UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For fiscal year ended December 31, 2014

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For transition period from __________ to ___________

 

Commission File Number 0-33203

 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   43-1930755  
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)  

 

701 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas    66502

(Address of principal executive offices)      (Zip Code)

 

(785) 565-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:   Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:   None

 

Name of exchange on which registered: Nasdaq Global Market

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes ¨   No x

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes ¨   No x

 

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 and Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes x   No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant 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 x   No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨

Non-accelerated filer ¨ (do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company x

 

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

Yes ¨   No x

 

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the last sales price quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market on the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was approximately $49.9 million. On March 18, 2015, the total number of shares of common stock outstanding was 3,337,424.

 

Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 20, 2015, are incorporated by reference in Part III hereof, to the extent indicated herein.

 

 
 

 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC.

2014 Form 10-K Annual Report

Table of Contents

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS   3
       
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS   27
       
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS   36
       
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES   36
       
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS   36
       
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES   36
       
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES   37
       
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA   38
       
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS   39
       
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK   50
       
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA   53
       
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE   94
       
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES   94
       
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION   94
       
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE   95
       
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION   95
       
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS   96
       
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE   96
       
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES   96
       
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES   97
       
SIGNATURES     98

 

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PART I.

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

 

The Company

 

Landmark Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) is a bank holding company which was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 2001. Currently, the Company’s business consists solely of the ownership of Landmark National Bank (the “Bank”), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $863.5 million in consolidated total assets.

 

The Company is headquartered in Manhattan, Kansas and has expanded its geographic presence through past acquisitions. Effective November 1, 2013, the Company completed the acquisition of Citizens Bank, National Association (“Citizens Bank”). Effective April 1, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of The Wellsville Bank. In May 2009, the Company acquired an additional branch in Lawrence, Kansas. The company completed several other mergers and acquisitions prior to 2009.

 

The Bank has continued to focus on increasing its originations of commercial, commercial real estate and agricultural loans, which management believes will be more profitable and provide more growth for the Bank than traditional one-to-four family residential real estate lending. While the Bank has grown these portfolios, generally weak loan demand over the past few years as the economy has recovered has made it difficult to have meaningful growth while maintaining high credit standards. Additionally, greater emphasis has been placed on diversification of the deposit mix through expansion of core deposit accounts such as checking, savings, and money market accounts. The Bank has also diversified its geographical markets as a result of its acquisitions. The Company’s main office is in Manhattan, Kansas. The Company has 29 branch offices in 23 communities across the state of Kansas. The Company continues to explore opportunities to expand its banking markets through mergers and acquisitions, as well as branching opportunities.

 

The results of operations of the Bank and the Company are dependent primarily upon net interest income and, to a lesser extent, upon other income derived from sales of one-to-four family residential mortgage loans, loan servicing fees and customer deposit services. Additional expenses of the Bank include general and administrative expenses such as salaries, employee benefits, federal deposit insurance premiums, data processing, occupancy and related expenses.

 

Deposits of the Bank are insured by the Deposit Insurance Fund (the “DIF”) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) up to the maximum amount allowable under applicable federal law and regulation. The Bank is regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”), as the chartering authority for national banks, and the FDIC, as the administrator of the DIF. The Bank is also subject to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) with respect to reserves required to be maintained against deposits and certain other matters. The Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and the Federal Home Loan Bank (the “FHLB”) of Topeka.

 

The Company’s executive office and the Bank’s main office are located at 701 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502. The telephone number is (785) 565-2000.

 

3
 

 

Market Areas

 

The Bank’s primary deposit gathering and lending markets are geographically diversified with locations in central, eastern, southeast, and southwest Kansas. The primary industries within these respective markets are also diverse and dependent upon a wide array of industry and governmental activity for their economic base. The Bank’s markets have not been immune to the effects of the challenging economic conditions of recent years, however, the effect has not been as severe as those experienced in some areas of the United States. To varying degrees, the Bank’s markets generally have experienced flat commercial and residential real estate values, unemployment levels above historical norms and slow growth in consumer spending. A brief description of the four geographic areas and the communities which the Bank serves is set forth below.

 

The central region of the Bank’s market area consists of the Bank’s locations in Auburn, Manhattan, Osage City, Junction City, Wamego and Topeka, Kansas and includes the counties of Riley, Geary, Osage, Pottawatomie and Shawnee. The economies are significantly impacted by employment at Fort Riley Military Base in Junction City and Kansas State University, the second largest university in Kansas, which is located in Manhattan. Topeka is the capital of Kansas and strongly influenced by the State of Kansas. Topeka and Manhattan are regional destinations for retail shopping as well as home to regional hospitals. Manhattan was also selected as the site of the new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, which is expected to have a significant impact on the regional economy as the facility is constructed and begins operations. Construction of the facility began in 2013 and is expected to be completed in five to seven years. Additionally, manufacturing and service industries also play a key role within the central Kansas market.

 

The Bank’s eastern Kansas branches are located in the communities of Lawrence, Lenexa, Louisburg, Osawatomie, Overland Park, Paola and Wellsville. The Bank’s Lawrence locations are located in Douglas County and are significantly impacted by the University of Kansas, the largest university in Kansas. The eastern region is strongly influenced by the Kansas City metropolitan market, which is the highest growth area in the State of Kansas. The region is influenced by public and private industries and businesses of all sizes. In addition, housing growth and commercial real estate are major drivers of the region’s economy. The Citizens Bank acquisition expanded the Bank’s presence in the eastern Kansas market with branches in the Kansas City metropolitan suburbs of Lenexa and Overland Park.

 

The southeast region of the Bank’s market area consists of the Bank’s locations in Fort Scott, Iola, Kincaid, Mound City and Pittsburg, Kansas. Agriculture, oil, and gas are the predominant industries in the southeast Kansas region. Both Fort Scott and Pittsburg are recognized as regional commercial centers within the southeast region of the state, which attracts small retail businesses to the region. Additionally, Pittsburg State University and Fort Scott Community College attract a number of individuals from the surrounding area to live within the communities to participate in educational programs and pursue a degree. Fort Scott is also home to a regional hospital. Additionally, manufacturing and service industries also play a key role within the southeast Kansas market. This market area primarily consists of branches acquired from Citizens Bank in 2013.

 

The Bank’s southwest Kansas branches are located in the communities of Dodge City in Ford County, Garden City in Finney County, Great Bend and Hoisington in Barton County and LaCrosse in Rush County. Agriculture, oil, and gas are the predominant industries in the southwest Kansas region. Predominant activities involve crop production, feed lot operations, and food processing. Dodge City is known as the “Cowboy Capital of the World” and maintains a significant tourism industry. Both Dodge City and Garden City are recognized as regional commercial centers within the state with small businesses, manufacturing, retail, and service industries having a significant influence upon the local economies. Additionally, the Dodge City, Garden City and Great Bend communities each have a community college, which attracts individuals from the surrounding areas.

 

Competition

 

The Company faces strong competition both in attracting deposits and making real estate, commercial and other loans. Its most direct competition for deposits comes from commercial banks and other savings institutions located in its principal market areas, including many larger financial institutions which have greater financial and marketing resources available to them. The ability of the Company to attract and retain deposits generally depends on its ability to provide a rate of return, service levels, liquidity and risk comparable to that offered by competing investment opportunities. The Company competes for loans principally through the interest rates and loan fees it charges and the efficiency and quality of services it provides borrowers.

 

4
 

 

Employees

 

At December 31, 2014, the Bank had a total of 277 employees (265 full time equivalent employees). The Company has no employees, although the Company is a party to several employment agreements with executives of the Bank. Employees are provided with a comprehensive benefits program, including basic and major medical insurance, life and disability insurance, sick leave, and a 401(k) profit sharing plan. Employees are not represented by any union or collective bargaining group and the Bank considers its employee relations to be good.

 

Lending Activities

 

General. The Bank strives to provide a full range of financial products and services to small- and medium-sized businesses and to consumers to each market area it serves. The Bank targets owner-operated businesses and utilizes Small Business Administration lending as a part of its product mix. The Bank has a loan committee for each of its markets, which has authority to approve credits, within established guidelines. Concentrations in excess of those guidelines must be approved by either a corporate loan committee comprised of the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, the Credit Risk Manager, and other senior commercial lenders or the Bank’s board of directors. When lending to an entity, the Bank generally obtains a guaranty from the principals of the entity. The loan mix is subject to the discretion of the Bank’s board of directors and the demands of the local marketplace.

 

The following is a brief description of each major category of the Bank’s lending activity.

 

One-to-Four Family Residential Real Estate Lending. The Bank originates one-to-four family residential real estate loans with both fixed and variable rates. One-to-four family residential real estate loans are priced and originated following global underwriting standards that are consistent with guidelines established by the major buyers in the secondary market. Generally, residential real estate loans retained in the Bank’s loan portfolio have fixed or variable rates with adjustment periods of five years or less and amortization periods of typically either 15 or 30 years. A significant portion of these loans prepay prior to maturity. The Bank has no potential negative amortization loans. While the origination of fixed-rate, one-to-four family residential loans continues to be a key component of our business, the majority of these loans are sold in the secondary market. One-to-four family residential real estate loans that exceed 80% of the appraised value of the real estate generally are required, by policy, to be supported by private mortgage insurance, although on occasion the Bank will retain non-conforming residential loans to known customers at premium pricing. The Bank’s one-to-four family residential real estate loan portfolio increased primarily as a result of the acquisition of Citizens Bank during 2013; however, the Bank also retained some newly originated one-to-four family residential real estate loans that met internal criteria in addition to secondary market qualifications. These are typically loans with maturities of 15 years or less. While the Bank does not intend to increase its one-to-four family residential real estate loan portfolio, the Bank slowed the runoff of the portfolio by retaining some of the new loan originations to offset weak commercial loan demand; however, most of the new loan originations continue to be sold.

 

Construction and Land Lending. Loans in this category include loans to facilitate the development of both residential and commercial real estate. Construction and land loans generally have terms of less than 18 months and the Bank will retain a security interest in the borrower’s real estate. Construction loans are generally limited, by policy, to 80% of the appraised value of the property. Land loans are generally limited, by policy, to 65% of the appraised value of the property. The Bank has generally been reducing its exposure to construction and land loans over the past few years as a strategy to reduce risk. However, recently loan demand has begun to increase slightly for this type of loan.

 

Commercial Real Estate Lending. Commercial real estate loans, including multi-family loans, generally have amortization periods of 15 or 20 years. Commercial real estate and multi-family loans are generally limited, by policy, to 80% of the appraised value of the property. Commercial real estate loans are also supported by an analysis demonstrating the borrower’s ability to repay. The Bank’s commercial real estate loan portfolio increased primarily as a result of the acquisition of Citizens Bank during 2013. The Bank continues to focus on generating additional commercial real estate loan relationships as well.

 

5
 

 

Commercial Lending. Loans in this category include loans to service, retail, wholesale and light manufacturing businesses. Commercial loans are made based on the financial strength and repayment ability of the borrower, as well as the collateral securing the loans. The Bank targets owner-operated businesses as its customers and makes lending decisions based upon a cash flow analysis of the borrower as well as a collateral analysis. Accounts receivable loans and loans for inventory purchases are generally on a one-year renewable term and loans for equipment generally have a term of seven years or less. The Bank generally takes a blanket security interest in all assets of the borrower. Equipment loans are generally limited to 75% of the cost or appraised value of the equipment. Inventory loans are generally limited to 50% of the value of the inventory, and accounts receivable loans are generally limited to 75% of a predetermined eligible base. The Bank continues to focus its organic growth on generating additional commercial loan relationships.

 

Municipal Lending. Loans to municipalities are generally related to equipment leasing or general fund loans. Terms are generally limited to 5 years. Equipment leases are generally made for the purchase of municipal assets and are secured by the leased asset. The Bank is generally not active in the origination of municipal loans and leases; however, the Bank may originate loans or leases for municipalities in its market area.

 

Agriculture Lending. Agricultural real estate loans generally have amortization periods of 20 years or less, during which time the Bank generally retains a security interest in the borrower’s real estate. The Bank also provides short-term credit for operating loans and intermediate-term loans for farm product, livestock and machinery purchases and other agricultural improvements. Farm product loans generally have a one-year term, and machinery, equipment and breeding livestock loans generally have five to seven year terms. Extension of credit is based upon the borrower’s ability to repay, as well as the existence of federal guarantees and crop insurance coverage. These loans are generally secured by a blanket lien on livestock, equipment, feed, hay, grain and growing crops. Equipment and breeding livestock loans are generally limited to 75% of appraised value. While the 95% increase in the Bank’s agriculture loan portfolio in 2013 was primarily a result of the acquisition of Citizens Bank, the Bank continues to focus on generating additional agriculture loan relationships in each of its market areas.

 

Consumer and Other Lending. Loans classified as consumer and other loans include automobile, boat, home improvement and home equity loans. With the exception of home improvement loans and home equity loans, the Bank generally takes a purchase money security interest in collateral for which it provides the original financing. Home improvement loans and home equity loans are principally secured through second mortgages. The terms of the loans typically range from one to five years, depending upon the use of the proceeds, and generally range from 75% to 90% of the value of the collateral. The majority of these loans are installment loans with fixed interest rates. Home improvement and home equity loans are generally secured by a second mortgage on the borrower’s personal residence and, when combined with the first mortgage, limited to 80% of the value of the property unless further protected by private mortgage insurance. Home improvement loans are generally made for terms of five to seven years with fixed interest rates. Home equity loans are generally made for terms of ten years on a revolving basis with adjustable monthly interest rates tied to the national prime interest rate. While the Bank primarily provides consumer loans to its existing customers, consumer lending is not a category the Bank targets for organic growth.

 

Loan Origination and Processing

 

Loan originations are derived from a number of sources. Residential loan originations result from real estate broker referrals, direct solicitation by the Bank’s loan officers, present depositors and borrowers, referrals from builders and attorneys, walk-in customers and, in some instances, other lenders. Consumer and commercial real estate loan originations generally emanate from many of the same sources. Residential loan applications are underwritten and closed based upon standards which generally meet secondary market guidelines.

 

The loan underwriting procedures followed by the Bank conform to regulatory specifications and are designed to assess both the borrower’s ability to make principal and interest payments and the value of any assets or property serving as collateral for the loan. Generally, as part of the process, a loan officer meets with each applicant to obtain the appropriate employment and financial information as well as any other required loan information. The Bank then obtains reports with respect to the borrower’s credit record, and orders, on real estate loans, and reviews an appraisal of any collateral for the loan (prepared for the Bank by an independent appraiser).

 

6
 

 

Loan applicants are notified promptly of the decision of the Bank. Prior to closing any long-term loan, the borrower must provide proof of fire and casualty insurance on the property serving as collateral, and such insurance must be maintained during the full term of the loan. Title insurance is required on loans collateralized by real property.

 

The Bank is focusing on the generation of commercial, commercial real estate and agriculture loans to grow and diversify the loan portfolio. However, the challenging economic environment has materially impacted loan origination as a result of decreased demand for loans that meet the Bank’s credit standards. In several of the Bank’s markets, there is an oversupply of newly constructed, speculative residential real estate properties and developed vacant lots. As a result of these issues, the Bank has curtailed land development and construction lending and does not expect this type of lending to increase significantly unless the economic outlook continues to improve and the supply and demand of residential housing and vacant developed lots is in balance. Economic conditions in recent years have also caused the Bank to increase underwriting requirements on other types of loans to ensure borrowers can meet repayment requirements.

 

SUPERVISION AND REGULATION

 

General

 

Financial institutions, their holding companies and their affiliates are extensively regulated under federal and state law. As a result, the growth and earnings performance of the Company may be affected not only by management decisions and general economic conditions, but also by requirements of federal and state statutes and by the regulations and policies of various bank regulatory agencies, including the OCC, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (the “CFPB”). Furthermore, taxation laws administered by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities, accounting rules developed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, securities laws administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and state securities authorities, and anti-money laundering laws enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) have an impact on the business of the Company. The effect of these statutes, regulations, regulatory policies and accounting rules are significant to the operations and results of the Company and the Bank, and the nature and extent of future legislative, regulatory or other changes affecting financial institutions are impossible to predict with any certainty.

 

Federal and state banking laws impose a comprehensive system of supervision, regulation and enforcement on the operations of financial institutions, their holding companies and affiliates that is intended primarily for the protection of the FDIC-insured deposits and depositors of banks, rather than shareholders. These federal and state laws, and the regulations of the bank regulatory agencies issued under them, affect, among other things, the scope of business, the kinds and amounts of investments banks may make, reserve requirements, capital levels relative to operations, the nature and amount of collateral for loans, the establishment of branches, the ability to merge, consolidate and acquire, dealings with insiders and affiliates and the payment of dividends.

 

This supervisory and regulatory framework subjects banks and bank holding companies to regular examination by their respective regulatory agencies, which results in examination reports and ratings that are not publicly available and that can impact the conduct and growth of their businesses. These examinations consider not only compliance with applicable laws and regulations, but also capital levels, asset quality and risk, management ability and performance, earnings, liquidity, and various other factors. The regulatory agencies generally have broad discretion to impose restrictions and limitations on the operations of a regulated entity where the agencies determine, among other things, that such operations are unsafe or unsound, fail to comply with applicable law or are otherwise inconsistent with laws and regulations or with the supervisory policies of these agencies.  

 

The following is a summary of the material elements of the supervisory and regulatory framework applicable to the Company and the Bank. It does not describe all of the statutes, regulations and regulatory policies that apply, nor does it restate all of the requirements of those that are described. The descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to the particular statutory and regulatory provision.

 

7
 

 

Financial Regulatory Reform

 

On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) into law. The Dodd-Frank Act represented a sweeping reform of the U.S. supervisory and regulatory framework applicable to financial institutions and capital markets in the wake of the global financial crisis, certain aspects of which are described below in more detail. In particular, and among other things, the Dodd-Frank Act: (i) created a Financial Stability Oversight Council as part of a regulatory structure for identifying emerging systemic risks and improving interagency cooperation; (ii) created the CFPB, which is authorized to regulate providers of consumer credit, savings, payment and other consumer financial products and services; (iii) narrowed the scope of federal preemption of state consumer laws enjoyed by national banks and federal savings associations and expanded the authority of state attorneys general to bring actions to enforce federal consumer protection legislation; (iv) imposed more stringent capital requirements on bank holding companies and subjected certain activities, including interstate mergers and acquisitions, to heightened capital conditions; (v) with respect to mortgage lending, (a) significantly expanded requirements applicable to loans secured by 1-4 family residential real property, (b) imposed strict rules on mortgage servicing, and (c) required the originator of a securitized loan, or the sponsor of a securitization, to retain at least 5% of the credit risk of securitized exposures unless the underlying exposures are qualified residential mortgages or meet certain underwriting standards; (vi) repealed the prohibition on the payment of interest on business checking accounts; (vii) restricted the interchange fees payable on debit card transactions for issuers with $10 billion in assets or greater; (viii) in the so-called “Volcker Rule,” subject to numerous exceptions, prohibited depository institutions and affiliates from certain investments in, and sponsorship of, hedge funds and private equity funds and from engaging in proprietary trading; (ix) provided for enhanced regulation of advisers to private funds and of the derivatives markets; (x) enhanced oversight of credit rating agencies; and (xi) prohibited banking agency requirements tied to credit ratings. These statutory changes shifted the regulatory framework for financial institutions, impacted the way in which they do business and have the potential to constrain revenues.

 

Numerous provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act were required to be implemented through rulemaking by the appropriate federal regulatory agencies. Many of the required regulations have been issued and others have been released for public comment, but are not yet final. Furthermore, while the reforms primarily targeted systemically important financial service providers, their influence is expected to filter down in varying degrees to smaller institutions over time. Management of the Company and the Bank will continue to evaluate the effect of the Dodd-Frank Act; however, in many respects, the ultimate impact of the Dodd-Frank Act will not be fully known for years, and no current assurance may be given that the Dodd-Frank Act, or any other new legislative changes, will not have a negative impact on the results of operations and financial condition of the Company and the Bank.

 

The Increasing Regulatory Emphasis on Capital

 

Regulatory capital represents the net assets of a financial institution available to absorb losses. Because of the risks attendant to their businesses, depository institutions are generally required to hold more capital than other businesses, which directly affects earnings capabilities. While capital has historically been one of the key measures of the financial health of both bank holding companies and banks, its role became fundamentally more important in the wake of the global financial crisis, as the banking regulators recognized that the amount and quality of capital held by banks prior to the crisis was insufficient to absorb losses during periods of severe stress. Certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and Basel III, discussed below, establish strengthened capital standards for banks and bank holding companies, require more capital to be held in the form of common stock and disallow certain funds from being included in capital determinations.  Once fully implemented, these standards will represent regulatory capital requirements that are meaningfully more stringent than those in place previously.

 

The Company and Bank Required Capital Levels. Bank holding companies have historically had to comply with less stringent capital standards than their bank subsidiaries and have been able to raise capital with hybrid instruments such as trust preferred securities. The Dodd-Frank Act mandated the Federal Reserve to establish minimum capital levels for bank holding companies on a consolidated basis as stringent as those required for insured depository institutions. As a consequence, the components of holding company permanent capital known as “Tier 1 Capital” were restricted to those capital instruments that are considered to be Tier 1 Capital for insured depository institutions. A result of this change is that the proceeds of hybrid instruments, such as trust preferred securities, are being excluded from Tier 1 Capital over a phase-out period. However, if such securities were issued prior to May 19, 2010 by bank holding companies with less than $15 billion of assets as of December 31, 2009, they may be retained as Tier I Capital subject to certain restrictions. Because the Company had assets of less than $15 billion, it was able to meet the requirements and maintain its trust preferred proceeds as Tier 1 Capital but will have to comply with the revised capital mandates in other respects and will not be able to raise Tier 1 Capital in the future through the issuance of trust preferred securities.

 

8
 

 

The minimum capital standards effective for the year ended December 31, 2014 were:

 

·A leverage requirement, consisting of a minimum ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total adjusted average quarterly assets of 3% for the most highly-rated banks with a minimum requirement of at least 4% for all others, and

 

·A risk-based capital requirement, consisting of a minimum ratio of Total Capital to total risk-weighted assets of 8% and a minimum ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total risk-weighted assets of 4%.

 

For these purposes, “Tier 1 Capital” consisted primarily of common stock, noncumulative perpetual preferred stock and related surplus less intangible assets (other than certain loan servicing rights and purchased credit card relationships). “Total Capital” consisted primarily of Tier 1 Capital plus “Tier 2 Capital,” which included other non-permanent capital items, such as certain other debt and equity instruments that do not qualify as Tier 1 Capital, and a portion of the Bank’s allowance for loan and lease losses. Further, risk-weighted assets for the purpose of the risk-weighted ratio calculations were balance sheet assets and off-balance sheet exposures to which required risk weightings of 0% to 100% were applied.  

 

The capital standards described above are minimum requirements and were increased beginning January 1, 2015 under Basel III, as discussed below. Bank regulatory agencies uniformly encourage banks and bank holding companies to be “well-capitalized” and, to that end, federal law and regulations provide various incentives for banking organizations to maintain regulatory capital at levels in excess of minimum regulatory requirements. For example, a banking organization that is “well-capitalized” may: (i) qualify for exemptions from prior notice or application requirements otherwise applicable to certain types of activities; (ii) qualify for expedited processing of other required notices or applications; and (iii) accept, roll-over or renew brokered deposits. Under the capital regulations of the OCC and Federal Reserve, in order to be “well-capitalized,” a banking organization, for the year ended December 31, 2014, must have maintained:

 

·A leverage ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total assets of 5% or greater,

 

·A ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total risk-weighted assets of 6% or greater, and

 

·A ratio of Total Capital to total risk-weighted assets of 10% or greater.

 

The OCC and Federal Reserve guidelines also provide that banks and bank holding companies experiencing internal growth or making acquisitions would be expected to maintain capital positions substantially above the minimum supervisory levels without significant reliance on intangible assets. Furthermore, the guidelines indicate that the agencies will continue to consider a “tangible Tier 1 leverage ratio” (deducting all intangibles) in evaluating proposals for expansion or to engage in new activities.

 

Higher capital levels could also be required if warranted by the particular circumstances or risk profile of individual banking organizations. For example, the Federal Reserve’s capital guidelines contemplate that additional capital may be required to take adequate account of, among other things, interest rate risk, or the risks posed by concentrations of credit, nontraditional activities or securities trading activities. Further, any banking organization experiencing or anticipating significant growth would be expected to maintain capital ratios, including tangible capital positions (i.e., Tier 1 Capital less all intangible assets), well above the minimum levels.

 

Prompt Corrective Action. A banking organization’s capital plays an important role in connection with regulatory enforcement as well. Federal law provides the federal banking regulators with broad power to take prompt corrective action to resolve the problems of undercapitalized institutions. The extent of the regulators’ powers depends on whether the institution in question is “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized,” in each case as defined by regulation. Depending upon the capital category to which an institution is assigned, the regulators’ corrective powers include: (i) requiring the institution to submit a capital restoration plan; (ii) limiting the institution’s asset growth and restricting its activities; (iii) requiring the institution to issue additional capital stock (including additional voting stock) or to sell itself; (iv) restricting transactions between the institution and its affiliates; (v) restricting the interest rate that the institution may pay on deposits; (vi) ordering a new election of directors of the institution; (vii) requiring that senior executive officers or directors be dismissed; (viii) prohibiting the institution from accepting deposits from correspondent banks; (ix) requiring the institution to divest certain subsidiaries; (x) prohibiting the payment of principal or interest on subordinated debt; and (xi) ultimately, appointing a receiver for the institution.

 

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As of December 31, 2014: (i) the Bank was not subject to a directive from the OCC to increase its capital and (ii) the Bank was “well-capitalized,” as defined by OCC regulations. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had regulatory capital in excess of the Federal Reserve’s requirements and met the Dodd-Frank Act requirements.

 

The Basel International Capital Accords. The risk-based capital guidelines described above are based upon the 1988 capital accord known as “Basel I” adopted by the international Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, a committee of central banks and bank supervisors, as implemented by the U.S. federal banking regulators on an interagency basis.  In 2008, the banking agencies collaboratively began to phase-in capital standards based on a second capital accord, referred to as “Basel II,” for large or “core” international banks (generally defined for U.S. purposes as having total assets of $250 billion or more, or consolidated foreign exposures of $10 billion or more).  Basel II emphasized internal assessment of credit, market and operational risk, as well as supervisory assessment and market discipline in determining minimum capital requirements.

 

On September 12, 2010, the Group of Governors and Heads of Supervision, the oversight body of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, announced agreement on a strengthened set of capital requirements for banking organizations around the world, known as Basel III, to address deficiencies recognized in connection with the global financial crisis.  Basel III was intended to be effective globally on January 1, 2013, with phase-in of certain elements continuing until January 1, 2019, and it is currently effective in many countries.

 

U.S. Implementation of Basel III. In July of 2013, the U.S. federal banking agencies approved the implementation of the Basel III regulatory capital reforms in pertinent part, and, at the same time, promulgated rules effecting certain changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act (the “Basel III Rule”). In contrast to capital requirements previously, which were in the form of guidelines, Basel III was released in the form of regulations by each of the federal regulatory agencies. The Basel III Rule is applicable to all financial institutions that are subject to minimum capital requirements, including federal and state banks and savings and loan associations, as well as to bank and savings and loan holding companies.

 

The Basel III Rule not only increased most of the required minimum capital ratios as of January 1, 2015, but it introduced the concept of “Common Equity Tier 1 Capital,” which consists primarily of common stock, related surplus (net of Treasury stock), retained earnings, and Common Equity Tier 1 minority interests, subject to certain regulatory adjustments. The Basel III Rule also established more stringent criteria for instruments to be considered “Additional Tier 1 Capital” (Tier 1 Capital in addition to Common Equity) and Tier 2 Capital. A number of instruments that qualified as Tier 1 Capital will not qualify, or their qualifications will change. For example, cumulative preferred stock and certain hybrid capital instruments, including trust preferred securities, will no longer qualify as Tier 1 Capital of any kind, with the exception, subject to certain restrictions, of such instruments issued before May 10, 2010, by bank holding companies with total consolidated assets of less than $15 billion as of December 31, 2009. For those institutions, trust preferred securities and other nonqualifying capital instruments currently included in consolidated Tier 1 Capital were permanently grandfathered under the Basel III Rule, subject to certain restrictions. Noncumulative perpetual preferred stock, which formerly qualified as simple Tier 1 Capital, will not qualify as Common Equity Tier 1 Capital, but will instead qualify as Additional Tier 1 Capital. The Basel III Rule also constrained the inclusion of minority interests, mortgage-servicing assets, and deferred tax assets in capital and requires deductions from Common Equity Tier 1 Capital in the event that such assets exceed a certain percentage of a banking institution’s Common Equity Tier 1 Capital.

 

As of January 1, 2015, the Basel III Rule requires:

 

·A new minimum ratio of Common Equity Tier 1 Capital to risk-weighted assets of 4.5%;

 

·An increase in the minimum required amount of Tier 1 Capital to 6% of risk-weighted assets;

 

·A continuation of the current minimum required amount of Total Capital (Tier 1 plus Tier 2) at 8% of risk-weighted assets; and

 

·A minimum leverage ratio of Tier 1Capital to total quarterly average assets equal to 4% in all circumstances.

 

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The Basel III Rule maintained the general structure of the prompt corrective action framework, while incorporating the increased requirements and adding the Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ratio. In order to be “well-capitalized” under the new regime, a depository institution must maintain a Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ratio of 6.5% or more; a Tier 1 Capital ratio of 8% or more; a Total Capital ratio of 10% or more; and a leverage ratio of 5% or more

 

In addition, institutions that seek the freedom to make capital distributions (including for dividends and repurchases of stock) and pay discretionary bonuses to executive officers without restriction must also maintain 2.5% of risk-weighted assets in Common Equity Tier 1 attributable to a capital conservation buffer to be phased in over three years beginning in 2016. The purpose of the conservation buffer is to ensure that banking institutions maintain a buffer of capital that can be used to absorb losses during periods of financial and economic stress. Factoring in the fully phased-in conservation buffer increases the minimum ratios depicted above to 7% for Common Equity Tier 1, 8.5% for Tier 1 Capital and 10.5% for Total Capital. The leverage ratio is not impacted by the conservation buffer, and a banking institution may be considered well-capitalized while remaining out of compliance with the capital conservation buffer.

 

As discussed above, most of the capital requirements are based on a ratio of specific types of capital to “risk-weighted assets.” Not only did Basel III change the components and requirements of capital, but, for nearly every class of financial assets, the Basel III Rule requires a more complex, detailed and calibrated assessment of credit risk and calculation of risk weightings. While Basel III would have changed the risk weighting for residential mortgage loans based on loan-to-value ratios and certain product and underwriting characteristics, there was concern in the United States that the proposed methodology for risk weighting residential mortgage exposures and the higher risk weightings for certain types of mortgage products would increase costs to consumers and reduce their access to mortgage credit. As a result, the Basel III Rule did not effect this change, and banking institutions will continue to apply a risk weight of 50% or 100% to their exposure from residential mortgages.

 

Furthermore, there was significant concern noted by the financial industry in connection with the Basel III rulemaking as to the proposed treatment of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). Basel III requires unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities to flow through to regulatory capital as opposed to the previous treatment, which neutralized such effects. Recognizing the problem for community banks, the U.S. bank regulatory agencies adopted the Basel III Rule with a one-time election for smaller institutions like the Company and the Bank to opt out of including most elements of AOCI in regulatory capital. This opt-out, which must be made in the first quarter of 2015, would exclude from regulatory capital both unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale debt securities and accumulated net gains and losses on cash-flow hedges and amounts attributable to defined benefit post-retirement plans. The Company and the Bank expect to make this election to avoid variations in the level of their capital depending on fluctuations in the fair value of their securities portfolio.

 

Banking institutions (except for large, internationally active financial institutions) became subject to the Basel III Rule on January 1, 2015, and both the Company and the Bank are currently in compliance with the new required ratios. There are separate phase-in/phase-out periods for: (i) the capital conservation buffer; (ii) regulatory capital adjustments and deductions; (iii) nonqualifying capital instruments; and (iv) changes to the prompt corrective action rules. The phase-in periods commence on January 1, 2016 and extend until 2019.

 

The Company

 

General The Company, as the sole shareholder of the Bank, is a bank holding company. As a bank holding company, the Company is registered with, and is subject to regulation by, the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”). In accordance with Federal Reserve policy, and as now codified by the Dodd-Frank Act, the Company is legally obligated to act as a source of financial strength to the Bank and to commit resources to support the Bank in circumstances where the Company might not otherwise do so. Under the BHCA, the Company is subject to periodic examination by the Federal Reserve. The Company is required to file with the Federal Reserve periodic reports of the Company’s operations and such additional information regarding the Company and its subsidiaries as the Federal Reserve may require.

 

Acquisitions, Activities and Change in Control. The primary purpose of a bank holding company is to control and manage banks. The BHCA generally requires the prior approval of the Federal Reserve for any merger involving a bank holding company or any acquisition by a bank holding company of another bank or bank holding company. Subject to certain conditions (including deposit concentration limits established by the BHCA and the Dodd-Frank Act), the Federal Reserve may allow a bank holding company to acquire banks located in any state of the United States. In approving interstate acquisitions, the Federal Reserve is required to give effect to applicable state law limitations on the aggregate amount of deposits that may be held by the acquiring bank holding company and its insured depository institution affiliates in the state in which the target bank is located (provided that those limits do not discriminate against out-of-state depository institutions or their holding companies) and state laws that require that the target bank have been in existence for a minimum period of time (not to exceed five years) before being acquired by an out-of-state bank holding company. Furthermore, in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Act, bank holding companies must be well-capitalized and well-managed in order to effect interstate mergers or acquisitions. For a discussion of the capital requirements, see “The Increasing Regulatory Emphasis on Capital” above.

 

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The BHCA generally prohibits the Company from acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any company that is not a bank and from engaging in any business other than that of banking, managing and controlling banks or furnishing services to banks and their subsidiaries. This general prohibition is subject to a number of exceptions. The principal exception allows bank holding companies to engage in, and to own shares of companies engaged in, certain businesses found by the Federal Reserve prior to November 11, 1999 to be “so closely related to banking ... as to be a proper incident thereto.” This authority would permit the Company to engage in a variety of banking-related businesses, including the ownership and operation of a savings association, or any entity engaged in consumer finance, equipment leasing, the operation of a computer service bureau (including software development) and mortgage banking and brokerage. The BHCA generally does not place territorial restrictions on the domestic activities of nonbank subsidiaries of bank holding companies.

 

Additionally, bank holding companies that meet certain eligibility requirements prescribed by the BHCA and elect to operate as financial holding companies may engage in, or own shares in companies engaged in, a wider range of nonbanking activities, including securities and insurance underwriting and sales, merchant banking and any other activity that the Federal Reserve, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines by regulation or order is financial in nature or incidental to any such financial activity or that the Federal Reserve determines by order to be complementary to any such financial activity and does not pose a substantial risk to the safety or soundness of depository institutions or the financial system generally. The Company does not currently operate as a financial holding company.

 

Federal law also prohibits any person or company from acquiring “control” of an FDIC-insured depository institution or its holding company without prior notice to the appropriate federal bank regulator. “Control” is conclusively presumed to exist upon the acquisition of 25% or more of the outstanding voting securities of a bank or bank holding company, but may arise under certain circumstances between 10% and 24.99% ownership.

 

Capital Requirements. Bank holding companies are required to maintain capital in accordance with Federal Reserve capital adequacy requirements, as affected by the Dodd-Frank Act and Basel III. For a discussion of capital requirements, see “—The Increasing Regulatory Emphasis on Capital” above.

 

Dividend Payments. The Company’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders may be affected by both general corporate law considerations and the policies of the Federal Reserve applicable to bank holding companies. As a Delaware corporation, the Company is subject to the limitations of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). The DGCL allows the Company to pay dividends only out of its surplus (as defined and computed in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL) or if the Company has no such surplus, out of its net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. In addition, under the Basel III Rule, institutions that seek the freedom to pay dividends will have to maintain 2.5% in Common Equity Tier 1 attributable to the capital conservation buffer to be phased in over three years beginning in 2016. See “—The Increasing Regulatory Emphasis on Capital” above.

 

As a general matter, the Federal Reserve has indicated that the board of directors of a bank holding company should eliminate, defer or significantly reduce dividends to shareholders if: (i) the company’s net income available to shareholders for the past four quarters, net of dividends previously paid during that period, is not sufficient to fully fund the dividends; (ii) the prospective rate of earnings retention is inconsistent with the company’s capital needs and overall current and prospective financial condition; or (iii) the company will not meet, or is in danger of not meeting, its minimum regulatory capital adequacy ratios. The Federal Reserve also possesses enforcement powers over bank holding companies and their nonbank subsidiaries to prevent or remedy actions that represent unsafe or unsound practices or violations of applicable statutes and regulations. Among these powers is the ability to proscribe the payment of dividends by banks and bank holding companies.

 

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Federal Securities Regulation The Company’s common stock is registered with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Consequently, the Company is subject to the information, proxy solicitation, insider trading and other restrictions and requirements of the SEC under the Exchange Act.

 

Corporate Governance. The Dodd-Frank Act addresses many investor protection, corporate governance and executive compensation matters that will affect most U.S. publicly traded companies. The Dodd-Frank Act will increase shareholder influence over boards of directors by requiring companies to give shareholders a nonbinding vote on executive compensation and so-called “golden parachute” payments, and authorizing the SEC to promulgate rules that would allow shareholders to nominate and solicit voters for their own candidates using a company’s proxy materials. The legislation also directs the Federal Reserve to promulgate rules prohibiting excessive compensation paid to executives of bank holding companies, regardless of whether such companies are publicly traded.

 

The Bank

 

General The Bank is a national bank, chartered by the OCC under the National Bank Act. The deposit accounts of the Bank are insured by the FDIC’s DIF to the maximum extent provided under federal law and FDIC regulations, and the Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System. As a national bank, the Bank is subject to the examination, supervision, reporting and enforcement requirements of the OCC. The FDIC, as administrator of the DIF, also has regulatory authority over the Bank.

 

Deposit Insurance. As an FDIC-insured institution, the Bank is required to pay deposit insurance premium assessments to the FDIC. The FDIC has adopted a risk-based assessment system whereby FDIC-insured depository institutions pay insurance premiums at rates based on their risk classification.  An institution’s risk classification is assigned based on its capital levels and the level of supervisory concern the institution poses to the regulators.  For deposit insurance assessment purposes, an insured depository institution is placed in one of four risk categories each quarter. An institution’s assessment is determined by multiplying its assessment rate by its assessment base. The total base assessment rates range from 2.5 basis points to 45 basis points. While in the past an insured depository institution’s assessment base was determined by its deposit base, amendments to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act revised the assessment base so that it is calculated using average consolidated total assets minus average tangible equity. This change shifted the burden of deposit insurance premiums toward those large depository institutions that rely on funding sources other than U.S. deposits. 

 

The FDIC has authority to raise or lower assessment rates on insured deposits in order to achieve statutorily required reserve ratios in the DIF and to impose special additional assessments. In light of the significant increase in depository institution failures in 2008-2010 and the increase of deposit insurance limits, the DIF incurred substantial losses during recent years. To bolster reserves in the DIF, the Dodd-Frank Act increased the minimum reserve ratio of the DIF to 1.35% of insured deposits and deleted the statutory cap for the reserve ratio. In December 2010, the FDIC set the designated reserve ratio at 2%, 65 basis points above the statutory minimum. At least semi-annually, the FDIC will update its loss and income projections for the DIF and, if needed, will increase or decrease the assessment rates, following notice and comment on proposed rulemaking. As a result, the Bank’s FDIC deposit insurance premiums could increase.

 

FICO Assessments.  In addition to paying basic deposit insurance assessments, insured depository institutions must pay Financing Corporation (“FICO”) assessments. FICO is a mixed-ownership governmental corporation chartered by the former Federal Home Loan Bank Board pursuant to the Competitive Equality Banking Act of 1987 to function as a financing vehicle for the recapitalization of the former Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. FICO issued 30-year noncallable bonds of approximately $8.1 billion that mature in 2017 through 2019. FICO’s authority to issue bonds ended on December 12, 1991. Since 1996, federal legislation has required that all FDIC-insured depository institutions pay assessments to cover interest payments on FICO’s outstanding obligations. The FICO assessment rate is adjusted quarterly and for the fourth quarter of 2014 was approximately 0.620 basis points (62 cents per $100 of assessable deposits).

 

Supervisory Assessments. National banks are required to pay supervisory assessments to the OCC to fund the operations of the OCC. The amount of the assessment is calculated using a formula that takes into account the bank’s size and its supervisory condition. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Bank paid supervisory assessments to the OCC totaling $207,000.

 

Capital Requirements. Banks are generally required to maintain capital levels in excess of other businesses. For a discussion of capital requirements, see “—The Increasing Regulatory Emphasis on Capital” above.

 

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Liquidity Requirements. Liquidity is a measure of the ability and ease with which bank assets may be converted to cash. Liquid assets are those that can be converted to cash quickly if needed to meet financial obligations. To remain viable, financial institutions must have enough liquid assets to meet their near-term obligations, such as withdrawals by depositors. Because the global financial crisis was in part a liquidity crisis, Basel III also included a liquidity framework that requires financial institutions to measure their liquidity against specific liquidity tests. One test, referred to as the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (“LCR”), is designed to ensure that the banking entity has an adequate stock of unencumbered high-quality liquid assets that can be converted easily and immediately in private markets into cash to meet liquidity needs for a 30-calendar day liquidity stress scenario. The other test, known as the Net Stable Funding Ratio (“NSFR”), is designed to promote more medium- and long-term funding of the assets and activities of financial institutions over a one-year horizon. These tests provide an incentive for banks and holding companies to increase their holdings in Treasury securities and other sovereign debt as a component of assets, increase the use of long-term debt as a funding source and rely on stable funding like core deposits (in lieu of brokered deposits).

 

In addition to liquidity guidelines already in place, the U.S. bank regulatory agencies implemented the LCR in September 2014, which requires large financial firms to hold levels of liquid assets sufficient to protect against constraints on their funding during times of financial turmoil. While the LCR only applies to the largest banking organizations in the country, certain elements are expected to filter down to all insured depository institutions. The Company and the Bank are reviewing their liquidity risk management policies in light of the LCR and NSFR.

 

Dividend Payments. The primary source of funds for the Company is dividends from the Bank. Under the National Bank Act, a national bank may pay dividends out of its undivided profits in such amounts and at such times as the bank’s board of directors deems prudent. Without prior OCC approval, however, a national bank may not pay dividends in any calendar year that, in the aggregate, exceed the bank’s year-to-date net income plus the bank’s retained net income for the two preceding years.

 

The payment of dividends by any financial institution is affected by the requirement to maintain adequate capital pursuant to applicable capital adequacy guidelines and regulations, and a financial institution generally is prohibited from paying any dividends if, following payment thereof, the institution would be undercapitalized. As described above, the Bank exceeded its minimum capital requirements under applicable guidelines as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2014, approximately $13.9 million was available to be paid as dividends by the Bank. Notwithstanding the availability of funds for dividends, however, the OCC may prohibit the payment of dividends by the Bank if it determines such payment would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice. In addition, under the Basel III Rule, institutions that seek the freedom to pay dividends will have to maintain 2.5% in Common Equity Tier 1 attributable to the capital conservation buffer to be phased in over three years beginning in 2016. See “—The Increasing Regulatory Emphasis on Capital” above.

 

Insider Transactions. The Bank is subject to restrictions imposed by federal law on “covered transactions” between the Bank and its “affiliates.” The Company is an affiliate of the Bank for purposes of these restrictions, and covered transactions subject to the restrictions include extensions of credit to the Company, investments in the stock or other securities of the Company and the acceptance of the stock or other securities of the Company as collateral for loans made by the Bank. The Dodd-Frank Act enhanced the requirements for certain transactions with affiliates as of July 21, 2011, including an expansion of the definition of “covered transactions” and an increase in the amount of time for which collateral requirements regarding covered transactions must be maintained.

 

Certain limitations and reporting requirements are also placed on extensions of credit by the Bank to its directors and officers, to directors and officers of the Company and its subsidiaries, to principal shareholders of the Company and to “related interests” of such directors, officers and principal shareholders. In addition, federal law and regulations may affect the terms upon which any person who is a director or officer of the Company or the Bank, or a principal shareholder of the Company, may obtain credit from banks with which the Bank maintains a correspondent relationship.

 

Safety and Soundness Standards/ Risk Management. The federal banking agencies have adopted guidelines that establish operational and managerial standards to promote the safety and soundness of federally insured depository institutions. The guidelines set forth standards for internal controls, information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, compensation, fees and benefits, asset quality and earnings.

 

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In general, the safety and soundness guidelines prescribe the goals to be achieved in each area, and each financial institution is responsible for establishing its own procedures to achieve those goals. If an financial institution fails to comply with any of the standards set forth in the guidelines, the financial institution’s primary federal regulator may require the financial institution to submit a plan for achieving and maintaining compliance. If a financial institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan, or fails in any material respect to implement a compliance plan that has been accepted by its primary federal regulator, the regulator is required to issue an order directing the financial institution to cure the deficiency. Until the deficiency cited in the regulator’s order is cured, the regulator may restrict the financial institution’s rate of growth, require the institution to increase its capital, restrict the rates the financial institution pays on deposits or require the financial institution to take any action the regulator deems appropriate under the circumstances. Noncompliance with the standards established by the safety and soundness guidelines may also constitute grounds for other enforcement action by the federal banking regulators, including cease and desist orders and civil money penalty assessments.

 

During the past decade, the bank regulatory agencies have increasingly emphasized the importance of sound risk management processes and strong internal controls when evaluating the activities of the financial institutions they supervise.  Properly managing risks has been identified as critical to the conduct of safe and sound banking activities and has become even more important as new technologies, product innovation, and the size and speed of financial transactions have changed the nature of banking markets.  The agencies have identified a spectrum of risks facing a banking institution including, but not limited to, credit, market, liquidity, operational, legal, and reputational risk. In particular, recent regulatory pronouncements have focused on operational risk, which arises from the potential that inadequate information systems, operational problems, breaches in internal controls, fraud, or unforeseen catastrophes will result in unexpected losses. New products and services, third-party risk management and cybersecurity are critical sources of operational risk that financial institutions are expected to address in the current environment. The Bank is expected to have active board and senior management oversight; adequate policies, procedures, and limits; adequate risk measurement, monitoring, and management information systems; and comprehensive internal controls.

 

Branching Authority. National banks headquartered in Kansas, such as the Bank, have the same branching rights in Kansas as banks chartered under Kansas law, subject to OCC approval. Kansas law grants Kansas-chartered banks the authority to establish branches anywhere in the State of Kansas, subject to receipt of all required regulatory approvals.

 

Federal law permits state and national banks to merge with banks in other states subject to: (i) regulatory approval; (ii) federal and state deposit concentration limits; and (iii) state law limitations requiring the merging bank to have been in existence for a minimum period of time (not to exceed five years) prior to the merger. The establishment of new interstate branches or the acquisition of individual branches of a bank in another state (rather than the acquisition of an out-of-state bank in its entirety) has historically been permitted only in those states the laws of which expressly authorize such expansion. However, the Dodd-Frank Act permits well-capitalized and well-managed banks to establish new branches across state lines without these impediments.

 

Financial Subsidiaries. Under federal law and OCC regulations, national banks are authorized to engage, through “financial subsidiaries,” in any activity that is permissible for a financial holding company and any activity that the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Federal Reserve, determines is financial in nature or incidental to any such financial activity, except (i) insurance underwriting, (ii) real estate development or real estate investment activities (unless otherwise permitted by law), (iii) insurance company portfolio investments and (iv) merchant banking. The authority of a national bank to invest in a financial subsidiary is subject to a number of conditions, including, among other things, requirements that the bank must be well-managed and well-capitalized (after deducting from capital the bank’s outstanding investments in financial subsidiaries). The Bank has not applied for approval to establish any financial subsidiaries.

 

Transaction Account Reserves. Federal Reserve regulations require insured depository institutions to maintain reserves against their transaction accounts (primarily NOW and regular checking accounts). For 2015: the first $14.5 million of otherwise reservable balances are exempt from the reserve requirements; for transaction accounts aggregating more than $14.5 million to $103.6 million, the reserve requirement is 3% of total transaction accounts; and for net transaction accounts in excess of $103.6 million, the reserve requirement is $2,673,000 plus 10% of the aggregate amount of total transaction accounts in excess of $103.6 million. These reserve requirements are subject to annual adjustment by the Federal Reserve.

 

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Federal Home Loan Bank System. The Bank is a member of the FHLB, which serves as a central credit facility for its members. The FHLB is funded primarily from proceeds from the sale of obligations of the FHLB system. It makes loans to member banks in the form of FHLB advances. All advances from the FHLB are required to be fully collateralized as determined by the FHLB.

 

Community Reinvestment Act Requirements. The Community Reinvestment Act requires the Bank to have a continuing and affirmative obligation in a safe and sound manner to help meet the credit needs of its entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Federal regulators regularly assess the Bank’s record of meeting the credit needs of its communities. Applications for additional acquisitions would be affected by the evaluation of the Bank’s effectiveness in meeting its Community Reinvestment Act requirements.

 

Anti-Money Laundering. The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “Patriot Act”) is designed to deny terrorists and criminals the ability to obtain access to the U.S. financial system and has significant implications for depository institutions, brokers, dealers and other businesses involved in the transfer of money. The Patriot Act mandates financial services companies to have policies and procedures with respect to measures designed to address any or all of the following matters: (i) customer identification programs; (ii) money laundering; (iii) terrorist financing; (iv) identifying and reporting suspicious activities and currency transactions; (v) currency crimes; and (vi) cooperation between financial institutions and law enforcement authorities.

 

Concentrations in Commercial Real Estate. Concentration risk exists when financial institutions deploy too many assets to any one industry or segment. Concentration stemming from commercial real estate is one area of regulatory concern. The Interagency Concentrations in Commercial Real Estate Lending, Sound Risk Management Practices guidance (“CRE Guidance”) provides supervisory criteria, including the following numerical indicators, to assist bank examiners in identifying banks with potentially significant commercial real estate loan concentrations that may warrant greater supervisory scrutiny: (i) commercial real estate loans exceeding 300% of capital and increasing 50% or more in the preceding three years; or (ii) construction and land development loans exceeding 100% of capital. The CRE Guidance does not limit banks’ levels of commercial real estate lending activities, but rather guides institutions in developing risk management practices and levels of capital that are commensurate with the level and nature of their commercial real estate concentrations. Based on the Bank’s loan portfolio at December 31, 2014, the Bank does not exceed these guidelines.

 

Consumer Financial Services

 

The historical structure of federal consumer protection regulation applicable to all providers of consumer financial products and services changed significantly on July 21, 2011, when the CFPB commenced operations to supervise and enforce consumer protection laws. The CFPB has broad rulemaking authority for a wide range of consumer protection laws that apply to all providers of consumer products and services, including the Bank, as well as the authority to prohibit “unfair, deceptive or abusive” acts and practices. The CFPB has examination and enforcement authority over providers with more than $10 billion in assets. Banks and savings institutions with $10 billion or less in assets, like the Bank, will continue to be examined by their applicable bank regulators.

 

Because abuses in connection with residential mortgages were a significant factor contributing to the financial crisis, many new rules issued by the CFPB and required by the Dodd-Frank Act address mortgage and mortgage-related products, their underwriting, origination, servicing and sales. The Dodd-Frank Act significantly expanded underwriting requirements applicable to loans secured by 1-4 family residential real property and augmented federal law combating predatory lending practices. In addition to numerous disclosure requirements, the Dodd-Frank Act imposed new standards for mortgage loan originations on all lenders, including banks and savings associations, in an effort to strongly encourage lenders to verify a borrower’s ability to repay, while also establishing a presumption of compliance for certain “qualified mortgages.” In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act generally required lenders or securitizers to retain an economic interest in the credit risk relating to loans that the lender sells, and other asset-backed securities that the securitizer issues, if the loans do not comply with the ability-to-repay standards described below. The risk retention requirement generally is 5%, but could be increased or decreased by regulation. The Bank does not currently expect the CFPB’s rules to have a significant impact on its operations, except for higher compliance costs.

 

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Ability-to-Repay Requirement and Qualified Mortgage Rule. On January 10, 2013, the CFPB issued a final rule implementing the Dodd-Frank Act’s ability-to-repay requirements. Under the final rule, lenders, in assessing a borrower’s ability to repay a mortgage-related obligation, must consider eight underwriting factors: (i) current or reasonably expected income or assets; (ii) current employment status; (iii) monthly payment on the subject transaction; (iv) monthly payment on any simultaneous loan; (v) monthly payment for all mortgage-related obligations; (vi) current debt obligations, alimony, and child support; (vii) monthly debt-to-income ratio or residual income; and (viii) credit history. The final rule also includes guidance regarding the application of, and methodology for evaluating, these factors.

 

Further, the final rule clarified that qualified mortgages do not include “no-doc” loans and loans with negative amortization, interest-only payments, balloon payments, terms in excess of 30 years, or points and fees paid by the borrower that exceed 3% of the loan amount, subject to certain exceptions. In addition, for qualified mortgages, the rule mandated that the monthly payment be calculated on the highest payment that will occur in the first five years of the loan, and required that the borrower’s total debt-to-income ratio generally may not be more than 43%. The final rule also provided that certain mortgages that satisfy the general product feature requirements for qualified mortgages and that also satisfy the underwriting requirements of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (while they operate under federal conservatorship or receivership), or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, or Department of Agriculture or Rural Housing Service, are also considered to be qualified mortgages. This second category of qualified mortgages will phase out as the aforementioned federal agencies issue their own rules regarding qualified mortgages, the conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ends, and, in any event, after seven years.

 

As set forth in the Dodd-Frank Act, subprime (or higher-priced) mortgage loans are subject to the ability-to-repay requirement, and the final rule provided for a rebuttable presumption of lender compliance for those loans. The final rule also applied the ability-to-repay requirement to prime loans, while also providing a conclusive presumption of compliance (i.e., a safe harbor) for prime loans that are also qualified mortgages. Additionally, the final rule generally prohibited prepayment penalties (subject to certain exceptions) and set forth a 3-year record retention period with respect to documenting and demonstrating the ability-to-repay requirement and other provisions.

 

Mortgage Loan Originator Compensation. As a part of the overhaul of mortgage origination practices, mortgage loan originators’ compensation was limited such that they may no longer receive compensation based on a mortgage transaction’s terms or conditions other than the amount of credit extended under the mortgage loan. Further, the total points and fees that a bank and/or a broker may charge on conforming and jumbo loans was limited to 3.0% of the total loan amount. Mortgage loan originators may receive compensation from a consumer or from a lender, but not both.  These rules contain requirements designed to prohibit mortgage loan originators from “steering” consumers to loans that provide mortgage loan originators with greater compensation. In addition, the rules contain other requirements concerning recordkeeping.

 

Servicing. The CFPB was also required to implement certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act relating to mortgage servicing through rulemaking. The servicing rules require servicers to meet certain benchmarks for loan servicing and customer service in general. Servicers must provide periodic billing statements and certain required notices and acknowledgments, promptly credit borrowers’ accounts for payments received and promptly investigate complaints by borrowers and are required to take additional steps before purchasing insurance to protect the lender’s interest in the property. The servicing rules also called for additional notice, review and timing requirements with respect to delinquent borrowers, including early intervention, ongoing access to servicer personnel and specific loss mitigation and foreclosure procedures. The rules provided for an exemption from most of these requirements for “small servicers.” A small servicer is defined as a loan servicer that services 5,000 or fewer mortgage loans and services only mortgage loans that they or an affiliate originated or own.

 

17
 

 

Additional Constraints on the Company and Bank

 

Monetary Policy. The monetary policy of the Federal Reserve has a significant effect on the operating results of financial or bank holding companies and their subsidiaries. Among the tools available to the Federal Reserve to affect the money supply are open market transactions in U.S. government securities, changes in the discount rate on member bank borrowings and changes in reserve requirements against member bank deposits. These means are used in varying combinations to influence overall growth and distribution of bank loans, investments and deposits, and their use may affect interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits.

 

The Volcker Rule. In addition to other implications of the Dodd-Frank Act discussed above, the Act amended the BHCA to require the federal regulatory agencies to adopt rules that prohibit banking entities and their affiliates from engaging in proprietary trading and investing in and sponsoring certain unregistered investment companies (defined as hedge funds and private equity funds). This statutory provision is commonly called the “Volcker Rule.” On December 10, 2013, the federal regulatory agencies issued final rules to implement the prohibitions required by the Volcker Rule. Thereafter, in reaction to industry concern over the adverse impact to community banks of the treatment of certain collateralized debt instruments in the final rule, the federal regulatory agencies approved an interim final rule to permit financial institutions to retain interests in collateralized debt obligations backed primarily by trust preferred securities (“TruPS CDOs”) from the investment prohibitions contained in the final rule. Under the interim final rule, the regulatory agencies permitted the retention of an interest in or sponsorship of covered funds by banking entities if the following qualifications were met: (i) the TruPS CDO was established, and the interest was issued, before May 19, 2010; (ii) the banking entity reasonably believes that the offering proceeds received by the TruPS CDO were invested primarily in qualifying TruPS collateral; and (iii) the banking entity's interest in the TruPS CDO was acquired on or before December 10, 2013.

 

Although the Volcker Rule has significant implications for many large financial institutions, the Company does not currently anticipate that it will have a material effect on the operations of the Company or the Bank. The Company may incur costs if it is required to adopt additional policies and systems to ensure compliance with certain provisions of the Volcker Rule, but any such costs are not expected to be material.

 

18
 

 

Company Web site

 

The Company maintains a corporate Web site at www.landmarkbancorpinc.com. In addition, the Company has an investor relations link at the Bank’s corporate Web site at www.banklandmark.com. The Company makes available free of charge on or through its Web site its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC. Copies of the Company’s filings with the SEC are also available from the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) free of charge. Many of the Company’s policies, including its code of ethics, committee charters and other investor information are available on the Web site. The Company will also provide copies of its filings free of charge upon written request to our Corporate Secretary at the address listed on the front of this Form 10-K.

 

Statistical Data

 

The Company has a fiscal year ending on December 31. Unless otherwise noted, the information presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K presents information on behalf of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

The statistical data required by Guide 3 of the Securities Act of 1933 Industry Guides is set forth in the following pages. This data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

I. Distribution of Assets, Liabilities, and Stockholders’ Equity; Interest Rates and Interest Differential

 

The following table describes the extent to which changes in tax equivalent interest income and interest expense for major components of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities affected the Company’s interest income and expense during the periods indicated. The table distinguishes between (i) changes attributable to rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume), (ii) changes attributable to volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate), and (iii) net change (the sum of the previous columns). The net changes attributable to the combined effect of volume and rate, which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and the change due to rate.

 

   Years ended December 31, 
   2014 vs 2013   2013 vs 2012 
   Increase/(decrease) attributable to   Increase/(decrease) attributable to 
   Volume   Rate   Net   Volume   Rate   Net 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
Interest income:                              
Interest-bearing deposits at banks  $(8)  $-   $(8)  $(1)  $3   $2 
Investment securities                              
Taxable   1,082    244    1,326    43    (184)   (141)
Tax-exempt   640    (260)   380    2,191    (2,240)   (49)
Loans   4,100    103    4,203    992    (812)   180 
Total   5,814    87    5,901    3,225    (3,233)   (8)
Interest expense:                              
Deposits   857    (999)   (142)   83    (855)   (772)
Borrowings   208    39    247    178    (235)   (57)
Total   1,065    (960)   105    261    (1,090)   (829)
Net interest income  $4,749   $1,047   $5,796   $2,964   $(2,143)  $821 

 

19
 

 

The following table sets forth information relating to average balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. Average balances are derived from daily average balances. Non-accrual loans were included in the computation of average balances but have been reflected in the table as loans carrying a zero yield. The yields set forth in the table below include the effect of deferred fees, discounts and premiums that are amortized or accreted to interest income or interest expense. This table reflects the average yields on assets and average costs of liabilities for the periods indicated (derived by dividing income or expense by the monthly average balance of assets or liabilities, respectively) as well as the "net interest margin" (which reflects the effect of the net earnings balance) for the periods shown.

 

   Year ended December 31, 2014   Year ended December 31, 2013   Year ended December 31, 2012 
   Average
balance
   Interest   Yield/
cost
   Average
balance
   Interest   Yield/
cost
   Average
balance
   Interest   Yield/
cost
 
   (Dollars in thousands)   (Dollars in thousands)             
Assets                                             
Interest-earning assets:                                             
Interest bearing deposits at banks  $8,266   $21    0.25%  $11,716   $29    0.25%  $11,927   $27    0.23%
Investment securities                                             
Taxable   221,215    4,098    1.85%   162,288    2,772    1.71%   160,043    2,913    1.82%
Tax-exempt (1)   100,965    3,902    3.86%   83,287    3,523    4.23%   75,334    3,572    4.74%
Loans receivable, net (2)   422,342    21,295    5.04%   341,021    17,091    5.01%   315,213    16,911    5.37%
Total interest-earning assets   752,788    29,316    3.89%   598,312    23,415    3.91%   562,517    23,423    4.16%
Non-interest-earning assets   84,468              71,010              69,163           
Total  $837,256             $669,322             $631,680           
                                              
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                                             
Interest-bearing liabilities:                                             
Money market and checking  $297,998   $282    0.09%  $222,112   $188    0.08%  $203,741   $313    0.15%
Savings accounts   73,743    23    0.03%   52,933    17    0.03%   44,289    29    0.07%
Time deposit   180,634    930    0.51%   167,191    1,172    0.70%   178,508    1,807    1.01%
Total deposits   552,375    1,235    0.22%   442,236    1,377    0.31%   426,538    2,149    0.50%
FHLB advances and other borrowings   71,253    1,951    2.74%   63,672    1,704    2.68%   59,287    1,761    2.97%
Total interest-bearing liabilities   623,628    3,186    0.51%   505,908    3,081    0.61%   485,825    3,910    0.80%
Non-interest-bearing liabilities   145,907              99,918              84,303           
Stockholders' equity   67,721              63,496              61,552           
Total  $837,256             $669,322             $631,680           
                                              
Interest rate spread (3)             3.38%             3.30%             3.36%
Net interest margin (4)       $26,130    3.47%       $20,334    3.40%       $19,513    3.47%
Tax equivalent interest - imputed (1) (2)        1,466              1,303              1,371      
Net interest income       $24,664             $19,031             $18,142      
                                              
Ratio of average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities        120.7%             118.3%             115.8%     

 

(1)Income on tax-exempt investment securities is presented on a fully taxable equivalent basis, using a 34% federal tax rate.
(2)Income on tax-exempt loans is presented on a fully taxable equivalent basis, using a 34% federal tax rate.
(3)Interest rate spread represents the difference between the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(4)Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

 

20
 

 

II. Investment Portfolio

 

Investment Securities. The following table sets forth the carrying value of the Company’s investment securities at the dates indicated. None of the investment securities issued by an individual issuer held as of December 31, 2014 were in excess of 10% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity, excluding U.S. federal agency obligations. The Company’s federal agency obligations consist of obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises, primarily the FHLB. The Company’s agency mortgage-backed securities portfolio consists of securities predominantly underwritten to the standards and guaranteed by the government-sponsored agencies of Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”). The Company’s investments in certificates of deposits consists of FDIC-insured certificates of deposits with other financial institutions.

 

   As of December 31, 
   2014   2013   2012 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
Investment securities:               
U.S. treasury securities  $6,530   $500   $- 
U.S. federal agency obligations   25,743    19,643    8,848 
Municipal obligations tax-exempt   110,509    91,793    77,286 
Municipal obligations taxable   63,922    52,472    38,142 
Agency mortgage-backed securities   135,519    125,593    81,848 
Common stocks   1,283    1,103    902 
Certificates of deposits   5,425    9,142    6,274 
Total available-for-sale investment securities, at fair value  $348,931   $300,246   $213,300 
                
FHLB stock   1,996    3,240    3,360 
Federal Reserve Bank stock   1,900    1,920    1,765 
Correspondent bank common stock   111    111    113 
Bank stocks, at cost  $4,007   $5,271   $5,238 

 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the carrying values, weighted average yields, and maturities of the Company's investment securities portfolio, excluding common stocks, as of December 31, 2014. Yields on tax-exempt obligations have been computed on a tax equivalent basis, using a 34% federal tax rate. Mortgage-backed investment securities include scheduled principal payments and estimated prepayments based on observable market inputs. Actual prepayments will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have the right to prepay obligations with or without prepayment penalties.

 

   As of December 31, 2014 
   One year or less   One to five years   Five to ten years   More than ten years   Total 
   Carrying   Average   Carrying   Average   Carrying   Average   Carrying   Average   Carrying   Average 
   value   yield   value   yield   value   yield   value   yield   value   yield 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
Investment securities:                                                  
U.S. treasury securities  $-    0.00%  $6,530    0.99%  $-    0.00%  $-    0.00%  $6,530    0.99%
U.S. federal agency obligations   -    0.00%   23,067    1.19%   2,676    2.15%   -    0.00%   25,743    1.29%
Municipal obligations tax-exempt   7,183    4.40%   39,387    3.09%   50,757    3.97%   13,182    5.04%   110,509    3.81%
Municipal obligations taxable   4,702    1.39%   38,063    1.83%   15,863    2.69%   5,294    3.75%   63,922    2.17%
Agency mortgage-backed securities   1,559    2.11%   90,628    2.01%   31,247    2.32%   12,085    2.21%   135,519    2.10%
Certificates of deposits   1,217    0.57%   4,208    1.81%   -    0.00%   -    0.00%   5,425    1.53%
Total  $14,661    2.87%  $201,883    2.06%  $100,543    3.21%  $30,561    3.70%  $347,648    2.57%

 

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III. Loan Portfolio

 

Loan Portfolio Composition. The following table sets forth the composition of the loan portfolio by type of loan at the dates indicated.

 

   As of December 31, 
   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
Balance                         
One-to-four family residential real estate loans  $127,555   $125,087   $88,454   $79,108   $79,631 
Construction and land loans   21,950    23,776    23,435    21,672    23,652 
Commercial real estate loans   118,411    119,390    88,790    93,786    92,124 
Commercial loans   59,971    61,383    64,570    57,006    57,286 
Agriculture loans   64,316    62,287    31,935    39,052    38,836 
Municipal loans   8,982    8,846    9,857    10,366    5,393 
Consumer loans   20,044    18,600    13,417    13,584    14,385 
Total gross loans   421,229    419,369    320,458    314,574    311,307 
Net deferred loan costs and loans in process   281    187    37    214    328 
Allowance for loan losses   (5,320)   (5,540)   (4,581)   (4,707)   (4,967)
Loans, net  $416,190   $414,016   $315,914   $310,081   $306,668 
                          
Percent of total                         
One-to-four family residential real estate loans   30.3%   29.8%   27.6%   25.2%   25.6%
Construction and land loans   5.2%   5.7%   7.3%   6.9%   7.6%
Commercial real estate loans   28.1%   28.5%   27.7%   29.8%   29.6%
Commercial loans   14.2%   14.6%   20.1%   18.1%   18.4%
Agriculture loans   15.3%   14.9%   10.0%   12.4%   12.5%
Municipal loans   2.1%   2.1%   3.1%   3.3%   1.7%
Consumer loans   4.8%   4.4%   4.2%   4.3%   4.6%
Total gross loans   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%

 

The following table sets forth the contractual maturities of loans as of December 31, 2014. The table does not include unscheduled prepayments.

 

   As of December 31, 2014 
   < 1 year   1-5 years   > 5 years   Total 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
                 
One-to-four family residential real estate loans  $16,311   $53,296   $57,948   $127,555 
Construction and land loans   18,784    2,460    706    21,950 
Commercial real estate loans   18,576    49,147    50,688    118,411 
Commercial loans   41,757    14,585    3,629    59,971 
Agriculture loans   35,390    12,918    16,008    64,316 
Municipal loans   494    4,035    4,453    8,982 
Consumer loans   4,286    7,493    8,265    20,044 
Total gross loans  $135,598   $143,934   $141,697   $421,229 

 

22
 

 

The following table sets forth the dollar amount of all loans due after December 31, 2015 and whether such loans had fixed interest rates or adjustable interest rates:

 

   As of December 31, 2014 
   Fixed   Adjustable   Total 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
             
One-to-four family residential real estate loans  $64,594   $46,650   $111,244 
Construction and land loans   2,097    1,069    3,166 
Commercial real estate loans   29,688    70,147    99,835 
Commercial loans   12,753    5,461    18,214 
Agriculture loans   15,747    13,179    28,926 
Municipal loans   8,488    -    8,488 
Consumer loans   3,195    12,563    15,758 
Total gross loans  $136,562   $149,069   $285,631 

 

Non-performing Assets. The following table sets forth information with respect to non-performing assets, including non-accrual loans and real estate acquired through foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure (“real estate owned”). Under the original terms of the Company’s non-accrual loans as of December 31, 2014, interest earned on such loans for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 would have increased interest income by $525,000, $511,000 and $164,000, respectively, if included in the Company’s interest income for those years. No interest income related to non-accrual loans was included in interest income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

 

   As of December 31, 
   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
                     
Non-accrual loans  $6,046   $9,836   $9,108   $1,419   $4,817 
Accruing loans over 90 days past due   -    -    -    -    - 
Non-performing investments   -    -    -    1,104    1,125 
Real estate owned, net   255    400    2,444    2,264    3,194 
Non-performing assets  $6,301   $10,236   $11,552   $4,787   $9,136 
                          
Performing TDRs  $4,657   $6,920   $5,846   $1,071   $531 
                          
Non-performing loans to total gross loans   1.44%   2.35%   2.84%   0.45%   1.55%
Non-performing assets to total assets   0.73%   1.24%   1.88%   0.80%   1.63%
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans   87.99%   56.32%   50.30%   331.71%   103.11%

 

The decrease in non-accrual loans during 2014 was principally associated with a $4.0 million commercial loan relationship which was placed on non-accrual status in 2013 as the performance of the business deteriorated and the borrower agreed to sell the business. The business was liquidated in 2014 and resulted in a charge-off of $755,000 and the Bank receiving $3.2 million as a payoff for the credit. The increase in non-accrual loans during 2013 was primarily due to the $4.0 million commercial loan relationship which was partially offset by the return to accrual status of $1.5 million of a $2.2 million land loan that was subject to a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) in 2012 after a payment history was established based on the terms of the TDR. Also reducing our non-accrual loan balances in 2013 was the pay down of a $1.1 million commercial loan with proceeds from the liquidation of the borrower’s assets in 2013. The remaining loan balance of $192,000 was charged off in 2013. The increase in non-accrual loans during 2012 was principally associated with the two loans discussed above as well as a commercial loan relationship consisting of $4.4 million in real estate and land loans, which was placed on non-accrual status after the borrower declared bankruptcy. The Company’s non-accrual loans decreased during 2011 primarily as a result of loan charge-offs.

 

23
 

 

At December 31, 2014, the $255,000 of real estate owned primarily consisted of a few residential real estate properties. The decline in real estate owned during 2013 was principally associated with the sale of a residential subdivision development, a commercial real estate building and land previously acquired by the Bank for expansion. The increase in real estate owned during 2012 was primarily associated with $587,000 of real estate owned acquired in The Wellsville Bank acquisition. Partially offsetting the increase in 2012 was a charge of $175,000 to reflect declines in the fair value of certain real estate owned and from the sales of residential properties. The decline in real estate owned during 2011 was primarily related to the sales of residential properties and recording a charge of $517,000 to reflect declines in the fair value of certain real estate owned.

 

As part of the Company’s credit risk management, the Company continues to aggressively manage the loan portfolio to identify problem loans and has placed additional emphasis on its commercial real estate relationships. As discussed in more detail in the “Asset Quality and Distribution” section of Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” as of December 31, 2014, the Company concluded its allowance for loan losses was adequate based on the evaluation of the loan portfolio’s probable incurred losses.

 

IV. Summary of Loan Loss Experience

 

The following table sets forth information with respect to the Company’s allowance for loan losses at the dates and for the periods indicated:

 

   As of and for the year ending December 31, 
   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
                     
Balances at beginning of year  $5,540   $4,581   $4,707   $4,967   $5,468 
Provision for loan losses   600    800    1,900    2,000    5,900 
Charge-offs:                         
One-to-four family residential real estate loans   (29)   (93)   (70)   (110)   (387)
Construction and land loans   -    (53)   (1,749)   (1,173)   (3,474)
Commercial real estate loans   -    (11)   -    (434)   (96)
Commercial loans   (783)   (200)   (70)   (590)   (8)
Agriculture loans   -    -    -    (1)   (2,327)
Municipal loans   -    (65)               
Consumer loans   (237)   (194)   (238)   (132)   (178)
Total charge-offs   (1,049)   (616)   (2,127)   (2,440)   (6,470)
Recoveries:                         
One-to-four family residential real estate loans   12    202    20    41    10 
Construction and land loans   166    523    4    4    - 
Commercial real estate loans   4    -    -    37    - 
Commercial loans   2    20    12    14    17 
Agriculture loans   -    -    39    35    10 
Consumer loans   45    30    26    49    32 
Total recoveries   229    775    101    180    69 
Net recoveries (charge-offs)   (820)   159    (2,026)   (2,260)   (6,401)
Balances at end of year  $5,320   $5,540   $4,581   $4,707   $4,967 
                          
Allowance for loan losses to total gross loans   1.26%   1.32%   1.43%   1.50%   1.60%
Net loans charged off (recovered) to average net loans   0.20%   (0.05)%   0.66%   0.74%   1.93%

 

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During 2014, we had net loan charge-offs of $820,000. The charge-offs were primarily associated with a previously identified and impaired $4.0 million commercial loan relationship. During 2013, we had net loan recoveries of $159,000. The net loan recoveries were primarily associated with a previously charged-off $4.3 million construction loan and recoveries on the payoff of a one-to-four family residential real estate loan which had been partially charged-off as part of a TDR in 2010. During 2012, we had net loan charge-offs of $2.0 million compared to $2.3 million during 2011. The net loan charge-offs in 2012 were primarily associated with two land loans that were the subject of TDRs, resulting in charge-offs to reduce the loans down to the market value of the collateral. The net loan charge-offs in 2011 and 2010 were primarily related to a previously identified and impaired construction loan totaling $4.3 million, which had previously experienced a significant decline in the appraised value of the collateral securing the loan. Due to additional delays associated with the litigation to collect payment from the guarantor, we charged-off $3.3 million in 2010 and the remaining $1.0 million balance on this loan in 2011. We recovered a portion of this loan in 2014 and 2013 and continue to pursue additional recovery from the guarantor of this loan. In addition to the charge-off of the construction loan, the 2011 period also reflects a charge-off related to a previously identified and impaired commercial relationship consisting of $2.0 million in real estate and operating loans, which were charged down to market value after we acquired ownership of the property securing the loans during 2011. The commercial real estate property was sold during 2011 without incurring any further losses. In addition to the construction loan noted above, the 2010 charge-offs were primarily related to a $2.4 million agriculture loan.

 

The distribution of the Company’s allowance for losses on loans at the dates indicated and the percent of loans in each category to total loans is summarized in the following table. This allocation reflects management’s judgment as to risks inherent in the types of loans indicated, but in general the Company’s total allowance for loan losses included in the table is not restricted and is available to absorb all loan losses. The amount allocated in the following table to any category should not be interpreted as an indication of expected actual charge-offs in that category.

 

   As of December 31, 
   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010 
   Amount   % Loan
type to
total loans
   Amount   % Loan
type to
total loans
   Amount   % Loan
type to
total loans
   Amount   % Loan
type to
total loans
   Amount   % Loan
type to
total loans
 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
                                         
One-to-four family residential real estate loans  $755    30.3%  $732    29.8%  $714    27.6%  $560    25.2%  $395    25.6%
Construction and land loans   762    5.2%   1,343    5.7%   1,214    7.3%   928    6.9%   1,193    7.6%
Commercial real estate loans   1,832    28.1%   1,970    28.5%   1,313    27.7%   1,791    29.8%   1,571    29.6%
Commercial loans   836    14.2%   769    14.6%   707    20.1%   745    18.1%   1,173    18.4%
Agriculture loans   915    15.3%   545    14.9%   367    10.0%   433    12.4%   397    12.5%
Municipal loans   51    2.1%   47    2.1%   107    3.1%   130    3.3%   99    1.7%
Consumer loans   169    4.8%   134    4.4%   159    4.2%   120    4.3%   139    4.6%
Total  $5,320    100.0%  $5,540    100.0%  $4,581    100.0%  $4,707    100.0%  $4,967    100.0%

 

The increase in the allocation of the allowance for loan losses on our one-to-four family residential real estate loans during 2014 was primarily related to the increase in specific allowances related to impaired loans. The increase in the allocation of the allowance for loan losses on our one-to-four family residential real estate loans during 2013 and 2012 was related to an increase in outstanding loan balances while the 2011 increase was related to higher levels of non-accrual loans in the loan category. The allocation of the allowance for loan losses on construction and land loans decreased in 2014 primarily due to a decrease in the specific allowance related to an impaired land loan and a decrease in outstanding loan balances. The allocation of the allowance for loan losses on construction and land loans increased in 2013 and 2012 as a result of increases in loan balances and in the specific allowance related to an impaired land loan after declining in 2011 as a result of a decline in outstanding loan balances as well as increased charge-offs. The allocation of the allowance for loan losses on commercial real estate loans decreased in 2014 primarily as a result of the decrease in specific allowances related to impaired loans. The allocation of the allowance for loan losses on commercial real estate loans increased in 2013 as a result of higher outstanding loan balances while the 2012 decline was the result of lower outstanding loan balances. The increase in 2011 was related primarily to declines in the estimated fair value of certain collateral dependent impaired loans, increased historical charge-offs and management’s judgment to increase the risk factors used to determine the allowance for loan losses. The allocation of the allowance for loan losses on commercial loans during 2014, 2013 and 2012 were related primarily to increased historical charge-offs, specific allowances on impaired loans and management’s judgment to increase the risk factors. The decline in 2011 of the allocation of the allowance for loan losses on commercial loans was primarily due to a specific allowance recorded on the operating loans associated with a $2.0 million commercial loan relationship. The increase in the allocation of the allowance for loan losses on agriculture loans during 2014, 2013 and 2012 was primarily specific allowances on impaired loans, higher loan balances and management’s judgment to increase the risk factors. The allowance for loan losses is discussed in more detail in the “Non-performing Assets” and “Asset Quality and Distribution” sections of Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” As of December 31, 2014, we believe the Company’s allowance for loan losses continues to be adequate based on the Company’s evaluation of the loan portfolio’s probable incurred losses.

 

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V. Deposits

 

The following table presents the average deposit balances and the average rate paid on those balances for the years ended:

 

   Years ended December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands)  2014   2013   2012 
Non-interest bearing demand  $134,865        $90,964        $75,828      
Money market and checking   297,998    0.09%   222,112    0.08%   203,741    0.15%
Savings accounts   73,743    0.03%   52,933    0.03%   44,289    0.07%
Certificates of deposit   180,634    0.51%   167,191    0.70%   178,508    1.01%
Total  $687,240        $533,200        $502,366      

 

The following table presents the maturities of jumbo certificates of deposit (amounts of $100,000 or more).

 

   As of December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands)  2014   2013 
Three months or less  $17,583   $17,259 
Over three months through six months   13,815    9,928 
Over six months through 12 months   11,821    15,424 
Over 12 months   14,957    17,631 
Total  $58,176   $60,242 

 

VI. Return on Equity and Assets

 

The following table presents information on return on average equity, return on average assets, equity to total assets and our dividend payout ratio.

 

   As of or for the years ended December 31, 
   2014   2013   2012 
Return on average assets   0.96%   0.70%   1.01%
Return on average equity   11.89%   7.33%   10.34%
Equity to total assets   8.30%   7.56%   10.31%
Dividend payout ratio   30.25%   48.32%   33.33%

 

VII. Short-term Borrowings

 

Information on short-term borrowings is excluded as the average balances of each category of short-term borrowings was less than 30 percent of stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

 

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our securities is subject to certain risks inherent in our business. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below together with all of the other information included in this report. In addition to the risks and uncertainties described below, other risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The value or market price of our securities could decline due to any of these identified or other risks, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

 

Monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

In addition to being affected by general economic conditions, our earnings and growth are affected by the policies of the Federal Reserve.  An important function of the Federal Reserve is to regulate the money supply and credit conditions.  Among the instruments used by the Federal Reserve to implement these objectives are open market operations in U.S. government securities, adjustments of the discount rate and changes in reserve requirements against bank deposits.  These instruments are used in varying combinations to influence overall economic growth and the distribution of credit, bank loans, investments and deposits.  Their use also affects interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits.

 

The monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future.  The effects of such policies upon our business, financial condition and results of operations cannot be predicted.

 

Recent legislative and regulatory reforms applicable to the financial services industry may have a significant impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The laws, regulations, rules, policies and regulatory interpretations governing us are constantly evolving and may change significantly over time as Congress and various regulatory agencies react to adverse economic conditions or other matters. The global financial crisis of 2008–09 served as a catalyst for a number of significant changes in the financial services industry, including the Dodd-Frank Act, which reformed the regulation of financial institutions in a comprehensive manner, and the Basel III regulatory capital reforms, which increase both the amount and quality of capital that financial institutions must hold.

 

The Dodd-Frank Act, together with the regulations developed and to be developed thereunder, affects large and small financial institutions alike, including several provisions that impact how community banks, thrifts and small bank and thrift holding companies will operate in the future. Among other things, the Dodd-Frank Act changed the base for FDIC insurance assessments, and expanded the FDIC’s authority to raise the premiums we pay for deposit insurance, affected mortgage-related matters and established the CFPB as an independent entity within the Federal Reserve. The CFPB has broad rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement authority over consumer financial products and services, including deposit products, residential mortgages, home-equity loans and credit cards. Moreover, the Dodd-Frank Act included provisions that affect corporate governance and executive compensation at all publicly traded companies.

 

In addition, in July 2013, the U.S. federal banking authorities approved the implementation of the Basel III Rules. The Basel III Rules are applicable to all U.S. banks that are subject to minimum capital requirements as well as to bank and saving and loan holding companies, other than “small bank holding companies” (generally bank holding companies with consolidated assets of less than $1.0 billion). The Basel III Rules became effective on January 1, 2015, with a phase-in period through 2019 for many of the changes.

 

The Basel III Rules not only increase most of the required minimum regulatory capital ratios, it introduces a new Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ratio and the concept of a capital conservation buffer. The Basel III Rule also expands the current definition of capital by establishing additional criteria that capital instruments must meet to be considered Additional Tier 1 Capital (i.e., Tier 1 Capital in addition to Common Equity) and Tier 2 Capital. A number of instruments that formerly qualified as Tier 1 Capital will not qualify or their qualifications will change when the Basel III Rule is fully implemented. However, the Basel III Rules permit banking organizations with less than $15 billion in assets to retain, through a one-time election, the existing treatment for accumulated other comprehensive income, which currently does not affect regulatory capital. The Basel III Rules have maintained the general structure of the current prompt corrective action thresholds while incorporating the increased requirements, including the Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ratio. In order to be a “well-capitalized” depository institution under the new regime, an institution must maintain a Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ratio of 6.5% or more, a Tier 1 Capital ratio of 8% or more, a Total Capital ratio of 10% or more, and a leverage ratio of 5% or more. Institutions must also maintain a capital conservation buffer consisting of Common Equity Tier 1 Capital.

 

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The implementation of these provisions, as well as any other aspects of current or proposed regulatory or legislative changes to laws applicable to the financial industry, may impact the profitability of our business activities and may change certain of our business practices, including the ability to offer new products, obtain financing, attract deposits, make loans, and achieve satisfactory interest spreads, and could expose us to additional costs, including increased compliance costs. Although we are currently compliant with the Basel III Rules, these changes also may require us to invest significant management attention and resources to make any necessary changes to operations in order to comply, and could therefore also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our business is subject to domestic and, to a lesser extent, international economic conditions and other factors, many of which are beyond our control and could materially and adversely affect us.

 

From December 2007 through June 2009, the U.S. economy was in recession. Business activity across a wide range of industries and regions in the U.S. was greatly reduced. Although general economic conditions have improved, certain sectors remain weak. In addition, local governments and many businesses continue to experience difficulty due to suppressed levels of consumer spending.

 

Market conditions also led to the failure or merger of several prominent financial institutions and numerous regional and community-based financial institutions. These failures had a significant negative impact on the capitalization level of the DIF, which, in turn, led to a significant increase in deposit insurance premiums paid by financial institutions.

 

Our financial performance generally, and in particular the ability of customers to pay interest on and repay principal of outstanding loans and the value of collateral securing those loans, as well as demand for loans and other products and services we offer, is highly dependent upon the business environment not only in the markets where we operate, but also in the state of Kansas generally and in the United States as a whole. A favorable business environment is generally characterized by, among other factors: economic growth; efficient capital markets; low inflation; low unemployment; high business and investor confidence; and strong business earnings. Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions can be caused by: declines in economic growth, business activity or investor or business confidence; limitations on the availability or increases in the cost of credit and capital; increases in inflation or interest rates; high unemployment; natural disasters; or a combination of these or other factors.

 

Overall, although showing signs of improvement, the business environment in recent years was unfavorable for many households and businesses in the United States. While economic conditions in the state of Kansas and the United States have generally improved since the recession, there can be no assurance that this improvement will continue or occur at a meaningful rate. Such conditions could materially and adversely affect us.

 

Our allowance for loan losses may prove to be insufficient to absorb losses in our loan portfolio.

 

We established our allowance for loan losses and maintain it at a level considered appropriate by management to absorb probable incurred loan losses in the portfolio. Additionally, our Board of Directors regularly monitors the appropriateness of our allowance for loan losses. The allowance is also subject to regulatory examinations and a determination by the regulatory agencies as to the appropriate level of the allowance. The amount of future loan losses is susceptible to changes in economic, operating and other conditions, including changes in interest rates and the value of the underlying collateral, which may be beyond our control, and such losses may exceed current estimates. At December 31, 2014 and 2013 our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.26% and 1.32%, respectively, and as a percentage of total non-performing loans was 87.99% and 56.32%, respectively. Although management believes that the allowance for loan losses is appropriate to absorb probable incurred losses on any existing loans that may become uncollectible, we cannot predict loan losses with certainty nor can we assure you that our allowance for loan losses will prove sufficient to cover actual loan losses in the future. Loan losses in excess of our reserves will adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Our concentration of one-to-four family residential mortgage loans may result in lower yields and profitability.

 

One-to-four family residential mortgage loans comprised $127.6 million and $125.1 million, or 30.3% and 29.8%, of our loan portfolio at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These loans are secured primarily by properties located in the state of Kansas. Our concentration of these loans results in lower yields relative to other loan categories within our loan portfolio. While these loans generally possess higher yields than investment securities, their repayment characteristics are not as well defined and they generally possess a higher degree of interest rate risk versus other loans and investment securities within our portfolio. This increased interest rate risk is due to the repayment and prepayment options inherent in residential mortgage loans which are exercised by borrowers based upon the overall level of interest rates. These residential mortgage loans are generally made on the basis of the borrower’s ability to make repayments from his or her employment and the value of the property securing the loan. Thus, as a result, repayment of these loans is also subject to general economic and employment conditions within the communities and surrounding areas where the property is located.

 

Depressed residential real estate market prices and historically lower levels of home sales of recent years, have the potential to adversely affect our one-to-four family residential mortgage portfolio in several ways, each of which could adversely affect our operating results and/or financial condition.

 

The Bank may be required to repurchase mortgage loans in some circumstances, which could harm our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.

 

When the Bank sells mortgage loans, we are required to make certain representations and warranties to the purchaser about the loans and the manner in which they were originated. Our sales agreements require us to repurchase mortgage loans in the event of a breach of any of these representations or warranties. In addition, we may be required to repurchase mortgage loans as a result of borrower fraud or in the event of early payment default of the borrower on a mortgage loan. In 2014, we were obligated to repurchase three loans. If repurchase and indemnity demands increase, our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition will be adversely affected.

 

The repeal of federal prohibitions on payment of interest on business demand deposits could increase our interest expense and have a material adverse effect on us.

 

All federal prohibitions on the ability of financial institutions to pay interest on business demand deposit accounts were repealed as part of the Dodd-Frank Act. As a result, some financial institutions have commenced offering interest on these demand deposits to compete for customers. Although this development has not meaningfully impacted our interest expense in the current low-rate, high-liquidity environment in which competition among financial institutions for deposits is generally low, if competitive pressures in the future require us to pay interest on these demand deposits to attract and retain business customers, our interest expense would increase and our net interest margin would decrease. This could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

Commercial loans make up a significant portion of our loan portfolio.

 

Commercial loans comprised $60.0 million and $61.4 million, or 14.2% and 14.6%, of our loan portfolio at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Our commercial loans are made based primarily on the identified cash flow of the borrower and secondarily on the underlying collateral provided by the borrower. Most often, this collateral is accounts receivable, inventory, or machinery. Credit support provided by the borrower for most of these loans and the probability of repayment is based on the liquidation of the pledged collateral and enforcement of a personal guarantee, if any exists. As a result, in the case of loans secured by accounts receivable, the availability of funds for the repayment of these loans may be substantially dependent on the ability of the borrower to collect amounts due from its customers. The collateral securing other loans may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value based on the success of the business. Due to the larger average size of each commercial loan as compared with other loans such as residential loans, as well as collateral that is generally less readily marketable, losses incurred on a small number of commercial loans could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. 

 

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Our agriculture loans involve a greater degree of risk than other loans, and the ability of the borrower to repay may be affected by many factors outside of the borrower’s control.

 

Agriculture operating loans comprised $34.9 million and $35.2 million, or 8.3% and 8.4%, of our loan portfolio at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The repayment of agriculture operating loans is dependent on the successful operation or management of the farm property. Likewise, agricultural operating loans involve a greater degree of risk than lending on residential properties, particularly in the case of loans that are unsecured or secured by rapidly depreciating assets such as farm equipment, livestock or crops. We generally secure agricultural operating loans with a blanket lien on livestock, equipment, food, hay, grain and crops. Nevertheless, any repossessed collateral for a defaulted loan may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the outstanding loan balance as a result of the greater likelihood of damage, loss or depreciation.

 

We also originate agriculture real estate loans. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, agricultural real estate loans totaled $29.4 million and $27.1 million, or 7.0% and 6.5% of our total loan portfolio, respectively. Agricultural real estate lending involves a greater degree of risk and typically involves larger loans to single borrowers than lending on single-family residences. As with agriculture operating loans, payments on agricultural real estate loans are dependent on the profitable operation or management of the farm property securing the loan. The success of the farm may be affected by many factors outside the control of the farm borrower, including adverse weather conditions that prevent the planting of a crop or limit crop yields (such as hail, drought and floods), loss of livestock due to disease or other factors, declines in market prices for agricultural products (both domestically and internationally) and the impact of government regulations (including changes in price supports, subsidies and environmental regulations). In addition, many farms are dependent on a limited number of key individuals whose injury or death may significantly affect the successful operation of the farm. If the cash flow from a farming operation is diminished, the borrower’s ability to repay the loan may be impaired. The primary crops in our market areas are wheat, corn and soybean. Accordingly, adverse circumstances affecting wheat, corn and soybean crops could have an adverse effect on our agricultural real estate loan portfolio.

 

Our business is concentrated in and dependent upon the continued growth and welfare of the markets in which we operate, including eastern, central, southeast and southwest Kansas.

 

We operate primarily in eastern, central, southeast and southwest Kansas, and as a result, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows are subject to changes in the economic conditions in those areas. Although each market we operate in is geographically and economically diverse, our success depends upon the business activity, population, income levels, deposits and real estate activity in each of these markets. Although our customers’ business and financial interests may extend well beyond our market area, adverse economic conditions that affect our specific market area could reduce our growth rate, affect the ability of our customers to repay their loans to us and generally affect our financial condition and results of operations. Because of our geographic concentration, we are less able than other regional or national financial institutions to diversify our credit risks across multiple markets.

 

We may experience difficulties in managing our growth and our growth strategy involves risks that may negatively impact our net income.

 

As part of our general strategy, we may acquire banks, branches and related businesses that we believe provide a strategic fit with our business. In the past, we have acquired a number of local banks and branches and, to the extent that we grow through future acquisitions, we cannot assure you that we will be able to adequately and profitably manage this growth. Acquiring other banks and businesses will involve risks commonly associated with acquisitions, including:

 

·potential exposure to unknown or contingent liabilities of banks and businesses we acquire;
·exposure to potential asset quality issues of the acquired bank or related business;
·difficulty and expense of integrating the operations and personnel of banks and businesses we acquire;
·potential disruption to our business;
·potential diversion of our management’s time and attention; and
·the possible loss of key employees and customers of the banks and businesses we acquire.

 

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In addition to acquisitions, we may expand into additional communities or attempt to strengthen our position in our current markets by undertaking additional branch openings. We believe that it generally takes several years for new banking facilities to first achieve operational profitability, due to the impact of organization and overhead expenses and the start-up phase of generating loans and deposits. To the extent that we undertake additional branch openings, we are likely to experience the effects of higher operating expenses relative to operating income from the new operations, which may have an adverse effect on our levels of reported net income, return on average equity and return on average assets.

 

We face intense competition in all phases of our business from other banks and financial institutions.

 

The banking and financial services business in our market is highly competitive. Our competitors include large regional banks, local community banks, savings and loan associations, securities and brokerage companies, mortgage companies, insurance companies, finance companies, money market mutual funds, credit unions and other non-bank financial service providers, many of which have greater financial, marketing and technological resources than us. Many of these competitors are not subject to the same regulatory restrictions that we are and may be able to compete more effectively as a result. Also, technology and other changes have lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for non-banks to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks. For example, consumers can maintain funds that would have historically been held as bank deposits in brokerage accounts or mutual funds. Consumers can also complete transactions such as paying bills and/or transferring funds directly without the assistance of banks. The process of eliminating banks as intermediaries, known as “disintermediation,” could result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the related income generated from those deposits. Increased competition in our market may result in a decrease in the amounts of our loans and deposits, reduced spreads between loan rates and deposit rates or loan terms that are more favorable to the borrower. Any of these results could have a material adverse effect on our ability to grow and remain profitable. If increased competition causes us to significantly discount the interest rates we offer on loans or increase the amount we pay on deposits, our net interest income could be adversely impacted. If increased competition causes us to relax our underwriting standards, we could be exposed to higher losses from lending activities. Additionally, many of our competitors are much larger in total assets and capitalization, have greater access to capital markets and offer a broader range of financial services than we can offer.

 

Interest rates and other conditions impact our results of operations.

 

Our profitability is in part a function of the spread between the interest rates earned on investments and loans and the interest rates paid on deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities. Like most banking institutions, our net interest spread and margin will be affected by general economic conditions and other factors, including fiscal and monetary policies of the federal government, that influence market interest rates and our ability to respond to changes in such rates. At any given time, our assets and liabilities will be such that they are affected differently by a given change in interest rates. As a result, an increase or decrease in rates, the length of loan terms or the mix of adjustable and fixed rate loans in our portfolio could have a positive or negative effect on our net income, capital and liquidity. We measure interest rate risk under various rate scenarios and using specific criteria and assumptions. A summary of this process, along with the results of our net interest income simulations is presented in the section entitled “Item 7.A Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.” Although we believe our current level of interest rate sensitivity is reasonable and effectively managed, significant fluctuations in interest rates may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Changes in interest rates also can affect the value of loans, securities and other assets. An increase in interest rates that adversely affects the ability of borrowers to pay the principal or interest on loans may lead to an increase in non-performing assets and a reduction of income recognized, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. Further, when we place a loan on nonaccrual status, we reverse any accrued but unpaid interest receivable, which decreases interest income. Subsequently, we continue to have a cost to fund the loan, which is reflected as interest expense, without any interest income to offset the associated funding expense. Thus, an increase in the amount of non-performing assets would have an adverse impact on net interest income.

 

Rising interest rates will result in a decline in value of our fixed-rate debt securities. The unrealized losses resulting from holding these securities would be recognized in other comprehensive income and reduce total stockholders' equity. Unrealized losses do not negatively impact our regulatory capital ratios; however, tangible common equity and the associated ratios would be reduced. If debt securities in an unrealized loss position are sold, such losses become realized and will reduce our regulatory capital ratios.

 

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Declines in value may adversely impact the carrying amount of our investment portfolio and result in other-than-temporary impairment charges.

 

We may be required to record impairment charges on our investment securities if they suffer declines in value that are considered other-than-temporary. If the credit quality of the securities in our investment portfolio deteriorates, we may also experience a loss in interest income from the suspension of either interest or dividend payments. Numerous factors, including lack of liquidity for resales of certain investment securities, absence of reliable pricing information for investment securities, adverse changes in business climate or adverse actions by regulators could have a negative effect on our investment portfolio in future periods.

 

Downgrades in the credit rating of one or more insurers that provide credit enhancement for our state and municipal securities portfolio may have an adverse impact on the market for and valuation of these types of securities.

 

We invest in tax-exempt state and local municipal investment securities, some of which are insured by monoline insurers. As of December 31, 2014, we had $174.4 million of municipal securities, which represented 50.0% of our total securities portfolio. With the economic crisis that began to unfold in 2008, several of these insurers came under scrutiny by rating agencies. Even though management generally purchases municipal securities on the overall credit strength of the issuer, the reduction in the credit rating of an insurer may negatively impact the market for and valuation of our investment securities. Such downgrade could adversely affect our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We must effectively manage our credit risk.

 

There are risks inherent in making any loan, including risks inherent in dealing with individual borrowers, risks of nonpayment, risks resulting from uncertainties as to the future value of collateral and risks resulting from changes in economic and industry conditions. We attempt to minimize our credit risk through prudent loan application approval procedures, careful monitoring of the concentration of our loans within specific industries and periodic independent reviews of outstanding loans by our credit review department. However, we cannot assure you that such approval and monitoring procedures will reduce these credit risks.

 

Most of our loans are commercial, real estate, or agriculture loans, each of which is subject to distinct types of risk. To reduce the lending risks we face, we generally take a security interest in borrowers’ property for all three types of loans. In addition, we sell certain residential real estate loans to third parties. Nevertheless, the risk of non-payment is inherent in all three types of loans and if we are unable to collect amounts owed, it may materially affect our operations and financial performance. For a more complete discussion of our lending activities see Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Non-performing assets take significant time to resolve and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition, and could result in further losses in the future.

 

As of December 31, 2014, our non-performing loans (which consist of non-accrual loans and loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest) totaled $6.0 million, or 1.44% of our loan portfolio, and our non-performing assets (which include non-performing loans plus real estate owned) totaled $6.3 million, or 0.73% of total assets. In addition, we had $1.1 million in accruing loans that were 30-89 days delinquent as of December 31, 2014.

 

Our non-performing assets adversely affect our net income in various ways. We do not record interest income on non-accrual loans or other real estate, thereby adversely affecting our net income and returns on assets and equity, increasing our loan administration costs and adversely affecting our efficiency ratio. When we take collateral in foreclosure and similar proceedings, we are required to mark the collateral to its then-fair market value, which may result in a loss. These non-performing loans and other real estate also increase our risk profile and the capital our regulators believe is appropriate in light of such risks. The resolution of non-performing assets requires significant time commitments from management and can be detrimental to the performance of their other responsibilities. If we experience increases in non-performing loans and non-performing assets, our net interest income may be negatively impacted and our loan administration costs could increase, each of which could have an adverse effect on our net income and related ratios, such as return on assets and equity.

 

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Our loan portfolio has a large concentration of real estate loans, which involve risks specific to real estate value.

 

Real estate lending (including commercial, construction, land and residential) is a large portion of our loan portfolio. These categories were $267.9 million, or approximately 63.6% of our total loan portfolio as of December 31, 2014, as compared to $268.3 million, or approximately 64.0%, as of December 31, 2013. The market value of real estate can fluctuate significantly in a short period of time as a result of market conditions in the geographic area in which the real estate is located. Although a significant portion of such loans are secured by a secondary form of collateral, adverse developments affecting real estate values in one or more of our markets could increase the credit risk associated with our loan portfolio. Additionally, real estate lending typically involves higher loan principal amounts and the repayment of the loans generally is dependent, in large part, on sufficient income from the properties securing the loans to cover operating expenses and debt service. Economic events or governmental regulations outside of the control of the borrower or lender could negatively impact the future cash flow and market values of the affected properties.

 

If the loans that are collateralized by real estate become troubled during a time when market conditions are declining or have declined, then we may not be able to realize the amount of security that we anticipated at the time of originating the loan, which could cause us to increase our provision for loan losses and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition. In light of the uncertainty that exists in the economy and credit markets nationally, there can be no guarantee that we will not experience additional deterioration in credit performance by our real estate loan customers.

 

Our growth or future losses may require us to raise additional capital in the future, but that capital may not be available when it is needed.

 

We are required by federal and state regulatory authorities to maintain adequate levels of capital to support our operations and those requirements recently became more onerous with the implementation of the Basel III Rules. We anticipate that our existing capital resources will satisfy our capital requirements for the foreseeable future. However, we may at some point need to raise additional capital to support continuing growth. Our ability to raise additional capital is particularly important to our strategy of continual growth through acquisitions. Our ability to raise additional capital depends on conditions in the capital markets, economic conditions and a number of other factors, including investor perceptions regarding the banking industry, market conditions and governmental activities, and on our financial condition and performance. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of our ability to raise additional capital if needed on terms acceptable to us. If we cannot raise additional capital when needed, our ability to further expand our operations through internal growth and acquisitions could be materially impaired.

 

Attractive acquisition opportunities may not be available to us in the future.

 

We expect that other banking and financial service companies, many of which have significantly greater resources than us, will compete with us in acquiring other financial institutions if we pursue such acquisitions. This competition could increase prices for potential acquisitions that we believe are attractive. Also, acquisitions are subject to various regulatory approvals. If we fail to receive the appropriate regulatory approvals, we will not be able to consummate an acquisition that we believe is in our best interests. Among other things, our regulators consider our capital, liquidity, profitability, regulatory compliance and levels of goodwill and intangibles when considering acquisition and expansion proposals. Any acquisition could be dilutive to our earnings and stockholders' equity per share of our common stock.

 

Our community banking strategy relies heavily on our management team, and the unexpected loss of key managers may adversely affect our operations.

 

Much of our success to date has been influenced strongly by our ability to attract and to retain senior management experienced in banking and financial services and familiar with the communities in our market area. Our ability to retain executive officers, the current management teams, branch managers and loan officers of our operating subsidiaries will continue to be important to the successful implementation of our strategy. It is also critical, as we grow, to be able to attract and retain qualified additional management and loan officers with the appropriate level of experience and knowledge about our market area to implement our community-based operating strategy. The unexpected loss of services of any key management personnel, or the inability to recruit and retain qualified personnel in the future, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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We have a continuing need for technological change and we may not have the resources to effectively implement new technology.

 

The financial services industry continues to undergo rapid technological changes with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. In addition to better serving customers, the effective use of technology increases efficiency as well as enables financial institutions to reduce costs. Our future success will depend in part upon our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands for convenience as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations as we continue to grow and expand our market area. Many of our larger competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. As a result, they may be able to offer additional or superior products to those that we will be able to offer, which would put us at a competitive disadvantage. Accordingly, we cannot provide you with assurance that we will be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing such products and services to our customers.

 

There is a limited trading market for our common shares, and you may not be able to resell your shares at or above the price you paid for them.

 

Although our common shares are listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “LARK,” the trading in our common shares has substantially less liquidity than many other publicly traded companies. A public trading market having the desired characteristics of depth, liquidity and orderliness depends on the presence in the market of willing buyers and sellers of our common shares at any given time. This presence depends on the individual decisions of investors and general economic and market conditions over which we have no control. We cannot assure you that volume of trading in our common shares will increase in the future.

 

Our information systems may experience an interruption or breach in security and cyber-attacks, all if which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

We rely heavily on internal and outsourced technologies, communications, and information systems to conduct our business. Additionally, in the normal course of business, we collect, process and retain sensitive and confidential information regarding our customers. As our reliance on technology has increased, so have the potential risks of a technology-related operation interruption (such as disruptions in our customer relationship management, general ledger, deposit, loan, or other systems) or the occurrence of cyber-attacks (such as unauthorized access to our systems). These risks have increased for all financial institutions as new technologies, the use of the Internet and telecommunications technologies (including mobile devices) to conduct financial and other business transactions and the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, perpetrators of fraud, hackers, terrorists and others. In addition to cyber-attacks or other security breaches involving the theft of sensitive and confidential information, hackers recently have engaged in attacks against large financial institutions, particularly denial of service attacks, that are designed to disrupt key business services, such as customer-facing web sites. We are not able to anticipate or implement effective preventive measures against all security breaches of these types, especially because the techniques used change frequently and because attacks can originate from a wide variety of sources. However, applying guidance from FFIEC, we have analyzed and will continue to analyze security related to device specific considerations, user access topics, transaction-processing and network integrity.

 

We also face risks related to cyber-attacks and other security breaches in connection with credit card and debit card transactions that typically involve the transmission of sensitive information regarding our customers through various third parties, including merchant acquiring banks, payment processors, payment card networks and our processors. Some of these parties have in the past been the target of security breaches and cyber-attacks, and because the transactions involve third parties and environments such as the point of sale that we do not control or secure, future security breaches or cyber-attacks affecting any of these third parties could impact us through no fault of our own, and in some cases we may have exposure and suffer losses for breaches or attacks relating to them. Further cyber-attacks or other breaches in the future, whether affecting us or others, could intensify consumer concern and regulatory focus and result in reduced use of payment cards and increased costs, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business. To the extent we are involved in any future cyber-attacks or other breaches, our reputation could be affected, would could also have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

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We are subject to certain operational risks, including, but not limited to, customer or employee fraud and data processing system failures and errors.

 

Employee errors and misconduct could subject us to financial losses or regulatory sanctions and seriously harm our reputation. Misconduct by our employees could include hiding unauthorized activities from us, improper or unauthorized activities on behalf of our customers or improper use of confidential information. It is not always possible to prevent employee errors and misconduct, and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Employee errors could also subject us to financial claims for negligence.

 

We maintain a system of internal controls and insurance coverage to mitigate against operational risks, including data processing system failures and errors and customer or employee fraud. Should our internal controls fail to prevent or detect an occurrence, or if any resulting loss is not insured or exceeds applicable insurance limits, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Failure to pay interest on our debt may adversely impact our ability to pay dividends.

 

Our $20.9 million of subordinated debentures are held by three business trusts that we control. Interest payments on the debentures must be paid before we pay dividends on our capital stock, including our common stock. We have the right to defer interest payments on the debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarters. However, if we elect to defer interest payments, all deferred interest must be paid before we may pay dividends on our capital stock. Deferral of interest payments could also cause a decline in the market price of our common stock.

 

We are subject to changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines.

 

Our financial performance is impacted by accounting principles, policies and guidelines. Some of these policies require the use of estimates and assumptions that may affect the value of our assets or liabilities and financial results. Some of our accounting policies are critical because they require management to make difficult, subjective and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and because it is likely that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. If such estimates or assumptions underlying our financial statements are incorrect, we may experience material losses.

 

From time to time, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the SEC change the financial accounting and reporting standards or the interpretation of those standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements. These changes are beyond our control, can be difficult to predict and could materially impact how we report our financial condition and results of operations. Changes in these standards are continuously occurring, and given recent economic conditions, more drastic changes may occur. The implementation of such changes could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our framework for managing risks may not be effective in mitigating risk and loss to us.

 

Our risk management framework seeks to mitigate risk and loss to us. We have established processes and procedures intended to identify, measure, monitor, report and analyze the types of risk to which we are subject, including liquidity risk, credit risk, market risk, interest rate risk, operational risk, compensation risk, legal and compliance risk, and reputational risk, among others. However, as with any risk management framework, there are inherent limitations to our risk management strategies as there may exist, or develop in the future, risks that we have not appropriately anticipated or identified. Our ability to successfully identify and manage risks facing us is an important factor that can significantly impact our results. If our risk management framework proves ineffective, we could suffer unexpected losses and could be materially adversely affected.

 

We are subject to environmental liability risk associated with lending activities.

 

A significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real property. During the ordinary course of business, we may foreclose on and take title to properties securing certain loans. In doing so, there is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances could be found on these properties. If hazardous or toxic substances are found, we may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage. Environmental laws may require us to incur substantial expenses and may materially reduce the affected property’s value or limit our ability to use or sell the affected property. In addition, future laws or more stringent interpretations or enforcement policies with respect to existing laws may increase our exposure to environmental liability. Environmental reviews of real property before initiating foreclosure actions may not be sufficient to detect all potential environmental hazards. The remediation costs and any other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Financial services companies depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about customers and counterparties.

 

In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions, we may rely on information furnished by or on behalf of customers and counterparties, including financial statements, credit reports and other financial information. We may also rely on representations of those customers, counterparties or other third parties, such as independent auditors, as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. Reliance on inaccurate or misleading financial statements, credit reports or other financial information could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

The Company has 29 offices in 23 communities across Kansas: Manhattan (2), Auburn, Dodge City (2), Fort Scott (2), Garden City, Great Bend (2), Hoisington, Iola, Junction City, Kincaid, LaCrosse, Lawrence (2), Lenexa, Louisburg, Mound City, Osage City, Osawatomie, Overland Park, Paola, Pittsburg, Topeka (2), Wamego and Wellsville, Kansas. The Company owns its main office in Manhattan, Kansas and 24 branch offices and leases four branch offices. The Company leases one branch office in each of Fort Scott, Iola, Topeka, and Wamego, Kansas. The Fort Scott, Kansas branch was purchased in the first quarter of 2015. The Company also leases a parking lot for one of the Dodge City branch offices it owns.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

There are no pending legal proceedings to which the Company or the Bank is a party or of which any of their property is subject, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the Bank’s business. While the ultimate outcome of current legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of management that the resolution of these legal actions should not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

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PART II.

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Our common stock has traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "LARK" since 2001. At December 31, 2014, the Company had approximately 316 owners of record and approximately 750 beneficial owners of our common stock. Set forth below are the reported high and low sale prices of our common stock and dividends paid during the past two years. Information presented below has been adjusted to give effect to the 5% stock dividends declared in December 2014 and 2013.

 

Year ended December 31, 2014  High   Low   Cash
dividends
paid
 
First Quarter  $19.06   $17.86   $0.1810 
Second Quarter   22.84    17.93    0.1810 
Third Quarter   22.38    18.57    0.1810 
Fourth Quarter   25.70    19.76    0.1810 

 

Year ended December 31, 2013  High   Low   Cash
dividends
paid
 
First Quarter  $19.48   $17.50   $0.1723 
Second Quarter   20.41    18.24    0.1723 
Third Quarter   19.86    16.56    0.1723 
Fourth Quarter   19.68    17.24    0.1723 

 

 

The Company’s ability to pay dividends is largely dependent upon the dividends it receives from the Bank. The Company and the Bank are subject to regulatory limitations on the amount of cash dividends they may pay. See “Item 1. Business – Supervision and Regulation – The Company – Dividend Payments” and “Business - Supervision and Regulation – The Bank – Dividend Payments” for a more detailed description of these limitations.

 

In May 2008, our Board of Directors announced the approval of a stock repurchase program permitting us to repurchase up to 113,400 shares, or 5% of our then-outstanding common stock. Unless terminated earlier by resolution of the Board of Directors, the May 2008 Repurchase Program will expire when we have repurchased all shares authorized for repurchase thereunder. As of December 31, 2014, there were 108,006 shares remaining to repurchase under the plan. The Company did not repurchase any shares during the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

   At or for the years ended December 31, 
   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010 
   (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 
Selected Financial Data:                         
Total assets  $863,470   $828,755   $614,067   $598,240   $561,506 
Loans, net   416,190    414,016    315,914    310,081    306,668 
Investment securities   352,938    305,517    218,538    204,885    175,872 
Cash and cash equivalents   12,760    29,735    14,920    17,501    9,735 
Deposits   704,555    687,486    482,500    454,134    431,314 
Borrowings   76,547    68,744    59,967    76,597    70,301 
Stockholders’ equity   71,645    62,692    63,333    59,120    53,817 
                          
Selected Operating Data:                         
Interest income   27,850    22,112    22,052    22,586    24,351 
Interest expense   3,186    3,081    3,910    4,659    6,305 
Net interest income   24,664    19,031    18,142    17,927    18,046 
Provision for loan losses   600    800    1,900    2,000    5,900 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses   24,064    18,231    16,242    15,927    12,146 
Non-interest income   15,071    10,705    12,443    9,015    9,312 
Non-interest expense   28,060    23,535    20,504    19,954    20,030 
Earnings before income taxes   11,075    5,401    8,181    4,988    1,428 
Income tax expense (benefit)   3,026    746    1,814    504    (615)
Net earnings   8,049    4,655    6,367    4,484    2,043 
Earnings per share (1):                         
Basic   2.42    1.44    1.98    1.39    0.67 
Diluted   2.38    1.42    1.96    1.39    0.67 
Dividends per share (1)   0.72    0.69    0.66    0.63    0.60 
Book value per common share outstanding (1)   21.49    19.01    19.66    18.35    16.79 
                          
Other Data:                         
Return on average assets   0.96%   0.70%   1.01%   0.78%   0.35%
Return on average equity   11.89%   7.33%   10.34%   7.98%   3.73%
Equity to total assets   8.30%   7.56%   10.31%   9.88%   9.58%
Net interest rate spread (2)   3.38%   3.30%   3.36%   3.67%   3.65%
Net interest margin (2)   3.47%   3.40%   3.47%   3.77%   3.78%
Non-performing assets to total assets   0.73%   1.24%   1.88%   0.80%   1.63%
Non-performing loans to total gross loans   1.44%   2.35%   2.84%   0.45%   1.55%
Allowance for loan losses to total gross loans   1.26%   1.32%   1.43%   1.50%   1.60%
Dividend payout ratio   30.25%   48.32%   33.33%   44.72%   92.31%
Number of full service banking offices   29    30    22    21    21 

 

(1)All per share amounts have been adjusted to give effect to the 5% stock dividends paid in December 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010.
(2)Presented on a taxable equivalent basis, using a 34% federal tax rate.

 

Our selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, our consolidated financial statements, including the related notes.

 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

CORPORATE PROFILE AND OVERVIEW

 

Landmark Bancorp, Inc. is a one-bank holding company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware and is engaged in the banking business through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Landmark National Bank. The Company is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “LARK.” The Bank is dedicated to providing quality financial and banking services to its local communities. Our strategy includes continuing a tradition of quality assets while growing our commercial, commercial real estate and agriculture loan portfolios. We are committed to developing relationships with our borrowers and providing a total banking service.

 

The Bank is principally engaged in the business of attracting deposits from the general public and using such deposits, together with borrowings and other funds, to originate one-to-four family residential real estate, construction and land, commercial real estate, commercial, agriculture, municipal and consumer loans. Although not our primary business function, we do invest in certain investment and mortgage-related securities using deposits and other borrowings as funding sources.

 

Our results of operations depend generally on net interest income, which is the difference between interest income from interest-earning assets and interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income is affected by regulatory, economic and competitive factors that influence interest rates, loan demand and deposit flows. In addition, we are subject to interest rate risk to the degree that our interest-earning assets mature or reprice at different times, or at different speeds, than our interest-bearing liabilities. Our results of operations are also affected by non-interest income, such as service charges, loan fees and gains from the sale of newly originated loans and gains or losses on investments and certain non-interest related items, including variances in the provision for loan losses. Our principal operating expenses, aside from interest expense, consist of compensation and employee benefits, occupancy costs, professional fees, federal deposit insurance costs, data processing expenses and provision for loan losses.

 

We are significantly impacted by prevailing economic conditions including federal monetary and fiscal policies and federal regulations of financial institutions. Deposit balances are influenced by numerous factors such as competing investments, the level of income and the personal rate of savings within our market areas. Factors influencing lending activities include the demand for housing and the interest rate pricing competition from other lending institutions.

 

Currently, our business consists of ownership of the Bank, with its main office in Manhattan, Kansas and twenty eight additional branch offices in central, eastern, southeast and southwest Kansas. In August 2013, we entered into an agreement to acquire Citizens Bank, National Association (“Citizens Bank”). Citizens Bank had its main office in Fort Scott, Kansas and seven additional branches located in eastern Kansas. Citizens Bank, which was merged into Landmark National Bank on November 1, 2013, had approximately $195 million in assets. The results of the merger did not affect the Bank for all of 2013, and 2014 was the first full year incorporating the Citizens Bank merger in our operations and results.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Critical accounting policies are those that are both most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations, and require our management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Our critical accounting policies relate to the allowance for loan losses, the valuation of real estate owned, the valuation of investment securities, accounting for income taxes and the accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets, all of which involve significant judgment by our management.

 

We perform periodic and systematic detailed reviews of our lending portfolio to assess overall collectability. The level of the allowance for loan losses reflects our estimate of the collectability of the loan portfolio. While these estimates are based on substantive methods for determining allowance requirements, actual outcomes may differ significantly from estimated results. Additional explanation of the methodologies used in establishing this allowance are provided in the “Asset Quality and Distribution” section.

 

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Assets acquired through, or in lieu of, foreclosure are to be sold and are initially recorded at the date of foreclosure at fair value of the collateral less estimated selling costs through a gain or a charge to the allowance for loan losses, establishing a new cost basis. Subsequent to foreclosure, the Company records a charge to earnings if the carrying value of a property exceeds the fair value less estimated costs to sell. Revenue and expenses from operations and subsequent declines in fair value are included in other non-interest expense in the statement of earnings.

 

The Company has classified its investment securities portfolio as available-for-sale, with the exception of certain investments held for regulatory purposes. The Company carries its available-for-sale investment securities at fair value and employs valuation techniques which utilize quoted prices or observable inputs when those inputs are available. These observable inputs reflect assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the security, developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. When such information is not available, the Company employs valuation techniques which utilize unobservable inputs, or those which reflect the Company’s own assumptions, based on the best information available in the circumstances. These valuation methods typically involve estimated cash flows and other financial modeling techniques. Changes in underlying factors, assumptions, estimates, or other inputs to the valuation techniques could have a material impact on the Company’s future financial condition and results of operations. Fair value measurements are classified as Level 1 (quoted prices), Level 2 (based on observable inputs) or Level 3 (based on unobservable inputs). Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, net of taxes, until realized. Purchase premiums and discounts on investment securities are amortized/accreted into interest income over the estimated lives of the securities using the interest method. Realized gains and losses on sales of available-for-sale securities are recorded on a trade date basis and are calculated using the specific identification method.

 

The Company performs quarterly reviews of the investment portfolio to determine if any investment securities have any declines in fair value which might be considered other-than-temporary. The initial review begins with all securities in an unrealized loss position. The Company’s assessment of other-than-temporary impairment is based on its judgment of the specific facts and circumstances impacting each individual security at the time such assessments are made. The Company reviews and considers factual information, including expected cash flows, the structure of the security, the credit quality of the underlying assets and the current and anticipated market conditions. Credit-related impairments on debt securities are recorded through a charge to earnings. If an equity security is determined to be other-than-temporarily impaired, the entire impairment is recorded through a charge to earnings.

 

We have completed several business and asset acquisitions, which have generated significant amounts of goodwill and intangible assets and related amortization. The values assigned to goodwill and intangibles, as well as their related useful lives, are subject to judgment and estimation by our management. Goodwill and intangibles related to acquisitions are determined and based on purchase price allocations. The initial value assigned to goodwill is the residual of the purchase price over the fair value of all identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Valuation of intangible assets is generally based on the estimated cash flows related to those assets. Performing discounted cash flow analyses involves the use of estimates and assumptions. Useful lives are based on the expected future period of the benefit of the asset, the assessment of which considers various characteristics of the asset, including the historical cash flows. Due to the number of estimates involved related to the allocation of purchase price and determining the appropriate useful lives of intangible assets, we have identified purchase accounting, and the subsequent impairment testing of goodwill and intangible assets, as a critical accounting policy.

 

Goodwill is not amortized; however, it is tested for impairment at each calendar year end or more frequently when events or circumstances dictate. The impairment test compares the carrying value of goodwill to an implied fair value of the goodwill, which is based on a review of the Company’s market capitalization adjusted for appropriate control premiums as well as an analysis of valuation multiples of recent, comparable acquisitions. The Company considers the result from each of these valuation methods to determine the implied fair value of its goodwill. A goodwill impairment would be recorded for the amount that the carrying value exceeds the implied fair value. The Company performed a step one impairment test as of December 31, 2014 by comparing the implied fair value of the Company’s single reporting unit to its carrying value. Fair value was determined using observable market data, including the Company’s market capitalization, with control premiums and valuation multiples, compared to recent financial industry acquisition multiples for similar institutions to estimate the fair value of the Company’s single reporting unit. The Company’s step one impairment test indicated that its goodwill was not impaired. The Company can make no assurances that future impairment tests will not result in goodwill impairments.

 

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Intangible assets include core deposit intangibles, lease intangibles and mortgage servicing rights. Core deposit intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful life of ten years on an accelerated basis. Lease intangible assets are amortized over the life of the lease. When facts and circumstances indicate potential impairment, the Company will evaluate the recoverability of the intangible asset carrying value, using estimates of undiscounted future cash flows over the asset’s remaining life. Any impairment loss is measured by the excess of carrying value over fair value. Mortgage servicing assets are recognized as separate assets when rights are acquired through the sale of financial assets, primarily one-to-four family real estate loans. Mortgage servicing rights are amortized into non-interest expense in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying financial assets. Servicing assets are recorded at the lower of amortized cost or estimated fair value, and are evaluated for impairment based upon the fair value of the retained rights as compared to amortized cost.

 

The objective of accounting for income taxes is to recognize the taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in an entity’s financial statements or tax returns. Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in financial statements or tax returns. The Company recognizes an income tax position only if it is more likely than not that it will be sustained upon IRS examination, based upon its technical merits. Once that standard is met, the amount recorded will be the largest amount of benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense in our consolidated statements of earnings. The Company assesses it deferred tax assets to determine if the items are more likely than not to be realized and a valuation allowance is established for any amounts that are not more likely than not to be realized. Changes in estimates regarding the actual outcome of these future tax consequences, including the effects of IRS examinations and examinations by other state agencies, could materially impact our financial position and results of operations.

 

COMPARISON OF OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND DECEMBER 31, 2013

 

SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE. Net earnings for 2014 increased $3.4 million, or 72.9%, to $8.0 million as compared to $4.7 million for 2013. The increase in net earnings was driven primarily by our acquisition of Citizens Bank on November 1, 2013, which contributed to the increases in net interest income, non-interest income and non-interest expenses as a result of the eight additional branches assumed in the acquisition.

 

Net interest income for 2014 increased $5.6 million to $24.7 million, or 29.6% higher than the $19.0 million recorded for 2013. Our net interest margin, on a tax equivalent basis, increased from 3.40% during 2013 to 3.47% in 2014. The increases in net interest income and net interest margin were primarily the result of the acquisition of Citizens Bank, which increased average interest-earning assets 25.8% from $598.3 million during 2013 to $752.8 million in 2014. With the continuing low interest rate environment, it is unlikely that we will be able to increase our net interest margin from current levels in the near term and may see a decline, as we currently expect to reinvest our future cash flows into lower yielding investments and may not be able to renew our current loans at the same rates.

 

We distributed a 5% stock dividend for the 14th consecutive year in December 2014. All per share and average share data in this section reflect the 2014 and 2013 stock dividends.

 

Interest Income. Interest income for 2014 increased $5.7 million to $27.9 million, an increase of 26.0% as compared to 2013. Interest income on loans increased $4.2 million, or 24.6%, to $21.1 million for 2014. The increase in interest income on loans was primarily the result of our acquisition of Citizens Bank, which drove an increase in our average outstanding loan balances from $341.0 million during 2013 to $422.3 million during 2014. Our tax equivalent yields earned on loans also increased from 5.01% in 2013 to 5.04% in 2014. Interest income on investment securities increased $1.5 million, or 30.4%, to $6.7 million for 2014, as compared to $5.2 million in 2013. The increase in interest income on investment securities was also primarily the result of our acquisition of Citizens Bank, which drove an increase in our average balance of investment securities from $245.6 million during 2013 to $322.2 million during 2014. Partially offsetting the higher average balances was a decrease in the tax equivalent yield on our investment securities portfolio from 2.56% during 2013 to 2.48% during 2014.

 

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Interest Expense. Interest expense during 2014 increased $105,000, or 3.4%, to $3.2 million as compared to $3.1 million for 2013. Interest expense on interest-bearing deposits decreased $142,000, or 10.3%, to $1.2 million for 2014 as compared to $1.4 million for 2013, despite increased average balances in 2014, primarily as a result of lower rates on our certificates of deposit accounts. Our total cost of interest-bearing deposits declined from 0.31% during 2013 to 0.22% during 2014 as we were able to reprice our certificates of deposit lower in the current historically low interest rate environment. Our average interest-bearing deposit balances increased from $442.2 million to $552.4 million from 2013 to 2014, due primarily to the acquisition of Citizens Bank. Interest expense on borrowings during 2014 increased $247,000, or 14.5%, to $2.0 million for 2014 as compared to $1.7 million for 2013, due primarily to an increase in our average outstanding borrowings. Our average outstanding borrowings increased from $63.7 million during 2013 to $71.3 million during 2014, primarily as a result of borrowings assumed in the Citizens Bank acquisition.

 

Net Interest Income. Net interest income represents the difference between income derived from interest-earning assets and the expense incurred on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income is affected by both the difference between the rates of interest earned on interest-earnings assets and the rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities (“interest rate spread”) as well as the relative amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

 

During 2014, net interest income increased $5.6 million, or 29.6%, to $24.7 million compared to $19.0 million in 2013. Our net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, increased to 3.47% during 2014 from 3.40% during 2013. The increases in net interest income and net interest margin were primarily the result of the acquisition of Citizens Bank, which increased average interest-earning assets 25.8% from $598.3 million during 2013 to $752.8 million in 2014. We do not expect any further increases in our net interest margin in the near term, and it is possible that our net interest margin will decline in future periods, as we may be unable to lower our cost of deposits to the extent necessary to offset the decline in yield on our loans and investment securities as they continue to reprice lower in the current low interest rate environment.

 

Provision for Loan Losses. We maintain, and our Board of Directors monitors, an allowance for losses on loans. The allowance is established based upon management's periodic evaluation of known and inherent risks in the loan portfolio, review of significant individual loans and collateral, review of delinquent loans, past loss experience, adverse situations that may affect the borrowers’ ability to repay, current and expected market conditions, and other factors management deems important. Determining the appropriate level of reserves involves a high degree of management judgment and is based upon historical and projected losses in the loan portfolio and the collateral value or discounted cash flows of specifically identified impaired loans. Additionally, allowance policies are subject to periodic review and revision in response to a number of factors, including current market conditions, actual loss experience and management’s expectations.

 

Our provision for loan losses declined $200,000 to $600,000 in 2014 as compared to $800,000 in 2013, as a result of improvements in our asset quality during 2014. During 2014, we had net loan charge-offs of $820,000 compared to net loan recoveries of $159,000 during 2013. The net loan charge-offs in 2014 were primarily associated with a previously identified and impaired commercial loan relationship, while the net loan recoveries during 2013 were primarily related to a previously identified and impaired construction loan totaling $4.3 million, which was charged-off in 2009 and 2010 and recoveries on the payoff of a one-to-four family residential real estate loan which had been partially charged-off as part of a TDR in 2010. For further discussion of the allowance for loan losses, refer to the “Asset Quality and Distribution” section.

 

Non-interest Income. During 2014, total non-interest income increased $4.4 million, or 40.8%, to $15.1 million, compared to $10.7 million in 2013, primarily as a result of the Citizens Bank acquisition. The higher non-interest income resulted from increases of $2.1 million in gains on sales of loans, $1.7 million in fees and service charges, $535,000 in other non-interest income and $99,000 in gains on sales of investment securities. Our gains on sales of loans increased as a result of an increase in the volume of mortgage loans sold, as well as improved pricing on those loans. The increase in fees and service charges was primarily a result of additional service charges received on our deposit accounts and service fee income on one-to-four family residential real estate loans serviced for others. While the increases in gains on sales of loans and fees and service charges were primarily attributable to the acquisition of Citizens Bank, as the acquisition caused increased volumes of mortgage loan originations and deposit related transactions, these items also experienced organic growth. The increase in other non-interest income was driven by higher lease revenue relating to the leased portion of a branch acquired from Citizens Bank.

 

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Non-interest Expense. Non-interest expense increased $4.5 million, or 19.2%, to $28.1 million in 2014 compared to $23.5 million in 2013. The increase in non-interest expense was primarily the result of increases of $3.8 million in compensation and benefits, $1.1 million in occupancy and equipment, $705,000 in other non-interest expense, $547,000 in amortization expense, $424,000 in data processing, $99,000 in advertising and $77,000 in federal deposit insurance premiums. The increases in compensation and benefits, occupancy and equipment, other non-interest expense, amortization, data processing, advertising and federal deposit insurance premiums in 2014 primarily reflected ongoing operating costs relating to the eight additional branches assumed in the Citizens Bank acquisition. The amortization expense in 2014 was also higher as the result of a lower level of expense recorded during 2013 as a result of the reversal of a $212,000 valuation allowance against our mortgage servicing rights portfolio. Partially offsetting those increases were declines of $1.9 million in non-recurring acquisition costs and $268,000 in foreclosure and other real estate expense, as 2013 reflected the expenses associated with acquiring Citizens Bank and higher costs associated with liquidating other real estate.

 

INCOME TAXES. During 2014, we recorded income tax expense of $3.0 million, which constituted an effective tax rate of 27.3%, compared to an income tax expense of $746,000 and an effective tax rate of 13.8% in 2013. The increase in our effective tax rate in 2014 was driven by an increase in earnings before income taxes compared to 2013, while tax-exempt investment income and bank owned life insurance income remained similar between the years.

 

COMPARISON OF OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013 AND DECEMBER 31, 2012

 

SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE. Net earnings for 2013 decreased $1.7 million, or 26.9%, to $4.7 million as compared to $6.4 million for 2012. The decrease in net earnings was primarily the result of $1.9 million of costs associated with our acquisition of Citizens Bank and a $1.9 million decrease in gains on sale of loans during 2013 as higher mortgage rates decreased our origination and sale volumes of one-to-four family residential real estate loans. Partly offsetting those impacts was a $1.1 million decrease in our provision for loan losses, a benefit from our improving asset quality and net loan recoveries in 2013. Our acquisition of Citizens Bank also contributed to the increases in net interest income, non-interest income (excluding the effects of the decline in gains on sales of loans) and non-interest expenses as a result of the eight additional branches assumed in the acquisition.

 

Net interest income for 2013 increased $889,000 to $19.0 million, or 4.9% higher than the $18.1 million recorded for 2012. Our net interest margin, on a tax equivalent basis, decreased from 3.47% during 2012 to 3.40% in 2013. The lower net interest margin was offset by an increase in average interest-earning assets from $562.5 million during 2012 to $598.3 million during 2013. Average interest-earning asset balances increased primarily as a result of the acquisition of Citizens Bank.

 

Interest Income. Interest income for 2013 increased $60,000 to $22.1 million, an increase of 0.3% as compared to 2012. Interest income on loans increased $237,000, or 1.4%, to $17.0 million for 2013, due to an increase in average balances from $315.2 million in 2012 to $341.0 million in 2013. Partially offsetting the higher average balances was a decline in the tax equivalent yields earned on loans from 5.37% in 2012 to 5.01% in 2013. Interest income on investment securities decreased $177,000, or 3.3%, to $5.2 million for 2013, as compared to $5.3 million for 2012. The decrease in interest income on investment securities was due to a decline in the tax equivalent yield on our investment portfolio from 2.76% during 2012 to 2.56% during 2013. Partially offsetting the lower average rates was an increase in our average balances of investment securities, which increased from $235.4 million during 2012 to $245.6 million during 2013. The increase in our average balances of loans and investment securities was primarily a result of the assets acquired from Citizens Bank while the yields declined as our assets repriced lower in the current low interest rate environment.

 

Interest Expense. Interest expense during 2013 decreased $829,000, or 21.2%, to $3.1 million as compared to $3.9 million for 2012. Interest expense on interest-bearing deposits decreased $772,000, or 35.9%, to $1.4 million as a result of lower rates on our certificates of deposit, money market, NOW and savings accounts. Our total cost of interest-bearing deposits declined from 0.50% during 2012 to 0.31% during 2013 as we were able to reprice our deposits lower in the current low rate environment. Our average interest bearing deposit balances increased from $426.5 million to $442.2 million over the same periods due to our acquisition of Citizens Bank. For 2013, interest expense on borrowings decreased $57,000, or 3.2%, to $1.7 million due to our average cost of borrowings declining from 2.97% in 2012 to 2.68% in 2013. Partially offsetting the lower average cost of borrowings was an increase in outstanding balances on our borrowings. Our average outstanding borrowings increased from $59.3 million in 2012 to $63.7 million in 2013 primarily as a result of borrowing assumed in our Citizens Bank acquisition.

 

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Net Interest Income. During 2013, net interest income increased $889,000, or 4.9%, to $19.0 million compared to $18.1 million in 2012. The increase in net interest income was primarily attributable to higher average interest-earning assets, which increased from $562.5 million in 2012 to $598.3 million in 2013 primarily as a result of our acquisition of Citizens Bank in the fourth quarter of 2013. Partially offsetting the higher interest-earning assets was a decline in net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, to 3.40% during 2013 compared to 3.47% during 2012, as we were generally unable to lower the costs of interest-bearing liabilities to the extent necessary to offset the decline in yields on assets in this low rate environment.

 

Provision for Loan Losses. Our provision for loan losses declined $1.1 million to $800,000 in 2013 as compared to $1.9 million in 2012, as a result of improvements in our asset quality during 2013. During 2013, we had net loan recoveries of $159,000 compared to net loan charge-offs of $2.0 million during 2012. The net loan recoveries during 2013 were primarily related to a previously identified and impaired construction loan totaling $4.3 million, which was charged-off in 2009 and 2010 and recoveries on the payoff of a one-to-four family residential real estate loan which had been partially charged-off as part of a TDR in 2010. The net loan charge-offs in 2012 were primarily associated with two land loans that were subject to TDRs, resulting in charge-offs to reduce the loans down to the market value of the collateral. For further discussion of the allowance for loan losses, refer to the “Asset Quality and Distribution” section.

 

Non-interest Income. Total non-interest income decreased $1.7 million, or 14.0%, to $10.7 million in 2013 compared to $12.4 million in 2012, primarily as a result of a $1.9 million decrease in gains on sales of loans as higher mortgage rates led to lower volumes of loans sold in the secondary market in 2013 as compared to 2012. Also contributing to lower non-interest income was a $486,000 gain on sales of investment securities recorded during 2012 compared to no gains or losses in 2013. Partially offsetting those declines was a $486,000 increase in fees and service charges received on deposit accounts and service fee income on one-to-four family residential real estate loans serviced for others. The increase was attributable to both our acquisition and organic growth.

 

Non-interest Expense. Non-interest expense increased $3.0 million, or 14.8%, to $23.5 million in 2013 compared to 2012. The increase in non-interest expense was primarily associated with $1.9 million of costs associated with our acquisition of Citizens Bank during 2013 compared to $147,000 of acquisition costs related to The Wellsville Bank in 2012. Increases of approximately $790,000 in compensation and benefits, $343,000 in occupancy and equipment, $190,000 in other non-interest expense and $150,000 in data processing were primarily associated with the operation of the eight additional branches assumed in the acquisition of Citizens Bank during 2013. Partially offsetting those increases was a $429,000 decline in amortization expense. A valuation allowance of $212,000 was recorded against our mortgage servicing rights during 2012 as lower mortgage rates decreased the estimated fair value of the assets. As mortgage rates increased in 2013, the valuation allowance was reversed, which reduced amortization expense in 2013.

 

INCOME TAXES. During 2013, we recorded income tax expense of $746,000, which constituted an effective tax rate of 13.8%, compared to an income tax expense of $1.8 million and an effective tax rate of 22.2% in 2012. The decrease in our effective tax rate in 2013 was driven by a decrease in earnings before income taxes compared to 2012, while tax-exempt investment income and bank owned life insurance income remained similar between the years.

 

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QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

   2014 Quarters Ended 
   March 31   June 30   September 30   December 31 
Interest income  $6,805   $6,873   $7,060   $7,112 
Interest expense   805    797    797    787 
Net interest income   6,000    6,076    6,263    6,325 
Provision for loan losses   150    300    150    - 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses   5,850    5,776    6,113    6,325 
Non-interest income   3,236    4,186    3,855    3,795 
Non-interest expense   6,811    7,093    6,993    7,163 
Earnings before income taxes   2,275    2,869    2,975    2,957 
Income tax expense (benefit)   576    792    801    858 
Net earnings  $1,699   $2,077   $2,174   $2,099 
Earnings per share (1):                    
Basic  $0.52   $0.62   $0.65   $0.63 
Diluted  $0.51   $0.61   $0.64   $0.62 

 

   2013 Quarters Ended 
   March 31   June 30   September 30   December 31 
Interest income  $5,177   $5,204   $5,323   $6,408 
Interest expense   795    758    731    797 
Net interest income   4,382    4,446    4,592    5,611 
Provision for loan losses   300    300    200    - 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses   4,082    4,146    4,392    5,611 
Non-interest income   2,634    2,543    2,779    2,749 
Non-interest expense   4,881    4,863    5,544    8,247 
Earnings before income taxes   1,835    1,826    1,627    113 
Income tax expense   395    417    342    (408)
Net earnings  $1,440   $1,409   $1,285   $521 
Earnings per share (1):                    
Basic  $0.45   $0.43   $0.40   $0.16 
Diluted  $0.44   $0.43   $0.39   $0.16 

 

(1) All per share amounts have been adjusted to give effect to the 5% stock dividends paid during December 2014 and 2013.

 

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FINANCIAL CONDITION. Despite measured improvement in certain metrics, general uncertainty with respect to economic conditions in the United States continues to affect our asset quality and performance. Although the geographic markets in which the Company operates have been impacted by these economic conditions in recent years, the effect has generally not been as severe as those experienced in some areas of the United States. In addition, our loan portfolio is diversified across various types of loans and collateral throughout the markets in which we operate. Despite a few lingering problem loans that management continues to work to resolve, our asset quality has generally improved over the past few years. Outside of identified problem assets, management believes that the Company continues to have a high quality asset base and solid core earnings, and anticipates that its efforts to run a high quality financial institution with a sound asset base will continue to create a strong foundation for continued growth and profitability in the future.

 

Asset Quality and Distribution. Our primary investing activities are the origination of one-to-four family residential real estate, construction and land, commercial real estate, commercial, agriculture, municipal and consumer loans and the purchase of investment securities. Total assets increased to $863.5 million at December 31, 2014, compared to $828.8 million at December 31, 2013. The increase in our total assets was primarily the result of an increase in our investments securities, which increased from $300.2 million at December 31, 2013 to $348.9 million at December 31, 2014. Net loans, excluding loans held for sale, increased to $416.2 million at December 31, 2014 from $414.0 million at December 31, 2013.

 

The allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses based on our evaluation of the risk inherent in the loan portfolio and changes in the nature and volume of our loan activity. This evaluation, which includes a review of all loans with respect to which full collectability may not be reasonably assured, considers the fair value of the underlying collateral, economic conditions, historical loan loss experience, level of classified loans and other factors that warrant recognition in providing for an appropriate allowance for loan losses. At December 31, 2014, our allowance for loan losses totaled $5.3 million, or 1.26% of gross loans outstanding, as compared to $5.5 million, or 1.32% of gross loans outstanding, at December 31, 2013. The allowance for loan losses declined at December 31, 2014, as compared to December 31, 2013, primarily as a result of a decrease in our impaired loans as a result of the liquidation and charge-off of a previously identified and impaired commercial loan relationship. Our acquisition of Citizens Bank also impacts our allowance for loan losses to gross loans ratio as the loans were recorded at fair value and no allowance for loans was recorded on the acquisition date.

 

As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, approximately $18.1 million and $26.3 million, respectively, of loans were assigned a risk rating of special mention, substandard or doubtful. These ratings indicate that the loans identified as potential problem loans having more than normal risk which raised doubts as to the ability of the borrower to comply with present loan repayment terms. Even though borrowers were experiencing moderate cash flow problems as well as some deterioration in collateral value, management believed the general allowance was sufficient to cover the risks and probable incurred losses related to such loans at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

Loans past due 30-89 days and still accruing interest totaled $1.1 million, or 0.26% of gross loans at December 31, 2014 compared to $1.4 million, or 0.34% of gross loans, at December 31, 2013. At December 31, 2014, $6.0 million in loans were on non-accrual status, or 1.44% of gross loans, compared to $9.8 million, or 2.35% of gross loans, at December 31, 2013. Non-accrual loans consist of loans 90 or more days past due and certain impaired loans. There were no loans 90 days delinquent and accruing interest at December 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013. Our impaired loans totaled $10.7 million at December 31, 2014 compared to $16.8 million at December 31, 2013. The difference in the Company’s non-accrual loan balances and impaired loan balances at December 31, 2014 was related to TDRs that were accruing interest but still classified as impaired. We recorded net loan charge-offs of $820,000 during 2014 compared to net loan recoveries of $159,000 during 2013. The loan charge-offs in 2014 were primarily associated with previously identified and impaired commercial loan relationships. The net loan recoveries in 2013 were primarily associated a with a previously charged-off $4.3 million construction loan and recoveries on the payoff of a one-to-four family residential real estate loan which had been partially charged-off as part of a TDR in 2010.

 

At December 31, 2014, the Company had ten loan relationships consisting of fifteen outstanding loans that were classified as TDRs compared to seven relationships consisting of eleven outstanding loans at December 31, 2013. During 2014, the Company classified a $128,000 commercial real estate loan, a $146,000 agriculture loan, and two commercial loans totaling $59,000 and $78,000, as TDRs after modifying the amortization schedule of the loans to align with the borrowers’ cash flows. Since the loans were adequately secured, no impairment was recorded against the principal as of December 31, 2014.

 

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During 2013, the Company classified a $278,000 commercial real estate loan as a TDR after modifying the loan payments to interest only in order to allow the borrower additional time to liquidate the properties securing the loan. Since the loan was adequately secured, no impairment was recorded against the principal as of December 31, 2013.

 

As part of our credit risk management, we continue to manage the loan portfolio to identify problem loans and have placed additional emphasis on commercial real estate and construction and land relationships. We are working to resolve the remaining problem credits or move the non-performing credits out of the loan portfolio. At December 31, 2014, we had $255,000 of real estate owned compared to $400,000 at December 31, 2013. As of December 31, 2014, real estate owned primarily consisted of a few residential real estate properties. The Company is currently marketing all of the remaining properties in real estate owned.

 

Many financial institutions, including us, experienced a general increase in non-performing assets during the recent financial crisis, as even well-established business borrowers developed cash flow, profitability and other business-related problems as a result of economic conditions. While we believe that our allowance for loan losses at each of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was appropriate, there can be no assurances that loan losses will not exceed the estimated amounts. We believe that we use the best information available to determine the allowance for loan losses; however, unforeseen market conditions could result in adjustment to the allowance for loan losses. In addition, net earnings could be significantly affected if circumstances differ substantially from the assumptions used in establishing the allowance for loan losses. Deterioration in the local economy or real estate values may create additional problem loans for us and require further adjustment to our allowance for loan losses.

 

Liability Distribution. Our primary ongoing sources of funds are deposits, FHLB borrowings, proceeds from principal and interest payments on loans and investment securities and proceeds from the sale of mortgage loans and investment securities. While maturities and scheduled amortization of loans are a predictable source of funds, deposit flows and mortgage prepayments are greatly influenced by general interest rates and economic conditions. We experienced an increase of $17.1 million in total deposits during 2014, to $704.6 million at December 31, 2014, from $687.5 million at December 31, 2013. The increase in deposits was primarily due to higher non-interest bearing deposits, money market and NOW accounts and savings accounts. The increases were partially offset by lower balances in certificates of deposit balances. Total borrowings increased $7.8 million to $76.5 million at December 31, 2014, from $68.7 million at December 31, 2013.

 

Non-interest-bearing deposits at December 31, 2014, were $130.5 million, or 18.5% of deposits, compared to $124.5 million, or 18.1%, at December 31, 2013. Money market and NOW deposit accounts were 46.9% of our deposit portfolio and totaled $330.6 million at December 31, 2014, compared to $307.0 million, or 44.7%, at December 31, 2013. Savings accounts increased to $74.4 million, or 10.6% of deposits, at December 31, 2014, from $69.8 million, or 10.1%, at December 31, 2013. Certificates of deposit totaled $169.1 million, or 24.0% of deposits, at December 31, 2014, compared to $186.2 million, or 27.1%, at December 31, 2013.

 

Certificates of deposit at December 31, 2014, scheduled to mature in one year or less, totaled $112.3 million. Historically, maturing deposits have generally remained with the Bank and we believe that a significant portion of the deposits maturing in one year or less will remain with us upon maturity in some type of deposit account.

 

CASH FLOWS. During 2014, our cash and cash equivalents decreased by $17.0 million. Our operating activities provided net cash of $8.7 million in 2014. Our investing activities used net cash of $48.4 million during 2014, primarily as a result of purchasing investment securities. Our financing activities provided net cash of $22.8 million during 2014, primarily as a result of an increase in deposit balances.

 

Liquidity. Our most liquid assets are cash and cash equivalents and investment securities available for sale. The levels of these assets are dependent on the operating, financing, lending and investing activities during any given year. These liquid assets totaled $361.7 million at December 31, 2014 and $330.0 million at December 31, 2013. During periods in which we are not able to originate a sufficient amount of loans and/or periods of high principal prepayments, we generally increase our liquid assets by investing in short-term, high-grade investments.

 

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Liquidity management is both a daily and long-term function of our strategy. Excess funds are generally invested in short-term investments. Excess funds are typically generated as a result of increased deposit balances, while uses of excess funds are generally deposit withdrawals and loan advances. In the event we require funds beyond our ability to generate them internally, additional funds are generally available through the use of FHLB advances, a line of credit with the FHLB, other borrowings or through sales of investment securities. At December 31, 2014, we had outstanding FHLB advances of $35.7 million and $7.6 million of borrowings against our line of credit with the FHLB. At December 31, 2014, we had collateral pledged to the FHLB that would allow us to borrow an additional $27.7 million, subject to FHLB credit requirements and policies. At December 31, 2014, we had no borrowings through the Federal Reserve discount window, while our borrowing capacity with the Federal Reserve was $21.0 million. We also have various other federal funds agreements, both secured and unsecured, with correspondent banks totaling approximately $50.0 million in available credit under which we had no outstanding borrowings at December 31, 2014. At December 31, 2014, we had subordinated debentures totaling $20.9 million and other borrowings of $12.4 million, which included $11.3 million in repurchase agreements and $1.1 million on a line of credit. The Company has a $7.5 million line of credit from an unrelated financial institution maturing on November 1, 2015, with an interest rate that adjusts daily based on the prime rate plus 0.25%, and a floor of 3.75%. This line of credit has covenants specific to capital and other financial ratios, which the Company was in compliance with at December 31, 2014.

 

OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS. As a provider of financial services, we routinely issue financial guarantees in the form of financial and performance standby letters of credit. Standby letters of credit are contingent commitments issued by us generally to guarantee the payment or performance obligation of a customer to a third party. While these standby letters of credit represent a potential outlay by us, a significant amount of the commitments may expire without being drawn upon. We have recourse against the customer for any amount the customer is required to pay to a third party under a standby letter of credit. The letters of credit are subject to the same credit policies, underwriting standards and approval process as loans made by us. Most of the standby letters of credit are secured, and in the event of nonperformance by the customers, we have the right to the underlying collateral, which could include commercial real estate, physical plant and property, inventory, receivables, cash and marketable securities. The contract amount of these standby letters of credit, which represents the maximum potential future payments guaranteed by us, was $965,000 at December 31, 2014.

 

At December 31, 2014, we had outstanding loan commitments, excluding standby letters of credit, of $60.6 million. We anticipate that sufficient funds will be available to meet current loan commitments. These commitments consist of unfunded lines of credit and commitments to finance real estate loans.

 

CAPITAL. The Federal Reserve has established capital requirements for bank holding companies which generally parallel the capital requirements for national banks under OCC regulations. The regulations provide that such standards will generally be applied on a consolidated (rather than a bank-only) basis in the case of a bank holding company with more than $500 million in total consolidated assets.

 

At December 31, 2014, we maintained a leverage capital ratio of 8.06% and a total risk-based capital ratio of 15.16%. As shown by the following table, our capital exceeded the minimum capital requirements in effect at December 31, 2014 (dollars in thousands):

 

   Actual   Actual   Required   Required 
   amount   percent   amount   percent 
Leverage  $67,228    8.06%  $33,377    4.0%
Tier 1 capital   67,228    13.26%   20,282    4.0%
Total risk-based capital   76,864    15.16%   40,563    8.0%

 

48
 

 

 

At December 31, 2014, the Bank maintained a leverage ratio of 8.53% and a total risk-based capital ratio of 15.21%. As shown by the following table, the Bank’s capital exceeded the minimum capital requirements in effect at December 31, 2014 (dollars in thousands):

 

   Actual   Actual   Required   Required 
   amount   percent   amount   percent 
Leverage  $71,004    8.53%  $33,298    4.0%
Tier 1 capital   71,004    14.04%   20,224    4.0%
Total risk-based capital   76,901    15.21%   40,448    8.0%

 

Banks and bank holding companies are generally expected to operate at or above the minimum capital requirements. The Company’s and the Bank’s ratios above are well in excess of regulatory minimums and we expect that they will allow us to operate without capital adequacy concerns. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 establishes a bank rating system based on the capital levels of banks. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, we exceeded the "well capitalized" thresholds, which is the highest rating available under this capital-based rating system. With the implementation of the Basel III Rules, which became effective January 1, 2015, these capital requirements, and the related prompt correction action provisions have increased. There are no conditions or events, including the implementation of the Basel III Rules, since that notification that management believes have changed the institution’s category. We have $21.7 million in trust preferred securities which, in accordance with current capital guidelines, has been included in capital as of December 31, 2014. Cash distributions on the securities are payable quarterly, are deductible for income tax purposes and are included in interest expense in the consolidated financial statements.

 

DIVIDENDS

 

During the year ended December 31, 2014, we paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per share to our stockholders. Additionally, we distributed a 5% stock dividend for the 14th consecutive year in December 2014. The quarterly cash dividends were $0.181 per share as adjusted to give effect to the 5% stock dividend.

 

The payment of dividends by any financial institution or its holding company is affected by the requirement to maintain adequate capital pursuant to applicable capital adequacy guidelines and regulations. As described above, the Bank exceeded its minimum capital requirements under applicable guidelines as of December 31, 2014. The National Bank Act imposes limitations on the amount of dividends that a national bank may pay without prior regulatory approval. Generally, the amount is limited to the bank's current year's net earnings plus the adjusted retained earnings for the two preceding years. As of December 31, 2014, approximately $13.9 million was available to be paid as dividends to the Company by the Bank without prior regulatory approval.

 

Additionally, our ability to pay dividends is limited by the subordinated debentures associated with the trust preferred securities that are held by three business trusts that we control. Interest payments on the debentures must be paid before we pay dividends on our capital stock, including our common stock. We have the right to defer interest payments on the debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarters. However, if we elect to defer interest payments, all deferred interest must be paid before we may pay dividends on our capital stock.

 

EFFECTS OF INFLATION

 

Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), which generally requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without consideration for changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The impact of inflation can be found in the increased cost of our operations because our assets and liabilities are primarily monetary and interest rates have a greater impact on our performance than do the effects of inflation.

 

49
 

 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Our assets and liabilities are principally financial in nature and the resulting net interest income thereon is subject to changes in market interest rates and the mix of various assets and liabilities. Interest rates in the financial markets affect our decision on pricing our assets and liabilities which impacts our net interest income, a significant cash flow source for us. As a result, a substantial portion of our risk management activities relates to managing interest rate risk.

 

Our Asset/Liability Management Committee monitors the interest rate sensitivity of our balance sheet using earnings simulation models and interest sensitivity “gap” analysis. We have set policy limits of interest rate risk to be assumed in the normal course of business and monitor such limits through our simulation process.

 

In the past, we have been successful in meeting the interest rate sensitivity objectives set forth in our policy. Simulation models are prepared to determine the impact on net interest income for the coming twelve months, including using rates at December 31, 2014 and forecasting volumes for the twelve-month projection. This position is then subjected to a shift in interest rates of 100 and 200 basis points rising and 100 basis points falling with an impact to our net interest income on a one-year horizon as follows:

 

Scenario  $000's change
in net interest
income
   % change in
net interest
income
 
200 basis point rising  $(131)   -1.5%
100 basis point rising   (60)   -0.7%
100 basis point falling   (609)   -6.9%

 

 

ASSET/LIABILITY MANAGEMENT

 

Interest rate "gap" analysis is a common, though imperfect, measure of interest rate risk which measures the relative dollar amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities which reprice within a specific time period, either through maturity or rate adjustment. The "gap" is the difference between the amounts of such assets and liabilities that are subject to such repricing. A "positive" gap for a given period means that the amount of interest-earning assets maturing or otherwise repricing within that period exceeds the amount of interest-bearing liabilities maturing or otherwise repricing during that same period. In a rising interest rate environment, an institution with a positive gap would generally be expected, absent the effects of other factors, to experience a greater increase in the yield of its assets relative to the cost of its liabilities. Conversely, the cost of funds for an institution with a positive gap would generally be expected to decline less quickly than the yield on its assets in a falling interest rate environment. Changes in interest rates generally have the opposite effect on an institution with a "negative" gap.

 

Following is our "static gap" schedule. One-to-four family and consumer loans include prepayment assumptions, while all other loans assume no prepayments. Mortgage-backed securities include published prepayment assumptions, while all other investments assume no prepayments.

 

Certificates of deposit reflect contractual maturities only. Money market accounts are rate sensitive and accordingly, a higher percentage of the accounts have been included as repricing immediately in the first period. Savings and NOW accounts are not as rate sensitive as money market accounts and for that reason a significant percentage of the accounts are reflected in the 1-to-5 year category.

 

Given the historically low interest rates that have persisted for the last several years, we believe it is unlikely that interest rates will move much lower than experienced in 2014. We have been successful in meeting the interest sensitivity objectives set forth in our policy. This has been accomplished primarily by managing the assets and liabilities while maintaining our traditional high credit standards.

 

50
 

 

INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS AND INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES REPRICING SCHEDULE

("GAP" TABLE)

 

As of December 31, 2014                    
   3 months or
less
   3 to 12
months
   1 to 5 years   Over 5
years
   Total 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
Interest-earning assets:                         
Investment securities  $17,906   $26,212   $161,260   $147,560   $352,938 
Loans   75,716    150,048    175,524    25,573    426,861 
Total interest-earning assets  $93,622   $176,260   $336,784   $173,133   $779,799 
                          
Interest-bearing liabilities:                         
Certificates of deposit  $36,539   $75,719   $56,780   $21   $169,059 
Money market and NOW accounts   341    15,397    314,842    -    330,580 
Savings accounts   -    -    74,424    -    74,424 
Borrowed money   41,671    27    34,849    -    76,547 
Total interest-bearing liabilities  $78,551   $91,143   $480,895   $21   $650,610 
                          
Interest sensitivity gap per period  $15,071   $85,117   $(144,111)  $173,112   $129,189 
Cumulative interest sensitivity gap   15,071    100,188    (43,923)   129,189      
                          
Cumulative gap as a percent of total interest-earning assets   1.93%   12.85%   (5.63)%   16.57%     
                          
Cumulative interest sensitive assets as a percent of cumulative interest sensitive liabilities   119.19%   159.04%   93.25%   119.86%     

 

51
 

 

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This document (including information incorporated by reference) contains, and future oral and written statements by us and our management may contain, forward-looking statements, within the meaning of such term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, with respect to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of our management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should” or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events.

 

Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on operations and future prospects by us and our subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

·The strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct our operations which may be less favorable than expected and may result in, among other things, a deterioration in the credit quality and value of our assets.
·The effects of, and changes in, federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies affecting banking, securities, insurance and monetary and financial matters (including the Dodd-Frank Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as well as the Basel III Rules, which became effective January 1, 2015.
·The effects of changes in interest rates (including the effects of changes in the rate of prepayments of our assets) and the policies of the Federal Reserve.
·Our ability to compete with other financial institutions as effectively as we currently do due to increases in competitive pressures in the financial services sector.
·Our inability to obtain new customers and to retain existing customers.
·The timely development and acceptance of products and services, including products and services offered through alternative delivery channels such as the Internet.
·Technological changes implemented by us and by other parties, including third party vendors, which may be more difficult or more expensive than anticipated or which may have unforeseen consequences to us and our customers.
·Our ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems.
·Our ability to retain key executives and employees and the difficulty that we may experience in replacing key executives and employees in an effective manner.
·Consumer spending and saving habits which may change in a manner that affects our business adversely.
·Our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, including Citizens Bank, and future growth.
·The costs, effects and outcomes of existing or future litigation.
·Changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by state and federal regulatory agencies and the FASB.
·The economic impact of past and any future terrorist attacks, acts of war or threats thereof, and the response of the United States to any such threats and attacks.
·Our ability to effectively manage our credit risk.
·Our ability to forecast probable loan losses and maintain an adequate allowance for loan losses.
·The effects of declines in the value of our investment portfolio.
·Our ability to raise additional capital if needed.
·The effects of declines in real estate markets.

 

These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Additional information concerning us and our business, including other factors that could materially affect our financial results is included in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

 

52
 

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Board of Directors and Stockholders

Landmark Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary

Manhattan, Kansas

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Landmark Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2014, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Landmark Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

/s/ Crowe Chizek LLP

 

Oak Brook, Illinois

March 19, 2015

 

53
 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Board of Directors
Landmark Bancorp, Inc.:

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Landmark Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiary (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2013, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2013. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2013, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP

 

Kansas City, Missouri
March 21, 2014

 

54
 

 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

  December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands)  2014   2013 
Assets          
Cash and cash equivalents  $12,760   $29,735 
Investment securities available-for-sale, at fair value   348,931    300,246 
Bank stocks, at cost   4,007    5,271 
Loans, net of allowance for loans losses of $5,320 and $5,540   416,190    414,016 
Loans held for sale   10,671    7,864 
Premises and equipment, net   20,954    20,634 
Bank owned life insurance   17,889    17,342 
Goodwill   17,532    17,532 
Other intangible assets, net   4,370    4,811 
Real estate owned, net   255    400 
Accrued interest and other assets   9,911    10,904 
Total assets  $863,470   $828,755 
           
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity          
Liabilities:          
Deposits:          
Non-interest bearing demand  $130,492   $124,480 
Money market and checking   330,580    307,014 
Savings   74,424    69,797 
Time   169,059    186,195 
Total deposits   704,555    687,486 
           
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings   43,253    35,689 
Subordinated debentures   20,884    20,684 
Other borrowings   12,410    12,371 
Accrued interest and other liabilities   10,723    9,833 
Total liabilities   791,825    766,063 
           
Commitments and contingencies          
           
Stockholders’ equity:          
Preferred stock, $0.01 par, 200,000 shares authorized; none issued   -    - 
Common stock, $0.01 par, 7,500,000 shares authorized; 3,333,243 and 3,297,606 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively   33    31 
Additional paid-in capital   40,473    36,400 
Retained earnings   29,321    27,187 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   1,818    (926)
Total stockholders’ equity   71,645    62,692 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity  $863,470   $828,755 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

55
 

  

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

 

  Years ended December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  2014   2013   2012 
Interest income:               
Loans:               
Taxable  $20,802   $16,699   $16,345 
Tax-exempt   328    261    378 
Investment securities:               
Taxable   4,119    2,801    2,940 
Tax-exempt   2,601    2,351    2,389 
Total interest income   27,850    22,112    22,052 
Interest expense:               
Deposits   1,235    1,377    2,149 
Subordinated debentures   686    446    428 
Borrowings   1,265    1,258    1,333 
Total interest expense   3,186    3,081    3,910 
Net interest income   24,664    19,031    18,142 
Provision for loan losses   600    800    1,900 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses   24,064    18,231    16,242 
Non-interest income:               
Fees and service charges   7,424    5,757    5,271 
Gains on sales of loans, net   5,880    3,777    5,680 
Increase in cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance   523    561    540 
Net impairment losses on investment securities   -    -    (63)
Gains on sales of investment securities, net   99    -    486 
Other   1,145    610    529 
Total non-interest income   15,071    10,705    12,443 
Non-interest expense:               
Compensation and benefits   14,347    10,578    9,788 
Occupancy and equipment   4,397    3,333    2,990 
Acquisition costs   -    1,886    147 
Data processing   1,416    992    842 
Amortization of intangibles   1,296    749    1,178 
Professional fees   1,096    1,102    961 
Advertising   534    435    443 
Federal deposit insurance premiums   518    441    364 
Foreclosure and real estate owned expense   102    370    332 
Other   4,354    3,649    3,459 
Total non-interest expense   28,060    23,535    20,504 
Earnings before income taxes   11,075    5,401    8,181 
Income tax expense   3,026    746    1,814 
Net earnings  $8,049   $4,655   $6,367 
Earnings per share:               
Basic (1)  $2.42   $1.44   $1.98 
Diluted (1)  $2.38   $1.42   $1.96 

 

(1)All per share amounts have been adjusted to give effect to the 5% stock dividends paid during December 2014, 2013 and 2012.

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

56
 

 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

 

 

  Years ended December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands)  2014   2013   2012 
Net earnings  $8,049   $4,655   $6,367 
                
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities   4,445    (6,967)   225 
Less reclassification adjustment on gains included in earnings   (99)   -    (423)
Net unrealized gains (losses)   4,346    (6,967)   (198)
Income tax effect on net gains included in earnings   37    -    157 
Income tax effect on net unrealized holding gains (losses)   (1,639)   2,583    (80)
Other comprehensive income (loss)   2,744    (4,384)   (121)
                
Total comprehensive income  $10,793   $271   $6,246 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

57
 

  

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  Common
stock
   Additional
paid-in
capital
   Retained
earnings
   Accumulated other
comprehensive
income (loss)
   Total 
Balance at January 1, 2012  $28   $29,313   $26,200   $3,579   $59,120 
Net earnings   -    -    6,367    -    6,367 
Comprehensive loss   -    -    -    (121)   (121)
Dividends paid ($0.66 per share) (1)   -    -    (2,121)   -    (2,121)
Stock-based compensation   -    82    -    -    82 
Exercise of stock options, 554 shares, including excess tax benefit of $1   -    6    -    -    6 
5% stock dividend, 138,895 shares   1    2,822    (2,823)   -    - 
Balance at December 31, 2012   29    32,223    27,623    3,458    63,333 
Net earnings   -    -    4,655    -    4,655 
Comprehensive loss   -    -    -    (4,384)   (4,384)
Dividends paid ($0.69 per share) (1)   -    -    (2,243)   -    (2,243)
Stock-based compensation   -    58    -    -    58 
Exercise of stock options, 69,062 shares, including excess tax benefit of $29   1    1,272    -    -    1,273 
5% stock dividend, 149,240 shares   1    2,847    (2,848)   -    - 
Balance at December 31, 2013   31    36,400    27,187    (926)   62,692 
Net earnings   -    -    8,049    -    8,049 
Comprehensive income   -    -    -    2,744    2,744 
Dividends paid ($0.72 per share) (1)   -    -    (2,415)   -    (2,415)
Stock-based compensation   -    55    -    -    55 
Exercise of stock options, 34,394 shares, including excess tax benefit of $26   -    520    -    -    520 
5% stock dividend, 158,444 shares   2    3,498    (3,500)   -    - 
Balance at December 31, 2014  $33   $40,473   $29,321   $1,818   $71,645 

 

(1)Dividends per share have been adjusted to give effect to the 5% stock dividends paid during December 2014, 2013 and 2012.

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

58
 

 

LANDMARK BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

  Years ended December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands)  2014   2013   2012 
Cash flows from operating activities:               
Net earnings  $8,049   $4,655   $6,367 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:               
Provision for loan losses   600    800    1,900 
Valuation allowance on real estate owned   34    135    175 
Amortization of investment security premiums, net   1,712    1,538    1,391 
Amortization of purchase accounting adjustment on loans   (495)   (53)   - 
Amortization of purchase accounting adjustment on subordinated debentures   200    33    - 
Amortization of intangibles   1,296    749    1,178 
Depreciation   1,126    960    953 
Increase in cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance   (523)   (561)   (540)
Stock-based compensation   55    58    82 
Deferred income taxes   (103)   (418)   227 
Net gains on investment securities   (99)   -    (423)
Net loss (gain) on sales of premises and equipment and foreclosed assets   (32)   162    (31)
Net gains on sales of loans   (5,880)   (3,777)   (5,680)
Proceeds from sale of loans   214,100    167,207    218,046 
Origination of loans held for sale   (211,027)   (160,661)   (209,775)
Changes in assets and liabilities:               
Accrued interest and other assets   (1,201)   701    (1,274)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   861    570    (211)
Net cash provided by operating activities   8,673    12,098    12,385 
Cash flows from investing activities:               
Net (increase) decrease in loans   (2,640)   (3,833)   7,192 
Maturities and prepayments of investment securities   43,746    43,398    50,335 
Net cash received in bank acquisition   -    25,028    3,965 
Purchases of investment securities   (97,963)   (89,418)   (79,783)
Proceeds from sale of investment securities   8,265    6,348    27,385 
Redemption of bank stocks   6,053    3,203    3,500 
Purchase of bank stocks   (4,789)   (2,671)   (1,909)
Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment and foreclosed assets   340    1,997    497 
Purchases of premises and equipment, net   (1,461)   (650)   (799)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities   (48,449)   (16,598)   10,383 
Cash flows from financing activities:               
Net increase (decrease) in deposits   17,093    23,152    (6,604)
Federal Home Loan Bank advance borrowings   106,445    81,100    51,922 
Federal Home Loan Bank advance repayments   (98,881)   (83,837)   (62,659)
Proceeds from other borrowings   4,515    -    2,600 
Repayments on other borrowings   (4,476)   (130)   (8,493)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options including excess tax benefit   520    1,273    6 
Payment of dividends   (2,415)   (2,243)   (2,121)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   22,801    19,315    (25,349)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents   (16,975)   14,815    (2,581)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year   29,735    14,920    17,501 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year  $12,760   $29,735   $14,920 

 

(continued)

 

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LANDMARK BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Continued

 

  Years ended December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands)  2014   2013   2012 
             
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:               
 Cash paid during the year for income taxes  $1,980   $800   $2,322 
 Cash paid during the year for interest   3,223    3,156    4,032 
                
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities:               
 Transfer of loans to real estate owned  $209   $250   $234 
                
Bank acquisition:               
 Fair value of liabilities assumed  $-   $169,333   $35,061 
 Fair value of assets acquired   -    194,361    31,096 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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LANDMARK BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Principles of Consolidation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Landmark Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Landmark National Bank (the “Bank”). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Bank, considered a single operating segment, is principally engaged in the business of attracting deposits from the general public and using such deposits, together with borrowings and other funds, to originate one-to-four family residential real estate, construction and land, commercial real estate, commercial, agriculture, municipal and consumer loans.

 

Use of Estimates. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Business Combinations. At the date of acquisition, the Company records the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed on the consolidated balance sheet at their estimated fair values, and goodwill is recognized for the excess purchase price over the estimated fair value of acquired net assets. The results of operations for acquired companies are included in the Company’s consolidated statement of earnings beginning at the acquisition date. Expenses arising from the acquisition activities are recorded in the consolidated statement of earnings during the period incurred.

 

Reserve Requirements. Regulations of the Federal Reserve require reserves to be maintained by all banking institutions according to the types and amounts of certain deposit liabilities. These requirements restrict a portion of the amounts shown as consolidated cash and due from banks from everyday usage in operation of the banks. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Bank did not have a minimum reserve requirement.

 

Cash Flows. Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and amounts due from banks with original maturities of fewer than 90 days, and are carried at cost. Net cash flows are reported for customer loan and deposit transactions.

 

Investment Securities. The Company has classified its investment securities portfolio as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, net of taxes. Purchase premiums and discounts on investment securities are amortized/accreted into interest income over the estimated lives of the securities using the interest method. Realized gains and losses on sales of available-for-sale securities are recorded on a trade date basis and are calculated using the specific identification method.

 

The Company performs quarterly reviews of the investment portfolio to evaluate investment for other-than-temporary impairment. The initial review begins with all securities in an unrealized loss position. The Company’s assessment of other-than-temporary impairment is based on its judgment of the specific facts and circumstances impacting each individual security at the time such assessments are made. The Company reviews and considers all factual information, including expected cash flows, the structure of the security, the credit quality of the underlying assets and the current and anticipated market conditions. Any credit-related impairment on debt securities is recorded through a charge to earnings. Impairment related to other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income. However, if the Company intends to sell or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell a security in an unrealized loss position before recovery of its amortized costs basis, the entire impairment is recorded through a charge to earnings. If an equity security is determined to be other-than-temporarily impaired, the entire impairment is recorded through a charge to earnings.

 

Bank Stocks. Bank stocks are investments acquired for regulatory purposes and borrowing availability and are accounted for at cost. The cost of such investments represents their redemption value as such investments do not have a readily determinable fair value. The Company evaluates bank stocks for other-than-temporary impairment by analyzing the ultimate recoverability based on a credit analysis of the issuer.

 

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Acquired Loans. Acquired loans are recorded at estimated fair value at the time of acquisition and accounted for under ASC 310-20. The Company’s acquired loans were not acquired with deteriorated credit quality. Estimated fair values of acquired loans are based on a discounted cash flow methodology that considers various factors including the type of loan and related collateral, the expected timing of cash flows, classification status, fixed or variable interest rate, term of loan and whether or not the loan is amortizing, and a discount rate reflecting the Company’s assessment of risk inherent in the cash flow estimates. Discounts or premiums created when acquired loans are recorded at their estimated fair values are accreted or amortized over the remaining term of the loan as an adjustment to the related loan’s yield. Similar to originated loans described below, the accrual of interest income on acquired loans is discontinued when the collection of principal or interest, in whole or in part, is doubtful.

 

Loans. Loans receivable that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay-off are reported at their outstanding principal balances, net of undisbursed loan proceeds, the allowance for loan losses, and any deferred fees or costs on originated loans. Origination fees received on loans held in portfolio and the estimated direct costs of origination are deferred and amortized to interest income using the interest method.

 

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 if a loan is impaired include payment status, probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due and value of collateral for collateral dependent loans. 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. In addition, the Company classifies troubled debt restructurings (“TDR”) as impaired loans. A loan is classified as a TDR if the Company modifies a loan with any concessions, as defined by accounting guidance, to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty. The allowance recorded on impaired loans is measured on a loan-by-loan basis for commercial, commercial real estate, agriculture and construction loans by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s obtainable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. Large groups of homogeneous loans with smaller individual balances are collectively evaluated for impairment. Accordingly, the Company generally does not separately identify individual consumer and residential loans for impairment disclosures.

 

The accrual of interest on non-performing loans is discontinued at the time the loan is ninety days delinquent, unless the credit is well-secured and in process of collection. Loans are placed on non-accrual or are charged off at an earlier date if collection of the principal or interest is considered doubtful. All interest accrued but not collected for loans that are placed on non-accrual or charged off is reversed against interest income. The interest on these loans is accounted for on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method, until qualifying for return to accrual. Loans are evaluated individually and are returned to accrual status when all principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses. The Company maintains an allowance for loan losses to absorb probable incurred loan losses in the loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses is increased by charges to earnings and decreased by charge-offs (net of recoveries). The evaluation of the allowance for loan losses groups loans by loan class and includes one-to-four family residential real estate, construction and land, commercial real estate, commercial, agriculture, municipal and consumer loans. Management’s periodic evaluation of the appropriateness of the allowance is based on the Company’s loan loss experience over the prior twelve quarters, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral, the current level of non-performing assets, and current economic conditions. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available. The allowance is also subject to regulatory examinations and a determination by the regulatory agencies as to the appropriate level of the allowance.

 

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The allowance consists of specific and general components. The specific component relates to loans that are individually classified as impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Loans for which the terms have been modified resulting in a concession, and for which the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, are considered TDRs and classified as impaired.

 

Loans Held for Sale. Mortgage loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or fair value, as determined by outstanding commitments from investors. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recorded as a valuation allowance and charged to earnings.

 

Mortgage loans held for sale are generally sold with servicing rights retained. The carrying value of mortgage loans sold is reduced by the amount allocated to the servicing right. Gains and losses on sales of mortgage loans are based on the difference between the selling price and the carrying value of the related loan sold.

 

Mortgage Servicing Rights. When mortgage loans are sold with servicing retained, servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value with the income statement effect recorded in gains on sales of loans. Fair value is based on market prices for comparable mortgage servicing contracts, when available or alternatively, is based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income. All classes of servicing assets are subsequently measured using the amortization method which requires servicing rights to be recorded in amortization of intangibles in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying loans.

 

Servicing rights are evaluated for impairment based upon the fair value of the rights as compared to carrying amount. Impairment is determined by stratifying rights into groupings based on predominant risk characteristics, such as interest rate, loan type and investor type. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance for an individual grouping, to the extent that fair value is less than the carrying amount. If the Company later determines that all or a portion of the impairment no longer exists for a particular grouping, a reduction of the allowance may be recorded as an increase to income. Changes in valuation allowances are included in amortization expense on the income statement. The fair values of servicing rights are subject to significant fluctuations as a result of changes in estimated and actual prepayment speeds and default rates and losses.

 

Transfers of Financial Assets. Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales, when control over the assets has been relinquished. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when the assets have been isolated from the Company, the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.

 

Mortgage Loan Repurchase Reserve. The Company routinely sells one-to-four family residential mortgage loans to secondary mortgage market investors. Under standard representations and warranties clauses in the Company’s mortgage sale agreements, the Company may be required to repurchase mortgage loans sold or reimburse the investors for credit losses incurred on those loans if a breach of the contractual representations and warranties occurred. The Company establishes a mortgage repurchase liability in an amount equal to management’s estimate of losses on loans for which the Company could have a repurchase obligation or loss reimbursement. The estimated liability incorporates the volume of loans sold in previous periods, default expectations, historical investor repurchase demand and actual loss severity. Provisions to the mortgage repurchase reserve reduce gains on sales of loans.

 

Premises and Equipment. Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Major replacements and betterments are capitalized while maintenance and repairs are charged to expense when incurred. Gains or losses on dispositions are reflected in earnings as incurred.

 

Bank owned life insurance. The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain key executives. Bank owned life insurance is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the insurance contract at the balance sheet date, which is the cash surrender value adjusted for other charges or other amounts due that are probable at settlement.

 

Goodwill and Intangible Assets. Goodwill is not amortized; however, it is tested for impairment at each calendar year end or more frequently when events or circumstances dictate. The impairment test compares the carrying value of goodwill to an implied fair value of the goodwill, which is based on a review of the Company’s market capitalization adjusted for appropriate control premiums as well as an analysis of valuation multiples of recent, comparable acquisitions. The Company considers the result from each of these valuation methods in determining the implied fair value of its goodwill. A goodwill impairment would be recorded for the amount that the carrying value exceeds the implied fair value.

 

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Intangible assets include core deposit intangibles, lease intangibles and mortgage servicing rights. Core deposit intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful life of ten years on an accelerated basis. Lease intangible assets are amortized over the life of the lease. When facts and circumstances indicate potential impairment, the Company will evaluate the recoverability of the intangible asset’s carrying value, using estimates of undiscounted future cash flows over the remaining asset life. Any impairment loss is measured by the excess of carrying value over fair value.

 

Income Taxes. The objective of accounting for income taxes is to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in an entity’s financial statements or tax returns. Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in financial statements or tax returns. Uncertain income tax positions will be recognized only if it is more likely than not that they will be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities, based upon their technical merits. Once that standard is met, the amount recorded will be the largest amount of benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated statements of earnings. The Company assesses deferred tax assets to determine if the items are more likely than not to be realized, and a valuation allowance is established for any amounts that are not more likely than not to be realized.

 

Loan Commitments and Related Financial Instruments. Financial instruments include off-balance sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and commercial letters of credit, issued to meet customer financing needs. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering customer collateral or ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

 

Loss Contingencies. Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. Management does not believe there now are such matters that will have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Comprehensive Income. Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income includes unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale, which are also recognized as separate components of equity.

 

Real Estate Owned. Assets acquired through, or in lieu of, foreclosure are to be sold and are initially recorded at the date of foreclosure at fair value of the collateral less estimated selling costs through a gain or a charge to the allowance for loan losses, establishing a new cost basis. Subsequent to foreclosure, the Company records a charge to earnings if the carrying value of a property exceeds the fair value less estimated costs to sell. Revenue and expenses from operations and subsequent declines in fair value are included in other non-interest expense in the consolidated statement of earnings.

 

Stock-Based Compensation. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the grant date fair value of its stock options, which is recognized as compensation expense over the option vesting period, on a straight-line basis, which is typically four or five years. The fair value of restricted common stock is equal to the Company’s stock price on the grant date, which is recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

 

Earnings per Share. Basic earnings per share represent net earnings divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share reflect additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued. The diluted earnings per share computations for 2014 and 2013 include all unexercised stock options, while the diluted earnings per share computation for the year ended December 31, 2012 excludes unexercised stock options of 76,306 because they were anti-dilutive at December 31, 2012.

 

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The shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share, which have been adjusted to give effect to the 5% common stock dividends paid by the Company in December 2014, 2013 and 2012, are shown below:

 

   Years ended December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  2014   2013   2012 
Net earnings available to common shareholders  $8,049   $4,655   $6,367 
                
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic   3,326,895    3,238,794    3,221,539 
Assumed exercise of stock options   56,372    49,245    27,662 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted   3,383,267    3,288,039    3,249,201 
Earnings per share:               
Basic  $2.42   $1.44   $1.98 
Diluted  $2.38   $1.42   $1.96 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments. Commitments to fund mortgage loans (interest rate locks) to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of these mortgage loans are accounted for as free standing derivatives. The fair value of the interest rate lock is recorded at the time the commitment to fund the mortgage loan is executed and is adjusted for the expected exercise of the commitment before the loan is funded. In order to hedge the change in interest rates resulting from its commitments to fund the loans, the Company enters into forward commitments for the future delivery of mortgage loans when interest rate locks are entered into. Fair values of these mortgage derivatives are estimated based on changes in mortgage interest rates from the date the interest on the loan is locked. Changes in the fair values of these derivatives are included in net gains on sales of loans.

 

The Company may enter into interest rate swap transactions with loan customers. The interest rate risk on these swap transactions is managed by entering into offsetting interest rate swap agreements with various unaffiliated counterparties (“broker-dealers”). Both customer and broker-dealer related interest rate swaps are accounted for as derivatives and carried at fair value.

 

Dividend Restriction. Banking regulations require maintaining certain capital levels and may limit the dividends paid by the bank to the holding company or by the holding company to shareholders.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Fair values of financial instruments are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in a separate note. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect these estimates.

 

(2) Impact of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. To eliminate variance in practice, ASU 2013-11 provides explicit guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. This ASU became effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2013. Adoption of ASU 2013-11 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The main provisions of the update require the identification of performance obligations within a contract and require the recognition of revenue based on a stand-alone allocation of contract revenue to each performance obligation. Performance obligations may be satisfied and revenue recognized over a period of time if: 1) the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided by the entity’s performance as the entity performs, or 2) the entity’s performance creates or enhances an asset that the customer controls as the asset is created or enhanced, or 3) the entity’s performance does not create an asset with an alternative use to the entity, and the entity has an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date. For public entities the amendments of the update are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Management is evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2014-09.

 

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(3) Acquisition

 

The Company completed the acquisition, by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Landmark National Bank, of Citizens Bank, National Association (“Citizens Bank”) from First Capital Corporation (“First Capital”), effective November 1, 2013. The purchase price consisted of cash of $6.3 million. The acquisition was effected through the merger of Citizens Bank with and into the Bank. The acquisition added eight branches, located in Fort Scott, Iola, Kincaid, Lenexa, Mound City, Overland Park and Pittsburg, Kansas, to the Bank’s existing branch network. In addition, the Company assumed $5.2 million of subordinated debentures from First Capital for $5.0 million of cash, which resulted in a net purchase price of $1.3 million.

 

The transaction was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting, and as such, assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair value on the acquisition date. Acquired loans were recorded at fair value at the acquisition date and no separate valuation allowance was established. No purchased credit impaired loans were acquired. Market value adjustments are accreted or amortized on a level yield basis over the expected term of the asset or liability. Additionally, the Company recorded a core deposit intangible of $1.7 million. The core deposit intangible is amortized on an accelerated basis over the estimated useful life of the deposits. Based on the estimated fair values, the Company recorded $4.5 million of goodwill. The acquisition created $5.5 million of tax deductible goodwill. The Company incurred $1.9 million of acquisition related costs relating to the acquisition during 2013.

 

The Company assumed subordinated debentures with principal outstanding of $5.2 million and fair value of $4.2 after a discount of $1.0 million. The initial fair value was determined with the assistance of a valuation specialist that discounted expected cash flows at appropriate rates. The discount will be accreted as interest expense on a level yield basis over the expected remaining term of the subordinated debentures.

 

Results of the operations of the acquired business are included in the income statement from the effective date of the acquisition.

 

The fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including fair value adjustments and purchase accounting entries are as follows:

 

   As of November 1, 2013 
   Citizens   Fair value   Acquired 
(Dollars in thousands)  Bank   adjustments   balances 
Assets               
Cash and cash equivalents  $31,316   $(6,288)  $25,028 
Investment securities available-for-sale   56,720    (941)   55,779 
Bank stocks, at cost   565    -    565 
Loans, net   97,051    (1,933)   95,118 
Loans held for sale, net   3,470    -    3,470 
Premises and equipment, net   4,358    1,611    5,969 
Goodwill   -    4,456    4,456 
Other intangible assets, net   161    2,060    2,221 
Accrued interest and other assets   1,720    35    1,755 
Total assets  $195,361   $(1,000)  $194,361 
                
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity               
Liabilities:               
Total deposits  $181,875   $-   $181,875 
Other borrowings   7,489    -    7,489 
Subordinated debentures   5,155    (1,000)   4,155 
Accrued interest, taxes, and other liabilities   842    -    842 
Total liabilities  $195,361   $(1,000)  $194,361 

 

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Unaudited pro forma consolidated operating results for the years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, as if the acquisition was consummated on January 1 of that year are as follows:

 

   Years ended December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  2013   2012 
         
Total interest income  $29,055   $31,661 
Net earnings   6,537    8,038 
Earnings per share:          
Basic   2.02    2.50 
Diluted   1.99    2.47 

 

The Company completed the acquisition, by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Landmark National Bank, of The Wellsville Bank from Wellsville Bancshares, Inc., effective April 1, 2012. The purchase price consisted of cash of $3.7 million for 100% of The Wellsville Bank. The acquisition was effected through the merger of The Wellsville Bank with and into Landmark National Bank. The acquisition added one additional branch, located in Wellsville, Kansas, to the Company’s existing branch network.

 

The assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded by the Bank at their estimated fair value as of April 1, 2012 based on management’s best estimate using information available at the time. The acquisition included the assumption of investments of $14.2 million, loans of $15.0 million and deposits of $35.0 million. The unpaid contractual amount of the loans totaled $15.1 million. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company incurred $147,000 of acquisition related expenses. Based on estimates of the fair values of the net assets acquired, the Company recorded $181,000 of goodwill. The acquisition created $51,000 of tax deductible goodwill.

 

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(4) Investment Securities

 

A summary of investment securities available-for-sale is as follows:

 

   As of December 31, 2014 
       Gross   Gross     
   Amortized   unrealized   unrealized   Estimated 
(Dollars in thousands)  cost   gains   losses   fair value 
                 
U. S. treasury securities  $6,530   $1   $(1)  $6,530 
U. S. federal agency obligations   25,983    34    (274)   25,743 
Municipal obligations, tax exempt   108,752    1,937    (180)   110,509 
Municipal obligations, taxable   63,728    544    (350)   63,922 
Agency mortgage-backed securities   135,072    1,152    (705)   135,519 
Common stocks   588    695    -    1,283 
Certificates of deposit   5,425    -    -    5,425 
Total  $346,078   $4,363   $(1,510)  $348,931 

 

   As of December 31, 2013 
       Gross   Gross     
   Amortized   unrealized   unrealized   Estimated 
   cost   gains   losses   fair value 
                 
U. S. treasury securities  $500   $-   $-   $500 
U. S. federal agency obligations   20,167    10    (534)   19,643 
Municipal obligations, tax exempt   90,700    1,712    (619)   91,793 
Municipal obligations, taxable   53,244    270    (1,042)   52,472 
Agency mortgage-backed securities   127,384    700    (2,491)   125,593 
Common stocks   602    501    -    1,103 
Certificates of deposit   9,142    -    -    9,142 
Total  $301,739   $3,193   $(4,686)  $300,246 

 

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The tables above show that some of the securities in the available-for-sale investment portfolio had unrealized losses, or were temporarily impaired, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. This temporary impairment represents the estimated amount of loss that would be realized if the securities were sold on the valuation date. Securities which were temporarily impaired are shown below, along with the length of time in a continuous unrealized loss position.

 

       As of December 31, 2014 
       Less than 12 months   12 months or longer   Total 
   No. of   Fair   Unrealized   Fair   Unrealized   Fair   Unrealized 
(Dollars in thousands)  securities   value   losses   value   losses   value   losses 
U.S. treasury securities   1   $2,960   $(1)  $-   $-   $2,960   $(1)
U.S. federal agency obligations   14    7,361    (14)   11,958    (260)   19,319    (274)
Municipal obligations, tax exempt   71    13,927    (66)   7,329    (114)   21,256    (180)
Municipal obligations, taxable   74    14,797    (92)   14,827    (258)   29,624    (350)
Agency mortgage-backed securities   29    17,535    (76)   25,759    (629)   43,294    (705)
Total   189   $56,580   $(249)  $59,873   $(1,261)  $116,453   $(1,510)

 

       As of December 31, 2013 
       Less than 12 months   12 months or longer   Total 
   No. of   Fair   Unrealized   Fair   Unrealized   Fair   Unrealized 
   securities   value   losses   value   losses   value   losses 
U.S. federal agency obligations   18   $16,028   $(436)  $2,149   $(98)  $18,177   $(534)
Municipal obligations, tax exempt   91    24,496    (518)   3,151    (101)   27,647    (619)
Municipal obligations, taxable   88    35,299    (1,030)   1,080    (12)   36,379    (1,042)
Agency mortgage-backed securities   70    89,140    (2,491)   -    -    89,140    (2,491)
Total   267   $164,963   $(4,475)  $6,380   $(211)  $171,343   $(4,686)

 

The Company’s U.S. federal agency portfolio consists of securities issued by the government-sponsored agencies of Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”). The receipt of principal and interest on U.S. federal agency obligations is guaranteed by the respective government-sponsored agency guarantor, such that the Company believes that its U.S. federal agency obligations do not expose the Company to credit-related losses. Based on these factors, along with the Company’s intent to not sell the securities and its belief that it was more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the securities before recovery of their cost basis, the Company believed that the U.S. federal agency obligations identified in the tables above were temporarily impaired.

 

The Company’s portfolio of municipal obligations consists of both tax-exempt and taxable general obligations securities issued by various municipalities. As of December 31, 2014, the Company did not intend to sell and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell its municipal obligations in an unrealized loss position until the recovery of its cost. Due to the issuers’ continued satisfaction of the securities’ obligations in accordance with their contractual terms and the expectation that they will continue to do so, the evaluation of the fundamentals of the issuers’ financial condition and other objective evidence, the Company believed that the municipal obligations identified in the tables above were temporarily impaired.

 

The Company’s agency mortgage-backed securities portfolio consists of securities underwritten to the standards of and guaranteed by the government-sponsored agencies of FHLMC, FNMA and the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”). The receipt of principal, at par, and interest on agency mortgage-backed securities is guaranteed by the respective government-sponsored agency guarantor, such that the Company believed that its agency mortgage-backed securities did not expose the Company to credit-related losses. Based on these factors, along with the Company’s intent to not sell the securities and the Company’s belief that it was more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the securities before recovery of their cost basis, the Company believed that the agency mortgage-backed securities identified in the tables above were temporarily impaired.

 

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The table below includes scheduled principal payments and estimated prepayments, based on observable market inputs, for agency mortgage-backed securities. Actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have the right to prepay obligations with or without prepayment penalties.

 

The amortized cost and fair value of investment securities at December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

   Amortized   Estimated 
(Dollars in thousands)  cost   fair value 
Due in less than one year  $14,576   $14,662 
Due after one year but within five years   201,447    201,881 
Due after five years but within ten years   99,127    100,349 
Due after ten years   30,340    30,756 
Common stocks   588    1,283 
Total  $346,078   $348,931 

 

 

Sales proceeds and gross realized gains and losses on sales of available-for-sale securities are as follows:

 

   Years ended December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands)  2014   2013   2012 
Sales proceeds  $8,265   $6,348   $27,385 
                
Realized gains  $125   $-   $795 
Realized losses   (26)   -    (309)
Net realized gains  $99   $-   $486 

 

Securities with carrying values of $212.9 million and $171.2 million were pledged to secure public funds on deposit, repurchase agreements and as collateral for borrowings at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Except for U.S. federal agency obligations, no investment in a single issuer exceeded 10% of consolidated stockholders’ equity.

 

(5) Bank Stocks

 

Other investment securities primarily consist of restricted investments in FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) stock. The carrying value of the FHLB stock at December 31, 2014 was $2.0 million compared to $3.2 million at December 31, 2013. The carrying value of the FRB stock was $1.9 million at both December 31, 2014 and 2013. These securities are not readily marketable and are required for regulatory purposes and borrowing availability. Since there are no available market values, these securities are carried at cost. Redemption of these investments at par value is at the option of the FHLB or FRB. Also included in other investment securities are other miscellaneous investments in the common stock of various correspondent banks which are held for borrowing purposes and totaled $111,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

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(6) Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses

 

Loans consist of the following:

 

   As of December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands)  2014   2013 
         
One-to-four family residential real estate loans  $127,555   $125,087 
Construction and land loans   21,950    23,776 
Commercial real estate loans   118,411    119,390 
Commercial loans   59,971    61,383 
Agriculture loans   64,316    62,287 
Municipal loans   8,982    8,846 
Consumer loans   20,044    18,600 
Total gross loans   421,229    419,369 
Net deferred loan costs and loans in process   281    187 
Allowance for loan losses   (5,320)   (5,540)
Loans, net  $416,190   $414,016 

 

The following tables provide information on the Company’s allowance for loan losses by loan class and allowance methodology:

 

   Year ended December 31, 2014 
(Dollars in thousands)  One-to-four
family
residential
real estate
loans
   Construction
and land
loans
   Commercial
real estate
loans
   Commercial
loans
   Agriculture
loans
   Municipal
loans
   Consumer
loans
   Total 
                                 
Allowance for loan losses:                                        
Balance at January 1, 2014  $732   $1,343   $1,970   $769   $