grepcent public filings, reorganized for comparison

Rhinebeck Bancorp, Inc. (RBKB) FY 2023 MD&A

Verbatim Item 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis from Rhinebeck Bancorp, Inc.'s 10-K for fiscal year 2023. Filing date: 2024-03-26. Report date: 2023-12-31. Accession: 0001751783-24-000009.

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.

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Confidence: high.

Company profile: RBKB · All MD&A years: index · Previous year: FY 2022 · Next year: FY 2024

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

This discussion and analysis reflects information contained in our audited consolidated financial statements and other relevant statistical data, and is intended to enhance your understanding of our financial condition and results of operations. The information in this section has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements contained within this Form 10-K.

Overview

Net Interest Income. Our primary source of income is net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income, which is the income we earn on our loans and investments, and interest expense, which is the interest we pay on our deposits and borrowings.

Provision for Credit Losses. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation allowance for the estimated lifetime credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is increased through charges to the provision for credit losses. Loans are charged against the allowance when management believes that the collectability of the principal loan amount is not probable. Recoveries on loans previously charged-off, if any, are credited to the allowance for credit losses when realized.

Non-Interest Income. Our primary sources of non-interest income are service charges on deposit accounts, investment advisory income and net gains in the cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance and other income.

Non-Interest Expenses. Our non-interest expenses consist of salaries and employee benefits, net occupancy and equipment, data processing, professional fees, marketing expenses, premium payments we make to the FDIC for insurance of our deposits and other general and administrative expenses.

Income Tax Expense. Our income tax expense is the total of the current year income tax due or refundable and the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are the expected future tax amounts for the temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities, computed using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized.

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Business Strategy

Based on an extensive review of the current opportunities in our primary market area as well as our resources and capabilities, we are pursuing the following business strategies:

Column 1Column 2Column 3
Maintain our indirect automobile loan portfolio while limiting growth. We originate automobile loans through a network of 120 automobile dealerships (85 in the Hudson Valley region and 35 in Albany, New York). In 2023, we slowed the growth of our indirect automobile loan portfolio by decreasing loan originations through increased pricing and limiting risk selections. Our indirect automobile loan portfolio totaled $394.2 million, or 39.1% of our total loan portfolio and 30.0% of total assets, at December 31, 2023 as compared to $457.2 million, or 46.2% of our total loan portfolio and 34.2% of total assets, at December 31, 2022. In addition, our direct automobile portfolio totaled $7.0 million at December 31, 2023. Current management’s risk appetite limits our total indirect automobile loan portfolio to 45% of total assets.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
Focus on commercial real estate, multi-family real estate and commercial business lending. We believe that commercial real estate, multi-family real estate and commercial business lending offer opportunities to invest in our community, increase the overall yield earned on our loan portfolio and manage interest rate risk. We intend to continue to increase our originations of these types of loans in our primary market area and may consider hiring additional lenders as well as originating loans secured by properties located in areas that are contiguous to our current market area. We also occasionally participate in commercial real estate loans originated in areas in which we do not have a market presence. The purchase of loan pools may be considered in the event our organic loan production does not meet our expectations.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
Increase core deposits, including demand deposits. Deposits are our primary source of funds for lending and investment. Our intention to expand our core deposits (which we define as all deposits except for certificates of deposit), was upended in 2023 with the rising interest rates as depositors sought higher rates causing our certificates of deposit to increase and our core deposits to decrease. Deposits were also impacted as some depositors withdrew funds in reaction to the highly publicized bank failures in the first quarter of 2023 in a perceived flight to safety; and as competition for deposits increased. Core deposits, which we define as all non time deposits, represented 69.1% of our total deposits at December 31, 2023 compared to 80.9% at December 31, 2022. We will focus on increasing our core deposits by increasing operating accounts related to commercial lending activities and enhancing our relationships with our retail customers through the introduction of new deposit products.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
Continue expense control. Management continues to focus on controlling our level of non-interest expense and identifying cost savings opportunities, such as reducing our staffing levels, renegotiating key third-party contracts and reducing other operating expenses. Our non-interest expense was $36.4 million and $37.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
Manage credit risk to maintain a low level of non-performing assets. We believe that strong asset quality is a key to long-term financial success. Our strategy for credit risk management focuses on an experienced team of credit professionals, well-defined and implemented credit policies and procedures, conservative loan underwriting criteria and active credit monitoring. Our ratio of non-performing loans to total assets was 0.32% at December 31, 2023, which decreased from 0.33% at December 31, 2022.
Column 1Column 2Column 3
Grow the balance sheet. We expect the balance sheet to decrease next year through the rebalancing of our portfolio and then stabilize in 2025. We then intend to again focus on growing the balance sheet. While our focus on developing Orange County remains a strategic priority for the Bank, we decided to close the Monroe branch at year-end 2022. The branch location and sheer number of financial institutions in the market made it difficult to gain any meaningful traction. We believe that the remaining offices, and the Bank overall, will continue to benefit from a large customer base that prefers doing business with a local institution and may be reluctant to do business with larger institutions. By providing our customers with quality service, coupled with a home-town ambience, we expect to return to a period of strong organic growth.

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Critical Accounting Policies

Our most significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.  Certain of these accounting policies require management to use significant judgment and estimates, which can have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities, and we consider these policies to be our critical accounting estimates.  The judgment and assumptions made are based upon historical experience, future forecasts, or other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Because of the nature of the judgment and assumptions, actual results could differ from estimates, which could have a material effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The following accounting policies materially affect our reported earnings and financial condition and require significant judgments and estimates.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The allowance for credit losses is an estimate of current expected credit losses considering available information relevant to assessing collectability of cash flows over the contractual term of the financial assets necessary to cover lifetime expected credit losses inherent in financial assets at the balance sheet date. The methodology for determining the allowance for credit losses is considered a critical accounting policy by management because of the high degree of judgment involved, the subjectivity of the assumptions used, and the potential for changes in the forecasted economic environment that could result in changes to the amount of the recorded allowance for credit losses. The loan portfolio also represents the largest asset type on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments effective January 1, 2023. The new accounting rule required the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Based on the Company’s portfolio balances and forecasted economic conditions as of December 31, 2022, the adoption of the CECL standard resulted in an increase in the reserves for loans of $580,000, and brought the allowance for credit losses on loans to $8.5 million at January 1, 2023, as compared to the Company’s December 31, 2022 reserve of $7.9 million.

Our methodology for estimating lifetime expected credit losses for our loan portfolios include the following key components:

Column 1Column 2Column 3
a.Segmentation of loans into pools that share common risk characteristics;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
b.An economic forecast based on the relation of losses with key economic variables for each portfolio segment;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
c.Reversion period to historical loss experience using a straight-line method;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
d.Inclusion of qualitative adjustments to consider factors that have not been accounted for, may be changing, or are, by evidence, expected to change;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
e.Discounted cash flow methodologies to measure credit impairment on each of our loan portfolio segments;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
f.Credit losses for loans that do not share similar risk characteristics are estimated on an individual basis. The lifetime losses for individually measured loans are estimated based on one of several methods, including the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral, observable market value of similar debt or the present value of expected cash flows; and
Column 1Column 2Column 3
g.The estimation methodologies for credit losses on unfunded lending-related commitments are similar to the process for estimating credit losses for loans, although with the addition of a probability of draw estimate that is applied to each loan portfolio segment.

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The following table shows the impact of adoption on the allowance for credit losses on loans:

As reported under ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2023As reported prior to ASU 2016-13 on December 31, 2022Impact of adoption
(In thousands)
Commercial real estate:
Construction$$$
Non-residential$1,885$2,652$(767)
Multifamily$286$379$(93)
Residential real estate$157$103$54
Commercial and industrial$498$881$(383)
Consumer:
Indirect automobile$5,578$3,868$1,710
Home equity$31$18$13
Other consumer$88$42$46
Total$8,523$7,943$580

The Company’s allowance for credit losses for loans totaled $8.1 million and $8.5 million as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively. The $400,000 decrease in our allowance for credit losses for loans was primarily driven by a decrease in our collectively evaluated loans, partially offset by an increase in the allowance for credit losses on individually analyzed loans.

The quantitative component of our allowance for credit losses on collectively evaluated loans, which is largely based on a selection of various economic forecasts, decreased by $506,000 as of December 31, 2023, when compared to January 1, 2023. The decrease was primarily attributable to decreased loan balances of indirect automobile loans and an update to the Loss Driver Analysis that had a favorable impact on the Consumer Loan probability of default (“PD”) and loss given default (“LGD”) factors in the CECL model. The qualitative component of our allowance for credit losses (“ACL”), which is largely based on management’s judgment of qualitative loss factors, was relatively unchanged during the first half of 2023, but was adjusted in the second half to account for anticipated increases in delinquencies and net charge-offs. Automobile loans are experiencing increased delinquencies and net charge-offs are forecast to grow so moderate qualitative adjustments were made to account for those factors. Recently, prolonged inflation and higher interest rates are forecast to have an adverse effect on both consumers and businesses so qualitative adjustments were made to account for those negative factors.

The following table shows the change in collectively evaluated loans between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023:

As reported under ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2023As reported under ASU 2016-13 on December 31, 2023Increase/(Decrease)
(In thousands)
Commercial real estate:
Construction$$$
Non-residential$1,885$2,313$428
Multifamily$286$387$101
Residential real estate$157$346$189
Commercial and industrial$496$574$78
Consumer:
Indirect automobile$5,471$4,182$(1,289)
Home equity$31$48$17
Other consumer$88$58$(30)
Total$8,414$7,908$(506)

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The Company’s allowance for credit losses for collectively evaluated loans totaled $8.4 million as of January 1, 2023, which included nearly $5.5 million of allowance related to indirect automobile loans. Included in that allowance related to the indirect automobile loans was $386 thousand attributable to qualitative loss factors. In comparison, the Company’s allowance related to indirect automobile loans totaled $4.2 million as of December 31, 2023, a reduction of nearly $1.3 million from January 1, 2023. The allowance amount attributed to qualitative adjustments at year end for indirect automobile loans was $1.3 million, an increase of approximately $900,000 from January 1, 2023. As previously mentioned, actual as well as forecasted increases in delinquencies and net charge-offs for automobile loans drove management’s increase in qualitative loss factors.

Our allowance for credit losses for individually analyzed loans is determined on an individual basis using the fair value of the collateral, less estimated selling costs, as applicable. As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s allowance for credit losses on individually analyzed loans increased $106,000 from January 1, 2023. This increase was primarily due to the increase of individually analyzed indirect automobile loans.

As noted above, we consider a number of variables in our evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses. One of the most significant variables being portfolio growth, evaluated for the changing historical loss trends within the specific business segments. As of December 31, 2023, $150,000 of our allowance for credit losses reflected the specific risk relative to portfolio growth trends. Based on our model, if all segments of the portfolio grew by an additional 5% on a year-over-year basis, our allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2023, would have increased by $394,000 to $8.5 million, holding all other variables constant. Conversely, if all segment balances of our loan portfolio had fallen by 5% during the year ended December 31, 2023, our allowance for credit losses would have decreased by $394,000 to $7.7 million, holding all other variables constant.

Another variable in our evaluation of the allowance for credit losses is the forecasted unemployment rate sourced from the FOMC Summary of Economic Projections for the Civilian Unemployment Rate, Median (Percent). A hypothetical increase of 250 basis points in the unemployment rate would have increased our allowance by $85,000, holding all other variables constant.

The above hypothetical sensitivity calculations reflect the sensitivity of the allowance but lacks other qualitative adjustments that are part of the quarterly reserving process. As such, this does not necessarily reflect the nature and extent of future changes in the allowance for reasons including increases or decreases in qualitative adjustments, changes in the risk profile, changes in the severity of the macroeconomic scenario and the range of scenarios under management consideration.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The assets (including identifiable intangible assets) and liabilities acquired in a business combination are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is recognized as the excess of the acquisition cost over the fair values of the net assets acquired and is not subsequently amortized. Identifiable intangible assets include customer lists and core deposit intangibles and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated lives. Goodwill is not amortized, but it is tested at least annually, or more frequently if indicators of impairment are present.

Management evaluated goodwill as of October 1, 2023, utilizing various methods including an income approach that incorporated a discounted cash flow model that involved management assumptions based upon future growth and earnings projections. A weighted average of the various methods was calculated to determine the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. The estimated fair value of the reporting unit was then compared to the current carrying value to determine if impairment had occurred. It is our opinion that, as of the measurement date, the aggregate fair value of the reporting unit exceeded the carrying value of the reporting unit. Therefore, management concluded that goodwill was not impaired. Although we believe our assumptions are reasonable, actual results may vary significantly and it is impossible to know the future impact of evolving economic conditions. If for any future period it is determined that there has been impairment in the carrying value of our goodwill balances, the Company will record a charge to earnings, which could have a material adverse effect on net income, but not risk based capital ratios.

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Income Taxes

We are subject to the income tax laws of the United States, New York State, and the municipalities in which we operate.  These tax laws are complex and subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and the relevant government taxing authorities.  We use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. 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.  See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a further description of our provision and related income tax assets and liabilities.

In establishing a provision for income tax expense, we must make judgments and interpretations about the application of these inherently complex tax laws.  We must also make estimates about when in the future certain items will affect taxable income.  Disputes over interpretations of the tax laws may be subject to review/adjudication by the court systems of the various tax jurisdictions or may be settled with the taxing authority upon examination or audit.

If current available information raises doubt as to the realization of the deferred tax assets, a valuation allowance is established. We consider the determination of this valuation allowance to be a critical accounting policy because of the need to exercise significant judgment in evaluating the amount and timing of recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets, including projections of future taxable income. These judgments and estimates are reviewed on a continual basis as regulatory and business factors change.

A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets may be required if the amount of taxes recoverable through loss carryback declines, or if we project lower levels of future taxable income. Such a valuation allowance would be established through a charge to income tax expense which would adversely affect our operating results.

Although management believes that the judgments and estimates used are reasonable, actual results could differ and we may be exposed to losses or gains that could be material.   An unfavorable tax settlement would result in an increase in our effective income tax rate in the period of resolution.  A favorable tax settlement would result in a reduction in our effective income tax rate in the period of resolution.

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Selected Financial Data

The following selected consolidated financial data sets forth certain financial highlights of the Company and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2023 and 2022.

At December 31,
20232022
(In thousands)
Selected Financial Condition Data:
Total assets$1,313,202$1,335,977
Cash and cash equivalents22,12931,384
Securities available-for-sale191,985223,659
Loans receivable, net1,008,851994,368
Bank owned life insurance30,03129,794
Goodwill and other intangibles2,4812,569
Total liabilities1,199,5171,227,845
Deposits1,030,5031,129,933
Federal Home Loan Bank advances128,06457,723
Subordinated debt5,1555,155
Total stockholders’ equity$113,685$108,132

For the Year Ended December 31,
20232022
(In thousands, except per share data)
Selected Operating Data:
Interest and dividend income$60,659$48,592
Interest expense22,6946,756
Net interest income37,96541,836
Provision for credit losses1,7021,414
Net interest income after provision for credit losses36,26340,422
Non-interest income5,7805,896
Non-interest expense36,42937,422
Income before income tax expense5,6148,896
Income tax expense1,2191,899
Net income$4,395$6,997
Earnings per share (diluted)$0.40$0.64

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At or For the Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Performance Ratios:
Return on average assets(1)0.33%0.54%
Return on average equity(2)4.03%6.06%
Interest rate spread(3)2.44%3.22%
Net interest margin(4)3.06%3.45%
Efficiency ratio(5)83.28%78.40%
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities133.80%142.18%
Total gross loans to total assets76.80%74.14%
Equity to assets(6)8.19%8.91%
Capital Ratios(7):
Tier 1 capital (to adjusted total assets)10.10%9.75%
Tier I capital (to risk-weighted assets)11.96%11.55%
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)12.70%12.25%
Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)11.96%11.55%
Asset Quality Ratios:
Allowance for credit losses as a percent of total loans0.81%0.80%
Allowance for credit losses as a percent of non-performing loans194.31%179.54%
Net charge-offs to average outstanding loans(0.21)%(0.11)%
Non-performing loans as a percent of total loans0.41%0.45%
Non-performing assets as a percent of total assets0.32%0.33%
Other Data:
Book value per common share$ 10.27$ 9.58
Tangible book value per common share(8)$ 10.04$ 9.35
Number of offices1617
Number of full-time equivalent employees171190
Column 1Column 2
(1)Represents net income divided by average total assets.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Represents net income divided by average equity.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Represents the difference between the weighted average yield on average interest-earning assets and the weighted average cost on average interest-bearing liabilities.
Column 1Column 2
(4)Represents net interest income as a percent of average interest-earning assets.
Column 1Column 2
(5)Represents non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income.
Column 1Column 2
(6)Represents average equity divided by average total assets.
Column 1Column 2
(7)Capital ratios are for Rhinebeck Bank only. Rhinebeck Bancorp, Inc. is not subject to the minimum consolidated capital requirements as a small bank holding company with assets less than $3.0 billion.
Column 1Column 2
(8)Represents a non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) financial measure, see table below for a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures.

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NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

This Report contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with GAAP. Such non-GAAP financial information includes the following measure: “tangible book value per common share.” Management uses this non-GAAP measure because we believe that it may provide useful supplemental information for evaluating our operations and performance, as well as in managing and evaluating our business and in discussions about our operations and performance. Management believes this non-GAAP measure may also provide users of our financial information with a meaningful measure for assessing our financial results, as well as a comparison to financial results for prior periods. This non-GAAP measure should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative to or substitute for, measures determined in accordance with GAAP and are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. To the extent applicable, reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable measures as reported in accordance with GAAP are included below.

December 31,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)20232022
Book value per common share reconciliation
Total shareholders' equity (book value) (GAAP)$113,685$108,132
Total shares outstanding11,07311,285
Book value per common share$10.27$9.58
Total common equity
Total shareholders' equity (book value) (GAAP)$113,685$108,132
Goodwill(2,235)(2,235)
Intangible assets, net(246)(334)
Tangible common equity (non-GAAP)$111,204$105,563
Tangible book value per common share
Tangible common equity (non-GAAP)$111,204$105,563
Total shares outstanding11,07311,285
Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP)$10.04$9.35

Comparison of Financial Condition at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022

Total Assets.  Total assets were $1.313 billion at December 31, 2023, representing a decrease of $22.8 million, or 1.7%, compared to $1.336 billion at December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in available for sale securities of $31.7 million, or 14.2%, a decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $9.3 million, or 29.5%, and a decrease in premises and equipment of $1.2 million, or 6.2%, partially offset by an increase in net loans receivable of $14.5 million, or 1.5%, and an increase in Federal Home Loan Bank stock of $3.3 million, or 99.9%.

Cash and Cash Equivalents.  Cash and cash equivalents decreased $9.3 million, or 29.5%, to $22.1 million at December 31, 2023 from $31.4 million at December 31, 2022, primarily due to a decrease in deposits held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, as cash was used to help cover deposit outflows.

Investment Securities Available for Sale.  Investment securities available for sale decreased $31.7 million, or 14.2%, to $192.0 million at December 31, 2023 from $223.7 million at December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to $34.1 million of paydowns and maturities, the proceeds of which were used to help offset deposit outflows. The decrease was partially offset by a decrease in unrealized loss on available for sale securities of $2.7 million.

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Net Loans.  Net loans receivable were $1.009 billion at December 31, 2023, an increase of $14.5 million, or 1.5%, as compared to $994.4 million at December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to increases of $57.5 million, or 15.5%, in commercial real estate loans and $23.5 million, or 43.8%, in residential real estate loans, while indirect automobile loans decreased $63.0 million, or 13.8%. The increase in commercial real estate loans was primarily due to the closing of three large loans totaling $28.7 million, secured by an auto dealership, a retail shopping center and a self-storage facility. The increase in residential real estate loans reflected the strategic decision to hold new production in our portfolio instead of selling these loans. The decrease in our indirect automobile portfolio was also due to a strategic decision to decrease that loan portfolio as a percentage of our balance sheet.

Allowance for Credit Losses. During the year, the allowance for credit losses increased $181,000, or 2.3%, reflecting an increase of expected losses in our loan portfolio. Non-accrual loans decreased $243,000, or 5.5%, to $4.2 million at December 31, 2023 from $4.4 million at December 31, 2022. Non-performing assets decreased $218,000, or 4.9%. Non-performing assets included $25,000 in other real estate owned as of December 31, 2023. The Company had no other real estate owned as of December 31, 2022. Past due loans decreased $3.5 million, or 15.6%, between December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023, finishing at $19.2 million, or 1.90%, of total loans, down from $22.7 million, or 2.29%, of total loans at year-end 2022. Our allowance for credit losses was 0.81% of total loans and 194.31% of non-performing loans at December 31, 2023 as compared to 0.80% of total loans and 179.54% of non-performing loans at December 31, 2022.

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock. FHLB stock increased $3.3 million, or 99.9%, to $6.5 million at December 31, 2023, from $3.3 million at December 31, 2022, primarily due to the required purchase of additional shares to support additional borrowing activity.

Premises and Equipment. Premises and equipment decreased $1.2 million, or 6.2%, as overall purchases decreased substantially year-over-year as the Company significantly invested in on-line banking software in 2022. The Company also entered into an agreement for the property sale of our Beacon branch in Wappingers Falls, NY, resulting in an impairment charge of $375,000.

Total Liabilities.  Total liabilities decreased $28.3 million, or 2.3%, to $1.200 billion at December 31, 2023 from $1.228 billion at December 31, 2022 due to a decrease in deposits of $99.4 million, or 8.8%, partially offset by an increase in advances from the FHLB of $70.3 million, or 121.9%, to help offset deposit outflows.

Deposits.  Deposits decreased $99.4 million, or 8.8%, to $1.031 billion at December 31, 2023 from $1.130 billion at December 31, 2022. Interest bearing accounts decreased $65.7 million, or 7.8%, to $780.7 million while non-interest bearing balances decreased $33.8 million, or 11.9%, finishing the year at $249.8 million. Of the interest bearing accounts, transaction accounts including NOW, savings and money market accounts decreased $167.3 million, or 26.6%, which was partially offset by an increase in time deposits of $101.7 million, or 47.0%. The continued growth in time deposits was primarily due to depositors seeking higher interest rates, which contributed to the decrease in non-interest bearing and lower interest-bearing deposits. Deposits were also impacted as some depositors withdrew funds in reaction to the highly publicized bank failures in the first quarter of 2023 and as subsequent competition for deposits increased.

We participate in reciprocal deposit programs, obtained through the Certificate Deposit Account Registry Service (CDARS) and IntraFi Cash Service (ICS) networks, that provide access to FDIC-insured deposit products in aggregate amounts exceeding the current limits for depositors. This allows us to maintain deposits that might otherwise be uninsured. Our reciprocal deposits obtained through the CDARS and ICS networks totaled $23.4 million and $16.7 million, respectively, at December 31, 2023. At December 31, 2022, we had reciprocal deposits obtained through CDARS of $10.0 million. We had no brokered deposits at December 31, 2023 and $34.0 million in brokered deposits at December 31, 2022.

Borrowed Funds.  Advances from the FHLB increased $70.3 million, or 121.9%, from $57.7 million at December 31, 2022 to $128.1 million at December 31, 2023 to offset decreased deposits.

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Stockholders’ Equity. Stockholders' equity increased $5.6 million, or 5.1%, to $113.7 million at December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to net income of $4.4 million and a $2.7 million decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss primarily reflecting valuation improvements in our available-for-sale securities portfolio and the defined benefit pension plan due to current financial market conditions. The increase was partially offset by the repurchase of 200,000 shares of the Company’s stock, totaling $1.4 million, and a reduction in retained earnings of $633,000 due to the adoption of the current expected credit loss standard on January 1, 2023. At December 31, 2023, the Company’s book value per share was $10.27 and the Company’s ratio of stockholders’ equity-to-total assets was 8.7%. Unearned common stock held by the Bank’s employee stock ownership plan was $3.3 million and $3.5 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Comparison of Operating Results for the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022

Net Income.  Net income for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $4.4 million ($0.41 per basic and $0.40 per diluted share), compared with $7.0 million ($0.65 per basic and $0.64 per diluted share) for the year ended December 31, 2022, a decrease of $2.6 million, or 37.2%. The decrease in net income for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to a decrease in net interest income, an increase in the provision for credit losses and a decrease in non-interest income, partially offset by a decrease in operating expenses. Interest and dividend income increased $12.1 million, or 24.8%, interest expense increased $15.9 million, or 235.9%, and the provision for credit losses increased $288,000, or 20.4%. Non-interest income decreased $116,000, or 2.0%, while non-interest expenses decreased $993,000, or 2.7%, as compared to 2022. Taxes decreased $680,000 or 35.8% on lower net income.

Net Interest Income.  Net interest income decreased $3.9 million, or 9.3%, to $38.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $41.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily driven by higher costs on higher interest-bearing liability balances, which were partially offset by higher yields on higher interest-earning asset balances. The net interest margin was 3.06% for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 3.45% for the year ended December 31, 2022. The ratio of average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities decreased 5.9% to 133.80%.  The costs of interest bearing liabilities increased 165 basis points to 2.44% in 2023 from 0.79% in 2022 driven by increases in general market rates, competitive forces and a greater percentage of higher-yielding certificates of deposits and FHLB advances. The yield on interest earning assets increased 87 basis points to 4.88% in 2023 from 4.01% in 2022, primarily due to the rising interest rate environment in 2023.

Interest Income.  Interest income increased $12.1 million, or 24.8%, to $60.7 million for 2023 from $48.6 million for 2022. The increase resulted primarily from increased yields and higher average earning asset balances. The average yield on interest-bearing depository accounts increased to 5.19% for 2023 from 1.11% for 2022. The average yield on loans increased to 5.47% for 2023 from 4.80% in 2022. The average yields on investment securities increased to 1.91% for 2023 from 1.46% for 2022. Average interest earning assets increased $30.7 million from $1.212 billion for the year ended December 31, 2022 to $1.242 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in average interest earning assets during 2023 compared to 2022 included increases of $81.9 million in average loan balances and $3.2 million in other interest earning assets partially offset by decreases of $47.7 million in available for sale securities and $6.8 million in average interest bearing depository accounts.

Interest Expense.  Interest expense increased $15.9 million, or 235.9%, to $22.7 million for 2023 from $6.8 million for 2022. This was primarily due to a 165 basis point increase in the overall cost of interest bearing liabilities to 2.44% for 2023 from 0.79% for 2022, supplemented by an increase in average interest bearing liability balances of $76.4 million, or 9.0%, year over year. The average balance of FHLB advances increased $66.3 million, while the cost increased 166 basis points. The average balance of the total interest-bearing deposits increased by $8.8 million, while the cost increased 147 basis points.

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Provision for credit losses.  The Company establishes a provision for credit losses through the allowance for credit losses, which are charged to earnings. The Company adopted the CECL model beginning on January 1, 2023. The CECL model requires that we make assumptions of credit quality, macroeconomic factors and conditions, and loan composition which are inherently subjective due to the use of estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available or as future events occur. Although we believe that we use the best information available to establish the allowance for credit losses, based on industry standards and historical experience, future additions to the allowance may be necessary, as a result of changes in economic conditions and other factors. In addition, the FDIC and NYSDFS, as an integral part of their examination process, will periodically review our allowance for credit losses. These agencies may require us to recognize adjustments to the allowance, based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.

The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $288,000, or 20.4%, as compared to $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Of this $288,000 increase, $252,000 is related to the provision for credit losses on loans, while the remaining $36,000 is related to the provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments. The increase to the provision was primarily attributable to an increase in loan balances and changes to qualitative factors in response to changing economic conditions.

Net charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2023 totaled $2.1 million, compared to $1.0 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to a $710,000 charge-off of one commercial loan in the second quarter of 2023, a $126,000 charge-off of a commercial loan in the fourth quarter of 2023 and increased net charge-offs in indirect automobile loans of $642,000. The percentage of overdue account balances to total loans decreased to 1.90% as of December 31, 2023 from 2.29% as of December 31, 2022, while non-performing assets decreased $218,000, or 4.9%, to $4.2 million at December 31, 2023.

Non-Interest Income. Non-interest income totaled $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $116,000, or 2.0%, from the comparable period in the prior year, due primarily to a decrease in the net gain on sales of mortgage loans as activity decreased due to fewer originations in the increasing interest rate environment and a strategic decision to hold new production in our portfolio instead of selling these loans. Gain on sales of mortgage loans decreased $746,000, or 86.3%, compared to the prior year as we sold $4.8 million of residential mortgage loans in 2023 as compared to $23.8 million in 2022. Investment advisory income decreased $69,000, or 5.6%, primarily the result of a challenging investment market and economic conditions. These decreases were partially offset by a $221,000 gain on life insurance, the prior year period net realized loss on the sale of securities of $170,000 and a $148,000 increase in other non-interest income as the income from mortgage servicing rights increased.

Non-Interest Expense. For the year ended December 31, 2023, non-interest expense totaled $36.4 million, a decrease of $993,000, or 2.7%, over 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in salaries and benefits of $2.1 million as the number of employees decreased when the Company made the difficult decision to layoff approximately 5% of its workforce in the first quarter of 2023, a decrease in occupancy expense of $327,000 due to the closure of our Monroe branch at the end of 2022 and a decrease in marketing fees of $138,000 due to decreased advertising. These decreases were partially offset by the growth in other non-interest expense of $533,000, or 8.9%, primarily due to a decrease in deferred loan commitments and inflationary pressures on our service contracts, an increase in FDIC deposit insurance assessments of $403,000, or 48.6%, due to an increased assessment rate, and an impairment charge of $375,000 in the fourth quarter of 2023, as we entered into an agreement for the property sale of our Beacon Branch in Wappingers Falls, NY. The sale closed in the first quarter of 2024.

Income Taxes.  Income tax provision decreased by $680,000, or 35.8%, to $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to the decline in pre-tax income. Our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2023 was 21.71% compared to 21.35% in 2022. The statutory tax rate is impacted by the benefits derived mainly from tax-exempt bond income and income received on the bank owned life insurance to arrive at the effective tax rate.

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Average Balance Sheets for the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

The following tables set forth average balance sheets, average yields and costs, and certain other information for the periods indicated. No tax-equivalent yield adjustments have been made, as the effects would be immaterial. All average balances are daily average balances. The yields set forth below include the effect of deferred fees and discounts and premiums that are amortized or accreted to interest income. Loan balances include loans held for sale. Deferred loan fees included in interest income totaled $67,000 and $1.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

For the Year Ended December 31,
20232022
AverageInterest andAverageInterest and
BalanceDividendsYield/CostBalanceDividendsYield/Cost
(Dollars in thousands)
Assets:
Interest bearing depository accounts$22,612$1,1735.19%$29,368$3251.11%
Loans(1)1,006,50655,0775.47%924,58144,4194.80%
Available for sale securities208,0583,9641.91%255,7623,7331.46%
Other interest-earning assets5,2234458.52%1,9781155.81%
Total interest-earning assets1,242,39960,6594.88%1,211,68948,5924.01%
Non-interest-earning assets90,38984,310
Total assets$1,332,788$1,295,999
Liabilities and equity:
NOW accounts$138,515$1920.14%$160,172$2280.14%
Money market accounts232,6666,1542.64%315,2313,3951.08%
Savings accounts161,8125860.36%188,1884430.24%
Certificates of deposit282,83810,5743.74%143,4491,4351.00%
Total interest-bearing deposits815,83117,5062.15%807,0405,5010.68%
Escrow accounts10,0321111.11%9,9311101.11%
Federal Home Loan Bank advances96,4094,6344.81%30,0749483.15%
Subordinated debt5,1553817.39%5,1551973.82%
Other interest-bearing liabilities1,146625.41%
Total other interest-bearing liabilities112,7425,1884.60%45,1601,2552.78%
Total interest-bearing liabilities928,57322,6942.44%852,2006,7560.79%
Non-interest-bearing deposits268,103304,488
Other non-interest-bearing liabilities26,97223,865
Total liabilities1,223,6481,180,553
Total stockholders’ equity109,140115,446
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$1,332,788$1,295,999
Net interest income$37,965$41,836
Interest rate spread2.44%3.22%
Net interest margin(2)3.06%3.45%
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities133.80%142.18%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Non-accruing loans are included in the outstanding loan balance.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Represents the difference between interest earned and interest paid, divided by average total interest earning assets.

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Rate/Volume Analysis

The following table presents the effects of changing rates and volumes on our net interest income for the years indicated. The rate column shows the effects attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume). The volume column shows the effects attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate). The net column represents the sum of the prior columns. For purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume, which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately based on the changes due to rate and the changes due to volume. The Company does not have any excludable out-of-period items or adjustments.

Year Ended December 31, 2023
Compared to Year Ended
December 31, 2022
Increase (Decrease)
Due to
VolumeRateNet
(In thousands)
Interest income:
Interest bearing depository accounts$(91)$939$848
Loans receivable4,1496,50910,658
Available for sale securities(777)1,008231
Other interest-earning assets25773330
Total interest-earning assets3,5388,52912,067
Interest expense:
Deposits1,20710,79812,005
Escrow accounts11
Federal Home Loan Bank advances2,9777093,686
Subordinated debt184184
Other interest-bearing liabilities6262
Total interest-bearing liabilities4,24711,69115,938
Net decrease in net interest income$(709)$(3,162)$(3,871)

As the table above shows, net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2023 has been affected most by the increase in the rates on deposits and additional FHLB advances, which was partially offset by increases in both the rate and volume of loans. The net interest rate spread decreased 78 basis points to 2.44% for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 3.22% for the year ended December 31, 2022.  Net interest margin decreased 39 basis points to 3.06% at December 31, 2023 from 3.45% at December 31, 2022.

Management of Market Risk

General.  The majority of our assets and liabilities are monetary in nature. Consequently, our most significant form of market risk is interest rate risk. Our assets, consisting primarily of loans, have longer maturities than our liabilities, consisting primarily of deposits. As a result, a principal part of our business strategy is to manage our exposure to changes in market interest rates. Accordingly, the Board of Directors maintains a management-level Asset/Liability Management Committee (the “ALCO”), which takes initial responsibility for reviewing the asset/liability management process and related procedures, establishing and monitoring reporting systems and ascertaining that established asset/liability strategies are being maintained. On at least a quarterly basis, the ALCO reviews and reports asset/liability management outcomes with the Board of Directors. This committee also implements any changes in strategies and reviews the performance of any specific asset/liability management actions that have been implemented.

We try to manage our interest rate risk to minimize the exposure of our earnings and capital to changes in market interest rates. We have implemented the following strategies to manage our interest rate risk: originating loans with adjustable interest rates, holding more residential mortgage loans in our portfolio, promoting core deposit products and managing the interest rates and maturities of funding sources, as favorably as possible. By following these strategies, we believe that we can be better positioned to react to changes in market interest rates.

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Net Economic Value Simulation.  We analyze our sensitivity to changes in interest rates through a net economic value of equity (“EVE”) model. EVE represents the present value of the expected cash flows from our assets less the present value of the expected cash flows arising from our liabilities adjusted for the value of off-balance sheet contracts. The EVE ratio represents the dollar amount of our EVE divided by the present value of our total assets for a given interest rate scenario. EVE attempts to quantify our economic value using a discounted cash flow methodology while the EVE ratio reflects that value as a form of capital ratio. We estimate what our EVE would be at a specific date. We then calculate what the EVE would be at the same date throughout a series of interest rate scenarios representing immediate and permanent, parallel shifts in the yield curve. We currently calculate EVE under the assumptions that interest rates increase 100 to 400 basis points from current market rates and that interest rates decrease from 100 to 400 basis points from current market rates.

The following table presents the estimated changes in our EVE that would result from changes in market interest rates at December 31, 2023. All estimated changes presented in the table are within the policy limits approved by our Board of Directors.

Net Economic Value as a
Net Economic ValuePercentage of Assets
DollarDollarPercentEVEPercent
Basis Point Change in Interest RatesAmountChangeChangeRatioChange
(Dollars in thousands)
400$116,530$(46,056)(28.3)%9.90%(21.9)%
300127,355(35,231)(21.7)%10.60%(16.3)%
200138,410(24,176)(14.9)%11.28%(10.9)%
100150,465(12,121)(7.5)%12.00%(5.3)%
0162,586%12.67%%
(100)160,827(1,759)(1.1)%12.25%(3.3)%
(200)153,256(9,330)(5.7)%11.42%(9.9)%
(300)138,425(24,161)(14.9)%10.09%(20.4)%
(400)119,160(43,426)(26.7)%8.48%(33.1)%

Certain shortcomings are inherent in the methodologies used in the above interest rate risk measurements. Modeling changes require making certain assumptions that may or may not reflect the manner in which actual yields and costs respond to changes in market interest rates. The above table assumes that the composition of our interest-sensitive assets and liabilities existing at the date indicated remains constant uniformly across the yield curve regardless of the duration or repricing of specific assets and liabilities. Accordingly, although the table provides an indication of our interest rate risk exposure at a particular point in time, such measurements are not intended to and do not provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in market interest rates on our EVE and will differ from actual results.

Liquidity Management

We maintain liquid assets at levels we consider adequate to meet both our short-term and long-term liquidity needs. We adjust our liquidity levels to fund deposit outflows, repay our borrowings and to fund loan commitments. We also adjust liquidity as appropriate to meet asset and liability management objectives.

Our primary sources of liquidity are deposits, loan sales, amortization and prepayment of loans and mortgage-backed securities, maturities of investment securities and other short-term investments, and earnings and funds provided from operations, as well as access to FHLB advances and other borrowings. While scheduled principal repayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities are a relatively predictable source of funds, deposit flows and loan sales and prepayments are greatly influenced by market interest rates, economic conditions, and rates offered by our competition. We set the interest rates on our deposits in an attempt to maintain a desired level of total deposits.

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As reported in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, our cash flows are classified for financial reporting purposes as operating, investing, or financing cash flows. Net cash provided by operating activities was $7.0 million and $14.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. These amounts differ from our net income because of a variety of cash receipts and disbursements that did not affect net income for the respective periods. Net cash provided by investing activities was $14.7 million in 2023 as compared to net cash used for investing activities of $123.6 million in 2022. Net cash provided by or used in investing activities principally reflects our investment security and loan activities in the respective periods. Net cash outlays of $144.5 million for an increase in loans was the primary contributor to the cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2022, while that amount was only $16.2 million for 2023. Deposit and borrowing cash flows have traditionally comprised most of our financing activities, which resulted in a net cash outflow $31.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2023, as opposed to a net cash inflow of $68.1 million in fiscal year 2022.

At December 31, 2023, we had the following main sources of availability of liquid funds and borrowings:

(In thousands)Total
Available liquid funds:
Cash and cash equivalents$22,129
Unencumbered securities117,719
Amount available from the Paycheck Protection Plan Loan Facility276
Availability of borrowings:
Zions Bank line of credit10,000
Pacific Coast Bankers Bank line of credit50,000
FHLB secured line of credit100,118
FRB secured line of credit379,151
Total available sources of funds$679,393

The Bank has access to a preapproved secured line of credit with the FHLB which totaled $656,516 at December 31, 2023. Additional funds available under this line are not included in the table above as we do not consider it to be as readily accessible as the funds above.

The following table summarizes our main contractual obligations and other commitments to make future payments as of December 31, 2023. The amount of the obligations presented in the table reflect principal amounts only and exclude the amount of interest we are obligated to pay. Also excluded from the table are a number of obligations to be settled in cash. These excluded items are reflected in our consolidated balance sheet and include deposits with no stated maturity, trade payables, and accrued interest payable.

December 31, 2023
(In thousands)TotalOne Year or LessAfter One but within Five YearsAfter 5 Years
Payments Due:
Federal Home Loan Bank advances$128,064$80,000$48,064$
Operating lease agreements7,2937642,8123,717
Subordinated debt5,1555,155
Time deposits with stated maturity dates318,046291,21226,834
Total contractual obligations$458,558$371,976$77,710$8,872

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.  In the normal course of operations, we engage in a variety of financial transactions that, in accordance with GAAP are not recorded in our financial statements. These transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, interest rate and liquidity risk. Such transactions are used primarily to manage customers’ requests for funding and take the form of loan commitments and lines of credit. For information about our loan commitments, letters of credit and unused lines of credit, see Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. For 2023, we did not engage in any off-balance-sheet transactions other than loan origination commitments and standby letters of credit in the normal course of our lending activities.

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Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

The financial statements and related notes of the Company have been prepared in accordance with United States GAAP. GAAP generally requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without consideration for changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The impact of inflation is reflected in the increased cost of our operations. Unlike industrial companies, our assets and liabilities are primarily monetary in nature. As a result, changes in market interest rates have a greater impact on performance than the effects of inflation.

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