at inception or at discounted collateral value for collateral dependent loans.
Due to the imprecise nature of estimating the allowance for credit losses, the Company's allowance for credit losses includes an immaterial unallocated component. The unallocated component of the allowance for credit losses incorporates the Company's judgmental determination of potential expected losses that may not be fully reflected in other allocations. As a practical expedient, the Company has elected to disclose accrued interest separately from loan principal balances on the consolidated balance sheet. Additionally, when a loan is placed on non-accrual, interest payments are reversed through interest income.
For off balance sheet credit exposures outlined in the ASC at 326-20-30-11, it is the Company's position that nearly all of the unfunded amounts on lines of credit are unconditionally cancellable, and therefore not subject to having a liability recorded.
Investments in Limited Partnerships:
The Company enters into and invests in limited partnerships in order to invest in affordable housing projects to support Community Reinvestment Act activities and secondarily to obtain available tax benefits. The Company also invests in Small Business Investment Company Program funds and a technology consortium fund. The Company is a limited partner in these investments and, as such, the Company is not involved in the management or operation of such investments. These investments are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method of accounting, the Company records its share of the partnership’s earnings or losses in its income statement and adjusts the carrying amount of the investments on the consolidated balance sheet. These investments are evaluated for impairment when events indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The investments recorded at December 31, 2023 and 2022 were $13.0 million and $12.2 million, respectively and are included with other assets in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company also has a commitment to fund an additional
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
$2.8 million at December 31, 2023 in six of the limited partnerships compared to $3.9 million in six of the limited partnerships at December 31, 2022, which is included with other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.
Foreclosed Assets:
Assets acquired through loan foreclosure are initially recorded at fair value less costs to sell when acquired, establishing a new cost basis. These assets are subsequently accounted for at lower of cost or fair value less estimated costs to sell. If fair value declines, a valuation allowance is recorded through expense. Costs incurred after acquisition are expensed. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the balance of other real estate owned was $384,000 and $100,000, respectively, and is included with other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.
Land, Premises and Equipment, Net:
Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method over the useful lives of the assets. Premises and improvements assets have useful lives between 5 and 40 years. Equipment and furniture assets have useful lives between 3 and 7 years.
Loan Servicing Rights:
Servicing rights are recognized separately when they are acquired through sales of loans. When mortgage loans are sold, servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value with the income statement effect recorded in mortgage banking income. Fair value is based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income. All classes of servicing assets are subsequently measured using the amortization method which requires servicing rights to be amortized into noninterest income in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying loans. The amortization of servicing rights is netted against mortgage banking income. Servicing fees were $1.2 million for the years ended 2023, 2022 and 2021. Late fees and ancillary fees related to loan servicing are not material.
Servicing rights are evaluated for impairment based upon the fair value of the rights as compared to carrying amount. Impairment is determined by stratifying rights into groupings based on predominant risk characteristics, such as loan type, term and interest rate. Any impairment of a grouping is reported as a valuation allowance, to the extent that fair value is less than the carrying amount. If the Company later determines that all or a portion of the impairment no longer exists for a particular grouping, a reduction of the allowance may be recorded as an increase to income. Changes in the valuation allowance are reported with mortgage banking income on the income statement. The fair values of servicing rights are subject to significant fluctuations as a result of changes in estimated and actual prepayment speeds and default rates and losses.
The carrying value of mortgage servicing rights, which is included with other assets in the consolidated balance sheet, was $2.2 million and $2.7 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Mortgage loans serviced for others are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The unpaid principal balances of these loans were $333.1 million and $364.3 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Custodial escrow balances maintained in connection with serviced loans were $1.5 million and $1.7 million at year end 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Servicing fee income (loss), which is included in loan and service fees on the income statement, is recorded for fees earned for servicing loans. Fees earned for servicing loans are based on a contractual percentage of the outstanding principal amount of the loan and are recorded as income when earned.
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 Company, 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 Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Mortgage Banking Derivatives:
Commitments to fund mortgage loans (interest rate locks) to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of these mortgage loans are accounted for as free-standing derivatives. Fair values of these mortgage derivatives are estimated based on changes in mortgage interest rates from the date the interest on the loan is locked. The Company enters into forward commitments for the future delivery of mortgage loans when interest rate locks are entered into, in order to hedge the change in interest rates resulting from its commitments to fund the loans. Changes in fair values of these derivatives are included in mortgage banking income.
Interest Rate Swap Derivatives:
The Company offers a derivative product to certain creditworthy commercial banking customers. This product allows the commercial banking customers to enter into an agreement with the Company to swap a variable rate loan to a fixed rate. These derivative products are designed to reduce, eliminate or modify the borrower’s interest rate exposure. The extension of credit incurred in connection with these derivative products is subject to the same approval and underwriting standards as traditional credit products. The Company limits its risk exposure by simultaneously entering into a similar, offsetting swap agreement with a separate, well-capitalized and highly rated counterparty previously approved by the Company’s Asset Liability Committee. By using these interest rate swap arrangements, the Company is also better insulated from the interest rate risk associated with underwriting fixed-rate loans and is better able to meet customer demand for fixed rate loans. These derivative contracts are not designated against specific assets or liabilities and, therefore, do not qualify for hedge accounting. The derivatives are recorded as assets and liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in non-interest income for both the commercial banking customer swaps and the related offsetting swaps. The fair value of the derivative instruments incorporates a consideration of credit risk (in accordance with ASC 820), resulting in some potential volatility in earnings each period. Cash flow activity is recorded through other assets and other liabilities.
The notional amount of the combined interest rate swaps with customers and counterparties at December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $826.4 million and $760.5 million, respectively. The fair value of the interest rate swap asset was $27.2 million and $36.9 million and the fair value of the interest rate swap liability was $27.2 million and $36.9 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Bank Owned Life Insurance:
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company owned $104.8 million and $102.5 million, respectively, of life insurance policies on certain officers to provide a life insurance benefit for these officers. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company also owned $4.3 million and $5.9 million, respectively, of variable life insurance on certain officers related to a deferred compensation plan. Bank owned life insurance is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the insurance contract at the balance sheet date, i.e., the cash surrender value adjusted for other changes or other amounts due that are probable at settlement.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets:
All goodwill on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet resulted from business combinations prior to January 1, 2009 and represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of acquired tangible assets and liabilities and identifiable intangible assets. Goodwill is not amortized, but assessed at least annually for impairment and any such impairment would be recognized in the period identified.
FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank Stock:
FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank stock are carried at cost in other assets, classified as a restricted security and are periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recoverability of par value. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income.
Long-term Assets:
Premises and equipment, and other long-term assets are reviewed for impairment when events indicate their carrying amount may not be recoverable from future undiscounted cash flows. If impaired, the assets are recorded at fair value. There was no such impairment identified for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Benefit Plans:
The Company has a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan, which covered substantially all employees until the plan was frozen effective April 1, 2000. Funding of the plan equals or exceeds the minimum funding requirement determined by the actuary. Pension expense is the net of interest cost, return on plan assets and amortization of gains and losses not immediately recognized. Benefits are based on years of service and compensation levels.
The Company maintains a 401(k) profit sharing plan for all employees meeting certain age and service requirements. The Company contributions are based upon the percentage of budgeted net income earned during the year.
An employee deferred compensation plan is available to certain employees with returns based on investments in mutual funds.
The Company maintains a directors’ deferred compensation plan. Effective January 1, 2003, the directors’ deferred compensation plan was amended to restrict the deferral to be in stock only and deferred directors’ fees are included in equity. The Company acquires shares on the open market and records such shares as treasury stock.
Revenue Recognition:
All of the Company’s revenue from contracts with customers in the scope of ASC 606 is recognized within noninterest income. The following is a description of principal activities from which we generate revenue. Revenues are recognized as the Company satisfies its obligations with our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration that we expect to receive in exchange for those services.
Wealth advisory fees
The Company provides wealth advisory services to its customers and earns fees from its contracts with trust customers to manage assets for investment and/or to transact on their accounts. These fees are primarily earned over time as the Company provides the contracted monthly, quarterly, or annual services and are generally assessed based on a tiered scale of the market value of assets under management (AUM) at month-end. Fees that are transaction based, including trade execution services, are recognized at the point in time that the transaction is executed. Other related services, such as escrow accounts that are based on a fixed schedule, are recognized when the services are rendered.
Investment brokerage services
The Company provides investment brokerage services through a full service brokerage and investment and advisory firm, Cetera Investment Services LLC (“Cetera”). The Company receives commissions from Cetera on a monthly basis based upon customer activity for the month. The fees are recognized monthly and a receivable is recorded until commissions are generally paid by the 5th business day of the following month. Because the Company (i) acts as an agent in arranging the relationship between the customer and the Cetera and (ii) does not control the services to the customers, investment brokerage service fees are presented net of Cetera’s related costs.
Service charges on deposit accounts
The Company earns fees from its deposit customers for transaction-based, account maintenance, and overdraft services. Transaction-based fees, which include services such as ATM use fees, stop payment charges, statement rendering, and ACH fees, are recognized at the time the transaction is executed as that is the point in time the Company fulfills the customer’s request. Account maintenance fees, which relate primarily to monthly maintenance, are earned over the course of a month, representing the period over which the Company satisfies the performance obligation. Overdraft fees are recognized at the point in time that the overdraft occurs. Service charges on deposits are withdrawn from the customer’s balance.
Interchange income
The Company provides the ability to transact on certain deposit accounts through the use of debit cards by outsourcing the services through third party service providers. Performance obligations are met on a transactional basis and income is recognized monthly based on transaction type and volume. Under the accounting standards in effect in the prior period, revenue was previously recognized net of the third party’s costs. Under ASC 606, fees from interchange income related to its customers use of debit cards will be reported gross in loan and service fees under noninterest income. The cost of using third party providers for these interchange services are reported in data processing fees and supplies under noninterest expense.
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Gain on sale of other real estate owned ("OREO") financed by seller
On occasion, the Company underwrites a loan to purchase property owned by the Company. Under ASC 606, the Company assesses whether the buyer is committed to perform their obligations under the contract and whether collectability of the transaction price is probable. Once these criteria are met, the OREO asset is derecognized and the gain or loss on sale is recorded upon the transfer of control of the property to the buyer. In determining the gain or loss on the sale, the Company adjusts the transaction price and related gain (loss) on sale if a significant financing component is present.
Debit card incentive rebates
The Company receives incentive rebates based on debit card transaction volume. Performance obligations are met on a transactional basis and income is recognized monthly based on transaction volume. Under ASC 606, these rebates related to debit card transaction volume are reported as a contra expense in data processing fees and supplies under noninterest expense.
Stock Based Compensation:
Compensation cost is recognized for stock options and restricted stock awards issued to employees, based on the fair value of these awards at the date of grant. A Black-Scholes model is utilized to estimate the fair value of stock options, while the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant adjusted for the present value of expected dividends is used for restricted stock awards. Compensation cost is recognized over the required service period, generally defined as the vesting period. Certain of the restricted stock awards are performance based, as more fully discussed in Note 14 - Stock Based Compensation.
Income Taxes:
Annual consolidated federal and state income tax returns are filed by the Company. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined using the liability (or balance sheet) method. Income tax expense is recorded based on the amount of taxes due on its tax return plus net deferred taxes computed based upon the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between carrying amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is more likely of being realized on examination than not. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded.
The Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.
Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments:
Financial instruments include credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and standby letters of credit, issued to meet customer financing needs. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering customer collateral or ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded. The fair value of standby letters of credit is recorded as a liability during the commitment period.
Earnings Per Common Share:
Basic earnings per common share is net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share includes the dilutive effect of additional potential common shares issuable under stock options, restricted stock awards and warrants. Earnings and dividends per share are restated for all stock splits and dividends through the date of issue of the financial statements. The common shares included in treasury stock for 2023 and 2022 were 473,120 and 475,902 shares, respectively. Common stock that has been purchased under the directors’ deferred compensation plan, described above, is included in the treasury stock total and represented 184,019 and 186,801 shares of treasury stock as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Because these shares are held in trust for the participants,
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
they are treated as outstanding when computing the weighted-average common shares outstanding for the calculation of both basic and diluted earnings per share. Treasury stock is carried at cost using the treasury stock method.
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) includes unrealized gains and losses on securities available-for-sale, reclassification adjustments for securities transferred to held-to-maturity, reclassification adjustments for gains on the sale of available-for-sale securities and changes in the funded status of the pension plan, which are also recognized as separate components of equity.
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.
The Bank discovered potentially fraudulent activity by a former treasury management client involving multiple banks. The former client subsequently filed several related bankruptcy cases, captioned In re Interlogic Outsourcing, Inc., et al., which are pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan. On April 27, 2021, the bankruptcy court entered an order approving an amended plan of liquidation, which was filed by the former client, other debtors and bankruptcy plan proponents, and approving the consolidation of the assets in the aforementioned cases under the Khan IOI Consolidated Estate Trust. On August 9, 2021, the liquidating trustee for the bankruptcy estates filed a complaint against the Bank and the Company, and agreed to stay prosecution of the action through August 31, 2022. The original complaint focused on a series of business transactions among the client, related entities and the Bank, which the liquidating trustee alleged are voidable under applicable federal bankruptcy and state law. The complaint also addressed treatment of the Bank's claims filed in the bankruptcy cases.
On August 31, 2022, the trustee filed his amended complaint against the former client, the Bank, the Company, four officers of the Bank and one independent director of the Bank. The amended complaint alleges that the former client engaged in a check kiting scheme involving multiple banks. The amended complaint alleges that a series of business transactions among the client, his related entities and the Bank are voidable under applicable bankruptcy and state laws. The amended complaint also alleges that the Bank, the Company and the five individual bank representatives who are named as defendants violated various federal and state laws in assisting the former client in his check kiting scheme. On October 26, 2022, the trustee filed his second amended complaint which was virtually identical to his amended complaint. On January 5, 2023, the Bank, the Company and the five individual bank representatives filed motions to dismiss the second amended complaint. On May 30, 2023, the court issued its decision granting the defendants' motion to dismiss in part and denying it in part. The court dismissed all claims against the Company and the Bank's independent director. The court dismissed several of the claims against the defendants but granted the trustee the right to file an amended complaint. On June 20, 2023, the trustee filed his third amended complaint. The trustee alleges many of the same claims that were alleged in the second amended complaint. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss the third amended complaint on July 25, 2023. The trustee subsequently filed a response to this motion. On November 26, 2023, the court issued its decision granting the defendants' motion to dismiss in part and denying it in part, with pre-trial discovery scheduled to start in early 2024 for all claims not dismissed by the court in its November ruling. Based on current information, we have determined that a material loss is neither probable nor estimable at this time, and the Bank and the four individual Bank representatives who remain as defendants intend to vigorously defend themselves against all allegations asserted in this amended complaint.
Restrictions on Cash:
The Federal Reserve Bank eliminated the reserve requirement for all depository institutions in March of 2020. Therefore, the Company was not required to have cash on hand or on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank to meet regulatory reserve and clearing requirements at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Dividend Restriction:
Banking regulations require maintaining certain capital levels and may limit the dividends paid by the Bank to the Company or by the Company to its stockholders. These restrictions currently pose no practical limit on the ability of the Bank or Company to pay dividends at historical levels.
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments:
Fair values of financial instruments are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in Note 5 - Fair Value. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect the estimates.
Operating Segments:
The Company’s chief decision-makers monitor and evaluate financial performance on a Company-wide basis. All of the Company’s financial service operations are similar and considered by management to be aggregated into one reportable operating segment. While the Company has assigned certain management responsibilities by region and business-line, the Company’s chief decision-makers monitor and evaluate financial performance on a Company-wide basis. The majority of the Company’s revenue is from the business of banking and the Company’s assigned regions have similar economic characteristics, products, services and customers. Accordingly, all of the Company’s operations are considered by management to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment.
Adoption of New Accounting Standards:
On March 12, 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2020-04, "Reference Rate Reform (ASC 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform of Financial Reporting." ASC 848 contains optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contract modifications and hedging relationships, subject to meeting certain criteria, that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to to be discontinued. On December 22, 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06, "Reference Rate Reform (ASC848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848", which provided a definitive sunset date of December 31, 2024 for the relief guidance under Topic 848. The ASU was effective immediately upon issuance.
The Company formed a cross-functional project team to lead the transition from LIBOR to a planned adoption of reference rates which included the Secure Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"), amongst others. The Company identified certain loans that renewed prior to 2021 and obtained updated reference rate language at the time of the renewal. Additionally, management utilized timeline guidance published by the Alternative Reference Rates Committee to develop and achieve internal milestones during the transitional period. The Company's policy is to adhere to the International Swaps and Derivatives Association 2020 IBOR Fallbacks Protocol that was released on October 23, 2020. The Company discontinued the use of new LIBOR-based loans by December 31, 2021, according to regulatory guidelines. The Company transitioned LIBOR-based loans to an alternative reference rate before June 30, 2023. The Company adopted the LIBOR transition relief allowed under this standard, and it did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
On March 28, 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-01, "Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815): Fair Value Hedging - Portfolio Layer Method." ASC 815 previously permitted only prepayable financial assets and one or more beneficial interests secured by a portfolio of prepayable financial instruments to be included in a last-of-layer closed portfolio. The amendment in this update allows nonrepayable financial assets to also be included in a closed portfolio hedged using the portfolio layer method. That expanded scope allows an entity to apply the same portfolio hedging method to both prepayable and nonprepayable financial assets, thereby allowing consistent accounting for similar hedges. The update become effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company adopted ASU 2022-01 on January 1, 2023, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
On March 31, 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-02, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (ASC 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings (TDRs) and Vintage Disclosures." The update amends ASC 326 to eliminate the accounting guidance for TDRs by creditors, while enhancing disclosures requirements for certain loan refinancing and restructuring activities by creditors when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty. Specifically, rather than applying TDR recognition and measurement guidance, creditors will determine whether a modification results in a new loan or continuation of an existing loan. These amendments are intended to enhance existing disclosure requirements and introduce new requirements related to certain modifications or receivables made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. Additionally, the amendments to ASC 326 require that an entity disclose current-period gross write-offs by year of origination within the vintage disclosures, which requires that an entity disclose the amortized cost basis of financing receivables by credit quality indicator and class of financing receivable by year of origination. The update is available for entities that have adopted the amendments in update
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
2016-13 for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company elected to early adopt the provisions of the ASU related to the discontinuance of TDR reporting, with retrospective application of modification reporting effective starting January 1, 2022. The Company adopted the provisions related to reporting of current-period gross write-offs within the vintage disclosures effective January 1, 2023. The adoption of the provisions contained within ASU 2022-20 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
On March 28, 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-02, "Investments - Equity Method and Join Ventures (ASC 323): Accounting for Investments in Tax Credit Structures Using the Proportional Amortization Method." ASU 2014-01, "Investments - Equity method and Joint Ventures (ASC 323): Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects", previously introduced the option to apply the proportional amortization method to account for investments made primarily for the purpose of receiving income tax credits and other income tax benefits when certain requirements are met; however, this guidance limited the proportional amortization method to investments in low-income-housing tax credit (LIHTC) structures. The proportional amortization method results in the cost of the investment being amortized in proportion to the income tax credits and other income tax benefits received, with the amortization of the investment and the income tax credits being presented net in the income statement as a component of net income tax expense (benefit). Equity investments in other tax credit structures are typically accounted for using the equity method, which results in investment income, gains and losses, and tax credits being presented gross on the income statement in their respective line items.
The amendments in this update permit reporting entities to elect to account for certain tax equity investments, regardless of the tax credit program from which the income tax credits are received, using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. Under the proportional amortization method, an entity amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the income tax benefits in the income statement as a component of income tax expense (benefit). To qualify for the proportional amortization method, all of the following conditions must be met: (1) It is probable that the income tax credits allocated to the tax equity investor will be available; (2) The tax equity investor does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the underlying project; (3) Substantially all of the projected benefits are from income tax credits and other income tax benefits. Projected benefits included income tax credits, other income tax benefits, and other non-income tax -related benefits. The projected benefits are determined on a discounted basis, using a discount rate that is consistent with the cash flow assumptions used by the tax equity investor in making its decision to invest in the project; (4) The tax equity investor's projected yield based solely on the cash flows from the income tax credits and other income tax benefits is positive; and (5) The tax equity investor is a limited liability investor in the limited liability entity for both legal and tax purposes, and the tax equity investor's liability is limited to its capital investment. An accounting policy election is allowed to apply the proportional amortization method on a tax-credit-program-by-tax-credit-program basis rather than electing to apply the proportional amortization method at the reporting entity level or to individual investments. The amendments in this update require specific disclosures that must be applied to all investments that generate income tax credits and other income tax benefits from a tax credit program for which the entity has elected to apply the proportional amortization method. The amendments require that a reporting entity disclose certain information in annual and interim reporting periods that enable investors to understanding the following information about its investments that generate income tax credits and other income tax benefits from a tax credit program including: (1) The nature of its tax equity investments; and (2) The effect of its tax equity investments and related income tax credits and other income tax benefits on its financial position and results of operations.
For public business entities, the amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in any interim period. If early adoption is elected, the provisions shall be adopted as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes the interim period of adoption. The amendments in this update must be applied on either a modified retrospective or a retrospective basis. The Company chose the modified retrospective approach and recorded a day one adjustment of less than $1.0 million to beginning retained earnings upon adoption of ASU 2023-02 on January 1, 2024, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
Newly Issued But Not Yet Effective Accounting Standards:
On October 9, 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-06, "Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC's Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative", which modified the disclosure or presentation requirements of a variety of Topics in the Codification and was intended to both clarify or improve such requirements and align the requirements with the SEC's regulations. The amendments to Topics of Codification provided in this update apply to all reporting entities within the scope of the affected Topics unless otherwise indicated by the update. Given the variety of Topics
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
amended, a broad range of entities may be affected by one or more of the amendments provided in the update. The Company evaluated the amendments provided in the update and believes certain of the disclosure improvements are applicable to the
Company's interim or annual disclosures. Subtopic 230-10, as amended, requires disclosure within the accounting policy in annual periods of where cash flows associated with derivative instruments and their related gains and losses are presented within the statement of cash flows. Subtopic 260-10, as amended, requires disclosure of the methods used in the diluted earnings-per-share computation for each dilutive security and clarifies that certain disclosures should be made during interim
periods. Subtopic 470-10, as amended, requires disclosure of amounts and terms of unused lines of credit and unfunded commitments and the weighted-average interest rate on short-term borrowings outstanding as of the date of each balance sheet presented. The effective date for each amendment for entities subject to the SEC's existing disclosure requirements is the effective date of the removal of the related disclosure from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, with early adoption prohibited. The amendments in the update are to be applied prospectively. The Company will apply prospectively the provisions provided in the amendments as such provisions become effective, and does not believe the application of these modified disclosure requirements will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. If by June 30, 2027, the SEC has not removed the applicable requirement from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, the pending content of the related amendment in the Update will be removed from the Codification and will not become effective.
On November 27, 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, "Segment Reporting (ASC 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures", intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment segment expenses. Provisions in the amendment include: (1) Requirement that a public entity disclose, on an annual and interim basis, significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker ("CODM") and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss (collectively referred to as the "significant expense principle"); (2) Requirement that a public entity disclose, on an an annual and interim basis, an amount for other segment items by reportable segment and a description of its composition. The other segment items category is the difference between segment revenue less the segment expenses disclosed under the significant expense principle and each reported measure of segment profit or loss; (3) Requirement that a public entity provide all annual disclosures about a reportable segment's profit or loss and assets currently required by ASC 280 in interim periods; (4) Clarification that if the CODM uses more than one measure of a segment's profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources, a public entity may report one or more of those additional measures of segment profit. However, at lease one of the reported segment profit or loss measures (or the single reported measure, if only one is disclosed) should be the measure that is most consistent with the measurement principles used in measuring the corresponding amounts in the public entity's consolidated financial statements; (5) Requirement that a public entity disclose the title and position of the CODM and explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources; and (6) Requirement that a public entity that has a single reportable segment provide all the disclosures by the amendments in the update and all existing segment disclosures in ASC 280.
The amendments in the update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. For public business entities, amendments in the update should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented in the financial statements, and upon transition the segment expense categories and amounts disclosed in the prior periods should be based on the significant segment expense categories identified and disclosed in the period of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its disclosures, however does not expect adoption of the Update to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
On December 14, 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures", to address investor requests for greater transparency about income tax information through improvements to income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. The amendments are designed to enhance transparency surrounding income tax disclosures by requiring (1) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and (2) income taxes paid disaggregated by taxing jurisdiction, which will allow investors to better assess, in their capital allocation decisions, how an entity's operations and related tax risks and tax planning and operational opportunities affect its income tax rate and prospects for future cash flows. Other amendments in this Update improve the effectiveness and comparability of disclosures by (1) adding disclosures of pretax income (or loss) and income tax expense (or benefit) to be consistent with the SEC's Regulation S-X 210.4-08(h), Rules of General Application-General Notes to Financial Statements: Income Tax Expense, and (2) removing disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial or relevant.
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
The amendments in the Update are effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The amendments in this Update should be applied on a prospective basis, however retrospective application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this Update on its disclosures, however does not expect adoption of the Update to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
Reclassifications:
Certain amounts appearing in the financial statements and notes thereto for prior periods have been reclassified to conform with the current presentation. The reclassifications had no effect on net income or stockholders’ equity as previously reported.
NOTE 2 - SECURITIES
Debt securities purchased with the intent and ability to hold to their maturity are classified as held-to-maturity securities. All other investment securities are classified as available-for-sale securities.
Available-for-Sale Securities
Information related to the amortized cost, fair value and allowance for credit losses of securities available-for-sale and the related gross unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at December 31, 2023 and 2022 is provided in the tables below.
(dollars in thousands) Amortized
Cost Gross
Unrealized
Gain Gross
Unrealized
Losses Allowance for Credit Losses Fair
Value
U.S. government sponsored agencies $ 146,692 $ 0 $ (27,213) $ 0 $ 119,479
Mortgage-backed securities: residential 522,275 118 (74,551) 0 447,842
State and municipal securities 557,352 65 (73,010) 0 484,407
Total $ 1,226,319 $ 183 $ (174,774) $ 0 $ 1,051,728
U.S. Treasury securities $ 3,057 $ 0 $ (23) $ 0 $ 3,034
U.S. government sponsored agencies 156,184 0 (29,223) 0 126,961
Mortgage-backed securities: residential 578,175 67 (85,934) 0 492,308
State and municipal securities 663,367 157 (100,299) 0 563,225
Total $ 1,400,783 $ 224 $ (215,479) $ 0 $ 1,185,528
Held-to-Maturity Securities
Information related to the amortized cost, fair value and allowance for credit losses of securities held-to-maturity and the related gross gains and unrealized gains and losses at December 31, 2023 and 2022 is presented in the table below.
(dollars in thousands) Amortized
Cost Gross Unrealized Gain Gross Unrealized Losses Allowance for Credit Losses Fair Value
State and municipal securities $ 129,918 $ 0 $ (10,703) $ 0 $ 119,215
State and municipal securities $ 128,242 $ 0 $ (17,213) $ 0 $ 111,029
NOTE 2 - SECURITIES (continued)
On April 1, 2022, the Company elected to transfer securities from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity as an overall balance sheet management strategy. The fair value of securities transferred was $127.0 million from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity. The unrealized loss on the securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity was $24.4 million ($19.3 million, net of tax) based on the fair value of the securities on the transfer date and was $20.9 million ($16.5 million, net of tax) at December 31, 2023. The Company has the current intent and ability to hold the transferred securities until maturity. Any net unrealized gain or loss on the transferred securities included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at the time of the transfer will be amortized over the remaining life of the underlying security as an adjustment to the yield on those securities. No securities were transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Information regarding the fair value and amortized cost of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities by maturity as of December 31, 2023 is presented on the next page. Maturity information is based on contractual maturity for all securities other than mortgage-backed securities. Actual maturities of securities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to prepay the obligation without prepayment penalty.
Available-for-Sale Held-to-Maturity
(dollars in thousands) Amortized
Cost Fair
Value Amortized
Cost Fair
Value
Due in one year or less $ 1,190 $ 1,191 $ 0 $ 0
Due after one year through five years 8,011 7,421 0 0
Due after five years through ten years 40,627 38,730 0 0
Due after ten years 654,216 556,544 129,918 119,215
704,044 603,886 129,918 119,215
Mortgage-backed securities 522,275 447,842 0 0
Total debt securities $ 1,226,319 $ 1,051,728 $ 129,918 $ 119,215
Security proceeds, gross gains and gross losses for 2023, 2022 and 2021 were as follows:
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022 2021
Sales of securities available-for-sale
Proceeds $ 105,175 $ 25,332 $ 13,964
Gross gains 439 140 797
Gross losses (464) (119) 0
Number of securities 115 30 9
In accordance with ASU No. 2017-8, purchase premiums for callable securities are amortized to the earliest call date and premiums on non-callable securities as well as discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the terms of the securities or over the estimated lives of mortgage-backed securities. Gains and losses on sales are based on the amortized cost of the security sold and recorded on the trade date.
Securities with fair values of $792.0 million and $298.2 million were pledged as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, as collateral for borrowings from the FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank and for other purposes as permitted or required by law.
NOTE 2 - SECURITIES (continued)
Unrealized Loss Analysis on Available-for-Sale and Held-to-Maturity Securities
Information regarding available-for-sale securities securities with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 is presented below. The tables distribute the securities between those with unrealized losses for less than twelve months and those with unrealized losses for twelve months or more.
Less than 12 months 12 months or more Total
(dollars in thousands) Fair
Value Unrealized Losses Fair
Value Unrealized Losses Fair
Value Unrealized Losses
U.S. government sponsored agencies $ 0 $ 0 $ 119,479 $ 27,213 $ 119,479 $ 27,213
Mortgage-backed securities: residential 52 0 442,765 74,551 442,817 74,551
State and municipal securities 31,345 440 440,446 72,570 471,791 73,010
Total temporarily impaired $ 31,397 $ 440 $ 1,002,690 $ 174,334 $ 1,034,087 $ 174,774
U.S. Treasury securities $ 3,034 $ 23 $ 0 $ 0 $ 3,034 $ 23
U.S. government sponsored agencies 8,420 1,350 118,541 27,873 126,961 29,223
Mortgage-backed securities: residential 165,897 18,637 323,727 67,297 489,624 85,934
State and municipal securities 277,967 33,405 244,436 66,894 522,403 100,299
Total temporarily impaired $ 455,318 $ 53,415 $ 686,704 $ 162,064 $ 1,142,022 $ 215,479
Information regarding held-to-maturity securities with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 is presented below. The table divides the securities between those with unrealized losses for less than twelve months and those with unrealized losses for twelve months or more.
Less than 12 months 12 months or more Total
(dollars in thousands) Fair
Value Unrealized
Losses Fair
Value Unrealized
Losses Fair
Value Unrealized
Losses
State and municipal securities $ 0 $ 0 $ 119,215 $ 10,703 $ 119,215 $ 10,703
State and municipal securities $ 0 $ 0 $ 111,029 $ 17,213 $ 111,029 $ 17,213
NOTE 2 - SECURITIES (continued)
The number of securities with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 is presented below.
Available-for-Sale Held-to-Maturity
Less than
12 months 12 months
or more Total Less than
12 months 12 months
or more Total
U.S. government sponsored agencies 0 17 17 0 0 0
Mortgage-backed securities: residential 1 126 127 0 0 0
State and municipal securities 40 370 410 0 41 41
Total temporarily impaired 41 513 554 0 41 41
U.S. Treasury securities 7 0 7 0 0 0
U.S. government sponsored agencies 1 16 17 0 0 0
Mortgage-backed securities: residential 95 41 136 0 0 0
State and municipal securities 269 223 492 0 41 41
Total temporarily impaired 372 280 652 0 41 41
Available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities in unrealized loss positions are evaluated for impairment related to credit losses at least quarterly. For available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, management first assesses whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through the consolidated income statement. For available-for-sale debt securities that do not meet the criteria and for held-to-maturity securities, management evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, management considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security and the issuer, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, management compares the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security with the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis for the security, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded, limited to the amount that the fair value of the security is less than its amortized cost basis. For available-for-sale debt securities, any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), net of applicable taxes.
No allowance for credit losses for available-for-sale or held-to-maturity securities was recorded at December 31, 2023 or 2022. Accrued interest receivable on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities totaled $7.6 million and $8.9 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.
Ninety-nine percent of the securities are backed by the U.S. government, government agencies, government sponsored agencies or are rated above investment grade with a long history of no credit losses, except for certain non-local or local municipal securities, which are not rated. The U.S. government sponsored agencies and mortgage-backed securities are either explicitly or implicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government, are highly rated by major credit rating agencies, and have a long history of no credit losses. Therefore, for those securities, we do not record expected credit losses. State and municipal securities credit losses are benchmarked against highly rated municipal securities of similar duration, as published by Moody's, resulting in an immaterial allowance for credit losses.
NOTE 3 - LOANS
Total loans outstanding as of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 consisted of the following:
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022
Commercial and industrial loans:
Working capital lines of credit loans $ 604,893 $ 650,948
Non-working capital loans 815,871 842,101
Total commercial and industrial loans 1,420,764 1,493,049
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
Construction and land development loans 634,435 517,664
Owner occupied loans 825,464 758,091
Nonowner occupied loans 724,101 706,107
Multi-family loans 253,534 197,232
Total commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans 2,437,534 2,179,094
Agri-business and agricultural loans:
Loans secured by farmland 162,890 201,200
Loans for agricultural production 225,874 230,888
Total agri-business and agricultural loans 388,764 432,088
Other commercial loans 120,726 113,593
Total commercial loans 4,367,788 4,217,824
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
Closed end first mortgage loans 258,103 212,742
Open end and junior lien loans 189,663 175,575
Residential construction and land development loans 8,421 19,249
Total consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans 456,187 407,566
Other consumer loans 96,022 88,075
Total consumer loans 552,209 495,641
Gross loans 4,919,997 4,713,465
Less: Allowance for credit losses (71,972) (72,606)
Net deferred loan fees (3,463) (3,069)
Loans, net $ 4,844,562 $ 4,637,790
The recorded investment in loans does not include accrued interest, which totaled $21.5 million and $18.4 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The Company had $238,000 and $306,000 in residential real estate loans in process of foreclosure as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
NOTE 4 - ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY
The Company adopted ASC 326 using the modified retrospective for all financial assets measured at amortized cost. Results for reporting periods after January 1, 2021 are presented under ASC 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP.
The following table presents the activity in the allowance for credit losses by portfolio segment for the year ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
(dollars in thousands) Commercial
and
Industrial Commercial
Real Estate
and
Multi-family
Residential Agri-business
and
Agricultural Other
Commercial Consumer
1-4 Family
Mortgage Other
Consumer Unallocated Total
Beginning balance $ 35,290 $ 27,394 $ 4,429 $ 917 $ 3,001 $ 1,021 $ 554 $ 72,606
Provision for credit losses 1,209 3,619 (279) 212 598 673 (182) 5,850
Loans charged-off (6,341) 0 0 0 (163) (828) 0 (7,332)
Recoveries 180 322 0 0 38 308 0 848
Net loans (charged-off) recovered (6,161) 322 0 0 (125) (520) 0 (6,484)
Ending balance $ 30,338 $ 31,335 $ 4,150 $ 1,129 $ 3,474 $ 1,174 $ 372 $ 71,972
(dollars in thousands) Commercial
and
Industrial Commercial
Real Estate
and
Multi-family
Residential Agri-business
and
Agricultural Other
Commercial Consumer
1-4 Family
Mortgage Other
Consumer Unallocated Total
Beginning balance $ 30,595 $ 26,535 $ 5,034 $ 1,146 $ 2,866 $ 1,147 $ 450 $ 67,773
Provision for credit losses 8,646 1,179 (605) (229) 125 155 104 9,375
Loans charged-off (4,022) (597) 0 0 (42) (473) 0 (5,134)
Recoveries 71 277 0 0 52 192 0 592
Net loans (charged-off) recovered (3,951) (320) 0 0 10 (281) 0 (4,542)
Ending balance $ 35,290 $ 27,394 $ 4,429 $ 917 $ 3,001 $ 1,021 $ 554 $ 72,606
(dollars in thousands) Commercial
and
Industrial Commercial
Real Estate
and
Multi-family
Residential Agri-business
and
Agricultural Other
Commercial Consumer
1-4 Family
Mortgage Other
Consumer Unallocated Total
Beginning balance $ 28,333 $ 22,907 $ 3,043 $ 416 $ 2,619 $ 951 $ 3,139 $ 61,408
Impact of adopting ASC 326 4,312 4,316 1,060 941 953 349 (2,881) 9,050
Provision for credit losses 1,966 (632) 611 (211) (777) (72) 192 1,077
Loans charged-off (5,575) (70) 0 0 (51) (287) 0 (5,983)
Recoveries 1,559 14 320 0 122 206 0 2,221
Net loans (charged-off) recovered (4,016) (56) 320 0 71 (81) 0 (3,762)
Ending balance $ 30,595 $ 26,535 $ 5,034 $ 1,146 $ 2,866 $ 1,147 $ 450 $ 67,773
NOTE 4 - ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)
Credit Quality Indicators:
The Company categorizes loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt such as: current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information, and current economic trends, among other factors. The Company analyzes commercial loans individually by classifying the loans as to credit risk. This analysis is performed on a quarterly basis for Special Mention, Substandard and Doubtful grade loans and annually on Pass grade loans over $250,000.
The Company uses the following definitions for risk ratings:
Special Mention. Loans classified as Special Mention have a potential weakness that deserves management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or of the institution’s credit position at some future date.
Substandard. Loans classified as Substandard are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized as the distinct possibility that the institution will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.
Doubtful. Loans classified as Doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as Substandard, with the added characteristics that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.
Loans are considered to be "Pass" rated when they are reviewed as part of the previously described process and do not meet the criteria above with the exception of consumer troubled debt restructurings, which are evaluated and listed with Substandard commercial grade loans and consumer nonaccrual loans which are evaluated individually and listed with “Not Rated” loans. Loans listed as Not Rated are consumer loans or commercial loans with consumer characteristics included in groups of homogenous loans which are analyzed for credit quality indicators utilizing delinquency status.
NOTE 4 - ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)
The following tables summarize the risk category of loans by loan segment and origination date as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. Balances presented are at the amortized cost basis by origination year.
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 Prior Term Total Revolving Total
Commercial and industrial loans:
Working capital lines of credit loans:
Pass $ 193 $ 1,876 $ 2,214 $ 1,132 $ 0 $ 50 $ 5,465 $ 532,086 $ 537,551
Special Mention 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 46,498 46,498
Substandard 0 200 0 0 125 0 325 20,516 20,841
Total 193 2,076 2,214 1,132 125 50 5,790 599,100 604,890
Working capital lines of credit loans:
Current period gross write offs 0 0 75 0 139 0 214 327 541
Non-working capital loans:
Pass 199,071 224,333 85,273 49,999 28,773 10,501 597,950 171,264 769,214
Special Mention 4,038 9,577 1,051 2,498 2,306 4,298 23,768 5,477 29,245
Substandard 3,754 1,612 683 3,892 51 218 10,210 397 10,607
Not Rated 2,585 1,999 881 707 162 18 6,352 0 6,352
Total 209,448 237,521 87,888 57,096 31,292 15,035 638,280 177,138 815,418
Non-working capital loans:
Current period gross write offs 0 5,445 0 178 129 0 5,752 48 5,800
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
Construction and land development loans:
Pass 50,693 15,558 17,655 0 177 0 84,083 547,570 631,653
Total 50,693 15,558 17,655 0 177 0 84,083 547,570 631,653
Construction and land development loans:
Current period gross write offs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Owner occupied loans:
Pass 144,411 132,850 156,680 132,407 61,415 118,406 746,169 40,288 786,457
Special Mention 7,597 686 4,913 0 1,394 2,245 16,835 14,739 31,574
Substandard 362 250 3,325 1,474 345 1,161 6,917 0 6,917
Total 152,370 133,786 164,918 133,881 63,154 121,812 769,921 55,027 824,948
Owner occupied loans:
Current period gross write offs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nonowner occupied loans:
Pass 123,633 158,415 112,582 134,050 87,288 66,755 682,723 27,860 710,583
Special Mention 4,503 0 6,257 0 0 2,246 13,006 0 13,006
Total 128,136 158,415 118,839 134,050 87,288 69,001 695,729 27,860 723,589
Nonowner occupied loans:
Current period gross write offs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Multi-family loans:
Pass 90,954 23,315 9,042 35,648 13,971 14,609 187,539 45,987 233,526
Special Mention 19,671 0 0 0 0 0 19,671 0 19,671
Total 110,625 23,315 9,042 35,648 13,971 14,609 207,210 45,987 253,197
Multi-family loans:
Current period gross write offs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Agri-business and agricultural loans:
Loans secured by farmland:
Pass 24,503 32,060 25,308 27,924 9,104 19,160 138,059 24,724 162,783
Substandard 0 0 0 0 0 100 100 0 100
Total 24,503 32,060 25,308 27,924 9,104 19,260 138,159 24,724 162,883
Loans secured by farmland:
Current period gross write offs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Loans for agricultural production:
Pass 28,657 13,589 27,175 25,504 3,533 10,429 108,887 116,406 225,293
Special Mention 0 0 187 0 0 0 187 500 687
Total 28,657 13,589 27,362 25,504 3,533 10,429 109,074 116,906 225,980
Loans for agricultural production:
Current period gross write offs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other commercial loans:
Pass 7,058 26,918 33,247 13,684 90 7,332 88,329 29,819 118,148
Special Mention 0 0 0 0 0 2,419 2,419 0 2,419
Total 7,058 26,918 33,247 13,684 90 9,751 90,748 29,819 120,567
Other commercial loans:
Current period gross write offs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
Closed end first mortgage loans
Pass 9,910 10,541 12,486 8,614 3,924 4,625 50,100 8,330 58,430
Special Mention 0 0 0 519 0 0 519 0 519
Substandard 87 0 96 123 0 253 559 0 559
Not Rated 64,233 51,018 38,014 17,432 4,314 23,225 198,236 0 198,236
Total 74,230 61,559 50,596 26,688 8,238 28,103 249,414 8,330 257,744
Closed end first mortgage loans
Current period gross write offs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
NOTE 4 - ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)
Open end and junior lien loans
Pass 557 137 491 335 0 6 1,526 8,689 10,215
Substandard 108 0 23 0 26 48 205 68 273
Not Rated 24,792 29,648 8,471 1,554 2,286 1,962 68,713 112,371 181,084
Total 25,457 29,785 8,985 1,889 2,312 2,016 70,444 121,128 191,572
Open end and junior lien loans
Current period gross write offs 0 50 14 0 0 0 64 99 163
Residential construction loans
Not Rated 1,525 2,982 1,515 839 263 1,220 8,344 0 8,344
Total 1,525 2,982 1,515 839 263 1,220 8,344 0 8,344
Residential construction loans
Current period gross write offs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other consumer loans
Pass 1,082 789 1,391 301 0 0 3,563 11,894 15,457
Substandard 40 34 35 0 2 0 111 0 111
Not Rated 32,481 17,585 9,994 6,008 1,611 1,957 69,636 10,545 80,181
Total 33,603 18,408 11,420 6,309 1,613 1,957 73,310 22,439 95,749
Other consumer loans
Current period gross write offs 16 258 90 8 212 1 585 243 828
Total Loans $ 846,498 $ 755,972 $ 558,989 $ 464,644 $ 221,160 $ 293,243 $ 3,140,506 $ 1,776,028 $ 4,916,534
Total current period gross write offs $ 16 $ 5,753 $ 179 $ 186 $ 480 $ 1 $ 6,615 $ 717 $ 7,332
NOTE 4 - ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)
(dollars in thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 Prior Term Total Revolving Total
Commercial and industrial loans:
Working capital lines of credit loans:
Pass $ 2,207 $ 2,718 $ 1,601 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 6,526 $ 597,108 $ 603,634
Special Mention 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 36,410 36,410
Substandard 200 0 0 300 0 0 500 10,495 10,995
Total 2,407 2,718 1,601 300 0 0 7,026 644,013 651,039
Non-working capital loans:
Pass 272,273 124,600 91,850 47,711 9,981 13,670 560,085 240,490 800,575
Special Mention 448 1,620 0 109 159 2,961 5,297 2,153 7,450
Substandard 11,831 872 5,021 194 1,351 3,979 23,248 4,171 27,419
Not Rated 2,891 1,550 1,254 413 120 23 6,251 0 6,251
Total 287,443 128,642 98,125 48,427 11,611 20,633 594,881 246,814 841,695
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
Construction and land development loans:
Pass 26,889 19,944 14,026 356 0 0 61,215 453,953 515,168
Total 26,889 19,944 14,026 356 0 0 61,215 453,953 515,168
Owner occupied loans:
Pass 113,656 179,014 139,880 97,353 65,519 97,335 692,757 40,533 733,290
Special Mention 2,960 7,608 0 446 1,491 8,054 20,559 0 20,559
Substandard 308 105 1,491 373 1,161 229 3,667 0 3,667
Total 116,924 186,727 141,371 98,172 68,171 105,618 716,983 40,533 757,516
Nonowner occupied loans:
Pass 194,294 125,190 134,661 91,907 15,109 64,874 626,035 68,603 694,638
Special Mention 0 11,024 0 0 0 0 11,024 0 11,024
Total 194,294 136,214 134,661 91,907 15,109 64,874 637,059 68,603 705,662
Multi-family loans:
Pass 38,460 25,741 36,929 35,695 2,046 28,866 167,737 7,349 175,086
Special Mention 21,855 0 0 0 0 0 21,855 0 21,855
Total 60,315 25,741 36,929 35,695 2,046 28,866 189,592 7,349 196,941
Agri-business and agricultural loans:
Loans secured by farmland:
Pass 38,344 28,684 29,741 9,656 8,145 19,638 134,208 63,094 197,302
Special Mention 260 0 1,676 1,780 0 15 3,731 0 3,731
Substandard 0 0 0 0 0 145 145 0 145
Total 38,604 28,684 31,417 11,436 8,145 19,798 138,084 63,094 201,178
Loans for agricultural production:
Pass 6,040 30,262 22,167 3,625 9,248 4,539 75,881 143,599 219,480
Special Mention 947 243 7,262 928 0 0 9,380 2,129 11,509
Total 6,987 30,505 29,429 4,553 9,248 4,539 85,261 145,728 230,989
Other commercial loans:
Pass 27,097 4,815 17,911 147 931 10,985 61,886 48,295 110,181
Special Mention 0 0 0 0 0 3,160 3,160 0 3,160
Total 27,097 4,815 17,911 147 931 14,145 65,046 48,295 113,341
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
Closed end first mortgage loans
Pass 8,768 12,809 12,289 4,805 4,045 3,860 46,576 5,634 52,210
Special Mention 0 0 552 0 0 0 552 0 552
Substandard 0 0 0 0 83 1,944 2,027 0 2,027
Not Rated 57,404 44,331 20,023 5,936 2,970 27,004 157,668 0 157,668
Total 66,172 57,140 32,864 10,741 7,098 32,808 206,823 5,634 212,457
Open end and junior lien loans
Pass 137 541 357 63 75 0 1,173 5,841 7,014
Substandard 0 0 0 31 49 0 80 111 191
Not Rated 44,472 13,597 3,014 3,616 1,476 2,252 68,427 101,750 170,177
Total 44,609 14,138 3,371 3,710 1,600 2,252 69,680 107,702 177,382
Residential construction loans
Not Rated 14,463 2,167 897 291 129 1,223 19,170 0 19,170
Total 14,463 2,167 897 291 129 1,223 19,170 0 19,170
Other consumer loans
Pass 1,344 1,841 432 600 0 948 5,165 16,152 21,317
Substandard 0 0 0 210 0 0 210 0 210
Not Rated 24,395 14,563 9,168 3,606 2,755 1,352 55,839 10,492 66,331
Total 25,739 16,404 9,600 4,416 2,755 2,300 61,214 26,644 87,858
TOTAL $ 911,943 $ 653,839 $ 552,202 $ 310,151 $ 126,843 $ 297,056 $ 2,852,034 $ 1,858,362 $ 4,710,396
NOTE 4 - ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, $1.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively, in PPP loans were included in the "Pass" category of non-working capital commercial and industrial loans. These loans were included in this risk rating category because they are fully guaranteed by the Small Business Administration ("SBA").
Nonaccrual and Past Due Loans:
For all loan classes, a loan is generally placed on nonaccrual status when principal or interest becomes 90 days past due unless it is well secured and in process of collection, or earlier when concern exists as to the ultimate collectability of principal or interest. Interest accrued but not received is reversed against earnings. Cash interest received on these loans is applied to the principal balance until the principal is recovered or until the loan returns to accrual status. Loans may be returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current, remain current for a prescribed period, and the payments are reasonably assured.
The following table presents the aging of the amortized cost basis in past due loans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 by class of loans and loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing by class of loan:
(dollars in thousands) Loans Not Past Due 30-89 Days Past Due Greater than 89 Days Past Due and Accruing Total Accruing Total Nonaccrual Nonaccrual With No Allowance For Credit Loss Total
Commercial and industrial loans:
Working capital lines of credit loans $ 602,236 $ 0 $ 0 $ 602,236 $ 2,654 $ 0 $ 604,890
Non-working capital loans 805,305 1,372 0 806,677 8,741 244 815,418
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
Construction and land development loans 631,653 0 0 631,653 0 0 631,653
Owner occupied loans 821,701 0 0 821,701 3,247 1,161 824,948
Nonowner occupied loans 723,589 0 0 723,589 0 0 723,589
Multi-family loans 253,197 0 0 253,197 0 0 253,197
Agri-business and agricultural loans:
Loans secured by farmland 162,783 0 0 162,783 100 0 162,883
Loans for agricultural production 225,980 0 0 225,980 0 0 225,980
Other commercial loans 120,567 0 0 120,567 0 0 120,567
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
Closed end first mortgage loans 256,016 1,142 27 257,185 559 329 257,744
Open end and junior lien loans 190,956 344 0 191,300 272 164 191,572
Residential construction loans 8,344 0 0 8,344 0 0 8,344
Other consumer loans 95,135 502 0 95,637 112 3 95,749
Total $ 4,897,462 $ 3,360 $ 27 $ 4,900,849 $ 15,685 $ 1,901 $ 4,916,534
As of December 31, 2023, there were an insignificant number of loans 30-89 days past due or greater than 89 days past due on nonaccrual. Additionally, interest income recognized on nonaccrual loans was insignificant during the year ended December 31, 2023.
NOTE 4 - ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)
(dollars in thousands) Loans Not Past Due 30-89 Days Past Due Greater than 89 Days Past Due and Accruing Total Accruing Total Nonaccrual Nonaccrual With No Allowance For Credit Loss Total
Commercial and industrial loans:
Working capital lines of credit loans $ 649,529 $ 68 $ 0 $ 649,597 $ 1,442 $ 0 $ 651,039
Non-working capital loans 830,033 39 1 830,073 11,622 727 841,695
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
Construction and land development loans 515,168 0 0 515,168 0 0 515,168
Owner occupied loans 754,451 0 0 754,451 3,065 1,469 757,516
Nonowner occupied loans 705,662 0 0 705,662 0 0 705,662
Multi-family loans 196,941 0 0 196,941 0 0 196,941
Agri-business and agricultural loans:
Loans secured by farmland 201,033 0 0 201,033 145 0 201,178
Loans for agricultural production 230,989 0 0 230,989 0 0 230,989
Other commercial loans 113,341 0 0 113,341 0 0 113,341
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
Closed end first mortgage loans 211,736 306 122 212,164 293 225 212,457
Open end and junior lien loans 176,758 436 0 177,194 188 188 177,382
Residential construction loans 19,170 0 0 19,170 0 0 19,170
Other consumer loans 87,333 316 0 87,649 209 6 87,858
Total $ 4,692,144 $ 1,165 $ 123 $ 4,693,432 $ 16,964 $ 2,615 $ 4,710,396
As of December 31, 2022, there were an insignificant number of loans 30-89 days past due or greater than 89 days past due on nonaccrual. Additionally, interest income recognized on nonaccrual loans was insignificant during the year ended December 31, 2022.
When management determines that foreclosure is probable, expected credit losses for collateral dependent loans are based on the fair value of the collateral at the reporting date, adjusted for selling costs as appropriate. A loan is considered collateral dependent when the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and the loan is expected to be repaid substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral. The class of loan represents the primary collateral type associated with the loan. Significant year over year changes are reflective of changes in nonaccrual status and not necessarily associated with credit quality indicators like appraisal value.
NOTE 4 - ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)
The following tables present the amortized cost basis of collateral dependent loans by class of loan as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:
(dollars in thousands) Real Estate General
Business
Assets Other Total
Commercial and industrial loans:
Working capital lines of credit loans $ 50 $ 2,454 $ 0 $ 2,504
Non-working capital loans 40 8,202 400 8,642
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
Owner occupied loans 595 1,474 1,161 3,230
Nonowner occupied loans 0 0 0 0
Agri-business and agricultural loans:
Loans secured by farmland 0 100 0 100
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
Closed end first mortgage loans 559 0 0 559
Open end and junior lien loans 164 0 0 164
Other consumer loans 0 0 112 112
Total $ 1,408 $ 12,230 $ 1,673 $ 15,311
(dollars in thousands) Real Estate General
Business
Assets Other Total
Commercial and industrial loans:
Working capital lines of credit loans $ 50 $ 5,402 $ 0 $ 5,452
Non-working capital loans 544 18,109 229 18,882
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
Owner occupied loans 413 1,491 1,161 3,065
Nonowner occupied loans 0 0 0 0
Agri-business and agricultural loans:
Loans secured by farmland 0 145 0 145
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
Closed end first mortgage loans 2,030 0 0 2,030
Open end and junior lien loans 188 0 0 188
Other consumer loans 0 0 7 7
Total $ 3,225 $ 25,147 $ 1,397 $ 29,769
NOTE 4 - ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)
Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty
The allowance for credit losses incorporates an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses and is recorded on each asset upon origination. The starting point to estimate such credit losses is historical loss information. The Company uses a probability of default/loss given default model to determine the allowance for credit losses recorded at origination. Occasionally, the Company subsequently modifies loans for borrowers experiencing financial distress by providing the following forms of relief: forgiveness of loan principal, extension of repayment terms, reduction of interest rate or an other than insignificant payment delay. In some instances, the Company provides multiple types of concessions for such modifications. Because the effect of most modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty is already included in the allowance for credit losses, no change to the allowance for credit losses is generally recorded for these modifications.
The following tables present the amortized cost basis at the end of the reporting period of loans that were experiencing financial difficulty and received a modification of terms during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, by class and type of modification. The percentage of the amortized cost basis of loans that were modified to borrowers in financial distress as compared to the amortized cost basis of each class of financing receivables at the end of the reporting period is also presented below:
(dollars in thousands) Interest Rate Reduction Combination Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension Combination Principal Forgiveness, Interest Rate Reduction, Term Extension and Payment Delay Total Modifications Total Class of Financing Receivable
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023
Commercial and industrial loans:
Working capital lines of credit loans $ 1,912 $ 944 $ 0 $ 2,856 0.47 %
Non-working capital loans 0 0 1,572 1,572 0.19
Total commercial and industrial loans 1,912 944 1,572 4,428 0.31
Total loan modifications made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty $ 1,912 $ 944 $ 1,572 $ 4,428 0.09 %
The Company has no material commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers included in the previous table.
NOTE 4 - ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)
The following table presents the financial effect of the loan modifications presented above for borrowers experiencing financial difficulty for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023:
(dollars in thousands) Principal Forgiveness Interest Rate Reduction Term Extension Payment Delay Total Class of Financing Receivable
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023
Commercial and industrial loans:
Working capital lines of credit loans $ 0 Reduction of two variable Prime Rate lines of credit to 1.00% Fixed
Reduction of one variable line of credit from Prime plus 1.00% to 1.00% Fixed
Term extension for one variable rate line of credit from 12 months to 120 months
None 0.47 %
Non-working capital loans (1) 9,380 Reduction of one term loan from Prime plus 0.75% to 1.00% Fixed
Term extension from 40 months to 60 months
Extension of amortization period from 40 months to 480 months with excess cash flow recapture provisions for earlier repayment
0.19
(1) Represents one $11.0 million non-working capital loan that received principal forgiveness of $9.4 million, of which $3.7 million and $5.6 million was charged off during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, no modifications were made to loans for borrowers experiencing financial difficulty.
The company closely monitors the performance of loans that are modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty to understand the effectiveness of its modification efforts. At December 31, 2023, no loans receiving such a modification within the last twelve months were 30 days or greater past due.
At December 31, 2023, no loans receiving a modification due to borrower financial difficulty within the last twelve months has experienced a payment default.
Upon the Company's determination that a modified loan (or portion thereof) has subsequently been deemed uncollectible, the loan (or a portion thereof) is written off. Therefore, the amortized cost basis of the loan is reduced by the uncollectible amount and the allowance for credit losses is adjusted by the same amount.
NOTE 5 - FAIR VALUE
Fair value is the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair values:
Level 1 Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.
Level 2 Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
Level 3 Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.
The Company used the following methods and significant assumptions to estimate the fair value of each type of financial instrument:
Securities: Securities available-for-sale are valued primarily by a third party pricing service. The fair values of securities available-for-sale are determined on a recurring basis by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges (Level 1 inputs) or pricing models which utilize significant observable inputs such as matrix pricing. This is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities (Level 2 inputs). These models utilize the market approach with standard inputs that include, but are not limited to benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data. For certain municipal securities that are not rated and observable inputs about the specific issuer are not available, fair values are estimated using observable data from other municipal securities presumed to be similar or other market data on other non-rated municipal securities (Level 3 inputs).
The Company’s Finance Department, which is responsible for all accounting and SEC compliance, and the Company’s Treasury Department, which is responsible for investment portfolio management and asset/liability modeling, are the two areas that determine the Company’s valuation policies and procedures. Both of these areas report directly to the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. For assets or liabilities that may be considered for Level 3 fair value measurement on a recurring basis, these two departments and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer determine the appropriate level of the assets or liabilities under consideration. If there are assets or liabilities that are determined to be Level 3 by this group, the Risk Management Committee of the Company and the Audit Committee of the board of directors (the “Board”) are made aware of such assets at their next scheduled meeting.
Securities pricing is obtained on securities from a third party pricing service and all security prices are tested annually against prices from another third party provider and reviewed with a market value price tolerance variance that varies by sector: municipal securities +/- 5%, government agency/MBS/CMO +/-3% and U.S. treasuries +/-1%. If any securities fall outside the tolerance threshold and have a variance of $100,000 or more, a determination of materiality is made for the amount over the threshold. Any security that would have a material threshold difference would be further investigated to determine why the variance exists and if any action is needed concerning the security pricing for that individual security. Changes in market value are reviewed monthly in aggregate by security type and any material differences are reviewed to determine why they exist. At least annually, the pricing methodology of the pricing service is received and reviewed to support the fair value levels used by the Company. A detailed pricing evaluation is requested and reviewed on any security determined to be fair valued using unobservable inputs by the pricing service.
Mortgage banking derivative: The fair values of mortgage banking derivatives are based on observable market data as of the measurement date (Level 2).
Interest rate swap derivatives: Our derivatives are traded in an over-the-counter market where quoted market prices are not always available. Therefore, the fair values of derivatives are determined using quantitative models that utilize multiple market inputs. The inputs will vary based on the type of derivative, but could include interest rates, prices and indices to generate continuous yield or pricing curves, prepayment rates, and volatility factors to value the position. The majority of market inputs are actively quoted and can be validated through external sources, including brokers, market transactions and third-party pricing
NOTE 5 - FAIR VALUE (continued)
services. The fair value of interest rate swap derivatives is determined by pricing or valuation models using observable market data as of the measurement date (Level 2).
Collateral dependent loans: Collateral dependent loans with specific allocations of the allowance for credit losses generally based on the fair value of the underlying collateral when repayment is expected solely from the collateral. Fair value is determined using several methods. Generally, the fair value of real estate is based on appraisals by qualified third party appraisers. These appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including comparable sales and the income approach. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable sales and income data available. Such adjustments are usually significant and result in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value. In addition, the Company’s management routinely applies internal discount factors to the value of appraisals used in the fair value evaluation of collateral dependent loans. The deductions to the appraisals take into account changing business factors and market conditions, as well as value impairment in cases where the appraisal date predates a likely change in market conditions. Commercial real estate is generally discounted from its appraised value by 30-50% with the higher discounts applied to real estate that is determined to have a thin trading market or to be specialized collateral. In addition to real estate, the Company’s management evaluates other types of collateral as follows: (a) raw materials inventory is discounted from its cost or book value by 40%-60%, depending on the marketability of the goods (b) finished goods are generally discounted by 40%-60%, depending on the ease of marketability, cost of transportation or scope of use of the finished good (c) work in process inventory is typically discounted by 60%-100%, depending on the length of manufacturing time, types of components used in the completion process, and the breadth of the user base (d) equipment is valued at a percentage of depreciated book value or recent appraised value, if available, and is typically discounted at 20%-50% after various considerations including age and condition of the equipment, marketability, breadth of use, and whether the equipment includes unique components or add-ons; and (e) marketable securities are discounted by 10%-30%, depending on the type of investment, age of valuation report and general market conditions. This methodology is based on a market approach and typically results in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value.
Mortgage servicing rights: As of December 31, 2023, the fair value of the Company’s Level 3 servicing assets for residential mortgage loans (“MSRs”) was $2.2 million, carried at amortized cost and no valuation reserve. These residential mortgage loans have a weighted average interest rate of 3.5%, a weighted average maturity of 20 years and are secured by homes generally within the Company’s market area of Northern Indiana and Indianapolis. A valuation model is used to estimate fair value by stratifying the portfolios on the basis of certain risk characteristics, including loan type and interest rate. Impairment is estimated based on an income approach. The inputs used include estimates of prepayment speeds, discount rate, cost to service, escrow account earnings, contractual servicing fee income, ancillary income, late fees, and float income. The most significant assumption used to value MSRs is prepayment rate. Prepayment rates are estimated based on published industry consensus prepayment rates. The most significant unobservable assumption is the discount rate. At December 31, 2023, the constant prepayment speed (“PSA”) used was 148 and discount rate used was 10.5%. At December 31, 2022, the PSA used was 159 and the discount rate used was 9.5%.
Other real estate owned: Nonrecurring adjustments to certain commercial and residential real estate properties classified as other real estate owned are measured at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. Fair values are generally based on third party appraisals of the property and are reviewed by the Company’s internal appraisal officer. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable properties used to determine value. Such adjustments are usually significant and result in a Level 3 classification. In addition, the Company’s management may apply discount factors to the appraisals to take into account changing business factors and market conditions, as well as value impairment in cases where the appraisal date predates a likely change in market conditions. In cases where the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, less costs to sell, an impairment loss is recognized.
Real estate mortgage loans held-for-sale: Real estate mortgage loans held-for-sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value, as determined by outstanding commitments, from third party investors, and result in a Level 2 classification.
NOTE 5 - FAIR VALUE (continued)
The tables below present the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Fair Value Measurements Using Assets
(dollars in thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 at Fair Value
Assets:
U.S. government sponsored agency securities $ 0 $ 119,479 $ 0 $ 119,479
Mortgage-backed securities: residential 0 447,842 0 447,842
State and municipal securities 0 482,127 2,280 484,407
Total Available-for-Sale Securities 0 1,049,448 2,280 1,051,728
Mortgage banking derivative 0 47 0 47
Interest rate swap derivative 0 27,189 0 27,189
Total assets $ 0 $ 1,076,684 $ 2,280 $ 1,078,964
Liabilities:
Mortgage banking derivative $ 0 $ 11 $ 0 $ 11
Interest rate swap derivative 0 27,190 0 27,190
Total liabilities $ 0 $ 27,201 $ 0 $ 27,201
Fair Value Measurements Using Assets
(dollars in thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 at Fair Value
Assets:
U.S. Treasury securities $ 3,034 $ 0 $ 0 $ 3,034
U.S. government sponsored agency securities 0 126,961 0 126,961
Mortgage-backed securities: residential 0 492,308 0 492,308
State and municipal securities 0 561,150 2,075 563,225
Total Available-for-Sale Securities 3,034 1,180,419 2,075 1,185,528
Mortgage banking derivative 0 43 0 43
Interest rate swap derivative 0 36,920 0 36,920
Total assets $ 3,034 $ 1,217,382 $ 2,075 $ 1,222,491
Liabilities:
Mortgage banking derivative $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Interest rate swap derivative 0 36,921 0 36,921
Total liabilities $ 0 $ 36,921 $ 0 $ 36,921
The fair value of Level 3 available-for-sale securities was immaterial to warrant additional recurring fair value disclosures as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
NOTE 5 - FAIR VALUE (continued)
The tables below present the amount of assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Fair Value Measurements Using Assets
(dollars in thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 at Fair Value
Assets
Collateral dependent loans:
Commercial and industrial loans:
Working capital lines of credit loans $ 0 $ 0 $ 1,263 $ 1,263
Non-working capital loans 0 0 3,374 3,374
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
Owner occupied loans 0 0 682 682
Agri-business and agricultural loans:
Loans secured by farmland 0 0 31 31
Total collateral dependent loans $ 0 $ 0 $ 5,350 $ 5,350
Other real estate owned 0 0 384 384
Total assets $ 0 $ 0 $ 5,734 $ 5,734
Fair Value Measurements Using Assets
(dollars in thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 at Fair Value
Assets
Collateral dependent loans:
Commercial and industrial loans:
Working capital lines of credit loans $ 0 $ 0 $ 3,178 $ 3,178
Non-working capital loans 0 0 8,354 8,354
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
Owner occupied loans 0 0 425 425
Agri-business and agricultural loans:
Loans secured by farmland 0 0 35 35
Total collateral dependent loans $ 0 $ 0 $ 11,992 $ 11,992
Other real estate owned 0 0 100 100
Total assets $ 0 $ 0 $ 12,092 $ 12,092
NOTE 5 - FAIR VALUE (continued)
The following table presents the valuation methodology and unobservable inputs for Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at December 31, 2023:
(dollars in thousands) Fair Value Valuation Methodology Unobservable Inputs Average Range of Inputs
Collateral dependent loans:
Commercial and industrial $ 4,637 Collateral based measurements Discount to reflect current market conditions and ultimate collectability 64%
9%-99%
Collateral dependent loans:
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential 682 Collateral based measurements Discount to reflect current market conditions and ultimate collectability 37%
9%-69%
Collateral dependent loans:
Loans secured by farmland 31 Collateral based measurements Discount to reflect current market conditions and ultimate collectability 69%
Other real estate owned 384 Appraisals Discount to reflect current market conditions and ultimate collectability 36%
NOTE 5 - FAIR VALUE (continued)
The following table presents the valuation methodology and unobservable inputs for Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at December 31, 2022:
(dollars in thousands) Fair Value Valuation Methodology Unobservable Inputs Average Range of Inputs
Collateral dependent loans:
Commercial and industrial $ 11,532 Collateral based measurements Discount to reflect current market conditions and ultimate collectability
62%
29%-99%
Collateral dependent loans:
Commercial real estate 425 Collateral based measurements Discount to reflect current market conditions and ultimate collectability
57%
37%-76%
Collateral dependent loans:
Loans secured by farmland 35 Collateral based measurements Discount to reflect current market conditions and ultimate collectability 76%
Other real estate owned 100 Appraisals Discount to reflect current market conditions and ultimate collectability 68%
NOTE 5 - FAIR VALUE (continued)
The following tables contain the estimated fair values and the related carrying values of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2023 and 2022. Items which are not financial instruments are not included.
Carrying Estimated Fair Value
(dollars in thousands) Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Financial Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 151,824 $ 151,824 $ 0 $ 0 $ 151,824
Securities available-for-sale 1,051,728 0 1,049,448 2,280 1,051,728
Securities held-to-maturity 129,918 0 119,215 0 119,215
Real estate mortgages held-for-sale 1,158 0 1,158 0 1,158
Loans, net 4,844,562 0 0 4,694,532 4,694,532
Mortgage banking derivative 47 0 47 0 47
Interest rate swap derivative 27,189 0 27,189 0 27,189
Federal Reserve and Federal Home Loan Bank Stock 21,420 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Accrued interest receivable 30,011 0 8,558 21,453 30,011
Financial Liabilities:
Certificates of deposit 1,016,821 0 1,010,172 0 1,010,172
All other deposits 4,703,704 4,703,704 0 0 4,703,704
Federal Home Loan Bank advances 50,000 50,000 0 0 50,000
Mortgage banking derivative 11 0 11 0 11
Interest rate swap derivative 27,190 0 27,190 0 27,190
Standby letters of credit 289 0 0 289 289
Accrued interest payable 20,893 753 20,140 0 20,893
NOTE 5 - FAIR VALUE (continued)
Carrying Estimated Fair Value
(dollars in thousands) Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Financial Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 130,282 $ 129,069 $ 1,213 $ 0 $ 130,282
Securities available-for-sale 1,185,528 3,034 1,180,419 2,075 1,185,528
Securities held-to-maturity 128,242 0 111,029 0 111,029
Real estate mortgages held-for-sale 357 0 372 0 372
Loans, net 4,637,790 0 0 4,454,678 4,454,678
Mortgage banking derivative 43 0 43 0 43
Interest rate swap derivative 36,920 0 36,920 0 36,920
Federal Reserve and Federal Home Loan Bank Stock 15,795 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Accrued interest receivable 27,994 0 9,598 18,396 27,994
Financial Liabilities:
Certificates of deposit 626,186 0 621,206 0 621,206
All other deposits 4,834,434 4,834,434 0 0 4,834,434
Federal Funds purchased 22,000 22,000 0 0 22,000
Federal Home Loan Bank advances 275,000 275,000 0 0 275,000
Interest rate swap derivative 36,921 0 36,921 0 36,921
Standby letters of credit 249 0 0 249 249
Accrued interest payable 3,186 486 2,700 0 3,186
NOTE 6 - LAND, PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Land, premises and equipment and related accumulated depreciation were as follows at December 31, 2023 and 2022:
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022
Land $ 12,472 $ 12,472
Premises and improvements 63,862 61,185
Equipment and furniture 37,483 37,460
Total cost 113,817 111,117
Less accumulated depreciation 55,918 53,020
Land, premises and equipment, net $ 57,899 $ 58,097
The Company had no land, premises and equipment held for sale and included in other assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
NOTE 7 - GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill
There have been no changes in the $5.0 million carrying amount of goodwill since 2002.
Impairment exists when a reporting unit’s carrying value of goodwill exceeds its fair value. At December 31, 2023, the Company’s reporting unit had positive equity and the Company elected to perform a qualitative assessment to determine if it was more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeded its carrying value, including goodwill. The qualitative assessment indicated that it was more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeded its carrying value, resulting in no impairment. The Company’s annual impairment analysis was performed as of May 31, 2023. Circumstances did not substantially change during the second half of the year such that the Company believed it was necessary to perform an additional impairment analysis.
NOTE 8 - DEPOSITS
The following table details total deposits as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022
Non-interest bearing demand deposits $ 1,353,477 $ 1,736,761
Savings and transaction accounts:
Savings deposits 301,168 403,773
Interest bearing demand deposits 3,049,059 2,693,900
Time deposits:
Other time deposits 224,083 170,759
Deposits of $100,000 to $250,000 235,096 185,194
Deposits of $250,000 or more 557,642 270,233
Total deposits $ 5,720,525 $ 5,460,620
NOTE 8 - DEPOSITS (continued)
At December 31, 2023, the scheduled maturities of time deposits were as follows:
(dollars in thousands) Amount
Maturing in 2024 $ 879,303
Maturing in 2025 84,751
Maturing in 2026 16,885
Maturing in 2027 31,638
Maturing in 2028 4,110
Thereafter 134
Total time deposits $ 1,016,821
During 2023 and 2022 the Bank entered into agreements with IntraFi Network relative to their Insured Cash Sweep One-Way Buy program. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022 the total amount available to the Bank via this program was $100.0 million, of which, $10.0 million was drawn.
NOTE 9 - BORROWINGS
The following table details outstanding fixed rate bullet advances with the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") of Indianapolis for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022
Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis $ 50,000 $ 275,000
The advance outstanding at December 31, 2023 was a fixed-rate bullet advance and could not be prepaid by the Company without a penalty. The advance had an interest rate of 5.55% and matured on January 5, 2024. The note required payment at maturity and was secured by residential real estate loans and securities with a carrying value of approximately $824.0 million at December 31, 2023.
The advance outstanding at December 31, 2022 was a fixed-rate bullet advance and could not be prepaid by the Company without a penalty. The advance had an interest rate of 4.21% and matured on January 5, 2023. The note required payment at maturity and was secured by residential real estate loans and securities with a carrying value of $549.0 million.
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company owned $18.0 million and $12.4 million, respectively, of FHLB stock which also secures debts owed to the FHLB. The Company is authorized by the Board to borrow up to $800.0 million at the FHLB, but availability is limited to $574.9 million based on collateral and outstanding borrowings. Federal Reserve Discount Window borrowings were secured by commercial loans and investment securities with a carrying value of $1.59 billion and $928.6 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. The Company had a borrowing capacity of $1.26 billion and $758.3 million at the Federal Reserve Bank as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company enrolled in the Federal Reserve Bank Term Funding Program, initiated in March 2023, and had borrowings secured by investment securities with a collateral value of $150.5 million as of December 31, 2023. There were no borrowings outstanding under either program at the Federal Reserve Bank at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
The Company had $325.0 million and $350.0 million of availability in federal funds lines with eleven correspondent banks as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively; $0 and $22.0 million were drawn upon as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Bank is also a member of the American Financial Exchange (AFX) where overnight fed funds purchased can be obtained from other banks on the Exchange that have approved the Bank for an unsecured, overnight line. These funds are only available if the approving banks have an ‘offer’ out to sell that day. The total amount approved for the Bank via AFX banks was $319.0 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022. There were no amounts drawn as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
NOTE 9 - BORROWINGS (continued)
On October 11, 2023, the Company entered into an unsecured revolving credit agreement with another financial institution allowing the Company to borrow up to $30.0 million. This credit agreement replaced an existing agreement of $12.5 million in place with a different financial institution that the Company terminated on October 11, 2023. There were no borrowings outstanding on either credit agreement at December 31, 2023 or December 31, 2022. Funds provided under the current agreement may be used to repurchase shares of the Company's common stock under the share repurchase program, which was reauthorized by the Company's board of directors on April 11, 2023 and expires on April 30, 2025, and for general operations. The credit agreement includes a negative pledge agreement whereby the Company agrees not to pledge or otherwise encumber the stock of the Bank. The credit agreement has a one year term which may be amended, extended, modified or renewed.
NOTE 10 - PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS
In April 2000, the Lakeland Financial Corporation Pension Plan was frozen. The Company also maintains a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) for select officers that was established as a funded, non-qualified deferred compensation plan. Currently, six retired officers are the only participants in the SERP. The measurement date for both the pension plan and SERP is December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Information as to the Company’s employee benefit plans at December 31, 2023 and 2022 is as follows:
Pension Benefits SERP Benefits
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022 2023 2022
Change in benefit obligation:
Beginning benefit obligation $ 1,546 $ 2,298 $ 700 $ 867
Interest cost 75 53 33 20
Actuarial (gain) loss (112) (611) 93 (52)
Benefits paid (12) (194) (133) (135)
Ending benefit obligation 1,497 1,546 693 700
Change in plan assets (primarily equity and fixed income investments and money market funds), at fair value:
Beginning plan assets 1,820 2,303 606 848
Actual return 232 (289) 73 (107)
Employer contribution 0 0 0 0
Benefits paid (217) (194) (133) (135)
Ending plan assets 1,835 1,820 546 606
Funded status at end of year $ 338 $ 274 $ (147) $ (94)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of:
Pension Benefits SERP Benefits
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022 2023 2022
Funded status included in other liabilities $ 338 $ 274 $ (147) $ (94)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:
Pension Benefits SERP Benefits
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022 2023 2022
Net actuarial loss $ 478 $ 538 $ 502 $ 487
NOTE 10 - PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS (continued)
The accumulated benefit obligation for the pension plan was $1.5 million for both December 31, 2023 and 2022. The accumulated benefit obligation for the SERP was $693,000 and $700,000 for December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Net period benefit cost and other amounts recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) include the following:
Pension Benefits SERP Benefits
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022 2021 2023 2022 2021
Net pension expense:
Service cost $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Interest cost 75 53 52 33 20 18
Expected return on plan assets (123) (130) (133) (38) (45) (47)
Recognized net actuarial (gain) loss 18 99 160 42 45 82
Settlement cost 27 23 65 0 0 0
Net pension expense $ (3) $ 45 $ 144 $ 37 $ 20 $ 53
Net (gain) loss $ (43) $ (215) $ (350) $ 56 $ 100 $ (40)
Amortization of net loss (17) (99) (160) (42) (45) (82)
Total recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) (60) (314) (510) 14 55 (122)
Total recognized in net pension expense and other comprehensive income (loss) $ (63) $ (269) $ (366) $ 51 $ 75 $ (69)
The estimated net loss (gain) for the defined benefit pension plan and SERP that will be amortized (accreted) from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year is ($34,000) for the pension plan and $42,000 for the SERP. The settlement costs in 2023, 2022 and 2021 were related to participants taking lump sum distributions from the pension plan during those years.
For 2023, 2022 and 2021, the assumed form of payment elected by active participants upon retirement was a lump sum to reflect participant trends. The lump sum assumed interest rates, on the next page, for December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 reflect the mortality table in effect for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. For 2023, 2022, and 2021, the mortality assumption was the PRI-2012 White Collar Mortality Table, with full generational Projection Scale MP-2021 at year-end.
NOTE 10 - PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS (continued)
Pension Benefits SERP Benefits
2023 2022 2021 2023 2022 2021
The following assumptions were used in calculating the net benefit obligation:
Weighted average discount rate 4.83 % 5.03 % 2.49 % 4.83 % 5.03 % 2.49 %
Rate of increase in future compensation N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Lump sum assumed interest rates First 5 years 5.77 % 5.10 % 0.87 % N/A N/A N/A
Next 15 years 6.14 % 5.83 % 2.74 % N/A N/A N/A
All future years 6.19 % 5.68 % 3.16 % N/A N/A N/A
The following assumptions were used in calculating the net pension expense:
Weighted average discount rate 5.03 % 2.49 % 2.08 % 5.03 % 2.49 % 2.08 %
Rate of increase in future compensation N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Expected long-term rate of return 6.50 % 6.50 % 6.50 % 6.50 % 6.50 % 6.50 %
Pension Plan and SERP Assets
The Company’s investment strategies are to invest in a prudent manner for the purpose of providing benefits to participants in the pension plan and the SERP. The investment strategies are targeted to maximize the total return of the portfolio net of inflation, spending and expenses. Risk is controlled through diversification of asset types and investments in domestic and international equities and fixed income securities. The target allocations for plan assets are shown in the tables below. Equity securities primarily include investments in common stocks. Debt securities include government agency and commercial bonds. Other investments consist of money market mutual funds.
The weighted average expected long-term rate of return on pension plan and SERP assets is developed in consultation with the plans actuary. It is primarily based upon industry trends and consensus rates of return which are then adjusted to reflect the specific asset allocations and historical rates of return of the Company’s plan assets. The following assumptions were used in determining the total long-term rate of return: equity securities were assumed to have a long-term rate of return of approximately 8.85% and debt securities were assumed to have a long-term rate of return of approximately 3.00%. These rates of return were adjusted to reflect an approximate target allocation of 60% equity securities and 40% debt securities with a small downward adjustment due to investments in the “Other” category, which consist of low yielding money market mutual funds.
Certain asset types and investment strategies are prohibited including, the investment in commodities, options, futures, short sales, margin transactions and non-marketable securities.
NOTE 10 - PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS (continued)
The Company’s pension plan asset allocation at year end 2023 and 2022, target allocation for 2024, and expected long-term rate of return by asset category are as follows:
Target
Allocation Percentage of Plan
Assets
at Year End Weighted
Average Expected
Long-Term Rate
of Return
Asset Category 2024 2023 2022
Equity securities 55 - 65 % 63 % 60 % 8.85 %
Debt securities 35 - 45 % 34 % 39 % 3.00 %
Other 5 - 10 % 3 % 1 % 0.10 %
Total 100 % 100 % 6.50 %
The Company’s SERP plan asset allocation at year end 2023 and 2022, target allocation for 2024, and expected long-term rate of return by asset category are as follows:
Target
Allocation Percentage of Plan
Assets
at Year End Weighted
Average Expected
Long-Term Rate
of Return
Asset Category 2024 2023 2022
Equity securities 55 - 65 % 65 % 62 % 8.85 %
Debt securities 35 - 45 % 33 % 35 % 3.00 %
Other 5 - 10 % 2 % 3 % 0.10 %
Total 100 % 100 % 6.50 %
Fair Value of Pension Plan and SERP Assets
Fair value is the exchange price that would be received for an asset in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Also, a fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.
The Company used the following methods and significant assumptions to estimate the fair value of each type of financial instrument:
Equity and debt securities: The fair values of securities are determined on a recurring basis by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges (Level 1 inputs) or pricing models, which utilize significant observable inputs such as matrix pricing. This is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities (Level 2 inputs).
NOTE 10 - PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS (continued)
The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets at December 31, 2023, by asset category are as follows:
Asset Category Total Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1) Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
(dollars in thousands)
Equity securities - US large cap common stocks $ 763 $ 763 $ 0 $ 0
Equity securities - US mid cap stock mutual funds 44 44 0 0
Equity securities - US small cap stock mutual funds 135 135 0 0
Equity securities - international stock mutual funds 143 143 0 0
Equity securities - emerging markets stock mutual funds 68 68 0 0
Debt securities - intermediate term bond mutual funds 373 373 0 0
Debt securities - short term bond mutual funds 153 153 0 0
Debt securities - high yield bond mutual funds 18 18 0 0
Debt securities - nontraditional bond mutual funds 12 12 0 0
Debt securities - bank loan mutual funds 35 35 0 0
Debt securities - preferred stock mutual funds 36 36 0 0
Cash - money market account 55 55 0 0
Total $ 1,835 $ 1,835 $ 0 $ 0
The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets at December 31, 2022, by asset category are as follows:
Asset Category Total Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1) Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2 ) Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
(dollars in thousands)
Equity securities - US large cap common stocks $ 718 $ 718 $ 0 $ 0
Equity securities - US mid cap stock mutual funds 43 43 0 0
Equity securities - US small cap stock mutual funds 131 131 0 0
Equity securities - international stock mutual funds 158 158 0 0
Equity securities - emerging markets stock mutual funds 34 34 0 0
Debt securities - intermediate term bond mutual funds 232 232 0 0
Debt securities - short term bond mutual funds 484 484 0 0
Cash - money market account 20 20 0 0
Total $ 1,820 $ 1,820 $ 0 $ 0
There were no Level 2 or 3 securities during either year.
NOTE 10 - PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS (continued)
The fair values of the Company’s SERP assets at December 31, 2023, by asset category are as follows:
Asset Category Total Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1) Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
(dollars in thousands)
Equity securities - US large cap common stocks $ 236 $ 236 $ 0 $ 0
Equity securities - US mid cap stock mutual funds 42 42 0 0
Equity securities - US small cap stock mutual funds 13 13 0 0
Equity securities - emerging markets stock mutual funds 20 20 0 0
Equity securities - international stock mutual funds 45 45 0 0
Debt securities - intermediate term bond mutual funds 107 107 0 0
Debt securities - short term bond mutual funds 44 44 0 0
Debt securities - high yield bond mutual funds 5 5 0 0
Debt securities - nontraditional bond mutual funds 4 4 0 0
Debt securities - bank loan mutual funds 10 10 0 0
Debt securities - preferred stock mutual funds 10 10 0 0
Cash - money market account 10 10 0 0
Total $ 546 $ 546 $ 0 $ 0
The fair values of the Company’s SERP assets at December 31, 2022, by asset category are as follows:
Asset Category Total Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1) Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
(dollars in thousands)
Equity securities - US large cap common stocks $ 249 $ 249 $ 0 $ 0
Equity securities - US mid cap stock mutual funds 16 16 0 0
Equity securities - US small cap stock mutual funds 43 43 0 0
Equity securities - emerging markets stock mutual funds 12 12 0 0
Equity securities - international stock mutual funds 57 57 0 0
Debt securities - intermediate term bond mutual funds 63 63 0 0
Debt securities - short term bond mutual funds 149 149 0 0
Cash - money market account 17 17 0 0
Total $ 606 $ 606 $ 0 $ 0
There were no Level 2 or 3 securities during either year.
Contributions
The Company did not contribute to its pension or SERP plans in 2023.
NOTE 10 - PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS (continued)
Estimated Future Benefit Payments
The following benefit payments are expected to be paid over the next ten years:
Plan Year Pension
Benefits SERP
Benefits
(dollars in thousands)
2024 $ 185 $ 129
2025 176 120
2026 186 109
2027 132 97
2028 132 84
2029-2033 491 232
NOTE 11 - OTHER BENEFIT PLANS
401(k) Plan
The Company maintains a 401(k) profit sharing plan for all employees meeting certain age and service requirements. The 401(k) plan allows employee contributions up to the maximum amount allowable under the Internal Revenue Code, which are matched based upon the percentage of budgeted net income earned during the year on the first 6% of the compensation contributed. The expense recognized from matching was $2.0 million, $2.4 million and $2.3 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Deferred Compensation Plan
Effective January 1, 2004, the Company adopted the Lake City Bank Deferred Compensation Plan. The purpose of the deferred compensation plan is to extend full 401(k) type retirement benefits to certain individuals without regard to statutory limitations under tax qualified plans. A liability is accrued by the Company for its obligation under this plan. The expense (benefit) recognized was $425,000, ($1.0) million and $1.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. This resulted in a deferred compensation liability of $4.1 million and $6.1 million as of year end 2023 and 2022, respectively. The deferred compensation plan is funded solely by participant contributions and does not receive a Company match.
Employee Agreements
Under employment agreements with certain executives, certain events leading to separation from the Company could result in cash payments totaling $5.1 million as of December 31, 2023. On December 31, 2023, no amounts were accrued on these contingent obligations.
Directors’ Deferred Compensation and Cash Plans
The Company maintains a directors’ deferred compensation plan and a cash plan. The amount owed to directors for fees under the deferred directors’ compensation and cash plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $5.8 million and $5.6 million, respectively. The related expense for the deferred directors’ compensation and cash plans for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $432,000, $458,000 and $482,000, respectively.
NOTE 12 - INCOME TAXES
Income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 consisted of the following:
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022 2021
Current federal $ 16,171 $ 22,825 $ 21,329
Deferred federal 1,302 (2,327) (1,249)
Current state (131) 1,297 1,892
Deferred state (776) (448) (261)
Total income tax expense $ 16,566 $ 21,347 $ 21,711
The differences between financial statement tax expense and amounts computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% to income before income taxes were as follows:
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022 2021
Income taxes at statutory federal rate of 21% $ 23,170 $ 26,284 $ 24,663
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:
Tax exempt income (4,226) (4,438) (2,822)
Nondeductible expense 269 159 116
State income tax, net of federal tax effect (716) 671 1,288
Captive insurance premium income (261) (417) (303)
Tax credits (713) (586) (578)
Bank owned life insurance (658) (78) (596)
Long-term incentive plan and deferred compensation (715) (530) (274)
Nondeductible compensation expense 784 181 156
Other (368) 101 61
Total income tax expense $ 16,566 $ 21,347 $ 21,711
NOTE 12 - INCOME TAXES (continued)
The net deferred tax asset recorded in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2023 and 2022 consisted of the following:
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022
Deferred tax assets:
Bad debts $ 18,384 $ 18,561
Pension and deferred compensation liability 1,823 2,272
Nonaccrual loan interest 494 256
Long-term incentive plan 2,342 2,894
Lease liability 1,199 1,354
Deferred loan fees 781 572
Accrued legal reserve 635 819
Net operating loss carryforward 913 0
Other 591 1,130
27,162 27,858
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation 3,645 4,257
Loan servicing rights 570 694
State taxes 949 786
Intangible assets 1,270 1,270
REIT spillover dividend 2,140 1,290
Prepaid expenses 801 988
Lease right of use 1,199 1,354
Other 480 585
11,054 11,224
Valuation allowance 0 0
Net deferred tax asset $ 16,108 $ 16,634
At December 31, 2023, the Company has Indiana net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $20.0 million that will expire in 2038 if not used. Management has concluded that the state net operating losses will be fully utilized and therefore no valuation allowance is necessary on the state net operating loss.
In addition to the net deferred tax assets included above, the deferred income tax asset (liability) allocated to the unrealized net gain (loss) on securities available-for-sale included in equity was $41.1 million and $50.0 million for 2023 and 2022, respectively. The deferred income tax asset allocated to the pension plan and SERP included in equity was $243,000 and $255,000 for 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The Company evaluated its deferred tax asset at year end 2023 and has concluded that it is more likely than not that it will be realized. The Company expects to have taxable income in the future such that the deferred tax asset will be realized. Therefore, no valuation allowance is required.
Unrecognized Tax Benefits
The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2023 or 2022. The Company does not expect the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly increase or decrease in the next twelve months.
No interest or penalties were recorded in the income statement and no amount was accrued for interest and penalties for the periods ending December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. Should the accrual of any interest or penalties relative to unrecognized tax benefits be necessary, it is the Company’s policy to record such accruals in its income taxes accounts.
The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal tax return and a combined unitary return in the States of Indiana and Michigan. These returns are subject to examinations by authorities for all years after 2019.
NOTE 13 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Loans to principal officers, directors, and their affiliates as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022
Beginning balance $ 113,435 $ 99,865
New loans and advances 69,822 54,085
Effect of changes in related parties 230 (10,463)
Repayments and renewals (51,006) (30,052)
Ending balance $ 132,481 $ 113,435
Deposits from principal officers, directors, and their affiliates at year end 2023 and 2022 were $22.5 million and $16.2 million, respectively.
The Company and Bank are an investor in certain funds managed by Centerfield Capital (“Centerfield”), a private equity investment firm. Faraz Abbasi, a director of the Company, is a Managing Partner and an owner of Centerfield. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had an aggregate investment balance of approximately $3.0 million and $2.3 million, respectively, in such funds, which are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet, and had remaining commitments to invest up to approximately $2.3 million and $2.8 million, respectively. Under the terms of the applicable funds, Centerfield is entitled to customary management fees with respect to the amounts under management and investment gains, and it is estimated that Mr. Abbasi’s interest in such fees was less than $25,000 annually for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
NOTE 14 - STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
Effective April 8, 2008, the Company adopted the Lakeland Financial Corporation 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”), which was approved by the Company’s stockholders. At its inception there were 1,125,000 shares of common stock reserved for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards and cash incentive awards to employees of the Company, its subsidiaries and Board. Effective April 9, 2013, the Company adopted the Lakeland Financial Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”), which was also approved by the Company’s stockholders. At its inception the remaining shares of common stock available to grant under the 2008 Plan of 435,867 were transferred to the 2013 Plan and reserved for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards and cash incentive awards to employees of the Company, its subsidiaries and Board. Non-vested shares from the 2008 Plan that were unused at vesting were added to the shares available to grant of the 2013 Plan. Effective April 12, 2017, the Company adopted the Lakeland Financial Corporation 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”), which was also approved by the Company’s stockholders and does not permit share recycling. At its inception there were 1,000,000 shares of common stock reserved for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards and cash incentive awards to employees of the Company, its subsidiaries and Board. As of December 31, 2023, 279,618 shares were available for future grants in the 2017 Plan, which is the only active plan. Certain stock awards provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control. The Company has a policy of issuing new shares to satisfy exercises of stock awards.
Included in net income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was employee stock compensation expense of $3.7 million, $7.8 million and $7.2 million, and a related tax benefit of $908,000, $2.0 million and $1.8 million, respectively.
Stock Options
The equity incentive plan requires that the exercise price for options be the market price on the date the options are granted. The maximum option term is ten years and the awards usually vest over three years. The fair value of each stock option is estimated with the Black-Scholes pricing model, using the following weighted-average assumptions as of the grant date for stock options granted during the years presented. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of the Company’s stock over the immediately preceding expected life period, as well as other factors known on the grant date that would have a significant effect on the stock price during the expected life period. The expected stock option life used is the historical option life of the similar employee base or Board. The turnover rate is based on historical data of the similar employee base as a group
NOTE 14 - STOCK BASED COMPENSATION (continued)
and the Board as a group. The risk-free interest rate is the Treasury rate on the date of grant corresponding to the expected life period of the stock option.
There were no stock option grants or modifications in 2023, 2022 or 2021. As of December 31, 2023, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options granted under the plan.
There were no options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 or 2021.
Restricted Stock Awards and Units
The fair value of restricted stock awards and units is the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant adjusted for the present value of expected dividends. The restricted stock awards fully vest after one year or more of service, determined at the grant date, with the exception of 13,000 shares granted to non-employee directors of the Board included as vested, below, which vested on the grant date.
A summary of the changes in the Company’s non-vested shares for the year follows:
Nonvested Shares Shares Weighted-Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
Nonvested at January 1, 2023 23,065 $ 76.13
Granted 40,109 63.36
Vested (14,026) 61.84
Forfeited (1,808) 73.32
Nonvested at December 31, 2023 47,340 $ 69.65
As of December 31, 2023, there was $862,000 unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested shares granted under the plan. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted period of 1.7 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $862,000, $1.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively.
Performance Stock Units
The fair value of stock awards is the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, adjusted for the present value of expected dividends. The expected dividend rate is assumed to be the most recent dividend rate declared by the Board on the grant date. The grant date fair value of stock awards is assumed at the target payout rate. The stock awards fully vest on the third anniversary of the grant date. The 2022-2024, 2021-2023 and 2020-2022 Long-Term Incentive Plans must be paid in stock and have performance conditions which include revenue growth, diluted earnings per share growth and average return on beginning equity. Shares granted below include the number of shares assumed granted based on actual performance criteria of the 2022-2024, 2021-2023 and 2020-2022 Long-Term Incentive Plans at December 31, 2023.
Nonvested Shares Shares Weighted-Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
Nonvested at January 1, 2023 304,621 $ 57.79
Granted, net (33,137) 69.56
Vested (107,789) 45.65
Forfeited (7,489) 68.32
Nonvested at December 31, 2023 156,206 $ 63.18
As of December 31, 2023, there was $2.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested shares granted under the plan. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted period of 1.5 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the year ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $7.8 million, $4.3 million and $5.2 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, 107,789, 53,670 and 83,216 shares vested, respectively.
NOTE 15 - CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS ON RETAINED EARNINGS
The Company became a financial holding company effective May 30, 2012 and is now required to be well capitalized under the applicable regulatory guidelines. The Company and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Failure to meet certain heightened minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possibly discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weighting and other factors.
The capital adequacy requirements were heightened by the Basel III Rule, previously defined, which went into effect on January 1, 2015 with a phase-in period for certain aspects of the rule through 2019. Under the Basel III rule, the Company must hold a capital conservation buffer above the adequately capitalized risk-based capital ratios. The capital conservation buffer was phased in from 0.00% for 2015 to 2.50% by 2019. The capital conservation buffer for 2023 and 2022 was 2.50%. The net unrealized gain or loss on available-for-sale securities is not included in computing regulatory capital. The quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy that were in effect on December 31, 2023 and 2022, require the Company and the Bank to maintain minimum capital amounts and ratios (set forth in the following table) of Total, Tier I and Common Equity Tier 1 capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as defined in the regulation), and of Tier I capital (as defined in the regulation) to average assets (as defined). Management believes, as of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, that the Company and the Bank met all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.
NOTE 15 - CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS ON RETAINED EARNINGS (continued)
As of December 31, 2023, the most recent notification from the federal regulators categorized the Company and the Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized, the Company and the Bank must maintain minimum Total risk-based capital ratios, Tier I risk-based capital ratios and Tier I leverage capital ratios as set forth in the table. There have been no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the Company and the Bank’s category.
Actual Minimum Required
For Capital
Adequacy Purposes For Capital Adequacy
Purposes Plus Capital
Conservation Buffer Minimum "Required" to
Be "Well" Capitalized
Under "Prompt" Corrective
Action Regulations
(dollars in thousands) Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Amount Ratio
As of December 31, 2023
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
Consolidated $ 870,390 15.47 % $ 450,211 8.00 % $ 590,901 N/A N/A N/A
Bank 852,405 15.16 449,894 8.00 590,486 10.50 % $ 562,367 10.00 %
Tier I Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
Consolidated 799,929 14.21 337,658 6.00 478,349 N/A N/A N/A
Bank 781,999 13.91 337,420 6.00 478,012 8.50 449,894 8.00
Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)
Consolidated 799,929 14.21 253,243 4.50 393,934 N/A N/A N/A
Bank 781,999 13.91 253,065 4.50 393,657 7.00 365,539 6.50
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets)
Consolidated 799,929 11.82 270,636 4.00 270,636 N/A N/A N/A
Bank 781,999 11.58 270,041 4.00 270,041 4.00 337,551 5.00
As of December 31, 2022
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
Consolidated $ 821,008 15.07 % $ 435,786 8.00 % $ 571,969 N/A N/A N/A
Bank 801,044 14.74 434,758 8.00 570,620 10.50 % $ 543,448 10.00 %
Tier I Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
Consolidated 752,751 13.82 326,840 6.00 463,023 N/A N/A N/A
Bank 732,966 13.49 326,069 6.00 461,930 8.50 434,758 8.00
Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)
Consolidated 752,751 13.82 245,130 4.50 381,313 N/A N/A N/A
Bank 732,966 13.49 244,551 4.50 380,413 7.00 353,241 6.50
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets)
Consolidated 752,751 11.50 261,859 4.00 261,859 N/A N/A N/A
Bank 732,966 11.22 261,222 4.00 261,222 4.00 326,527 5.00
The Bank is required to obtain the approval of the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions for the payment of any dividend if the total amount of all dividends declared by the Bank during the calendar year, including the proposed dividend, would exceed the sum of the retained net income for the year-to-date combined with the retained net income for the previous two years. Indiana law defines “retained net income” to mean the net income of a specified period, calculated under the consolidated report of income instructions, less the total amount of all dividends declared for the specified period. As of December 31, 2023, approximately $116.7 million was available to be paid as dividends to the Company by the Bank.
The payment of dividends by any financial institution or its holding company is affected by the requirement to maintain adequate capital pursuant to applicable capital adequacy guidelines and regulations, and a financial institution generally is prohibited from paying any dividends if, following payment thereof, the institution would be undercapitalized. As described above, the Bank exceeded its minimum capital requirements under applicable guidelines as of December 31, 2023. Notwithstanding the availability of funds for dividends, however, the FDIC may prohibit the payment of any dividends by the Bank if the FDIC determines such payment would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.
NOTE 16 - OFFSETTING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
The following tables summarize gross and net information about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are offset in the statement of financial position or that are subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Gross
Amounts of
Recognized Assets/
Liabilities Gross
Amounts
Offset in the
Statement
of Financial
Position Net Amounts
presented in
the Statement
of Financial
Position Gross Amounts Not
Offset in the Statement
of Financial Position
(dollars in thousands) Financial
Instruments Cash Collateral
Position Net
Amount
Assets
Interest Rate Swap Derivatives $ 27,189 $ 0 $ 27,189 $ 0 $ (25,555) $ 1,634
Total Assets $ 27,189 $ 0 $ 27,189 $ 0 $ (25,555) $ 1,634
Liabilities
Interest Rate Swap Derivatives $ 27,190 $ 0 $ 27,190 $ 0 $ (90) $ 27,100
Total Liabilities $ 27,190 $ 0 $ 27,190 $ 0 $ (90) $ 27,100
Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Assets/
Liabilities Gross
Amounts
Offset in the
Statement of
Financial
Position Net Amounts
presented in
the Statement
of Financial
Position Gross Amounts Not
Offset in the Statement
of Financial Position
(dollars in thousands) Financial
Instruments Cash Collateral
Position Net
Amount
Assets
Interest Rate Swap Derivatives $ 36,920 $ 0 $ 36,920 $ 0 $ (34,185) $ 2,735
Total Assets $ 36,920 $ 0 $ 36,920 $ 0 $ (34,185) $ 2,735
Liabilities
Interest Rate Swap Derivatives $ 36,921 $ 0 $ 36,921 $ 0 $ (90) $ 36,831
Total Liabilities $ 36,921 $ 0 $ 36,921 $ 0 $ (90) $ 36,831
If an event of default occurs causing an early termination of an interest rate swap derivative, any early termination amount payable to one party by the other party may be reduced by set-off against any other amount payable by the one party to the other party. If a default in performance of any obligation of a repurchase agreement occurs, each party will set-off property held in respect of transactions against obligations owing in respect of any other transactions.
NOTE 17 - COMMITMENTS, OFF-BALANCE SHEET RISKS AND CONTINGENCIES
During the normal course of business, the Company becomes a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in order to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to make loans and open-ended revolving lines of credit. Amounts as of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, were as follows:
2023 2022
(dollars in thousands) Fixed
Rate Variable Rate Fixed
Rate Variable Rate
Commercial loan lines of credit $ 96,814 $ 2,373,830 $ 140,022 $ 2,129,211
Standby letters of credit 0 51,383 0 48,406
Real estate mortgage loans 302 4,271 377 5,668
Real estate construction mortgage loans 0 4,271 2,212 9,043
Home equity mortgage open-ended revolving lines 0 364,928 0 341,622
Consumer loan open-ended revolving lines 0 26,870 0 25,916
Total $ 97,116 $ 2,825,553 $ 142,611 $ 2,559,866
The index on variable rate commercial loan commitments is principally the national prime rate. Interest rate ranges on commitments and open-ended revolving lines of credit for years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, were as follows:
2023 2022
Fixed
Rate Variable
Rate Fixed
Rate Variable
Rate
Commercial loan 1.00-14.50%
1.63-14.50%
1.99-14.50%
1.63-13.00%
Real estate mortgage loan 7.38%
4.63-13.50%
0.00-7.00%
3.13-12.50%
Consumer loan open-ended revolving line 15.00%
8.50-15.00%
15.00%
7.00-15.00%
Commitments, excluding open-ended revolving lines, generally have fixed expiration dates of one year or less. Open-ended revolving lines are monitored for proper performance and compliance on a monthly basis. Since many commitments expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amount does not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Company follows the same credit policy (including requiring collateral, if deemed appropriate) to make such commitments as it follows for those loans that are recorded in its financial statements.
The Company’s exposure to credit losses in the event of nonperformance is represented by the contractual amount of the commitments. Management does not expect any significant losses as a result of these commitments.
NOTE 18 - PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS
The Company operates primarily in the banking industry, which accounts for substantially all of its revenues, operating income and assets. Presented below are parent only financial statements:
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022
ASSETS
Deposits with Lake City Bank $ 15,239 $ 386
Deposits with other depository institutions 1,887 1,954
Cash 17,126 2,340
Investments in banking subsidiary 631,774 549,031
Investments in other subsidiaries 0 3,845
Other assets 3,578 13,819
Total assets $ 652,478 $ 569,035
LIABILITIES
Dividends payable and other liabilities $ 2,774 $ 237
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 649,704 568,798
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 652,478 $ 569,035
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022 2021
Dividends from Lake City Bank $ 46,263 $ 40,590 $ 47,355
Dividends from non-bank subsidiaries 1,525 1,300 1,035
Other income 5 1 3
Interest expense 0 0 (7)
Miscellaneous expense (4,768) (8,795) (8,133)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY IN UNDISTRIBUTED INCOME OF SUBSIDIARIES 43,025 33,096 40,253
Income tax benefit 1,957 2,770 2,360
INCOME BEFORE EQUITY IN UNDISTRIBUTED INCOME OF SUBSIDIARIES 44,982 35,866 42,613
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries 48,785 67,951 53,120
NET INCOME $ 93,767 $ 103,817 $ 95,733
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) $ 127,495 $ (101,199) $ 84,082
NOTE 18 - PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS (continued)
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands) 2023 2022 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 93,767 $ 103,817 $ 95,733
Adjustments to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries (48,785) (67,951) (53,120)
Other changes 16,601 6,157 5,177
Net cash from operating activities 61,583 42,023 47,790
Cash flows from investing activities:
Return of capital from subsidiary 3,602 0 0
Cash flows from investing activities 3,602 0 0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from (payments on) short-term borrowings 0 0 (10,500)
Payments related to equity incentive plans (3,135) (1,780) (1,914)
Purchase of treasury stock (575) (579) (559)
Sales of treasury stock 405 221 115
Dividends paid (47,094) (40,838) (34,640)
Cash flows from financing activities (50,399) (42,976) (47,498)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 14,786 (953) 292
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 2,340 3,293 3,001
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year $ 17,126 $ 2,340 $ 3,293
NOTE 19 - EARNINGS PER SHARE
Following are the factors used in the earnings per share computations:
(dollars in thousand except share and per share data) 2023 2022 2021
Basic earnings per common share:
Net income $ 93,767 $ 103,817 $ 95,733
Weighted-average common shares outstanding 25,604,751 25,528,328 25,475,994
Basic earnings per common share $ 3.67 $ 4.07 $ 3.76
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net income $ 93,767 $ 103,817 $ 95,733
Weighted-average common shares outstanding for basic earnings per common share 25,604,751 25,528,328 25,475,994
Add: Dilutive effect of assumed exercises of stock options and awards 118,414 184,210 144,111
Average shares and dilutive potential common shares 25,723,165 25,712,538 25,620,105
Diluted earnings per common share $ 3.65 $ 4.04 $ 3.74
There were no antidilutive stock options for 2023, 2022 and 2021.
NOTE 20 - ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
The following tables summarize the changes within each classification of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, all shown net of tax:
(dollars in thousands) Unrealized
Gains and
(Losses) on
Available-for-Sales
Securities Defined
Benefit
Pension
Items Total
Balance at January 1, 2023 $ (188,154) $ (769) $ (188,923)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification 32,105 (10) 32,095
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 1,589 44 1,633
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) 33,694 34 33,728
Balance at December 31, 2023 $ (154,460) $ (735) $ (155,195)
(dollars in thousands) Unrealized
Gains and
(Losses) on
Available-for-Sales
Securities Defined
Benefit
Pension
Items Total
Balance at January 1, 2022 $ 17,056 $ (963) $ 16,093
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification (206,392) 86 (206,306)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 1,182 108 1,290
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) (205,210) 194 (205,016)
Balance at December 31, 2022 $ (188,154) $ (769) $ (188,923)
NOTE 20 - ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (continued)
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are as follows:
Details about
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income Components Amount
Reclassified From
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss) Affected Line Item
in the Statement
Where Net
Income is Presented
(dollars in thousands)
Amortization of unrealized losses on held-to-maturity securities $ (1,987) Interest income
Realized gains and (losses) on available-for-sale securities (25) Net securities gains (losses)
Tax effect 423 Income tax expense
Subtotal (1,589) Net of tax
Amortization of defined benefit pension items(1)
(59) Salaries and employee benefits
Tax effect 15 Income tax expense
Subtotal (44) Net of tax
Total reclassifications for the period $ (1,633) Net income
(dollars in thousands)
Amortization of unrealized losses on held-to-maturity securities $ (1,518) Interest income
Realized gains and (losses) on available-for-sale securities 21 Net securities gains (losses)
Tax effect 315 Income tax expense
Subtotal (1,182) Net of tax
Amortization of defined benefit pension items(1)
(144) Salaries and employee benefits
Tax effect 36 Income tax expense
Subtotal (108) Net of tax
Total reclassifications for the period $ (1,290) Net income
(dollars in thousands)
Realized gains and (losses) on available-for-sale securities $ 797 Net securities gains (losses)
Tax effect (167) Income tax expense
Subtotal 630 Net of tax
Amortization of defined benefit pension items(1)
(242) Salaries and employee benefits
Tax effect 60 Income tax expense
Subtotal (182) Net of tax
Total reclassifications for the period $ 448 Net income
(1)Included in the computation of net pension plan expense as more fully discussed in Note 10 - Pension and Other Postretirement Plans.
NOTE 21 - SELECTED QUARTERLY DATA (UNAUDITED) (in thousands except per share data)
2023 4th
Quarter 3rd
Quarter 2nd
Quarter 1st
Quarter
Interest income $ 90,942 $ 88,623 $ 84,482 $ 79,220
Interest expense 42,343 40,230 35,958 27,701
Net interest income 48,599 48,393 48,524 51,519
Provision for credit losses 300 400 800 4,350
Net interest income after provision 48,299 47,993 47,724 47,169
Noninterest income 17,208 10,835 11,501 10,314
Noninterest expense 29,445 29,097 42,734 29,434
Income tax expense 6,436 4,479 1,880 3,771
Net income $ 29,626 $ 25,252 $ 14,611 $ 24,278
Basic earnings per common share $ 1.16 $ 0.99 $ 0.57 $ 0.95
Diluted earnings per common share $ 1.16 $ 0.98 $ 0.57 $ 0.94
2022 4th
Quarter 3rd
Quarter 2nd
Quarter 1st
Quarter
Interest income $ 75,353 $ 62,558 $ 53,622 $ 48,034
Interest expense 18,516 10,066 4,944 3,154
Net interest income 56,837 52,492 48,678 44,880
Provision for credit losses 8,958 0 0 417
Net interest income after provision 47,879 52,492 48,678 44,463
Noninterest income 10,519 10,164 10,492 10,687
Noninterest expense 27,434 27,894 27,913 26,969
Income tax expense 4,987 6,237 5,584 4,539
Net income $ 25,977 $ 28,525 $ 25,673 $ 23,642
Basic earnings per common share $ 1.02 $ 1.12 $ 1.00 $ 0.93
Diluted earnings per common share $ 1.01 $ 1.11 $ 1.00 $ 0.92
NOTE 22 - LEASES
The Company leases certain office facilities under long-term operating lease agreements. The leases expire at various dates through 2037 and some include renewal options. Many of these leases require the payment of property taxes, insurance premiums, maintenance, utilities and other costs. In many cases, rentals are subject to increase in relation to a cost-of-living index. The Company accounts for lease and non-lease components together as a single lease component. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are recorded as a right-of-use (“ROU”) lease assets and are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company’s corresponding lease obligations are included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. ROU lease assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease obligations represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating ROU lease assets and obligations are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The ROU lease asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option.
NOTE 22 - LEASES (continued)
Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Short-term leases are leases having a term of twelve months or less. The Company recognizes short-term leases on a straight-line basis and does not record a related lease asset or liability for such leases, as allowed as practical expedient of the lease standard.
The following is a maturity analysis of the operating lease liabilities as of December 31, 2023:
Years ending December 31, (in thousands) Operating Lease
Obligation
2024 $ 744
2025 756
2026 731
2027 753
2028 593
2029 and thereafter 1,591
Total undiscounted lease payments 5,168
Less imputed interest (473)
Lease liability $ 4,695
Right-of-use asset $ 4,695
Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
Lease cost
Operating lease cost $ 724 $ 667 $ 536
Short-term lease cost 18 22 24
Total lease cost $ 742 $ 689 $ 560
Other information
Operating cash outflows from operating leases $ 724 $ 667 $ 536
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases 6.3 7.3 7.9
Weighted average discount rate - operating leases 2.5 % 2.5 % 2.8 %

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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
Within the prior two years of the date of the most recent financial statement, there have been no changes in or disagreements with the Company’s accountants.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
a)An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a -15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of December 31, 2023. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
b)MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).
The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) 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. Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. In making this assessment, management used the 2013 criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment and those criteria, management concluded that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023.
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm (Crowe LLP - PCAOB ID: 173) has issued their report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. That report appears under the heading, Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
c)There have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls during the previous fiscal quarter, ended December 31, 2023, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required in response to this item will be contained under the captions “Election of Directors,” “Corporate Governance and the Board of Directors” and “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” in the definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 9, 2024, to be filed with the SEC on Form DEF 14A, and such sections are incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required in response to this item will be contained under the captions “Director Compensation,” “Executive Compensation,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” and “Compensation Committee Report” in the definitive Proxy Statement, for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 9, 2024, to be filed with the SEC on Form DEF 14A, is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item. The information included under the heading “Compensation Committee Report” in the Proxy Statement shall not be deemed “soliciting” materials or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
The information appearing under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the definitive Proxy Statement, for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 9, 2024, to be filed with the SEC on Form DEF 14A, is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item.
See Item 5 above for equity compensation plan information.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information appearing under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in the definitive Proxy Statement, for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 9, 2024, to be with the SEC on Form DEF 14A, is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item. Certain additional information on related party transactions is also included in Note 13 - Related Party Transactions to the Company’s financial statements contained in Item 8.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information appearing under the caption “Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the definitive Proxy Statement, for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 9, 2024, to be filed with the SEC on Form DEF 14A, is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
The documents listed below are filed as a part of this report:
(a)Exhibits
Exhibit No. Document Location
3.1 Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Lakeland Financial Corporation
Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022
3.2 Restated Bylaws of Lakeland Financial Corporation, as amended
Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022
4.1 Form of Common Stock Certificate
Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003
4.2 Description of Securities
Exhibit 4.4 to the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019
10.1* Lakeland Financial Corporation 2008 Equity Incentive Plan
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on
May 14, 2008
10.2* Amended and Restated Lakeland Financial Corporation Director’s Fee Deferral Plan
Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
10.3* Form of Change in Control Agreement entered into with David M. Findlay, Kevin L. Deardorff, Eric H. Ottinger, Michael E. Gavin, Lisa M. O’Neill and Kristin L. Pruitt
Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 2, 2016
10.4* Amended and Restated Employee Deferred Compensation Plan
Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
10.5* First Amendment to Amended and Restated Employee Deferred Compensation Plan
Exhibit 10.6 to the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020
10.6* Executive Incentive Bonus Plan
Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004
10.7* Amended and Restated Long Term Incentive Plan
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009
10.8* Lakeland Financial Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
Appendix A to the Definitive Proxy Statement on Form DEF-14A filed on March 4, 2013
10.9* Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement
Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on July 9, 2013
10.10* Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement
Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on July 9, 2013
10.11* Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on July 9, 2013
10.12* Lakeland Financial Corporation 2017 Equity Incentive Plan
Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on April 13, 2017
10.13* Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on April 13, 2017
10.14* Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement
Exhibit 4.7 to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on April 13, 2017
10.15* Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement
Exhibit 4.8 to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on April 13, 2017
10.16* Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement
Exhibit 4.9 to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on April 13, 2017
10.17* Lakeland Financial Corporation Amended and Restated 2017 Equity Incentive Plan
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021
19.1 Lakeland Financial Corporation Insider Trading Policy
Attached hereto
21.1 Subsidiaries
Attached hereto
23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Attached hereto
31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e)/15d-15(e) and 13(a)-15(f)/15d-15(f)
Attached hereto
31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e)/15d-15(e) and 13(a)-15(f)/15d-15(f)
Attached hereto
32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Attached hereto
32.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Attached hereto
97.1 Clawback Policy
Attached hereto
* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
101.INS XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document contained in Exhibit 101