EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 7789
Filing Year: 2023
Filename: 7789_10-K_2023_0000007789-23-000013.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. Business
General
Associated Banc-Corp is a bank holding company registered pursuant to the BHC Act. Our bank subsidiary, Associated Bank, traces its history back to the founding of the Bank of Neenah in 1861. We were incorporated in Wisconsin in 1964 and were inactive until 1969 when permission was received from the Federal Reserve to acquire three banks. At December 31, 2022, we owned one nationally chartered commercial bank headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, which serves local communities across the upper Midwest, one nationally chartered trust company headquartered in Wisconsin, and 10 limited purpose banking and nonbanking subsidiaries either located in or conducting business primarily in our three state branch footprint (Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota) that are closely related or incidental to the business of banking or financial in nature. Measured by total assets reported at December 31, 2022, we are the largest bank holding company headquartered in Wisconsin.
Services
Through Associated Bank and various nonbanking subsidiaries, we provide a broad array of banking and nonbanking products and services to individuals and businesses through 202 banking branches at December 31, 2022, serving more than 100 communities, primarily within our three state branch footprint. Our business is primarily relationship-driven and is organized into three reportable segments: Corporate and Commercial Specialty; Community, Consumer, and Business; and Risk Management and Shared Services.
See Note 21 Segment Reporting of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, for additional information concerning our reportable segments.
We are not dependent upon a single or a few customers, the loss of which would have a material adverse effect on us.
Human Capital Matters
We are very fortunate to have what we believe is a diverse, committed team of approximately 4,200 FTE colleagues who are capable, determined and empowered to drive our company forward. None of our colleagues are represented by unions.
Talent Acquisition, Development, and Retention: We believe attracting and retaining diverse talent in a highly competitive candidate market fuels our ability to serve our customers and support our communities. We are focused on sourcing diverse, passive talent through engagement with workforce development programs, partnerships with diverse organizations, and active campus recruitment. As a result, we were able to hire over 140 more external candidates in 2022 than in the prior year. At the same time, in 2022, we had low voluntary turnover of 16% while 26% of colleagues advanced their careers at the Corporation through nearly 1,100 internal promotions or lateral moves. At December 31, 2022, the average tenure of our workforce was approximately 8.1 years while the average tenure of our executive leadership team was 11.7 years.
Through internal and external training and development programs, we aim to help our colleagues improve their skills so they can achieve their career goals and transition to more challenging roles.
•Beginning in 2023, the Corporation initiated individual development plans for all colleagues designed to enhance colleague development, growth and career pathing through identification of career interests, and detailed action plans focused on development areas.
•In 2022, we introduced a significant development initiative to accelerate the leadership skills in the organization through leadership learning paths tailored to the three primary levels of leadership in the organization, which are first level, mid-level and senior leaders. This included nearly 100 individual leadership classes which were attended by almost 900 leaders.
•We introduced two Mentor Programs in 2022 for all senior leaders and all CRG members with more than 125 pairings and over 760 mentor hours recorded.
Colleague Engagement: By strengthening our workforce and providing opportunities for all colleagues to apply their talent and grow as professionals, we strive to foster pride in working for Associated and to be recognized as the employer of choice among Midwestern financial services firms. During 2022, many of our colleagues and community members responded to and recognized our efforts:
•Colleague engagement is a focus for our company. During 2022, 91% of our colleagues provided feedback through an annual workplace survey conducted by a third party on key topics related to the overall health and culture of the organization. The survey respondent percentage is well above the average response rate for commercial banks. For the sixth year in a row, we received more than 8,000 colleague comments, which we believe demonstrates that colleagues are interested in, and comfortable with, sharing candid feedback.
•Associated Bank continues to be recognized as a Top Workplace. In 2022, we earned the Top Workplaces USA Award for the third consecutive year. Regionally, Associated Bank was named a Top Workplaces 2022 award winner in Milwaukee, Southeast Wisconsin, and Madison. Associated Bank also received Top Workplaces 2022 for Employee Well-Being and Professional Development. The Top Workplace awards are issued by Energage.
Health and Well-being: We focus on the whole person by offering wide-ranging healthcare programs, community volunteering opportunities, retirement plans, support for parents and families, and more. We offer free and confidential health coaching and weight management programs, mental health resources, virtual live fitness classes, and a 24/7/365 employee assistance program which provides access to free counseling services, financial coaching, and a variety of additional resources to support the unique needs of our colleagues and their families (e.g. elder, adult, child, and family support and legal services). During 2022, the Corporation switched well-being platforms. The new program allows all colleagues and insured spouses to access programs, activities, challenges, and educational materials to support health and well-being around physical, mental, emotional, financial, and work well-being. As of December 31, 2022:
•Nearly 3,000 colleagues and spouses participated in an annual wellness visit with a primary care provider.
•More than 1,550 colleagues received a well-being reimbursement for the purchase of items such as gym memberships, home fitness equipment, and/or fitness tracking devices.
•Throughout 2022, Associated Bank colleagues received nearly $500,000 in well-being program incentives, including well-being platform rewards and reimbursements for items such as gym memberships, fitness tracking devices, home fitness equipment, and more.
Market-based Pay and Rewards: We regularly review our pay and benefits programs so that we are offering a total compensation package, including salary, incentive pay, and benefits that we believe is fair, equitable, and competitive in our marketplace.
Culture: We believe our success begins and ends with people. For this reason, fostering a culture where people feel valued, respected, and comfortable sharing ideas and perspectives is a core focus of the Corporation. Our culture is anchored in the belief that we are better together, and great ideas can come from anywhere in the Corporation. During 2021, the Corporation launched our Associated Culture Team, with the intent to have approximately 15 colleagues representing diverse business lines, positions, and geographies across the Corporation. The team's purpose is to provide a voice for colleague feedback regarding current and desired states of our corporate culture.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Our DE&I efforts focus on shared commitment and action across business lines to seek out and diversify our workforce and foster a culture of belonging and inclusion among our colleagues. Our efforts extend to our markets by strengthening our DE&I efforts in our relationships with customers and the communities that we live in and serve. These efforts are supported by the work of our seven Colleague Resource Groups and the members that drive actions and events. These groups help to drive greater organizational awareness and work to address the unique needs of people of different
cultures and marginalized groups not limited to, but including, people of color, young professionals, women, veterans, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities.
Further, we feel a critical component of our success is our ability to recognize and value diversity while promoting inclusion, both internally and in the communities we serve.
As of December 31, 2022, as a result of these efforts, our colleague representation is as follows:
•People of color represented 17%, protected veterans represented 2%, people with disabilities represented 11%, and women represented 63% of our total workforce.
•We continue to advance diversity representation at all levels across our organization. At year end, women and people of color represented 64% of all Assistant Vice President roles and women represented 32% of all Senior Vice President roles.
•In addition, 21% of our Executive Leadership Team and 40% of our Board of Directors are represented by women and people of color.
We continue to develop and implement programs to support DE&I:
•All colleagues participate in annual DE&I training and have the opportunity to attend a multitude of educational speaker events, workshops, and webinars on various DE&I related topics. Topics include, but are not limited to, educating on different lived experiences, benefits of having a diverse workforce, and the importance of having an intentional focus on hiring and retaining underrepresented groups. Additionally, leaders are required to complete an in-depth workshop around unconscious bias.
•We have an Associated Bank Honors Program that includes a wide range of veteran-focused initiatives in an effort to reach and recruit military veterans while helping support our military connected customers, colleagues, and communities.
In 2022, we supported our diverse customers and communities as follows:
•Provided loan and investments to create affordable housing options, support community services, and promote economic development in our markets.
•Provided financial support to promote affordable housing and small-business development in all of our neighborhoods.
•Donated millions of dollars in charitable grants to local nonprofits that support, enhance, and build our communities.
•Invested in renewable energy sources.
Our DE&I efforts have been recognized in 2022 by our communities as follows:
•Associated Bank continues to be recognized as a Best for Vets employer by Military Times for the sixth consecutive year.
•Associated Bank was recognized as a Disability Equality Index Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion.
Competition
The financial services industry is highly competitive. We compete for loans, deposits, and financial services in all of our principal markets. We compete directly with other bank and nonbank institutions located within our markets, internet-based banks, out-of-market banks and bank holding companies that advertise or otherwise serve our markets, money market funds and other mutual funds, brokerage houses, and various other financial institutions. Additionally, we compete with insurance companies, leasing companies, regulated small loan companies, credit unions, governmental agencies, and commercial entities offering financial services products, including nonbank lenders and financial technology companies. Competition involves, among other things, efforts to retain current customers and to obtain new loans and deposits, the scope and types of services offered, interest rates paid on deposits and charged on loans, as well as other aspects of banking. We also face direct competition from subsidiaries of bank holding companies that have far greater assets and resources than ours.
Supervision and Regulation
Overview
The Corporation and its banking and nonbanking subsidiaries are subject to extensive regulation and oversight both at the federal and state levels. The following is an overview of the statutory and regulatory framework that affects the business of the Corporation and our subsidiaries.
BHC Act Requirements
As a registered bank holding company under the BHC Act, we are regulated, supervised, and examined by the Federal Reserve. In connection with applicable requirements, bank holding companies file periodic reports and other information with the Federal Reserve. The BHC Act also governs the activities that are permissible for bank holding companies and their affiliates and permits the Federal Reserve, in certain circumstances, to issue cease and desist orders and other enforcement actions against bank holding companies and their nonbanking affiliates to correct and curtail unsafe or unsound banking practices. Under the Dodd-Frank Act and longstanding Federal Reserve policy, bank holding companies are required to act as a source of financial strength to each of their banking subsidiaries pursuant to which such holding company may be required to commit financial resources to support such subsidiaries in circumstances when, absent such requirements, they might not otherwise do so. The BHC Act further regulates holding company activities, including requirements and limitations relating to capital, transactions with officers, directors and affiliates, securities issuances, dividend payments, inter-affiliate liabilities, extensions of credit, and expansion through mergers and acquisitions.
The BHC Act allows certain qualifying bank holding companies that elect treatment as “financial holding companies” to engage in activities that are financial in nature and that explicitly include the underwriting and sale of insurance. The Parent Company thus far has not elected to be treated as a financial holding company. Bank holding companies that have not elected such treatment generally must limit their activities to banking activities and activities that are closely related to banking.
In 2020, the Federal Reserve finalized a rule that simplifies and increases transparency of its rules for determining when one company controls another company for purposes of the BHC Act. The Federal Reserve staff has since published interpretive guidance regarding the final rule and related regulatory control matters. The amended control rule thus far has had, and will likely continue to have, a meaningful impact on control determinations related to investments in banks and bank holding companies and investments by bank holding companies in nonbank companies.
Regulation of Associated Bank and Trust Company Subsidiaries
Associated Bank and our nationally-chartered trust company subsidiary are regulated, supervised and examined by the OCC. The OCC has primary supervisory and regulatory authority over the operations of Associated Bank and the Corporation's trust company subsidiary. As part of this authority, Associated Bank and our trust company subsidiary are required to file periodic reports with the OCC and are subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the OCC. To support its supervisory function, the OCC has the authority to assess and charge fees on all national banks according to a set fee schedule. On December 1, 2022, the OCC published its assessment rates for the 2023 calendar year. The general assessment schedule for 2023 includes reductions in assessment rates of 40 percent for all banks on their first $200 million in total balance sheet assets and 20 percent for all banks on balance sheet assets above $200 million and up to $20 billion.
Associated Bank, our only subsidiary that accepts insured deposits, is also subject to examination by the FDIC. We are subject to the enforcement and rule-making authority of the CFPB regarding consumer financial products. The CFPB has the authority to create and enforce consumer protection rules and regulations and has the power to examine us for compliance with such rules and regulations. The CFPB also has the authority to prohibit “unfair, deceptive or abusive” acts and practices. The CFPB has examination and enforcement authority over all banks with more than $10 billion in assets, such as Associated Bank.
Legislative and Regulatory Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused extensive disruptions to the global economy, to businesses, and to the lives of individuals throughout the world. Congress took significant action to address these disruptions, including by passing The CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill, and the Economic Aid Act. There have also been a number of regulatory actions intended to help mitigate the adverse economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on borrowers, including several mandates from the bank regulatory agencies requiring financial institutions to work constructively with borrowers affected by the pandemic. Many of these actions were temporary and have expired; however, certain aspects of the regulatory framework that were modified as a result of the pandemic remain in effect. For example, in response to the pandemic, the Federal Reserve implemented an interim final rule allowing banks to suspend enforcement of the six-transfer limit on convenient transfers from savings deposits under Regulation D in order to permit customers to make an unlimited number of convenient transfers and withdrawals amid pandemic-related financial disruptions and uncertainty. This amendment since has been adopted on a permanent basis.
Banking Acquisitions
We are required to obtain prior Federal Reserve approval before acquiring more than 5 percent of the voting shares, or substantially all of the assets, of a bank holding company, bank or savings association. In addition, the prior approval of the OCC is required for a national bank to merge with another bank or purchase the assets or assume the deposits of another bank. In determining whether to approve a proposed bank acquisition, federal bank regulators will consider, among other factors, the
effect of the acquisition on competition, the public benefits expected to be received from the acquisition, the projected capital ratios and levels on a post-acquisition basis, and the acquiring institution’s record of addressing the credit needs of the communities it serves, including the needs of LMI neighborhoods, consistent with the safe and sound operation of the bank, under the CRA.
In July of 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy. Among other initiatives, the Executive Order encouraged the federal banking agencies to review their current merger oversight practices under the BHC Act and the Bank Merger Act and adopt a plan for revitalization of such practices. In response, on March 25, 2022, the FDIC issued a request for information on the effectiveness of the existing framework for evaluating bank mergers and acquisitions under the FDI Act with particular focus on the increase in asset concentration among banking organizations with more than $100 billion in total assets. Further, the FTC and DOJ announced in January 2022 a joint public inquiry aimed at strengthening the agencies’ enforcement against mergers that would violate the federal antitrust laws. As a result, the FTC and DOJ are believed to be more closely evaluating proposed mergers and acquisitions, including within the financial services sector, that have the potential to limit competition. The timing and prospects for the formal adoption by the federal banking agencies of modified regulatory standards for the evaluation of bank mergers and acquisitions is uncertain at this time. See the Risk Factors section for a more extensive discussion of this topic.
Banking Subsidiary Dividends
The Parent Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank and other nonbanking subsidiaries. A substantial portion of our cash flow comes from dividends paid to us by Associated Bank. The OCC’s prior approval of the payment of dividends by Associated Bank to the Parent Company is required only if the total of all dividends declared by the Bank in any calendar year exceeds the sum of the Bank’s retained net income for that year and its retained net income for the preceding two calendar years, less any required transfers to surplus. Federal law also prohibits national banks from paying dividends that would be greater than the bank’s undivided profits after deducting statutory bad debt in excess of the bank’s allowance for loan losses. In addition, under the FDICIA, an IDI, such as the Bank, is prohibited from making capital distributions, including the payment of dividends, if, after making such distribution, the institution would become “undercapitalized” (as such term is used in the FDICIA).
Holding Company Dividends
In addition, we and the Bank are subject to various general regulatory policies and requirements relating to the payment of dividends, including requirements to maintain adequate capital above regulatory minimums. The appropriate federal regulatory authority is authorized to determine under certain circumstances relating to the financial condition of a bank or bank holding company that the payment of dividends would be an unsafe or unsound practice and to prohibit payment thereof. Under the Dodd-Frank Act and the requirements of the Federal Reserve, the Parent Company, as a bank holding company, is required to serve as a source of financial strength to the Bank and to commit resources to support the Bank. In addition, consistent with its “source of strength” policy, the Federal Reserve has stated that, as a matter of prudent banking, a bank holding company should not maintain a level of cash dividends to its shareholders that places undue pressure on the capital of its bank subsidiaries, or that can be funded only through additional borrowings or other arrangements that may undermine the bank holding company’s ability to serve as a source of strength. The appropriate federal regulatory authorities have indicated that paying dividends that deplete a bank’s capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe and unsound banking practice and that banking organizations should generally pay dividends only out of current operating earnings.
Capital Requirements
We are subject to various regulatory capital requirements both at the Parent Company and at the Bank level administered by the Federal Reserve and the OCC, respectively. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements could result in certain mandatory and possible additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have an adverse material effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action (described below), we must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of our assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting policies. Our capital amounts and classification are also subject to judgments by the regulators regarding qualitative components, risk weightings, and other factors. We have consistently maintained regulatory capital ratios at or above the well capitalized standards.
The Federal Reserve, the OCC and the FDIC have adopted risk-based capital regulations implementing certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and Basel III. The agencies’ previous capital regulations were amended in 2013 to strengthen the components of regulatory capital, increase risk-based capital requirements, and make selected changes to the calculation of risk-weighted assets. In general, subject to certain exceptions as discussed further below, minimum capital standards established under the risk-based capital regulations include a CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 4.5 percent, a Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 6.0 percent, a total capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 8.0 percent, and a Tier 1 capital to adjusted
average total assets leverage ratio of 4.0 percent. In determining the amount of risk-weighted assets for purposes of calculating risk-based capital ratios, all assets, including certain off-balance sheet assets (for example, recourse obligations, direct credit substitutes and residual interests) are multiplied by a risk-weight factor assigned by the regulations based on the risks believed inherent in the type of asset. Higher levels of capital are required for asset categories believed to present greater risk. CET1 capital is generally defined as common shareholders’ equity and retained earnings. Tier 1 capital is generally defined as CET1 and additional Tier 1 capital. Additional Tier 1 capital includes certain noncumulative perpetual preferred stock and related surplus and minority interests in equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries. Total capital includes Tier 1 capital (CET1 capital plus additional Tier 1 capital) and Tier 2 capital. Tier 2 capital is comprised of capital instruments and related surplus, meeting specified requirements, and may include cumulative preferred stock and long-term perpetual preferred stock, mandatory convertible securities, intermediate preferred stock and subordinated debt. Also included in Tier 2 capital is the allowance for credit losses limited to a maximum of 1.25 percent of risk-weighted assets. Calculation of all types of regulatory capital is subject to deductions and adjustments specified in the regulations. In assessing an institution’s capital adequacy, the OCC takes into consideration not only these numeric factors, but qualitative factors as well, and has the authority to establish higher capital requirements for individual institutions where deemed necessary.
In addition to establishing the minimum regulatory capital requirements, the capital regulations limit capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments to management if the institution does not hold a capital conservation buffer consisting of 2.5 percent of CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets above the amount necessary to meet its minimum risk-based capital requirements.
Through subsequent rulemaking, the federal banking agencies provided certain forms of relief to banking organizations that are not subject to the capital regulation's advanced approaches, such as the Corporation.
For instance, non-advanced approaches institutions are subject to simpler regulatory capital requirements for MSAs, certain DTAs arising from temporary differences, investments in the capital of unconsolidated financial institutions, and requirements for the amount of capital issued by a consolidated subsidiary of a banking organization and held by third parties (sometimes referred to as a minority interest) that is includable in regulatory capital.
In addition, certain general requirements of the capital regulations have been eliminated in respect of non-advanced approaches institutions, including (i) the capital rule’s 10 percent CET 1 capital deduction threshold that applies individually to MSAs, temporary difference DTAs, and significant investments in the capital of unconsolidated financial institutions in the form of common stock; (ii) the aggregate 15 percent CET1 capital deduction threshold that subsequently applies on a collective basis across such items; (iii) the 10 percent CET1 capital deduction threshold for non-significant investments in the capital of unconsolidated financial institutions; and (iv) the deduction treatment for significant investments in the capital of unconsolidated financial institutions not in the form of common stock. Accordingly, banking organizations not subject to the advanced approaches capital rule may deduct from CET1 capital any amount of MSAs, temporary difference DTAs, and investments in the capital of unconsolidated financial institutions that individually exceeds 25 percent of CET1 capital.
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision published the last version of the Basel III accord in 2017, generally referred to as “Basel IV.” The Basel Committee stated that a key objective of the revisions incorporated into the framework is to reduce excessive variability of risk-weighted assets, which will be accomplished by enhancing the robustness and risk sensitivity of the standardized approaches for credit risk and operational risk. This will facilitate the comparability of banks’ capital ratios, constraining the use of internally modeled approaches, and complementing the risk-weighted capital ratio with a finalized leverage ratio and a revised and robust capital floor. Leadership of the Federal Reserve, OCC, and FDIC, who are tasked with implementing Basel IV, supported the revisions. Under the current U.S. capital rules, operational risk capital requirements and a capital floor apply only to advanced approaches institutions, and not to the Corporation. The impact of Basel IV on us will depend on the manner in which it is implemented by the federal banking agencies.
We continue to exceed all capital requirements necessary to be deemed "well-capitalized" for all regulatory purposes under the capital regulations. For further detail on capital and capital ratios, see discussion under the Liquidity and Capital sections under Part II, Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and under Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 19 Regulatory Matters of the notes to consolidated financial statements.
Current Expected Credit Loss Treatment
In June 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard update, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which replaced the “incurred loss” model for recognizing credit losses with an “expected loss” model referred to as the CECL model. Under the CECL model, we are required to present certain financial assets carried at amortized cost, such as loans held for investment and HTM securities, at the net amount expected to be
collected. The measurement of expected credit losses is to be based on information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. On December 21, 2018, the federal banking agencies approved a final rule modifying their regulatory capital rules and providing an option to phase in over a period of three years the day-one regulatory capital effects of the CECL model. The final rule also revises the agencies’ other rules to reflect the update to the accounting standards. The final rule took effect April 1, 2019. However, on August 26, 2020, the federal bank regulatory agencies issued a final rule that provided institutions that had adopted the CECL accounting standard in 2020 with the option to mitigate the estimated capital effects of CECL for two years, followed by a three-year transition period. Taken together, these measures offer institutions a transition period of up to five years. The Corporation elected to utilize the 2020 Capital Transition Relief as permitted under applicable regulations. As a result, the three-year phase-out period described above commenced in 2022.
Capital Planning and Stress Testing Requirements
As part of the regulatory relief provided by the Economic Growth Act, the asset threshold requiring IDIs to conduct and report to their primary federal bank regulators annual company-run stress tests, as well as to comply with leverage limits, liquidity requirements, and resolution planning requirements, was raised from $10 billion to $250 billion in total consolidated assets and the stress testing requirement was made “periodic” rather than annual. As a result of the legislation and related OCC rulemaking thereunder, the Bank is no longer subject to Dodd-Frank Act stress testing requirements. The Economic Growth Act also provided that bank holding companies under $100 billion in assets were no longer subject to stress testing requirements. The amended regulations also provide the Federal Reserve with discretion to subject bank holding companies with more than $100 billion in total assets to enhanced supervision. In addition, Section 214 of the Economic Growth Act and its implementing regulation prohibit the federal banking agencies from requiring the Bank to assign a heightened risk weight to certain HVCRE ADC loans as previously required under the Basel III Capital Rules. Notwithstanding these regulatory amendments, the federal banking agencies indicated through interagency guidance that the capital planning and risk management practices of institutions with total assets less than $100 billion would continue to be reviewed through the regular supervisory process. Although the Corporation will continue to monitor and stress test its capital consistent with the safety and soundness expectations of the federal regulators, the Corporation no longer publishes stress testing results as a result of the legislative and regulatory amendments.
Enforcement Powers of the Federal Banking Agencies; Prompt Corrective Action
The Federal Reserve, the OCC, and the CFPB have extensive supervisory authority over their regulated institutions, including, among other things, the power to compel higher reserves, the ability to assess civil money penalties, the ability to issue cease-and-desist or removal orders and the ability to initiate injunctive actions. In general, these enforcement actions may be initiated for violations of laws and regulations or for unsafe or unsound banking practices. Other actions or inactions by the Parent Company may provide the basis for enforcement action, including misleading or untimely reports.
Federal banking regulators are authorized and, under certain circumstances, required to take certain actions against banks that fail to meet their capital requirements. The federal banking agencies have additional enforcement authority with respect to undercapitalized depository institutions.
“Well capitalized” institutions may generally operate without supervisory restriction. “Adequately capitalized” institutions cannot normally pay dividends or make any capital contributions that would leave them undercapitalized; they cannot pay a management fee to a controlling person if, after paying the fee, they would be undercapitalized; and they cannot accept, renew or roll over any brokered deposit unless the bank has applied for and been granted a waiver by the FDIC.
The federal banking agencies are required to take action to restrict the activities of an “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized,” or “critically undercapitalized” IDI. Any such bank must submit a capital restoration plan that is guaranteed by the parent holding company. Until such plan is approved, it may not increase its assets, acquire another institution, establish a branch or engage in any new activities, and generally may not make capital distributions. In certain situations, a federal banking agency may reclassify a well-capitalized institution as adequately capitalized and may require an adequately capitalized or undercapitalized institution to comply with supervisory actions as if the institution were in the next lower category.
Institutions must file a capital restoration plan with the OCC within 45 days of the date it receives a notice from the OCC that it is “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized,” or “critically undercapitalized.” Compliance with a capital restoration plan must be guaranteed by a parent holding company. In addition, the OCC is permitted to take any one of a number of discretionary supervisory actions, including but not limited to the issuance of a capital directive and the replacement of senior executive officers and directors.
Finally, bank regulatory agencies have the ability to impose higher than normal capital requirements known as individual minimum capital requirements for institutions with a high-risk profile.
At December 31, 2022, the Bank satisfied the capital requirements necessary to be deemed “well capitalized.” In the event of a change to this status, the imposition of any of the measures described above could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation and on its profitability and operations. The Corporation’s shareholders do not have preemptive rights and, therefore, if the Corporation is directed by the OCC or the FDIC to issue additional shares of common stock, such issuance may result in dilution in shareholders’ percentage of ownership of the Corporation.
Deposit Insurance Premiums
Associated Bank is a member of the FDIC and pays an insurance premium to the FDIC based upon its assessment rates on a quarterly basis. Deposits are insured up to applicable limits by the FDIC and such insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.
Under the Dodd-Frank Act, a permanent increase in deposit insurance was authorized to $250,000 per depositor, per IDI for each account ownership category.
The Dodd-Frank Act also set the minimum DIF reserve ratio at 1.35 percent of estimated insured deposits. The FDIC was required to attain this ratio by September 30, 2020. The Dodd-Frank Act also required the FDIC to define the deposit insurance assessment base for an IDI as an amount equal to the institution’s average consolidated total assets during the assessment period minus average tangible equity. The assessment rate schedule for larger institutions like Associated Bank (i.e., institutions with at least $10 billion in assets) differentiates between such large institutions by use of a “scorecard” that combines an institution’s CAMELS ratings with certain forward-looking financial information to measure the risk to the DIF. Pursuant to this “scorecard” method, two scores (a performance score and a loss severity score) will be combined and converted to an initial base assessment rate. The performance score measures an institution’s financial performance and ability to withstand stress. The loss severity score measures the relative magnitude of potential losses to the DIF in the event of the institution’s failure. Total scores are converted pursuant to a predetermined formula into an initial base assessment rate. Assessment rates range from 2.5 bp to 45 bp for large institutions.
The FDIC has the flexibility to adopt actual rates that are higher or lower than the total base assessment rates adopted without notice and comment, if certain conditions are met.
On October 18, 2022, the FDIC adopted a final rule, applicable to all IDIs, to increase base deposit insurance assessment rate schedules uniformly by 2 bp beginning in the first quarterly assessment period of 2023. The increase is being instituted to account for extraordinary growth in insured deposits during the first and second quarters of 2020, which caused a substantial decrease in the DIF reserve ratio. The FDIC has indicated that the new assessment rate schedules will remain in effect until the DIF reserve ratio meets or exceeds 2 percent.
DIF-insured institutions pay a FICO assessment in order to fund the interest on bonds issued in the 1980s in connection with the failures in the thrift industry. The FICO assessment was computed on assets as required by the Dodd-Frank Act. These assessments continued until the bonds matured in September 2019. The Corporation’s assessment rate for FDIC was approximately 7 bp for 2022.
The FDIC is authorized to conduct examinations of and require reporting by FDIC-insured institutions. It is also authorized to terminate a depository bank’s deposit insurance upon a finding by the FDIC that the bank’s financial condition is unsafe or unsound or that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices or has violated any applicable rule, regulation, order or condition enacted or imposed by the bank’s regulatory agency. The termination of deposit insurance for our national bank subsidiary would have a material adverse effect on our earnings, operations and financial condition.
Historically, deposit insurance premiums we have paid to the FDIC have been deductible for federal income tax purposes; however, the Tax Act disallows the deduction of such premium payments for banking organizations with total consolidated assets of $50 billion or more. For banks with less than $50 billion in total consolidated assets, such as ours, the premium deduction is phased out based on the proportion of a bank’s assets exceeding $10 billion.
Brokered Deposits
Section 29 of the FDI Act and FDIC regulations thereunder limit the ability of an IDI, such as the Bank, to accept, renew or roll over brokered deposits unless the institution is well-capitalized under the prompt corrective action framework described above, or unless it is adequately capitalized and obtains a waiver from the FDIC. In addition, less than well-capitalized banks are subject to restrictions on the interest rates they may pay on deposits. The characterization of deposits as "brokered" may result
in the imposition of higher deposit assessments on such deposits. As mandated by the Economic Growth Act, the FDIC adopted a final rule in February 2019 to include a limited exception for reciprocal deposits for FDIC-IDIs that are well rated and well capitalized (or adequately capitalized and have obtained a waiver from the FDIC as mentioned above). Under the limited exception, qualified FDIC-IDIs, like the Bank, are able to except from treatment as "brokered" deposits up to $5 billion or 20 percent of the institution's total liabilities in reciprocal deposits (which is defined as deposits received by a financial institution through a deposit placement network with the same maturity (if any) and in the same aggregate amount as deposits placed by the institution in other network member banks).
In December of 2020, the FDIC issued a final rule amending its brokered deposits regulation. The final rule sought to clarify and modernize the FDIC's regulatory framework for brokered deposits. Notable aspects of the rule include (1) the establishment of bright-line standards for determining whether an entity meets the statutory definition of "deposit broker"; (2) the identification of a number of business relationships in which the agent of nominee is automatically not deemed to be a "deposit broker" because their primary purpose is not the placement of funds with depository institutions (the "primary purpose exception"); (3) the establishment of a more transparent application process for entities that seek the "primary purpose exception", but do not qualify as one of the identified business relationships to which the exception is automatically applicable; and (4) the clarification that third parties that have an exclusive deposit-placement arrangement with only one IDI are not considered a "deposit broker." Full compliance with the amended brokered deposits regulation was required by January 1, 2022. The FDIC staff continues to implement the final rule through the issuance of interpretative guidance and other administrative actions.
Standards for Safety and Soundness
The federal banking agencies have adopted the Interagency Guidelines for Establishing Standards for Safety and Soundness (the “Guidelines”). The Guidelines establish certain safety and soundness standards for all depository institutions. The operational and managerial standards in the Guidelines relate to the following: (1) internal controls and information systems; (2) internal audit systems; (3) loan documentation; (4) credit underwriting; (5) interest rate exposure; (6) asset growth; (7) compensation, fees and benefits; (8) asset quality; and (9) earnings. Rather than providing specific rules, the Guidelines set forth basic compliance considerations and guidance with respect to a depository institution. Failure to meet the standards in the Guidelines, however, could result in a request by the OCC to one of the nationally chartered banks to provide a written compliance plan to demonstrate its efforts to come into compliance with such Guidelines. Failure to provide a plan or to implement a provided plan requires the appropriate federal banking agency to issue an order to the institution requiring compliance.
Transactions with Affiliates and Insiders
Transactions between our national banking subsidiary and its related parties or any affiliate are governed by Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. An affiliate is any company or entity, which controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the bank. In a holding company context, at a minimum, the parent holding company of a national bank, and any companies that are controlled by such parent holding company, are affiliates of the bank. Generally, Sections 23A and 23B (i) limit the extent to which an institution or its subsidiaries may engage in “covered transactions” with any one affiliate to an amount equal to 10 percent of such institution’s capital stock and surplus, and contain an aggregate limit on all such transactions with all affiliates to an amount equal to 20 percent of such capital stock and surplus, and (ii) require that all such transactions be on terms substantially the same, or at least as favorable, to the institution or subsidiary as those provided to a nonaffiliate. The term “covered transaction” includes the making of loans, purchase of assets, issuance of a guarantee and similar types of transactions. Certain types of covered transactions must be collateralized according to a schedule set forth in the statute based on the type of collateral.
Certain transactions with our directors, officers or controlling persons are also subject to conflicts of interest regulations. Among other things, these regulations require that loans to such persons and their related interests be made on terms substantially the same as for loans to unaffiliated individuals and must not create an abnormal risk of repayment or other unfavorable features for the financial institution. See Note 4 Loans of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, for additional information on loans to related parties.
Community Reinvestment Act Requirements
Associated Bank is subject to periodic CRA reviews by the OCC. The CRA does not establish specific lending requirements or programs for financial institutions and does not limit the ability of such institutions to develop products and services believed best-suited for a particular community. An institution’s CRA assessment may be used by its regulators in their evaluation of certain applications, including a merger, acquisition or the establishment of a branch office. An unsatisfactory rating may be used as the basis for denial of such an application. The Bank received a “Satisfactory” CRA rating in its most recent evaluation.
On May 5, 2022, the federal banking agencies issued a joint notice of proposed rulemaking to revise the regulations implementing the CRA. Under the proposed rule, the agencies would evaluate bank performance across the varied activities they conduct and the communities in which they operate, and tailor CRA evaluations and data collection based on bank size and type. Further, the agencies would also emphasize smaller value loans and investments that may have a greater impact on and be more responsive to the needs of LMI persons, and would update CRA assessment areas to include activities associated with online and mobile banking, branchless banking, and hybrid models. In addition, the proposed rule would establish a metrics-based approach to CRA evaluations of retail lending and community development financing activities, including through the establishment of public benchmarks, and would clarify eligible CRA activities, such as affordable housing, that are focused on LMI, underserved and rural communities. The prospects and timing for the adoption by the agencies of a final rule are not certain at this time.
Privacy, Data Protection, and Cybersecurity
We are subject to a number of U.S. federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to consumer privacy and data protection. Under privacy protection provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 and its implementing regulations and guidance, we are limited in our ability to disclose certain non-public information about consumers to nonaffiliated third parties. Financial institutions, such as the Bank, are required by statute and regulation to notify consumers of their privacy policies and practices and, in some circumstances, allow consumers to prevent disclosure of certain personal information to a nonaffiliated third party. In addition, such financial institutions must appropriately safeguard their customers’ nonpublic, personal information.
Consumers must be notified in the event of a data breach under applicable state laws. The changing privacy laws in the United States, Europe and elsewhere, including the California Consumer Privacy Act, which became effective in January 2020 and was amended in November 2020 by a ballot initiative titled the CPRA, create new individual privacy rights and impose increased obligations on companies handling personal data. The CPRA, which took effect on January 1, 2023, also established the California Privacy Protection Agency, which is responsible for issuing regulations to further implement the CPRA.
In addition, multiple states, Congress and regulators within and outside of the United States are considering similar laws or regulations which could create new individual privacy rights and impose increased obligations on companies handling personal data, specifically including financial institutions. For example, in November of 2021, the federal banking agencies published a final rule that will impose upon banking organizations and their service providers new notification requirements for significant cybersecurity incidents. Specifically, the final rule requires banking organizations to notify their primary federal regulator as soon as possible and no later than 36 hours after the discovery of a "computer-security incident" that rises to the level of a "notification incident" within the meaning attributed to those terms by the final rule. Banks' service providers are required under the final rule to notify any affected bank to or on behalf of which the service provider provides services "as soon as possible" after determining that it has experienced an incident that materially disrupts or degrades, or is reasonably likely to materially disrupt or degrade, covered services provided to such bank for as much as four hours. The final rule took effect on April 1, 2022 and full compliance was required as of May 1, 2022.
The federal banking agencies, including the OCC, have adopted guidelines for establishing information security standards and cybersecurity programs for implementing safeguards under the supervision of the board of directors. These guidelines, along with related regulatory materials, increasingly focus on risk management and processes related to information technology and the use of third parties in the provision of financial services. Moreover, recent cyberattacks against banks and other financial institutions that resulted in unauthorized access to confidential customer information have prompted the federal banking regulators to issue more extensive guidance on cybersecurity risk management. Among other things, financial institutions are expected to design multiple layers of security controls to establish lines of defense and ensure that their risk management processes address the risks posed by compromised customer credentials, including security measures to authenticate customers accessing internet-based services. A financial institution also should have a robust business continuity program to recover from a cyberattack and procedures for monitoring the security of third-party service providers that may have access to nonpublic data at the institution. During 2022, the Corporation did not discover any material cybersecurity incidents.
Bank Secrecy Act / Anti-Money Laundering
The BSA, which is intended to require financial institutions to develop policies, procedures, and practices to prevent and deter money laundering, mandates that every national bank have a written, board-approved program that is reasonably designed to assure and monitor compliance with the BSA. The program must, at a minimum: (1) provide for a system of internal controls to assure ongoing compliance; (2) provide for independent testing for compliance; (3) designate an individual responsible for coordinating and monitoring day-to-day compliance; and (4) provide training for appropriate personnel. In addition, national banks are required to adopt a customer identification program as part of their BSA compliance program. National banks are also required to file SARs when they detect certain known or suspected violations of federal law or suspicious transactions related to
a money laundering activity or a violation of the BSA. The regulations implementing the BSA require financial institutions to established risk-based procedures for conducting ongoing customer due diligence and procedures for understanding the nature and purpose of customer relationships for the purpose of developing a customer risk profile. In addition, FinCEN has promulgated customer due diligence and customer identification rules that require banks to identify and verify the identity of the beneficial owners of all legal entity customers (other than those that are excluded) at the time a new account is opened (other than accounts that are exempted).
In addition to complying with the BSA, the Bank is subject to the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act is designed to deny terrorists and criminals the ability to obtain access to the United States’ financial system and has significant implications for depository institutions, brokers, dealers, and other businesses involved in the transfer of money. The Patriot Act mandates that financial service companies implement additional policies and procedures and take heightened measures designed to address any or all of the following matters: customer identification programs, money laundering, terrorist financing, identifying and reporting suspicious activities and currency transactions, currency crimes, and cooperation between financial institutions and law enforcement authorities.
On December 3, 2019, three federal banking agencies and FinCEN issued a joint statement clarifying the compliance procedures and reporting requirements that banks must file for customers engaged in the growth or cultivation of hemp, including a clear statement that banks need not file a SAR on customers engaged in the growth or cultivation of hemp in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. This statement does not apply to cannabis-related business; thus, the statement only pertains to customers who are lawfully growing or cultivating hemp and are not otherwise engaged in unlawful or suspicious activity.
Further, on January 1, 2021, Congress passed the NDAA, which enacted the most significant overhaul of the BSA and related AML laws since the Patriot Act. Notable amendments include (1) significant changes to the collection of beneficial ownership information and the establishment of a beneficial ownership registry, which requires corporate entities (generally, any corporation, LLC, or other similar entity with 20 or fewer employees and annual gross income of $5 million or less) to report beneficial ownership information to FinCEN (which will be maintained by FinCEN and made available upon request to financial institutions); (2) enhanced whistleblower provisions, which provide that one or more whistleblowers who voluntarily provide original information leading to the successful enforcement of violations of the AML laws in any judicial or administrative action brought by the Secretary of the Treasury or the Attorney General resulting in monetary sanctions exceeding $1 million (including disgorgement and interest but excluding forfeiture, restitution, or compensation to victims) will receive not more than 30 percent of the monetary sanctions collected and will receive increased protections; (3) increased penalties for violations of the BSA; (4) improvements to existing information sharing provisions that permit financial institutions to share information relating to SARs with foreign branches, subsidiaries, and affiliates (except those located in China, Russia, or certain other jurisdictions) for the purpose of combating illicit finance risks; and (5) expanded duties and powers of FinCEN. Many of the amendments require the Department of Treasury and FinCEN to promulgate rules. On September 29, 2022, FinCEN issued a final regulation implementing the BSA amendments included in the NDAA with respect to beneficial ownership.
Interstate Branching
Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, national and state-chartered banks may open an initial branch in a state other than its home state (e.g., a host state) by establishing a de novo branch at any location in such host state at which a bank chartered in such host state could establish a branch. Applications to establish such branches must still be filed with the appropriate primary federal regulator.
Volcker Rule
The Dodd-Frank Act prohibits IDIs and their holding companies from engaging in proprietary trading except in limited circumstances, and prohibits them from owning equity interests in excess of three percent of Tier 1 Capital in private equity and hedge funds (known as the “Volcker Rule”). Five U.S. financial regulators with jurisdiction over the Volcker Rule, including the Federal Reserve and the OCC, have adopted implementing regulations. Those regulations prohibit banking entities from (1) engaging in short-term proprietary trading for their own accounts, and (2) having certain ownership interests in and relationships with hedge funds or private equity funds, which are referred to as “covered funds.” The regulations also require each regulated entity to establish an internal compliance program that is consistent with the extent to which it engages in activities covered by the Volcker Rule. Historically, this meant that the largest banking entities (i.e., those with $50 billion or more in assets) had higher reporting requirements, but in November 2019, the agencies issued a final rule revising certain aspects of the Volcker Rule. The final rule simplified and streamlined compliance requirements for firms that do not have significant trading activities and enhanced requirements for firms that do. Under the rule, compliance requirements are based on the amount of assets and liabilities that a bank trades. Firms with significant trading activities (i.e., those with $20 billion or
more in trading assets and liabilities) have heightened compliance obligations. Although we benefit from significantly reduced compliance obligations due to the level of our trading assets being below the $20 billion threshold as a result of the final rule, we remain subject to the modified rules and requirements related to covered funds.
Further, in June of 2020, the five agencies referenced above issued a final rule that modified the Volcker Rule's prohibition on banking entities' investing in or sponsoring "covered funds." The final rule (1) streamlined the covered funds portion of the rule; (2) addressed the extraterritorial treatment of certain foreign funds; and (3) permits banking entities to offer financial services and engage in other activities that do not raise concerns that the Volcker Rule was intended to address.
Incentive Compensation Policies and Restrictions
The federal banking agencies have issued guidance on sound incentive compensation policies that applies to all banking organizations supervised by the agencies (thereby including both the Parent Company and the Bank). Pursuant to the guidance, to be consistent with safety and soundness principles, a banking organization’s incentive compensation arrangements should: (1) provide employees with incentives that appropriately balance risk and reward; (2) be compatible with effective controls and risk management; and (3) be supported by strong corporate governance including active and effective oversight by the banking organization’s board of directors. Monitoring methods and processes used by a banking organization should be commensurate with the size and complexity of the organization and its use of incentive compensation.
The Dodd-Frank Act required the federal banking agencies and the SEC to establish joint regulations or guidelines for specified regulated entities, such as us, having at least $1 billion in total assets, to prohibit incentive-based payment arrangements that encourage inappropriate risk taking by providing an executive officer, employee, director or principal shareholder with excessive compensation, fees, or benefits or that could lead to material financial loss to the entity. In addition, these regulators must establish regulations or guidelines requiring enhanced disclosure to regulators of incentive-based compensation arrangements. In October of 2022, the SEC adopted a final regulation implementing the incentive-based recovery (or "clawback") provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. The final regulation directs stock exchanges to require listed companies to implement clawback policies to recover incentive-based compensation paid to current or former executive officers in the event of material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, and to disclose their clawback policies and their actions under those policies. It is anticipated that most SEC registrants will be given until late 2023 or early 2024 to adopt and implement the policies required by the final regulation.
The Federal Reserve will review, as part of its standard, risk-focused examination process, the incentive compensation arrangements of banking organizations, such as the Corporation, that are not “large, complex banking organizations.” These reviews will be tailored to each organization based on the scope and complexity of the organization’s activities and the prevalence of incentive compensation arrangements. The findings of the supervisory initiatives will be included in reports of examination. Deficiencies will be incorporated into the organization’s supervisory ratings, which can affect the organization’s ability to make acquisitions and take other actions. Enforcement actions may be taken against a banking organization if its incentive compensation arrangements, or related risk-management control or governance processes, pose a risk to the organization’s safety and soundness and the organization is not taking prompt and effective measures to correct the deficiencies.
The scope and content of the U.S. banking regulators’ policies on executive compensation may continue to evolve in the near future. It cannot be determined at this time whether compliance with such policies will adversely affect the Corporation’s ability to hire, retain and motivate its key employees.
Consumer Financial Services Regulations
Federal and applicable state banking laws also require us to take steps to protect consumers. Bank regulatory agencies are increasingly focusing attention on compliance with consumer protection laws and regulations. These laws include disclosures regarding truth in lending, truth in savings, and funds availability.
To promote fairness and transparency for mortgages, credit cards, and other consumer financial products and services, the Dodd-Frank Act established the CFPB. This agency is responsible for interpreting and enforcing federal consumer financial laws, as defined by the Dodd-Frank Act, that, among other things, govern the provision of deposit accounts along with mortgage origination and servicing. Some federal consumer financial laws enforced by the CFPB include the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, TILA, the Truth in Savings Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, RESPA, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The CFPB is also authorized to prevent any institution under its authority from engaging in an unfair, deceptive, or abusive act or practice in connection with consumer financial products and services.
Under TILA as implemented by Regulation Z, mortgage lenders are required to make a reasonable and good faith determination based on verified and documented information that a consumer applying for a mortgage loan has a reasonable ability to repay
the loan according to its terms. Mortgage lenders are required to determine consumers’ ability to repay in one of two ways. The first alternative requires the mortgage lender to consider the following eight underwriting factors when making the credit decision: (1) current or reasonably expected income or assets; (2) current employment status; (3) the monthly payment on the covered transaction; (4) the monthly payment on any simultaneous loan; (5) the monthly payment for mortgage-related obligations; (6) current debt obligations, alimony, and child support; (7) the monthly DTI ratio or residual income; and (8) credit history. Alternatively, the mortgage lender can originate QMs, which are entitled to a presumption that the creditor making the loan satisfied the ATR requirements. In general, a QM is a mortgage loan without negative amortization, interest-only payments, balloon payments, or terms exceeding 30 years. In addition, to be a QM the points and fees paid by a consumer cannot exceed 3 percent of the total loan amount. Further, on December 10, 2020, the CFPB issued two final rules related to QM loans. The first rule replaces the strict 43 percent DTI threshold for QM loans and provides that, in addition to existing requirements, a loan receives a conclusive presumption that the consumer had the ability to repay if the APR does not exceed the average prime offer rate for a comparable transaction by 1.5 percentage points or more as of the date the interest rate is set. Further, a loan receives a rebuttable presumption that the consumer had the ability to repay if the APR exceeds the average prime offer rate for a comparable transaction by 1.5 percentage points or more but by less than 2.25 percentage points. The second rule creates a new category of "seasoned" QMs for loans that meet certain performance requirements. That rule allows a non-QM loan or a "rebuttable presumption" QM loan to receive a safe harbor from ATR liability at the end of a "seasoning" period of at least 36 months as a "seasoned QM" if it satisfies certain product restrictions, points-and-fees limits, and underwriting requirements, and the loan meets the designated performance and portfolio requirements during the "seasoning period." The mandatory compliance date under the first final rule was July 1, 2021, but subsequently was delayed by the CFPB to October 1, 2022. The second final rule applies to covered transactions for which institutions receive an application after the compliance date for the first final rule. The Corporation is predominantly an originator of compliant QMs.
The CFPB also has implemented the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure rules, which harmonize disclosure and certain regulatory compliance requirements required under those two statutes with respect to residential mortgage loans. The CFPB has issued various forms of interpretative guidance under the rules, including in 2019 in response to a requirement set forth under the Economic Growth Act to address, among other things, whether Loan Estimates and Closing Disclosures are required for loan assumption transactions.
Additionally, the CFPB has the authority to take supervisory and enforcement action against banks and other financial services companies under the agency’s jurisdiction that fail to comply with federal consumer financial laws. As an IDI with total assets of more than $10 billion, the Bank is subject to the CFPB’s supervisory and enforcement authorities. The Dodd-Frank Act also permits states to adopt stricter consumer protection laws and state attorneys general to enforce consumer protection rules issued by the CFPB. As a result of these aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act, the Bank operates in a stringent consumer compliance environment. Therefore, the Bank is likely to incur additional costs related to consumer protection compliance, including but not limited to potential costs associated with CFPB examinations, regulatory and enforcement actions and consumer-oriented litigation, which is likely to increase as a result of the consumer protection provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. The CFPB has been active in bringing enforcement actions against banks and other financial institutions to enforce consumer financial laws. The federal financial regulatory agencies, including the OCC and states attorneys general, also have become increasingly active in this area with respect to institutions over which they have jurisdiction. We have incurred and may in the future incur additional costs in complying with these requirements.
Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the FDIC has backup enforcement authority over a depository institution holding company, such as the Parent Company, if the conduct or threatened conduct of such holding company poses a risk to the DIF, although such authority may not be used if the holding company is generally in sound condition and does not pose a foreseeable and material risk to the DIF. The Dodd-Frank Act may have a material impact on the Corporation’s and the Bank’s operations, particularly through increased compliance costs resulting from possible future consumer and fair lending regulations. See the Risk Factors section for a more extensive discussion of this topic.
Climate-Related Risk Management and Regulation
In recent years the federal banking agencies have increased their focus on climate-related risks impacting the operations of banks, the communities they serve and the broader financial system. Accordingly, the agencies have begun to enhance their supervisory expectations regarding the climate risk management practices of larger banking organizations, including by encouraging such banks to: ensure that management of climate-related risk exposures has been incorporated into existing governance structures; evaluate the potential impact of climate-related risks on the bank’s financial condition, operations and business objectives as part of its strategic planning process; account for the effects of climate change in stress testing scenarios and systemic risk assessments; revise expectations for credit portfolio concentrations based on climate-related factors; consider investments in climate-related initiatives and lending to communities disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change; evaluate the impact of climate change on the bank’s borrowers and consider possible changes to underwriting criteria to account for climate-related risks to mortgaged properties; incorporate climate-related financial risk into the bank’s internal
reporting, monitoring and escalation processes; and prepare for the transition risks to the bank associated with the adjustment to a low-carbon economy and related changes in laws, regulations, governmental policies, technology, and consumer behavior and expectations.
On October 21, 2021, the Financial Stability Oversight Council published a report identifying climate-related financial risks as an “emerging threat” to financial stability. On December 16, 2021, the OCC issued proposed principles for climate-related financial risk management for national banks with more than $100 billion in total assets. Further, on March 30, 2022 and December 2, 2022, respectively, the FDIC and Federal Reserve issued their own proposed principles for climate risk management, which also are applicable to larger banking organizations. Although these risk management principles, if adopted as proposed, would not apply to the Bank directly based upon our current size, the OCC has indicated that all banks, regardless of their size, may have material exposures to climate-related financial and other risks that require prudent management. The federal banking agencies, either independently or on an interagency basis, are expected to adopt a more formal climate risk management framework for larger banking organizations. In the interim, the Federal Reserve announced on September 29, 2022 that six of the largest U.S. banking organizations will participate in a climate scenario analysis program in order to assess the resilience of such organizations under various hypothetical scenarios involving climate-related, economic and financial variables. As climate-related supervisory guidance is formalized, and relevant risk areas and corresponding control expectations are further refined, we may be required to expend significant capital and incur compliance, operating, maintenance and remediation costs in order to conform to such requirements.
Additionally, in March of 2022, the SEC proposed new climate-related disclosure rules, the Proposed Rules for The Enhancement and Standardization of the Climate-Related Disclosure for Investors File No. S7-10-22. If adopted as expected in 2023, the rules would require new climate-related disclosures in SEC filings and audited financial statements, including certain climate-related metrics and greenhouse gas emissions data, information about climate-related targets and goals, transition plans, if any, and attestation requirements.
In addition, states are considering taking similar actions on climate-related financial risks, including certain states in which we operate. For example, in January of 2022, a group of lawmakers in the Wisconsin legislature introduced a series of 15 bills addressing, through a mix of funding and legal requirements, enhanced energy efficiency funding, climate change resiliency, urban heat islands, environmental impacts to vulnerable communities, green jobs training, and food waste reduction. That same month, the Minnesota House Climate Action Caucus introduced a $1 billion Climate Action Plan to address the climate crisis, which allocates funds to broad initiatives impacting energy, transportation, built environment, lands, and adaptation & resilience. Later, in April of 2022, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced the creation of the Office of Environmental Justice within the Wisconsin Department of Administration. The Office is tasked with, among other things, analyzing and reviewing the impact that state laws, regulations, and policy have on the equitable treatment and protection of communities threatened by environmental harms, including climate change, and advising various state agencies and partners on how to best address these impacts. In May of 2022, the Illinois State Treasurer and the MSBI both submitted comments supporting the SEC’s Proposed Rules for The Enhancement and Standardization of the Climate-Related Disclosure for Investors File No. S7-10-22. Additionally, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul all joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in supporting the Proposed Rules, while the MSBI adopted its own Resolution on Climate Change Risk-Related Information Transparency, further proclaiming its support. State-level initiatives such as these may require us to expend capital to conform to any requirements that apply to us.
The Corporation has established an Environmental Sustainability Risk Policy and Environmental Sustainability Statement focused on environmental risk management; climate change, carbon emissions and natural resources; and environmental and social lending which will serve as the foundation to Associated's Environmental Sustainability Risk Management System, a system for supporting the Environmental Sustainability Risk Policy and environmental sustainability risk reporting. The EMS is intended to help so that management of environmental and climate risk is done in a comprehensive, systematic, planned and documented manner, and to help so that all policy practices are integrated into the Corporation's Enterprise Risk Management program and align with business objectives. The Corporation joined the TCFD and Value Reporting Foundation (SASB) in 2021. Oversight for climate-related risks includes Board-level, senior management and board and management committee oversight.
The Corporation’s Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the corporate ESG strategies and risks of Associated, including risks and opportunities related to environmental sustainability. In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Board has delegated responsibilities to the following Board-level committees:
•The Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Committee has oversight responsibility for the Corporation’s ESG Framework and ESG Disclosures.
•The Enterprise Risk Committee is the approval authority for enterprise risk-related oversight, such as risk-related policies and the Risk Appetite Statement. With regard to environmental sustainability, this includes Environmental Risk Management; Climate Change, Carbon Emissions and Natural Resources; and Environmental and Social Lending.
•The Compensation & Benefits Committee is the approval authority for compensation and benefits related oversight, such as executive compensation, human capital, human rights, DE&I, and workforce practices and policies.
•The Audit Committee has oversight responsibility for the Corporation's policies and practices related to ESG, including the risk management framework.
The CGSRC has appointed senior management responsibility to the Environmental, Social and Governance Committee (ESGC), an executive level committee chaired by the Corporation’s General Counsel. Additional committee members include the President and Chief Executive Officer; Head of Consumer and Business Banking; Chief Human Resources Officer; Director of ESG and Sustainability; Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Director of Community Accountability; and Director of Enterprise Risk Management and Corporate Risk Strategy.
The ERC has delegated to senior management responsibility for managing and maintaining enterprise risks through approved policies and within the risk appetite. The Corporation senior management carries out this mandate through the Enterprise Risk Management Committee (ERMC). The Chief Risk Officer oversees all aspects of environmental risk. As such, this role provides indirect strategic guidance into the Environmental Sustainability Risk Policy and gives second level approval for all policy components. The Chief Credit Officer oversees lending aspects of environmental risk.
To help identify, implement and effectuate priorities for the Corporation’s environmental initiatives, the Corporation also established an Environmental Sustainability Council. The Council is led by the Head of Consumer and Business Banking and includes the Director of ESG and Sustainability along with representatives from our Community Accountability, Corporate Communications, Corporate Risk, Facilities and Real Estate, Marketing, Operations and Technology, Purchasing, Retail Bank, and Wholesale Bank teams.
Digital Asset Regulation
The federal banking agencies have issued interpretive guidance and statements regarding the engagement by banking organizations in certain digital asset activities. In November of 2021, the OCC published an interpretive letter clarifying that the digital asset activities of national banks that have been addressed by the OCC in prior interpretive precedent published in 2020 and 2021 are viewed by the agency as legally permissible provided that banks (i) are able to demonstrate to the OCC that their digital asset activities can be conducted in a safe and sound manner and (ii) notify the OCC’s supervisory staff of their intention to engage in such activities and receive the OCC’s non-objection prior to doing so. On August 16, 2022, the Federal Reserve released supervisory guidance encouraging all banking organizations supervised by the agency to notify its lead supervisory point of contact at the Federal Reserve prior to engaging in any digital asset-related activity. Prior to engaging in any such activities, banking organizations are expected to ensure their proposed activities are legally permissible under relevant state and federal laws, and ensure they have implemented adequate systems, risk management, and internal controls to ensure that the activities are conducted in a safe and sound manner consistent with applicable laws, including consumer protection laws.
More recently, on January 3, 2023, the federal banking agencies issued additional guidance in the form of a joint statement addressing digital asset-related risks to banking organizations. That statement noted the recent volatility and exposure of vulnerabilities in the digital asset sector and indicated that the agencies are continuing to assess whether or how the digital asset-related activities of banking organizations can be conducted in a safe and sound manner and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The statement stressed that each agency has developed, and expects banking organizations to follow, supervisory processes for evaluating proposed and existing digital asset activities.
Although the federal banking agencies have not developed formal regulations governing the digital asset activities of banking organizations, the supervisory framework summarized above dictates that, in order to effectively identify and manage digital asset-related risks and obtain supervisory non-objection to the proposed engagement in digital asset activities, banking organizations must implement appropriate risk management practices, including with respect to board and management oversight, policies and procedures, risk assessments, internal controls and monitoring.
Other Banking Regulations
The Bank is also subject to a variety of other regulations with respect to the operation of its businesses, including but not limited to the Dodd-Frank Act, which among other restrictions placed limitations on the interchange fees charged for debit card transactions, TILA, Truth in Savings Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Electronic Funds Transfer Act, Fair Housing Act, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Expedited Funds Availability (Regulation CC), Reserve Requirements (Regulation D), Insider Transactions (Regulation O), Privacy of Consumer Information (Regulation P), Margin Stock Loans (Regulation U), Right To Financial Privacy Act, Flood Disaster Protection Act, Homeowners Protection Act, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, RESPA, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, CAN-SPAM Act, Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, and the John Warner NDAA. Further, in January of 2021, the OCC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend current rules related to national banks' ownership of real property. The proposal would provide a set of general standards, including an occupancy test and excess capacity standards, that the OCC will
use to determine whether the acquisition and holding of real estate is necessary for the transaction of an institution's business. The prospects and timing for the adoption of a final rule are uncertain at this time.
The laws and regulations to which we are subject are constantly under review by Congress, the federal regulatory agencies, and the state authorities. These laws and regulations could be changed drastically in the future, which could affect our profitability, our ability to compete effectively, or the composition of the financial services industry in which we compete.
Government Monetary Policies and Economic Controls
Our earnings and growth, as well as the earnings and growth of the banking industry, are affected by the credit policies of monetary authorities, including the Federal Reserve. An important function of the Federal Reserve is to regulate the national supply of bank credit in order to combat recession and curb inflationary pressures. Among the instruments of monetary policy used by the Federal Reserve to implement these objectives are open market operations in U.S. government securities, changes in reserve requirements against member bank deposits, and changes in the Federal Reserve discount rate. These instruments are used in varying combinations to influence overall growth of bank loans, investments, and deposits, and may also affect interest rates charged on loans or paid for deposits. The monetary policies of the Federal Reserve authorities have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to have such an effect in the future.
In view of changing conditions in the national economy and in money markets, as well as the effect of credit policies by monetary and fiscal authorities, including the Federal Reserve, it is difficult to predict the impact of possible future changes in interest rates, deposit levels, and loan demand, or their effect on our business and earnings or on the financial condition of our various customers.
Other Regulatory Authorities
In addition to regulation, supervision and examination by federal banking agencies, the Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries, including those that engage in securities brokerage, dealing and investment advisory activities, are subject to other federal and applicable state securities laws and regulations, and to supervision and examination by other regulatory authorities, including the SEC, FINRA, NYSE, DOL and others.
Separately, in June of 2019, pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the SEC adopted Regulation Best Interest, which, among other things, establishes a new standard of conduct for a broker-dealer to act in the best interest of a retail customer when making a recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities to such customer. The new rule requires us to review and possibly modify our compliance activities, which is causing us to incur some additional costs. In addition, state laws that impose a fiduciary duty also may require monitoring, as well as require that we undertake additional compliance measures.
Available Information
We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. These filings are available to the public on the Internet at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.
Our principal internet address is www.associatedbank.com. We make available free of charge on or through our website our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. In addition, shareholders may request a copy of any of our filings (excluding exhibits) at no cost by writing at Associated Banc-Corp, Attn: Investor Relations, 433 Main Street, Green Bay, WI 54301 or e-mailing us at investor.relations@associatedbank.com.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
An investment in our common stock is subject to risks inherent to our business. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect us are described below. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information included or incorporated by reference herein. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not aware of or focused on or that management currently deems immaterial may also impair our business operations. This report is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors. See also, Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors Summary.
If any of the events described in the risk factors should actually occur, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. If this were to happen, the value of our securities could decline significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Credit Risks
Changes and instability in economic conditions, geopolitical matters and financial markets, including a contraction of economic activity, could adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our success depends, to a certain extent, upon global, domestic and local economic and political conditions, as well as governmental monetary policies. Conditions such as changes in interest rates, money supply, levels of employment and other factors beyond our control may have a negative impact on economic activity. Any contraction of economic activity, including an economic recession, may adversely affect our asset quality, deposit levels and loan demand and, therefore, our earnings. In particular, interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond our control, including global, domestic and local economic conditions and the policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies and, specifically, the Federal Reserve. Throughout 2022 the FOMC raised the target range for the federal funds rate on seven separate occasions and-citing factors including the hardships caused by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, continued global supply chain disruptions and imbalances, and increased inflationary pressure-the FOMC has indicated that ongoing increases may be appropriate.
The tightening of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policies, including repeated and aggressive increases in target range for the federal funds rate as well as the conclusion of the Federal Reserve’s tapering of asset purchases, together with ongoing economic and geopolitical instability, increases the risk of an economic recession. Although forecasts have varied, many economists are projecting that U.S. economic growth will slow and inflation will remain elevated in the coming quarters, potentially resulting in a contraction of U.S. gross domestic output in 2023. Any such downturn, especially domestically and in the regions in which we operate, may adversely affect our asset quality, deposit levels, loan demand and results of operations.
As a result of the economic and geopolitical factors discussed above, financial institutions also face heightened credit risk, among other forms of risk. Of note, because we have a significant amount of real estate loans, decreases in real estate values could adversely affect the value of property used as collateral, which, in turn, can adversely affect the value of our loan and investment portfolios. Adverse economic developments, specifically including inflation-related impacts, may have a negative effect on the ability of our borrowers to make timely repayments of their loans or to finance future home purchases. Moreover, while CRE values have stabilized as demand has returned to pre-pandemic levels in several markets, the outlook for CRE remains dependent on the broader economic environment and, specifically, how major subsectors respond to a rising interest rate environment and higher prices for commodities, goods and services. In each case, credit performance over the medium- and long-term is susceptible to economic and market forces and therefore forecasts remain uncertain. Instability and uncertainty in the commercial and residential real estate markets, as well as in the broader commercial and retail credit markets, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Changes in U.S. trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, may adversely impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
There continues to be discussion and dialogue regarding potential changes to U.S. trade policies, legislation, treaties and tariffs with countries such as China and those within the European Union. The prior Presidential Administration imposed certain tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, as well as other trade restrictions on products and materials that our customers import or export. These restrictions may cause the prices of our customers' products to increase, which could reduce demand for such products, or reduce our customers' margins, and adversely impact their revenues, financial results, and ability to service debt. This in turn could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, to the extent changes in the political environment have a negative impact on us or on the markets in which we operate our business, our results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely impacted in the future. Although the current Presidential Administration has expressed interest in improving relations with key transatlantic partners, including by relaxing certain tariffs imposed by the prior Presidential Administration, the trade policies of the current Presidential Administration remain somewhat unsettled. The current Presidential Administration is also conducting a statutorily-required quadrennial review of some of these tariffs, but it remains unclear what may result from the review. Accordingly, it remains unclear what the U.S. government or foreign governments will or will not do with respect to tariffs already imposed, additional tariffs that may be imposed, or international trade agreements and policies.
Our allowance for credit losses may be insufficient.
All borrowers have the potential to default, and our remedies in the event of such default (such as seizure and/or sale of collateral, legal actions, and guarantees) may not fully satisfy the debt owed to us. We maintain an allowance for credit losses, which is a reserve established through a provision for credit losses charged to expense, that represents management’s best
estimate of probable credit losses over the life of the loan within the existing portfolio of loans. The allowance for credit losses, in the judgment of management, is necessary to reserve for estimated credit losses and risks inherent in the loan portfolio. The level of the allowance for credit losses reflects management’s continuing evaluation of industry concentrations; specific credit risks; loan loss experience; current loan portfolio quality; present economic, political, and regulatory conditions; and unidentified losses inherent in the current loan portfolio. The determination of the appropriate level of the allowance for credit losses inherently involves a high degree of subjectivity and requires us to make significant estimates of current credit risks using existing qualitative and quantitative information, all of which may undergo material changes. Changes in economic conditions affecting borrowers, new information regarding existing loans, identification of additional problem loans, and other factors, both within and outside of our control, may require an increase in the allowance for credit losses. In addition, bank regulatory agencies periodically review our allowance for credit losses and may require an increase in the provision for credit losses or the recognition of additional loan charge offs, based on judgments different than those of management. An increase in the allowance for credit losses would result in a decrease in net income, and possibly risk-based capital, and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to lending concentration risks.
As of December 31, 2022, approximately 62% of our loan portfolio consisted of commercial and industrial, real estate construction, CRE loans, and ABL & equipment finance loans (collectively, "commercial loans"). Commercial loans are generally viewed as having more inherent risk of default than residential mortgage loans or other consumer loans. Further, the commercial loan balance per borrower is typically larger than that for residential mortgage loans and other consumer loans, implying higher potential losses on an individual loan basis. Because our loan portfolio contains a number of commercial loans with balances over $25 million, the deterioration of one or a few of these loans could cause a significant increase in nonaccrual loans, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
CRE lending may expose us to increased lending risks.
Our policy generally has been to originate CRE loans primarily in the states in which the Bank operates. At December 31, 2022, CRE loans, including owner occupied, investor, and real estate construction loans, totaled $8.2 billion, or 29%, of our total loan portfolio. As a result of our growth in this portfolio over the past several years and planned future growth, these loans require more ongoing evaluation and monitoring and we are implementing enhanced risk management policies, procedures and controls. CRE loans generally involve a greater degree of credit risk than residential mortgage loans because they typically have larger balances and are more affected by adverse conditions in the economy. Because payments on loans secured by CRE often depend upon the successful operation and management of the properties and the businesses which operate from within them, repayment of such loans may be affected by factors outside the borrower’s control, such as adverse conditions in the real estate market or the economy or changes in government regulation. In recent years, CRE markets have been experiencing substantial growth, and increased competitive pressures have contributed significantly to historically low capitalization rates and rising property values. Despite a decrease in CRE prices in the second quarter of 2022, according to many U.S. CRE indices, CRE prices currently are similar to the 2007 peak levels that contributed to the financial crisis. Accordingly, the federal bank regulatory agencies have expressed concerns about weaknesses in the current CRE market and have applied increased regulatory scrutiny to institutions with CRE loan portfolios that are fast growing or large relative to the institutions' total capital. To address supervisory expectations with respect to financial institutions' handling of CRE borrowers who are experiencing financial difficulty, in August of 2022, the OCC and FDIC issued a request for comment on a proposed interagency policy statement addressing prudent CRE loan accommodations and workouts. Our failure to adequately implement enhanced risk management policies, procedures and controls could adversely affect our ability to increase this portfolio going forward and could result in an increased rate of delinquencies in, and increased losses from, this portfolio. At December 31, 2022, nonaccrual CRE loans totaled $29 million, or less than 1% of our total portfolio of CRE loans.
We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information furnished by and on behalf of our customers and counterparties.
In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions, we may rely on information furnished by or on behalf of customers and counterparties, including financial statements, credit reports, and other financial information. We may also rely on representations of those customers, counterparties, or other third parties, such as independent auditors, as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. Reliance on inaccurate or misleading financial statements, credit reports, or other financial information could cause us to enter into unfavorable transactions, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Lack of system integrity or credit quality related to funds settlement could result in a financial loss.
We settle funds on behalf of financial institutions, other businesses and consumers and receive funds from clients, card issuers, payment networks and consumers on a daily basis for a variety of transaction types. Transactions we facilitate include wire transfers, debit card, credit card and electronic bill payment transactions, supporting consumers, financial institutions and other businesses. These payment activities rely upon the technology infrastructure that facilitates the verification of activity with counterparties and the facilitation of the payment. If the continuity of operations or integrity of processing were compromised, this could result in a financial loss to us due to a failure in payment facilitation. In addition, we may issue credit to consumers, financial institutions or other businesses as part of the funds settlement. A default on this credit by a counterparty could result in a financial loss to us.
We are subject to environmental liability risk associated with lending activities.
A significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real property. During the ordinary course of business, we may foreclose on and take title to properties securing certain loans. In doing so, there is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances could be found on these properties. If hazardous or toxic substances are found, we may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage. Environmental laws may require us to incur substantial expenses which may materially reduce the affected property’s value or limit our ability to use or sell the affected property. In addition, future laws or more stringent interpretations or enforcement policies with respect to existing laws may increase our exposure to environmental liability. Although we have policies and procedures to perform an environmental review before lending against or initiating any foreclosure action on real property, these reviews may not be sufficient to detect all potential environmental hazards. The remediation costs and any other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Liquidity and Interest Rate Risks
Impairment of our access to liquidity could affect our ability to meet our obligations.
The Corporation requires liquidity to meet its deposit and debt obligations as they come due. Access to liquidity could be impaired by an inability to access the capital markets or unforeseen outflows of deposits. Risk factors that could impair our ability to access capital markets include a downturn in our Midwest markets, difficult credit markets, credit rating downgrades, or regulatory actions against the Corporation. The Corporation’s access to deposits can be impacted by the liquidity needs of our customers as a substantial portion of the Corporation’s liabilities are demand while a substantial portion of the Corporation’s assets are loans that cannot be sold in the same timeframe. Historically, the Corporation has been able to meet its cash flow needs as necessary. If a sufficiently large number of depositors sought to withdraw their deposits for whatever reason, the Corporation may be unable to obtain the necessary funding at favorable terms.
We are subject to interest rate risk.
Our earnings and cash flows are largely dependent upon our net interest income. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond our control, including general economic conditions and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies and, in particular, the Federal Reserve. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, could influence not only the interest we receive on loans and investments and the amount of interest we pay on deposits and borrowings, but such changes could also affect (i) our ability to originate loans and obtain deposits; (ii) the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities; and (iii) the average duration of our mortgage portfolio and other interest-earning assets. In response to the economic conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve's target federal funds rate was reduced nearly to 0% and the yields on Treasury notes declined to historic lows. However, due to elevated levels of inflation and corresponding pressure to raise interest rates, the Federal Reserve announced in January of 2022 that it would be slowing the pace of its bond purchasing and increasing the target range for the federal funds rate over time. The FOMC since has increased the target range seven times throughout 2022. As of December 31, 2022, the target range for the federal funds rate had been increased to 4.25% to 4.50% and the FOMC signaled that future increases may be appropriate in order to attain a monetary policy sufficiently restrictive to return inflation to more normalized levels. Our interest rate spread, net interest margin and net interest income increased during this period of rising interest rates as our interest earning assets generally reprice more quickly than our interest earning liabilities.
If the interest rates paid on deposits and other borrowings increase at a faster rate than the interest rates received on loans and other investments, our net interest income, and therefore earnings, could be adversely affected. Earnings could also be adversely affected if the interest rates received on loans and other investments fall more quickly than the interest rates paid on deposits and other borrowings. The Corporation's interest rate risk profile is such that, generally, a higher yield curve adds to income while a lower yield curve has a negative impact on earnings. Our most significant interest rate risk may result from a prolonged
low rate environment, as this would generally lead to compression of our net interest margin, reduced net interest income, and devaluation of our deposit base.
Although management believes it has implemented effective asset and liability management strategies, including the potential use of derivatives as hedging instruments, to reduce the potential effects of changes in interest rates on our results of operations, any substantial, unexpected, prolonged change in market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations, and any related economic downturn, especially domestically and in the regions in which we operate, may adversely affect our asset quality, deposit levels, loan demand and results of operations. Also, our interest rate risk modeling techniques and assumptions likely may not fully predict or capture the impact of actual interest rate changes on our balance sheet.
The impact of interest rates on our mortgage banking business can have a significant impact on revenues.
Changes in interest rates can impact our mortgage-related revenues and net revenues associated with our mortgage activities. A decline in mortgage rates generally increases the demand for mortgage loans as borrowers refinance, but also generally leads to accelerated payoffs. Conversely, in a constant or increasing rate environment, we would expect fewer loans to be refinanced and a decline in payoffs. Although we use models to assess the impact of interest rates on mortgage-related revenues, the estimates of revenues produced by these models are dependent on estimates and assumptions of future loan demand, prepayment speeds and other factors which may differ from actual subsequent experience.
Changes in interest rates could reduce the value of our investment securities holdings which would increase our accumulated other comprehensive loss and thereby negatively impact stockholders' equity.
The Corporation maintains an investment portfolio consisting of various high quality liquid fixed-income securities. The total book value of the securities portfolio, which includes FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank stocks, as of December 31, 2022, was $7.0 billion and the estimated duration of the aggregate portfolio was approximately 6.1 years. The nature of fixed-income securities is such that changes in market interest rates impact the value of these assets. Based on the duration of the Corporation’s investment securities portfolio, a one percent decrease in market rates is projected to increase the market value of the investment securities portfolio by approximately $388 million, while a one percent increase in market rates is projected to decrease the market value of the investment securities portfolio by approximately $364 million. As a result of the rising interest rate environment in 2022, the value of our AFS securities declined as reflected in an increase of approximately $228 million in our accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2022 compared to December 31, 2021. Further increases in market interest rates are expected to further increase our accumulated other comprehensive loss.
Changes in interest rates could also reduce the value of our residential mortgage-related securities and MSRs, which could negatively affect our earnings.
The Corporation earns revenue from the fees it receives for originating mortgage loans and for servicing mortgage loans. When rates rise, the demand for mortgage loans tends to fall, reducing the revenue the Corporation receives from loan originations. At the same time, revenue from MSRs can increase through increases in fair value. When rates fall, mortgage originations tend to increase and the value of MSRs tends to decline, also with some offsetting revenue effect. Even though the origination of mortgage loans can act as a "natural hedge," the hedge is not perfect, either in amount or timing. For example, the negative effect on revenue from a decrease in the fair value of residential MSRs is immediate, but any offsetting revenue benefit from more originations and the MSRs relating to the new loans would accrue over time. It is also possible that even if interest rates were to fall, mortgage originations may also fall or any increase in mortgage originations may not be enough to offset the decrease in the MSRs value caused by the lower rates.
The Corporation typically uses derivatives and other instruments to hedge its mortgage banking interest rate risk. The Corporation generally does not hedge all of its risks and the fact that hedges are used does not mean they will be successful. Hedging is a complex process, requiring sophisticated models and constant monitoring. The Corporation could incur significant losses from its hedging activities. There may be periods where the Corporation elects not to use derivatives and other instruments to hedge mortgage banking interest rate risk.
The replacement of the LIBOR as a financial benchmark presents risks to the financial instruments originated or held by the Corporation.
The LIBOR historically has been the reference rate used for many of our transactions, including our lending and borrowing and our purchase and sale of securities, as well as the derivatives that we use to manage risk related to such transactions. However, a reduced volume of interbank unsecured term borrowing coupled with recent legal and regulatory proceedings related to rate manipulation by certain financial institutions led to international reconsideration of LIBOR as a financial benchmark. The FCA, which regulates the process for establishing LIBOR, has announced that LIBOR will cease after June 30, 2023. The federal banking agencies, including the OCC, have determined that banks must cease entering into any new contract that uses LIBOR
as a reference rate by no later than December 31, 2021. In addition, banks were encouraged to identify LIBOR-referencing contracts that extend beyond June 30, 2023 and implement plans to identify and address insufficient contingency provisions in those contracts. Further, on March 15, 2022, Congress passed the Adjustable Interest Rate Act to address references to LIBOR in contracts that (i) are governed by U.S. law, (ii) will not mature before June 30, 2023, and (iii) lack fallback provisions providing for a clearly defined and practicable replacement for LIBOR. On December 16, 2022, the Federal Reserve adopted a final rule implementing this legislation that replaces references to LIBOR in financial contracts addressed by the legislation with certain Federal Reserve-selected benchmark rates based on SOFR.
The Corporation has multiple alternative reference rates available to customers, and there can be no assurances on which benchmark rate(s) may become the primary replacement to LIBOR for purposes of financial instruments that are currently referencing LIBOR. Following the discontinuance of LIBOR, there may be uncertainty or differences in the calculation of the applicable interest rate or payment amount depending on the terms of the governing instruments, and such discontinuation may increase operational and other risks to the Corporation and the industry.
Benchmark rates based on SOFR have emerged as viable replacements for LIBOR. The ARRC, which is a group of large banks, has recommended the use of benchmark rates based on SOFR, including a forward-looking term SOFR rate, as alternatives to LIBOR for various categories of contracts. SOFR has been published by the FRBNY since May 2018, and it is intended to be a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities. The FRBNY currently publishes SOFR daily on its website at https://apps.newyorkfed.org/markets/autorates/sofr. The FRBNY states on its publication page for SOFR that use of SOFR is subject to important disclaimers, limitations and indemnification obligations, including that the FRBNY may alter the methods of calculation, publication schedule, rate revision practices or availability of SOFR at any time without notice. In addition, certain benchmark rates based on SOFR, such as the forward-looking term SOFR rate, are calculated and published by third parties. Because SOFR, and such other benchmark rates based on SOFR, are published by the FRBNY or such other third parties, the Bank has no control over their determination, calculation or publication. There can be no assurance that SOFR, or benchmark rates based on SOFR, will not be discontinued or fundamentally altered in a manner that is materially adverse to the parties that utilize such rates as the reference rate for transactions. There is no assurance that SOFR (or benchmark rates based on SOFR) will be widely adopted as the replacement reference rate for LIBOR (or that the Corporation will ultimately decide to adopt SOFR, or a benchmark rate based on SOFR, as the reference rate for its lending or borrowing transactions).
Notwithstanding the above, a consensus has not yet been reached on what rate or rates may be viewed as accepted alternatives to LIBOR. The OCC has opined that national banks may use any reference rate for its loans that a bank determines to be appropriate for its funding model and customer needs. For example, the AFX has created the Ameribor as another potential replacement for LIBOR. Ameribor is calculated daily as the volume-weighted average interest rate of the overnight unsecured loans on AFX. Because of the difference in how it is constructed, Ameribor may diverge significantly from LIBOR or SOFR (or benchmark rates based on SOFR) in a range of situations and market conditions.
The market transition away from LIBOR to an alternative reference rate, including SOFR (or benchmark rates based on SOFR) or Ameribor, is complex and could have a range of adverse effects on the Corporation's business, financial condition, and results of operations. In particular, any such transition could:
•adversely affect the interest rates paid or received on, and the revenue and expenses associated with, the Corporation's floating rate obligations, loans, deposits, derivatives and other financial instruments tied to LIBOR rates, or other securities or financial arrangements given LIBOR's role in determining market interest rates globally;
•adversely affect the value of the Corporation's floating rate obligations, loans, deposits, derivatives and other financial instruments tied to LIBOR rates, or other securities or financial arrangements given LIBOR's role in determining market interest rates globally;
•prompt inquiries or other actions from regulators in respect of the Corporation's preparation and readiness for the replacement of LIBOR with an alternative reference rate;
•result in disputes, litigation or other actions with counterparties regarding the interpretation and enforceability of certain fallback language in LIBOR-based securities; and
•require the transition to or development of appropriate systems and analytics to effectively transition our risk management processes from LIBOR-based products to those based on the applicable alternative pricing benchmark.
In addition, the implementation of LIBOR reform proposals may result in increased compliance costs and operational costs, including costs related to continued participation in LIBOR and the transition to a replacement reference rate or rates. We cannot reasonably estimate the expected cost.
We rely on dividends from our subsidiaries for most of our revenue.
The Parent Company is a separate and distinct legal entity from its banking and other subsidiaries. A substantial portion of the Parent Company’s revenue comes from dividends from its subsidiaries. These dividends are the principal source of funds to pay dividends on the Parent Company’s common and preferred stock, and to pay interest and principal on the Parent Company’s debt. Various federal and/or applicable state laws and regulations limit the amount of dividends that the Bank and certain of our nonbanking subsidiaries may pay to us. Also, our right to participate in a distribution of assets upon a subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization is subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors. In the event the Bank subsidiary is unable to pay dividends to us, we may not be able to service debt, pay obligations, or pay dividends on our common and preferred stock. The inability to receive dividends from the Bank could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Operational Risks
We face significant operational risks due to the high volume and the high dollar value nature of transactions we process.
We operate in many different businesses in diverse markets and rely on the ability of our employees and systems to process transactions. Operational risk is the risk of loss resulting from our operations, including but not limited to, the risk of fraud by employees or persons outside the Corporation, the execution of unauthorized transactions, errors relating to transaction processing and technology, breaches of our internal control systems or failures of those of our suppliers or counterparties, compliance failures, cyber-attacks, technology failures, or unforeseen problems encountered while implementing new computer systems or upgrades to existing systems, business continuation and disaster recovery issues, and other external events. Insurance coverage may not be available for such losses, or where available, such losses may exceed insurance limits. This risk of loss also includes the potential legal actions that could arise as a result of an operational deficiency or as a result of noncompliance with applicable regulatory standards, adverse business decisions or their implementation, and customer attrition due to potential negative publicity. The occurrence of any of these events could cause us to suffer financial loss, face regulatory action and suffer damage to our reputation.
Unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential client or customer information, whether through a cyber-attack, other breach of our computer systems or otherwise, could severely harm our business.
In the normal course of our business, we collect, process, and retain sensitive and confidential client and customer information on our behalf and on behalf of other third parties. Despite the security measures we have in place, our facilities and systems may be vulnerable to cyber-attacks, security breaches, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, malware, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors, or other similar events.
Information security risks for financial institutions like us continue to increase in part because of new technologies, the increased use of the internet and telecommunications technologies (including mobile devices and cloud computing) to conduct financial and other business transactions, political activism, and the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, perpetrators of fraud, hackers, terrorists and others.
In addition to cyber-attacks or other security breaches involving the theft of sensitive and confidential information, hackers have engaged in attacks against large financial institutions, designed to disrupt key business services, such as customer-facing web sites. Critical infrastructure sectors, including financial services, increasingly have been the targets of cyber-attacks, including attacks emanating from foreign countries. Cyber-attacks involving large financial institutions, including denial of service attacks designed to disrupt external customer-facing services, nation state cyberattacks and ransomware attacks designed to deny organizations access to key internal resources or systems, as well as targeted social engineering and email attacks designed to allow unauthorized persons to obtain access to an institution's information systems and data or that of its customers, are becoming more common and increasingly sophisticated. Further, threat actors are increasingly seeking to target vulnerabilities in software systems used by large numbers of banking organizations in order to conduct malicious cyber activities. These types of attacks have resulted in increased supply chain and third-party risk. In addition, on March 21, 2022, the Biden Administration issued a warning regarding the potential for Russia to engage in malicious cyber activities, specifically including attacks on critical infrastructure such as the financial sector, in response to the international economic sanctions that have been imposed against the Russian government and organizations and individuals within Russia relating to its invasion of and ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Institutions that provide critical services, including all members of the financial sector such as the Corporation and the Bank, have been encouraged by the Biden Administration and their supervisors to enhance cyber-defense systems and take steps to further secure their data in anticipation of potential malicious cyber activity by the Russian government or other Russian actors.
Because the methods of cyber-attacks change frequently or, in some cases, are not recognized until launch, we are not able to anticipate or implement effective preventive measures against all possible security breaches and the probability of a successful
attack cannot be predicted. Although we employ detection and response mechanisms designed to contain and mitigate security incidents, early detection may be thwarted by persistent sophisticated attacks and malware designed to avoid detection.
We also face risks related to cyber-attacks and other security breaches in connection with card transactions that typically involve the transmission of sensitive information regarding our customers through various third parties. 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 that we do not control or secure, future security breaches or cyber-attacks affecting any of these third parties could impact us through no fault of our own, and in some cases we may have exposure and suffer losses for breaches or attacks relating to them. We also rely on numerous other third party service providers to conduct other aspects of our business operations and face similar risks relating to them. While we conduct security assessments on our higher risk third party service providers, we cannot be sure that their information security protocols are sufficient to withstand a cyber-attack or other security breach.
Cyber security risks for financial institutions also have evolved as a result of the increased interconnectedness of operating environments and the use of new technologies, devices and delivery channels to transmit data and conduct financial transactions. The adoption of new products, services and delivery channels contribute to a more complex operating environment, which enhances operational risk and presents the potential for additional structural vulnerabilities. In addition, the adoption of hybrid and remote work environments following the COVID-19 pandemic presents institutions with additional cybersecurity vulnerabilities and risks.
The Corporation regularly evaluates its systems and controls and implements upgrades as necessary. The additional cost to the Corporation of our cyber security monitoring and protection systems and controls includes the cost of hardware and software, third party technology providers, consulting and forensic testing firms, insurance premium costs and legal fees, in addition to the incremental cost of our personnel who focus a substantial portion of their responsibilities on cyber security.
Any successful cyber-attack or other security breach involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure of confidential customer information or that compromises our ability to function could severely damage our reputation, erode confidence in the security of our systems, products and services, expose us to the risk of litigation and liability, disrupt our operations and have a material adverse effect on our business. Any successful cyber-attack may also subject the Corporation to regulatory investigations, litigation or enforcement, or require the payment of regulatory fines or penalties or undertaking costly remediation efforts with respect to third parties affected by a cyber security incident, all or any of which could adversely affect the Corporation’s business, financial condition or results of operations and damage its reputation.
From time to time, the Corporation engages in acquisitions, including acquisitions of depository institutions. The integration of core systems and processes for such transactions often occurs after the closing, which may create elevated risk of cyber incidents.
The Corporation may be subject to the data risks and cyber security vulnerabilities of the acquired company until the Corporation has sufficient time to fully integrate the acquiree’s customers and operations. Although the Corporation conducts comprehensive due diligence of cyber-security policies, procedures and controls of our acquisition counterparties, and the Corporation maintains adequate policies, procedures, controls and information security protocols to facilitate a successful integration, there can be no assurance that such measures, controls and protocols are sufficient to withstand a cyber-attack or other security breach with respect to the companies we acquire, particularly during the period of time between closing and final integration.
Our information systems may experience an interruption or breach in security. We rely heavily on communications and information systems to conduct our business.
Any failure, interruption, or breach in security or operational integrity of these systems could result in failures or disruptions in our customer relationship management, general ledger, deposit, loan, and other systems. While we have policies and procedures designed to prevent or limit the effect of the failure, interruption, or security breach of our information systems, we cannot completely ensure that any such failures, interruptions, or security breaches will not occur or, if they do occur, that they will be adequately addressed. The occurrence of any failures, interruptions, or security breaches of our information systems could damage our reputation, result in a loss of customer business, subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny, or expose us to civil litigation and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We are dependent upon third parties for certain information system, data management and processing services, and to provide key components of our business infrastructure.
We outsource certain information system and data management and processing functions to third party providers, including, among others, Fiserv, Inc. and its affiliates to compete in a rapidly evolving financial marketplace. These third party service providers are sources of operational and informational security risk to us, including risks associated with operational errors, information system interruptions or breaches, and unauthorized disclosures of sensitive or confidential client or customer information. Concentration among larger third party providers servicing large segments of the banking industry can also potentially affect wide segments of the financial industry. If third party service providers encounter any of these issues, or if we have difficulty communicating with them, we could be exposed to disruption of operations, loss of service or connectivity to customers, reputational damage, and litigation risk that could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or our business.
Third party vendors provide key components of our business infrastructure, such as internet connections, network access and core application processing. While we have selected these third party vendors in accordance with supervisory requirements, we do not control their actions. Any problems caused by these third parties, including as a result of their not providing us their services for any reason or their performing their services poorly, could adversely affect our ability to deliver products and services to our customers and otherwise to conduct our business. Replacing these third party vendors could also entail significant delay and expense.
The potential for business interruption exists throughout our organization.
Integral to our performance is the continued efficacy of our technical systems, operational infrastructure, relationships with third parties and the vast array of associates and key executives in our day-to-day and ongoing operations. Failure by any or all of these resources subjects us to risks that may vary in size, scale and scope. This includes, but is not limited to, operational or technical failures, ineffectiveness or exposure due to interruption in third party support, problems arising from systems conversions, as well as the loss of key individuals or failure on the part of key individuals to perform properly. Although management has established policies and procedures to address such failures, the occurrence of any such event could have a material adverse effect on our business, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Changes in the federal, state, or local tax laws may negatively impact our financial performance.
We are subject to changes in tax law that could increase our effective tax rates. These law changes may be retroactive to previous periods and as a result could negatively affect our current and future financial performance. For example, legislation enacted in 2017 resulted in a reduction in our federal corporate tax rate from 35% in 2017 to 21% in 2018, which had a favorable impact on our earnings and capital generation abilities. However, this legislation also enacted limitations on certain deductions, such as the deduction of FDIC deposit insurance premiums, which partially offset the anticipated increase in net earnings from the lower tax rate. Any increase in the corporate tax rate or surcharges that may be adopted by Congress would adversely affect our results of operations in future periods.
In addition, the Bank’s customers experienced and likely will continue to experience varying effects from both the individual and business tax provisions of the Tax Act and other future changes in tax law and such effects, whether positive or negative, may have a corresponding impact on our business and the economy as a whole.
Further, on August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was enacted into law. The legislation imposed a non-deductible 1% excise tax on repurchases of stock by “covered corporations,” including the Corporation, occurring after December 31, 2022. As a result, our results of operations in future periods may be impacted adversely to the extent of any significant stock repurchases by the Corporation.
Impairment of investment securities, goodwill, other intangible assets, or DTAs could require charges to earnings, which could result in a negative impact on our results of operations.
In assessing whether the impairment of investment securities is related to a deterioration in credit factors, management considers the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and the intent and ability to retain our investment in the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value in the near term.
Under current accounting standards, goodwill is not amortized but, instead, is subject to impairment tests on at least an annual basis or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. A decline in our stock price or occurrence of a triggering event following any of our quarterly earnings
releases and prior to the filing of the periodic report for that period could, under certain circumstances, cause us to perform a goodwill impairment test and result in an impairment charge being recorded for that period which was not reflected in such earnings release. During 2022, the annual impairment test conducted in May, using a qualitative assessment, indicated that the estimated fair value of all of the Corporation’s reporting units exceeded the carrying value. In the event that we conclude in a future assessment that all or a portion of our goodwill may be impaired, a non-cash charge for the amount of such impairment would be recorded to earnings. Such a charge would have no impact on tangible capital. At December 31, 2022, we had goodwill of $1.1 billion, which represents approximately 28% of stockholders’ equity.
In assessing the realizability of DTAs, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the DTAs will not be realized. Assessing the need for, or the sufficiency of, a valuation allowance requires management to evaluate all available evidence, both negative and positive, including the recent trend of quarterly earnings. Positive evidence necessary to overcome the negative evidence includes whether future taxable income in sufficient amounts and character within the carryback and carryforward periods is available under the tax law, including the use of tax planning strategies. When negative evidence (e.g., cumulative losses in recent years, history of operating loss or tax credit carryforwards expiring unused) exists, more positive evidence than negative evidence will be necessary.
The impact of each of these impairment matters could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Revenues from our investment management and asset servicing businesses are significant to our earnings.
Generating returns that satisfy clients in a variety of asset classes is important to maintaining existing business and attracting new business. Administering or managing assets in accordance with the terms of governing documents and applicable laws is also important to client satisfaction. Failure in either of the foregoing areas can expose us to liability, and result in a decrease in our revenues and earnings.
Climate change and related legislative and regulatory initiatives may result in operational changes and expenditures that could significantly impact our business.
The current and anticipated effects of climate change are creating an increasing level of concern for the state of the global environment. As a result, political and social attention to the issue of climate change has increased. In recent years, governments across the world have entered into international agreements or have otherwise acted to attempt to reduce global temperatures, in part by limiting greenhouse gas emissions. The Federal Reserve Board became a member of the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System and, in its Financial Stability Report of November 2020, specifically addressed the implications of climate change for markets, financial exposures, financial institutions, and financial stability. The U.S. Congress, state legislatures and federal and state regulatory agencies have continued to propose and advance numerous legislative and regulatory initiatives seeking to mitigate the effects of climate change. Such initiatives have been pursued with rigor under the current Presidential Administration. The Financial Stability Oversight Council, of which the OCC is a member, published a report in October 2021 identifying climate-related financial risk as an "emerging threat" to financial stability. The leadership of the federal banking agencies, including the Comptroller of the Currency, have emphasized that climate-related risks are faced by banking organizations of all types and sizes, specifically including physical and transition risks, and are in the process of enhancing supervisory expectations regarding banks' risk management practices. To that end, in December 2021, the OCC published proposed principles for climate risk management by larger banking organizations. The OCC also has created an Office of Climate Risk and appointed a Climate Change Risk Officer to oversee that office, and has established an internal climate risk implementation committee in order to assist with these initiatives and to support the agency's efforts to enhance its supervision of climate change risk management. The OCC stressed in its 2022 Annual Report that climate-related financial risks pose novel challenges that national banks, together with the OCC, are expected to meet; however, the OCC acknowledged that its focus in this area has purposefully been directed at institutions with more than $100 billion in total assets as risks are more complex and material at such institutions. Relatedly, on March 30, 2022 and December 2, 2022, respectively, the FDIC and the Federal Reserve issued their own proposed principles for climate risk management, which also are applicable to larger banking organizations.
In light of the foregoing, the largest banks are being encouraged by their regulators to address the climate-related risks that they face by accounting for the effects of climate change in stress testing scenarios and systematic risk assessments, revising expectations for credit portfolio concentrations based on climate-related factors, evaluating the impact of climate change on the bank's borrowers and consider possible changes to underwriting criteria to account for climate-related risks to mortgaged properties, incorporating climate-related financial risk into the bank's internal reporting, monitoring and escalation process, planning for transition risk posed by the adjustments to a low-carbon economy, and investing in climate-related initiatives and lending to communities disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change. Further, the Federal Reserve has signaled that it is in the process of developing scenario analysis to model the possible financial risks associated with climate change. When developed, the resilience of large banking organizations, as well as the broader financial system, will be evaluated against
these climate change-related scenarios as part of the stress testing process. Although these requirements would not apply to a banking organization of our size, as the Corporation continues to grow and expand the scope of our operations, our regulators generally will expect us to enhance our internal control programs and processes, including with respect to stress testing under a variety of adverse scenarios and related capital planning. To the extent that these initiatives lead to the promulgation of new regulations or supervisory guidance applicable to the Corporation, we would expect to experience increased compliance costs and other compliance-related risks.
The above measures may also result in the imposition of taxes and fees, the required purchase of emission credits, and the implementation of significant operational changes, each of which may require the Corporation to expend significant capital and incur compliance, operating, maintenance and remediation costs. Given the lack of empirical data on the credit and other financial risks posed by climate change, it is impossible to predict how climate change may impact our financial condition and operations; however, as a banking organization, the physical effects of climate change may present certain unique risks to the Corporation. For example, weather disasters, shifts in local climates and other disruptions related to climate change may adversely affect the value of real properties securing our loans, which could diminish the value of our loan portfolio. Such events may also cause reductions in regional and local economic activity that may have an adverse effect on our customers, which could limit our ability to raise and invest capital in these areas and communities, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
In recognition of the risks posed by climate change, as discussed above, the Corporation has taken a variety of actions to manage its carbon footprint and has sought to engage in sustainable lending and investment activities, specifically including supporting renewable energy projects. However, we cannot guarantee the success of these actions, nor can we make any assurances that our regulators, investors in our securities or other third parties, such as environmental advocacy organizations, will find our efforts to support climate-related initiatives to be sufficient.
Additionally, in March 2022, the SEC proposed new climate-related disclosure rules, which if adopted, would require new climate-related disclosures in SEC filings and audited financial statements, including certain climate-related metrics and greenhouse gas emissions data, information about climate-related targets and goals, transition plans, if any, and attestation requirements. If adopted, these rules would impose increased costs, which could materially and adversely affect our financial performance.
Severe weather, natural disasters, public health issues, civil unrest, acts of war or terrorism, and other external events could significantly impact our ability to conduct business.
Such events could affect the stability of our deposit base, impair the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans, impair the value of collateral securing loans, adversely impact our employee base, cause significant property damage, result in loss of revenue, and/or cause us to incur additional expenses. Although management has established disaster recovery policies and procedures, the occurrence of any such event could have a material adverse effect on our business, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Increasing, complex and evolving regulatory and stakeholder expectations on ESG matters could adversely affect our reputation, our access to capital and the market price of our securities.
The Corporation is subject to a variety of risks arising from ESG matters as governmental and regulatory bodies, investors, customers, employees and other stakeholders have been increasingly focused on ESG matters. ESG matters include, among other things, climate risk, hiring practices, the diversity of our work force, and racial and social justice issues involving our personnel, customers and third parties with whom we otherwise do business. Risks arising from ESG matters may adversely affect, among other things, our reputation and the market price of our securities.
Further, we may be exposed to negative publicity based on the identity and activities of those to whom we lend and with which we otherwise do business and the public’s view of the approach and performance of our customers and business partners with respect to ESG matters. Any such negative publicity could arise from adverse news coverage in traditional media and could also spread through the use of social media platforms. The Corporation’s relationships and reputation with its existing and prospective customers and third parties with which we do business could be damaged if we were to become the subject of any such negative publicity. This, in turn, could have an adverse effect on our ability to attract and retain customers and employees and could have a negative impact on the market price for securities.
Investors have begun to consider the steps taken and resources allocated by financial institutions and other commercial organizations to address ESG matters when making investment and operational decisions. Certain investors are beginning to incorporate the business risks of climate change and the adequacy of companies’ responses to the risks posed by climate change and other ESG matters into their investment theses. Additionally, organizations that provide information to investors on
corporate governance and related matters have developed ratings processes for evaluating companies on their approach to ESG matters. Unfavorable ratings of the Corporation may adversely affect investor sentiment towards the Corporation or the market price of our securities.
Further, as we continue to focus on developing ESG practices, and as investor and other stakeholder expectations, voluntary and regulatory ESG disclosure standards and policies continue to evolve, we have expanded and expect to further expand our public disclosures in these areas. Such disclosures may reflect aspirational goals, targets, and other expectations and assumptions, which are necessarily uncertain and may not be realized. Failure to realize (or timely achieve progress on) such aspirational goals and targets could adversely affect our third party ESG ratings, our reputation or otherwise adversely affect us.
Increased attention to ESG matters also has caused public officials, including certain state attorneys general, treasurers, and legislators, to take various actions to impact the extent to which ESG principles are considered by private investors. For instance, certain states have enacted laws or issued directives designed to penalize financial institutions that the state believes are boycotting certain industries such as the fossil fuel and firearms industries. In addition, a group of state attorneys general has launched a joint investigation into a firm that generates ESG ratings for investment purposes based upon concerns of potential consumer fraud or unfair trade practices. These developments illustrate that ESG-based investing has become a divisive political issue. Shifts in investing priorities based on ESG principles may result in adverse effects on the market price of our securities to the extent that investors that give significant weight to such principles determine that the Corporation has not made sufficient progress on ESG matters. Conversely, the market price of our securities may be adversely effected if a government official or agency seeks to limit the Corporation’s business with a certain government entity or initiates an investigation or enforcement action because of what is perceived to be the Corporation’s unwarranted focus on ESG matters.
Strategic and External Risks
Our earnings are significantly affected by the fiscal and monetary policies of the federal government and its agencies.
The policies of the Federal Reserve impact us significantly. The Federal Reserve regulates the supply of money and credit in the United States. Its policies directly and indirectly influence the rate of interest earned on loans and paid on borrowings and interest-bearing deposits and can also affect the value of financial instruments we hold. Those policies determine to a significant extent our cost of funds for lending and investing. Changes in those policies are beyond our control and are difficult to predict. Federal Reserve policies can also affect our borrowers, potentially increasing the risk that they may fail to repay their loans. For example, a tightening of the money supply by the Federal Reserve could reduce the demand for a borrower’s products and services. This could adversely affect the borrower’s earnings and ability to repay its loan, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our financial condition and results of operations could be negatively affected if we fail to grow or fail to manage our growth effectively.
Our business strategy includes significant growth plans. We intend to continue pursuing a profitable growth strategy. Our prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in significant growth stages of development. Sustainable growth requires that we manage our risks by balancing loan and deposit growth at acceptable levels of risk, maintaining adequate liquidity and capital, hiring and retaining qualified employees, successfully managing the costs and implementation risks with respect to strategic projects and initiatives, and integrating acquisition targets and managing the costs. We cannot assure you that we will be able to expand our market presence in our existing markets or successfully enter new markets or that any such expansion will not adversely affect our results of operations. Failure to manage our growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, future prospects, financial condition or results of operations and could adversely affect our ability to successfully implement our business strategy. Also, if we grow more slowly than anticipated, our operating results could be materially adversely affected.
We operate in a highly competitive industry and market area.
We face substantial competition in all areas of our operations from a variety of different competitors, both within and beyond our principal markets, many of which are larger and may have more financial resources. Such competitors primarily include national, regional, and internet banks within the various markets in which we operate. We also face competition from many other types of financial institutions, including, without limitation, savings and loans, credit unions, finance companies, brokerage firms, insurance companies, and other financial intermediaries. The financial services industry could become even more competitive as a result of legislative and regulatory changes and continued consolidation. In recent years, the OCC has begun to accept applications from financial technology companies to become special purpose national banks. These and similar developments at the state level are likely to result in even greater competition within all areas of our operations.
In addition, as customer preferences and expectations continue to evolve, technology has lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for nonbanks to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks, such as automatic transfer and automatic payment systems. In addition, some of the largest technology firms are engaging in joint ventures with the largest banks to provide and/or expand financial service offerings with a technological sophistication and breadth of marketing that smaller institutions do not have. Many of our competitors have fewer regulatory constraints and may have lower cost structures. Additionally, due to their size, many competitors may be able to achieve economies of scale and, as a result, may offer a broader range of products and services as well as better pricing for those products and services than we can.
Our ability to compete successfully depends on a number of factors, including, among other things:
•the ability to develop, maintain, and build upon long-term customer relationships based on top quality service, high ethical standards, and safe, sound assets;
•the ability to expand our market position;
•the scope, relevance, and pricing of products and services offered to meet customer needs and demands;
•the rate at which we introduce new products and services relative to our competitors;
•customer satisfaction with our level of service; and
•industry and general economic trends.
Failure to perform in any of these areas could significantly weaken our competitive position, which could adversely affect our growth and profitability, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Fiscal challenges facing the U.S. government could negatively impact financial markets which in turn could have an adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.
Federal budget deficit concerns and the potential for political conflict over legislation to fund U.S. government operations and raise the U.S. government's debt limit may increase the possibility of a default by the U.S. government on its debt obligations, related credit-rating downgrades, or an economic recession in the United States. Many of our investment securities are issued by the U.S. government and government agencies and sponsored entities. As a result of uncertain domestic political conditions, including potential future federal government shutdowns, the possibility of the federal government defaulting on its obligations for a period of time due to debt ceiling limitations or other unresolved political issues, investments in financial instruments issued or guaranteed by the federal government pose liquidity risks. In connection with prior political disputes over U.S. fiscal and budgetary issues leading to the U.S. government shutdown in 2011, S&P lowered its long term sovereign credit rating on the U.S. from AAA to AA+. A further downgrade, or a downgrade by other rating agencies, as well as sovereign debt issues facing the governments of other countries, could have a material adverse impact on financial markets and economic conditions in the U.S. and worldwide.
Consumers may decide not to use banks to complete their financial transactions.
Technology and other changes are allowing parties to complete financial transactions through alternative methods that historically have involved banks. For example, consumers can now maintain funds that would have historically been held as bank deposits in brokerage accounts, mutual funds or general-purpose reloadable prepaid cards. Consumers can also complete transactions, such as paying bills and/or transferring funds directly without the assistance of banks. Although the digital asset marketplace has in recent months experienced substantial instability, transactions utilizing digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and other similar assets, have increased substantially over the course of the last several years. Certain characteristics of digital asset transactions, such as the speed with which such transactions can be conducted, the ability to transact without the involvement of regulated intermediaries, the ability to engage in transactions across multiple jurisdictions, and the anonymous nature of the transactions, are appealing to certain consumers notwithstanding the various risks posed by such transactions as illustrated by the current and ongoing market volatility. Accordingly, digital asset service providers - which, at present are not subject to the extensive regulation as banking organizations and other financial institutions - have become active competitors for our customers' banking business. The process of eliminating banks as intermediaries, known as "disintermediation," could result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the related income generated from those deposits. The loss of these revenue streams and the lower cost of deposits as a source of funds could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our profitability depends significantly on economic conditions in the states within which we do business.
Our success depends on the general economic conditions of the specific local markets in which we operate, particularly Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. Local economic conditions have a significant impact on the demand for our products and services, as well as the ability of our customers to repay loans, on the value of the collateral securing loans, and the stability of our deposit funding sources. A significant decline in general local economic conditions caused by inflation, recession, unemployment, changes in securities markets, changes in housing market prices, or other factors could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The earnings of financial services companies are significantly affected by general business and economic conditions.
Our operations and profitability are impacted by general business and economic conditions in the United States and abroad. These conditions include short-term and long-term interest rates, inflation, money supply, political issues, ramifications of conflicts including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, legislative and regulatory changes, fluctuations in both debt and equity capital markets, broad trends in industry and finance, the strength of the United States economy, and uncertainty in financial markets globally, all of which are beyond our control. A deterioration in economic conditions, including those arising from government shutdowns, defaults, anticipated defaults or rating agency downgrades of sovereign debt (including debt of the U.S.), or increases in unemployment, could result in an increase in loan delinquencies and NPAs, decreases in loan collateral values, and a decrease in demand for our products and services, among other things, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
New lines of business or new products and services may subject us to additional risk.
From time to time, we may implement new lines of business or offer new products and services within existing lines of business. There are substantial risks and uncertainties associated with these efforts, particularly in instances where the markets are not fully developed. In developing and marketing new lines of business and/or new products and services, we may invest significant time and resources. Initial timetables for the introduction and development of new lines of business and/or new products or services may not be achieved and price and profitability targets may not prove feasible. External factors, such as competitive alternatives and shifting market preferences, may also impact the successful implementation of a new line of business and/or a new product or service. Furthermore, strategic planning remains important as we adopt innovative products, services, and processes in response to the evolving demands for financial services and the entrance of new competitors, such as out-of-market banks and financial technology firms. Any new line of business and/or new product or service could have a significant impact on the effectiveness of our system of internal controls, so we must responsibly innovate in a manner that is consistent with sound risk management and is aligned with the Bank's overall business strategies. Failure to successfully manage these risks in the development and implementation of new lines of business and/or new products or services could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Failure to keep pace with technological change could adversely affect our business.
The financial services industry is continually undergoing rapid technological change with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services, including the potential utilization of blockchain technology to provide alternative high speed payment systems. The effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to better serve customers and to reduce costs. Our future success depends, 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, as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations. Many of our competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. We may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our customers. Failure to successfully keep pace with technological change affecting the financial services industry could have a material adverse impact on our business and, in turn, our financial condition and results of operations.
We may be adversely affected by risks associated with potential and completed acquisitions.
As part of our growth strategy, we regularly evaluate merger and acquisition opportunities and conduct due diligence activities related to possible transactions with other financial institutions and financial services companies. As a result, negotiations may take place and future mergers or acquisitions involving cash, debt, or equity securities may occur at any time. We seek merger or acquisition partners that are culturally similar, have experienced management, and possess either significant market presence or have potential for improved profitability through financial management, economies of scale, or expanded services.
Acquiring other banks, businesses, or branches involves potential adverse impact to our financial results and various other risks commonly associated with acquisitions, including, among other things:
•incurring time and expense associated with identifying and evaluating potential acquisitions and negotiating potential transactions, and with integrating acquired businesses, resulting in the diversion of resources from the operation of our existing businesses;
•difficulty in estimating the value of target companies or assets and in evaluating credit, operations, management, and market risks associated with those companies or assets;
•payment of a premium over book and market values that may dilute our tangible book value and earnings per share in the short and long term;
•potential exposure to unknown or contingent liabilities of the target company, including, without limitation, liabilities for regulatory and compliance issues;
•exposure to potential asset quality issues of the target company;
•there may be volatility in reported income as goodwill impairment losses could occur irregularly and in varying amounts;
•difficulties, inefficiencies or cost overruns associated with the integration of the operations, personnel, technologies, services, and products of acquired companies with ours;
•inability to realize the expected revenue increases, cost savings, increases in geographic or product presence, and/or other projected benefits;
•potential disruption to our business;
•the possible loss of key employees and customers of the target company; and
•potential changes in banking or tax laws or regulations that may affect the target company.
Acquisitions also involve operational risks and uncertainties, and acquired companies may have unknown or contingent liabilities, exposure to unexpected asset quality problems that require write-downs or write-offs (as well as restructuring and impairment or other charges), difficulty retaining key employees and customers and other issues that could negatively affect our business. We may not be able to realize any projected cost savings, synergies or other benefits associated with any such acquisition we complete. Acquisitions typically involve the payment of a premium over book and market values and, therefore, some dilution of our tangible book value and net income per common share may occur in connection with any future transaction. Failure to successfully integrate the entities we acquire into our existing operations could increase our operating costs significantly and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
In addition, we face significant competition from other financial services institutions, some of which may have greater financial resources than we do, when considering acquisition opportunities. Accordingly, attractive opportunities may not be available to us and there can be no assurance that we will be successful in identifying or completing future acquisitions.
Acquisitions may be delayed, impeded, or prohibited due to regulatory issues.
Acquisitions by the Corporation, particularly those of financial institutions, are subject to approval by a variety of federal and state regulatory agencies (collectively, "regulatory approvals"). The process for obtaining these required regulatory approvals has become substantially more difficult in recent years. Regulatory approvals could be delayed, impeded, restrictively conditioned or denied due to existing or new regulatory issues the Corporation has, or may have, with regulatory agencies, including, without limitation, issues related to BSA compliance, CRA issues, fair lending laws, fair housing laws, consumer protection laws, unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices regulations, and other similar laws and regulations. We may fail to pursue, evaluate or complete strategic and competitively significant acquisition opportunities as a result of our inability, or perceived or anticipated inability, to obtain regulatory approvals in a timely manner, under reasonable conditions or at all. The regulatory approvals may contain conditions on the completion of the merger that adversely affect our business following the closing, or which are not anticipated or cannot be met. Difficulties associated with potential acquisitions that may result from these factors could have a material adverse impact on our business, and, in turn, our financial condition and results of operations.
Moreover, in July 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy which encouraged the federal banking agencies to review their current merger oversight practices. In response, the FDIC issued
a request for public comment on the effectiveness of the existing framework for evaluating bank mergers and acquisitions under the FDI Act, while the OCC is considering enhancing the agency’s merger review processes. The FTC and DOJ also are more closely evaluating proposed mergers and acquisitions, including within the financial services sector, that have the potential to limit competition. Further, the Director of the CFPB has publicly sought a greater role for the CFPB in the evaluation of proposed bank mergers.
Any enhanced regulatory scrutiny of bank mergers and acquisitions and revision of the framework for merger application review may adversely affect the marketplace for such transactions, could result in our acquisitions in future periods being delayed, impeded or restricted in certain respects and result in new rules that possibly limit the size of financial institutions we may be able to acquire in the future and alter the terms for such transactions.
Legal, Regulatory, Compliance and Reputational Risks
We are subject to extensive government regulation and supervision.
We are subject to extensive federal and applicable state regulation and supervision, primarily through Associated Bank and certain nonbank subsidiaries. Banking regulations are primarily intended to protect depositors’ funds, federal deposit insurance funds, and the banking system as a whole, not shareholders. These regulations affect our lending practices, capital structure, investment practices, dividend policy, and growth, among other things. Congress and federal regulatory agencies continually review banking laws, regulations, and policies for possible changes, and proposed changes can continue to be expected under the current Presidential Administration. Changes to statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies, including changes in interpretation or implementation of statutes, regulations, or policies, could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways. Such changes could subject us to additional costs, limit the types of financial services and products we may offer, and/or increase the ability of nonbanks to offer competing financial services and products, among other things. Failure to comply with laws, regulations, or policies could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil money penalties, and/or reputation damage, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. While we have policies and procedures designed to prevent these types of violations, there can be no assurance that such violations will not occur.
Significantly, the enactment of the Economic Growth Act, and the promulgation of its implementing regulations, repealed or modified several important provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. Among other things, the Economic Growth Act and its implementing regulations raised the total asset thresholds to $250 billion for Dodd-Frank Act annual company-run stress testing, leverage limits, liquidity requirements, and resolution planning requirements for bank holding companies, subject to the ability of the Federal Reserve to apply such requirements to institutions with assets of $100 billion or more to address financial stability risks or safety and soundness concerns.
Accordingly, the effect of banking legislation and regulations remains uncertain. The implementation, amendment, or repeal of federal banking laws or regulations may affect the banking industry as a whole, including our business and results of operations, in ways that are difficult to predict.
In addition, the federal banking agencies, including the OCC, and the CFPB have in recent years adopted a more aggressive enforcement posture-specifically with respect to fair lending and loan servicing, bank and financial institution sales practices, management of consumer accounts and the charging of various fees. For instance, in September 2016, the CFPB and OCC entered into a consent order with a large national bank alleging widespread improper sales practices, which prompted the federal bank regulatory agencies to conduct a horizontal review of sales practices throughout the banking industry. The elevated attention resulted in additional regulatory scrutiny and regulation of incentive arrangements. In January of 2022, the CFPB launched a supervision and enforcement initiative to scrutinize administrative fees characterized by the agency as “junk fees.” As part of that initiative, the CFPB has issued guidance and advisory opinions aimed at curbing the assessment of such fees, and has taken action against supervised financial institutions for alleged unlawful fee practices and mismanagement of consumer accounts. Ongoing regulatory scrutiny in these areas could adversely impact the delivery of services and increase compliance costs.
The Bank faces risks related to the adoption of future legislation and potential changes in federal regulatory agency leadership, policies, and priorities.
Democrats retained control of the U.S. Senate in the 2022 midterm elections, increasing their majority by one seat, while Republicans assumed control of the U.S. House of Representatives. With control of the White House and both chambers of Congress over the past two years, Democrats were able to set the policy agenda both legislatively and in the regulatory agencies that have rulemaking and supervisory authority over the financial services industry generally and the Bank specifically. These dynamics will shift in certain respects with Republicans assuming control of one chamber of Congress. In consideration of the divided control of Congress, the narrow majorities in each chamber, and the current political environment, the legislative process is expected to be more challenging in the current legislative session.
Although agendas are expected to vary substantially in each chamber, congressional committees with jurisdiction over the banking sector have pursued, and likely will continue to pursue, oversight in a variety of areas, including addressing climate-related risks, promoting diversity and equality within the banking industry and addressing other ESG matters, improving competition in the banking sector and enhancing oversight of bank mergers and acquisitions, and establishing a regulatory framework for digital assets and markets. The prospects for the enactment of major banking reform legislation under the new Congress are unclear at this time.
Moreover, the turnover of the Presidential Administration in 2021 resulted in certain changes in the leadership and senior staffs of the federal banking agencies, the CFPB, CFTC, SEC, and the Treasury Department, with certain significant leadership positions yet to be filled, including the Comptroller of the Currency. These changes have impacted the rulemaking, supervision, examination and enforcement priorities and policies of the agencies and likely will continue to do so over the next several years. The potential impact of any changes in agency personnel, policies and priorities on the financial services sector, including the Bank, cannot be predicted at this time.
Changes in requirements relating to the standard of conduct for broker-dealers under applicable federal and state law may adversely affect our business.
The SEC's Regulation Best Interest which was implemented in 2019 established a new standard of conduct for a broker-dealer to act in the best interest of a retail customer when making a recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities to such customer. The regulation required us to review and modify our compliance activities, including our policies, procedures, and controls, which caused us to incur additional costs. In addition, state laws that impose a fiduciary duty also may require monitoring, as well as require that we undertake additional compliance measures. In addition, the Bank's insurance agency subsidiary is also subject to regulation and supervision in the various states in which it operates. The implementation and administration by the SEC of Regulation Best Interest, as well as any new state laws that impose a fiduciary duty, may negatively impact our results of operation, as well as increase costs associated with legal, compliance, operations, and information technology.
The CFPB has reshaped the consumer financial laws through rulemaking and enforcement of the prohibitions against unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices. Compliance with any such change may impact the business operations of depository institutions offering consumer financial products or services, including the Bank.
The CFPB has broad rulemaking authority to administer and carry out the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act with respect to financial institutions that offer covered financial products and services to consumers. As an independent bureau within the Federal Reserve System, the CFPB may impose requirements more severe than the previous bank regulatory agencies. The CFPB has also been directed to write rules identifying practices or acts that are unfair, deceptive or abusive in connection with any transaction with a consumer for a consumer financial product or service, or the offering of a consumer financial product or service. The CFPB has initiated enforcement actions against a variety of bank and non-bank market participants with respect to a number of consumer financial products and services that has resulted in those participants expending significant time, money and resources to adjust to the initiatives being pursued by the CFPB. The CFPB has pursued a more aggressive enforcement policy with respect to a range of regulatory compliance matters under the current Presidential Administration, specifically including fair lending, loan servicing, financial institution sales and marketing practices, and financial institution consumer fee and account management practices. CFPB enforcement actions may serve as precedent for how the CFPB interprets and enforces consumer protection laws, including practices or acts that are deemed to be unfair, deceptive or abusive, with respect to all supervised institutions, which may result in the imposition of higher standards of compliance with such laws. Moreover, the Bank is subject to supervision and examination by the CFPB for compliance with the CFPB’s regulations and policies. The costs and limitations related to this additional regulatory reporting regimen have yet to be fully determined, although they may be material, and the limitations and restrictions that will be placed upon the Bank with respect to its consumer product offerings and services may produce significant, material effects on the Bank’s (and the Corporation’s) profitability.
The Bank is periodically examined for mortgage-related issues, including mortgage loan and default services, fair lending, and mortgage banking.
Federal and state banking regulators closely examine the mortgage and mortgage servicing activities of depository financial institutions. Should any of these regulators have serious concerns with respect to our mortgage or mortgage servicing activities in this regard, the regulators' response to such concerns could result in material adverse effects on our growth strategy and profitability. Further, staff changes to key positions within the CFPB under the current Presidential Administration have resulted in the CFPB pursuing more strict enforcement policies, specifically in the area of fair lending, loan servicing, collections and other consumer related areas.
We may experience unanticipated losses as a result of residential mortgage loan repurchase or reimbursement obligations under agreements with secondary market purchasers.
We may be required to repurchase residential mortgage loans, or to reimburse the purchaser for losses with respect to residential mortgage loans, which have been sold to secondary market purchasers in the event there are breaches of certain representations and warranties contained within the sales agreements, such as representations and warranties related to credit information, loan documentation, collateral and insurability. Consequently, we are exposed to credit risk, and potentially funding risk, associated with sold loans. As a result we have established reserves in our consolidated financial statements for potential losses related to the residential mortgage loans we have sold. The adequacy of the reserves and the ultimate amount of losses incurred will depend on, among other things, the actual future mortgage loan performance, the actual level of future repurchase and reimbursement requests, the actual success rate of claimants, actual recoveries on the collateral and macroeconomic conditions. Due to uncertainties relating to these factors, there can be no assurance that the reserves we establish will be adequate or that the total amount of losses incurred will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Fee revenues from overdraft protection programs constitute a significant portion of our noninterest income and may be subject to increased supervisory scrutiny.
Revenues derived from transaction fees associated with overdraft protection programs offered to our customers represent a significant portion of our noninterest income. In 2022, the Corporation collected approximately $23 million in overdraft transaction fees. Members of Congress and the leadership of the OCC and CFPB have expressed a heightened interest in bank overdraft protection programs. In December 2021, the CFPB published a report providing data on banks’ overdraft and non-sufficient funds fee revenues as well as observations regarding consumer protection issues relating to participation in such programs. Since then, the CFPB has used the supervision process to obtain additional information about financial institutions’ overdraft practices, and has indicated that it intends to pursue enforcement actions against financial institutions, and their executives, that oversee overdraft practices that are deemed to be unlawful. The CFPB also has published guidance containing instructions for financial institutions to avoid the imposition of unlawful overdraft fees. These actions are a component of the CFPB’s broader supervision and enforcement initiative targeting so-called consumer “junk fees.” In addition, the Comptroller of the Currency has identified potential options for reform of national bank overdraft protection practices, including providing a grace period before the imposition of a fee, refraining from charging multiple fees in a single day and eliminating fees altogether.
In response to this increased congressional and regulatory scrutiny, and in anticipation of enhanced supervision and enforcement of overdraft protection practices in the future, certain banking organizations have modified their overdraft protection programs, including by discontinuing the imposition of overdraft transaction fees. These competitive pressures from our peers, as well as any adoption by our regulators of new rules or supervisory guidance or more aggressive examination and enforcement policies in respect of banks’ overdraft protection practices, could cause us to modify our program and practices in ways that may have a negative impact on our revenue and earnings, which, in turn, could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. On July 20, 2022, the Corporation eliminated non-sufficient funds fees, overdraft protection transfer fees, and continuous overdraft fees and reduced the daily limit of overdraft fee occurrences from four to two. In addition, as supervisory expectations and industry practices regarding overdraft protection programs change, our continued offering of overdraft protection may result in negative public opinion and increased reputation risk.
We are subject to examinations and challenges by tax authorities.
We are subject to federal and applicable state income tax regulations. Income tax regulations are often complex and require interpretation. Changes in income tax regulations could negatively impact our results of operations. In the normal course of business, we are routinely subject to examinations and challenges from federal and applicable state tax authorities regarding the amount of taxes due in connection with investments we have made and the businesses in which we have engaged. Recently, federal and state taxing authorities have become increasingly aggressive in challenging tax positions taken by financial institutions. These tax positions may relate to tax compliance, sales and use, franchise, gross receipts, payroll, property and income tax issues, including tax base, apportionment and tax credit planning. The challenges made by tax authorities may result in adjustments to the timing or amount of taxable income or deductions or the allocation of income among tax jurisdictions. If any such challenges are made and are not resolved in our favor, they could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to claims and litigation pertaining to fiduciary responsibility.
From time to time, customers make claims and take legal action pertaining to the performance of our fiduciary responsibilities. Whether customer claims and legal action related to the performance of our fiduciary responsibilities are founded or unfounded, if such claims and legal actions are not resolved in a manner favorable to us, they may result in significant financial liability
and/or adversely affect the market perception of us and our products and services, as well as impact customer demand for those products and services. Any financial liability or reputation damage could have a material adverse effect on our business, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We are a defendant in a variety of litigation and other actions, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operation.
We may be involved from time to time in a variety of litigation arising out of our business. Our insurance may not cover all claims that may be asserted against us, and any claims asserted against us, regardless of merit or eventual outcome, may harm our reputation. Should the ultimate judgments or settlements in any litigation exceed our insurance coverage, they could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operation for any period. In addition, we may not be able to obtain appropriate types or levels of insurance in the future, nor may we be able to obtain adequate replacement policies with acceptable terms, if at all.
Negative publicity could damage our reputation.
Reputation risk, or the risk to our earnings and capital from negative public opinion, is inherent in our business. Negative public opinion could adversely affect our ability to keep and attract customers and expose us to adverse legal and regulatory consequences. Negative public opinion could result from our actual or alleged conduct in any number of activities, including lending or foreclosure practices, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, and disclosure, sharing or inadequate protection of customer information, and from actions taken by government regulators and community organizations in response to that conduct. Because we conduct most of our business under the "Associated Bank" brand, negative public opinion about one business could affect our other businesses.
Ethics or conflict of interest issues could damage our reputation.
We have established a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Related Party Transaction Policies and Procedures to address the ethical conduct of business and to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Any system of controls, however well designed and operated, is based, in part, on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any failure or circumvention of our related controls and procedures or failure to comply with the established Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Related Party Transaction Policies and Procedures could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations, and/or financial condition.
Risks Related to an Investment in Our Securities
The price of our securities can be volatile.
Price volatility may make it more difficult for you to sell your securities when you want and at prices you find attractive. Our securities prices can fluctuate widely in response to a variety of factors including, among other things:
•actual or anticipated variations in quarterly results of operations or financial condition;
•operating results and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us;
•news reports relating to trends, concerns, and other issues in the financial services industry;
•perceptions in the marketplace regarding us and/or our competitors;
•new technology used or services offered by competitors;
•significant acquisitions or business combinations, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, or capital commitments by or involving us or our competitors;
•failure to integrate acquisitions or realize anticipated benefits from acquisitions;
•changes in government regulations;
•changes in international trade policy and any resulting disputes or reprisals;
•geopolitical conditions, such as acts or threats of terrorism or military conflicts; and
•recommendations by securities analysts.
General market fluctuations, industry factors, and general economic and political conditions and events, such as economic slowdowns or recessions, interest rate changes, or credit loss trends, could also cause our securities prices to decrease regardless of our operating results.
There may be future sales or other dilution of our equity, which may adversely affect the market price of our securities.
We are not restricted from issuing additional securities, including preferred stock, common stock and securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common stock. The issuance of additional shares of common stock or the issuance of convertible securities would dilute the ownership interest of our existing common shareholders. The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of an equity offering, as well as other sales of a large block of shares of our common stock or similar securities in the market after an equity offering, or the perception that such sales could occur. Both we and our regulators perform a variety of analyses of our assets, including the preparation of stress case scenarios, and as a result of those assessments we could determine, or our regulators could require us, to raise additional capital.
We may reduce or eliminate dividends on our common stock.
Although we have historically paid a quarterly cash dividend to the holders of our common stock, holders of our common stock are not entitled to receive dividends. Downturns in the domestic and global economies could cause our board of directors to consider, among other things, the elimination of dividends paid on our common stock. This could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Furthermore, as a bank holding company, our ability to pay dividends is subject to the guidelines of the Federal Reserve regarding capital adequacy and dividends. Dividends also may be limited as a result of safety and soundness considerations.
Common stock is equity and is subordinate to our existing and future indebtedness and preferred stock and effectively subordinated to all the indebtedness and other non-common equity claims against our subsidiaries.
Shares of the common stock are equity interests in us and do not constitute indebtedness. As such, shares of the common stock will rank junior to all of our indebtedness and to other non-equity claims against us and our assets available to satisfy claims against us, including our liquidation. Additionally, holders of our common stock are subject to prior dividend and liquidation rights of holders of our outstanding preferred stock. Our board of directors is authorized to issue additional classes or series of preferred stock without any action on the part of the holders of our common stock, and we are permitted to incur additional debt. Upon liquidation, lenders and holders of our debt securities and preferred stock would receive distributions of our available assets prior to holders of our common stock. Furthermore, our right to participate in a distribution of assets upon any of our subsidiaries’ liquidation or reorganization is subject to the prior claims of that subsidiary’s creditors, including holders of any preferred stock of that subsidiary.
Our articles of incorporation, bylaws, and certain banking laws may have an anti-takeover effect.
Provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws, and federal banking laws, including regulatory approval requirements, could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so would be perceived to be beneficial to our shareholders. The combination of these provisions may prohibit a non-negotiated merger or other business combination, which, in turn, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
An investment in our common stock is not an insured deposit.
Our common stock is not a bank deposit and, therefore, is not insured against loss by the FDIC, any other DIF, or by any other public or private entity. An investment in our common stock is inherently risky for the reasons described in this "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in this report and is subject to the same market forces that affect the price of common stock in any company. As a result, if you acquire our common stock, you may lose some or all of your investment.
An entity holding as little as a 5% interest in our outstanding common stock could, under certain circumstances, be subject to regulation as a "bank holding company."
An entity (including a "group" composed of natural persons) owning or controlling with the power to vote 25% or more of our outstanding common stock, or 5% or more if such holder otherwise exercises a "controlling influence" over us, may be subject to regulation as a "bank holding company" in accordance with the BHC Act. In addition, (1) any bank holding company or foreign bank with a U.S. presence may be required to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve under the BHC Act to acquire or retain 5% or more of our outstanding common stock, and (2) any person not otherwise defined as a company by the BHC Act and its implementing regulations may be required to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve under the Change in Bank Control Act to acquire or retain 10% or more of our outstanding common stock. Becoming a bank holding company imposes certain statutory and regulatory restrictions and obligations, such as providing managerial and financial strength for its bank
subsidiaries. Regulation as a bank holding company could require the holder to divest all or a portion of the holder’s investment in our common stock or such nonbanking investments that may be deemed impermissible or incompatible with bank holding company status, such as a material investment in a company unrelated to banking. Further, in 2020, the Federal Reserve implemented a final rule that simplifies and increases the transparency of its rules for determining when one company controls another company for purposes of the BHC Act. The rule, which has been further interpreted by the Federal Reserve staff since its implementation, has and will likely continue to have a meaningful impact on control determinations related to investments in banks and bank holding companies and investments by bank holding companies in nonbank companies.
Our ability to originate residential mortgage loans for portfolio has been adversely affected by the increased competition resulting from the unprecedented involvement of the U.S. government and GSEs in the residential mortgage market.
Over the past several years, we have faced increased competition for residential mortgage loans due to the unprecedented involvement of the GSEs in the mortgage market as a result of the economic crisis, which has caused the interest rate for 30 year fixed-rate mortgage loans that conform to GSE guidelines to remain artificially low. In addition, the U.S. Congress has expanded the conforming loan limits in many of our operating markets, allowing larger balance loans to continue to be acquired by the GSEs. Although reform of the GSE system has been viewed as a priority by many within Congress and the executive branch for several years, it is unknown at this time what reforms, if any, will be made, the extent of the future involvement in the residential mortgage market and the impact of any reforms on that market and the United States economy as a whole.
Risks Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted economic conditions, the financial and labor markets and workplace operating environments.
The COVID-19 pandemic created extensive disruptions to the global economy, to businesses, and to the lives of individuals throughout the world. Federal and state governments have taken unprecedented actions to respond to such disruptions, including by enacting fiscal stimulus measures and legislation designed to deliver monetary aid and other relief.
The widespread availability of multiple COVID-19 vaccines and boosters has helped to curtail rates of infection in many parts of the United States and, in turn, mitigate many of the adverse social and economic effects of the pandemic. However, vaccination rates in many geographies have been lower than anticipated and the emergence of novel variants of COVID-19, as well as other viruses that largely were not present in many geographies for an extended period of time due to COVID-19-related activity restrictions, have complicated the efforts of the medical community and federal, state and local governments to manage social and economic disruptions caused by the pandemic.
To help address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and financial markets, the FOMC reduced the benchmark federal funds rate to a target range of 0% to 0.25%, the lowest since the 2008 economic crisis, and as a result the yields on 10- and 30-year Treasury notes declined to historic lows. Throughout 2021, the FOMC continued to follow this approach as pandemic-related risks to the economy were viewed as likely to persist for the foreseeable future. However, in January of 2022, the FOMC announced that it would begin to slow the pace of its bond purchases in response to pandemic-related economic disruptions and raise the target range for the federal funds rate principally to address rising levels of inflation. For information on risks related to changes in interest rates, see “Risk Factors-Liquidity and Interest Rate Risks-We are subject to interest rate risk.”
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have varied significantly by region, and the extent of the effects of the pandemic on the U.S. and global economies, labor markets and financial markets are likely to continue to change. Future developments will be highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the effectiveness of post-pandemic remote working arrangements, third party providers’ ability to continue to support our operations, and any further actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties. Accordingly, the pandemic and related dynamics could continue to materially and adversely affect our business, operations, operating results, financial condition, liquidity or capital levels.
General Risk Factors
Changes in our accounting policies or in accounting standards could materially affect how we report our financial results.
Our accounting policies are fundamental to understanding our financial results and condition. Some of these policies require the use of estimates and assumptions that may affect the value of our assets or liabilities and financial results. Some of our accounting policies are critical because they require management to make difficult, subjective and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and because it is likely that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. If such estimates or assumptions underlying our financial statements are incorrect, we may experience material losses.
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. These changes are beyond our control, can be hard to predict and could materially impact how we report our results of operations and financial condition. We could be required to apply a new or revised standard retroactively, resulting in our restating prior period financial statements in material amounts.
Our internal controls may be ineffective.
Management regularly reviews and updates our internal controls, disclosure controls and procedures, and corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, however well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the controls are met. Any failure or circumvention of our controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
We may not be able to attract and retain skilled people.
Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to attract and retain skilled people. Competition for the best people in most activities engaged in by us can be intense, and we may not be able to hire sufficiently skilled people or to retain them. The unexpected loss of services of one or more of our key personnel could have a material adverse impact on our business because of their skills, knowledge of our markets, years of industry experience, and the difficulty of promptly finding qualified replacement personnel.
Loss of key employees may disrupt relationships with certain customers.
Our business is primarily relationship-driven in that many of our key employees have extensive customer relationships. Loss of a key employee with such customer relationships may lead to the loss of business if the customers were to follow that employee to a competitor or otherwise choose to transition to another financial services provider. While we believe our relationship with our key personnel is good, we cannot guarantee that all of our key personnel will remain with our organization. Loss of such key personnel could result in the loss of some of our customers.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. Properties
The Corporation operated 2.4 million square feet of space spread across 228 facilities, including 202 banking branches at December 31, 2022. Our corporate headquarters is located at 433 Main Street in Green Bay, Wisconsin and is approximately 118,000 square feet. The Corporation owns two dedicated operations centers, located in Green Bay and Stevens Point, Wisconsin, with approximately 91,000 and 96,000 square feet, respectively. The Corporation also owns a 28 story, 374,000 square foot office tower located at 111 E. Kilbourn Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and an adjoining 37,000 square foot building at 815 Water Street, which serves as the headquarters for Associated Trust Company (both buildings are now part of the "Associated Bank River Center"). Associated Bank N.A. is headquartered in a 61,000 square foot building at 200 North Adams Street in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Based on gross square feet, at December 31, 2022, Associated Bank owned 92% of our total property portfolio.
At December 31, 2022, Associated Bank operated 202 banking branches serving over 100 different communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. Most of the banking locations are freestanding buildings owned by us, with a drive thru and a parking lot; a smaller subset resides in supermarkets and office towers, which are generally leased. Associated Bank also operated loan production offices in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio and Texas.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings
The information required by this item is set forth in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, under Note 16 Commitments, Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, and Legal Proceedings.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following is a list of names and ages of executive officers of Associated indicating all positions and offices held by each such person and each such person’s principal occupation(s) or employment during the past five years. Officers are appointed annually by the Board of Directors at the meeting of directors immediately following the annual meeting of shareholders. There are no family relationships among these officers, nor any arrangement or understanding between any officer and any other person pursuant to which the officer was selected. No person other than those listed below has been chosen to become an executive officer of Associated. The information presented below is as of February 13, 2023.
Andrew J. Harmening - Age: 53
Andrew J. Harmening has been President, Chief Executive Officer of Associated and Associated Bank and member of the Board of Directors since April 2021. Prior to joining Associated, he served as senior executive vice president, consumer and business banking director for Huntington Bank from 2017 to 2021. Mr. Harmening also held several key consumer, small business and commercial banking positions at Bank of The West from 2005 to 2017.
Patrick E. Ahern - Age: 56
Patrick E. Ahern has been Executive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer of Associated and Associated Bank since February 2020 and was named Chicago Market President in October 2022. He served as Deputy Chief Credit Officer from October 2019 to February 2020. Mr. Ahern joined Associated as a Senior Vice President in 2010 to manage the CRE portfolio underwriting and administrative teams, before moving into the role Corporate Senior Credit Officer in 2018. He has more than 30 years of experience in CRE and corporate credit, including experience with LaSalle Bank and Bank of America.
Matthew R. Braeger - Age: 48
Matthew R. Braeger has been Executive Vice President, Chief Audit Executive of Associated and Associated Bank since February 2018. He served as Deputy Chief Audit Executive from October 2017 to February 2018. He joined Associated in April 2013 as Senior Vice President, Business Support Audit Director. Previously, he held audit management positions with Fiserv, Inc. and public accounting audit roles with Ernst & Young, LLP. Mr. Braeger has more than 20 years of auditing experience, primarily in banking technology and financial services.
Bryan J. Carson - Age: 52
Bryan J. Carson has been Executive Vice President, Chief Product and Marketing Officer of Associated and Associated Bank since July 2022. He served as Executive Vice President of Deposit Products, Customer Segmentation, and Branch & ATM Distribution at Huntington Bank since 2018. Prior to that, he served as Chief Marketing Officer from 2015 to 2018 and Senior Vice President of Deposit Products & Pricing at Huntington Bank from 2010 to 2015.
Dennis M. DeLoye - Age: 59
Dennis M. DeLoye has been Executive Vice President, Head of Community Markets and Regional President Northeast Wisconsin of Associated and Associated Bank since April 2022. Mr. DeLoye previously served as Executive Vice President, Deputy Head of Community Markets and Regional President Northeast Wisconsin from November 2021 to April 2022. DeLoye joined Associated in 2016 and has served as community market president for the Central and Northern Wisconsin markets.
Angie M. DeWitt - Age: 53
Angie M. DeWitt has been Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer of Associated and Associated Bank since April 2019. Most recently she served as Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer from October 2018 to April 2019 and Senior Vice President, Director of Human Resources from February 2018 to October 2018. She joined Associated in August 2008 as a member of the finance team and has held multiple leadership roles. Prior to joining Associated, she held a senior finance role at Schneider National, Inc. from January 2002 to August 2008.
Randall J. Erickson - Age: 63
Randall J. Erickson has been Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Associated and Associated Bank since April 2012, and was Chief Risk Officer from May 2016 to February 2018. Prior to joining Associated, he served as senior vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel of Milwaukee-based bank holding company Marshall & Ilsley Corporation from 2002 until it was acquired by BMO Financial in 2011. Upon leaving M&I, he became a member of Milwaukee law firm Godfrey & Kahn S.C.’s securities practice group. He had been a partner at Godfrey & Kahn S.C. from 1990 to 2002 prior to joining M&I as its general counsel. Mr. Erickson served as a director of Renaissance Learning, Inc., a publicly-held educational software company, from 2009 until it was acquired by Permira Funds in 2011.
Nicole M. Kitowski - Age: 47
Nicole M. Kitowski has been Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer of Associated and Associated Bank since February 2018. She joined Associated in 1992 and has held leadership roles in Consumer Banking, Operations and Technology, and Corporate Risk, including Deputy Chief Risk Officer from March 2016 to February 2018 and Corporate BSA, AML, OFAC Officer from June 2014 to March 2016.
Derek S. Meyer - Age: 56
Derek S. Meyer has been Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of Associated and Associated Bank since August 2022. Prior to joining Associated, Derek served as the Executive Vice President, Corporate Treasurer of Huntington Bank from 2019 to June 2022. Mr. Meyer also served as Executive Vice President, Financial Planning & Analysis Director from February 2015 to 2019. During his 22 years at Huntington Bank, he held various senior leadership roles and was responsible for crucial finance functions including treasury, financial planning and analysis, stress testing, mergers and acquisition due diligence, regulatory matters, and process and controls implementation.
Paul G. Schmidt - Age: 60
Paul G. Schmidt has been Executive Vice President, Head of CRE of Associated and Associated Bank since January 2016 and was appointed Head of Facilities and Twin Cities Market President in July 2022. He joined Associated in April 2015 as Executive Vice President of CRE. He was named Deputy Head of CRE in September 2015. Mr. Schmidt brings more than 32 years of banking experience to Associated. Most recently, he held the position of Executive Vice President, Division Manager, CRE at Wells Fargo from 2002 to 2015.
Tammy C. Stadler - Age: 57
Tammy C. Stadler has been Executive Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of Associated and Associated Bank since July 2021. She previously served as Executive Vice President, Principal Accounting Officer from April 2017 until July 2021. She joined Associated in April 1996 as Corporate Tax Director and has served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Controller since April 2014. From 1992 to 1996 she was the Assistant Treasurer and Taxes for Air Wisconsin Airline Corp. From 1990 to 1992 she held the position of Senior Tax Analyst with Fort Howard Paper Corp. Prior to her time with Fort Howard, Ms. Stadler worked as a certified public accountant with Coopers and Lybrand and Deloitte and Touche.
David L. Stein - Age: 59
David L. Stein has been Executive Vice President, Head of Consumer and Business Banking of Associated and Associated Bank since January 2017 and was named Madison Market President in January 2019. He was previously Executive Vice President, Head of Consumer and Commercial Banking from April 2014 until January 2017 and Executive Vice President, Head of Retail Banking from June 2007 until April 2014. He was the President of the Southwest Region of Associated Bank from January 2005 until June 2007. He held various positions with J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., and one of its predecessors, Bank One Corporation, from 1989 until joining Associated in 2005.
John P. Thayer - Age 69
John P. Thayer has been Executive Vice President, Head of Private Wealth of Associated and Associated Bank and Chief Executive Officer of Associated Trust Company, N.A. since July 2021. Mr. Thayer joined Associated in July 2000 and served as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for Associated Trust Company, N.A. He served as managing agent for Kellogg Asset Management, LLC from May 2009 to July 2021. He is also chairman of Associated Investment Services, Inc.
John A. Utz - Age: 54
John A. Utz has been Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Banking and Milwaukee Market President of Associated and Associated Bank since September 2015 and was Head of Wealth Management from April 2020 to July 2021. He joined Associated in March 2010 with upwards of 20 years of banking experience, having previously served as President of Union Bank’s UnionBanCal Equities and head of its Capital Markets division from September 2007 to March 2010, and as head of the National Banking and Asset Management teams from October 2002 to September 2007.
Terry L. Williams Age: 63
Terry L. Williams has been Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer of Associated and Associated Bank since January 2023. Prior to joining Associated, he served as Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer for Belcan, LLC from 2016 to 2022. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President and General Manager Customer-Facing Solutions of Standard Register in 2014 and 2015.
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
Information in response to this item is incorporated by reference to the discussion of dividend restrictions under Part I, Item 1, Business - Supervision and Regulation - Holding Company Dividends, and in Note 10 Stockholders' Equity of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Corporation’s common stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol ASB.
The number of shareholders of record of the Corporation’s common stock, $0.01 par value, as of January 31, 2023, was 7,141. Certain of the Corporation’s shares are held in “nominee” or “street” name and the number of beneficial owners of such shares was 33,052.
Payment of future dividends is within the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend, among other factors, on earnings, capital requirements, and the operating and financial condition of the Corporation. The Board of Directors makes the dividend determination on a quarterly basis.
During the fourth quarter of 2022, the Corporation repurchased approximately $221,000 of common stock, all of which were repurchases related to tax withholding on equity compensation with no open market purchases during the quarter. The repurchase details are presented in the table below. For a detailed discussion of the common stock and depositary share purchases during 2022 and 2021, see Part II, Item 8, Note 10 Stockholders' Equity of the notes to consolidated financial statements.
Common Stock Purchases
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 of
Shares that May Yet
Be Purchased Under
the Plans
or Programs(b)
Period
October 1, 2022 - October 31, 2022 1,568 $ 20.80 - -
November 1, 2022 - November 30, 2022 7,377 24.14 - -
December 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022 473 22.23 - -
Total 9,418 $ 23.49 - 3,449,369
(a) During the fourth quarter of 2022, all common shares repurchased were for minimum tax withholding settlements on equity compensation. These purchases do not count against the maximum value of shares remaining available for purchase under the Board of Directors' authorization.
(b) At December 31, 2022, there remained $80 million authorized to be repurchased under the Board of Directors' 2021 authorization. The maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under this authorization is based on the closing share price on December 31, 2022.
Total Shareholder Return Performance Graph
Set forth below is a line graph (and the underlying data points) comparing the yearly percentage change in the cumulative total shareholder return (change in year-end stock price plus reinvested dividends) on the Corporation’s common stock with the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 Index, the S&P 400 Regional Banks Sub-Industry Index, and the KBW Nasdaq Regional Banking Index for the period of five fiscal years commencing on January 1, 2018 and ending December 31, 2022. The S&P 400 Regional Banks Sub-Industry Index is comprised of stocks on the S&P Total Market Index that are classified in the regional banks sub-industry. The KBW Nasdaq Regional Banking Index is comprised of U.S. companies that do business as regional banks or thrifts. The graph assumes the respective values of the investment in the Corporation’s common stock and each index were $100 on December 31, 2017. Historical stock price performance shown on the graph is not necessarily indicative of the future price performance.
5 Year Trend
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Associated Banc-Corp $ 100.0 $ 80.4 $ 92.3 $ 74.4 $ 101.9 $ 107.8
S&P 500 Index $ 100.0 $ 95.8 $ 125.6 $ 148.3 $ 190.5 $ 156.1
S&P 400 Regional Banks Sub-Industry Index $ 100.0 $ 79.1 $ 98.3 $ 89.2 $ 126.1 $ 121.0
KBW Nasdaq Regional Banking Index $ 100.0 $ 82.9 $ 102.5 $ 92.9 $ 126.8 $ 118.1
Source: Bloomberg
The Total Shareholder Return Performance Graph shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Annual Report on Form 10-K into any filing under the Securities Act or under the Exchange Act, except to the extent the Corporation specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. [Reserved]

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion is management’s analysis to assist in the understanding and evaluation of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation. It should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and footnotes and the selected financial data presented elsewhere in this report. Within the tables presented, certain columns and rows may not sum due to the use of rounded numbers for disclosure purposes.
The detailed financial discussion that follows focuses on 2022 results compared to 2021. For a discussion of 2021 results compared to 2020, see the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Overview
The Corporation is a bank holding company headquartered in Wisconsin, providing a broad array of banking and nonbanking products and services to businesses and consumers primarily within our three-state footprint. The Corporation’s primary sources of revenue, through the Bank, are net interest income (predominantly from loans and investment securities) and noninterest income (principally fees and other revenue from financial services provided to customers or ancillary services tied to loans and deposits).
Performance Summary and 2023 Outlook
•Diluted earnings per common share of $2.34 in 2022 increased $0.16, or 7%, from 2021.
•Average loans of $26.2 billion for the full year of 2022 increased $2.1 billion, or 9%, from a year ago, driven by increases of $1.2 billion, or 8%, in commercial loans, $785 million in auto finance, and $205 million, or 3%, in residential mortgages. For 2023, the Corporation expects period end loan growth of 7% to 9%.
•Average deposits of $28.8 billion for the full year of 2022 increased $1.1 billion, or 4%, from a year ago, driven by increases in lower cost core deposits partially offset by decreases in higher cost network and time deposits.
•Net interest income of $957 million in 2022 increased $231 million, or 32%, from 2021. Net interest margin of 2.91% in 2022 increased 52 bp from 2.39% in 2021. The increases were driven by the execution of our strategic initiatives and rising interest rates during 2022. For 2023, the Corporation expects net interest income growth of 15% to 17%.
•Provision for credit losses was $33 million in 2022, compared to a release of $88 million in 2021. For 2023, the Corporation expects to adjust the provision to reflect changes to risk grades, economic conditions, loan volumes, and other indications of credit quality.
•Noninterest income of $282 million in 2022 decreased $50 million, or 15%, from 2021, largely influenced by market-driven decreases in mortgage banking income and wealth management fees, customer-friendly changes to our overdraft program, and higher asset gains recognized during 2021. For 2023, the Corporation expects noninterest income compression of 6% to 8%.
•Noninterest expense of $747 million in 2022 increased $37 million, or 5%, from 2021, as we continued to invest in people and technology. For 2023, the Corporation expects noninterest expense growth of 4% to 6%.
Income Statement Analysis
Net Interest Income
Table 1 Net Interest Income Analysis
Years Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
($ in Thousands) Average
Balance Interest
Income /
Expense Average
Yield /
Rate Average
Balance Interest
Income /
Expense Average
Yield /
Rate Average
Balance Interest
Income /
Expense Average
Yield /
Rate
Assets
Earning assets
Loans(a)(b)(c)
Asset-based lending & equipment finance (d)
$ 297,308 $ 13,559 4.56 % $ 120,903 $ 3,704 3.06 % $ 177,710 $ 6,039 3.40 %
Commercial and business lending (excl ABL and equipment finance) 9,554,995 370,597 3.88 % 8,983,580 246,381 2.73 % 9,232,444 274,566 2.97 %
Commercial real estate lending 6,595,635 281,485 4.27 % 6,156,214 178,354 2.90 % 5,811,498 192,545 3.31 %
Total commercial 16,447,938 665,640 4.05 % 15,260,697 428,439 2.81 % 15,221,651 473,150 3.11 %
Residential mortgage 8,052,277 245,975 3.05 % 7,847,564 221,099 2.82 % 8,190,190 254,814 3.11 %
Auto finance 805,179 30,749 3.82 % 19,815 871 4.39 % 13,585 573 4.22 %
Other retail 894,948 52,266 5.84 % 929,905 44,852 4.82 % 1,112,221 58,082 5.22 %
Total loans 26,200,341 994,630 3.80 % 24,057,980 695,260 2.89 % 24,537,648 786,619 3.21 %
Investment securities
Taxable 4,362,394 75,444 1.73 % 3,369,612 37,916 1.13 % 3,282,274 59,806 1.82 %
Tax-exempt(a)
2,419,262 82,771 3.42 % 2,036,030 73,975 3.63 % 1,930,853 72,901 3.78 %
Other short-term investments 570,887 11,475 2.01 % 1,644,995 7,833 0.48 % 1,067,788 9,473 0.89 %
Investments and other 7,352,542 169,690 2.31 % 7,050,637 119,724 1.70 % 6,280,915 142,179 2.26 %
Total earning assets $ 33,552,884 $ 1,164,320 3.47 % $ 31,108,616 $ 814,984 2.62 % $ 30,818,563 $ 928,799 3.01 %
Other assets, net 3,105,049 3,355,640 3,446,644
Total assets $ 36,657,932 $ 34,464,257 $ 34,265,207
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing deposits
Savings $ 4,652,774 $ 5,033 0.11 % $ 4,138,732 $ 1,435 0.03 % $ 3,306,385 $ 2,966 0.09 %
Interest-bearing demand 6,638,592 35,169 0.53 % 6,113,660 4,610 0.08 % 5,583,144 12,496 0.22 %
Money market 7,164,518 36,370 0.51 % 6,940,513 4,028 0.06 % 6,509,924 15,273 0.23 %
Network transaction deposits 821,804 14,721 1.79 % 929,544 1,120 0.12 % 1,442,951 6,219 0.43 %
Time deposits 1,315,793 7,016 0.53 % 1,495,060 7,429 0.50 % 2,281,040 30,685 1.35 %
Total interest-bearing deposits 20,593,482 98,309 0.48 % 19,617,508 18,622 0.09 % 19,123,444 67,639 0.35 %
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase 388,701 3,480 0.90 % 207,132 143 0.07 % 175,713 485 0.28 %
Commercial paper 20,540 2 0.01 % 49,546 22 0.04 % 38,583 41 0.11 %
PPPLF - - - % - - - % 565,371 1,984 0.35 %
Other short-term funding - - - % - - - % 4,226 11 0.25 %
FHLB advances 2,784,403 75,487 2.71 % 1,623,508 36,493 2.25 % 2,535,731 57,359 2.26 %
Long-term funding 249,478 10,653 4.27 % 407,912 17,053 4.18 % 549,143 22,365 4.07 %
Total short and long-term funding 3,443,123 89,621 2.60 % 2,288,098 53,712 2.35 % 3,868,767 82,245 2.13 %
Total interest-bearing liabilities $ 24,036,605 $ 187,931 0.78 % $ 21,905,605 $ 72,334 0.33 % $ 22,992,211 $ 149,883 0.65 %
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits 8,163,703 8,075,906 6,884,241
Other liabilities 482,538 403,296 444,183
Stockholders’ equity 3,975,086 4,079,449 3,944,572
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 36,657,932 $ 34,464,257 $ 34,265,207
Interest rate spread 2.69 % 2.29 % 2.36 %
Net free funds 0.22 % 0.10 % 0.17 %
Fully tax-equivalent net interest income and net interest margin $ 976,389 2.91 % $ 742,650 2.39 % $ 778,915 2.53 %
Fully tax-equivalent adjustment 19,068 16,796 15,959
Net interest income $ 957,321 $ 725,855 $ 762,957
(a) The yield on tax-exempt loans and securities is computed on a fully tax-equivalent basis using a tax rate of 21% and is net of the effects of certain disallowed interest deductions.
(b) Nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale have been included in the average balances.
(c) Interest income includes amortization of net deferred loan origination costs and net accreted purchase loan discount.
(d) Periods prior to 2022 do not include equipment finance.
Net interest income is the primary source of the Corporation’s revenue. Net interest income is the difference between interest income on interest-earning assets, such as loans and investment securities, and the interest expense on interest-bearing deposits and other borrowings used to fund interest-earning and other assets or activities. Net interest income is affected by the amount and composition of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, as well as the sensitivity of the balance sheet to changes in interest rates, including characteristics such as the fixed or variable nature of the financial instruments, contractual maturities, re-pricing frequencies, loan prepayment behavior, and the use of interest rate derivative financial instruments.
Interest rate spread and net interest margin are utilized to measure and explain changes in net interest income. Interest rate spread is the difference between the yield on earning assets and the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities that fund those assets. The net interest margin is expressed as the percentage of net interest income to average earning assets. The net interest margin exceeds the interest rate spread because net free funds, principally noninterest-bearing demand deposits and stockholders’ equity, also support earning assets. To compare tax-exempt asset yields to taxable yields, the yield on tax-exempt loans and investment securities is computed on a fully tax-equivalent basis. Net interest income, interest rate spread, and net interest margin are discussed on a fully tax-equivalent basis.
Table 1 provides average daily balances of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, the associated interest income and expense, and the corresponding interest rates earned and paid, as well as net interest income, interest rate spread, and net interest margin on a fully tax-equivalent basis for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020. Table 2 presents additional information to facilitate the review and discussion of fully tax-equivalent net interest income, interest rate spread, and net interest margin.
Notable Contributions to the Change in 2022 Net Interest Income
•Fully tax-equivalent net interest income and net interest income were up $234 million, or 31%, and $231 million, or 32%, respectively, compared to 2021. The increase was driven by the execution of our strategic initiatives and rising interest rates during 2022. See sections Interest Rate Risk and Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk for a discussion of interest rate risk and market risk.
•Average earning assets were $2.4 billion, or 8%, higher than 2021. The increase in average earning assets was driven by an increase of $2.1 billion, or 9%, in average loans. Increases in average commercial loans included increases of $571 million, or 6%, in commercial and business lending (excluding ABL and equipment finance) and $439 million, or 7%, in CRE lending. Increases in average retail loans included auto finance, up $785 million, and residential mortgages, up $205 million, or 3%.
•Average interest-bearing liabilities were up $2.1 billion, or 10%, versus 2021. On average, FHLB advances were up $1.2 billion, or 72%, due to funding for loan growth. Interest-bearing deposits increased $976 million, or 5%, primarily driven by increases in lower cost core deposits, partially offset by decreases in higher cost network and time deposits.
•The average cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 45 bp higher than 2021. The increase was due to a 39 bp increase in the average cost of interest-bearing deposits, while short and long-term funding increased 25 bp.
•The federal funds rate on December 31, 2022 was in the range of 4.25% to 4.50%, which was up 4.25% from the previous year ended December 31, 2021 range of 0.00% to 0.25%.
Table 2 Rate/Volume Analysis(a)
2022 Compared to 2021
Increase (Decrease) Due to 2021 Compared to 2020
Increase (Decrease) Due to
($ in Thousands) Volume Rate Net Volume Rate Net
Interest income
Loans(b)
Asset-based lending & equipment finance(c)
$ 6,893 $ 2,962 $ 9,855 $ (1,785) $ (551) $ (2,336)
Commercial and business lending (excl ABL and equipment finance) 16,395 107,821 124,215 (6,967) (21,217) (28,185)
Commercial real estate lending 13,520 89,610 103,130 10,961 (25,152) (14,191)
Total commercial 36,808 200,393 237,201 2,208 (46,920) (44,711)
Residential mortgage 5,883 18,994 24,877 (10,351) (23,364) (33,715)
Auto finance 30,007 (129) 29,878 273 24 297
Other retail (1,740) 9,154 7,414 (9,025) (4,205) (13,230)
Total loans 70,958 228,412 299,370 (16,894) (74,465) (91,359)
Investment securities
Taxable 13,296 24,231 37,528 1,552 (23,442) (21,890)
Tax-exempt(b)
13,304 (4,508) 8,796 3,883 (2,808) 1,074
Other short-term investments (7,891) 11,534 3,642 3,843 (5,483) (1,640)
Investments and other 18,709 31,257 49,966 9,278 (31,733) (22,455)
Total earning assets $ 89,667 $ 259,669 $ 349,336 $ (7,617) $ (106,198) $ (113,814)
Interest expense
Savings $ 199 $ 3,399 $ 3,598 $ 613 $ (2,144) $ (1,531)
Interest-bearing demand 429 30,129 30,558 1,089 (8,975) (7,886)
Money market 134 32,208 32,342 949 (12,194) (11,245)
Network transaction deposits (145) 13,746 13,602 (1,686) (3,413) (5,099)
Time deposits 1,061 (1,473) (413) (8,186) (15,070) (23,256)
Total interest-bearing deposits 1,679 78,009 79,687 (7,220) (41,796) (49,016)
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase 228 3,109 3,337 74 (417) (342)
Commercial paper (9) (11) (20) 9 (28) (18)
PPPLF - - - (1,984) - (1,984)
Other short-term funding - - - (11) - (11)
FHLB advances 30,269 8,724 38,994 (20,507) (359) (20,866)
Long-term funding (6,758) 357 (6,401) (5,890) 578 (5,312)
Total short and long-term funding 23,731 12,179 35,910 (28,309) (224) (28,533)
Total interest-bearing liabilities 25,409 90,188 115,597 (35,529) (42,020) (77,549)
Fully tax-equivalent net interest income $ 64,257 $ 169,481 $ 233,739 $ 27,912 $ (64,177) $ (36,265)
(a) The change in interest due to both rate and volume has been allocated in proportion to the relationship to the dollar amounts of the change in each.
(b) The yield on tax-exempt loans and securities is computed on a fully tax-equivalent basis using a tax rate of 21% and is net of the effects of certain disallowed interest deductions.
(c) Periods prior to 2022 do not include equipment finance.
Provision for Credit Losses
The provision for credit losses is predominantly a function of the Corporation’s reserving methodology and judgments as to other qualitative and quantitative factors used to determine the appropriate level of the ACLL, which focuses on changes in the size and character of the loan portfolio, changes in levels of individually evaluated and other nonaccrual loans, historical losses and delinquencies in each portfolio category, the risk inherent in specific loans, concentrations of loans to specific borrowers or industries, existing economic conditions and economic forecasts, the fair value of underlying collateral, and other factors which could affect potential credit losses. The forecast the Corporation used for December 31, 2022 was the Moody's baseline scenario from November 2022, which was reviewed against the December 2022 baseline scenario with no material updates made, over a 2 year reasonable and supportable period with straight-line reversion to historical losses over the second year of the period. See additional discussion under the sections titled Loans, Credit Risk, Nonperforming Assets, and Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans.
Noninterest Income
Table 3 Noninterest Income
Years Ended December 31, Change From Prior Year
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020 $ Change 2021 % Change
2021 $ Change
2020 % Change
Wealth management fees $ 84,122 $ 89,854 $ 84,957 $ (5,732) (6) % $ 4,897 6 %
Service charges and deposit account fees 62,310 64,406 56,307 (2,096) (3) % 8,099 14 %
Card-based fees 44,014 43,014 38,534 1,000 2 % 4,480 12 %
Other fee-based revenue 15,903 17,086 19,238 (1,183) (7) % (2,152) (11) %
Total fee-based revenue 206,350 214,360 199,036 (8,010) (4) % 15,324 8 %
Capital markets, net 29,917 30,602 27,966 (685) (2) % 2,636 9 %
Mortgage servicing fees, net(a)
8,260 (434) (648) 8,694 N/M 214 (33) %
Gains and fair value adjustment on loans held for sale 1,019 34,999 60,000 (33,980) (97) % (25,001) (42) %
Fair value adjustment on portfolio loans transferred to held for sale - - 3,932 - N/M (3,932) (100) %
Changes in mortgage servicing rights valuation, net of economic hedge(b)
9,595 16,186 (17,704) (6,591) (41) % 33,890 N/M
Mortgage banking, net 18,873 50,751 45,580 (31,878) (63) % 5,171 11 %
Bank and corporate owned life insurance 11,431 13,254 13,771 (1,823) (14) % (517) (4) %
Other(c)
10,715 11,366 55,445 (651) (6) % (44,079) (80) %
Subtotal 277,286 320,333 341,798 (43,047) (13) % (21,465) (6) %
Asset gains, net(d)
1,338 11,009 155,589 (9,671) (88) % (144,580) (93) %
Investment securities gains (losses), net 3,746 (16) 9,222 3,762 N/M (9,238) N/M
Gains on sale of branches, net(e)
- 1,038 7,449 (1,038) (100) % (6,411) (86) %
Total noninterest income $ 282,370 $ 332,364 $ 514,056 $ (49,994) (15) % $ (181,692) (35) %
Mortgage loans originated for sale during period $ 600,114 $ 1,749,556 $ 1,642,135 $ (1,149,442) (66) % $ 107,421 7 %
Mortgage loan settlements during period 715,035 1,774,791 1,959,571 (1,059,756) (60) % (184,780) (9) %
Mortgage portfolio loans transferred to held for sale during period - - 269,203 - N/M (269,203) (100) %
Assets under management, at market value(f)
11,843 13,679 13,314 (1,836) (13) % 365 3 %
N/M = Not Meaningful
(a) Includes mortgage origination and servicing fees, net of MSRs amortization/decay.
(b) On January 1, 2022, the Corporation made the irrevocable election to account for MSRs at fair value. For all prior periods, MSRs were carried at LOCOM.
(c) Includes insurance commissions and fees, which were elevated prior to the sale of ABRC.
(d) 2020 includes a gain of $163 million from the sale of ABRC. See Note 2 Acquisitions and Dispositions of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for additional details on the sale of ABRC.
(e) Includes the deposit premium on the sale of branches net of miscellaneous costs to sell. See Note 2 Acquisitions and Dispositions of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for addition details on the branch sales.
(f) $ in millions. Excludes assets held in brokerage accounts.
Notable Contributions to the Change in 2022 Noninterest Income
•Mortgage banking, net decreased from 2021, driven by slowing refinance activity and higher retention of mortgages on our balance sheet.
•Asset gains, net was down from 2021, driven primarily by gains on private equity investments in 2021.
•Wealth management fees decreased from 2021, driven by lower market valuations.
Noninterest Expense
Table 4 Noninterest Expense
Years Ended December 31, Change From Prior Year
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020 $ Change 2021 % Change
2021 $ Change
2020 % Change
Personnel $ 454,101 $ 426,687 $ 432,151 $ 27,414 6 % $ (5,464) (1) %
Technology 90,700 81,689 81,214 9,011 11 % 475 1 %
Occupancy 59,794 63,513 64,064 (3,719) (6) % (551) (1) %
Business development and advertising 25,525 21,149 18,428 4,376 21 % 2,721 15 %
Equipment 19,632 21,104 21,705 (1,472) (7) % (601) (3) %
Legal and professional 18,250 21,923 21,546 (3,673) (17) % 377 2 %
Loan and foreclosure costs 5,925 8,143 12,600 (2,218) (27) % (4,457) (35) %
FDIC assessment 22,650 18,150 20,350 4,500 25 % (2,200) (11) %
Other intangible amortization 8,811 8,844 10,192 (33) - % (1,348) (13) %
Loss on prepayments of FHLB advances - - 44,650 - N/M (44,650) (100) %
Other 41,675 38,721 49,135 2,954 8 % (10,414) (21) %
Total noninterest expense $ 747,063 $ 709,924 $ 776,034 $ 37,139 5 % $ (66,110) (9) %
Average FTEs(a)
4,118 4,003 4,459 115 3 % (456) (10) %
N/M = Not Meaningful
(a) Average FTEs without overtime
Notable Contributions to the Change in 2022 Noninterest Expense
•Personnel costs increased from 2021, largely driven by higher incentive compensation and additional hiring tied to our strategic initiatives.
•Technology costs increased from 2021, driven by digital investments tied to our strategic initiatives.
•FDIC assessment expense increased from 2021, due to a decrease in liquid assets in relation to total assets.
•Business development and advertising costs increased from 2021, as business activity picked up throughout the year.
Income Taxes
The Corporation recognized income tax expense of $94 million for 2022, compared to income tax expense of $85 million for 2021. The Corporation's effective tax rate was 20.34% for 2022, compared to an effective tax rate of 19.55% for 2021. The increase in income tax expense during 2022 was primarily driven by an increase in income before tax in 2022 and by an increase in non-deductible expenses. The increase in the effective tax rate during 2022 was primarily driven by an increase in the state tax provision and an increase in non-deductible expenses.
See Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the notes to consolidated financial statements for the Corporation’s income tax accounting policy. Income tax expense recorded on the consolidated statements of income involves the interpretation and application of certain accounting pronouncements and federal and state tax laws and regulations. The Corporation is subject to examination by various taxing authorities. Examination by taxing authorities may impact the amount of tax expense and/or the reserve for uncertainty in income taxes if their interpretations differ from those of management, based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examinations. See Note 13 Income Taxes of the notes to consolidated financial statements for more information.
Balance Sheet Analysis
•At December 31, 2022, total assets were $39.4 billion, up $4.3 billion, or 12%, from December 31, 2021.
•Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions were $157 million at December 31, 2022, down $525 million from December 31, 2021, due to funding of new loan growth.
•At December 31, 2022, total loans were $28.8 billion, up $4.6 billion, or 19%, from December 31, 2021, due to increases of $1.3 billion, or 14%, in commercial and business lending, $1.0 billion, or 17%, in CRE, $1.2 billion in auto finance, and $944 million, or 12%, in residential mortgages. See section Loans and Note 4 Loans of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional information on loans.
•At December 31, 2022, total deposits of $29.6 billion were up $1.2 billion, or 4%, from December 31, 2021, driven by an increase in money market deposits of $1.1 billion, or 15%. See section Deposits and Customer Funding and Note 8 Deposits of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional information on deposits.
•At December 31, 2022, to help support loan growth, FHLB advances were up $2.7 billion and securities sold under agreements to repurchase were up $266 million. See section Other Funding Sources and Note 9 Short and Long-Term Funding of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional details on funding.
Loans
Table 5 Period End Loan Composition
As of December 31,
2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
($ in Thousands) Amount % of
Total Amount % of
Total Amount % of
Total Amount % of
Total Amount % of
Total
Asset-based lending & equipment finance(a)
$ 458,887 2 % $ 178,027 1 % $ 137,476 1 % $ 239,182 1 % $ 306,433 1 %
Commercial and industrial 9,300,567 32 % 8,274,358 34 % 8,331,702 34 % 7,115,411 31 % 7,091,612 31 %
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 991,722 3 % 971,326 4 % 900,912 4 % 911,265 4 % 920,443 4 %
Commercial and business lending 10,751,176 37 % 9,423,711 39 % 9,370,091 38 % 8,265,858 36 % 8,318,487 36 %
Commercial real estate - investor 5,080,344 18 % 4,384,569 18 % 4,342,584 18 % 3,794,517 17 % 3,751,554 16 %
Real estate construction 2,155,222 7 % 1,808,976 7 % 1,840,417 8 % 1,420,900 6 % 1,335,031 6 %
Commercial real estate lending 7,235,565 25 % 6,193,545 26 % 6,183,001 25 % 5,215,417 23 % 5,086,585 22 %
Total commercial 17,986,742 62 % 15,617,256 64 % 15,553,091 64 % 13,481,275 59 % 13,405,072 58 %
Residential mortgage 8,511,550 30 % 7,567,310 31 % 7,878,324 32 % 8,136,980 36 % 8,277,712 36 %
Auto finance 1,382,073 5 % 143,045 1 % 11,177 - % 2,982 - % 2,123 - %
Home equity 624,353 2 % 595,615 2 % 707,255 3 % 852,025 4 % 894,473 4 %
Other consumer 294,851 1 % 301,723 1 % 301,876 1 % 348,177 2 % 361,049 2 %
Total consumer 10,812,828 38 % 8,607,693 36 % 8,898,632 36 % 9,340,164 41 % 9,535,357 42 %
Total loans $ 28,799,569 100 % $ 24,224,949 100 % $ 24,451,724 100 % $ 22,821,440 100 % $ 22,940,429 100 %
Commercial real estate and real estate construction loan detail
Non-owner occupied $ 3,313,959 65 % $ 2,972,584 68 % $ 2,969,906 68 % $ 2,589,838 68 % $ 2,545,751 68 %
Multi-family 1,762,608 35 % 1,405,264 32 % 1,360,305 31 % 1,201,835 32 % 1,204,552 32 %
Farmland 3,776 - % 6,720 - % 12,373 - % 2,844 - % 1,250 - %
Commercial real estate - investor $ 5,080,344 100 % $ 4,384,569 100 % $ 4,342,584 100 % $ 3,794,517 100 % $ 3,751,554 100 %
1-4 family construction $ 436,210 20 % $ 380,160 21 % $ 270,467 15 % $ 261,908 18 % $ 289,558 22 %
All other construction 1,719,012 80 % 1,428,816 79 % 1,569,950 85 % 1,158,992 82 % 1,045,474 78 %
Real estate construction $ 2,155,222 100 % $ 1,808,976 100 % $ 1,840,417 100 % $ 1,420,900 100 % $ 1,335,031 100 %
(a) Periods prior to 2022 do not include equipment finance.
The Corporation has long-term guidelines relative to the proportion of Commercial and Business, CRE, and Consumer loan commitments within the overall loan portfolio, with each targeted to represent 30 to 40% of the overall loan portfolio. The targeted long-term guidelines were unchanged during 2022 and 2021. Furthermore, certain sub-asset classes within the respective portfolios are further defined and dollar limitations are placed on these sub-portfolios. These guidelines and limits are reviewed quarterly and approved annually by the ERC. These guidelines and limits are designed to create balance and diversification within the loan portfolios.
The Corporation's loan distribution and interest rate sensitivity as of December 31, 2022 are summarized in the following table:
Table 6 Loan Distribution and Interest Rate Sensitivity
($ in Thousands) Within 1 Year(a)
1-5 Years 5-15 Years Over 15 Years Total % of Total
Asset-based lending & equipment finance $ 244,425 $ 110,330 $ 104,132 $ - $ 458,887 2 %
Commercial and industrial 8,764,074 390,557 136,591 9,344 9,300,567 32 %
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 570,168 283,702 137,291 562 991,722 3 %
Commercial real estate - investor 4,738,638 194,395 147,310 - 5,080,344 18 %
Real estate construction 2,080,873 39,382 24,753 10,214 2,155,222 7 %
Commercial - adjustable 10,113,519 16,902 16,200 - 10,146,622 35 %
Commercial - fixed 6,284,658 1,001,465 533,877 20,120 7,840,120 27 %
Residential mortgage - adjustable
309,053 724,865 1,949,689 401 2,984,008 10 %
Residential mortgage - fixed 7,340 90,867 614,633 4,814,703 5,527,542 19 %
Auto finance 263 267,133 1,114,676 - 1,382,073 5 %
Home equity 556,258 16,094 43,312 8,689 624,353 2 %
Other consumer 210,583 38,547 29,565 16,157 294,851 1 %
Total loans $ 17,481,674 $ 2,155,873 $ 4,301,952 $ 4,860,070 $ 28,799,569 100 %
Fixed-rate $ 6,300,508 $ 1,412,916 $ 2,336,063 $ 4,859,669 $ 14,909,156 52 %
Floating or adjustable rate 11,181,166 742,957 1,965,889 401 13,890,413 48 %
Total $ 17,481,674 $ 2,155,873 $ 4,301,952 $ 4,860,070 $ 28,799,569 100 %
(a) Demand loans, past due loans, overdrafts, and credit cards are reported in the “Within 1 Year” category.
At December 31, 2022, $20.2 billion, or 70%, of the total loans outstanding and $16.4 billion, or 91%, of the commercial loans outstanding were floating rate, adjustable rate, re-pricing within one year, or maturing within one year.
Credit Risk
An active credit risk management process is used for commercial loans to ensure that sound and consistent credit decisions are made. Credit risk is controlled by detailed underwriting procedures, comprehensive loan administration, and periodic review of borrowers’ outstanding loans and commitments. Borrower relationships are formally reviewed and graded on an ongoing basis for early identification of potential problems. Further analysis by customer, industry, and geographic location are performed to monitor trends, financial performance, and concentrations. See Note 4 Loans of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional information on managing overall credit quality.
The loan portfolio is widely diversified by types of borrowers, industry groups, and market areas within the Corporation's branch footprint. Significant loan concentrations are considered to exist when there are amounts loaned to numerous borrowers engaged in similar activities that would cause them to be similarly impacted by economic or other conditions. At December 31, 2022, no significant concentrations existed in the Corporation’s loan portfolio in excess of 10% of total loan exposure.
Commercial and business lending: The commercial and business lending classification primarily includes commercial loans to large corporations, middle market companies, small businesses, and asset-based and equipment financing.
Table 7 Largest Commercial and Industrial Industry Group Exposures, by NAICS Subsector
December 31, 2022 NAICS Subsector Outstanding Balance Total Exposure % of Total Loan Exposure
Real Estate(a)
531 $ 1,963,868 $ 3,552,573 9 %
Utilities(b)
221 2,160,188 2,524,451 6 %
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities(c)
522 746,958 2,136,537 5 %
(a) Includes REIT lines
(b) 55% of the total exposure comes from renewable energy sources (wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal).
(c) Includes mortgage warehouse lines
The remaining commercial and industrial portfolio is spread over a diverse range of industries, none of which exceed 2% of total loan exposure.
The CRE-owner occupied portfolio is spread over a diverse range of industries, none of which exceed 2% of total loan exposure.
The credit risk related to commercial and business lending is largely influenced by general economic conditions and the resulting impact on a borrower’s operations or on the value of underlying collateral, if any.
Commercial real estate - investor: CRE-investor is comprised of loans secured by various non-owner occupied or investor income producing property types.
Table 8 Largest Commercial Real Estate Investor Property Type Exposures
December 31, 2022 % of Total Loan Exposure % of Total Commercial Real Estate - Investor Loan Exposure
Multi-Family 4 % 33 %
Office 3 % 24 %
Industrial 3 % 23 %
The remaining CRE-investor portfolio is spread over various other property types, none of which exceed 2% of total loan exposure.
Credit risk is managed in a similar manner to commercial and business lending by employing sound underwriting guidelines, lending primarily to borrowers in local markets and businesses, periodically evaluating the underlying collateral, and formally reviewing the borrower’s financial soundness and relationship on an ongoing basis.
Real estate construction: Real estate construction loans are primarily short-term or interim loans that provide financing for the acquisition or development of commercial income properties, multi-family projects or residential development, both single family and condominium. Real estate construction loans are made to developers and project managers who are generally well known to the Corporation and have prior successful project experience. The credit risk associated with real estate construction loans is generally confined to specific geographic areas but is also influenced by general economic conditions. The Corporation controls the credit risk on these types of loans by making loans in familiar markets to developers, reviewing the merits of individual projects, controlling loan structure, and monitoring project progress and construction advances.
Table 9 Largest Real Estate Construction Property Type Exposures
December 31, 2022 % of Total Loan Exposure % of Total Real Estate - Construction Loan Exposure
Multi-Family 5 % 40 %
Industrial 3 % 25 %
The remaining real estate construction portfolio is spread over various other property types, none of which exceed 2% of total loan exposure.
The Corporation’s current lending standards for CRE and real estate construction lending are determined by property type and specifically address many criteria, including: maximum loan amounts, maximum LTV, requirements for pre-leasing and/or presales, minimum borrower equity, and maximum loan-to-cost. Currently, the maximum standard for LTV is 80%, with lower limits established for certain higher risk types, such as raw land that has a 50% LTV maximum. The Corporation’s LTV guidelines are in compliance with regulatory supervisory limits. In most cases, for real estate construction loans, the loan amounts include interest reserves, which are built into the loans and sized to fund loan payments through construction and lease up and/or sell out.
Residential mortgages: Residential mortgage loans are primarily first lien home mortgages with a maximum loan-to-collateral value without credit enhancement (e.g., private mortgage insurance) of 80%. The residential mortgage portfolio is focused primarily in the Corporation's three-state branch footprint, with approximately 87% of the outstanding loan balances in the Corporation's branch footprint at December 31, 2022. The rates on adjustable rate mortgages adjust based upon the movement in the underlying index which is then added to a margin and rounded to the nearest 0.125%. That result is then subjected to any periodic caps to produce the borrower's interest rate for the coming term. Most of the adjustable rate mortgages have an initial fixed rate term of 3, 5, 7 or 10 years.
The Corporation generally retains certain fixed-rate residential real estate mortgages in its loan portfolio, including retail and private banking jumbo mortgages and CRA-related mortgages. As part of management's historical practice of originating and servicing residential mortgage loans, generally the Corporation's 30 year, agency conforming, fixed-rate residential real estate mortgage loans have been sold in the secondary market with servicing rights retained. Subject to management's analysis of the current interest rate environment, among other market factors, the Corporation may choose to retain mortgage loan production on its balance sheet.
The Corporation’s underwriting and risk-based pricing guidelines for residential mortgage loans include minimum borrower FICO score and maximum LTV of the property securing the loan. Residential mortgage products generally are underwritten using FHLMC and FNMA secondary marketing guidelines.
Home equity: Home equity consists of both home equity lines of credit and closed-end home equity loans. The Corporation’s credit risk monitoring guidelines for home equity are based on an ongoing review of loan delinquency status, as well as a quarterly review of FICO score deterioration and property devaluation. The Corporation does not routinely obtain appraisals on performing loans to update LTV ratios after origination; however, the Corporation monitors the local housing markets by reviewing the various home price indices and incorporates the impact of the changing market conditions in its ongoing credit monitoring process. For junior lien home equity loans, the Corporation is unable to track the performance of the first lien loan if it does not own or service the first lien loan. However, the Corporation obtains a refreshed FICO score on a quarterly basis and monitors this as part of its assessment of the home equity portfolio.
The Corporation’s underwriting and risk-based pricing guidelines for home equity lines of credit and loans consist of a combination of both borrower FICO score and the original cumulative LTV against the property securing the loan. Currently, the Corporation's policy sets the maximum acceptable LTV at 90%. The Corporation's current home equity line of credit offering is priced based on floating rate indices and generally allows 10 years of interest-only payments followed by a 20-year amortization of the outstanding balance. The loans in the Corporation's portfolio generally have an original term of 20 years with principal and interest payments required.
Indirect Auto: The Corporation currently purchases retail auto sales contracts via a network of approved auto dealerships across 13 states throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern United States. The auto dealerships finance the sale of automobiles as the initial lender and then assign the contracts to the Corporation pursuant to dealer agreements. The Corporation’s underwriting and pricing guidelines are based on a dual risk grade derived from a combination of FICO auto score and proprietary internal custom score. Minimum grade and FICO score standards ensure the credit risk is appropriately managed to the Corporation’s risk appetite. Further, the grade influences loan-specific parameters such as vehicle age, term, LTV, loan amount, mileage, payment and debt service thresholds, and pricing. Maximum loan terms offered are 84 months on select grades with vehicle age, mileage, and other limitations in place to qualify. The program is designed to capture primarily prime and super prime contracts. Over time, the Corporation expects roughly 60% of originations to be secured by used vehicles.
Other consumer: Other consumer consists of student loans, short-term personal installment loans, and credit cards. The Corporation had $76 million and $101 million of student loans at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, the majority of which are government guaranteed. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the passage of the CARES Act, and subsequent executive orders, federal student loan relief was extended to borrowers with relief set to expire 60 days after either the resolution of court challenges to the debt relief program or June 30, 2023 if the litigation is not resolved by that date. The student loan portfolio is in run-off and no new student loans are being originated. Credit risk for non-government guaranteed student loans, short-term personal installment loans, and credit cards is influenced by general economic conditions, the characteristics of individual borrowers, and the nature of the loan collateral. Risks of loss are generally on smaller average balances per loan spread over many borrowers. Once charged off, there is usually less opportunity for recovery of these smaller consumer loans. Credit risk is primarily controlled by reviewing the creditworthiness of the borrowers, monitoring payment histories, and taking appropriate collateral and guarantee positions.
Nonperforming Assets
Management is committed to a proactive nonaccrual and problem loan identification philosophy. This philosophy is implemented through the ongoing monitoring and review of all pools of risk in the loan portfolio to ensure that problem loans are identified quickly and the risk of loss is minimized. Table 10 provides detailed information regarding NPAs, which include nonaccrual loans, OREO, and other nonperforming assets:
Table 10 Nonperforming Assets
As of December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Nonperforming assets
Commercial and industrial $ 14,329 $ 6,279 $ 61,859 $ 46,312 $ 41,021
Commercial real estate - owner occupied - - 1,058 67 3,957
Commercial and business lending 14,329 6,279 62,917 46,380 44,978
Commercial real estate - investor 29,380 60,677 78,220 4,409 1,952
Real estate construction 105 177 353 493 979
Commercial real estate lending 29,485 60,855 78,573 4,902 2,931
Total commercial 43,814 67,134 141,490 51,282 47,909
Residential mortgage 58,480 55,362 59,337 57,844 67,574
Auto finance 1,490 52 49 - -
Home equity 7,487 7,726 9,888 9,104 12,339
Other consumer 197 170 91 152 79
Total consumer 67,654 63,309 69,364 67,099 79,992
Total nonaccrual loans 111,467 130,443 210,854 118,380 127,901
Commercial real estate owned 325 984 2,185 3,530 4,047
Residential real estate owned 2,878 3,666 1,194 5,696 2,963
Bank properties real estate owned(a)
11,580 24,969 10,889 11,874 4,974
OREO 14,784 29,619 14,269 21,101 11,984
Other nonperforming assets(b)
215 - - 6,004 -
Total nonperforming assets $ 126,466 $ 160,062 $ 225,123 $ 145,485 $ 139,885
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more
Commercial $ 282 $ 151 $ 175 $ 342 $ 311
Consumer 1,446 1,111 1,423 1,917 1,853
Total accruing loans past due 90 days or more $ 1,728 $ 1,263 $ 1,598 $ 2,259 $ 2,165
Restructured loans (accruing)(c)
Commercial $ 13,093 $ 22,763 $ 41,119 $ 18,944 $ 28,668
Consumer 19,775 19,768 10,973 7,097 24,595
Total restructured loans (accruing) $ 32,868 $ 42,530 $ 52,092 $ 26,041 $ 53,263
Nonaccrual restructured loans (included in nonaccrual loans) $ 20,127 $ 17,426 $ 20,190 $ 22,494 $ 26,292
Ratios
Nonaccrual loans to total loans 0.39 % 0.54 % 0.86 % 0.52 % 0.56 %
NPAs to total loans plus OREO and other nonperforming assets 0.44 % 0.66 % 0.92 % 0.64 % 0.61 %
NPAs to total assets 0.32 % 0.46 % 0.67 % 0.45 % 0.42 %
Allowance for credit losses on loans to nonaccrual loans 315.34 % 245.16 % 204.63 % 188.61 % 205.13 %
Table 10 Nonperforming Assets (continued)
As of December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Accruing loans 30-89 days past due
Commercial and industrial $ 6,283 $ 715 $ 6,119 $ 821 $ 525
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 230 163 373 1,369 2,699
Commercial and business lending 6,512 878 6,492 2,190 3,224
Commercial real estate - investor 1,067 616 12,793 1,812 3,767
Real estate construction 39 1,620 991 97 330
Commercial real estate lending 1,105 2,236 13,784 1,909 4,097
Total commercial 7,618 3,114 20,276 4,099 7,321
Residential mortgage 9,874 6,169 10,385 9,274 9,706
Auto finance 9,408 11 57 - -
Home equity 5,607 3,711 4,802 5,647 6,049
Other consumer 1,610 2,307 1,543 2,083 2,269
Total consumer 26,499 12,198 16,786 17,005 18,024
Total accruing loans 30-89 days past due $ 34,117 $ 15,312 $ 37,062 $ 21,104 $ 25,345
Potential problem loans
Asset-based lending & equipment finance(d)
$ 17,698 $ 17,697 $ - $ - $ -
Commercial and industrial 118,851 122,562 139,489 110,308 116,578
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 34,422 26,723 26,179 19,889 55,964
Commercial and business lending 170,971 166,981 165,668 130,197 172,542
Commercial real estate - investor 92,535 106,138 91,396 29,449 67,481
Real estate construction 970 21,408 19,046 - 3,834
Commercial real estate lending 93,505 127,546 110,442 29,449 71,315
Total commercial 264,476 294,527 276,111 159,646 243,856
Residential mortgage 1,978 2,214 3,749 1,451 5,975
Home equity 197 165 2,068 - 103
Total consumer 2,175 2,379 5,817 1,451 6,078
Total potential problem loans $ 266,651 $ 296,905 $ 281,928 $ 161,097 $ 249,935
(a) Primarily closed branches and other bank operated real estate facilities, pending disposition.
(b) 2022 includes repossessed assets while 2019 includes a partial settlement of a debt by receiving units of ownership interest in an oil and gas limited liability company.
(c) Does not include any restructured loans related to the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with Section 4013 of the CARES Act.
(d) Periods prior to 2022 do not include equipment finance.
Nonaccrual loans: Nonaccrual loans are considered to be one indicator of potential future loan losses. See management’s accounting policy for nonaccrual loans in Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 4 Loans of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional nonaccrual loan disclosures. See also sections Credit Risk and Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans.
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more: Loans past due 90 days or more but still accruing interest are classified as such where the underlying loans are both well secured (the collateral value is sufficient to cover principal and accrued interest) and are in the process of collection.
Restructured loans: Loans are considered restructured loans if concessions have been granted to borrowers that are experiencing financial difficulty. See also Note 4 Loans of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional restructured loans disclosures.
Potential problem loans: The level of potential problem loans is another predominant factor in determining the relative level of risk in the loan portfolio and in determining the appropriate level of the ACLL. Potential problem loans are generally defined by management to include loans rated as substandard by management that are collectively evaluated (not nonaccrual loans or accruing TDRs); however, there are circumstances present to create doubt as to the ability of the borrower to comply with present repayment terms. The decision of management to include performing loans in potential problem loans does not necessarily mean that the Corporation expects losses to occur, but that management recognizes a higher degree of risk associated with these loans.
OREO: Management actively seeks to ensure OREO properties held are monitored to minimize the Corporation's risk of loss.
Foregone Loan Interest: The following table shows, for those loans accounted for on a nonaccrual basis and restructured loans for the years ended as indicated, the approximate gross interest that would have been recorded if the loans had been current in accordance with their original terms and the amount of interest income that was included in interest income for the period:
Table 11 Foregone Loan Interest
Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Interest income in accordance with original terms $ 6,182 $ 6,537 $ 11,262 $ 12,032 $ 10,606
Interest income recognized (3,830) (4,495) (6,891) (5,015) (5,500)
Reduction in interest income $ 2,352 $ 2,042 $ 4,371 $ 7,016 $ 5,106
Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans
Credit risks within the loan portfolio are inherently different for each loan type. Credit risk is controlled and monitored through the use of lending standards, a thorough review of potential borrowers, and ongoing review of loan payment performance. Active asset quality administration, including early problem loan identification and timely resolution of problems, aids in the management of credit risk and the minimization of loan losses. Credit risk management for each loan type is discussed in the section entitled Credit Risk. See Note 4 Loans of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional disclosures on the ACLL.
To assess the appropriateness of the ACLL, the Corporation focuses on the evaluation of many factors, including but not limited to: evaluation of facts and issues related to specific loans, management’s ongoing review and grading of the loan portfolio, credit report refreshes, consideration of historical loan loss and delinquency experience on each portfolio category, trends in past due and nonaccrual loans, the level of potential problem loans, the risk characteristics of the various classifications of loan segments, changes in the size and character of the loan portfolio, concentrations of loans to specific borrowers or industries, existing economic conditions and economic forecasts, the fair value of underlying collateral, funding assumptions on lines, and other qualitative and quantitative factors which could affect potential credit losses. The forecast the Corporation used for December 31, 2022 was the Moody's baseline scenario from November 2022, which was reviewed against the December 2022 baseline scenario with no material updates made, over a 2 year reasonable and supportable period with straight-line reversion to historical losses over the second year of the period. Assessing these factors involves significant judgment. Because each of the criteria used is subject to change, the ACLL is not necessarily indicative of the trend of future credit losses on loans in any particular segment. Therefore, management considers the ACLL a critical accounting estimate, see section Critical Accounting Estimates for additional information on the ACLL. See section Nonperforming Assets for a detailed discussion on asset quality. See also Note 4 Loans of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional ACLL disclosures. Table 5 provides information on loan growth and period end loan composition, Table 10 provides additional information regarding NPAs, and Table 12 and Table 13 provide additional information regarding activity in the ACLL.
The loan segmentation used in calculating the ACLL at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 was generally comparable. The methodology to calculate the ACLL consists of the following components: a valuation allowance estimate is established for commercial and consumer loans determined by the Corporation to be individually evaluated, using discounted cash flows, estimated fair value of underlying collateral, and/or other data available. Loans are segmented for criticized loan pools by loan type as well as for non-criticized loan pools by loan type, primarily based on risk rating rates after considering loan type, historical loss and delinquency experience, credit quality, and industry classifications. Loans that have been criticized are considered to have a higher risk of default than non-criticized loans, as circumstances were present to support the lower loan grade, warranting higher loss factors. Additionally, management allocates ACLL to absorb losses that may not be provided for by the other components due to qualitative factors evaluated by management, such as limitations within the credit risk grading process, known current economic or business conditions that may not yet show in trends, industry or other concentrations with current issues that impose higher inherent risks than are reflected in the loss factors, and other relevant considerations. The total allowance is available to absorb losses from any segment of the loan portfolio.
Table 12 Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans
Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Allowance for loan losses
Balance at beginning of period $ 280,015 $ 383,702 $ 201,371 $ 238,023 $ 265,880
Cumulative effect of ASU 2016-13 adoption (CECL) N/A N/A 112,457 N/A N/A
Balance at beginning of period, adjusted 280,015 383,702 313,828 238,023 265,880
Provision for loan losses 34,000 (80,000) 164,457 18,500 2,500
Provision for loan losses recorded at acquisition - - 2,543 - -
Gross up of allowance for PCD loans at acquisition - - 3,504 - -
Loans charged off
Asset-based lending & equipment finance(a)
- - (6,650) (8,777) -
Commercial and industrial (4,491) (21,564) (73,670) (54,538) (30,837)
Commercial real estate - owner occupied - - (419) (222) (1,363)
Commercial and business lending (4,491) (21,564) (80,739) (63,537) (32,200)
Commercial real estate - investor (50) (14,346) (22,920) - (7,914)
Real estate construction (48) (5) (19) (60) (298)
Commercial real estate lending (98) (14,351) (22,938) (60) (8,212)
Total commercial (4,588) (35,915) (103,677) (63,597) (40,412)
Residential mortgage (567) (880) (1,867) (3,322) (1,627)
Auto finance (1,041) (22) (7) - (4)
Home equity (587) (668) (1,719) (1,846) (3,236)
Other consumer (3,363) (3,168) (4,783) (5,548) (5,257)
Total consumer (5,558) (4,738) (8,376) (10,716) (10,124)
Total loans charged off (10,146) (40,652) (112,053) (74,313) (50,536)
Recoveries of loans previously charged off
Asset-based lending & equipment finance(a)
- 412 561 519 -
Commercial and industrial 5,282 8,152 6,444 11,356 13,714
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 13 120 147 2,795 639
Commercial and business lending 5,295 8,684 7,151 14,670 14,353
Commercial real estate - investor 50 3,162 643 31 668
Real estate construction 106 126 49 302 446
Commercial real estate lending 156 3,288 692 333 1,114
Total commercial 5,451 11,972 7,844 15,003 15,467
Residential mortgage 908 841 500 692 1,271
Auto finance 98 31 25 10 10
Home equity 1,385 2,854 1,978 2,599 2,628
Other consumer 1,010 1,267 1,076 858 803
Total consumer 3,401 4,993 3,579 4,158 4,712
Total recoveries 8,852 16,965 11,422 19,161 20,179
Net (charge offs) (1,294) (23,687) (100,631) (55,152) (30,358)
Balance at end of period $ 312,720 $ 280,015 $ 383,702 $ 201,371 $ 238,023
Allowance for unfunded commitments
Balance at beginning of period $ 39,776 $ 47,776 $ 21,907 $ 24,336 $ 24,400
Cumulative effect of ASU 2016-13 adoption (CECL) N/A N/A 18,690 N/A N/A
Balance at beginning of period, adjusted 39,776 47,776 40,597 24,336 24,400
Provision for unfunded commitments (1,000) (8,000) 7,000 (2,500) (2,500)
Amount recorded at acquisition - - 179 70 2,436
Balance at end of period $ 38,776 $ 39,776 $ 47,776 $ 21,907 $ 24,336
Allowance for credit losses on loans
$ 351,496 $ 319,791 $ 431,478 $ 223,278 $ 262,359
Provision for credit losses on loans
33,000 (88,000) 174,000 16,000 -
Table 12 Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans (continued)
Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net loan (charge offs) recoveries
Asset-based lending & equipment finance(a)
$ - $ 412 $ (6,090) $ (8,259) $ -
Commercial and industrial 791 (13,412) (67,226) (43,182) (17,124)
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 13 120 (272) 2,573 (724)
Commercial and business lending 804 (12,880) (73,588) (48,868) (17,848)
Commercial real estate - investor - (11,184) (22,277) 31 (7,246)
Real estate construction 58 121 31 243 149
Commercial real estate lending 58 (11,063) (22,246) 274 (7,098)
Total commercial 862 (23,943) (95,834) (48,594) (24,946)
Residential mortgage 341 (38) (1,367) (2,630) (355)
Auto finance (943) 9 19 10 6
Home equity 798 2,186 259 753 (608)
Other consumer (2,353) (1,901) (3,707) (4,690) (4,455)
Total consumer (2,157) 256 (4,797) (6,558) (5,412)
Total net (charge offs) $ (1,294) $ (23,687) $ (100,631) $ (55,152) $ (30,358)
Ratios
Allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans 1.22 % 1.32 % 1.76 % 0.98 % 1.14 %
Allowance for credit losses on loans to net charge offs N/M 13.5x 4.3x 4.0x 8.6x
Loan Evaluation Method for ACLL
Individually evaluated for impairment $ 10,324 $ 15,194 $ 79,831 $ 14,026 $ 11,053
Collectively evaluated for impairment 341,172 304,597 351,646 209,252 251,306
Total ACLL $ 351,496 $ 319,791 $ 431,478 $ 223,278 $ 262,359
Loan Balance
Individually evaluated for impairment $ 76,577 $ 115,643 $ 259,497 $ 111,595 $ 138,543
Collectively evaluated for impairment 28,722,992 24,109,306 24,192,227 22,709,845 22,801,887
Total loan balance $ 28,799,569 $ 24,224,949 $ 24,451,724 $ 22,821,440 $ 22,940,429
(a) Periods prior to 2022 do not include equipment finance.
Table 13 Net (Charge Offs) Recoveries(a)
Years Ended December 31,
(In Basis Points) 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net loan (charge offs) recoveries
Asset-based lending & equipment finance(b)
- 34 (343) (301) -
Commercial and industrial 1 (17) (81) (60) (26)
Commercial real estate - owner occupied - 1 (3) 28 (9)
Commercial and business lending 1 (14) (78) (58) (23)
Commercial real estate - investor - (26) (54) - (18)
Real estate construction - 1 - 2 1
Commercial real estate lending - (18) (38) 1 (13)
Total commercial 1 (16) (63) (36) (19)
Residential mortgage - - (2) (3) -
Auto finance (12) 4 14 37 36
Home equity 13 34 3 9 (6)
Other consumer (79) (65) (117) (133) (120)
Total consumer (2) - (5) (7) (6)
Total net (charge offs) - (10) (41) (24) (13)
(a) Ratio of net charge offs to average loans by loan type.
(b) Periods prior to 2022 do not include equipment finance.
Notable Contributions to the Change in the Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans
•Total loans increased $4.6 billion, or 19%, from December 31, 2021, driven by increases across all major loan portfolios resulting from the Corporation's strategic initiatives. See also Note 4 Loans of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional information on loans.
•Potential problem loans decreased $30 million, or 10%, from December 31, 2021, largely driven by decreases in potential problem loans within the Corporation's real estate construction and CRE-investor portfolios, partially offset by an increase in potential problem loans within the CRE-owner occupied portfolio. See also Note 4 Loans of the notes to consolidated financial statements and section Nonperforming Assets for additional disclosures on the changes in asset quality.
•Total nonaccrual loans decreased $19 million, or 15%, from December 31, 2021, primarily driven by a decrease in nonaccrual loans within the Corporation's CRE-investor portfolio, partially offset by an increase in nonaccrual loans within the commercial and industrial portfolio. See also Note 4 Loans of the notes to consolidated financial statements and section Nonperforming Assets for additional disclosures on the changes in asset quality.
•For the year ended December 31, 2022, net charge offs decreased $22 million, or 95%, from December 31, 2021, primarily driven by decreased charge off amounts in the Corporation's commercial and industrial and CRE-investor portfolios. See Tables 12 and 13 for additional information regarding the activity in the ACLL.
Management believes the level of ACLL to be appropriate at December 31, 2022.
Consolidated net income and stockholders’ equity could be affected if management’s estimate of the ACLL is subsequently materially different, requiring additional or less provision for credit losses to be recorded. Management carefully considers numerous detailed and general factors, its assumptions, and the likelihood of materially different conditions that could alter its assumptions. While management uses currently available information to recognize losses on loans, future adjustments to the ACLL may be necessary based on newly received appraisals, updated commercial customer financial statements, rapidly deteriorating customer cash flow, and changes in economic conditions that affect our customers. Additionally, larger credit relationships do not inherently create more risk, but can create wider fluctuations in net charge offs and asset quality measures. As an integral part of their examination processes, various federal and state regulatory agencies also review the ACLL. These agencies may require additions to the ACLL or may require that certain loan balances be charged off or downgraded into criticized loan categories when their credit evaluations differ from those of management, based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examinations.
Investment Securities Portfolio
Management of the investment securities portfolio involves the maximization of income while actively monitoring the portfolio's liquidity, market risk, quality of the investment securities, and its role in balance sheet and capital management. The Corporation classifies its investment securities as AFS, HTM, or equity securities on the consolidated balance sheets at the time of purchase or adoption of a new accounting standard. Securities classified as AFS may be sold from time to time in order to help manage interest rate risk, liquidity, credit quality, capital levels, or to take advantage of relative value opportunities in the marketplace. Investment securities classified as AFS and equity are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets, while investment securities classified as HTM are carried at amortized cost on the consolidated balance sheets.
Table 14 Investment Securities Portfolio
At December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 % of Total 2021 % of Total 2020 % of Total
AFS investment securities
Amortized cost
U.S. Treasury securities $ 124,441 4 % $ 124,291 3 % $ 26,436 1 %
Agency securities 15,000 1 % 15,000 - % 24,985 1 %
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) 235,693 8 % 381,517 9 % 425,057 14 %
Residential mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 1,820,642 61 % 2,709,399 62 % 1,448,806 48 %
GNMA 502,537 17 % 66,189 2 % 231,364 8 %
Private-label - - % 332,028 8 % - - %
Commercial mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 19,038 1 % 357,240 8 % 19,654 1 %
GNMA 115,031 4 % 165,439 4 % 511,429 17 %
Asset backed securities
FFELP 157,138 5 % 177,974 4 % 329,030 11 %
SBA 4,512 - % 6,594 - % 8,637 - %
Other debt securities 3,000 - % 3,000 - % 3,000 - %
Total amortized cost $ 2,997,032 100 % $ 4,338,671 100 % $ 3,028,399 100 %
Fair value
U.S. Treasury securities $ 109,378 4 % $ 122,957 3 % $ 26,531 1 %
Agency securities 13,532 - % 14,897 - % 25,038 1 %
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) 230,714 8 % 400,457 9 % 450,662 15 %
Residential mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 1,604,610 59 % 2,691,879 62 % 1,461,241 47 %
GNMA 497,596 18 % 67,780 2 % 235,537 8 %
Private-label - - % 329,724 8 % - - %
Commercial mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 17,142 1 % 350,623 8 % 22,904 1 %
GNMA 110,462 4 % 166,799 4 % 524,756 17 %
Asset backed securities
FFELP 151,191 6 % 177,325 4 % 327,189 11 %
SBA 4,477 - % 6,580 - % 8,584 - %
Other debt securities 2,922 - % 2,994 - % 3,000 - %
Total fair value and carrying value $ 2,742,025 100 % $ 4,332,015 100 % $ 3,085,441 100 %
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) $ (255,007) $ (6,656) $ 57,043
Table 14 Investment Securities Portfolio (continued)
At December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 % of Total 2021 % of Total 2020 % of Total
HTM investment securities
Amortized cost
U.S. Treasury securities $ 999 - % $ 1,000 - % $ 999 - %
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) 1,732,351 44 % 1,628,759 73 % 1,441,900 77 %
Residential mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 961,231 24 % 34,347 2 % 54,599 3 %
GNMA 52,979 1 % 48,053 2 % 114,553 6 %
Private label 364,728 9 % - - % - - %
Commercial mortgage-related securities
FNMA/FHLMC 778,796 20 % 425,937 19 % 11,211 1 %
GNMA 69,369 2 % 100,907 5 % 255,742 14 %
Total amortized cost and carrying value $ 3,960,451 100 % $ 2,239,003 100 % $ 1,879,005 100 %
Fair value
U.S. Treasury securities $ 936 - % $ 1,001 - % $ 1,024 - %
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) 1,551,647 46 % 1,739,988 74 % 1,575,445 78 %
Residential mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 816,771 24 % 36,139 2 % 57,490 3 %
GNMA 49,628 1 % 49,631 2 % 118,813 6 %
Private label 303,505 9 % - - % - - %
Commercial mortgage-related securities
FNMA/FHLMC 615,839 18 % 419,400 18 % 11,211 1 %
GNMA 62,691 2 % 102,506 4 % 264,960 13 %
Total fair value $ 3,401,018 100 % $ 2,348,664 100 % $ 2,028,943 100 %
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) $ (559,433) $ 109,662 $ 149,938
Equity securities
Equity securities carrying value and fair value $ 25,216 100 % $ 18,352 100 % $ 15,106 100 %
At December 31, 2022, the Corporation’s investment securities portfolio did not contain securities of any single non-government or non-GSE issuer that were payable from and secured by the same source of revenue or taxing authority where the aggregate carrying value of such securities exceeded 5% of stockholders’ equity.
During the first quarter of 2022, the Corporation redesignated approximately $1.6 billion of mortgage-related securities from AFS to HTM. The reclassification of these investment securities was accounted for at fair value. Management elected to transfer these investment securities as the Corporation has the positive intent and ability to hold these investment securities to maturity. See Note 22 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional information on the unrealized losses on investment securities transferred from AFS to HTM.
The Corporation did not recognize any credit-related write-downs to the allowance for credit losses on investments during 2022, 2021, or 2020. See Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for management's accounting policy for investment securities and Note 3 Investment Securities of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional investment securities disclosures.
AFS and HTM Securities
U.S. Treasury Securities: U.S. Treasury Securities, including Treasury bills, notes, and bonds, are debt obligations issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
Municipal Securities: The municipal securities relate to various state and political subdivisions and school districts. The municipal securities portfolio is regularly assessed for credit quality and deterioration.
Agency Residential and Agency Commercial Mortgage-Related Securities: Residential and commercial mortgage-related securities include predominantly GNMA, FNMA, and FHLMC MBS and CMOs. The fair value of these mortgage-related securities is subject to inherent risks, such as prepayment risk and interest rate changes. The Corporation regularly assesses the valuation of these securities.
Private Label Residential Mortgage-Related Securities: Private label residential mortgage-related securities are the most senior AAA-rated tranche CMO securities issued by a non-agency sponsor and collateralized by Prime Jumbo residential mortgage loans.
AFS Securities
Agency Securities: Agency securities are debt obligations that are issued by a U.S. GSE or other federally related entity, and have an implied guarantee from the U.S. government.
FFELP Asset Backed Securities: FFELP asset backed securities are collateralized with government guaranteed student loans.
SBA Asset Backed Securities: SBA asset backed securities are securities whose underlying assets are loans from the SBA. These loans are backed by the U.S. government.
Other Debt Securities: Other debt securities are primarily comprised of debt securities that mature within 3 years and have a rating of A.
Equity Securities
Equity Securities with Readily Determinable Fair Values: The Corporation's portfolio of equity securities with readily determinable fair values is primarily comprised of CRA Qualified Investment mutual funds and other mutual funds.
Equity Securities without Readily Determinable Fair Values: The Corporation's portfolio of equity securities without readily determinable fair values primarily consists of Visa Class B restricted shares that the Corporation received in 2008 as part of Visa's initial public offering.
Regulatory Stock (FHLB and Federal Reserve System)
In addition to the AFS, HTM, and equity investment securities noted above, the Corporation is also required to hold certain regulatory stock. The Corporation is required to maintain Federal Reserve Bank stock and FHLB stock as member banks of both the Federal Reserve System and the FHLB, and in amounts as required by these institutions. See Note 3 Investment Securities of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional information on the regulatory stock.
Table 15 Investment Securities Portfolio Maturity Distribution(a)
December 31, 2022
($ in Thousands) Amortized Cost Fair Value Weighted Average Yield(b)
AFS securities
U. S. Treasury securities
After one but within five years $ 34,631 $ 31,224 0.84 %
After five years but within ten years 89,810 78,154 1.22 %
Total U. S. Treasury securities $ 124,441 $ 109,378 1.11 %
Agency securities
After one but within five years $ 15,000 $ 13,532 0.91 %
Total agency securities $ 15,000 $ 13,532 0.91 %
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities)
Within one year $ 5,245 $ 5,238 3.91 %
After one but within five years 35,340 34,586 3.12 %
After five years but within ten years 158,643 155,411 3.27 %
After ten years 36,465 35,480 4.28 %
Total obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) $ 235,693 $ 230,714 3.42 %
Agency residential mortgage-related securities
Within one year $ 7,585 $ 7,282 2.38 %
After one but within five years 1,585,136 1,461,025 2.58 %
After five years but within ten years 730,459 633,900 1.62 %
Total agency residential mortgage-related securities $ 2,323,180 $ 2,102,207 2.28 %
Agency commercial mortgage-related securities
Within one year $ 22,252 $ 21,734 2.48 %
After one but within five years 92,779 88,728 3.02 %
After five years but within ten years 19,038 17,142 4.08 %
Total agency commercial mortgage-related securities $ 134,069 $ 127,604 3.08 %
Asset backed securities
Within one year $ 130 $ 129 3.92 %
After one but within five years 96,699 93,283 5.06 %
After five years but within ten years 64,821 62,256 5.09 %
Total asset backed securities $ 161,650 $ 155,668 5.07 %
Other debt securities
Within one year $ 1,000 $ 992 1.64 %
After one but within five years 2,000 1,930 2.16 %
Total other debt securities $ 3,000 $ 2,922 1.99 %
Total AFS securities $ 2,997,032 $ 2,742,025 2.50 %
Table 15 Investment Securities Portfolio Maturity Distribution (continued) (a)
December 31, 2022
($ in Thousands) Amortized Cost Fair Value Weighted Average Yield(b)
HTM securities
U. S. Treasury securities
After one but within five years $ 999 $ 936 1.20 %
Total U. S. Treasury securities $ 999 $ 936 1.20 %
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities)
Within one year $ 17,660 $ 17,621 3.49 %
After one but within five years 29,137 28,905 3.52 %
After five years but within ten years 156,937 154,046 3.78 %
After ten years 1,528,616 1,351,075 3.74 %
Total obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) $ 1,732,351 $ 1,551,647 3.74 %
Agency residential mortgage-related securities
Within one year $ 892 $ 848 7.85 %
After one but within five years 29,665 27,209 2.82 %
After five years but within ten years 85,170 72,175 2.41 %
After ten years 898,483 766,167 2.14 %
Total agency residential mortgage-related securities $ 1,014,209 $ 866,399 2.19 %
Private-label residential mortgage-related securities
After five years but within ten years $ 364,728 $ 303,505 2.36 %
Total private-label residential mortgage-related securities $ 364,728 $ 303,505 2.36 %
Agency commercial mortgage-related securities
Within one year $ 51 $ 51 2.40 %
After one but within five years 149,259 126,011 1.76 %
After five years but within ten years 550,311 443,290 1.90 %
After ten years 148,544 109,179 2.11 %
Total agency commercial mortgage-related securities $ 848,165 $ 678,531 1.91 %
Total HTM securities $ 3,960,451 $ 3,401,018 2.82 %
Equity securities
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values $ 5,991 $ 5,991 - %
Equity securities without readily determinable fair values 19,225 19,225 - %
Total equity securities $ 25,216 $ 25,216 - %
(a) Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities, as borrowers may have the right to call or repay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
(b) Yields on tax-exempt securities are computed on a fully tax-equivalent basis using a tax rate of 21% and are net of the effects of certain disallowed interest deductions.
Analysis of Deposits and Funding
Deposits and Customer Funding
The following table summarizes the composition of our deposits and customer funding:
Table 16 Period End Deposit and Customer Funding Composition
As of December 31,
2022 2021 2020
($ in Thousands) Amount % of Total Amount % of Total Amount % of Total
Noninterest-bearing demand $ 7,760,811 26 % $ 8,504,077 30 % $ 7,661,728 29 %
Savings 4,604,848 15 % 4,410,198 15 % 3,650,085 14 %
Interest-bearing demand 7,100,727 24 % 7,019,782 25 % 6,090,869 23 %
Money market 8,239,610 28 % 7,185,111 25 % 7,322,769 28 %
Brokered CDs 541,916 2 % - - % - - %
Other time deposits 1,388,242 5 % 1,347,262 5 % 1,757,030 7 %
Total deposits 29,636,154 100 % 28,466,430 100 % 26,482,481 100 %
Other customer funding(a)
261,767 354,142 245,247
Total deposits and other customer funding $ 29,897,921 $ 28,820,572 $ 26,727,727
Network transaction deposits(b)
$ 979,003 $ 766,965 $ 1,197,093
Net deposits and other customer funding(c)
$ 28,377,001 $ 28,053,607 $ 25,530,634
(a) Includes repurchase agreements and commercial paper.
(b) Included above in interest-bearing demand and money market.
(c) Total deposits and other customer funding, excluding brokered CDs and network transaction deposits.
•Total deposits, which are the Corporation's largest source of funds, increased $1.2 billion, or 4%, from December 31, 2021.
•Time deposits, which include brokered CDs and other time deposits, increased $583 million, or 43%, from December 31, 2021, due to the addition of brokered CDs during the fourth quarter of 2022.
•Included in the above amounts were network deposits, primarily sourced from other financial institutions and intermediaries. These account for 3% of the Corporation's total deposits at December 31, 2022. Network deposits increased $212 million, or 28%, from December 31, 2021.
Table 17 Maturity Distribution - Uninsured Time Deposits
($ in Thousands) December 31, 2022
Three months or less $ 101,614
Over three months through six months 41,141
Over six months through twelve months 19,760
Over twelve months 13,441
Total $ 175,956
Selected period end deposit information is detailed in Note 8 Deposits of the notes to consolidated financial statements, including a maturity distribution of all time deposits at December 31, 2022. See Table 1 for additional information on average deposit balances and deposit rates.
Other Funding Sources
Short-Term Funding: Short-term funding is comprised of short-term FHLB advances (with original contractual maturities less than one year), federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and commercial paper. Many short-term funding sources are expected to be reissued and, therefore, do not represent an immediate need for cash. Short-term funding sources at December 31, 2022 were $3.7 billion, an increase of $3.4 billion from December 31, 2021, driven by a $3.1 billion increase in short-term FHLB advances to fund loan growth.
Long-Term Funding: Long-term funding is comprised of long-term FHLB advances (with original contractual maturities greater than one year), subordinated notes, and finance leases. Long-term funding at December 31, 2022 was $1.4 billion, a decrease of $427 million, or 23%, from December 31, 2021, driven by the prepayment of $400 million in long-term FHLB advances during the first quarter of 2022 with no prepayment fee.
See Note 9 Short and Long-Term Funding of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional information on short-term and long-term funding. See Table 1 for additional information on average funding and rates.
Contractual Obligations, Commitments, Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, and Contingent Liabilities
The following table summarizes significant contractual obligations and other commitments at December 31, 2022, at those amounts contractually due to the recipient, including any unamortized premiums or discounts, hedge basis adjustments, or other similar carrying value adjustments.
Table 18 Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments
($ in Thousands) Note
Reference One Year
or Less One to
Three Years Three to
Five Years Over
Five Years Total
Time deposits 8 $ 1,545,286 $ 349,633 $ 35,233 $ 5 $ 1,930,158
Short-term funding 9 605,937 - - - 605,937
FHLB advances 9 3,125,476 393,121 605,366 195,899 4,319,861
Other long-term funding 9 86 247,779 182 23 248,071
Operating leases 7 5,517 9,239 7,521 6,080 28,357
Total $ 5,282,303 $ 999,771 $ 648,302 $ 202,006 $ 7,132,383
The Corporation also has obligations under its retirement plans, derivatives, and lending-related commitments as described in Note 12 Retirement Plans, Note 14 Derivative and Hedging Activities, and Note 16 Commitments, Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, and Legal Proceedings of the notes to consolidated financial statements, respectively. Further discussion of the nature of each obligation is included in the referenced note to the consolidated financial statements.
Liquidity
The objective of liquidity risk management is to ensure that the Corporation has the ability to generate sufficient cash or cash equivalents in a timely and cost effective manner to satisfy the cash flow requirements of depositors and borrowers and to meet its other commitments as they become due. The Corporation’s liquidity risk management process is designed to identify, measure, and manage the Corporation’s funding and liquidity risk to meet its daily funding needs in the ordinary course of business, as well as to address expected and unexpected changes in its funding requirements. The Corporation engages in various activities to manage its liquidity risk, including diversifying its funding sources, stress testing, and holding readily-marketable assets which can be used as a source of liquidity, if needed.
The Corporation performs dynamic scenario analysis in accordance with industry best practices. Measures have been established to ensure the Corporation has sufficient high quality short-term liquidity to meet cash flow requirements under stressed scenarios. In addition, the Corporation also reviews static measures such as deposit funding as a percent of total assets and liquid asset levels. Strong capital ratios, credit quality, and core earnings are also essential to maintaining cost effective access to wholesale funding markets. At December 31, 2022, the Corporation was in compliance with its internal liquidity objectives and had sufficient asset-based liquidity to meet its obligations even under a stressed scenario.
The Corporation maintains diverse and readily available liquidity sources, including:
•Investment securities, which are an important tool to the Corporation’s liquidity objective and can be pledged or sold to enhance liquidity, if necessary. See Note 3 Investment Securities of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional information on the Corporation's investment securities portfolio, including pledged investment securities.
•Pledgeable loan collateral, which is eligible collateral with both the Federal Reserve Bank and the FHLB under established lines of credit. Based on the amount of collateral pledged, the FHLB established a collateral value from which the Bank may draw advances, and issue letters of credit in favor of public fund depositors, against the collateral. As of December 31, 2022, the Bank had $958 million available for future funding. The Federal Reserve Bank also establishes a collateral value of assets to support borrowings from the discount window. As of December 31, 2022, the Bank had $607 million available for discount window borrowings.
•A $200 million Parent Company commercial paper program, of which $21 million was outstanding at December 31, 2022.
•Dividends and service fees from subsidiaries, as well as the proceeds from issuance of capital, which are also funding sources for the Parent Company.
•Acquisition related equity issuances by the Parent Company; the Corporation has filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC under which the Parent Company may, from time to time, offer shares of the Corporation’s common stock in connection with acquisitions of businesses, assets, or securities of other companies.
•Other issuances by the Parent Company; the Corporation maintains on file with the SEC a universal shelf registration statement, under which the Parent Company may offer the following securities, either separately or in units: debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock, and warrants.
•Bank issuances; the Bank may also issue institutional CDs, network transaction deposits, and brokered CDs.
•Global Bank Note Program issuances; the Bank has implemented a program pursuant to which it may from time to time offer up to $2.0 billion aggregate principal amount of its unsecured senior and subordinated notes.
Based on contractual obligations and ongoing operations, the Corporation's sources of liquidity are sufficient to meet present and future liquidity needs. See Table 18 for information about the Corporation's contractual obligations and other commitments.
Credit ratings impact the Corporation’s ability to issue debt securities and the cost to borrow money. Adverse changes in credit ratings impact not only the ability to raise funds in the capital markets but also the cost of these funds.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, net cash provided by operating and financing activities was $847 million and $4.0 billion, respectively, while investing activities used net cash of $5.3 billion, for a net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $404 million since year-end 2021. During 2022, total assets increased to $39.4 billion, up $4.3 billion compared to year-end 2021, primarily due to an increase of $4.6 billion in loans as a result of the execution of our strategic initiatives. On the funding side, deposits increased $1.2 billion, mainly driven by increases in money markets and time deposits of $1.1 billion and $583 million, respectively. Additionally, FHLB advances were up $2.7 billion to fund the loan growth that resulted from the execution of the strategic initiatives.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, net cash provided by operating and financing activities was $530 million and $1.4 billion, respectively, while investing activities used net cash of $1.6 billion, for a net increase in cash and cash equivalents of $309 million since year-end 2020. During 2021, total assets increased to $35.1 billion, up $1.7 billion compared to year-end 2020, primarily due to an increase of $1.6 billion in total investment securities, which was driven by the deployment of cash into higher yielding assets. On the funding side, deposits increased $2.0 billion, mainly driven by increases in demand deposits and savings deposits of $1.8 billion and $760 million, respectively. Additionally, total short and long-term funding was down $210 million. The decrease in funding was primarily driven by the redemption of the Bank's senior notes on July 13, 2021.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market risk and interest rate risk are managed centrally. Market risk is the potential for loss arising from adverse changes in the fair value of fixed-income securities, equity securities, other earning assets, and derivative financial instruments as a result of changes in interest rates or other factors. Interest rate risk is the potential for reduced net interest income resulting from adverse changes in the level of interest rates. As a financial institution that engages in transactions involving an array of financial products, the Corporation is exposed to both market risk and interest rate risk. In addition to market risk, interest rate risk is measured and managed through a number of methods. The Corporation uses financial modeling simulation techniques that measure the sensitivity of future earnings due to changing rate environments to measure interest rate risk.
Policies established by the Corporation’s ALCO and approved by the Board of Directors are intended to limit these risks. The Board has delegated day-to-day responsibility for managing market and interest rate risk to ALCO. The primary objectives of market risk management are to minimize any adverse effect that changes in market risk factors may have on net interest income and to offset the risk of price changes for certain assets recorded at fair value.
Interest Rate Risk
The primary goal of interest rate risk management is to control exposure to interest rate risk within policy limits approved by the Board of Directors. These limits and guidelines reflect the Corporation's risk appetite for interest rate risk over both short-term and long-term horizons. No interest rate limit breaches occurred during 2022.
The major sources of the Corporation's non-trading interest rate risk are timing differences in the maturity and re-pricing characteristics of assets and liabilities, changes in the shape of the yield curve, and the potential exercise of explicit or embedded options. We measure these risks and their impact by identifying and quantifying exposures through the use of sophisticated simulation and valuation models which are employed by management to understand NII at risk, interest rate sensitive EAR, and MVE at risk. The Corporation’s interest rate risk profile is such that, generally, a higher yield curve adds to
income while a lower yield curve has a negative impact on earnings. The Corporation's EAR profile is asset sensitive at December 31, 2022.
MVE and EAR are complementary interest rate risk metrics and should be viewed together. NII and EAR sensitivity capture asset and liability re-pricing mismatches for the first year inclusive of forecast balance sheet changes and are considered shorter term measures, while MVE sensitivity captures mismatches within the period end balance sheets through the financial instruments’ respective maturities and is considered a longer term measure.
A positive NII and EAR sensitivity in a rising rate environment indicates that over the forecast horizon of one year, asset-based income will increase more quickly than liability based expense due to the balance sheet composition. A negative MVE sensitivity in a rising rate environment indicates that the value of financial assets will decrease more than the value of financial liabilities.
One of the primary methods that we use to quantify and manage interest rate risk is simulation analysis, which we use to model NII and rate sensitive noninterest items from the Corporation’s balance sheet and derivative positions under various interest rate scenarios. As the future path of interest rates is not known with certainty, we use simulation analysis to project rate sensitive income under many scenarios including implied forward and deliberately extreme and perhaps unlikely scenarios. The analyses may include rapid and gradual ramping of interest rates, rate shocks, basis risk analysis, and yield curve twists. Specific balance sheet management strategies are also analyzed to determine their impact on NII and EAR.
Key assumptions in the simulation analysis (and in the valuation analysis discussed below) relate to the behavior of interest rates and pricing spreads, the changes in product balances, and the behavior of loan and deposit clients in different rate environments. This analysis incorporates several assumptions, the most material of which relate to the re-pricing characteristics and balance fluctuations of deposits with indeterminate or non-contractual maturities, and prepayment of loans and securities.
The sensitivity analysis included below is measured as a percentage change in NII and EAR due to gradual moves in benchmark interest rates from a baseline scenario over 12 months. We evaluate the sensitivity using: 1) a dynamic forecast incorporating expected growth in the balance sheet, and 2) a static forecast where the current balance sheet is held constant.
While a gradual shift in interest rates was used in this analysis to provide an estimate of exposure under a probable scenario, an instantaneous shift in interest rates would have a much more significant impact.
Table 19 Estimated % Change in Rate Sensitive EAR Over 12 Months
Dynamic Forecast
December 31, 2022 Static Forecast
December 31, 2022 Dynamic Forecast
December 31, 2021 Static Forecast
December 31, 2021
Gradual Rate Change
100 bp increase in interest rates 3.9% 3.4% 5.0% 5.4%
200 bp increase in interest rates 7.8% 6.8% 10.6% 11.7%
We also perform valuation analysis, which we use for discerning levels of risk present in the balance sheet and derivative positions that might not be taken into account in the NII simulation analysis. Whereas, NII and EAR simulation highlights exposures over a relatively short time horizon, valuation analysis incorporates all cash flows over the estimated remaining life of all balance sheet and derivative positions. The valuation of the balance sheet, at a point in time, is defined as the discounted present value of all asset cash flows and derivative cash flows, minus the discounted present value of all liability cash flows, the net of which is referred to as MVE. The sensitivity of MVE to changes in the level of interest rates is a measure of the longer-term re-pricing risk and options risk embedded in the balance sheet. Unlike the NII simulation, MVE uses instantaneous changes in rates. Additionally, MVE values only the current balance sheet and does not incorporate the growth assumptions that are used in the NII and EAR simulations. As with NII and EAR simulations, assumptions about the timing and variability of balance sheet cash flows are critical in the MVE analysis. Particularly important are the assumptions driving prepayments and the expected changes in balances and pricing of the indeterminate deposit portfolios. At December 31, 2022, the MVE profile indicates a decrease in net balance sheet value due to instantaneous upward changes in rates.
Table 20 Market Value of Equity Sensitivity
December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
Instantaneous Rate Change
100 bp increase in interest rates (4.2) % (1.8) %
200 bp increase in interest rates (8.2) % (3.7) %
Since MVE measures the discounted present value of cash flows over the estimated lives of instruments, the change in MVE does not directly correlate to the degree that earnings would be impacted over a shorter time horizon (i.e., the current year).
Further, MVE does not take into account factors such as future balance sheet growth, changes in product mix, changes in yield curve relationships, and changes in product spreads that could mitigate the adverse impact of changes in interest rates.
The above NII, EAR, and MVE measures do not include all actions that management may undertake to manage this risk in response to anticipated changes in interest rates.
In 2014, the Financial Stability Oversight Council and Financial Stability Board raised concerns about the reliability and robustness of LIBOR and called for the development of alternative interest rate benchmarks. The ARRC, through authority from the Federal Reserve, has selected the SOFR as the alternative rate and developed a paced transition plan which addresses the risk that LIBOR may not exist beyond June 2023.
As part of the Corporation's efforts to limit exposure to LIBOR based loans, performing borrowers can modify or refinance their residential mortgage loans to a fixed interest rate or an adjustable rate mortgage tied to the one-year treasury adjusted to a constant maturity of one year with an appropriate margin. This provides the Bank and borrower with greater certainty around the loan structure. The Bank has not booked a LIBOR adjustable rate mortgage since the first quarter of 2020.
Additionally, the Corporation has been monitoring its volume of commercial credits tied to LIBOR. In 2021, the Corporation began prioritizing SOFR, Prime and Ameribor as the preferred alternative reference rates and ceased booking LIBOR based commitments after the end of 2021. Loans with a maturity after June 2023 are being reviewed and monitored to ensure there is appropriate fallback language in place when LIBOR is no longer published. Loans with a maturity date before that time should naturally mature and be re-underwritten with an appropriate alternative index rate.
As of December 31, 2022, the notional amount of our LIBOR-referenced interest rate derivative contracts was $5.2 billion, all of which were entered specifically to accommodate customer needs.
The following table summarizes the outstanding LIBOR loan exposures at December 31, 2022 and the exposures based upon loan maturity at June 30, 2023.
Table 21 LIBOR Loan Exposure
December 31, 2022 June 30, 2023
($ in Thousands) Balance Commitment Contractual Commitment(a)
Commercial and industrial(b)
$ 569,641 $ 1,016,058 $ 892,336
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 308,505 326,166 299,747
Commercial and business lending 878,146 1,342,224 1,192,082
Commercial real estate - investor 2,157,628 2,268,502 1,959,320
Real estate construction 798,887 1,216,387 1,071,371
Commercial real estate lending 2,956,515 3,484,889 3,030,690
Total commercial 3,834,661 4,827,113 4,222,772
Residential mortgage 270,181 270,181 270,181
Other consumer 4,988 9,424 4,549
Total consumer 275,169 279,606 274,731
Total $ 4,109,830 $ 5,106,719 $ 4,497,503
(a) Based on current December 31, 2022 balances not factoring in amortization between December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2023.
(b) Includes asset-based lending.
Capital
Management actively reviews capital strategies for the Corporation and each of its subsidiaries in light of perceived business risks, future growth opportunities, industry standards, and compliance with regulatory requirements. The assessment of overall capital adequacy depends on a variety of factors, including asset quality, liquidity, stability of earnings, changing competitive forces, economic condition in markets served, and strength of management. At December 31, 2022, the capital ratios of the Corporation and its banking subsidiaries were in excess of regulatory minimum requirements. The Corporation’s capital ratios are summarized in the following table.
Table 22 Capital Ratios
As of December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Risk-based Capital(a)
CET1 $ 3,035,578 $ 2,808,289 $ 2,706,010
Tier 1 capital 3,229,690 3,001,074 3,058,809
Total capital 3,680,227 3,570,026 3,632,807
Total risk-weighted assets 32,472,008 27,242,735 25,903,415
Modified CECL transitional amount 67,276 89,702 117,624
CET1 capital ratio 9.35 % 10.31 % 10.45 %
Tier 1 capital ratio 9.95 % 11.02 % 11.81 %
Total capital ratio 11.33 % 13.10 % 14.02 %
Tier 1 leverage ratio 8.59 % 8.83 % 9.37 %
Selected Equity and Performance Ratios
Total stockholders’ equity / total assets 10.19 % 11.47 % 12.24 %
Dividend payout ratio(b)
34.32 % 34.55 % 38.50 %
Return on average assets 1.00 % 1.02 % 0.90 %
Noninterest expense / average assets 2.04 % 2.06 % 2.26 %
(a)The Federal Reserve establishes regulatory capital requirements, including well-capitalized standards for the Corporation. The Corporation follows Basel III, subject to certain transition provisions. These regulatory capital measurements are used by management, regulators, investors, and analysts to assess, monitor and compare the quality and composition of the Corporation's capital with the capital of other financial services companies.
(b) Ratio is based upon basic earnings per common share.
See Part II, Item 5, Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities, for information on the shares repurchased during the fourth quarter of 2022.
During the second quarter of 2021, the Corporation redeemed all outstanding Series C Preferred Stock, for $65 million.
During the third quarter of 2021, the Corporation redeemed all outstanding Series D Preferred Stock, for $99 million.
Table 23 Non-GAAP Measures
At or for the Year Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Selected equity and performance ratios(a)(b)(c)
Tangible common equity / tangible assets 6.97 % 7.86 % 7.94 % 7.71 % 7.04 %
Return on average equity 9.21 % 8.60 % 7.78 % 8.44 % 9.03 %
Return on average tangible common equity 13.77 % 12.99 % 12.31 % 13.53 % 14.33 %
Return on average CET1 12.23 % 12.08 % 11.23 % 12.59 % 13.15 %
Return on average tangible assets 1.05 % 1.07 % 0.95 % 1.05 % 1.07 %
Average stockholders' equity / average assets 10.84 % 11.84 % 11.51 % 11.72 % 11.19 %
Tangible common equity reconciliation(a)
Common equity $ 3,821,378 $ 3,831,658 $ 3,737,421 $ 3,665,407 $ 3,524,171
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net (1,154,274) (1,163,085) (1,177,554) (1,264,531) (1,244,859)
Tangible common equity $ 2,667,104 $ 2,668,573 $ 2,559,867 $ 2,400,876 $ 2,279,312
Tangible assets reconciliation(a)
Total assets $ 39,405,727 $ 35,104,253 $ 33,419,783 $ 32,386,478 $ 33,615,122
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net (1,154,274) (1,163,085) (1,177,554) (1,264,531) (1,244,859)
Tangible assets $ 38,251,453 $ 33,941,167 $ 32,242,230 $ 31,121,947 $ 32,370,263
Average tangible common equity and average CET1 reconciliation(a)
Common equity $ 3,781,658 $ 3,789,331 $ 3,633,259 $ 3,615,153 $ 3,505,075
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net (1,158,829) (1,168,560) (1,227,561) (1,256,668) (1,209,311)
Tangible common equity 2,622,829 2,620,771 2,405,698 2,358,485 2,295,764
Modified CECL transitional amount 67,276 102,307 115,052 N/A N/A
Accumulated other comprehensive loss 174,208 1,234 2,643 68,946 117,408
Deferred tax assets, net 34,361 40,011 43,789 46,980 41,747
Average CET1 $ 2,898,675 $ 2,764,323 $ 2,567,182 $ 2,474,411 $ 2,454,919
Average tangible assets reconciliation(a)
Total assets $ 36,657,932 $ 34,464,257 $ 34,265,207 $ 33,046,604 $ 33,007,859
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net (1,158,829) (1,168,560) (1,227,561) (1,256,668) (1,209,311)
Tangible assets $ 35,499,103 $ 33,295,697 $ 33,037,646 $ 31,789,936 $ 31,798,548
Adjusted net income reconciliation(b)
Net income $ 366,122 $ 350,994 $ 306,771 $ 326,790 $ 333,562
Other intangible amortization, net of tax 6,608 6,633 7,644 7,461 6,119
Adjusted net income $ 372,730 $ 357,627 $ 314,415 $ 334,251 $ 339,682
Adjusted net income available to common equity reconciliation(b)
Net income available to common equity $ 354,622 $ 333,883 $ 288,413 $ 311,587 $ 322,779
Other intangible amortization, net of tax 6,608 6,633 7,644 7,461 6,119
Adjusted net income available to common equity $ 361,230 $ 340,516 $ 296,057 $ 319,049 $ 328,898
Efficiency ratio reconciliation(d)
Federal Reserve efficiency ratio 60.36 % 66.33 % 61.76 % 65.38 % 66.23 %
Fully tax-equivalent adjustment (0.92) % (1.04) % (0.77) % (0.85) % (0.71) %
Other intangible amortization (0.71) % (0.84) % (0.80) % (0.82) % (0.66) %
Fully tax-equivalent efficiency ratio 58.74 % 64.47 % 60.20 % 63.72 % 64.87 %
Provision for unfunded commitments adjustment 0.08 % 0.74 % (0.55) % 0.20 % 0.20 %
Asset gains, net adjustment 0.06 % 0.67 % 8.20 % 0.14 % - %
Acquisitions, branch sales, and initiatives (0.14) % (0.53) % (5.08) % (0.60) % (2.42) %
Adjusted efficiency ratio 58.75 % 65.36 % 62.76 % 63.47 % 62.65 %
(a) Tangible common equity and tangible assets exclude goodwill and other intangible assets, net.
(b) Adjusted net income and adjusted net income available to common equity, which are used in the calculation of return on average tangible assets and return on average tangible common equity, respectively, add back other intangible amortization, net of tax.
(c) These capital measurements are used by management, regulators, investors, and analysts to assess, monitor, and compare the quality and composition of our capital with the capital of other financial services companies.
(d) The efficiency ratio as defined by the Federal Reserve guidance is noninterest expense (which includes the provision for unfunded commitments) divided by the sum of net interest income plus noninterest income, excluding investment securities gains (losses), net. The fully tax-equivalent efficiency ratio is noninterest expense (which includes the provision for unfunded commitments), excluding other intangible amortization, divided by the sum of fully tax-equivalent net interest income plus noninterest income, excluding investment securities gains (losses), net. The adjusted efficiency ratio is noninterest expense, which excludes the provision for unfunded commitments, other intangible amortization, acquisition related costs, and announced initiatives, divided by the sum of fully tax-equivalent net interest income plus noninterest income, excluding investment securities gains (losses), net, acquisition related costs, asset gains, net, and gain on sale of branches, net. Management believes the adjusted efficiency ratio is a meaningful measure as it enhances the comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources and provides a better measure as to how the Corporation is managing its expenses by adjusting for acquisition related costs, provision for unfunded commitments, asset gains, net, branch sales, and announced initiatives.
See Note 10 Stockholders' Equity and Note 19 Regulatory Matters of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional capital disclosures.
Segment Review
As discussed in Note 21 Segment Reporting of the notes to consolidated financial statements, the Corporation’s reportable segments have been determined based upon its internal profitability reporting system, which is organized by strategic business unit. Certain strategic business units have been combined for segment information reporting purposes where the nature of the products and services, the type of customer, and the distribution of those products and services are similar. The reportable segments are Corporate and Commercial Specialty; Community, Consumer and Business; and Risk Management and Shared Services. The financial information of the Corporation’s segments was compiled utilizing the accounting policies described in Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 21 Segment Reporting of the notes to consolidated financial statements.
FTP is an important tool for managing the Corporation’s balance sheet structure and measuring risk-adjusted profitability. By appropriately allocating the cost of funding and contingent liquidity to business units, the FTP process improves product pricing which influences the volume and terms of new business and helps to optimize the risk/reward profile of the balance sheet. This process helps align the Corporation’s funding and contingent liquidity risk with its risk appetite and complements broader liquidity and interest rate risk management programs. FTP methodologies are designed to promote more resilient, sustainable business models and centralize the management of funding and contingent liquidity risks. Through FTP, the Corporation transfers these risks to a central management function that can take advantage of natural off-sets, centralized hedging activities, and a broader view of these risks across business units. The net FTP allocation is reflected as net intersegment interest income (expense) shown in Note 21 Segment Reporting of the notes to consolidated financial statements.
Table 24 Selected Segment Financial Data
Year Ended December 31, Change From Prior Year
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020 % Change 2021 % Change 2020
Corporate and Commercial Specialty
Total revenue $ 608,956 $ 544,980 $ 530,321 12 % 3 %
Provision for credit losses 49,543 60,311 56,409 (18) % 7 %
Noninterest expense 234,234 219,655 200,856 7 % 9 %
Income tax expense 59,000 46,906 50,537 26 % (7) %
Net income 266,179 218,109 222,519 22 % (2) %
Average earning assets 15,612,427 14,081,550 13,747,351 11 % 2 %
Average loans 15,605,330 14,080,819 13,744,625 11 % 2 %
Average deposits 9,266,194 8,761,290 8,635,793 6 % 1 %
Average allocated capital (Average CET1)(a)
1,558,356 1,412,016 1,364,550 10 % 3 %
Return on average allocated capital(a)
17.08 % 15.45 % 16.31 % 163 bp -86 bp
Community, Consumer, and Business
Total revenue $ 617,737 $ 502,925 $ 559,796 23 % (10) %
Provision for credit losses 20,755 20,622 25,233 1 % (18) %
Noninterest expense 416,742 401,053 441,527 4 % (9) %
Income tax expense 37,850 17,063 19,537 122 % (13) %
Net income 142,389 64,188 73,498 122 % (13) %
Average earning assets 10,075,700 9,276,248 9,895,992 9 % (6) %
Average loans 10,075,700 9,276,248 9,895,992 9 % (6) %
Average deposits 18,519,253 17,910,434 15,814,585 3 % 13 %
Average allocated capital (Average CET1)(a)
610,181 539,815 597,678 13 % (10) %
Return on average allocated capital(a)
23.34 % 11.89 % 12.30 % N/M -41 bp
Risk Management and Shared Services
Total revenue(b)
$ 12,999 $ 10,314 $ 186,896 26 % (94) %
Provision for credit losses (37,300) (168,944) 92,365 (78) % N/M
Noninterest expense (c)
96,088 89,216 133,651 8 % (33) %
Income tax expense (benefit)(d)
(3,342) 21,345 (49,874) N/M N/M
Net income (42,447) 68,697 10,754 N/M N/M
Average earning assets 7,864,756 7,750,818 7,175,219 1 % 8 %
Average loans 519,312 700,913 897,030 (26) % (22) %
Average deposits 971,738 1,021,690 1,557,307 (5) % (34) %
Average allocated capital (Average CET1)(a)
730,137 812,492 604,954 (10) % 34 %
Return on average allocated capital(a)
(7.39) % 6.35 % (1.26) % N/M N/M
Consolidated Total
Total revenue(b)
$ 1,239,691 $ 1,058,219 $ 1,277,012 17 % (17) %
Return on average allocated capital(a)
12.23 % 12.08 % 11.23 % 15 bp 85 bp
N/M = Not Meaningful
(a) The Federal Reserve establishes capital adequacy requirements for the Corporation, including CET1. For segment reporting purposes, the ROCET1 reflects return on average allocated CET1. The ROCET1 for the Risk Management and Shared Services segment and the Consolidated Total is inclusive of the annualized effect of the preferred stock dividends.
(b) For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Corporation recognized a $163 million asset gain related to the sale of ABRC.
(c) The Risk Management and Shared Services segment incurred a loss of $45 million on the prepayment of FHLB advances during the third quarter of 2020.
(d) The Corporation has recognized $63 million in tax benefits for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Segment Review 2022 Compared to 2021
The Corporate and Commercial Specialty segment consists of lending and deposit solutions to larger businesses, developers, not-for-profits, municipalities, and financial institutions, and the support to deliver, fund, and manage such banking solutions. In addition, this segment provides a variety of investment, fiduciary, and retirement planning products and services to individuals and small to mid-sized businesses. During the first quarter of 2021, the Corporation sold its wealth management subsidiary, Whitnell.
•Revenue increased $64 million from the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily driven by increased interest income due to higher loan balances and interest rates, partially offset by a decrease in noninterest income mostly due to decreases in asset gains, net as a result of gains on private equity investments in 2021 and lower wealth management fees driven by lower market valuations.
•Provision for credit losses decreased $11 million from the year ended December 31, 2021, due to improving credit quality.
•Average loan balances increased $1.5 billion from the year ended December 31, 2021, as a result of increased loan balances across all loan portfolios.
•Average deposit balances increased $505 million from the year ended December 31, 2021, driven by growth in interest-bearing deposit accounts and money market accounts.
The Community, Consumer, and Business segment consists of lending and deposit solutions to individuals and small to mid-sized businesses.
•Revenue increased $115 million from the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to growing deposits and increased interest rates which led to a higher allocation of FTP credits to this segment, partially offset by a decrease in mortgage banking, net due to slowing refinance activity and higher retention of mortgages on our balance sheet.
•Average loan balances increased $799 million from the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily driven by growth within auto finance and residential mortgage lending.
•Average deposit balances increased $609 million from the year ended December 31, 2021, largely driven by increased savings account and interest-bearing deposit balances.
The Risk Management and Shared Services segment includes key shared Corporate functions, Parent Company activity, intersegment eliminations, and residual revenues and expenses.
•Provision for credit losses increased $132 million from the year ended December 31, 2021, due to loan growth during 2022 and a higher release of provision in 2021 as economic forecast models following the COVID-19 pandemic became more positive and less uncertain.
•Noninterest expense increased $7 million from the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to an increase in management incentive plan expenses.
Critical Accounting Estimates
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and revenues and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. The determination of the ACLL is particularly susceptible to significant change.
The consolidated financial statements of the Corporation are prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP and follow general practices within the industries in which it operates. This preparation requires management to make estimates, assumptions, and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates, assumptions, and judgments are based on information available as of the date of the financial statements; accordingly, as this information changes, actual results could differ from the estimates, assumptions, and judgments reflected in the financial statements. Certain estimates inherently have a greater reliance on the use of assumptions and judgments and, as such, have a greater possibility of producing results that could be materially different than originally reported. Management believes the following estimate is both important to the portrayal of the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations and requires subjective or complex judgments and, therefore, management considers the following to be a critical accounting estimate. This critical accounting estimate is discussed directly with the Audit Committee of the Corporation’s Board of Directors.
Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans: Management’s evaluation process used to determine the appropriateness of the ACLL is subject to the use of estimates, assumptions, and judgments. The evaluation process combines many factors: management’s ongoing review and grading of the loan portfolio using a dual risk rating system leveraging probability of default and loss given default, consideration of historical loan loss and delinquency experience, trends in past due and nonaccrual loans, risk characteristics of the various classifications of loans, concentrations of loans to specific borrowers or industries, existing economic conditions and forecasts, the fair value of underlying collateral, and other qualitative and quantitative factors which could affect future credit losses. The Corporation uses Moody's baseline economic forecast within its model. Because current economic conditions and forecasts can change and future events are inherently difficult to predict, the anticipated amount of estimated credit losses on loans, and therefore the appropriateness of the ACLL, could change significantly. It is difficult to estimate how potential changes in any one economic factor or input might affect the overall allowance because a wide variety of factors and inputs are considered in estimating the allowance and changes in those factors and inputs considered may not
occur at the same rate and may not be consistent across all product types. Additionally, changes in factors and inputs may be directionally inconsistent, such that improvement in one factor may offset deterioration in others. As an integral part of their examination process, various regulatory agencies also review the ACLL. Such agencies may require additions to the ACLL or may require that certain loan balances be charged off or downgraded into criticized loan categories when their credit evaluations differ from those of management, based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination. A large driver to the ACLL is the overall credit quality of the underlying credits. Deterioration or improvement in credit quality could have a significant impact on the overall level of ACLL. At December 31, 2022, a 10% change in criticized rated credits would result in a +/- 2 bp change in the ACLL to total loans ratio. The Corporation believes the level of the ACLL is appropriate. See Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 4 Loans of the notes to consolidated financial statements as well as the Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans section.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Information required by this item is set forth in Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, under the captions Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk and Interest Rate Risk.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31,
(In Thousands, except share and per share data) 2022 2021
Assets
Cash and due from banks $ 436,952 $ 343,831
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions 156,693 681,684
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell 27,810 -
AFS investment securities, at fair value 2,742,025 4,332,015
HTM investment securities, net, at amortized cost 3,960,398 2,238,947
Equity securities 25,216 18,352
Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stocks, at cost 295,496 168,281
Residential loans held for sale 20,383 136,638
Loans 28,799,569 24,224,949
Allowance for loan losses (312,720) (280,015)
Loans, net 28,486,849 23,944,934
Tax credit and other investments 276,773 293,733
Premises and equipment, net 376,906 385,173
Bank and corporate owned life insurance 676,530 680,021
Goodwill 1,104,992 1,104,992
Other intangible assets, net 49,282 58,093
Mortgage servicing rights, net(a)
77,351 54,862
Interest receivable 144,449 80,528
Other assets 547,621 582,168
Total assets $ 39,405,727 $ 35,104,253
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits $ 7,760,811 $ 8,504,077
Interest-bearing deposits 21,875,343 19,962,353
Total deposits 29,636,154 28,466,430
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase 585,139 319,532
Commercial paper 20,798 34,730
FHLB advances 4,319,861 1,621,047
Other long-term funding 248,071 249,324
Allowance for unfunded commitments 38,776 39,776
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 541,438 348,560
Total liabilities $ 35,390,237 $ 31,079,399
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred equity $ 194,112 $ 193,195
Common equity
Common stock $ 1,752 $ 1,752
Surplus 1,712,733 1,713,851
Retained earnings 2,904,882 2,672,601
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) (272,799) (10,317)
Treasury stock, at cost (525,190) (546,229)
Total common equity 3,821,378 3,831,658
Total stockholders’ equity 4,015,490 4,024,853
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 39,405,727 $ 35,104,253
Preferred shares authorized (par value $1.00 per share) 750,000 750,000
Preferred shares issued and outstanding 200,000 200,000
Common shares authorized (par value $0.01 per share) 250,000,000 250,000,000
Common shares issued 175,216,409 175,216,409
Common shares outstanding 150,444,019 149,342,641
(a) MSRs at December 31, 2021 were carried at LOCOM. On January 1, 2022, the Corporation made the irrevocable election to account for MSRs at fair value.
Numbers may not sum due to rounding.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
Consolidated Statements of Income
For the Years Ended December 31,
(In Thousands, except per share data) 2022 2021 2020
Interest income
Interest and fees on loans $ 992,642 $ 693,729 $ 785,241
Interest and dividends on investment securities
Taxable 75,444 37,916 59,806
Tax-exempt 65,691 58,710 58,320
Other interest 11,475 7,833 9,473
Total interest income 1,145,252 798,189 912,840
Interest expense
Interest on deposits 98,309 18,622 67,639
Interest on federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase 3,480 143 485
Interest on other short-term funding 2 22 51
Interest on PPPLF - - 1,984
Interest on FHLB advances 75,487 36,493 57,359
Interest on long-term funding 10,653 17,053 22,365
Total interest expense 187,931 72,334 149,883
Net interest income 957,321 725,855 762,957
Provision for credit losses 32,998 (88,011) 174,006
Net interest income after provision for credit losses 924,323 813,866 588,950
Noninterest income
Wealth management fees 84,122 89,854 84,957
Service charges and deposit account fees 62,310 64,406 56,307
Card-based fees 44,014 43,014 38,534
Other fee-based revenue 15,903 17,086 19,238
Capital markets, net 29,917 30,602 27,966
Mortgage banking, net 18,873 50,751 45,580
Bank and corporate owned life insurance 11,431 13,254 13,771
Asset gains, net(a)
1,338 11,009 155,589
Investment securities gains (losses), net 3,746 (16) 9,222
Gains on sale of branches, net(b)
- 1,038 7,449
Other(c)
10,715 11,366 55,445
Total noninterest income 282,370 332,364 514,056
Noninterest expense
Personnel 454,101 426,687 432,151
Technology 90,700 81,689 81,214
Occupancy 59,794 63,513 64,064
Business development and advertising 25,525 21,149 18,428
Equipment 19,632 21,104 21,705
Legal and professional 18,250 21,923 21,546
Loan and foreclosure costs 5,925 8,143 12,600
FDIC assessment 22,650 18,150 20,350
Other intangible amortization 8,811 8,844 10,192
Loss on prepayments of FHLB advances - - 44,650
Other 41,675 38,721 49,135
Total noninterest expense 747,063 709,924 776,034
Income before income taxes 459,630 436,307 326,972
Income tax expense 93,508 85,313 20,200
Net income 366,122 350,994 306,771
Preferred stock dividends 11,500 17,111 18,358
Net income available to common equity $ 354,622 $ 333,883 $ 288,413
Earnings per common share
Basic $ 2.36 $ 2.20 $ 1.87
Diluted $ 2.34 $ 2.18 $ 1.86
Average common shares outstanding
Basic 149,162 150,773 153,005
Diluted 150,496 151,987 153,642
Numbers may not sum due to rounding.
(a) The year ended December 31, 2020 includes a gain of $163 million from the sale of ABRC. See Note 2 Acquisitions and Dispositions for additional details on the sale of ABRC.
(b) Includes the deposit premium on the sale of branches net of miscellaneous costs to sell. See Note 2 Acquisitions and Dispositions for additional details on the branch sales.
(c) Includes insurance commissions and fees, which were elevated prior to the sale of ABRC.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Net income $ 366,122 $ 350,994 $ 306,771
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
AFS investment securities
Net unrealized gains (losses) (250,273) (63,714) 55,628
Unrealized (losses) on AFS securities transferred to HTM securities (67,604) - -
Amortization of net unrealized losses on AFS securities transferred to HTM securities 9,870 1,551 3,359
Reclassification adjustment for net losses (gains) realized in net income
1,922 16 (9,222)
Income tax (expense) benefit 78,159 15,557 (12,429)
Other comprehensive income (loss) on investment securities AFS (227,926) (46,591) 37,336
Cash flow hedge derivatives
Net unrealized gains 3,626 - -
Reclassification adjustment for net (gains) realized in net income (212) - -
Income tax (expense) (54) - -
Other comprehensive income on cash flow hedge derivatives 3,360 - -
Defined benefit pension and postretirement obligations
Amortization of prior service cost (325) (148) (148)
Plan amendments - 1,494 -
Net actuarial gain (loss) (51,745) 25,519 7,780
Amortization of actuarial loss 658 4,594 3,897
Income tax (expense) benefit 13,495 (7,803) (3,064)
Other comprehensive income (loss) on pension and postretirement obligations (37,917) 23,656 8,465
Total other comprehensive income (loss) (262,483) (22,935) 45,801
Comprehensive income $ 103,639 $ 328,059 $ 352,572
Numbers may not sum due to rounding.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
(In Thousands, except per share data) Preferred Equity Common Stock
Shares Amount Shares Amount Surplus Retained
Earnings Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss) Treasury Stock Total
Balance, December 31, 2019 264 $ 256,716 175,216 $ 1,752 $ 1,716,431 $ 2,380,867 $ (33,183) $ (400,460) $ 3,922,124
Cumulative effect of ASU 2016-13 adoption (CECL) - - - - - (98,337) - - (98,337)
Total stockholders' equity at beginning of period, as adjusted 264 $ 256,716 175,216 $ 1,752 $ 1,716,431 $ 2,282,530 $ (33,183) $ (400,460) $ 3,823,787
Comprehensive income:
Net income - - - - - 306,771 - - 306,771
Other comprehensive income - - - - - - 45,801 - 45,801
Comprehensive income $ 352,572
Issuance of preferred stock 100 96,796 - - - - - - 96,796
Common stock issued:
Stock-based compensation plans, net
- - - - (17,663) - - 21,629 3,966
Purchase of treasury stock, open market purchases - - - - - - - (71,255) (71,255)
Purchase of treasury stock, stock-based compensation plans - - - - - - - (6,113) (6,113)
Cash dividends:
Common stock, $0.72 per share - - - - - (112,023) - - (112,023)
Preferred stock(a)
- - - - - (18,358) - - (18,358)
Stock-based compensation expense, net - - - - 21,561 - - - 21,561
Balance, December 31, 2020 364 $ 353,512 175,216 $ 1,752 $ 1,720,329 $ 2,458,920 $ 12,618 $ (456,198) $ 4,090,933
Comprehensive income:
Net income - - - - - 350,994 - - 350,994
Other comprehensive (loss) - - - - - - (22,935) - (22,935)
Comprehensive income $ 328,059
Redemption of preferred stock (164) (160,317) - - - (4,141) - - (164,458)
Common stock issued:
Stock-based compensation plans, net
- - - - (22,069) - - 47,771 25,702
Purchase of treasury stock, open market purchases - - - - - - - (132,955) (132,955)
Purchase of treasury stock, stock-based compensation plans - - - - - - - (4,847) (4,847)
Cash dividends:
Common stock, $0.76 per share - - - - - (116,061) - - (116,061)
Preferred stock(b)
- - - - - (17,111) - - (17,111)
Stock-based compensation expense, net - - - - 15,591 - - - 15,591
Balance, December 31, 2021 200 $ 193,195 175,216 $ 1,752 $ 1,713,851 $ 2,672,601 $ (10,317) $ (546,229) $ 4,024,853
Change in accounting principle(d)
- - - - - 1,713 - - 1,713
Total stockholders' equity at beginning of period, as adjusted 200 $ 193,195 175,216 $ 1,752 $ 1,713,851 $ 2,674,314 $ (10,317) $ (546,229) $ 4,026,566
Comprehensive income:
Net income - - - - - 366,122 - - $ 366,122
Other comprehensive (loss) - - - - - - (262,483) - (262,483)
Comprehensive income $ 103,639
Common stock issued:
Stock-based compensation plans, net
- - - - (17,397) - - 28,458 11,061
Purchase of treasury stock, stock-based compensation plans - - - - - - - (6,480) (6,480)
Cash dividends:
Common stock, $0.81 per share - - - - - (123,137) - - (123,137)
Preferred stock(c)
- - - - - (11,500) - - (11,500)
Stock-based compensation expense, net - - - - 16,280 - - - 16,280
Other - 916 - - - (916) - (938) (938)
Balance, December 31, 2022 200 $ 194,112 175,216 $ 1,752 $ 1,712,733 $ 2,904,882 $ (272,799) $ (525,190) $ 4,015,490
Numbers may not sum due to rounding.
(a) Series C, $1.53125 per share; Series D, $1.34375 per share; Series E, $1.46875 per share; and Series F, $0.7881181 per share.
(b) Series C, $0.70252 per share; Series D, $0.95613per share; Series E, $1.46875 per share; and Series F, $1.40625 per share.
(c) Series E, $1.46875 per share; and Series F, $1.40625 per share.
(d) MSRs at December 31, 2021 were carried at LOCOM. On January 1, 2022, the Corporation made the irrevocable election to account for MSRs at fair value.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income $ 366,122 $ 350,994 $ 306,771
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for credit losses 32,998 (88,011) 174,006
Depreciation and amortization 45,088 46,508 50,567
Change in MSRs valuation(a)
(22,264) (16,186) 17,704
Amortization of other intangible assets 8,811 8,844 10,192
Amortization and accretion on earning assets, funding, and other, net 14,980 15,088 25,028
Net amortization of tax credit investments 34,684 34,070 25,556
Losses (gains) on sales of investment securities, net 1,674 16 (9,222)
Asset (gains), net (1,338) (11,009) (155,589)
(Gains) on sale of branches, net - (1,038) (7,449)
(Gain) loss on mortgage banking activities, net 3,654 (39,106) (59,379)
Mortgage loans originated and acquired for sale (600,114) (1,749,556) (1,642,135)
Proceeds from sales of mortgage loans held for sale 715,035 1,774,791 1,959,571
Changes in certain assets and liabilities
(Increase) decrease in interest receivable (63,921) 9,735 933
(Decrease) increase in interest payable 12,608 (10,675) (11,385)
(Decrease) increase in expense payable (5,297) 24,645 (29,057)
(Decrease) increase in net derivative position 269,774 120,418 (113,760)
Net change in other assets and other liabilities 34,072 60,025 7,666
Net cash provided by operating activities 846,566 529,551 550,020
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Net decrease (increase) in loans (4,579,431) 198,631 (1,640,524)
Purchases of
AFS securities (959,977) (2,744,244) (1,648,938)
HTM securities (301,052) (622,485) (125,480)
Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stocks and equity securities (128,620) (2,760) (84,152)
Premises, equipment, and software, net of disposals (62,711) (52,281) (54,682)
Other intangibles - - (200)
Proceeds from
Sales of AFS securities 110,177 158,708 626,283
Sales of Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stocks and equity securities 528 35 144,000
Prepayments, calls, and maturities of AFS securities 494,197 1,216,657 1,343,056
Prepayments, calls, and maturities of HTM securities 196,605 299,761 449,078
Sales, prepayments, calls and maturities of other assets 33,795 29,833 27,964
Net cash received in business segment sale - 2,415 256,511
Net change in tax credit and alternative investments (58,323) (68,455) (55,134)
Net cash (paid) in acquisitions - - (31,518)
Net cash (used in) investing activities (5,254,811) (1,584,186) (793,737)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net increase in deposits 1,169,983 2,015,423 2,497,378
Net decrease in deposits due to branch sales - (31,083) (222,878)
Net increase (decrease) in short-term funding 251,674 101,946 (238,655)
Net increase (decrease) in short-term FHLB advances 3,125,000 - (520,000)
Repayment of long-term FHLB advances (413,558) (18,437) (1,040,972)
Proceeds from long-term FHLB advances 1,775 6,950 4,215
(Repayment) proceeds of finance lease principal 306 (965) (1,081)
Repayment of senior notes - (300,000) -
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock - - 96,796
Proceeds from issuance of common stock for stock-based compensation plans 11,061 25,702 3,966
Redemption of preferred shares - (164,458) -
Purchase of treasury stock, open market purchases - (132,955) (71,255)
Purchase of treasury stock, stock-based compensation plans (6,480) (4,847) (6,113)
Cash dividends on common stock (123,137) (116,061) (112,023)
Cash dividends on preferred stock (11,500) (17,111) (18,358)
Other (938) - -
Net cash provided by financing activities 4,004,185 1,364,102 371,020
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (404,060) 309,467 127,304
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 1,025,515 716,048 588,744
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period(b)
$ 621,455 $ 1,025,515 $ 716,048
Numbers may not sum due to rounding.
(a) On January 1, 2022, the Corporation made the irrevocable election to account for MSRs at fair value. For all prior periods, MSRs were carried at LOCOM.
(b) No restricted cash due to the Federal Reserve reducing the required reserve ratio to zero.
ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid for interest $ 174,675 $ 81,604 $ 159,291
Cash paid for income and franchise taxes 18,395 57,728 17,734
Loans and bank premises transferred to OREO 5,591 35,553 19,261
Capitalized mortgage servicing rights 7,279 16,151 13,667
Loans transferred into held for sale from portfolio, net 18 6,010 264,570
Transfer of AFS securities to HTM securities 1,621,990 - -
Unsettled trades to purchase securities - 4,459 -
Write-up of equity securities without readily determinable fair values 5,690 - -
Fair value adjustments on hedged long-term FHLB advances and subordinated debt 16,163 - -
Fair value adjustment on cash flow hedge 3,360 - -
Acquisitions
Fair value of assets acquired, including cash and cash equivalents - - 456,480
Fair value ascribed to goodwill and intangible assets - - 23,548
Fair value of liabilities assumed - - 480,028
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020
Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The accounting and reporting policies of the Corporation conform to U.S. GAAP and to general practice within the financial services industry. The following is a description of the more significant of those policies.
Business
Associated Banc-Corp is a bank holding company headquartered in Wisconsin. The Corporation provides a full range of banking and related financial services to consumer and commercial customers through its network of bank and nonbank subsidiaries. The Corporation is subject to competition from other financial and non-financial institutions that offer similar or competing products and services. The Corporation is regulated by federal and state agencies and is subject to periodic examinations by those agencies.
Basis of Financial Statement Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Parent Company and its subsidiaries. Investments in unconsolidated entities (none of which are considered to be variable interest entities in which the Corporation is the primary beneficiary) are accounted for using the cost method of accounting when the Corporation has determined that the cost method is appropriate. Investments not meeting the criteria for cost method accounting are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Investments in unconsolidated entities are included in tax credit and other investments on the consolidated balance sheets, and the Corporation’s share of income or loss is recorded in other noninterest income, while distributions in excess of the investment are recorded in asset gains, net.
All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and revenues and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. The determination of the ACLL is particularly susceptible to significant change. Management has evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition or disclosure. Within the tables presented, certain columns and rows may not sum due to the use of rounded numbers for disclosure purposes.
Investment Securities
Securities are classified as HTM, AFS, or equity on the consolidated balance sheets at the time of purchase. Investment securities classified as HTM, which management has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity, are reported at amortized cost. Investment securities classified as AFS, which management has the intent and ability to hold for an indefinite period of time, but not necessarily to maturity, are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of related deferred income taxes, included in stockholders’ equity as a separate component of OCI. Investment securities classified as equity securities are carried at fair value with changes in fair value immediately reflected in the consolidated statements of income. Any decision to sell AFS securities would be based on various factors, including, but not limited to, asset/liability management strategies, changes in interest rates or prepayment risks, liquidity needs, or regulatory capital considerations. Realized gains or losses on investment security sales (using specific identification method) are included in investment securities gains (losses), net, on the consolidated statements of income. Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted into interest income over the estimated life (earlier of call date, maturity, or estimated life) of the related security, using a prospective method that approximates level yield.
In certain situations, management may elect to transfer certain investment securities from the AFS classification to the HTM classification. In such cases, the investment securities are reclassified at fair value at the time of transfer. Any unrealized gain or loss included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at the time of transfer is retained therein and amortized over the remaining life of the investment security as an adjustment to yield.
Management measures expected credit losses on HTM securities on a collective basis by major security type. Accrued interest receivable on HTM securities is excluded from the estimate of credit losses. The estimate of expected credit losses considers historical credit loss information that is adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts and is included in HTM investment securities, net, at amortized cost on the consolidated balance sheets.
For AFS securities, the Corporation evaluates whether any 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, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that 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 value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses on investments 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 an allowance for credit losses on investments is recognized in OCI.
Changes in the allowance for credit losses on investments are recorded as provision for, or reversal of, credit loss expense. Losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the AFS security is uncollectible or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met. Accrued interest receivable on AFS securities is excluded from the estimate of credit losses. See Note 3 for additional information on investment securities.
FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank Stocks
The Corporation is required to maintain Federal Reserve Bank stock and FHLB stock as a member of both the Federal Reserve System and the FHLB, and in amounts as required by these institutions. These equity securities are “restricted” in that they can only be sold back to the respective institutions or another member institution at par. Therefore, they are less liquid than other marketable equity securities and their fair value is equal to amortized cost. See Note 3 for additional information on the FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank Stocks.
Loans Held for Sale
Residential Loans Held for Sale: Residential loans held for sale, which consist generally of current production of certain fixed-rate, first-lien residential mortgage loans, are carried at estimated fair value. As a result of holding these loans at fair value, changes in the secondary market are reflected in earnings immediately, as opposed to being dependent upon the timing of sales. The estimated fair value is based on what secondary markets are currently offering for portfolios with similar characteristics.
Commercial Loans Held for Sale: Commercial loans held for sale are carried at LOCOM. The estimated fair value is based on a discounted cash flow analysis.
Loans
Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay-off are reported at their outstanding principal balances, net of any deferred fees and costs on originated loans. Origination fee income received on loans and amounts representing the estimated direct costs of origination are deferred and amortized to interest income over the life of the loan using the effective interest method. An ACLL is established for estimated credit losses in the loan portfolio. See Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans below for further policy discussion. See Note 4 for additional information on loans.
Nonaccrual Loans: Management considers a loan to be nonaccrual when it believes it will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the original contractual terms of the note agreement, including both principal and interest.
Interest income on loans is based on the principal balance outstanding computed using the effective interest method. The accrual of interest income for commercial loans is discontinued when there is a clear indication that the borrower’s cash flow may not be sufficient to meet payments as they become due, while the accrual of interest income for consumer loans is discontinued when loans reach specific delinquency levels. Loans are considered past due if the required principal and interest payments have not been received as of the date such payments were due. Loans are generally placed on nonaccrual status when contractually past due 90 days or more as to interest or principal payments, unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection. Additionally, whenever management becomes aware of facts or circumstances that may adversely impact the collectability of principal or interest on loans, it is management’s practice to place such loans on a nonaccrual status immediately, rather than delaying such action until the loans become 90 days past due. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, previously accrued and uncollected interest is reversed, amortization of related deferred loan fees or costs is suspended, and income is recorded only to the extent that interest payments are subsequently received in cash and a determination has been made that the principal and interest of the loan is collectible. If collectability of the principal and interest is in doubt, payments received are applied to loan principal.
While a loan is in nonaccrual status, some or all of the cash interest payments received may be treated as interest income on a cash basis as long as the remaining recorded investment in the loan (i.e., after charge off of identified losses, if any) is deemed
to be fully collectible. The determination as to the ultimate collectability of the loan's remaining recorded investment must be supported by a current, well documented credit evaluation of the borrower’s financial condition and prospects for repayment, including consideration of the borrower’s sustained historical repayment performance and other relevant factors. A nonaccrual loan is returned to accrual status when all delinquent principal and interest payments become current in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement, the borrower has demonstrated a period of sustained repayment performance, and the ultimate collectability of the total contractual principal and interest is no longer in doubt. A sustained period of repayment performance generally would be a minimum of six months. See Note 4 for additional information on nonaccrual loans.
Troubled Debt Restructurings (“Restructured Loans”): Loans are considered restructured loans if concessions have been granted to borrowers that are experiencing financial difficulty. The concessions granted generally involve the modification of terms of the loan, such as changes in payment schedule or interest rate, which generally would not otherwise be considered. Restructured loans can involve loans remaining on nonaccrual, moving to nonaccrual, or continuing on accrual status, depending on the individual facts and circumstances of the borrower. Nonaccrual restructured loans are included and treated with all other nonaccrual loans. In addition, all accruing restructured loans are reported as TDRs, which are individually analyzed by management. Generally, restructured loans remain on nonaccrual until the customer has attained a sustained period of repayment performance under the modified loan terms (generally a minimum of six months). However, performance prior to the restructuring, or significant events that coincide with the restructuring, are considered in assessing whether the borrower can meet the new terms and whether the loan should be returned to or maintained on accrual status. If the borrower’s ability to meet the revised payment schedule is not reasonably assured, the loan remains on nonaccrual status. See Note 4 for additional information on restructured loans.
Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans: The allowance for loan losses is a reserve for estimated lifetime credit losses in the loan portfolio at the balance sheet date. The expected lifetime credit losses are the product of multiplying the Corporation's estimate of probability of default, loss given default, and the individual loan level exposure at default on an undiscounted basis. The Corporation estimates the lifetime expected loss using prepayment assumptions over the projected lifetime cash flow of these loans. Actual credit losses, net of recoveries, are deducted from the allowance for loan losses. A provision for credit losses, which is a charge against earnings, is recorded to bring the allowance for loan losses to a level that, in management’s judgment, is appropriate to absorb the expected lifetime losses in the loan portfolio.
The methodology applied by the Corporation is designed to assess the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses within the Corporation's loan segmentation. The methodology also focuses on the evaluation of several factors, including but not limited to: evaluation of facts and issues related to specific loans, management’s ongoing review and grading of the loan portfolio using a dual risk rating system consisting of probability of default and loss given default models, which are based on loan grades for commercial loans and credit reports for consumer loans applied based on portfolio segmentation leveraging industry breakouts in commercial and industrial and property types in CRE for commercial loans and loan types for consumer loans, consideration of historical loan loss and delinquency experience on each portfolio category, trends in past due and nonaccrual loans, the level of potential problem loans, the risk characteristics of the various classifications of loans, changes in the size and character of the loan portfolio, concentrations of loans to specific borrowers or industries, existing economic conditions and economic forecasts, the fair value of underlying collateral, and other qualitative and quantitative factors which could affect potential credit losses.
The Corporation utilizes the Moody's Baseline economic forecast in the allowance model and applies that forecast over a reasonable and supportable period with reversion to historical losses. For additional detail on the reasonable and supportable period and reversion inputs, see Note 4. The Corporation estimates the lifetime expected loss using prepayment assumptions over the projected lifetime cash flows of the loan. Because each of the criteria used is subject to change, the analysis of the allowance for loan losses is not necessarily indicative of the trend of future loan losses in any particular loan category. The total allowance for loan losses is available to absorb losses from any segment of the loan portfolio.
Management individually analyzes loans that do not share similar risk characteristics to other loans in the portfolio. Management has determined that commercial loan relationships that have nonaccrual status or commercial and retail loans that have had their terms restructured in a TDR meet this definition. Probable TDRs are loans the Corporation has reviewed individually to determine whether there is a high likelihood that the loans will default and will require restructuring in the near future. Probable TDRs could be classified as Pass, Special Mention, Potential Problem or Nonaccrual within the Corporation's credit quality analysis depending on the specific circumstances surrounding the individual credits. Accrued interest receivable on loans is excluded from the estimate of credit losses. The ACLL attributable to the loan is allocated based on management’s estimate of the borrower’s ability to repay the loan given the availability of collateral, other sources of cash flows, as well as evaluation of legal options available to the Corporation. The amount of expected loan loss is measured based upon the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the fair value of the underlying collateral less applicable selling costs, or the observable market price of the loan. If foreclosure is probable or the loan is collateral dependent,
impairment is measured using the fair value of the loan’s collateral, less costs to sell. Large groups of homogeneous loans, such as residential mortgage, home equity, auto finance, and other consumer, are collectively evaluated for impairment.
The allowance for unfunded commitments leverages the same methodology utilized to measure the allowance for loan losses. The Corporation estimates expected credit losses over the contractual period in which the Corporation is exposed to credit risk via a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by the Corporation. The estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over its estimated life. See Note 4 for additional information on the ACLL and Note 16 for additional information on the allowance for unfunded commitments.
A portion of the ACLL is comprised of adjustments for qualitative factors not reflected in the quantitative model.
Management believes that the level of the ACLL is appropriate. While management uses currently available information to recognize losses on loans, future adjustments to the ACLL may be necessary based on newly received appraisals, updated commercial customer financial statements, rapidly deteriorating cash flow, and changes in economic conditions that affect our customers. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Corporation’s ACLL. Such agencies may require additions to the ACLL or may require that certain loan balances be charged off or downgraded into criticized loan categories when their credit evaluations differ from those of management based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examinations. See Loans above for further policy discussion and see Note 4 for additional information on the allowance for loan losses.
OREO
OREO is included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets and is comprised of property acquired through a foreclosure proceeding or acceptance of a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, and loans classified as in-substance foreclosure. OREO is recorded at the lower of the book value or fair value of the underlying property collateral, less estimated selling costs. This fair value becomes the new cost basis for the foreclosed asset. The initial write-down, if any, will be recorded as a charge off against the allowance for loan losses. Any subsequent write-downs to reflect current fair value, as well as gains and losses on disposition and revenues and expenses incurred in maintaining such properties, are expensed as incurred. OREO also includes bank premises formerly but no longer used for banking, property originally acquired for future expansion but no longer intended to be used for that purpose, and property currently held for sale. Banking premises are transferred at the lower of carrying value or fair value, less estimated selling costs and any write-down is expensed as incurred.
Premises and Equipment and Software
Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets or the lease term. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, while additions or major improvements are capitalized and depreciated over the estimated useful lives. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the lease terms, including extension options which the Corporation has determined are reasonably certain to be exercised, or the estimated useful lives of the improvements. Software, included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets, is amortized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the contract terms or the estimated useful life of the software. See Note 6 for additional information on premises and equipment.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: The excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired consists primarily of goodwill and CDIs. CDIs have estimated finite lives and are amortized on a straight-line basis to expense over a 10-year period. The Corporation reviews long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles for impairment at least annually, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, in which case an impairment charge would be recorded.
Goodwill is not amortized but, instead, is subject to impairment tests on at least an annual basis, and more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. The impairment testing process is conducted by assigning net assets and goodwill to each reporting unit. An initial qualitative evaluation is made to assess the likelihood of impairment and determine whether further quantitative testing to calculate the fair value is necessary. When the qualitative evaluation indicates that impairment is more likely than not, quantitative testing is required whereby the fair value of each reporting unit is calculated and compared to the recorded book value, “step one.” If the calculated fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is not considered impaired. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its calculated fair value, an impairment charge is assessed, limited to
the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. See Note 5 for additional information on goodwill and other intangible assets.
Mortgage Servicing Rights: The Corporation sells residential mortgage loans in the secondary market and typically retains the right to service the loans sold. Upon sale, an MSRs asset is capitalized, which represents the then current fair value of future net cash flows expected to be realized for performing servicing activities. On January 1, 2022, the Corporation made the irrevocable election to account for its MSRs asset under the fair value measurement method. As a result of the change, a cumulative effect adjustment of $2 million, increasing retained earnings on the consolidated balance sheets, was recognized. Under this methodology, changes in the fair value are recognized in earnings as they occur through mortgage banking, net on the consolidated statements of income.
MSRs are not traded in active markets. A cash flow model is used to determine fair value. Key assumptions and estimates, including projected prepayment speeds, assumed servicing costs, ancillary income, costs to service delinquent loans, costs of foreclosure, and discount rates with option-adjusted spreads, used by this model are based on current market sources. Assumptions used to value MSRs are considered significant unobservable inputs. A separate third-party model is used to estimate prepayment speeds based on interest rates, housing turnover rates, estimated loan curtailment, anticipated defaults and other relevant factors. Fair value estimates from outside sources are received periodically to corroborate the results of the valuation model. See Note 5 for additional information on MSRs.
Prior to January 1, 2022, upon sale, an MSRs asset was capitalized, which represented the then current fair value of future net cash flows expected to be realized for performing servicing activities. MSRs, when purchased, are initially recorded at fair value. As the Corporation had not elected to subsequently measure any class of servicing assets under the fair value measurement method, the Corporation followed the amortization method. MSRs were amortized in proportion to and over the period of estimated net servicing income, and assessed for impairment at each reporting date. MSRs were carried at the lower of the initial capitalized amount, net of accumulated amortization, or estimated fair value, on the consolidated balance sheets.
The Corporation periodically evaluated its MSRs asset for impairment. Impairment was assessed based on fair value at each reporting date using estimated prepayment speeds of the underlying mortgage loans serviced and stratifications based on the risk characteristics of the underlying loans (predominantly loan type and note interest rate). As mortgage interest rates fall, prepayment speeds are usually faster and the value of the MSRs asset generally decreases, requiring additional valuation reserve. Conversely, as mortgage interest rates rise, prepayment speeds are usually slower and the value of the MSRs asset generally increases, requiring less valuation reserve. A valuation allowance was established, through a charge to earnings, to the extent the amortized cost of the MSRs exceeded the estimated fair value by stratification. If it was later determined that all or a portion of the temporary impairment no longer existed for a stratification, the valuation was reduced through a recovery to earnings. An other-than-temporary impairment (i.e., recoverability was considered remote when considering interest rates and loan pay off activity) was recognized as a write-down of the MSRs asset and the related valuation allowance (to the extent a valuation allowance was available) and then against earnings. A direct write-down permanently reduces the carrying value of the MSRs asset and valuation allowance, precluding subsequent recoveries. See Note 5 for additional information on MSRs.
Income Taxes
Amounts provided for income tax expense are based on income reported for financial statement purposes and do not necessarily represent amounts currently payable under tax laws. Deferred income taxes, which arise principally from temporary differences between the amounts reported in the financial statements and the tax bases of assets and liabilities, are included in the amounts provided for income taxes. In assessing the realizability of DTAs, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the DTAs will not be realized. The ultimate realization of DTAs is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income and tax planning strategies which will create taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, the amount of taxes paid in available carryback years, projected future taxable income, and, if necessary, tax planning strategies in making this assessment.
The Corporation files a consolidated federal income tax return and separate or combined state income tax returns. Accordingly, amounts equal to tax benefits of those subsidiaries having taxable federal or state losses or credits are offset by other subsidiaries that incur federal or state tax liabilities.
It is the Corporation’s policy to provide for uncertainty in income taxes as a part of income tax expense based upon management’s assessment of whether a tax benefit is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. To the extent the Corporation prevails in matters for which a liability for an unrecognized tax benefit was established or is required to pay amounts in excess of the liability established, the Corporation’s effective tax rate in a given financial statement period may be impacted. See Note 13 for additional information on income taxes.
Derivative and Hedging Activities
Derivative instruments, including derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets with changes in the fair value recorded to earnings or accumulated other comprehensive income, as appropriate. On the date the derivative contract is entered into, the Corporation designates the derivative as a fair value hedge (i.e., a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability), a cash flow hedge (i.e., a hedge of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability), or a free-standing derivative instrument. For a derivative designated as a fair value hedge, the changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument and the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability are recognized in current period earnings as an increase or decrease to the carrying value of the hedged item on the balance sheet and in the related income statement account. For a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge, amounts within accumulated other comprehensive income are reclassified into earnings in the period the hedged item affects earnings. For a derivative designated as a free-standing derivative instrument, changes in fair value are reported in capital markets, net on the consolidated statements of income. The free-standing derivative instruments included: interest rate risk management, foreign currency exchange solutions, and until early 2022, commodity hedging.
The Corporation is exposed to counterparty credit risk, which is the risk that counterparties to the derivative contracts do not perform as expected. If a counterparty fails to perform, our counterparty credit risk is equal to the amount reported as a derivative asset on our balance sheet. The Corporation uses master netting arrangements to mitigate counterparty credit risk in derivative transactions. To the extent the derivatives are subject to master netting arrangements, the Corporation takes into account the impact of master netting arrangements that allow the Corporation to settle all derivative contracts executed with the same counterparty on a net basis, and to offset the net derivative position with the related cash collateral and investment securities.
Federal regulations require the Corporation to clear all LIBOR and compound SOFR interest rate swaps through a clearing house, if possible. For derivatives cleared through central clearing houses, the variation margin payments are legally characterized as daily settlements of the derivative rather than collateral. The Corporation's clearing agent for interest rate derivative contracts that are centrally cleared through the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the London Clearing House settles the variation margin daily. As a result, the variation margin payment and the related derivative instruments are considered a single unit of account for accounting and financial reporting purposes. Depending on the net position, the fair value is reported in other assets or accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The daily settlement of the derivative exposure does not change or reset the contractual terms of the instrument.
For derivatives designated and that qualify as fair value hedges, as allowed under U.S. GAAP, we applied the "shortcut" method of accounting, which permits the assumption of perfect effectiveness. The gain or loss on the derivative as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in interest expense. These items, along with the net interest from the derivative, are reported in the same income statement line as the fixed-rate debt expense. See Note 14 for additional information on derivatives and hedging activities.
Securities Sold Under Agreement to Repurchase
The Corporation enters into agreements under which it sells securities subject to an obligation to repurchase the same or similar securities. Under these arrangements, the Corporation may transfer legal control over the assets but still retain effective control through an agreement that both entitles and obligates the Corporation to repurchase the assets. These repurchase agreements are accounted for as collateralized financing arrangements (i.e., secured borrowings whereby the collateral would be used to settle the fair value of the repurchase agreement should the Corporation be in default (e.g., fails to make an interest payment to the counterparty) and not as a sale and subsequent repurchase of securities (i.e., there is no offsetting or netting of the investment securities assets with the repurchase agreement liabilities). The obligation to repurchase the securities is reflected as a liability within federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase on the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheets, while the securities underlying the repurchase agreements remain in the respective investment securities asset accounts. See Note 9 for additional information on repurchase agreements.
Retirement Plans
The funded status of the retirement plans is recognized as an asset or liability on the consolidated balance sheets and changes in that funded status are recognized in the year in which the changes occur through OCI. Plan assets and benefit obligations are measured as of fiscal year end. The measurement of the projected benefit obligation and pension expense involve actuarial valuation methods and the use of various actuarial and economic assumptions. The Corporation monitors the assumptions and updates them periodically. Due to the long-term nature of the pension plan obligation, actual results may differ significantly from estimations. Such differences are adjusted over time as the assumptions are replaced by facts and values are recalculated. See Note 12 for additional information on the Corporation’s retirement plans.
Stock-Based Compensation
The fair value of restricted common stock awards is their fair market value on the date of grant. Performance awards are based on performance goals of earnings per share and total shareholder return with vesting ranging from a minimum of 0% to a maximum of 150% of the target award. Performance awards are valued utilizing a Monte Carlo simulation model to estimate fair value of the awards at the grant date. The fair values of stock options and restricted stock awards are amortized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the grants. Expenses related to stock options and restricted stock awards are fully recognized on the date the colleague meets the definition of normal or early retirement. Compensation expense recognized is included in personnel expense on the consolidated statements of income. See Note 11 for additional information on stock-based compensation.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income includes all changes in stockholders’ equity during a period, except those resulting from transactions with stockholders. In addition to net income, other components of the Corporation’s comprehensive income include the after tax effect of changes in net unrealized gain/loss on AFS securities, changes in unrealized gain/loss on cash flow hedge derivatives, and changes in net actuarial gain/loss on defined benefit pension and postretirement plans. Comprehensive income is reported on the accompanying consolidated statements of changes in stockholder’s equity and consolidated statements of comprehensive income. See Note 22 for additional information on accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value represents the estimated price at which an orderly transaction to sell an asset or to transfer a liability would take place between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions (i.e., an exit price concept). As there is no active market for many of the Corporation’s financial instruments, estimates are made using discounted cash flow or other valuation techniques. Inputs into the valuation methods are subjective in nature, involve uncertainties, and require significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Accordingly, the derived fair value estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Corporation could realize in a current market exchange. Assets and liabilities are categorized into three levels based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy in which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Corporation’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. See Note 18 for additional information on fair value measurements. Below is a brief description of each fair value level.
Level 1 - Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Corporation has the ability to access.
Level 2 - Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.
Level 3 - Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents are considered to include cash and due from banks, interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions, and federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell.
Earnings Per Common Share
Earnings per common share are calculated utilizing the two-class method. Basic earnings per common share are calculated by dividing the sum of distributed earnings to common shareholders and undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share are calculated by dividing the sum of distributed earnings to common shareholders and undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding adjusted for the dilutive effect of common stock awards (outstanding
stock options and unvested restricted stock awards) and common stock warrants. See Note 20 for additional information on earnings per common share.
New Accounting Pronouncements Adopted
There were no applicable material accounting pronouncements adopted by the Corporation during 2022.
Future Accounting Pronouncements
The expected impacts of applicable material accounting pronouncements recently issued or proposed but not yet required to be adopted, and their impact on the Corporation's financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or disclosures, are discussed in the following table.
Standard Description Date of adoption Effect on financial statements
ASU 2022-02 Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures The FASB issued these amendments to eliminate accounting guidance for TDRs by creditors in Subtopic 310-40, Receivables-Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors, while enhancing disclosure requirements for certain loan refinancings and restructurings by creditors when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty, and to require that an entity disclose current-period gross writeoffs by year of origination for financing receivables and net investments in leases within the scope of Subtopic 326-20, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses-Measured at Amortized Cost. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and should be applied prospectively, except as provided in the next sentence. For the transition method related to the recognition and measurement of TDRs, an entity has the option to apply a modified retrospective transition method, resulting in a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings in the period of adoption. Early adoption is permitted if an entity has adopted the amendments in Update 2016-03, including adoption in an interim period. 1st Quarter 2023 Adoption of this amendment is not expected to have a material impact on the Corporation's results of operation, financial position or liquidity, but will result in additional disclosure requirements related to gross charge offs by vintage year and the removal of TDR disclosures, replaced by additional disclosures on the types of modifications of loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties. The Corporation intends to adopt this Update prospectively.
Note 2 Acquisitions and Dispositions
Acquisitions:
The Corporation did not have any acquisitions during 2021 or 2022.
Dispositions:
The Corporation did not have any dispositions during 2022.
2021:
On March 1, 2021, the Corporation completed the sale of its wealth management subsidiary, Whitnell, to Rockefeller for a purchase price of $8 million. The Corporation reported a first quarter 2021 pre-tax gain of $2 million, included in asset gains, net on the consolidated statements of income, in conjunction with the sale.
On February 26, 2021, the Bank completed the sale of one branch located in Monroe, Wisconsin to Summit Credit Union. Under the terms of the transaction, the Bank sold $31 million in total deposits and no loans. The Bank received an approximately 4% purchase premium on deposits transferred.
2020:
On June 30, 2020, the Corporation completed the sale of ABRC to USI for $266 million in cash. Associated recorded a second quarter 2020 pre-tax book gain of $163 million in conjunction with the sale.
On December 11, 2020, the Bank completed the sale of five branches in Peoria, IL to Morton Community Bank. Under the terms of the transaction, the Bank sold $180 million in total deposits and no loans. The Bank received a 4% purchase premium on deposits transferred. With the sale of these branches, the Bank exited the Peoria market.
On December 11, 2020, the Bank closed on the sale of two branches in southwest Wisconsin to Royal Bank. Under the terms of the transaction, the Bank sold $53 million in total deposits and no loans. The Bank received a 4% purchase premium on deposits transferred in the Prairie du Chien and Richland Center branches.
Note 3 Investment Securities
Investment securities are classified as AFS, HTM, or equity on the consolidated balance sheets at the time of purchase. The amortized cost and fair values of AFS and HTM securities at December 31, 2022 were as follows:
($ in Thousands) Amortized
Cost Gross
Unrealized
Gains Gross
Unrealized
(Losses) Fair Value
AFS investment securities
U.S. Treasury securities $ 124,441 $ - $ (15,063) $ 109,378
Agency securities 15,000 - (1,468) 13,532
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) 235,693 96 (5,074) 230,714
Residential mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 1,820,642 404 (216,436) 1,604,610
GNMA 502,537 314 (5,255) 497,596
Commercial mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 19,038 - (1,896) 17,142
GNMA 115,031 - (4,569) 110,462
Asset backed securities
FFELP 157,138 - (5,947) 151,191
SBA 4,512 15 (51) 4,477
Other debt securities 3,000 - (78) 2,922
Total AFS investment securities $ 2,997,032 $ 830 $ (255,837) $ 2,742,025
HTM investment securities
U.S. Treasury securities $ 999 $ - $ (62) $ 936
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) 1,732,351 1,994 (182,697) 1,551,647
Residential mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 961,231 31,301 (175,760) 816,771
GNMA 52,979 85 (3,436) 49,628
Private-label 364,728 11,697 (72,920) 303,505
Commercial mortgage-related securities
FNMA/FHLMC 778,796 15,324 (178,281) 615,839
GNMA 69,369 577 (7,254) 62,691
Total HTM investment securities $ 3,960,451 $ 60,978 $ (620,411) $ 3,401,018
During the first quarter of 2022, the Corporation redesignated approximately $1.6 billion of mortgage-related securities from AFS to HTM. The reclassification of these investment securities was accounted for at fair value. Management elected to transfer these investment securities as the Corporation has the positive intent and ability to hold these investment securities to maturity. See Note 22 for additional information on the unrealized losses on investment securities transferred from AFS to HTM.
The amortized cost and fair values of AFS and HTM securities at December 31, 2021 were as follows:
($ in Thousands) Amortized
Cost Gross
Unrealized
Gains Gross
Unrealized
(Losses) Fair Value
AFS investment securities
U.S. Treasury securities $ 124,291 $ - $ (1,334) $ 122,957
Agency securities 15,000 - (103) 14,897
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) 381,517 18,940 - 400,457
Residential mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 2,709,399 3,729 (21,249) 2,691,879
GNMA 66,189 1,591 - 67,780
Private-label 332,028 31 (2,335) 329,724
Commercial mortgage-related securities
FNMA/FHLMC 357,240 2,686 (9,302) 350,623
GNMA 165,439 1,360 - 166,799
Asset backed securities
FFELP 177,974 475 (1,123) 177,325
SBA 6,594 39 (54) 6,580
Other debt securities 3,000 - (6) 2,994
Total AFS investment securities $ 4,338,671 $ 28,850 $ (35,506) $ 4,332,015
HTM investment securities
U.S. Treasury securities $ 1,000 $ 1 $ - $ 1,001
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) 1,628,759 113,179 (1,951) 1,739,988
Residential mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 34,347 1,792 - 36,139
GNMA 48,053 1,578 - 49,631
Commercial mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 425,937 122 (6,659) 419,400
GNMA 100,907 1,799 (200) 102,506
Total HTM investment securities $ 2,239,003 $ 118,471 $ (8,809) $ 2,348,664
Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. The expected maturities of AFS and HTM securities at December 31, 2022, are shown below:
AFS HTM
($ in Thousands) Amortized
Cost Fair
Value Amortized
Cost Fair
Value
Due in one year or less $ 6,245 $ 6,230 $ 17,660 $ 17,621
Due after one year through five years 86,971 81,271 30,135 29,842
Due after five years through ten years 248,453 233,565 156,937 154,046
Due after ten years 36,465 35,480 1,528,616 1,351,075
Total debt securities 378,134 356,546 1,733,349 1,552,584
Residential mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 1,820,642 1,604,610 961,231 816,771
GNMA 502,537 497,596 52,979 49,628
Private-label - - 364,728 303,505
Commercial mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 19,038 17,142 778,796 615,839
GNMA 115,031 110,462 69,369 62,691
Asset backed securities
FFELP 157,138 151,191 - -
SBA 4,512 4,477 - -
Total investment securities $ 2,997,032 $ 2,742,025 $ 3,960,451 $ 3,401,018
Ratio of Fair Value to Amortized Cost 91.5 % 85.9 %
On a quarterly basis, the Corporation refreshes the credit quality of each HTM security. The following table summarizes the credit quality indicators of HTM securities at amortized cost at December 31, 2022:
($ in Thousands) AAA AA A Not Rated Total
U.S. Treasury securities $ 999 $ - $ - $ - $ 999
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) 806,529 917,059 7,604 1,158 1,732,351
Residential mortgage-related securities
FNMA/FHLMC 961,231 - - - 961,231
GNMA 52,979 - - - 52,979
Private-label 364,728 - - - 364,728
Commercial mortgage-related securities
FNMA/FHLMC 778,796 - - - 778,796
GNMA 69,369 - - - 69,369
Total HTM securities $ 3,034,630 $ 917,059 $ 7,604 $ 1,158 $ 3,960,451
The following table summarizes the credit quality indicators of HTM securities at amortized cost at December 31, 2021:
($ in Thousands) AAA AA A Not Rated Total
U.S. Treasury securities $ 1,000 $ - $ - $ - $ 1,000
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) 702,399 914,591 10,873 896 1,628,759
Residential mortgage-related securities
FNMA/FHLMC 34,347 - - - 34,347
GNMA 48,053 - - - 48,053
Commercial mortgage-related securities
FNMA/FHLMC 425,937 - - - 425,937
GNMA 100,907 - - - 100,907
Total HTM securities $ 1,312,642 $ 914,591 $ 10,873 $ 896 $ 2,239,003
The following table summarizes gross realized gains and losses on AFS securities, the gain on sale and net write-up of equity securities, and proceeds from the sale of investment securities for each of the three years ended December 31 shown below:
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Gross gains on AFS securities $ 21 $ 421 $ 9,312
Gross (losses) on AFS securities (1,943) (437) (90)
Gain on sale and net write-up of equity securities 5,668 - -
Investment securities gains (losses), net $ 3,746 $ (16) $ 9,222
Proceeds from sales of AFS investment securities $ 110,177 $ 158,708 $ 626,283
During the fourth quarter of 2022, the Corporation sold $110 million of lower yielding municipal securities at a loss of $2 million and reinvested the proceeds into higher yielding and lower risk-weighted GNMA securities. During the third quarter of 2022, the Corporation sold its Visa Class B restricted shares obtained in the acquisition of First Staunton, which were carried at a zero-cost basis. The remaining shares of Visa Class B restricted shares held by the Corporation, which are carried at fair value, were subsequently written up to reflect the new observable price resulting from that sale.
During the second quarter of 2021, the Corporation sold $107 million of lower yielding FFELP student loan asset backed securities at an immaterial gain and reinvested the proceeds into higher yielding MBS. During the first quarter of 2021, the Corporation sold $51 million of lower yielding U.S. Treasury and Agency securities at an immaterial loss to take advantage of the steeper yield curve by reinvesting the proceeds into similar but higher yielding, longer duration securities.
During the second quarter of 2020, the Corporation sold $261 million of less liquid securities at a gain of $3 million, reinvesting the proceeds into more liquid securities in order to further improve portfolio liquidity. During the first quarter of 2020, the Corporation sold $281 million of primarily prepayment sensitive mortgage-related securities at a gain of $6 million. Additionally, in February 2020, the Corporation sold $84 million of certain securities acquired in the First Staunton acquisition that did not fit the parameters of the Corporation's current investment strategy.
Investment securities with a carrying value of $2.3 billion at both December 31, 2022 and 2021 were pledged to secure certain deposits or for other purposes.
Accrued interest receivable on HTM securities totaled $19 million and $15 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Accrued interest receivable on AFS securities totaled $9 million at both December 31, 2022 and 2021. Accrued
interest receivable on both HTM and AFS securities is included in interest receivable on the consolidated balance sheets. There was no interest income reversed for investments going into nonaccrual for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
A security is considered past due once it is 30 days past due under the terms of the agreement. At both December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Corporation had no past due HTM securities.
The allowance for credit losses on HTM securities was approximately $54,000 and $55,000 at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, attributable entirely to the Corporation's municipal securities, included in HTM investment securities, net, at amortized cost on the consolidated balance sheets. The Corporation also holds U.S. Treasury, municipal and mortgage-related securities issued by the U.S. government or a GSE which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and private-label residential mortgage-related securities that have credit enhancement which covers the first 15% of losses and, as a result, no allowance for credit losses has been recorded related to these securities.
The following represents gross unrealized losses and the related fair value of AFS and HTM securities, aggregated by investment category and length of time individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at December 31, 2022:
Less than 12 months 12 months or more Total
($ in Thousands) Number
of
Securities Unrealized
(Losses) Fair
Value Number
of
Securities Unrealized
(Losses) Fair
Value Unrealized (Losses) Fair
Value
AFS investment securities
U.S. Treasury securities - $ - $ - 7 $ (15,063) $ 109,378 $ (15,063) $ 109,378
Agency securities - - - 1 (1,468) 13,532 (1,468) 13,532
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) 358 (5,066) 201,260 4 (8) 1,916 (5,074) 203,176
Residential mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 24 (31,266) 260,986 84 (185,170) 1,321,420 (216,436) 1,582,406
GNMA 23 (4,415) 220,276 2 (840) 11,096 (5,255) 231,372
Commercial mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 1 (1,896) 17,142 - - - (1,896) 17,142
GNMA 33 (3,920) 101,036 4 (649) 9,426 (4,569) 110,462
Asset backed securities
FFELP 3 (1,668) 44,304 12 (4,278) 106,887 (5,947) 151,191
SBA 2 (1) 417 6 (50) 2,057 (51) 2,474
Other debt securities 2 (30) 1,970 1 (49) 951 (78) 2,922
Total 446 $ (48,263) $ 847,391 121 $ (207,575) $ 1,576,665 $ (255,837) $ 2,424,055
HTM investment securities
U.S. Treasury securities 1 $ (62) $ 936 - $ - $ - $ (62) $ 936
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) 771 (96,282) 1,079,216 156 (86,415) 231,022 (182,697) 1,310,238
Residential mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 79 (18,925) 143,201 22 (156,836) 671,570 (175,760) 814,770
GNMA 81 (3,436) 44,476 - - - (3,436) 44,476
Private-label 3 (9,509) 58,733 15 (63,411) 244,772 (72,920) 303,505
Commercial mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 4 (3,814) 20,338 39 (174,467) 576,911 (178,281) 597,249
GNMA 8 (2,528) 34,612 6 (4,726) 28,080 (7,254) 62,691
Total 947 $ (134,556) $ 1,381,511 238 $ (485,855) $ 1,752,354 $ (620,411) $ 3,133,865
For comparative purposes, the following represents gross unrealized losses and the related fair value of AFS and HTM securities, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at December 31, 2021:
Less than 12 months 12 months or more Total
($ in Thousands) Number
of
Securities Unrealized
(Losses) Fair
Value Number
of
Securities Unrealized
(Losses) Fair
Value Unrealized
(Losses) Fair
Value
AFS investment securities
U.S. Treasury securities 7 $ (1,334) $ 122,957 - $ - $ - $ (1,334) $ 122,957
Agency securities 1 (103) 14,897 - - - (103) 14,897
Residential mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC 74 (21,249) 2,172,837 - - - (21,249) 2,172,837
Private-label 12 (2,335) 248,617 - - - (2,335) 248,617
FNMA / FHLMC commercial mortgage-related securities 19 (9,302) 328,568 - - - (9,302) 328,568
Asset backed securities
FFELP 4 (256) 64,282 8 (867) 62,576 (1,123) 126,858
SBA - - - 9 (54) 3,902 (54) 3,902
Other debt securities 3 (6) 2,994 - - - (6) 2,994
Total 120 $ (34,586) $ 2,955,152 17 $ (920) $ 66,478 $ (35,506) $ 3,021,630
HTM investment securities
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) 49 $ (1,951) $ 112,038 - $ - $ - $ (1,951) $ 112,038
Commercial mortgage-related securities
FNMA/FHLMC 18 (6,272) 388,072 1 (387) 10,775 (6,659) 398,847
GNMA 5 (200) 33,468 - - - (200) 33,468
Total 72 $ (8,422) $ 533,577 1 $ (387) $ 10,775 $ (8,809) $ 544,352
The Corporation reviews the AFS investment securities portfolio on a quarterly basis to monitor its credit exposure. A determination as to whether a security’s decline in fair value is the result of credit risk takes into consideration numerous factors and the relative significance of any single factor can vary by security. Some factors the Corporation may consider in this impairment analysis include the extent to which the security has been in an unrealized loss position, the change in security rating, financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, as well as security and industry specific economic conditions.
Based on the Corporation’s evaluation, management does not believe any unrealized losses at December 31, 2022 represent credit deterioration as these unrealized losses are primarily attributable to changes in interest rates and the current market conditions. The Corporation does not intend to sell nor does it believe that it will be required to sell the securities in an unrealized loss position before recovery of their amortized cost basis.
FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank stocks: The Corporation is required to maintain Federal Reserve Bank stock and FHLB stock as a member bank of both the Federal Reserve System and the FHLB, and in amounts as required by these institutions. These equity securities are “restricted” in that they can only be sold back to the respective institutions or another member institution at par. Therefore, they are less liquid than other marketable equity securities and their fair value is equal to amortized cost. The Corporation had FHLB stock of $209 million and $82 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Corporation had Federal Reserve Bank stock of $87 million at both December 31, 2022 and 2021. Accrued interest receivable on FHLB stock totaled $3 million and approximately $975,000 at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. There was no accrued interest receivable on Federal Reserve Bank stock at either December 31, 2022 or 2021. Accrued interest receivable on both FHLB stock and Federal Reserve Bank stock is included in interest receivable on the consolidated balance sheets.
Equity Securities
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values: The Corporation's portfolio of equity securities with readily determinable fair values is primarily comprised of CRA Qualified Investment mutual funds and other mutual funds. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Corporation had equity securities with readily determinable fair values of $6 million and $5 million, respectively.
Equity securities without readily determinable fair values: The Corporation's portfolio of equity securities without readily determinable fair values, which primarily consists of Visa Class B restricted shares, was carried at $19 million and $14 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Note 4 Loans
The period end loan composition was as follows:
($ in Thousands) Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021
Asset-based lending & equipment finance(a)
$ 458,887 $ 178,027
Commercial and industrial 9,300,567 8,274,358
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 991,722 971,326
Commercial and business lending 10,751,176 9,423,711
Commercial real estate - investor 5,080,344 4,384,569
Real estate construction 2,155,222 1,808,976
Commercial real estate lending 7,235,565 6,193,545
Total commercial 17,986,742 15,617,256
Residential mortgage 8,511,550 7,567,310
Auto finance 1,382,073 143,045
Home equity 624,353 595,615
Other consumer 294,851 301,723
Total consumer 10,812,828 8,607,693
Total loans $ 28,799,569 $ 24,224,949
(a) Dec 31, 2021 does not include equipment finance.
Accrued interest receivable on loans totaled $113 million at December 31, 2022, and $55 million at December 31, 2021, and is included in interest receivable on the consolidated balance sheets. Interest accrued but not received for loans placed on nonaccrual is reversed against interest income. The amount of accrued interest reversed totaled approximately $491,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, and approximately $574,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021.
The Corporation has granted loans to its directors, executive officers, or their related interests. These loans were made on substantially the same terms, including rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other unrelated customers, and do not involve more than a normal risk of collection. These loans to related parties are summarized below:
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021
Balance at beginning of year $ 45,245 $ 29,420
New loans 2,656 24,218
Repayments (1,416) (8,244)
Change due to status of executive officers and directors (43,110) (150)
Balance at end of year $ 3,376 $ 45,245
The following table presents commercial and consumer loans by credit quality indicator by origination year at December 31, 2022:
Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year(a)
($ in Thousands) Rev Loans Converted to Term(a)
Rev Loans Amortized Cost Basis 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 Prior Total
Asset-based lending & equipment finance:
Risk rating:
Pass $ - $ 47,446 $ 269,258 $ 121,914 $ 1,832 $ 653 $ 85 $ - $ 441,189
Potential Problem - - 1,448 - 16,250 - - - 17,698
Asset-based lending & equipment finance $ - $ 47,446 $ 270,706 $ 121,914 $ 18,082 $ 653 $ 85 $ - $ 458,887
Commercial and industrial:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 1,423 $ 1,891,331 $ 2,976,288 $ 2,245,094 $ 566,001 $ 572,467 $ 330,557 $ 432,906 $ 9,014,644
Special Mention - 93,209 3,411 23,607 - - 19 32,497 152,744
Potential Problem 447 24,549 39,952 4,193 5,637 38,169 218 6,133 118,851
Nonaccrual 3,926 - 5,210 - 9,119 - - - 14,329
Commercial and industrial $ 5,796 $ 2,009,089 $ 3,024,861 $ 2,272,895 $ 580,757 $ 610,636 $ 330,794 $ 471,535 $ 9,300,567
Commercial real estate - owner occupied:
Risk rating:
Pass $ - $ 12,447 $ 211,645 $ 225,627 $ 163,965 $ 160,370 $ 73,487 $ 97,420 $ 944,961
Special Mention - - - - 1,136 1,491 9,713 - 12,339
Potential Problem - 1,325 1,238 11,141 5,523 10,769 370 4,055 34,422
Commercial real estate - owner occupied $ - $ 13,772 $ 212,883 $ 236,769 $ 170,624 $ 172,630 $ 83,570 $ 101,475 $ 991,722
Commercial and business lending:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 1,423 $ 1,951,224 $ 3,457,191 $ 2,592,636 $ 731,798 $ 733,490 $ 404,129 $ 530,326 $ 10,400,794
Special Mention - 93,209 3,411 23,607 1,136 1,491 9,732 32,497 165,083
Potential Problem 447 25,874 42,638 15,335 27,410 48,938 589 10,188 170,971
Nonaccrual 3,926 - 5,210 - 9,119 - - - 14,329
Commercial and business lending $ 5,796 $ 2,070,307 $ 3,508,450 $ 2,631,578 $ 769,463 $ 783,919 $ 414,449 $ 573,010 $ 10,751,176
Commercial real estate - investor:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 38,412 $ 106,280 $ 1,633,094 $ 1,419,000 $ 683,121 $ 530,444 $ 262,858 $ 210,299 $ 4,845,096
Special Mention - - 61,968 24,149 7,361 9,400 - 10,455 113,333
Potential Problem - - 16,147 21,303 27,635 1,333 19,017 7,099 92,535
Nonaccrual - - 2,177 25,668 - - - 1,535 29,380
Commercial real estate - investor $ 38,412 $ 106,280 $ 1,713,387 $ 1,490,120 $ 718,117 $ 541,177 $ 281,875 $ 229,387 $ 5,080,344
Real estate construction:
Risk rating:
Pass $ - $ 29,892 $ 900,593 $ 913,107 $ 241,230 $ 12,062 $ 2,226 $ 9,775 $ 2,108,885
Special Mention - - - - 12,174 33,087 - - 45,261
Potential Problem - - - - 970 - - - 970
Nonaccrual - - - - - - - 105 105
Real estate construction $ - $ 29,892 $ 900,593 $ 913,107 $ 254,374 $ 45,149 $ 2,226 $ 9,880 $ 2,155,222
Commercial real estate lending:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 38,412 $ 136,173 $ 2,533,687 $ 2,332,107 $ 924,351 $ 542,505 $ 265,083 $ 220,073 $ 6,953,981
Special Mention - - 61,968 24,149 19,535 42,487 - 10,455 158,595
Potential Problem - - 16,147 21,303 28,605 1,333 19,017 7,099 93,505
Nonaccrual - - 2,177 25,668 - - - 1,640 29,485
Commercial real estate lending $ 38,412 $ 136,173 $ 2,613,980 $ 2,403,227 $ 972,492 $ 586,326 $ 284,101 $ 239,267 $ 7,235,565
Total commercial:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 39,835 $ 2,087,396 $ 5,990,879 $ 4,924,743 $ 1,656,149 $ 1,275,996 $ 669,213 $ 750,399 $ 17,354,774
Special Mention - 93,209 65,379 47,756 20,671 43,978 9,732 42,952 323,677
Potential Problem 447 25,874 58,785 36,638 56,016 50,271 19,606 17,287 264,476
Nonaccrual 3,926 - 7,387 25,668 9,119 - - 1,640 43,814
Total commercial $ 44,208 $ 2,206,480 $ 6,122,430 $ 5,034,805 $ 1,741,955 $ 1,370,245 $ 698,550 $ 812,278 $ 17,986,742
Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year(a)
($ in Thousands) Rev Loans Converted to Term(a)
Rev Loans Amortized Cost Basis 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 Prior Total
Residential mortgage:
Risk rating:
Pass $ - $ - $ 1,410,566 $ 2,184,125 $ 1,716,663 $ 817,164 $ 370,724 $ 1,951,406 $ 8,450,648
Special Mention - - - 284 96 - - 63 444
Potential Problem - - 455 71 - 738 29 685 1,978
Nonaccrual - - 8,506 3,851 6,219 3,744 5,014 31,145 58,480
Residential mortgage $ - $ - $ 1,419,527 $ 2,188,332 $ 1,722,979 $ 821,645 $ 375,768 $ 1,983,299 $ 8,511,550
Auto finance:
Risk rating:
Pass $ - $ - $ 1,271,205 $ 106,102 $ 333 $ 1,267 $ 446 $ 61 $ 1,379,414
Special Mention - - 1,052 118 - - - - 1,170
Nonaccrual - - 1,149 331 - 9 - - 1,490
Auto finance $ - $ - $ 1,273,406 $ 106,551 $ 333 $ 1,276 $ 446 $ 61 $ 1,382,073
Home equity:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 7,254 $ 508,212 $ 31,389 $ 6,508 $ 2,112 $ 6,197 $ 6,966 $ 54,827 $ 616,211
Special Mention 47 102 - - - - 47 310 458
Potential Problem - 15 - - - 34 2 146 197
Nonaccrual 1,590 - 306 102 131 307 319 6,322 7,487
Home equity $ 8,891 $ 508,329 $ 31,695 $ 6,610 $ 2,243 $ 6,538 $ 7,333 $ 61,605 $ 624,353
Other consumer:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 64 $ 199,942 $ 7,429 $ 5,256 $ 2,468 $ 1,238 $ 174 $ 77,611 $ 294,117
Special Mention 6 490 11 - 5 5 - 25 537
Nonaccrual 78 56 11 21 10 56 10 34 197
Other consumer $ 147 $ 200,488 $ 7,452 $ 5,276 $ 2,482 $ 1,300 $ 184 $ 77,670 $ 294,851
Total consumer:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 7,318 $ 708,154 $ 2,720,589 $ 2,301,991 $ 1,721,576 $ 825,866 $ 378,310 $ 2,083,904 $ 10,740,390
Special Mention 52 592 1,063 403 101 5 47 398 2,609
Potential Problem - 15 455 71 - 772 31 831 2,175
Nonaccrual 1,668 56 9,973 4,304 6,360 4,116 5,343 37,501 67,654
Total consumer $ 9,038 $ 708,817 $ 2,732,080 $ 2,306,769 $ 1,728,037 $ 830,759 $ 383,731 $ 2,122,635 $ 10,812,828
Total loans:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 47,152 $ 2,795,551 $ 8,711,468 $ 7,226,734 $ 3,377,725 $ 2,101,861 $ 1,047,522 $ 2,834,303 $ 28,095,164
Special Mention 52 93,801 66,443 48,159 20,772 43,983 9,778 43,350 326,286
Potential Problem 447 25,889 59,240 36,709 56,016 51,043 19,637 18,118 266,651
Nonaccrual 5,595 56 17,360 29,972 15,479 4,116 5,343 39,141 111,467
Total loans $ 53,246 $ 2,915,297 $ 8,854,510 $ 7,341,574 $ 3,469,992 $ 2,201,004 $ 1,082,280 $ 2,934,912 $ 28,799,569
(a) Revolving loans converted to term loans are those converted during the reporting period and are also reported in their year of origination.
The following table presents commercial and consumer loans by credit quality indicator by origination year at December 31, 2021:
Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year(a)
($ in Thousands) Rev Loans Converted to Term(a)
Rev Loans Amortized Cost Basis 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 Prior Total
Commercial and industrial:(b)
Risk rating:
Pass $ 2,084 $ 2,371,605 $ 2,676,674 $ 871,368 $ 986,300 $ 710,491 $ 177,568 $ 493,876 $ 8,287,882
Special Mention - 7,068 6,112 1,976 - - - 2,811 17,967
Potential Problem 2,706 26,387 25,415 19,960 46,296 20,924 104 1,172 140,258
Nonaccrual 76 - 5,996 207 52 24 - - 6,279
Commercial and industrial $ 4,867 $ 2,405,059 $ 2,714,198 $ 893,511 $ 1,032,647 $ 731,439 $ 177,671 $ 497,860 $ 8,452,385
Commercial real estate - owner occupied:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 10,092 $ 30,869 $ 261,418 $ 178,424 $ 187,073 $ 110,169 $ 54,538 $ 117,011 $ 939,503
Special Mention - 226 - 4,628 - - - 245 5,100
Potential Problem - 526 5,953 4,721 10,047 727 2,204 2,546 26,723
Commercial real estate - owner occupied $ 10,092 $ 31,621 $ 267,371 $ 187,773 $ 197,120 $ 110,896 $ 56,742 $ 119,802 $ 971,326
Commercial and business lending:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 12,176 $ 2,402,474 $ 2,938,092 $ 1,049,792 $ 1,173,373 $ 820,660 $ 232,106 $ 610,887 $ 9,227,385
Special Mention - 7,294 6,112 6,604 - - - 3,056 23,066
Potential Problem 2,706 26,913 31,368 24,681 56,343 21,651 2,307 3,718 166,981
Nonaccrual 76 - 5,996 207 52 24 - - 6,279
Commercial and business lending $ 14,958 $ 2,436,680 $ 2,981,569 $ 1,081,284 $ 1,229,767 $ 842,335 $ 234,414 $ 617,662 $ 9,423,711
Commercial real estate - investor:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 37,430 $ 105,521 $ 1,650,936 $ 685,423 $ 867,606 $ 414,079 $ 139,320 $ 230,452 $ 4,093,337
Special Mention - - 57,163 27,384 33,016 72 - 6,781 124,416
Potential Problem - - 21,309 9,860 22,243 34,591 3,564 14,573 106,138
Nonaccrual - - 45,502 8,158 6,820 - - 197 60,677
Commercial real estate - investor $ 37,430 $ 105,521 $ 1,774,910 $ 730,825 $ 929,685 $ 448,741 $ 142,883 $ 252,003 $ 4,384,569
Real estate construction:
Risk rating:
Pass $ - $ 31,773 $ 843,664 $ 614,469 $ 204,337 $ 48,647 $ 2,229 $ 12,212 $ 1,757,331
Special Mention - - 2,203 11,929 - 15,885 41 2 30,060
Potential Problem - - 37 120 21,251 - - - 21,408
Nonaccrual - - - - - - - 177 177
Real estate construction $ - $ 31,773 $ 845,903 $ 626,518 $ 225,588 $ 64,532 $ 2,270 $ 12,392 $ 1,808,976
Commercial real estate lending:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 37,430 $ 137,294 $ 2,494,600 $ 1,299,893 $ 1,071,943 $ 462,726 $ 141,549 $ 242,664 $ 5,850,668
Special Mention - - 59,366 39,313 33,016 15,957 41 6,784 154,476
Potential Problem - - 21,345 9,980 43,494 34,591 3,564 14,573 127,546
Nonaccrual - - 45,502 8,158 6,820 - - 374 60,855
Commercial real estate lending $ 37,430 $ 137,294 $ 2,620,814 $ 1,357,343 $ 1,155,273 $ 513,273 $ 145,153 $ 264,395 $ 6,193,545
Total commercial:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 49,606 $ 2,539,768 $ 5,432,693 $ 2,349,685 $ 2,245,316 $ 1,283,386 $ 373,655 $ 853,551 $ 15,078,053
Special Mention - 7,294 65,478 45,917 33,016 15,957 41 9,840 177,543
Potential Problem 2,706 26,913 52,713 34,660 99,837 56,241 5,871 18,291 294,527
Nonaccrual 76 - 51,498 8,365 6,872 24 - 374 67,134
Total commercial $ 52,388 $ 2,573,974 $ 5,602,382 $ 2,438,627 $ 2,385,040 $ 1,355,608 $ 379,567 $ 882,057 $ 15,617,256
Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year(a)
($ in Thousands) Rev Loans Converted to Term(a)
Rev Loans Amortized Cost Basis 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 Prior Total
Residential mortgage:
Risk rating:
Pass $ - $ - $ 1,771,447 $ 1,945,029 $ 974,188 $ 428,459 $ 673,447 $ 1,716,419 $ 7,508,989
Special Mention - - - - - 285 - 461 746
Potential Problem - - 475 332 404 265 81 658 2,214
Nonaccrual - - 1,993 2,911 4,479 6,224 6,019 33,734 55,362
Residential mortgage $ - $ - $ 1,773,915 $ 1,948,272 $ 979,071 $ 435,233 $ 679,547 $ 1,751,272 $ 7,567,310
Auto finance:
Risk rating:
Pass $ - $ - $ 137,952 $ 707 $ 2,675 $ 1,200 $ 352 $ 107 $ 142,993
Nonaccrual - - - - 36 15 - - 52
Auto finance $ - $ - $ 137,952 $ 707 $ 2,711 $ 1,216 $ 352 $ 107 $ 143,045
Home equity:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 6,728 $ 498,970 $ 1,216 $ 1,401 $ 7,640 $ 8,742 $ 7,660 $ 61,251 $ 586,880
Special Mention 133 100 - 102 4 - - 638 844
Potential Problem 6 - 6 - - 13 - 146 165
Nonaccrual 925 35 9 92 211 305 302 6,772 7,726
Home equity $ 7,792 $ 499,104 $ 1,232 $ 1,595 $ 7,856 $ 9,059 $ 7,962 $ 68,807 $ 595,615
Other consumer:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 443 $ 180,312 $ 9,297 $ 4,987 $ 2,884 $ 371 $ 265 $ 103,075 $ 301,191
Special Mention 7 351 - 4 - - - 7 363
Nonaccrual 6 120 - 14 7 - 19 11 170
Other consumer $ 456 $ 180,783 $ 9,297 $ 5,005 $ 2,890 $ 371 $ 284 $ 103,093 $ 301,723
Total consumer:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 7,171 $ 679,353 $ 1,919,912 $ 1,952,124 $ 987,387 $ 438,771 $ 681,725 $ 1,880,781 $ 8,540,053
Special Mention 140 451 - 106 4 285 - 1,106 1,952
Potential Problem 6 - 481 332 404 277 81 804 2,379
Nonaccrual 931 154 2,003 3,017 4,733 6,545 6,340 40,517 63,309
Total consumer $ 8,248 $ 679,959 $ 1,922,396 $ 1,955,579 $ 992,528 $ 445,878 $ 688,145 $ 1,923,208 $ 8,607,693
Total loans:
Risk rating:
Pass $ 56,777 $ 3,219,121 $ 7,352,605 $ 4,301,809 $ 3,232,703 $ 1,722,157 $ 1,055,380 $ 2,734,332 $ 23,618,106
Special Mention 140 7,745 65,478 46,023 33,021 16,241 41 10,946 179,495
Potential Problem 2,713 26,913 53,194 34,992 100,240 56,519 5,952 19,095 296,905
Nonaccrual 1,006 154 53,501 11,382 11,605 6,569 6,340 40,891 130,443
Total loans $ 60,636 $ 3,253,933 $ 7,524,778 $ 4,394,206 $ 3,377,569 $ 1,801,486 $ 1,067,713 $ 2,805,265 $ 24,224,949
(a) Revolving loans converted to term loans are those reported during the reporting period and are also reported in their year of origination.
(b) Includes asset-based lending and equipment finance.
Factors that are important to managing overall credit quality are sound loan underwriting and administration, systematic monitoring of existing loans and commitments, effective loan review on an ongoing basis, early identification of potential problems, and appropriate policies for ACLL, nonaccrual loans, and charge offs. See Note 1 for the Corporation's accounting policy for loans.
For commercial loans, management has determined the pass credit quality indicator to include credits exhibiting acceptable financial statements, cash flow, and leverage. If any risk exists, it is mitigated by the loan structure, collateral, monitoring, or control. For consumer loans, performing loans include credits performing in accordance with the original contractual terms.
Loans are considered past due if the required principal and interest payments have not been received as of the date such payments were due. Special mention credits have potential weaknesses that warrant specific attention from management. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the credit. Accruing TDRs
could be pass or special mention, depending on the risk rating on the loan. Potential problem loans are considered inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or the collateral pledged. These loans generally have a well-defined weakness, or weaknesses, which may jeopardize liquidation of the debt, and are characterized by the distinct possibility the Corporation will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. Management has determined commercial loan relationships in nonaccrual status, and commercial and consumer loan relationships with their terms restructured in a TDR, meet the criteria to be individually evaluated. Commercial loans classified as special mention, potential problem, and nonaccrual are reviewed at a minimum on a quarterly basis, while pass credits, which are performing rated credits, are generally reviewed on an annual basis or more frequently if the loan renewal is less than one year or if otherwise warranted.
The following table presents loans by past due status at December 31, 2022:
Accruing
($ in Thousands) Current 30-59 Days
Past Due 60-89 Days
Past Due 90+ Days
Past Due Nonaccrual(a)(b)
Total
Asset-based lending & equipment finance $ 458,887 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 458,887
Commercial and industrial 9,279,674 716 5,566 282 14,329 9,300,567
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 991,493 218 12 - - 991,722
Commercial and business lending 10,730,053 934 5,578 282 14,329 10,751,176
Commercial real estate - investor 5,049,897 1,067 - - 29,380 5,080,344
Real estate construction 2,155,077 39 - - 105 2,155,222
Commercial real estate lending 7,204,975 1,105 - - 29,485 7,235,565
Total commercial 17,935,028 2,040 5,578 282 43,814 17,986,742
Residential mortgage 8,443,072 9,811 63 124 58,480 8,511,550
Auto finance 1,371,176 8,238 1,170 - 1,490 1,382,073
Home equity 611,259 5,149 458 - 7,487 624,353
Other consumer 291,722 1,018 592 1,322 197 294,851
Total consumer 10,717,229 24,216 2,283 1,446 67,654 10,812,828
Total loans $ 28,652,257 $ 26,256 $ 7,861 $ 1,728 $ 111,467 $ 28,799,569
(a) Of the total nonaccrual loans, $64 million, or 58%, were current with respect to payment at December 31, 2022.
(b) No interest income was recognized on nonaccrual loans for the year ended December 31, 2022. In addition, there were $11 million of nonaccrual loans for which there was no related ACLL at December 31, 2022.
The following table presents loans by past due status at December 31, 2021:
Accruing
($ in Thousands) Current 30-59 Days
Past Due 60-89 Days
Past Due 90+ Days
Past Due Nonaccrual(a)(b)
Total
Asset-based lending $ 178,027 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 178,027
Commercial and industrial(c)
8,267,213 619 97 151 6,279 8,274,358
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 971,163 163 - - - 971,326
Commercial and business lending 9,416,403 781 97 151 6,279 9,423,711
Commercial real estate - investor 4,323,276 142 474 - 60,677 4,384,569
Real estate construction 1,807,178 1,618 2 - 177 1,808,976
Commercial real estate lending 6,130,454 1,759 477 - 60,855 6,193,545
Total commercial 15,546,857 2,541 573 151 67,134 15,617,256
Residential mortgage 7,505,654 5,500 669 126 55,362 7,567,310
Auto finance 142,982 11 - - 52 143,045
Home equity 584,177 2,867 844 - 7,726 595,615
Other consumer 298,261 1,835 472 986 170 301,723
Total consumer 8,531,074 10,213 1,985 1,111 63,309 8,607,693
Total loans $ 24,077,931 $ 12,754 $ 2,558 $ 1,263 $ 130,443 $ 24,224,949
(a) Of the total nonaccrual loans, $84 million, or 65%, were current with respect to payment at December 31, 2021.
(b) No interest income was recognized on nonaccrual loans for the year ended December 31, 2021. In addition, there were $9 million of nonaccrual loans for which there was no related ACLL at December 31, 2021.
(c) Includes equipment finance.
Troubled Debt Restructurings
Loans are considered restructured loans if concessions have been granted to borrowers that are experiencing financial difficulty. See Note 1 for the Corporation's accounting policy for TDRs.
The following table presents nonaccrual and performing restructured loans by loan portfolio:
December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
($ in Thousands) Performing
Restructured
Loans Nonaccrual
Restructured
Loans(a)
Performing
Restructured
Loans Nonaccrual
Restructured
Loans(a)
Performing
Restructured
Loans Nonaccrual
Restructured
Loans(a)
Commercial and industrial $ 12,453 $ - $ 8,687 $ - $ 12,713 $ 6,967
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 316 - 967 - 1,711 -
Commercial real estate - investor 128 2,074 12,866 3,093 26,435 225
Real estate construction 195 9 242 45 260 111
Residential mortgage 16,829 17,117 16,316 13,483 7,825 11,509
Home equity 2,148 927 2,648 806 1,957 1,379
Other consumer 798 - 803 - 1,191 -
Total restructured loans $ 32,868 $ 20,127 $ 42,530 $ 17,426 $ 52,092 $ 20,190
(a) Nonaccrual restructured loans have been included within nonaccrual loans.
The Corporation had a recorded investment of $11 million in loans modified as TDRs during the year ended December 31, 2022, of which $1 million were in accrual status, included in pass or special mention based on their risk rating within the credit quality tables, and $10 million were in nonaccrual within the credit quality tables, pending a sustained period of repayment. As of December 31, 2022, there were $20 million of commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers with restructured loans.
The following table provides the number of loans modified in a TDR by loan portfolio, the recorded investment, and unpaid principal balance:
Years Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
($ in Thousands) Number
of
Loans Recorded
Investment(a)
Unpaid
Principal
Balance(b)
Number
of
Loans Recorded
Investment(a)
Unpaid
Principal
Balance(b)
Number
of
Loans Recorded
Investment(a)
Unpaid
Principal
Balance(b)
Commercial and industrial 2 $ 281 $ 281 4 $ 610 $ 610 7 $ 1,823 $ 2,059
Commercial real estate - owner occupied - - - - - - 4 658 689
Commercial real estate - investor - - - 6 4,259 10,166 10 26,563 26,567
Residential mortgage 55 10,557 10,777 69 12,415 12,463 36 6,031 6,113
Home equity 15 531 557 9 932 963 20 1,078 1,697
Total loans modified 72 $ 11,370 $ 11,616 88 $ 18,216 $ 24,201 77 $ 36,154 $ 37,125
(a) Represents post-modification outstanding recorded investment.
(b) Represents pre-modification outstanding recorded investment.
Restructured loan modifications may include payment schedule modifications, interest rate concessions, maturity date extensions, modification of note structure (A/B Note), non-reaffirmed Chapter 7 bankruptcies, principal reduction, or some combination of these concessions. For the year ended December 31, 2022, restructured loan modifications of commercial loans primarily included maturity date extensions and payment schedule modifications. Restructured loan modifications of consumer loans primarily included maturity date extensions, interest rate concessions, non-reaffirmed Chapter 7 bankruptcies, or a combination of these concessions during the year ended December 31, 2022.
The following table provides the number of loans modified in a TDR during the previous twelve months which subsequently defaulted during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively, and the recorded investment in these restructured loans at the time of default as of December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively:
Years Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
($ in Thousands) Number of
Loans Recorded
Investment Number of
Loans Recorded
Investment Number of
Loans Recorded
Investment
Commercial real estate - investor - $ - 1 $ 164 - $ -
Residential mortgage 4 1,178 11 1,171 5 1,036
Home equity - - - - 4 208
Total loans modified 4 $ 1,178 12 $ 1,334 9 $ 1,244
All loans modified in a TDR are individually evaluated for impairment. The nature and extent of the impairment of restructured loans, including those which have experienced a subsequent payment default, are considered in the determination of an appropriate level of the ACLL.
The Corporation analyzes loans for classification as a probable TDR. This analysis includes identifying customers that are showing possible liquidity issues in the near term without reasonable access to alternative sources of capital. At December 31, 2022, the Corporation had no loans meeting this classification, compared to $7 million at December 31, 2021.
Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans
The ACLL is comprised of the allowance for loan losses and the allowance for unfunded commitments. The level of the ACLL represents management’s estimate of an amount appropriate to provide for expected lifetime credit losses in the loan portfolio at the balance sheet date. The expected lifetime credit losses are the product of multiplying the Corporation's estimates of probability of default, loss given default, and the individual loan level exposure at default on an undiscounted basis. A main factor in the determination of the ACLL is the economic forecast. The forecast the Corporation used for December 31, 2022 was the Moody's baseline scenario from November 2022, which was reviewed against the December 2022 baseline scenario with no material updates made, over a 2 year reasonable and supportable period with straight-line reversion to historical losses over the second year of the period. See Note 1 for the Corporation's accounting policy on the ACLL. The allowance for unfunded commitments is maintained at a level believed by management to be sufficient to absorb expected lifetime losses related to unfunded credit facilities (including unfunded loan commitments and letters of credit). See Note 16 for additional information on the change in the allowance for unfunded commitments.
The following table presents a summary of the changes in the ACLL by portfolio segment for the year ended December 31, 2022:
($ in Thousands) Dec 31, 2021 Charge offs Recoveries Net Charge offs Provision for credit losses Dec 31, 2022 ACLL / Loans
Allowance for loan losses
Asset-based lending & equipment finance $ 4,182 $ - $ - $ - $ 2,382 $ 6,564
Commercial and industrial 85,675 (4,491) 5,282 791 26,047 112,512
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 11,473 - 13 13 (2,011) 9,475
Commercial and business lending 101,330 (4,491) 5,295 804 26,418 128,551
Commercial real estate - investor 72,803 (50) 50 - (18,405) 54,398
Real estate construction 37,643 (48) 106 58 7,887 45,589
Commercial real estate lending 110,446 (98) 156 58 (10,518) 99,986
Total commercial 211,776 (4,588) 5,451 862 15,900 228,538
Residential mortgage 40,787 (567) 908 341 (2,830) 38,298
Auto finance 1,999 (1,041) 98 (943) 18,563 19,619
Home equity 14,011 (587) 1,385 798 66 14,875
Other consumer 11,441 (3,363) 1,010 (2,353) 2,301 11,390
Total consumer 68,239 (5,558) 3,401 (2,157) 18,100 84,182
Total loans $ 280,015 $ (10,146) $ 8,852 $ (1,294) $ 34,000 $ 312,720
Allowance for unfunded commitments
Asset-based lending & equipment finance $ 857 $ - $ - $ - $ (256) $ 601
Commercial and industrial 17,601 - - - (5,205) 12,396
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 208 - - - (105) 103
Commercial and business lending 18,667 - - - (5,566) 13,101
Commercial real estate - investor 936 - - - (226) 710
Real estate construction 15,586 - - - 4,997 20,583
Commercial real estate lending 16,522 - - - 4,770 21,292
Total commercial 35,189 - - - (796) 34,393
Home equity 2,592 - - - 107 2,699
Other consumer 1,995 - - - (311) 1,683
Total consumer 4,587 - - - (204) 4,382
Total loans $ 39,776 $ - $ - $ - $ (1,000) $ 38,776
Allowance for credit losses on loans
Asset-based lending & equipment finance $ 5,040 $ - $ - $ - $ 2,125 $ 7,165 1.56 %
Commercial and industrial 103,276 (4,491) 5,282 791 20,842 124,908 1.34 %
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 11,681 - 13 13 (2,115) 9,579 0.97 %
Commercial and business lending 119,997 (4,491) 5,295 804 20,852 141,652 1.32 %
Commercial real estate - investor 73,739 (50) 50 - (18,631) 55,108 1.08 %
Real estate construction 53,229 (48) 106 58 12,884 66,171 3.07 %
Commercial real estate lending 126,968 (98) 156 58 (5,748) 121,279 1.68 %
Total commercial 246,965 (4,588) 5,451 862 15,104 262,931 1.46 %
Residential mortgage 40,787 (567) 908 341 (2,830) 38,298 0.45 %
Auto finance 1,999 (1,041) 98 (943) 18,563 19,619 1.42 %
Home equity 16,603 (587) 1,385 798 173 17,574 2.81 %
Other consumer 13,436 (3,363) 1,010 (2,353) 1,990 13,073 4.43 %
Total consumer 72,825 (5,558) 3,401 (2,157) 17,896 88,565 0.82 %
Total loans $ 319,791 $ (10,146) $ 8,852 $ (1,294) $ 33,000 $ 351,496 1.22 %
The following table presents a summary of the changes in the ACLL by portfolio segment for the year ended December 31, 2021:
($ in Thousands) Dec 31, 2020 Charge offs Recoveries Net Charge offs Provision for credit losses Dec 31, 2021 ACLL / Loans
Allowance for loan losses
Asset-based lending $ 2,077 $ - $ 412 $ 412 $ 1,693 $ 4,182
Commercial and industrial(a)
141,247 (21,564) 8,152 (13,412) (42,160) 85,675
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 11,274 - 120 120 80 11,473
Commercial and business lending 154,598 (21,564) 8,684 (12,880) (40,388) 101,330
Commercial real estate - investor 93,435 (14,346) 3,162 (11,184) (9,448) 72,803
Real estate construction 59,193 (5) 126 121 (21,672) 37,643
Commercial real estate lending 152,629 (14,351) 3,288 (11,063) (31,120) 110,446
Total commercial 307,226 (35,915) 11,972 (23,943) (71,508) 211,776
Residential mortgage 42,996 (880) 841 (38) (2,170) 40,787
Auto finance 174 (22) 31 9 1,816 1,999
Home equity 18,849 (668) 2,854 2,186 (7,024) 14,011
Other consumer 14,456 (3,168) 1,267 (1,901) (1,113) 11,441
Total consumer 76,475 (4,738) 4,993 256 (8,492) 68,239
Total loans $ 383,702 $ (40,652) $ 16,965 $ (23,687) $ (80,000) $ 280,015
Allowance for unfunded commitments
Asset-based lending $ 901 $ - $ - $ - $ (43) $ 857
Commercial and industrial(a)
21,411 - - - (3,809) 17,601
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 266 - - - (58) 208
Commercial and business lending 22,577 - - - (3,911) 18,667
Commercial real estate - investor 636 - - - 300 936
Real estate construction 18,887 - - - (3,301) 15,586
Commercial real estate lending 19,523 - - - (3,001) 16,522
Total commercial 42,101 - - - (6,912) 35,189
Home equity 3,118 - - - (526) 2,592
Other consumer 2,557 - - - (563) 1,995
Total consumer 5,675 - - - (1,088) 4,587
Total loans $ 47,776 $ - $ - $ - $ (8,000) $ 39,776
Allowance for credit losses on loans
Asset-based lending $ 2,978 $ - $ 412 $ 412 $ 1,649 $ 5,040 2.83 %
Commercial and industrial(a)
162,657 (21,564) 8,152 (13,412) (45,970) 103,276 1.25 %
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 11,539 - 120 120 22 11,681 1.20 %
Commercial and business lending 177,175 (21,564) 8,684 (12,880) (44,299) 119,997 1.27 %
Commercial real estate - investor 94,071 (14,346) 3,162 (11,184) (9,148) 73,739 1.68 %
Real estate construction 78,080 (5) 126 121 (24,972) 53,229 2.94 %
Commercial real estate lending 172,152 (14,351) 3,288 (11,063) (34,121) 126,968 2.05 %
Total commercial 349,327 (35,915) 11,972 (23,943) (78,419) 246,965 1.58 %
Residential mortgage 42,996 (880) 841 (38) (2,170) 40,787 0.54 %
Auto finance 174 (22) 31 9 1,816 1,999 1.40 %
Home equity 21,967 (668) 2,854 2,186 (7,550) 16,603 2.79 %
Other consumer 17,013 (3,168) 1,267 (1,901) (1,676) 13,436 4.45 %
Total consumer 82,150 (4,738) 4,993 256 (9,581) 72,825 0.85 %
Total loans $ 431,478 $ (40,652) $ 16,965 $ (23,687) $ (88,000) $ 319,791 1.32 %
(a) Includes equipment finance
Note 5 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill
Goodwill is not amortized but is instead subject to impairment tests on at least an annual basis, and more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. See Note 1 for the Corporation’s accounting policy for goodwill and other intangible assets.
The Corporation conducted its most recent annual impairment testing in May 2022, utilizing a qualitative assessment. Factors that management considered in this assessment included macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, overall financial performance of the Corporation and each reporting unit (both current and projected), changes in management strategy, and changes in the composition or carrying amount of net assets. In addition, management considered the changes in both the Corporation's common stock price and in the overall bank common stock index (based on the S&P 400 Regional Bank Sub-Industry Index), as well as the Corporation's earnings per common share trend over the past year. Based on these assessments, management concluded that it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value (including goodwill) for each reporting unit. Therefore, a step one quantitative analysis was not required. There have been no events since the May 2022 impairment test that have changed the Corporation's impairment assessment conclusion. There were no impairment charges recorded in 2022, 2021, or 2020.
The Corporation had goodwill of $1.1 billion at both December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Other Intangible Assets
The Corporation has CDIs and historically had other intangible assets, both of which are amortized. For CDIs and other intangibles, changes in the gross carrying amount, accumulated amortization, and net book value were as follows:
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Core deposit intangibles
Gross carrying amount at the beginning of the year $ 88,109 $ 88,109 $ 80,730
Additions during the year - - 7,379
Accumulated amortization (38,827) (30,016) (21,205)
Net book value $ 49,282 $ 58,093 $ 66,904
Amortization during the year $ 8,811 $ 8,811 $ 8,749
Other intangibles
Gross carrying amount at the beginning of the year $ - $ 2,000 $ 38,970
Additions during the year - - 200
Reductions due to sale - (1,317) (17,435)
Accumulated amortization - (683) (20,385)
Net book value $ - $ - $ 1,350
Amortization during the year $ - $ 33 $ 1,443
Mortgage Servicing Rights
The Corporation sells residential mortgage loans in the secondary market and typically retains the right to service the loans sold. On January 1, 2022, the Corporation made the irrevocable election to account for its MSRs under the fair value measurement method, with any change in fair value being recognized through earnings in mortgage banking, net on the consolidated statements of income. See Note 1 for the Corporation’s accounting policy for MSRs. See Note 16 for a discussion of the recourse provisions on sold residential mortgage loans. See Note 18 which further discusses fair value measurement relative to the MSRs asset.
A summary of changes in the balance of the MSRs asset under the fair value measurement method for the year ended December 31, 2022 is as follows:
($ in Thousands) 2022
Mortgage servicing rights
Mortgage servicing rights at beginning of period $ 54,862
Cumulative effect of accounting methodology change 2,296
Balance at beginning of period, adjusted $ 57,158
Additions 7,279
Paydowns (9,350)
Valuation:
Change in fair value model assumptions 5,715
Changes in fair value of asset 16,549
Mortgage servicing rights at end of period $ 77,351
Portfolio of residential mortgage loans serviced for others (“servicing portfolio”) $ 6,711,820
Mortgage servicing rights to servicing portfolio 1.15 %
Prior to January 1, 2022, the Corporation accounted for its MSRs under the amortization methodology. See Note 1 for the Corporation’s accounting policy for MSRs when they were still under the amortization methodology.
A summary of changes in the balance of the MSRs asset and the MSRs valuation allowance under the amortization methodology for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:
($ in Thousands) 2021 2020
Mortgage servicing rights
Mortgage servicing rights at beginning of year $ 59,967 $ 67,607
Additions from acquisition - 1,357
Additions 16,151 13,667
Amortization (19,436) (22,664)
Mortgage servicing rights at end of year $ 56,682 $ 59,967
Valuation allowance at beginning of year (18,006) (302)
(Additions) recoveries, net 16,186 (17,704)
Valuation allowance at end of year (1,820) (18,006)
Mortgage servicing rights, net $ 54,862 $ 41,961
Fair value of mortgage servicing rights $ 57,259 $ 41,990
Portfolio of residential mortgage loans serviced for others (“servicing portfolio”) 6,994,834 7,743,956
Mortgage servicing rights, net to servicing portfolio 0.78 % 0.54 %
Mortgage servicing rights expense(a)
$ 3,250 $ 40,369
(a) Includes the amortization of mortgage servicing rights and additions / recoveries to the valuation allowance of mortgage servicing rights, and is a component of mortgage banking, net on the consolidated statements of income.
The projections of amortization expense for CDIs and decay for MSRs are based on existing asset balances, the current interest rate environment, and prepayment speeds as of December 31, 2022. The actual expense the Corporation recognizes in any given period may be significantly different depending upon acquisition or sale activities, changes in interest rates, prepayment speeds, market conditions, regulatory requirements, and events or circumstances that indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The following table shows the estimated future amortization expense for CDIs and decay for MSRs:
($ in Thousands) Core Deposit Intangibles Mortgage Servicing Rights
Year ending December 31,
2023 $ 8,811 $ 13,714
2024 8,811 10,364
2025 8,811 9,238
2026 8,811 8,108
2027 8,811 7,301
Beyond 2027 5,227 28,626
Total estimated amortization expense and MSRs decay $ 49,282 $ 77,351
Note 6 Premises and Equipment
See Note 1 for the Corporation’s accounting policy for premises and equipment. A summary of premises and equipment at December 31, 2022 and 2021 is as follows:
2022 2021
($ in Thousands)
Estimated
Useful Lives Cost Accumulated
Depreciation Net Book
Value Net Book
Value
Land - $ 65,516 $ - $ 65,516 $ 66,830
Land improvements 3 - 20 years 19,785 9,711 10,074 9,555
Buildings and improvements 5 - 40 years 393,329 179,833 213,496 213,130
Computers and related equipment 4 - 8 years 55,226 42,620 12,606 13,831
Furniture, fixtures and other equipment 3 - 20 years 118,887 85,776 33,110 41,787
Operating leases - 42,633 17,017 25,617 28,299
Leasehold improvements 2 - 20 years 39,454 22,966 16,487 11,741
Total premises and equipment $ 734,829 $ 357,923 $ 376,906 $ 385,173
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment totaled $31 million for 2022, $33 million for 2021, and $34 million for 2020.
Note 7 Leases
The Corporation has operating leases for retail and corporate offices, land, and equipment. The Corporation also has a finance lease for retail and corporate offices.
These leases have original terms of 1 year or longer with remaining maturities up to 40 years, some of which include options to extend the lease term. An analysis of the lease options has been completed and any purchase options or optional periods that the Corporation is reasonably likely to extend have been included in the capitalization.
The discount rate used to capitalize the operating leases is the Corporation's FHLB borrowing rate on the date of lease commencement. When determining the rate to discount specific lease obligations, the repayment period and term are considered.
Operating and finance lease costs and cash flows resulting from these leases are presented below:
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Operating Lease Costs $ 6,812 $ 8,712 $ 11,450
Finance Lease Costs 119 107 154
Operating Lease Cash Flows 8,440 11,183 11,276
Finance Lease Cash Flows 125 137 122
The lease classifications on the consolidated balance sheets were as follows:
Consolidated Balance Sheets Category
($ in Thousands) December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
Operating lease right-of-use asset Premises and equipment $ 25,617 $ 28,299
Finance lease right-of-use asset Other assets 455 143
Operating lease liability Accrued expenses and other liabilities 28,357 31,345
Finance lease liability Other long-term funding 469 163
The lease payment obligations, weighted-average remaining lease term, and weighted-average original discount rate were as follows:
December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
($ in Thousands) Lease payments Weighted-average lease term (in years) Weighted-average discount rate Lease payments Weighted-average lease term (in years) Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases
Retail and corporate offices $ 26,140 5.92 2.62 % $ 29,008 5.56 3.26 %
Land 4,766 7.59 3.14 % 5,551 8.29 3.12 %
Equipment - 0.00 - % 192 1.50 0.45 %
Total operating leases $ 30,906 6.17 2.70 % $ 34,751 5.94 3.22 %
Finance leases
Retail and corporate offices $ 485 5.25 1.32 % $ 112 1.25 1.32 %
Land - 0.00 - % 51 0.67 1.07 %
Total finance leases $ 485 5.25 1.32 % $ 164 1.07 1.24 %
Contractual lease payment obligations for each of the next five years and thereafter, in addition to a reconciliation to the Corporation’s lease liability, were as follows:
($ in Thousands) Operating Leases Finance Leases Total Leases
Twelve Months Ending December 31, 2023 $ 6,187 $ 92 $ 6,279
2024 5,685 93 5,777
2025 4,512 93 4,605
2026 4,246 93 4,339
2027 3,807 93 3,899
Beyond 2027 6,469 23 6,492
Total lease payments $ 30,906 $ 485 $ 31,391
Less: interest 2,549 16 2,566
Present value of lease payments $ 28,357 $ 469 $ 28,826
At both December 31, 2022 and 2021, additional operating leases, primarily retail and corporate offices, that had not yet commenced totaled $13 million. The leases that had not yet commenced as of December 31, 2022 will commence between January 2023 and January 2024 with lease terms of 1 year to 6 years.
The Corporation conducts a portion of its business through certain facilities and equipment under non-cancelable operating leases. The Corporation also leases a subdivision of some of its facilities and receives rental income from such lease agreements. The approximate minimum annual rental payments and rental receipts under non-cancelable agreements and leases with remaining terms in excess of one year are as follows:
($ in Thousands) Payments Receipts
2023 $ 5,969 $ 2,879
2024 5,748 3,056
2025 4,670 2,765
2026 4,403 2,451
2027 3,943 2,051
Beyond 2027 6,488 6,531
Total $ 31,220 $ 19,733
Total rental expense under leases, net of lease income, totaled $3 million in 2022, and $5 million 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Note 8 Deposits
The distribution of deposits at December 31 is as follows:
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021
Noninterest-bearing demand $ 7,760,811 $ 8,504,077
Savings 4,604,848 4,410,198
Interest-bearing demand 7,100,727 7,019,782
Money market 8,239,610 7,185,111
Brokered CDs 541,916 -
Other time deposits 1,388,242 1,347,262
Total deposits $ 29,636,154 $ 28,466,430
Uninsured deposits were $15.7 billion and $14.6 billion at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Time deposits in excess of $250,000 were $282 million and $215 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Aggregate annual maturities of all time deposits at December 31, 2022, are as follows:
Maturities During Year Ending December 31, ($ in Thousands)
2023 $ 1,545,286
2024 240,599
2025 109,034
2026 19,998
2027 15,236
Thereafter 5
Total $ 1,930,158
Note 9 Short and Long-Term Funding
The following table presents the components of short-term funding (funding with original contractual maturities of one year or less), and long-term funding (funding with original contractual maturities greater than one year):
($ in Thousands) December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
Short-Term Funding
Federal funds purchased $ 344,170 $ 120
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 240,969 319,412
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase 585,139 319,532
Commercial paper 20,798 34,730
Total short-term funding $ 605,937 $ 354,262
Long-Term Funding
Corporation subordinated notes, at par $ 250,000 $ 250,000
Capitalized costs (544) (839)
Subordinated debt fair value hedge liability(a)
(1,855) -
Finance leases 469 163
Total long-term funding $ 248,071 $ 249,324
Total short and long-term funding, excluding FHLB advances
$ 854,007 $ 603,587
FHLB Advances
Short-term FHLB advances $ 3,125,000 $ -
Long-term FHLB advances 1,209,170 1,621,047
FHLB advances fair value hedge liability(a)
(14,308) -
Total FHLB advances $ 4,319,861 $ 1,621,047
Total short and long-term funding
$ 5,173,869 $ 2,224,633
(a) For additional information on the fair value hedge liability, see Note 14.
Securities Sold Under Agreement to Repurchase
The Corporation enters into agreements under which it sells securities subject to an obligation to repurchase the same or similar securities. Under these arrangements, the Corporation may transfer legal control over the assets but still retain effective control through an agreement that both entitles and obligates the Corporation to repurchase the assets. The obligation to repurchase the securities is reflected as a liability on the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheets, while the securities underlying the
repurchase agreements remain in the respective investment securities asset accounts (i.e., there is no offsetting or netting of the investment securities assets with the repurchase agreement liabilities).
The Corporation utilizes securities sold under agreements to repurchase to facilitate the needs of its customers. The fair value of securities pledged to secure repurchase agreements may decline. At December 31, 2022, the Corporation had pledged securities valued at 169% of the gross outstanding balance of repurchase agreements to manage this risk.
The remaining contractual maturity of the securities sold under agreements to repurchase on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 are presented in the following table:
Overnight and Continuous
($ in Thousands) December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
Repurchase agreements
Agency mortgage-related securities
$ 240,969 $ 319,412
Long-Term Funding
Subordinated Notes
In November 2014, the Corporation issued $250 million of 10-year subordinated notes, due January 2025, and callable October 2024. The subordinated notes have a fixed coupon interest rate of 4.25% and were issued at a discount.
Finance Leases
Finance leases are used in conjunction with branch operations. See Note 7 for additional disclosure regarding the Corporation’s leases.
FHLB Advances
Under agreements with the FHLB of Chicago, FHLB advances are secured by pledging qualifying collateral of the subsidiary bank (such as residential mortgage, residential mortgage loans held for sale, home equity, CRE and investment securities). At December 31, 2022, the Corporation had $8.8 billion of total collateral capacity, primarily supported by pledged consumer and CRE loans and investment securities. At December 31, 2022, the FHLB advances had maturity or call dates ranging from 2023 through 2029, and had a weighted average interest rate of 4.06%, compared to 2.05% at December 31, 2021. The Corporation prepaid $400 million in long-term FHLB advances during the first quarter of 2022 with no prepayment fee.
The table below summarizes the expected maturities of the Corporation’s long-term funding at December 31, 2022:
($ in Thousands) Long Term Funding
Year
2023 $ 476
2024 248,234
2025 392,488
2026 604,695
2027 671
Beyond 2027 196,368
Total long-term funding $ 1,442,932
Note 10 Stockholders' Equity
Preferred Equity: In June 2015, the Corporation issued 2.6 million depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of the Corporation’s 6.125% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, liquidation preference $1,000 per share. On June 15, 2021, the Corporation redeemed all remaining Series C depositary shares for $65 million.
In September 2016, the Corporation issued 4.0 million depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of the Corporation’s 5.375% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D, liquidation preference $1,000 per share. On July 25, 2017, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $15 million of depositary shares of the Corporation's Series D Preferred Stock. During 2018, the Corporation repurchased approximately 22,000 depositary shares for $1 million. On September 15, 2021, the Corporation redeemed all remaining Series D depositary shares for $99 million.
In September 2018, the Corporation issued 4.0 million depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of the Corporation’s 5.875% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E, liquidation preference $1,000 per share. Dividends
on the Series E Preferred Stock are payable quarterly in arrears only when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors at a rate per annum equal to 5.875%. Shares of the Series E Preferred Stock have priority over the Corporation’s common stock with regard to the payment of dividends and distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. As such, the Corporation may not pay dividends on or repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of its common stock unless dividends for the Series E Preferred Stock have been declared for that period, and sufficient funds have been set aside to make payment. The Series E Preferred Stock may be redeemed by the Corporation at its option (i) either in whole or in part, from time to time, on any dividend payment date on or after the dividend payment date occurring on December 15, 2023, or (ii) in whole but not in part, at any time within 90 days following certain regulatory capital treatment events, in each case at a redemption price of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share), plus any applicable dividends. Except in certain limited circumstances, the Series E Preferred Stock does not have any voting rights.
In June 2020, the Corporation issued 4.0 million depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of the Corporation’s 5.625% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series F, liquidation preference $1,000 per share. Dividends on the Series F Preferred Stock are payable quarterly in arrears only when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors at a rate per annum equal to 5.625%. Shares of the Series F Preferred Stock have priority over the Corporation’s common stock with regard to the payment of dividends and distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. As such, the Corporation may not pay dividends on or repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of its common stock unless dividends for the Series F Preferred Stock have been declared for that period, and sufficient funds have been set aside to make payment. The Series F Preferred Stock may be redeemed by the Corporation at its option (i) either in whole or in part, from time to time, on any dividend payment date on or after the dividend payment date occurring on September 15, 2025, or (ii) in whole but not in part, at any time within 90 days following certain regulatory capital treatment events, in each case at a redemption price of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share), plus any applicable dividends. Except in certain limited circumstances, the Series F Preferred Stock does not have any voting rights.
Subsidiary Equity: At December 31, 2022, subsidiary equity equaled $4.0 billion. See Note 19 for additional information on regulatory requirements for the Bank.
Common Stock Repurchases: In 2022, the Board of Directors did not approve any additional authorizations for the repurchase of the Corporation's common stock. In 2021, the Board of Directors approved additional authorizations for the repurchase of up to $100 million of the Corporation’s common stock. During 2022, the Corporation did not repurchase any shares under the share repurchase program compared to 6.3 million shares for $133 million (or an average cost per common share of $21.12) during 2021.
As of December 31, 2022, $80 million remained available to repurchase shares of common stock under previously approved Board of Director authorizations. The repurchase of shares will be based on market and investment opportunities, capital levels, growth prospects, and any necessary regulatory approvals and other regulatory constraints. Such repurchases may occur from time to time in open market purchases, block transactions, private transactions, accelerated share repurchase programs, or similar facilities.
The Corporation also repurchased shares in satisfaction of minimum tax withholding obligations in connection with settlements of equity compensation totaling $6 million (267,605 shares at an average cost per common share of $24.22) during 2022, compared to $5 million (242,966 shares at an average cost per common share of $19.95) during 2021.
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss): See the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for a summary of activity in other comprehensive income (loss) and see Note 22 for a summary of the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Note 11 Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-Based Compensation Plan
In February 2020, the Board of Directors, with subsequent approval of the Corporation’s shareholders, approved the adoption of the 2020 Incentive Compensation Plan. All remaining shares available for grant under the 2017 Incentive Compensation Plan were rolled into the 2020 Plan. As of December 31, 2022, approximately 8.9 million shares remained available for grant under the 2020 Plan.
Under the 2020 Plan, options are generally exercisable up to ten years from the date of grant, have an exercise price that is equal to the closing price of the Corporation’s stock on the grant date, and vest ratably over four years.
The Corporation also issues restricted stock awards under the 2020 Plan. The shares of restricted stock are restricted as to transfer, but are not restricted as to dividend payment or voting rights. Restricted stock units receive dividend equivalents but
do not have voting rights. The transfer restrictions lapse over three years or four years, depending upon whether the awards are performance-based or service-based. Performance-based awards are based on earnings per share performance goals, relative total shareholder return, and continued employment or meeting the requirements for retirement, and service-based awards are contingent upon continued employment or meeting the requirements for retirement. Performance-based restricted stock awards granted during 2021 and 2022 will cliff-vest after the three year performance period has ended. Service-based restricted stock awards granted during 2021 and 2022 will vest ratably over four years.
The 2020 Plan provides that restricted stock awards and stock options will immediately become fully vested upon retirement from the Corporation of retirement eligible colleagues. See Note 1 for the Corporation’s accounting policy for stock based compensation.
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
The fair values of stock options and restricted stock awards are amortized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the grants. For colleagues who meet the definition of retirement eligible under the 2017 Plan and the 2020 Plan, expenses related to stock options and restricted stock awards are fully recognized on the date the colleague meets the definition of normal or early retirement. Compensation expense recognized is included in personnel expense on the consolidated statements of income.
Performance awards are based on performance goals of earnings per share and total shareholder return with vesting ranging from a minimum of 0% to a maximum of 150% of the target award. Performance awards are valued utilizing a Monte Carlo simulation model to estimate fair value of the awards at the grant date.
Assumptions are used in estimating the fair value of stock options granted. The weighted average expected life of the stock option represents the period of time that stock options are expected to be outstanding and is estimated using historical data of stock option exercises and forfeitures. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The expected volatility is based on the implied volatility of the Corporation’s stock. The Corporation did not grant stock options during 2022 or 2021.
The following assumptions were used in estimating the fair value for options granted in 2020:
Dividend yield 3.50 %
Risk-free interest rate 1.60 %
Weighted average expected volatility 21.00 %
Weighted average expected life 5.75 years
Weighted average per share fair value of options $2.39
A summary of the Corporation’s stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2022 is presented below:
Stock Options Shares(a)
Weighted Average
Exercise Price Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Term Aggregate
Intrinsic Value(a)
Outstanding at December 31, 2021 4,814 $ 20.72 5.96 years $ 12,532
Exercised 663 18.27
Forfeited or expired 157 22.33
Outstanding at December 31, 2022 3,994 $ 21.06 5.11 years $ 10,525
Options exercisable at December 31, 2022 3,435 $ 21.40 4.82 years $ 8,223
(a) In thousands
Intrinsic value represents the amount by which the fair market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the stock option. For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, the intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $4 million, $9 million, and approximately $816,000, respectively. The total fair value of stock options that vested was $2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, $4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, and $4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, the Corporation recognized compensation expense of approximately $710,000, $1 million, and $4 million, respectively, for the vesting of stock options. Compensation expense for 2022 related to the accelerated vesting of stock options granted to retirement eligible colleagues was immaterial. At December 31, 2022, the Corporation had approximately $378,000 of unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options that is expected to be recognized over the remaining requisite service periods that extend predominantly through the first quarter of 2024.
The following table summarizes information about the Corporation’s restricted stock activity for the year ended December 31, 2022:
Restricted Stock Shares(a)
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2021 2,635 $ 19.87
Granted 800 22.90
Vested 968 21.81
Forfeited 164 20.43
Outstanding at December 31, 2022 2,303 $ 20.92
(a) In thousands
The Corporation amortizes the expense related to restricted stock awards as compensation expense over the vesting period specified in the grant's award agreement. Expense for restricted stock awards of $16 million was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2022, $15 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and $17 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Included in compensation expense for 2022 was $4 million of expense for the accelerated vesting of restricted stock awards granted to retirement eligible colleagues. The Corporation had $21 million of unrecognized compensation costs related to restricted stock awards at December 31, 2022 that are expected to be recognized over the remaining requisite service periods that extend predominantly through the first quarter of 2026.
The Corporation has the ability to issue shares from treasury or new shares upon the exercise of stock options or the granting of restricted stock awards. As described in Note 10, the Board of Directors has authorized management to repurchase shares of the Corporation’s common stock in the market, to be made available for issuance in connection with the Corporation’s employee incentive plans and for other corporate purposes. The repurchase of shares, if any, will be based on market and investment opportunities, capital levels, growth prospects, and regulatory constraints. Such repurchases may occur from time to time in open market purchases, block transactions, private transactions, accelerated share repurchase programs, or similar facilities.
Note 12 Retirement Plans
The Corporation has a noncontributory defined benefit RAP, covering substantially all employees who meet participation requirements. The benefits are based primarily on years of service and the employee’s compensation paid. Employees of acquired entities generally participate in the RAP after consummation of the business combinations. Any retirement plans of acquired entities are typically merged into the RAP after completion of the mergers, and credit is usually given to employees for years of service at the acquired institution for vesting and eligibility purposes.
The Corporation also provides legacy healthcare access to a limited group of retired employees from a previous acquisition in the Postretirement Plan. There are no other active retiree healthcare plans.
The funded status and amounts recognized on the 2022 and 2021 consolidated balance sheets, as measured on December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, for the RAP and Postretirement Plan were as follows:
RAP Postretirement
Plan RAP Postretirement
Plan
($ in Thousands) 2022 2022 2021 2021
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ 497,796 $ - $ 478,849 $ -
Actual return on plan assets (74,140) - 41,576 -
Employer contributions - 193 - 201
Gross benefits paid (16,252) (193) (22,629) (201)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year(a)
$ 407,405 $ - $ 497,796 $ -
Change in Benefit Obligation
Net benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 261,321 $ 1,975 $ 280,017 $ 2,243
Service cost 3,670 - 7,779 -
Interest cost
7,152 53 6,570 52
Plan amendments - - (1,494) -
Actuarial (gain) loss (47,577) (305) (8,921) (119)
Gross benefits paid (16,252) (193) (22,629) (201)
Net benefit obligation at end of year(a)
$ 208,315 $ 1,530 $ 261,321 $ 1,975
Funded (unfunded) status $ 199,089 $ (1,530) $ 236,475 $ (1,975)
Noncurrent assets $ 199,089 $ - $ 236,475 $ -
Current liabilities - (164) - (177)
Noncurrent liabilities - (1,366) - (1,798)
Asset (liability) recognized on the consolidated balance sheets $ 199,089 $ (1,530) $ 236,475 $ (1,975)
(a) The fair value of the plan assets represented 196% and 190% of the net benefit obligation of the pension plan at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax, as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 were as follows:
RAP Postretirement
Plan RAP Postretirement
Plan
($ in Thousands) 2022 2022 2021 2021
Prior service cost $ (1,064) $ (362) $ (1,253) $ (419)
Net actuarial loss (gain) 44,919 (316) 5,605 (89)
Amount not yet recognized in net periodic benefit cost, but recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss $ 43,855 $ (678) $ 4,352 $ (508)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in OCI, net of tax, in 2022 and 2021 were as follows:
RAP Postretirement
Plan RAP Postretirement
Plan
($ in Thousands) 2022 2022 2021 2021
Net actuarial gain (loss) $ (53,466) $ 305 $ 25,257 $ 119
Amortization of prior service cost (250) (75) (73) (75)
Amortization of actuarial loss 658 - 4,594 -
Prior service cost - - 1,494 -
Income tax benefit (expense) 13,553 (58) (7,791) (11)
Total recognized in OCI $ (39,504) $ 171 $ 23,480 $ 33
The components of net periodic pension cost for the RAP for 2022, 2021, and 2020 were as follows:
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Service cost $ 3,670 $ 7,779 $ 8,244
Interest cost 7,152 6,570 8,185
Expected return on plan assets (26,903) (25,675) (25,595)
Amortization of prior service cost (250) (73) (73)
Amortization of actuarial loss 658 4,594 3,897
Recognized settlement loss - 434 -
Total net periodic pension (income) $ (15,673) $ (6,370) $ (5,342)
The components of net periodic benefit cost for the Postretirement Plan for 2022, 2021, and 2020 were as follows:
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Interest cost $ 53 $ 52 $ 78
Amortization of prior service cost (75) (75) (75)
Total net periodic benefit cost (income) $ (22) $ (24) $ 3
The components of net periodic pension cost and net periodic benefit cost, other than the service cost component, are included in the line item other of noninterest expense on the consolidated statements of income. The service cost components are included in personnel on the consolidated statements of income.
RAP Postretirement
Plan RAP Postretirement
Plan
2022 2022 2021 2021
Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations
Discount rate 5.40 % 5.40 % 2.80 % 2.80 %
Rate of increase in compensation levels 2.50 % N/A 2.50 % N/A
Interest crediting rate 3.46 % N/A 3.07 % N/A
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit costs
Discount rate
2.80 % 2.80 % 2.40 % 2.40 %
Rate of increase in compensation levels 2.50 % N/A 2.00 % N/A
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets
6.00 % N/A 6.00 % N/A
The expected long-term (more than 20 years) rate of return was estimated using market benchmarks for equities and bonds applied to the RAP’s anticipated asset allocations. The expected return on equities was computed utilizing a valuation framework, which projected future returns based on current equity valuations rather than historical returns. The actual rates of return for the RAP assets were (15.03)% and 10.10% for 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The RAP’s investments are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market, and credit risks. Due to the level of risks associated with certain investments and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of the investments, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in risks in the near term could materially affect the amounts reported. The investment objective for the RAP is to ensure there are sufficient assets to pay pension obligations when they come due while mitigating risks and providing prudent governance. The RAP has a diversified portfolio designed to provide liquidity, current income, and growth of income and principal, with anticipated asset allocation ranges of: equity securities 50 to 70%, fixed-income securities 30 to 50%, alternative securities 0 to 15%, and other cash equivalents 0 to 10%. Based on changes in economic and market conditions, the Corporation could be outside of the allocation ranges for brief periods of time. The asset allocation for the RAP as of the December 31, 2022 and 2021 measurement dates, respectively, by asset category were as follows:
Asset Category 2022 2021
Equity securities 53 % 55 %
Fixed-income securities 35 % 34 %
Group annuity contracts 10 % 10 %
Other 2 % 1 %
Total 100 % 100 %
The RAP assets include cash equivalents, such as money market accounts, mutual funds, common / collective trust funds (which include investments in equity and bond securities), and a group annuity contract. Money market accounts are stated at cost plus accrued interest, mutual funds are valued at quoted market prices, investments in common / collective trust funds are valued at the amount at which units in the funds can be withdrawn, and the group annuity contract is valued at fair value by discounting the related cash flows based on current yields of similar instruments with comparable durations and considering the credit worthiness of the issuer.
Based on these inputs, the following table summarizes the fair value of the RAP’s investments as of December 31, 2022 and 2021:
Fair Value Measurements Using
($ in Thousands) December 31, 2022 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
RAP Investments
Money market account $ 6,628 $ 6,628 $ - $ -
Common /collective trust funds 155,654 155,654 - -
Mutual funds 204,184 204,184 - -
Group annuity contracts 40,939 - - 40,939
Total RAP investments $ 407,405 $ 366,466 $ - $ 40,939
Fair Value Measurements Using
($ in Thousands) December 31, 2021 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
RAP Investments
Money market account $ 5,446 $ 5,446 $ - $ -
Common /collective trust funds 185,791 185,791 - -
Mutual funds 257,345 257,345 - -
Group annuity contracts 49,213 - - 49,213
Total RAP investments $ 497,796 $ 448,582 $ - $ 49,213
The following presents a summary of the changes in the fair value of the RAP's Level 3 asset during the periods indicated.
Fair Value Reconciliation of Level 3 RAP Investments 2022 2021
Fair value of group annuity contract at beginning of period $ 49,213 $ 50,866
Return on plan assets (5,671) 921
Transfers from money market funds and equity securities - 66
Benefits paid (2,604) (2,640)
Fair value of group annuity contract at end of period $ 40,939 $ 49,213
The Corporation’s funding policy is to pay at least the minimum amount required by federal law and regulations, with consideration given to the maximum funding amounts allowed. The Corporation regularly reviews the funding of its RAP. There were no contributions to the RAP during 2022 and 2021.
The projected benefit payments were calculated using the same assumptions as those used to calculate the benefit obligations listed above. The projected benefit payments for the RAP and Postretirement Plan at December 31, 2022, reflecting expected future services, were as follows:
($ in Thousands) RAP Postretirement Plan
Estimated future benefit payments
2023 $ 19,000 $ 169
2024 19,436 164
2025 21,315 159
2026 20,032 154
2027 18,924 148
2028-2032 81,944 638
The health care trend rate is an assumption as to how much the Postretirement Plan’s medical costs will change each year in the future. There are no remaining participants under age 65 in the Postretirement Plan. The actual change in 2022 health care premium rates for post-65 coverage was an increase of 2.50%. The health care trend rate assumption for post-65 coverage has the rate of increase growing by 2.50% in 2023 to an ultimate rate of 5.00% for 2023 and future years.
The Corporation also has a 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “401(k) plan”). The Corporation’s contribution is determined by the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board of Directors. Total expenses related to contributions to the 401(k) plan were $15 million, $13 million, and $15 million for 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively.
Note 13 Income Taxes
The current and deferred amounts of income tax expense (benefit) were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Current
Federal $ 58,982 $ 57,916 $ 33,020
State 22,092 12,035 16,193
Total current 81,074 69,951 49,213
Deferred
Federal 12,531 9,115 (25,895)
State (97) 6,247 (3,118)
Total deferred 12,434 15,362 (29,013)
Total income tax expense $ 93,508 $ 85,313 $ 20,200
Temporary differences between the amounts reported on the financial statements and the tax bases of assets and liabilities resulted in deferred taxes. DTAs and liabilities at December 31, 2022 and 2021, included in other assets and accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, respectively, were as follows:
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021
Deferred tax assets
Allowance for loan losses $ 79,142 $ 72,199
Allowance for other losses 10,558 12,704
Accrued liabilities 2,842 4,285
Deferred compensation 30,246 31,896
Benefit of state tax losses and credit carryforwards 7,476 6,245
Nonaccrual interest 891 1,374
Lease liability 7,390 12,954
Net unrealized losses on AFS securities 80,148 1,989
Net unrealized losses on pension and postretirement benefits 14,803 1,308
Other 4,545 3,806
Total deferred tax assets $ 238,041 $ 148,760
Deferred tax liabilities
Prepaid expenses $ 64,480 $ 61,826
Goodwill 23,119 22,785
Mortgage banking activities 20,145 14,382
Deferred loan fee income 4,269 7,848
State deferred taxes 1,389 1,234
Lease financing 3,145 -
Bank premises and equipment 20,860 20,705
Purchase accounting 10,381 11,500
Basis difference from equity securities and other investments 5,582 2,597
Other 821 667
Total deferred tax liabilities $ 154,191 $ 143,544
Net deferred tax assets $ 83,850 $ 5,216
The changes in the valuation allowance related to net operating losses for 2022 and 2021 were as follows:
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, beginning of year $ - $ (251)
Decrease in current year - 251
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, end of year $ - $ -
At December 31, 2022, the Corporation had state net operating loss carryforwards of $132 million (of which $25 million was acquired from various acquisitions) that will begin expiring in 2023.
The effective income tax rate differs from the statutory federal tax rate. The major reasons for this difference were as follows:
2022 2021 2020
Federal income tax rate at statutory rate 21.0 % 21.0 % 21.0 %
Increases (decreases) resulting from:
Tax-exempt interest and dividends (3.4) % (3.0) % (3.9) %
State income taxes (net of federal benefit) 4.2 % 3.8 % 3.7 %
Bank owned life insurance (0.5) % (0.6) % (0.9) %
Tax effect of tax credits and benefits, net of related expenses (1.6) % (1.8) % (1.8) %
Tax reserve adjustments / settlements - % - % 0.1 %
Net tax (benefit) expense from stock-based compensation (0.2) % - % 0.3 %
Restructuring in conjunction with ABRC sale - % (0.1) % (13.7) %
FDIC premium 0.7 % 0.5 % 0.8 %
Other 0.1 % (0.2) % 0.6 %
Effective income tax rate 20.3 % 19.6 % 6.2 %
Savings banks acquired by the Corporation in 1997 and 2004 qualified under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that permitted them to deduct from taxable income an allowance for bad debts that differed from the provision for such losses charged to income for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been made for $100 million of retained income at December 31, 2022. If income taxes had been provided, the deferred tax liability would have been approximately $26 million. Management does not expect this amount to become taxable in the future; therefore, no provision for income taxes has been made.
The Corporation and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. The Corporation’s federal income tax returns are open and subject to examination from the 2019 tax return year and forward. The years open to examination by state and local government authorities varies by jurisdiction.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate was as follows:
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021
Balance at beginning of year $ 2,324 $ 2,740
Subtractions for tax positions related to prior years (486) (613)
Additions for tax positions related to current year 395 197
Balance at end of year $ 2,233 $ 2,324
The Corporation recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in the income tax expense line on the consolidated statements of income. Interest and penalty benefits, as well as accrued interest and penalties, were immaterial at both December 31, 2022 and 2021. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Corporation believes it has appropriately accounted for any unrecognized tax benefits. Management does not anticipate significant adjustments to the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months.
Note 14 Derivative and Hedging Activities
The Corporation is exposed to certain risk arising from both its business operations and economic conditions. The Corporation principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities. The Corporation manages economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity, and credit risk primarily by managing the amount, sources, and duration of its assets and liabilities and the use of derivative financial instruments. Specifically, the Corporation enters into derivative financial instruments to manage exposures that arise from business activities that result in the receipt or payment of future known and uncertain cash amounts, the value of which are determined by interest rates. The Corporation's derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing, and duration of the Corporation's known or expected cash receipts and its known or expected cash payments principally related to the Corporation's assets.
The contract or notional amount of a derivative is used to determine, along with the other terms of the derivative, the amounts to be exchanged between the counterparties. The Corporation is exposed to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to financial instruments. To mitigate the counterparty risk, contracts generally contain language outlining collateral pledging requirements for each counterparty. For non-centrally cleared derivatives, collateral must be posted when the market value exceeds certain mutually agreed upon threshold limits. Securities and cash are often pledged as collateral. The Corporation pledged $92 million and $71 million of investment securities as collateral at December 31, 2022, and 2021, respectively. Cash is often pledged as collateral for derivatives that are not centrally cleared. The Corporation's required cash
collateral was $3 million at December 31, 2022, compared to $11 million at December 31, 2021. See Note 18 for fair value information and disclosures and see Note 1 for the Corporation's accounting policy for derivative and hedging activities.
Fair Value Hedges of Interest Rate Risk
The Corporation is exposed to changes in the fair value of its fixed-rate debt due to changes in benchmark interest rates. The Corporation uses interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to changes in fair value on these instruments attributable to changes in the designated benchmark interest rates. Interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges involve receiving payment of fixed-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Corporation paying variable-rate payments over the life of the agreements without the exchange of the underlying notional amount.
Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk
The Corporation is exposed to variability in cash flows on its floating rate assets due to changes in benchmark interest rates. The Corporation uses interest rate swaps to hedge certain forecasted transactions for the variability in cash flows attributable to the contractually specified interest rate in order to add stability to net interest income and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve receiving fixed-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Corporation making variable-rate payments over the life of the agreements without the exchange of the underlying notional amount. These items, along with the net interest from the derivative, are reported in the same income statement line as the interest income from the floating-rate assets.
When the relationship between the hedged item and hedging instrument is highly effective at achieving offsetting changes in cash flows attributable to the hedged risk, changes in the fair value of these cash flow hedges are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and are subsequently reclassified to interest income as interest payments are made on such variable rate loans.
Derivatives to Accommodate Customer Needs
The Corporation facilitates customer borrowing activity by entering into various derivative contracts which are designated as free standing derivative contracts. Free standing derivative products are entered into primarily for the benefit of commercial customers seeking to manage their exposures to interest rate risk, foreign currency, and until early 2022, commodity prices. As of the end of the first quarter of 2022, the Corporation no longer had any outstanding commodity contracts. These derivative contracts are not designated against specific assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets or forecasted transactions and, therefore, do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. Such derivative contracts are carried at fair value in other assets and accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets with changes in the fair value recorded as a component of capital markets, net, and typically include interest rate-related instruments (swaps and caps), foreign currency exchange forwards, and until the end of the first quarter of 2022, commodity contracts. See Note 15 for additional information and disclosures on balance sheet offsetting.
Interest rate-related and other instruments: The Corporation provides interest rate risk management services to commercial customers, primarily forward interest rate swaps and caps. The Corporation’s market risk from unfavorable movements in interest rates related to these derivative contracts is generally economically hedged by concurrently entering into offsetting derivative contracts. The offsetting derivative contracts have identical notional values, terms, and indices. The Corporation also enters into credit risk participation agreements with financial institution counterparties for interest rate swaps related to loans in which we are either a participant or a lead bank. The risk participation agreements entered into by the Corporation as a participant bank provide credit protection to the financial institution counterparty should the borrower fail to perform on its interest rate derivative contract with that financial institution.
Foreign currency exchange forwards: The Corporation provides foreign currency exchange services to customers, primarily forward contracts. The Corporation's customers enter into a foreign currency exchange forward with the Corporation as a means for them to mitigate exchange rate risk. The Corporation mitigates its risk by then entering into an offsetting foreign currency exchange derivative contract.
Commodity contracts: As of the end of the first quarter of 2022, the Corporation no longer had any outstanding commodity contracts. Historically, commodity contracts were entered into primarily for the benefit of commercial customers seeking to manage their exposure to fluctuating commodity prices. The Corporation mitigated its risk by then entering into an offsetting commodity derivative contract.
Mortgage Derivatives
Interest rate lock commitments to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale and forward commitments to sell residential mortgage loans are considered derivative instruments, and the fair values of these commitments are recorded in other assets and accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets with the changes in fair value recorded as a component of mortgage banking, net on the consolidated statements of income.
Interest rate-related instruments for MSRs hedge: The fair value of the Corporation's MSRs asset changes in response to changes in primary mortgage loan rates and other assumptions. To mitigate the earnings volatility caused by changes in the fair value of MSRs, the Corporation designates certain financial instruments as an economic hedge. Changes in the fair value of these instruments are generally expected to partially offset changes in the fair value of MSRs and are recorded in other assets and accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets with the changes in fair value recorded as a component of mortgage banking, net on the consolidated statements of income.
The following table presents the total notional amounts and gross fair values of the Corporation's derivatives, as well as the balance sheet netting adjustments as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. The derivative assets and liabilities are presented on a gross basis prior to the application of bilateral collateral and master netting agreements, but after the variation margin payments with central clearing organizations have been applied as settlement, as applicable. Total derivative assets and liabilities are adjusted to take into consideration the effects of legally enforceable master netting agreements and cash collateral received or paid as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. The resulting net derivative asset and liability fair values are included in other assets and accrued expenses and other liabilities, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets.
December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
Asset Liability Asset Liability
($ in Thousands) Notional Amount Fair
Value Notional Amount Fair
Value Notional Amount Fair
Value Notional Amount Fair
Value
Designated as hedging instruments
Interest rate-related instruments $ 900,000 $ 4,349 $ 1,150,000 $ 1,260 $ - $ - $ - $ -
Not designated as hedging instruments
Interest rate-related and other instruments 4,246,823 62,401 4,599,391 251,398 3,874,781 83,626 3,874,781 26,231
Foreign currency exchange forwards 499,078 1,922 461,134 1,801 490,057 5,490 478,745 5,441
Commodity contracts - - - - 3,894 1,264 3,910 1,248
Mortgage banking(a)(b)
21,265 86 33,000 46 133,990 2,647 245,016 -
Total not designated as hedging instruments 64,410 253,245 93,026 32,921
Gross derivatives before netting 68,759 254,506 93,026 32,921
Less: Legally enforceable master netting agreements 2,788 2,788 2,143 2,143
Less: Cash collateral pledged/received 26,898 217 1,313 11,357
Total derivative instruments, after netting $ 39,072 $ 251,500 $ 89,570 $ 19,421
(a) The notional amount of the mortgage derivative asset includes interest rate lock commitments, while the notional amount of the mortgage derivative liability includes forward commitments.
(b) At December 31, 2021, the mortgage derivative asset included approximately $30,000 of forward commitments fair value.
The following table presents amounts that were recorded on the consolidated balance sheets related to cumulative basis adjustments for fair value hedges:
Line Item in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in Which the Hedged Item is Included
Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities) Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)
($ in Thousands) December 31, 2022
Other long-term funding $ (248,145) $ 1,855
FHLB Advances (585,692) 14,308
Total $ (833,837) $ 16,163
The Corporation terminated its $500 million fair value hedge on loans and investment securities receivables during the fourth quarter of 2019. At December 31, 2022, the amortized cost basis of the closed portfolios which had previously been used in the terminated hedging relationship was $326 million and is included in loans on the consolidated balance sheets. This amount includes $1 million of hedging adjustments on the discontinued hedging relationships, which are not presented in the table above.
The table below identifies the effect of fair value and cash flow hedge accounting on the Corporation's consolidated statements of income during the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, 2021,and 2020:
Location and Amount Recognized on the Consolidated Statements of Income in Fair Value and Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
For the Years Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
($ in Thousands) Interest Income Interest Expense Interest Income Interest Income Other Expense
Total amounts of income and expense presented on the consolidated statements of income in which the effects of fair value or cash flow hedges are recorded(a)
$ (263) $ 334 $ (1,376) $ (1,779) $ (262)
The effects of fair value and cash flow hedging: Impact on fair value hedging relationships in Subtopic 815-20
Interest contracts
Hedged items (529) (16,163) (1,376) (1,779) (262)
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments(a)
266 16,497 - - -
(a) Includes net settlements on the derivatives.
The following table presents the effect of cash flow hedge accounting on accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2022:
For the Year Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022
Interest rate-related instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments
Amount of gain recognized in OCI on cash flow hedge derivative(a)
$ 3,626
Amount of (gain) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into interest income(a)
(266)
(a) The entirety of gains recognized in OCI as well as those reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into interest income were included components in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.
Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to cash flow hedge derivatives are reclassified to interest income as interest payments are made on the hedged variable interest rate assets. The Corporation estimates that $7 million will be reclassified as a decrease to interest income over the next 12 months. This amount could differ from amounts actually recognized due to changes in interest rates, hedge de-designations, or the addition of other hedges subsequent to December 31, 2022. The maximum length of time over which the Corporation is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows is 47 months as of December 31, 2022.
The table below identifies the effect of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Corporation's consolidated statements of income during the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020:
Consolidated Statements of Income Category of
Gain / (Loss) Recognized in Income For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Derivative Instruments
Interest rate-related and other instruments - customer and mirror, net Capital markets, net $ 515 $ 2,432 $ (1,758)
Interest rate-related instruments - MSRs hedge Mortgage banking, net (12,622) - -
Foreign currency exchange forwards Capital markets, net 73 (25) (105)
Commodity contracts Capital markets, net (16) (1,316) 427
Interest rate lock commitments (mortgage) Mortgage banking, net (2,531) (7,007) 7,097
Forward commitments (mortgage) Mortgage banking, net (123) 2,075 (1,335)
Note 15 Balance Sheet Offsetting
Interest Rate-Related Instruments, Commodity Contracts, and Foreign Exchange Forwards (“Interest, Commodity, and Foreign Exchange Agreements”)
The Corporation enters into interest rate-related instruments to facilitate the interest rate risk management strategies of commercial customers and foreign exchange forwards to manage customers' exposure to fluctuating foreign exchange rates. The Corporation mitigates these risks by entering into equal and offsetting agreements with highly rated third-party financial institutions. Historically, the Corporation entered into commodity contracts to manage commercial customers' exposure to fluctuating commodity prices. As of the end of the first quarter of 2022, the Corporation no longer had any outstanding commodity contracts. The Corporation is party to master netting arrangements with some of its financial institution
counterparties that create single net settlements of all legal claims or obligations to pay or receive the net amount of settlement of the individual interest and foreign exchange agreements. Collateral, usually in the form of investment securities and cash, is posted by the counterparty with net liability positions in accordance with contract thresholds. Derivatives subject to a legally enforceable master netting agreement are reported with assets and liabilities offset resulting in a net position which is further offset by any cash collateral, and is reported in other assets and accrued expenses and other liabilities on the face of the consolidated balance sheets. For disclosure purposes, the net position on the consolidated balance sheets can be further netted down by investment securities collateral received or pledged. See Note 14 for additional information on the Corporation’s derivative and hedging activities.
The following table presents the interest rate and foreign exchange assets and liabilities subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement as of December 31, 2022 and interest rate, commodity, and foreign exchange assets and liabilities subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement as of December 31, 2021. The interest and foreign exchange agreements the Corporation has with its commercial customers and the commodity agreements the Corporation had with its commercial customers are not subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement and are therefore excluded from this table:
Gross Amounts Subject to Master Netting Arrangements Offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets Net Amounts Presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets Gross Amounts Not Offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets
($ in Thousands)
Gross Amounts Recognized Derivative Liabilities Offset Cash Collateral Received Security Collateral Received Net
Amount
Derivative assets
December 31, 2022 $ 63,029 $ (2,788) $ (26,898) $ 33,342 $ (30,753) $ 2,589
December 31, 2021 3,567 (2,143) (1,313) 111 - 111
Gross Amounts Subject to Master Netting Arrangements Offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets Net Amounts Presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets Gross Amounts Not Offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets
($ in Thousands) Gross Amounts Recognized Derivative Assets Offset Cash Collateral Pledged Security Collateral Pledged Net
Amount
Derivative liabilities
December 31, 2022 $ 3,096 $ (2,788) $ (217) $ 91 $ - $ 91
December 31, 2021 15,620 (2,143) (11,357) 2,120 - 2,120
Note 16 Commitments, Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, and Legal Proceedings
The Corporation utilizes a variety of financial instruments in the normal course of business to meet the financial needs of its customers and to manage its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These financial instruments include lending-related and other commitments (see below) as well as derivative instruments (see Note 14). The following is a summary of lending-related commitments:
($ in Thousands) December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
Commitments to extend credit, excluding commitments to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale(a)(b)
$ 12,444,275 $ 10,848,136
Commercial letters of credit(a)
3,188 5,992
Standby letters of credit(c)
270,692 230,661
(a) These off-balance sheet financial instruments are exercisable at the market rate prevailing at the date the underlying transaction will be completed and, thus, are deemed to have no current fair value, or the fair value is based on fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements and was not material at December 31, 2022 or 2021.
(b) Interest rate lock commitments to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale are considered derivative instruments and are disclosed in Note 14.
(c) Standby letters of credit are presented excluding participations. The Corporation has established a liability of $3 million and $2 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, as an estimate of the fair value of these financial instruments.
Lending-related Commitments
As a financial services provider, the Corporation routinely enters into commitments to extend credit. Such commitments are subject to the same credit policies and approval process accorded to loans made by the Corporation, with each customer’s creditworthiness evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require the payment of a fee. The Corporation’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to these financial instruments is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Corporation upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the customer. Since a significant portion of commitments to extend credit are subject to specific restrictive loan covenants or may expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash flow requirements. An allowance for unfunded commitments is maintained at a level believed by management to be sufficient
to absorb expected lifetime losses related to unfunded commitments (including unfunded loan commitments and letters of credit).
The following table presents a summary of the changes in the allowance for unfunded commitments:
($ in Thousands) Year Ended December 31, 2022 Year Ended December 31, 2021
Allowance for Unfunded Commitments
Balance at beginning of period $ 39,776 $ 47,776
Provision for unfunded commitments (1,000) (8,000)
Balance at end of period $ 38,776 $ 39,776
Lending-related commitments include commitments to extend credit, commitments to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale, commercial letters of credit, and standby letters of credit. Commitments to extend credit are legally binding agreements to lend to customers at predetermined interest rates, as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contracts. Interest rate lock commitments to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale and forward commitments to sell residential mortgage loans are considered derivative instruments, and the fair value of these commitments is recorded in other assets and accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The Corporation’s derivative and hedging activity is further described in Note 14. Commercial and standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Commercial letters of credit are issued specifically to facilitate commerce and typically result in the commitment being drawn on when the underlying transaction is consummated between the customer and the third party, while standby letters of credit generally are contingent upon the failure of the customer to perform according to the terms of the underlying contract with the third party.
Other Commitments
The Corporation invests in qualified affordable housing projects, historic projects, new market projects, and opportunity zone funds for the purpose of community reinvestment and obtaining tax credits and other tax benefits. Return on the Corporation's investment in these projects and funds comes in the form of the tax credits and tax losses that pass through to the Corporation, and deferral or elimination of capital gain recognition for tax purposes. The aggregate carrying value of these investments at December 31, 2022, was $250 million, compared to $268 million at December 31, 2021, included in tax credit and other investments on the consolidated balance sheets. The Corporation utilizes the proportional amortization method to account for investments in qualified affordable housing projects.
Under the proportional amortization method, the Corporation amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits. The Corporation recognized additional income tax expense attributable to the amortization of investments in qualified affordable housing projects of $34 million, $33 million, and $23 million during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively. The Corporation's remaining investment in qualified affordable housing projects accounted for under the proportional amortization method totaled $246 million at December 31, 2022 and $262 million at December 31, 2021.
The Corporation’s unfunded equity contributions relating to investments in qualified affordable housing and historic projects are recorded in accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The Corporation’s remaining unfunded equity contributions totaled $40 million and $80 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
During the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, the Corporation did not record any impairment related to qualified affordable housing investments.
The Corporation has principal investment commitments to provide capital-based financing to private companies through either direct investment in specific companies or through investment funds and partnerships. The timing of future cash requirements to fund such principal investment commitments is generally dependent on the investment cycle, whereby privately held companies are funded by private equity investors and ultimately sold, merged, or taken public through an initial offering, which can vary based on overall market conditions, as well as the nature and type of industry in which the companies operate. The Corporation also invests in loan pools that support CRA loans. The timing of future cash requirements to fund these pools is dependent upon loan demand, which can vary over time. The aggregate carrying value of these investments was $27 million and $25 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, included in tax credit and other investments on the consolidated balance sheets.
Legal Proceedings
The Corporation is party to various pending and threatened claims and legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business activities, some of which involve claims for substantial amounts. Although there can be no assurance as to the ultimate
outcomes, the Corporation believes it has meritorious defenses to the claims asserted against it in its currently outstanding matters and intends to continue to defend itself vigorously with respect to such legal proceedings. The Corporation will consider settlement of cases when, in management’s judgment, it is in the best interests of the Corporation and its shareholders.
On at least a quarterly basis, the Corporation assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection with all pending or threatened claims and litigation, utilizing the most recent information available. On a matter by matter basis, an accrual for loss is established for those matters which the Corporation believes it is probable that a loss may be incurred and that the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. Once established, each accrual is adjusted as appropriate to reflect any subsequent developments. Accordingly, management’s estimate will change from time to time, and actual losses may be more or less than the current estimate. For matters where a loss is not probable, or the amount of the loss cannot be estimated, no accrual is established.
Resolution of legal claims is inherently unpredictable, and in many legal proceedings various factors exacerbate this inherent unpredictability, including where the damages sought are unsubstantiated or indeterminate, it is unclear whether a case brought as a class action will be allowed to proceed on that basis, discovery is not complete, the proceeding is not yet in its final stages, the matters present legal uncertainties, there are significant facts in dispute, there are a large number of parties (including where it is uncertain how liability, if any, will be shared among multiple defendants), or there is a wide range of potential results.
The Corporation believes that the legal proceedings currently pending against it should not have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s consolidated financial condition. The Corporation notes, however, that in light of the uncertainties involved in such proceedings, there is no assurance that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not significantly exceed the reserves it has currently accrued or that a matter will not have material reputational consequences. As a result, the outcome of a particular matter may be material to the Corporation’s operating results for a particular period, depending on, among other factors, the size of the loss or liability imposed and the level of the Corporation’s income for that period.
Regulatory Matters
A variety of consumer products, including mortgage and deposit products, and certain fees and charges related to such products, have come under increased regulatory scrutiny. It is possible that regulatory authorities could bring enforcement actions, including civil money penalties, or take other actions against the Corporation and the Bank in regard to these consumer products. The Bank could also determine of its own accord, or be required by regulators, to refund or otherwise make remediation payments to customers in connection with these products. It is not possible at this time for management to assess the probability of a material adverse outcome or reasonably estimate the amount of any potential loss related to such matters.
Operational Matters
In November 2021, we became aware that during several routine purges of old documents, certain documents that were more than seven years old relating to active accounts were inadvertently purged from our electronic database. The active account documents that were inadvertently purged related to (1) certain customer documents obtained as part of bank acquisitions, and (2) certain customer documents that were transferred to a new cold storage system without correct retention coding. Both the acquisitions and the transfer occurred years ago. The majority of the documents inadvertently purged were signature cards. We have undertaken measures to replace (if possible) or otherwise lessen the impact on customers of any inadvertently purged documents. While the impact on the Corporation of this incident has been immaterial to date, and we are not aware of any material adverse customer impact, it is not possible at this time for management to reasonably estimate the amount of any potential loss related to this incident.
Mortgage Repurchase Reserve
The Corporation sells residential mortgage loans to investors in the normal course of business. Residential mortgage loans sold to others are predominantly conventional residential first lien mortgages originated under the Corporation's usual underwriting procedures, and are most often sold on a nonrecourse basis, primarily to the GSEs. The Corporation’s agreements to sell residential mortgage loans in the normal course of business usually require certain representations and warranties on the underlying loans sold, related to credit information, loan documentation, collateral, and insurability. Subsequent to being sold, if a material underwriting deficiency or documentation defect is discovered, the Corporation may be obligated to repurchase the loan or reimburse the GSEs for losses incurred (collectively, “make whole requests”). The make whole requests and any related risk of loss under the representations and warranties are largely driven by borrower performance. Additionally, beginning in the third quarter of 2021, qualifying residential mortgage loans guaranteed by U.S. government agencies have been sold into GNMA pools.
As a result of make whole requests, the Corporation has repurchased loans with aggregate principal balances of $6 million and $8 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. There were no loss reimbursement and settlement
claims paid for the year ended December 31, 2022, and approximately $114,000 of such claims were paid for the year ended December 31, 2021. Make whole requests since January 1, 2021 generally arose from loans originated since January 1, 2018 and balances totaled $6.8 billion at the time of sale, and consisted primarily of loans sold to GSEs. As of December 31, 2022, $4.3 billion of loans originated since January 1, 2018 remain outstanding.
The balance in the mortgage repurchase reserve at the balance sheet date reflects the estimated amount of potential loss the Corporation could incur from repurchasing a loan, as well as loss reimbursements, indemnifications, and other settlement resolutions. The mortgage repurchase reserve, included in accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, was $1 million at both December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
The Corporation may also sell residential mortgage loans with limited recourse (limited in that the recourse period ends prior to the loan’s maturity, usually after certain time and/or loan paydown criteria have been met), whereby repurchase could be required if the loan had defined delinquency issues during the limited recourse periods. At December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were $7 million and $10 million, respectively, of residential mortgage loans sold with such recourse risk. There have been limited instances and immaterial historical losses on repurchases for recourse under the limited recourse criteria.
The Corporation has a subordinate position to the FHLB in the credit risk on residential mortgage loans it sold to the FHLB in exchange for a monthly credit enhancement fee. The Corporation has not sold loans to the FHLB with such credit risk retention since February 2005. At December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were $19 million and $24 million, respectively, of such residential mortgage loans with credit risk recourse, upon which there have been negligible historical losses to the Corporation.
Note 17 Parent Company Only Financial Information
Presented below are condensed financial statements for the Parent Company:
Balance Sheets
December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021
Assets
Cash and due from banks $ 14,899 $ 17,241
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions 29,856 20,743
Notes and interest receivable from subsidiaries 172,066 285,516
Investments in and receivable due from subsidiaries 4,036,273 3,953,461
Other assets 48,097 46,644
Total assets $ 4,301,191 $ 4,323,605
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Commercial paper $ 20,798 $ 34,730
Subordinated notes, at par 250,000 250,000
Long-term funding capitalized costs and fair value hedge liability (2,399) (839)
Total long-term funding 247,601 249,161
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 17,301 14,860
Total liabilities 285,701 298,752
Preferred equity 194,112 193,195
Common equity 3,821,378 3,831,658
Total stockholders’ equity 4,015,490 4,024,853
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 4,301,191 $ 4,323,605
Statements of Income
For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Income
Income from subsidiaries $ 373,581 $ 361,198 $ 317,895
Interest income on notes receivable from subsidiaries 5,632 3,247 3,257
Other income 1,262 682 933
Total income 380,475 365,127 322,084
Expense
Interest expense on short and long-term funding 10,655 10,942 10,960
Other expense 6,118 7,330 6,422
Total expense 16,772 18,272 17,383
Income before income tax expense 363,702 346,856 304,702
Income tax (benefit) (2,420) (4,138) (2,070)
Net income 366,122 350,994 306,771
Preferred stock dividends 11,500 17,111 18,358
Net income available to common equity $ 354,622 $ 333,883 $ 288,413
Statements of Cash Flows
For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income $ 366,122 $ 350,994 $ 306,771
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
(Increase) decrease in equity in undistributed net income (loss) of subsidiaries (343,582) 28,802 (61,406)
Net change in other assets and accrued expenses and other liabilities 14,159 17,102 (49,890)
Net cash provided by operating activities 36,699 396,898 195,475
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Net (increase) decrease in notes receivable from subsidiaries 115,000 20,000 (105,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 115,000 20,000 (105,000)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net increase (decrease) in commercial paper (13,932) (24,616) 27,330
Proceeds from issuance of common stock for stock-based compensation plans 11,061 25,702 3,966
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock - - 96,796
Redemption of preferred stock - (164,458) -
Purchase of treasury stock, open market purchases - (132,955) (71,255)
Purchase of treasury stock, stock-based compensation plans (6,480) (4,847) (6,113)
Cash dividends on common stock (123,137) (116,061) (112,023)
Cash dividends on preferred stock (11,500) (17,111) (18,358)
Other (938) - -
Net cash used in financing activities (144,928) (434,346) (79,656)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 6,771 (17,448) 10,819
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 37,984 55,432 44,613
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 44,755 $ 37,984 $ 55,432
Note 18 Fair Value Measurements
Fair value represents the estimated price at which an orderly transaction to sell an asset or to transfer a liability would take place between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions (i.e., an exit price concept). See Note 1 for the Corporation’s accounting policy for fair value measurements.
Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for the Corporation’s more significant instruments measured on a recurring basis at fair value, including the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Investment Securities AFS: Where quoted prices are available in an active market, investment securities are classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. If quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, then fair values are estimated by using pricing models, quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics, or discounted cash flows, with consideration given to the nature of the quote and the relationship of recently evidenced market activity to the fair value estimate, and are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Lastly, in certain cases where there is limited activity or less transparency around inputs to the estimated fair value, securities are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. To validate the fair value estimates, assumptions, and controls, the Corporation looks to transactions for similar instruments and utilizes independent pricing provided by third party vendors or brokers and relevant market indices. While none of these sources are solely indicative of fair value, they serve as directional indicators for the appropriateness of the Corporation’s fair value estimates. The Corporation has determined that the fair value measures of its investment securities are classified predominantly within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. See Note 3 for additional disclosure regarding the Corporation’s investment securities.
Equity Securities with Readily Determinable Fair Values: The Corporation's portfolio of equity securities with readily determinable fair values is primarily comprised of CRA Qualified Investment mutual funds and other mutual funds. Since quoted prices for the Corporation's equity securities are readily available in an active market, they are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. See Note 3 for additional disclosure regarding the Corporation’s equity securities.
Residential Loans Held For Sale: Residential loans held for sale, which consist generally of current production of certain fixed-rate, first-lien residential mortgage loans, are carried at estimated fair value. Management has elected the fair value option to account for all newly originated mortgage loans held for sale, which results in the financial impact of changing market conditions being reflected currently in earnings as opposed to being dependent upon the timing of sales. Therefore, the continually adjusted values better reflect the price the Corporation expects to receive from the sale of such loans. The estimated fair value is based on what secondary markets are currently offering for portfolios with similar characteristics, which the Corporation classifies as a Level 2 fair value measurement.
Derivative Financial Instruments (Interest Rate-Related Instruments - Both Designated and Not Designated as Hedging Instruments): The Corporation uses interest rate-related instruments (swaps and caps) to hedge its exposure to changes in fair value of its fixed-rate debt as well as to hedge its exposure to variability in cash flows on its floating rate assets, both due to changes in benchmark interest rates. Additionally, the Corporation also offers interest rate-related instruments (swaps and caps) to service its customers’ needs, for which the Corporation simultaneously enters into offsetting derivative financial instruments (i.e., mirror interest rate-related instruments) with third parties to manage its interest rate risk associated with these financial instruments. The valuation of the Corporation’s derivative financial instruments is determined using discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative and also includes a nonperformance/credit risk component (credit valuation adjustment). See Note 14 for additional disclosure regarding the Corporation’s interest rate-related instruments.
The discounted cash flow analysis component in the fair value measurement reflects the contractual terms of the derivative financial instruments, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves and implied volatilities. More specifically, the fair values of interest rate swaps are determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash receipts (or payments) with the variable cash payments (or receipts) based on an expectation of future interest rates (forward curves) derived from observable market interest rate curves. Likewise, the fair values of interest rate options (i.e., interest rate caps) are determined using the market standard methodology of discounting the future expected cash receipts that would occur if variable interest rates fall below (or rise above) the strike rate of the floors (or caps), with the variable interest rates used in the calculation of projected receipts on the floor (or cap) based on an expectation of future interest rates derived from observable market interest rate curves and volatilities.
The Corporation also incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in the fair value measurements. In adjusting the fair value of its derivative financial instruments for the effect of nonperformance risk, the Corporation has considered the impact of netting and any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings, thresholds, mutual puts, and guarantees.
While the Corporation has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its interest rate-related derivative financial instruments fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties. The Corporation has assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and has determined that the credit valuation adjustments are not significant to the overall valuation of its derivative financial instruments for interest rate-related instruments. Therefore, the Corporation has determined
that the fair value measures of its derivative financial instruments for interest rate-related instruments in their entirety are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Derivative Financial Instruments (Foreign Currency Exchange Forwards): The Corporation provides foreign currency exchange services to customers. In addition, the Corporation may enter into a foreign currency exchange forward to mitigate the exchange rate risk attached to the cash flows of a loan or as an offsetting contract to a forward entered into as a service to its customer. The valuation of the Corporation’s foreign currency exchange forwards is determined using quoted prices of foreign currency exchange forwards with similar characteristics, with consideration given to the nature of the quote and the relationship of recently evidenced market activity to the fair value estimate, and is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. See Note 14 for additional disclosures regarding the Corporation’s foreign currency exchange forwards.
Derivative Financial Instruments (Commodity Contracts): As of the end of the first quarter of 2022, the Corporation no longer had any outstanding commodity contracts. The Corporation has historically entered into commodity contracts to manage commercial customers' exposure to fluctuating commodity prices, for which the Corporation simultaneously entered into offsetting derivative financial instruments (i.e., mirror commodity contracts) with third parties to manage its risk associated with these financial instruments. The valuation of the Corporation’s commodity contracts was determined using quoted prices of the underlying instruments, and also included a nonperformance/credit risk component (credit valuation adjustment). See Note 14 for additional disclosures regarding the Corporation’s commodity contracts.
The Corporation also incorporated credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty's nonperformance risk in the fair value measurements. In adjusting the fair value of its derivative financial instruments for the effect of nonperformance risk, the Corporation has considered the impact of netting and any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings.
While the Corporation has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its derivative financial instruments fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments utilize Level 3 inputs, such as probability of default and loss given default of the underlying loans to evaluate the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties. The Corporation has assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and has determined that the credit valuation adjustments were not significant to the overall valuation of its derivative financial instruments for commodity contracts. Therefore, the Corporation has determined that the fair value measures of its derivative financial instruments for commodity contracts in their entirety were classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
For Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2022, the Corporation utilized the following valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs:
Mortgage Servicing Rights: The Corporation sells residential mortgage loans in the secondary market and typically retains the rights to service the loans sold. Upon sale, an MSRs asset is capitalized, which represents the then current fair value of future net cash flows expected to be realized for performing servicing activities. On January 1, 2022, the Corporation made the irrevocable election to account for its MSRs asset under the fair value measurement method. Under this methodology, changes in the fair value are recognized in earnings as they occur through mortgage banking, net on the consolidated statements of income.
MSRs are not traded in active markets. A cash flow model is used to determine fair value. Key assumptions and estimates, including projected prepayment speeds, assumed servicing costs, ancillary income, costs to service delinquent loans, costs of foreclosure, and discount rates with option-adjusted spreads, used by this model are based on current market sources. Assumptions used to value MSRs are considered significant unobservable inputs. A separate third-party model is used to estimate prepayment speeds based on interest rates, housing turnover rates, estimated loan curtailment, anticipated defaults and other relevant factors. Fair value estimates from outside sources are received periodically to corroborate the results of the valuation model. Due to the nature of the valuation inputs, MSRs are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. See Note 5 for additional disclosure regarding the Corporation’s MSRs.
Derivative Financial Instruments (Mortgage Derivative - Interest Rate Lock Commitments to Originate Residential Mortgage Loans Held For Sale): The fair value is determined by the change in value from each loan's rate lock date to the expected rate lock expiration date based on the underlying loan attributes, estimated closing ratios, and investor price matrix determined to be reasonably applicable to each loan commitment. The closing ratio calculation takes into consideration historical experience and loan-level attributes, particularly the change in the current interest rates from the time of initial rate lock. The closing ratio is periodically reviewed for reasonableness and reported to the Associated Mortgage Risk Management Committee.
Derivative Financial Instruments (Mortgage Derivative-Forward Commitments to Sell Mortgage Loans): Mortgage derivatives include forward commitments to deliver closed-end residential mortgage loans into conforming Agency MBS or conforming Cash Forward sales. The fair value of such instruments is determined by the difference of current market prices for such traded instruments or available from forward cash delivery commitments and the original traded price for such commitments.
The Corporation also relies on an internal valuation model to estimate the fair value of its forward commitments to sell residential mortgage loans (i.e., an estimate of what the Corporation would receive or pay to terminate the forward delivery contract based on market prices for similar financial instruments), which includes matching specific terms and maturities of the forward commitments against applicable investor pricing available. While there are Level 2 and 3 inputs used in the valuation models, the Corporation has determined that the majority of the inputs significant in the valuation of both of the mortgage derivatives fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. See Note 14 for additional disclosure regarding the Corporation’s mortgage derivatives.
The table below presents the Corporation’s financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, aggregated by the level in the fair value hierarchy within which those measurements fall:
($ in Thousands) Fair Value Hierarchy December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
Assets
AFS Investment securities
U.S. Treasury securities Level 1 $ 109,378 $ 122,957
Agency securities Level 2 13,532 14,897
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (municipal securities) Level 2 230,714 400,457
Residential mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC Level 2 1,604,610 2,691,879
GNMA Level 2 497,596 67,780
Private-label Level 2 - 329,724
Commercial mortgage-related securities
FNMA / FHLMC Level 2 17,142 350,623
GNMA Level 2 110,462 166,799
Asset backed securities
FFELP Level 2 151,191 177,325
SBA Level 2 4,477 6,580
Other debt securities Level 2 2,922 2,994
Total AFS investment securities Level 1 $ 109,378 $ 122,957
Total AFS investment securities Level 2 2,632,647 4,209,058
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values Level 1 5,991 4,810
Residential loans held for sale
Level 2 20,383 136,638
Mortgage servicing rights, net(a)
Level 3 77,351 N/A
Interest rate-related instruments designated as hedging instruments(b)
Level 2 4,349 -
Interest rate-related and other instruments not designated as hedging instruments(b)
Level 2 62,401 83,626
Foreign currency exchange forwards(b)
Level 2 1,922 5,490
Commodity contracts(b)
Level 2 - 1,264
Interest rate lock commitments to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale Level 3 86 2,617
Forward commitments to sell residential mortgage loans Level 3 - 30
Liabilities
Interest rate-related instruments designated as hedging instruments(b)
Level 2 $ 1,260 $ -
Interest rate-related and other instruments not designated as hedging instruments(b)
Level 2 251,398 26,231
Foreign currency exchange forwards(b)
Level 2 1,801 5,441
Commodity contracts(b)
Level 2 - 1,248
Forward commitments to sell residential mortgage loans Level 3 46 -
(a) MSRs at December 31, 2021 were carried at LOCOM. On January 1, 2022, the Corporation made the irrevocable election to account for MSRs at fair value.
(b) Figures are presented gross before netting. See Note 14 and Note 15 for information relating to the impact of offsetting derivative assets and liabilities and cash collateral with the same counterparty where there is a legally enforceable master netting agreement in place.
The table below presents a rollforward of the consolidated balance sheets amounts for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, for the Corporation's mortgage derivatives measured on a recurring basis and classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy:
($ in Thousands) Interest rate lock commitments to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale Forward commitments to sell residential mortgage loans Total
Balance December 31, 2020 $ 9,624 $ 2,046 $ 7,579
New production 53,686 (3,281) 56,966
Closed loans / settlements (53,477) 3,740 (57,217)
Other (7,216) (2,535) (4,680)
Change in mortgage derivative (7,007) (2,075) (4,932)
Balance December 31, 2021 $ 2,617 $ (30) $ 2,647
New production $ 10,442 $ (2,028) $ 12,470
Closed loans / settlements (913) 24,766 (25,679)
Other (12,060) (22,662) 10,603
Change in mortgage derivative (2,531) 76 (2,607)
Balance December 31, 2022 $ 86 $ 46 $ 40
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for the Corporation’s more significant instruments measured on a nonrecurring basis at LOCOM, including the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.
Commercial Loans Held For Sale: The estimated fair value is based on a discounted cash flow analysis, which the Corporation classifies as a Level 2 nonrecurring fair value measurement.
OREO: Certain OREO, upon initial recognition, was re-measured and reported at fair value through a charge off to the allowance for loan losses based upon the estimated fair value of the OREO, less estimated selling costs. The fair value of OREO, upon initial recognition or subsequent impairment, was estimated using appraised values, which the Corporation classifies as a Level 2 nonrecurring fair value measurement.
For Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of December 31, 2022, the Corporation utilized the following valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs:
Individually Evaluated Loans: The Corporation individually evaluates loans when a commercial loan relationship is in nonaccrual status or when a commercial or consumer loan relationship has its terms restructured in a TDR or when a loan meets the Corporation's definition of a probable TDR. See Note 4 for additional information regarding the Corporation’s individually evaluated loans.
Equity Securities Without Readily Determinable Fair Values: The Corporation measures equity securities without readily determinable fair values at cost less impairment (if any), plus or minus observable price changes from an identical or similar investment of the same issuer, with such changes recognized in earnings. Included in equity securities without readily determinable fair values are 77,000 Visa Class B restricted shares carried at fair value. These shares are currently subject to certain transfer restrictions and will be convertible into Visa Class A shares upon final resolution of certain litigation matters involving Visa. Based on the current conversion factor, the Corporation expects 77,000 shares of Visa Class B to convert to 123,131 shares of Visa Class A upon the litigation resolution.
In its determination of the new carrying values upon observable price changes, the Corporation will adjust the prices if deemed necessary to arrive at the Corporation's estimated fair values. Such adjustments may include adjustments to reflect the different rights and obligations of similar securities and other adjustments. See Note 3 for additional disclosure regarding the Corporation’s equity securities without readily determinable fair values.
The following table presents the carrying value of equity securities without readily determinable fair values still held as of December 31, 2022 that are measured under the measurement alternative and the related adjustments recorded during the periods presented for those securities with observable price changes. These securities are included in the nonrecurring fair value tables when applicable price changes are observable. Also shown are the cumulative upward and downward adjustments for the Corporation's equity securities without readily determinable fair values as of December 31, 2022:
($ in Thousands)
Equity securities without readily determinable fair values
Carrying value as of December 31, 2021 $ 13,542
Carrying value changes 5,690
Additions 5
Sales (12)
Carrying value as of December 31, 2022 $ 19,225
Cumulative upward carrying value changes between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2022 $ 19,134
Cumulative downward carrying value changes between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2022 $ -
The table below presents the Corporation’s assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, aggregated by the level in the fair value hierarchy within which those measurements fall:
($ in Thousands) Fair Value Hierarchy Fair Value Consolidated Statements of Income Category of
Adjustment Recognized in Income Adjustment Recognized on the Consolidated Statements of Income(a)
December 31, 2022
Assets
Individually evaluated loans(b)
Level 3 $ 23,584 Provision for credit losses $ 4,405
OREO(c)
Level 2 2,196 Other noninterest expense / provision for credit losses(d)
Equity securities without readily determinable fair values Level 3 19,134 Investment securities gains (losses), net 5,690
December 31, 2021
Assets
Individually evaluated loans(b)
Level 3 $ 69,917 Provision for credit losses $ (3,045)
OREO(c)
Level 2 21,299 Other noninterest expense / provision for credit losses(d)
7,345
Mortgage servicing rights(e)
Level 3 57,259 Mortgage banking, net 16,186
(a) Includes the full year impact on the consolidated statements of income.
(b) Includes probable TDRs which are individually analyzed, net of the related ACLL, of which there were none at December 31, 2022.
(c) If the fair value of the collateral exceeds the carrying amount of the asset, no charge off or adjustment is necessary, the asset is not considered to be carried at fair value, and is therefore not included in the table.
(d) When a property's value is written down at the time it is transferred to OREO, the charge off is booked to the provision for credit losses. When a property is already in OREO and subsequently written down, the charge off is booked to other noninterest expense.
(e) MSRs at December 31, 2021 were carried at LOCOM. On January 1, 2022, the Corporation made the irrevocable election to account for MSRs at fair value on a recurring basis.
Certain nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include the fair value analysis in the goodwill impairment test as well as intangible assets and other nonfinancial long-lived assets measured at fair value for the purpose of impairment assessment.
The table below presents the unobservable inputs that are readily quantifiable pertaining to Level 3 measurements:
December 31, 2022 Valuation Technique Significant Unobservable Input Range of Inputs Weighted Average Input Applied
Mortgage servicing rights Discounted cash flow Option adjusted spread 6% - 9% 7%
Mortgage servicing rights Discounted cash flow Constant prepayment rate -% - 100% 5%
Individually evaluated loans Appraisals / Discounted cash flow Collateral / Discount factor 22% - 51% 31%
Interest rate lock commitments to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale Discounted cash flow Closing ratio 31% - 100% 83%
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Corporation is required to disclose estimated fair values for its financial instruments.
Fair value estimates are set forth below for the Corporation’s financial instruments:
December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
($ in Thousands) Fair Value Hierarchy Level Carrying Amount Fair Value Carrying Amount Fair Value
Financial assets
Cash and due from banks Level 1 $ 436,952 $ 436,952 $ 343,831 $ 343,831
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions Level 1 156,693 156,693 681,684 681,684
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell Level 1 27,810 27,810 - -
AFS investment securities Level 1 109,378 109,378 122,957 122,957
AFS investment securities Level 2 2,632,647 2,632,647 4,209,058 4,209,058
HTM investment securities, net Level 1 999 936 1,000 1,001
HTM investment securities, net Level 2 3,959,399 3,400,028 2,237,947 2,347,608
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values Level 1 5,991 5,991 4,810 4,810
Equity securities without readily determinable fair values Level 3 19,225 19,225 13,542 13,542
FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank stocks Level 2 295,496 295,496 168,281 168,281
Residential loans held for sale Level 2 20,383 20,383 136,638 136,638
Loans, net Level 3 28,486,849 27,481,426 23,944,934 23,980,330
Bank and corporate owned life insurance Level 2 676,530 676,530 680,021 680,021
Mortgage servicing rights, net(a)
Level 3 77,351 77,351 54,862 57,259
Derivatives (other assets)(b)
Level 2 68,672 68,672 90,379 90,379
Interest rate lock commitments to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale (other assets) Level 3 86 86 2,617 2,617
Forward commitments on residential mortgage loans (other assets) Level 3 - - 30 30
Financial liabilities
Noninterest-bearing demand, savings, interest-bearing demand, and money market accounts Level 3 $ 27,705,996 $ 27,705,996 $ 27,119,167 $ 27,119,167
Brokered CDs and other time deposits(c)
Level 2 1,930,158 1,930,158 1,347,262 1,347,262
Short-term funding
Level 2 605,937 605,205 354,262 354,248
FHLB advances Level 2 4,319,861 4,322,264 1,621,047 1,680,814
Other long-term funding Level 2 248,071 242,151 249,324 265,545
Standby letters of credit(d)
Level 2 2,881 2,881 2,367 2,367
Derivatives (accrued expenses and other liabilities)(b)
Level 2 254,459 254,459 32,921 32,921
Forward commitments on residential mortgage loans (accrued expenses and other liabilities) Level 3 46 46 - -
(a) MSRs at December 31, 2021 were carried at LOCOM. On January 1, 2022, the Corporation made the irrevocable election to account for MSRs at fair value.
(b) Figures are presented gross before netting. See Note 14 and Note 15 for information relating to the impact of offsetting derivative assets and liabilities and cash collateral with the same counterparty where there is a legally enforceable master netting agreement in place.
(c) When the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, the carrying value is reported as the fair value.
(d) The commitment on standby letters of credit was $271 million and $231 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. See Note 16 for additional information on the standby letters of credit and for information on the fair value of lending-related commitments.
Note 19 Regulatory Matters
Regulatory Capital Requirements
The Corporation and its subsidiary bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possible additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Corporation’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Corporation must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Corporation’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Corporation’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.
Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Corporation to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of total and CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets, and of tier 1 capital to
average assets. Management believes, as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, that the Corporation meets all capital adequacy requirements to which it is subject.
For additional information on the capital requirements applicable for the Corporation and the Bank, please see Part I, Item 1.
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the most recent notifications from the OCC and the FDIC categorized the subsidiary bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized, the subsidiary bank must maintain minimum ratios as set forth in the table. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the institution’s category. The actual capital amounts and ratios of the Corporation and its significant subsidiary are presented below. No deductions from capital were made for interest rate risk in 2022 or 2021.
Actual For Capital Adequacy
Purposes To Be Well Capitalized
Under Prompt Corrective
Action Provisions(a)
($ in Thousands) Amount Ratio
Amount Ratio
Amount Ratio
As of December 31 , 2022
Associated Banc-Corp
Total capital $ 3,680,227 11.33 % $ 2,597,761 ≥ 8.00 %
Tier 1 capital 3,229,690 9.95 % 1,948,320 ≥ 6.00 %
CET1 3,035,578 9.35 % 1,461,240 ≥ 4.50 %
Leverage 3,229,690 8.59 % 1,504,035 ≥ 4.00 %
Associated Bank, N.A.
Total capital $ 3,594,845 11.09 % $ 2,593,900 ≥ 8.00 % $ 3,242,374 ≥ 10.00 %
Tier 1 capital 3,243,349 10.00 % 1,945,425 ≥ 6.00 % 2,593,900 ≥ 8.00 %
CET1 3,243,349 10.00 % 1,459,068 ≥ 4.50 % 2,107,543 ≥ 6.50 %
Leverage 3,243,349 8.63 % 1,503,666 ≥ 4.00 % 1,879,583 ≥ 5.00 %
As of December 31 , 2021
Associated Banc-Corp
Total capital $ 3,570,026 13.10 % $ 2,179,419 ≥ 8.00 %
Tier 1 capital 3,001,074 11.02 % 1,634,564 ≥ 6.00 %
CET1 2,808,289 10.31 % 1,225,923 ≥ 4.50 %
Leverage 3,001,074 8.83 % 1,359,299 ≥ 4.00 %
Associated Bank, N.A.
Total capital $ 3,243,672 11.93 % $ 2,175,689 ≥ 8.00 % $ 2,719,611 ≥ 10.00 %
Tier 1 capital 2,923,881 10.75 % 1,631,766 ≥ 6.00 % 2,175,689 ≥ 8.00 %
CET1 2,923,881 10.75 % 1,223,825 ≥ 4.50 % 1,767,747 ≥ 6.50 %
Leverage 2,923,881 8.61 % 1,358,041 ≥ 4.00 % 1,697,551 ≥ 5.00 %
(a) Prompt corrective action provisions are not applicable at the bank holding company level.
Note 20 Earnings Per Common Share
See Note 1 for the Corporation’s accounting policy on earnings per common share. Presented below are the calculations for basic and diluted earnings per common share:
For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands, except per share data) 2022 2021 2020
Net income $ 366,122 $ 350,994 $ 306,771
Preferred stock dividends (11,500) (17,111) (18,358)
Net income available to common equity $ 354,622 $ 333,883 $ 288,413
Common shareholder dividends $ (122,417) $ (115,212) $ (111,291)
Unvested share-based payment awards (720) (849) (732)
Undistributed earnings $ 231,485 $ 217,822 $ 176,390
Undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders $ 229,995 $ 216,299 $ 175,134
Undistributed earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards 1,490 1,523 1,256
Undistributed earnings $ 231,485 $ 217,822 $ 176,390
Basic
Distributed earnings to common shareholders $ 122,417 $ 115,212 $ 111,291
Undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders 229,995 216,299 175,134
Total common shareholders earnings, basic $ 352,412 $ 331,510 $ 286,425
Diluted
Distributed earnings to common shareholders $ 122,417 $ 115,212 $ 111,291
Undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders 229,995 216,299 175,134
Total common shareholders earnings, diluted $ 352,412 $ 331,510 $ 286,425
Weighted average common shares outstanding 149,162 150,773 153,005
Effect of dilutive common stock awards 1,334 1,214 637
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding 150,496 151,987 153,642
Basic earnings per common share $ 2.36 $ 2.20 $ 1.87
Diluted earnings per common share $ 2.34 $ 2.18 $ 1.86
Approximately 2 million anti-dilutive common stock options were excluded from the earnings per share calculation at December 31, 2022, 3 million at December 31, 2021, and 7 million at December 31, 2020.
Note 21 Segment Reporting
The Corporation utilizes a risk-based internal profitability measurement system to provide strategic business unit reporting. The profitability measurement system is based on internal management methodologies designed to produce consistent results and reflect the underlying economics of the units. Certain strategic business units have been combined for segment information reporting purposes where the nature of the products and services, the type of customer, and the distribution of those products and services are similar. The three reportable segments are Corporate and Commercial Specialty; Community, Consumer, and Business; and Risk Management and Shared Services. The financial information of the Corporation’s segments has been compiled utilizing the accounting policies described in Note 1, with certain exceptions. The more significant of these exceptions are described herein.
The reportable segment results are presented based on the Corporation's internal management accounting process. The management accounting policies and processes utilized in compiling segment financial information are highly subjective and, unlike financial accounting, are not based on authoritative guidance similar to U.S. GAAP. As a result, reported segments and the financial information of the reported segments are not necessarily comparable with similar information reported by other financial institutions. Furthermore, changes in management structure or allocation methodologies and procedures may result in changes in previously reported segment financial data. Additionally, the information presented is not indicative of how the segments would perform if they operated as independent entities.
To determine financial performance of each segment, the Corporation allocates FTP assignments, the provision for credit losses, certain noninterest expenses, income taxes, and equity to each segment. Allocation methodologies are subject to periodic adjustment as the internal management accounting system is revised, the interest rate environment evolves, and business or
product lines within the segments change. Also, because the development and application of these methodologies is a dynamic process, the financial results presented may be periodically reviewed.
The Corporation allocates net interest income using an internal FTP methodology that charges users of funds (assets, primarily loans) and credits providers of funds (liabilities, primarily deposits) based on the maturity, prepayment, and/or re-pricing characteristics of the assets and liabilities. The net effect of this allocation is offset in the Risk Management and Shared Services segment to ensure consolidated totals reflect the Corporation's net interest income. The net FTP allocation is reflected as net intersegment interest income (expense) in the accompanying tables.
The provision for credit losses is allocated to segments based on the expected long-term annual net charge off rates attributable to the credit risk of loans managed by the segment during the period. In contrast, the level of the consolidated provision for credit losses is determined based on an ACLL model using methodologies described in Note 1. The net effect of the credit provision is recorded in Risk Management and Shared Services. Indirect expenses incurred by certain centralized support areas are allocated to segments based on actual usage (for example, volume measurements) and other criteria. Certain types of administrative expense and bank-wide expense accruals (including amortization of CDIs and other intangible assets associated with acquisitions, acquisition-related costs, asset gains on disposed business units, loss on the prepayment of FHLB advances, and income tax benefits as a result of corporate restructuring) are generally not allocated to segments. Income taxes are allocated to segments based on the Corporation’s estimated effective tax rate, with certain segments adjusted for any tax-exempt income or non-deductible expenses. Equity is allocated to the segments based on regulatory capital requirements and in proportion to an assessment of the inherent risks associated with the business of the segment (including interest, credit and operating risk).
A description of each business segment is presented below.
Corporate and Commercial Specialty: The Corporate and Commercial Specialty segment serves a wide range of customers including private clients, larger businesses, developers, not-for-profits, municipalities, and financial institutions by providing lending and deposit solutions as well as the support to deliver, fund, and manage such banking solutions. In addition, this segment provides a variety of investment, fiduciary, and retirement planning products and services to individuals, private clients, and small to mid-sized businesses. In serving this segment, we compete based on an in-depth understanding of our customers’ financial needs, the ability to match market competitive solutions to those needs, and the highest standards of relationship and service excellence in the delivery of these services. Delivery of services is provided through our corporate and commercial units, our CRE unit, as well as our specialized industries and commercial financial services units. Within this segment we provide the following products and services: (1) lending solutions, such as commercial loans and lines of credit, CRE financing, construction loans, letters of credit, leasing, ABL & equipment finance, and, for our larger clients, loan syndications; (2) deposit and cash management solutions such as commercial checking and interest-bearing deposit products, cash vault and night depository services, liquidity solutions, payables and receivables solutions, and information services; (3) specialized financial services such as interest rate risk management, and foreign exchange solutions; (4) fiduciary services such as administration of pension, profit-sharing and other employee benefit plans, fiduciary and corporate agency services, and institutional asset management; and (5) investable funds solutions such as savings, money market deposit accounts, IRA accounts, CDs, fixed and variable annuities, full-service, discount and online investment brokerage; investment advisory services; and trust and investment management accounts. During the first quarter of 2021, the Corporation sold its wealth management subsidiary, Whitnell.
Community, Consumer, and Business: The Community, Consumer, and Business segment serves individuals, as well as small and mid-sized businesses, by providing lending and deposit solutions. In addition, the Corporation offered insurance and risk consulting services, until the sale of the business in June of 2020. In serving this segment, we compete based on providing a broad range of solutions to meet the needs of our customers in their entire financial lifecycle, convenient access to our services through multiple channels such as branches, phone based services, online and mobile banking, and a relationship based business model which assists our customers in navigating any changes and challenges in their financial circumstances. Delivery of services is provided through our various consumer banking and community banking units. Within this segment we provide the following products and services: (1) lending solutions such as residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, personal and installment loans, auto finance loans, business loans, and business lines of credit, and (2) deposit and transactional solutions such as checking, credit, debit and pre-paid cards, online banking and bill pay, and money transfer services.
Risk Management and Shared Services: The Risk Management and Shared Services segment includes key shared operational functions and also includes residual revenue and expenses, representing the difference between actual amounts incurred and the amounts allocated to operating segments, including interest rate risk residuals (FTP mismatches) and credit risk and provision residuals (long-term credit charge mismatches). All acquisition related costs, the asset gain on sale of ABRC, loss on the prepayment of FHLB advances, and the tax benefit from corporate restructuring are included within the Risk Management and Shared Services segment.
Effective during the third quarter of 2022, the product and marketing functions were moved to the Risk Management and Shared Services segment from the Community, Consumer, and Business and Corporate and Commercial Specialty segments in order to centralize these functions under common leadership.
Effective during the first quarter of 2022, certain support functions and a select group of banking regions were realigned into the Community, Consumer, and Business segment from the Corporate and Commercial Specialty segment.
Effective during 2021, select back office support functions that specifically support Community, Consumer and Business were reorganized under that segment from the Risk Management and Shared Services segment.
Information about the Corporation’s segments is presented below:
Corporate and Commercial Specialty
For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Net interest income $ 566,566 $ 361,634 $ 382,570
Net intersegment interest income (expense) (103,360) 18,001 3,477
Segment net interest income 463,205 379,636 386,047
Noninterest income 145,751 165,345 144,274
Total revenue 608,956 544,980 530,321
Provision for credit losses 49,543 60,311 56,409
Noninterest expense 234,234 219,655 200,856
Income before income taxes 325,179 265,015 273,056
Income tax expense 59,000 46,906 50,537
Net income $ 266,179 $ 218,109 $ 222,519
Allocated goodwill $ 525,836 $ 525,836 $ 530,144
Community, Consumer, and Business
For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Net interest income $ 322,725 $ 289,075 $ 307,862
Net intersegment interest income 176,164 62,376 61,126
Segment net interest income 498,889 351,451 368,988
Noninterest income 118,848 151,474 190,808
Total revenue 617,737 502,925 559,796
Provision for credit losses 20,755 20,622 25,233
Noninterest expense 416,742 401,053 441,527
Income before income taxes 180,240 81,251 93,035
Income tax expense 37,850 17,063 19,537
Net income $ 142,389 $ 64,188 $ 73,498
Allocated goodwill $ 579,156 $ 579,156 $ 579,156
Risk Management and Shared Services
For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Net interest income $ 68,031 $ 75,146 $ 72,525
Net intersegment (expense) (72,803) (80,378) (64,603)
Segment net interest income (4,772) (5,232) 7,922
Noninterest income(a)
17,772 15,546 178,974
Total revenue 12,999 10,314 186,896
Provision for credit losses (37,300) (168,944) 92,365
Noninterest expense(b)
96,088 89,216 133,651
Income (loss) before income taxes (45,788) 90,042 (39,120)
Income tax expense (benefit)(c)
(3,342) 21,345 (49,874)
Net income $ (42,447) $ 68,697 $ 10,754
Allocated goodwill $ - $ - $ -
Consolidated Total
For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Net interest income $ 957,321 $ 725,855 $ 762,957
Net intersegment interest income - - -
Segment net interest income 957,321 725,855 762,957
Noninterest income(a)
282,370 332,364 514,056
Total revenue 1,239,691 1,058,219 1,277,012
Provision for credit losses 32,998 (88,011) 174,006
Noninterest expense(b)
747,063 709,924 776,034
Income before income taxes 459,630 436,307 326,972
Income tax expense(c)
93,508 85,313 20,200
Net income $ 366,122 $ 350,994 $ 306,771
Allocated goodwill $ 1,104,992 $ 1,104,992 $ 1,109,300
(a) For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Corporation recognized a $163 million asset gain related to the sale of ABRC.
(b) The Risk Management and Shared Services segment incurred a loss of $45 million on the prepayment of FHLB advances during the third quarter of 2020.
(c) The Corporation has recognized $63 million in tax benefits for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Note 22 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The following table summarizes the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 respectively, including changes during the years then ended as well as any reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
($ in Thousands) Investment
Securities
AFS Cash Flow Hedge Derivatives Defined Benefit
Pension and
Postretirement
Obligations Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Balance, December 31, 2019 $ 3,989 $ - $ (37,172) $ (33,183)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications 55,628 - 7,780 63,408
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Investment securities (gains), net (9,222) - - (9,222)
HTM investment securities, net, at amortized cost 3,359 - - 3,359
Personnel expense - - (148) (148)
Other expense - - 3,897 3,897
Income tax (expense) (12,429) - (3,064) (15,493)
Net other comprehensive income during period 37,336 - 8,465 45,801
Balance, December 31, 2020 $ 41,325 $ - $ (28,707) $ 12,618
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications $ (63,714) $ - $ 25,519 $ (38,195)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Investment securities losses, net 16 - - 16
HTM investment securities, net, at amortized cost 1,551 - - 1,551
Personnel expense - - 1,346 1,346
Other expense - - 4,594 4,594
Income tax (expense) benefit 15,557 - (7,803) 7,754
Net other comprehensive income (loss) during period (46,591) - 23,656 (22,935)
Balance, December 31, 2021 $ (5,266) $ - $ (5,051) $ (10,317)
Other comprehensive (loss) before reclassifications $ (250,273) $ - $ (51,745) $ (302,018)
Unrealized (losses) on AFS securities transferred to HTM securities (67,604) - - (67,604)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Investment securities losses, net 1,922 - - 1,922
HTM investment securities, net, at amortized cost 9,870 - - 9,870
Other assets / accrued expenses and other liabilities - 3,626 - 3,626
Interest income - (212) - (212)
Personnel expense - - (325) (325)
Other expense - - 658 658
Income tax (expense) benefit 78,159 (54) 13,495 91,601
Net other comprehensive income (loss) during period (227,926) 3,360 (37,917) (262,483)
Balance, December 31, 2022 $ (233,192) $ 3,360 $ (42,968) $ (272,799)
Note 23 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract with the Corporation's customer are satisfied. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for transferring goods or providing services. We do not have any material significant payment terms as payment is received at or shortly after the satisfaction of the performance obligation.
The Corporation's disaggregated revenue by major source is presented below:
Corporate and Commercial Specialty
For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Wealth management fees $ 84,122 $ 89,854 $ 83,570
Service charges and deposit account fees 13,240 15,880 14,639
Card-based fees(a)
1,547 1,397 1,098
Other revenue 2,964 3,208 3,476
Noninterest Income (in-scope of Topic 606) $ 101,873 $ 110,340 $ 102,783
Noninterest Income (out-of-scope of Topic 606) 43,878 55,004 41,491
Total Noninterest Income $ 145,751 $ 165,345 $ 144,274
Community, Consumer, and Business
For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Wealth management fees $ - $ - $ 1,387
Service charges and deposit account fees 49,052 48,493 41,637
Card-based fees(a)
42,474 41,730 37,259
Other revenue(b)
7,046 10,719 64,274
Noninterest Income (in-scope of Topic 606) $ 98,572 $ 100,942 $ 144,558
Noninterest Income (out-of-scope of Topic 606) 20,276 50,532 46,249
Total Noninterest Income $ 118,848 $ 151,474 $ 190,808
Risk Management and Shared Services
For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Service charges and deposit account fees $ 18 $ 32 $ 31
Card-based fees(a)
111 (3) 247
Other revenue 1,379 967 (1,542)
Noninterest Income (in-scope of Topic 606) $ 1,508 $ 996 $ (1,264)
Noninterest Income (out-of-scope of Topic 606)(c)
16,263 14,550 180,238
Total Noninterest Income $ 17,772 $ 15,546 $ 178,974
Consolidated Total
For the Years Ended December 31,
($ in Thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Wealth management fees $ 84,122 $ 89,854 $ 84,957
Service charges and deposit account fees 62,310 64,406 56,307
Card-based fees(a)
44,132 43,124 38,605
Other revenue(b)
11,389 14,894 66,208
Noninterest Income (in-scope of Topic 606) $ 201,953 $ 212,278 $ 246,077
Noninterest Income (out-of-scope of Topic 606)(c)
80,417 120,086 267,979
Total Noninterest Income $ 282,370 $ 332,364 $ 514,056
(a) Certain card-based fees are out-of-scope of Topic 606.
(b) Includes insurance commissions and fees, which were elevated prior to the sale of ABRC.
(c) The year ended December 31, 2020 includes a pre-tax gain of $163 million from the sale of ABRC.
Below is a listing of performance obligations for the Corporation's main revenue streams:
Revenue Stream Noninterest income in-scope of Topic 606
Service charges and deposit account fees Service charges and deposit account fees consist of monthly service fees (i.e. business analyzed fees and consumer service charges) and other deposit account related fees. The Corporation's performance obligation for monthly service fees is generally satisfied, and the related revenue recognized, over the period in which the service is provided. Other deposit account related fees are largely transactional based, and therefore, the Corporation's performance obligation is satisfied, and related revenue recognized, at a point in time. Payment for service charges and deposit account fees is primarily received immediately or in the following month through a direct charge to customers’ accounts.
Card-based fees(a)
Card-based fees are primarily comprised of debit and credit card income, ATM fees, and merchant services income. Debit and credit card income is primarily comprised of interchange fees earned whenever the Corporation's debit and credit cards are processed through card payment networks. ATM and merchant fees are largely transactional based, and therefore, the Corporation's performance obligation is satisfied, and related revenue recognized, at a point in time. Payment is typically received immediately or in the following month.
Trust and asset management fees(b)
Trust and asset management income is primarily comprised of fees earned from the management and administration of trusts and other customer assets. The Corporation's performance obligation is generally satisfied over time and the resulting fees are recognized monthly, based upon the month-end market value of the assets under management and the applicable fee rate. Payment is generally received a few days after month end through a direct charge to the customers’ accounts. The Corporation's performance obligation for these transactional-based services is generally satisfied, and related revenue recognized, at a point in time (i.e., as incurred). Payment is received shortly after services are rendered.
Brokerage and advisory fees(b)
Brokerage and advisory fees primarily consist of investment advisory, brokerage, retirement services, and annuities. The Corporation's performance obligation for investment advisory services and retirement services is generally satisfied, and the related revenue recognized, over the period in which the services are provided. The performance obligation for annuities is satisfied upon sale of the annuity, and therefore, the related revenue is primarily recognized at the time of sale. Payment for these services is typically received immediately or in advance of the service.
(a) Certain card-based fees are out-of-scope of Topic 606.
(b) Trust and asset management fees and brokerage and advisory fees are included in wealth management fees.
Note 24 Recent Developments
On February 1, 2023, the Corporation's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.21 per common share, payable on March 15, 2023 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 1, 2023. The Board of Directors also declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.3671875 per depositary share on Associated's 5.875% Series E Perpetual Preferred Stock, payable on March 15, 2023 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 1, 2023. The Board of Directors also declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.3515625 per depositary share on Associated's 5.625% Series F Perpetual Preferred Stock, payable on March 15, 2023 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 1, 2023.
On February 10, 2023, the Corporation issued $300 million of 10-year subordinated notes, due March 1, 2033 and redeemable starting on the reset date of March 1, 2028 and any interest payment date thereafter, or at any time during the three month period prior to the maturity date. The subordinated notes have a fixed coupon interest rate of 6.625% until the reset date, after which the rate will be equal to the Five-Year U.S. Treasury Rate as of the reset date plus 2.812% per annum. The notes were issued at a discount.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures
The Corporation maintains disclosure controls and procedures as required under Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Corporation’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of December 31, 2022, the Corporation’s management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the foregoing, its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2022. No changes were made to the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined Rule 13a-15(f) and Rule 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act) during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management of Associated Banc-Corp is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Corporation’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
As of December 31, 2022, management assessed the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting based on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013), issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organization of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, management has determined that the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, was effective.
KPMG LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022. The report, which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, is included below under the heading Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. Other Information
None.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information in the Corporation’s definitive Proxy Statement, prepared for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which contains information concerning this item under the captions Election of Directors and Information About the Board of Directors; and information concerning Section 16(a) compliance under the caption Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports is incorporated herein by reference. Information relating to the Corporation’s executive officers is set forth in Part I of this report.
Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Corporate Governance Guidelines, committee charters for standing committees of the Board and other governance documents are all available on our website, www.associatedbank.com, "Investor Relations," "Governance Documents." We will disclose on our website amendments to or waivers from our Code of Ethics in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. Information contained on any of our websites is not deemed to be a part of this Annual Report.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation
The information in the Corporation’s definitive Proxy Statement, prepared for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which contains information concerning this item, under the captions Executive Compensation - Compensation Discussion and Analysis, Executive Compensation Tables, Director Compensation, Compensation and Benefits Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation, and Compensation and Benefits Committee Report is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information in the Corporation's definitive Proxy Statement, prepared for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which contains information concerning this item, under the caption Stock Ownership, is incorporated herein by reference. The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2022 about shares of Common Stock outstanding and available for issuance under Associated’s existing equity compensation plans.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
December 31, 2022 (a)
Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants, and Rights (b)
Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants, and Rights (c)
Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
Plan Category
Equity compensation plan approved by security holders 3,994,038 $ 21.06 8,946,660

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information in the Corporation’s definitive Proxy Statement, prepared for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which contains information concerning this item under the captions Related Party Transactions, and Information about the Board of Directors, is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information in the Corporation’s definitive Proxy Statement, prepared for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which contains information concerning this item under the caption Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) 1 and 2 Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules
The following financial statements and financial statement schedules are included under a separate caption Financial Statements and Supplementary Data in Part II, Item 8 hereof and are incorporated herein by reference.
Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Income - For the Years Ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - For the Years Ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity - For the Years Ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - For the Years Ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(a) 3 Exhibits Required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K
Exhibit
Number Description
(2) Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated May 4, 2020, by and between Associated Bank, N.A. and USI Insurance Services LLC Exhibit (2) to Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 11, 2020
(3)(a) Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation Exhibit (3) to Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 8, 2006
(3)(b) Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Associated Banc-Corp regarding the rights and preferences of preferred stock, effective April 25, 2012 Exhibit (3.1 and 4.1) to Report on Form 8-K filed on April 25, 2012
(3)(c) Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Associated Banc-Corp with respect to its 5.875% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E, dated September 21, 2018 Exhibit (3.1,4.1) to Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2018
(3)(d) Amended and Restated Bylaws of Associated Banc-Corp, as amended through February 2, 2021 Exhibit (3.1(l)) to Report on Form 10-K filed on February 9, 2021
(3)(e) Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Associated Banc-Corp with respect to its 5.625% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series F, dated June 10, 2020 Exhibit (3.1,4.1) to Report on Form 8-K filed on June 15, 2020
(4)(a) Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders, Including Indentures
The Parent Company, by signing this report, agrees to furnish the SEC, upon its request, a copy of any instrument that defines the rights of holders of long-term debt of the Corporation and its consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries for which consolidated or unconsolidated financial statements are required to be filed and that authorizes a total amount of securities not in excess of 10% of the total assets of the Corporation on a consolidated basis
(4)(b) Indenture, dated as of March 14, 2011, between Associated Banc-Corp and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. Exhibit (4.1) to Report on Form 8-K filed on March 28, 2011
(4)(c) Subordinated Indenture, dated as of November 13, 2014, between Associated Banc-Corp and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee Exhibit (4.1) to Report on Form 8-K filed on November 18, 2014
(4)(d) Global Note dated as of November 13, 2014 representing $250,000,000 4.250% Subordinated Note due 2025 Exhibit (4.3) to Report on Form 8-K filed on November 18, 2014
(4)(e) Deposit Agreement, dated September 26, 2018, among Associated Banc-Corp, Equiniti Trust Company and the holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts described therein, and form of Depositary Receipt Exhibit (4.2) to Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2018
(4)(f) Description of Associated Banc-Corp’s Securities Filed herewith
(4)(g) Deposit Agreement, dated June 15, 2020, among Associated Banc-Corp, Equiniti Trust Company and the holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts, and form of Depositary Receipts Exhibit 4.2 to Report on Form 8-K filed on June 15, 2020
*(10)(a) Associated Banc-Corp 1987 Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan, Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008 Exhibit (10)(a) to Report on Form 10-K filed on February 26, 2009
*(10)(b) Associated Banc-Corp 1999 Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan, Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008 Exhibit (10)(b) to Report on Form 10-K filed on February 26, 2009
*(10)(c) Associated Banc-Corp 2003 Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan, Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008 Exhibit (10)(c) to Report on Form 10-K filed on February 26, 2009
*(10)(d) Separation and General Release Letter between Associated Banc-Corp and Christopher Piotrowski, dated January 22, 2020 Exhibit (10) to Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 11, 2020
*(10)(e) Associated Banc-Corp 2020 Incentive Compensation Plan Appendix A to the Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 13, 2020, as supplemented, in connection with the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Associated Banc-Corp
*(10)(f) Retirement Agreement, dated as of January 19, 2021, by and between Associated Banc-Corp and Philip B. Flynn Exhibit 10.1 to Report on Form 8-K filed January 21, 2021
*(10)(g) Associated Banc-Corp Deferred Compensation Plan Exhibit (10)(h) to Report on Form 10-K filed on February 26, 2009
*(10)(h) Associated Banc-Corp Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan, Restated Effective December 4, 2018 Exhibit (10)(e) to Report on Form 10-K filed on February 19, 2019
*(10)(i) Associated Banc-Corp Deferred Compensation Plan, Restated Effective November 1, 2015 Exhibit (10)(f) to Report on Form 10-K filed on February 5, 2016
*(10)(j) Amendment to Associated Banc-Corp 2003 Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan effective November 15, 2009 Exhibit (99.2) to Report on Form 8-K filed on November 16, 2009
*(10)(k) Associated Banc-Corp 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan Exhibit (99.1) to Report on Form 8-K filed on April 29, 2010
*(10)(l) Associated Banc-Corp 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan Appendix A to Definitive Proxy Statement filed on March 14, 2013
*(10)(m) Associated Banc-Corp 2017 Incentive Compensation Plan Appendix A to Definitive Proxy Statement filed on March 14, 2017
*(10)(n) Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement Exhibit (99.3) to Report on Form 8-K filed on January 27, 2012
*(10)(o) Associated Banc-Corp Change of Control Plan, Restated Effective September 28, 2011 Exhibit (10.1) to Report on Form 8-K filed on September 30, 2011
*(10)(p) Associated Banc-Corp Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Philip B. Flynn Exhibit (99.2) to Report on Form 8-K filed on December 23, 2011
*(10)(q) Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement Exhibit (10.2) to Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 4, 2014
*(10)(r) Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, Restated Effective January 22, 2013 Exhibit (99.1) to Report on Form 8-K filed on January 22, 2013
*(10)(s) Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, Restated Effective November 16, 2015 Exhibit (10)(p) to Report on Form 10-K filed on February 5, 2016
*(10)(t) Form of 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan Restricted Unit Agreement Exhibit (10.1) to Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 28, 2017
*(10)(u) Form of Amendment to 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan Restricted Unit Agreement Exhibit (10.2) to Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 28, 2017
*(10)(v) Form of Change of Control Agreement, by and among Associated Banc-Corp and the executive officers of Associated Banc-Corp. Exhibit (10.1) to Report on Form 8-K filed on December 6, 2017
*(10)(w) Form of Associated Banc-Corp 2017 Incentive Compensation Plan Restricted Stock Agreement Exhibit 10.1 to Report on Form 10-Q filed July 26, 2018
(10)(x) Offer Letter, dated March 4, 2021, by and between Associated Banc-Corp, and Andrew J. Harmening Exhibit (10.1) to Report on Form 8-K filed March 10, 2021
(10)(y) Retirement Agreement, dated as of January 19, 2022, by and between Associated Banc-Corp and Christopher J. Del Moral-Niles Exhibit (10.1) to Report on Form 8-k filed January 21, 2022
(21) Subsidiaries of Associated Banc-Corp Filed herewith
(23) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Filed herewith
(24) Powers of Attorney Filed herewith
(31.1) Certification Under Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley by Andrew J. Harmening, Chief Executive Officer Filed herewith
(31.2) Certification Under Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley by Derek S. Meyer, Chief Financial Officer Filed herewith
(32) Certification by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley. Filed herewith
(101) Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Filed herewith
(104) Cover page interactive data file (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) Filed herewith
* Management contracts and arrangements.
* Management contracts and arrangements.
Schedules and exhibits other than those listed are omitted for the reasons that they are not required, are not applicable or that equivalent information has been included on the financial statements and notes thereto or elsewhere within.