PLUMAS BANCORP (PLBC) FY 2023 MD&A
This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
General
Plumas Bancorp is a bank holding company for Plumas Bank, a California state-chartered commercial bank. We derive our income primarily from interest received on real estate related, commercial, automobile and consumer loans and, to a lesser extent, interest on investment securities and cash balances, fees received in connection with servicing deposit and loan customers and gains from the sale of government guaranteed loans. Our major operating expenses are the interest we pay on deposits and borrowings and general operating expenses. We rely on locally-generated deposits to provide us with funds for making loans.
We are subject to competition from other financial institutions and our operating results, like those of other financial institutions operating in California and Northern Nevada, are significantly influenced by economic conditions in California and Northern Nevada, including the strength of the real estate market. In addition, both the fiscal and regulatory policies of the federal and state government and regulatory authorities that govern financial institutions and market interest rates also impact the Bank’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program
The CARES Act provided for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and additional legislation extended this program into 2021; we have actively participated in the PPP program. The remaining principal balance of PPP loans at December 31, 2023 was $125 thousand and the remaining balance of deferred fees related to these loans totaled $7 thousand at December 31, 2023. For the years ending December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 we recognized PPP fees, net of costs, totaling $10 thousand, $1.3 million and $6.1 million, respectively.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our accounting policies are integral to understanding the financial results reported. Our most complex accounting policies require management’s judgment to ascertain the valuation of assets, liabilities, commitments and contingencies. We have established detailed policies and internal control procedures that are intended to ensure valuation methods are applied in an environment that is designed and operating effectively and applied consistently from period to period. The following is a brief description of our current accounting policies involving significant management valuation judgments.
Allowance for Credit Losses. The allowance for credit losses is an estimate of credit losses inherent in the Company's loan portfolio that have been incurred as of the balance-sheet date. The allowance is established through a provision for credit losses which is charged to expense. Additions to the allowance are expected to maintain the adequacy of the total allowance after credit losses and loan growth. Credit exposures determined to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance. Cash received on previously charged off amounts is recorded as a recovery to the allowance.
To estimate expected losses the Company generally utilizes historical loss trends and the remaining contractual lives of the loan portfolios to determine estimated credit losses through a reasonable and supportable forecast period. Individual loan credit quality indicators including loan grade and borrower repayment performance have been statistically correlated with historical credit losses and various economic metrics, including California unemployment rates, California housing prices, and California gross domestic product. Model forecasts may be adjusted for inherent limitations or biases that have been identified through independent validation and back-testing of model performance to actual realized results. At both January 1, 2023, the adoption and implementation date of ASC Topic 326, and December 31, 2023, the Company utilized a reasonable and supportable forecast period of approximately four quarters and obtained the forecast data from publicly available sources. The Company also considered the impact of portfolio concentrations, changes in underwriting practices, imprecision in its economic forecasts, and other risk factors that might influence its loss estimation process. Management believes that the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2023, appropriately reflected expected credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio at that date.
In determining the allowance for credit losses, accruing loans with similar risk characteristics are generally evaluated collectively. The Company's policy is that loans designated as nonaccrual no longer share risk characteristics similar to other loans evaluated collectively and as such, all nonaccrual loans are individually evaluated for reserves. As of December 31, 2023 the Bank's nonaccrual loans comprised the entire population of loans individually evaluated. The Company's policy is that nonaccrual loans also represent the subset of loans where borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty where an evaluation of the source of repayment is required to determine if the nonaccrual loans should be categorized as collateral dependent.
We cannot provide you with any assurance that economic difficulties or other circumstances which would adversely affect our borrowers and their ability to repay outstanding loans will not occur which would be reflected in increased losses in our loan portfolio and which could result in actual losses that exceed reserves previously established.
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The following discussion is designed to provide a better understanding of significant trends related to the Company's financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and capital. It pertains to the Company's financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023. The discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and the other financial information appearing elsewhere herein.
Overview
The Company recorded net income of $29.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $3.4 million or 13% from net income of $26.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. Pretax income increased by $4.5 million, or 13%, to $40.2 million in 2023 from $35.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. Net interest income increased by $11.3 million to $69.8 million during 2023 from $58.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase in net interest income resulted from an increase in interest income of $14.8 million partially offset by an increase in interest expense of $3.5 million. Interest and fees on loans, including loans held for sale, increased by $9.3 million; interest on investment securities increased by $6.0 million. These components of the increase in interest income were partially offset by a decline in interest on other interest earning assets of $0.5 million. The provision for credit losses increased from $1.3 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 to $2.8 million during 2023.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, non-interest income totaled $10.7 million, a decrease of $0.3 million from the $11.0 million earned during
2022. This decrease included a reduction in gain on sale of SBA loans of $2.5 million, partially offset by a gain of $1.7 million on termination of our interest rate swaps during the first quarter of 2023. Non-interest expense increased by $4.9 million from $32.6 million during 2022 to $37.5 million during the twelve months ending December 31, 2023. The provision for income taxes increased by $1.2 million from $9.2 million in 2022 to $10.4 million during the year ended
December 31, 2023.
Total assets at December 31, 2023 were $1.6 billion, a decrease of $11 million from December 31, 2022. The largest component of this decrease was a decline in cash and due from banks of $98 million. This was mostly offset by increases of $45 million in net loans and $45 million in investment securities.
Gross loans, excluding loans held for sale, increased by $47 million, or 5%, from $912 million at December 31, 2022, to $959 million at December 31, 2023. Increases in loans included $28 million in commercial real estate loans, $14 million in construction loans, $7 million in agricultural loans, $2 million in equity lines of credit, and $1 million in automobile loans; these items were partially offset by decreases of $3 million in residential real estate loans and $2 million in commercial loans.
Total deposits decreased by $124 million to $1.3 billion at December 31, 2023. The decrease in deposits includes decreases of $74 million in demand deposits, $69 million in savings, and $24 million in money market accounts deposits. Partially offsetting these decreases was an increase in time deposit of $43 million. On December 31, 2023, 52% of the Company’s deposits were in the form of non-interest-bearing demand deposits.
Borrowings increased by $90 million. There were no borrowings outstanding at December 31, 2022; however, there were $10 million in junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures which were redeemed in 2023. The Company is eligible to participate in the Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP). The Federal Reserve Board, on March 12, 2023, announced the creation of a new BTFP. The BTFP offers loans of up to one year in length to banks, savings associations, credit unions, and other eligible depository institutions pledging U.S. Treasuries, agency debt and mortgage-backed securities, and other qualifying assets as collateral. These assets are valued at par. At December 31, 2023, the Company had outstanding borrowings under the BTFP totaling $80 million, secured by $107 million in par value of securities pledged as collateral under the BTFP.
Shareholders’ equity increased by $28.3 million from $119.0 million at December 31, 2022 to $147.3 million at December 31, 2023. The $28.3 million increase was related to net income during 2023, of $29.8 million, a decline in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $4.3 million and stock option and restricted stock activity of $661,000 partially offset by shareholder dividends of $5.9 million and $554,000 related to the cumulative change from adoption of ASU 2016-13.
Return on average assets was 1.88% during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, up from 1.61% during 2022. Return on average equity increased to 23.4% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, up from 21.9% during 2022.
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Results of Operations
Net Interest Income
The following table presents, for the years indicated, the distribution of consolidated average assets, liabilities and shareholders' equity. Average balances are based on average daily balances. It also presents the amounts of interest income from interest-earning assets and the resultant yields expressed in both dollars and yield percentages, as well as the amounts of interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities and the resultant cost expressed in both dollars and rate percentages. Nonaccrual loans are included in the calculation of average loans while nonaccrued interest thereon is excluded from the computation of yields earned.
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest | Rates | Interest | Rates | Interest | Rates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average | income/ | earned/ | Average | income/ | earned/ | Average | income/ | earned/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| balance | expense | paid | balance | expense | paid | balance | expense | paid | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest-bearing cash and due from banks and deposits in banks | $ | 86,897 | $ | 4,387 | 5.05 | % | $ | 305,095 | $ | 4,923 | 1.61 | % | $ | 253,023 | $ | 345 | 0.14 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Taxable investment securities | 338,941 | 11,525 | 3.40 | % | 258,732 | 6,409 | 2.48 | % | 164,199 | 2,746 | 1.67 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-taxable investment securities (1) | 123,002 | 3,681 | 2.99 | % | 103,366 | 2,722 | 2.63 | % | 75,673 | 1,666 | 2.20 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loans held for sale | 533 | 49 | 9.19 | % | 8,771 | 510 | 5.81 | % | 15,258 | 826 | 5.41 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total loans (2)(3) | 933,464 | 54,950 | 5.89 | % | 856,728 | 45,194 | 5.28 | % | 785,527 | 42,487 | 5.41 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total earning assets | 1,482,837 | 74,592 | 5.03 | % | 1,532,692 | 59,758 | 3.90 | % | 1,293,680 | 48,070 | 3.72 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and due from banks | 26,100 | 40,520 | 44,396 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other assets | 78,212 | 69,683 | 47,952 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 1,587,149 | $ | 1,642,895 | $ | 1,386,028 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities and shareholders’ equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market deposits | $ | 227,819 | $ | 1,367 | 0.60 | % | 254,723 | $ | 284 | 0.11 | % | $ | 224,776 | $ | 307 | 0.14 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| Savings deposits | 375,377 | 795 | 0.21 | % | 400,314 | 376 | 0.09 | % | 306,911 | 280 | 0.09 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time deposits | 74,570 | 1,568 | 2.10 | % | 59,016 | 163 | 0.28 | % | 53,976 | 193 | 0.36 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other borrowings | 17,945 | 896 | 4.99 | % | - | - | 0.00 | % | - | - | 0.00 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Junior subordinated debentures | 2,268 | 141 | 6.22 | % | 10,310 | 359 | 3.48 | % | 10,310 | 348 | 3.38 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase agreements and other | 18,576 | 31 | 0.17 | % | 12,327 | 67 | 0.54 | % | 13,419 | 8 | 0.06 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total interest-bearing liabilities | 716,555 | 4,798 | 0.67 | % | 736,690 | 1,249 | 0.17 | % | 609,392 | 1,136 | 0.19 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Noninterest bearing demand deposits | 726,191 | 773,293 | 645,955 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other liabilities | 17,419 | 12,044 | 12,714 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity | 126,984 | 120,868 | 117,967 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 1,587,149 | $ | 1,642,895 | $ | 1,386,028 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net interest income | $ | 69,794 | $ | 58,509 | $ | 46,934 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net interest spread (4) | 4.36 | % | 3.73 | % | 3.53 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net interest margin (5) | 4.71 | % | 3.82 | % | 3.63 | % |
| (1) | Interest income is reflected on an actual basis and is not computed on a tax-equivalent basis. |
|---|---|
| (2) | Average nonaccrual loan balances of $3.0 million for 2023, $2.8 million for 2022 and $4.4 million for 2021 are included in average loan balances for computational purposes. |
| (3) | Loan origination fees and costs are included in interest income as adjustments of the loan yields over the life of the loan using the interest method. Loan interest income includes net (costs)/ loan fees of ($1.3 million), $234 thousand and $5.7 million for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. |
| (4) | Net interest spread represents the average yield earned on interest-earning assets less the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. |
| (5) | Net interest margin is computed by dividing net interest income by total average earning assets. |
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The following table sets forth changes in interest income and interest expense, for the years indicated and the amount of change attributable to variances in volume, rates and the combination of volume and rates based on the relative changes of volume and rates:
| 2023 compared to 2022 | 2022 compared to 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increase (decrease) due to change in: | Increase (decrease) due to change in: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average | Average | Average | Average | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Volume(1) | Rate(2) | Mix(3) | Total | Volume(1) | Rate(2) | Mix(3) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest-earning assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest-bearing cash and due from banks and deposits in banks | $ | (3,521 | ) | $ | 10,480 | $ | (7,495 | ) | $ | (536 | ) | $ | 71 | $ | 3,738 | $ | 769 | $ | 4,578 | |||||||||||||
| Taxable investment securities | 1,987 | 2,389 | 740 | 5,116 | 1,581 | 1,321 | 761 | 3,663 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-taxable investment securities | 517 | 371 | 71 | 959 | 610 | 327 | 119 | 1,056 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loans held for sale | (479 | ) | 296 | (278 | ) | (461 | ) | (351 | ) | 61 | (26 | ) | (316 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Loans | 4,048 | 5,239 | 469 | 9,756 | 3,851 | (1,049 | ) | (95 | ) | 2,707 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total interest income | 2,552 | 18,775 | (6,493 | ) | 14,834 | 5,762 | 4,398 | 1,528 | 11,688 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest-bearing liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market deposits | (30 | ) | 1,244 | (131 | ) | 1,083 | 41 | (56 | ) | (8 | ) | (23 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Savings deposits | (24 | ) | 472 | (29 | ) | 419 | 85 | 8 | 3 | 96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time deposits | 43 | 1,078 | 284 | 1,405 | 18 | (44 | ) | (4 | ) | (30 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other borrowings | - | - | 896 | 896 | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Junior subordinated debentures | (280 | ) | 282 | (220 | ) | (218 | ) | - | 11 | - | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase agreements and other | 34 | (46 | ) | (24 | ) | (36 | ) | (1 | ) | 65 | (5 | ) | 59 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total interest expense | (257 | ) | 3,030 | 776 | 3,549 | 143 | (16 | ) | (14 | ) | 113 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net interest income | $ | 2,809 | $ | 15,745 | $ | (7,269 | ) | $ | 11,285 | $ | 5,619 | $ | 4,414 | $ | 1,542 | $ | 11,575 |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (1) | The volume change in net interest income represents the change in average balance multiplied by the previous year’s rate. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (2) | The rate change in net interest income represents the change in rate multiplied by the previous year’s average balance. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (3) | The mix change in net interest income represents the change in average balance multiplied by the change in rate. |
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2023 compared to 2022. Net interest income is the difference between interest income and interest expense. Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $69.8 million, an increase of $11.3 million from the $58.5 million earned during 2022. The increase in net interest income includes an increase of $14.8 million in interest income partially offset by an increase of $3.5 million in interest expense. Interest and fees on loans, including loans held for sale, increased by $9.3 million related to growth in the loan portfolio and an increase in yield on the portfolio. Net loan fees/costs declined from net fees of $234,000 during 2022 to net costs of $1.3 million during 2023. This decline is mostly related to a decline in fees earned on PPP loans. The average yield on loans, including loans held for sale, increased by 61 basis points from 5.28% during 2022 to 5.89% during 2023. The average prime rate increased from 4.86% in 2022 to 8.20% in 2023.
Interest on investment securities increased by $6.1 million from 2022, related to an increase in average investment securities of $100 million to $462 million and an increase in yield on the investment portfolio from 2.52% during 2022 to 3.29% during 2023. Interest on interest-earning cash balances decreased by $0.5 million related to a decrease in average interest-earning cash balances partially offset by an increase in the rate earned on these balances. The rate paid on interest-earning cash balances increased from 1.61% during 2022 to 5.05% during 2023 mostly related to an increase in the rate paid on balances held at the Federal Reserve Bank. The average rate paid on Federal Reserve balances was 1.76% during 2022 and 5.1% during 2023. Average interest-earning cash balances declined from $305 million during 2022 to $87 million during 2023 related to a decline in average deposits and increases in average loans and investment securities.
Average interest earning assets during 2023 totaled $1.5 billion, a decrease of $50 million from 2022. This decrease in average interest earning assets resulted from a decline in average interest-earning cash balances of $218 million, mostly offset by increases of $68 million in average loan balances and $100 million in average investment securities. The average yield on interest earning assets increased by 113 basis points to 5.03%, related to increases in market rates.
Interest expense increased from $1.2 million during 2022 to $4.8 million during 2023 related to an increase in rate paid on interest bearing liabilities. The average rate paid on interest bearing liabilities increased from 0.17% during 2022 to 0.67% in 2023 related mainly to an increase in market interest rates and the effect of a 4% time deposit promotion. Beginning in April 2023 we began offering a time deposit promotion offering for a limited time 7-month and 11-month time deposits at an interest rate of 4%. We discontinued this promotion, which generated $46 million in deposits, on June 30, 2023. However, during the fourth quarter we allowed those customers who had promotional time deposits to renew those deposits at similar terms. Interest paid on deposit accounts increased for all products mostly related to market conditions. In total interest paid on deposits increased by $2.9 million broken down by product type as follows: Money market accounts - $1.1 million, Savings accounts - $0.4 million and Time deposits - $1.4 million.
During March we redeemed our junior subordinated debentures with funding provided by a $10 million borrowing on Plumas Bancorp's line of credit/term loan facility. Interest expense incurred during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, on the junior subordinated debentures totaled $141,000, down from $359,000 during 2022. Interest and fees incurred on the line of credit borrowing totaled $369,000 during the current period. During the fourth quarter of 2023 we borrowed $80 million under the BTFP. Interest incurred on this borrowing totaled $527,000 during 2023.
Net interest margin is net interest income expressed as a percentage of average interest-earning assets. Net interest margin for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, increased by 89 basis points to 4.71%, up from 3.82% in 2022.
2022 compared to 2021. Net interest income increased by $11.6 million to $58.5 million during 2022 from $46.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Driven by a large increase in the federal funds rate during 2022, interest income increased by $11.7 million from $48.1 million during 2021 to $59.8 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. The increase in the federal funds rate had a much smaller effect on the Company's interest expense which increased by $113 thousand to $1.2 million. Interest and fees on loans, including loans held for sale, increased by $2.4 million, interest on investment securities increased by $4.7 million and interest on interest-bearing cash and due from banks and deposits in banks increased by $4.6 million. Net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2022, increased 19 basis points to 3.82%, up from 3.63% during 2021.
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The $2.4 million increase in interest and fees on loans and loans held for sale resulted from an increase in average balance of $65 million partially offset by a decrease in yield of 13 basis points to 5.28%. Included in interest and fees on loans during the current year were PPP fees net of costs of $1.3 million, a decrease of $4.8 million from $6.1 million during 2021. Interest on investment securities increased by $4.7 million related to an increase in average balance of $122 million and an increase in yield of 68 basis points from 1.84% during 2021 to 2.52% during 2022. Yield on taxable investment securities increased by 81 basis points and yield on non-taxable investment securities increased by 43 basis points. Interest on interest-bearing cash and due from banks and deposits in banks, which primarily relates to interest on cash balances held at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, increased by $4.6 million related to an increase in average balance of $52 million and an increase in the average rate paid on these balances from 0.14% during 2021 to 1.61% during 2022. This is consistent with the increase in the federal funds rate during 2022 from an average of 0.13% during 2021 to an average of 1.76% during 2022.
Interest expense on deposits increased by $43 thousand to $823 thousand during 2022, up from $780 thousand during 2021. The average rate paid on interest bearing deposits decreased slightly from 0.13% during 2021 to 0.12% during 2022, while average interest-bearing deposits increased by $128 million to $714 million.
Interest expense on junior subordinated debentures increased by $11 thousand from $348 thousand during 2021 to $359 thousand during 2022 and interest on other interest-bearing liabilities increased by $59 thousand to $67 thousand.
As a result of the changes noted above, the net interest margin for 2022 increased by 19 basis points to 3.82%
Provision for credit losses. On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASU 2016-03 Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which replaces the incurred loss methodology, referred to as the current expected credit loss (CECL) methodology. Upon adoption of CECL we recorded an increase in the allowance for credit losses of $529,000 and an increase in the reserve for unfunded commitments of $258,000. During 2023 we recorded a provision for credit losses of $2,775,000 an increase of $1,475,000 from $1,300,000 during 2022. The provision for credit losses during the current period consisted of a provision for credit losses-loans of $2,575,000 and an increase in the reserve for unfunded commitments of $200,000. The increase in the reserves includes growth in the loan portfolio, an increase in qualitative reserves related to the continuation of increases in market interest rates and a reduction in economic activity. As time progresses the results of economic conditions will require CECL model assumption inputs to change and further refinements to the estimation process may also be identified. See “Analysis of Asset Quality and Allowance for Credit Losses” for a discussion of loan quality trends and the provision for credit losses.
The following tables present the activity in the allowance for credit losses and the reserve for unfunded commitments during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (in thousands).
| Allowance for Credit Losses | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance, beginning of period | $ | 10,717 | $ | 10,352 | ||||
| Impact of CECL adoption | 529 | - | ||||||
| Provision charged to operations | 2,575 | 1,300 | ||||||
| Losses charged to allowance | (1,802 | ) | (1,461 | ) | ||||
| Recoveries | 848 | 526 | ||||||
| Balance, end of period | $ | 12,867 | $ | 10,717 |
| Reserve for Unfunded Commitments | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance, beginning of period | $ | 341 | $ | 341 | |||
| Impact of CECL adoption | 258 | - | |||||
| Provision charged to operations | 200 | - | |||||
| Balance, end of period | $ | 799 | $ | 341 |
These estimates are reviewed periodically and, as adjustments become necessary, they are reported in earnings in the periods in which they become known. Based on information currently available, management believes that the allowance for credit losses is appropriate to absorb potential risks in the portfolio. However, no assurance can be given that the Company may not sustain charge-offs which are in excess of the allowance in any given period.
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Non-Interest Income
The following table sets forth the components of non-interest income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
| Years Ended December 31, | Change during Year | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interchange revenue | $ | 3,419 | $ | 3,401 | $ | 3,279 | $ | 18 | $ | 122 | |||||||||
| Service charges on deposit accounts | 2,789 | 2,464 | 2,349 | 325 | 115 | ||||||||||||||
| Gain on termination of swaps | 1,707 | - | - | 1,707 | - | ||||||||||||||
| Loan servicing fees | 900 | 893 | 852 | 7 | 41 | ||||||||||||||
| FHLB Dividends | 418 | 293 | 233 | 125 | 60 | ||||||||||||||
| Earnings on bank owned life insurance policies | 417 | 391 | 380 | 26 | 11 | ||||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of loans, net | 234 | 2,696 | 1,008 | (2,462 | ) | 1,688 | |||||||||||||
| Loss on sale of investments | - | - | (209 | ) | - | 209 | |||||||||||||
| Other income | 838 | 912 | 824 | (74 | ) | 88 | |||||||||||||
| Total non-interest income | $ | 10,722 | $ | 11,050 | $ | 8,716 | $ | (328 | ) | $ | 2,334 |
2023 compared to 2022. During 2023, non-interest income totaled $10.7 million, a decrease of $328,000 from $11.0 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. The largest component of this decrease was a decline in gain on sale of SBA 7(a) loans of $2.5 million from $2.7 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 to $234,000 during the current period. We did not sell SBA 7(a) loans during the second and third quarters of 2021 resulting in an inventory of loans held for sale of $31.3 million at December 31, 2021. During 2022 we sold $50.5 million in guaranteed portions of SBA 7(a) loans. This compares to $5.3 million in sales during the current period. Partially offsetting the decline in SBA gains was a gain of $1.7 million on termination of our interest rate swaps during the first quarter of 2023. In addition, service charges on deposit accounts increased by $325,000. This was mostly related to our Yuba City, California branch acquired in the acquisition of Feather River Bancorp in 2021. During most of 2022 we waived service charges on deposit accounts at the Yuba City Branch.
During the fourth quarter of 2022 and continuing into 2023 we experienced a significant decline in premiums received on the sale of SBA loans; in response we chose to portfolio SBA 7(a) loans which do not meet a minimum premium on sale. During the current period we chose not to sell $4.1 million in salable guaranteed portions of SBA 7(a) loans as they did not meet our minimum premium on sale. Additionally, the SBA 7(a) loan product that is salable in the open market is variable rate tied to prime and we have seen a significant decline in interest in this product given the recent increases in the prime rate. While we continue to produce SBA 7(a) loans for sale at a greatly reduced rate, we have had success in funding fixed rate SBA 7(a) loans which we portfolio. At December 31, 2023, fixed rate SBA 7(a) loans totaled $23 million.
2022 compared to 2021. During 2022, non-interest income totaled $11.0 million, an increase of $2.3 million from the $8.7 million earned during 2021. This increase included increases in several categories of non-interest income, the largest of which was $1.7 million in gains on sale of SBA loans. During 2022, we sold $50.5 million in guaranteed portions of SBA loans. This compares to sales of $14.2 million during 2021. Loans held for sale at December 31, 2022 and 2021 totaling $2.3 million and $31.3 million, respectively, consist of the guaranteed portion of SBA 7(a) loans.
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Non-Interest Expense
The following table sets forth the components of other non-interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
| Years Ended December 31, | Change during Year | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Salaries and employee benefits | $ | 20,320 | $ | 17,451 | $ | 12,792 | $ | 2,869 | $ | 4,659 | ||||||||||
| Occupancy and equipment | 5,302 | 4,610 | 3,983 | 692 | 627 | |||||||||||||||
| Outside service fees | 4,496 | 4,057 | 3,753 | 439 | 304 | |||||||||||||||
| Professional fees | 1,258 | 1,282 | 1,311 | (24 | ) | (29 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Advertising and promotion | 941 | 673 | 431 | 268 | 242 | |||||||||||||||
| Telephone and data communications | 806 | 770 | 746 | 36 | 24 | |||||||||||||||
| Armored car and courier | 767 | 675 | 498 | 92 | 177 | |||||||||||||||
| Director compensation, education and retirement | 763 | 606 | 498 | 157 | 108 | |||||||||||||||
| Deposit insurance | 737 | 528 | 455 | 209 | 73 | |||||||||||||||
| Business development | 615 | 506 | 343 | 109 | 163 | |||||||||||||||
| Loan collection costs | 423 | 274 | 284 | 149 | (10 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of Core Deposit Intangible | 237 | 284 | 246 | (47 | ) | 38 | ||||||||||||||
| Other operating expense | 865 | 874 | 698 | (9 | ) | 176 | ||||||||||||||
| Total non-interest expense | $ | 37,530 | $ | 32,590 | $ | 26,038 | $ | 4,940 | $ | 6,552 |
2023 compared to 2022. During 2023, non-interest expense increased by $4.9 million to $37.5 million. The largest components of this increase were $2.9 million in salary and benefit expense, $692,000 in occupancy and equipment costs, $439,000 in outside service fees and $268,000 in advertising and shareholder relations. The largest single components of the increase in salary and benefit expense were a $1.5 million increase in salary expense and a $1.2 million reduction in the deferral of loan origination expense. We attribute much of the increase in salary expense to two factors. Merit and promotional salary increases and employee termination costs which included $115,000 related to the termination of our automobile loan program. We have seen a reduction in loan demand given the current economic environment, especially in SBA 7(a) loans tied to the prime interest rate resulting in the reduction in the deferral of loan origination costs. Occupancy and equipment costs increased by $692,000, a considerable portion of which relates to snow removal and other costs attributable to an unusually harsh winter in our service area and to our new Chico, California branch. The increase in outside service fees was spread among several different categories, none of which exceeded $100,000. The increase in advertising costs reflects an increase in our budgeted advertising program, with an emphasis on Northern Nevada growth opportunities.
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2022 compared to 2021. During 2022, non-interest expense increased by $6.6 million. The largest components of this increase were $4.7 million in salary and benefit expense, $627 thousand in occupancy and equipment costs, $304 thousand in outside service fees, $242 thousand in advertising and shareholder relations and $163 thousand in business development expense. The largest component of the increase in salary and benefit expense was related to a $2.3 million ERC recorded in 2021 as a reduction in salary and benefit expense. The ERC was made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and modified and extended under the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020. Other significant increases in salary and benefit expense include $1.4 million in salary expense and $889 thousand in accrued bonus expense. The salary expense includes normal merit increases, promotional increases and and a full year of salaries at our Yuba City branch. The increase in bonus expense includes the effect of the increase in pretax pre-bonus income during the comparison period as well as an increase in performance compared to peers.
The increase in occupancy and equipment expense includes $293 thousand related to a full year of operations of our Yuba City branch. The largest components of the increase in outside service fees were $227 thousand in interchange fees and ATM processing costs and $90 thousand in human resources administration and payroll processing. The increase in advertising and shareholder costs mostly relates to an increase of $219 thousand in expense paid to an advertising agency which is primarily focused on building our brand in Northern Nevada. The increase in business development expense mostly relates to increases in travel, and education and training expenses from relatively low levels during 2021 and 2020 related to the Pandemic.
Provision for Income Taxes. The Company recorded an income tax provision of $10.4 million, or 26.0% of pre-tax income for the year ended December 31, 2023. This compares to an income tax provision of $9.2 million, or 25.9% of pre-tax income during 2022. The percentages for 2023 and 2022 differ from statutory rates as tax exempt items of income such as earnings on Bank owned life insurance and municipal securities interest decrease taxable income.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences between the reported amount of assets and liabilities and their tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The determination of the amount of deferred income tax assets which are more likely than not to be realized is primarily dependent on projections of future earnings, which are subject to uncertainty and estimates that may change given economic conditions and other factors. The realization of deferred income tax assets is assessed, and a valuation allowance is recorded if it is "more likely than not" that all or a portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. "More likely than not" is defined as greater than a 50% chance. All available evidence, both positive and negative, is considered to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, a valuation allowance is needed. Based upon the analysis of available evidence, management has determined that it is "more likely than not" that all deferred income tax assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 will be fully realized and therefore no valuation allowance was recorded.
Financial Condition
Total assets at December 31, 2023, were $1.6 billion, a decrease of $10.6 million from December 31, 2022. Net loans, including loans held for sale, increased by $42.3 million from $906.3 million on December 31, 2022, to $948.6 million at December 31, 2023. Investment securities increased by $44.5 million from $444.7 million on December 31, 2022, to $489.2 million on December 31, 2023. All other assets, excluding cash and cash equivalents, increased by $0.3 million. These increases were offset by a decrease in cash and equivalents of $97.8 million to $85.7 million. Deposits totaled $1.3 billion at December 31, 2023, a decrease of $124.2 million from December 31, 2022. Borrowings increased to $90 million. There were no borrowings outstanding at December 31, 2022; however, there were $10 million in junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures which were redeemed in 2023. Shareholders’ equity increased by $28.3 million from $119.0 million on December 31, 2022, to $147.3 million on December 31, 2023. A detailed discussion of each of these changes follows.
Loan Portfolio. Gross loans, excluding loans held for sale, increased by $47 million, or 5%, from $912 million at December 31, 2022, to $959 million at December 31, 2023. Increases in loans included $28 million in commercial real estate loans, $14 million in construction loans, $7 million in agricultural loans, $2 million in equity lines of credit, and $1 million in automobile loans; these items were partially offset by decreases of $3 million in residential real estate loans and $2 million in commercial loans. Although the Company offers a broad array of financing options, it continues to concentrate its focus on small to medium sized commercial businesses. These loans offer diversification as to industries and types of businesses, thus limiting material exposure in any industry concentrations. The Company offers both fixed and floating rate loans and obtains collateral in the form of real property, business assets and deposit accounts, but looks to business and personal cash flows as its primary source of repayment. In the fourth quarter of 2023 we terminated our indirect auto loan program. Ending this program, which was our lowest yielding loan segment, also improved our loan loss risk profile since this program had historically higher charge-off rates. Terminating this program also improved our consumer compliance risk profile.
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As shown in the following table the Company's largest lending categories are commercial real estate loans, auto loans, agricultural loans and commercial loans.
| Percent of | Percent of | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loans in | Loans in | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at | Each | Balance at | Each | |||||||||||||
| End of | Category to | End of | Category to | |||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | Period | Total Loans | Period | Total Loans | ||||||||||||
| 12/31/2023 | 12/31/2023 | 12/31/2022 | 12/31/2022 | |||||||||||||
| Commercial | $ | 74,271 | 7.8 | % | $ | 76,680 | 8.4 | % | ||||||||
| Agricultural | 129,389 | 13.5 | % | 122,873 | 13.5 | % | ||||||||||
| Real estate – residential | 11,914 | 1.2 | % | 15,324 | 1.7 | % | ||||||||||
| Real estate – commercial | 544,339 | 56.8 | % | 516,107 | 56.6 | % | ||||||||||
| Real estate – construction & land development | 57,717 | 6.0 | % | 43,420 | 4.8 | % | ||||||||||
| Equity Lines of Credit | 37,871 | 4.0 | % | 35,891 | 3.9 | % | ||||||||||
| Auto | 98,132 | 10.2 | % | 96,750 | 10.6 | % | ||||||||||
| Other | 4,931 | 0.5 | % | 4,904 | 0.5 | % | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 958,564 | 100 | % | $ | 911,949 | 100 | % |
The Company’s real estate related loans, including real estate mortgage loans, real estate construction and land development loans, consumer equity lines of credit, and agricultural loans secured by real estate, comprised 77% of the total loan portfolio at December 31, 2023. Moreover, the business activities of the Company currently are focused in the California counties of Butte, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta and Sutter and in Washoe and Carson City Counties in Northern Nevada. Consequently, the results of operations and financial condition of the Company are dependent upon the general trends in these economies and, in particular, the commercial real estate markets. In addition, the concentration of the Company's operations in these areas of Northeastern California and Northwestern Nevada exposes it to greater risk than other banking companies with a wider geographic base in the event of catastrophes, such as earthquakes, fires and floods in these regions.
The rates of interest charged on variable rate loans are set at specific increments in relation to the Company's lending rate or other indexes such as the published prime interest rate or U.S. Treasury rates and vary with changes in these indexes. The frequency in which variable rate loans reprice can vary from one day to several years. At December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, approximately 78% and 80% respectively, of the Company's loan portfolio was comprised of variable rate loans. Loans indexed to the prime interest rate were approximately 20% of the Company’s loan portfolio; these loans reprice within one day to three months of a change in the prime rate. The remainder of the Company's variable rate loans mostly consist of commercial real estate loans tied to U.S. Treasury rates and reprice every five years. While real estate mortgage, agricultural, commercial and consumer lending remain the foundation of the Company's historical loan mix, some changes in the mix have occurred due to the changing economic environment and the resulting change in demand for certain loan types.
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The following table sets forth the maturity of gross loan categories as of December 31, 2023. Also provided with respect to such loans are the amounts due after one year, classified according to sensitivity to changes in interest rates:
| After One | After 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Within | Through 5 | Through 15 | Due After 15 | ||||||||||||||||
| One Year | Years | Years | Years | Total | |||||||||||||||
| ( in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial | $ | 16,171 | $ | 50,683 | $ | 7,086 | $ | 331 | $ | 74,271 | |||||||||
| Agricultural | 67,702 | 45,553 | 10,492 | 5,642 | 129,389 | ||||||||||||||
| Real estate – residential | 2,561 | 7,331 | 1,711 | 311 | 11,914 | ||||||||||||||
| Real estate – commercial | 44,232 | 134,282 | 226,606 | 139,219 | 544,339 | ||||||||||||||
| Real estate – construction & land development | 20,537 | 9,063 | 13,053 | 15,064 | 57,717 | ||||||||||||||
| Equity Lines of Credit | 8,601 | 28,700 | 570 | - | 37,871 | ||||||||||||||
| Auto | 23,736 | 65,976 | 8,420 | - | 98,132 | ||||||||||||||
| Other | 1,446 | 80 | 32 | 3,373 | 4,931 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 184,986 | $ | 341,668 | $ | 267,970 | $ | 163,940 | $ | 958,564 |
Amount due after one year at fixed interest rates:
| (in thousands) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial | $ | 30,034 | |
| Agricultural | 2,057 | ||
| Real estate – residential | 6,526 | ||
| Real estate – commercial | 19,190 | ||
| Real estate – construction & land development | 12,705 | ||
| Equity Lines of Credit | 1,559 | ||
| Auto | 74,396 | ||
| Other | 3,485 | ||
| Total | $ | 149,952 |
Amount due after one year at variable interest rates:
| (in thousands) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial | $ | 28,066 | |
| Agricultural | 59,630 | ||
| Real estate – residential | 2,826 | ||
| Real estate – commercial | 480,918 | ||
| Real estate – construction & land development | 24,475 | ||
| Equity Lines of Credit | 27,711 | ||
| Auto | - | ||
| Other | - | ||
| Total | $ | 623,626 |
Analysis of Asset Quality and Allowance for Credit Losses. The Company attempts to minimize credit risk through its underwriting and credit review policies. The Company’s credit review process includes internally prepared credit reviews as well as contracting with an outside firm to conduct periodic credit reviews. The Company’s management and lending officers evaluate the loss exposure of classified and nonaccrual loans on a quarterly basis, or more frequently as loan conditions change. The Management Asset Resolution Committee (MARC) reviews the asset quality of criticized and past due loans monthly and reports the findings to the full Board of Directors. In management's opinion, this loan review system helps facilitate the early identification of potential criticized loans. MARC also provides guidance for the maintenance and timely disposition of OREO properties including developing financing and marketing programs to incent individuals to purchase OREO. MARC consists of the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Credit Officer, and the activities are governed by a formal written charter. The MARC meets monthly and reports to the Board of Directors.
On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASU 2016-03 Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which replaces the incurred loss methodology, referred to as the current expected credit loss (CECL) methodology. The measurement of expected credit losses under the CECL methodology is applicable to financial assets measured at amortized costs, including loan receivables and held-to-maturity debt securities. It also applies to off- balance sheet credit exposures not accounted for as insurance (loan commitments, standby letters of credit, financial guarantees, and other similar instruments) and net investments in certain leases.
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The Company adopted ASC 326 using the modified retrospective method for all financial assets measured at amortized cost and off-balance sheet credit exposures. Results for the reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2023 are presented under ASC 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP. The Company adopted ASC 326 using the prospective transition approach for financial assets purchased with credit deterioration (PCD) that were previously classified as purchase credit impaired (PCI) and accounted for under ASC 310-30. In accordance with the Standard, management did not reassess whether PCI assets met the criteria of PCD assets as of the date of adoption. The remaining noncredit discount (based on the adjusted amortized cost basis) will be accreted into interest income at the effective interest rate as of adoption. The Company recognized an increase in the ACL for loans totaling $529,000, as a cumulative effect adjustment from change in accounting policies, with a corresponding decrease in retained earnings, net of $156,000 in taxes. Additionally, the Company recognized an increase in the reserve for unfunded commitments of $258,000, as a cumulative effect adjustment from change in accounting policies, with a corresponding decrease in retained earnings, net of $76,000 in taxes.
The allowance for credit losses is established through charges to earnings in the form of the provision for credit losses. Loan losses are charged to, and recoveries are credited to, the allowance for credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is maintained at a level deemed appropriate by management to provide for known and inherent risks in the loan portfolio.
To estimate expected losses the Company generally utilizes historical loss trends and the remaining contractual lives of the loan portfolios to determine estimated credit losses through a reasonable and supportable forecast period. Individual loan credit quality indicators including loan grade and borrower repayment performance have been statistically correlated with historical credit losses and various economic metrics including California unemployment rates, California Housing Prices and California gross domestic product. Model forecasts may be adjusted for inherent limitations or biases that have been identified through independent validation and back-testing of model performance to actual realized results. At both January 1, 2023, the adoption and implementation date of ASC Topic 326, and December 31, 2023, the Company utilized a reasonable and supportable forecast period of approximately four quarters and obtained the forecast data from publicly available sources. The Company also considered the impact of portfolio concentrations, changes in underwriting practices, imprecision in its economic forecasts, and other risk factors that might influence its loss estimation process. Management believes that the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2023, appropriately reflected expected credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio at that date.
In determining the allowance for credit losses, accruing loans with similar risk characteristics are generally evaluated collectively. The Company's policy is that loans designated as nonaccrual no longer share risk characteristics similar to other loans evaluated collectively and as such, all nonaccrual loans are individually evaluated for reserves. As of December 31, 2023, the Bank's nonaccrual loans comprised the entire population of loans individually evaluated. The Company's policy is that nonaccrual loans also represent the subset of loans in which borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty such that an evaluation of the source of repayment is required to determine if the nonaccrual loans should be categorized as collateral dependent.
The implementation of CECL also impacted the Company's ACL on unfunded loan commitments, as the ACL now represents expected credit losses over the contractual life of commitments not identified as unconditionally cancellable by the Company. The Reserve for Unfunded Commitments is estimated using the same reserve or coverage rates calculated on collectively evaluated loans following the application of a funding rate to the amount of the unfunded commitment. The funding rate represents management's estimate of the amount of the current unfunded commitment that will be funded over the remaining contractual life of the commitment and is based on historical data. Under CECL the ACL on unfunded loan commitments remains in Other Liabilities while the related provision expense is included in the provision for credit loss expense.
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The following table provides selected credit ratios as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
| (dollars in thousands) | As of and for the Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Allowance for credit losses to total loans outstanding | 1.34 | % | 1.18 | % | 1.23 | % | ||||||
| Allowance for credit losses | $ | 12,867 | $ | 10,717 | $ | 10,352 | ||||||
| Total loans outstanding | $ | 961,471 | $ | 911,949 | $ | 838,587 | ||||||
| Nonaccrual loans to total loans outstanding | 0.50 | % | 0.13 | % | 0.58 | % | ||||||
| Nonaccrual loans | $ | 4,820 | $ | 1,172 | $ | 4,863 | ||||||
| Total loans outstanding | $ | 961,471 | $ | 911,949 | $ | 838,587 | ||||||
| Allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual loans | 266.95 | % | 914.42 | % | 212.87 | % | ||||||
| Allowance for credit losses | $ | 12,867 | $ | 10,717 | $ | 10,352 | ||||||
| Nonaccrual loans | $ | 4,820 | $ | 1,172 | $ | 4,863 | ||||||
| Net charge-offs during the period to average loans outstanding: | ||||||||||||
| Commercial | 0.10 | % | 0.21 | % | 0.09 | % | ||||||
| Net charge-off during the period | $ | 79 | $ | 180 | $ | 116 | ||||||
| Average amount outstanding | $ | 75,760 | $ | 85,460 | $ | 133,433 | ||||||
| Agricultural | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % | ||||||
| Net charge-off during the period | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||
| Average amount outstanding | $ | 124,798 | $ | 124,389 | $ | 99,598 | ||||||
| Real estate - residential | (0.02 | %) | (0.02 | %) | (0.03 | %) | ||||||
| Net charge-off during the period | $ | (3 | ) | $ | (3 | ) | $ | (3 | ) | |||
| Average amount outstanding | $ | 14,223 | $ | 15,680 | $ | 11,236 | ||||||
| Real estate - commercial | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % | ||||||
| Net charge-off during the period | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 17 | $ | (8 | ) | ||||
| Average amount outstanding | $ | 520,498 | $ | 445,348 | $ | 376,048 | ||||||
| Real estate - construction & land development | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % | ||||||
| Net charge-off during the period | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||
| Average amount outstanding | $ | 55,034 | $ | 57,367 | $ | 36,446 | ||||||
| Equity lines of credit | (0.00 | %) | (0.00 | %) | (0.01 | %) | ||||||
| Net charge-off during the period | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (4 | ) | |||||
| Average amount outstanding | $ | 36,371 | $ | 34,458 | $ | 33,662 | ||||||
| Auto | 0.79 | % | 0.80 | % | 0.63 | % | ||||||
| Net charge-off during the period | $ | 804 | $ | 713 | $ | 567 | ||||||
| Average amount outstanding | $ | 101,800 | $ | 89,442 | $ | 90,651 | ||||||
| Other | 1.36 | % | 0.61 | % | 0.16 | % | ||||||
| Net charge-off during the period | $ | 75 | $ | 28 | $ | 7 | ||||||
| Average amount outstanding | $ | 5,513 | $ | 4,584 | $ | 4,453 | ||||||
| Total Loans | 0.10 | % | 0.11 | % | 0.09 | % | ||||||
| Net charge-off during the period | $ | 954 | $ | 935 | $ | 675 | ||||||
| Average amount outstanding | $ | 933,997 | $ | 856,728 | $ | 785,527 |
The allowance for credit losses totaled $12.9 million at December 31, 2023, and $10.7 million at December 31, 2022. At least quarterly, the Company evaluates each specific reserve and if it determines that the loss represented by the specific reserve is uncollectable it records a charge-off for the uncollectable portion. Specific reserves related to collateral dependent loans totaled $28,000 on December 31, 2023. There were no specific reserves related to collateral dependent loans on December 31, 2022. The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.34% on December 31, 2023 and 1.18% on December 31, 2022.
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The following table provides a breakdown of the allowance for credit losses:
| Percent of | Percent of | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loans in | Loans in | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at | Each | Balance at | Each | |||||||||||||
| End of | Category to | End of | Category to | |||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | Period | Total Loans | Period | Total Loans | ||||||||||||
| 12/31/2023 | 12/31/2023 | 12/31/2022 | 12/31/2022 | |||||||||||||
| Commercial | $ | 1,134 | 7.8 | % | $ | 892 | 8.4 | % | ||||||||
| Agricultural | 1,738 | 13.5 | % | 1,086 | 13.5 | % | ||||||||||
| Real estate – residential | 137 | 1.2 | % | 138 | 1.7 | % | ||||||||||
| Real estate – commercial | 6,678 | 56.8 | % | 4,980 | 56.6 | % | ||||||||||
| Real estate – construction & land development | 797 | 6.0 | % | 1,500 | 4.8 | % | ||||||||||
| Equity Lines of Credit | 439 | 4.0 | % | 687 | 3.9 | % | ||||||||||
| Auto | 1,865 | 10.2 | % | 1,289 | 10.6 | % | ||||||||||
| Other | 79 | 0.5 | % | 145 | 0.5 | % | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 12,867 | 100 | % | $ | 10,717 | 100 | % |
The Company places loans 90 days or more past due on nonaccrual status unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection. A loan is considered to be in the process of collection if, based on a probable specific event, it is expected that the loan will be repaid or brought current. Generally, this collection period would not exceed 90 days. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status the Company's general policy is to reverse and charge against current income previously accrued but unpaid interest. Interest income on such loans is subsequently recognized only to the extent that cash is received and future collection of principal is deemed by management to be probable. Where the collectability of the principal or interest on a loan is considered to be doubtful by management, it is placed on nonaccrual status prior to becoming 90 days delinquent.
The following table sets forth the amount of the Company's nonperforming assets as of the dates indicated.
| At December 31, | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Nonaccrual loans | $ | 4,820 | $ | 1,172 | $ | 4,863 | ||||||
| Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing | - | - | - | |||||||||
| Total nonperforming loans | 4,820 | 1,172 | 4,863 | |||||||||
| Other real estate owned | 357 | 0 | 487 | |||||||||
| Other vehicles owned | 138 | 18 | 47 | |||||||||
| Total nonperforming assets | $ | 5,315 | $ | 1,190 | $ | 5,397 | ||||||
| Interest income forgone on nonaccrual loans | $ | 257 | $ | 121 | $ | 381 | ||||||
| Interest income recorded on a cash basis on nonaccrual loans | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||
| Nonperforming loans to total loans | 0.50 | % | 0.13 | % | 0.58 | % | ||||||
| Nonperforming assets to total assets | 0.33 | % | 0.07 | % | 0.33 | % |
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A substandard loan is not adequately protected by the current sound worth and paying capacity of the borrower or the value of the collateral pledged, if any. Total substandard loans increased by $18.3 million from $3.4 million on December 31, 2022 to $21.7 million on December 31, 2023. Loans classified as special mention decreased by $13.5 million from $22.8 million on December 31, 2022 to $9.3 million on December 31, 2023. The increase in substandard loans is primarily related to agricultural loans to one borrower. At December 31, 2023 the loans to this borrower are on accrual status; however, they could move to nonaccrual if the borrower's financial condition worsens, the Bank's collateral position in respect to these loans deteriorates, or if the borrower is unable to meet their payment obligations.
It is the policy of management to make additions to the allowance for credit losses so that it remains appropriate to absorb the inherent risk of loss in the portfolio. Management believes that the allowance on December 31, 2023 is appropriate. However, the determination of the amount of the allowance is judgmental and subject to economic conditions which cannot be predicted with certainty. Accordingly, the Company cannot predict whether charge-offs of loans in excess of the allowance may occur in future periods.
Loans Held for Sale. Included in the loan portfolio are loans which are 75% to 90% guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA), US Department of Agriculture Rural Business Cooperative Service (RBS) and Farm Services Agency (FSA). The guaranteed portion of these loans may be sold to a third party, with the Bank retaining the unguaranteed portion. The Company can receive a premium in excess of the adjusted carrying value of the loan at the time of sale.
As of December 31, 2023, there were no loans held for sale. At December 31, 2022, the Company had $2.3 million in SBA government guaranteed loans held for sale. Loans held for sale are recorded at the lower of cost or fair value and therefore may be reported at fair value on a non-recurring basis. The fair values for loans held for sale are based on either observable transactions of similar instruments or formally committed loan sale prices.
OREO represents real property acquired by the Bank either through foreclosure or through a deed in lieu thereof from the borrower. Repossessed assets include vehicles and other commercial assets acquired under agreements with delinquent borrowers. OREO holdings represented one property totaling $357 thousand at December 31, 2023. There were no OREO holdings at December 31, 2022. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets were 0.33% at December 31, 2023 and 0.07% at December 31, 2022.
The following table provides a summary of the change in the number and balance of OREO properties for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, dollars in thousands:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | 2023 | Number | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| Beginning Balance | - | $ | - | 3 | $ | 487 | ||||||||||
| Additions | 2 | 440 | - | - | ||||||||||||
| Dispositions | (1 | ) | (83 | ) | (3 | ) | (487 | ) | ||||||||
| Ending Balance | 1 | $ | 357 | - | $ | - |
Investment Portfolio and Federal Reserve Balances. Total investment securities were $489.2 million as of December 31, 2023 and $444.7 million as of December 31, 2022. Net unrealized losses on available-for-sale investment securities totaling $46.1 million were recorded, net of $13.6 million in tax benefit, as accumulated other comprehensive loss within shareholders' equity at December 31, 2023. Net unrealized losses on available-for-sale investment securities totaling $54.2 million were recorded, net of $16.0 million in tax benefit, as accumulated other comprehensive income within shareholders' equity at December 31, 2022. No securities were sold during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
The investment portfolio at December 31, 2023 consisted of $6.9 million in U.S. Treasury securities, $235.9 million in securities of U.S. Government-sponsored agencies, $116.0 million in securities of U.S. Government-agencies and 244 municipal securities totaling $130.4 million. The investment portfolio at December 31, 2022 consisted of $9.7 million in U.S. Treasury securities, $214.4 million in securities of U.S. Government-sponsored agencies, $99.6 million in securities of U.S. Government-agencies and 239 municipal securities totaling $121.0 million.
There were no Federal funds sold at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022; however, the Bank maintained interest earning balances at the Federal Reserve Bank totaling $52.9 million at December 31, 2023 and $154.4 million at December 31, 2022. The balance, on December 31, 2023, earns interest at the rate of 5.40%.
The Company classifies its investment securities as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity. Currently all securities are classified as available-for-sale. Securities classified as available-for-sale may be sold to implement the Company's asset/liability management strategies and in response to changes in interest rates, prepayment rates and similar factors.
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The following table summarizes the maturities of the Company's securities at their carrying value, which represents fair value, and their weighted average tax equivalent yields at December 31, 2023. Mortgage-backed securities are included in maturity categories based on their stated maturity date. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because the issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations.
| After One Through | After Five Through | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (dollars in thousands) | Within One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | After Ten Years | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Available-for-sale (Fair Value) | Amount | Yield | Amount | Yield | Amount | Yield | Amount | Yield | Amount | Yield | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury securities | $ | 6,880 | 2.90 | % | $ | - | - | % | $ | - | - | % | $ | - | - | % | $ | 6,880 | 2.90 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Government-sponsored agency mortgage-backed securities - residential | 1,604 | 2.69 | % | 89,871 | 3.51 | % | 144,456 | 3.04 | % | - | - | % | 235,931 | 3.21 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Government agency mortgage-backed securities - commercial | 2,506 | 4.80 | % | 44,572 | 2.92 | % | 68,874 | 3.59 | % | - | - | % | 115,952 | 3.31 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Municipal obligations | 1,740 | 3.69 | % | 5,390 | 3.54 | % | 14,091 | 3.67 | % | 109,197 | 3.22 | % | 130,418 | 3.28 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 12,730 | 3.36 | % | $ | 139,833 | 3.32 | % | $ | 227,421 | 3.25 | % | $ | 109,197 | 3.22 | % | $ | 489,181 | 3.25 | % |
Deposits. Total deposits decreased by $124 million to $1.3 billion at December 31, 2023. The decrease in deposits includes decreases of $74 million in demand deposits, $69 million in savings, and $24 million in money market accounts deposits. Partially offsetting these decreases was an increase in time deposit of $43 million. We attribute much of the decrease to the current interest rate environment as we have seen some deposits leave for higher rates and some customers reluctant to borrow to fund operating expense and instead have drawn down their excess deposit balances. Beginning in April 2023 we began offering a time deposit promotion offering 7-month and 11-month time deposits at an interest rate of 4%. Effective June 30, 2023 we discontinued this promotion which generated $46 million in deposits. However, beginning in the fourth quarter we allowed those customers who had promotional time deposits to renew those deposits at similar terms. At December 31, 2023, 52% of the Company’s deposits were in the form of non-interest-bearing demand deposits. The Company has no brokered deposits.
The following tables show the distribution of deposits by type at December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the average balance and rates paid on deposits for the three years ending December 31, 2023:
| Percent of | Percent of | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deposits in | Deposits in | |||||||||||||||
| Each Category | Each Category | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at End | to Total | Balance at End | to Total | |||||||||||||
| of Period | Deposits | of Period | Deposits | |||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | 12/31/2023 | 12/31/2023 | 12/31/2022 | 12/31/2022 | ||||||||||||
| Non-interest bearing | $ | 692,768 | 51.9 | % | $ | 766,549 | 52.6 | % | ||||||||
| Money Market | 214,185 | 16.1 | % | 237,924 | 16.3 | % | ||||||||||
| Savings | 335,050 | 25.1 | % | 404,150 | 27.7 | % | ||||||||||
| Time | 91,652 | 6.9 | % | 49,186 | 3.4 | % | ||||||||||
| Total Deposits | $ | 1,333,655 | 100 | % | $ | 1,457,809 | 100 | % |
| Average Balance | Yields/Rates | Average Balance | Yields/Rates | Average Balance | Yields/Rates | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (dollars in thousands) | 12/31/2023 | 12/31/2023 | 12/31/2022 | 12/31/2022 | 12/31/2021 | 12/31/2021 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Non-interest bearing | $ | 726,191 | $ | 773,293 | $ | 645,955 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Money Market | 227,819 | 0.60 | % | 254,723 | 0.11 | % | 224,776 | 0.14 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Savings | 375,377 | 0.21 | % | 400,314 | 0.09 | % | 306,911 | 0.09 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Time | 74,570 | 2.10 | % | 59,016 | 0.28 | % | 53,976 | 0.36 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total interest bearing | $ | 677,766 | 0.55 | % | $ | 714,053 | 0.12 | % | $ | 585,663 | 0.13 | % |
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Deposits represent the Bank's primary source of funds. Deposits are primarily core deposits in that they are demand, savings and time deposits generated from local businesses and individuals. These sources are considered to be relatively stable, long-term relationships thereby enhancing steady growth of the deposit base without major fluctuations in overall deposit balances. The Company experiences, to a small degree, some seasonality with the slower growth period between November through April, and the higher growth period from May through October. To assist in meeting any funding demands, the Company maintains several borrowing agreements as described below.
Estimated uninsured deposits totaled $416 million and $478 million at December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, respectively. Uninsured amounts are estimated based on the portion of the account balances in excess of FDIC insurance limits.
The following table presents the maturity distribution of the portion of time deposits in excess of the FDIC insurance limit.
| Maturity Distribution of Estimated Uninsured Time Deposits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | December 31, | |||
| (dollars in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Remaining maturity: | ||||
| Three months or less | $ | 6,044 | $ | 1,790 |
| After three through six months | 10,097 | 257 | ||
| After six through twelve months | 5,428 | 1,688 | ||
| After twelve months | 757 | 76 | ||
| Total | $ | 22,326 | $ | 3,811 |
Short-term Borrowing Arrangements. The Company is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLB) and can borrow up to $215 million from the FHLB secured by commercial and residential mortgage loans with carrying values totaling $396 million. The Company is required to hold FHLB stock as a condition of membership. At December 31, 2023, the Company held $6.2 million of FHLB stock which is recorded as a component of other assets.
The Company is also eligible to participate in the Bank Term Lending Program. The Federal Reserve Board, on March 12, 2023, announced the creation of a new Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP). The BTFP offers loans of up to one year in length to banks, savings associations, credit unions, and other eligible depository institutions pledging U.S. Treasuries, agency debt and mortgage-backed securities, and other qualifying assets as collateral. These assets will be valued at par. At December 31, 2023, the Company had outstanding borrowings under the BTFP totaling $80 million, secured by $107 million in par value of securities pledged as collateral under the BTFP. This borrowing is payable on December 18, 2024, and earns interest at the rate of 4.96%. Borrowings under the BTFP can be prepaid without penalty. Interest expense recognized on the BTFP borrowings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, totaled $527 thousand. In addition to its FHLB borrowing line and the BTFP, the Company has unsecured short-term borrowing agreements with two of its correspondent banks in the amounts of $50 million and $20 million. There were no outstanding borrowings to the FHLB or the correspondent banks at December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022.
Note Payable. On January 25, 2022 the Company replaced its existing $15 million line of credit facility with a $15 million Loan Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) and Promissory Note (the “Term Note”). The Term Note matures on January 25, 2035 and can be prepaid at any time. During the initial three years of the Loan Agreement the Term Note functions as an interest only revolving line of credit. Beginning on year four the Term Note converts into a term loan requiring semi-annual principal and interest payments and no further advances can be made. The proceeds of this lending facility shall be used by the Company for general corporation purposes, and to provide capital injections into the Bank. The Term Note bears interest at a fixed rate of 3.85% for the first 5 years and then at a floating interest rate linked to WSJ Prime Rate for the remaining eight year term. The Loan Agreement provides for a $187,500 loan fee. The Note is secured by the common stock of the Bank. The Loan Agreement contains certain financial and non-financial covenants, which include, but are not limited to, a minimum leverage ratio at the Bank, a minimum total risk-based capital ratio at the Bank, a maximum Texas Ratio at the Bank, a minimum level of Tier 1 capital at the Bank and a return on average assets needed to generate a 1.25X debt service coverage ratio. The Loan Agreement also contains customary events of default, including, but not limited to, failure to pay principal or interest, the commencement of certain bankruptcy proceedings, and certain adverse regulatory events affecting the Company or the Bank. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Loan Agreement, the Company’s obligations under the Loan Agreement may be accelerated. In March 2023 the Company borrowed $10 million on this note and used the proceeds to redeem its Trust Preferred securities as described below. The Company was in compliance with all covenants related to the Term Note at December 31, 2023. Interest expense recognized on the Term Note for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, totaled $369 thousand. There were no borrowings on the Term Note during 2022.
Repurchase Agreements. The Bank offers a repurchase agreement product for its larger customers which use securities sold under agreements to repurchase as an alternative to interest-bearing deposits. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase totaling $23.1 million and $18.6 million at December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, respectively are secured by U.S. Government agency securities with a carrying amount of $34.1 million and $29.6 million at December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, respectively. Interest paid on this product is similar to, but less than, that which is paid on the Bank’s money market accounts; however, these are not deposits and are not FDIC insured.
Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures. During 2002, Plumas Statutory Trust I issued 6,000 Floating Rate Capital Trust Pass-Through Securities ("Trust Preferred Securities"), with a liquidation value of $1,000 per security, for gross proceeds of $6,000,000. During 2005, Plumas Statutory Trust II issued 4,000 Trust Preferred Securities with a liquidation value of $1,000 per security, for gross proceeds of $4,000,000. The entire proceeds were invested by Trust I in the amount of $6,186,000 and Trust II in the amount of $4,124,000 in Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Subordinated Debentures") issued by the Company, with identical maturity, repricing and payment terms as the Trust Preferred Securities. The Subordinated Debentures represent the sole assets of Trusts I and II.
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On February 9, 2023, Plumas Bancorp submitted redemption notices to redeem $6,000,000 of trust preferred securities of Plumas Statutory Trust I (“Trust I”) and $4,000,000 of trust preferred securities of Plumas Statutory Trust II (“Trust II”). The trust preferred securities were redeemed, along with an aggregate of $310,000 in common securities issued by the trusts and held by the Company and 100% of the Company’s junior subordinated debentures due 2032 held by Trust I and 100% of the Company’s junior subordinated debentures due 2035 held by Trust II underlying the trust preferred securities.
The trust preferred securities of Plumas Statutory Trust II were redeemed on March 15, 2023 and the trust preferred securities of Plumas Statutory Trust I were redeemed on March 27, 2023. The redemption prices for the junior subordinated debentures were equal to 100% of the respective principal amounts, which total $10,000,000, plus accrued interest up to the redemption date. The proceeds from the redemption of the junior subordinated debentures were simultaneously applied to redeem all of the outstanding common securities and the outstanding trust preferred securities at a price of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the trust preferred securities plus accumulated but unpaid distributions up to the redemption date. Funding for the redemption was provided from borrowings on our Term Note as described above.
Interest expense, net of the effect of interest rate swaps, recognized by the Company for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 related to the subordinated debentures was $141,000, $359,000 and $348,000, respectively. See the following paragraph for a description of the swaps.
Interest Rate Swaps. On May 26, 2020 we entered into two separate interest rate swap agreements with notional amounts totaling $10 million, effectively converting the $10 million in Subordinated Debentures to fixed obligations. The swaps have a 10 year maturity and fix the labor rate on the Subordinated Debentures at approximately 75 basis points. These agreements have been designated and qualify as cash flow hedging instruments and, as such, changes in the fair value are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income/loss to the extent the agreements are effective hedges. The swaps were determined to be fully effective during all periods presented. As such, no amount of ineffectiveness has been included in net income. Therefore, the aggregate fair value of the swaps is recorded in other assets with changes in fair value recorded in other comprehensive income. The amount included in accumulated other comprehensive income would be reclassified to current earnings should the hedges no longer be considered effective. In January, 2023 we terminated the swap agreements receiving $1.7 million in proceeds on termination.
Capital Resources
Shareholders’ equity increased by $28.3 million from $119.0 million at December 31, 2022 to $147.3 million at December 31, 2023. The $28.3 million increase was related to net income during 2023, of $29.8 million, a decline in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $4.3 million and stock option and restricted stock activity of $661,000 partially offset by shareholder dividends of $5.9 million and $554,000 related to the cumulative change from adoption of ASU 2016-13.
It is the policy of the Company to periodically distribute excess retained earnings to the shareholders through the payment of cash dividends. Such dividends help promote shareholder value and capital adequacy by enhancing the marketability of the Company’s stock. All authority to provide a return to the shareholders in the form of a cash or stock dividend or split rests with the Board of Directors. The Board will periodically, but on no regular schedule, review the appropriateness of a cash dividend payment. Banking regulations limit the amount of dividends that may be paid without prior approval of regulatory agencies. The Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share on November 15, 2023, August 15, 2023, May 15, 2023 and February 15, 2023 and a quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share on February 15, 2022, May 16, 2022, August 15, 2022, and November 15, 2022, and a quarterly cash dividend of 14 cents per share on February 15, 2021, May 17, 2021, August 16, 2021, and November 15, 2021.
Capital Standards. The Company uses a variety of measures to evaluate its capital adequacy. Management reviews these capital measurements on a monthly basis and takes appropriate action to ensure that they are within established internal and external guidelines. The FDIC has promulgated risk-based capital guidelines for all state non-member banks such as the Bank. These guidelines establish a risk-adjusted ratio relating capital to different categories of assets and off-balance sheet exposures.
In July, 2013, the federal bank regulatory agencies adopted rules implementing the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s capital guidelines for U.S. depository organizations, sometimes called “Basel III,” that increased the minimum regulatory capital requirements for bank holding companies and depository institutions and implemented strict eligibility criteria for regulatory capital instruments. The Basel III capital rules include a minimum common equity Tier 1 ratio of 4.5%, a Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.0%, a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0%, and a minimum leverage ratio of 4.0% (calculated as Tier 1 capital to average consolidated assets). The minimum capital levels required to be considered “well capitalized” include a common equity Tier 1 ratio of 6.5%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.0%, a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% and a leverage ratio of 5.0%. In addition, the Basel III capital rules require that banking organizations maintain a capital conservation buffer of 2.5% above the minimum capital requirements in order to avoid restrictions on their ability to pay dividends, repurchase stock or pay discretionary bonuses. Including the capital conservation buffer of 2.5%, the Basel III capital rules require the following minimum ratios for a bank holding company or bank to be considered well capitalized: a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 7.0%, a Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.5%, and a total capital ratio of 10.5%. At December 31, 2023, the Company’s and the Bank’s capital ratios exceeded the thresholds necessary to be considered “well capitalized” under the Basel III framework.
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Under the FRB’s Small Bank Holding Company and Savings and Loan Holding Company Policy Statement (the “Policy Statement”), qualifying bank holding companies with less than $3 billion in consolidated assets are exempt from the Basel III consolidated capital rules. The Company qualifies for treatment under the Policy Statement and is not currently subject to the Basel III consolidated capital rules at the bank holding company level. The Basel III capital rules continue to apply to the Bank.
In 2019, the federal bank regulators issued a rule establishing a “community bank leverage ratio” (the ratio of a bank’s tier 1 capital to average total consolidated assets) that qualifying institutions with less than $10 billion in assets may elect to use in lieu of the generally applicable leverage and risk-based capital requirements under Basel III. A qualifying banking organization that elects to use the new ratio will be considered to have met all applicable federal regulatory capital and leverage requirements, including the minimum capital levels required to be considered “well capitalized, ” if it maintains a community bank leverage ratio capital exceeding 9%. The new rule became effective on January 1, 2020. Plumas Bank has chosen not to opt into the community bank leverage ratio at this time.
The following table sets forth the Bank's actual capital amounts and ratios (dollar amounts in thousands):
| Minimum Amount of Capital Required | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To be Well-Capitalized | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| For Capital | Under Prompt | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Actual | Adequacy Purposes (1) | Corrective Provisions | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount | Ratio | Amount | Ratio | Amount | Ratio | |||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio | $ | 179,194 | 15.7 | % | $ | 51,294 | 4.5 | % | $ | 74,092 | 6.5 | % | ||||||||||||
| Tier 1 Leverage Ratio | 179,194 | 10.8 | % | 66,348 | 4.0 | % | 82,935 | 5.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio | 179,194 | 15.7 | % | 68,392 | 6.0 | % | 91,190 | 8.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio | 192,860 | 16.9 | % | 91,190 | 8.0 | % | 113,987 | 10.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio | $ | 157,361 | 14.7 | % | $ | 48,218 | 4.5 | % | $ | 69,648 | 6.5 | % | ||||||||||||
| Tier 1 Leverage Ratio | 157,361 | 9.2 | % | 68,078 | 4.0 | % | 85,098 | 5.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio | 157,361 | 14.7 | % | 64,291 | 6.0 | % | 85,721 | 8.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio | 168,419 | 15.7 | % | 85,721 | 8.0 | % | 107,151 | 10.0 | % |
(1) Does not include amounts required to maintain the capital conservation buffer under the new capital rules.
Management believes that the Bank met all its capital adequacy requirements as of December 31, 2023.
The current and projected capital positions of the Bank and the impact of capital plans and long-term strategies are reviewed regularly by management. The Company policy is to maintain the Bank’s ratios above the prescribed well-capitalized ratios at all times.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Loan Commitments. In the normal course of business, there are various commitments outstanding to extend credits that are not reflected in the financial statements. Commitments to extend credit and letters of credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Annual review of commercial credit lines, letters of credit and ongoing monitoring of outstanding balances reduces the risk of loss associated with these commitments. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $174.6 million in unfunded loan commitments and $108 thousand in letters of credit. This compares to $178.7 million in unfunded loan commitments and no letters of credit at December 31, 2022. Of the $174.6 million in unfunded loan commitments, $111.2 million and $63.4 million represented commitments to commercial and consumer customers, respectively. Of the total unfunded commitments at December 31, 2023, $114.3 million were secured by real estate, of which $60.2 million was secured by commercial real estate and $54.1 million was secured by residential real estate mostly in the form of equity lines of credit. The commercial loan commitments not secured by real estate primarily represent business lines of credit, while the consumer loan commitments not secured by real estate primarily represent revolving credit card lines and overdraft protection lines. Since some of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.
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Operating Leases. The Company leases two lending offices, two branch offices, the land under our Yuba City branch, three administrative offices and two standalone ATM locations. The expiration dates of the leases vary, with the first such lease expiring during 2024 and the last such lease expiring during 2044. Including variable lease expense, total rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $635,000, $611,000 and $507,000, respectively.
Liquidity
The Company manages its liquidity to provide the ability to generate funds to support asset growth, meet deposit withdrawals (both anticipated and unanticipated), fund customers' borrowing needs and satisfy maturity of short-term borrowings. The Company’s liquidity needs are managed using assets or liabilities, or both. On the asset side, in addition to cash and due from banks, the Company maintains an investment portfolio which includes unpledged U.S. Government-sponsored agency securities that are classified as available-for-sale. On the liability side, liquidity needs are managed by offering competitive rates on deposit products and the use of established lines of credit.
The Company is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLB) and can borrow up to $215 million from the FHLB secured by commercial and residential mortgage loans with carrying values totaling $396 million. The Company is also eligible to participate in the Bank Term Lending Program. At December 31, 2023, the Company had outstanding borrowings under the BTFP totaling $80 million, secured by $107 million in par value of securities pledged as collateral under the BTFP. In addition to its FHLB borrowing line and the BTFP, the Company has unsecured short-term borrowing agreements with two of its correspondent banks in the amounts of $50 million and $20 million. There were no outstanding borrowings to the FHLB, or the correspondent banks at December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022.
Customer deposits are the Company’s primary source of funds. Total deposits decreased by $124 million from $1.5 billion at December 31, 2022, to $1.3 billion at December 31, 2023. Deposits are held in various forms with varying maturities. The Company estimates that it has approximately $416 million in uninsured deposits. Of this amount, $85 million represents deposits that are collateralized such as deposits of states, municipalities and tribal accounts.
The Company’s securities portfolio, Federal funds sold, FHLB advances, and cash and due from banks serve as the primary sources of liquidity, providing adequate funding for loans during periods of high loan demand. During periods of decreased lending, funds obtained from the maturing or sale of investments, loan payments, and new deposits are invested in short-term earning assets, such as cash held at the FRB, Federal funds sold and investment securities, to serve as a source of funding for future loan growth. Management believes that the Company’s available sources of funds, including borrowings, will provide adequate liquidity for its operations in the foreseeable future.
Subsequent Event
On January 19, 2024, Plumas Bank entered into two agreements for the purchase and sale of real property (the “Sale Agreements”) with Mountainseed Real Estate Services, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (“Mountainseed”), providing for the Bank’s sale to Mountainseed of up to 12 properties (the “Properties”) for an aggregate cash purchase price of $33.6 million, assuming all of the Properties are sold. Eleven of the Properties are located in California, and one is located in Nevada.
One Sale Agreement provides for the sale to Mountainseed of up to nine properties owned and operated by the Bank as branches (the “Branches”) for an aggregate cash purchase price of approximately $25.7 million, assuming all of the Branches are sold. The second Sale Agreement provides for the sale to Mountainseed of up to three properties operated as non-branch administrative offices (the “Non-Branch Offices”) for an aggregate cash purchase price of $7.9 million, assuming all of the Non-Branch Offices are sold. The closing date on the Non-Branch Offices has been extended to September 16, 2024.
Under the Sale Agreements, the parties have agreed, concurrently with the closing of the sale of the Properties, to enter into triple net lease agreements (the “Lease Agreements”) pursuant to which the Bank will lease each of the Properties sold. Each Lease Agreement will have an initial term of fifteen years with one 15-year renewal option. The Lease Agreements will provide for an annual rent of approximately $3.1 million in the aggregate for all Properties; increased by two percent (2%) per annum for each year during the initial Term. During the renewal term, the initial rent will be the basic rent during the last year of the initial term, increased by two percent (2%) per annum for each year during the renewal term.
The branch portion of the sale was completed on February 14, 2024. A total of nine branches were sold resulting in gross proceeds of $25.7 million and a net gain on sale of $19.8 million. This gain was offset by losses totaling $19.8 million on the sale of approximately $115 million in investment securities. Proceeds from the sale of these investment securities and the proceeds from the branch sales were used to purchase new, higher yielding, securities and to increase cash balances.