Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. (CFFN) FY 2023 MD&A

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis is intended to assist in understanding the financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and capital resources of the Company. The Bank comprises almost all of the consolidated assets and liabilities of the Company and the Company is dependent primarily upon the performance of the Bank for the results of its operations. Because of this relationship, references to management actions, strategies and results of actions apply to both the Bank and the Company except where the context indicates otherwise.

Strategic Securities Transaction

In October 2023, the Company initiated a strategic securities transaction ("securities strategy") by selling $1.30 billion of securities, representing 94% of its securities portfolio. Since the Company did not have the intent to hold the $1.30 billion of securities to maturity at September 30, 2023, the Company recognized an impairment loss on those securities, $192.6 million of which is reflected in our financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 and $13.3 million of which will be recorded in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024. The securities strategy is designed to allow the Company to improve its earnings stream, beginning in fiscal year 2024, and to provide liquidity to deleverage the balance sheet, which should enable the Company to reduce the size of its balance sheet to under $10 billion in total assets by December 31, 2023, while keeping the Bank and Company well capitalized and with tangible common equity for the Company of more than 10.0%. The securities strategy, on a static basis, is expected to increase our earnings per share by approximately $0.30 and our net interest margin by approximately 60 basis points in fiscal year 2024 subsequent to the sales of securities through securities reinvestment and debt repayment. The $13.3 million loss discussed above, which was attributable to the change in valuation after September 30, 2023, is expected to reduce our earnings for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024 and for fiscal year 2024 by $0.08 per share.

The proceeds from the sale of the securities in October 2023 were used to purchase $632.0 million of securities, yielding 5.75%, and pay down $500.0 million of borrowings with a cost of 4.70%. The Company plans to hold the remaining cash at the FRB earning the interest on reserve balances rate, until such time it can be used to fund commercial loan commitments or other Bank operations. The Company expects these actions will help reduce total assets to approximately $9.70 billion by December 31, 2023. The weighted average yield on the securities sold was 1.22% and the average duration was 3.6 years. The Company expects the earn-back period to be 3.9 years, aligning closely with the average duration of the securities sold. Following the execution of the securities strategy, the Company maintains exceptional asset quality along with strong liquidity measures, including an unused $2.11 billion line of credit with the FHLB, enabling the Company to meet current and expected future commitments.

The Company's balance sheet is primarily composed of one- to four-family loans, most of which were refinanced in fiscal years 2020, 2021 and 2022 at then-current market interest rates. Securities were purchased during the same time period, also at low market interest rates, as a result of significant cash inflows from pandemic-related governmental stimulus support. Beginning in March 2022, the Federal Reserve started to raise interest rates at a record pace which resulted in the Bank increasing rates on deposit products to retain funds. Some of the Bank's borrowings also repriced to higher market interest rates during the same time period. Due to the composition of our loan and securities portfolios, our assets were not able to reprice as quickly as our liabilities, resulting in net interest margin compression. The securities strategy addresses the Company's recent decline in earnings associated with net interest margin compression driven by these factors by recognizing a net loss in fiscal year 2023. Because the securities sold in the securities strategy were held on our balance sheet as AFS, the net loss in fiscal year 2023 had minimal impact to the Company's tangible book value per share ("TBVPS"), as most of this loss was already included in the calculation of our TBVPS.

Executive Summary

The following summary should be read in conjunction with the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section in its entirety.

The Company recognized net loss of $101.7 million, or $(0.76) per share, for fiscal year 2023 compared to net income of $84.5 million, or $0.62 per share, for fiscal year 2022. The net loss for the current year resulted from the securities strategy, specifically, the $192.6 million impairment loss on the securities that management did not have the intent to hold at September 30, 2023. The securities were sold in October 2023. Excluding the effects of the securities strategy, earnings per share would have been $0.33 for the current year. The decrease in earnings per share, excluding the effects of the securities

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strategy, from the prior year was due primarily to lower net interest income, along with recording a provision for credit losses of $6.8 million for the current year compared to a release of provision of $4.6 million for the prior year. The net interest margin decreased 36 basis points, from 1.79% for the prior year to 1.43% for the current year. Excluding the effects of the leverage strategy described below, the net interest margin decreased 49 basis points, from 2.04% for the prior year to 1.55% for the current year. The decrease in the net interest margin excluding the effects of the leverage strategy was due mainly to an increase in the cost of borrowings and deposits, which exceeded the increase in loan yields.

At times, the Bank has utilized a leverage strategy to increase earnings which entails entering into short-term FHLB advances and depositing the proceeds from the borrowings, net of the required FHLB stock holdings, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City ("FRB of Kansas City"). The borrowings are repaid prior to each quarter end. The average balance of leverage strategy borrowings was $924.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2023. At times during the current year, the leverage strategy was not profitable and therefore was not utilized, resulting in a decrease in the average outstanding balance of leverage strategy borrowings compared to the prior year. Net income attributable to the leverage strategy was $997 thousand and $3.1 million for the years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. When the leverage strategy is in place, it reduces the net interest margin due to the amount of earnings from the transaction in comparison to the size of the transaction. Management continues to monitor the net interest rate spread and overall profitability of the leverage strategy.

Total assets were $10.18 billion at September 30, 2023, an increase of $552.6 million from September 30, 2022. The increase was mainly composed of a $506.7 million increase in the loan portfolio, or 6.8% growth, and a $196.4 million increase in operating cash, partially offset by a $178.8 million decrease in securities. The growth in the loan portfolio was primarily funded with proceeds from borrowings.

Total liabilities were $9.13 billion at September 30, 2023, an increase of $605.0 million from September 30, 2022 due primarily to a $747.0 million increase in borrowings, partially offset by a $143.6 million decrease in deposits. The increase in borrowings was composed of $500.0 million in BTFP borrowings at a rate of 4.70% and the remaining amounts were FHLB advances. The decrease in deposits during the current year was mainly in non-maturity deposits which decreased $670.1 million, largely retail money market accounts, partially offset by a $460.4 million increase in retail certificates of deposit and a $53.6 million increase in public unit certificates of deposit. The decrease in non-maturity deposit balances was likely due to depositors moving funds to a higher rate certificate of deposit product offered by the Bank, higher yielding investment products outside the Bank, and/or withdrawing funds for customer spending. The majority of the growth in the retail certificate of deposit portfolio in the current year were in terms less than 17 months. Management continues to competitively price certain short-term retail certificate of deposit products to encourage customers to move to shorter-term options. If rates were to decrease in the near future, the Bank would be able to more quickly reprice those balances to lower market rates at maturity.

Stockholder's equity was $1.04 billion at September 30, 2023, a decrease of $52.4 million from September 30, 2022. The decrease was due primarily to the payment of cash dividends during the current year.

The Bank's asset quality remained strong, reflected in low loan delinquency and charge-off ratios. At September 30, 2023, loans 30 to 89 days delinquent were 0.21% of total loans receivable, net, and loans 90 or more days delinquent or in foreclosure were 0.11% of total loans receivable, net. The ratio of net charge-offs (recoveries) ("NCOs") during the current year to average loans outstanding during the current year was 0.00%.

At September 30, 2023, the Bank's gap between the amount of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities projected to reprice within one year was $(1.19) billion, or (11.7)% of total assets, meaning the amount of interest-bearing liabilities exceeded the amount of interest-earning assets maturing or repricing during the same period. See additional discussion in "Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk."

In August 2023, management successfully implemented a new core processing and digital banking systems to enhance customer experiences and better position the Bank for the future. The new platform will allow us to introduce new products and services quickly, drive better efficiencies, and provide a more personalized experience for our customers.

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Critical Accounting Estimates

Our most critical accounting estimates are the methodologies used to determine the ACL and reserve for off-balance sheet credit exposures and fair value measurements.  These estimates are important to the presentation of our financial condition and results of operations, involve a high degree of complexity, and require management to make difficult and subjective judgments that may require assumptions about highly uncertain matters.  The use of different judgments, assumptions, and estimates could affect reported results materially.  These critical accounting estimates and their application are reviewed at least annually by our audit committee. The following is a description of our critical accounting estimates and an explanation of the methods and assumptions underlying their application.

Allowance for Credit Losses and Reserve for Off-Balance Sheet Credit Exposures. The ACL is a valuation amount that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of loans and represents management's estimate of lifetime credit losses expected on the Company's loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date. The reserve for off-balance sheet credit exposures represents expected credit losses on unfunded portions of existing loans and commitments to originate or purchase loans that are not unconditionally cancellable by the Company.

Management estimates the ACL by projecting future loss rates which are dependent upon forecasted economic indices and applying qualitative factors when deemed appropriate by management. The key assumptions used in projecting future loss rates include the economic forecast, the forecast and reversion to mean time periods, and prepayment and curtailment assumptions. The assumptions are used to calculate and aggregate estimated cash flows for the time period that remains in each loan's contractual life. The cash flows are discounted back to the balance sheet date using each loan's effective yield, to arrive at a present value of future cash flows, which is compared to the amortized cost basis of the loan pool to determine the amount of ACL required by the calculation. Management then considers qualitative factors when assessing the overall level of ACL. See "Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans Receivable" and "Reserve for Off-Balance Sheet Credit Exposures" within "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" for additional information.

One of the most significant judgments used in projecting loss rates when estimating the ACL and reserves for off-balance sheet credit exposures is the macroeconomic forecast provided by a third party. The economic indices sourced from the macroeconomic forecast and used in projecting loss rates are the national unemployment rate, changes in commercial real estate prices, changes in home values, and changes in the United States gross domestic product. The economic index used in the calculation to which the calculation is most sensitive is the national unemployment rate. Each reporting period, several macroeconomic forecast scenarios are considered by management. Management selects the macroeconomic forecast(s) that is/are most reflective of expectations at that point in time. Changes in the macroeconomic forecast, especially for the national unemployment rate, could significantly impact the calculated estimated credit losses between reporting periods.

Other key assumptions in the calculation of the ACL and reserve for off-balance sheet credit exposures estimates include the forecast and reversion to mean time periods and prepayment and curtailment assumptions. The calculation is less sensitive to these assumptions than the macroeconomic forecasts. The macroeconomic forecast is applied for a reasonable and supportable time period before reverting to long-term historical averages for each economic index. The forecast and reversion to mean time period used for each economic index at September 30, 2023 was four quarters. Prepayment and curtailment assumptions are generally based on the Company's historical experience and are adjusted by management as deemed necessary. The prepayment and curtailment assumptions vary based on loan product type.

The ACL and reserve for off-balance sheet credit exposures may be materially affected by qualitative factors, especially during periods of economic uncertainty, for items not reflected in the economic forecast and/or discounted cash flow model, but which are deemed appropriate by management's current assessment of the risks related to the loan portfolio and/or external factors. Such qualitative factors may include changes in the Bank's loan portfolio composition and credit concentrations, changes in the balances and/or trends in asset quality and/or loan credit performance, changes in lending underwriting standards, the effect of other external factors such as significant unique events or conditions, and actual and/or expected changes in economic conditions, real estate values, and/or other economic developments. The qualitative factors applied by management at September 30, 2023 were (1) economic uncertainty that may not be adequately captured in the third-party economic forecast scenarios and (2) other management considerations related to commercial loans to account for credit risks not fully reflected in the discounted cash flow model. The qualitative factors applied at September 30, 2023, and the importance and levels of the qualitative factors applied, may change in future periods depending on the level of changes

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to items such as the uncertainty of economic conditions and management's assessment of the level of credit risk within the loan portfolio as a result of such changes, compared to the amount of ACL calculated by the model. The evaluation of qualitative factors is inherently imprecise and requires significant management judgment. See "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 4. Loans Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses - Allowance for Credit Losses" for additional information regarding the qualitative factors applied at September 30, 2023.

The ACL and the reserve for off-balance sheet credit exposures were $23.8 million and $4.1 million, respectively at September 30, 2023, compared to $16.4 million and $4.8 million, respectively, at September 30, 2022. The $7.4 million increase in the ACL was due primarily to the outlook for worsening economic forecast conditions in the current year compared to the prior year, along with a reduction in the projected prepayment speeds used in the model for all loan categories. The $656 thousand decrease in the reserve for off-balance sheet credit exposures was due primarily to refining our methodology to account for the estimated credit losses on unfunded commercial construction-to-permanent loans and commitments for the time period after construction is expected to be completed. See "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 4. Loans Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses - Allowance for Credit Losses" for additional information regarding the assumptions used in the Company's September 30, 2023 estimate of ACL.

While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the adequacy of the ACL and reserve for off-balance sheet credit exposures is determined by certain factors outside of the Company's control, such as the performance of our portfolios, changes in the economic environment including economic uncertainty, changes in interest rates, and the view of the regulatory authorities toward classification of assets and the level of ACL and reserve for off-balance sheet credit exposures. Additionally, the level of ACL and reserve for off-balance sheet credit exposures may fluctuate based on the balance and mix of the loan portfolio and off-balance sheet credit exposures. If actual results differ significantly from our assumptions, our ACL and reserve for off-balance sheet credit exposures may not be sufficient to cover inherent losses in our loan portfolio, resulting in additions to our ACL and an increase in the provision for credit losses.

Fair Value Measurements.  The Company uses fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain financial instruments and to determine fair value disclosures in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 820 and ASC 825. The Company groups its financial instruments at fair value in three levels based on the markets in which the instruments are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value, with Level 1 (quoted prices for identical assets in an active market) being considered the most reliable, and Level 3 having the most unobservable inputs and therefore being considered the least reliable.  The Company bases its fair values on the price that would be received from the sale of an asset in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  The Company maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

The Company's AFS securities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.  Changes in the fair value of AFS securities, not related to credit loss, are recorded, net of tax, as AOCI in stockholders' equity.  The Company primarily uses prices obtained from third-party pricing services to determine the fair value of its AFS securities. Various modeling techniques are used to determine pricing for the Company's securities, including option pricing, discounted cash flow models, and similar techniques. The inputs to these models may include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data.  All AFS securities are classified as Level 2.

The Company's interest rate swaps are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The estimated fair values of the interest rate swaps are obtained from the counterparty and are determined by a discounted cash flow analysis using observable market-based inputs. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps are recorded, net of tax, as AOCI in stockholders' equity. The Company did not have any other financial instruments that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2023.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For a discussion of Recent Accounting Pronouncements, see "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Financial Statements – Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies."

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Financial Condition

The following table summarizes the Company's financial condition at the dates indicated.

Loans Receivable. Total loans, net at September 30, 2023 were $7.97 billion, an increase of $506.7 million from September 30, 2022. The increase was due primarily to growth in the commercial real estate loan portfolio and one- to four-family correspondent loan portfolio.

Originating and purchasing loans secured by one- to four-family residential properties is the Bank's primary lending business, resulting in a concentration in residential first mortgage loans secured by properties located in Kansas and Missouri. The Bank also originates and participates in commercial loans, and originates consumer loans and construction loans.

The Bank purchases one- to four-family loans, on a loan-by-loan basis, from a select group of correspondent lenders ("correspondent purchased"). Loan purchases enable the Bank to attain geographic diversification in the one- to four-family loan portfolio. We generally pay a premium of 0.50% to 1.00% of the loan balance to purchase these loans, and 1.00% of the loan balance to purchase the servicing of these loans. The premium paid is amortized against the interest earned over the life of the loan, which reduces the loan yield. If a loan pays off before the scheduled maturity date, the remaining premium is recognized as reduction in interest income. For balance sheet management purposes, we reduced purchases of correspondent loans during the current year, with the intention of correspondent purchases eventually being near zero.

In the past, the Bank has also purchased one- to four-family loans from correspondent and nationwide lenders in bulk loan packages ("bulk purchased"). The majority of the Bank's bulk purchased loans were guaranteed by one seller. The Bank has not experienced any losses with this group of loans since the loan package was purchased in August 2012.

The Bank originates owner-occupied construction-to-permanent loans secured by one- to four-family residential real estate. The majority of these loans are secured by property located within the Bank's Kansas City market area. The Bank's owner-occupied construction-to-permanent loan program combines the construction loan and the permanent loan into one loan, allowing the borrower to secure the same interest rate structure throughout the construction period and the permanent loan term.

The Bank offers a variety of secured consumer loans, including home equity loans and lines of credit, home improvement loans, vehicle loans, and loans secured by savings deposits. The Bank also originates a very limited amount of unsecured loans. Generally, consumer loans are originated in the Bank's market areas. The majority of our consumer loan portfolio is comprised of home equity lines of credit, which have adjustable interest rates. For a majority of the home equity lines of credit, the Bank has the first mortgage or the Bank is in the first lien position.

The Bank's commercial loan portfolio is composed of commercial real estate loans, commercial construction loans and commercial and industrial loans. Our commercial real estate loans include a variety of property types, including retail buildings, senior housing facilities, multi-family dwellings, hotels, and office buildings located in Kansas, Texas, and

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Missouri, and 13 other states. The Bank's commercial and industrial loan portfolio consists largely of loans secured by accounts receivable, inventory and equipment.

Commercial borrowers are generally required to provide financial information annually, including borrower financial statements, subject property rental rates and income, maintenance costs, updated real estate property tax and insurance payments, and personal financial information for the guarantor(s). This allows the Bank to monitor compliance with loan covenants and review the borrower's performance, including cash flows from operations, debt service coverage, and comparison of performance to projections and year-over-year performance trending. Additionally, the Bank monitors and performs site visits, or in the case of participation loans, obtains updates from the lead bank as needed to determine the condition of the collateral securing the loan. Depending on the financial strength of the project and/or the complexity of the borrower's financials, the Bank may also perform a global analysis of cash flows to account for all other properties owned by the borrower or guarantor. If signs of weakness are identified, the Bank may begin performing more frequent financial and/or collateral reviews or will initiate contact with the borrower, or the lead bank will contact the borrower if the loan is a participation loan, to ensure cash flows from operations are maintained at a satisfactory level to meet the debt requirements. The Bank mitigates the risk of commercial real estate construction lending during the construction period by monitoring inspection reports from an independent third-party, project budget, percentage of completion, on-site inspections and percentage of advanced funds. Commercial and industrial loans are monitored through a review of borrower performance as indicated by borrower financial statements, borrowing base reports, accounts receivable aging reports, and inventory aging reports. These reports are required to be provided by the borrowers monthly, quarterly, or annually depending on the nature of the borrowing relationship. The Bank regularly monitors the level of risk in the entire commercial loan portfolio, including concentrations in such factors as geographic locations, collateral types, tenant brand name, borrowing relationships, and lending relationships in the case of participation loans, among other factors.

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The following table presents the balance and weighted average rate of our loan portfolio as of the dates indicated. The rate on the portfolio increased 43 basis points during the current year due primarily to one- to four-family correspondent and commercial loan growth at interest rates higher than the existing portfolios, disbursements on higher rate commercial construction loans, and repricing of existing commercial loans to higher market interest rates.

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The following table presents the contractual maturity of our loan portfolio, along with associated weighted average yields, at September 30, 2023. Loans that have adjustable interest rates are shown as maturing in the period during which the contract is due. The table does not reflect the effects of possible prepayments or enforcement of due on sale clauses.

(1)Includes demand loans, loans having no stated maturity, and overdraft loans.

(2)Construction loans are presented based upon the contractual maturity date, which includes the permanent financing period for construction-to-permanent loans.

(3)For home equity loans, including those that do not have a stated maturity date, the maturity date calculated assumes the borrower always makes the required minimum payment. The majority of home equity loans assume a maximum term of 240 months.

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The following table presents, as of September 30, 2023, the amount of loans due after September 30, 2024, and whether these loans have fixed or adjustable interest rates.

Loan Activity - The following table summarizes activity in the loan portfolio, along with weighted average rates where applicable, for the periods indicated, excluding changes in ACL, deferred loan fees/discounts, and premiums/deferred costs. Loans that were paid off as a result of refinances are included in repayments. Loan endorsements are not included in the activity in the following table because a new loan is not generated at the time of the endorsement. The endorsed balance and rate are included in the ending loan portfolio balance and rate. Commercial loan renewals are not included in the activity presented in the following table unless new funds are disbursed at the time of renewal. The renewal balance and rate are included in the ending loan portfolio balance and rate.

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The following table presents loan origination, refinance, and purchase activity for the periods indicated, excluding endorsement activity, along with associated weighted average rates and percent of total. Commercial loan renewals are not included in the activity in the following table except to the extent new funds are disbursed at the time of renewal. Loan originations, purchases, and refinances are reported together.

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One- to Four-Family Loans - The following table presents, for our portfolio of one- to four-family loans, the amount, percent of total, weighted average rate, weighted average credit score, weighted average loan-to-value ("LTV") ratio, and average balance per loan as of September 30, 2023. Credit scores are updated at least annually, with the latest update in September 2023, from a nationally recognized consumer rating agency. The LTV ratios were based on the current loan balance and either the lesser of the purchase price or original appraisal, or the most recent Bank appraisal, if available. In most cases, the most recent appraisal was obtained at the time of origination.

The following table presents originated and correspondent purchased activity in our one- to four-family loan portfolio, excluding endorsement activity, along with associated weighted average rates, weighted average LTVs and weighted average credit scores for the current year.

The following table summarizes our one- to four-family loan origination and refinance commitments and one- to four-family correspondent loan purchase commitments as of September 30, 2023, along with associated weighted average rates. It is expected that some of the loan commitments will expire unfunded, so the amounts reflected in the table below are not necessarily indicative of our future cash needs.

Commercial Loans - During fiscal year 2023, the Bank originated $463.1 million of commercial loans and entered into commercial loan participations totaling $228.3 million. The Bank processed commercial loan disbursements, excluding lines of credit, of approximately $474.6 million at a weighted average rate of 6.09%.

As of September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022, the Bank's commercial and industrial gross loan amounts (unpaid principal plus undisbursed amounts) totaled $158.5 million and $100.4 million, respectively, and commitments totaled $2.6 million and $458 thousand, respectively.

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The following table presents the Bank's commercial real estate and commercial construction loans by type of primary collateral as of the dates indicated. As of September 30, 2023, the Bank had three commercial real estate and commercial construction loan commitments totaling $14.0 million, at a weighted average rate of 7.57%, which are not included in the table below. Because the commitments to pay out undisbursed funds are not cancellable by the Bank, unless the loan is in default, we generally anticipate fully funding the related projects. Of the total commercial undisbursed amounts and commitments outstanding as of September 30, 2023, management anticipates funding approximately $86 million during the December 2023 quarter, $75 million during the March 2024 quarter, $52 million during the June 2024 quarter, and $172 million during the September 2024 quarter or later.

The following table summarizes the Bank's commercial real estate and commercial construction loans by state as of the dates indicated.

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The following table presents the Bank's commercial loan portfolio and outstanding loan commitments, categorized by gross loan amount (unpaid principal plus undisbursed amounts) or outstanding loan commitment amount, as of September 30, 2023.

Asset Quality

Delinquent and nonaccrual loans and other real estate owned ("OREO"). The following table presents the Company's 30 to 89 day delinquent loans at the dates indicated. The amounts in the table represent the unpaid principal balance of the loans less related charge-offs, if any. Of the loans 30 to 89 days delinquent at September 30, 2023 and 2022, approximately 72% and 73%, respectively, were 59 days or less delinquent. The increase in loans 30 to 89 days delinquent during the current year was due mainly to delinquencies returning to more historical levels as government payment assistance programs expired.

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The following table presents the Company's nonaccrual loans and OREO at the dates indicated. The amounts in the table represent the unpaid principal balance of the loans less related charge-offs, if any. Nonaccrual loans are loans that are 90 or more days delinquent or in foreclosure and other loans required to be reported as nonaccrual pursuant to accounting and/or regulatory reporting requirements and/or internal policies, even if the loans are current. At all dates presented, there were no loans 90 or more days delinquent that were still accruing interest. Non-performing assets include nonaccrual loans and OREO.

(1)Includes loans required to be reported as nonaccrual pursuant to accounting and/or regulatory reporting requirements and/or internal policies, even if the loans are current.

(2)Real estate-related consumer loans where we also hold the first mortgage are included in the one- to four-family category as the underlying collateral is one- to four-family property.

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The following table presents the states where the properties securing five percent or more of the total amount of our one- to four-family loans, excluding construction loans, are located and the corresponding balance of loans 30 to 89 days delinquent, 90 or more days delinquent or in foreclosure, and weighted average LTV ratios for loans 90 or more days delinquent or in foreclosure at September 30, 2023. The LTV ratios were based on the current loan balance and either the lesser of the purchase price or original appraisal, or the most recent Bank appraisal, if available. At September 30, 2023, potential losses, after taking into consideration anticipated private mortgage insurance proceeds and estimated selling costs, have been charged-off.

Classified Assets. In accordance with the Bank's asset classification policy, management regularly reviews the problem assets in the Bank's portfolio to determine whether any assets require classification. See "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 4. Loans Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses" for asset classification definitions.

The following table presents loans classified as special mention or substandard at the dates presented. The amounts in the table represent the unpaid principal balance of the loans less related charge-offs, if any. The increase in commercial special mention loans at September 30, 2023 compared to September 30, 2022 was due mainly to three loans in a single commercial relationship where the borrower has experienced some performance issues. Since being classified as special mention, these loans have been trending in a positive direction. Management continues to closely monitor the borrower's performance.

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Allowance for Credit Losses. The following table presents the distribution of our ACL and the ratio of ACL to loans receivable, by loan type, at the dates indicated. The increase in the ratio of ACL to loans receivable for commercial loans from September 30, 2022 to September 30, 2023 was due mainly to the outlook for worsening economic forecast conditions in the current year compared to the prior year, along with a reduction in projected prepayment speeds.

See "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 4. Loans Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses” for additional information regarding the Bank's ACL.

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The following tables present ACL activity and related ratios at the dates and for the periods indicated. The Bank adopted ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("CECL") on October 1, 2020. The ratio of NCOs to average non-performing assets during the current year was higher than the prior year due to a net charge-off in the current year compared to a net recovery in the prior year. The ratio of ACL to nonaccrual loans was higher in the current year compared to the prior year due to higher ACL compared to the prior year period. The ratio of ACL to loans receivable, net was higher in the current year compared to the prior year due primarily to a higher ACL balance, mainly related to commercial loans. The ratio of ACL to NCOs for the prior year period was not meaningful as recoveries exceeded loan charge-offs, compared to the current year period where loan charge-offs exceeded recoveries. See "Note 4. Loans Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses" for additional information related to ACL activity by specific loan categories.

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The following table presents NCOs, average loans, and NCOs as a percentage of average loans, by loan type, for the periods indicated.

Securities. The following table presents the distribution of our securities portfolio, at amortized cost, at the dates indicated. Overall, fixed-rate securities comprised 95% of our securities portfolio at September 30, 2023. The weighted average life ("WAL") is the estimated remaining maturity (in years) after three-month historical prepayment speeds and projected call option assumptions have been applied. Weighted average yields on tax-exempt securities are not calculated on a fully tax-equivalent basis.

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The composition and maturities of the securities portfolio at September 30, 2023 is indicated in the following table by remaining contractual maturity, without consideration of call features or pre-refunding dates, along with associated weighted average yields. The weighted average yields were calculated by multiplying each estimated fair value by its yield and dividing the sum of these results by the total estimated fair value. Yields on tax-exempt investments are not calculated on a fully tax equivalent basis.

The following table summarizes the activity in our securities portfolio for the periods presented. The weighted average yields for the beginning and ending balances are as of the first and last days of the periods presented and are generally derived from recent prepayment activity on the securities in the portfolio. The beginning and ending WALs are the estimated remaining principal repayment terms (in years) after three-month historical prepayment speeds and projected call option assumptions have been applied.

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Liabilities. Total liabilities were $9.13 billion at September 30, 2023, compared to $8.53 billion at September 30, 2022. The increase in liabilities between September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2023 was due primarily to an increase in borrowings, partially offset by a decrease in deposits.

Deposits. The following table presents the amount, weighted average rate and percent of total for the components of our deposit portfolio at the dates presented. The decrease in deposits compared to the prior year was mainly in non-maturity deposits, largely retail money market accounts, partially offset by increases in retail certificates of deposit and public unit certificates of deposit. The increase in the deposit portfolio rate during the current year period was due mainly to higher rates on money market accounts and retail certificates of deposit.

As of September 30, 2023 and 2022, $789.0 million and $721.8 million, respectively, of our deposit portfolio was uninsured. Of the $789.0 million at September 30, 2023, $425.1 million related to commercial and retail deposit accounts and the remainder was mainly comprised of fully collateralized public unit deposits and intercompany accounts. The uninsured amounts are estimates based on the methodologies and assumptions used for the Bank's regulatory reporting requirements.

The following table sets forth the portion of the Bank's certificates of deposit portfolio, by account, that are in excess of the FDIC insurance limit, by remaining time until maturity, as of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands).

Borrowings. Total borrowings at September 30, 2023 were $2.88 billion, which was comprised of $2.02 billion in fixed-rate FHLB advances, $365.0 million in variable-rate advances tied to interest rate swaps, and $500.0 million in BTFP borrowings. The $747.0 million increase in borrowings from September 30, 2022 was due mainly to the new BTFP borrowings totaling $500.0 million with a term of one year and a rate of 4.70%. During the current and prior year, the Bank utilized the leverage strategy, as discussed in the "Executive Summary" section above. These borrowings were repaid prior to September 30, 2023 and 2022.

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The following table presents the maturity of term borrowings, which consist of FHLB advances and BTFP borrowings, along with associated weighted average contractual and effective rates as of September 30, 2023. Amortizing FHLB advances are presented based on their maturity dates versus their quarterly scheduled repayment dates.

(1)The effective rate includes the impact of interest rate swaps and the amortization of deferred prepayment penalties resulting from FHLB advances previously prepaid.

The following table presents borrowing activity for the periods shown. The borrowings presented in the table have original contractual terms of one year or longer or are tied to interest rate swaps with original contractual terms of one year or longer, and line of credit borrowings are excluded. The effective rate is shown as a weighted average and includes the impact of interest rate swaps and the amortization of deferred prepayment penalties resulting from FHLB advances previously prepaid. The weighted average maturity ("WAM") is the remaining weighted average contractual term in years. The beginning and ending WAMs represent the remaining maturity at each date presented. For new borrowings, the WAMs presented are as of the date of issue. The new FHLB borrowings added during the current year had a WAM of 3.2 years, which is generally a shorter term than what management has selected in prior periods. During the current year, management periodically paid off BTFP borrowings and borrowed new BTFP funds to take advantage of lower interest rates. Because of these transactions, BTFP activity is presented on a net basis in the table below.

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Maturities of Interest-Bearing Liabilities. The following table presents the maturity and weighted average repricing rate, which is also the weighted average effective rate, of certificates of deposit, split between retail/commercial and public unit amounts, and non-amortizing term borrowings for the next four quarters as of September 30, 2023.

The following table sets forth the WAM information for our certificates of deposit, in years, as of September 30, 2023.

Stockholders' Equity. Stockholders' equity totaled $1.04 billion at September 30, 2023. During the year ended September 30, 2023, the Company paid cash dividends totaling $83.2 million. These cash dividends totaled $0.62 per share and consisted of a $0.28 per share cash true-up dividend related to fiscal year 2022 earnings and four regular quarterly cash dividends of $0.085 per share. On October 24, 2023, the Company announced a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.085 per share, or approximately $11.3 million, payable on November 17, 2023 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 3, 2023.

In conjunction with the securities strategy, the $192.6 million unrealized loss at September 30, 2023 associated with the $1.30 billion of AFS securities that management intended to sell, was recognized in income during the current year. Since the securities were classified as AFS, the unrealized loss was already reflected in stockholders' equity within AOCI. Therefore, the recognition of the unrealized loss in income in the current year did not impact stockholders' equity. See "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 15. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income" for additional information on AOCI.

Consistent with our goal to operate a sound and profitable financial organization, we actively seek to maintain a well-capitalized status for the Bank in accordance with regulatory standards. As of September 30, 2023, the Bank's capital ratios exceeded the well-capitalized requirements. As of September 30, 2023, the Bank also exceeded all internal policy thresholds for sensitivity to changes in interest rates, and the Bank's risk-based tier 1 capital ratio was 16.0%. See "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 13. Regulatory Capital Requirements" for additional regulatory capital information.

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At September 30, 2023, Capitol Federal Financial, Inc., at the holding company level, had $83.4 million in cash on deposit at the Bank. For fiscal year 2024, it is the intention of the Board of Directors to pay out the regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.085 per share, totaling $0.34 per share for the year. To the extent that earnings in fiscal year 2024 exceed $0.34 per share, the Board of Directors will consider the payment of additional dividends. Dividend payments depend upon a number of factors including the Company's financial condition and results of operations, regulatory capital requirements, regulatory limitations on the Bank's ability to make capital distributions to the Company, and the amount of cash at the holding company level.

During the current year, the Company repurchased 2,979,753 shares of common stock at an average price of $7.87 per share. Subsequent to September 30, 2023 and through November 22, 2023, the Company repurchased 700,000 shares at an average price of $5.35 per share. There remains $17.5 million authorized under the existing stock repurchase plan for additional purchases of the Company's common stock. Shares may be repurchased from time to time based upon market conditions, available liquidity and other factors. This plan has no expiration date; however, the FRB of Kansas City's existing approval for the Company to repurchase shares expires in August 2024.

The following table presents regular quarterly cash dividends and special cash dividends paid in calendar years 2023, 2022, and 2021. The amounts represent cash dividends paid during each period.

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Rate/Volume Analysis. The table below presents the dollar amount of changes in interest income and interest expense for major components of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, comparing fiscal years 2023 to 2022. For the comparison of fiscal years 2022 to 2021, see "Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022. For each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, information is provided on changes attributable to (1) changes in volume, which are changes in the average balance multiplied by the previous year's average rate, and (2) changes in rate, which are changes in the average rate multiplied by the average balance from the previous year. The net changes attributable to the combined impact of both rate and volume have been allocated proportionately to the changes due to volume and the changes due to rate.