10-Q 1 a10-17493_110q.htm 10-Q

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(MARK ONE)

 

x      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Quarterly Period ended September 30, 2010

 

OR

 

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Transition Period from                   to                   

 

Commission File No. 000-51896

 

COMMUNITYSOUTH FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

South Carolina

 

20-0934786

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(I.R.S. Employer

of incorporation)

 

Identification No.)

 

6602 Calhoun Memorial Highway

Easley, South Carolina 29640

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(864) 306-2540

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x   No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). o Yes    o No

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated o

 

Smaller reporting company x

(do not check if smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o   No x

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 4,698,697 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, were issued and outstanding as of October 29, 2010.

 

 

 



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

Part I - Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

September 30, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

(Audited)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from bank

 

$

7,480

 

$

6,876

 

Federal funds sold

 

46,885

 

31,043

 

Total cash and cash equivalents

 

54,365

 

37,919

 

Investment securities, available for sale

 

146,155

 

103,638

 

Other investments, at cost

 

1,485

 

1,599

 

Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of $11,437 at September 30, 2010 and $12,963 at December 31, 2009

 

223,053

 

262,141

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

984

 

1,440

 

Property and equipment, net

 

3,396

 

3,867

 

Other real estate owned

 

10,036

 

6,703

 

Repossessed collateral

 

741

 

942

 

Other assets

 

461

 

3,285

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

440,676

 

$

421,534

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest bearing

 

$

24,503

 

$

21,829

 

Interest bearing

 

377,870

 

354,734

 

Total deposits

 

402,373

 

376,563

 

Repurchase agreements

 

30,000

 

30,000

 

Subordinated debt

 

4,325

 

4,325

 

Accrued interest payable

 

1,383

 

1,307

 

Accrued expenses

 

928

 

665

 

Other liabilities

 

2

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

439,011

 

412,863

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued

 

 

 

Common stock, par value $.01 per share 35,000,000 shares authorized, 4,698,697 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009

 

47

 

47

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

29,872

 

29,824

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

814

 

(1,134

)

Retained earnings

 

(29,068

)

(20,066

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

1,665

 

8,671

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

440,676

 

$

421,534

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

2



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

September 30, 2010

 

September 30, 2009

 

Interest income

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and fees on loans

 

$

3,206

 

$

4,270

 

Interest and dividends on investments

 

474

 

561

 

Total interest income

 

3,680

 

4,831

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense — deposits and other borrowings

 

2,574

 

2,145

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

1,106

 

2,686

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for loan losses

 

3,000

 

3,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses

 

(1,894

)

(814

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest income

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage origination revenue

 

279

 

197

 

Gain on sale of securities

 

594

 

 

Other

 

225

 

213

 

Total non-interest income

 

1,098

 

410

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and benefits

 

1,286

 

1,344

 

Data processing

 

161

 

225

 

Occupancy

 

168

 

170

 

Depreciation

 

153

 

190

 

Equipment maintenance and rental

 

58

 

55

 

Advertising

 

37

 

64

 

Professional fees

 

305

 

73

 

Office supplies

 

13

 

20

 

Telephone

 

46

 

35

 

FDIC assessment

 

486

 

135

 

Net loss on sale/writedown of other real estate owned and repossessed collateral

 

522

 

42

 

Other

 

665

 

472

 

Total non-interest expense

 

3,900

 

2,825

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

 

(4,696

)

(3,229

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax benefit

 

 

(1,095

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(4,696

)

$

(2,134

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losses per share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(1.00

)

$

(0.45

)

Diluted

 

$

(1.00

)

$

(0.45

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

4,698,697

 

4,698,697

 

Diluted

 

4,698,697

 

4,698,697

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

3



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Nine months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30, 2010

 

September 30, 2009

 

Interest income

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and fees on loans

 

$

10,163

 

$

12,931

 

Interest and dividends on investments

 

1,832

 

1,460

 

Total interest income

 

11,995

 

14,391

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense — deposits and other borrowings

 

7,436

 

6,176

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

4,559

 

8,215

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for loan losses

 

5,000

 

6,305

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses

 

(441

)

1,910

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest income

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage origination revenue

 

642

 

502

 

Gain on sale of securities

 

1,072

 

520

 

Other

 

642

 

643

 

Total non-interest income

 

2,356

 

1,665

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and benefits

 

3,955

 

3,946

 

Data processing

 

547

 

696

 

Occupancy

 

524

 

509

 

Depreciation

 

486

 

552

 

Equipment maintenance and rental

 

208

 

133

 

Advertising

 

111

 

161

 

Professional fees

 

1,013

 

239

 

Office supplies

 

52

 

62

 

Telephone

 

113

 

110

 

FDIC assessment

 

1,667

 

502

 

Net loss on sale/writedown of other real estate owned and repossessed collateral

 

529

 

117

 

Other

 

1,712

 

1,051

 

Total non-interest expense

 

10,917

 

8,078

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

 

(9,002

)

(4,503

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax benefit

 

 

(1,528

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(9,002

)

$

(2,975

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losses per share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(1.92

)

$

(0.63

)

Diluted

 

$

(1.92

)

$

(0.63

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

4,698,697

 

4,698,697

 

Diluted

 

4,698,697

 

4,698,697

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

4



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009

(UNAUDITED)

(dollars in thousands, except share amounts)

 

 

 

Preferred Stock

 

Common Stock

 

Additional
Paid-in

 

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive

 

Retained

 

Total
Shareholders’

 

Total
Comprehensive

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Income

 

Earnings

 

Equity

 

Income (Loss)

 

Balance at December 31, 2009

 

 

$

 

4,698,697

 

$

47

 

$

29,824

 

$

(1,134

)

$

(20,066

)

$

8,671

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9,002

)

(9,002

)

$

(9,002

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains on securities, net of income tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,020

 

 

3,020

 

3,020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reclassification of realized gains

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,072

)

 

(1,072

)

(1,072

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(7,054

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock option compensation

 

 

 

 

 

48

 

 

 

48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2010

 

 

$

 

4,698,697

 

$

47

 

$

29,872

 

$

814

 

$

(29,068

)

$

1,665

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred Stock

 

Common Stock

 

Additional
Paid-in

 

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive

 

Retained

 

Total
Shareholders’

 

Total
Comprehensive

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Income

 

Earnings

 

Equity

 

Income (Loss)

 

Balance at December 31, 2008

 

 

$

 

4,698,697

 

$

47

 

$

29,760

 

$

491

 

$

(1,770

)

$

28,528

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,975

)

(2,975

)

$

(2,975

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains on securities, net of income tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

513

 

 

513

 

513

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reclassification of realized gains

 

 

 

 

 

 

(520

)

 

(520

)

(520

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(2,982

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock option compensation

 

 

 

 

 

52

 

 

 

52

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2009

 

 

$

 

4,698,697

 

$

47

 

$

29,812

 

$

484

 

$

(4,745

)

$

25,598

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

5



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Nine months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30, 2010

 

September 30, 2009

 

Operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(9,002

)

$

(2,975

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for loan losses

 

5,000

 

6,305

 

Stock option compensation

 

48

 

52

 

Appreciation of bank-owned life insurance

 

 

(51

)

Gain on sale of securities

 

(1,072

)

(520

)

Depreciation

 

486

 

552

 

Loss on disposal of equipment

 

3

 

1

 

Net loss on sale/writedown of other real estate owned and repossessed collateral

 

529

 

117

 

Deferred income tax expense

 

 

(1,948

)

Income tax refund

 

2,480

 

 

Decrease in accrued interest receivable

 

456

 

92

 

Increase in accrued interest payable

 

76

 

44

 

Increase in accrued expenses

 

263

 

175

 

Decrease (increase) in other assets

 

344

 

(381

)

Decrease in other liabilities

 

(1

)

(148

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

(390

)

1,315

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in loans outstanding

 

28,469

 

15,877

 

Sale of bank owned life insurance

 

 

5,488

 

Purchase of investment securities

 

(405,912

)

(71,241

)

Sale/call/maturity of investment securities

 

366,415

 

5,399

 

Sale of FHLB stock

 

114

 

206

 

Disposal (purchase) of property and equipment

 

(18

)

15

 

Sale of other real estate owned and repossessed collateral

 

1,958

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

(8,974

)

(44,256

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase in deposit accounts

 

25,810

 

81,171

 

Repayments to FHLB

 

 

(25,000

)

Repayment of note payable

 

 

(1,570

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

25,810

 

54,601

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

16,446

 

11,660

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

 

37,919

 

9,876

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD

 

$

54,365

 

$

21,536

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for (received from):

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

$

7,360

 

$

6,132

 

Income taxes

 

$

(2,480

)

$

419

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule of non-cash transactions

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains on investment securities, net of income taxes

 

$

1,948

 

$

(7

)

Loans charged-off

 

$

6,526

 

$

4,068

 

Transfers to other real estate owned and repossessed collateral

 

$

5,619

 

$

8,003

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

6


 


 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 1 — NATURE OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

Business Activity and Organization — CommunitySouth Financial Corporation (the “Company”) is a South Carolina corporation organized for the purpose of owning and controlling all of the capital stock of CommunitySouth Bank and Trust (the “Bank”).  The Bank is a state chartered bank organized under the laws of South Carolina.  From its inception on March 20, 2004 through January 18, 2005, the Company engaged in organizational and pre-opening activities necessary to obtain regulatory approvals and to prepare its subsidiary, the Bank, to commence business as a financial institution.  The Company received approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), the Federal Reserve Board (“FRB”) and the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions in January 2005.

 

The Bank began operations on January 18, 2005.  The Bank primarily is engaged in the business of accepting deposits insured by the FDIC, and providing commercial, consumer and mortgage loans to the general public.

 

The Company sold 4,681,069 shares of common stock at $6.40 per share in an initial public offering that was completed on February 15, 2005 (as adjusted for all stock splits).  The offering raised $29,430,810, net of offering costs.  The directors and officers of the Company purchased 659,531 shares at $6.40 per share for a total of $4,221,000.

 

Basis of Presentation — The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and to general practices in the banking industry for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q.  Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  Operating results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2010.  For further information, refer to the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Principles of Consolidation — The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CommunitySouth Financial Corporation, the parent company, and CommunitySouth Bank and Trust, its wholly owned subsidiary, and All Seasons Properties, LLC, a subsidiary of the Bank, which was formed in 2009 for the purpose of holding and marketing repossessed assets. All significant intercompany items have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

 

Management’s Estimates — The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Disclosure Regarding Segments — The Company reports as one operating segment, as management reviews the results of operations of the Company as a single enterprise.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents — For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks, short-term interest bearing deposits and federal funds sold.  Cash and cash equivalents have an original maturity of three months or less.

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk — Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of loans receivable, investment securities, federal funds sold and amounts due from banks.

 

7



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

The Company makes loans to individuals and small businesses for various personal and commercial purposes primarily in the upstate region of South Carolina.  The Company’s loan portfolio is not concentrated in loans to any single borrower or to a relatively small number of borrowers.  The Bank does, however, have a concentration of loans classified as commercial real estate. These loans are especially susceptible to being adversely effected by the current economic downturn. The current downturn in the real estate market has resulted in an increase in loan delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures, and we believe these trends are likely to continue.  In some cases, this downturn has resulted in a significant impairment to the value of our collateral and our ability to sell the collateral upon foreclosure, and there is a risk that this trend will continue.  The commercial real estate collateral in each case provides an alternate source of repayment in the event of default by the borrower and may deteriorate in value during the time the credit is extended.  If real estate values in our market areas continue to decline, it is also more likely that we would be required to increase our allowance for loan losses.

 

In addition to monitoring potential concentrations of loans to particular borrowers or groups of borrowers, industries and geographic regions, management monitors exposure to credit risk that could arise from potential concentrations of lending products and practices such as loans that subject borrowers to substantial payment increases (e.g., principal deferral periods, loans with initial interest-only periods, etc.), and loans with high loan-to-value ratios.  Additionally, there are industry practices that could subject the Company to increased credit risk should economic conditions change over the course of a loan’s life.  For example, the Company makes variable rate loans and fixed rate principal-amortizing loans with maturities prior to the loan being fully paid (i.e., balloon payment loans).  These loans are underwritten and monitored to manage the associated risks.  Management has determined that there is no concentration of credit risk associated with its lending policies or practices.

 

The Company’s investment portfolio consists of both marketable and non-marketable equity securities.  Management believes credit risk associated with the equity securities is not significant. The Company places its deposits and correspondent accounts with, and sells its federal funds to, high quality institutions.  Management believes credit risk associated with correspondent accounts is not significant.

 

Investment Securities — The Company classifies investments in equity and debt securities in three categories:

 

1.               Available for sale securities: These are securities that are not classified as either held to maturity or as trading securities.  These securities are reported at fair market value.  Unrealized gains and losses are reported, net of income taxes, as separate components of shareholders’ equity (accumulated other comprehensive income).

2.               Held to maturity securities: These are investment securities that the Company has the ability and intent to hold until maturity.  These securities are stated at cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and the accretion of discounts.

3.               Trading securities: These are securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling in the near future.  Trading securities are reported at fair market value, and related unrealized gains and losses are recognized in the income statement.  The Company has no trading securities.

 

Gains or losses on dispositions of investment securities are based on the differences between the net proceeds and the adjusted carrying amount of the securities sold, using the specific identification method.   Premiums and discounts are amortized or accrued into interest income by a method that approximates a level yield.

 

Other Investments — The Bank, as a member institution, is required to own stock investments in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (the “FHLB”).  Investment in the FHLB is a condition of borrowing from the FHLB, and the stock is pledged to collateralize such borrowings.  No ready market exists for the stock and it has no quoted market value.  However, redemption of FHLB stock has historically been at par value.  At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company’s investment in FHLB stock was $1,485,000 and $1,599,300, respectively.  The dividend received on this stock is included in interest and dividends on investments.

 

Loans Receivable — Loans are stated at their unpaid principal balance less an allowance for loan losses and net deferred loan origination fees.  Interest income is computed using the simple interest method and is recorded in the period earned. Loan origination fees collected and certain loan origination costs are deferred and the net amount is accreted as income using a method that approximates the level yield method over the life of the related loans.

 

8



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

Loans are considered to be impaired when, in management’s judgment and based on current information, the full collection of principal and interest becomes doubtful according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.  Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments due.  Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired.  Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed.  Impairment is measured on a loan by loan basis for commercial and construction loans by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s obtainable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. A loan is also considered impaired if its terms are modified in a troubled debt restructuring.

 

Loans are generally placed on non-accrual status when principal or interest becomes 90 days past due, or when payment in full is not anticipated.  Additionally, impaired loans are typically placed in non-performing status if it is determined that the entire balance of principal and interest of the loan cannot be repaid, and future payments are applied to principal until such time as collection of the obligation is no longer doubtful. Interest accrual resumes only when loans return to performing status.  To return to performing status, loans must be fully current, and continued timely payments must be a reasonable expectation.  When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, interest accrued but not received is generally reversed against interest income.  Cash receipts on non-accrual loans are not recorded as interest income but are used to reduce principal.

 

The Company identifies impaired loans through its normal internal loan review process.  Loans on the Company’s potential problem loan list are considered potentially impaired loans.  These loans are evaluated in determining whether all outstanding principal and interest are expected to be collected.  Loans are not considered impaired if a minimal payment delay occurs and all amounts due, including accrued interest at the contractual interest rate for the period of delay, are expected to be collected.  Management has determined that the Company had $68,236,000 and $34,158,000 in impaired loans at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses — The allowance for loan losses is established as losses are estimated to have occurred through a provision for loan losses charged to earnings.  Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectability of a loan balance is confirmed.  Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.

 

The allowance for loan losses is evaluated on a regular basis by management and is based upon management’s periodic review of the collectability of the loans in light of historical experiences, the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, estimated value of any underlying collateral and prevailing economic conditions.  This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.

 

The allowance for loan losses consists of specific, general and unallocated components.  The specific component relates to loans that are classified as either doubtful, substandard or special mention.  For such loans that are also classified as impaired, an allowance is established when the discounted cash flows (or collateral value or observable market price) of the impaired loan is lower than the carrying value of the loan. The general component covers non-classified loans and is based on historical loss experience adjusted for qualitative factors.  An unallocated component is maintained to cover uncertainties that could affect management’s estimate of probable losses.  The unallocated component of the allowance reflects the margin of imprecision inherent in the underlying assumptions used in the methodologies for estimating specific and general losses in the portfolio.

 

Large groups of smaller balance homogeneous loans are collectively evaluated for impairment.  Accordingly, the Company does not separately identify individual consumer and residential loans for impairment disclosures, unless such loans are the subject of a restructuring agreement.

 

Bank-Owned Life Insurance — As of September 30, 2010, the Company has no remaining bank-owned life insurance policies.  The Company made the decision to sell these policies in 2009 in order to help reduce assets, thereby improving the Bank’s risk based capital ratio. During the first quarter of 2009, the Company began the process of divesting of its key employee life insurance policies by selling policies at no gain or loss.  Income from these policies and changes in the net cash surrender value were recorded in non-interest income. The final policy was sold in April 2009.

 

Advertising — Advertising, promotional, and other business development costs generally are expensed as incurred.  External costs incurred in producing media advertising are expensed the first time the advertising takes place.  External costs relating to direct mailing costs are expensed in the period in which the direct mailings are sent.

 

9



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

Property and Equipment — Premises, furniture and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation.  Depreciation expense is computed using the straight-line method, based on the estimated useful lives for furniture and equipment of 5 to 10 years.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the lease.  Maintenance and repairs are charged to current expense.  The costs of major renewals and improvements are capitalized.

 

Mortgage Origination Revenue — The Bank offers residential loan origination services to its customers in its immediate market area.  The loans are offered on terms and prices offered by the Bank’s correspondents and are closed in the name of the Bank with preapproval from the correspondents.  The Bank receives fees for services it provides in conjunction with the origination services it provides.  The fees are recognized at the time the loans are sold to the Bank’s correspondent.

 

Income Taxes — The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis.  When income and expenses are recognized in different periods for financial reporting purposes versus for the purposes of computing income taxes currently payable, deferred taxes are provided on such temporary differences.

 

The Company has analyzed filing positions in all of the federal and state jurisdictions where it is required to file income tax returns, as well as all open tax years in these jurisdictions. The Company believes that its income tax filing positions taken or expected to be taken in its tax returns will more likely than not be sustained upon audit by the taxing authorities and does not anticipate any adjustments that will result in a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flow. Therefore, no reserves for uncertain income tax positions have been recorded.

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements or tax returns.  Income taxes are the sum of amounts currently payable to taxing authorities and the net changes in income taxes payable or refundable in future years.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be realized or settled.  Income taxes deferred to future years are determined utilizing an asset and liability approach.  This method gives consideration to the future tax consequences associated with differences between financial accounting and tax bases of certain assets and liabilities which are principally the allowance for loan losses, depreciable premises and equipment, and net operating loss carry-forwards.  As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, due to the Company’s recent financial results, the uncertainty involved in projecting near-term profitability, and evaluation of appropriate tax planning strategies, management has provided a 100% valuation allowance for these deferred tax assets.  This valuation allowance reflects management’s estimate that the deferred tax assets are not more-likely-than-not to be realized.

 

Earnings (loss) Per Share — Basic earnings (loss) per share represents the net income (loss) allocated to shareholders divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflect the impact of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued.  Potential common shares that may be issued by the Company relate to both outstanding warrants and stock options, and are determined using the treasury stock method.

 

Stock—based Compensation — The Company has adopted the fair value recognition provisions to account for compensation costs under its stock option plans.  The Company previously utilized the intrinsic value method.  Under the intrinsic value method, no compensation costs were recognized for the Company’s stock options because the option exercise price in its plans equaled the market price on the date of grant.

 

The Company elected to use the modified prospective method to account for the transition from the intrinsic value method to the fair value recognition method.  Under the modified prospective method, compensation cost is recognized from the adoption date forward for all new stock options granted and for any outstanding unvested awards as if the fair value method had been applied to those awards as of the date of grant.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments — In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into off-balance sheet financial instruments consisting of commitments to extend credit and letters of credit.  These financial instruments are recorded in the financial statements when they become payable by the customer.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards — The following is a summary of recent authoritative pronouncements that could impact the accounting, reporting, and / or disclosure of financial information by the Company:

 

Income Tax guidance was amended in April 2010 to reflect an SEC Staff Announcement after the President signed the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 on March 30, 2010, which amended the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed on March 23, 2010.   According to the announcement, although the bills were signed on separate dates,

 

10



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

regulatory bodies would not object if the two Acts were considered together for accounting purposes. This view is based on the SEC staff’s understanding that the two Acts together represent the current health care reforms as passed by Congress and signed by the President.  The amendment had no impact on the financial statements.

 

In July 2010, the Receivables topic of the ASC was amended to require expanded disclosures related to a company’s allowance for credit losses and the credit quality of its financing receivables. The amendments will require the allowance disclosures to be provided on a disaggregated basis.  The Company is required to begin to comply with the disclosures in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), which significantly changes the regulation of financial institutions and the financial services industry.  The Dodd-Frank Act includes several provisions that will affect how community banks, thrifts, and small bank and thrift holding companies will be regulated in the future.  Among other things, these provisions abolish the Office of Thrift Supervision and transfer its functions to the other federal banking agencies, relax rules regarding interstate branching, allow financial institutions to pay interest on business checking accounts, change the scope of federal deposit insurance coverage, and impose new capital requirements on bank and thrift holding companies.  The Dodd-Frank Act also establishes the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection as an independent entity within the FRB, which will be given the authority to promulgate consumer protection regulations applicable to all entities offering consumer financial services or products, including banks.  Additionally, the Dodd-Frank Act includes a series of provisions covering mortgage loan origination standards affecting originator compensation, minimum repayment standards, and pre-payments.  Management is actively reviewing the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and assessing its probable impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

In August 2010, two updates were issued to amend various SEC rules and schedules pursuant to Release No. 33-9026: Technical Amendments to Rules, Forms, Schedules and Codification of Financial Reporting Policies and based on the issuance of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 112.  The amendments related primarily to business combinations and removed references to “minority interest” and added references to “controlling” and “noncontrolling interests(s)”.  The updates were effective upon issuance but had no impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Risks and Uncertainties — In the normal course of its business, the Company encounters two significant types of risk: economic and regulatory.  There are three main components of economic risk:  interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk.  The Company is subject to interest rate risk to the degree that its interest-bearing liabilities mature or reprice at different speeds, or on different bases, than its interest-earning assets.  Credit risk is the risk of default on the Company’s loan portfolio that results from the borrower’s inability or unwillingness to make contractually required payments.  Market risk reflects changes in the value of collateral underlying loans receivable and the valuation of real estate held by the Company.

 

The Company is subject to the regulations of various governmental agencies.  These regulations can and do change significantly from period to period.  The Company also undergoes periodic examinations by the regulatory agencies, which may subject it to further changes with respect to asset valuations, amounts of required loss allowances and operating restrictions from the regulators’ judgments based on information available to them at the time of their examination.  On September 29, 2009, the Bank entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU”) with the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions and the FDIC.  In addition, on February 23, 2010 the Bank agreed to the issuance of a Consent Order (the “Consent Order”) with these same regulators which supersedes the MOU.  Additionally, on March 1, 2010, the Company entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, which contains provisions similar to the Bank’s Consent Order with the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions and the FDIC.  Please see Note 3 for more details regarding these regulatory agreements.

 

Reclassifications - Certain captions and amounts in the prior financial statements were reclassified to conform with the 2010 presentation.  Such reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net income (loss) or shareholders’ equity.

 

11



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

NOTE 3 — REGULATORY ACTIONS AND GOING CONCERN CONSIDERATIONS

 

Memorandum of Understanding

 

As a result of the issues stemming from the economic downturn, on September 29, 2009 the Bank entered into the MOU with the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions and the FDIC.  The MOU required the Bank to, among other things, (1) submit a capital plan to the supervisory authorities for returning to a “well-capitalized” designation; (2) develop specific plans and proposals for the reduction and improvement of assets which are subject to adverse classification and past due loans; (3) implement a plan to decrease the concentration of commercial real estate loans; (4) develop and implement an adequate loan review program; and (5) review overall liquidity objectives and develop plans and procedures aimed at improving liquidity and reducing reliance on volatile liabilities to fund longer-term assets.  In addition, the Bank may not pay dividends without the prior written consent of each supervisory authority.  Since entering into the MOU, the Bank has been actively pursuing the corrective actions required by the MOU in an effort to ensure that the requirements of the MOU are met in a timely manner.  For additional information on the MOU, including actions the Bank has taken in response to the MOU, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsThe Effect of the Current Economic Environment on our Bank — Memorandum of Understanding.”

 

In addition, in mid-February 2010 the Bank received a supervisory letter from the FDIC dated February 11, 2010, which provided for additional restrictions and mandatory actions to be taken by the Bank.  These restrictions and actions were all substantially addressed and superseded by the subsequent Consent Order discussed in the subsection below.  However, in order to comply with the supervisory letter, the Bank was required to prepare and submit to the FDIC a capital restoration plan no later than April 2, 2010, which submission date was sooner than a similar requirement under the Consent Order.  The Bank submitted its capital restoration plan to the FDIC on April 2, 2010.

 

Consent Order

 

Following the FDIC’s safety and soundness examination of the Bank in the fourth quarter of 2009, the Bank agreed to the issuance of the Consent Order with the FDIC and the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions on February 23, 2010.  The Consent Order, which supersedes the MOU, conveys specific actions needed to address certain findings from the FDIC’s Report of Examination and to address the Bank’s current financial condition, primarily related to capital planning, liquidity/funds management, policy and planning issues, management oversight, loan concentrations and classifications, and non-performing loans.  For additional information on the Consent Order, including actions the Bank has taken in response to the Consent Order, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsThe Effect of the Current Economic Environment on our Bank — Consent Order.”

 

Additionally, on March 1, 2010, the Company entered into an informal agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.  The informal agreement contains provisions similar to those in the Bank’s MOU with the FDIC and the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions, including a requirement that the Company obtain the prior written approval of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond before (1) declaring or paying any dividends, (2) directly or indirectly accepting dividends or any other form of payment representing a reduction in capital from the Bank, (3) making any distributions of interest, principal or other sums on subordinated debentures or trust preferred securities, (4) directly or indirectly, incurring, increasing or guaranteeing any debt, and (5) directly or indirectly, purchasing or redeeming any shares of its stock.  Pursuant to our plans to preserve capital and to inject more capital into the Bank, the Company has no plans to undertake any of the foregoing activities.

 

Going Concern Considerations

 

Due to the conditions and events discussed in this Form 10-Q, substantial doubt exists as to our ability to continue as a going concern. The going concern assumption is a fundamental principle in the preparation of financial statements. It is the responsibility of management to assess the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. In assessing this assumption, the Company has taken into account all available information about the future, which is at least, but is not limited to, twelve months from the balance sheet date of September 30, 2010. The Company has a history of profitable operations and sufficient sources of liquidity to meet its short-term and long-term funding needs. However, the Bank’s financial condition has suffered during 2009 and the first nine months of 2010 from the extraordinary effects of what may ultimately be the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

 

The Bank, with a loan portfolio consisting of a concentration in commercial real estate loans including residential construction and development loans, has seen a decline in the value of the collateral securing its portfolio as well as rapid

 

12



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

deterioration in its borrowers’ cash flow and ability to repay their outstanding loans to the Bank. As a result, the Bank’s level of nonperforming assets increased substantially during 2009 and has continued to increase through the third quarter of 2010. As of September 30, 2010, our non-performing assets equaled $47.4 million, or 10.8% of assets, as compared to $42.4 million, or 10.1% of assets, as of December 31, 2009. For the year ended December 31, 2009 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Bank recorded a $17 million and a $5 million provision, respectively, to increase the allowance for loan losses to a level which, in management’s best judgment, adequately reflected the increased risk inherent in the loan portfolio as of the year and quarter end periods, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded net loan charge-offs of $6.5 million, or 2.57% of average loans, as compared to net loan charge-offs of $4.1 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  Largely as a result of these charge-offs and the increase in our loan loss provision, our capital position has eroded and, as of September 30, 2010, we are deemed to be “critically undercapitalized” with a regulatory leverage ratio of 1.07%.

 

As a result of the Bank’s “critically undercapitalized” status as of September 30, 2010, a number of requirements or restrictions can or will be imposed on the Company and the Bank in addition to those set forth under the Consent Order with the FDIC and the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions and the informal agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond described in this Form 10-Q under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsThe Effect of the Current Economic Environment on our Bank — Consent Order.”  These additional requirements and restrictions: (i) prohibit the Bank from paying any bonus to a senior executive officer or providing compensation to a senior executive officer at a rate exceeding the officer’s average rate of compensation (excluding bonuses, stock options and profit-sharing) during the 12 months preceding the month in which the Bank became undercapitalized, without prior written approval from the FDIC; (ii) require the FDIC to impose one or more of the following on the Bank: (A) require a sale of Bank shares or obligations of the Bank sufficient to return the Bank to adequately capitalized status; (B) if grounds exist for the appointment of a receiver or conservator for the Bank, require the Bank to be acquired or merged with another institution; (C) impose additional restrictions on transactions with affiliates beyond the normal restrictions applicable to all banks; (D) impose more stringent growth restrictions on the Bank, or require the Bank to further reduce its total assets; (E) require the Bank to alter, reduce or terminate any activities the FDIC determines pose excessive risk to the Bank; (F) order a new election of Bank directors; (G) require the Bank to dismiss any senior executive officer or director who held office for more than 180 days before the Bank became undercapitalized; (H) require the Bank to employ “qualified” senior executive officers; (I) require the Company to divest the Bank if the regulators determine that the divestiture would improve the Bank’s financial condition and future prospects; and (J) require the Bank to take any other action that the FDIC determines will better carry out the purposes of the statute requiring the imposition of one or more of the restrictions described in (A)-(I) above; and (iii) requiring prior regulatory approval for material transactions outside the usual course of business, extending credit for a highly leveraged transactions, amending the Bank’s Articles of Incorporation or bylaws, making a material change to accounting methods, paying excessive compensation or bonuses, and paying interest on new or renewed liabilities at a rate that would increase the Bank’s weighted average cost of funds to a level significantly exceeding the prevailing rates on interest on deposits in the Bank’s normal market areas.

 

Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (the “FDI Act”), a bank that is “critically undercapitalized” must be placed into conservatorship or receivership within 90 days of becoming critically undercapitalized, unless the bank’s primary Federal regulatory authority (for the Bank, the FDIC) determines and documents that “other action” would better achieve the purposes of the FDI Act’s prompt corrective action capital requirements.  If the bank remains critically undercapitalized on average during the calendar quarter beginning 270 days after it became critically undercapitalized, the FDI Act requires the appointment of a receiver unless the bank and the FDIC affirmatively can determine that, among other things, the bank has positive net worth and the FDIC can certify that the bank is viable and not expected to fail.

 

We have determined that significant additional sources of capital will be required for us to continue operations through the remainder of 2010 and beyond. We also continue to monitor and address liquidity issues.  The Company and the Bank operate in a highly-regulated industry and must plan for the liquidity needs of each entity separately. A variety of sources of liquidity are available to the Bank to meet its short-term and long-term funding needs. Although a number of these sources have been limited following execution of the Consent Order with the FDIC and the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions, management has prepared forecasts of these sources of funds and the Bank’s projected uses of funds during 2010 in an effort to ensure that the sources available are sufficient to meet the Bank’s projected liquidity needs for this period.

 

The Company relies on dividends from the Bank as its primary source of liquidity. The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank. Various legal limitations restrict the Bank from lending or otherwise supplying funds to the Company to meet its obligations, including paying dividends. In addition, the terms of the Consent Order described above and in greater detail under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsThe Effect of the

 

13



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

Current Economic Environment on our Bank — Consent Order” will further limit the Bank’s ability to pay dividends to the Company to satisfy its funding needs.

 

The Company will also need to raise additional capital to increase capital levels to meet the standards set forth by the FDIC as described in greater detail under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsThe Effect of the Current Economic Environment on our Bank — Consent Order”. As a result of the recent downturn in the financial markets, the availability of many sources of capital (principally to financial services companies) has become significantly restricted or has become increasingly costly as compared to the prevailing market rates prior to the volatility. Management cannot predict when or if the capital markets will return to more favorable conditions. Management is actively evaluating a number of capital sources, asset reductions and other balance sheet management strategies to ensure that the Bank’s projected level of regulatory capital can support its balance sheet.

 

There can be no assurances that the Company will be successful in its efforts to raise additional capital during 2010. An equity financing transaction would result in substantial dilution to the Company’s current shareholders and could adversely affect the market price of the Company’s common stock. It is difficult to predict if these efforts will be successful, either on a short-term or long-term basis. Should these efforts be unsuccessful, due to the regulatory restrictions which exist that restrict cash payments between the Bank and the Company, the Company may be unable to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.

 

As a result of management’s assessment of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, the accompanying consolidated financial statements for the Company have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the discharge of liabilities in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future, and does not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability or classification of assets.

 

NOTE 4 — INVESTMENT SECURITIES

 

The amortized costs and fair values of investment securities are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Gross Unrealized

 

Fair

 

As of September 30, 2010

 

Cost

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

Value

 

Available for sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US Treasury

 

$

74,991

 

$

1

 

$

 

$

74,992

 

Mortgage-backed

 

70,320

 

821

 

(8

)

71,133

 

Marketable securities

 

30

 

 

 

30

 

Total available for sale

 

$

145,341

 

$

822

 

$

(8

)

$

146,155

 

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Gross Unrealized

 

Fair

 

As of December 31, 2009

 

Cost

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

Value

 

Available for sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage-backed

 

104,672

 

77

 

(1,211

)

103,538

 

Marketable securities

 

100

 

 

 

100

 

Total available for sale

 

$

104,772

 

$

77

 

$

(1,211

)

$

103,638

 

 

NOTE 5 — LOANS RECEIVABLE

 

Major classifications of loans receivable are summarized as follows:

 

(dollar amounts in thousands)

 

September 30, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

Real estate - construction

 

$

63,391

 

$

81,128

 

Real estate - mortgage

 

151,722

 

167,296

 

Commercial and industrial

 

18,252

 

25,028

 

Consumer and other

 

1,125

 

1,652

 

Total loans, gross

 

234,490

 

275,104

 

Less allowance for loan losses

 

(11,437

)

(12,963

)

Total loans, net

 

$

223,053

 

$

262,141

 

 

Loans are stated net of deferred fees and costs.

 

14



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

The Bank had $32.6 million and $29.4 million of loans classified as non-accrual status as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, loans past due 30 days or more, excluding non-accrual loans, amounted to $1.8 million and $4.8 million, respectively.  Changes in the allowance for loan losses were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Nine-months ended
September 30, 2010

 

Nine-months ended
September 30, 2009

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

12,963

 

$

8,088

 

Provision charged to operations

 

5,000

 

6,305

 

Net collections (charge-offs)

 

(6,526

)

(4,068

)

Balance, end of period

 

$

11,437

 

$

10,325

 

 

 

 

Nine-months ended September 30,

 

Impaired Loans:

 

2010

 

2009

 

No valuation allowance required

 

$

36,388

 

$

18,585

 

Valuation allowance required

 

31,848

 

16,184

 

Total impaired loans

 

$

68,236

 

$

34,769

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for loan losses on impaired loans at period end

 

$

6,670

 

$

4,010

 

 

NOTE 6 — LEASES

 

The Company leases branch locations in Spartanburg, Mauldin, Anderson, Greer and Greenville, South Carolina as well as the loan operations center in Easley, South Carolina. The initial lease terms range from three to ten years with various renewal options. The minimum future rental payments under non-cancelable operating leases having remaining terms in excess of one year, for each of the next five years and in the aggregate are (in thousands):

 

Remaining three months of 2010

 

$

91

 

2011

 

365

 

2012

 

343

 

2013

 

348

 

2014

 

353

 

Thereafter

 

606

 

Total minimum future rental payments

 

$

2,106

 

 

The loan operations center in Easley is leased from a partnership in which a Company director has a partnership interest.

 

NOTE 7 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Certain parties (principally certain directors and executive officers of the Company, their immediate families and business interests) (“affiliates”) are loan customers in the normal course of business with the Bank.  These loans are made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with unrelated persons and do not involve more than the normal risk of collectability.

 

NOTE 8 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

The Company is subject to claims and lawsuits which arise primarily in the ordinary course of business.  Management is not aware of any legal proceedings which would have a material adverse effect on the financial position or operating results of the Company.

 

15



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

NOTE 9 — STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

Upon completion of its initial public offering in 2005, the Company agreed to issue warrants to the organizing directors for the purchase of one share of common stock at $6.40 per share for every two shares purchased in the stock offering, up to a maximum of 15,625 warrants per director. The warrants were fully vested 120 days after January 18, 2005 and will expire on January 18, 2015.  Warrants held by directors of the Company will expire 90 days after the director ceases to be a director or officer of the Company (365 days if due to death or disability). The Company issued a total of 171,404 warrants.  As of September 30, 2010, the Company has 148,202 outstanding warrants to directors and officers.  In addition, the Company has adopted a stock option plan.  As of September 30, 2010, the Company has 729,710 outstanding options to employees and directors. On January 16, 2006, the Company adopted a resolution that terminated the “evergreen” provision of the Company 2005 Stock Incentive Plan. As a result, the number of shares of common stock issuable under the plan shall not be further increased in connection with any future share issuances by the Company. The exercise price of each option is equal to the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. The maximum term is ten years, and they typically vest in no greater than five years. When necessary, the Company may purchase shares on the open market to satisfy share option exercises. During the ensuing year, the Company is expected to acquire no shares.

 

The table set forth below summarizes stock option activity for the Company’s stock compensation plans for the period ended September 30, 2010 as adjusted for all stock splits.

 

 

 

Stock Options

 

Warrants

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-

 

 

 

Weighted-

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise

 

 

 

Exercise

 

 

 

Number

 

Price

 

Number

 

Price

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2009

 

756,033

 

$

6.99

 

171,404

 

$

6.40

 

Granted

 

3,050

 

0.57

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

29,373

 

8.52

 

23,202

 

6.40

 

Exercised

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 30, 2010

 

729,710

 

6.90

 

148,202

 

6.40

 

 

The table set forth below summarizes non-vested stock options as of September 30, 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

Fair

 

 

 

Number

 

Value

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2009

 

48,423

 

$

4.32

 

Granted

 

3,050

 

0.39

 

Vested

 

12,109

 

5.08

 

Forfeited

 

2,799

 

2.72

 

Outstanding at September 30, 2010

 

36,305

 

3.86

 

 

As of September 30, 2010, there was $107,025 in total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 24 months. As of December 31, 2009, there was $159,989 in total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements, which was expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 32 months.

 

The fair value of each option granted is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions for 2010:  dividend yield of 0%, expected term of 10 years, risk-free interest rate equal to the 10-year treasury rate on the respective grant date, expected life of 10 years, and expected volatility ranging from 53% to 57%.  The following assumptions were used for the 2009 estimates:  dividend yield of 0%, expected term of 10 years, risk-free interest rate equal to the 10-year treasury rate on the respective grant date, and expected life of 10 years.  Volatility assumed for options granted during 2009 ranged from 38% to 51%.

 

16



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding under the Company’s plans at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

 

September 30, 2010

 

Outstanding

 

Exercisable

 

Number of options

 

729,710

 

693,205

 

Weighted average remaining life

 

4.73 years

 

4.57 years

 

Weighted average exercise price

 

$

6.90

 

$

6.82

 

High exercise price

 

$

16.80

 

$

16.80

 

Low exercise price

 

$

0.25

 

$

2.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

Outstanding

 

Exercisable

 

Number of options

 

756,033

 

707,610

 

Weighted average remaining life

 

5.47 years

 

5.29 years

 

Weighted average exercise price

 

$

6.99

 

$

6.83

 

High exercise price

 

$

16.80

 

$

16.80

 

Low exercise price

 

$

1.75

 

$

4.55

 

 

There were no options exercised during the quarter and thus no cash was received related to this type of transaction. There were no options exercised during 2010 or 2009.

 

At September 30, 2010, all of the 148,202 warrants were exercisable and had an average remaining life of 4.30 years. At December 31, 2009, all of the 171,404 warrants were exercisable and had an average remaining life of 5.05 years.

 

NOTE 10 — FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

GAAP requires disclosure of fair value information, whether or not recognized in the consolidated balance sheets, when it is practical to estimate the fair value.  GAAP defines a financial instrument as cash, evidence of an ownership interest in an entity or contractual obligations, which require the exchange of cash, or other financial instruments.  Certain items are specifically excluded from the disclosure requirements, including the Company’s common stock, premises and equipment, accrued interest receivable and payable, and other assets and liabilities.

 

The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount at which the asset or obligation could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale.  Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time based on relevant market information and information about the financial instruments.  Because no market value exists for a significant portion of the financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors.

 

The Company has used management’s best estimate of fair value based on the above assumptions.  Thus, the fair values presented may not be the amounts, which could be realized, in an immediate sale or settlement of the instrument. In addition, any income taxes or other expenses, which would be incurred in an actual sale or settlement, are not taken into consideration in the fair values presented.

 

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of significant financial instruments:

 

Cash and Due from Banks - The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

 

Federal Funds Sold - Federal funds sold are for a term of one day, and the carrying amount approximates the fair value.

 

Investment Securities - The fair values of marketable equity securities are valued using quoted fair market prices.

 

Other Investments - The carrying value of non-marketable equity securities approximates the fair value since no ready market exists for the stocks.

 

Loans Receivable - For certain categories of loans, such as variable rate loans which are repriced frequently and have no significant change in credit risk, fair values are based on the carrying amounts.  The fair value of other types of loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities.  In order to capture the change in credit risk, the current allowance for loan losses is also considered when determining fair value of loans receivable.

 

17



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

Deposits - The fair value of demand deposits, savings, and money market accounts is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date.  The fair values of certificates of deposit are estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies current interest rates to a schedule of aggregated expected maturities.

 

Repurchase Agreements - The fair value of repurchase agreements is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies prevailing market rates for comparable debt instruments.

 

Subordinated Debt — The fair value of subordinated debt is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies prevailing market rates for comparable instruments.  Due to diminishing cash available at the holding company level, we only paid the June and September 2010 interest payments to subordinated debt holders that were not officers or directors of the Company.  If we are unable to raise additional capital, we may have to discontinue paying interest on the subordinated debentures to all holders after the September 2010 payments due to lack of funds, and our fair value calculation reflects this.

 

The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are shown in the following table (dollars in thousands).

 

 

 

Carrying

 

Estimated

 

 

 

Amount

 

Fair Value

 

September 30, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

$

7,480

 

$

7,480

 

Federal funds sold

 

46,885

 

46,885

 

Investment securities, available for sale

 

146,155

 

146,155

 

Other investments

 

1,485

 

1,485

 

Loans, gross

 

234,490

 

231,409

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Demand deposit, interest-bearing transaction, and savings accounts

 

$

107,796

 

$

107,796

 

Certificates of deposit and other time deposits

 

294,577

 

297,669

 

Repurchase agreements

 

30,000

 

32,577

 

Subordinated debt

 

4,325

 

1,963

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

$

6,876

 

$

6,876

 

Federal funds sold

 

31,043

 

31,043

 

Investment securities, available for sale

 

103,638

 

103,638

 

Other investments

 

1,599

 

1,599

 

Loans, gross

 

275,104

 

260,894

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Demand deposit, interest-bearing transaction, and savings accounts

 

$

122,712

 

$

122,712

 

Certificates of deposit and other time deposits

 

253,851

 

254,930

 

Repurchase agreements

 

30,000

 

31,558

 

Subordinated debt

 

4,325

 

2,062

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Notional
Amount

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Notional
Amount

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments to extend credit

 

$

10,343

 

$

 

$

14,451

 

$

 

Standby Letters of Credit

 

$

840

 

$

 

$

1,525

 

$

 

 

GAAP requires new disclosure that establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosure about fair value measurements.  This disclosure enables the reader of the financial statements to assess the inputs used to develop those measurements by establishing a hierarchy for ranking the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values.  Assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

 

18



 

CommunitySouth Financial Corporation

 

·                  Level 1:  Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

·                  Level 2:  Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

 

·                  Level 3:  Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

 

In determining appropriate levels, the Company performs a detailed analysis of the assets and liabilities that are subject to fair value measurement.  At each reporting period, all assets and liabilities for which the fair value measurement is based on significant unobservable inputs are classified as Level 3.

 

The tables below present the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the valuation hierarchy (as described above) as of September 30, 2010.

 

 

 

September 30, 2010

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Investment securities, available for sale

 

$

146,155

 

$

 

$

146,155

 

$

 

 

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment).  The following tables present the assets and liabilities carried on the balance sheet by caption and by level within the valuation hierarchy (as described above) as of September 30, 2010 for which a nonrecurring change in fair value has been recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

 

 

 

Carrying Value at September 30, 2010

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Impaired loans, net of allowance for loan losses

 

$

61,566

 

$

 

$

 

$

61,566

 

Other real estate owned

 

10,036

 

 

 

10,036

 

Repossessed collateral

 

741

 

 

 

741

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs

 

 

 

(Level 3)

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Impaired
Loans

 

Other Real
Estate Owned

 

Repossessed
Collateral

 

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2009

 

$

34,158

 

$

6,703

 

$

942

 

$

41,803

 

Gains/(losses) included in earnings

 

 

(502

)

(27

)

(529

)

Net additions

 

27,408

 

3,835

 

(174

)

31,069

 

Transfers in/(out) of level 3

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2010

 

$

61,566

 

$

10,036

 

$

741

 

$

72,343

 

 

NOTE 11 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

The Bank has evaluated events and transactions through our filing date for potential recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements, and has determined there are no subsequent events to disclose.

 

19



 

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

The following discussion reviews our results of operations and assesses our financial condition.  You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements.  The commentary should be read in conjunction with the discussion of forward-looking statements, the financial statements, and the related notes and the other statistical information included in this report.  For further information, refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

DISCUSSION OF FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Report, including information included or incorporated by reference in this document, contains statements which constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements relate to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance, and business of the Company. Forward-looking statements are based on many assumptions and estimates and are not guarantees of future performance. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements, as they will depend on many factors about which we are unsure, including many factors which are beyond our control , including the potential that (1) we may not be able to continue as a going concern and (2) because of our critically undercapitalized status, our regulators may initiate additional enforcement actions against us, which could include placing the Bank under conservatorship or into receivership. The words “may,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “assume,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “forecast,” “goal,” and “estimate,” as well as similar expressions, are meant to identify such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 as filed with the SEC and the following:

 

·                  our efforts to raise capital or otherwise increase our regulatory capital ratios;

·                  the effects of our efforts to raise capital on our balance sheet, liquidity, capital, and profitability;

·                  our ability to retain our existing customers, including our deposit relationships;

·                  our ability to comply with the terms of the enforcement actions between our Company, Bank, and our regulatory authorities within the time frames specified, or our ability to comply with statutory obligations applicable to critically undercapitalized institutions under prompt corrective action or to comply with other regulatory requirements which could result in the imposition of further enforcement action imposing additional restrictions on our operations or placing the Bank into conservatorship or receivership at any time;

·                  the rate of delinquencies and amounts of loans charged-off;

·                  our rapid growth through 2008 and short operating history;

·                  reduced earnings due to higher credit losses generally and specifically because losses in the sectors of our loan portfolio secured by real estate are greater than expected due to economic factors, including declining real estate values, decreasing interest rates, increasing unemployment, or changes in payment behavior or other factors;

·                  reduced earnings due to higher credit losses because our loans are concentrated by loan type, industry segment, borrower type, or location of the borrower or collateral;

·                  the amount of our real estate based loans, and the weakness in the commercial real estate market;

·                  our reliance on available secondary funding sources such as Federal Reserve Discount Window borrowings, sales of securities and loans, and secured federal funds lines of credit from correspondent banks, to meet our liquidity needs;

·                  significant increases in competitive pressure in the banking and financial services industries;

·                  changes in the interest rate environment which could reduce anticipated or actual margins;

·                  changes in political conditions or the legislative or regulatory environment, including the effect of recent financial reform legislation on the banking industry;

·                  general economic conditions, either nationally or regionally and especially in our primary service area, becoming less favorable than expected resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality;

·                  changes occurring in business conditions and inflation;

·                  changes in technology;

·                  changes in deposits flows;

·                  changes in monetary and tax policies;

·                  the lack of seasoning of our loan portfolio, especially given our rapid loan growth through 2008;

·                  adequacy of the level of our allowance for loan losses;

·                  increased funding costs due to market illiquidity, increased competition for funding, and/or regulatory requirements;

 

20



 

·                  adverse changes in asset quality and resulting credit risk-related losses and expenses, including the risk of further impairment to the value of our collateral on loans for which we have already taken specific reserves;

·                  loss of consumer confidence and economic disruptions resulting from terrorist activities or other military actions;

·                  changes in the securities markets; and

·                  other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC.

 

We have based our forward-looking statements on our current expectations about future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee you that these expectations will be achieved. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

These risks are exacerbated by the recent developments in national and international financial markets, and we are unable to predict what impact these uncertain market conditions will have on us.  During 2008, 2009, and thus far in 2010, the capital and credit markets continued to experience extended volatility and disruption.  There can be no assurance that these unprecedented recent developments will not continue to materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations, as well as our ability to raise capital or other funding for liquidity and business purposes.

 

Overview

 

The following discussion describes our results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and also analyzes our financial condition as of September 30, 2010.  We received approvals from the FDIC, the FRB, and the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions during January 2005, and commenced business on January 18, 2005.

 

The Company is a bank holding company headquartered in Easley, South Carolina.  Our subsidiary, the Bank, opened for business on January 18, 2005.  All Seasons Properties, LLC, a subsidiary of the Bank, was formed in 2009 for the purpose of holding and marketing repossessed assets.  In addition to the main office in Easley, the Bank has five branch locations in the upstate region of South Carolina.  We opened our Mauldin branch in the fourth quarter of 2005, our Spartanburg branch in the first quarter of 2006, our Anderson branch in the third quarter of 2006, our Greer branch in the fourth quarter of 2006 and our Greenville branch in the third quarter of 2007.  The Bank provides banking services to domestic markets, principally in the Upstate of South Carolina.  The deposits of the Bank are insured by the FDIC.

 

Like most community banks, we derive most of our income from interest we receive on our loans and investments.  Our primary source of funds for making these loans and investments is our deposits, on which we pay interest.  Consequently, one of the key measures of our success is our amount of net interest income, or the difference between the income on our interest-earning assets, such as loans and investments, and the expense on our interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits.  Another key measure is the spread between the yield we earn on these interest-earning assets and the rate we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities.

 

Current Economic Environment

 

Markets in the United States, including our market areas, have experienced extreme volatility and disruption for more than 24 months.  According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the United States entered into an economic recession in December 2007.  Dramatic slowdowns in the residential housing industry with falling home prices, increasing foreclosures, and rising unemployment levels have created strains on the loan portfolios of many financial institutions.  Median home sales continued to decline during 2009 and in the first nine months of 2010 nationally and in our primary market area, South Carolina.  As a result, the level of foreclosures on homebuilders and homeowners continued to increase.

 

As a result of the current economic recession, many borrowers are unable to repay their loans, and the collateral securing these loans has, in some cases, declined below the loan balance with the drop in real estate values, making it difficult for financial institutions to fully recover the principal and interest owed.  In addition, the rapidly deteriorating economic conditions in our country have evolved into a crisis of confidence in the safety and soundness of larger financial institutions, brokerage firms, and insurance companies, resulting in extreme liquidity pressure throughout the United States financial system for all financial companies including community financial institutions such as ours.  This pressure has caused many banks to tighten lending standards, which has constrained the ability of businesses and consumers to obtain credit.  Anxiety over liquidity and credit risk has grown in recent months and banks have curbed lending to each other, further limiting liquidity sources available to financial institutions.

 

21



 

The Effect of the Current Economic Environment on our Bank

 

Like many financial institutions across the United States and in South Carolina, our operations have been adversely affected by the current economic crisis.  Beginning in 2008 and continuing through the first nine months of 2010, we recognized that construction, acquisition, and development real estate projects were slowing, guarantors were becoming financially stressed, and increasing credit losses were surfacing.  During the first nine months of 2010, delinquencies over 90 days continued to increase, resulting in an increase in non-accrual loans indicating significant credit quality deterioration and probable losses.  In particular, loans secured by real estate, including acquisition, construction, and development projects, demonstrated stress given reduced cash flows of individual borrowers, limited bank financing and credit availability, and slow property sales.  This deterioration manifested itself in our borrowers in the following ways: (i) the cash flows from underlying properties supporting the loans decreased (e.g., slower property sales for development type projects or lower occupancy rates or rental rates for operating properties); (ii) cash flows from the borrowers themselves and guarantors were under pressure given illiquid personal balance sheets and drainage by investing additional personal capital in the projects; and (iii) fair values of real estate related assets declined, resulting in lower cash proceeds from sales or fair values declining to the point that borrowers were no longer willing to sell the assets at such deep discounts.

 

As of September 30, 2010, approximately 91.7% of our loans had real estate as a primary or secondary component of collateral. The Bank had approximately 90.3% of such loans at December 31, 2009.  Included in our loans secured by real estate, we have approximately $29.7 million of acquisition and development (“A&D”) loans as of September 30, 2010, most of which are on properties located in the Upstate of South Carolina and Western North Carolina.  A&D loans are typically comprised of loans to borrowers for real estate to be developed (into properties such as sub-divisions or spec houses).   Normally, these loans are repaid with the proceeds from the sale of the developed property.  The greater degree of strain on these types of loans and the significance to our overall loan portfolio has caused us to apply a greater degree of scrutiny in analyzing the ultimate collectability of amounts due.  The majority of these borrowers are having financial difficulties.  Our analysis has resulted in a significant provision expense in order to meet the estimated allowance for loan loss reserve requirement.

 

Included in our loans secured by real estate, we have approximately $32.2 million of acreage and finished or buildable lot loans as of September 30, 2010.  The Bank had approximately $40.6 million of such loans at December 31, 2009. These loans are comprised of loans to borrowers for raw land and lots in subdivisions that have utilities and are ready to be built on individually but not as part of an entire development project.  These loans are generally repaid with the proceeds from the sale of the property.  As with our A&D loans, many of these borrowers are also experiencing financial difficulties and the greater degree of strain on these types of loans and the significance to our overall loan portfolio has caused us to apply a greater degree of scrutiny in analyzing the ultimate collectability of amounts due.  Our analysis has resulted in a significant provision expense in order to meet the estimated allowance for loan loss reserve requirement.

 

The result of the above was an increase in the level of our non-performing assets during the first nine months of 2010.  As of September 30, 2010, our non-performing assets equaled $47.4 million, or 10.8% of assets, as compared to $42.4 million, or 10.1% of assets, as of December 31, 2009.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded a provision for loan losses of $5 million and net loan charge-offs of $6.5 million, or 2.57% of average loans, as compared to a $6.3 million provision for loan losses and net loan charge-offs of $4.1 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  In addition, our net interest margin decreased to 1.37% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from 2.89% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  In total, the above reduced our earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 by $3.7 million compared to the same period in 2009.  As a result, as of September 30, 2010, we are deemed to be “critically undercapitalized.”

 

Under the FDI Act, a bank that is “critically undercapitalized” must be placed into conservatorship or receivership within 90 days of becoming critically undercapitalized, unless the institution’s primary Federal regulatory authority (for the Bank, the FDIC) determines and documents that “other action” would better achieve the purposes of PCA. If the bank remains critically undercapitalized on average during the calendar quarter beginning 270 days after it became critically undercapitalized, the FDI Act requires the appointment of a receiver unless the bank and the FDIC affirmatively can determine that, among other things, the bank has positive net worth and the FDIC can certify that the bank is viable and not expected to fail.

 

The adverse economic environment has also placed greater pressure on our deposits, as we have been taking steps to decrease our reliance on brokered deposits, while at the same time the competition for local deposits among banks in our market has been increasing in the past years.  We generally obtained out-of-market time deposits of $100,000 or more through brokers with whom we maintain ongoing relationships.  As of September 30, 2010, we had brokered deposits of $94.8 million, representing 23.6% of our total deposits. As a result of the limitations on brokered deposits imposed by the Consent Order

 

22



 

and our “critically undercapitalized” designation, we must find other sources of liquidity to replace these deposits as they mature.  At the end of the fourth quarter of 2009, the Bank started using an internet based certificate of deposit gathering service.  This product has provided a source of funds to replace our brokered deposits, as we have repaid all of our brokered deposits as of November 15, 2010.  The Bank’s internet based deposits have increased from $1.8 million at December 31, 2009 to $113.6 million as of September 30, 2010.  Secondary sources of liquidity may include proceeds from FHLB advances and federal funds lines of credit from correspondent banks.  However, the FHLB has informed us that due to our financial condition we are not currently permitted to receive any more advances.  At September 30, 2010, we had federal funds lines of credit with unrelated banks totaling $5.0 million.  These lines are available for general corporate purposes but may be terminated at any time based on our financial condition.  Thus, we can make no assurances that this funding source will continue to be available to us.  As a result, we must limit our growth, raise additional capital, or sell assets, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.  Additionally, deposit levels may be affected by a number of factors, including rates paid by competitors, general interest rate levels, regulatory capital requirements, returns available to customers on alternative investments and general economic conditions.  Because the Bank is not well capitalized, it would normally be restricted from offering an effective yield on deposits of more than 75 basis points over the national rates published by the FDIC weekly on its website.  However, on April 1, 2010, we applied for and received a determination from the FDIC that our market areas were all high interest rate areas.  As a result, we have permission to pay deposit rates of up to 75 basis points over the local rates (assuming the local rates exceed the applicable non-local rates) on non-local deposits gathered in our normal market area even if these rates exceed non-local rates by more than 75 basis points.  Nevertheless, if we are unable to attract sufficient deposits to meet our liquidity needs, then the Bank may be placed into a federal conservatorship or receivership by the FDIC, with the FDIC appointed as conservator or receiver.

 

Memorandum of Understanding

 

As a result of the issues stemming from the economic downturn, on September 29, 2009 the Bank entered into the MOU with the Commissioner of Banking of the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions and the Regional Director of the FDIC’s Atlanta Regional Office.  The MOU required the Bank to, among other things, (1) submit a capital plan to the supervisory authorities for returning to a “well-capitalized” designation; (2) develop specific plans and proposals for the reduction and improvement of assets which are subject to adverse classification and past due loans; (3) implement a plan to decrease the concentration of commercial real estate loans; (4) develop and implement an adequate loan review program; and (5) review overall liquidity objectives and develop plans and procedures aimed at improving liquidity and reducing reliance on volatile liabilities to fund longer-term assets.  In addition, the Bank may not pay dividends without the prior written consent of each supervisory authority.

 

Since entering into the MOU, the Bank has been actively pursuing the corrective actions required by the MOU in an effort to ensure that the requirements of the MOU are met in a timely manner.  For example:

 

·                  As of September 30, 2010, we are deemed to be “critically undercapitalized.”  As described below, we did not meet the Consent Order deadline to achieve and maintain a “well-capitalized” designation, therefore, we submitted a revised capital plan to the FDIC and the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions on July 28,  2010.  Our capital plan outlines how we intend to return our Bank’s risk-based capital ratio level over 10% by (i) reducing our overall amount of assets and, in particular, our amount of risk-based assets and (ii) raising additional capital.  To reduce our amount of assets, we have sold assets such as our bank-owned life insurance and some of our available for sale securities.  In addition, we are actively seeking buyers for part of our loan portfolio.  As a result of these steps, we decreased our amount of risk-based assets by $37.7 million from December 31, 2009 to September 30, 2010.  We are also exploring additional financing alternatives to strengthen the capital levels of the Bank.  However, there can be no assurances that the Company will be successful in its efforts to raise additional capital.  Should these efforts be unsuccessful, due to the regulatory restrictions which exist that restrict cash payments between the Bank and the Company, the Company may be unable to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.

 

·                  We have developed and implemented a plan to reduce our amount of classified loans by establishing an IMPAC committee (Improving Problem Asset Committee) to focus on the development of work-out plans for our other real estate owned (OREO) and classified loans and to explore approaches to provide additional capital to support our classified loans or to reduce the level of such loans, such as through the sale of loans to third parties. As a result, we have created a more risk-based loan review program, which we believe has enhanced the underwriting and monitoring of our loan portfolio.

 

23



 

·                  We have implemented a plan to decrease the concentration of our commercial real estate loans.  Since January 2009, we have effectively ceased making any new commercial real estate loans and we are decreasing the existing level of these loans through the normal sale of real estate by borrowers and by encouraging borrowers who are not full relationship clients of the Bank to seek other financing when their loans mature.  We are also actively seeking secondary market permanent financing for recently completed residential construction projects.  As a result of these efforts, our amount of commercial real estate loans decreased from $151.6 million at December 31, 2008 to $101.3 million at September 30, 2010.

 

·                  We continue to work on improvements within the loan review area.  An external firm currently serves as the bank’s internal loan review party and has helped to ensure that the bank has stayed on course with its 2010 loan review plan.  Also, the Bank continues to aggressively track and request current financial statements as well as re-assess individual loan grades as new information is obtained.  Finally, the Bank has expanded the scope of the special assets area by hiring a senior officer with an extensive background in real estate.

 

·                  On September 10, 2009, we submitted to the FDIC and the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions a revised Funds Management Policy to reflect our plan to continue to improve liquidity levels and reduce our reliance on brokered deposits and other non-core funding sources over the next 18 months.  We grew rapidly in our initial years of operations, which we funded with a combination of local deposits and wholesale funding, including brokered deposits.  As of September 30, 2010, we are deemed to be “critically undercapitalized” and, as a result, can no longer accept, renew or roll over brokered deposits. Thus, we have been actively focused on eliminating brokered deposits on our balance sheet.  We improved the Bank’s liquidity position by raising approximately $133.8 million in new deposits, net of a $107.9 million decrease in brokered deposits, through the use of an internet based deposit gathering system along with growth of local deposits from December 31, 2009 to September 30, 2010, and we have repaid all of our brokered deposits as of November 15, 2010.

 

In addition, in mid-February 2010 the Bank received a supervisory letter from the FDIC dated February 11, 2010, which provided for additional restrictions and mandatory actions to be taken by the Bank.  These restrictions and actions were all substantially addressed and superseded by the subsequent Consent Order discussed in the subsection below.  However, in order to comply with the supervisory letter, the Bank was required to prepare and submit to the FDIC a capital restoration plan no later than April 2, 2010, which submission date was sooner than a similar requirement under the Consent Order.  The Bank submitted its capital restoration plan to the FDIC on April 2, 2010. As discussed above, the plan was rejected due to the Bank’s inability to meet the September 23, 2010 deadline to achieve and maintain a “well-capitalized” designation.  The Bank submitted a revised capital plan to the FDIC on July 28, 2010.

 

Consent Order

 

Following the FDIC’s safety and soundness examination of the Bank in the fourth quarter of 2009, the Bank entered into the Consent Order with the FDIC and the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions on February 23, 2010.  The Consent Order, which supersedes the MOU, conveys specific actions needed to address certain findings from the FDIC’s Report of Examination and to address the Bank’s current financial condition, primarily related to capital planning, liquidity/funds management, policy and planning issues, management oversight, loan concentrations and classifications, and non-performing loans.  A summary of the requirements of the Consent Order and the Bank’s status on complying with the Consent Order is as follows:

 

Requirements of the Consent Order

 

Bank’s Compliance Status

Establish, within 30 days from the effective date of the Consent Order, a plan to monitor compliance with the Consent Order, which shall be monitored by the Bank’s board of directors.

 

A plan to monitor compliance with the Consent Order was established by the Bank’s board of directors at a meeting held on March 16, 2010. Pursuant to the plan, the board created and appointed four of its members to serve on a consent order compliance committee to monitor the Bank’s compliance with the Consent Order. The committee has met six times since its creation on March 16, 2010.

 

 

 

Ensure the Bank has qualified management in place to carry out the policies of the Bank’s board of directors and operate the Bank in a safe and sound manner.

 

A management plan, which includes organizational structure and management assessment, was approved by the Bank’s board of directors and submitted to the supervisory authorities on April 12, 2010. The Bank has also taken

 

24



 

 

 

steps to implement this management plan, including accepting on April 6, 2010 the resignation of the Bank’s president, and restructuring reporting lines.

 

 

 

Achieve and maintain, within 120 days from the effective date of the Consent Order, Total Risk Based capital at least equal to 10% of risk-weighted assets and Tier 1 capital at least equal to 8% of total assets.

 

The Bank did not meet this deadline. The Bank submitted a revised written plan to the FDIC on July 28, 2010 describing the means and timing by which the Bank will increase such ratios up to or in excess of the established minimums.

 

 

 

Develop, within 45 days from the effective date of the Consent Order, a written analysis and assessment of the Bank’s management and staffing needs.

 

The Bank prepared a written analysis and assessment of its management and staffing needs and submitted this analysis to the supervisory authorities on April 12, 2010.

 

 

 

Establish, within 60 days from the effective date of the Consent Order, a comprehensive policy for determining the adequacy of the Bank’s allowance for loan and lease losses, which must provide for a review of the Bank’s allowance for loan and lease losses at least once each calendar quarter.

 

The Bank’s board of directors and consent order compliance committee reviewed and approved a comprehensive policy for determining the adequacy of the Bank’s allowance for loan and lease losses, and this policy was submitted to the supervisory authorities prior to the April 27, 2010 deadline.

 

 

 

Enhance, within 60 days from the effective date of the Consent Order, the Bank’s written plan for the reduction of classified assets, which shall include, among other things, a reduction of the Bank’s risk position in each asset in excess of $250,000 that is classified as “Substandard” or “Doubtful.”

 

A plan to reduce the Bank’s classified assets was reviewed and approved by the Bank’s board of directors and consent order compliance committee on April 20, 2010. The plan was submitted to the supervisory authorities on the April 27, 2010 deadline.

 

 

 

Not extend any additional credit to any borrower who has a loan or other extension of credit from the Bank that has been charged off or classified, in whole or in part, “loss” or “doubtful” and is uncollected. In addition, the Bank may not extend any additional credit to any borrower who has a loan or other extension of credit from the Bank that has been classified, in whole or in part, “substandard” and is uncollected, unless the Bank’s board of directors determines that failure to extend further credit to a particular borrower would be detrimental to the best interests of the Bank.

 

The Bank is not aware of any instance it extended, directly or indirectly, any additional credit to, or for the benefit of, any borrower who was a loan or other extension of credit from the Bank that has been charged off or classified, in whole or in part, “loss” or “doubtful” and is uncollected.

 

 

 

Perform, within 45 days from the effective date of the Consent Order, a risk segmentation analysis with respect to the Bank’s Concentrations of Credit and a written plan to systematically reduce any segment of the portfolio that is an undue concentration of credit.

 

The Bank performed a risk segmentation analysis with respect to its concentrations of credit, and this analysis was reviewed and approved by the consent order compliance committee on April 6, 2010 and by the Bank’s board of directors on April 8, 2010. This analysis was submitted to the supervisory authorities by the April 12, 2010 deadline.

 

 

 

Revise, within 60 days from the effective date of the Consent Order, the Bank’s internal loan review and grading system to provide for the periodic review of the Bank’s loan portfolio in order to identify and categorize the Bank’s loans, and other extensions of credit which are carried on the Bank’s books as loans, on the basis of credit quality.

 

The Bank revised and updated its internal loan review plan, which was reviewed and approved by the Bank’s board of directors and the consent order compliance committee on April 20, 2010. The plan was submitted to the supervisory authorities prior to the April 27, 2010 deadline.

 

25



 

Formulate and implement, within 60 days from the effective date of the Consent Order, a profit plan and comprehensive budget for all categories of income and expense, which must address, at minimum, goals and strategies for improving and sustaining the earnings of the Bank, the major areas in and means by which the Bank will seek to improve the Bank’s operating performance, and the operating assumptions that form the basis for and adequately support major projected income and expense components of the plan.

 

The Bank created profit plan and budget for all categories of income and expense, which includes adjustments where the Bank either exceeded budget or had budget shortfalls in order to provide realistic projections going forward. The profit plan and budget were reviewed and approved by the Bank’s board of directors on April 20, 2010 and were submitted to the supervisory authorities prior to the April 27, 2010 deadline.

 

 

 

Enhance, within 60 days from the effective date of the Consent Order, the Bank’s written funds management plan addressing liquidity, contingent funding, and asset liability management.

 

The Bank’s funds management plan, which addresses liquidity, contingent funding, and asset liability management, was reviewed and approved by the Bank’s board of directors and the consent order compliance committee on April 20, 2010 and was submitted to the supervisory authorities prior to the April 27, 2010 deadline.

 

 

 

Not accept, renew, or rollover any brokered deposits. The Bank must develop and submit to the FDIC, within 30 days from the effective date of the Consent Order, a plan for eliminating its reliance on brokered deposits.

 

A plan was approved by the Bank’s board of directors and consent order compliance committee on March 24, 2010 and was submitted to the FDIC on March 25, 2010. Since entering into the Consent Order, the Bank has not accepted, renewed, or rolled-over any brokered deposits and has repaid $107.9 million during the first nine months of 2010. As of November 15, 2010, all brokered deposits have been repaid through local and internet obtained deposits.

 

 

 

Not offer an effective yield in excess of 75 basis points over interest paid on deposits (including brokered deposits, if approval is granted for the Bank to accept them) of comparable size and maturity in either the Bank’s normal market area or in the market area in which such deposits would otherwise be accepted.

 

On April 1, 2010, we applied for and received a determination from the FDIC that our market areas were all high interest rate areas. As a result, we have permission to pay deposit rates of up to 75 basis points over the local rates (assuming the local rates exceed the applicable non-local rates) on non-local deposits gathered in our normal market area even if these rates exceed non-local rates by more than 75 basis points.

 

 

 

Not declare or pay any dividends or bonuses or make any distributions of interest, principal, or other sums on subordinated debentures without the prior approval of the supervisory authorities.

 

Since entering into the Consent Order, the Bank has not declared or paid any dividends or bonuses or made any distributions of interest, principal, or other sums on subordinated debentures.

 

 

 

Furnish, within 45 days from the effective date of the Consent Order and within 45 days of the end of each quarter thereafter, written progress reports to the supervisory authorities detailing the form and manner of any actions taken to secure compliance with the Consent Order. The Bank has furnished written progress reports to the supervisory authorities as required by the Consent Order.

 

The Bank has furnished written progress reports to the supervisory authorities as required by the Consent Order.

 

Additionally, on March 1, 2010, the Company entered into an informal agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.  The informal agreement contains provisions similar to those in the Bank’s MOU with the FDIC and the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions, including a requirement that the Company obtain the prior written approval of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond before (1) declaring or paying any dividends, (2) directly or indirectly accepting dividends or any other form of payment representing a reduction in capital from the Bank, (3) making any distributions of interest, principal or other sums on subordinated debentures or trust preferred securities, (4) directly or indirectly, incurring, increasing or guaranteeing any debt, and (5) directly or indirectly, purchasing or redeeming any shares of its stock.  Pursuant

 

26



 

to our plans to preserve capital and to inject more capital into the Bank, the Company has no plans to undertake any of the foregoing activities.

 

Going Concern Considerations

 

Due to the conditions and events discussed in this Form 10-Q, substantial doubt exists as to our ability to continue as a going concern. The going concern assumption is a fundamental principle in the preparation of financial statements. It is the responsibility of management to assess the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. In assessing this assumption, the Company has taken into account all available information about the future, which is at least, but is not limited to, twelve months from the balance sheet date of September 30, 2010. The Company has a history of profitable operations and sufficient sources of liquidity to meet its short-term and long-term funding needs. However, the Bank’s financial condition has suffered during 2009 and the first nine months of 2010 from the extraordinary effects of what may ultimately be the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

 

The Bank, with a loan portfolio consisting of a concentration in commercial real estate loans including residential construction and development loans, has seen a decline in the value of the collateral securing its portfolio as well as rapid deterioration in its borrowers’ cash flow and ability to repay their outstanding loans to the Bank. As a result, the Bank’s level of nonperforming assets increased substantially during 2009 and has continued to increase through the third quarter of 2010. As of September 30, 2010, our non-performing assets equaled $47.4 million, or 10.8% of assets, as compared to $42.4 million, or 10.1% of assets, as of December 31, 2009. For the year ended December 31, 2009 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Bank recorded a $17 million and a $5 million provision, respectively, to increase the allowance for loan losses to a level which, in management’s best judgment, adequately reflected the increased risk inherent in the loan portfolio as of the year and quarter end periods, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded net loan charge-offs of $6.5 million, or 2.57% of average loans, as compared to net loan charge-offs of $4.1 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  Largely as a result of these change-offs and the increase in our loan loss provision, our capital position has eroded and, as of September 30, 2010, we are deemed to be “critically undercapitalized.”  For additional information on the Bank’s “critically undercapitalized” status, including the requirements or restrictions that can or will be imposed on the Company and the Bank as a result of the Bank’s “critically undercapitalized” status, please refer to “Note 3 — Regulatory Actions and Going Concern ConsiderationsGoing Concern Considerations”  of the notes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

We have determined that significant additional sources of capital will be required for us to continue operations through the remainder of 2010 and beyond. We also continue to monitor and address liquidity issues.  The Company and the Bank operate in a highly-regulated industry and must plan for the liquidity needs of each entity separately. A variety of sources of liquidity are available to the Bank to meet its short-term and long-term funding needs. Although a number of these sources have been limited following execution of the Consent Order with the FDIC and the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions, management has prepared forecasts of these sources of funds and the Bank’s projected uses of funds during 2010 in an effort to ensure that the sources available are sufficient to meet the Bank’s projected liquidity needs for this period.

 

The Company relies on dividends from the Bank as its primary source of liquidity. The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank. Various legal limitations restrict the Bank from lending or otherwise supplying funds to the Company to meet its obligations, including paying dividends. In addition, the terms of the Consent Order described above will further limit the Bank’s ability to pay dividends to the Company to satisfy its funding needs.

 

The Company will also need to raise additional capital to increase capital levels to meet the standards set forth by the FDIC under the Consent Order as described above. As a result of the recent downturn in the financial markets, the availability of many sources of capital (principally to financial services companies) has become significantly restricted or has become increasingly costly as compared to the prevailing market rates prior to the volatility. Management cannot predict when or if the capital markets will return to more favorable conditions or whether the Company will be able to raise a sufficient amount of capital to continue operations.  Management is actively evaluating a number of capital sources, asset reductions and other balance sheet management strategies to ensure that the Bank’s projected level of regulatory capital can support its balance sheet.

 

There can be no assurances that the Company will be successful in its efforts to raise additional capital during 2010. An equity financing transaction would result in substantial dilution to the Company’s current shareholders and could adversely affect the market price of the Company’s common stock. It is difficult to predict if these efforts will be successful, either on a short-term or long-term basis. Should these efforts be unsuccessful, due to the regulatory restrictions which exist that restrict

 

27



 

cash payments between the Bank and the Company, the Company may be unable to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.

 

We may be the subject of negative news reports discussing our current financial situation and various departures of senior management as the press and others speculate about whether we will be able to continue as a going concern. These reports may have a negative impact on our business. For example, even though our deposits are insured by the FDIC, customers may choose to withdraw their deposits, and new customers may choose to do business elsewhere. In addition, we may find that our service providers will be reluctant to commit to long-term projects with us. Even if we are able to improve our current financial situation, we may be the object of negative publicity and speculation about our future.

 

As a result of management’s assessment of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, the accompanying consolidated financial statements for the Company have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the discharge of liabilities in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future, and does not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability or classification of assets.

 

Current Business Strategy

 

In addition to the actions required by the MOU, we have been actively pursuing the corrective actions required by the Consent Order in an effort to ensure that the requirements of the Consent Order are met in a timely manner.  Specifically, we are currently focusing our efforts in the following areas:

 

·                  Increasing and Strengthening Our Capital Position.

 

As of September 30, 2010, the Bank is deemed to be “critically undercapitalized.”  Management has developed a plan to increase and preserve our capital with the goal of returning to and maintaining a “well-capitalized” status. These initiatives include, among other things, restructuring the Bank’s balance sheet by limiting new loan activity and aggressively attempting to sell certain real estate-related loans and other assets, and raising additional capital through a stock offering.  Additionally, we are actively evaluating a number of capital sources and balance sheet management strategies to ensure that our projected level of regulatory capital can support our balance sheet and meet or exceed minimum requirements.  There can be no assurances that the Company will be successful in its efforts to raise additional capital or implement balance sheet strategies to meet or exceed minimum capital requirements.  Should these efforts be unsuccessful, due to the regulatory restrictions which exist that restrict cash payments between the Bank and the Company, the Company may be unable to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.

 

·                  Managing and Improving Asset Quality.

 

The economic recession and the deterioration of the housing and real estate markets have had an adverse impact on the credit quality of our loan portfolio. In response, our Bank intends to significantly reduce the amount of its non-performing assets. Non-performing assets hurt our profitability because they reduce the balance of earning assets, may require additional loan loss provisions or write-downs, and require significant devotion of staff time and financial resources to resolve. We believe our asset quality plan aggressively addresses these issues.  For example,

 

·                  In February of 2009, we restructured the credit administration and loan operations departments and hired a skilled chief credit officer to oversee the enhancement of our processes and procedures in this area.

 

·                  In September of 2009, we established an improving problem asset committee to assist Bank management in policy development, management strategy, and/or liquidation of problem assets.

 

·                  In January of 2009, we implemented a process for the continuous review of all classified loans, watch loans, past due loans, relationships over $500,000, and any other potential risky loans and applied conservative risk grades.

 

·                  Throughout 2009 and 2010, we conducted disciplined watch loan meetings to track and monitor progress, including the execution of workout plans, obtainment of current financial data, and detailed progress updates.

 

28



 

·                  Throughout 2009 and 2010, we maintained an adequate reserve for loan losses given the risk profile of our Bank.

 

·                  In May of 2009, we implemented a risk-focused internal and external loan review program.

 

·                  During the first nine months of 2010, we updated our policies and procedures and enhanced staffing related to loan work-outs and collection processes.

 

·                  Decreasing Concentrations in Our Loan Portfolio.

 

We are focused on reducing our concentrations in commercial real estate (CRE), specifically acquisition development and construction loans, and residential construction loans.  Since January 2009, we have effectively ceased making any new CRE loans while proactively decreasing the level of these existing loan types.  We have worked to decrease our concentration by various means, including (1) through the normal sale of real estate by borrowers, (2) by proactively seeking secondary market permanent financing for recently completed residential construction projects, and (3) encouraging transactional CRE customers to seek other financing when their loans mature.  As a result of these efforts, our amount of CRE loans decreased 33.2% from $151.6 million of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2008 to $101.3 million of our loan portfolio at September 30, 2010.  We have also reduced our residential construction portfolio 96.7% from $33.8 million at December 31, 2008 to $1.1 million at September 30, 2010.  We expect commercial real estate loan portfolio balances to continue to decrease in 2010 through the continued successful implementation of the plans outlined above.

 

·                  Reducing Operating Expenses.

 

We have always focused on controlling expenses and managing efficient overhead.  During 2010 and continuing for the foreseeable future, management intends to further reduce costs in a manner which does not impact the quality of our customer service.  Given the prolonged economic recession, we have embarked on an extremely aggressive expense reduction campaign.  Management has already reduced salary and benefits expenses by reducing staffing levels, freezing salaries at 2008 levels, and reducing compensation in several positions.  Additionally, we will continue to renegotiate vendor contracts and implement several other cost-saving measures to reduce noninterest expenses.  Reducing our level of nonperforming assets will also lower our operating costs.

 

·                  Enhancing Funds Management and Liquidity.

 

We have grown rapidly since our inception through 2008, and have historically funded our asset growth with a combination of local deposits and wholesale funding, specifically brokered deposits. As of September 30, 2010, we had brokered deposits of $94.8 million, representing 23.6% of our total deposits, of which all are scheduled to mature in the fourth quarter of 2010.  Because of the limitations on brokered deposits imposed by the Consent Order and our critically undercapitalized status, the Bank may no longer accept, renew, or roll over brokered deposits.  Thus, we must find other sources of liquidity to replace these deposits as they mature. We have amended our funds management policy to reflect our plan to continue to improve liquidity levels and reduce our use of brokered deposits and other non-core funding sources. Our funds management policy also includes our plan to reduce assets, certain loans, and other bank-owned real estate. We have reduced our brokered deposit usage by executing on our comprehensive deposit acquisition program, which creates an environment of consistent deposit growth based on relationship-based banking, advocate-based selling and an aggressive, focused calling program combined with offering internet based certificates of deposit. Our experienced team of bankers is actively cross-selling core deposits to our local depositors and borrowers, and is held accountable for production through twice-weekly sales meetings. Production is enhanced by our relationship-based culture training, which includes advanced customer service techniques and one-on-one coaching. We also plan to generate core deposits through a combination of competitive products and pricing, customer service excellence, and targeted marketing campaigns. As of November 15, 2010, all brokered deposits have been repaid through local and internet obtained deposits.

 

·                  Enhancing Our Bank’s Relationship Culture.

 

While the bulk of our strategic plan encompasses strategies to survive the prolonged economic recession, management recognizes that we must also place the Bank in the best position to thrive as we emerge from this recession. In this regard, planning has also centered on enhancing the Bank’s culture. We believe the enhancement of our culture will place the Bank in the best position possible to provide unmatched customer service and to take advantage of market opportunities through advocate-based selling and relationship banking strategies. Enhancement plans include, among others, the following:

 

29



 

·                  implementing consistent customer service and communication standards in all areas of the Bank;

 

·                  training and certifying the non-negotiables of relationship banking to all employees;

 

·                  ensuring all employees are engaged and motivated while enabling management to measure the enhancement of the culture by conducting quarterly employee engagement surveys;

 

·                  implementing consistent management standards for all supervisors resulting in internal and external advocacy;

 

·                  refining the Bank’s customer experience measurements, including branch mystery shopping and customer survey programs; and ensuring all programs evaluate and measure the Bank’s expectations and areas of focus.

 

The Bank will continue to serve customers in all areas, including processing banking transactions, paying competitive rates on deposits, and providing access to lines of credit.  All customer deposits are fully insured to the highest limits set by the FDIC, which are $250,000 for individually titled accounts and $250,000 for individually titled IRA accounts. In addition, the Bank participates in the FDIC Transaction Account Guarantee Program (the “TAGP”). Under this program, all non-interest bearing transaction accounts are fully guaranteed by the FDIC for the entire amount of the account. The guarantee also applies to interest bearing transaction accounts with interest rates of 0.25% or less. On April 13, 2010, the FDIC approved an interim rule that extends the TAGP to December 31, 2010. Although the TAGP expires on December 31, 2010, a provision of the Dodd-Frank Act requires the FDIC to provide unlimited deposit insurance for all deposits in non-interest-bearing transaction accounts.  This deposit insurance mandate created by the Dodd-Frank Act will take effect on December 31, 2010, and will continue through December 31, 2012.  The deposit insurance mandate created by the Dodd-Frank Act is not an extension of the TAGP.  Although the TAGP and the Dodd-Frank Act establish unlimited deposit insurance for certain types of non-interest-bearing deposit accounts, unlike the TAGP, the coverage provided by the Dodd-Frank Act does not apply to NOW accounts or IOLTAs and will be funded through general FDIC assessments, not special assessments. We believe participation in the TAGP is enhancing our ability to retain customer deposits.

 

However, should the Bank fail to comply with the capital and liquidity funding requirements in the Consent Order, or suffer a continued deterioration in our financial condition, the Bank may be subject to being placed into a federal conservatorship or receivership by the FDIC, with the FDIC appointed as conservator or receiver.

 

Recent Legislative and Regulatory Initiatives to Address Financial and Economic Crises

 

Markets in the United States and elsewhere have experienced extreme volatility and disruption for more than 27 months.  These circumstances have exerted significant downward pressure on prices of equity securities and virtually all other asset classes, and have resulted in substantially increased market volatility, severely constrained credit and capital markets, particularly for financial institutions, and an overall loss of investor confidence.  Loan portfolio performances have deteriorated at many institutions resulting from, among other factors, a weak economy and a decline in the value of the collateral supporting their loans.  Dramatic slowdowns in the housing industry, due in part to falling home prices and increasing foreclosures and unemployment, have created strains on financial institutions.  Many borrowers are now unable to repay their loans, and the collateral securing these loans has, in some cases, declined below the loan balance.   In response to the challenges facing the financial services sector, several regulatory and governmental actions have recently been announced including:

 

·                  The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, approved by Congress and signed by President Bush on October 3, 2008, which, among other provisions, allowed the U.S. Treasury to purchase troubled assets from banks, authorized the SEC to suspend the application of marked-to-market accounting, and raised the basic limit of FDIC deposit insurance from $100,000 to $250,000 through December 31, 2013.

 

·                  On October 7, 2008, the FDIC approved a plan to increase the rates banks pay for deposit insurance.

 

·                  On October 14, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced the creation of a new program, the Capital Purchase Program, that encourages and allows financial institutions to build capital through the sale of senior preferred shares to the U.S. Treasury on terms that are non-negotiable.

 

30



 

·                  On October 14, 2008, the FDIC announced the creation of the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (“TLGP”), which seeks to strengthen confidence and encourage liquidity in the banking system.  The TLGP has two primary components that are available on a voluntary basis to financial institutions:

 

·                                      Guarantee of newly-issued senior unsecured debt; the guarantee would apply to new debt issued on or before October 31, 2009 and would provide protection until December 31, 2012; issuers electing to participate would pay a 75 basis point fee for the guarantee; and

 

·                                      Unlimited deposit insurance for non-interest bearing deposit transaction accounts; financial institutions electing to participate will pay a 10 basis point premium in addition to the insurance premiums paid for standard deposit insurance.

 

·                  On February 10, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced the Financial Stability Plan, which earmarked $350 billion of the TARP funds authorized under EESA. Among other things, the Financial Stability Plan includes:

 

·                  A capital assistance program that will invest in mandatory convertible preferred stock of certain qualifying institutions determined on a basis and through a process similar to the Capital Purchase Program;

 

·                  A consumer and business lending initiative to fund new consumer loans, small business loans and commercial mortgage asset-backed securities issuances;

 

·                  A new public-private investment fund that will leverage public and private capital with public financing to purchase up to $500 billion to $1 trillion of legacy “toxic assets” from financial institutions; and

 

·                  Assistance for homeowners by providing up to $75 billion to reduce mortgage payments and interest rates and establishing loan modification guidelines for government and private programs.

 

·                  On February 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the “Recovery Act”) was signed into law in an effort to, among other things, create jobs and stimulate growth in the United States economy.  The Recovery Act specifies appropriations of approximately $787 billion for a wide range of Federal programs and will increase or extend certain benefits payable under the Medicaid, unemployment compensation, and nutrition assistance programs.  The Recovery Act also reduces individual and corporate income tax collections and makes a variety of other changes to tax laws.  The Recovery Act also imposes certain limitations on compensation paid by participants in the U.S. Treasury’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”).

 

·                  On March 23, 2009, the U.S. Treasury, in conjunction with the FDIC and the Federal Reserve, announced the Public-Private Partnership Investment Program for Legacy Assets which consists of two separate plans, addressing two distinct asset groups:

 

·                  The first plan is the Legacy Loan Program, which has a primary purpose to facilitate the sale of troubled mortgage loans by eligible institutions, including FDIC-insured federal or state banks and savings associations. Eligible assets are not strictly limited to loans; however, what constitutes an eligible asset will be determined by participating banks, their primary regulators, the FDIC and the Treasury.

 

·                  The second plan is the Securities Program, which is administered by the Treasury and involves the creation of public-private investment funds (“PPIFs”) to target investments in eligible residential mortgage-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities issued before 2009 that originally were rated AAA or the equivalent by two or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations, without regard to rating enhancements (collectively, “Legacy Securities”). Legacy Securities must be directly secured by actual mortgage loans, leases or other assets, and may be purchased only from financial institutions that meet TARP eligibility requirements. Treasury received over 100 unique applications to participate in the Legacy Securities PPIP and in July 2009 selected nine PPIF managers.  As of September 30, 2010, the PPIFs had completed

 

31



 

their fundraising and have closed on approximately $7.4 billion of private sector equity capital, which was matched 100 percent by Treasury, representing $14.7 billion of total equity capital. Treasury has also provided $14.7 billion of debt capital, representing $29.4 billion of total purchasing power. As of September 30, 2010, PPIFs have drawn-down approximately $18.6 billion of total capital which has been invested in eligible assets and cash equivalents pending investment.

 

·                  On May 22, 2009, the FDIC levied a one-time special assessment on all banks due on September 30, 2009.

 

·                  On November 12, 2009, the FDIC issued a final rule to require banks to prepay their estimated quarterly risk-based assessments for the fourth quarter of 2009 and for all of 2010, 2011 and 2012 and to increase assessment rates effective on January 1, 2011.

 

·                  On February 2, 2010, the U.S. President called on the U.S. Congress to create a new Small Business Lending Fund.  Under this proposal, $30 billion in TARP funds would be transferred to a new program outside of TARP to support small business lending.  As proposed, only small- and medium-sized banks would qualify to participate in the program.

 

·                  On July 21, 2010, the U.S. President signed into law the Dodd-Frank Act, a comprehensive regulatory framework that will affect every financial institution in the U.S.    The Dodd-Frank Act includes, among other measures, changes to the deposit insurance and financial regulatory systems, enhanced bank capital requirements, and provisions designed to protect consumers in financial transactions.  The Dodd-Frank Act also alters certain corporate governance matters affecting public companies.  Over the next 6 to 18 months, regulatory agencies will implement new regulations which will establish the parameters of the new regulatory framework and provide a clearer understanding of the legislation’s effect on banks.

 

·                  Internationally, both the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (the “Basel Committee”) and the Financial Stability Board (established in April 2009 by the Group of Twenty (“G-20”) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to take action to strengthen regulation and supervision of the financial system with greater international consistency, cooperation, and transparency) have committed to raise capital standards and liquidity buffers within the banking system (“Basel III”).  On September 12, 2010, the Group of Governors and Heads of Supervision agreed to the calibration and phase-in of the Basel III minimum capital requirements (raising the minimum Tier 1 common equity ratio to 4.5% and minimum Tier 1 equity ratio to 6.0%, with full implementation by January 2015) and introducing a capital conservation buffer of common equity of an additional 2.5% with implementation by January 2019.  The U.S. federal banking agencies support this agreement.  The Basel Committee is expected to finalize the new capital and liquidity standard later this year and to present them for approval of the G-20 Finance Minister and Central Bank Governors in November 2010.

 

·                  On September 27, 2010, the U.S. President signed into law the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act which, among other things, creates a $30 billion fund to provide capital for banks with assets under $10 billion to increase their small-business lending. The U.S. Treasury is currently working to finalize terms of participation for this fund.

 

It is likely that further regulatory actions may arise as the Federal government continues to attempt to address the economic situation.

 

We are participating in the TAGP component of the TLGP.  As a result of the enhancements to deposit insurance protection and the expectation that there will be demands on the FDIC’s deposit insurance fund, our deposit insurance costs have increased and will continue to increase significantly throughout the remainder of 2010.  We have elected not to participate in the CPP and, as currently structured, we would not be able to participate in the Small Business Lending Fund created under the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act due to the Bank’s troubled condition designation.  Regardless of our lack of participation, governmental intervention and new regulations under these programs could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.  The following discussion and analysis describes our performance in this challenging economic environment.

 

32



 

Results of Operations

 

Three Months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

 

Overview

 

Our net loss was $4.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to a net loss of $2.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009.  The increase of $2.6 million in net loss for 2010 was primarily the result of $1.6 million lower net interest income and $1.1 million higher non-interest expense. This increase in non-interest expense is the result of the increased administrative expenses including an increase in professional fees of $232,000, increased assessments related to the FDIC of $351,000, and writedowns of OREO property of $500,000. We have experienced a decrease in our net interest margin to 0.95% from 2.79% for the quarters ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, which was the primary reason for the drop in net interest income.  This decrease is due to an increased volume of non-performing assets as well as increased liquidity in anticipation of repayment of brokered deposits maturing in 2010. For the three months ended September 30, 2010, we realized $3,680,000 in interest income, of which $474,000 was from investment activities and $3,206,000 was from loan activities.  For the three months ended September 30, 2009, we realized $4,831,000 in interest income, of which $561,000 was from investment activities and $4,270,000 was from loan activities.  The primary source of funding for our loan portfolio is deposits that are acquired both locally, via the national brokered certificate market, and internet obtained certificates of deposit. We incurred interest expense of $2,574,000 and $2,145,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009, respectively.

 

Provision for Loan Losses

 

Our provision for loan losses for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was $3,000,000 compared to $3,500,000 for the comparable prior year period. Although our 2010 provision was less than the prior year, we are still experiencing deterioration of our loan portfolio.  As noted earlier, we have approximately $29.7 million of acquisition and development (A&D) loans outstanding at September 30, 2010.  We are experiencing increased levels of loan delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures with these loans.  Further, the downturn in the real estate market has adversely impacted the value of the underlying collateral (real estate) for the A&D loans.  The greater degree of strain on these types of loans and the significance to our overall loan portfolio has caused us to apply a greater degree of scrutiny in analyzing the ultimate collectability of amounts due.  As a result of these factors, we recognize there may be further deterioration in our loan portfolio in the fourth quarter of 2010.

 

Non-interest Income

 

We had non-interest income of $1,098,000 and $410,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The increase was mainly due to a $594,000 gain on sale of securities for the three months ended September 30, 2010. There was no such gain for the three months ended September 30, 2009. Mortgage origination revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was $279,000.  We had $197,000 in mortgage origination revenue in the third quarter of 2009.  This increase is due to an increased sales staff and increased demand due to low interest rates.

 

As previously reported, on July 21, 2010, the U.S. President signed into law the Dodd-Frank Act.  The Dodd-Frank Act calls for new limits on interchange transaction fees that banks receive from merchants via card networks like Visa, Inc. and MasterCard, Inc. when a customer uses a debit card.  The results of this proposed legislation may impact our non-interest income from debit card transactions in the future.

 

Non-interest Expense

 

We incurred non-interest expense of $3,900,000 during the three months ended September 30, 2010, which was an increase of $1,075,000 over the three months ended September 30, 2009.  Included in the expense was $1,286,000 of salaries and employee benefits, $161,000 of data processing expense, $305,000 of professional fees expense, $37,000 of advertising expense, $13,000 of expense related to office supplies, $46,000 of telephone expense and $486,000 of assessments related to the FDIC.  The non-interest expense incurred in the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $2,825,000.  Included in the expense was $1,344,000 of salaries and employee benefits, $225,000 of data processing expense, $73,000 of professional fee expense, $64,000 of advertising expense, $20,000 of expense related to office supplies, $35,000 of telephone expense and $135,000 of assessments related to the FDIC.

 

33



 

For the three months ended September 30, 2010, we incurred other property and equipment expenses of $153,000 in depreciation and $58,000 in equipment maintenance and rental.  For the three months ended September 30, 2009, we incurred other property and equipment expenses of $190,000 in depreciation and $55,000 in equipment maintenance and rental.  We incurred $168,000 and $170,000 in occupancy expense related to all of our office locations for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

The increase in non-interest expense is the result of the increased administrative expenses including an increase in professional fees of $232,000, increased assessments related to the FDIC of $351,000, and writedowns of OREO property of $500,000. The higher professional fees were related to a stock offering that was abandoned during the quarter ended September 30, 2010.

 

Nine Months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

 

Overview

 

Our net loss was $9.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to net loss of $3.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  The increase of $6.0 million in net loss for 2010 was primarily the result of $1.8 million lower net interest income and $2.8 million higher non-interest expense. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we realized $11,995,000 in interest income, of which $1,832,000 was from investment activities and $10,163,000 was from loan activities.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we realized $14,391,000 in interest income, of which $1,460,000 was from investment activities and $12,931,000 was from loan activities.  The primary source of funding for our loan portfolio is deposits that are acquired locally, via the national brokered certificate market, and internet obtained certificates of deposit.  We incurred interest expense of $7,436,000 and $6,176,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009, respectively.  We have experienced a decrease in our net interest margin to 1.37% from 2.89% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  This decrease is due to an increased volume of non-performing assets as well as increased liquidity in anticipation of repayment of brokered deposits maturing in 2010.  Due to the large volume of brokered deposits maturing in the third and fourth quarters of 2010, the Bank has had to steadily increase other deposits through the first nine months of 2010 to be able to replace the maturing brokered deposits. The increase in non-interest expense is the result of the increased administrative expenses including an increase in professional fees of $774,000, increased assessments related to the FDIC of $1,165,000, and an increase in OREO writedowns of $500,000.

 

Rate/Volume Analysis

 

Net interest income can be analyzed in terms of the impact of changing interest rates and changing volumes.  The following tables set forth the effect which the varying levels of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the applicable rates have had on changes in the net interest income for the periods presented.

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 vs. 2009

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) Due to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rate /

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Volume

 

Total

 

Interest Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans

 

$

(2,385

)

$

(469

)

$

86

 

$

(2,768

)

Investment securities (1)

 

1,977

 

(558

)

(897

)

522

 

Federal funds

 

593

 

(209

)

(534

)

(150

)

Total Interest Income

 

$

185

 

$

(1,236

)

$

(1,345

)

$

(2,396

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

$

(219

)

$

329

 

$

(61

)

$

49

 

Other borrowings

 

1,533

 

(246

)

(76

)

1,211

 

Total Interest Expense

 

$

1,314

 

$

83

 

$

(137

)

$

1,260

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Interest Income

 

$

(1,129

)

$

(1,319

)

$

(1,208

)

$

(3,656

)

 


(1)               For the purpose of this table, the investment securities include marketable and non-marketable securities.

 

34



 

Average Balances, Income and Expenses and Rate

 

The following table sets forth, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, information related to the Company’s average balance sheet and its average yields on earning assets and average costs of interest-bearing liabilities.  Such yields are derived by dividing income or expense by the average balance of the corresponding earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities.  Average balances have been derived from the daily balances throughout the periods indicated.

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September
30, 2010

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,
2009

 

 

 

Average

 

Income /

 

Yield/

 

Average

 

Income /

 

Yield /

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Balance

 

Expense

 

Rate

 

Balance

 

Expense

 

Rate

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans (1)

 

$

253,851

 

$

10,164

 

5.35

%

$

311,250

 

$

12,931

 

5.55

%

Investment securities (2)

 

139,494

 

1,749

 

1.6 0

%

53,552

 

1,228

 

3.07

%

Federal funds sold and other

 

52,010

 

82

 

0.21

%

14621

 

232

 

2.12

%

Total earning assets

 

445,355

 

11,995

 

3.60

%

379,423

 

14,391

 

5.07

%

Cash and due from banks

 

7,530

 

 

 

 

 

7,409

 

 

 

 

 

Premises and equipment

 

3,641

 

 

 

 

 

4,512

 

 

 

 

 

Other assets

 

11,333

 

 

 

 

 

12,597

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for loan losses

 

(12,081

)

 

 

 

 

(8,400

)

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

455,779

 

 

 

 

 

$

395,541

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase agreements

 

$

30,000

 

918

 

4.09

%

$

30,000

 

729

 

3.25

%

Federal funds purchased

 

 

 

%

208

 

1

 

0.64

%

Federal Reserve Discount Window

 

 

 

%

84

 

 

%

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 

 

 

%

7,198

 

72

 

1.34

%

Note Payable

 

 

 

%

329

 

7

 

2.84

%

Subordinated Debt

 

4,325

 

312

 

9.64

%

4,325

 

372

 

11.50

%

Interest-bearing transaction accounts

 

17,241

 

84

 

0.65

%

18,511

 

163

 

1.18

%

Savings deposits

 

67,436

 

1,275

 

2.53

%

22,860

 

323

 

1.89

%

Time deposits

 

304,374

 

4,847

 

2.13

%

256,331

 

4,509

 

2.35

%

Total interest-bearing liabilities

 

423,376

 

7,436

 

2.35

%

339,846

 

6,176

 

2.24

%

Demand deposits

 

22,994

 

 

 

 

 

22,450

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued interest and other liabilities

 

2,757

 

 

 

 

 

1,473

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

449,127

 

 

 

 

 

363,769

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

6,652

 

 

 

 

 

31,772

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

455,779

 

 

 

 

 

$

395,541

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

 

 

$

4,559

 

 

 

 

 

$

8,215

 

 

 

Net interest spread

 

 

 

 

 

1.25

%

 

 

 

 

2.64

%

Net interest margin

 

 

 

 

 

1.37

%

 

 

 

 

2.89

%

 


(1)

 

There were $32.6 million and $16.2 million of loans in non-accrual status as of September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The effect of fees collected on loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 totaled $15,000 and $137,000, respectively, and increased the annualized yield on loans by zero basis points for September 30, 2010 and by 5 basis points from 5.50% for September 30, 2009. The effect of such fees on the annualized yield on earning assets was an increase of zero basis points for September 30, 2010 and an increase of 5 basis points from 5.02% for September 30, 2009. The effects of such fees on net interest spread were an increase of zero basis points for September 30, 2010 and an increase of 5 basis points from 2.59% for September 30, 2009. The effects of such fees on net interest margin were an increase of 1 basis point from 1.36% for September 30, 2010 and an increase of 4 basis points from 2.85% for September 30, 2009.

 

35



 

(2)

 

For the purpose of this table, the investment securities include marketable and non-marketable securities.

 

Provision for Loan Losses

 

Our provision for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $5,000,000 compared to $6,305,000 for the comparable prior year period. Although the provision was lower for 2010, we are still experiencing deterioration of our loan portfolio.  As noted earlier, we have approximately $29.7 million of acquisition and development (A&D) loans outstanding at September 30, 2010.  We are experiencing increased levels of loan delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures with these loans.  Further, the downturn in the real estate market has adversely impacted the value of the underlying collateral (real estate) for the A&D loans.  The greater degree of strain on these types of loans and the significance to our overall loan portfolio has caused us to apply a greater degree of scrutiny in analyzing the ultimate collectability of amounts due.  As a result of these factors, we recognize there may be further deterioration in our loan portfolio in the fourth quarter of 2010.

 

Non-interest Income

 

We had non-interest income of $2,356,000 and $1,665,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Gain on sale of securities was $1,072,000 and $520,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Mortgage origination revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $642,000.  We had $502,000 in mortgage origination revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  This increase is due to an increased sales staff and increased demand due to low interest rates.

 

As previously reported, on July 21, 2010, the U.S. President signed into law the Dodd-Frank Act.  The Dodd-Frank Act calls for new limits on interchange transaction fees that banks receive from merchants via card networks like Visa, Inc. and MasterCard, Inc. when a customer uses a debit card.  The results of this proposed legislation may impact our non-interest income from debit card transactions in the future.

 

Non-interest Expense

 

We incurred non-interest expense of $10,917,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, an increase of $2.8 million over the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Included in the expense was $3,955,000 of salaries and employee benefits, $547,000 of data processing expense, $1,013,000 of professional fees expense, $111,000 of advertising expense, $52,000 of expense related to office supplies, $113,000 of telephone expense and $1,667,000 of assessments related to FDIC.  The non-interest expense incurred in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $8,078,000.  Included in the expense was $3,946,000 of salaries and employee benefits, $696,000 of data processing expense, $239,000 of professional fee expense, $161,000 of advertising expense, $62,000 of expense related to office supplies, $110,000 of telephone expense and $502,000 of assessments related to FDIC. Included in the FDIC assessments for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was a one time FDIC insurance premium that equated to a $178,000 one time charge to the Bank in 2009.  This was expensed in June 2009 and paid September 30, 2009.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we incurred other property and equipment expenses of $486,000 in depreciation and $208,000 in equipment maintenance and rental.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we incurred other property and equipment expenses of $552,000 in depreciation and $133,000 in equipment maintenance and rental.  We incurred $524,000 and $509,000 in occupancy expense related to all of our office locations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

The increase in non-interest expense is the result of the increased administrative expenses including an increase in professional fees of $774,000, increased assessments related to the FDIC of $1,165,000, and an increase in OREO writedowns of $500,000. The increase in FDIC assessments for 2010 was the result of higher assessment rates as a result of our financial condition and increased deposit balances as we increased our liquidity in anticipation of repayment of brokered deposits scheduled to mature in the fourth quarter of 2010.

 

36



 

Assets and Liabilities

 

General

 

At September 30, 2010, total assets increased 4.54% to $440.7 million as compared to $421.5 million at December 31, 2009, primarily a result of an increase in investments of $146.2 million, or 41.0%, as well as an increase in federal funds sold of $15.8 million, or 51.0%, and a decrease of $40.6 million in gross loans, or 14.8%, during the first nine months of 2010.  As described below, federal funds sold increased to $46.9 million at September 30, 2010 compared to $31.0 million at December 31, 2009.  Cash and cash equivalents increased $16.4 million, or 43.4%, since December 31, 2009.  As described below, deposits increased $25.8 million, or 6.9%, during the first nine months of 2010.  At September 30, 2010, shareholders’ equity was $1.7 million.

 

Investment Securities

 

Investments available for sale increased by $146.2 million, or 41.0%, since December 31, 2009 due to the purchase of US treasury securities and GNMA CMOs.  This general increase in securities is due to our efforts to increase liquidity in anticipation of repayment of brokered deposits scheduled to mature in 2010.

 

Other Investments

 

Other investments, consisting of FHLB stock, were $1.5 million and $1.6 million for both September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  All of the FHLB stock is used to collateralize advances with the FHLB. The decrease in the FHLB stock was due to a routine repurchase by the FHLB.

 

Loans

 

Since loans typically provide higher interest yields than other types of interest earning assets, we allocate the majority of our earning assets to our loan portfolio.  Gross loans decreased by $40.6 million, or 14.8%, during the first nine months of 2010.  Loan demand has slowed during the first nine months of 2010 due to general economic conditions and the real estate market, along with management’s decision to shrink the size of the Bank’s loan portfolio to help improve the Bank’s risk profile. We expect this trend to continue during the next quarter.

 

Balances within major loan categories are as follows:

 

(dollar amounts in thousands)

 

September 30, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

Real estate - construction

 

$

63,391

 

$

81,128

 

Real estate - mortgage

 

151,722

 

167,296

 

Commercial and industrial

 

18,252

 

25,028

 

Consumer and other

 

1,125

 

1,652

 

Total loans, gross

 

234,490

 

275,104

 

Less allowance for loan losses

 

(11,437

)

(12,963

)

Total loans, net

 

$

223,053

 

$

262,141

 

 

Generally, we place a delinquent loan in non-accrual status when the loan becomes 90 days or more past due.  Additionally, we discontinue accrual of interest on a loan when we conclude it is doubtful that we will be able to collect the full amount of principal and interest from the borrower.  We reach this conclusion by taking into account factors such as the borrower’s financial condition, economic and business conditions, value of the collateral underlying the loan, and the results of our previous collection efforts.  When we place a loan in non-accrual status, we reverse all interest which has been accrued on the loan but remains unpaid and we deduct this interest from earnings as a reduction of reported interest income.  We do not accrue any additional interest on the loan balance until we conclude the collection of both principal and interest is reasonably certain.  At September 30, 2010, there were $32.6 million in loans that were non-accruing and $1.8 million in loans that were 30 days past due, excluding non-accrual loans.  At December 31, 2009, there were $29.4 million in loans that were non-accruing and $4.8 million in loans that were 30 days past due, excluding non-accrual loans.

 

The increase of $3.2 million in non-accrual loans from December 31, 2009 to September 30, 2010 is related primarily to continued deterioration in the Bank’s overall Commercial Real Estate loan portfolio. The number of loans on non-accrual has increased from 79 to 86 since December 31, 2009. The average non-accrual loan balance is $372,000 and $379,000 as of December 31, 2009 and September 30, 2010, respectively.  At September 30, 2010, 95.7% of the non-accrual loans were secured by real estate. At this time, management is unable to determine the length of the economic downturn and therefore unable to determine the ultimate impact on the Bank’s Commercial Real Estate portfolio.

 

37



 

We have approximately $29.7 million of A&D loans as of September 30, 2010, most of which are on properties located in the Upstate of South Carolina and Western North Carolina.  A&D loans are typically comprised of loans to borrowers for real estate to be developed (into properties such as sub-divisions or spec houses).  Normally, these loans are repaid with the proceeds from the sale of the developed property.  The greater degree of strain on these types of loans and the significance to our overall loan portfolio has caused us to apply a greater degree of scrutiny in analyzing the ultimate collectability of amounts due.  The majority of these borrowers are having financial difficulties.  Our analysis has resulted in a significant provision expense in order to meet the estimated allowance for loan loss reserve requirement.

 

Included in our loans secured by real estate, we have approximately $32.2 million of acreage and finished or buildable lot loans as of September 30, 2010.  These loans are comprised of loans to borrowers for raw land and lots in subdivisions that have utilities and are ready to be built on individually but not as part of an entire development project.  These loans are generally repaid with the proceeds from the sale of the property.  Many of these borrowers are also experiencing financial difficulties.

 

The current economic environment in our market area has resulted in a downturn in the real estate market, which has placed greater pressure on our borrowers’ repayment capabilities.  We are experiencing higher levels of loan delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures.  Further, the downturn in the real estate market has adversely impacted the value of the underlying real estate securing the loans.  The greater degree of strain on these types of loans and the significance to our overall loan portfolio has caused us to apply a greater degree of scrutiny in analyzing the ultimate collectability of amounts due.  Our analysis has resulted in a significant provision expense recorded in 2009, and an additional $5,000,000 recorded in the first nine months of 2010, in order to meet the estimated allowance for loan loss reserve requirement.  Nevertheless, given the current economic environment, there is a risk of further impairment to the value of our collateral on these loans, which would require even further increases to our allowance for loan losses and in the corresponding expense charged to our provision for loan losses.

 

Changes in the allowance for loan losses for were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Nine-months ended
September 30, 2010

 

Nine-months ended
September 30, 2009

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

12,963

 

$

8,088

 

Provision charged to operations

 

5,000

 

6,305

 

Net collections (charge-offs)

 

(6,526

)

(4,068

)

Balance, end of period

 

$

11,437

 

$

10,325

 

 

Impaired Loans

 

The Company identifies impaired loans through its normal internal loan review process.  Loans are considered to be impaired when, in management’s judgment and based on current information, the full collection of principal and interest becomes doubtful according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.  A loan is also considered impaired if its terms are modified in a troubled debt restructuring.  These loans are evaluated in determining whether all outstanding principal and interest are expected to be collected.  Loans are not considered impaired if a minimal payment delay occurs and all amounts due, including accrued interest at the contractual interest rate for the period of delay, are expected to be collected.  Management has determined that the Company had $68.2 million and $34.2 million in impaired loans at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  $6.7 million and $2.0 million of the allowance for loan loss has been specifically allocated to these relationships at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

 

Potential Problem Loans

 

Potential problem loans are loans that are not included in impaired loans, but about which management has become aware of information about possible credit problems of the borrowers that causes doubt about their ability to comply with current repayment terms.  Loans on the Company’s potentially problem loan list are considered potentially impaired loans.  At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had identified $0 and $15.9 million, respectively, of potential problem loans through its internal review procedures.  The results of this internal review process are considered in determining management’s assessment of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.

 

38



 

Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses

 

The Company has developed policies and procedures for evaluating the overall quality of its credit portfolio and the timely identification of potential problem loans.  On a quarterly basis, the Company’s Board of Directors reviews and approves the appropriate level for the Company’s allowance for loan losses based upon management’s recommendations, the results of the internal monitoring and reporting system, and an analysis of economic conditions in its market.  In 2009, the Company developed and began to implement an improved loan review program, which included the hiring of a new internal loan review officer and the engagement of a new external loan review firm and the establishment of a new system for tracking borrower financial statements and the structure of our watch reports.

 

In addition to the Company’s portfolio review process, various regulatory agencies periodically review the Company’s allowance for loan losses.  These agencies may require the Company to recognize additions to the allowance for loan losses based on their judgments and information available to them at the time of their examinations. While the Company uses available information to recognize inherent losses on loans, future adjustments to the allowance for loan losses may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions and other factors and the impact of such changes and other factors on the Bank’s borrowers.

 

Portions of the allowance for loan losses may be allocated for specific loans or portfolio segments.  However, the entire allowance for loan losses is available for any loan that, in management’s judgment, should be charged-off.  While management utilizes the best judgment and information available to it, the ultimate adequacy of the allowance for loan losses depends on a variety of factors beyond the Company’s control, including the performance of the Company’s loan portfolio, the economy, changes in interest rates, and the view of the regulatory authorities toward loan classifications.

 

Additions to the allowance for loan losses, which are expensed through the provision for loan losses on the Company’s income statement, are made periodically to maintain the allowance at an appropriate level based on management’s analysis of the estimated losses inherent in the loan portfolio.  Loan losses and recoveries are charged or credited directly to the allowance.  The amount of the provision is a function of the level of loans outstanding, the level of non-performing loans, historical loan loss experience, the amount of loan losses actually charged against the reserve during a given period, and current and anticipated economic conditions.

 

The Company’s allowance for loan losses is based upon judgments and assumptions about risk elements in the portfolio, future economic conditions, and other factors affecting borrowers.  The process includes identification and analysis of loss potential in various portfolio segments utilizing a credit risk grading process and specific reviews and evaluations of significant problem credits.  However, there is no precise method of estimating credit losses, since any estimate of loan losses is necessarily subjective and the accuracy depends on the outcome of future events.  In addition, due to our rapid growth over the past several years and our limited operating history, a large portion of the loans in our loan portfolio was originated recently.  In general, loans do not begin to show signs of credit deterioration or default until they have been outstanding for some period of time, a process referred to as seasoning.  As a result, a portfolio of more mature loans will usually behave more predictably than a newer portfolio.  Because our loan portfolio is relatively new, the current level of delinquencies and defaults may not be representative of the level that will prevail when the portfolio becomes more seasoned, which may be higher than current levels.  If charge-offs in future periods increase, we may be required to increase our provision for loan losses, which would decrease our net income and possibly our capital.

 

39



 

The current downturn in the real estate market has resulted in an increase in loan delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures, and we believe these trends are likely to continue.  In some cases, this downturn has resulted in a significant impairment to the value of our collateral and our ability to sell the collateral upon foreclosure, and there is a risk that this trend will continue. The real estate collateral in each case provides an alternate source of repayment in the event of default by the borrower and may deteriorate in value during the time the credit is extended.  If real estate values continue to decline in our market areas, it is also more likely that we would be required to increase our allowance for loan losses.  We determine the value of real estate collateral by using a current appraisal. Contrary to any other relevant information an appraisal is considered current if it is less than 12 months old except when economic or market changes have caused values to rise or fall significantly. If a current appraisal is not maintained, the Bank will generally order a new appraisal prior to accepting the property as a result of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or completion of a foreclosure action. Commercial appraisals generally take less than four weeks to complete.  A specific impairment is made as soon as possible upon receipt of the appraisal.  Based on present information and an ongoing evaluation, management considers the allowance for loan losses to be adequate to meet presently known and inherent losses in the loan portfolio.  Management’s judgment about the adequacy of the allowance is based upon a number of assumptions about future events which it believes to be reasonable but which may or may not be accurate.  Thus, there can be no assurance that charge-offs in future periods will not exceed the allowance for loan losses or that additional increases in the allowance for loan losses will not be required, especially considering the overall weakness in the commercial real estate market in our market areas.

 

Deposits

 

Our primary source of funds for loans and investments is our deposits.  As of September 30, 2010, total deposits increased by $25.8 million, or 6.9%, from December 31, 2009.  The largest percentage increase was in time deposits less than $100,000, which increased $154.2 million, or 513.0%, from December 31, 2009 to September 30, 2010, of which $111.7 million were through internet obtained deposits.   The internet obtained deposits are from other financial institutions, have been offered at or below the national rate cap and at this time are considered to be renewable.

 

We have chosen to obtain a portion of our certificates of deposit from areas outside of our market, which are brokered deposits. The deposits obtained outside of our market area generally have been below those being offered for comparable certificates of deposit in our local market. Because of this, even though brokered deposits are interest sensitive, they have been considered a desirable source of funds. As of September 30, 2010, we had brokered deposits of $94.8 million, representing 23.6% of our total deposits. Because of the limitations on brokered deposits imposed by the MOU, the Consent Order, and our “critically undercapitalized” status, we must find other sources of liquidity to replace these deposits as they mature or the Bank could be placed into receivership with the FDIC.  Secondary sources of liquidity may include proceeds from FHLB advances and federal funds lines of credit from correspondent banks.  However, FHLB has informed us that due to our financial condition we are not currently permitted to receive any more advances.  As a result, we must limit our growth, raise additional capital, or sell assets, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, should these efforts be unsuccessful, due to the regulatory restrictions which exist that restrict cash payments between the Bank and the Company, the Company may be unable to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.  During the first nine months of 2010, we repaid $107.9 million of our brokered deposits, and, as of November 15, 2010, all brokered deposits have been repaid through local and internet obtained deposits.

 

Balances within the major deposit categories are as follows:

 

(dollar amounts in thousands)

 

September 30, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

Non-interest bearing demand

 

$

24,502

 

$

21,829

 

Interest bearing demand

 

17,798

 

18,588

 

Savings

 

65,495

 

82,295

 

Time deposits less than $100,000

 

184,243

 

30,054

 

Time deposits of $100,000 or over

 

15,501

 

21,014

 

Brokered deposits

 

94,834

 

202,783

 

Total deposits

 

$

402,373

 

$

376,563

 

 

Included in time deposits less than $100,000 are $113.6 million and $1.8 million of internet obtained certificates of deposit for September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

 

40



 

Maturities of Certificates of Deposit of $100,000 or More (Including Brokered Deposits)

 

 

 

 

 

After

 

After

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three

 

Six

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Within

 

Through

 

Through

 

After

 

 

 

 

 

Three

 

Six

 

Twelve

 

Twelve

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Months

 

Months

 

Months

 

Months

 

Total

 

September 30, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brokered deposits

 

$

94,834

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

94,834

 

Other certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more

 

2,906

 

1,928

 

985

 

9,682

 

15,501

 

Total

 

$

97,740

 

$

1,928

 

$

985

 

$

9,682

 

$

110,335

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brokered deposits

 

$

6,800

 

$

21,269

 

$

174,714

 

$

 

$

202,783

 

Other certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more

 

4,692

 

7,868

 

6,624

 

1,830

 

21,014

 

Total

 

$

11,492

 

$

29,137

 

$

181,338

 

$

1,830

 

$

223,797

 

 

Of the Company’s time deposits of $100,000 or over as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, 88.58% and 5.14% are scheduled maturities within three months, respectively. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, 91.22% and 99.18%, respectively, of the Company’s time deposits of $100,000 or over had maturities within twelve months.

 

As previously reported, the Dodd-Frank Act also permanently raises the current standard maximum deposit insurance amount to $250,000. The standard maximum insurance amount of $100,000 had been temporarily raised to $250,000 until December 31, 2013. The FDIC insurance coverage limit applies per depositor, per insured depository institution for each account ownership category.

 

Subordinated Debt

 

During the third quarter of 2008, we commenced a subordinated debt offering to enhance and strengthen the levels of capital and liquidity of the Company such that we could improve the levels of regulatory capital at the Bank. We raised $4.325 million in additional capital through this offering.  The subordinated notes were sold to a limited number of purchasers in a private offering, bear an interest rate of 11.5%, are callable after September 30, 2011, at a premium, and mature in 2018. The subordinated debt has been structured to fully count as Tier 2 regulatory capital on a consolidated basis.  At September 30, 2010, the Company had subordinated debt totaling $4.325 million.

 

Due to diminishing cash available at the holding company level, we paid the September 2010 interest payments only to subordinated debt holders that were not officers or directors of the Company.  If we are unable to raise additional capital, we may have to discontinue paying interest on the subordinated debentures to all holders after the September 2010 payments due to lack of funds.

 

41



 

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances, Fed Funds Lines of Credit, Federal Reserve Discount Window, and Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase

 

Our other borrowings have traditionally included proceeds from FHLB advances, federal funds lines of credit from correspondent banks, and securities sold under agreements to repurchase.  As of September 30, 2010 the FHLB has informed us that due to our financial condition we are not currently permitted to receive any more advances. At September 30, 2010, we had federal funds lines of credit with unrelated banks totaling $5 million.  These lines are available for general corporate purposes.  These lines may be terminated at any time based on our financial condition. We also have credit availability through the Federal Reserve Discount Window.  As of September 30, 2010, $3.6 million was available, based on qualifying collateral.  The Federal Reserve Discount Window borrowing capacity has been curtailed to only overnight terms, contingent upon credit approval for each transaction.  Availability of the Federal Reserve Discount Window may be terminated at any time by the Federal Reserve, and we can make no assurances that this funding source will continue to be available to us.  At September 30, 2010, the Bank had $30.0 million of securities under agreements to repurchase with brokers with a weighted average rate of 4.16% and an average maturity of 69 months.  The maximum amount outstanding at any month-end was $30.0 million.  These agreements were secured with approximately $37.6 million of investment securities.  In addition, the Bank was in default under a $15.0 million repurchase agreement due to the Bank’s “critically undercapitalized” designation.  However, the broker elected to amend the agreement and waive its right to terminate based on this issue through December 31, 2010 in exchange for the Bank providing an additional 7% of collateral based on the outstanding balance.

 

Liquidity

 

Liquidity is the ability to meet current and future obligations through liquidation or maturity of existing assets or the acquisition of liabilities.  We manage both assets and liabilities to achieve appropriate levels of liquidity.  Cash, federal funds and investments available for sale are our primary sources of asset liquidity.  These funds provide a cushion against short-term fluctuations in cash flow from both deposits and loans.  Historically, individual and commercial deposits have been our primary source of funds for credit activities.  These include brokered deposits, which comprise 23.6% of our deposit base as of September 30, 2010.  These have proven to be a reliable source of funds.  However, pursuant to the Consent Order and our current financial condition, our ability to access brokered deposits through the wholesale funding market is restricted.  Specifically, the Consent Order restricts the Bank’s ability to accept, renew, or rollover brokered deposits.  Management believes that this will not have any liquidity impact through the fourth quarter of 2010 due to the extended maturities of the brokered deposits and the amount of short-term investments and federal funds sold at September 30, 2010.  With access to the brokered deposit market unavailable, the Bank must replace those funds with core deposits.  Deposit balances, net of brokered deposits, have increased $25.8 million from December 31, 2009 to September 30, 2010.  This was due to intentional restructuring to replace brokered deposits with local and internet obtained deposits.  We believe internet deposits may be obtained without restriction under the guidelines of the Consent Order.  We anticipate that our funding cost and funding mix will now remain stable. As of November 15, 2010, all brokered deposits have been repaid through local and internet obtained deposits.

 

In addition to our on balance sheet sources of funds, we also rely on off-balance sheet lines of credit.  At September 30, 2010, we had lines of credit with a correspondent bank totaling $5 million.  This line is available for general corporate purposes.  This line may be terminated at any time based on our financial condition. We also have credit availability through the Federal Reserve Discount Window.  As of September 30, 2010, $3.6 million was available, based on qualifying collateral.  The Federal Reserve Discount Window borrowing capacity has been curtailed to only overnight terms, contingent upon credit approval for each transaction.  Availability of the Federal Reserve Discount Window may be terminated at any time by the Federal Reserve, and we can make no assurances that this funding source will continue to be available to us.  In addition, the FHLB has informed us that due to our financial condition we are not currently permitted to receive any more advances.

 

Following the execution of the Consent Order with the FDIC and the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions, we revised our comprehensive liquidity risk management program.  This program assesses our current and projected funding needs to ensure that sufficient funds or access to funds exist to meet those needs.  The program includes effective methods to achieve and maintain sufficient liquidity and to measure and monitor liquidity risk including the preparation and submission of liquidity reports on a regular basis to the FDIC.  The program contains a contingency funding plan that forecasts funding needs and funding sources under different stress scenarios.  Our plan details how the Bank is complying with the restrictions in the Consent Order, including the restriction against brokered deposits, as well as providing reports detailing all funding sources and obligations under best case and worse case scenarios.

 

42



 

The level of liquidity is measured by the cash, cash equivalents and unpledged securities available for sale to total assets ratio, which was at 35.8% at September 30, 2010, compared to 23.8% at December 31, 2009. We anticipate that this will continue to increase with the combination of deposit growth and shrinkage of assets until the brokered deposits are paid off or mature during the remainder of 2010.

 

We believe our liquidity sources are adequate to meet our needs through the fourth quarter of 2010 and 2011. See section “Maturities of Certificates of Deposit of $100,000 or More (Including Brokered Deposits)” above.  If we are unable to meet our liquidity needs during the fourth quarter of 2010, then the Bank may be placed into a federal conservatorship or receivership by the FDIC, with the FDIC appointed as conservator or receiver.

 

Impact of Off-Balance Sheet Instruments

 

Through the operations of our Bank, we have made contractual commitments to extend credit in the ordinary course of our business activities.  These commitments are legally binding agreements to lend money to our customers at predetermined interest rates for a specified period of time.  At September 30, 2010, we had issued commitments to extend credit of $11.2 million through various types of lending arrangements.  We evaluate each customer’s credit worthiness on a case-by-case basis.  The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by us upon extension of credit, is based on our credit evaluation of the borrower.  Collateral varies but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, commercial and residential real estate.  We manage the credit risk on these commitments by subjecting them to normal underwriting and risk management processes.  The following table summarizes our off-balance-sheet financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk:

 

(dollar amounts in thousands)

 

September 30, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments to extend credit

 

$

10,343

 

$

14,451

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letters of credit

 

$

840

 

$

1,525

 

 

Capital Resources

 

Total shareholders’ equity decreased from $8.7 million at December 31, 2009 to $1.7 million at September 30, 2010.  The decrease is principally due to the net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 of $9.0 million offset partially by an increase in market value of available for sale securities.

 

The FRB and bank regulatory agencies require bank holding companies and financial institutions to maintain capital at adequate levels based on a percentage of assets and off-balance sheet exposures, adjusted for risk weights ranging from 0% to 100%.

 

The FRB guidelines contain an exemption from the capital requirements for “small bank holding companies” to cover most bank holding companies with less than $500 million in total assets that do not have a material amount of debt or equity securities outstanding registered with the SEC.  Although our class of common stock is registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act, we believe that because our stock is not listed on any exchange or otherwise actively traded, the FRB will interpret its new guidelines to mean that we qualify as a small bank holding company.  Nevertheless, our Bank remains subject to these capital requirements.  Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Bank’s financial statements.  Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Bank’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices.  The Bank’s capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.

 

Under the capital adequacy guidelines, regulatory capital is classified into two tiers.  These guidelines require an institution to maintain a certain level of Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital to risk-weighted assets.  Tier 1 capital consists of common shareholders’ equity, excluding the unrealized gain or loss on securities available for sale, minus certain intangible assets.  In determining the amount of risk-weighted assets, all assets, including certain off-balance sheet assets, are multiplied by a risk-weight factor of 0% to 100% based on the risks believed to be inherent in the type of asset.  Tier 2 capital consists of Tier 1 capital plus the general reserve for loan losses, subject to certain limitations.  We are also required to maintain capital at a minimum level based on total average assets, which is known as the Tier 1 leverage ratio.

 

43



 

At the Bank level, we are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies.  Under the regulations adopted by the federal regulatory authorities, a bank will be categorized as:

 

·                  Well capitalized if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or greater, a leverage ratio of 5.0% or greater, and is not subject to any order or written directive by any such regulatory authority to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure.

·                  Adequately capitalized if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.0% or greater, a leverage ratio of 4.0% or greater, and is not categorized as well capitalized.

·                  Undercapitalized if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio that is less than 8.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4.0%, or a leverage ratio of less than 4.0%.

·                  Significantly undercapitalized if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 3.0%, or a leverage ratio of less than 3.0%.

·                  Critically undercapitalized if the institution’s tangible equity is equal to or less than 2.0% of average quarterly tangible assets.

 

In addition, an institution may be downgraded to, or deemed to be in, a capital category that is lower than indicated by its capital ratios if it is determined to be in an unsafe or unsound condition or if it receives an unsatisfactory examination rating with respect to certain matters.  A bank’s capital category is determined solely for the purpose of applying prompt corrective action regulations, and the capital category may not constitute an accurate representation of a bank’s overall financial condition or prospects for other purposes.

 

If a bank is not well capitalized, it cannot accept brokered deposits without prior FDIC approval.  In addition, a bank that is not well capitalized cannot offer an effective yield in excess of 75 basis points over interest paid on deposits of comparable size and maturity in such institution’s normal market area for deposits accepted from within its normal market area, or national rate paid on deposits of comparable size and maturity for deposits accepted outside the Bank’s normal market area.  Moreover, the FDIC generally prohibits a depository institution from making any capital distributions (including payment of a dividend) or paying any management fee to its parent holding company if the depository institution would thereafter be categorized as undercapitalized. Undercapitalized institutions are subject to growth limitations (an undercapitalized institution may not acquire another institution, establish additional branch offices or engage in any new line of business unless determined by the appropriate federal banking agency to be consistent with an accepted capital restoration plan, or unless the FDIC determines that the proposed action will further the purpose of prompt corrective action) and are required to submit a capital restoration plan. The agencies may not accept a capital restoration plan without determining, among other things, that the plan is based on realistic assumptions and is likely to succeed in restoring the depository institution’s capital. In addition, for a capital restoration plan to be acceptable, the depository institution’s parent holding company must guarantee that the institution will comply with the capital restoration plan. The aggregate liability of the parent holding company is limited to the lesser of an amount equal to 5.0% of the depository institution’s total assets at the time it became categorized as undercapitalized or the amount that is necessary (or would have been necessary) to bring the institution into compliance with all capital standards applicable with respect to such institution as of the time it fails to comply with the plan. If a depository institution fails to submit an acceptable plan, it is categorized as significantly undercapitalized.

 

Significantly undercapitalized categorized depository institutions may be subject to a number of requirements and restrictions, including orders to sell sufficient voting stock to become categorized as adequately capitalized, requirements to reduce total assets, and cessation of receipt of deposits from correspondent banks.  The appropriate federal banking agency may take any action authorized for a significantly undercapitalized institution if an undercapitalized institution fails to submit an acceptable capital restoration plan or fails in any material respect to implement a plan accepted by the agency.  A critically undercapitalized institution is subject to having a receiver or conservator appointed to manage its affairs and for loss of its charter to conduct banking activities.

 

An insured depository institution may not pay a management fee to a bank holding company controlling that institution or any other person having control of the institution if, after making the payment, the institution would be undercapitalized.  In addition, an institution cannot make a capital distribution, such as a dividend or other distribution, that is in substance a distribution of capital to the owners of the institution if following such a distribution the institution would be undercapitalized.  Thus, if payment of such a management fee or the making of such would cause a bank to become undercapitalized, it could not pay a management fee or dividend to the bank holding company.

 

At September 30, 2010, the Bank was categorized as “critically undercapitalized” under the regulatory framework.  As of December 31, 2009, the Bank was categorized “undercapitalized” under the regulatory framework.

 

44



 

The Bank’s regulatory capital ratios are set forth in the following table (dollars in thousands).

 

 

 

September 30, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

Amount

 

Ratio

 

Amount

 

Ratio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)

 

$

5,181

 

2.18

%

$

13,643

 

4.96

%

Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)

 

8,254

 

3.47

 

17,201

 

6.25

 

Tier 1 capital (to average assets)

 

5,181

 

1.07

 

13,643

 

3.12

 

 

Our losses for 2009 and the first nine months of 2010 have adversely impacted our capital. As a result, we have been pursuing a plan to increase our capital ratios in order to strengthen our balance sheet and satisfy the commitments required under the Consent Order that we entered into with the FDIC and the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions on February 23, 2010. In addition, the Consent Order requires us to achieve and maintain, by September 23, 2010, Total Risk Based capital at least equal to 10% of risk-weighted assets and Tier 1 capital at least equal to 8% of total assets. We did not meet that requirement and have submitted a revised capital plan to the FDIC on July 28, 2010.  In addition, under the FDI Act, banks that are “critically undercapitalized” must be placed into conservatorship or receivership within 90 days of becoming critically undercapitalized, unless the bank’s primary Federal regulatory authority (for the Bank, the FDIC) determines and documents that “other action” would better achieve the purposes of the FDI Act prompt corrective action capital requirements.  If the bank remains critically undercapitalized on average during the calendar quarter beginning 270 days after it became critically undercapitalized, the FDI Act requires the appointment of a receiver unless the bank and the FDIC affirmatively can determine that, among other things, the bank has positive net worth and the FDIC can certify that the bank is viable and not expected to fail.  Our auditors have noted that the uncertainty of our ability to obtain sufficient capital or address our upcoming liquidity needs raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. For additional information on the Bank’s “critically undercapitalized” status, including the requirements or restrictions that can or will be imposed on the Company and the Bank as a result of the Bank’s “critically undercapitalized” status, please refer to “Note 3 — Regulatory Actions and Going Concern ConsiderationsGoing Concern Considerations”  of the notes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

We have adopted various accounting policies that govern the application of GAAP and with general practices within the banking industry in the preparation of our financial statements.  Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 to the financial statements.

 

Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by us that have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities.  We consider these accounting policies to be critical accounting policies.  The judgments and assumptions we use are based on historical experience and other factors, which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Because of the nature of the judgments and assumptions we make, actual results could differ from these judgments and estimates that could have a material impact on the carrying values of our assets and liabilities and our results of operations.

 

We believe the allowance for loan losses is the critical accounting policy that requires the most significant judgments and estimates used in preparation of our consolidated financial statements.  Some of the more critical judgments supporting the amount of our allowance for loan losses include judgments about the credit worthiness of borrowers, the estimated value of the underlying collateral, the assumptions about cash flows, the determination of loss factors for estimating credit losses, the impact of current events, and conditions, and other factors impacting the level of probable inherent losses.  Under different conditions or using different assumptions, the actual amount of credit losses incurred by us may be different from management’s estimates provided in our consolidated financial statements.  Refer to the portion of this discussion that addresses our allowance for loan losses for a more complete discussion of our processes and methodology for determining our allowance for loan losses.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses

 

The allowance for loan losses represents an amount that we believe will be adequate to absorb probable losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible. Assessing the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is a process that requires considerable judgment. Our judgment in determining the adequacy of the allowance is based on evaluations of the collectability of loans, including consideration of factors such as the balance of impaired loans; the quality, mix and size of our overall loan portfolio; economic conditions that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay; the amount and quality of collateral securing the loans; our historical loan loss experience; and a review of specific problem loans. We adjust the

 

45



 

amount of the allowance periodically based on changing circumstances as a component of the provision for loan losses. We charge recognized losses against the allowance and add subsequent recoveries back to the allowance.

 

We calculate the allowance for loan losses for specific types of loans and evaluate the adequacy on an overall portfolio basis utilizing our credit grading system which we apply to each loan.  We combine our estimates of the reserves needed for each component of the portfolio, including loans analyzed on a pool basis and loans analyzed individually.  The allowance is divided into two portions: (1) an amount for specific allocations on significant individual credits that are considered impaired and (2) a general reserve amount.

 

Specific Reserve

 

We analyze individual loans within the portfolio and make allocations to the allowance based on each individual loan’s specific factors and other circumstances that affect the collectability of the credit. Significant individual credits classified as impaired within our credit grading system require both individual analysis and specific allocation.

 

In these situations where a loan is determined to be impaired (primarily because it is probable that all principal and interest due according to the terms of the loan agreement will not be collected as scheduled), the loan is excluded from the general reserve calculations described below and is assigned a specific reserve.  We calculate specific reserves on those impaired loans exceeding $250,000.  These reserves are based on a thorough analysis of the most probable source of repayment which is usually the liquidation of the underlying collateral, but may also include discounted future cash flows or, in rare cases, the market value of the loan itself.

 

Generally, for larger collateral dependent loans, current market appraisals are ordered to estimate the current fair value of the collateral.  However, in situations where a current market appraisal is not available, management uses the best available information (including recent appraisals for similar properties, communications with qualified real estate professionals, information contained in reputable trade publications and other observable market data) to estimate the current fair value.  The estimated costs to sell the subject property are then deducted from the estimated fair value to arrive at the “net realizable value” of the loan and to determine the specific reserve on each impaired loan reviewed.  The credit risk management group periodically reviews the fair value assigned to each impaired loan and adjusts the specific reserve accordingly.

 

General Reserve

 

We calculate our general reserve based on a percentage allocation for each of the categories of the following unclassified loan types such as:  real estate, commercial, consumer, A&D/construction and mortgage.  We apply historical trend loss factors to each category and adjust these percentages for qualitative or environmental factors, as discussed below.  The general estimate is then added to the specific allocations made to determine the amount of the total allowance for loan losses.

 

We also maintain our general reserve in accordance with December 2006 regulatory interagency guidance in our assessment of the loan loss allowance.  This general reserve considers qualitative or environmental factors that are likely to cause estimated credit losses including, but not limited to:  changes in delinquent loan trends, trends in risk grades and net chargeoffs, concentrations of credit, trends in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, general and local economic trends, collateral valuations, the experience and depth of lending management and staff, lending policies and procedures, the quality of loan review systems, and other external factors.

 

The current economic environment has adversely affected our general reserve requirement.  Historical data, environmental factors and loan trends have all deteriorated over the past year.  This has resulted in a larger calculated general reserve requirement than compared to a year ago.

 

Other Real Estate Owned

 

We obtain current appraisals upon possession of all properties to be held as other real estate owned and adjust property values as appropriate.  Updated appraisals are obtained periodically and further adjustments are also made as appropriate based on general market conditions and other related factors.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Not applicable.

 

46



 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e).  Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our current disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of September 30, 2010.  There have been no significant changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

 

The design of any system of controls and procedures is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events.  There can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions, regardless of how remote.

 

Part II - Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 4. (Removed and Reserved).

 

Item 5. Other Information.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

31.1        Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of the Principal Executive Officer.

 

31.2        Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of the Principal Financial Officer.

 

32           Section 1350 Certifications.

 

47



 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

Date: November 15, 2010

By:

/s/ C. Allan Ducker, III

 

C. Allan Ducker, III

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

Date: November 15, 2010

By:

/s/ John W. Hobbs

 

John W. Hobbs

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

48



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

 

 

Number

 

Description

 

 

 

31.1

 

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of the Principal Executive Officer.

 

 

 

31.2

 

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of the Principal Financial Officer.

 

 

 

32

 

Section 1350 Certifications.

 

49