株探米国株
英語
エドガーで原本を確認する
false 0000712771 0000712771 2025-05-15 2025-05-15 0000712771 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2025-05-15 2025-05-15 0000712771 cnob:DepositarySharesEachRepresenting140thInterestInShareOf5.25SeriesNoncumulativePerpetualPreferredStockMember 2025-05-15 2025-05-15 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):   May 15, 2025

 

 

 

CONNECTONE BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of Company as specified in its charter)

 

New Jersey 000-11486 52-1273725
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No
     
301 Sylvan Avenue    
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey   07632
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Company's telephone number, including area code  (201) 816-8900

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange
on which registered
Common Stock CNOB NASDAQ
Depositary Shares (each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of 5.25% Series A Non-Cumulative, perpetual preferred stock) CNOBP NASDAQ

 

 

 

 


 

Item 8.01 Other Events

 

As previously announced, on September 4, 2024, ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) and The First of Long Island Corporation (“FLIC”) entered into an agreement and plan of merger, pursuant to which FLIC will merge with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving entity in the merger, as described in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on September 5, 2024. The merger is expected to close on or about June 1, 2025.

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K is being filed to provide:

 

(i) the historical audited consolidated balance sheets of FLIC as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, the related notes thereto and the report of Crowe LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, dated March 12, 2025, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1; together with

 

(ii) the interim unaudited balance sheet as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, and interim unaudited income statement, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, of FLIC, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 hereto,

 

Each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The Company is filing the historical audited consolidated financial statements of FLIC to incorporate by reference such information into one or more registration statements filed or to be filed by the Company.

 

In addition, on May 12, 2025, the Registrant received the approval of the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance to proceed with the previously announced merger of Registrant and The First of Long Island Corporation, with the Registrant as the surviving entity. Accordingly, all required bank regulatory approvals have been received to complete the merger.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description
23.1   Consent of Crowe LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.
99.1   Historical audited consolidated balance sheets of FLIC as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December  31, 2018, the related notes thereto and the report of Crowe LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, dated March 12, 2024.
99.2   Interim unaudited balance sheet as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, and interim unaudited income statement, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, of FLIC.
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded in the Inline XBRL document).

 

 


 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  CONNECTONE BANCORP, INC.
  (Registrant)
     
Dated: May 15, 2025 By: /s/ William S. Burns
    WILLIAM S. BURNS
    Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

EX-23.1 2 tm2514692d2_ex23-1.htm EXHIBIT 23.1

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement No. 333-283717 on Form S-3 and in the Registration Statement No. 333-272232 on Form S-8 of ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. of our report dated March 12, 2025, relating to the consolidated financial statements of The First of Long Island Corporation included in this Current Report on Form 8-K. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.

 

/s/ Crowe LLP

 

Crowe LLP

New York, New York

May 14, 2025

 

 

 

EX-99.1 3 tm2514692d2_ex99-1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

             
December 31, (dollars in thousands)   2024     2023  
Assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 38,330     $ 60,887  
Investment securities available-for-sale, at fair value     624,779       695,877  
                 
Loans:                
Commercial and industrial     136,732       116,163  
Secured by real estate:                
Commercial mortgages     1,963,107       1,919,714  
Residential mortgages     1,084,090       1,166,887  
Home equity lines     36,468       44,070  
Consumer and other     1,210       1,230  
      3,221,607       3,248,064  
Allowance for credit losses     (28,331 )     (28,992 )
      3,193,276       3,219,072  
Restricted stock, at cost     27,712       32,659  
Bank premises and equipment, net     29,135       31,414  
Right-of-use asset - operating leases     18,951       22,588  
Bank-owned life insurance     117,075       114,045  
Pension plan assets, net     11,806       10,740  
Deferred income tax benefit     36,192       28,996  
Other assets     22,080       19,622  
    $ 4,119,336     $ 4,235,900  
Liabilities:                
Deposits:                
Checking   $ 1,074,671     $ 1,133,184  
Savings, NOW and money market     1,574,160       1,546,369  
Time     616,027       591,433  
      3,264,858       3,270,986  
Overnight advances           70,000  
Other borrowings     435,000       472,500  
Operating lease liability     21,964       24,940  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities     18,648       17,328  
      3,740,470       3,855,754  
Stockholders' Equity:                
Common stock, par value $0.10 per share: Authorized, 80,000,000 shares; Issued and outstanding, 22,595,349 and 22,590,942 shares     2,260       2,259  
Surplus     79,731       79,728  
Retained earnings     354,051       355,887  
      436,042       437,874  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax     (57,176 )     (57,728 )
      378,866       380,146  
    $ 4,119,336     $ 4,235,900  

 

 


 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

Year Ended December 31, (dollars in thousands, except per share data)   2024     2023     2022  
Interest and dividend income:                        
Loans   $ 137,092     $ 127,866     $ 116,352  
Investment securities:                        
Taxable     26,412       22,663       9,795  
Nontaxable     3,826       4,954       8,063  
      167,330       155,483       134,210  
Interest expense:                        
Savings, NOW and money market deposits     45,254       32,164       7,180  
Time deposits     27,509       19,267       5,296  
Overnight advances     401       950       1,207  
Other borrowings     20,947       16,237       4,814  
      94,111       68,618       18,497  
Net interest income     73,219       86,865       115,713  
Provision (credit) for credit losses     359       (326 )     2,331  
Net interest income after provision (credit) for credit losses     72,860       87,191       113,382  
                         
Noninterest income:                        
Bank-owned life insurance     3,456       3,197       3,017  
Service charges on deposit accounts     3,376       3,034       3,157  
Net loss on sales of securities           (3,489 )      
Gain (loss) on disposition of premises and fixed assets     21       240       (553 )
Other     5,215       3,354       6,242  
      12,068       6,336       11,863  
Noninterest expense:                        
Salaries and employee benefits     39,720       37,373       41,096  
Occupancy and equipment     12,586       13,140       13,407  
Merger expenses     1,161              
Branch consolidation expenses     1,934              
Other     12,763       13,546       12,523  
      68,164       64,059       67,026  
Income before income taxes     16,764       29,468       58,219  
Income tax (benefit) expense     (312 )     3,229       11,287  
Net income   $ 17,076     $ 26,239     $ 46,932  
                         
Weighted average:                        
Common shares     22,527,300       22,550,562       22,868,658  
Dilutive restricted stock units     121,393       82,609       99,895  
Dilutive weighted average common shares     22,648,693       22,633,171       22,968,553  
                         
Earnings per share:                        
Basic   $ 0.76     $ 1.16     $ 2.05  
Diluted   $ 0.75     $ 1.16     $ 2.04  
                         
Cash dividends declared per share   $ 0.84     $ 0.84     $ 0.82  

 

 


 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

Year Ended December 31, (in thousands)   2024     2023     2022  
Net income   $ 17,076     $ 26,239     $ 46,932  
Other comprehensive income (loss):                        
Change in net unrealized holding (losses) gains on available-for-sale securities     (1,362 )     9,133       (83,835 )
Change in funded status of pension plan     2,292       1,183       (8,176 )
Change in net unrealized loss on derivative instruments                 1,750  
Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes     930       10,316       (90,261 )
Income tax expense (benefit)     378       3,277       (27,807 )
Other comprehensive income (loss)     552       7,039       (62,454 )
Comprehensive income (loss)   $ 17,628     $ 33,278     $ (15,522 )

 

 


 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

                            Accumulated        
                            Other        
    Common Stock           Retained     Comprehensive        
(dollars in thousands)   Shares     Amount     Surplus     Earnings     (Loss)/Income     Total  
Balance, January 1, 2022     23,240,596     $ 2,324     $ 93,480     $ 320,321     $ (2,313 )   $ 413,812  
Net income                             46,932               46,932  
Other comprehensive loss                                     (62,454 )     (62,454 )
Repurchase of common stock     (915,868 )     (92 )     (17,797 )                     (17,889 )
Shares withheld upon the vesting and conversion of RSUs     (27,287 )     (3 )     (573 )                     (576 )
Common stock issued under stock compensation plans     100,973       10       52                       62  
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan     44,966       5       834                       839  
Stock-based compensation                     2,466                       2,466  
Cash dividends declared                             (18,656 )             (18,656 )
Balance, December 31, 2022     22,443,380       2,244       78,462       348,597       (64,767 )     364,536  
Net income                             26,239               26,239  
Other comprehensive income                                     7,039       7,039  
Shares withheld upon the vesting and conversion of RSUs     (48,941 )     (5 )     (865 )                     (870 )
Common stock issued under stock compensation plans     133,796       14       46                       60  
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan     62,707       6       836                       842  
Stock-based compensation                     1,249                       1,249  
Cash dividends declared                             (18,949 )             (18,949 )
Balance, December 31, 2023     22,590,942       2,259       79,728       355,887       (57,728 )     380,146  
Net income                             17,076               17,076  
Other comprehensive income                                     552       552  
Repurchase of common stock     (167,526 )     (17 )     (2,003 )                     (2,020 )
Shares withheld upon the vesting and conversion of RSUs     (62,941 )     (6 )     (788 )                     (794 )
Common stock issued under stock compensation plans     183,949       19       43                       62  
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan     50,925       5       591                       596  
Stock-based compensation                     2,160                       2,160  
Cash dividends declared                             (18,912 )             (18,912 )
Balance, December 31, 2024     22,595,349     $ 2,260     $ 79,731     $ 354,051     $ (57,176 )   $ 378,866  

 

 


 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

       
Year Ended December 31, (in thousands)   2024     2023     2022  
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:                        
Net income   $ 17,076     $ 26,239     $ 46,932  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                        
Provision (credit) for credit losses     359       (326 )     2,331  
(Credit) provision for deferred income taxes     (7,574 )     (1,149 )     670  
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment     3,096       3,108       3,612  
Amortization of right-of-use asset - operating leases     3,637       2,644       2,699  
Gain on early termination of operating leases     (96 )            
Premium amortization on investment securities, net     2,436       2,227       1,578  
Net loss on sales of securities           3,489        
(Gain) loss on disposition of premises and fixed assets     (21 )     (240 )     553  
Stock-based compensation expense     2,160       1,249       2,466  
Accretion of cash surrender value on bank-owned life insurance     (3,456 )     (3,197 )     (3,017 )
Pension expense (credit)     1,226       1,492       (129 )
Decrease in other liabilities     (1,550 )     (384 )     (3,770 )
Other increases in assets     (2,343 )     (2,990 )     (2,501 )
Net cash provided by operating activities     14,950       32,162       51,424  
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:                        
Available-for-sale securities:                        
Proceeds from sales           145,451        
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions     74,228       56,413       45,054  
Purchases     (6,928 )     (220,911 )     (69,562 )
Proceeds from sales of loans held-for-sale     1,092              
Net decrease (increase) in loans     24,431       61,555       (207,427 )
Net decrease (increase) in restricted stock     4,947       (6,296 )     (4,839 )
Purchases of premises and equipment, net     (1,468 )     (2,862 )     (3,598 )
Proceeds from disposition of premises and facilities held-for-sale     383       2,291       6,601  
Proceeds from death benefit of bank-owned life insurance     576              
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities     97,261       35,641       (233,771 )
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:                        
Net (decrease) increase in deposits     (6,128 )     (193,648 )     149,389  
Net (decrease) increase in overnight advances     (70,000 )     70,000       (125,000 )
Proceeds from other borrowings     350,000       275,000       300,000  
Repayment of other borrowings     (387,500 )     (213,500 )     (75,322 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of shares withheld     (198 )     (28 )     263  
Repurchase of common stock     (2,020 )           (17,889 )
Cash dividends paid     (18,922 )     (18,918 )     (18,591 )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities     (134,768 )     (81,094 )     212,850  
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents     (22,557 )     (13,291 )     30,503  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year     60,887       74,178       43,675  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period   $ 38,330     $ 60,887     $ 74,178  
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures:                        
Cash paid for:                        
Interest   $ 92,782     $ 64,319     $ 17,142  
Income taxes     7,798       3,676       11,610  
Operating cash flows from operating leases     3,605       3,072       4,148  
Noncash investing and financing activities:                        
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities           1,280       18,386  
Cash dividends payable     4,734       4,744       4,713  
Bank premises transferred to held-for-sale                 2,407  
Loans transferred from portfolio to held-for-sale     1,006              

 

 


 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE A – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The First of Long Island Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary, The First National Bank of Long Island, and subsidiaries wholly-owned by the Bank, either directly or indirectly, FNY Service Corp. and The First of Long Island REIT, Inc. (“REIT”). The Corporation’s financial condition and operating results principally reflect those of the Bank and its subsidiaries. The consolidated entity is referred to as the “Corporation,” and the Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Bank.” All intercompany balances have been eliminated.

 

The accounting and reporting policies of the Corporation reflect banking industry practice and conform to generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States. The following is a summary of the Corporation’s significant accounting policies.

 

In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported asset and liability balances, revenue and expense amounts, and the disclosures provided, including disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, based on available information. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Information available which could affect these judgements include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates, changes in the performance of the economy and changes in the financial condition of borrowers.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and deposits with other financial institutions that generally mature within 90 days. Net cash flows are reported for customer loan and deposit transactions.

 

Investment Securities

 

Current accounting standards require that investment securities be classified as held-to-maturity (“HTM”), available-for-sale (“AFS”) or trading. The trading category is not applicable to any securities in the Bank's portfolio because the Bank does not buy or hold debt or equity securities principally for the purpose of selling in the near term. HTM securities, or debt securities which the Bank has the intent and ability to hold to maturity, are reported at amortized cost, net of allowance for credit losses (“ACL” or “allowance”), if any. AFS securities, or debt securities which are neither HTM securities nor trading securities, are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of the related income tax effect, included in other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”). Equity securities, if any, are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value reported in net income. Equity securities without readily determinable fair values are carried at cost, minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment.

 

Interest income includes amortization or accretion of purchase premium or discount. Premiums and discounts on securities are amortized or accreted using the level-yield method. Prepayments are anticipated for mortgage-backed securities. Premiums on municipal securities are amortized to the earlier of the stated maturity date or the first call date, while discounts on municipal securities are accreted to the stated maturity date. Realized gains and losses on the sale of securities are determined using the specific identification method.

 

Management measures expected credit losses on HTM debt securities, if any, on a collective basis by major security type. Accrued interest receivable on HTM debt securities is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

 

For AFS securities in an unrealized loss position, management first evaluates whether it has the intent to sell or would otherwise be required to sell before the recovery of amortized cost, and then whether the decline in fair value has resulted from an actual or estimated credit loss event. Management considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, changes to the rating of the security, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss is likely, management then assesses whether it has the intent to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost and determines the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security as compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, an allowance is recorded for the estimated credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance is recognized in OCI. Accrued interest receivable on AFS securities is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

 

 


 

Loans Held-for-Sale

 

Loans held-for-sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value. Any subsequent declines in fair value below the initial carrying value are recorded as a valuation allowance established through a charge to noninterest income.

 

Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses

 

Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at amortized cost, net of the ACL. Amortized cost is the principal balance outstanding plus or minus net deferred loan costs and fees. Accrued interest receivable is reported in “Other assets” on the consolidated balance sheets and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses. Interest on loans is credited to income based on the principal amount outstanding. Direct loan origination costs, net of loan origination fees, are deferred and recognized in interest income using the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments.

 

The past due status of a loan is based on the contractual terms in the loan agreement. Unless a loan is well secured and in the process of collection, the accrual of interest income is discontinued when a loan becomes 90 days past due as to principal or interest payments. The accrual of interest income on a loan is also discontinued when it is determined that the borrower will not be able to make principal and interest payments according to the contractual terms of the current loan agreement. When the accrual of interest income is discontinued on a loan, any accrued but unpaid interest is reversed against current period income. Interest received on nonaccrual loans is applied to the outstanding principal balance until the loans qualify for return to an accrual status, if ever. Return to an accrual status occurs when all the principal and interest amounts contractually past due are brought current and all future payments are reasonably assured.

 

The ACL is a valuation account that is deducted from the loans’ amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the Bank’s loan portfolio. The ACL is established through provisions for credit losses charged against income. When available information confirms that specific loans, or portions thereof, are uncollectible, these amounts are charged against the ACL, and subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the ACL.

 

Management identifies loans in the Bank’s portfolio that must be individually evaluated for loss due to disparate risk characteristics. For loans individually evaluated, an allowance is estimated based on either the fair value of collateral or the discounted value of expected future cash flows. In estimating the fair value of real estate collateral, management utilizes appraisals or evaluations adjusted for costs to dispose and a distressed sale adjustment, if needed. Estimating the fair value of collateral other than real estate is also subjective in nature and sometimes requires difficult and complex judgements. Determining expected future cash flows can be more subjective than determining fair values. Expected future cash flows could differ significantly, both in timing and amount, from the cash flows actually received over the loan’s remaining life. Individually evaluated loans are excluded from the estimation of credit losses for the pooled portfolio.

 

For loans collectively evaluated for credit loss, management segregates its loan portfolio into distinct pools, certain of which are combined in reporting loans outstanding by class of loans: (1) commercial and industrial; (2) small business; (3) multifamily; (4) owner-occupied; (5) other commercial real estate; (6) construction and land development; (7) residential mortgage; (8) revolving home equity; (9) consumer; and (10) municipal loans. Historical loss information from the Bank’s own loan portfolio from December 31, 2007 to present provides a basis for management’s assessment of expected credit losses. The choice of a historical look-back period that begins in 2007 covers an entire economic cycle and impacts the average historical loss rates used to calculate the final ACL. Due to the extensive loss data available, management selected the vintage approach to measure the historical loss component of credit losses for most of its loan pools. For the revolving home equity and small business pools, the lifetime PD/LGD (probability of default/loss given default) method is used to measure historical losses.

 

Modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty are included in loans collectively evaluated for credit loss. An assessment of whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty is made on the date of a modification. A charge to the allowance for credit losses is generally not recorded upon modification.

 

 


 

Management believes that the methods selected fairly reflect the historical loss component of expected losses inherent in the Bank’s loan portfolio. However, since future losses could vary significantly from those experienced in the past, on a quarterly basis management adjusts its historical loss experience to reflect current and forecasted conditions. In doing so, management considers a variety of general qualitative and quantitative factors (“Q-factors”) and then subjectively determines the weight to assign to each in estimating losses. Qualitative characteristics include differences in underwriting standards, policies, lending staff and environmental risks. Management also considers whether further adjustments to historical loss information are needed to reflect the extent to which current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts over a one year to two year forecasting horizon differ from the conditions that existed during the historical loss period. These quantitative adjustments reflect changes to relevant data such as changes in unemployment rates, gross domestic product (“GDP”), vacancies, average growth in pools of loans, delinquencies or other factors associated with the financial assets. The immediate reversion method is applied for periods beyond the forecasting horizon. The Bank’s ACL allocable to pools of loans that are collectively evaluated for credit loss results primarily from these qualitative and quantitative adjustments to historical loss experience. Because of the nature of the Q-factors and the degree of judgement involved in assessing their impact, management’s resulting estimate of losses may not accurately reflect current and future losses in the portfolio.

 

The ACL is an amount that management currently believes will be adequate to absorb current expected credit losses in the Bank’s loan portfolio. The process for estimating credit losses and determining the ACL as of any balance sheet date is subjective in nature and requires material estimates. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

 

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 Corporation, 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 Corporation does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.

 

Bank Premises and Equipment and Operating Leases

 

Land is carried at cost. Other bank premises and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Buildings are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which range from 31 to 40 years. Building and leasehold improvements are depreciated using the straight-line method over the remaining lives of the buildings or leases, as applicable, or their estimated useful lives, whichever is shorter. The lives of the respective leases range from five years to fifteen years. Furniture, fixtures and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which range from three years to ten years. Premises and equipment held-for-sale, if any, is included in “other assets” on the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheets and carried at the lower of cost or fair value. Writedowns upon transfer to held-for-sale are included in “other noninterest expense” on the consolidated income statements. Fair value is based on an appraisal, where available, adjusted for estimated costs to sell.

 

The Bank determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and recognizes a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and lease liability at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of the Bank’s leases do not provide an implicit interest rate, the Bank uses its incremental borrowing rate to determine the present value of the lease payments. Leases with an initial lease term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets. The Bank’s ROU asset and lease liability may include options to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Bank will exercise that option. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

Bank-owned Life Insurance

 

The Bank is the owner and beneficiary of insurance policies on the lives of certain current and past employed officers. Bank-owned life insurance (“BOLI”) is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the contract at the balance sheet date, which is the cash surrender value adjusted for other charges or amounts due that are probable at settlement, if any.

 

Restricted Stock

 

The Bank is a member of and is required to own stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank of NY (“FHLBNY”) and the Federal Reserve Bank of NY (“FRBNY”). The amount of FHLBNY stock held is based on membership and the level of FHLBNY advances. The amount of FRBNY stock held is based on the Bank’s capital and surplus balances. These stocks do not have a readily determinable fair value, are carried at cost, classified as restricted stock and periodically evaluated for impairment based on the prospects for the ultimate recovery of cost. Cash dividends, if any, are reported as interest income on taxable investment securities.

 

 


 

Other Real Estate Owned

 

Real estate acquired through foreclosure or by deed-in-lieu of foreclosure is initially recorded at the lower of cost or fair value, less estimated selling costs and is included in “other assets” on the consolidated balance sheets. Chargeoffs recorded at the time of acquisition are charged to the ACL. Subsequently, decreases in the property’s estimated fair value are charged to earnings and credited to a valuation allowance and recoveries in fair value are credited to earnings and charged to the valuation allowance. Such adjustments to earnings are included in other noninterest expense along with any additional property maintenance costs incurred in owning the property. Rental income received from tenants of other real estate owned is included in other noninterest income.

 

Long-term Assets

 

Premises and equipment, intangible assets, BOLI and other long-term assets, if any, are reviewed for impairment when events indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable from future undiscounted cash flows. If impaired, the assets are recorded at fair value.

 

Loan Commitments and Related Financial Instruments

 

Financial instruments include off-balance sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans, commercial letters of credit and standby letters of credit. The face amount of these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering collateral held or ability to repay. The Bank estimates credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures by considering the likelihood of an outstanding commitment converting into an outstanding loan and applying an estimate of expected lifetime credit losses used on similar portfolio segments, unless the obligation is unconditionally cancellable by the Bank. The ACL on off-balance sheet credit exposures is recorded in the line item “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheets and totaled $449,000 and $590,000, respectively, at December 31, 2024 and 2023. The ACL is adjusted through a provision for credit loss which is included in the line item “other noninterest expense” in the consolidated statements of income and amounted to ($141,000), $169,000 and ($71,000) in 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Off-balance sheet credit instruments are recorded on the balance sheet when they are funded or drawn down.

 

Derivatives

 

At the inception of a derivative contract, the Corporation designates the derivative as one of three types based on the Corporation's intentions and belief as to likely effectiveness as a hedge. These three types are (1) a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment ("fair value hedge"), (2) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability ("cash flow hedge"), or (3) an instrument with no hedging designation ("non-designated derivative"). For a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative, as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item is attributable to the hedged risk, are recognized in current earnings as fair values change. For a cash flow hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative is recorded in OCI and is reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The changes in the fair value of a derivative that is not designated is recorded currently in earnings, as noninterest income.

 

Net cash settlements on derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting are recorded in interest income or interest expense, based on the item being hedged. Net cash settlements on derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting are reported in noninterest income or noninterest expense. Cash flows from hedges are classified in the consolidated statements of cash flows in the same manner as the items being hedged.

 

The Corporation formally documents the relationship between derivatives and hedged items, as well as the risk management objective and the strategy for undertaking hedge transactions at the inception of the hedging relationship. This documentation includes linking cash flow hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions. The Corporation also formally assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivative instruments that are used are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the hedged item. The Corporation discontinues hedge accounting when it determines that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the hedged item, the derivative is settled or terminated, a hedged forecasted transaction is no longer probable, a hedged firm commitment is no longer firm or treatment of the derivative as a hedge is no longer appropriate or intended.

 

When hedge accounting is discontinued, subsequent changes in fair value of the derivative are recorded as interest expense. When a cash flow hedge is discontinued but the hedged cash flows or forecasted transactions are still expected to occur, gains or losses that were accumulated in OCI are amortized into earnings over the same periods which the hedged transactions will affect earnings.

 

 


 

Income Taxes

 

A current tax liability or asset is recognized for the estimated taxes payable or refundable on tax returns for the current year. A deferred tax liability or asset is recognized for the estimated future tax effects attributable to temporary differences and carryforwards. The measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by the amount of any tax benefits that, based on available evidence, are not expected to be realized. The measurement of current and deferred tax liabilities and assets is based on provisions of the enacted tax law. The effects of future changes in tax laws or rates are not considered. The Corporation recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in noninterest income or noninterest expense as appropriate.

 

Retirement Plans

 

Pension expense is the sum of service cost, interest cost, amortization of actuarial gains and losses and plan expenses, net of the expected return on plan assets and participant contributions. The service cost component of pension expense is included in salaries and employee benefits on the consolidated statements of income. All other components of pension expense are included in other noninterest income. Employee 401(k) plan expense is equal to the amount of the Corporation’s matching contributions and is included in salaries and employee benefits in the consolidated statements of income.

 

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.

 

Operating Segments

 

While the chief decision-makers monitor the revenue streams of the Bank’s various products and services, operations are managed and financial performance is evaluated on a company-wide basis. Accordingly, all of the financial operations of the Bank are aggregated in one reportable operating segment.

 

Investment Services

 

Assets held in a fiduciary capacity are not assets of the Corporation and, accordingly, are not included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The Bank records investment services fees on the accrual basis.

 

Reclassifications

 

When appropriate, items in the prior year financial statements are reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

 

Earnings Per Share

 

The Corporation calculates basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) using the treasury stock method. Basic EPS excludes the dilutive effect of outstanding restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if outstanding RSUs were converted into shares of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the Corporation. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive RSUs. There were 21,329, 101,480 and 33,017 RSUs excluded from the calculation of EPS at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. Other than the RSUs described in “Note I – Stock-Based Compensation,” the Corporation has no securities that could be converted into common stock nor does the Corporation have any contracts that could result in the issuance of common stock.

 

Stock-based Compensation 

 

The Corporation’s stock-based compensation plans are described in “Note I – Stock-Based Compensation.” Compensation cost is determined for RSUs issued to employees and non-employee directors based on the grant date fair value of the award.

 

Compensation expense for RSUs is recognized over the applicable performance or service period, which is usually the vesting period. Compensation expense is adjusted at the end of the performance period, if applicable, to reflect the actual number of shares of the Corporation’s common stock into which the RSUs will be converted. The Corporation accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

 

 


 

Comprehensive Income

 

Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income and OCI. OCI includes revenues, expenses, gains and losses that under GAAP are included in comprehensive income but excluded from net income. OCI for the Corporation consists of net unrealized holding gains or losses on AFS securities and derivative instruments and changes in the funded status of the Bank’s defined benefit pension plan, all net of related income taxes. Accumulated OCI is recognized as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.

 

The following sets forth the components of accumulated OCI, net of tax:

 

          Current        
    Balance     Period     Balance  
(in thousands)   12/31/2023     Change     12/31/2024  
Unrealized holding loss on available-for-sale securities   $ (49,809 )   $ (1,033 )   $ (50,842 )
Unrealized actuarial loss on pension plan     (7,919 )     1,585       (6,334 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax   $ (57,728 )   $ 552     $ (57,176 )

 

The components of OCI and the related tax effects are as follows:

 

(in thousands)   2024     2023     2022  
Change in net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:                        
Change arising during the period   $ (1,362 )   $ 5,644     $ (83,835 )
Reclassification adjustment for losses included in net income (1)           3,489        
      (1,362 )     9,133       (83,835 )
Tax effect     (329 )     2,887       (25,825 )
      (1,033 )     6,246       (58,010 )
Change in funded status of pension plan:                        
Unrecognized net gain (loss) arising during the period     1,492       165       (8,176 )
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in pension expense (2)     800       1,018        
      2,292       1,183       (8,176 )
Tax effect     707       390       (2,520 )
      1,585       793       (5,656 )
Change in unrealized loss on derivative instrument:                        
Amount of gain during the period                 1,324  
Reclassification adjustment for net interest expense included in net income (3)                 426  
                  1,750  
Tax effect                 538  
                  1,212  
Other comprehensive income (loss)   $ 552     $ 7,039     $ (62,454 )

 

(1) Represents net realized losses arising from the sale of AFS securities, included in the consolidated statements of income in the line item “Net loss on sales of securities.” See “Note B – Investment Securities” for the income tax benefit related to these net realized losses, included in the consolidated statements of income in the line item “Income tax (benefit) expense.”
(2) Represents the amortization of net actuarial loss relating to the Corporation's defined benefit pension plan. This item is a component of net periodic pension cost (see "Note J – Retirement Plans") and included in the consolidated statements of income in the line item "Other noninterest income."
(3) Represents the net interest expense recorded from derivative transactions and included in the consolidated statements of income under “Interest expense.”

 

 


 

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

 

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07 "Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures." The ASU requires incremental segment information disclosures, including disclosures of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, a description of other segment items by reportable segment, and any additional measures of a segment's profit or loss used by the chief operating decision maker when deciding how to allocate resources. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted, and retrospective adoption is required for all prior periods presented. The adoption of the ASU for the year ended December 31, 2024 modified the Corporation’s disclosures but did not impact its financial position or results of operations. See “Note R – Segment Information” for disclosures required by ASU 2023-07.

 

Impact of Issued But Not Yet Effective Accounting Standards

 

The pronouncements discussed in this section are not intended to be an all-inclusive list, but rather only those pronouncements that could potentially have an impact on the Corporation’s financial position, results of operations or disclosures.

 

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09 “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures,” which includes amendments that further enhance income tax disclosures, primarily through disaggregation of specific rate reconciliation categories and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted, and may be applied prospectively or retrospectively. Other than the new disclosure requirements, ASU 2023-09 will not have an impact on the Corporation's consolidated financial statements.

 

NOTE B – INVESTMENT SECURITIES

 

The following tables set forth the amortized cost and estimated fair values of the Bank’s AFS investment securities at December 31, 2024 and 2023.

 

    2024  
          Gross     Gross        
    Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair  
(in thousands)   Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
State and municipals   $ 151,909     $ 8     $ (16,374 )   $ 135,543  
Pass-through mortgage securities     158,789       8       (29,357 )     129,440  
Collateralized mortgage obligations     166,014       595       (21,550 )     145,059  
SBA agency obligations     102,308       262       (1,143 )     101,427  
Corporate bonds     119,000             (5,690 )     113,310  
    $ 698,020     $ 873     $ (74,114 )   $ 624,779  

 

    2023  
State and municipals   $ 155,294     $ 317     $ (11,990 )   $ 143,621  
Pass-through mortgage securities     165,734             (27,131 )     138,603  
Collateralized mortgage obligations     201,500       1,836       (21,074 )     182,262  
SBA agency obligations     126,228       331       (1,083 )     125,476  
Corporate bonds     119,000             (13,085 )     105,915  
    $ 767,756     $ 2,484     $ (74,363 )   $ 695,877  

 

Small Business Administration ("SBA") agency obligations are floating rate, government guaranteed securities backed by $78.3 million of commercial mortgages and $23.1 million of equipment finance loans at December 31, 2024.

 

At December 31, 2024 and 2023, investment securities with a carrying value of $259.8 million and $203.9 million, respectively, were pledged as collateral to secure public deposits.

 

There were no holdings of securities of any one issuer, other than the U.S. government and its agencies, in an amount greater than 10% of stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2024 and 2023.

 

There was no allowance for credit losses associated with the investment securities portfolio at December 31, 2024 or 2023.

 

 


 

Securities With Unrealized Losses. The following tables set forth securities with unrealized losses at December 31, 2024 and 2023 presented by length of time the securities had been in a continuous unrealized loss position.

 

    2024  
    Less than     12 Months              
    12 Months     or More     Total  
    Fair     Unrealized     Fair     Unrealized     Fair     Unrealized  
(in thousands)   Value     Loss     Value     Loss     Value     Loss  
State and municipals   $ 14,719     $ (318 )   $ 117,168     $ (16,056 )   $ 131,887     $ (16,374 )
Pass-through mortgage securities     9,364       (179 )     119,191       (29,178 )     128,555       (29,357 )
Collateralized mortgage obligations     3,726       (33 )     92,366       (21,517 )     96,092       (21,550 )
SBA agency obligations                 83,439       (1,143 )     83,439       (1,143 )
Corporate bonds                 113,310       (5,690 )     113,310       (5,690 )
Total temporarily impaired   $ 27,809     $ (530 )   $ 525,474     $ (73,584 )   $ 553,283     $ (74,114 )

 

    2023  
    Less than     12 Months              
    12 Months     or More     Total  
    Fair     Unrealized     Fair     Unrealized     Fair     Unrealized  
(in thousands)   Value     Loss     Value     Loss     Value     Loss  
State and municipals   $ 29,522     $ (719 )   $ 95,725     $ (11,271 )   $ 125,247     $ (11,990 )
Pass-through mortgage securities     2,361       (1 )     134,558       (27,130 )     136,919       (27,131 )
Collateralized mortgage obligations                 102,528       (21,074 )     102,528       (21,074 )
SBA agency obligations     98,879       (1,083 )                 98,879       (1,083 )
Corporate bonds                 105,915       (13,085 )     105,915       (13,085 )
Total temporarily impaired   $ 130,762     $ (1,803 )   $ 438,726     $ (72,560 )   $ 569,488     $ (74,363 )

 

Following is a discussion of unrealized losses by type of security, none of which are considered impaired at December 31, 2024.

 

State and Municipals

 

At December 31, 2024, approximately $131.9 million of state and municipal bonds had an unrealized loss of $16.4 million. Substantially all the state and municipal bonds are considered high investment grade and rated Aa2/AA- or higher. The unrealized loss is primarily attributable to changes in interest rates and illiquidity and not credit quality. The issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments on the bonds. The Bank does not have the intent to sell these securities, nor is it likely that it will be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery. The fair value is expected to recover as the bonds approach maturity.

 

Pass-through Mortgage Securities

 

At December 31, 2024, pass-through mortgage securities of approximately $128.6 million had an unrealized loss of $29.4 million. These securities were issued by U.S. government and government-sponsored agencies and are considered high investment grade. The unrealized loss is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality. The issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments on the bonds. The Bank does not have the intent to sell these securities, nor is it likely that it will be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery. The fair value is expected to recover as the bonds approach maturity.

 

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

 

At December 31, 2024, collateralized mortgage obligations of approximately $96.1 million had an unrealized loss of $21.6 million. These securities were issued by U.S. government and government-sponsored agencies and are considered high investment grade. The unrealized loss is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality. The issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments on the bonds. The Bank does not have the intent to sell these securities, nor is it likely that it will be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery. The fair value is expected to recover as the bonds approach maturity.

 

 


 

SBA Agency Obligations

 

At December 31, 2024, SBA agency obligations of approximately $83.4 million had an unrealized loss of $1.1 million. These securities were issued by the SBA, a U.S. government agency and are considered high investment grade. The unrealized loss is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality. The issuer continues to make timely principal and interest payments on the bonds. The Bank does not have the intent to sell these securities, nor is it likely that it will be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery. The fair value is expected to recover as the bonds approach maturity.

 

Corporate Bonds

 

At December 31, 2024, approximately $113.3 million of corporate bonds had an unrealized loss of $5.7 million. The corporate bonds represent senior unsecured debt obligations of six of the largest U.S. based financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo. Each of the corporate bonds has a stated maturity of ten years and matures in 2028. The bonds reprice quarterly based on the ten year constant maturity swap rate.

 

Each of the financial institutions is considered upper medium investment grade and rated A3 or higher. The unrealized loss is attributable to changes in credit spreads and interest rates and the illiquid nature of the securities. The Bank does not have the intent to sell these securities, nor is it likely that it will be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery. Each of these financial institutions has diversified revenue streams, is well capitalized and continues to make timely interest payments. Management evaluates the quarterly financial statements of each company to determine if full payment of principal and interest is in doubt and does not believe there is any impairment at December 31, 2024.

 

Sales of AFS Securities. Sales of AFS securities were as follows:

 

(in thousands)   2024     2023     2022  
Proceeds   $     $ 145,451     $  
                         
Gains   $     $     $  
Losses           (3,489 )      
Net gain (loss)   $     $ (3,489 )   $  

 

Income tax benefit related to the net realized losses was $1.1 million in 2023 and is included in the consolidated statements of income in the line item “Income tax (benefit) expense.”

 

Sales of HTM Securities. The Bank did not have any securities classified as HTM in 2024, 2023 or 2022.

 

 


 

Maturities. The following table sets forth by maturity the amortized cost and fair value of the Bank’s state and municipal securities and corporate bonds at December 31, 2024 based on the earlier of their stated maturity or, if applicable, their pre-refunded date. The remaining securities in the Bank’s investment securities portfolio are mortgage and asset-backed securities, consisting of pass-through mortgage securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and SBA agency obligations. Although these securities are expected to have substantial periodic repayments they are reflected in the table below in aggregate amounts.

 

(in thousands)   Amortized Cost     Fair Value  
Within one year   $ 1,403     $ 1,397  
After 1 through 5 years     138,656       131,981  
After 5 through 10 years     40,201       36,546  
After 10 years     90,649       78,929  
Mortgage and asset-backed securities     427,111       375,926  
    $ 698,020     $ 624,779  

 

NOTE C – LOANS

 

The following table sets forth the loans outstanding by class of loans for the periods indicated.

 

    At December 31,  
(in thousands)   2024     2023  
Commercial and industrial   $ 136,732     $ 116,163  
Commercial mortgages:                
Multifamily     848,558       857,163  
Other     851,277       829,090  
Owner-occupied     263,272       233,461  
Residential mortgages:                
Closed end     1,084,090       1,166,887  
Revolving home equity     36,468       44,070  
Consumer and other     1,210       1,230  
    $ 3,221,607     $ 3,248,064  

 

 


 

The following tables present the activity in the ACL for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.

 

    Balance at                 Provision (Credit) for     Balance at  
(in thousands)   1/1/2024     Chargeoffs     Recoveries     Credit Losses     12/31/2024  
Commercial and industrial   $ 2,030     $ (938 )   $ 67     $ 206     $ 1,365  
Commercial mortgages:                                        
Multifamily     6,817       (168 )           2,085       8,734  
Other     7,850                   (253 )     7,597  
Owner-occupied     3,104                   139       3,243  
Residential mortgages:                                        
Closed end     8,838       (1 )     52       (1,782 )     7,107  
Revolving home equity     339                   (70 )     269  
Consumer and other     14       (32 )           34       16  
    $ 28,992     $ (1,139 )   $ 119     $ 359     $ 28,331  

 

    Balance at                 Provision (Credit) for     Balance at  
(in thousands)   1/1/2023     Chargeoffs     Recoveries     Credit Losses     12/31/2023  
Commercial and industrial   $ 1,543     $ (2,026 )   $ 81     $ 2,432     $ 2,030  
Commercial mortgages:                                        
Multifamily     8,430                   (1,613 )     6,817  
Other     7,425             15       410       7,850  
Owner-occupied     3,024                   80       3,104  
Residential mortgages:                                        
Closed end     10,633       (176 )           (1,619 )     8,838  
Revolving home equity     362                   (23 )     339  
Consumer and other     15       (8 )           7       14  
    $ 31,432     $ (2,210 )   $ 96     $ (326 )   $ 28,992  

 

    Balance at                 Provision (Credit) for     Balance at  
(in thousands)   1/1/2022     Chargeoffs     Recoveries     Credit Losses     12/31/2022  
Commercial and industrial   $ 888     $ (511 )   $ 154     $ 1,012     $ 1,543  
SBA PPP     46                   (46 )      
Commercial mortgages:                                        
Multifamily     8,154                   276       8,430  
Other     6,478                   947       7,425  
Owner-occupied     2,515                   509       3,024  
Residential mortgages:                                        
Closed end     11,298       (372 )           (293 )     10,633  
Revolving home equity     449                   (87 )     362  
Consumer and other     3       (1 )           13       15  
    $ 29,831     $ (884 )   $ 154     $ 2,331     $ 31,432  

 

 


 

The provision recorded in 2024 was mainly due to chargeoffs and deterioration in current and forecasted economic conditions, including adjustments for rent stabilization status of multifamily properties, partially offset by declines in historical loss rates, allowances on individually evaluated loans, and loan balances. The credit provision recorded in 2023 was mainly due to improvements in historical loss rates, the economic forecasts of unemployment and GDP and other portfolio metrics and a decrease in outstanding mortgage loans, partially offset by net chargeoffs and allowances for individually evaluated loans. The provision recorded in 2022 was mainly due to an increase in outstanding mortgage loans, chargeoffs and deteriorating economic conditions, partially offset by lower historical loss rates.

 

Aging of Loans. The following tables present the aging of loans past due and loans in nonaccrual status by class of loans.

 

    December 31, 2024  
    Past Due     Nonaccrual                    
(in thousands)   30-59
Days
    60-89
Days
    90 Days or
More and
Still
Accruing
    With an
Allowance
for Credit
Loss
    With No
Allowance
for Credit
Loss
    Total Past
Due Loans
&
Nonaccrual
Loans
    Current     Total
Loans
 
Commercial and industrial   $ 174     $ 96     $     $     $     $ 270     $ 136,462     $ 136,732  
Commercial mortgages:                                                                
Multifamily                       1,190             1,190       847,368       848,558  
Other                                         851,277       851,277  
Owner-occupied                                         263,272       263,272  
Residential mortgages:                                                                
Closed end                             2,039       2,039       1,082,051       1,084,090  
Revolving home equity                                         36,468       36,468  
Consumer and other                                         1,210       1,210  
    $ 174     $ 96     $     $ 1,190     $ 2,039     $ 3,499     $ 3,218,108     $ 3,221,607  

 

    December 31, 2023  
Commercial and industrial   $ 73     $     $     $ 722     $     $ 795     $ 115,368     $ 116,163  
Commercial mortgages:                                                                
Multifamily                                         857,163       857,163  
Other     1,624                               1,624       827,466       829,090  
Owner-occupied                                         233,461       233,461  
Residential mortgages:                                                                
Closed end     1,389                         331       1,720       1,165,167       1,166,887  
Revolving home equity                                         44,070       44,070  
Consumer and other                                         1,230       1,230  
    $ 3,086     $     $     $ 722     $ 331     $ 4,139     $ 3,243,925     $ 3,248,064  

 

At December 31, 2024, there was one residential real estate loan for which formal foreclosure proceedings are in process with an amortized cost of $844,000. This loan is included in the column "Nonaccrual - With No Allowance for Credit Loss" in the December 31, 2024 table above. The Bank did not hold any foreclosed residential real estate property at December 31, 2024. There were no loans in the process of foreclosure nor did the Bank hold any foreclosed residential real estate property at December 31, 2023 or 2022.

 

Accrued interest receivable from loans totaled $10.7 million and $10.4 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and is included in the line item “Other assets” on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Loans to Directors and Executive Officers. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, loans outstanding to executive officers and directors, including their immediate families and companies in which they are principal owners, totaled $1.6 million. 

 

Loan Modifications. From time to time, the Bank may modify the terms of loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty in the form of principal forgiveness, an interest reduction, an other-than-insignificant payment delay or a term extension. In order to determine whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty, an evaluation is performed of the probability that the borrower will be in payment default on any of its debt in the foreseeable future without the modification. The Bank performs the evaluation under its internal underwriting policy.

 

 


 

The Bank did not modify the terms of any loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty during 2024, 2023 or 2022. 

 

There were no modifications for which there was a payment default during 2024, 2023 and 2022 that were modified during the 12 month period prior to default. A loan is considered to be in payment default once it is 90 days contractually past due under the modified terms.

 

Risk Characteristics. Credit risk within the Bank’s loan portfolio primarily stems from factors such as changes in the borrower’s financial condition, credit concentrations, changes in collateral values, economic conditions, rent regulation and environmental contamination of properties securing mortgage loans. The Bank’s commercial loans, including those secured by real estate mortgages, are primarily made to small and medium-sized businesses. Such loans sometimes involve a higher degree of risk than those to larger companies because such businesses may have shorter operating histories, higher debt-to-equity ratios and may lack sophistication in internal record keeping and financial and operational controls. In addition, most of the Bank’s loans are made to businesses and consumers on Long Island and in the boroughs of New York City (“NYC”), and a large percentage of these loans are mortgage loans secured by properties located in those areas. The primary sources of repayment for residential and commercial mortgage loans include employment and other income of the borrowers, the businesses of the borrowers and cash flows from the underlying properties. In the case of multifamily mortgage loans, a substantial portion of the underlying properties are rent stabilized or rent controlled. These sources of repayment are dependent on the strength of the local economy.

 

Credit Quality Indicators. The Bank categorizes loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the borrower’s ability to service their debt including, but not limited to, current financial information for the borrower and any guarantors, payment experience, credit underwriting documentation, public records, due diligence checks and current economic trends. Management analyzes loans and classifies them using risk rating matrices consistent with regulatory guidance as follows.

 

Watch: The borrower’s cash flow has a high degree of variability and is subject to economic downturns. Liquidity is strained and the ability of the borrower to access traditional sources of credit is diminished.

 

Special Mention: The borrower has potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or in the Bank’s credit position at some future date. Special mention assets are not adversely classified and do not expose the Bank to risk sufficient to warrant adverse classification.

 

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

 

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

 

Risk ratings on commercial and industrial loans and commercial mortgages are initially assigned during the underwriting process and affirmed as part of the approval process. The ratings are periodically reviewed and evaluated based on borrower contact, credit department review or independent loan review.

 

The Bank's loan risk rating and review policy establishes requirements for the annual review of commercial real estate and commercial and industrial loans. The requirements include details of the scope of coverage and selection process based on loan-type and risk rating. The Bank reviews at least 80% of its commercial real estate loan portfolio on an annual basis and uses a third-party review firm as part of its credit quality monitoring program. Lines of credit are also reviewed annually at each proposed reaffirmation. The frequency of the review of other loans is determined by minimum principal balance thresholds and the Bank’s ongoing assessments of the borrower’s condition.

 

Residential mortgage loans, revolving home equity lines and other consumer loans are initially evaluated utilizing the borrower’s credit score. A credit score is a tool used in the Bank’s loan approval process, and a minimum score of 680 is generally required for new loans. Credit scores for each borrower are updated at least annually. However, regardless of credit score, loans may be classified, criticized or placed on management’s watch list if relevant information comes to light.

 

 


 

The following tables present the amortized cost basis of loans by class of loans, vintage and risk rating. Loans shown as Pass are all loans other than those risk rated Watch, Special Mention, Substandard or Doubtful. Also presented are gross chargeoffs recorded in 2024 by year of origination.

 

    December 31, 2024  
    Term Loans by Origination Year     Revolving        
(in thousands)   2024     2023     2022     2021     2020     Prior     Loans (1)     Total  
Commercial and industrial:                                                                
Risk rating:                                                                
Pass   $ 56,696     $ 19,121     $ 15,949     $ 10,648     $ 16,300     $ 3,455     $ 7,627     $ 129,796  
Watch     3,080       409       92       2,728                         6,309  
Special Mention                 123                               123  
Substandard           504                                     504  
Doubtful                                                
    $ 59,776     $ 20,034     $ 16,164     $ 13,376     $ 16,300     $ 3,455     $ 7,627     $ 136,732  
                                                                 
Current-period gross chargeoffs   $     $     $     $     $     $     $ (938 )   $ (938 )
                                                                 
Commercial mortgages – multifamily:                                                                
Risk rating:                                                                
Pass   $ 30,166     $ 41,537     $ 187,624     $ 166,205     $ 33,783     $ 383,847     $ 125     $ 843,287  
Watch                                                
Special Mention     4,081                                           4,081  
Substandard                                   1,190             1,190  
Doubtful                                                
    $ 34,247     $ 41,537     $ 187,624     $ 166,205     $ 33,783     $ 385,037     $ 125     $ 848,558  
                                                                 
Current-period gross chargeoffs   $     $     $     $     $     $ (168 )   $     $ (168 )
                                                                 
Commercial mortgages – other:                                                                
Risk rating:                                                                
Pass   $ 70,093     $ 71,739     $ 192,125     $ 213,387     $ 97,405     $ 186,484     $ 22     $ 831,255  
Watch                                                
Special Mention                                                
Substandard                                   20,022             20,022  
Doubtful                                                
    $ 70,093     $ 71,739     $ 192,125     $ 213,387     $ 97,405     $ 206,506     $ 22     $ 851,277  
                                                                 
Current-period gross chargeoffs   $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $  
                                                                 
Commercial mortgages – owner-occupied:                                                                
Risk rating:                                                                
Pass   $ 41,024     $ 21,903     $ 48,339     $ 50,201     $ 23,042     $ 68,067     $ 1,496     $ 254,072  
Watch           246       3,222       4,871                         8,339  
Special Mention                       861                         861  
Substandard                                                
Doubtful                                                
    $ 41,024     $ 22,149     $ 51,561     $ 55,933     $ 23,042     $ 68,067     $ 1,496     $ 263,272  
                                                                 
Current-period gross chargeoffs   $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $  

 

 

 


 

    December 31, 2024  
    Term Loans by Origination Year     Revolving        
(in thousands)   2024     2023     2022     2021     2020     Prior     Loans (1)     Total  
Residential mortgages (2):                                                                
Risk rating:                                                                
Pass   $ 6,183     $ 26,528     $ 186,504     $ 155,595     $ 32,133     $ 675,051     $ 36,468     $ 1,118,462  
Watch                                                
Special Mention                                                
Substandard                             582       2,039             2,621  
Doubtful                                                
    $ 6,183     $ 26,528     $ 186,504     $ 155,595     $ 32,715     $ 677,090     $ 36,468     $ 1,121,083  
                                                                 
Current-period gross chargeoffs   $     $     $     $     $     $ (1 )   $     $ (1 )
                                                                 
Consumer and other:                                                                
Risk rating:                                                                
Pass   $     $ 37     $ 151     $     $     $ 100     $ 873     $ 1,161  
Watch                                                
Special Mention                                                
Substandard                                                
Doubtful                                                
Not Rated                                         49       49  
    $     $ 37     $ 151     $     $     $ 100     $ 922     $ 1,210  
                                                                 
Current-period gross chargeoffs   $     $     $     $     $     $     $ (32 )   $ (32 )
                                                                 
Total Loans   $ 211,323     $ 182,024     $ 634,129     $ 604,496     $ 203,245     $ 1,340,255     $ 46,660     $ 3,222,132  
Total gross chargeoffs   $     $     $     $     $     $ (169 )   $ (970 )   $ (1,139 )

 

(1) Includes revolving lines converted to term of $3.8 million of commercial and industrial, $1.0 million of owner-occupied commercial mortgage and $6.9 million of residential home equity.
(2) Certain fixed rate residential mortgage loans are included in a fair value hedging relationship. The amortized cost excludes an adjustment of $525,000 related to basis adjustments for loans in the closed portfolio under the portfolio layer method at December 31, 2024. These basis adjustments would be allocated to the amortized cost of specific loans within the pool if the hedge was de-designated. See "Note N - Derivatives" for more information on the fair value hedge.

 

NOTE D – PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT AND OPERATING LEASES

 

Premises and equipment. Bank premises and equipment consist of the following:

 

    December 31,  
(in thousands)   2024     2023  
Land   $ 9,002     $ 9,002  
Buildings and improvements     22,410       22,250  
Leasehold improvements     13,030       12,412  
Furniture and equipment     37,763       37,010  
Construction in process     44       642  
      82,249       81,316  
Accumulated depreciation and amortization     (53,114 )     (49,902 )
    $ 29,135     $ 31,414  

 

 


 

Land and buildings held-for-sale of $383,000 were sold for their carrying value in the second quarter of 2024. These assets were measured at the lower of cost or fair value on a nonrecurring basis and reported in the line item “Other assets” in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2023.

 

Operating Leases. The Bank leases certain branch and back-office locations under long-term, non-cancelable operating lease agreements. The leases expire at various dates through 2038 and had a weighted average remaining term of 10.61 and 11.15 years at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Many of the Bank’s leases include renewal options of up to 10 years with the longest option extending to 25 years. The exercise of lease renewal options is at the Bank’s sole discretion.

 

The weighted average discount rate for leases in place at December 31, 2024 and 2023 was 3.31% and 3.29%, respectively. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. The Bank had one such lease in 2024, 2023 and 2022 and recognized rent expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. 

 

The Bank’s branch optimization strategy resulted in charges of $1.9 million in 2024 and $905,000 in 2022 related to the closing or relocation of leased branch office space. The charges include rent and depreciation expenses, lease acceleration costs and asset disposal charges. These charges are included in the consolidated statements of income in “branch consolidation expenses” in 2024 and partially included in “gain (loss) on disposition of premises and fixed assets” in 2022.

 

Rental payments required by the Bank’s lease agreements may increase over time based on certain variable components such as real estate taxes and common area maintenance charges.

 

The components of rent expense were as follows:

 

    December 31,  
(in thousands)   2024     2023     2022  
Operating lease cost   $ 3,262     $ 3,480     $ 3,271  
Variable lease cost     430       463       490  
Short-term lease cost     7       78       10  
    $ 3,699     $ 4,021     $ 3,771  

 

The following is a maturity analysis of the operating lease liability at December 31, 2024.

 

Year (dollars in thousands)   Total  
2025   $ 3,949  
2026     2,642  
2027     2,430  
2028     1,844  
2029     1,689  
Thereafter     13,699  
Total lease payments     26,253  
Less: interest     4,289  
    $ 21,964  

 

NOTE E – DEPOSITS

 

The following table sets forth the remaining maturities of the Bank’s time deposits at December 31, 2024.

 

Year (dollars in thousands)   Total  
2025   $ 518,169  
2026     60,690  
2027     18,160  
2028     16,037  
2029     2,275  
Thereafter     696  
    $ 616,027  

 

 


 

Time deposits that meet or exceed the FDIC insurance limit of $250,000 totaled $73.4 million and $70.3 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Deposits from executive officers, directors and their affiliates were approximately $8.3 million and $8.4 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Time deposits maturing in 2025 and 2026 include $130.0 million and $45.0 million, respectively, of brokered deposits.

 

NOTE F – BORROWED FUNDS

 

Borrowings at December 31, 2024 and 2023 consisted of overnight advances and fixed rate Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances as follows.

 

    December 31,  
(in thousands)   2024     2023  
Overnight advances:                
FHLB overnight advances   $     $ 70,000  
                 
Other borrowings:                
FHLB advances     435,000       472,500  
    $ 435,000     $ 542,500  

 

Accrued interest payable on borrowed funds is included in “accrued expenses and other liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheets and amounted to $1.3 million and $1.4 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

FHLB advances are collateralized by a blanket lien on residential and commercial mortgage loans with a lendable value of $1.2 billion and $1.9 billion at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Based on this collateral and the Corporation’s holdings of FHLB stock, the Corporation was able to borrow up to a total of $493.7 million at December 31, 2024. Each advance is non-amortizing and, for those advances with a term greater than one day, generally are subject to a prepayment penalty. 

 

Advances through the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window generally include overnight advances which are fully collateralized by certain pledged loans under the Federal Reserve Bank's Borrower-in-Custody ("BIC") program. At December 31, 2024, the Corporation had loans pledged under the BIC program of $113.3 million. There were no overnight advances outstanding under the BIC program at December 31, 2024 and 2023. At December 31, 2024, the Corporation had borrowing capacity available under the BIC program of $89.6 million.

 

The following table sets forth as of December 31, 2024 the contractual maturities and weighted average interest rates of FHLB advances for each of the next five years. There are no FHLB advances with contractual maturities beyond three years at December 31, 2024.

 

Contractual Maturity (dollars in thousands)   Amount     Weighted
Average Rate
 
Overnight   $       —%  
2025     230,000       4.50  
2026     150,000       4.27  
2027     55,000       4.22  
2028            
2029            
After 2029            
      435,000       4.39  
    $ 435,000       4.39 %

 

 


 

NOTE G – INCOME TAXES

 

The Corporation, the Bank and its subsidiaries, except for the REIT, file a consolidated federal income tax return. Income taxes charged to earnings in 2024, 2023 and 2022 had effective tax rates of (1.9%), 11.0% and 19.4%, respectively. The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the Corporation’s effective tax rate.

 

    Year Ended December 31,  
    2024     2023     2022  
Statutory federal income tax rate     21.0 %     21.0 %     21.0 %
State and local income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit     (16.2 )     (4.8 )     1.7  
Tax-exempt income, net of disallowed cost of funding     (4.5 )     (3.3 )     (2.8 )
BOLI income     (4.8 )     (2.3 )     (1.1 )
Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation     1.1       0.4        
Non-deductible officer compensation     0.9             0.1  
Other     0.6             0.5  
      (1.9 )%     11.0 %     19.4 %

 

Provision for Income Taxes. The following table sets forth the components of the provision for income taxes.

 

    Year Ended December 31,  
(in thousands)   2024     2023     2022  
Current:                        
Federal   $ 6,677     $ 3,469     $ 9,287  
State and local     585       909       1,330  
      7,262       4,378       10,617  
Deferred:                        
Federal     (4,548 )     1,771       358  
State and local     (3,026 )     (2,920 )     312  
      (7,574 )     (1,149 )     670  
    $ (312 )   $ 3,229     $ 11,287  

 

 


 

Net Deferred Tax Asset. The following table sets forth the components of the Corporation’s net deferred tax asset.

 

    December 31,  
(in thousands)   2024     2023  
Deferred tax assets:                
Unrealized loss on AFS securities   $ 22,399     $ 22,070  
Allowance for credit losses and off-balance sheet credit exposure     8,775       9,036  
Operating lease liability     6,703       7,627  
Net operating loss carryforwards     5,822       2,869  
Interest expense limitation     4,436        
Transaction costs - capitalized     350        
Stock-based compensation     255       519  
Contract incentive     50        
Asset writedown     46       51  
Retirement expense     34       35  
Interest on nonperforming loans     2       14  
      48,872       42,221  
Valuation allowance            
      48,872       42,221  
Deferred tax liabilities:                
Right-of-use asset     5,783       6,908  
Prepaid pension     3,603       3,274  
Depreciation     1,685       1,509  
Deferred loan costs     1,357       1,365  
Prepaid expenses     144       146  
Interest rate swap fair market value adjustment     108       23  
      12,680       13,225  
Net deferred tax asset   $ 36,192     $ 28,996  

 

At year-end 2024, the Corporation did not have any federal net operating loss carryforwards. At year-end 2024, the Corporation had state and local gross operating loss carryforwards of $85.8 million, which begin to expire in 2043. Deferred tax assets are recognized for net operating losses because the benefit is more likely than not to be realized. 

 

In evaluating our ability to recover deferred tax assets in the jurisdiction from which they arise, all available positive and negative evidence is considered, including projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. Assumptions about future taxable income use internal budgets and plans prepared to manage our business and therefore require the use of significant judgment. Based on projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, the Corporation believes the net deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized.

 

The Corporation had no material unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2024, 2023 or 2022. The Corporation has not taken any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase within the next 12 months.

 

The Corporation is subject to Federal, New York State ("NYS"), NYC, New Jersey and Connecticut income taxes. The Corporation did not incur any amounts for interest and penalties due to taxing authorities for calendar years 2024, 2023 or 2022. The tax years 2022 through 2024 remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service, NYS, NYC, New Jersey and Connecticut.

 

NOTE H – REGULATORY MATTERS

 

Minimum Regulatory Capital Requirements. The Corporation and the Bank are subject to the Basel III regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Capital adequacy guidelines and, additionally for banks, prompt corrective action (“PCA”) regulations, involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Failure to meet the minimum capital requirements can result in certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by the regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the financial statements of the Corporation and Bank. The most recent regulatory notifications categorized the Bank as well capitalized under the PCA provisions and there are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed that category.

 

 


 

In accordance with the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, the federal banking agencies adopted, effective January 1, 2020, a final rule whereby financial institutions and financial institution holding companies that have less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets and meet other qualifying criteria, including a leverage ratio of greater than 9% (“qualifying community banking organizations”), are eligible to opt into a community bank leverage ratio (“CBLR”) framework. Qualifying community banking organizations that elect to use the CBLR framework and that maintain a leverage ratio of greater than 9% are considered to have satisfied the generally applicable risk-based and leverage capital requirements in the agencies’ capital rules and will be considered to have met the well capitalized ratio requirements under the PCA statutes. The agencies reserved the authority to disallow the use of the CBLR framework by a financial institution or holding company, based on the risk profile of the organization.

 

The Corporation and the Bank elected to adopt the CBLR framework. As a qualifying community banking organization, the Corporation and the Bank may opt out of the CBLR framework in any subsequent quarter by completing its regulatory agency reporting using the traditional capital rules.

 

The Corporation and the Bank exclude accumulated OCI components from Tier 1 and Total regulatory capital.

 

During 2020, the Corporation and the Bank elected the optional five-year transition period provided by the federal banking agencies for recognizing the regulatory capital impact of the implementation of CECL.

 

The Corporation’s and the Bank’s actual and required capital amounts and ratios under the CBLR rules at December 31, 2024 and 2023 are presented in the tables below.

 

    2024  
    Actual Capital     To Be Well Capitalized
Under CBLR Framework
 
(dollars in thousands)   Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio  
Tier 1 capital to average assets:                                
Consolidated   $ 430,428       10.12 %   $ 382,731       9.00 %
Bank     429,693       10.11       382,683       9.00  

 

    2023  
    Actual Capital     To Be Well Capitalized
Under CBLR Framework
 
(dollars in thousands)   Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio  
Tier 1 capital to average assets:                                
Consolidated   $ 435,643       10.05 %   $ 389,969       9.00 %
Bank     438,648       10.13       389,874       9.00  

 

Other Matters. The source of funds for the Corporation’s dividend payments to shareholders is dividends received from the Bank. Banking regulations limit the amount of dividends that may be paid by the Bank without prior approval of regulatory agencies. Under these regulations, the amount of dividends that the Bank may pay in any calendar year is limited to the current year’s net profits, combined with the retained net profits of the preceding two years, subject to the minimum capital requirements described above. During 2025, the Bank could, without prior approval, declare dividends of approximately $6.3 million plus any 2025 net profits retained to the date of the dividend declaration.

 

Regulation D of the Board of Governors of The Federal Reserve System may require banks to maintain reserves against certain deposit balances. There was no reserve requirement in 2024 or 2023.

 

NOTE I – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

On April 20, 2021, the stockholders of the Corporation approved the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (“2021 Plan”). Upon approval of the 2021 Plan, no further awards could be made under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (“2014 Plan”).

 

2021 Plan. Under the 2021 Plan, awards may be granted to employees and non-employee directors as stock options, restricted stock awards or RSUs, with a one year minimum vesting period for at least 95% of the awards granted. All awards granted under the 2021 Plan will immediately vest upon an involuntary termination following a change in control, total and permanent disability, as defined, or death.

 

 


 

The Corporation has 750,000 shares of common stock reserved for awards under the 2021 Plan, plus 23,167 shares that remained available for grant as full value RSUs or restricted stock awards under the 2014 Plan. RSUs granted under the 2014 Plan that expire or are forfeited after April 20, 2021 are added to the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance of awards under the 2021 Plan. At December 31, 2024, 358,333 equity awards remain available to be granted under the 2021 Plan.

 

2014 Plan. Under the 2014 Plan, awards were granted to employees and non-employee directors as non-qualified stock options, restricted stock awards and RSUs. Substantially all of the awards granted under the 2014 Plan were RSUs. All awards granted under the 2014 Plan will immediately vest upon an involuntary termination following a change in control, total and permanent disability, as defined, or death, and with certain exceptions, will immediately vest in the event of retirement, as defined.

 

Details of RSUs. The following table summarizes the vesting schedule of RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2024.

 

    Total  
Number of RSUs:        
Vested and convertible at December 31, 2024     28,021  
Scheduled to vest during:        
2025     95,773  
2026     26,210  
2027     38,635  
2028     5,340  
2029     2,191  
      196,170  

 

The RSUs in the table above include performance-based RSUs with vesting based on the financial performance of the Corporation in 2024 and 2025 and service-based RSUs with various service-based vesting periods. The grant date fair value of RSUs is equal to the market price of the shares underlying the awards on the grant date, discounted for dividends that are not paid on these RSUs.

 

The fair values of awards made in 2024, 2023 and 2022, and the assumptions utilized in determining such values, are presented below.

 

    2024  
    Performance-Based     Service-Based
    Vesting     Vesting
Grant date fair value   $10.89     $7.63 to $10.89
Market price on grant date   $12.46     $9.90 to $12.46
Expected annual dividend   $0.84     $0.84
Expected term (in years)   2.0     1.0 to 5.0
Risk-free interest rate   4.43%     4.27% to 5.16%
     
    2023
Grant date fair value   $16.57     $11.77 to $16.57
Market price on grant date   $18.14     $12.57 to $18.14
Expected annual dividend   $0.84     $0.84
Expected term (in years)   2.0     1.0 to 5.0
Risk-free interest rate   4.24%     4.01% to 4.80%
               
    2022
Grant date fair value   $20.07     $17.70 to $20.07
Market price on grant date   $21.64     $18.12 to $21.64
Expected annual dividend   $0.80     $0.42 to $0.80
Expected term (in years)   2.0     1.0 to 5.0
Risk-free interest rate   1.12%     1.12% to 4.56%

 

 


 

The following table presents a summary of RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2024 and changes during the year then ended.

 

                Weighted-        
          Weighted-     Average     Aggregate  
          Average     Remaining     Intrinsic  
    Number of     Grant-Date     Contractual     Value  
    RSUs     Fair Value     Term (yrs.)     (in thousands)  
Outstanding at January 1, 2024     213,879     $ 16.04                  
Granted     231,467       10.54                  
Converted     (178,693 )     13.85                  
Forfeited     (70,483 )     13.32                  
Outstanding at December 31, 2024     196,170     $ 12.53       0.93     $ 2,291  
Vested and convertible at December 31, 2024     28,021     $ 12.22           $ 327  

 

RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2024 include 58,394 performance-based RSUs, of which 28,021 are vested and convertible at year-end, and 137,776 service-based RSUs. The performance-based RSUs have a maximum payout potential of 1.50 shares of the Corporation’s common stock for each RSU awarded. Based on the Corporation’s performance in 2024, 67,339 shares were forfeited on the performance-based RSUs and reflected in the table above. Service-based RSUs have a maximum payout potential of one share of the Corporation’s common stock for each RSU awarded.

 

The total intrinsic value of RSUs converted in 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $2.5 million, $2.2 million and $2.0 million, respectively.

 

Stock Option Activity. There were no stock options outstanding at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022. No stock options were exercised in 2024, 2023 and 2022. 

 

Compensation Expense. The Corporation recorded expense for share-based payments of $2.2 million, $1.2 million and $2.5 million in 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and related income tax benefits of $661,000, $383,000 and $760,000, respectively.

 

Unrecognized Compensation Cost. As of December 31, 2024, there was $1.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested RSUs. The total cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years.

 

Other. The Corporation uses newly issued shares for the conversion of RSUs. During 2024, 2023 and 2022, 5,256, 4,573 and 3,315 shares, respectively, of the Corporation’s common stock were issued to members of the Board of Directors in payment of director fees. 

 

NOTE J – RETIREMENT PLANS

 

The Bank has a 401(k) plan and a defined benefit pension plan (“Pension Plan” or “Plan”). Employees are immediately eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan provided they are at least 18 years of age. Participants may elect to contribute up to 100% of gross compensation, as defined, subject to the limitations of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Bank may, at its sole discretion, make matching contributions to each participant's account based on the amount of the participant's contributions. Participants are fully vested in their elective contributions and, after five years of participation in the 401(k) plan, are fully vested (20% vesting per year) in the matching contributions, if any, made by the Bank. The Bank’s expense for matching contributions was $577,000, $571,000 and $530,000 for 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

An internal management committee (the “Committee”) oversees the affairs of the Pension Plan and acts as named fiduciary. The Committee utilizes a formal Investment Policy Statement which includes the investment guidelines and policies contained in the Investment Management Agreement. The Investment Policy Statement is periodically revised by the Committee as deemed appropriate.

 

 


 

Employees are eligible to participate in the Pension Plan after attaining 21 years of age and completing 12 full months of service. Pension benefits are generally based on a percentage of average annual compensation during the period of creditable service. The Bank makes contributions to the Pension Plan which, when taken together with participant contributions equal to 2% of their compensation, will be sufficient to fund these benefits. The Bank’s funding method, the unit credit actuarial cost method, is consistent with the funding requirements of applicable federal laws and regulations which set forth both minimum required and maximum tax deductible contributions. Employees become fully vested after four years of participation in the Pension Plan (no vesting occurs during the four year period).

 

Significant Actuarial Assumptions. The following table sets forth the significant actuarial assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 and the benefit cost for each of the Plan years then ended.

 

    2024     2023     2022  
Weighted average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation at year end:                        
Discount rate     5.68 %     5.16 %     5.44 %
Rate of increase in compensation levels     4.00 %     4.00 %     3.50 %
                         
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net pension cost:                        
Discount rate     5.16 %     5.44 %     2.97 %
Rate of increase in compensation levels     4.00 %     3.50 %     3.50 %
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets     6.00 %     6.00 %     5.25 %

 

The increase in the discount rate from 5.16% in 2023 to 5.68% in 2024 decreased the projected benefit obligation at December 31, 2024 by approximately $2.8 million. Changes due to experience, including changes in participant demographics, resulted in a net actuarial gain of approximately $247,000 during 2024.

 

The decrease in the discount rate from 5.44% in 2022 to 5.16% in 2023 increased the projected benefit obligation at December 31, 2023 by approximately $1.5 million. The increase in the salary scale from 3.50% in 2022 to 4.00% in 2023 increased the projected benefit obligation at December 31, 2023 by approximately $296,000. Changes due to experience, including changes in participant demographics, resulted in a net actuarial loss of approximately $1.0 million during 2023.

 

Net Pension Cost. The following table sets forth the components of net periodic pension cost.

 

(in thousands)   2024     2023     2022  
Service cost plus expected expenses and net of expected plan participant contributions   $ 1,467     $ 1,378     $ 2,133  
Interest cost     2,439       2,341       1,641  
Expected return on plan assets     (3,480 )     (3,245 )     (3,903 )
Amortization of net actuarial loss     800       1,018        
Net pension cost (credit)   $ 1,226     $ 1,492     $ (129 )

 

The components of net pension cost (credit) other than the service cost component were included in the line item “Other noninterest income” in the consolidated statements of income. The service cost component was included in the line item “Salaries and employee benefits” in the consolidated statements of income.

 

 


 

Funded Status of the Plan. The following table sets forth the change in the projected benefit obligation and Plan assets for each year and, as of the end of each year, the funded status of the Plan and accumulated benefit obligation.

 

(in thousands)   2024     2023     2022  
Change in projected benefit obligation:                        
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year   $ 48,798     $ 44,460     $ 56,587  
Service cost     1,738       1,630       2,357  
Interest cost     2,439       2,341       1,641  
Benefits paid     (2,550 )     (2,430 )     (2,361 )
Assumption changes     (2,766 )     1,778       (15,343 )
Experience loss and other     (247 )     1,019       1,579  
Projected benefit obligation at end of year     47,412       48,798       44,460  
                         
Change in fair value of plan assets:                        
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year     59,538       55,509       75,684  
Actual return on plan assets     1,946       6,127       (18,113 )
Plan participant contributions     392       455       425  
Benefits paid     (2,550 )     (2,430 )     (2,361 )
Expenses     (108 )     (123 )     (126 )
Fair value of plan assets at end of year     59,218       59,538       55,509  
Funded status at end of year   $ 11,806     $ 10,740     $ 11,049  
Accumulated benefit obligation   $ 44,092     $ 45,185     $ 41,551  

 

During 2024, the Bank did not make a contribution to the Plan and the Bank has no minimum required pension contribution for the Plan year ending September 30, 2025. The Bank does not expect to make a contribution in 2025.

 

Plan Assets. The objective for the Plan’s assets is to generate long-term investment returns from both income and capital appreciation which outpaces the rate of inflation, while maintaining sufficient liquidity to ensure the Plan’s ability to pay all anticipated benefit and expense obligations when due. The Plan may maintain a de minimis amount of cash equivalents, with the remaining assets allocated across two broadly-defined financial asset categories: (1) equity, both domestic and international; and (2) fixed income of various durations and issuer type. The goal of the equity allocation is to supplement the Bank’s contributions to the Plan when the Plan is underfunded and increase surplus when the Plan is overfunded. The fixed income component will include longer-duration bonds designed to match and hedge the characteristics of the Plan’s liabilities. Cash equivalents, under normal circumstances, will be temporary holdings for the purpose of paying expenses and monthly benefits.

 

For fixed income investments: (1) the minimum average credit quality shall be investment grade (Standard & Poor’s BBB or Moody’s Baa) or higher; and (2) no more than 5% of the portfolio may be invested in securities with ratings below investment grade, and none may be rated below investment grade at the time of purchase.

 

Reasonable precautions are taken to avoid excessive concentrations to protect the portfolio against unfavorable outcomes within an asset class. Specifically, the following guidelines are in place:

 

  ·  With the exception of fixed income investments explicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government, no single investment security shall represent more than 5% of total Plan assets; and

 

  · With the exception of passively managed investment vehicles seeking to match the returns of broadly diversified market indices or diversified investment vehicles chosen specifically to hedge the interest rate risk embedded in Plan liabilities, no single investment pool or investment company (mutual fund) shall comprise more than 10% of total plan assets.

 

 


 

The portfolio will be rebalanced to the target asset allocation, if needed, no less often than quarterly. Unless expressly authorized in writing by the Committee, the following investing activities are prohibited:

 

  · Purchasing securities on margin;

 

  · Pledging or hypothecating securities, except for loans of securities that are fully collateralized;

 

  · Purchasing or selling derivative securities for speculation or leverage; and

 

  · Engaging in investment strategies that have the potential to amplify or distort the risk of loss beyond a level that is reasonably expected given the objectives of the portfolio.

 

The Plan’s actual asset allocations, target allocations and expected long-term rates of return by asset category are set forth in the following tables.

 

    December 31, 2024
    Target
Allocation
  Percentage of
Plan Assets
  Weighted
Average Expected
Long-term Rates
of Return
Cash equivalents   0% - 1%   0.0%   N/A
Equity mutual funds   20% - 30%   25.0%   5.5% to 12.2%
Fixed income mutual funds   70% - 80%   75.0%   3.2% to 7.0%
        100.0%   3.7% to 8.3%

 

    December 31, 2023
Cash equivalents   0% - 1%   0.3%   <1.00%
Equity mutual funds   20% - 30%   25.0%   6.1% to 8.5%
Fixed income mutual funds   70% - 80%   74.7%   4.9% to 6.1%
        100.0%   5.2% to 6.7%

 

The ranges for the weighted average expected long-term rates of return for equity funds, bond funds and total plan assets set forth in the preceding table represent an average of all expected allocation percentile returns. For these purposes the trustee utilizes a third party capital markets model (the “model”), which forecasts distributions of future returns for a wide array of broad asset classes. The theoretical and empirical foundation of the model is that the returns of various asset classes reflect the compensation investors require for bearing different types of systematic risk. At the core of the model are estimates of the dynamic statistical relationship between risk factors and asset returns, obtained from statistical analysis based on available historical monthly financial and economic data.

 

 


 

Fair Value of Plan Assets. The fair value of Plan assets at December 31, 2024 and 2023 is summarized below.

 

          Fair Value Measurements Using:  
(in thousands)   Total     Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level
3)
 
December 31, 2024:                                
Equity mutual funds:                                
US Equity   $ 9,434     $ 9,434     $     $                —  
Non-US Equity     5,356       5,356              
Total equity mutual funds     14,790       14,790              
Fixed income mutual funds     44,428             44,428        
Total Plan Assets   $ 59,218     $ 14,790     $ 44,428     $  
                                 
December 31, 2023:                                
Cash equivalents   $ 196     $     $ 196     $  
Equity mutual funds:                                
US Equity     8,940       8,940              
Non-US Equity     5,928       5,928              
Total equity mutual funds     14,868       14,868              
Fixed income mutual funds     44,474       44,474              
Total Plan Assets   $ 59,538     $ 59,342     $ 196     $  

 

An explanation of matrix pricing and the definitions of Level 1, 2 and 3 fair value measurements are included in “Note M – Fair Value of Financial Instruments” to these consolidated financial statements.

 

Estimated Future Benefit Payments. The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service as appropriate, are expected to be made by the Plan.

 

Year (in thousands)   Amount  
2025   $ 3,067  
2026     3,105  
2027     3,242  
2028     3,389  
2029     3,485  
2030 - 2034     18,842  

 

 


 

NOTE K – OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES

 

Expenses included in other operating expenses that exceed one percent of the aggregate of total interest income and noninterest income in one or more of the years shown are as follows.

 

(in thousands)   2024     2023     2022  
Computer services   $ 2,173     $ 1,436     $ 1,501  
FDIC Insurance     1,927       1,944       1,162  
Telecommunications     844       1,354       1,669  

 

NOTE L – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

 

Financial Instruments With Off-Balance-Sheet Risk. In the normal course of business, the Bank enters into various types of off-balance-sheet arrangements to meet the financing needs of its customers. These off-balance-sheet financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and commercial letters of credit. These instruments involve varying degrees of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets and expose the Bank to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the Bank’s customers. The Bank's exposure to credit loss is represented by the contractual notional amount of these instruments. The Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments to extend credit, and generally uses the same credit policies for letters of credit, as it does for on-balance sheet instruments such as loans.

 

Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk are as follows:

 

    2024     2023  
(in thousands)   Fixed Rate     Variable
Rate
    Fixed Rate     Variable
Rate
 
Commitments to extend credit   $ 1,811     $ 181,527     $ 1,877     $ 237,083  
Standby letters of credit     7,082             6,852        

 

A commitment to extend credit is a legally binding agreement to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Unused home equity, small business and commercial lines of credit are a large component of the Bank’s variable rate loan commitments. Since some of the commitments to extend credit and letters of credit are expected to expire without being drawn upon and, with respect to unused lines of credit, can be frozen, reduced or terminated by the Bank based on the financial condition of the borrower, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Home equity lines generally expire ten years from their date of origination and small business lines generally have a three year term. Other real estate loan commitments generally expire within 60 to 90 days and commercial line commitments generally expire within one year. The amount of collateral obtained, if any, by the Bank upon extension of credit is based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrower. Collateral held varies but may include mortgages on commercial and residential real estate, securities, deposit accounts with the Bank or other financial institutions and security interests in business assets and equipment. At December 31, 2024, the Bank’s fixed rate loan commitments are primarily overdraft lines of credit on deposit accounts.

 

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Bank to assure the performance or financial obligations of a customer to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing standby letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers. The Bank generally holds collateral and/or obtains personal guarantees supporting these commitments. Standby letters of credit are considered financial guarantees and are recorded at fair value.

 

 


 

Employment Agreements. At December 31, 2024, the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and executive vice presidents, collectively referred to as the senior executives, have employment agreements with the Corporation under which they are entitled to severance compensation in the event that their employment is terminated without cause or they terminate their employment following an event constituting Good Reason, as defined, whether or not such termination occurs in connection with a change in control. The Chief Executive Officer’s amended and restated employment agreement has a term of three years beginning January 1, 2022. Each of the other senior executives has an employment agreement with a term of two years and various effective dates. These two year and three year employment agreements automatically renew for an additional period of one year on January 1 of each year unless the Corporation gives written notice of non-renewal at least 30 days prior to such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of these employment agreements expire on December 31 of the calendar year in which the executive attains normal retirement age (“Retirement Age Termination Date”), which for these purposes is age 65. At the appropriate time and at its option, the Corporation can extend the employment agreements for two years beyond their retirement age termination dates. The current aggregate annual salaries provided for in these employment agreements is $2.7 million.

 

Litigation. From time to time, the Corporation and its subsidiaries may be a named defendant in legal actions incidental to the business. For some of these actions there is always a possibility that the Corporation will sustain a financial loss.

 

As previously disclosed in the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 28, 2024, the Bank was notified by a customer of suspicious wire transfer activity in July 2024 involving the customer's bank accounts. The wire transfer activity arose as the result of unauthorized access to banking information within the customer's control, and upon completion of an internal procedural investigation, the Bank determined that it followed its reasonable procedures regarding online wire transfers. On January 22, 2025, the customer filed a lawsuit against the Corporation and the Bank claiming monetary damages of approximately $11.1 million, the net amount of funds involved in the suspicious wire transfer activity. The Corporation and Bank intend to vigorously defend against the lawsuit and no accrual for potential losses have been made.

 

NOTE M – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

Financial Instruments Recorded at Fair Value. When measuring fair value, the Corporation uses a fair value hierarchy, which is designed to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The hierarchy involves three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

 

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Corporation can access at the measurement date.

 

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

 

Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect the Corporation’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

 

The Corporation deems transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy to have occurred on the date of the event or change in circumstance that caused the transfer. There were no transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy in either 2024 or 2023.

 

 


 

The fair values of the Corporation’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are set forth in the table that follows. The fair values of AFS securities are determined on a recurring basis using matrix pricing (Level 2 inputs). Matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities, does not rely exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather on the relationship of such securities to other benchmark quoted securities. Where no significant other observable inputs were available, Level 3 inputs were used. The fair values of interest rate swaps are based on valuation models using observable market data as of the measurement date resulting in a Level 2 classification.

 

    Fair Value Measurements Using:  
          Quoted Prices     Significant        
          in Active     Other     Significant  
          Markets for     Observable     Unobservable  
          Identical Assets     Inputs     Inputs  
(in thousands)   Total     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
December 31, 2024:                                
Financial Assets:                                
Available-for-Sale Securities:                                
State and municipals   $ 135,543     $     $ 135,407     $ 136  
Pass-through mortgage securities     129,440             129,440        
Collateralized mortgage obligations     145,059             145,059        
SBA agency obligations     101,427             101,427        
Corporate bonds     113,310             113,310        
      624,779             624,643       136  
Derivative - interest rate swaps     1,274             1,274        
    $ 626,053     $     $ 625,917     $ 136  
                                 
Financial Liabilities:                                
Derivative - interest rate swaps   $ 395     $     $ 395     $  
                                 
December 31, 2023:                                
Financial Assets:                                
Available-for-Sale Securities:                                
State and municipals   $ 143,621     $     $ 143,429     $ 192  
Pass-through mortgage securities     138,603             138,603        
Collateralized mortgage obligations     182,262             182,262        
SBA agency obligations     125,476             125,476        
Corporate bonds     105,915             105,915        
      695,877             695,685       192  
Derivative - interest rate swaps     582             582        
    $ 696,459     $     $ 696,267     $ 192  

 

State and municipal AFS securities measured using Level 3 inputs. The Bank held three non-rated bond anticipation notes with a book value of $136,000 at December 31, 2024. These bonds have a one year maturity and are issued by local municipalities that are customers of the Bank. Due to the short duration of the bonds, book value approximates fair value at December 31, 2024.

 

Land and Buildings. Premises and facilities held-for-sale of $383,000 were sold for their carrying value in the second quarter of 2024. These assets were measured at the lower of cost or fair value on a nonrecurring basis and reported in the line item “Other assets” in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2023.

 

Financial Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value. Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time. Such estimates are generally subjective in nature and dependent upon a number of significant assumptions associated with each financial instrument or group of similar financial instruments, including estimates of discount rates, liquidity, risks associated with specific financial instruments, estimates of future cash flows, and relevant available market information. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates. In addition, fair value estimates do not reflect the value of anticipated future business, premiums or discounts that could result from offering for sale at one time the Corporation’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument, or the income tax consequences of realizing gains or losses on the sale of financial instruments.

 

 


 

The following table sets forth the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial instruments that are not recorded at fair value in the Corporation’s financial statements.

 

    Level of     December 31, 2024     December 31, 2023  
    Fair Value     Carrying           Carrying        
(in thousands)   Hierarchy     Amount     Fair Value     Amount     Fair Value  
Financial Assets:                                        
Cash and cash equivalents     Level 1     $ 38,330     $ 38,330     $ 60,887     $ 60,887  
Loans, net     Level 3       3,193,276       2,947,587       3,219,072       2,945,864  
Restricted stock     n/a       27,712       n/a       32,659       n/a  
Accrued interest receivable     Level 2       2,701       2,701       3,057       3,057  
Accrued interest receivable     Level 3       10,706       10,706       10,438       10,438  
                                         
Financial Liabilities:                                        
Checking deposits     Level 1       1,074,671       1,074,671       1,133,184       1,133,184  
Savings, NOW and money market deposits     Level 1       1,574,160       1,574,160       1,546,369       1,546,369  
Time deposits     Level 2       616,027       614,245       591,433       586,856  
Short-term borrowings     Level 1                   70,000       70,000  
Long-term debt     Level 2       435,000       434,492       472,500       471,276  
Accrued interest payable     Level 2       7,672       7,672       6,344       6,344  

 

NOTE N – DERIVATIVES

 

As part of its asset liability management activities, the Corporation may utilize interest rate swaps to help manage its interest rate risk position. The notional amount of an interest rate swap does not represent the amount exchanged by the parties. The exchange of cash flows is determined by reference to the notional amount and the other terms of the interest rate swap agreements.

 

Fair Value Hedge. On March 16, 2023, the Bank entered into a three year interest rate swap with a notional amount totaling $300 million which was designated as a fair value hedge of certain fixed rate residential mortgages. The Bank pays a fixed rate of 3.82% and receives a floating rate based on the secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) for the life of the agreement without an exchange of the underlying notional amount. The hedge was determined to be effective during the year ended December 31, 2024 and the Corporation expects the hedge to remain effective during the remaining term of the swap. The gain or loss on the derivative as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk is recognized in interest income.

 

The following table summarizes information about the interest rate swap designated as a fair value hedge.

 

    December 31, 2024  
Notional amount (in millions)   $ 300  
Fixed pay rate     3.82 %
Overnight SOFR receive rate     4.49 %
Maturity (in years)     1.21  

 

The following table presents the amount recorded on the balance sheet related to cumulative basis adjustments for the fair value hedge as of the years indicated.

 

    December 31,  
(in thousands)   2024     2023  
Loans - Residential Mortgages:                
Carrying amount of the hedged asset (1)   $ 440,755     $ 465,495  
Fair value hedging adjustment included in the carrying amount of the hedged asset     (525 )     (506 )

 

(1) This amount represents the amortized cost basis of the closed loan portfolio used to designate the hedging relationship in which the hedged item is the stated amount of assets in the closed portfolio anticipated to be outstanding for the designated hedge period. At December 31, 2024, the amortized cost basis of the closed portfolio used in this hedging relationship was $441.3 million. The cumulative basis adjustment associated with this hedging relationship was $525,000 and the amount of the designated hedged item was $878,000.

 

During 2024, the Bank recorded a $4.1 million credit from the swap transaction as a component of interest income in the consolidated statements of income.

 

 


 

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges. The Bank enters into interest rate swap agreements (“back-to-back swap”) that are not designated as hedging instruments. A back-to-back swap allows a borrower to effectively convert a variable rate loan to a fixed rate. The Bank originates a variable rate loan with a borrower and simultaneously enters into offsetting back-to-back swaps with the borrower and an unaffiliated dealer counterparty to minimize interest rate risk. In connection with each swap transaction, the Bank agrees to pay interest to the borrower on a notional amount at a variable interest rate and receives interest from the borrower on a similar notional amount at a fixed interest rate. Concurrently, the Bank agrees to pay the dealer counterparty the same fixed interest rate on the same notional amount and receives the same variable interest rate on the same notional amount. Because the Bank acts as an intermediary for its borrower, changes in the fair value of the underlying derivative contracts offset each other and do not impact the Bank’s results of operations.

 

    December 31, 2024  
          Notional     Fair Value     Fair Value  
(in thousands)   Positions     Amount     Asset     Liabilities  
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments included in other assets / other liabilities:                        
Interest rate swap with borrower     3     $ 36,523     $ 395     $  
Interest rate swap with offsetting counterparty     3     $ 36,523     $     $ 395  

 

During 2024, the Bank recorded $465,000 in back-to-back swap fee income, included in the consolidated statements of income in the line item “Other noninterest income.”

 

NOTE O – REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS

 

The noninterest income section of the consolidated statements of income includes the following types of revenues earned from the Bank's contracts with customers.

 

Deposit Account Revenues. Fees are earned and collected on a monthly basis for account maintenance and activity-based service charges on deposit accounts. The services are performed for customers over time, requiring a time-based measure of progress. Customers may be required to maintain minimum balances and average balances. Additional fees may also be earned for overdrafts, replacement of debit cards, bill payment, lockbox services and ACH services and are earned and collected as transactions take place. All deposit account fees are accrued to income as earned, either monthly or at the point of sale, and are included in the consolidated statements of income in the line item "Service charges on deposit accounts."

 

Transaction and Branch Service Fees. The following revenue streams are components of “Other noninterest income” on the consolidated statements of income. These components totaled $4.2 million, $3.3 million and $2.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Other items included in “Other noninterest income,” such as non-service components of net pension cost, real estate tax refunds, back-to-back swap fee income and gains on sales of fixed assets are outside of the scope of Accounting Standards Codification 606.

 

Debit Card Revenues. The Bank earns a fee when its customers use their debit cards in point-of-sale transactions. These fees are generally known as interchange fees. Interchange fees from cardholder transaction represent a percentage of the underlying transaction value and are recorded daily, concurrently with the transaction processing services provided to the cardholder. 

 

Merchant Card Services. Together with a third-party vendor, the Bank offers its small business customers debit/credit card readers for them to accept and process card payments. The vendor aggregates the charges, collects the fees and remits the Bank’s portion on a monthly basis. Fees are accrued to income as earned and collected.

 

Branch Services Revenues. The Bank charges fees for safe deposit box rentals, wire transfers, money orders, checkbook printing, official checks and ATM usage. Fees are earned, collected and generally recorded as revenue when the service is provided.

 

Investment Services Revenues. Customer assets are held in a fiduciary capacity and the Bank provides trust services to those customers as it transitions its remaining accounts to the LPL Financial platform. The services are performed for customers over time, requiring a time-based measure of progress. Fees are assessed based on market values of customer assets held as of a certain point in time, and income cannot be estimated prior to the end of the measurement period. Volatility in equity and other market values impacts the amount of revenue earned. Fees are generally earned and collected on a monthly or quarterly basis and accrued to income as earned.

 

 


 

Investment Management Services. The Bank provides investment management, trust, estate and custody services and offers retail investment services through a partnership with an outside service provider, LPL Financial. Fees are variable and based on various factors including the market value of financial assets under management. Fees are accrued to income as earned and collected.

 

NOTE P – PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Condensed financial information for the Corporation (parent company only) is as follows:

 

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

 

    December 31,  
(in thousands)   2024     2023  
Assets:                
Cash and due from banks   $ 4,585     $ 695  
Investment in subsidiary bank, at equity     377,412       383,151  
Prepaid income taxes     603       42  
Deferred income tax benefits     973       1,010  
Other assets     62       9  
    $ 383,635     $ 384,907  
Liabilities:                
Other liabilities   $ 35     $ 17  
Cash dividends payable     4,734       4,744  
      4,769       4,761  
Stockholders' equity:                
Common stock     2,260       2,259  
Surplus     79,731       79,728  
Retained earnings     354,051       355,887  
      436,042       437,874  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax     (57,176 )     (57,728 )
      378,866       380,146  
    $ 383,635     $ 384,907  

 

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

    Year Ended December 31,  
(in thousands)   2024     2023     2022  
Income:                        
Dividends from subsidiary bank   $ 25,500     $ 15,000     $ 36,450  
Interest on deposits with subsidiary bank     13       6       5  
Other           13        
      25,513       15,019       36,455  
Expenses:                        
Salaries     1,770       779       2,065  
Other operating expenses     902       1,070       795  
      2,672       1,849       2,860  
                         
Income before income taxes     22,841       13,170       33,595  
Income tax benefit     (526 )     (504 )     (791 )
Income before undistributed earnings of subsidiary bank     23,367       13,674       34,386  
Equity in undistributed earnings     (6,291 )     12,565       12,546  
Net income   $ 17,076     $ 26,239     $ 46,932  
                         
Comprehensive income (loss)   $ 17,628     $ 33,278     $ (15,522 )

 

 


 

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

    Year Ended December 31,  
(in thousands)   2024     2023     2022  
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:                        
Net income   $ 17,076     $ 26,239     $ 46,932  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                        
Undistributed earnings of subsidiary bank     6,291       (12,565 )     (12,546 )
Deferred income tax provision (credit)     37       78       (199 )
Stock-based compensation expense     2,160       1,249       2,466  
(Increase) decrease in other assets     (53 )     16       (1 )
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities     18       (3 )     5  
Other (increases) decreases     (499 )     3,730       (530 )
Net cash provided by operating activities     25,030       18,744       36,127  
                         
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:                        
Capital contributions to Bank subsidiary                  
                         
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:                        
Repurchase of common stock     (2,020 )           (17,889 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of shares withheld     (198 )     (28 )     263  
Cash dividends paid     (18,922 )     (18,918 )     (18,591 )
Net cash used in financing activities     (21,140 )     (18,946 )     (36,217 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents*     3,890       (202 )     (90 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year     695       897       987  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year   $ 4,585     $ 695     $ 897  
                         
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Financing Activities:                        
Cash dividends payable   $ 4,734     $ 4,744     $ 4,713  

 

* Cash and cash equivalents is defined as cash and due from banks and includes the checking and money market accounts with the Corporation’s wholly-owned bank subsidiary.

 

NOTE Q – BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

 

Proposed Merger with ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. On September 4, 2024, the Corporation entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (“ConnectOne”), pursuant to which the companies will combine in an all-stock transaction. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Corporation will merge into ConnectOne, with ConnectOne as the surviving corporation (the "merger"), and the Bank will merge into ConnectOne Bank, with ConnectOne Bank as the surviving institution (the “bank merger” and, together with the merger, the “transaction”). Upon closing of the transaction, the Corporation's shareholders will receive 0.5175 shares of ConnectOne common stock for each share of the Corporation's common stock (the “merger consideration”). The Corporation held a special meeting of shareholders on February 14, 2025 at which time the Corporation's shareholders approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereunder. The merger remains subject to the receipt of certain regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The Corporation expects the transaction to close in the second quarter of 2025. 

 

The foregoing description of the proposed merger and the Merger Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is attached to this Annual Report on Form 10-K as Exhibit 2.1. 

 

 


 

NOTE R – SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

The Corporation has determined that the chief operating decision makers ("CODM") are the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as well as from time to time the Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors, with the exception of the Chief Executive Officer, are not in day-to-day management of the Corporation but there are times when board approval of operating decisions is required, such as for strategic plans, budgets, establishing executive compensation practices, declaring shareholder dividends and for execution of material transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions.

 

The Bank provides banking products and services as well as access to third-party financial products and services to business and retail clients through its network of physical locations and various digital channels. The CODM uses comparisons to Board of Director approved strategic plans and budgets and comparisons to peer metrics to assess performance and determine compensation. Comparisons include tracking actual performance to budgets, prior periods and peer performance. Metrics include, among others, net income, return on average equity, return on average assets, and total shareholder return. Interest on loans and investments, service charges, BOLI earnings and interchange fees provide most of the revenues in the banking operation. Interest expense on borrowings and deposits, provisions for credit losses, salaries and benefits, operating facilities and expenses related to technology are the significant expenses in the banking operation. All operations are domestic.

 

Because these operations are closely linked and largely dependent upon each other, they are managed, and the financial performance is evaluated on a consolidated basis. Accordingly, and consistent with prior years, all of the Corporation's operations are considered by management to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment. Accounting policies for the segment are the same as those described in "Note A - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies." Shareholders and the Board of Directors of

 

 


 

 

Crowe LLP

Independent Member Crowe Global

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The First of Long Island Corporation

Melville, New York

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The First of Long Island Corporation (the "Company") as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2024 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated March 12, 2025 expressed an unqualified opinion.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

(Continued)

 

 


 

Critical Audit Matter

 

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments.  The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

 

Qualitative and Quantitative Loss Factors in the Allowance for Credit Losses

 

The methodology for determining the allowance for credit losses requires substantial judgment by management. As of December 31, 2024, the balance of the allowance for credit losses was $28.3 million. As described in Note A to the consolidated financial statements, management estimates the allowance for credit losses balance using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.

 

Management adjusts its historical loss experience to reflect current and forecasted conditions. In doing so, management considers a variety of general qualitative and quantitative loss factors (“Q-factors”). We consider management’s application of Q-factors in the allowance for credit losses to be a critical audit matter due to the extent of audit effort and degree of auditor judgment required to evaluate the Q-factors given the volume and nature on inputs and the significant management judgment required.

 

To address this matter, we tested the design and operating effectiveness of the Company’s controls related to the Q-factors, including the following:

 

· Management’s application of qualitative and quantitative judgments related to the Q-factors and the resulting allocation to the allowance for credit losses;
· Management’s review over the completeness and accuracy of the data used as the basis for the Q-factors;
· Management’s testing over the mathematical accuracy of the allowance for credit losses calculation; and
· Management’s Allowance for Credit Losses Committee review of the allowance for credit losses and provision for credit losses.

 

Our substantive procedures related to the Q-factors included the following:

 

· Evaluating the reasonableness of management’s application of Q-factors and the resulting allocation to the allowance for credit losses;
· Testing the completeness and accuracy of certain data used in the qualitative factor calculations; and
· Testing the mathematical accuracy of the allowance for credit loss calculation.

 

  /s/ CROWE LLP
  Crowe LLP

 

 


 

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2003.

 

New York, New York

March 12, 2025

 

 

 

EX-99.2 4 tm2514692d2_ex99-2.htm EXHIBIT 99.2

 

Exhibit 99.2 

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
(dollars in thousands)   2025     2024  
Assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 67,555     $ 38,330  
Investment securities available-for-sale, at fair value     615,350       624,779  
                 
Loans:                
Commercial and industrial     134,095       136,732  
Secured by real estate:                
Commercial mortgages     1,929,881       1,963,107  
Residential mortgages     1,065,380       1,084,090  
Home equity lines     33,452       36,468  
Consumer and other     1,126       1,210  
      3,163,934       3,221,607  
Allowance for credit losses     (28,308 )     (28,331 )
      3,135,626       3,193,276  
Restricted stock, at cost     24,329       27,712  
Bank premises and equipment, net     28,411       29,135  
Right-of-use asset - operating leases     18,358       18,951  
Bank-owned life insurance     117,471       117,075  
Pension plan assets, net     11,693       11,806  
Deferred income tax benefit     35,022       36,192  
Other assets     22,491       22,080  
    $ 4,076,306     $ 4,119,336  
Liabilities:                
Deposits:                
Checking   $ 1,072,766     $ 1,074,671  
Savings, NOW and money market     1,587,030       1,574,160  
Time     635,789       616,027  
      3,295,585       3,264,858  
Overnight advances            
Other borrowings     360,000       435,000  
Operating lease liability     20,348       21,964  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities     17,533       18,648  
      3,693,466       3,740,470  
Stockholders' Equity:                
Common stock, par value $0.10 per share:                
Authorized, 80,000,000 shares;                
Issued and outstanding, 22,635,724 and 22,595,349 shares     2,264       2,260  
Surplus     79,866       79,731  
Retained earnings     353,043       354,051  
      435,173       436,042  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax     (52,333 )     (57,176 )
      382,840       378,866  
    $ 4,076,306     $ 4,119,336  

 

 


 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

 

    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
(in thousands, except per share data)   2025     2024  
Interest and dividend income:                
Loans   $ 33,785     $ 33,543  
Investment securities:                
Taxable     5,374       6,993  
Nontaxable     956       960  
      40,115       41,496  
Interest expense:                
Savings, NOW and money market deposits     10,318       10,083  
Time deposits     6,403       6,977  
Overnight advances     71       263  
Other borrowings     4,501       6,012  
      21,293       23,335  
Net interest income     18,822       18,161  
Provision for credit losses     168        
Net interest income after provision for credit losses     18,654       18,161  
                 
Noninterest income:                
Bank-owned life insurance     912       840  
Service charges on deposit accounts     829       880  
Net loss on sales of securities            
Other     976       1,054  
      2,717       2,774  
Noninterest expense:                
Salaries and employee benefits     9,711       9,974  
Occupancy and equipment     3,233       3,214  
Merger expenses     230        
Other     3,954       3,018  
      17,128       16,206  
Income before income taxes     4,243       4,729  
                 
Income tax expense     487       294  
Net income   $ 3,756     $ 4,435  
                 
Weighted average:                
Common shares     22,625,117       22,520,568  
Dilutive restricted stock units     86,270       73,827  
Dilutive weighted average common shares     22,711,387       22,594,395  
                 
Earnings per share:                
Basic   $ 0.17     $ 0.20  
Diluted     0.17       0.20  
                 
Cash dividends declared per share     0.21       0.21  

 

 


 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED) 

 

    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
(in thousands)   2025     2024  
Net income   $ 3,756     $ 4,435  
Other comprehensive income (loss):                
Change in net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities     6,921       (1,789 )
Change in funded status of pension plan     118       200  
Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes     7,039       (1,589 )
Income tax expense (benefit)     2,196       (397 )
Other comprehensive income (loss)     4,843       (1,192 )
Comprehensive income   $ 8,599     $ 3,243  

 

 


 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

 

    Three Months Ended March 31, 2025  
                            Accumulated        
                            Other        
    Common Stock           Retained     Comprehensive        
(dollars in thousands)   Shares     Amount     Surplus     Earnings     Loss     Total  
Balance, January 1, 2025     22,595,349     $ 2,260     $ 79,731     $ 354,051     $ (57,176 )   $ 378,866  
Net income                             3,756               3,756  
Other comprehensive income                                     4,843       4,843  
Shares withheld upon the vesting and conversion of RSUs     (22,761 )     (2 )     (291 )                     (293 )
Common stock issued under stock compensation plans     50,519       5       9                       14  
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan     12,617       1       142                       143  
Stock-based compensation expense                     275                       275  
Cash dividends declared                             (4,764 )             (4,764 )
Balance, March 31, 2025     22,635,724     $ 2,264     $ 79,866     $ 353,043     $ (52,333 )   $ 382,840  

 

    Three Months Ended March 31, 2024  
                            Accumulated        
                            Other        
    Common Stock           Retained     Comprehensive        
(dollars in thousands)   Shares     Amount     Surplus     Earnings     Loss     Total  
Balance, January 1, 2024     22,590,942     $ 2,259     $ 79,728     $ 355,887     $ (57,728 )   $ 380,146  
Net income                             4,435               4,435  
Other comprehensive loss                                     (1,192 )     (1,192 )
Repurchase of common stock     (167,526 )     (17 )     (2,003 )                     (2,020 )
Shares withheld upon the vesting and conversion of RSUs     (19,530 )     (2 )     (250 )                     (252 )
Common stock issued under stock compensation plans     46,926       5       9                       14  
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan     27,116       3       305                       308  
Stock-based compensation expense                     401                       401  
Cash dividends declared                             (4,717 )             (4,717 )
Balance, March 31, 2024     22,477,928     $ 2,248     $ 78,190     $ 355,605     $ (58,920 )   $ 377,123  

 

 


 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) 

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,  
(in thousands)   2025     2024  
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:                
Net income   $ 3,756     $ 4,435  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                
Provision for credit losses     168        
(Credit) provision for deferred income taxes     (1,026 )     (744 )
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment     758       769  
Amortization of right-of-use asset - operating leases     593       656  
Premium amortization on investment securities, net     623       494  
Stock-based compensation expense     275       401  
Accretion of cash surrender value on bank-owned life insurance     (912 )     (840 )
Pension expense     231       306  
Decrease in other liabilities     (2,750 )     (455 )
Other increases in assets     (634 )     (3,945 )
Net cash provided by operating activities     1,082       1,077  
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:                
Available-for-sale securities:                
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions     16,889       16,542  
Purchases     (1,162 )     (60 )
Net decrease in loans     57,482       10,833  
Net decrease in restricted stock     3,383       1,315  
Purchases of premises and equipment, net     (34 )     (312 )
Proceeds from death benefit of bank-owned life insurance     753        
Net cash provided by investing activities     77,311       28,318  
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:                
Net increase in deposits     30,727       55,521  
Net decrease in overnight advances           (70,000 )
Proceeds from other borrowings           100,000  
Repayment of other borrowings     (75,000 )     (57,500 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of shares withheld     (150 )     56  
Repurchase of common stock           (2,020 )
Cash dividends paid     (4,745 )     (9,461 )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities     (49,168 )     16,596  
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents     29,225       45,991  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year     38,330       60,887  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period   $ 67,555     $ 106,878  
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures:                
Cash paid for:                
Interest   $ 23,156     $ 22,263  
Income taxes     26       414  
Operating cash flows from operating leases     1,783       871  
Noncash investing and financing activities:                
Cash dividends payable     4,754        

 

 


 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION 

 

The accounting and reporting policies of The First of Long Island Corporation (“Corporation”) reflect banking industry practice and conform to generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States.

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary, The First National Bank of Long Island (“Bank”). The Bank has one wholly owned subsidiary: FNY Service Corp., an investment company. The Bank and FNY Service Corp. jointly own another subsidiary, The First of Long Island REIT, Inc., a real estate investment trust. The consolidated entity is referred to as the “Corporation” and the Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Bank.” All intercompany balances and amounts have been eliminated. For further information refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.

 

The consolidated financial information included herein as of and for the periods ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 is unaudited. However, such information reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim periods. The December 31, 2024 consolidated balance sheet was derived from the Corporation's December 31, 2024 audited consolidated financial statements. When appropriate, items in the prior year financial statements are reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

 

Use of Estimates. In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported asset and liability balances, revenue and expense amounts, and the disclosures provided, including disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, based on available information. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Information available which could affect these judgements includes, but is not limited to, changes in interest rates, changes in the performance of the economy and changes in the financial condition of borrowers.

 

2 - COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

Comprehensive income includes net income and other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”). OCI includes revenues, expenses, gains and losses that under GAAP are included in comprehensive income but excluded from net income. OCI for the Corporation consists of net unrealized holding gains or losses on available-for-sale (“AFS”) securities and changes in the funded status of the Bank’s defined benefit pension plan, all net of related income taxes. Accumulated OCI is recognized as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.

 

The following table sets forth the components of accumulated OCI, net of tax.

 

          Current        
    Balance     Period     Balance  
(in thousands)   12/31/2024     Change     3/31/2025  
Unrealized holding loss on available-for-sale securities   $ (50,842 )   $ 4,761     $ (46,081 )
Unrealized actuarial loss on pension plan     (6,334 )     82       (6,252 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax   $ (57,176 )   $ 4,843     $ (52,333 )

 

 


 

The components of OCI and the related tax effects are as follows:

 

    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
(in thousands)   2025     2024  
Change in net unrealized holding gains or losses on available-for-sale securities:                
Change arising during the period   $ 6,921     $ (1,789 )
Tax effect     2,160       (459 )
      4,761       (1,330 )
Change in funded status of pension plan:                
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in pension expense (1)     118       200  
Tax effect     36       62  
      82       138  
Other comprehensive income (loss)   $ 4,843     $ (1,192 )

 

(1) Represents the amortization of net actuarial loss relating to the Corporation’s defined benefit pension plan. This item is a component of net periodic pension cost and is included in the consolidated statements of income in the line item “Other noninterest income.”

 

3 - INVESTMENT SECURITIES

 

The following tables set forth the amortized cost and estimated fair values of the Bank’s AFS investment securities at the dates indicated.

 

    March 31, 2025  
          Gross     Gross        
    Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair  
(in thousands)   Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
State and municipals   $ 151,123     $ 9     $ (17,573 )   $ 133,559  
Pass-through mortgage securities     156,532       31       (25,368 )     131,195  
Collateralized mortgage obligations     159,799       853       (19,365 )     141,287  
SBA agency obligations     95,216       250       (1,022 )     94,444  
Corporate bonds     119,000             (4,135 )     114,865  
    $ 681,670     $ 1,143     $ (67,463 )   $ 615,350  

 

    December 31, 2024  
State and municipals   $ 151,909     $ 8     $ (16,374 )   $ 135,543  
Pass-through mortgage securities     158,789       8       (29,357 )     129,440  
Collateralized mortgage obligations     166,014       595       (21,550 )     145,059  
SBA agency obligations     102,308       262       (1,143 )     101,427  
Corporate bonds     119,000             (5,690 )     113,310  
    $ 698,020     $ 873     $ (74,114 )   $ 624,779  

 

The Bank did not have any securities classified as held-to-maturity at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024. 

 

 


 

Small Business Administration (“SBA”) agency obligations are floating rate, government guaranteed securities backed by $72.9 million of commercial mortgages and $21.5 million of equipment finance loans at March 31, 2025.

 

At March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, investment securities with a carrying value of $295.7 million and $259.8 million, respectively, were pledged as collateral to secure public deposits.

 

There were no holdings of any one issuer, other than the U.S. government and its agencies, in an amount greater than 10% of stockholders’ equity at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024.

 

There was no allowance for credit losses associated with the investment securities portfolio at March 31, 2025 or December 31, 2024.

 

Securities With Unrealized Losses. The following tables set forth securities with unrealized losses at the dates indicated presented by the length of time the securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.

 

    March 31, 2025  
    Less than     12 Months              
    12 Months     or More     Total  
    Fair     Unrealized     Fair     Unrealized     Fair     Unrealized  
(in thousands)   Value     Loss     Value     Loss     Value     Loss  
State and municipals   $ 14,051     $ (441 )   $ 116,155     $ (17,132 )   $ 130,206     $ (17,573 )
Pass-through mortgage securities     7,639       (47 )     120,123       (25,321 )     127,762       (25,368 )
Collateralized mortgage obligations                 92,361       (19,365 )     92,361       (19,365 )
SBA agency obligations                 77,636       (1,022 )     77,636       (1,022 )
Corporate bonds                 114,865       (4,135 )     114,865       (4,135 )
Total temporarily impaired   $ 21,690     $ (488 )   $ 521,140     $ (66,975 )   $ 542,830     $ (67,463 )

 

    December 31, 2024  
State and municipals   $ 14,719     $ (318 )   $ 117,168     $ (16,056 )   $ 131,887     $ (16,374 )
Pass-through mortgage securities     9,364       (179 )     119,191       (29,178 )     128,555       (29,357 )
Collateralized mortgage obligations     3,726       (33 )     92,366       (21,517 )     96,092       (21,550 )
SBA agency obligations                 83,439       (1,143 )     83,439       (1,143 )
Corporate bonds                 113,310       (5,690 )     113,310       (5,690 )
Total temporarily impaired   $ 27,809     $ (530 )   $ 525,474     $ (73,584 )   $ 553,283     $ (74,114 )

 

Following is a discussion of unrealized losses by type of security, none of which are considered impaired at March 31, 2025.

 

State and Municipals

 

At March 31, 2025, approximately $130.2 million of state and municipal bonds had an unrealized loss of $17.6 million. Substantially all the state and municipal bonds are considered high investment grade and rated Aa2/AA- or higher. The unrealized loss is primarily attributable to changes in interest rates and illiquidity and not credit quality. The issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments on the bonds. The Bank does not have the intent to sell these securities, nor is it likely that it will be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery. The fair value is expected to recover as the bonds approach maturity.

 

Pass-through Mortgage Securities

 

At March 31, 2025, pass-through mortgage securities of approximately $127.8 million had an unrealized loss of $25.4 million. These securities were issued by U.S. government and government-sponsored agencies and are considered high investment grade. The unrealized loss is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality. The issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments on the bonds. The Bank does not have the intent to sell these securities, nor is it likely that it will be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery. The fair value is expected to recover as the bonds approach maturity.

 

 


 

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

 

At March 31, 2025, collateralized mortgage obligations of approximately $92.4 million had an unrealized loss of $19.4 million. These securities were issued by U.S. government and government-sponsored agencies and are considered high investment grade. The unrealized loss is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality. The issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments on the bonds. The Bank does not have the intent to sell these securities, nor is it likely that it will be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery. The fair value is expected to recover as the bonds approach maturity.

 

SBA Agency Obligations

 

At March 31, 2025, SBA agency obligations of approximately $77.6 million had an unrealized loss of $1.0 million. These securities were issued by the SBA, a U.S. government agency and are considered high investment grade. The unrealized loss is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality. The issuer continues to make timely principal and interest payments on the bonds. The Bank does not have the intent to sell these securities, nor is it likely that it will be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery. The fair value is expected to recover as the bonds approach maturity.

 

Corporate Bonds

 

At March 31, 2025, approximately $114.9 million of corporate bonds had an unrealized loss of $4.1 million. The corporate bonds represent senior unsecured debt obligations of six of the largest U.S. based financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo. Each of the corporate bonds has a stated maturity of ten years and matures in 2028. The bonds reprice quarterly based on the ten year constant maturity swap rate.

 

Each of the financial institutions is considered upper medium investment grade and rated A3 or higher. The unrealized loss is attributable to changes in credit spreads and interest rates and the illiquid nature of the securities. The Bank does not have the intent to sell these securities, nor is it likely that it will be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery. Each of these financial institutions has diversified revenue streams, is well capitalized and continues to make timely interest payments. Management evaluates the quarterly financial statements of each company to determine if full payment of principal and interest is in doubt and does not believe there is any impairment at March 31, 2025.

 

Sales of AFS Securities. There were no sales of AFS securities during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.

 

Maturities. The following table sets forth by maturity the amortized cost and fair value of the Bank’s state and municipal securities and corporate bonds at March 31, 2025 based on the earlier of their stated maturity or, if applicable, their pre-refunded date. The remaining securities in the Bank’s investment securities portfolio are mortgage and asset-backed securities, consisting of pass-through mortgage securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and SBA agency obligations. Although these securities are expected to have substantial periodic repayments, they are reflected in the table below in aggregate amounts.

 

(in thousands)   Amortized Cost     Fair Value  
Within one year   $ 793     $ 790  
After 1 through 5 years     141,318       136,111  
After 5 through 10 years     40,235       36,259  
After 10 years     87,777       75,264  
Mortgage and asset-backed securities     411,547       366,926  
    $ 681,670     $ 615,350  

 

 


 

4 - LOANS

 

The following table sets forth the loans outstanding by class of loans at the dates indicated.

 

(in thousands)   March 31, 2025     December 31, 2024  
Commercial and industrial   $ 134,095     $ 136,732  
Commercial mortgages:                
Multifamily     840,726       848,558  
Other     841,829       851,277  
Owner-occupied     247,326       263,272  
Residential mortgages:                
Closed end     1,065,380       1,084,090  
Revolving home equity     33,452       36,468  
Consumer and other     1,126       1,210  
    $ 3,163,934     $ 3,221,607  

 

Allowance for Credit Losses. Loans that do not share similar risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis. Such disparate risk characteristics may include internal or external credit ratings, risk ratings, collateral type, size of loan, effective interest rate, term, geographic location, industry or historical or expected loss pattern. For loans individually evaluated, an allowance for credit losses (“ACL” or “allowance”) is estimated based on either the fair value of collateral or the discounted value of expected future cash flows. In estimating the fair value of real estate collateral, management utilizes appraisals or evaluations adjusted for costs to dispose and a distressed sale adjustment, if needed. Estimating the fair value of collateral other than real estate is also subjective in nature and sometimes requires difficult and complex judgements. Determining expected future cash flows can be more subjective than determining fair values. Expected future cash flows could differ significantly, both in timing and amount, from the cash flows actually received over the loan’s remaining life. Individually evaluated loans are excluded from the estimation of credit losses for the pooled portfolio.

 

For loans collectively evaluated for credit loss, management segregates its loan portfolio into distinct pools, certain of which are combined in reporting loans outstanding by class of loans: (1) commercial and industrial; (2) small business; (3) multifamily; (4) owner-occupied; (5) other commercial real estate; (6) construction and land development; (7) residential mortgage; (8) revolving home equity; (9) consumer; and (10) municipal loans. Historical loss information from the Bank’s own loan portfolio from December 31, 2007 to present provides a basis for management’s assessment of expected credit losses. The choice of a historical look-back period that begins in 2007 covers an entire economic cycle and impacts the average historical loss rates used to calculate the final ACL. Due to the extensive loss data available, management selected the vintage approach to measure the historical loss component of credit losses for most of its loan pools. For the revolving home equity and small business pools, the lifetime PD/LGD (probability of default/loss given default) method is used to measure historical losses.

 

Modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty are included in loans collectively evaluated for credit loss. An assessment of whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty is made on the date of a modification. A charge to the allowance for credit losses is generally not recorded upon modification.

 

Management believes that the methods selected fairly reflect the historical loss component of expected losses inherent in the Bank’s loan portfolio. However, since future losses could vary significantly from those experienced in the past, on a quarterly basis management adjusts its historical loss experience to reflect current and forecasted conditions. In doing so, management considers a variety of general qualitative and quantitative factors (“Q-factors”) and then subjectively determines the weight to assign to each in estimating losses. Qualitative characteristics include differences in underwriting standards, policies, lending staff and environmental risks. Management also considers whether further adjustments to historical loss information are needed to reflect the extent to which current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts over a one year to two year forecasting horizon differ from the conditions that existed during the historical loss period. These quantitative adjustments reflect changes to relevant data such as changes in unemployment rates, gross domestic product (“GDP”), vacancies, average growth in pools of loans, rent regulation status, delinquencies or other factors associated with the financial assets. The immediate reversion method is applied for periods beyond the forecasting horizon. The Bank’s ACL allocable to pools of loans that are collectively evaluated for credit loss results primarily from these qualitative and quantitative adjustments to historical loss experience. Because of the nature of the Q-factors and the degree of judgement involved in assessing their impact, management’s resulting estimate of losses may not accurately reflect current and future losses in the portfolio.

 

 


 

Chargeoffs and deterioration in current and forecasted economic conditions, including adjustments for economic uncertainty, were the main drivers of the provision recorded in the first quarter of 2025, partially offset by declines in loan portfolio balances, historical loss rates and allowances on individually evaluated loans.

 

The following tables present the activity in the ACL for the periods indicated.

 

    Balance at                 Provision
(Credit) for
    Balance at  
(in thousands)   1/1/2025     Chargeoffs     Recoveries     Credit Losses     3/31/2025  
Commercial and industrial   $ 1,365     $ (348 )   $ 179     $ 207     $ 1,403  
Commercial mortgages:                                        
Multifamily     8,734                   (143 )     8,591  
Other     7,597                   (4 )     7,593  
Owner-occupied     3,243                   (156 )     3,087  
Residential mortgages:                                        
Closed end     7,107       (22 )           269       7,354  
Revolving home equity     269                   (5 )     264  
Consumer and other     16                         16  
    $ 28,331     $ (370 )   $ 179     $ 168     $ 28,308  

 

    Balance at                 Provision
(Credit) for
    Balance at  
(in thousands)   1/1/2024     Chargeoffs     Recoveries     Credit Losses     3/31/2024  
Commercial and industrial   $ 2,030     $ (664 )   $ 7     $ 2     $ 1,375  
Commercial mortgages:                                        
Multifamily     6,817                   1,297       8,114  
Other     7,850                   (311 )     7,539  
Owner-occupied     3,104                   (102 )     3,002  
Residential mortgages:                                        
Closed end     8,838                   (857 )     7,981  
Revolving home equity     339                   (30 )     309  
Consumer and other     14                   1       15  
    $ 28,992     $ (664 )   $ 7     $     $ 28,335  

 

 


 

Aging of Loans. The following tables present the aging of loans past due and loans on nonaccrual status by class of loans.

 

    March 31, 2025  
    Past Due     Nonaccrual                    
(in thousands)   30-59
Days
    60-89
Days
    90 Days or
More and
Still
Accruing
    With an
Allowance
for Credit
Loss
    With No
Allowance
for Credit
Loss
    Total Past
Due Loans
&
Nonaccrual
Loans
    Current     Total
Loans
 
Commercial and industrial   $     $     $     $     $     $     $ 134,095     $ 134,095  
Commercial mortgages:                                                                
Multifamily     6,798                   1,184             7,982       832,744       840,726  
Other                                         841,829       841,829  
Owner-occupied     95                               95       247,231       247,326  
Residential mortgages:                                                                
Closed end     559                         2,326       2,885       1,062,495       1,065,380  
Revolving home equity                                         33,452       33,452  
Consumer and other                                         1,126       1,126  
    $ 7,452     $     $     $ 1,184     $ 2,326     $ 10,962     $ 3,152,972     $ 3,163,934  

 

    December 31, 2024  
Commercial and industrial   $ 174     $ 96     $     $     $     $ 270     $ 136,462     $ 136,732  
Commercial mortgages:                                                                
Multifamily                       1,190             1,190       847,368       848,558  
Other                                         851,277       851,277  
Owner-occupied                                         263,272       263,272  
Residential mortgages:                                                                
Closed end                             2,039       2,039       1,082,051       1,084,090  
Revolving home equity                                         36,468       36,468  
Consumer and other                                         1,210       1,210  
    $ 174     $ 96     $     $ 1,190     $ 2,039     $ 3,499     $ 3,218,108     $ 3,221,607  

 

At March 31, 2025, past due loans increased $7.2 million from year-end 2024. The increase was primarily due to one multifamily loan with an amortized cost of $6.8 million. This loan is included in the column “Past Due - 30-59 Days” in the March 31, 2025 table above.  

 

At March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, there was one residential real estate loan for which formal foreclosure proceedings are in process with an amortized cost of $844,000. This loan is included in the column "Nonaccrual - With No Allowance for Credit Loss" in the tables above. The Bank did not hold any foreclosed residential real estate property at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024.  

 

Accrued interest receivable from loans totaled $10.8 million and $10.7 million at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively, and is included in the line item “Other assets” on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

 


 

Loan Modifications. The Bank did not modify the terms of any loans for borrowers experiencing financial difficulty in the form of principal forgiveness, an interest reduction, an other-than-insignificant payment delay or a term extension during the previous twelve months. 

 

Risk Characteristics. Credit risk within the Bank’s loan portfolio primarily stems from factors such as changes in the borrower’s financial condition, credit concentrations, changes in collateral values, economic conditions, rent regulation and environmental contamination of properties securing mortgage loans. The Bank’s commercial loans, including those secured by real estate mortgages, are primarily made to small and medium-sized businesses. Such loans sometimes involve a higher degree of risk than those to larger companies because such businesses may have shorter operating histories, higher debt-to-equity ratios and may lack sophistication in internal record keeping and financial and operational controls. In addition, most of the Bank’s loans are made to businesses and consumers on Long Island and in the boroughs of New York City (“NYC”), and a large percentage of these loans are mortgage loans secured by properties located in those areas. The primary sources of repayment for residential and commercial mortgage loans include employment and other income of the borrowers, the businesses of the borrowers and cash flows from the underlying properties. In the case of multifamily mortgage loans, a substantial portion of the underlying properties are rent stabilized or rent controlled. These sources of repayment are dependent on the strength of the local economy.

 

Credit Quality Indicators. The Bank categorizes loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the borrower’s ability to service their debt including, but not limited to, current financial information for the borrower and any guarantors, payment experience, credit underwriting documentation, public records, due diligence checks and current economic trends. Management analyzes loans and classifies them using risk rating matrices consistent with regulatory guidance as follows.

 

Watch: The borrower’s cash flow has a high degree of variability and is subject to economic downturns. Liquidity is strained and the ability of the borrower to access traditional sources of credit is diminished.

 

Special Mention: The borrower has potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or in the Bank’s credit position at some future date. Special mention assets are not adversely classified and do not expose the Bank to risk sufficient to warrant adverse classification.

 

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

 

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

 

Risk ratings on commercial and industrial loans and commercial mortgages are initially assigned during the underwriting process and affirmed as part of the approval process. The ratings are periodically reviewed and evaluated based on borrower contact, credit department review or independent loan review.

 

The Bank's loan risk rating and review policy establishes requirements for the annual review of commercial real estate and commercial and industrial loans. The requirements include details of the scope of coverage and selection process based on loan-type and risk rating. The Bank reviews at least 80% of its commercial real estate loan portfolio on an annual basis and uses a third-party review firm as part of its credit quality monitoring program. Lines of credit are also reviewed annually at each proposed reaffirmation. The frequency of the review of other loans is determined by minimum principal balance thresholds and the Bank’s ongoing assessments of the borrower’s condition.

 

Residential mortgage loans, revolving home equity lines and other consumer loans are initially evaluated utilizing the borrower’s credit score. A credit score is a tool used in the Bank’s loan approval process, and a minimum score of 680 is generally required for new loans. Credit scores for each borrower are updated at least annually. However, regardless of credit score, loans may be classified, criticized or placed on management’s watch list if relevant information comes to light.

 

 


 

The following tables present the amortized cost basis of loans by class of loans, vintage and risk rating. Loans shown as Pass are all loans other than those risk rated Watch, Special Mention, Substandard or Doubtful. Also presented are gross chargeoffs recorded in the current year-to-date period by year of origination.

 

    March 31, 2025  
    Term Loans by Origination Year     Revolving        
(in thousands)   2025     2024     2023     2022     2021     Prior     Loans (1)     Total  
Commercial and industrial:                                                                
Risk rating:                                                                
Pass   $ 6,431     $ 52,334     $ 16,123     $ 21,369     $ 10,072     $ 14,137     $ 6,869     $ 127,335  
Watch           2,925       409             2,727                   6,061  
Special Mention                       196                         196  
Substandard                 503                               503  
Doubtful                                                
    $ 6,431     $ 55,259     $ 17,035     $ 21,565     $ 12,799     $ 14,137     $ 6,869     $ 134,095  
                                                                 
Current-period gross chargeoffs   $     $     $     $     $     $     $ (348 )   $ (348 )
                                                                 
Commercial mortgages – multifamily:                                                                
Risk rating:                                                                
Pass   $     $ 30,063     $ 41,395     $ 179,808     $ 165,203     $ 412,083     $ 125     $ 828,677  
Watch                                                
Special Mention           4,067             6,798                         10,865  
Substandard                                   1,184             1,184  
Doubtful                                                
    $     $ 34,130     $ 41,395     $ 186,606     $ 165,203     $ 413,267     $ 125     $ 840,726  
                                                                 
Current-period gross chargeoffs   $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $  
                                                                 
Commercial mortgages – other:                                                                
Risk rating:                                                                
Pass   $ 4,230     $ 76,709     $ 66,463     $ 191,070     $ 212,468     $ 270,491     $ 22     $ 821,453  
Watch                                                
Special Mention                                   5,844             5,844  
Substandard                                   14,532             14,532  
Doubtful                                                
    $ 4,230     $ 76,709     $ 66,463     $ 191,070     $ 212,468     $ 290,867     $ 22     $ 841,829  
                                                                 
Current-period gross chargeoffs   $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $  
                                                                 
Commercial mortgages – owner-occupied:                                                                
Risk rating:                                                                
Pass   $     $ 33,964     $ 21,742     $ 47,752     $ 43,458     $ 89,022     $ 2,290     $ 238,228  
Watch                 238             4,817                   5,055  
Special Mention                       3,191       852                   4,043  
Substandard                                                
Doubtful                                                
    $     $ 33,964     $ 21,980     $ 50,943     $ 49,127     $ 89,022     $ 2,290     $ 247,326  
                                                                 
Current-period gross chargeoffs   $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $  

 

 

 


 

    March 31, 2025  
    Term Loans by Origination Year     Revolving        
(in thousands)   2025     2024     2023     2022     2021     Prior     Loans (1)     Total  
Residential mortgages (2):                                                                
Risk rating:                                                                
Pass   $     $ 6,163     $ 26,120     $ 184,727     $ 153,766     $ 691,638     $ 33,452     $ 1,095,866  
Watch                                                
Special Mention                                                
Substandard                                   2,908             2,908  
Doubtful                                                
    $     $ 6,163     $ 26,120     $ 184,727     $ 153,766     $ 694,546     $ 33,452     $ 1,098,774  
                                                                 
Current-period gross chargeoffs   $     $     $     $     $     $ (22 )   $     $ (22 )
                                                                 
Consumer and other:                                                                
Risk rating:                                                                
Pass   $     $     $ 34     $ 133     $     $ 100     $ 810     $ 1,077  
Watch                                                
Special Mention                                                
Substandard                                                
Doubtful                                                
Not Rated                                         49       49  
    $     $     $ 34     $ 133     $     $ 100     $ 859     $ 1,126  
                                                                 
Current-period gross chargeoffs   $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $  
                                                                 
Total Loans   $ 10,661     $ 206,225     $ 173,027     $ 635,044     $ 593,363     $ 1,501,939     $ 43,617     $ 3,163,876  
Total gross chargeoffs   $     $     $     $     $     $ (22 )   $ (348 )   $ (370 )

 

(1) Includes revolving lines converted to term of $4.3 million of commercial and industrial, $1.0 million of owner-occupied commercial mortgage and $6.9 million of residential home equity.

 

(2) Certain fixed rate residential mortgage loans are included in a fair value hedging relationship. The amortized cost excludes an adjustment of $58,000 related to basis adjustments for loans in the closed portfolio under the portfolio layer method at March 31, 2025. These basis adjustments would be allocated to the amortized cost of specific loans within the pool if the hedge was de-designated. See "Note 7 - Derivatives" for more information on the fair value hedge.

 

 


 

5 - STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION 

 

The following table presents a summary of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) outstanding at March 31, 2025 and changes during the three month period then ended.

 

                Weighted-        
          Weighted-     Average     Aggregate  
          Average     Remaining     Intrinsic  
    Number of     Grant-Date     Contractual     Value  
    RSUs     Fair Value     Term (yrs.)     (in thousands)  
Outstanding at January 1, 2025     196,170     $ 12.53                  
Converted     (49,365 )     14.96                  
Outstanding at March 31, 2025     146,805     $ 11.71       0.98     $ 1,813  

 

As of March 31, 2025, there was $867,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested RSUs. The total cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years.

 

6 - FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

Financial Instruments Recorded at Fair Value. When measuring fair value, the Corporation uses a fair value hierarchy, which is designed to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The hierarchy involves three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

 

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Corporation can access at the measurement date.

 

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

 

Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect the Corporation’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

 

 


 

The fair values of the Corporation’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are set forth in the table that follows. The fair values of AFS securities are determined on a recurring basis using matrix pricing (Level 2 inputs). Matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities, does not rely exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather on the relationship of such securities to other benchmark quoted securities. Where no significant other observable inputs were available, Level 3 inputs were used. The fair values of interest rate swaps are based on valuation models using observable market data as of the measurement date resulting in a Level 2 classification.

 

    Fair Value Measurements Using:  
          Quoted Prices     Significant        
          in Active     Other     Significant  
          Markets for     Observable     Unobservable  
          Identical Assets     Inputs     Inputs  
(in thousands)   Total     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
March 31, 2025:                                
Financial Assets:                                
Available-for-Sale Securities:                                
State and municipals   $ 133,559     $     $ 133,443     $ 116  
Pass-through mortgage securities     131,195             131,195        
Collateralized mortgage obligations     141,287             141,287        
SBA agency obligations     94,444             94,444        
Corporate bonds     114,865             114,865        
      615,350             615,234       116  
Derivative - interest rate swaps     873             873        
    $ 616,223     $     $ 616,107     $ 116  
                                 
Financial Liabilities:                                
Derivative - interest rate swaps   $ 574     $     $ 574     $  
                                 
December 31, 2024:                                
Financial Assets:                                
Available-for-Sale Securities:                                
State and municipals   $ 135,543     $     $ 135,407     $ 136  
Pass-through mortgage securities     129,440             129,440        
Collateralized mortgage obligations     145,059             145,059        
SBA agency obligations     101,427             101,427        
Corporate bonds     113,310             113,310        
      624,779             624,643       136  
Derivative - interest rate swaps     1,274             1,274        
    $ 626,053     $     $ 625,917     $ 136  
                                 
Financial Liabilities:                                
Derivative - interest rate swaps   $ 395     $     $ 395     $  

 

State and municipal AFS securities measured using Level 3 inputs. The Bank held three non-rated bond anticipation notes with a book value of $116,000 at March 31, 2025. These bonds have a one year maturity and are issued by local municipalities that are customers of the Bank. Due to the short duration of the bonds, book value approximates fair value at March 31, 2025.

 

There were no assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024.

 

Financial Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value. Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time. Such estimates are generally subjective in nature and dependent upon a number of significant assumptions associated with each financial instrument or group of similar financial instruments, including estimates of discount rates, liquidity, risks associated with specific financial instruments, estimates of future cash flows, and relevant available market information. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates. In addition, fair value estimates do not reflect the value of anticipated future business, premiums or discounts that could result from offering for sale at one time the Corporation’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument, or the income tax consequences of realizing gains or losses on the sale of financial instruments.

 

 


 

The following table sets forth the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial instruments that are not recorded at fair value in the Corporation’s financial statements.

 

          Fair Value Measurements Using:  
                Quoted Prices     Significant        
                in Active     Other     Significant  
                Markets for     Observable     Unobservable  
    Carrying     Fair     Identical Assets     Inputs     Inputs  
(in thousands)   Amount     Value     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
March 31, 2025:                                        
Financial Assets:                                        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 67,555     $ 67,555     $ 67,555     $     $  
Loans, net     3,135,626       2,900,997                   2,900,997  
Restricted stock     24,329       n/a       n/a       n/a       n/a  
Accrued interest receivable     13,303       13,303             2,514       10,789  
                                         
Financial Liabilities:                                        
Checking deposits     1,072,766       1,072,766       1,072,766              
Savings, NOW and money market deposits     1,587,030       1,587,030       1,587,030              
Time deposits     635,789       634,364             634,364        
Overnight advances                              
Other borrowings     360,000       360,382             360,382        
Accrued interest payable     5,810       5,810             5,810        
                                         
December 31, 2024:                                        
Financial Assets:                                        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 38,330     $ 38,330     $ 38,330     $     $  
Loans, net     3,193,276       2,947,587                   2,947,587  
Restricted stock     27,712       n/a       n/a       n/a       n/a  
Accrued interest receivable     13,407       13,407             2,701       10,706  
                                         
Financial Liabilities:                                        
Checking deposits     1,074,671       1,074,671       1,074,671              
Savings, NOW and money market deposits     1,574,160       1,574,160       1,574,160              
Time deposits     616,027       614,245             614,245        
Overnight advances                              
Other borrowings     435,000       434,492             434,492        
Accrued interest payable     7,672       7,672             7,672        

 

 


 

7 – DERIVATIVES

 

As part of its asset liability management activities, the Corporation may utilize interest rate swaps to help manage its interest rate risk position. The notional amount of an interest rate swap does not represent the amount exchanged by the parties. The exchange of cash flows is determined by reference to the notional amount and the other terms of the interest rate swap agreements.

 

Fair Value Hedge. On March 16, 2023, the Bank entered into a three year interest rate swap with a notional amount totaling $300 million which was designated as a fair value hedge of certain fixed rate residential mortgages. The Bank pays a fixed rate of 3.82% and receives a floating rate based on the secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) for the life of the agreement without an exchange of the underlying notional amount. The hedge was determined to be effective during the quarter ended March 31, 2025 and the Corporation expects the hedge to remain effective during the remaining term of the swap. The gain or loss on the derivative as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk is recognized in interest income.

 

The following table summarizes information about the interest rate swap designated as a fair value hedge.

 

    March 31,
    2025
Notional amount   $300 million
Fixed pay rate   3.82%
Overnight SOFR receive rate   4.41%
Maturity   0.96 years

 

The following table presents the amount recorded on the balance sheet related to cumulative basis adjustments for the fair value hedge as of the periods indicated.

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
(in thousands)   2025     2024  
Loans - Residential Mortgages:                
Carrying amount of the hedged asset (1)   $ 436,422     $ 440,755  
Fair value hedging adjustment included in the carrying amount of the hedged asset     58       (525 )

 

(1) This amount represents the amortized cost basis of the closed loan portfolio used to designate the hedging relationship in which the hedged item is the stated amount of assets in the closed portfolio anticipated to be outstanding for the designated hedge period. At March 31, 2025, the amortized cost basis of the closed portfolio used in this hedging relationship was $436.4 million. The cumulative basis adjustment associated with this hedging relationship was $58,000 and the amount of the designated hedged item was $299,000.

 

During the first quarter of 2025, the Bank recorded a $356,000 credit from the swap transaction as a component of interest income in the consolidated statements of income.

 

 


 

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges. The Bank enters into interest rate swap agreements (“back-to-back swap”) that are not designated as hedging instruments. A back-to-back swap allows a borrower to effectively convert a variable rate loan to a fixed rate. The Bank originates a variable rate loan with a borrower and simultaneously enters into offsetting back-to-back swaps with the borrower and an unaffiliated dealer counterparty to minimize interest rate risk. In connection with each swap transaction, the Bank agrees to pay interest to the borrower on a notional amount at a variable interest rate and receives interest from the borrower on a similar notional amount at a fixed interest rate. Concurrently, the Bank agrees to pay the dealer counterparty the same fixed interest rate on the same notional amount and receives the same variable interest rate on the same notional amount. Because the Bank acts as an intermediary for its borrower, changes in the fair value of the underlying derivative contracts offset each other and do not impact the Bank’s results of operations.

 

    March 31, 2025
        Notional     Fair Value     Fair Value  
(in thousands)   Positions   Amount     Asset     Liabilities  
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments included in other assets / other liabilities:                      
Interest rate swap with borrower   3   $ 36,373     $ 574     $  
Interest rate swap with offsetting counterparty   3   $ 36,373     $     $ 574  
                             

 

    December 31, 2024
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments included in other assets / other liabilities:                            
Interest rate swap with borrower   3   $ 36,523     $ 395     $  
Interest rate swap with offsetting counterparty   3   $ 36,523     $     $ 395  

 

The Bank did not record any back-to-back swap fee income during the first quarter of 2025. 

 

8 – BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

 

Proposed Merger with ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. On September 4, 2024, the Corporation entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (“ConnectOne”), pursuant to which the companies will combine in an all-stock transaction. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Corporation will merge into ConnectOne, with ConnectOne as the surviving corporation (the "merger"), and the Bank will merge into ConnectOne Bank, with ConnectOne Bank as the surviving institution (the “bank merger” and, together with the merger, the “transaction”). Upon closing of the transaction, the Corporation's shareholders will receive 0.5175 shares of ConnectOne common stock for each share of the Corporation's common stock (the “merger consideration”). The Corporation held a special meeting of shareholders on February 14, 2025 at which time the Corporation's shareholders approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereunder. The merger remains subject to the receipt of certain regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The Corporation anticipates the transaction will close in the second quarter of 2025. 

 

The foregoing description of the proposed merger and the Merger Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement.

 

 


 

9 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

 

From time to time, the Corporation and its subsidiaries may be a named defendant in legal actions incidental to the business. For some of these actions, there is always a possibility that the Corporation and/or its subsidiaries will sustain a financial loss. 

 

As previously disclosed in the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 28, 2024, the Bank was notified by a customer of suspicious wire transfer activity in July 2024 involving the customer's bank accounts. The wire transfer activity arose as the result of unauthorized access to banking information within the customer's control, and upon completion of an internal procedural investigation, the Bank determined that it followed its reasonable procedures regarding online wire transfers. On January 22, 2025, the customer filed a lawsuit against the Corporation and the Bank claiming monetary damages of approximately $11.1 million, the net amount of funds involved in the suspicious wire transfer activity. The Corporation and Bank intend to vigorously defend against the lawsuit.

 

10 – SEGMENT INFORMATION 

 

The Corporation has determined that the chief operating decision makers ("CODM") are the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as well as from time to time the Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors, with the exception of the Chief Executive Officer, are not in day-to-day management of the Corporation but there are times when board approval of operating decisions is required, such as for strategic plans, budgets, establishing executive compensation practices, declaring shareholder dividends and for execution of material transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions.

 

The Bank provides banking products and services as well as access to third-party financial products and services to business and retail clients through its network of physical locations and various digital channels. The CODM uses comparisons to Board of Director approved strategic plans and budgets and comparisons to peer metrics to assess performance and determine compensation. Comparisons include tracking actual performance to budgets, prior periods and peer performance. Metrics include, among others, net income, return on average equity, return on average assets, and total shareholder return. Interest on loans and investments, service charges, BOLI earnings and interchange fees provide most of the revenues in the banking operation. Interest expense on borrowings and deposits, provisions for credit losses, salaries and benefits, operating facilities and expenses related to technology are the significant expenses in the banking operation. All operations are domestic.

 

Because these operations are closely linked and largely dependent upon each other, they are managed, and the financial performance is evaluated on a consolidated basis. Accordingly, and consistent with prior years, all of the Corporation's operations are considered by management to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment.

 

11 – IMPACT OF ISSUED BUT NOT YET EFFECTIVE ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

The pronouncements discussed in this section are not intended to be an all-inclusive list, but rather only those pronouncements that could potentially have an impact on the Corporation’s financial position, results of operations or disclosures.

 

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2023-09 “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures,” which includes amendments that further enhance income tax disclosures, primarily through disaggregation of specific rate reconciliation categories and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted, and may be applied prospectively or retrospectively. Other than the new disclosure requirements, ASU 2023-09 will not have an impact on the Corporation's consolidated financial statements.