UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2008
Commission File Number 000-32627
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Georgia | 58-1423423 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
P. O. Box 455, 1010 North Way, Darien, Georgia 31305
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(912) 437-4141
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ¨ | Accelerated filer | ¨ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company.) | Smaller reporting company | x |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
As of October 31, 2008, 3,176,331 shares of the registrants common stock, par value $1.25 per share, were outstanding.
Page | ||||
Part I Financial Information |
||||
Item 1. |
Financial Statements: | |||
3 | ||||
4 | ||||
5 | ||||
6 | ||||
7 | ||||
Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 10 | ||
Item 3. |
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk | 29 | ||
Item 4T. |
Controls and Procedures | 29 | ||
Item 1. |
Legal Proceedings | 31 | ||
Item 1A. |
Risk Factors | 31 | ||
Item 2 |
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 31 | ||
Item 3. |
Defaults upon Senior Securities | 31 | ||
Item 4. |
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders | 31 | ||
Item 5. |
Other Information | 31 | ||
Item 6. |
Exhibits | 31 | ||
Signatures | 32 |
2
Southeastern Banking Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited) September 30, 2008 |
December 31, 2007 |
|||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Cash and due from banks |
$ | 16,578,828 | $ | 26,558,995 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
16,578,828 | 26,558,995 | ||||||
Investment securities: |
||||||||
Available-for-sale, at market value |
72,385,967 | 88,845,650 | ||||||
Held-to-maturity (market value of approximately $28,815,000 and $32,111,000 at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007) |
29,644,266 | 31,614,785 | ||||||
Total investment securities |
102,030,233 | 120,460,435 | ||||||
Loans, gross |
272,438,604 | 269,613,025 | ||||||
Unearned income |
(137,501 | ) | (136,405 | ) | ||||
Allowance for loan losses |
(4,751,155 | ) | (4,510,231 | ) | ||||
Loans, net |
267,549,948 | 264,966,389 | ||||||
Premises and equipment, net |
12,471,157 | 12,376,959 | ||||||
Bank-owned life insurance |
5,194,548 | 5,019,417 | ||||||
Intangible assets |
404,616 | 448,277 | ||||||
Other assets |
7,933,554 | 6,555,245 | ||||||
Total Assets |
$ | 412,162,884 | $ | 436,385,717 | ||||
Liabilities and Shareholders Equity |
||||||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Deposits: |
||||||||
Noninterest-bearing deposits |
$ | 56,808,957 | $ | 64,436,226 | ||||
Interest-bearing deposits |
282,894,401 | 297,619,950 | ||||||
Total deposits |
339,703,358 | 362,056,176 | ||||||
Federal funds purchased |
1,585,000 | 7,292,000 | ||||||
U.S. Treasury demand note |
1,317,507 | 682,523 | ||||||
Federal Home Loan Bank advances |
10,000,000 | 5,000,000 | ||||||
Other liabilities |
3,085,517 | 4,617,708 | ||||||
Total liabilities |
355,691,382 | 379,648,407 | ||||||
Shareholders Equity |
||||||||
Common stock ($1.25 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 3,580,797 shares issued; 3,176,331 and 3,178,331 shares outstanding at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007) |
4,475,996 | 4,475,996 | ||||||
Additional paid-in-capital |
1,391,723 | 1,391,723 | ||||||
Retained earnings |
61,197,876 | 59,161,894 | ||||||
Treasury stock, at cost (404,466 and 402,466 shares at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007) |
(8,350,031 | ) | (8,307,905 | ) | ||||
Realized shareholders equity |
58,715,564 | 56,721,708 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |
(2,244,062 | ) | 15,602 | |||||
Total shareholders equity |
56,471,502 | 56,737,310 | ||||||
Total Liabilities and Shareholders Equity |
$ | 412,162,884 | $ | 436,385,717 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
3
Southeastern Banking Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
Quarter | Nine Months | ||||||||||||
Period Ended September 30, |
2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||||
Interest income |
|||||||||||||
Loans, including fees |
$ | 4,644,852 | $ | 6,226,804 | $ | 14,550,152 | $ | 18,207,205 | |||||
Federal funds sold |
963 | 9,416 | 90,591 | 49,409 | |||||||||
Investment securities: |
|||||||||||||
Taxable |
1,184,930 | 823,152 | 3,513,853 | 2,719,530 | |||||||||
Tax-exempt |
283,658 | 314,466 | 903,979 | 954,580 | |||||||||
Other assets |
7,906 | 17,350 | 37,558 | 51,307 | |||||||||
Total interest income |
6,122,309 | 7,391,188 | 19,096,133 | 21,982,031 | |||||||||
Interest expense |
|||||||||||||
Deposits |
1,768,640 | 2,373,062 | 5,957,309 | 6,854,770 | |||||||||
Federal funds purchased |
53,519 | 72,235 | 88,790 | 160,245 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury demand note |
2,621 | 10,649 | 9,963 | 32,713 | |||||||||
Federal Home Loan Bank advances |
80,953 | 75,644 | 230,597 | 224,466 | |||||||||
Total interest expense |
1,905,733 | 2,531,590 | 6,286,659 | 7,272,194 | |||||||||
Net interest income |
4,216,576 | 4,859,598 | 12,809,474 | 14,709,837 | |||||||||
Provision for loan losses |
265,000 | 70,000 | 496,000 | 205,000 | |||||||||
Net interest income after provision for loan losses |
3,951,576 | 4,789,598 | 12,313,474 | 14,504,837 | |||||||||
Noninterest income |
|||||||||||||
Service charges on deposit accounts |
789,342 | 668,982 | 2,185,243 | 1,981,219 | |||||||||
Investment securities gains (losses), net |
19,125 | (36,843 | ) | 19,125 | 97,785 | ||||||||
Other operating income |
365,491 | 292,483 | 1,117,004 | 962,167 | |||||||||
Total noninterest income |
1,173,958 | 924,622 | 3,321,372 | 3,041,171 | |||||||||
Noninterest expense |
|||||||||||||
Salaries and employee benefits |
2,026,275 | 2,021,550 | 6,182,966 | 6,223,799 | |||||||||
Occupancy and equipment, net |
787,163 | 669,040 | 2,196,932 | 2,005,699 | |||||||||
Other operating expense |
711,151 | 569,443 | 2,143,275 | 1,957,914 | |||||||||
Total noninterest expense |
3,524,589 | 3,260,033 | 10,523,173 | 10,187,412 | |||||||||
Income before income tax expense |
1,600,945 | 2,454,187 | 5,111,673 | 7,358,596 | |||||||||
Income tax expense |
459,442 | 791,418 | 1,487,026 | 2,371,711 | |||||||||
Net income |
$ | 1,141,503 | $ | 1,662,769 | $ | 3,624,647 | $ | 4,986,885 | |||||
Basic and diluted earnings per common share |
$ | 0.36 | $ | 0.52 | $ | 1.14 | $ | 1.55 | |||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
3,176,331 | 3,204,787 | 3,177,360 | 3,208,760 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
4
Southeastern Banking Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders Equity
(Unaudited)
Common Stock |
Additional Paid-In Capital |
Retained Earnings |
Treasury Stock |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income |
Total | |||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2006 |
$ | 4,475,996 | $ | 1,391,723 | $ | 54,272,250 | $ | (7,356,329 | ) | $ | (597,454 | ) | $ | 52,186,186 | ||||||||
Comprehensive income: |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| | 4,986,885 | | | 4,986,885 | ||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities, net of tax effect of $152,164 |
| | | | 295,378 | 295,378 | ||||||||||||||||
Total comprehensive income |
5,282,263 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends declared ($0.42 per share) |
| | (1,346,654 | ) | | | (1,346,654 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Purchase of treasury stock |
| | | (402,004 | ) | | (402,004 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2007 |
$ | 4,475,996 | $ | 1,391,723 | $ | 57,912,481 | $ | (7,758,333 | ) | $ | (302,076 | ) | $ | 55,719,791 | ||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2007 |
$ | 4,475,996 | $ | 1,391,723 | $ | 59,161,894 | $ | (8,307,905 | ) | $ | 15,602 | $ | 56,737,310 | |||||||||
Comprehensive income: |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| | 3,624,647 | | | 3,624,647 | ||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax effect of $1,164,069 |
| | | | (2,259,664 | ) | (2,259,664 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total comprehensive income |
1,364,983 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends declared |
||||||||||||||||||||||
($0.50 per share) |
| | (1,588,665 | ) | | | (1,588,665 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Purchase of treasury stock |
| | | (42,126 | ) | | (42,126 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2008 |
$ | 4,475,996 | $ | 1,391,723 | $ | 61,197,876 | $ | (8,350,031 | ) | $ | (2,244,062 | ) | $ | 56,471,502 | ||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
5
Southeastern Banking Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
2008 | 2007 | ||||||
Operating activities |
||||||||
Net income |
$ | 3,624,647 | $ | 4,986,885 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
||||||||
Provision for loan losses |
496,000 | 205,000 | ||||||
Depreciation |
595,394 | 488,072 | ||||||
Amortization and accretion, net |
(319,291 | ) | 131,756 | |||||
Investment securities gains, net |
(19,125 | ) | (97,785 | ) | ||||
Net gains on sales of other real estate |
(13,460 | ) | (49,206 | ) | ||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: |
||||||||
Decrease in other assets |
910,160 | 484,253 | ||||||
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities |
(737,608 | ) | 617,721 | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
4,536,717 | 6,766,696 | ||||||
Investing activities |
||||||||
Principal collections and maturities of investment securities: |
||||||||
Available-for-sale |
457,560,752 | 132,540,310 | ||||||
Held-to-maturity |
4,255,350 | 970,000 | ||||||
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investment securities |
6,192,339 | 12,086,010 | ||||||
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities |
(450,451,944 | ) | (110,293,466 | ) | ||||
Purchases of held-to-maturity investment securities |
(2,327,335 | ) | (900,000 | ) | ||||
Net increase in loans |
(4,267,966 | ) | (26,102,912 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sales of other real estate |
61,720 | 364,033 | ||||||
Capital expenditures, net |
(689,592 | ) | (2,385,196 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by investing activities |
10,333,324 | 6,278,779 | ||||||
Financing activities |
||||||||
Net decrease in deposits |
(22,352,818 | ) | (6,067,694 | ) | ||||
Net decrease in federal funds purchased |
(5,707,000 | ) | (4,684,000 | ) | ||||
Net increase in U.S. Treasury demand note |
634,984 | 31,852 | ||||||
Net increase in Federal Home Loan Bank advances |
5,000,000 | | ||||||
Purchase of treasury stock |
(42,126 | ) | (402,004 | ) | ||||
Dividends paid |
(2,383,248 | ) | (2,874,749 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in financing activities |
(24,850,208 | ) | (13,996,595 | ) | ||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
(9,980,167 | ) | (951,120 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
26,558,995 | 23,410,228 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ | 16,578,828 | $ | 22,459,108 | ||||
Supplemental disclosure |
||||||||
Cash paid during the period |
||||||||
Interest |
$ | 6,414,176 | $ | 6,798,358 | ||||
Income taxes |
1,365,000 | 1,995,000 | ||||||
Noncash investing and financing activities |
||||||||
Real estate acquired through foreclosure |
$ | 1,232,711 | $ | 146,297 | ||||
Loans made in connection with sales of foreclosed real estate |
10,346 | 23,625 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
6
Southeastern Banking Corporation
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
1. | Accounting and Reporting Policy for Interim Periods |
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Southeastern Banking Corporation and subsidiary (the Company) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information. These statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statement presentation. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation have been made. These adjustments, consisting of normal, recurring accruals, include estimates for various fringe benefits and other transactions normally determined or settled at year-end. Operating results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of trends or results to be expected for the full year 2008. The Company operates within one business segment, community banking, providing a full range of services to individual, corporate, and government customers in southeast Georgia and northeast Florida. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2007 has been extracted from the audited financial statements included in the Companys 2007 Annual Report to Shareholders. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. There have been no significant changes to the Companys Accounting Policies as disclosed in the 2007 Form 10-K. Certain reclassifications, with no effect on total assets or net income, have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation.
2. | Recent Accounting Standards |
In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115. SFAS 159 permits companies to fair value certain financial assets and liabilities on an instrument-by-instrument basis with changes in fair value recognized in earnings as they occur. The election to fair value a financial asset or liability is generally irrevocable. Adoption of this statement is not expected to have a material impact on the Companys financial position or results of operations.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, Business Combinations, which revises SFAS 141 and changes multiple aspects of the accounting for business combinations. Under the guidance in SFAS 141R, the acquisition method must be used, which requires the acquirer to recognize most identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and noncontrolling interests in the acquiree at their full fair value on the acquisition date. Goodwill is to be recognized as the excess of the consideration transferred plus the fair value of the noncontrolling interest over the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired. Subsequent changes in the fair value of contingent consideration classified as a liability are to be recognized in earnings, while contingent consideration classified as equity is not to be remeasured. Costs such as transaction costs are to be excluded from acquisition accounting, generally leading to recognizing expense and additionally, restructuring costs that do not meet certain criteria at acquisition date are to be subsequently recognized as post-acquisition costs. For calendar year companies, SFAS 141R is effective for business combinations consummated on or after January 1, 2009. Adoption of this statement is not expected to have a material impact on the Companys financial position or results of operations.
7
Southeastern Banking Corporation
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133. This statement requires enhanced disclosures about the use of derivative instruments, the accounting for derivative instruments under SFAS 133 and related interpretations, and the impact of derivative instruments and related hedged items on financial position, financial performance, and cash flows, particularly from a risk perspective. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. Adoption of this statement is not expected to have a material impact on the Companys financial position or results of operations.
3. | Fair Value Measurements |
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The statement applies whenever other statements require or permit assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. The statement does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances.
SFAS 157 emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the statement establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Level 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entitys own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).
Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. 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 other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability such as interest rates, exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals, volatilities, prepayment speeds, credit risks, and default rates. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for assets or liabilities, which are typically based on an entitys own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. The determination of the fair value hierarchy within which the measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Companys assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, considering factors specific to the asset or liability.
The table on the next page presents the Companys assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2008, aggregated by the level in the fair value hierarchy within which those measurements fall.
8
Southeastern Banking Corporation
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
September 30, 2008 |
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) |
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
Total | ||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||
Available-for-sale investment securities |
$ | | $ | 72,385,967 | $ | | $ | 72,385,967 | ||||
Total assets at fair value | $ | | $ | 72,385,967 | $ | | $ | 72,385,967 | ||||
4. | Stock Option Plan |
The Companys 2006 Stock Option Plan (the Plan), which was shareholder-approved in June 2007, permits the grant of stock options to employees covering up to 150,000 shares of common stock. The Company believes that such awards better aligns the interests of employees with those of shareholders. Any options granted generally have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Companys stock on the grant date and vest based on four years of continuous service. These options have ten-year contractual terms and expire if not exercised. On July 21, 2008, the Company granted 42,000 shares at an exercise price of $19.50; no options were granted prior to this date.
9
Item 2. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. |
This Analysis should be read in conjunction with the 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the consolidated financial statements & related notes on pages 3 9 of this quarterly filing. The Companys accounting policies, which are described in detail in Form 10-K, are integral to understanding the results reported. The Companys accounting policies require managements judgment in valuing assets, liabilities, commitments, and contingencies. A variety of factors could affect the ultimate value that is obtained when earning income, recognizing an expense, recovering an asset, or relieving a liability. This Analysis contains forward-looking statements with respect to business and financial matters. Actual results may vary significantly from those contained in these forward-looking statements. See the sections entitled Critical Accounting Policies and Forward-Looking Statements within this Analysis.
Description of Business
Southeastern Banking Corporation, with assets exceeding $412,162,000, is a financial services company with operations in southeast Georgia and northeast Florida. Southeastern Bank (SEB), the Companys wholly-owned commercial bank subsidiary, offers a full line of commercial and retail services to meet the financial needs of its customer base through its seventeen branch locations and ATM network. Services offered include traditional deposit and credit services, long-term mortgage originations, and credit cards. SEB also offers 24-hour delivery channels, including internet and telephone banking, and through an affiliation with Raymond James Financial Services, provides insurance agent and investment brokerage services.
Financial Condition
Consolidated assets totaled $412,162,884 at September 30, 2008, down $24,222,833 or 5.55% from year-end 2007 but up $9,957,438 or 2.48% from September 30, 2007. Declines in investment securities and cash & due from banks were the primary factors in the nine-month results. Specifically, investment securities declined $18,430,202, and cash & due from banks, which includes correspondent balances and cash letters in transit, fell $9,980,167; net loans grew a modest $2,583,559. A $22,352,818 reduction in deposits, particularly NOW balances, precipitated the asset drop. Loans comprised approximately 72%, investment securities, 27%, and bank-owned life insurance, 1%, of earning assets at September 30, 2008 versus 68%, 31%, and 1% at December 31, 2007. Overall, earning assets approximated 91% of total assets at September 30, 2008. During the year-earlier period, total assets declined $8,096,610 or 1.97%. Declines in investment securities, particularly short-term Agencies, was the leading factor in the 2007 results. Refer to the Liquidity section of this Analysis for details on deposits and other funding sources.
Investment Securities
On a carrying value basis, investment securities declined $18,430,202 or 15.30% since December 31, 2007. Purchases of securities during the nine-month period, primarily comprising short-term securities with original maturities of 90 days or less, approximated $452,779,000, and redemptions, $467,989,000. The use of Agency discount notes to collateralize public funds was the predominant factor in the purchase and redemption activity year-to-date. As further discussed on page 11, additional purchases year-to-date were centered in mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FHLMC), U.S. Small Business Administration participation certificates, and corporate bonds. The Company recognized a net gain of $19,125 on the sale of $6,173,214 mortgage-backed and Agency securities year-to-date; these securities were sold for liquidity purposes. The remaining redemptions were primarily attributable to various issuers exercise of call options and other prepayments as a result of the relatively low-rate interest environment. The effective repricing of redeemed securities impacts
10
current and future earnings results; refer to the Interest Rate and Market Risk/Interest Rate Sensitivity and Operations sections of this Analysis for more details. In conjunction with asset/liability management, the Company continues to increase its proportionate holdings of non-Agency securities when feasible to reduce optionality in the portfolio. At September 30, 2008, mortgage-backed securities, corporates, and municipals comprised 27%, 23%, and 29% of the portfolio. Overall, securities comprised 27% of earning assets at September 30, 2008, down from 31% at year-end 2007. Including short-term Agency discount notes, the portfolio yield approximated 5.38% during the first nine months of 2008.
Management believes the credit quality of the investment portfolio remains fundamentally sound, with 48.34% of the carrying value of debt securities being backed by the U.S. Treasury or other U.S. Government-sponsored agencies at September 30, 2008. The Company does not own any collateralized debt obligations, widely known as CDOs, secured by subprime residential mortgage-backed securities. Additionally, the Company does not own any private label mortgage-backed securities. During the first nine months, the Company purchased an additional $17,208,749 in conventional mortgage-backed securities issued by FNMA and FHLMC due to the spreads available in these investments relative to coupon Agencies. Mortgage-backed securities issued by FNMA and FHLMC are collateralized foremost by the underlying mortgages and secondly, by FNMA and FHLMC themselves. On September 7, 2008, the U.S. government placed FNMA and FHLMC under regulatory conservatorship, easing credit concerns about these two entities. Fortunately, the Company did not own any FNMA or FHLMC common or preferred stock. Besides FNMA and FHLMC, the Company also owned Ginnie Mae mortgage securities with a carrying value of $599,312 at September 30, 2008. All of the Companys corporate bonds were rated BBB or higher, and the majority, A- or higher, by at least one nationally recognized rating agency at September 30, 2008 except for three non-rated trust preferred securities with a carrying value of $3,363,571. Management also restricts purchases of trust-preferred securities, which often are not rated, to issues of large bank holding companies domiciled in the southeastern United States. Although the individual security may not be rated, the issuing bank holding company or subsidiary must have a strong stand-alone credit rating or other credit metrics. The Company increased its holdings of corporate bonds, including longer-term corporates, by $15,592,792 or 148% on an amortized cost basis year-to-date due to the high yields and relative value available in this sector. Within the municipal portfolio, all holdings were highly rated, investment grade securities other than thirteen non-rated Georgia issues and one non-rated Florida issue. In analyzing non-rated municipals, management considers debt service coverage and whether the bonds support essential services such as water/sewer systems and education. Management reviews bond ratings and market valuations on a regular basis.
The weighted average life of the portfolio approximated 4 years at September 30, 2008. The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities are delineated in the table below:
Investment Securities by Category September 30, 2008 |
Amortized Cost |
Unrealized Gains |
Unrealized Losses |
Fair Value | ||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||
Available-for-sale: |
||||||||||||
U.S. Government agencies1 |
$ | 21,987 | $ | 57 | $ | 329 | $ | 21,715 | ||||
Mortgage-backed securities |
27,678 | 138 | 212 | 27,604 | ||||||||
Corporates |
26,121 | 34 | 3,088 | 23,067 | ||||||||
75,786 | 229 | 3,629 | 72,386 | |||||||||
Held-to-maturity: |
||||||||||||
States and political subdivisions |
29,644 | 421 | 250 | 29,815 | ||||||||
Total investment securities |
$ | 105,430 | $ | 650 | $ | 3,879 | $ | 102,201 | ||||
1 |
Includes Agency discount notes with original maturities of three months or less, as applicable. |
11
At September 30, the market value of the investment portfolio reflected $3,229,535 in net unrealized losses, mostly in the corporate portfolio. Management is optimistic these market values will eventually recover, particularly as pervasive credit, capital, and liquidity issues facing banks and their affiliates are fully addressed. Initiatives recently enacted by the U.S. Treasury (Treasury), including the TARP Capital Purchase Program (Capital Program), are positive developments for these corporate holdings. For more details on investment securities and related fair value, refer to the Capital Adequacy section of this Analysis. The Company did not have a concentration in the obligations of any issuer other than the U.S. Government and its sponsored agencies at September 30, 2008; the three largest corporate holdings, securities issued by three separate regional bank holding companies, comprised 13.09% of the total securities portfolio.
Loans
Loans, net of unearned income, grew 0.98% or $2,583,559 since year-end 2007. The net loans to deposits ratio aggregated 78.76% at September 30, 2008 versus 73.18% at December 31, 2007, and 81.49% a year ago. Balances in the real estate residential mortgage portfolio posted the largest growth, increasing $4,004,269 or 9.10% year-to-date. Conversely, real estate - construction balances, predominantly residential in nature and concentrated in the Companys coastal markets, declined $1,914,018 or 1.55%. Most of the loans in the real estateconstruction portfolio are preparatory to customers attainment of permanent financing or developers sale and are, by nature, short-term and somewhat cyclical; swings in these account balances are normal and to be expected, particularly in the current economic cycle. Although the Company, like peer institutions of similar size, originates permanent mortgages for new construction, it historically has not held or serviced long-term mortgage loans for its own portfolio. Rather, permanent mortgages are typically brokered through a mortgage underwriter or government agency. The Company receives mortgage origination fees for its participation in these origination transactions; refer to the disclosures provided under Results of Operations for more details. The Company has been revamping its mortgage origination department and has begun originating, holding, and servicing such mortgage loans in-house on a limited scale; during the third quarter, the Company originated one such loan with a carrying value of $560,000. Originations under this program are expected to increase in 2009 and beyond. Overall, the commercial portfolio grew $3,158,717 or 3.56% at September 30, 2008 compared to December 31, 2007. Other commercial/industrial loans within the commercial portfolio grew $5,111,677 while nonfarm real estate, agricultural, and governmental loans fell $1,338,291, $175,651, and $439,018. Balances in the real estate residential mortgage portfolio grew a modest $2,856,653 to $42,844,808 at September 30, 2008. Consumer loans declined $2,423,389 at September 30, 2008 compared to year-end 2007; these loans comprised 5.60% of the total portfolio at September 30, 2008.
Due to economic uncertainties within the Companys markets, particularly in the real estate sector, and resultant concerns regarding credit opportunities, management expects loan volumes to flatten or decline moderately the last quarter of 2008. Additionally, as further discussed in the next subsection of this Analysis, management expects problem asset volumes to increase. During the same period in 2007, net loans grew 10.47% or $25,943,344. A $20,963,000 or 14.60% increase in real estate construction and residential mortgage loans was the primary factor in the 2007 results. Loans outstanding are presented by type in the table on the next page.
12
Loans by Category |
September 30, 2008 |
December 31, 2007 |
September 30, 2007 | ||||||
(In thousands) | |||||||||
Commercial, financial, and agricultural1 |
$ | 92,003 | $ | 88,844 | $ | 92,529 | |||
Real estate construction |
121,181 | 123,095 | 125,146 | ||||||
Real estate residential mortgage2 |
43,992 | 39,988 | 39,369 | ||||||
Consumer, including credit cards |
15,263 | 17,686 | 16,795 | ||||||
Loans, gross |
272,439 | 269,613 | 273,839 | ||||||
Unearned income |
138 | 136 | 130 | ||||||
Loans, net |
$ | 272,301 | $ | 269,477 | $ | 273,709 | |||
1 |
Includes obligations of states and political subdivisions. |
2 |
Typically have final maturities of 15 years or less. In the third quarter of 2008, the Company began originating, holding, and servicing longer-term mortgage loans in-house on a limited scale. |
Although the Companys loan portfolio is diversified, significant portions of its loans are collateralized by real estate. At September 30, 2008, approximately 82% of the loan portfolio was comprised of loans with real estate as the primary collateral. As required by policy, real estate loans are collateralized based on certain loan-to-appraised value ratios. A geographic concentration in loans arises given the Companys operations within a regional area of southeast Georgia and northeast Florida. The Company continues to closely monitor real estate valuations in its markets and consider any implications on the allowance for loan losses and the related provision. On an aggregate basis, commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit approximated $49,396,000 at September 30, 2008; because a substantial amount of these contracts expire without being drawn upon, total contractual amounts do not represent future credit exposure or liquidity requirements. The Company has not funded or incurred any losses on letters of credit in 2008 year-to-date.
Nonperforming Assets
Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual and restructured loans, foreclosed real estate, and other repossessed assets. Overall, nonperforming assets jumped $4,353,995 or 408.12% to $5,420,829 at September 30, 2008 from year-end 2007. As a percent of total assets, nonperforming assets totaled 1.32% at September 30, 2008 versus 0.24% at year-end 2007 and 0.20% at September 30, 2007. Nonaccrual loans comprised 73% of nonperforming asset balances at September 30, 2008. The transfers of 1) a $1,714,000 construction/lot loan in a commercial district on a major coastal thoroughfare, 2) a $475,000 residential real estate loan secured by waterfront property, 3) a $441,000 relationship secured by assorted real estate and equipment, and 4) a $360,000 residential real estate loan in a north Florida beachfront community to nonaccrual status were the largest factors in the nonperforming loans increase year-to-date. Charge-offs recognized on the $360,000 real estate loan totaled $112,000 year-to-date; no additional charge-offs are expected on this particular property. In October 2008, the $1,714,000 construction/lot loan was charged-off approximately $274,000 to a net value of $1,440,000 and in November 2008, the underlying property was foreclosed. As further discussed below, this property and other foreclosed properties are being marketed aggressively and deficiencies pursued when practicable. On May 11, 2008, tornadoes heavily damaged portions of McIntosh County, where the Company has two banking offices. As a result of these tornadoes, a single relationship of $284,000 was placed on nonaccrual status; due to insurance and other payments, this credit balance declined significantly, and upon renewal in July, these credits were returned to accruing status. The Company has not incurred and does not anticipate losses resulting from other relationships impacted by the tornadoes. Individual concentrations within nonaccrual balances included the aforementioned $2,990,000 loans; the next largest relationship within nonaccrual loans at September 30 approximated $97,000. Nonaccrual balances did not include any industry concentrations at September 30, 2008. Additionally, except for the
13
$360,000 credit, the collateral underlying the large nonaccrual balances at September 30 was located in Georgia. Management continues to evaluate collateral underlying nonaccrual loans but does not currently expect any other significant losses on these balances.
Subsequent to September 30, two additional relationships totaling $3,134,000 were placed on nonaccrual status; management is currently reappraising the underlying real estate and equipment collateral and reviewing legal remedies prior to foreclosure. At September 30, 2008, the allowance for loan losses specifically considered potential losses from these two credits. Two other large credits aggregating $1,223,000 were transferred first to nonaccrual status and subsequently foreclosed in 2008 year-to-date; no material losses are anticipated on the underlying residential lots although management expects to incur carrying costs for at least one year. No other material credits have been transferred to or removed from nonaccrual status or foreclosed real estate during 2008 to-date. For criteria used by management in classifying loans as nonaccrual, refer to the subsection entitled Policy Note. The allowance for loan losses approximated 1.21X the nonperforming loans balance at September 30, 2008 versus 6.16X at year-end 2007 and 5.57X a year ago. No significant activity occurred within other repossessed assets during the first nine months of 2008. Foreclosed real estate balances primarily comprised residential lots at September 30, 2008.
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing approximated $206,000, or less than 1% of net loans, at September 30, 2008. Management is unaware of any material concentrations within these past due balances; the vast majority, or 81%, of these past due balances were real estate-secured. The table below provides further information about nonperforming assets and loans past due 90 plus days:
Nonperforming Assets |
September 30, 2008 |
December 31, 2007 |
September 30, 2007 |
|||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||
Nonaccrual loans: |
||||||||||||
Commercial, financial, and agricultural |
$ | 313 | $ | 112 | $ | 133 | ||||||
Real estate construction |
2,300 | 109 | 79 | |||||||||
Real estate mortgage |
1,102 | 350 | 287 | |||||||||
Consumer, including credit cards |
217 | 161 | 182 | |||||||||
Total nonaccrual loans |
3,932 | $ | 732 | 681 | ||||||||
Restructured loans1 |
| | | |||||||||
Total nonperforming loans |
3,932 | $ | 732 | 681 | ||||||||
Foreclosed real estate2 |
1,484 | 305 | 96 | |||||||||
Other repossessed assets |
5 | 30 | 14 | |||||||||
Total nonperforming assets |
$ | 5,421 | $ | 1,067 | $ | 791 | ||||||
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more |
$ | 206 | $ | 776 | $ | 535 | ||||||
Ratios: |
||||||||||||
Nonperforming loans to net loans |
1.44 | % | 0.27 | % | 0.25 | % | ||||||
Nonperforming assets to net loans plus foreclosed/repossessed assets |
1.98 | % | 0.40 | % | 0.29 | % | ||||||
1 |
Does not include restructured loans that yield a market rate. |
2 |
Includes only other real estate acquired through foreclosure or in settlement of debts previously contracted. |
Loans past due 30-89 days comprised 1.36% of net loans at September 30, 2008, totaling $3,711,372. Approximately 80% of these past due loans were secured by real estate, predominantly 1 4 family residential properties with first liens and construction/lot loans. Six relationships, mostly real estate-secured and averaging $205,306 each, comprised $1,231,840 or 33% of these past due balances. Management is working diligently with customers to reduce these past due balances.
14
Additional loans classified as impaired under SFAS No. 114, Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan an amendment of FASB Statements No. 5 and 15, which included certain loans moved to nonaccrual status after quarter-end, approximated $22,272,000 at September 30, 2008. Approximately $19,726,171 of this classified balance pertained to nine separate borrowers whose loan repayment was expected to come from commercial or residential real estate development or lot loan sales of the underlying collateral. Due to lagging sales and ongoing deterioration in the real estate market, payment of principal and interest on these coastal real estate loans has come from borrower reserves or other resources, constituting a change in the initial source of payment/terms of these loans. Management reviews all loans with total credit exposure of $500,000 or more at least quarterly and evaluates underlying collateral, assuming salvage values and estimating any allowance necessary to cover projected losses at worse case scenarioliquidation. After adjustments for collateral value shortfalls, the allowance for loan losses allocated to these nine credits approximated $79,000 at September 30, 2008. The $79,000 assumes a loss if the underlying real estate required liquidation currently. The remaining classified balance at September 30, 2008 pertained to one commercial borrower in the timber industry; this $2,546,000 credit relationship is secured primarily by accounts receivable and log inventory and secondly, by logging equipment. No allowance was deemed necessary for this credit under the SFAS 114 calculation at September 30, 2008. Although this timber credit was not past due as to either principal or interest, the long-term outlook for the hardwood industry is particularly troubling, and management is seeking to reduce its exposure under these lines. The Company continues to closely monitor real estate valuations in its markets, particularly given lingering distress in the coastal real estate sector and the overall economy, and consider any implications on the allowance for loan losses and the related provision. The $1,714,000 nonaccrual relationship mentioned on the prior page was separately included in the SFAS No. 114 analysis with a specific allowance of $301,000; the resultant charge-off of $274,000 could not be finalized until updated appraisal and other site information was received. No additional relationships have been identified as impaired under SFAS 114 subsequent to September 30, 2008. As further discussed in the Allowance for Loan Losses subsection of this Analysis, management believes the allowance was adequate at September 30, 2008.
Policy Note. Loans classified as nonaccrual have been placed in nonperforming, or impaired, status because the borrowers ability to make future principal and/or interest payments has become uncertain. The Company considers a loan to be nonaccrual with the occurrence of any one of the following events: a) interest or principal has been in default 90 days or more, unless the loan is well-collateralized and in the process of collection; b) collection of recorded interest or principal is not anticipated; or c) income on the loan is recognized on a cash basis due to deterioration in the financial condition of the debtor. Smaller balance consumer loans are generally not subject to the above-referenced guidelines and are normally placed on nonaccrual status or else charged-off when payments have been in default 90 days or more. Nonaccrual loans are reduced to the lower of the principal balance of the loan or the market value of the underlying real estate or other collateral net of selling costs. Any impairment in the principal balance is charged against the allowance for loan losses; subsequent charge-offs may be required as a result of changes in the market value of collateral or other repayment prospects. Accrued interest on any loan placed on nonaccrual status is reversed. Interest income on nonaccrual loans, if subsequently recognized, is recorded on a cash basis. No interest is subsequently recognized on nonaccrual loans until all principal has been collected. Loans are classified as restructured when either interest or principal has been reduced or deferred because of deterioration in the borrowers financial position. Foreclosed real estate represents real property acquired by foreclosure or directly by title or deed transfer in settlement of debt. Provisions for subsequent devaluations of foreclosed real estate are charged to operations, while costs associated with improving the properties are generally capitalized. Refer to the footnotes accompanying the consolidated financial statements for more details on the Companys accounting and reporting policies on impaired loans and other real estate.
15
Allowance for Loan Losses
The Company continuously reviews its loan portfolio and maintains an allowance for loan losses available to absorb losses inherent in the portfolio. The nine-month provision for loan losses at September 30, 2008 totaled $496,000, and net charge-offs, $255,076. The comparable provision and net charge-off amounts at September 30, 2007 were $205,000 and $36,895. Economic uncertainties on real estate-secured loans and credits pertaining to the timber industry were primary factors in the 2008 provision; these and other loans will continue to be monitored, and the provision adjusted accordingly. Net charge-offs represented 0.13% of average loans at September 30, 2008 compared to 0.02% at September 30, 2007 and 0.07% in 2006. A $112,000 charge-off on a nonaccrual real estate loan comprised 43% of total charge-offs at September 30, 2008. Subsequent to September 30, the Company recognized an additional $274,000 charge-off on a separate $1,714,000 relationship discussed earlier. As noted in other sections of this Analysis, the Company is committed to the early recognition of problem loans and an appropriate and adequate level of allowance. The adequacy of the allowance is further discussed in the next subsection of this Analysis. Activity in the allowance is presented in the table below:
Allowance for Loan Losses Nine Months Ended September 30, |
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of year |
$ | 4,510 | $ | 4,240 | $ | 4,311 | ||||||
Provision for loan losses |
496 | 205 | 60 | |||||||||
Charge-offs: |
||||||||||||
Commercial, financial, and agricultural |
77 | 28 | 80 | |||||||||
Real estate construction |
10 | 16 | 1 | |||||||||
Real estate mortgage |
127 | 9 | 23 | |||||||||
Consumer, including credit cards |
136 | 171 | 152 | |||||||||
Total charge-offs |
350 | 224 | 256 | |||||||||
Recoveries: |
||||||||||||
Commercial, financial, and agricultural |
15 | 65 | 15 | |||||||||
Real estate construction |
1 | | | |||||||||
Real estate mortgage |
8 | 21 | 12 | |||||||||
Consumer, including credit cards |
71 | 101 | 103 | |||||||||
Total recoveries |
95 | 187 | 126 | |||||||||
Net charge-offs |
255 | 37 | 119 | |||||||||
Allowance for loan losses at end of period |
$ | 4,751 | $ | 4,408 | $ | 4,245 | ||||||
Net loans outstanding1 at end of period |
$ | 272,301 | $ | 273,709 | $ | 238,918 | ||||||
Average net loans outstanding1 at end of period |
$ | 267,083 | $ | 268,165 | $ | 234,098 | ||||||
Ratios: |
||||||||||||
Allowance to net loans |
1.74 | % | 1.61 | % | 1.78 | % | ||||||
Net charge-offs to average loans2 |
0.13 | % | 0.02 | % | 0.07 | % | ||||||
Provision to average loans2 |
0.25 | % | 0.10 | % | 0.03 | % | ||||||
Recoveries to total charge-offs |
27.14 | % | 83.53 | % | 50.78 | % | ||||||
1 |
Net of unearned income |
2 |
Annualized. |
The Company prepares a comprehensive analysis of the allowance for loan losses at least quarterly. SEBs Board of Directors is responsible for affirming the allowance methodology and assessing the general and specific allowance factors in relation to estimated and actual net charge-off trends. Such
16
evaluation considers prior loss experience, the risk rating distribution of the portfolio, the impact of current internal and external influences on credit loss, and levels of nonperforming loans. Specific allowances for loan losses are established for large impaired loans evaluated on an individual basis. The specific allowance established for these loans is based on a thorough analysis of the most probable source of repayment, including the present value of the loans expected future cash flows, the loans estimated market value, or the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral. General allowances are established for loans grouped into pools based on similar characteristics. In this process, general allowance factors established are based on an analysis of historical charge-off experience and expected loss given default derived from the Companys internal risk rating process. Other adjustments may be made to the allowance for the pools after an assessment of internal and external influences on credit quality that are reflected in the historical loss or risk rating data. These influences typically include recent loss experience in specific portfolio segments, trends in loan quality, changes in market focus, and concentrations of credit. This element also requires a high degree of managerial judgment to anticipate the impact that economic trends, legislative or governmental actions, or other unique market and/or portfolio issues will have on credit losses. Unallocated allowances relate to inherent losses that are not included elsewhere in the allowance. The qualitative factors associated with unallocated allowances include the inherent imprecisions in models and lagging or incomplete data. Because of their subjective nature, these risk factors are carefully reviewed by management and revised as conditions indicate. Based on its analyses, management believes the allowance was adequate at September 30, 2008.
Other Commitments
Other than replacement of the branch facility in Yulee, Florida, renovation of other SEB offices, and purchase of Check 21 hardware and software, the Company had no material plans or commitments for capital expenditures as of September 30, 2008. Estimated remaining costs associated with new construction, renovations-in-progress, and equipment purchases at September 30, 2008 were $1,200,000.
Liquidity
Liquidity is managed to ensure sufficient cash flow to satisfy demands for credit, deposit withdrawals, and other corporate needs. The Companys sources of funds include a relatively large, stable deposit base and secured advances from the FHLB. Additional liquidity is provided by payments and maturities, including both principal and interest, of the loan and investment securities portfolios. At September 30, 2008, loans1 and investment securities with carrying values exceeding $160,000,000 were scheduled to mature in one year or less. The investment portfolio has also been structured to meet liquidity needs prior to asset maturity when necessary. The Companys liquidity position is further strengthened by its access, on both a short- and long-term basis, to other local and regional funding sources.
Funding sources primarily comprise customer-based core deposits but also include borrowed funds and cash flows from operations. Customer-based core deposits, the Companys largest and most cost-effective source of funding, comprised 83% of the funding base at September 30, 2008, down 200 basis points from year-end 2007 levels. The year-to-date variation in core deposits is largely attributable to an increase in high-dollar time certificate balances held by local government customers. Borrowed funds, which variously encompass U.S. Treasury demand notes, federal funds purchased, and FHLB advances, totaled $12,902,507 at September 30, 2008 versus $12,974,523 at December 31, 2007. More specifically, the maximum amount of U.S. Treasury demand notes available to the Company at September 30, 2008 totaled $2,000,000, of which $1,317,507 was outstanding. Unused borrowings under unsecured federal funds lines of credit from other banks, each with varying terms and expiration dates, totaled $33,415,000. Additionally, under a credit facility with the FHLB, the Company can borrow up to 16% of SEBs total assets; at September 30, 2008, unused borrowings, which are subject to collateral requirements, approximated $55,491,000. Refer to the subsection entitled FHLB Advances for
17
details on the Companys outstanding balance with the FHLB. Cash flows from operations also constitute a significant source of liquidity. Net cash from operations derives primarily from net income adjusted for noncash items such as depreciation and amortization, accretion, and the provision for loan losses.
To ensure uninterrupted access to federal funds lines as needed, the Company plans to participate in the FDIC Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program for Debt (Debt Program) announced in October. This Debt Program guarantees interbank funding through July 1, 2009 for a 75 basis points fee based on certain averages outstanding. Although most of the Companys correspondents have indicated they will not mandate participation in the Debt Program, the Company believes participation is prudent given uncertainties prevalent in the market. The one correspondent currently requiring secured lines or Debt Program participation has not singled out the Company; its requirements apply uniform to all its respondents.
Management believes the Company has the funding capacity, from operating activities or otherwise, to meet its financial commitments in 2008. Refer to the Capital Adequacy section of this Analysis for details on treasury stock purchases and intercompany dividend policy and the Financial Condition section for details on unfunded loan commitments.
1 |
No cash flow assumptions other than final contractual maturities have been made for installment loans. Nonaccrual loans are excluded. |
Deposits
Deposits dropped $22,352,818 or 6.17% since year-end 2007. Interest-bearing deposits fell $14,725,549 or 4.95% while noninterest-bearing deposits declined $7,627,269. The majority of the decline in interest-bearing deposits was centered in NOW balances, particularly local government balances. Governmental NOW balances fell due to seasonal variation and the loss of certain accounts upon contract expiration; retention of these particular accounts was simply not profitable. More specifically, NOW balances fell $26,445,939, and savings, $4,318,625; money market balances and time certificates grew $8,272,574 and $7,766,441. Ironically, most of the growth in money market accounts and large dollar certificates resulted from separate government relationships. Time certificate balances of $100,000 or more comprised $6,594,247 of the nine-month growth in certificates and 47% of certificate totals at September 30, 2008. Lower balance certificate totals grew $1,172,193 or 1.77% since December 31, 2007 as customers moved funds from savings to increase available returns. Funding costs associated with deposits declined 13.09% overall at September 30, 2008 versus September 30, 2007 due to moderate reductions in cost of funds; see the Results of Operations section of this Analysis for more details. No single factor precipitated the decline in noninterest-bearing deposits; these balances tend to be somewhat cyclical. To provide reassurance to customers, the Company has decided to participate in the FDIC Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program for Noninterest-Bearing Deposits (Deposit Program) that will provide full deposit insurance for noninterest-bearing transaction accounts, regardless of dollar amount, until December 31, 2009. The Company will incur a 10 basis points surcharge, currently estimated to cost less than $5,000 per year, on its deposit insurance for accounts not otherwise covered by the existing deposit insurance limit of $250,000. Overall, interest-bearing deposits comprised 83.28%, and noninterest-bearing deposits, 16.72%, of total deposits at September 30, 2008. The distribution of interest-bearing balances at September 30, 2008 and certain comparable quarter-end dates is shown in the table on the next page.
18
September 30, 2008 | December 31, 2007 | September 30, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||
Deposits |
Balances | Percent of Total |
Balances | Percent of Total |
Balances | Percent of Total |
||||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest-bearing demand deposits1 |
$ | 97,981 | 34.63 | % | $ | 116,154 | 39.03 | % | $ | 94,454 | 34.49 | % | ||||||
Savings |
58,453 | 20.66 | % | 62,772 | 21.09 | % | 67,574 | 24.68 | % | |||||||||
Time certificates < $100,000 |
67,320 | 23.80 | % | 66,148 | 22.23 | % | 63,551 | 23.21 | % | |||||||||
Time certificates >= $100,000 |
59,140 | 20.91 | % | 52,546 | 17.65 | % | 48,264 | 17.62 | % | |||||||||
Total interest-bearing deposits |
$ | 282,894 | 100.00 | % | $ | 297,620 | 100.00 | % | $ | 273,843 | 100.00 | % | ||||||
1 |
NOW and money market accounts. |
Deposits of one local governmental body comprised approximately $21,656,000 and $39,525,000 of the overall deposit base at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007. The Company had no brokered deposits at September 30, 2008.
Approximately 82% of time certificates at September 30, 2008 were scheduled to mature within the next twelve months. The composition of average deposits and the fluctuations therein at September 30 for the last two years is shown in the Average Balances table included in the Operations section of this Analysis.
FHLB Advances
Advances outstanding with the FHLB totaled $10,000,000 at September 30, 2008, up 50% from year-end 2007. One $5,000,000 advance, which was also outstanding December 31, 2007, matures March 17, 2010 and accrues interest at an effective rate of 6.00%, payable quarterly. This advance is convertible into a three-month Libor-based floating rate anytime at the option of the FHLB. Year-to-date, interest expense on this advance approximated $225,000. On September 17, 2008, the Company obtained an additional short-term advance for $5,000,000 at an effective rate of 2.73% to provide temporary liquidity. On October 16, this short-term advance was refinanced for an additional 32 days at 2.76%, and a third $5,000,000 floating rate advance with no set maturity (FHLB daily rate credit program) was obtained. Approximately $32,977,000 in qualifying residential and commercial real estate loans was pledged to collateralize current and future advances under this line of credit at September 30.
Interest Rate and Market Risk/Interest Rate Sensitivity
The normal course of business activity exposes the Company to interest rate risk. Fluctuations in interest rates may result in changes in the fair market value of the Companys financial instruments, cash flows, and net interest income. The asset/liability committee regularly reviews the Companys exposure to interest rate risk and formulates strategy based on acceptable levels of interest rate risk. The overall objective of this process is to optimize the Companys financial position, liquidity, and net interest income, while limiting volatility to net interest income from changes in interest rates. The Company uses gap analysis and simulation modeling to measure and manage interest rate sensitivity.
An indicator of interest rate sensitivity is the difference between interest rate sensitive assets and interest rate sensitive liabilities; this difference is known as the interest rate sensitivity gap. In an asset sensitive, or positive, gap position, the amount of interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within a given period exceeds the amount of interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within that same period. Conversely, in a liability sensitive, or negative, gap position, the amount of interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within a given period exceeds the amount of interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within that time period. During a period of rising rates, a negative gap would tend to affect net interest income adversely, while a positive gap would theoretically result in increased net interest income. In a falling rate environment, a negative gap would tend to result in increased net interest income, while a positive gap would affect net interest income adversely. The gap analysis on the next page provides a snapshot of the Companys interest rate sensitivity position at September 30, 2008.
19
Repricing Within | |||||||||||||||||||
Interest Rate Sensitivity September 30, 2008 |
0 - 3 Months |
4 - 12 Months |
One - Five Years |
More Than Five Years |
Total | ||||||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||
Interest Rate Sensitive Assets | |||||||||||||||||||
Securities1 |
$ | 5,352 | $ | 5,644 | $ | 44,897 | $ | 49,537 | $ | 105,430 | |||||||||
Loans, gross2 |
165,097 | 25,197 | 70,765 | 7,448 | 268,507 | ||||||||||||||
Other assets |
1,243 | | | | 1,243 | ||||||||||||||
Total interest rate sensitive assets |
171,692 | 30,841 | 115,662 | 56,985 | 375,180 | ||||||||||||||
Interest Rate Sensitive Liabilities |
|||||||||||||||||||
Deposits3 |
182,434 | 77,793 | 22,667 | | 282,894 | ||||||||||||||
Federal funds purchased |
1,585 | | | | 1,585 | ||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury demand note |
1,318 | | | | 1,318 | ||||||||||||||
Federal Home Loan Bank advances |
5,000 | | 5,000 | | 10,000 | ||||||||||||||
Total interest rate sensitive liabilities |
190,337 | 77,793 | 27,667 | | 295,797 | ||||||||||||||
Interest rate sensitivity gap |
$ | (18,645 | ) | $ | (46,952 | ) | $ | 87,995 | $ | 56,985 | $ | 79,383 | |||||||
Cumulative gap |
$ | (18,645 | ) | $ | (65,597 | ) | $ | 22,398 | $ | 79,383 | |||||||||
Ratio of cumulative gap to total rate sensitive assets |
(4.97 | )% | (17.48 | )% | 5.97 | % | 21.16 | % | |||||||||||
Ratio of cumulative rate sensitive assets to rate sensitive liabilities |
90.20 | % | 75.54 | % | 107.57 | % | 126.84 | % | |||||||||||
Cumulative gap at December 31, 2007 |
$ | (10,016 | ) | $ | (41,623 | ) | $ | 47,258 | $ | 79,738 | |||||||||
Cumulative gap at September 30, 2007 |
$ | (17,985 | ) | $ | (39,198 | ) | $ | 56,378 | $ | 90,034 | |||||||||
1 |
Distribution of maturities for available-for sale-securities is based on amortized cost. Additionally, distribution of maturities for mortgage-backed securities is based on expected average lives, which may be different from the contractual terms. Equity securities, if any, are excluded. |
2 |
No cash flow assumptions other than final contractual maturities have been made for installment loans with fixed rates. Nonaccrual loans are excluded. |
3 |
NOW, money market, and savings account balances are included in the 0-3 months repricing category. |
As shown in the preceding table, the Companys cumulative gap position remained negative through the short-term repricing intervals at September 30, 2008, approximating $(18,645,000) at three months and $(65,597,000) through one-year. Excluding traditionally nonvolatile NOW balances from the gap calculation, the cumulative gap at September 30, 2008 totaled $55,702,000 at three months and $8,750,000 at twelve months, effectively reflecting the Companys asset sensitive position. Compared to year-end 2007, the cumulative three-month gap position widened 86.15%, and the one-year gap, 57.60%, at September 30, 2008. The widening of the short-term gap position at September 30, 2008 was chiefly attributable to reductions in securities with original maturities of 90 days or less. Other than seasonal variations, mainly in deposit balances, no significant changes are anticipated in the gap position during the remainder of 2008; however, as further discussed below, the aggressive rate cuts promulgated by the Federal Reserve have negatively affected net interest income in 2008. Shortcomings are inherent in any gap analysis since certain assets and liabilities may not move proportionally as rates change. For example, the gap analysis presumes that all loans2 and securities1 will perform according to their contractual maturities when, in many cases, actual loan terms are much shorter than the original terms and securities are subject to early redemption.
In addition to gap analysis, the Company uses simulation modeling to test the interest rate sensitivity of net interest income and the balance sheet. Contractual maturity and repricing characteristics of loans are
20
incorporated into the model, as are prepayment assumptions, maturity data, and call options within the investment portfolio. Non-maturity deposit accounts are modeled based on past experience. Simulation results quantify interest rate risks under various interest rate scenarios. Based on the Companys latest analysis, the simulation model estimates that a gradual 300 basis points rise in rates over the next twelve months would increase net interest income approximately 7%; a gradual 300 basis points drop in rates would reduce net interest income approximately 8.00%. An immediate downward shock of 200 basis points would adversely impact net interest income approximately 14% over the next year; a similar upward shock would increase net interest income approximately 10%. Limitations inherent with simulation modeling include: a) In a down rate environment, competitive and other factors constrain timing of rate cuts on deposit products whereas loans tied to prime and other variable indexes reprice instantaneously and securities with call or other prepayment features are likely to be redeemed prior to stated maturity and replaced at lower rates (lag effect); and b) changes in balance sheet mix, for example, unscheduled pay-offs of large commercial loans, are oftentimes difficult to forecast.
The Company has not in the past, but may in the future, utilize interest rate swaps, financial options, financial futures contracts, or other rate protection instruments to reduce interest rate and market risks.
Impact of Inflation
The effects of inflation on the local economy and the Companys operating results have been relatively modest the last several years. Because substantially all the Companys assets and liabilities, including cash, securities, loans, and deposits, are monetary in nature, their values are less sensitive to the effects of inflation than to changing interest rates. As discussed in the preceding section, the Company attempts to control the impact of interest rate fluctuations by managing the relationship between its interest sensitive assets and liabilities.
Capital Adequacy
Federal banking regulators have established certain capital adequacy standards required to be maintained by banks and bank holding companies. These regulations define capital as either Tier 1 (primarily shareholders equity) or Tier 2 (certain debt instruments and a portion of the allowance for loan losses). The Company and SEB are subject to a minimum Tier 1 capital ratio (Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets) of 4%, total capital ratio (Tier 1 plus Tier 2 to risk-weighted assets) of 8%, and Tier 1 leverage ratio (Tier 1 to average quarterly assets) of 4%. To be considered a well-capitalized institution, the Tier 1 capital, total capital, and Tier 1 leverage ratios must equal or exceed 6%, 10%, and 5%, respectively. At September 30, 2008, the Companys ratios totaled 17.98%, 19.23%, and 13.63%. Banks and bank holding companies are prohibited from including unrealized gains and losses on debt securities in the calculation of risk-based capital but are permitted to include up to 45 percent of net unrealized pre-tax holding gains on equity securities in Tier 2 capital. The Company did not have any unrealized gains on equity securities includible in the risk-based capital calculations for any of the periods presented.
In October 2008, the Treasury announced a Capital Program to provide capital and restore confidence in banks and their holding companies. Under the Capital Program, the Treasury will inject capital directly into approved bank holding companies by buying senior preferred shares totaling between 1% 3% of risk-weighted assets. Dividends on the preferred shares will accrue 5% annually the first five years and 9% thereafter until redeemed. In exchange for the capital injection, the Treasury will receive warrants equal to 15% of its investment. Although the Company is confident that it would qualify for the Capital Program due to its strong financial condition, the Company has decided not to apply simply because its capital levels are already strong and able to withstand substantial declines before reaching minimum or even capital adequate levels by regulatory standards. Additionally, the Company remains able to take advantage of market opportunities presented by the current crisis without the Treasury injection. However, as discussed on the next page, the Company has cut its dividends and suspended its stock buyback program in order to preserve capital during the current economic cycle. The Company is committed to maintaining its well-capitalized status.
21
The Companys capital ratios for the most recent periods are presented in the table below:
Capital Ratios |
September 30, 2008 |
December 31, 2007 |
September 30, 2007 |
|||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||
Tier 1 capital: |
||||||||||||
Realized shareholders equity |
$ | 58,716 | $ | 56,721 | $ | 56,022 | ||||||
Intangible assets and other adjustments |
(405 | ) | (448 | ) | (463 | ) | ||||||
Total Tier 1 capital |
58,311 | 56,273 | 55,559 | |||||||||
Tier 2 capital: |
||||||||||||
Portion of allowance for loan losses |
4,062 | 3,930 | 3,852 | |||||||||
Allowable long-term debt |
| | | |||||||||
Total Tier 2 capital |
4,062 | 3,930 | 3,852 | |||||||||
Total risk-based capital |
$ | 62,373 | $ | 60,203 | $ | 59,411 | ||||||
Risk-weighted assets |
$ | 324,276 | $ | 313,827 | $ | 307,605 | ||||||
Risk-based ratios: |
||||||||||||
Tier 1 capital |
17.98 | % | 17.93 | % | 18.06 | % | ||||||
Total risk-based capital |
19.23 | % | 19.18 | % | 19.31 | % | ||||||
Tier 1 leverage ratio |
13.63 | % | 13.60 | % | 13.81 | % | ||||||
Realized shareholders equity to assets |
14.13 | % | 13.00 | % | 13.93 | % | ||||||
Book value per share grew a modest $0.64 or 3.59% during the first nine months of 2008 to $18.49 at September 30, 2008. Dividends declared totaled $0.50, up 16.00% or $0.08 from 2007. The increase in the declared dividend at September 30, 2008 versus 2007 resulted primarily from a change in dividend structure: Traditionally, the Company has declared regular quarterly dividends, and in the fourth quarter, an extra dividend for payment the following January; in 2007, the Company did not declare an extra dividend, intending for future dividends to be paid in equal installments over four quarters, eventually in the same quarter as declared. In 2006, the regular quarterly dividends totaled $0.135 per share, and the extra dividend, $0.48. In 2007, although the dividend declared was $0.67 for the year or $0.14 per quarter, the paid dividend totaled $1.035. In February 2008 and also in August, the Company declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.25. Management believes the new payment schedule better aligns the Company with market practices.
Notwithstanding the new payment schedule, on November 12, 2008, the Board approved a 50% reduction in the quarterly dividend from $0.25 per share to $0.125 per share. The reduction reflects managements proactive management of capital through a period of economic uncertainty in the financial industry. The dividend reduction strengthens the Companys overall balance sheet by retaining not only capital but also cash. Not surprisingly, regulators are encouraging financial companies to set dividend payouts with the current economic crisis in mind. The announced dividend will be payable December 10 to shareholders of record on November 26. For more specifics on the Companys dividend policy, refer to the subsection immediately following.
Under existing authorization, the Company can purchase up to $15,000,000 in treasury stock. From 2000 - 2007, the Company repurchased 402,466 shares on the open market and through private transactions at an average price of $20.64 per share. Year-to-date, the Company purchased an additional 2,000 shares at an aggregate purchase price of $42,126 or $21.06 per share. The maximum consideration available for
22
additional purchases, at prices to be determined in the future, is $6,649,969. Although the current authorization will remain in effect, the Company has suspended additional treasury purchases until the economy stabilizes. There is no expiration date for the treasury authorization.
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, which measures net fluctuations in the fair values of investment securities, declined $2,259,664 at September 30, 2008 compared to year-end 2007 due mainly to market losses on corporate holdings. Further details on corporate and other investment securities and their associated fair values are contained in the Financial Condition section of this Analysis.
Refer to the Financial Condition and Liquidity sections of this Analysis for details on planned capital expenditures.
Dividend Policy
The Parent Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from its bank subsidiary, and its revenues and liquidity position depend primarily on the payment of dividends from SEB. In turn, the Company uses regular dividends paid by SEB in order to pay dividends to its own shareholders. Unless an exception is granted, state banking regulations limit the amount of dividends SEB may pay to 50% of prior year earnings. Through September 30, SEB had paid 75%, or $2,373,018, of the $3,164,000 in cash dividends available to the Company in 2008 without regulatory approval. Due to declines in SEBs net income, the Company expects that dividends from SEB will drop approximately 37% in 2009.
Results of Operations
Net income for the third quarter of 2008 totaled $1,141,503, down $521,266 or 31.35% from September 30, 2007 and 10.41% from June 30, 2008. On a per share basis, quarterly earnings totaled $0.36 at September 30, 2008 versus $0.52 at September 30, 2007 and $0.40 at June 30, 2008. Year-to-date, net income fell $1,362,238 to $3,624,647 at September 30, 2008 from $4,986,885 in 2007. Per share income for the nine-month period approximated $1.14 at September 30, 2008 versus $1.55 at September 30, 2007. The return on beginning equity for the nine-month period totaled 8.52% at September 30, 2008, down from 12.60% at September 30, 2007. A reduction in net interest margin was the overriding factor in the 2008 results. Variations in net interest income and noninterest income/expense are further discussed within the next two subsections of this Analysis; the provision for loan losses is separately discussed within the Financial Condition section.
Net Interest Income
Due to asset sensitivity and margin compression, net interest income declined $643,022 or 13.23% during the third quarter of 2008 compared to 2007. Year-to-date, net interest income fell $1,900,363 or 12.92% from 2007. Simply put, asset sensitivity means earnings on loans and other assets generally decline quicker than expenses on deposits and other liabilities when rates drop. Rate movements promulgated by the Federal Reserve in 2008 to-date have been particularly rapid and aggressive: Prime dropped from 7.25% at December 31, 2007 to the current rate of 4.00% by October 30, 2008. Loans tied to prime and other variable indexes reprice instantaneously in a down rate environment, and securities with call or other prepayment features are normally redeemed prior to stated maturity and replaced at lower rates. Management has cut deposit rates multiple times in 2008 although competitive and other factors preclude simultaneous and proportionate declines in these rates. Reducing cost of funds in the current economic cycle has been particularly difficult since liquidity constraints have compelled regional and other banks to rely more heavily on deposits, particularly time certificates, for funding; this reliance has kept deposit costs higher and lowered margins and spreads for competitor banks attempting to maintain market share. Following the nine-month trend, net interest income for the entire fiscal 2008 is projected to lag 2007 results by approximately 14%. To recap, the net interest margin approximated
23
4.51% at September 30, 2008 versus 5.39% a year ago; the interest rate spread, 3.91% versus 4.42%. Interest earnings on loans and other earning assets fell $3,657,053 and $13,749, while earnings on investments and federal funds sold increased $743,722 and $41,182 from same period results in 2007. Significant declines in asset yields precipitated the 2008 results. Asset yields averaged 6.65% year-to-date at September 30, 2008 versus 7.96% in 2007; see the interest differential table on page 23 for more details on changes in interest income attributable to volume and rates at September 30, 2008 versus 2007. Interest expense on deposits and other borrowed funds declined $625,857 or 24.72% during the third quarter of 2008 versus 2007 and $985,535 year-to-date. Cost of funds dropped 80 basis points from 2007 levels, totaling 2.74% at September 30, 2008 versus 3.54% at September 30, 2007. The reduced funding costs resulted primarily from lower rates on NOW/MMA and savings deposits at September 30, 2008 compared to 2007. As previously discussed, higher average balances, competitive pressure, and the aforementioned lag effect have constrained desired rate reductions in time certificates. Refer to the Liquidity and Interest Sensitivity sections of this Analysis for more details on deposit fluctuations and the Companys asset sensitivity.
The intense competition for loans and particularly deposits continues in 2008 and shows no sign of abating. The high number of financial institutions in the Companys market areas essentially guarantees downward pressure on net interest spreads and margins as all participants struggle to amass, grow, and maintain market share. Volume of assets and deposits become even more important as margins decline. Strategies implemented by management to increase average loans outstanding emphasize competitive pricing on loan products and development of additional loan relationships, all without compromising portfolio quality. Managements strategy for deposits is to closely manage anticipated market increases and maintain a competitive position with respect to pricing and products. Comparative details about average balances, income/expense, and average yields earned and rates paid on interest-earning assets and liabilities for the last two years are provided in the table on the next page.
24
Selected Average Balances, Income/Expense, and Average Yields Earned and Rates Paid
Average Balances6 Nine Months Ended September 30, |
2008 | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||
Average Balances |
Income/ Expense |
Yields/ Rates |
Average Balances |
Income/ Expense |
Yields/ Rates |
|||||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest-earning assets: |
||||||||||||||||||
Loans, net1,2,4 |
$ | 267,083 | $ | 14,583 | 7.29 | % | $ | 268,165 | $ | 18,265 | 9.11 | % | ||||||
Federal funds sold |
4,687 | 90 | 2.56 | % | 1,262 | 49 | 5.19 | % | ||||||||||
Taxable investment securities3 |
93,242 | 3,514 | 5.03 | % | 78,481 | 2,720 | 4.63 | % | ||||||||||
Tax-exempt investment securities3,4 |
27,210 | 1,350 | 6.63 | % | 29,562 | 1,445 | 6.54 | % | ||||||||||
Other assets |
1,053 | 38 | 4.82 | % | 1,096 | 51 | 6.22 | % | ||||||||||
Total interest-earning assets |
$ | 393,275 | $ | 19,575 | 6.65 | % | $ | 378,566 | $ | 22,530 | 7.96 | % | ||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest-bearing liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||||
Interest-bearing demand deposits5 |
$ | 109,830 | $ | 1,237 | 1.50 | % | $ | 92,211 | $ | 1,920 | 2.78 | % | ||||||
Savings |
61,669 | 453 | 0.98 | % | 69,469 | 1,128 | 2.17 | % | ||||||||||
Time certificates |
125,777 | 4,267 | 4.53 | % | 102,890 | 3,807 | 4.95 | % | ||||||||||
Federal funds purchased |
3,834 | 90 | 3.14 | % | 3,931 | 160 | 5.44 | % | ||||||||||
U.S. Treasury demand note |
623 | 10 | 2.14 | % | 835 | 32 | 5.12 | % | ||||||||||
Federal Home Loan Bank advances |
5,255 | 231 | 5.87 | % | 5,000 | 224 | 6.00 | % | ||||||||||
Total interest-bearing liabilities |
$ | 306,988 | $ | 6,288 | 2.74 | % | $ | 274,336 | $ | 7,271 | 3.54 | % | ||||||
Excess of interest-earning assets over interest-bearing liabilities |
$ | 86,287 | $ | 104,230 | ||||||||||||||
Interest rate spread |
3.91 | % | 4.42 | % | ||||||||||||||
Net interest income |
$ | 13,287 | $ | 15,259 | ||||||||||||||
Net interest margin |
4.51 | % | 5.39 | % | ||||||||||||||
1 |
Average loans are shown net of unearned income. Nonperforming loans are included. Income on nonaccrual loans, if recognized, is recorded on a cash basis. |
2 |
Includes loan fees and late charges. |
3 |
Securities are presented on an amortized cost basis. Investment securities with original maturities of three months or less are included, as applicable. |
4 |
Interest income on tax-exempt loans and securities is presented on a taxable-equivalent basis, using a federal income tax rate of 34%. No adjustments have been made for any state tax benefits or the nondeductible portion of interest expense. |
5 |
NOW and money market accounts. |
6 |
Averages presented generally represent average daily balances. |
Analysis of Changes in Net Interest Income
The average balance table above provides detailed information about average balances, income/expense, and average yields earned and rates paid on interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. The table on the next page summarizes the changes in interest income and interest expense attributable to volume and rates during this period.
25
Interest Differential1 Nine Months Ended September 30, |
2008 Compared to 2007 Increase (Decrease) Due to |
|||||||||||
Volume | Rate | Net | ||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||
Interest income | ||||||||||||
Loans2,3 |
$ | (73 | ) | $ | (3,609 | ) | $ | (3,682 | ) | |||
Federal funds sold |
76 | (35 | ) | 41 | ||||||||
Taxable investment securities |
542 | 252 | 794 | |||||||||
Tax-exempt investment securities3 |
(116 | ) | 21 | (95 | ) | |||||||
Other interest-earning assets |
(2 | ) | (11 | ) | (13 | ) | ||||||
Total interest income |
427 | (3,382 | ) | (2,955 | ) | |||||||
Interest expense | ||||||||||||
Interest-bearing demand deposits4 |
317 | (1,000 | ) | (683 | ) | |||||||
Savings |
(115 | ) | (560 | ) | (675 | ) | ||||||
Time certificates |
796 | (336 | ) | 460 | ||||||||
Federal funds purchased5 |
(4 | ) | (66 | ) | (70 | ) | ||||||
U.S. Treasury demand note |
(7 | ) | (15 | ) | (22 | ) | ||||||
Federal Home Loan Bank advances |
11 | (4 | ) | 7 | ||||||||
Total interest expense |
998 | (1,981 | ) | (983 | ) | |||||||
Net change in net interest income |
$ | (571 | ) | $ | (1,401 | ) | $ | (1,972 | ) | |||
1 |
Changes in net interest income are attributed to either changes in average balances (volume change) or changes in average rates (rate change) for earning assets and sources of funds on which interest is received or paid. Volume change is calculated as change in volume times the previous rate while rate change is change in rate times the previous volume. The rate/volume change, change in rate times change in volume, is allocated between volume change and rate change at the ratio each component bears to the absolute value of their total. |
2 |
Includes loan fees. See the average balances table on the previous page for more details. |
3 |
Interest income on tax-exempt loans and securities is presented on a taxable-equivalent basis, using a federal income tax rate of 34%. No adjustments have been made for any state tax benefits or the nondeductible portion of interest expense. |
4 |
Now and money market accounts. |
5 |
The entire change in net interest income attributable to the Companys initial borrowings under these credit facilities has been allocated to the change in volume. Similarly, when these facilities are unutilized in subsequent years, the change in net interest income is allocated to the change in volume. |
Noninterest Income and Expense
Noninterest income increased $249,336 or 26.97% during the third quarter of 2008 compared to 2007 and $280,201 year-to-date. Key elements in the quarterly and year-to-date results included:
a) | Investment securities gains, net: As further discussed in the Financial Condition section of this Analysis, the Company recognized a net gain of $19,125 on the sale of mortgage-backed and Agency securities totaling $6,173,214 in the third quarter of 2008. No securities were sold during the first half of 2008. In 2007, the Company recognized a $36,843 loss on the sale of securities in the third quarter and a $97,785 gain for the nine months. |
b) | Service charges on deposit accounts: Service charges on deposit accounts grew $120,360 on a quarterly basis and $204,024 or 10.30% year-to-date. Approximately 50% of the 2008 improvement was attributable to increased analysis charges on commercial accounts; the remaining improvement resulted from higher volume of NSF and regular checking fees. |
c) | Other operating income: The other operating portion of noninterest income grew $73,008 during the third quarter of 2008 versus 2007 and $154,837 year-to-date. The recognition of $58,257 quarterly income and $175,132 year-to-date income on bank-owned life insurance was the predominant factor in the comparative results. Specifically, the Company purchased $5,000,000 in bank-owned life insurance in November 2007; this single premium insurance currently yields 7.00% on a federal taxable-equivalent basis. By type and amount, the chief |
26
components of other operating income at September 30, 2008 were surcharge fees ATM, $299,297; mortgage origination fees, $226,268; income on bank-owned life insurance, $175,132; income on sale of check products, $82,776; safe deposit box rentals, $67,649; and commissions on the sale of credit life insurance, $72,536. Together, these six income items comprised 82.69% of other operating income at September 30, 2008. In 2007, these same income components comprised 80.57% of other operating income. The Company has been expanding and revamping its mortgage origination department and is optimistic that these initiatives will increase fee production and cross-sell opportunities long-term. |
Noninterest expense increased $264,556 during the third quarter of 2008 compared to 2007 and $335,761 or 3.30% year-to-date. The main factors impacting quarterly and year-to-date results comprised:
a) | Salaries and employee benefits: Personnel costs declined a nominal 0.66% or $40,833 year-to-date. Declines in incentive accruals accounted for virtually all of the variation as base salary expense actually increased year-over-year and fringe benefit costs remained flat. The vast majority, or 84%, of employee expenses remained concentrated in salaries and other direct compensation, including related payroll taxes, at September 30, 2008. Profit-sharing accruals and other fringe benefits constituted the remaining 5% and 11% of employee expenses. The division of employee expenses between compensation, profit sharing, and other fringe benefits remained consistent with historical norms in 2008. |
b) | Occupancy and equipment, net: When compared to the same periods in 2007, net occupancy and equipment expense increased $118,123 on a quarterly basis and $191,233 year-to-date. Renovation expenses at three branch facilities and operating costs & depreciation associated with technology programs and the Companys permanent facility at 15 Trade Street in Brunswick were primary factors in the increase. |
c) | Other operating expense: Other operating expenses increased $185,361 or 9.47% year-to-date; net losses versus gains on sales of foreclosed real estate and other assets, increased ATM processing costs, and increased clearing charges with correspondent banks, particularly the Federal Reserve, were chief variables. Recent implementation of Check 21 (electronic submission of checks) should reduce clearing expenses during the fourth quarter of 2008 and beyond. Besides advertising expense, which approximated $225,000 in 2008 and $235,000 in 2007, no individual component of other operating expenses aggregated or exceeded 10% of the total in 2008 or 2007. |
Overhead related to the Companys new Trade Street facility, as noted above, expansion/revamping of the mortgage origination department, and renovation of SEBs older facilities are expected to increase noninterest expense approximately $325,000 in 2008 compared to 2007.
Critical Accounting Policies
The Companys consolidated financial statements are prepared applying certain critical accounting policies. Critical accounting policies affect accounts such as the allowance for loan losses, income taxes, investment securities, and goodwill and other intangibles and require numerous estimates and strategic or economic assumptions that may prove inaccurate or subject to variations and may significantly affect the Companys reported results and financial position for the period or in future periods. Changes in underlying factors, assumptions, or estimates in any of these areas could have a material impact on the Companys future financial condition and results of operations. The Companys critical accounting policies are further discussed in the 2007 Form 10-K. There have been no material changes in the Companys critical accounting policies since December 31, 2007.
27
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent accounting pronouncements affecting the Company are discussed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
Various other accounting proposals affecting the banking industry are pending with the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other regulatory authorities. Given the inherent uncertainty of the proposal process, the Company cannot assess the impact of any such proposals on its financial condition or results of operations.
Forward-Looking Statements
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the Act) provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. The Company and its representatives have made, and may continue to make, various written or oral forward-looking statements with respect to business and financial matters, including statements contained in this report, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and press releases. Generally, the words believe, expect, intend, estimate, anticipate, project, will, should, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. All statements which address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, including statements related to loan growth, deposit growth, per share growth, and statements expressing general sentiment about future operating results and non-historical information, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. The forward-looking statements are and will be based on managements then current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates contained in or underlying forward-looking statements include:
| Competitive pressures between depository and other financial institutions may increase significantly. |
| Changes in the interest rate environment may reduce margins and impact funding sources. |
| General economic or business conditions in the geographic regions and industry in which the Company operates may lead to a deterioration in credit quality or a reduced demand for credit. |
| Legislative or regulatory changes, including changes in accounting standards, monetary policies, and taxation requirements, may adversely affect the Companys business. |
Other factors include:
| Changes in consumer spending and saving habits as well as real estate markets. |
| Management of costs associated with expansion of existing and development of new distribution channels, and ability to realize increased revenues from these distribution channels. |
| The outcome of litigation which depends on judicial interpretations of law and findings of juries. |
28
| The effect of mergers, acquisitions, and/or dispositions and their integration into the Company. |
| Other risks and uncertainties as detailed from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Many of the factors that will determine actual financial performance and values are beyond the Companys ability to predict or control. This Analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes.
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk. |
The discussion on market risk is included in the Interest Rate and Market Risk/Interest Rate Sensitivity section of Part I, Item 2.
Item 4T. | Controls and Procedures. |
An evaluation of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Act) as of September 30, 2008, was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Companys Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (Treasurer), and other members of management. The CEO and Treasurer concluded that, as of September 30, 2008, the Companys disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Act is: (i) accumulated and communicated to the Companys management, including the CEO and the Treasurer, in a timely manner, and (ii) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and forms. There were no changes in the Companys internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Act) that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2008 that has materially affected, or is likely to materially affect, such internal controls.
The Company does not expect that its disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all error and fraud. A control procedure, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control procedure are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control procedures, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any control procedure is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control procedure, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
The Company intends to continually review and evaluate the design and effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures, to improve its controls and procedures over time, and to correct any deficiencies it may discover in the future. The goal is to ensure that management has timely access to all material financial and non-financial information concerning the Companys business. While the Company believes the present design of its disclosure controls and procedures is effective to achieve its goal, future events affecting its business may cause the Company to modify its disclosure controls and procedures.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that the Company evaluate and annually report on its system of internal control over financial reporting. For several years, the Company has used the
29
widely accepted Committee of Sponsoring Organization of the Treadway Commission (COSO) framework for its evaluation of such internal controls. Going forward, the Companys independent accountants must report on managements evaluation. The Company is in the process of evaluating, documenting, and testing its system of internal control over financial reporting to provide the basis for its independent accountants attestation report that is anticipated to be a required part of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009. Due to the ongoing evaluation and testing of internal controls, there can be no assurance that any control deficiencies identified will be remediated before the end of the 2009 fiscal year, or that there may not be significant deficiencies or material weaknesses that would be required to be reported. In addition, the Company expects the evaluation process and any required remediation, if applicable, to increase accounting, legal, and other costs and divert management resources from core business operations.
30
Item 1. | Legal Proceedings. |
Not Applicable
Item 1A. | Risk Factors. |
There were no material changes to the Companys risk factors during the first nine months of 2008.
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds. |
Not Applicable
Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities. |
Not Applicable
Item 4. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
Not Applicable
Item 5. | Other Information. |
Not Applicable
Item 6. | Exhibits. |
(a) | Index to Exhibits: |
Exhibit 3 |
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, incorporated by reference from the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1990 | |
Exhibit 10 |
2006 Stock Option Plan | |
Exhibit 31.1 |
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of CEO | |
Exhibit 31.2 |
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Treasurer | |
Exhibit 32 |
Section 1350 Certification of CEO/Treasurer |
31
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
SOUTHEASTERN BANKING CORPORATION | ||
(Registrant) | ||
By: | /s/ ALYSON G. BEASLEY | |
Alyson G. Beasley, Vice President & Treasurer | ||
(Chief Accounting Officer) |
Date: November 14, 2008
32