SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

Commission file number: 000-22507

 

THE FIRST BANCshARES, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Mississippi 64-0862173
(State of Incorporation) (IRS Employer Identification No)

 

  6480 U.S. Highway 98 West, Suite A, Hattiesburg, Mississippi  39402  
  (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)  

 

(601) 268-8998

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes  þ                    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes  þ                    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer þ
Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller Reporting Company ¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)  

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes  ¨                    No  þ

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Common stock, $1.00 par value, 5,454,511 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM NO. 1- FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

($ In Thousands)

 

   (Unaudited)   (Audited) 
   September 30,   December 31, 
   2016   2015 
ASSETS          
           
Cash and due from banks  $47,945   $23,635 
Interest-bearing deposits with banks   19,774    17,303 
Federal funds sold   2,395    321 
           
Total cash and cash equivalents   70,114    41,259 
           
Securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost   6,000    7,092 
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value   236,168    239,732 
Other securities   9,516    8,135 
           
Total securities   251,684    254,959 
           
Loans held for sale   9,437    3,974 
Loans   854,366    772,515 
Allowance for loan losses   (7,481)   (6,747)
           
Loans, net   856,322    769,742 
           
Premises and equipment   33,427    33,623 
Interest receivable   4,014    3,953 
Cash surrender value of life insurance   21,106    14,872 
Goodwill   13,776    13,776 
Other real estate owned   4,670    3,083 
Other assets   11,525    9,864 
           
TOTAL ASSETS  $1,266,638   $1,145,131 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
           
LIABILITIES:          
Deposits:          
Noninterest-bearing  $196,786   $189,445 
Interest-bearing   875,003    727,250 
           
TOTAL DEPOSITS   1,071,789    916,695 
           
Interest payable   275    246 
Borrowed funds   68,000    110,321 
Subordinated debentures   10,310    10,310 
Other liabilities   3,606    4,123 
           
TOTAL LIABILITIES   1,153,980    1,041,695 
           
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:          
Preferred stock, no par value, $1,000 per share liquidation, 10,000,000 shares authorized; 17,123 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively   17,123    17,123 
Common stock, par value $1 per share, 20,000,000 shares authorized and 5,454,511 shares issued at September 30,2016; and 5,403,159 shares issued at December 31, 2015, respectively   5,455    5,403 
Additional paid-in capital   44,996    44,650 
Retained earnings   42,543    35,625 
Accumulated other comprehensive income   3,005    1,099 
Treasury stock, at cost, 26,494 shares at September 30, 2016 and at December 31, 2015   (464)   (464)
           
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   112,658    103,436 
           
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY  $1,266,638   $1,145,131 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 2 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

($ In Thousands, except earnings and dividends per share)

 

   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited) 
   Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
   2016   2015   2016   2015 
                 
INTEREST INCOME:                    
Interest and fees on loans  $9,798   $8,629   $28,146   $25,309 
Interest and dividends on securities:                    
Taxable interest and dividends   982    1,001    3,110    3,022 
Tax exempt interest   464    437    1,398    1,402 
Interest on federal funds sold   25    13    82    52 
                     
TOTAL INTEREST INCOME   11,269    10,080    32,736    29,785 
                     
INTEREST EXPENSE:                    
Interest on deposits   962    646    2,476    1,936 
Interest on borrowed funds   240    147    663    467 
                     
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE   1,202    793    3,139    2,403 
                     
NET INTEREST INCOME   10,067    9,287    29,597    27,382 
                     
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES   143    250    538    400 
                     
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES LOSSES   9,924    9,037    29,059    26,982 
                     
OTHER INCOME:                    
Service charges on deposit accounts   1,273    1,348    3,839    3,690 
Other service charges and fees   1,826    634    4,703    1,996 
TOTAL OTHER INCOME   3,099    1,982    8,542    5,686 
                     
OTHER EXPENSES:                    
Salaries and employee benefits   5,645    4,628    16,194    13,867 
Occupancy and equipment   1,209    1,137    3,392    3,383 
Other   2,562    2,212    7,144    6,637 
                     
TOTAL OTHER EXPENSES   9,416    7,977    26,730    23,887 
                     
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   3,607    3,042    10,871    8,781 
                     
INCOME TAXES   1,049    815    3,060    2,340 
                     
NET INCOME   2,558    2,227    7,811    6,441 
                     
PREFERRED STOCK ACCRETION AND DIVIDENDS   86    86    257    257 
                     
NET INCOME APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS  $2,472   $2,141   $7,554   $6,184 
                     
NET INCOME APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS:                    
BASIC  $.46   $.40   $1.39   $1.15 
DILUTED   .45    .39    1.38    1.14 
DIVIDENDS PER SHARE – COMMON   .0375    .0375    .1125    .1125 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 3 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

($ In Thousands)

 

   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited) 
   Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
   2016   2015   2016   2015 
                 
Net income per consolidated statements of income  $2,558   $2,227   $7,811   $6,441 
Other Comprehensive Income:                     
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period on available-for-sale securities   189    1,579    3,016    (431)
Less reclassified adjustment for gains included in net income   (129)   -    (129)   - 
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period on available-for-sale securities   60    1,579    2,887    (431)
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on loans held for sale   (85)   45    1    6 
Income tax benefit(expense)   13    (554)   (982)   144 
Other comprehensive income (loss)   (12)   1,070    1,906    (281)
Comprehensive Income  $2,546   $3,297   $9,717   $6,160 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 4 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

($ In Thousands, unaudited)

 

   Common
Stock
   Preferred
Stock
   Stock
Warrants
   Additional
Paid-in
Capital
   Retained
Earnings
   Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
   Treasury
Stock
   Total 
                                 
Balance, January 1, 2015  $5,343   $17,123   $284   $44,137   $27,975   $1,818   $(464)  $96,216 
Net income   -    -    -    -    6,441    -    -    6,441 
Other comprehensive income   -    -    -    -    -    (281)   -    (281)
Dividends on preferred stock   -    -    -    -    (257)   -    -    (257)
Dividends on common stock, $0.1125 per share   -    -    -    -    (605)   -    -    (605)
Repurchase of restricted stock for payment of taxes   (6)   -    -    (86)   -    -    -    (92)
Restricted stock grant   69    -    -    (69)   -    -    -    - 
Compensation expense   -    -    -    539    -    -    -    539 
Reversal of 2,514 common shares for BCB Holdings   (3)   -    -    (33)   -    -    -    (36)
Repurchase warrants   -    -    (284)   (19)   -    -    -    (303)
Balance, Sept. 30, 2015  $5,403   $17,123   $-   $44,469   $33,554   $1,537   $(464)  $101,622 
                                         
Balance, January 1, 2016  $5,403   $17,123   $-   $44,650   $35,625   $1,099   $(464)  $103,436 
Net income   -    -    -    -    7,811    -    -    7,811 
Other comprehensive income   -    -    -    -    -    1,906    -    1,906 
Dividends on preferred stock   -    -    -    -    (257)   -    -    (257)
Dividends on common stock, $0.0375 per share   -    -    -    -    (611)   -    -    (611)
Issuance of preferred shares   -    -    -    -    (25)   -    -    (25)
Repurchase of restricted stock for payment of taxes   (9)   -    -    (167)   -    -    -    (176)
Restricted stock grant   61    -    -    (61)   -    -    -    - 
Compensation expense   -    -    -    574    -    -    -    574 
Balance, Sept. 30, 2016  $5,455   $17,123   $-   $44,996   $42,543   $3,005   $(464)  $112,658 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 5 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

($ In Thousands)

 

   (Unaudited) 
   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30, 
   2016   2015 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:          
NET INCOME  $7,811   $6,441 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Gain on sale of securities   (129)   - 
Depreciation, amortization and accretion   2,520    2,416 
Provision for loan losses   538    400 
Loss on sale/writedown of ORE   111    142 
Gain on sale of bank premises   -    (119)
Restricted stock expense   573    539 
Increase in cash value of life insurance   (384)   (308)
Federal Home Loan Bank stock dividends   (27)   (7)
Changes in:          
Interest receivable   (61)   (150)
Loans held for sale, net   (5,462)   1,051 
Interest payable   29    (84)
Other, net   (2,882)   (2,884)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES   2,637    7,437 
           
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:          
Maturities, calls and paydowns of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities   37,141    35,135 
Purchases of available-for-sale securities   (30,294)   (20,329)
Net (purchases)/sales of other securities   (1,433)   993 
Net increase in loans   (84,019)   (42,179)
Proceeds from sale of bank premises   -    949 
Net increase in premises and equipment   (1,055)   (860)
Purchase of bank-owned life insurance   (5,850)   - 
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES   (85,510)   (26,291)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Increase in deposits   155,094    71,205 
Net decrease in borrowed funds   (42,321)   (30,464)
Dividends paid on common stock   (587)   (584)
Dividends paid on preferred stock   (257)   (257)
Repurchase of restricted stock for payment of taxes   (176)   (92)
Issuance of preferred shares   (25)   - 
Repurchase of shares issued in BCB acquisition   -    (36)
Repurchase of warrants   -    (303)
           
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES   111,728    39,469 
           
NET INCREASE IN CASH   28,855    20,615 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD   41,259    44,618 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD  $70,114   $65,233 
           
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:          
           
CASH PAYMENTS FOR INTEREST   3,110    2,627 
CASH PAYMENTS FOR INCOME TAXES   4,277    3,675 
LOANS TRANSFERRED TO OTHER REAL ESTATE   2,498    506 
ISSUANCE OF RESTRICTED STOCK GRANTS   61    69 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 6 

 

 

THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

September 30, 2016

 

NOTE 1 — BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. However, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016. For further information, please refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF ORGANIZATION

 

The First Bancshares, Inc., Hattiesburg, Mississippi (the "Company"), was incorporated June 23, 1995, under the laws of the State of Mississippi for the purpose of operating as a bank holding company. The Company’s primary asset is its interest in its wholly-owned subsidiary, The First, A National Banking Association (the “Bank”).

 

At September 30, 2016, the Company had approximately $1.3 billion in assets, $856.3 million in net loans, $1.1 billion in deposits, and $112.7 million in stockholders' equity. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company reported net income of $7.8 million ($7.6 million applicable to common stockholders).

 

In the first, second, and third quarters of 2016, the Company declared and paid a dividend of $.0375 per common share.

 

NOTE 3 — RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, “Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments." Current GAAP is unclear or does not include specific guidance on how to classify certain transactions in the statement of cash flows. This ASU is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how eight particular transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-15 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, provided that all of the amendments are adopted in the same period. Entities will be required to apply the guidance retrospectively. If it is impracticable to apply the guidance retrospectively for an issue, the amendments related to that issue would be applied prospectively. As this guidance only affects the classification within the statement of cash flows, ASU No. 2016-15 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 7 

 

 

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (ASU 2016-13). ASU 2016-13 requires a new impairment model known as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) which significantly changes the way impairment of financial instruments is recognized by requiring immediate recognition of estimated credit losses expected to occur over the remaining life of financial instruments. The main provisions of ASU 2016-13 include (1) replacing the “incurred loss” approach under current GAAP with an “expected loss” model for instruments measured at amortized cost, (2) requiring entities to record an allowance for credit losses related to available-for-sale debt securities rather than a direct write-down of the carrying amount of the investments, as is required by the other-than-temporary-impairment model under current GAAP, and (3) a simplified accounting model for purchased credit-impaired debt securities and loans. ASU 2016-13 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-13.

 

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) NO. 2016-09 “Compensation (Topic 718) – Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.” ASU 2016-09 requires all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. It also allows an employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares than it can today for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting and to make a policy election for forfeitures as they occur. The guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is assessing the impact of ASU 2016-09 on its accounting and disclosures.

 

In February 2016 the FASB issued ASU NO. 2016-02 “Leases (Topic 842).” ASU 2016-02 establishes a right of use model that requires a lessee to record a right of use asset and a lease liability for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. For lessors, the guidance modifies the classification criteria and the accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases. A lease will be treated as sale if it transfers all of the risks and rewards, as well as control of the underlying asset, to the lessee. If risks and rewards are conveyed without the transfer of control, the lease is treated as a financing. If the lessor doesn’t convey risks and rewards or control, an operating lease results. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years for public business entities. Entities are required to use a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its accounting and disclosures.

 

NOTE 4 – BUSINESS COMBINATION

 

The Mortgage Connection

 

On December 14, 2015, the Company completed the acquisition of The Mortgage Connection, a Mississippi corporation, which included two loan production offices located in Madison and Brandon, Mississippi.

 

In connection with the acquisition, the Company recorded $1.5 million of goodwill.

 

 8 

 

 

The amounts of the acquired identifiable assets and liabilities as of the acquisition date were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Purchase price:     
Cash  $844 
Payable   800 
Total purchase price   1,644 
Identifiable assets:     
Intangible   100 
Personal property   44 
Total assets   144 
Liabilities and equity   - 
Net assets acquired   144 
Goodwill resulting from acquisition  $1,500 

 

NOTE 5 – PREFERRED STOCK AND WARRANT

 

Pursuant to the terms of the letter agreement between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”), the Company issued 17,123 CDCI Preferred Shares.

 

The Letter Agreement contains limitations on the payment of dividends on the common stock to no more than 100% of the aggregate per share dividend and distributions for the immediate prior fiscal year (dividends of $0.15 per share were declared and paid in 2011-2015) and on the Company’s ability to repurchase its common stock in the event of a non-payment of our dividend, and continues to subject the Company to certain of the executive compensation limitations included in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA), as previously disclosed by the Company. The CDCI Preferred Shares entitle the holder to an annual dividend of 2% for 8 years of the liquidation value of the shares, payable quarterly in arrears.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the letter agreement between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury, the Company redeemed the warrant to purchase up to 54,705 shares of the Company’s common stock. In connection with this redemption, on May 13, 2015, the Company paid Treasury an aggregate redemption price of $302,410.

 

NOTE 6 — EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS

 

Basic per share data is calculated based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted per share data includes any dilution from potential common stock outstanding, such as stock options.

 

   For the Three Months Ended 
   September 30, 2016 
   Net Income   Shares   Per 
   (Numerator)   (Denominator)   Share Data 
             
Basic per share  $2,472,000    5,429,349   $0.46 
                
Effect of dilutive shares:               
Restricted stock grants        50,218      
                
Diluted per share  $2,472,000    5,479,567   $0.45 

 

 9 

 

 

   For the Nine Months Ended 
   September 30, 2016 
   Net Income   Shares   Per 
   (Numerator)   (Denominator)   Share Data 
             
Basic per share  $7,554,000    5,425,567   $1.39 
                
Effect of dilutive shares:               
Restricted stock grants        50,218      
                
Diluted per share  $7,554,000    5,475,785   $1.38 

 

   For the Three Months Ended 
   September 30, 2015 
   Net Income   Shares   Per 
   (Numerator)   (Denominator)   Share Data 
             
Basic per share  $2,141,000    5,374,790   $0.40 
                
Effect of dilutive shares:               
Restricted stock grants        67,190      
                
Diluted per share  $2,141,000    5,441,980   $0.39 

 

   For the Nine Months Ended 
   September 30, 2015 
   Net Income   Shares   Per 
   (Numerator)   (Denominator)   Share Data 
             
Basic per share  $6,184,000    5,369,260   $1.15 
                
Effect of dilutive shares:               
Restricted stock grants        67,190      
                
Diluted per share  $6,184,000    5,436,450   $1.14 

 

The Company granted 61,247 shares of restricted stock in the first quarter of 2016 and -0- shares during the second and third quarters of 2016.

 

NOTE 7 – COMPREHNSIVE INCOME

 

As presented in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, comprehensive income includes net income and other comprehensive income. The Company’s sources of other comprehensive income are unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investment securities and loans held for sale. Gains or losses on investment securities that were realized and reflected in net income of the current period, which had previously been included in other comprehensive income as unrealized holding gains or losses in the period in which they arose, are considered to be reclassification adjustments that are excluded from other comprehensive income in the current period.

 

 10 

 

 

NOTE 8 – FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE-SHEET RISK

 

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. At September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, these financial instruments consisted of the following:

 

($ In Thousands)  September 30, 2016   December 31, 2015 
Commitments to extend credit  $194,321   $144,086 
Standby letters of credit  $1,964   $1,135 

 

NOTE 9 – FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES AND REPORTING, THE FAIR VALUE OPTION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

FASB’s standards on financial instruments, and on fair value measurements and disclosures, require all entities to disclose in their financial statement footnotes the estimated fair values of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate fair values. In addition to disclosure requirements, FASB’s standard on investments requires that our debt securities which are classified as available for sale and our equity securities that have readily determinable fair values be measured and reported at fair value in our statement of financial position. Certain impaired loans are also reported at fair value, as explained in greater detail below, and foreclosed assets are carried at the lower of cost or fair value. FASB’s standard on financial instruments permits companies to report certain other financial assets and liabilities at fair value, but we have not elected the fair value option for any of those financial instruments.

 

Fair value measurement and disclosure standards also establish a framework for measuring fair values. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Further, the standards establish a fair value hierarchy that encourages an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and limit the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair values. The standards describe three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair values:

 

·Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.

 

·Level 2: Significant observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, and other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

 

·Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a company’s own assumptions about the factors that market participants would likely consider in pricing an asset or liability.

 

Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time based on relevant market data and information about the financial instruments. The estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering the Company’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument for sale at one time, nor do they attempt to estimate the value of anticipated future business related to the instruments. In addition, the tax ramifications related to realized gains and losses could have a significant effect on fair value estimates but have not been considered in those estimates. Because no active market exists for a significant portion of our financial instruments, fair value disclosures are based on judgments regarding current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments and other factors. The estimates are subjective and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment, and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly alter the fair values presented. The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company to estimate its financial instrument fair values disclosed at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

 

 11 

 

 

·Cash and cash equivalents and fed funds sold: The carrying amount is estimated to be fair value.

 

·Securities (available-for-sale and held-to-maturity): Fair values are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges or by matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique used widely in the industry to value debt securities by relying on their relationship to other benchmark quoted securities when quoted prices for specific securities are not readily available.

 

·Loans and leases: For variable-rate loans and leases that re-price frequently with no significant change in credit risk or interest rate spread, fair values are based on carrying values. Fair values for other loans and leases are estimated by discounting projected cash flows at interest rates being offered at each reporting date for loans and leases with similar terms, to borrowers of comparable creditworthiness. The carrying amount of accrued interest receivable approximates its fair value.

 

·Loans held for sale: Since loans designated by the Company as available-for-sale are typically sold shortly after making the decision to sell them, realized gains or losses are usually recognized within the same period and fluctuations in fair values are not relevant for reporting purposes. If available-for-sale loans are on our books for an extended period of time, the fair value of those loans is determined using quoted secondary-market prices.

 

·Collateral-dependent impaired loans: Collateral-dependent impaired loans are carried at fair value when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the original loan agreement and the loan has been written down to the fair value of its underlying collateral, net of expected disposition costs where applicable.

 

·Bank-owned life insurance: Fair values are based on net cash surrender policy values at each reporting date.

 

·Other securities: Certain investments for which no secondary market exists are carried at cost and the carrying amount for those investments typically approximates their estimated fair value, unless an impairment analysis indicates the need for adjustments.

 

·Deposits (noninterest-bearing and interest-bearing): Fair values for non-maturity deposits are equal to the amount payable on demand at the reporting date, which is the carrying amount. Fair values for fixed-rate certificates of deposit are estimated using a cash flow analysis, discounted at interest rates being offered at each reporting date by the Bank for certificates with similar remaining maturities. The carrying amount of accrued interest payable approximates its fair value.

 

·FHLB and other borrowings: Current carrying amounts are used as an approximation of fair values for federal funds purchased, overnight advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”), borrowings under repurchase agreements, and other short-term borrowings maturing within ninety days of the reporting dates. Fair values of other short-term borrowings are estimated by discounting projected cash flows at the Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

 

·Long-term borrowings: Fair values are estimated using projected cash flows discounted at the Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

 

·Subordinated debentures: Fair values are determined based on the current market value for like instruments of a similar maturity and structure.

 

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·Off-Balance Sheet Instruments – Fair values of off-balance sheet financial instruments are based on fees charged to enter into similar agreements. However, commitments to extend credit do not represent a significant value until such commitments are funded or closed. Management has determined that these instruments do not have a distinguishable fair value and no fair value has been assigned.

 

Estimated fair values for the Company’s financial instruments are as follows, as of the dates noted:

 

As of September 30, 2016      Fair Value Measurements 
($ In Thousands)  Carrying
Amount
   Estimated
Fair
Value
   Quoted
Prices
(Level 1)
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
                     
Financial Instruments:                         
Assets:                         
Cash and cash equivalents  $70,114   $70,114   $70,114   $-   $- 
Securities available-for-sale   236,168    236,168    945    232,813    2,410 
Securities held-to-maturity   6,000    7,824    -    7,824    - 
Other securities   9,516    9,516    -    9,516    - 
Loans, net   856,322    879,361    -    -    879,361 
Bank-owned life insurance   21,106    21,106    -    21,106    - 
                          
Liabilities:                         
Noninterest-bearing deposits  $196,786   $196,786   $-   $196,786   $- 
Interest-bearing deposits   875,003    874,872   $-    874,872    - 
Subordinated debentures   10,310    10,310    -    -    10,310 
FHLB and other borrowings   68,000    68,000    -    68,000    - 

 

As of December 31, 2015      Fair Value Measurements 
($ In Thousands)  Carrying
Amount
   Estimated
Fair
Value
   Quoted
Prices
(Level 1)
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
                     
Financial Instruments:                         
Assets:                         
Cash and cash equivalents  $41,259   $41,259   $41,259   $-   $- 
Securities available-for-sale   239,732    239,732    961    236,214    2,557 
Securities held-to-maturity   7,092    8,548    -    8,548    - 
Other securities   8,135    8,135    -    8,135    - 
Loans, net   769,742    784,113    -    -    784,113 
Bank-owned life insurance   14,872    14,872    -    14,872    - 
                          
Liabilities:                         
Noninterest-bearing deposits  $189,445   $189,445   $-   $189,445   $- 
Interest-bearing deposits   727,250    726,441    -    726,441    - 
Subordinated debentures   10,310    10,310    -    -    10,310 
FHLB and other borrowings   110,321    110,321    -    110,321    - 

 

 13 

 

 

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. Level 1 securities would include highly liquid government bonds, mortgage products and exchange traded equities. If quoted market prices are not available, then fair values are estimated by using pricing models, quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics, or discounted cash flow. Level 2 securities would include U. S. agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, obligations of states and political subdivisions and certain corporate, asset-backed and other securities. In certain cases where there is limited activity or less transparency around inputs to the valuation, securities are classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.

 

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:

 

September 30, 2016    
($ In Thousands)  Fair Value Measurements Using 
       Quoted Prices
in
Active
Markets
For
Identical
Assets
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
   Fair Value   (Level 1)   (Level 2)   (Level 3) 
                 
Obligations of U. S. Government Agencies  $9,109   $-   $9,109   $- 
Municipal securities   97,870    -    97,870    - 
Mortgage-backed securities   108,752    -    108,752    - 
Corporate obligations   19,492    -    17,082    2,410 
Other   945    945    -    - 
Total  $236,168   $945   $232,813   $2,410 

 

 14 

 

 

December 31, 2015    
($ In Thousands)  Fair Value Measurements Using 
       Quoted Prices
in
Active
Markets
For
Identical
Assets
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
   Fair Value   (Level 1)   (Level 2)   (Level 3) 
                 
Obligations of U. S. Government Agencies  $19,611   $-   $19,611   $- 
Municipal securities   97,889    -    97,889    - 
Mortgage-backed securities   98,925    -    98,925    - 
Corporate obligations   22,346    -    19,789    2,557 
Other   961    961    -    - 
Total  $239,732   $961   $236,214   $2,557 

 

The following is a reconciliation of activity for assets measured at fair value based on significant unobservable (non-market) information.

 

($ In Thousands)  Bank-Issued
Trust
Preferred
Securities
 
   2016   2015 
Balance, January 1  $2,557   $2,801 
Transfers into Level 3   -    - 
Transfers out of Level 3   -    - 
Other-than-temporary impairment loss included in earnings (loss)   -    - 
Unrealized loss included in comprehensive income   (147)   (244)
Balance at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015  $2,410   $2,557 

 

The following table presents quantitative information about recurring Level 3 fair value measurements (in thousands):

 

Trust Preferred
Securities
  Fair
Value
   Valuation
Technique
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
  Range of
Inputs
              
September 30, 2016  $2,410   Discounted cash flow  Probability of default  1.41% - 3.30%
               
December 31, 2015  $2,557   Discounted cash flow  Probability of default  1.08% - 2.77%

 

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and recognized in the accompanying balance sheets, as well as the general classification of such assets pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

 

 15 

 

 

Impaired Loans

 

Loans for which it is probable that the Company will not collect all principal and interest due according to contractual terms are measured for impairment. Allowable methods for estimating fair value include using the fair value of the collateral for collateral dependent loans or, where a loan is determined not to be collateral dependent, using the discounted cash flow method.

 

If the impaired loan is identified as collateral dependent, then the fair value method of measuring the amount of impairment is utilized. This method requires obtaining a current independent appraisal of the collateral and applying a discount factor to the value. If the impaired loan is determined not to be collateral dependent, then the discounted cash flow method is used. This method requires the impaired loan to be recorded at the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate. The effective interest rate of a loan is the contractual interest rate adjusted for any net deferred loan fees or costs, or premium or discount existing at origination or acquisition of the loan. Impaired loans are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

Other Real Estate Owned

 

Other real estate owned acquired through loan foreclosure is initially recorded at fair value less estimated costs to sell, establishing a new cost basis. The adjustment at the time of foreclosure is recorded through the allowance for loan losses. Due to the subjective nature of establishing the fair value, the actual fair value of the other real estate owned or foreclosed asset could differ from the original estimate. If it is determined the fair value declines subsequent to foreclosure, a valuation allowance is recorded through non-interest expense. Operating costs associated with the assets are also recorded as non-interest expense. Gains and losses on the disposition of other real estate owned and foreclosed assets are netted and posted to other non-interest expense. Other real estate owned measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at September 30, 2016, amounted to $4.7 million. Other real estate owned is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

The following table presents the fair value measurement of assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fell at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

($ In Thousands)        
September 30, 2016        
       Fair Value Measurements Using 
       Quoted Prices
in
Active
Markets
For
Identical
Assets
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
   Fair Value   (Level 1)   (Level 2)   (Level 3) 
                 
Impaired loans  $8,702   $-   $8,702   $- 
                     
Other real estate owned   4,670    -    4,670    - 

 

 16 

 

 

December 31, 2015        
       Fair Value Measurements Using 
      

Quoted Prices

in
Active
Markets
For
Identical
Assets

   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
   Fair Value   (Level 1)   (Level 2)   (Level 3) 
                 
Impaired loans  $10,127   $-   $10,127   $- 
                     
Other real estate owned   3,083    -    3,083    - 

 

NOTE 10 - SECURITIES

 

The following disclosure of the estimated fair value of financial instruments is made in accordance with authoritative guidance. The estimated fair value amounts have been determined using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. However, considerable judgment is necessarily required to interpret market data to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized in a current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

 

A summary of the amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale securities and held-to-maturity securities at September 30, 2016, follows:

 

($ In Thousands)    
   September 30, 2016 
   Amortized
Cost
   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Estimated
Fair
Value
 
Available-for-sale securities:                    
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies  $9,040   $69   $-   $9,109 
Tax-exempt and taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions   94,559    3,534    223    97,870 
Mortgage-backed securities   106,174    2,593    15    108,752 
Corporate obligations   20,604    144    1,256    19,492 
Other   1,255    -    310    945 
   $231,632   $6,340   $1,804   $236,168 
Held-to-maturity securities:                    
Taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions   6,000    1,824    -    7,824 
   $6,000   $1,824   $-   $7,824 

 

 17 

 

 

   December 31, 2015 
   Amortized
Cost
   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Estimated
Fair
Value
 
Available-for-sale securities:                    
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies  $19,479   $144   $13   $19,610 
Tax-exempt and taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions   95,631    2,362    103    97,890 
Mortgage-backed securities   98,223    1,127    425    98,925 
Corporate obligations   23,495    62    1,211    22,346 
Other   1,255    -    294    961 
   $238,083   $3,695   $2,046   $239,732 
Held-to-maturity securities:                    
Mortgage-backed Securities  $1,092   $15   $-   $1,107 
Taxable obligations of states and municipal subdivisions   6,000    1,440    -    7,440 
   $7,092   $1,455   $-   $8,547 

 

NOTE 11 – LOANS

 

Loans typically provide higher yields than the other types of earning assets, and, thus, one of the Company's goals is for loans to be the largest category of the Company's earning assets. For the quarters ended September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, average loans accounted for 75.2% and 73.3% of average earning assets, respectively. The Company controls and mitigates the inherent credit and liquidity risks through the composition of its loan portfolio.

 

The following tables summarize by class our loans classified as past due in excess of 30 days or more in addition to those loans classified as non-accrual:

 

   September 30, 2016 
   ($ In thousands) 
   Past Due
30 to 89
Days
   Past Due
90 Days
or More
and Still
Accruing
   Non-
Accrual
   Total
Past Due
and
Non-
Accrual
   Total
Loans
 
                     
Real Estate-construction  $518   $-   $2,788   $3,306   $104,644 
Real Estate-mortgage   1,220    259    1,969    3,448    296,587 
Real Estate-non farm non-residential   269    161    934    1,364    307,963 
Commercial   -    -    72    72    121,963 
Lease Financing Rec.   -    -    -    -    2,211 
Obligations of states and subdivisions   -    -    -    -    6,861 
Consumer   55    -    36    91    14,137 
Total  $2,062   $420   $5,799   $8,281   $854,366 

 

 18 

 

 

   December 31, 2015 
   ($ In Thousands) 
   Past Due
30 to 89
Days
   Past Due
90 Days
or More
and Still
Accruing
   Non-
Accrual
   Total
Past Due
and
Non-
Accrual
   Total
Loans
 
                     
Real Estate-construction  $311   $-   $2,956   $3,267   $99,161 
Real Estate-mortgage   3,339    29    2,055    5,423    272,180 
Real Estate-non farm non residential   736    -    2,225    2,961    253,309 
Commercial   97    -    100    197    129,197 
Lease Financing Rec.   -    -    -    -    2,650 
Obligations of states and subdivisions   -    -    -    -    969 
Consumer   70    -    32    102    15,049 
Total  $4,553   $29   $7,368   $11,950   $772,515 

 

Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality are those purchased in the BCB Holding Company, Inc. acquisition. These loans were recorded at estimated fair value at the acquisition date with no carryover of the related allowance for loan losses. The acquired loans were segregated as of the acquisition date between those considered to be performing (acquired non-impaired loans) and those with evidence of credit deterioration (acquired impaired loans). Acquired loans are considered impaired if there is evidence of credit deterioration and if it is probable, at acquisition, all contractually required payments will not be collected.

 

The following table presents information regarding the contractually required payments receivable, cash flows expected to be collected and the estimated fair value of loans acquired in the BCB acquisition as of July 1, 2014, the closing date of the transaction: 

 

   ($ In Thousands) 
   Commercial,
financial
and
agricultural
   Mortgage-
Commercial
   Mortgage-
Residential
   Commercial
and other
   Total 
Contractually required payments  $1,519   $29,648   $7,933   $976   $40,076 
Cash flows expected to be collected   1,570    37,869    9,697    1,032    50,168 
Fair value of loans acquired   1,513    28,875    7,048    957    38,393 

 

Total outstanding acquired impaired loans were $2,601,027 as of September 30, 2016 and $3,039,840 as of December 31, 2015. The outstanding balance of these loans is the undiscounted sum of all amounts, including amounts deemed principal, interest, fees, penalties, and other under the loans, owed at the reporting date, whether or not currently due and whether or not any such amounts have been charged off.

 

 19 

 

 

Changes in the carrying amount and accretable yield for acquired impaired loans were as follows at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015: ($ In Thousands)

 

($ In Thousands)  September 30, 2016   December 31, 2015 
   Accretable
Yield
   Carrying
Amount of
Loans
   Accretable
Yield
   Carrying
Amount of
Loans
 
Balance at beginning of period  $1,219   $1,821   $1,417   $2,063 
Accretion   (130)   130    (198)   198 
Payments received, net   -    (440)   -    (440)
Balance at end of period  $1,089   $1,511   $1,219   $1,821 

 

The following tables provide additional detail of impaired loans broken out according to class as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. The recorded investment included in the following tables represent customer balances net of any partial charge-offs recognized on the loans, net of any deferred fees and costs. As nearly all of our impaired loans at September 30, 2016 are on nonaccrual status, recorded investment excludes any insignificant amount of accrued interest receivable on loans 90-days or more past due and still accruing. The unpaid balance represents the recorded balance prior to any partial charge-offs.

 

September 30, 2016

($ In Thousands)

 

               Average   Interest 
               Recorded   Income 
   Recorded   Unpaid   Related   Investment   Recognized 
   Investment   Balance   Allowance   YTD   YTD 
   ($ In thousands) 
Impaired loans with  no related allowance:                         
Commercial installment  $-   $-   $-   $-   $- 
Commercial real estate   4,581    4,620    -    4,879    20 
Consumer real estate   353    352    -    281    1 
Consumer installment   15    15    -    8    - 
Total  $4,949   $4,987   $-   $5,168   $21 
                          
Impaired loans with  a related allowance:                         
Commercial installment  $227   $227   $58   $267   $7 
Commercial real estate   2,819    2,819    413    2,858    86 
Consumer real estate   679    679    417    778    11 
Consumer installment   28    28    22    33    - 
Total  $3,753   $3,753   $910   $3,936   $104 
                          
Total Impaired Loans:                         
Commercial installment  $227   $227   $58   $267   $7 
Commercial real estate   7,400    7,439    413    7,737    106 
Consumer real estate   1,032    1,031    417    1,059    12 
Consumer installment   43    43    22    41    - 
Total Impaired Loans  $8,702   $8,740   $910   $9,104   $125 

 

As of September 30, 2016, the Company had $1.4 million of foreclosed residential real estate property obtained by physical possession and $.4 million of consumer mortgage loans secured by residential real estate properties for which foreclosure proceedings are in process according to local jurisdictions.

 

 20 

 

 

December 31, 2015

($ In Thousands)

               Average   Interest 
              Recorded   Income 
   Recorded   Unpaid   Related   Investment   Recognized 
   Investment   Balance   Allowance   YTD   YTD 
   ($ In thousands) 
Impaired loans with no related allowance:                         
Commercial installment  $-   $-   $-   $2   $- 
Commercial real estate   5,790    5,828    -    5,099    50 
Consumer real estate   223    223    -    205    - 
Consumer installment   7    7    -    8    - 
Total  $6,020   $6,058   $-   $5,314   $50 
                          
Impaired loans with a related allowance:                         
Commercial installment  $306   $306   $50   $264   $14 
Commercial real estate   2,927    2,927    444    2,891    132 
Consumer real estate   842    842    438    1,152    15 
Consumer installment   32    32    25    31    - 
Total  $4,107   $4,107   $957   $4,338   $161 
                          
Total Impaired Loans:                         
Commercial installment  $306   $306   $50   $266   $14 
Commercial real estate   8,717    8,755    444    7,990    182 
Consumer real estate   1,065    1,065    438    1,357    15 
Consumer installment   39    39    25    39    - 
Total Impaired Loans  $10,127   $10,165   $957   $9,652   $211 

 

 21 

 

 

The following table represents the Company’s impaired loans at September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015.

 

   Sept. 30,   December 31, 
   2016   2015 
   ($ In Thousands) 
Impaired Loans:          
Impaired loans without a valuation allowance  $4,949   $6,020 
Impaired loans with a valuation allowance   3,753    4,107 
Total impaired loans  $8,702   $10,127 
Allowance for loan losses on impaired loans at period end   910    957 
           
Total nonaccrual loans   5,799    7,368 
           
Past due 90 days or more and still accruing   420    29 
Average investment in impaired loans   9,104    9,652 

 

The following table is a summary of interest recognized and cash-basis interest earned on impaired loans:

 

   Three Months
Ended
Sept. 30, 2016
   Nine Months
Ended
Sept. 30, 2016
 
($ In Thousands)        
Interest income recognized during impairment  $-   $- 
Cash-basis interest income recognized   47    125 

 

The gross interest income that would have been recorded in the period that ended if the nonaccrual loans had been current in accordance with their original terms and had been outstanding throughout the period or since origination, if held for part of the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $99,000 and $297,000, respectively, and $123,000 and $322,000, respectively, for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015. The Company had no loan commitments to borrowers in non-accrual status at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

 22 

 

 

The following tables provide detail of troubled debt restructurings (TDRs) at September 30, 2016.

 

For the Three Months Ending September 30, 2016

($ In Thousands)

 

       Outstanding         
   Outstanding   Recorded         
   Recorded   Investment       Interest 
   Investment   Post-   Number of   Income 
   Pre-Modification   Modification   Loans   Recognized 
                 
Commercial installment  $-   $-    -   $- 
Commercial real estate   -    -    -    - 
Consumer real estate   -    -    -    - 
Consumer installment   -    -    -    - 
Total  $-   $-    -   $- 

 

For the Nine Months Ending September 30, 2016

($ In Thousands)

 

       Outstanding         
   Outstanding   Recorded         
   Recorded   Investment       Interest 
   Investment   Post-   Number of   Income 
   Pre-Modification   Modification   Loans   Recognized 
                 
Commercial installment  $-   $-    -   $- 
Commercial real estate   296    276    1    10 
Consumer real estate   -    -    -    - 
Consumer installment   -    -    -    - 
Total  $296   $276    1   $10 

 

There were no TDRs modified during the three month period ended September 30, 2016.

 

The balance of troubled debt restructurings (TDRs)was $6.7 million at September 30, 2016 and $6.9 million at December 31, 2015, respectively, calculated for regulatory reporting purposes. There was $243,000 allocated in specific reserves established with respect to these loans as of September 30, 2016. As of September 30, 2016, the company had no additional amount committed on any loan classified as troubled debt restructuring.

 

 23 

 

 

The following tables set forth the amounts and past due status for the Bank TDRs at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

 

($ In Thousands)

   September 30, 2016 
   Current
Loans
   Past Due
30-89
   Past Due
90 days
and still
accruing
   Non-
accrual
   Total 
                          
Commercial installment  $155   $-   $-   $50   $205 
Commercial real estate   2,494    -    -    3,607    6,101 
Consumer real estate   247    -    -    126    373 
Consumer installment   7    -    -    25    32 
Total  $2,903   $-   $-   $3,808   $6,711 
Allowance for loan losses  $115   $-   $-   $128   $243 

 

($ In Thousands)

   December 31, 2015 
   Current
Loans
   Past Due
30-89
   Past Due
90 days
and still
accruing
   Non-
accrual
   Total 
                     
Commercial installment  $206   $-   $-   $50   $256 
Commercial real estate   1,823    -    -    2,934    4,757 
Consumer real estate   721    -    -    1,135    1,856 
Consumer installment   8    -    -    29    37 
Total  $2,758   $-   $-   $4,148   $6,906 
Allowance for loan losses  $106   $-   $-   $197   $303 

 

Internal Risk Ratings

 

The Company categorizes loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt, such as: current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information, and current economic trends, among other factors. The Company uses the following definitions for risk ratings, which are consistent with the definitions used in supervisory guidance:

 

Special Mention.    Loans classified as special mention have a potential weakness that deserves management's close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or of the Company’s credit position at some future date.

 

Substandard.    Loans classified as substandard are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the institution will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

 

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Doubtful.    Loans classified as doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.

 

Loans not meeting the criteria above that are analyzed individually as part of the above described process are considered to be pass rated loans.

 

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, and based on the most recent analysis performed, the risk categories of loans by class of loans (excluding mortgage loans held for sale) were as follows:

 

September 30, 2016

($ In Thousands)

 

               Commercial,     
  

Real Estate

Commercial

  

Real

Estate

Mortgage

  

Installment

and

Other

  

Financial

and

Agriculture

   Total 
                     
Pass  $509,503   $174,547   $26,114   $126,799   $836,963 
Special Mention   915    241    -    650    1,806 
Substandard   14,263    1,517    85    111    15,976 
Doubtful   -    318    -    41    359 
  Subtotal   524,681    176,623    26,199    127,601    855,104 
Less:                         
 Unearned discount   379    63    -    296    738 
Loans, net of unearned discount  $524,302   $176,560   $26,199   $127,305   $854,366 

 

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December 31, 2015

($ In Thousands)

 

   Real Estate
Commercial
   Real
Estate
Mortgage
   Installment
and
Other
   Commercial,
Financial
and
Agriculture
   Total 
                     
Pass  $434,638   $167,394   $19,556   $132,101   $753,689 
Special Mention   681    153    -    168    1,002 
Substandard   16,655    1,453    75    178    18,361 
Doubtful   -    327    -    -    327 
Subtotal   451,974    169,327    19,631    132,447    773,379 
Less:                         
Unearned discount   448    76    -    340    864 
Loans, net of  unearned discount  $451,526   $169,251   $19,631   $132,107   $772,515 

 

Activity in the allowance for loan losses for the period was as follows:

 

($ In Thousands)  Three Months   Nine Months 
   Ended   Ended 
   Sept. 30, 2016   Sept. 30, 2016 
         
Balance at beginning of period  $7,259   $6,747 
Loans charged-off:          
Real Estate   (130)   (286)
Installment and Other   (26)   (55)
Commercial, Financial and Agriculture   -    (6)
Total   (156)   (347)
Recoveries on loans previously charged-off:          
Real Estate   217    408 
Installment and Other   15    52 
Commercial, Financial and Agriculture   3    83 
Total   235    543 
Net recoveries   79    196 
Provision for Loan Losses   143    538 
Balance at end of period  $7,481   $7,481 

 

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The following tables represent how the allowance for loan losses is allocated to a particular loan type, as well as the percentage of the category to total loans at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

Allocation of the Allowance for Loan Losses

 

   September 30, 2016 
   ($ In Thousands) 
   Amount   % of loans
in each category
to total loans
 
         
Commercial Non Real Estate  $920    14.9%
Commercial Real Estate   3,364    61.4 
Consumer Real Estate   1,475    20.6 
Consumer   133    3.0 
Unallocated   1,589    0.1 
Total  $7,481    100%

 

   December 31, 2015 
   ($ In Thousands) 
   Amount  

% of loans

in each category

to total loans

 
         
Commercial Non Real Estate  $895    17.1%
Commercial Real Estate   3,018    58.4 
Consumer Real Estate   1,477    21.9 
Consumer   141    2.5 
Unallocated   1,216    0.1 
Total  $6,747    100%

 

The following tables provide the ending balances in the Company's loans (excluding mortgage loans held for sale) and allowance for loan losses, broken down by portfolio segment as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. The tables also provide additional detail as to the amount of our loans and allowance that correspond to individual versus collective impairment evaluation. The impairment evaluation corresponds to the Company's systematic methodology for estimating its Allowance for Loan Losses.

 

September 30, 2016

           Commercial,     
       Installment   Financial     
   Real
Estate
   and
Other
   and
Agriculture
   Total 
   ($ In Thousands) 
Loans                    
Individually evaluated  $8,432   $43   $227   $8,702 
Collectively evaluated   700,286    14,437    130,941    845,664 
Total  $708,718   $14,480   $131,168   $854,366 
                     
Allowance for Loan Losses                    
Individually evaluated  $830   $22   $58   $910 
Collectively evaluated   4,009    1,700    862    6,571 
Total  $4,839   $1,722   $920   $7,481 

 

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December 31, 2015

           Commercial,     
       Installment   Financial     
  

Real

Estate

  

and

Other

  

and

  Agriculture

   Total 
   (In thousands) 
Loans                    
Individually evaluated  $9,782   $39   $306   $10,127 
Collectively evaluated   610,996    19,591    131,801    762,388 
Total  $620,778   $19,630   $132,107   $772,515 
                     
Allowance for Loan Losses                    
Individually evaluated  $882   $25   $50   $957 
Collectively evaluated   3,613    1,332    845    5,790 
Total  $4,495   $1,357   $895   $6,747 

 

NOTE 12 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS/OTHER

 

Subsequent events have been evaluated by management through the date the financial statements were issued. The Company has experienced recoveries on a previously charged-off loan of $941,000. In 2015, $722,000 was recovered and a third and final installment of $219,000 is expected during 2016.

 

The First Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”), which is the holding company of The First, A National Banking Association, (“The First”), entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Iberville Bank Acquisition Agreement”) with A. Wilbert’s Sons Lumber and Shingle Company (the “Iberville Bank Parent”), the parent company of Iberville Bank (“Iberville Bank”), dated October 12, 2016, under which the Company has agreed to acquire 100% of the common stock of Iberville Bank for a purchase price of $31.1 million in cash (the “Iberville Bank Acquisition”).

 

Separately, the Company and The First entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “GCCB Merger Agreement,” and together with the Iberville Bank Acquisition Agreement, the “Bank Transaction Agreements”), dated October 12, 2016, pursuant to which it has agreed to acquire Gulf Coast Community Bank (“GCCB”), Pensacola, Florida, in an all-stock transaction (the “GCCB Merger,” and together with the Iberville Bank Acquisition, the “Bank Transactions”). The purchase price for the GCCB Merger of $2.3 million is based on a price of $0.50 per share of GCCB stock and will be paid in the form of Company common stock issued to GCCB shareholders with the number of Company shares issued based on a 30-day average of the Company’s common stock price as of five business days prior to closing.

 

On October 12, 2016 the Company entered into Securities Purchase Agreements with a limited number of institutional and other accredited investors, including certain directors of the Company (collectively the “Purchasers”) to privately place a total of 3,563,380 shares of mandatorily convertible non-cumulative, non-voting, perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E, $1.00 par value (the “Series E Preferred Stock”) at a price of $17.75 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $63.25 million (the “Private Offering”).

 

NOTE 13 – RECLASSIFICATION

 

Certain amounts in the 2015 financial statements have been reclassified for comparative purposes to conform to the current period financial statement presentation.

 

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM NO. 2

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION

 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Form 10-Q contains statements regarding the projected performance of The First Bancshares, Inc. and its subsidiary. These statements constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Actual results may differ materially from the projections provided in this release since such projections involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: competitive pressures among financial institutions increasing significantly; economic conditions, either nationally or locally, in areas in which the Company conducts operations being less favorable than expected; and legislation or regulatory changes which adversely affect the ability of the combined Company to conduct business combinations or new operations. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments. Further information on The First Bancshares, Inc. is available in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The financial information and disclosures contained within those statements are significantly impacted by Management’s estimates and judgments, which are based on historical experience and incorporate various assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under current circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates under divergent conditions.

 

Critical accounting policies are those that involve the most complex and subjective decisions and assessments, and have the greatest potential impact on the Company’s stated results of operations. In Management’s opinion, the Company’s critical accounting policies deal with the following areas: the establishment of the allowance for loan and lease losses, as explained in detail in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements and in the “Provision for Loan and Lease Losses” and “Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses” sections of this discussion and analysis; the valuation of impaired loans and foreclosed assets, as discussed in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements; income taxes and deferred tax assets and liabilities, especially with regard to the ability of the Company to recover deferred tax assets as discussed in the “Provision for Income Taxes” and “Other Assets” sections of this discussion and analysis; and goodwill and other intangible assets, which are evaluated annually for impairment and for which we have determined that no impairment exists, as discussed in the “Other Assets” section of this discussion and analysis. Critical accounting areas are evaluated on an ongoing basis to ensure that the Company’s financial statements incorporate our most recent expectations with regard to those areas.

 

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OVERVIEW OF THE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS SUMMARY

 

Third quarter 2016 compared to Third quarter 2015

 

The Company had a consolidated net income of $2,558,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016, compared with consolidated net income of $2,227,000 for the same period last year.

 

Net interest income increased to $10.1 million from $9.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, or an increase of 8.4% as compared to the same period in 2015. Quarterly average earning assets at September 30, 2016, increased $108.3 million, or 10.8% and quarterly average interest-bearing liabilities also increased $109.4 million or 13.4% when compared to September 30, 2015.

 

Noninterest income for the three months ended September 30, 2016, was $3,099,000 compared to $1,982,000 for the same period in 2015, reflecting an increase of $1,117,000 or 56.4%. This increase consisted mainly of increased mortgage income of $1,058,000 resulting from the acquisition of The Mortgage Connection, LLC in December 2015.

 

The provision for loan losses was $143,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 compared with $250,000 for the same period in 2015. The allowance for loan losses of $7.5 million at September 30, 2016 (approximately .87% of total loans and 1.06% of loans including valuation accounting adjustments on acquired loans) is considered by management to be adequate to cover losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The level of this allowance is dependent upon a number of factors, including the total amount of past due loans, general economic conditions, and management’s assessment of potential losses. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant change. Ultimately, losses may vary from current estimates and future additions to the allowance may be necessary.

 

Thus, there can be no assurance that charge-offs in future periods will not exceed the allowance for loan losses or that additional increases in the loan loss allowance will not be required. Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses quarterly and makes provisions for loan losses based on this evaluation.

 

Noninterest expense increased by $1,439,000 or 18.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2016, when compared with the same period in 2015. The largest increase was related to salaries and benefits of $1,017,000 of which $600,000 can be attributed to acquisition of The Mortgage Connection, LLC, as well as additional salaries and benefits related to the banking team in Mobile and the lender in Madison.

 

First Nine Months of 2016 compared to First Nine Months of 2015

 

The Company had a consolidated net income of $7,811,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared with consolidated net income of $6,441,000 for the same period last year.

 

Net interest income increased to $29.6 million from $27.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, or an increase of 8.1% as compared to the same period in 2015. Average earning assets at September 30, 2016, increased $77.6 million, or 7.6% and average interest-bearing liabilities also increased $86.7 million or 10.5% when compared to December 31, 2015.

 

Noninterest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, was $8,542,000 compared to $5,686,000 for the same period in 2015, reflecting an increase of $2,856,000 or 50.2%. This increase consists of $2,196,000 of increased mortgage income and increased service charges of $149,000 and a one-time gain on the conversion of our debit card provider of $260,000.

 

 30 

 

 

The provision for loan losses was $538,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared with $400,000 for the same period in 2015. The allowance for loan losses of $7.5 million at September 30, 2016 (approximately .87% of total loans and 1.06% of loans including valuation accounting adjustments on acquired loans) is considered by management to be adequate to cover losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The level of this allowance is dependent upon a number of factors, including the total amount of past due loans, general economic conditions, and management’s assessment of potential losses. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant change. Ultimately, losses may vary from current estimates and future additions to the allowance may be necessary.

 

Thus, there can be no assurance that charge-offs in future periods will not exceed the allowance for loan losses or that additional increases in the loan loss allowance will not be required. Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses quarterly and makes provisions for loan losses based on this evaluation.

 

Noninterest expense increased by $2.8 million or 11.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, when compared with the same period in 2015. $2.3 million of the increase can be attributed to the salaries and benefits of The Mortgage Connection, LLC that was acquired in the fourth quarter of 2015 and the addition of the team in Mobile and the lender in Madison as well as the executive for Treasury Management.

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

The First represents the primary asset of the Company. The First reported total assets of $1.3 billion at September 30, 2016, compared to $1.1 billion at December 31, 2015, an increase of $.2 billion. Loans increased $81.0 million, or 10.5%, during the first nine months of 2016. Deposits at September 30, 2016, totaled $1.1 billion compared to $916.7 million at December 31, 2015. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2016, The First reported net income of $8.7 million compared to $6.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

 

NONPERFORMING ASSETS AND RISK ELEMENTS

 

Diversification within the loan portfolio is an important means of reducing inherent lending risks. At September 30, 2016, The First had no concentrations of ten percent or more of total loans in any single industry or any geographical area outside its immediate market areas.

 

At September 30, 2016, The First had loans past due as follows:

 

   ($ In Thousands) 
     
Past due 30 through 89 days  $2,062 
Past due 90 days or more and still accruing   420 

 

The accrual of interest is discontinued on loans which become ninety days past due (principal and/or interest), unless the loans are adequately secured and in the process of collection. Nonaccrual loans totaled $5.8 million at September 30, 2016, a decrease of $1.6 million from December 31, 2015. Any other real estate owned is carried at fair value, determined by an appraisal, less estimated costs to sell. Other real estate owned totaled $4.7 million at September 30, 2016. A loan is classified as a restructured loan when the following two conditions are present: First, the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and second, the creditor grants a concession it would not otherwise consider but for the borrower’s financial difficulties. At September 30, 2016, the Bank had $6.7 million in loans that were modified as troubled debt restructurings, of which $2.9 million were performing as agreed with modified terms.

 

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EARNINGS PERFORMANCE

 

The Company earns income from two primary sources. The first is net interest income, which is interest income generated by earning assets less interest expense on deposits and other borrowed money. The second is non-interest income, which primarily consists of customer service charges and fees as well as mortgage income but also comes from non-customer sources such as bank-owned life insurance. The majority of the Company’s non-interest expense is comprised of operating costs that facilitate offering a full range of banking services to our customers.

 

Net interest income AND NET INTEREST MARGIN

 

Net interest income increased by $780,000, or 8.4%, for the third quarter of 2016 relative to the third quarter of 2015, and by $2.2 million, or 8.1%, for the first nine months of 2016 compared to the first nine months of 2015. The level of net interest income we recognize in any given period depends on a combination of factors including the average volume and yield for interest-earning assets, the average volume and cost of interest-bearing liabilities, and the mix of products which comprise the Company’s earning assets, deposits, and other interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income is also impacted by the reversal of interest for loans placed on non-accrual status during the reporting period, and the recovery of interest on loans that had been on non-accrual and were paid off, sold or returned to accrual status.

 

The following tables depict, for the periods indicated, certain information related to the average balance sheet and average yields on assets and average costs of liabilities. Such yields are derived by dividing income or expense by the average balance of the corresponding assets or liabilities. Average balances have been derived from daily averages.

 

Average Balances, Tax Equivalent Interest and Yields/Rates

   Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended 
   September 30, 2016   September 30, 2015 
       Tax           Tax     
   Avg.   Equivalent   Yield/   Avg.   Equivalent   Yield/ 
($ In Thousands)  Balance   interest   Rate   Balance   interest   Rate 
                         
Earning Assets:                              
Taxable securities  $177,154   $965    2.18%  $172,478   $976    2.26%
Tax exempt                              
securities   77,073    704    3.65%   74,807    662    3.54%
Total investment securities   254,227    1,669    2.63%   247,285    1,638    2.65%
Fed funds sold   10,356    25    0.97%   5,502    13    .95%
Other   11,961    16    0.54%   20,613    25    0.49%
Loans   836,931    9,798    4.68%   731,818    8,629    4.72%
Total earning assets   1,113,475    11,508    4.13%   1,005,218    10,305    4.10%
Other assets   119,559              104,726           
Total assets  $1,233,034             $1,109,944           
                               
Interest-bearing liabilities:                              
Deposits  $850,442   $962    0.45%  $759,939   $646    0.34%
Repo   5,000    49    3.92%   5,000    48    3.84%
Fed funds purchased   1,926    5    1.04%   661    2    1.21%
FHLB   55,337    106    0.77%   37,716    50    0.53%
Subordinated debentures   10,310    80    3.10%   10,310    47    1.82%
Total interest- bearing  liabilities   923,015    1,202    0.52%   813,626    793    0.39%
Other liabilities   198,889              197,150           
Stockholders' equity   111,130              99,168           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity  $1,233,034             $1,109,944           
Net interest income (TE)       $10,306    3.61%       $9,512    3.71%
                               
Net interest margin             3.70%             3.79%

 

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Average Balances, Tax Equivalent Interest and Yields/Rates

 

   Nine Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended 
   September 30, 2016   December 31, 2015 
       Tax           Tax     
   Avg.   Equivalent   Yield/   Avg.   Equivalent   Yield/ 
($ In Thousands)  Balance   Interest   Rate   Balance   Interest   Rate 
                         
Earning Assets:                              
Taxable securities  $184,313   $3,055    2.21%  $178,151   $3,949    2.22%
Tax-exempt securities   77,385    2,118    3.65%   78,311    2,810    3.59%
Total investment securities   261,698    5,173    2.64%   256,462    6,759    2.64%
Federal funds sold   2,377    82    4.60%   24,582    64    0.26%
Other   23,626    56    0.32%   7,585    93    1.23%
Loans   808,821    28,146    4.64%   730,326    34,242    4.69%
Total earning assets  $1,096,522   $33,457    4.07%  $1,018,955   $41,158    4.04%
                               
Other   116,252              103,237           
Total assets  $1,212,774             $1,122,192           
                               
Interest-bearing liabilities:                              
Deposits  $824,065   $2,476    0.40%  $752,716   $2,563    0.34%
Repo   5,000    145    3.87%   5,000    194    3.88%
Fed funds purchased   1,867    15    1.07%   698    11    1.58%
FHLB   68,170    342    0.67%   53,984    256    0.47%
Subordinated Debentures   10,310    162    2.10%   10,310    185    1.79%
Total interest- bearing liabilities   909,412    3,140    0.46%   822,708    3,209    0.39%
Other liabilities   196,289              200,878           
Stockholders' equity   107,073              98,606           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity  $1,212,774             $1,122,192           
Net interest income (TE)       $30,317    3.61%       $37,949    3.65%
                               
Net interest margin             3.69%             3.72%

 

 33 

 

 

Interest Rate Sensitivity – September 30, 2016

 

   Net Interest
Income@ Risk
   Market Value of Equity 
Change in
Interest
Rates
  % Change
from Base
   Policy Limit   % Change
from Base
   Policy Limit 
                 
Up 400 bps   12.7%   -20%   44.1%   -40.00%
Up 300 bps   9.6%   -15%   35.8%   -30.00%
Up 200 bps   6.4%   -10%   25.9%   -20.00%
Up 100 bps   3.0%   -5%   14.1%   -10.00%
Down 100 bps   2.9%   -5%   3.9%   -10.00%
Down 200 bps   4.6%   -10%   0.8%   -20.00%

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Liquidity is adequate with cash and cash equivalents of $70.1 million as of September 30, 2016. In addition, loans and investment securities repricing or maturing within one year or less is approximately $242 million at September 30, 2016. Approximately $194.3 million in loan commitments could fund within the next three months and other commitments, primarily standby letters of credit, totaled $2.0 million at September 30, 2016.

 

There are no known trends or any known commitments or uncertainties that will result in The First’s liquidity increasing or decreasing in a significant way.

 

 34 

 

 

Total consolidated equity capital at September 30, 2016, was $112.7 million, or approximately 8.9% of total assets. The Company currently has adequate capital positions to meet the minimum capital requirements for all regulatory agencies. The Company’s capital ratios as of September 30, 2016, were as follows:

 

Tier 1 leverage   8.53%
Tier 1 risk-based   10.47%
Total risk-based   11.23%
Common equity Tier 1   7.81%

 

On June 30, 2006, The Company issued $4,124,000 of floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures to The First Bancshares Statutory Trust 2 in which the Company owns all of the common equity. The debentures are the sole asset of the Trust. The Trust issued $4,000,000 of Trust Preferred Securities (TPSs) to investors. The Company’s obligations under the debentures and related documents, taken together, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the Trust’s obligations under the preferred securities. The preferred securities are redeemable by the Company at its option. The preferred securities must be redeemed upon maturity of the debentures in 2036. Interest on the preferred securities is the three month London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR) plus 1.65% and is payable quarterly. The terms of the subordinated debentures are identical to those of the preferred securities. On July 27, 2007, The Company issued $6,186,000 of floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures to The First Bancshares Statutory Trust 3 in which the Company owns all of the common equity. The debentures are the sole asset of Trust 3. The Trust issued $6,000,000 of Trust Preferred Securities (TPSs) to investors. The Company’s obligations under the debentures and related documents, taken together, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the Trust’s obligations under the preferred securities. The preferred securities are redeemable by the Company at its option. The preferred securities must be redeemed upon maturity of the debentures in 2037. Interest on the preferred securities is the three month LIBOR plus 1.40% and is payable quarterly. The terms of the subordinated debentures are identical to those of the preferred securities. In accordance with the authoritative guidance, the trusts are not included in the consolidated financial statements.

 

PROVISION FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES

 

The Company has developed policies and procedures for evaluating the overall quality of its credit portfolio and the timely identification of potential problem loans. Management’s judgment as to the adequacy of the allowance is based upon a number of assumptions which it believes to be reasonable, but which may not prove to be accurate, particularly given the Company’s growth and the economy. Thus, there can be no assurance that charge-offs in future periods will not exceed the allowance for loan losses or that additional increases in the loan loss allowance will not be required.

 

The Company’s allowance consists of two parts. The first part is determined in accordance with authoritative guidance regarding contingencies. The Company’s determination of this part of the allowance is based upon quantitative and qualitative factors. A loan loss history based upon more than 72 months of loss history is utilized in determining the appropriate allowance. Historical loss factors are determined by risk rated loans by loan type. These historical loss factors are applied to the loans by loan type to determine an indicated allowance. The loss factors of peer groups are considered in the determination of the allowance and are used to assist in the establishment of a long-term loss history for areas in which this data is unavailable and incorporated into the qualitative factors to be considered. The historical loss factors may also be modified based upon other qualitative factors including but not limited to local and national economic conditions, trends of delinquent loans, changes in lending policies and underwriting standards, concentrations, and management’s knowledge of the loan portfolio. These factors require judgment upon the part of management and are based upon state and national economic reports received from various institutions and agencies including the Federal Reserve Bank, United States Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, meetings with the Company’s loan officers and loan committee, and data and guidance received or obtained from the Company’s regulatory authorities.

 

 35 

 

 

The second part of the allowance is determined in accordance with authoritative guidance regarding loan impairment. Impaired loans are determined based upon a review by internal loan review and senior management.

 

The sum of the two parts constitutes management’s best estimate of an appropriate allowance for loan losses. When the estimated allowance is determined, it is presented to the Company’s audit committee for review and approval on a quarterly basis.

 

A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed.

 

Impairment is measured on a loan by loan basis, and a specific allowance is assigned to each loan determined to be impaired. Impaired loans not deemed collateral dependent are analyzed according to the ultimate repayment source, whether that is cash flow from the borrower, guarantor or some other source of repayment. Impaired loans are deemed collateral dependent if, in the Company’s opinion, the ultimate source of repayment will be generated from the liquidation of collateral.

 

The Company discontinues accrual of interest on loans when management believes, after considering economic and business conditions and collection efforts, that a borrower’s financial condition is such that the collection of interest is doubtful. Generally, the Company will place a delinquent loan in nonaccrual status when the loan becomes 90 days or more past due. At the time a loan is placed in nonaccrual status, all interest which has been accrued on the loan but remains unpaid is reversed and deducted from earnings as a reduction of reported interest income. No additional interest is accrued on the loan balance until the collection of both principal and interest becomes reasonably certain.

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME AND NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

The following table provides details on the Company’s non-interest income and non-interest expense for the three-month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

  Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended     
($ In Thousands)
EARNINGS STATEMENT
  9/30/16   % of
Total
   9/30/15   % of
Total
   9/30/16   % of
Total
   9/30/15   % of
Total
 
Non-interest income:                                        
Service charges on deposit accounts  $606    19.6%  $737    37.2%  $1,847    21.6%  $1,896    33.3%
Mortgage income   1,399    45.1%   341    17.2%   3,228    37.8%   1,032    18.2%
Interchange fee income   666    21.5%   611    30.8%   1,991    23.3%   1,794    31.6%
Gain (loss) on securities, net   -    -    -    -    129    1.5%   -    - 
Gain on sale of premises and equipment   -    -    -    -    -    -    110    1.9%
Other charges and fees   428    13.8%   293    14.8%   1,347    15.8%   854    15.0%
Total non-interest income  $3,099    100%  $1,982    100%  $8,542    100%  $5,686    100%
Non-interest expense:                                        
Salaries and employee benefits  $5,645    60.0%  $4,628    58.0%  $16,194    60.5%  $13,867    58.1%
Occupancy expense   1,209    12.8%   1,136    14.2%   3,392    12.7%   3,382    14.1%
FDIC premiums   254    2.7%   241    3.0%   755    2.8%   723    3.0%
Marketing   76    .8%   64    .8%   280    1.1%   287    1.2%
Amortization of core deposit intangibles   100    1.1%   100    1.3%   294    1.1%   300    1.3%
Other professional services   461    4.9%   318    4.0%   1,013    3.8%   955    4.0%
Other non-interest expense   1,671    17.7%   1,490    18.7%   4,802    18.0%   4,373    18.3%
Total non-interest expense  $9,416    100%  $7,977    100%  $26,730    100%  $23,887    100%

 

 36 

 

 

Noninterest income increased $1.1 million in quarterly comparison mainly consisting of increases in mortgage income of $1.0 million. Third quarter 2016 noninterest expenses increased $1.4 million, or 18.0% as compared to third quarter 2015. The largest increase in noninterest expenses was related to salaries and benefits of $1.0 million of which $0.6 million can be attributed to acquisition of The Mortgage Connection, LLC in December 2015 as well as additional salaries and benefits related to the banking teams in Mobile and Madison along with Treasury Management personnel.

 

Noninterest income increased $2.9 million in year-over-year comparison mainly consisting of increases in mortgage income of $2.2 million. Noninterest expenses increased $2.8 million in year-over-year comparison consisting of increases in salaries and benefits of $2.3 million relating to the acquisition of The Mortgage Connection, LLC as well as salaries and benefits related to the lending teams in Madison and Mobile along with the executive for Treasury Management.

 

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

 

The Company sets aside a provision for income taxes on a monthly basis. The amount of that provision is determined by first applying the Company’s statutory income tax rates to estimated taxable income, which is pre-tax book income adjusted for permanent differences, and then subtracting available tax credits if applicable. Permanent differences include but are not limited to tax-exempt interest income, BOLI income, and certain book expenses that are not allowed as tax deductions.

 

The Company’s provision for income taxes was $3.1 million as of September 30, 2016 relative to $2.3 million as of September 30, 2015. The higher tax provisioning for the first nine months comparison is the result of an increase in pre-tax income.

 

BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS

 

EARNING ASSETS

 

The Company’s interest-earning assets are comprised of investments and loans, and the composition, growth characteristics, and credit quality of both are significant determinants of the Company’s financial condition. Investments are analyzed in the section immediately below, while the loan and lease portfolio and other factors affecting earning assets are discussed in the sections following investments.

 

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INVESTMENTS

 

The Company’s investments can at any given time consist of debt securities and marketable equity securities (together, the “investment portfolio”), investments in the time deposits of other banks, surplus interest-earning balances in our Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) account, and overnight fed funds sold. Surplus FRB balances and fed funds sold to correspondent banks represent the temporary investment of excess liquidity. The Company’s investments serve several purposes: 1) they provide liquidity to even out cash flows from the loan and deposit activities of customers; 2) they provide a source of pledged assets for securing public deposits, bankruptcy deposits and certain borrowed funds which require collateral; 3) they constitute a large base of assets with maturity and interest rate characteristics that can be changed more readily than the loan portfolio, to better match changes in the deposit base and other funding sources of the Company; 4) they are another interest-earning option for surplus funds when loan demand is light; and 5) they can provide partially tax exempt income. Total securities excluding other securities totaled $242.2 million, or 19.1% of total assets at September 30, 2016, compared to $246.8 million, or 21.6% of total assets at December 31, 2015.

 

We had $2.4 million of fed funds sold at September 30, 2016 and $0.3 million of fed funds sold at December 31, 2015; and interest-bearing balances at other banks increased to $19.8 million at September 30, 2016 from $17.3 million at December 31, 2015 primarily due to an increase in our Federal Reserve Bank account. The Company’s investment portfolio remained steady with a total fair value of $244.0 million at September 30, 2016, reflecting a decrease of $4.3 million, or 1.7%, for the first nine months of 2016. The Company carries investments at their fair market values. The Company holds a small amount of “held-to-maturity” investments with a fair market value of $7.8 million at September 30, 2016 as compared to $8.5 million at December 31, 2015. All other investment securities are classified as “available for sale” to allow maximum flexibility with regard to interest rate risk and liquidity management.

 

Refer to table shown in NOTE 10 - SECURITIES for information on the Company’s amortized cost and fair market value of its investment portfolio by investment type.

 

LOAN AND LEASE PORTFOLIO

 

The Company’s loans and leases, gross of the associated allowance for losses and deferred fees and origination costs, and including loans held for sale, totaled $863.8 million at September 30, 2016, an increase of $87.3 million, or 11.2%, since December 31, 2015. With an increase of $84.5 million in the Real Estate category, the real estate-commercial portfolio had the largest area of growth of $54.7 million. At September 30, 2016, the company had direct energy related loans of $19.4 million, representing 2.3% of the total loan portfolio. A majority of the outstanding are secured by marine assets that operate in the Gulf of Mexico, which are under term contracts to major operators tied primarily to oil and gas production.

 

A distribution of the Company’s loans showing the balance and percentage of loans by type is presented for the noted periods in the table below. The balances shown are before deferred or unamortized loan origination, extension, or commitment fees, and deferred origination costs.

 

 38 

 

 

The following table shows the composition of the loan portfolio by category:

 

Composition of Loan Portfolio

 

   Sept. 30, 2016   December 31, 2015 
   Amount   Percent
of
Total
   Amount   Percent
of
Total
 
   ($ In Thousands)             
 Mortgage loans held for sale  $9,437    1.1%  $3,974    0.5%
Commercial, financial and agricultural   121,963    14.1    129,197    16.6 
Real Estate:                    
Mortgage-commercial   307,963    35.7    253,309    32.6 
Mortgage-residential   296,587    34.3    272,180    35.1 
Construction   104,644    12.1    99,161    12.8 
Lease financing receivable   2,211    0.3    2,650    0.3 
Obligations of states and subdivisions   6,861    0.8    969    0.1 
Consumer and other   14,137    1.6    15,049    2.0 
Total loans   863,803    100%   776,489    100%
Allowance for loan losses   (7,481)        (6,747)     
Net loans  $856,322        $769,742      

 

In the context of this discussion, a "real estate mortgage loan" is defined as any loan, other than a loan for construction purposes, secured by real estate, regardless of the purpose of the loan. The Company follows the common practice of financial institutions in the Company’s market area of obtaining a security interest in real estate whenever possible, in addition to any other available collateral. This collateral is taken to reinforce the likelihood of the ultimate repayment of the loan and tends to increase the magnitude of the real estate loan portfolio component. Generally, the Company limits its loan-to-value ratio to 80%. Management attempts to maintain a conservative philosophy regarding its underwriting guidelines and believes it will reduce the risk elements of its loan portfolio through strategies that diversify the lending mix.

 

Loans held for sale consist of mortgage loans originated by the Bank and sold into the secondary market. Commitments from investors to purchase the loans are obtained upon origination.

 

NONPERFORMING ASSETS

 

Nonperforming assets are comprised of loans for which the Company is no longer accruing interest, and foreclosed assets including mobile homes and OREO. If the Company grants a concession to a borrower in financial difficulty, the loan falls into the category of a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”). TDRs may be classified as either nonperforming or performing loans depending on their accrual status. The following table presents comparative data for the Company’s nonperforming assets and performing TDRs as of the dates noted:

 

Nonperforming assets totaled $10.5 million at September 30, 2016, remaining constant compared to $10.5 million at December 31, 2015. The ALLL/total loans ratio was .87% at September 30, 2016 and .87% at December 31, 2015. Including valuation accounting adjustments on acquired loans, the total valuation plus ALLL was 1.06% of loans at September 30, 2016. The ratio of annualized net charge-offs (recoveries) to total loans was (0.04)% for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 compared to (0.04)% for the quarter ended September 30, 2015. As noted in our first quarter 2015 10-Q, the Company had been notified that a recovery of $941,000 was more likely than not expected during 2015. We received the first installment during the second quarter of 2015 which totaled $481,000 and the second installment during the third quarter of 2015 which totaled $241,000. The remaining balance of $219,000 is expected to be received in 2016.

 

 39 

 

 

Nonperforming Assets and Performing Troubled Debt Restructurings

($ In Thousands)

 

NON-ACCRUAL LOANS  09/30/16   12/31/15   09/30/15 
Real Estate:            
1-4 family residential construction  $-   $-   $578 
Other construction/land   2,788    2,956    2,665 
1-4 family residential revolving/open-end   317    327    331 
1-4 family residential closed-end   1,652    1,728    1,811 
Nonfarm, nonresidential, owner-occupied   598    1,853    2,043 
Nonfarm, nonresidential, other nonfarm nonresidential   336    372    382 
TOTAL REAL ESTATE   5,691    7,236    7,810 
Commercial and industrial   72    100    106 
Loans to individuals - other   36    32    33 
TOTAL NON-ACCRUAL LOANS   5,799    7,368    7,949 
Other real estate owned   4,670    3,083    4,104 
TOTAL NON-PERFORMING ASSETS  $10,469   $10,451   $12,053 
Performing TDRs  $2,903   $2,758   $2,883 
                
Total non-performing assets as a % of total loans & leases net of unearned income   1.21%   1.35%   1.61%
Total non-accrual loans as a % of total loans & leases net of unearned income   0.67%   0.95%   1.06%

 

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES

 

The allowance for loan and lease losses, a contra-asset, is established through a provision for loan and lease losses. It is maintained at a level that is considered adequate to absorb probable incurred losses inherent in the remaining loan portfolio. Specifically identifiable and quantifiable losses are immediately charged off against the allowance; recoveries are generally recorded only when sufficient cash payments are received subsequent to the charge off.

 

 40 

 

 

The table that follows summarizes the activity in the allowance for loan and lease losses for the noted periods:

 

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses

($ In Thousands)

 

   3 months
ended
   3 months
ended
   9 months
ended
   9 months
ended
   For the
Year
Ended
 
   9/30/16   9/30/15   9/30/16   9/30/15   12/31/15 
Balances:                         
Average gross loans & leases outstanding during period:  $836,931   $731,818   $808,821   $721,325   $730,326 
Gross Loans & leases outstanding at end of period   863,803    747,646    863,803    747,646    776,489 
                          
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses:                         
Balance at beginning of period   7,259    6,419    6,747    6,095    6,095 
Provision charged to expense   143    250    538    400    410 
Charge-offs:                         
Real Estate-                         
1-4 family residential construction   -    -    -    -    74 
Other construction/land   -    50    67    50    88 
1-4 family revolving, open-ended   -    8    -    8    8 
1-4 family closed-end   130    -    219    349    364 
Nonfarm, nonresidential, owner-occupied   -    -    -    -    - 
Total Real Estate   130    58    286    407    534 
Commercial and industrial   -    183    6    183    183 
Credit cards   -    -    1    -    - 
Automobile loans   20    5    29    24    31 
Loans to individuals - other   -    -    -    -    - 
All other loans   6    19    25    63    95 
Total   156    265    347    677    843 
                          
Recoveries:                         
Real Estate-                         
1-4 family residential construction   -    -    -    -    - 
Other construction/land   108    21    191    40    63 
1-4 family revolving, open-ended   3    4    17    8    9 
1-4 family closed-end   105    267    194    790    818 
Nonfarm, nonresidential, owner-occupied   1    4    6    11    15 
Total Real Estate   217    296    408    849    905 
Commercial and industrial   3    2    83    11    99 
Credit cards   1    1    1    2    2 
Automobile loans   -    -    1    -    1 
Loans to individuals - other   5    12    10    13    14 
All other loans   9    19    40    41    64 
Total   235    330    543    916    1,085 
Net loan charge offs (recoveries)   (79)   (65)   (196)   (239)   (242)
Balance at end of period  $7,481   $6,734   $7,481   $6,734   $6,747 
                          
RATIOS                         
                          
Net Charge-offs (recoveries) to average Loans & Leases(annualized)   (0.04)%   (0.04)%   (0.03)%   (0.04)%   (0.03)%
Allowance for Loan Losses to gross Loans & Leases at end of period   0.87%   0.90%   0.87%   0.90%   0.87%
Net Loan Charge-offs (recoveries) to provision for loan losses   (55.24)%   (26.0)%   (36.43)%   (59.75)%   (59.02)%

 

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OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

The Company maintains commitments to extend credit in the normal course of business, as long as there are no violations of conditions established in the outstanding contractual arrangements. Unused commitments to extend credit totaled $194.3 million at September 30, 2016 and $144.1 million at December 31, 2015, although it is not likely that all of those commitments will ultimately be drawn down. Unused commitments represented approximately 22.5% of gross loans outstanding at September 30, 2016 and 18.5% at December 31, 2015, with the increase due in part to higher commitments in commercial and industrial loans. The Company also had undrawn letters of credit issued to customers totaling $2.0 million at September 30, 2016 and $1.1 million at December 31, 2015. The effect on the Company’s revenues, expenses, cash flows and liquidity from the unused portion of the commitments to provide credit cannot be reasonably predicted because there is no guarantee that the lines of credit will ever be used. However, the “Liquidity” section in this Form 10-Q outlines resources available to draw upon should we be required to fund a significant portion of unused commitments. For more information regarding the Company’s off-balance sheet arrangements, see NOTE 8 to the financial statements located elsewhere herein.

 

In addition to unused commitments to provide credit, the Company is utilizing a $84 million letter of credit issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank on the Company’s behalf as security for certain deposits as of September 30, 2016. That letter of credit is backed by loans which are pledged to the FHLB by the Company.

 

OTHER ASSETS

 

The Company’s balance of non-interest earning cash and due from banks was $48.0 million at September 30, 2016 and $23.6 million at December 31, 2015. The balance of cash and due from banks depends on the timing of collection of outstanding cash items (checks), the level of cash maintained on hand at our branches, and our reserve requirement among other things, and is subject to significant fluctuation in the normal course of business. While cash flows are normally predictable within limits, those limits are fairly broad and the Company manages its short-term cash position through the utilization of overnight loans to and borrowings from correspondent banks, including the Federal Reserve Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank. Should a large “short” overnight position persist for any length of time, the Company typically raises money through focused retail deposit gathering efforts or by adding brokered time deposits. If a “long” position is prevalent, the Company will let brokered deposits or other wholesale borrowings roll off as they mature, or might invest excess liquidity in higher-yielding, longer-term bonds.

 

The Company’s net premises and equipment at September 30, 2016 was $33.4 million and $33.6 million at December 31, 2015; the result being a decrease of $196,000, or 0.6% for the first nine months of 2016. In the second quarter of 2016, the Company purchased $5.9 million in life insurance, thereby creating a balance of $21.1 million at September 30, 2016. Bank-owned life insurance is also discussed above in the “Non-Interest Income and Non-Interest Expense” section. Goodwill did not change during the period, ending the first nine months of 2016 with a balance of $13.8 million, but other intangible assets, namely the Company’s core deposit intangible, decreased by $294,000 due to amortization. The Company’s goodwill and other intangible assets are evaluated annually for potential impairment, and pursuant to that analysis Management has determined that no impairment exists as of September 30, 2016.

 

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Other real estate increased $1.6 million, or 51.5% during the first nine months of 2016. Total equity securities increased $1.4 million due primarily to an increase in FHLB stock.

 

DEPOSITS AND INTEREST BEARING LIABILITIES

 

DEPOSITS

 

Deposits are another key balance sheet component impacting the Company’s net interest margin and other profitability metrics. Deposits provide liquidity to fund growth in earning assets, and the Company’s net interest margin is improved to the extent that growth in deposits is concentrated in less volatile and typically less costly non-maturity deposits such as demand deposit accounts, NOW accounts, savings accounts, and money market demand accounts. Information concerning average balances and rates paid by deposit type for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 is included in the Average Balances and Rates tables appearing above, in the section titled “Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin.” A distribution of the Company’s deposits showing the balance and percentage of total deposits by type is presented for the noted periods in the following table.

 

Deposit Distribution        
($ In Thousands)  Sept. 30, 2016   December 31, 2015 
Non-interest bearing demand deposits  $196,786   $189,445 
NOW accounts and Other   465,404    373,687 
Money Market / Savings   187,228    174,090 
Time Deposits of less than $100,000   78,785    73,865 
Time Deposits of $100,000 or more   143,586    105,608 
Total deposits  $1,071,789   $916,695 
           
Percentage of Total Deposits          
Non-interest bearing demand deposits   18.4%   20.7%
NOW accounts and other   43.4%   40.8%
Money Market / Savings   17.5%   19.0%
Time Deposits of less than $100,000   7.4%   8.0%
Time Deposits of $100,000 or more   13.3%   11.5%
Total   100.00%   100.00%

 

OTHER INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES

 

The Company’s non-deposit borrowings may, at any given time, include fed funds purchased from correspondent banks, borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank, advances from the Federal Reserve Bank, securities sold under agreement to repurchase, and/or junior subordinated debentures. The Company uses short-term FHLB advances and fed funds purchased on uncommitted lines to support liquidity needs created by seasonal deposit flows, to temporarily satisfy funding needs from increased loan demand, and for other short-term purposes. The FHLB line is committed, but the amount of available credit depends on the level of pledged collateral.

 

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Total non-deposit interest-bearing liabilities decreased by $42.3 million, or 35.1%, in the first nine months of 2016, due to a reduction in notes payable to the Federal Home Loan Bank and fed funds purchased. We had no overnight fed funds purchased at September 30, 2016, relative to $5.3 million in fed funds purchased at December 31, 2015. Repurchase agreements remained unchanged for both periods at $5 million. The Company had junior subordinated debentures totaling $10.3 million at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, in the form of long-term borrowings from trust subsidiaries formed specifically to issue trust preferred securities.

 

OTHER NON-INTEREST BEARING LIABILITIES

 

Other liabilities are principally comprised of accrued interest payable and other accrued but unpaid expenses. Other liabilities declined by $517,000, or 12.5%, during the first nine months of 2016, due to the reduction in other accrued but unpaid expenses.

 

liquidity and market RisK MANAGEMENT

 

LIQUIDITY

 

Liquidity management refers to the Company’s ability to maintain cash flows that are adequate to fund operations and meet other obligations and commitments in a timely and cost-effective manner. Detailed cash flow projections are reviewed by Management on a monthly basis, with various scenarios applied to assess our ability to meet liquidity needs under adverse conditions. Liquidity ratios are also calculated and reviewed on a regular basis. While those ratios are merely indicators and are not measures of actual liquidity, they are closely monitored and we are focused on maintaining adequate liquidity resources to draw upon should unexpected needs arise.

 

The Company, on occasion, experiences cash needs as the result of loan growth, deposit outflows, asset purchases or liability repayments. To meet short-term needs, the Company can borrow overnight funds from other financial institutions, draw advances via Federal Home Loan Bank lines of credit, or solicit brokered deposits if deposits are not immediately obtainable from local sources. The net availability on lines of credit from the FHLB totaled $240.6 million at September 30, 2016. Furthermore, funds can be obtained by drawing down the Company’s correspondent bank deposit accounts, or by liquidating unpledged investments or other readily saleable assets. In addition, the Company can raise immediate cash for temporary needs by selling under agreement to repurchase those investments in its portfolio which are not pledged as collateral. As of September 30, 2016, the market value of unpledged debt securities plus pledged securities in excess of current pledging requirements comprised $98.6 million of the Company’s investment balances, compared to $66 million at December 31, 2015. The increase in unpledged debt from September 2016 compared to December 2015 is primarily due to an increase in letters of credit utilized for pledging purposes. Other forms of balance sheet liquidity include but are not necessarily limited to any outstanding fed funds sold and vault cash. The Company has a higher level of actual balance sheet liquidity than might otherwise be the case, since we utilize a letter of credit from the FHLB rather than investment securities for certain pledging requirements. That letter of credit, which is backed by loans that are pledged to the FHLB by the Company, totaled $84.0 million at September 30, 2016. Management is of the opinion that available investments and other potentially liquid assets, along with the standby funding sources it has arranged, are more than sufficient to meet the Company’s current and anticipated short-term liquidity needs.

 

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The Company’s liquidity ratio as of September 30, 2016 was 14.46%, as compared to internal policy guidelines of 10% minimum. Other liquidity ratios reviewed include the following along with policy guidelines:

 

   Sept. 30, 2016   Policy
Maximum
    
Loans to Deposits (including FHLB advances)   74.69%   90.00%  In Policy
Net Non-core Funding Dependency Ratio   9.91%   20.00%  In Policy
Fed Funds Purchased / Total Assets   0.39%   10.00%  In Policy
FHLB Advances / Total Assets   5.06%   20.00%  In Policy
FRB Advances / Total Assets   0.00%   10.00%  In Policy
Pledged Securities to Total Securities   68.73%   90.00%  In Policy

 

Continued growth in core deposits and relatively high levels of potentially liquid investments have had a positive impact on our liquidity position in recent periods, but no assurance can be provided that our liquidity will continue at current robust levels.

 

The holding company’s primary uses of funds are ordinary operating expenses and stockholder dividends, and its primary source of funds is dividends from the Bank since the holding company does not conduct regular banking operations. Management anticipates that the Bank will have sufficient earnings to provide dividends to the holding company to meet its funding requirements for the foreseeable future. Both the holding company and the Bank are subject to legal and regulatory limitations on dividend payments, as outlined in Item 5(c) Dividends in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 which was filed with the SEC.

 

INTEREST RATE RISK MANAGEMENT

 

Market risk arises from changes in interest rates, exchange rates, commodity prices and equity prices. The Company does not engage in the trading of financial instruments, nor does it have exposure to currency exchange rates. Our market risk exposure is primarily that of interest rate risk, and we have established policies and procedures to monitor and limit our earnings and balance sheet exposure to changes in interest rates. The principal objective of interest rate risk management is to manage the financial components of the Company’s balance sheet in a manner that will optimize the risk/reward equation for earnings and capital under a variety of interest rate scenarios.

 

To identify areas of potential exposure to interest rate changes, we utilize commercially available modeling software to perform earnings simulations and calculate the Company’s market value of portfolio equity under varying interest rate scenarios every month. The model imports relevant information for the Company’s financial instruments and incorporates Management’s assumptions on pricing, duration, and optionality for anticipated new volumes. Various rate scenarios consisting of key rate and yield curve projections are then applied in order to calculate the expected effect of a given interest rate change on interest income, interest expense, and the value of the Company’s financial instruments. The rate projections can be shocked (an immediate and parallel change in all base rates, up or down), ramped (an incremental increase or decrease in rates over a specified time period), economic (based on current trends and econometric models) or stable (unchanged from current actual levels).

 

We use seven standard interest rate scenarios in conducting our 12-month net interest income simulations: “static,” upward shocks of 100, 200, 300 and 400 basis points, and downward shocks of 100, and 200 basis points. Pursuant to policy guidelines, we typically attempt to limit the projected decline in net interest income relative to the stable rate scenario to no more than 5% for a 100 basis point (bp) interest rate shock, 10% for a 200 bp shock, 15% for a 300 bp shock, and 20% for a 400 bp shock. As of September 30, 2016 the Company had the following estimated net interest income sensitivity profile, without factoring in any potential negative impact on spreads resulting from competitive pressures or credit quality deterioration:

 

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September 30, 2016  Net Interest Income at Risk 
($ In Thousands)  -200 bp   -100 bp   STATIC   +100 bp   +200 bp   +300 bp   +400 bp 
Net Interest Income   35,804    36,395    37,348    37,801    38,398    38,933    39,422 
Dollar Change   -1,544    -953    -    453    1,050    1,585    2,074 
NII @ Risk - Sensitivity Y1   -4.13%   -2.55%   -    1.21%   2.81%   4.25%   5.55%

 

If there were an immediate and sustained downward adjustment of 200 basis points in interest rates, all else being equal, net interest income over the next twelve months would likely be around $1.5 million lower than in a stable interest rate scenario, for a negative variance of 4.13%. The unfavorable variance increases if rates were to drop below 200 basis points, due to the fact that certain deposit rates are already relatively low (on NOW accounts and savings accounts, for example), and will hit a natural floor of close to zero while non-floored variable-rate loan yields continue to drop. This effect is exacerbated by accelerated prepayments on fixed-rate loans and mortgage-backed securities when rates decline, although rate floors on some of our variable-rate loans partially offset other negative pressures. While we view further interest rate reductions as highly unlikely, the potential percentage drop in net interest income exceeds our internal policy guidelines in declining interest rate scenarios and we will continue to monitor our interest rate risk profile and take corrective action as deemed appropriate.

 

Net interest income would likely improve by $1.0 million, or 2.81%, if interest rates were to increase by 200 basis points relative to a stable interest rate scenario, with the favorable variance expanding the higher interest rates rise. The initial increase in rising rate scenarios will be limited to some extent by the fact that some of our variable-rate loans are currently at rate floors, resulting in a re-pricing lag while base rates are increasing to floored levels, but the Company still appears well-positioned to benefit from a material upward shift in the yield curve.

 

The Company’s one year cumulative GAP ratio is approximately 178.94%, which means that there are more assets repricing than liabilities within the first year. The Company is “asset-sensitive.” These results are based on cash flows from assumptions of assets and liabilities that reprice (maturities, likely calls, prepayments, etc.) Typically, the net interest income of asset-sensitive companies should improve with rising rates and decrease with declining rates.

 

In addition to the net interest income simulations shown above, we run stress scenarios modeling the possibility of no balance sheet growth, the potential runoff of “surge” core deposits which flowed into the Company in the most recent economic cycle, and potential unfavorable movement in deposit rates relative to yields on earning assets. Even though net interest income will naturally be lower with no balance sheet growth, the rate-driven variances projected for net interest income in a static growth environment are similar to the changes noted above for our standard projections. When a greater level of non-maturity deposit runoff is assumed or unfavorable deposit rate changes are factored into the model, projected net interest income in declining rate and flat rate scenarios does not change materially relative to standard growth projections. However, the benefit we would otherwise experience in rising rate scenarios is minimized and net interest income remains relatively flat.

 

The economic value (or “fair value”) of financial instruments on the Company’s balance sheet will also vary under the interest rate scenarios previously discussed. The difference between the projected fair value of the Company’s financial assets and the fair value of its financial liabilities is referred to as the economic value of equity (“EVE”), and changes in EVE under different interest rate scenarios are effectively a gauge of the Company’s longer-term exposure to interest rate risk. Fair values for financial instruments are estimated by discounting projected cash flows (principal and interest) at projected replacement interest rates for each account type, while the fair value of non-financial accounts is assumed to equal their book value for all rate scenarios. An economic value simulation is a static measure utilizing balance sheet accounts at a given point in time, and the measurement can change substantially over time as the characteristics of the Company’s balance sheet evolve and interest rate and yield curve assumptions are updated.

 

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The change in economic value under different interest rate scenarios depends on the characteristics of each class of financial instrument, including stated interest rates or spreads relative to current or projected market-level interest rates or spreads, the likelihood of principal prepayments, whether contractual interest rates are fixed or floating, and the average remaining time to maturity. As a general rule, fixed-rate financial assets become more valuable in declining rate scenarios and less valuable in rising rate scenarios, while fixed-rate financial liabilities gain in value as interest rates rise and lose value as interest rates decline. The longer the duration of the financial instrument, the greater the impact a rate change will have on its value. In our economic value simulations, estimated prepayments are factored in for financial instruments with stated maturity dates, and decay rates for non-maturity deposits are projected based on historical patterns and Management’s best estimates. The table below shows estimated changes in the Company’s EVE as of September 30, 2016, under different interest rate scenarios relative to a base case of current interest rates:

 

   Balance Sheet Shock 
($ In Thousands)  -200 bp   -100 bp   STATIC
(Base)
   +100 bp   +200 bp   +300 bp   +400 bp 
Market Value of Equity   255,467    243,463    253,332    288,957    318,948    343,996    365,035 
Change in EVE from base   2,135    -9,869         35,625    65,616    90,664    111,703 
% Change   0.84%   -3.90%        14.06%   25.90%   35.79%   44.09%
Policy Limits   -20.00%   -10.00%        -10.00%   -20.00%   -30.00%   -40.00%

 

The table shows that our EVE will generally deteriorate in declining rate scenarios, but should benefit from a parallel shift upward in the yield curve. As noted previously, however, Management is of the opinion that the potential for a significant rate decline is low. We also run stress scenarios for EVE to simulate the possibility of higher loan prepayment rates, unfavorable changes in deposit rates, and higher deposit decay rates. Model results are highly sensitive to changes in assumed decay rates for non-maturity deposits, in particular.

 

CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

At September 30, 2016 the Company had total stockholders’ equity of $112.7 million, comprised of $5.5 million in common stock, $17.1 million in preferred stock, less than one half a million in treasury stock, $45.0 million in surplus, $42.5 million in undivided profits, $3.0 million in accumulated comprehensive income for available for sale securities. Total stockholders’ equity at the end of 2015 was $103.4 million. The increase of $9.2 million, or 8.9%, in stockholders’ equity during the first nine months of 2016 is comprised of capital added via net earnings of $7.8 million, $1.9 million increase in accumulated comprehensive income for available for sale securities, offset by $.9 million in cash dividends paid.

 

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The Company uses a variety of measures to evaluate its capital adequacy, including risk-based capital and leverage ratios that are calculated separately for the Company and the Bank. Management reviews these capital measurements on a quarterly basis and takes appropriate action to help ensure that they meet or surpass established internal and external guidelines. As permitted by the regulators for financial institutions that are not deemed to be “advanced approaches” institutions, the Company has elected to opt out of the Basel III requirement to include accumulated other comprehensive income in risk-based capital. The following table sets forth the Company’s and the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios as of the dates indicated.

 

Regulatory Capital Ratios        
The First, ANBA  September 30,
2016
   December 31,
2015
   Minimum
Required to be
Well
Capitalized
 
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio   10.43%   11.04%   6.50%
Tier 1 Capital Ratio   10.43%   11.04%   8.00%
Total Capital Ratio   11.18%   11.81%   10.00%
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio   8.49%   8.62%   5.00%

 

Regulatory Capital Ratios        
The First Bancshares, Inc.  September 30,
2016
   December 31,
2015
   Minimum
Required to be
Well
Capitalized
 
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio*   7.81%   8.10%   6.50%
Tier 1 Capital Ratio**   10.47%   11.09%   8.00%
Total Capital Ratio   11.23%   11.86%   10.00%
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio   8.53%   8.66%   5.00%

 

* The numerator does not include Preferred Stock and Trust Preferred.

** The numerator includes Preferred Stock and Trust Preferred.

 

Regulatory capital ratios slightly decreased from December 31, 2015 to September 30, 2016 as asset growth outpaced capital formation. Our capital ratios remain very strong relative to the median for peer financial institutions, and at September 30, 2016 were well above the threshold for the Company and the Bank to be classified as “well capitalized,” the highest rating of the categories defined under the Bank Holding Company Act and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991. We do not foresee any circumstances that would cause the Company or the Bank to be less than well capitalized, although no assurance can be given that this will not occur.

 

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM NO. 3

QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The information concerning quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk is included in Part I, Item 2 above. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Market Risk Management.”

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM NO. 4

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As of September 30, 2016, (the “Evaluation Date”), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision of and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms.

 

Changes in Internal Controls

 

There have been no changes, significant or otherwise, in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2016, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1: LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The Company is involved in various legal proceedings in the normal course of business. In the opinion of Management, any liability resulting from such proceedings would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operation.

 

ITEM 1A: RISK FACTORS

 

There are no material changes in the Company’s risk factors since December 31, 2015. For additional information on risk factors, refer to Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of The First Bancshares, Inc., filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2016.

 

ITEM 2: UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Not applicable

 

ITEM 3: DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

Not applicable

 

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ITEM 4: (REMOVED AND RESERVED)

 

Item 5: Other Information

 

Not applicable

 

ITEM 6: EXHIBITS -

 

    (a)     Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.  Description

 

3.1  Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of The First Bancshares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 28, 2016.

  

3.2  Amended and Restated Bylaws of The First Bancshares, Inc. effective as of March 17, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 18, 2016.

 

4.1  Form of Certificate of Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-137198 on Form S-1 filed on 9/8/2006.

 

31.1  Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

31.2  Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

32.1  Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to 18 U. S. C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

32.2  Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to 18 U. S. C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

    101.INS XBRL Instance Document
       
    101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
       
    101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
       
    101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
       
    101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
       
    101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
  (Registrant)

 

    /s/ M. RAY (HOPPY)COLE, JR.
November 9, 2016    M. Ray (Hoppy) Cole, Jr.
(Date)    Chief Executive Officer

 

    /s/  DEE DEE LOWERY
November 9, 2016     Dee Dee Lowery, Executive
(Date)     Vice President and Chief
      Financial Officer

 

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