10-Q 1 banr10q33112.htm BANNER CORPORATION FORM 10-Q banr10q33112.htm
 
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 March 31, 2012.
 
 
OR
 
 [    ] 
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
  ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM  ____________   to   ____________
 
Commission File Number 0-26584
 
BANNER CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
__________________________________________________________
 
 
Washington
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
91-1691604
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
 
 
10 South First Avenue, Walla Walla, Washington 99362
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (509) 527-3636
__________________________________________________________
 
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 [   ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, 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).  Yes [X]   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  [   ]                Accelerated filer [X]             Non-accelerated filer  [   ]              Smaller reporting company  [   ]
                 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes [   ]    No [X]
 
       
 
   
 
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 
Title of class:
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share
 
As of April 30, 2012
18,208,497 shares*
 
 
* Includes 34,340 shares held by the Employee Stock Ownership Plan that have not been released, committed to be released, or allocated to participant accounts.
 
 
 
 

 
 
BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Table of Contents

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1 - Financial Statements.  The Consolidated Financial Statements of Banner Corporation and Subsidiaries filed as a part of the report are as follows:
 
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011
4
   
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011
5
   
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011
6
   
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and the Year Ended
December 31, 2011
7
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011
9
   
Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
11
   
Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
   
Executive Overview
42
   
Comparison of Financial Condition at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011
46
   
Comparison of Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011
47
   
Asset Quality
51
   
Liquidity and Capital Resources
56
   
Capital Requirements
57
   
Item 3 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
   
Market Risk and Asset/Liability Management
58
   
Sensitivity Analysis
58
   
Item 4 - Controls and Procedures
62
   
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
   
Item 1 - Legal Proceedings
63
   
Item 1A - Risk Factors
63
   
Item 2 - Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
63
   
Item 3 - Defaults upon Senior Securities
63
   
Item 4 – Mine Safety Disclosures
63
   
Item 5 - Other Information
63
   
Item 6 - Exhibits
64
   
SIGNATURES
66
 
 
2

 
 
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters in this report on Form 10-Q contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning our future operations.  These statements relate to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance or business.  Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact, are based on certain assumptions and are generally identified by use of the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” “potentially,” “probably,” “projects,” “outlook” or similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would” and “could.”  Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, assumptions and statements about future economic performance and projections of financial items.  These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the credit risks of lending activities, including changes in the level and trend of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in our allowance for loan losses and provision for loan losses that may be impacted by deterioration in the housing and commercial real estate markets and may lead to increased losses and nonperforming assets in our loan portfolio, and may result in our allowance for loan losses not being adequate to cover actual losses and require us to materially increase our reserves; changes in general economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas; changes in the levels of general interest rates and the relative differences between short and long-term interest rates, deposit interest rates, our net interest margin and funding sources; fluctuations in the demand for loans, the number of unsold homes, land and other properties and fluctuations in real estate values in our market areas; secondary market conditions for loans and our ability to sell loans in the secondary market; results of examinations of us by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Federal Reserve Board) and of our bank subsidiaries by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the FDIC), the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Banks (the Washington DFI) or other regulatory authorities, including the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, institute a formal or informal enforcement action against us or any of our bank subsidiaries which could require us to increase our reserve for loan losses, write-down assets, change our regulatory capital position or affect our ability to borrow funds, or maintain or increase deposits, or impose additional requirements and restrictions on us, any of which could adversely affect our liquidity and earnings; our compliance with regulatory enforcement actions; legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business including changes in regulatory policies and principles, or the interpretation of regulatory capital or other rules; the impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the implementing regulations; our ability to attract and retain deposits; further increases in premiums for deposit insurance; our ability to control operating costs and expenses; the use of estimates in determining fair value of certain of our assets and liabilities, which estimates may prove to be incorrect and result in significant changes in valuation; difficulties in reducing risk associated with the loans on our balance sheet; staffing fluctuations in response to product demand or the implementation of corporate strategies that affect our work force and potential associated charges; the failure or security breach of computer systems on which we depend; our ability to retain key members of our senior management team; costs and effects of litigation, including settlements and judgments; our ability to implement our business strategies; our ability to successfully integrate any assets, liabilities, customers, systems, and management personnel we may acquire into our operations and our ability to realize related revenue synergies and cost savings within expected time frames and any goodwill charges related thereto; our ability to manage loan delinquency rates; increased competitive pressures among financial services companies; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; the availability of resources to address changes in laws, rules, or regulations or to respond to regulatory actions; our ability to pay dividends on our common and preferred stock and interest or principal payments on our junior subordinated debentures; adverse changes in the securities markets; inability of key third-party providers to perform their obligations to us; changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the financial institution regulatory agencies or the Financial Accounting Standards Board including additional guidance and interpretation on accounting issues and details of the implementation of new accounting methods; the economic impact of war or any terrorist activities; other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, and technological factors affecting our operations, pricing, products and services; and other risks detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Any forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made.  We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements included in this report or the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  These risks could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by, or on behalf of, us.  In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements discussed in this report might not occur, and you should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

As used throughout this report, the terms “we,” “our,” “us,” or the “Company” refer to Banner Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires.
 
 
3

 
 
BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(Unaudited) (In thousands, except shares)
March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011

   
March 31
   
December 31
 
ASSETS
 
2012
   
2011
 
             
Cash and due from banks
  $ 199,609     $ 132,436  
                 
Securities—trading, amortized cost $108,642 and $112,663, respectively
    77,706       80,727  
Securities—available-for-sale, amortized cost $383,555 and $462,579, respectively
    386,716       465,795  
Securities—held-to-maturity, fair value $82,294 and $80,107, respectively
    76,853       75,438  
                 
Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    37,371       37,371  
Loans receivable:
               
Held for sale
    4,623       3,007  
Held for portfolio
    3,225,039       3,293,331  
Allowance for loan losses
    (81,544 )     (82,912 )
      3,148,118       3,213,426  
                 
Accrued interest receivable
    16,047       15,570  
Real estate owned, held for sale, net
    27,723       42,965  
Property and equipment, net
    90,106       91,435  
Intangible assets, net
    5,777       6,331  
Bank-owned life insurance (BOLI)
    59,055       58,563  
Other assets
    35,683       37,255  
                 
    $ 4,160,764     $ 4,257,312  
LIABILITIES
               
Deposits:
               
Non-interest-bearing
  $ 771,812     $ 777,563  
Interest-bearing transaction and savings accounts
    1,457,030       1,447,594  
Interest-bearing certificates
    1,197,328       1,250,497  
      3,426,170       3,475,654  
                 
Advances from FHLB at fair value
    10,467       10,533  
Other borrowings
    91,253       152,128  
Junior subordinated debentures at fair value (issued in connection with Trust Preferred Securities)
    49,368       49,988  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    21,136       23,253  
Deferred compensation
    13,580       13,306  
      3,611,974       3,724,862  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 15)
               
                 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Preferred stock - $0.01 par value, 500,000 shares authorized; Series A – liquidation preference
               
$1,000 per share, 124,000 shares issued and outstanding
    121,156       120,702  
Common stock and paid in capital - $0.01 par value per share, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 18,027,768 shares
issued: 17,993,428 shares and 17,519,132  shares outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011,
respectively
    540,068       531,149  
Accumulated deficit
    (112,465 )     (119,465 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    2,018       2,051  
Unearned shares of common stock issued to Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) trust at cost
               
34,340 restricted shares outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011
    (1,987 )     (1,987 )
                 
      548,790       532,450  
                 
    $ 4,160,764     $ 4,257,312  

See Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
4

 
 
BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited) (In thousands except for per share amounts)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
INTEREST INCOME:
           
Loans receivable
  $ 43,988     $ 46,755  
Mortgage-backed securities
    927       875  
Securities and cash equivalents
    2,283       2,033  
      47,198       49,663  
INTEREST EXPENSE:
               
Deposits
    4,448       7,812  
FHLB advances
    63       178  
Other borrowings
    549       579  
Junior subordinated debentures
    1,012       1,038  
      6,072       9,607  
                 
Net interest income before provision for loan losses
    41,126       40,056  
                 
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
    5,000       17,000  
Net interest income
    36,126       23,056  
                 
OTHER OPERATING INCOME:
               
Deposit fees and other service charges
    5,869       5,279  
Mortgage banking operations
    2,649       962  
Loan servicing fees, net of amortization and impairment
    217       256  
Miscellaneous
    551       493  
      9,286       6,990  
                 
Net change in valuation of financial instruments carried at fair value
    1,685       256  
Total other operating income
    10,971       7,246  
                 
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES:
               
Salary and employee benefits
    19,510       17,255  
Less capitalized loan origination costs
    (2,250 )     (1,720 )
Occupancy and equipment
    5,477       5,394  
Information/computer data services
    1,515       1,567  
Payment and card processing expenses
    1,890       1,647  
Professional services
    1,344       1,672  
Advertising and marketing
    2,066       1,740  
Deposit insurance
    1,363       1,969  
State/municipal business and use taxes
    568       494  
REO operations
    2,598       4,631  
Amortization of core deposit intangibles
    552       597  
Miscellaneous
    3,280       2,898  
Total other operating expenses
    37,913       38,144  
                 
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes
    9,184       (7,842 )
                 
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
    --       --  
                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
    9,184       (7,842 )
                 
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDEND AND DISCOUNT ACCRETION
               
Preferred stock dividend
    1,550       1,550  
Preferred stock discount accretion
    454       426  
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
  $ 7,180     $ (9,818 )
                 
Earnings (loss) per common share:
               
Basic
  $ 0.40     $ (0.60 )
Diluted
  $ 0.40     $ (0.60 )
Cumulative dividends declared per common share:
  $ 0.01     $ 0.07  

See Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
5

 
 
BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited) (In thousands)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
NET INCOME (LOSS)
  $ 9,184     $ (7,842 )
                 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF INCOME TAXES:
               
Unrealized holding gain (loss) during the period, net of deferred
income tax provision (benefit) of $(20) and $0, respectively
    (35 )     (682 )
                 
Amortization of unrealized loss on tax exempt securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity
    2       5  
                 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
    (33 )     (677 )
                 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
  $ 9,151     $ (8,519 )

See Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
 
6

 
 
BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited) (In thousands, except for shares)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012

                        Retained      Accumulated         
             Common Stock and     Earnings      Other         
 
Preferred Stock
 
Paid in Capital
    (Accumulated      Comprehensive      Stockholders'   
 
Shares
    Amount   
Shares
    Amount      Deficit)      Income (Loss)       Equity  
                                       
Balance, January 1, 2012
124,000
 
$
120,702
 
17,519,132
 
$
529,162
 
$
(119,465
)
$
2,051
 
$
532,450
 
                                       
Net income (loss)
                     
9,184
         
9,184
 
                                       
Change in valuation of securities—available-for-
   sale, net of income tax
                           
(35
)
 
(35
)
                                       
Amortization of unrealized loss on tax exempt
    securities transferred from available-for-sale to
    held-to-maturity, net of income tax
                           
2
   
2
 
                                       
Accretion of preferred stock discount
     
454
             
(454
)
       
--
 
                                       
Accrual of dividends on preferred stock
                     
(1,550
)
       
(1,550
)
                                       
Accrual of dividends on common stock
    ($.01/share cumulative)
                     
(180
)
       
(180
)
                                       
Proceeds from issuance of common stock for
    stockholder reinvestment program
         
474,296
   
8,874
               
8,874
 
                                       
Amortization of compensation related to
    restricted stock grant
               
42
               
42
 
                                       
Amortization of compensation related to stock
    options
               
3
               
3
 
                                       
BALANCE, March 31, 2012
124,000
 
$
121,156
 
17,993,428
 
$
538,081
 
$
(112,465
)
$
2,018`
 
$
548,790
 


See Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 
7

 

BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 (Unaudited) (In thousands, except for shares)
For the Year Ended December 31, 2011

                        Retained      Accumulated       
            Common Stock and       Earnings      Other       
  Preferred Stock   Paid in Capital     (Accumulated      Comprehensive    Stockholders'   
  Shares      Amount    Shares      Amount      Deficit)      Income (Loss)    Equity   
                                     
Balance, January 1, 2011
124,000
 
$
119,000
 
16,130,441
 
$
507,470
 
$
(115,348
)
$
350
$
511,472
 
                                     
Net income (loss)
                     
5,457
       
5,457
 
                                     
Change in valuation of securities—available-for-
    sale, net of income tax
                           
1,685
 
1,685
 
                                     
Amortization of unrealized loss on tax exempt
    securities transferred from available-for-sale to
    held-to-maturity, net of income tax
                           
16
 
16
 
                                     
Accretion of preferred stock discount
     
1,701
             
(1,701
)
     
--
 
                                     
Accrual of dividends on preferred stock
                     
(6,200
)
     
(6,200
)
                                     
Accrual of dividends on common stock
    ($.10/share cumulative)
                     
(1,673
)
     
(1,673
)
                                     
Proceeds from issuance of common stock for
    stockholder reinvestment program
         
1,372,625
   
21,556
             
21,556
 
                                     
Amortization of compensation related to
    restricted stock grant
         
16,066
   
111
             
111
 
                                     
Amortization of compensation related to stock
    options
               
25
             
25
 
                                     
Other
     
1
                       
1
 
                                     
BALANCE, December 31, 2011
124,000
 
$
120,702
 
17,519,132
 
$
529,162
 
$
(119,465
)
$
2,051
$
532,450
 


See Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 
8

 



BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited) (In thousands)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
Net income (loss)
  $ 9,184     $ (7,842 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by
  operating activities:
               
Depreciation
    1,907       2,169  
Deferred income and expense, net of amortization
    542       613  
Amortization of core deposit intangibles
    552       597  
Net change in valuation of financial instruments carried at fair value
    (1,685 )     (256 )
Principal repayments and maturities of securities—trading
    4,046       4,554  
Equity-based compensation
    45       29  
Increase in cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance
    (489 )     (470 )
Gain on sale of loans, excluding capitalized servicing rights
    (1,736 )     (694 )
(Gain) Loss on disposal of real estate held for sale and property
and equipment
    (113 )     539  
Provision for losses on loans and real estate held for sale
    6,629       20,027  
Origination of loans held for sale
    (122,732 )     (61,208 )
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale
    122,853       63,207  
Net change in:
               
Other assets
    1,360       15,086  
Other liabilities
    (1,866 )     (210 )
Net cash provided from operating activities
    18,497       36,141  
                 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Purchases of available-for-sale securities
    (46,409 )     (64,730 )
Principal repayments and maturities of available-for-sale securities
    124,547       22,844  
Purchases of securities held-to-maturity
    (1,896 )     (3,241 )
Principal repayments and maturities of securities held-to-maturity
    451       205  
Principal repayments of loans, net of originations
    65,012       44,092  
Purchases of loans and participating interest in loans
    (4,635 )     (68 )
Purchases of property and equipment
    (587 )     (395 )
Proceeds from sale of real estate held for sale, net
    15,410       17,335  
Other
    (3 )     (51 )
Net cash provided from investing activities
    151,890       15,991  
                 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Decrease in deposits, net
    (49,483 )     (50,550 )
Repayment of FHLB advances
    (2 )     (32,800 )
Decrease in other borrowings, net
    (60,878 )     (15,911 )
Cash dividends paid
    (1,725 )     (2,682 )
Cash proceeds from issuance of stock for stockholder reinvestment plan
    8,874       4,464  
Net cash used by financing activities
    (103,214 )     (97,479 )
                 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS
    67,173       (45,347 )
                 
CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
    132,436       361,652  
CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS, END OF PERIOD
  $ 199,609     $ 316,305  

(Continued on next page)
 
 
9

 
 
BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
(Unaudited) (In thousands)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
           
Interest paid in cash
  $ 6,715     $ 10,480  
Taxes received in cash
    --       (13,078 )
                 
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING TRANSACTIONS:
               
Loans, net of discounts, specific loss allowances and unearned income,
transferred to real estate owned and other repossessed assets
    1,611       14,939  

See Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
10

 
 
BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SELECTED NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1:  BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Banner Corporation (the Company or Banner), a bank holding company incorporated in the State of Washington and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Banner Bank and Islanders Bank (the Banks).

These unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented have been included.  Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.  Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2011 Consolidated Financial Statements and/or schedules to conform to the 2012 presentation.  These reclassifications may have affected certain ratios for the prior periods. The effect of these reclassifications is considered immaterial.  All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements.  Various elements of the Company’s accounting policies, by their nature, are inherently subject to estimation techniques, valuation assumptions and other subjective assessments.  In particular, management has identified several accounting policies that, due to the judgments, estimates and assumptions inherent in those policies, are critical to an understanding of Banner’s financial statements.  These policies relate to (i) the methodology for the recognition of interest income, (ii) determination of the provision and allowance for loan and lease losses, (iii) the valuation of financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value, including other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) losses, (iv) the valuation of intangibles, such as core deposit intangibles and mortgage servicing rights, (v) the valuation of real estate held for sale and (vi) the valuation of or recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities.  These policies and judgments, estimates and assumptions are described in greater detail in subsequent notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Critical Accounting Policies) in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  Management believes that the judgments, estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the financial statements are appropriate based on the factual circumstances at the time.  However, given the sensitivity of the financial statements to these critical accounting policies, the use of other judgments, estimates and assumptions could result in material differences in the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.  Further, subsequent changes in economic or market conditions could have a material impact on these estimates and the Company’s financial condition and operating results in future periods.

The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the SEC (2011 Form 10-K).  Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

Note 2:  RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Regulatory Actions:  On March 19, 2012, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by and between Banner Bank and the FDIC and Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Banks (originally effective March 29, 2010) was terminated.  On April 10, 2012, a similar MOU by and between the Company and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (originally effective March 23, 2010) was also terminated.

Income Tax Reporting and Accounting:

Amended Federal Income Tax Returns:  On October 25, 2011, the Company filed amended federal income tax returns for tax years 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009.  The amended tax returns, which are under review by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), could significantly affect the timing for recognition of credit losses within previously filed income tax returns and, if approved, would result in the refund of up to $13.6 million of previously paid taxes from the utilization of net operating loss carryback claims into prior tax years.  The outcome of the IRS review is inherently uncertain and since there can be no assurance of approval of some or all of the tax carryback claims, no asset has been recognized to reflect the possible results of these amendments as of March 31, 2012, because of this uncertainty.  Accordingly, the Company does not anticipate recognizing any tax benefit until the results of the IRS review have been determined.

Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance:  The Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries file consolidated U.S. federal income tax returns, as well as state income tax returns in Oregon and Idaho.  Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method.  Under this method a deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the enacted tax rates which are expected to be in effect when the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax basis of existing assets and liabilities are expected to be reported in the Company’s income tax returns.  The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  Under GAAP, a valuation allowance is required to be recognized if it is “more likely than not” that all or a portion of Banner’s deferred tax assets will not be realized.  During the third quarter of 2010, the Company evaluated its net deferred tax asset and determined it was prudent to establish a valuation allowance against the entire asset.  The Company continued to maintain a full valuation allowance through March 31, 2012.  As a result, no tax benefit or expense was recognized during 2011, nor during the three months ended March 31, 2012.  See Note 12 of the Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

 
11

 
 
Stockholder Equity Transactions:
 
Restricted Stock Grants:  On April 24, 2012, shareholders approved the Banner Corporation 2012 Restricted Stock Plan (the Plan).  Under the Plan, the Company was authorized to issue up to 300,000 shares of its common stock to provide a means for attracting and retaining highly skilled officers of Banner and its affiliates.  Shares granted under the Plan have a minimum vesting period of three years.  The Plan shall continue in effect for a term of ten years, after which no further awards may be granted.  Concurrent with the approval of the Plan was the approval of a grant of $300,000 of restricted stock to Mark J. Grescovich, President and Chief Executive Officer of Banner Corporation and Banner Bank.
 
Reverse stock split: On May 26, 2011, Banner Corporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Washington Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, which effected a 1-for-7 reverse stock split.  The amendment to the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation was effective June 1, 2011.

As a result of the reverse stock split, every seven shares of the Company's common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective date automatically consolidated into one share of common stock.  No fractional shares of common stock were issued by the Company in connection with the reverse stock split.  Approximately $50,000 in cash was paid for fractional shares based on the closing price of the common stock on May 31, 2011.  All prior shares outstanding and per share information have been retroactively adjusted for the reverse stock split.

Participation in the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program:  On March 29, 2012, the Company’s $124 million of senior preferred stock, originally issued to the U.S. Treasury as part of its Capital Purchase Program, was sold by the Treasury as part of its efforts to manage and recover its investments under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).  While the sale of these preferred shares to new owners did not result in any accounting entries and does not change the Company’s capital position, it does eliminate many restrictions put in place by the Treasury on TARP recipients.  The Treasury retained its related warrants to purchase up to $18.6 million in common stock.

Note 3:  ACCOUNTING STANDARDS RECENTLY ADOPTED

In April 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-02, A Creditor’s Determination of Whether a Restructuring is a Troubled Debt Restructuring.  ASU No. 2011-02 clarifies when a loan modification or restructuring is considered a troubled debt restructuring.  This guidance was effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after June 15, 2011 and was applied retrospectively to the beginning of the annual period of adoption.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In April 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-03, Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements.  This guidance was effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after December 15, 2011.  The guidance was applied prospectively to transactions or modifications of existing transactions that occur on or after the effective date.  The amendments remove the transferor’s ability criterion from the consideration of effective control for repurchase and other agreements that both entitle and obligate the transferor to repurchase or redeem financial assets before their maturity.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In May 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement - Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.  ASU 2011-04 amends Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, to converge the fair value measurement guidance in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU 2011-04 clarifies the application of existing fair value measurement requirements, changes certain principles in Topic 820 and requires additional fair value disclosures.  ASU 2011-04 became effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after December 15, 2011 and did not have a significant impact on the Corporation’s financial statements.

In June 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income.  The amendments in this ASU were effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2011 and were to be applied retrospectively.  The FASB decided to eliminate the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity.  The amendments require that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements.  Additionally, the amendments require the consecutive presentation of the statement of net income and other comprehensive income and require the presentation of reclassification adjustments on the face of the financial statements from other comprehensive income to net income.  See also ASU No. 2011-12.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In December 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in ASU No. 2011-05.  This ASU was made to allow FASB time to redeliberate whether to present on the face of the financial statements the effects of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the components of net income and other comprehensive income for all periods presented.  While FASB is considering the operational concerns about the presentation requirements for reclassification adjustments, and the needs of financial statement users for additional information about reclassification adjustments, entities should continue to report reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income consistent with the presentation requirements in effect before ASU 2011-05.  The amendments in this ASU were effective at the same time as the amendments in ASU 2011-05 so that entities will not be required to comply with the presentation requirements effective at the same time as the amendments in ASU 2011-05 that this ASU is deferring.  The amendments in this ASU were effective for public entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
12

 

Note 4:  BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company is managed by legal entity and not by lines of business.  Each of the Banks is a community oriented commercial bank chartered in the State of Washington.  The Banks’ primary business is that of a traditional banking institution, gathering deposits and originating loans for portfolio in its respective primary market areas.  The Banks offer a wide variety of deposit products to their consumer and commercial customers.  Lending activities include the origination of real estate, commercial/agriculture business and consumer loans.  Banner Bank is also an active participant in the secondary market, originating residential loans for sale on both a servicing released and servicing retained basis.  In addition to interest income on loans and investment securities, the Banks receive other income from deposit service charges, loan servicing fees and from the sale of loans and investments.  The performance of the Banks is reviewed by the Company’s executive management and Board of Directors on a monthly basis.  All of the executive officers of the Company are members of Banner Bank’s management team.

Generally accepted accounting principles establish standards to report information about operating segments in annual financial statements and require reporting of selected information about operating segments in interim reports to stockholders.  The Company has determined that its current business and operations consist of a single business segment.

Note 5:  INTEREST-BEARING DEPOSITS AND SECURITIES

The following table sets forth additional detail regarding our interest-bearing deposits and securities at the dates indicated (includes securities—trading, available-for-sale and held-to-maturity, all at carrying value) (in thousands):

   
March 31
2012
   
December 31
2011
   
March 31
2011
 
                   
Interest-bearing deposits included in cash and due from banks
  $ 143,885     $ 69,758     $ 271,924  
                         
U.S. Government and agency obligations
    238,866       341,606       173,270  
                         
Municipal bonds:
                       
Taxable
    18,071       18,497       13,004  
Tax exempt
    90,965       88,963       80,131  
Total municipal bonds
    109,036       107,460       93,135  
                         
Corporate bonds
    43,674       42,565       58,369  
                         
Mortgage-backed or related securities:
                       
Ginnie Mae (GNMA)
    18,178       19,572       22,275  
Freddie Mac (FHLMC)
    49,488       42,001       23,375  
Fannie Mae (FNMA)
    79,818       66,519       32,577  
Private issuer
    1,808       1,835       3,456  
Total mortgage-backed or related securities
    149,292       129,927       81,683  
                         
Equity securities (excludes FHLB stock)
    407       402       506  
                         
Total securities
    541,275       621,960       406,963  
                         
FHLB stock
    37,371       37,371       37,371  
                         
    $ 722,531     $ 729,089     $ 716,258  
 

 
 
13

 
Securities—Trading:  The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities—trading at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):

   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Fair Value
   
Percent of
Total
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Fair Value
   
Percent of
Total
 
                                     
U.S. Government and agency obligations
  $ 1,400     $ 1,589       2.1 %   $ 2,401     $ 2,635       3.3 %
                                                 
Municipal bonds:
                                               
Taxable
    85       91       0.1       391       420       0.5  
Tax exempt
    5,434       5,466       7.0       5,431       5,542       6.9  
Total municipal bonds
    5,519       5,557       7.1       5,822       5,962       7.4  
                                                 
Corporate bonds
    63,353       36,155       46.5       63,502       35,055       43.4  
                                                 
Mortgage-backed or related securities:
                                               
FHLMC
    9,436       10,109       13.0       10,535       11,246       13.9  
FNMA
    22,020       23,889       30.8       23,489       25,427       31.5  
Total mortgage-backed or
related securities
    31,456       33,998       43.8       34,024       36,673       45.4  
                                                 
Equity securities
    6,914       407       0.5       6,914       402       0.5  
                                                 
    $ 108,642     $ 77,706       100.0 %   $ 112,663     $ 80,727       100.0 %

There were no sales of securities—trading during the three months ended March 31, 2012 or 2011.  The Company did not recognize any OTTI charges on securities—trading during the three months ended March 31, 2012 or 2011.  At March 31, 2012, there were no securities—trading in a nonaccrual status.  At March 31, 2011, there was one single-issuer trust preferred security that was on nonaccrual; however, subsequently deferred and current payments have been received, removing the security from nonaccrual status.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities—trading at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, by contractual maturity, are shown below (in thousands).  Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because some securities may be called or prepaid with or without call or prepayment penalties.

   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Amortized Cost
   
Fair Value
   
Amortized Cost
   
Fair Value
 
                         
Due in one year or less
  $ --     $ --     $ 1,000     $ 1,009  
Due after one year through five years
    5,027       5,412       1,545       1,626  
Due after five years through ten years
    15,689       16,664       17,755       18,975  
Due after ten years through twenty years
    19,744       18,697       13,244       13,431  
Due after twenty years
    61,268       36,526       72,205       45,284  
                                 
      101,728       77,299       105,749       80,325  
                                 
Equity securities
    6,914       407       6,914       402  
                                 
    $ 108,642     $ 77,706     $ 112,663     $ 80,727  
 
 
14

 

Securities—Available-for-Sale:  The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities—available-for-sale at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):

 
March 31, 2012
 
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Percent of
Total
 
                               
U.S. Government and agency obligations
  $ 236,540     $ 768     $ (31 )   $ 237,277       61.3 %
                                         
Municipal bonds:
                                       
Taxable
    10,335       248       (1 )     10,582       2.7  
Tax exempt
    17,059       239       (4 )     17,294       4.5  
Total municipal bonds
    27,394       487       (5 )     27,876       7.2  
                                         
Corporate bonds
    6,209       60       --       6,269       1.6  
                                         
Mortgage-backed or related securities:
                                       
FHLMC collateralized mortgage obligations
    39,108       305       (34 )     39,379       10.2  
FNMA collateralized mortgage obligations
    55,814       390       (275 )     55,929       14.5  
GNMA certificates
    16,784       1,394       --       18,178       4.7  
Other collateralized mortgage obligations
    1,706       102       --       1,808       0.5  
Total mortgage-backed or related
securities
    113,412       2,191       (309 )     115,294       29.9  
                                         
    $ 383,555     $ 3,506     $ (345 )   $ 386,716       100.0 %
 
 
 
December 31, 2011
 
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Percent of
Total
 
                                         
U.S. Government and agency obligations
  $ 338,165     $ 862     $ (56 )   $ 338,971       72.8 %
                                         
Municipal bonds:
                                       
Taxable
    10,358       225       (2 )     10,581       2.3  
Tax exempt
    16,535       210       (16 )     16,729       3.6  
Total municipal bonds
    26,893       435       (18 )     27,310       5.9  
                                         
Corporate bonds
    6,240       20       --       6,260       1.3  
                                         
Mortgage-backed or related securities:
                                       
FHLMC collateralized mortgage obligations
    30,504       284       (33 )     30,755       6.6  
FNMA collateralized mortgage obligations
    40,897       310       (115 )     41,092       8.8  
GNMA collateralized mortgage obligations
    18,145       1,427       --       19,572       4.2  
Other collateralized mortgage obligations
    1,735       100       --       1,835       0.4  
Total mortgage-backed or related
securities
    91,281       2,121       (148 )     93,254       20.0  
                                         
    $ 462,579     $ 3,438     $ (222 )   $ 465,795       100.0 %
 
 
15

 
 
At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, an aging of unrealized losses and fair value of related securities—available-for-sale was as follows (in thousands):

 
March 31, 2012
 
 
Less Than 12 Months
 
12 Months or More
 
Total
 
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
 
                                     
U.S. Government and agency obligations
  $ 13,948     $ (31 )   $ --     $ --     $ 13,948     $ (31 )
                                                 
Municipal bonds:
                                               
Taxable
    3,599       (1 )     --       --       3,599       (1 )
Tax exempt
    924       (4 )     --       --       924       (4 )
Total municipal bonds
    4,523       (5 )     --       --       4,523       (5 )
                                                 
Corporate bonds
    --       --       --       --       --       --  
                                                 
Mortgage-backed or related securities
    48,781       (308 )     --       --       48,781       (308 )
                                                 
    $ 67,252     $ (344 )   $ --     $ --     $ 67,252     $ (344 )
 
 
 
December 31, 2011
 
 
Less Than 12 Months
 
12 Months or More
 
Total
 
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
 
                                                 
U.S. Government and agency obligations
  $ 74,326     $ (56 )   $ --     $ --     $ 74,326     $ (56 )
                                                 
Municipal bonds:
                                               
Taxable
    3,599       (2 )     --       --       3,599       (2 )
Tax exempt
    4,075       (16 )     --       --       4,075       (16 )
Total municipal bonds
    7,674       (18 )     --       --       7,674       (18 )
                                                 
Corporate bonds
    --       --       --       --       --       --  
                                                 
Mortgage-backed or related securities
    33,888       (148 )     --       --       33,888       (148 )
                                                 
    $ 115,888     $ (222 )   $ --     $ --     $ 115,888     $ (222 )

There were no sales of securities—available-for-sale during the three months ended March 31, 2012 or 2011.  There were no OTTI charges on securities—available-for-sale for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.  At March 31, 2012, there were 18 securities—available-for-sale with unrealized losses, compared to 26 securities at December 31, 2011.  Management does not believe that any individual unrealized loss as of March 31, 2012 represents OTTI.  The decline in fair market values of these securities was generally due to changes in interest rates and changes in market-desired spreads subsequent to their purchase.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities—available-for-sale at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, by contractual maturity, are shown below (in thousands).  Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because some securities may be called or prepaid with or without call or prepayment penalties.

   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Amortized Cost
   
Fair Value
   
Amortized Cost
   
Fair Value
 
                         
Due in one year or less
  $ 29,767     $ 29,880     $ 19,520     $ 19,602  
Due after one year through five years
    237,541       238,755       329,451       330,505  
Due after five years through ten years
    52,501       52,757       69,813       70,083  
Due after ten years through twenty years
    42,612       42,698       20,505       20,787  
Due after twenty years
    21,134       22,626       23,290       24,818  
                                 
    $ 383,555     $ 386,716     $ 462,579     $ 465,795  

 
16

 

Securities—Held-to-Maturity:  The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities—held-to-maturity at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):

   
March 31, 2012
 
   
Amortized Cost
   
Gross Unrealized Gains
   
Gross Unrealized Losses
   
Fair Value
   
Percent of Total
 
Municipal bonds:
                             
Taxable
  $ 7,399     $ 431     $ (21 )   $ 7,809       9.5 %
Tax exempt
    68,204       5,034       --       73,238       89.0  
Total municipal bonds
    75,603       5,465       (21 )     81,047       98.5  
                                         
Corporate bonds
    1,250       --       (3 )     1,247       1.5  
                                         
    $ 76,853     $ 5,465     $ (24 )   $ 82,294       100.0 %
 
       
   
December 31, 2011
 
           
Gross
   
Gross
                 
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Percent
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
   
of Total
 
Municipal bonds:
                                       
Taxable
  $ 7,496     $ 390     $ --     $ 7,886       9.8 %
Tax exempt
    66,692       4,281       --       70,973       88.6  
Total municipal bonds
    74,188       4,671       --       78,859       98.4  
                                         
Corporate bonds
    1,250       --       (2 )     1,248       1.6  
                                         
    $ 75,438     $ 4,671     $ (2 )   $ 80,107       100.0 %

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, an age analysis of unrealized losses and fair value of related securities—held-to-maturity was as follows (in thousands):

   
March 31, 2012
 
   
Less Than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized Losses
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized Losses
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized Losses
 
Municipal bonds:
                                   
Taxable
  $ 977     $ (21 )   $ --     $ --     $ 977     $ (21 )
Tax exempt
    --       --       --       --       --       --  
Total municipal bonds
    977       (21 )     --       --       977       (21 )
                                                 
Corporate bonds
    --       --       497       (3 )     497       (3 )
                                                 
    $ 977     $ (21 )   $ 497     $ (3 )   $ 1,474     $ (24 )

     
 
December 31, 2011
 
 
Less Than 12 Months
 
12 Months or More
 
Total
 
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
 
                                                 
Corporate bonds
  --     $ --     $ 498     $ (2 )   $ 498     $ (2  
                                                 
    $ --     $ --     $ 498     $ (2 )   $ 498     $ (2 )

There were no sales of securities—held-to-maturity during the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.  The Company did not recognize any OTTI charge on securities—held-to-maturity during the three months ended March 31, 2012 or 2011.  As of March 31, 2012, there were two held-to-maturity non-rated corporate bonds issued by a housing authority on nonaccrual status each with an amortized cost of $250,000 and estimated fair value of $249,000.  Management expects to collect all amounts due for these securities.  There are three securities—held-to-maturity with unrealized losses at March 31, 2012, compared to two at December 31, 2011.  Management does not believe that any individual unrealized loss as of March 31, 2012 represents OTTI.  The decline in fair market value of these securities was generally due to changes in interest rates and changes in market-desired spreads subsequent to their purchase.
 
 
17

 

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities—held-to-maturity at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, by contractual maturity, are shown below (in thousands).  Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because some securities may be called or prepaid with or without call or prepayment penalties.

   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Amortized Cost
   
Fair Value
   
Amortized Cost
   
Fair Value
 
                         
Due in one year or less
  $ 2,382     $ 2,421     $ 2,707     $ 2,768  
Due after one year through five years
    18,660       19,678       14,420       15,150  
Due after five years through ten years
    7,345       7,629       9,726       10,254  
Due after ten years through twenty years
    47,127       51,073       46,741       49,936  
Due after twenty years
    1,339       1,493       1,844       1,999  
                                 
    $ 76,853     $ 82,294     $ 75,438     $ 80,107  

Pledged Securities: The following table presents, as of March 31, 2012, investment securities which were pledged to secure borrowings, public deposits or other obligations as permitted or required by law (in thousands):

   
Amortized Cost
   
Fair Value
 
Purpose or beneficiary:
           
State and local governments public deposits
  $ 96,404     $ 101,484  
Interest rate swap counterparties
    8,303       8,689  
Retail repurchase transaction accounts
    104,080       106,946  
Other
    5,934       6,145  
                 
    Total pledged securities
  $ 214,721     $ 223,264  

Note 6:  FHLB STOCK

The Banks’ investments in Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle stock are carried at par value ($100 per share), which reasonably approximates its fair value.  As members of the FHLB system, the Banks are required to maintain a minimum level of investment in FHLB stock based on specific percentages of their outstanding FHLB advances.  For the three-months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the Banks did not receive any dividend income on FHLB stock.  The Seattle FHLB announced that it had a risk-based capital deficiency under the regulations of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (the FHFA), its primary regulator, as of December 31, 2008, and that it would suspend future dividends and the repurchase and redemption of outstanding common stock. At March 31, 2012, the Company had recorded $37.4 million in FHLB stock, unchanged from December 31, 2011.  This stock is generally viewed as a long-term investment and is carried at par.  It does not have a readily determinable fair value.  Ownership of FHLB stock is restricted to the FHLB and member institutions and can only be purchased and redeemed at par.

Management periodically evaluates FHLB stock for impairment.  Management’s determination of whether these investments are impaired is based on its assessment of the ultimate recoverability of cost rather than by recognizing temporary declines in value.  The determination of whether a decline affects the ultimate recoverability of cost is influenced by criteria such as (1) the significance of any decline in net assets of the FHLB as compared to the capital stock amount for the FHLB and the length of time this situation has persisted, (2) commitments by the FHLB to make payments required by law or regulation and the level of such payments in relation to the operating performance of the FHLB, (3) the impact of legislative and regulatory changes on institutions and, accordingly, the customer base of the FHLB, and (4) the liquidity position of the FHLB.  The FHLB has communicated that it believes the calculation of risk-based capital under the current rules of the FHFA significantly overstates the market risk of the FHLB's private-label mortgage-backed securities in the current market environment and that it has enough capital to cover the risks reflected in its balance sheet.  As a result, as of March 31, 2012, the Company has not recorded an impairment on its investment in FHLB stock.  However, continued deterioration in the FHLB's financial position may result in impairment in the value of those securities.  In addition, on October 25, 2010, the FHLB received a Consent Order from the FHFA.  The FHLB of Seattle reported in its earnings release for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 that it continues to address the requirements of the Consent Agreement.  As of March 31, 2012, the FHLB of Seattle met all minimum financial metrics required under the Consent Agreement.  The Company will continue to monitor the financial condition of the FHLB as it relates to, among other things, the recoverability of Banner’s investment.

Note 7:  LOANS RECEIVABLE AND THE ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

We originate residential mortgage loans for both portfolio investment and sale in the secondary market.  At the time of origination, mortgage loans are designated as held for sale or held for investment.  Loans held for sale are stated at the lower of cost or estimated market value determined on an aggregate basis.  Net unrealized losses on loans held for sale are recognized through a valuation allowance by charges to income.  The Banks also originate construction, land and land development, commercial and multifamily real estate, commercial business, agricultural business and consumer loans for portfolio investment.  Loans receivable not designated as held for sale are recorded at the principal amount outstanding, net of allowance for loan losses, deferred fees, discounts and premiums.  Premiums, discounts and deferred loan fees are amortized to maturity using the level-yield methodology.

Interest is accrued as earned unless management doubts the collectability of the loan or the unpaid interest.  Interest accruals are generally discontinued when loans become 90 days past due for scheduled interest payments.  All previously accrued but uncollected interest is deducted from interest income upon transfer to nonaccrual status.  Future collection of interest is included in interest income based upon an assessment of the likelihood that the loans will be repaid or recovered.  A loan may be put on nonaccrual status sooner than this policy would dictate if, in management’s judgment, the loan may be uncollectable.  Such interest is then recognized as income only if it is ultimately collected.
 
 
18

 

Some of the Company’s loans are reported as troubled debt restructurings (TDRs).  Loans are reported as restructured when the bank grants a concession(s) to a borrower experiencing financial difficulties that it would not otherwise consider.  Examples of such concessions include forgiveness of principal or accrued interest, extending the maturity date(s) or providing a lower interest rate than would be normally available for a transaction of similar risk.  As a result of these concessions, restructured loans are impaired as the bank will not collect all amounts due, both principal and interest, in accordance with the terms of the original loan agreement.  Loans identified as TDRs are accounted for in accordance with the Banks’ impaired loan accounting policies.

Loans receivable, including loans held for sale, at March 31, 2012, December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2011 are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):

   
March 31
2012
   
December 31
2011
   
March 31
2011
 
   
Amount
   
Percent
of Total
   
Amount
   
Percent
of Total
   
Amount
   
Percent
of Total
 
                                     
Commercial real estate
                                   
Owner-occupied
  $ 468,318       14.5 %   $ 469,806       14.2 %   $ 521,823       15.7 %
Investment properties
    612,617       19.0       621,622       18.9       564,337       17.0  
Multifamily real estate
    132,306       4.1       139,710       4.2       147,569       4.4  
Commercial construction
    40,276       1.2       42,391       1.3       26,580       0.8  
Multifamily construction
    20,654       0.6       19,436       0.6       19,694       0.6  
One- to four-family construction
    148,717       4.6       144,177       4.4       151,015       4.6  
Land and land development
                                               
Residential
    89,329       2.7       97,491       3.0       147,913       4.4  
Commercial
    12,044       0.4       15,197       0.5       30,539       0.9  
Commercial business
    609,497       18.9       601,440       18.2       577,128       17.4  
Agricultural business, including secured
by farmland
    188,955       5.9       218,171       6.6       188,756       5.7  
One- to four-family real estate
    619,511       19.2       642,501       19.5       665,396       20.0  
Consumer
    106,978       3.3       103,347       3.1       104,129       3.1  
Consumer secured by one- to four-family
    180,460       5.6       181,049       5.5       181,201       5.4  
Total consumer
    287,438       8.9       284,396       8.6       285,330       8.5  
                                                 
Total loans outstanding
    3,229,662       100.0 %     3,296,338       100.0 %     3,326,080       100.0 %
                                                 
Less allowance for loan losses
    (81,544 )             (82,912 )             (97,632 )        
                                                 
Net loans
  $ 3,148,118             $ 3,213,426             $ 3,228,448          

Loan amounts are net of unearned, unamortized loan fees (and costs) of approximately $10 million, $10 million and $11 million at March 31, 2012, December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2011, respectively.
 
 
 
19

 
The Company’s loans by geographic concentration at March 31, 2012 were as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
 
 
 
Washington
   
Oregon
   
Idaho
   
Other
   
Total
 
Commercial real estate
                             
Owner-occupied
  $ 355,126     $ 58,739     $ 51,341     $ 3,112     $ 468,318  
Investment properties
    473,807       91,070       42,581       5,159       612,617  
Multifamily real estate
    110,525       13,210       8,192       379       132,306  
Commercial construction
    23,748       6,861       9,667       --       40,276  
Multifamily construction
    20,654       --       --       --       20,654  
One- to four-family construction
    77,225       69,370       2,122       --       148,717  
Land and land development
                                       
Residential
    47,833       39,135       2,361       --       89,329  
Commercial
    9,338       887       1,819       --       12,044  
Commercial business
    396,611       74,683       67,449       70,754       609,497  
Agricultural business, including
secured by farmland
    99,778       35,073       54,104       --       188,955  
One- to four-family real estate
    379,602       210,708       26,977       2,224       619,511  
Consumer
    70,662       30,697       5,619       --       106,978  
Consumer secured by one- to four-
   family
    124,494       43,420       12,011       535       180,460  
Total consumer
    195,156       74,117       17,630       535       287,438  
                                         
Total loans
  $ 2,189,403     $ 673,853     $ 284,243     $ 82,163     $ 3,229,662  
                                         
Percent of total loans
    67.8 %     20.9 %     8.8 %     2.5 %     100.0 %

The geographic concentrations of the Company’s land and land development loans by state at March 31, 2012 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

   
Washington
   
Oregon
   
Idaho
   
Total
 
Residential:
                       
Acquisition and development
  $ 12,115     $ 14,708     $ 1,903     $ 28,726  
Improved land and lots
    22,615       21,510       370       44,495  
Unimproved land
    13,103       2,917       88       16,108  
                                 
Commercial and industrial:
                               
Acquisition and development
    1,555       --       483       2,038  
Improved land and lots
    3,458       --       580       4,038  
Unimproved land
    4,325       887       756       5,968  
                                 
Total land and land development loans
  $ 57,171     $ 40,022     $ 4,180     $ 101,373  
                                 
Percent of land and land development loans
    56.4 %     39.5 %     4.1 %     100.0 %

The Company originates both adjustable- and fixed-rate loans.  The maturity and repricing composition of those loans, less undisbursed amounts and deferred fees, at March 31, 2012, December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2011 were as follows (in thousands):

   
March 31
2012
   
December 31
2011
   
March 31
2011
 
Fixed-rate (term to maturity):
                 
Due in one year or less
  $ 213,503     $ 216,782     $ 187,493  
Due after one year through three years
    231,148       250,715       240,526  
Due after three years through five years
    175,846       182,647       188,126  
Due after five years through ten years
    159,453       157,559       132,917  
Due after ten years
    477,495       502,196       523,830  
Total fixed-rate loans
    1,257,445       1,309,899       1,272,892  
                         
Adjustable-rate (term to rate adjustment):
                       
Due in one year or less
    1,188,664       1,200,182       1,247,147  
Due after one year through three years
    387,588       425,309       428,897  
Due after three years through five years
    363,719       336,382       342,542  
Due after five years through ten years
    25,863       23,618       34,602  
Due after ten years
    6,383       948       --  
Total adjustable-rate loans
    1,972,217       1,986,439       2,053,188  
                         
Total loans
  $ 3,229,662     $ 3,296,338     $ 3,326,080  

 
20

 
The adjustable-rate loans have interest rate adjustment limitations and are generally indexed to various prime (The Wall Street Journal) or LIBOR rates, One to Five Year Constant Maturity Treasury Indices or FHLB advance rates.  Future market factors may affect the correlation of the interest rate adjustment with the rates the Banks pay on the short-term deposits that primarily have been utilized to fund these loans.

Impaired Loans and the Allowance for Loan Losses.  A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and circumstances, the Company determines it is probable that it will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement, including scheduled interest payments.  Impaired loans are comprised of loans on nonaccrual, TDRs that are performing under their restructured terms, and loans that are 90 days or more past due, but are still on accrual.

The amount of impaired loans and the related allocated reserve for loan losses as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were as follows (in thousands):

   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Loan Amount
   
Allocated Reserves
   
Loan Amount
   
Allocated Reserves
 
Impaired loans:
                       
Nonaccrual loans
                       
Commercial real estate
  $ 10,541     $ 382     $ 9,226     $ 908  
Multifamily real estate
    --       --       362       11  
Construction and land
    18,601       2,825       27,731       3,450  
Commercial business
    10,121       1,202       13,460       1,871  
Agricultural business/farmland
    1,481       544       1,896       629  
One- to four-family residential
    19,384       473       17,408       243  
Consumer
    2,572       81       2,905       85  
Total nonaccrual loans
  $ 62,700     $ 5,507     $ 72,988     $ 7,197  
                                 
Past due and still accruing
    2,213       1       2,324       19  
TDRs
    53,391       1,897       54,533       3,100  
Total impaired loans
  $ 118,304     $ 7,405     $ 129,845     $ 10,316  

As of March 31, 2012, the Company had additional commitments to advance funds up to an amount of $363,000 related to impaired loans.

The following tables provide additional information on impaired loans with and without specific allowance reserves as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in thousands):
   
At or For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
 
   
Recorded
Investment
   
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
   
Related
Allowance
   
Average
Recorded
Investment
   
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
                               
Without a specific allowance reserve (1)
                             
Commercial real estate
  $ 4,588     $ 5,088     $ 571     $ 4,646     $ 17  
Multifamily real estate
    450       450       5       451       8  
Construction and land
    8,187       9,620       1,176       8,382       83  
Commercial business
    4,758       5,136       771       4,875       25  
Agricultural business/farmland
    520       1,202       64       712       4  
One- to four-family residential
    25,092       25,633       216       25,044       23  
Consumer
    2,319       2,684       52       2,368       20  
      45,914       49,813       2,855       46,478       180  
With a specific allowance reserve (2)
                                       
Commercial real estate
  $ 13,123     $ 14,237     $ 239     $ 13,788     $ 22  
Multifamily real estate
    1,635       1,635       37       1,635       4  
Construction and land
    22,149       27,348       2,100       23,663       56  
Commercial business
    9,816       11,083       799       10,934       24  
Agricultural business/farmland
    961       961       480       1,036       --  
One- to four-family residential
    23,261       24,744       824       21,537       10  
Consumer
    1,445       1,719       71       1,623       3  
      72,390       81,727       4,550       74,216       119  
Total
                                       
Commercial real estate
  $ 17,711     $ 19,325     $ 810     $ 18,434     $ 39  
Multifamily
    2,085       2,085       42       2,086       12  
Construction and land
    30,336       36,968       3,276       32,045       139  
Commercial business
    14,574       16,219       1,570       15,809       49  
Agricultural business/farmland
    1,481       2,163       544       1,748       4  
One- to four-family residential
    48,353       50,377       1,040       46,581       33  
Consumer
    3,764       4,403       123       3,991       23  
    $ 118,304     $ 131,540     $ 7,405     $ 120,694     $ 299  
 
 
21

 
 
   
At or For the Year Ended December 31, 2011
 
   
Recorded
Investment
   
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
   
Related
Allowance
   
Average
Recorded
Investment
   
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
                               
Without a specific allowance reserve (1)
                             
Commercial real estate
  $ 2,428     $ 2,470     $ 339     $ 2,602     $ 9  
Multifamily real estate
    452       452       6       456       32  
Construction and land
    10,138       10,813       1,658       10,720       341  
Commercial business
    5,173       5,535       932       5,587       81  
Agricultural business/farmland
    412       632       37       529       --  
One- to four-family residential
    27,529       28,121       277       27,933       919  
Consumer
    2,266       2,828       34       2,666       29  
                                         
      43,398       50,851       3,283       50,493       1,411  
                                         
With a specific allowance reserve (2)
                                       
Commercial real estate
  $ 15,393     $ 18,213     $ 1,692     $ 17,372     $ 437  
Multifamily real estate
    1,997       1,997       11       1,967       82  
Construction and land
    31,290       45,837       2,614       47,851       497  
Commercial business
    12,889       13,332       1,404       13,721       144  
Agricultural business/farmland
    1,483       1,671       592       1,855       --  
One- to four-family residential
    16,877       18,301       658       17,555       469  
Consumer
    1,518       1,545       62       1,466       18  
                                         
      81,447       100,896       7,033       101,787       1,647  
                                         
Total
                                       
Commercial real estate
  $ 17,821     $ 20,683     $ 2,031     $ 19,974     $ 447  
Multifamily real estate
    2,449       2,449       17       2,423       114  
Construction and land
    41,428       56,650       4,272       58,571       837  
Commercial business
    18,062       18,867       2,336       19,308       225  
Agricultural business/farmland
    1,895       2,303       629       2,384       --  
One- to four-family residential
    44,406       46,422       935       45,488       1,388  
Consumer
    3,784       4,373       96       4,132       47  
                                         
    $ 129,845     $ 151,747     $ 10,316     $ 152,280     $ 3,058  

(1)  
Loans without a specific allowance reserve have not been individually evaluated for impairment, but have been included in pools of homogeneous loans for evaluation of related allowance reserves.
 
(2)  
Loans with a specific allowance reserve have been individually evaluated for impairment using either a discounted cash flow analysis or, for collateral dependent loans, current appraisals to establish realizable value.  These analyses may identify a specific impairment amount needed or may conclude that no reserve is needed.  Any specific impairment that is identified is included in the category’s Related Allowance column.

 
22

 

The following tables present TDRs at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in thousands):

   
March 31, 2012
 
   
Accrual
Status
   
Nonaccrual
Status
   
Total
Modifications
 
                   
                   
Commercial real estate
  $ 7,169     $ 3,923     $ 11,092  
Multifamily real estate
    2,085       --       2,085  
Construction and land
    11,736       1,968       13,704  
Commercial business
    4,453       58       4,511  
One- to four-family residential
    26,839       5,501       32,340  
Consumer
    1,109       881       1,990  
                         
    $ 53,391     $ 12,331     $ 65,722  

   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Accrual
Status
   
Nonaccrual
Status
   
Total
Modifications
 
                   
                   
Commercial real estate
  $ 7,751     $ 1,964     $ 9,715  
Multifamily real estate
    2,088       --       2,088  
Construction and land
    13,696       1,777       15,473  
Commercial business
    4,401       --       4,401  
One- to four-family residential
    23,291       3,086       26,377  
Consumer
    3,306       4,523       7,829  
                         
    $ 54,533     $ 11,350     $ 65,883  

The following tables present newly restructured loans that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (dollars in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
 
   
Number of Contracts
   
Pre-modification Outstanding Recorded Investment
   
Post-modification Outstanding Recorded Investment
 
                   
Recorded Investment (1) (2)
                 
Commercial real estate
    2     $ 877     $ 877  
Construction and land
    4       1,310       1,310  
Commercial business
    3       355       355  
One- to four-family residential
    15       8,489       8,489  
Consumer
    2       291       291  
                         
      26     $ 11,322     $ 11,322  

 
23

 

   
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
 
   
Number of Contracts
   
Pre-modification Outstanding Recorded Investment
   
Post-modification Outstanding Recorded Investment
 
                   
Recorded Investment (1) (2)
                 
Commercial real estate
    2     $ 2,011     $ 2,011  
Multifamily real estate
    1       362       362  
One- to four-family residential
    1       267       267  
Consumer
    1       1       1  
                         
      5     $ 2,641     $ 2,641  

(1)  
Since most loans were already considered classified and/or on nonaccrual status prior to restructuring, the modifications did not have a material effect on the Company’s determination of the allowance for loan losses.

(2)  
The majority of these modifications do not fit into one separate type, such as rate, term, amount, interest-only or payment, but instead are a combination of multiple types of modifications; therefore, they are disclosed in aggregate.

The following table presents TDRs which incurred a payment default within the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, for which the payment default occurred within twelve months of the restructure date.  A default on a restructured loan is either a transfer to nonaccrual status or a charge-off (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Commercial real estate
  $ 2,382     $ 1,520  
Construction and land
    --       174  
One- to four-family residential
    231       --  
Consumer
    85       77  
                 
Balance, end of period
  $ 2,698     $ 1,771  

 
24

 

Credit Quality Indicators:  To appropriately and effectively manage the ongoing credit quality of the Company’s loan portfolio, management has implemented a risk-rating or loan grading system for its loans.  The system is a tool to evaluate portfolio asset quality throughout each applicable loan’s life as an asset of the Company.  Generally, loans and leases are risk rated on an aggregate borrower/relationship basis with individual loans sharing similar ratings.  There are some instances when specific situations relating to individual loans will provide the basis for different risk ratings within the aggregate relationship.  Loans are graded on a scale of 1 to 9.  A description of the general characteristics of these categories is shown below:

Overall Risk Rating Definitions:  Risk-ratings contain both qualitative and quantitative measurements and take into account the financial strength of a borrower and the structure of the loan or lease.  Consequently, the definitions are to be applied in the context of each lending transaction and judgment must also be used to determine the appropriate risk rating, as it is not unusual for a loan or lease to exhibit characteristics of more than one risk-rating category.  Consideration for the final rating is centered in the borrower’s ability to repay, in a timely fashion, both principal and interest.  There were no material changes in the risk-rating or loan grading system in 2011 or during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

Risk Rating 1: Exceptional
A credit supported by exceptional financial strength, stability, and liquidity.  The risk rating of 1 is reserved for the Company’s top quality loans, generally reserved for investment grade credits underwritten to the standards of institutional credit providers.

Risk Rating 2: Excellent
A credit supported by excellent financial strength, stability and liquidity.  The risk rating of 2 is reserved for very strong and highly stable customers with ready access to alternative financing sources.

Risk Rating 3: Strong
A credit supported by good overall financial strength and stability.  Collateral margins are strong; cash flow is stable although susceptible to cyclical market changes.

Risk Rating 4: Acceptable
A credit supported by the borrower’s adequate financial strength and stability.  Assets and cash flow are reasonably sound and provide for orderly debt reduction.  Access to alternative financing sources will be more difficult to obtain.

Risk Rating 5: Watch
A credit with the characteristics of an acceptable credit which requires, however, more than the normal level of supervision and warrants formal quarterly management reporting.  Credits in this category are not yet criticized or classified, but due to adverse events or aspects of underwriting require closer than normal supervision. Generally, credits should be watch credits in most cases for six months or less as the impact of stress factors are analyzed.

Risk Rating 6: Special Mention
A credit with potential weaknesses that deserves management’s close attention is risk rated a 6.  If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses will result in deterioration in the capacity to repay debt.  A key distinction between Special Mention and Substandard is that in a Special Mention credit, there are identified weaknesses that pose potential risk(s) to the repayment sources, versus well defined weaknesses that pose risk(s) to the repayment sources.  Assets in this category are expected to be in this category no more than 9-12 months as the potential weaknesses in the credit are resolved.

Risk Rating 7: Substandard
A credit with well defined weaknesses that jeopardize the ability to repay in full is risk rated a 7.  These credits are inadequately protected by either the sound net worth and payment capacity of the borrower or the value of pledged collateral.  These are credits with a distinct possibility of loss.  Loans headed for foreclosure and/or legal action due to deterioration are rated 7 or worse.

Risk Rating 8: Doubtful
A credit with an extremely high probability of loss is risk rated 8.  These credits have all the same critical weaknesses that are found in a substandard loan; however, the weaknesses are elevated to the point that based upon current information, collection or liquidation in full is improbable.  While some loss on doubtful credits is expected, pending events may strengthen a credit making the amount and timing of any loss undeterminable.  In these situations taking the loss is inappropriate until it is clear that the pending event has failed to strengthen the credit and improve the capacity to repay debt.

Risk Rating 9: Loss
A credit that is considered to be currently uncollectible or of such little value that it is no longer a viable Bank asset is risk rated 9.  Losses should be taken in the accounting period in which the credit is determined to be uncollectible.  Taking a loss does not mean that a credit has absolutely no recovery or salvage value but, rather, it is not practical or desirable to defer writing off the credit, even though partial recovery may occur in the future.


 
25

 

The following table shows the Company’s portfolio of risk-rated loans and non-risk-rated loans by grade or other characteristics as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in thousands):

 
March 31, 2012
 
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Multifamily
Real Estate
 
Construction
and Land
 
Commercial Business
 
Agricultural Business
 
One- to Four-
Family Residential
 
Consumer
 
Total Loans
 
                                                 
Risk-rated loans:
                                               
Pass (Risk Ratings 1-5) (1)
$ 1,005,442     $ 125,017     $ 258,728     $ 553,280     $ 184,900     $ 584,454     $ 280,297     $ 2,992,118  
Special mention
    24,970       --       2,923       13,668       1,181       772       380       43,894  
Substandard
    50,523       7,289       49,369       42,228       2,874       34,285       6,761       193,329  
Doubtful
            --       --       321       --       --       --       321  
Loss
            --       --       --       --       --       --       --  
                                                                 
Total loans
  $ 1,080,935     $ 132,306     $ 311,020     $ 609,497     $ 188,955     $ 619,511     $ 287,438     $ 3,229,662  
                                                                 
Performing loans
  $ 1,070,394     $ 132,306     $ 292,419     $ 599,376     $ 187,474     $ 597,998     $ 284,782     $ 3,164,749  
Non-performing loans
    10,541       --       18,601       10,121       1,481       21,513       2,656       64,913  
                                                                 
Total loans
  $ 1,080,935     $ 132,306     $ 311,020     $ 609,497     $ 188,955     $ 619,511     $ 287,438     $ 3,229,662  
                                                                 
 
   
December 31, 2011
 
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Multifamily
Real Estate
 
Construction
and Land
 
Commercial Business
 
Agricultural Business
 
One- to Four-
Family Residential
 
Consumer
 
Total Loans
 
                                                                 
Risk-rated loans:
                                                               
Pass (Risk Ratings 1-5) (1)
$ 1,003,990     $ 132,108     $ 257,685     $ 542,625     $ 213,512     $ 607,793     $ 276,642     $ 3,034,355  
Special mention
    29,751       5,000       3,359       13,447       923       772       402       53,654  
Substandard
    57,687       2,602       57,648       45,032       3,736       33,936       7,352       207,993  
Doubtful
    --       --       --       336       --       --       --       336  
Loss
    --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --  
                                                                 
Total loans
  $ 1,091,428     $ 139,710     $ 318,692     $ 601,440     $ 218,171     $ 642,501     $ 284,396     $ 3,296,338  
                                                                 
Performing loans
  $ 1,082,202     $ 139,348     $ 290,961     $ 587,976     $ 216,275     $ 622,946     $ 281,318     $ 3,221,026  
Non-performing loans
    9,226       362       27,731       13,464       1,896       19,555       3,078       75,312  
                                                                 
Total loans
  $ 1,091,428     $ 139,710     $ 318,692     $ 601,440     $ 218,171     $ 642,501     $ 284,396     $ 3,296,338  

(1)The Pass category includes some performing loans that are part of homogenous pools which are not individually risk-rated.  This includes all consumer loans, all one- to four-family residential loans and, in the commercial business category, $60 million of small credit-scored business loans.  As loans in these pools become non-performing, they are individually risk-rated.
 
 
26

 
 
The following tables provide additional detail on the age analysis of the Company’s past due loans as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in thousands):

 
March 31, 2012
 
 
30-59 Days
Past Due
 
60-89 Days
Past Due
 
Greater Than
90 Days Past
Due
 
Total Past
Due
 
Current
 
Total Loans
 
Loans 90 Days
or More Past
Due and
Accruing
 
                                           
Commercial real estate
$ 1,394     $ 1,709     $ 6,530     $ 9,633     $ 1,071,302     $ 1,080,935     $ --  
Multifamily real estate
    5,000       54       --       5,054       127,252       132,306       --  
Construction and land
    637       104       13,695       14,436       296,584       311,020       --  
Commercial business
    2,083       503       4,531       7,117       602,380       609,497       --  
Agricultural business
    --       28       1,461       1,489       187,466       188,955       --  
One-to four-family residential
623       1,475       15,283       17,381       602,130       619,511       2,129  
Consumer
    4,030       230       1,560       5,820       281,618       287,438       84  
                                                         
Total
  $ 13,767     $ 4,103     $ 43,060     $ 60,930     $ 3,168,732     $ 3,229,662     $ 2,213  
                                                         
 
 
December 31, 2011
 
 
30-59 Days
Past Due
 
60-89 Days
Past Due
 
Greater Than
90 Days
Past Due
 
Total Past
Due
 
Current
 
Total Loans
 
Loans 90 Days
or More Past
Due and
Accruing
 
                                                         
Commercial real estate
$ 1,251     $ 2,703     $ 6,549     $ 10,503     $ 1,080,925     $ 1,091,428     $ --  
Multifamily real estate
    --       --       --       --       139,710       139,710          
Construction and land
    1,589       --       21,478       23,067       295,625       318,692       --  
Commercial business
    2,450       4,197       5,612       12,259       589,181       601,440       --  
Agricultural business
    99       --       1,849       1,948       216,223       218,171       4  
One-to four-family residential
794       585       15,770       17,149       625,352       642,501       2,147  
Consumer
    1,703       445       2,143       4,291       280,105       284,396       173  
                                                         
Total
  $ 7,886     $ 7,930     $ 53,401     $ 69,217     $ 3,227,121     $ 3,296,338     $ 2,324  

 
27

 

The following tables provide additional information on the allowance for loan losses and loan balances individually and collectively evaluated for impairment as of March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

 
March 31, 2012
 
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Multifamily
 
Construction
and
Land
 
Commercial
Business
 
Agricultural
business
 
One- to Four-
Family
 
Consumer
   
Commitments
and
Unallocated
   
Total
 
Allowance for loan losses:
                                       
Beginning balance
$ 16,457   $ 3,952   $ 18,184   $ 15,159   $ 1,548   $ 12,299   $ 1,253     $ 14,060     $ 82,912  
Provision for loan losses
  1,335     (691 )   241     (865 )   614     1,531     719       2,116       5,000  
Recoveries
  614     --     370     236     --     5     136       --       1,361  
Charge-offs
  (1,323 )   --     (2,924 )   (1,407 )   (275 )   (966 )   (834 )     --       (7,729 )
                                                           
Ending balance
$ 17,083   $ 3,261   $ 15,871   $ 13,123   $ 1,887   $ 12,869   $ 1,274     $ 16,176     $ 81,544  
                                                           
                                                           
Allowance individually evaluated for impairment
$ 239   $ 37   $ 2,100   $ 799   $ 480   $ 824   $ 71     $ --     $ 4,550  
Allowance collectively evaluated for impairment
  16,844     3,224     13,771     12,324     1,407     12,045     1,203       16,176       76,994  
                                                           
Total allowance for loan losses
$ 17,083   $ 3,261   $ 15,871   $ 13,123   $ 1,887   $ 12,869   $ 1,274     $ 16,176     $ 81,544  
 
 
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Multifamily
 
Construction
and
Land
 
Commercial Business
 
Agricultural business
 
One- to Four-Family
 
Consumer
   
Commitments
and
Unallocated
   
Total
 
Loan balances:
                                       
Loans individually evaluated for impairment
$ 13,123   $ 1,635   $ 22,149   $ 9,816   $ 961   $ 23,261   $ 1,445     $ --     $ 72,390  
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment
  1,067,812     130,671     288,871     599,681     187,994     596,250     285,993       --       3,157,272  
                                                           
Total loans
$ 1,080,935   $ 132,306   $ 311,020   $ 609,497   $ 188,955   $ 619,511   $ 287,438     $ --     $ 3,229,662  
                                                           
 
 
28

 
 
 
March 31, 2011
 
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Multifamily
 
Construction and
Land
 
Commercial Business
 
Agricultural
business
 
One- to Four-
Family
 
Consumer
 
Commitments
and
Unallocated
 
Total
 
Allowance for loan losses:
                                   
Beginning balance
$ 11,779   $ 3,963   $ 33,121   $ 24,545   $ 1,846   $ 5,829   $ 1,794   $ 14,524   $ 97,401  
Provision for loan losses
  1,081     2,519     7,727     (204 )   (282 )   4,477     (58 )   1,740     17,000  
Recoveries
  --     --     35     81     --     52     78     --     246  
Charge-offs
  (989 )   (427 )   (10,537 )   (2,368 )   (123 )   (2,209 )   (362 )   --     (17,015 )
                                                       
Ending balance
$ 11,871   $ 6,055   $ 30,346   $ 22,054   $ 1,441   $ 8,149   $ 1,452   $ 16,264   $ 97,632  
                                                       
                                                       
Allowance individually evaluated for impairment
$ 1,849   $ 204   $ 7,419   $ 2,720   $ 32   $ 544   $ --   $ --   $ 12,768  
Allowance collectively evaluated for impairment
  10,022     5,851     22,927     19,334     1,409     7,605     1,452     16,264     84,864  
                                                       
Total allowance for loan losses
$ 11,871   $ 6,055   $ 30,346   $ 22,054   $ 1,441   $ 8,149   $ 1,452   $ 16,264   $ 97,632  
                                                       
 
 
 
Commercial Real Estate
 
Multifamily
 
Construction and
Land
 
Commercial Business
 
Agricultural business
 
One- to Four-Family
 
Consumer
 
Commitments and Unallocated
 
Total
 
Loan balances:
                                   
Loans individually evaluated for impairment
$ 27,531   $ 978   $ 76,430   $ 10,236   $ 1,465   $ 19,108   $ 3,707   $ --   $ 139,455  
Loans collectively evaluated for  impairment
  1,058,629     146,591     299,311     566,892     187,291     646,288     281,623     --     3,186,625  
                                                       
Total loans
$ 1,086,160   $ 147,569   $ 375,741   $ 577,128   $ 188,756   $ 665,396   $ 285,330   $ --   $ 3,326,080  
                                                       

 
29

 
Note 8:  REAL ESTATE OWNED, NET

The following table presents the changes in real estate owned (REO), net of valuation adjustments, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
Balance, beginning of the period
  $ 42,965     $ 100,872  
                 
   Additions from loan foreclosures
    1,601       14,916  
   Additions from capitalized costs
    127       1,615  
   Dispositions of REO
    (15,441 )     (18,894 )
   Gain (loss) on sale of REO
    100       (537 )
   Valuation adjustments in the period
    (1,629 )     (3,027 )
Balance, end of the period
  $ 27,723     $ 94,945  

The following table shows REO by type and geographic location by state as of March 31, 2012 (in thousands):

   
Washington
   
Oregon
   
Idaho
   
Total
 
                         
Commercial real estate
  $ 2,064     $ --     $ 494     $ 2,558  
One- to four-family construction
    405       732       --       1,137  
Land development- commercial
    3,875       75       200       4,150  
Land development- residential
    4,354       7,793       1,181       13,328  
One- to four-family real estate
    3,791       1,741       1,018       6,550  
Balance, end of period
  $ 14,489     $ 10,341     $ 2,893     $ 27,723  

REO properties are recorded at the lower of the estimated fair value of the property, less expected selling costs, or the carrying value of the defaulted loan, establishing a new cost basis.  Subsequently, REO properties are carried at the lower of the new cost basis or updated fair market values, based on updated appraisals of the underlying properties, as received.  Valuation allowances on the carrying value of REO may be recognized based on updated appraisals or on management’s authorization to reduce the selling price of a property.

Note 9:  INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND MORTGAGE SERVICING RIGHTS

Intangible Assets:  At March 31, 2012, intangible assets consisted primarily of core deposit intangibles (CDI), which are amounts recorded in business combinations or deposit purchase transactions related to the value of transaction-related deposits and the value of the customer relationships associated with the deposits.

The Company amortizes CDI over their estimated useful life and reviews them at least annually for events or circumstances that could impact their recoverability.  The CDI assets shown in the table below represent the value ascribed to the long-term deposit relationships acquired in three separate bank acquisitions during 2007.  These intangible assets are being amortized using an accelerated method over estimated useful lives of eight years.  The CDI assets are not estimated to have a significant residual value.  Intangible assets are amortized over their useful lives and are also reviewed for impairment.

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s core deposit intangibles and intangibles for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011 (in thousands):

   
Core Deposit Intangibles
   
Other
   
Total
 
                   
Balance, December 31, 2011
  $ 6,322     $ 9     $ 6,331  
Amortization
    (552 )     (2 )     (554 )
Impairment write-off
    --       --       --  
Balance, March 31, 2012
  $ 5,770     $ 7     $ 5,777  

   
Core Deposit Intangibles
   
Other
   
Total
 
                   
Balance, December 31, 2010
  $ 8,598     $ 11     $ 8,609  
Amortization
    (2,276 )     (2 )     (2,278 )
Impairment write-off
    --       --       --  
Balance, December 31, 2011
  $ 6,322     $ 9     $ 6,331  

 
30

 
The following table presents the estimated annual amortization expense with respect to existing intangibles as of March 31, 2012 (in thousands):

Year Ended
 
Core Deposit Intangibles
   
Other
   
Total
 
                   
December 31, 2012
  2,092     2     2,094  
December 31, 2013
    1,908       2       1,910  
December 31, 2014
    1,724       2       1,726  
December 31, 2015
    598       1       599  
Thereafter
    --       2       2  
    $ 6,322     $ 9     $ 6,331  

Mortgage Servicing Rights:  Mortgage servicing rights are reported in other assets. Mortgage servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value and are amortized in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying financial assets.  Mortgage servicing rights are subsequently evaluated for impairment based upon the fair value of the rights compared to the amortized cost (remaining unamortized initial fair value).  If the fair value is less than the amortized cost, a valuation allowance is created through an impairment charge to servicing fee income.  However, if the fair value is greater than the amortized cost, the amount above the amortized cost is not recognized in the carrying value.  During the first three months of 2012 and during all of 2011, the Company did not record an impairment charge.  Loans serviced for others totaled $717 million and $660 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.  Custodial accounts maintained in connection with this servicing totaled $1.8 million and $3.1 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

An analysis of our mortgage servicing rights for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 is presented below (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
Balance, beginning of the period
  $ 5,584     $ 5,441  
                 
Amounts capitalized
    913       268  
Amortization (1)
    (627 )     (389 )
Balance, end of the period
  $ 5,870     $ 5,320  

(1) Amortization of mortgage servicing rights is recorded as a reduction of loan servicing income and any unamortized balance is fully written off if the loan repays in full.

Note 10:  DEPOSITS AND CUSTOMER REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

Deposits consisted of the following at March 31, 2012, December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2011 (dollars in thousands):

   
March 31
2012
   
December 31
2011
   
March 31
2011
 
   
Amount
   
Percent
of Total
   
Amount
   
Percent
of Total
   
Amount
   
Percent
of Total
 
                                     
Non-interest-bearing accounts
  $ 771,812       22.5 %   $ 777,563       22.4 %   $ 622,759       17.6 %
Interest-bearing checking
    368,810       10.8       362,542       10.4       361,430       10.2  
Regular savings accounts
    673,704       19.7       669,596       19.3       648,520       18.3  
Money market accounts
    414,516       12.1       415,456       11.9       449,945       12.7  
Total transaction and saving accounts
    2,228,842       65.1       2,225,157       64.0       2,082,654       58.8  
                                                 
Certificates which mature or reprice:
                                               
Within 1 year
    918,696       26.8       972,315       28.0       1,143,348       32.3  
After 1 year, but within 3 years
    210,161       6.1       214,091       6.2       254,039       7.2  
After 3 years
    68,471       2.0       64,091       1.8       60,607       1.7  
Total certificate accounts
    1,197,328       34.9       1,250,497       36.0       1,457,994       41.2  
Total deposits
  $ 3,426,170       100.0 %   $ 3,475,654       100.0 %   $ 3,540,648       100.0 %
                                                 
Included in total deposits:
                                               
Public fund transaction accounts
  $ 68,590       2.0 %   $ 72,064       2.1 %   $ 62,873       1.8 %
Public fund interest-bearing certificates
  69,856       2.0       67,112       1.9       67,527       1.9  
Total public deposits
  $ 138,446       4.0 %   $ 139,176       4.0 %   $ 130,400       3.7 %
Total brokered deposits
  $ 30,978       0.9 %   $ 49,194       1.4 %   $ 92,940       2.6 %

 
31

 

The following table presents the geographic concentration of deposits at March 31, 2012 (in thousands):

   
Washington
   
Oregon
   
Idaho
   
Total
 
                         
Total deposits
  $ 2,599,804     $ 601,842     $ 224,524     $ 3,426,170  

In addition to deposits, we also offer retail repurchase agreements which are customer funds that are primarily associated with sweep account arrangements tied to transaction deposit accounts.  While we include these collateralized borrowings in other borrowings reported in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, these accounts primarily represent customer utilization of our cash management services and related deposit accounts.

The following table presents customer repurchase agreement balances as of March 31, 2012, December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2011 (in thousands):

   
March 31
2012
   
December 31
2011
   
March 31
2011
 
                   
Retail repurchase agreements
  $ 91,253     $ 102,131     $ 109,227  

Note 11:  FAIR VALUE ACCOUNTING AND MEASUREMENT

Banner Bank has elected to record certain assets and liabilities at fair value.  Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (that is, not a forced liquidation or distressed sale).  The GAAP standard (ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements) establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and disclosure requirements about fair value measurements.  Among other things, the standard requires us to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.  Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s estimates for market assumptions.  These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:

·  
Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments.  An active market is a market in which transactions occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.  A quoted price in an active market provides the most reliable evidence of fair value and shall be used to measure fair value whenever available.

·  
Level 2 – Observable inputs other than Level 1 including quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, quoted prices in less active markets for identical or similar instruments, or other observable inputs that can be corroborated by observable market data.  

·  
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity for financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation; also includes observable inputs from non-binding single dealer quotes not corroborated by observable market data. 
 
The estimated fair value amounts of financial instruments have been determined by the Company using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. However, considerable judgment is required to interpret data to develop the estimates of fair value.  Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could realize in a current market exchange.  The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.  In addition, reasonable comparability between financial institutions may not be likely due to the wide range of permitted valuation techniques and numerous estimates that must be made given the absence of active secondary markets for many of the financial instruments.  This lack of uniform valuation methodologies also introduces a greater degree of subjectivity to these estimated fair values.

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis:

Banner records trading account securities, securities available-for-sale, FHLB debt and junior subordinated debentures at fair value on a recurring basis.

·  
The securities assets primarily consist of U.S. Government and agency obligations, municipal bonds, corporate bonds, single issue trust preferred securities (TPS), pooled trust preferred collateralized debt obligation securities (TRUP CDO), mortgage-backed securities, equity securities and certain other financial instruments. Level 1 measurements are based upon quoted prices in active markets. Level 2 measurements are generally based upon a matrix pricing model from an investment reporting and valuation service.  Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique used principally to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities, but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities. Level 3 measurements are based primarily on unobservable inputs.  In developing Level 3 measurements, management incorporates whatever market data might be available and uses discounted cash flow models where appropriate.  These calculations include projections of future cash flows, including appropriate default and loss assumptions, and market based discount rates.

 
32

 
From mid-2008 through the current quarter, the lack of active markets and market participants for certain securities resulted in an increase in Level 3 measurements.  This has been particularly true for our TPS and TRUP CDO securities.  As of March 31, 2012, we owned $32 million in current par value of these securities, exclusive of those securities the Company elected to write-off completely.  The market for TRUP CDO securities is inactive, which was evidenced first by a significant widening of the bid-ask spread in the brokered markets in which TRUP CDOs trade and then by a significant decrease in the volume of trades relative to historical levels.  The new issue market is also inactive as almost no new TRUP CDOs have been issued since 2007.  There are still very few market participants who are willing and/or able to transact for these securities.  Thus, a low market price for a particular bond may only provide evidence of stress in the credit markets in general rather than being an indicator of credit problems with a particular issuer or of the fair value of the security.

Given these conditions in the debt markets and the absence of observable transactions in the secondary and new issue markets, management determined that for the TRUP CDOs at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

o  
The few observable transactions and market quotations that were available were not reliable for purposes of determining fair value,
 
o  
An income valuation approach technique (present value technique) that maximizes the use of relevant observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs was equally or more representative of fair value than the market approach valuation technique used at measurement dates prior to 2008, and
 
o  
The Company’s TRUP CDOs should be classified exclusively within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because of the significant assumptions required to determine fair value at the measurement date.

The TRUP CDO valuations were derived using input from independent third parties who used proprietary cash flow models for analyzing collateralized debt obligations.  Their approaches to determining fair value involve considering the credit quality of the collateral, assuming a level of defaults based on the probability of default of each underlying trust preferred security, creating expected cash flows for each TRUP CDO security and discounting that cash flow at an appropriate risk-adjusted rate plus a liquidity premium.

Where appropriate, management reviewed the valuation methodologies and assumptions used by the independent third party providers and for certain securities determined that the fair value estimates were reasonable and utilized those estimates in the Company’s reported financial statements, while for other securities management adjusted the third party providers’ modeling to be more reflective of the characteristics of the Company’s remaining TRUP CDOs.

At March 31, 2012, Banner also directly owned approximately $19 million in current book value of TPS securities issued by three individual financial institutions for which no market data or independent valuation source is available.  Similar to the TRUP CDOs above, there were too few, if any, issuances of new TPS securities or sales of existing TPS securities to provide Level 1 or even Level 2 fair value measurements for these securities.  Management, therefore, utilized a discounted cash-flow model to calculate the present value of each security’s expected future cash flows to determine their respective fair values.  Management took into consideration what little market data was available regarding discount rates, but concluded that most of the available information represented dated transactions and/or was not representative of active market transactions.  Since these three TPS securities are also concentrated in the financial institutions sector, which continues to be under significant pricing pressure, management applied credit factors to differentiate these issues based upon its judgment of the risk profile of the various issuers.  These credit factors were then incorporated into the model at March 31, 2012, and discount rates equal to three-month LIBOR plus 600 to 800 basis points were used to calculate the respective fair values of these securities.  At March 31, 2012, Banner also has one TPS security issued by a large national bank with a par value of $5 million that is not actively traded, but for which more market data is available permitting a Level 2 fair value measurement.  All levels are reviewed at least annually for appropriateness.

·  
Fair valuations for FHLB advances are estimated using fair market values provided by the lender, the FHLB of Seattle.  The FHLB of Seattle prices advances by discounting the future contractual cash flows for individual advances using its current cost of funds curve to provide the discount rate.  Management considers this to be a Level 2 input method.

·  
The fair valuations of junior subordinated debentures (TPS debt that the Company has issued) were valued using discounted cash flows to maturity or to the next available call date, if based upon the current interest rate and credit market environment it was considered likely that the Company would elect early redemption.  As of March 31, 2012, all of these debentures carry interest rates that reset quarterly, using the three-month LIBOR index plus spreads of 1.38% to 3.35%.  In valuing the debentures at March 31, 2012 and 2011, management evaluated discounted cash flows to maturity and for the discount rate used the period-ending three-month LIBOR plus 800 basis points.  While the quarterly reset of the index on this debt would seemingly keep it close to market values, the disparity in the fixed spreads above the index and the inability to determine realistic current market spreads, due to lack of new issuances and trades, resulted in having to rely more heavily on assumptions about what spread would be appropriate if market transactions were to take place.  In periods prior to the third quarter of 2008, the discount rate used was based on recent issuances or quotes from brokers on the date of valuation for comparable bank holding companies and was considered to be a Level 2 input method.  However, as noted above in the discussion of TPS and TRUP CDOs, due to the unprecedented disruption of certain financial markets, management concluded that there were insufficient transactions or other indicators to continue to reflect these measurements as Level 2 inputs.  Due to this reliance on assumptions and not on directly observable transactions, management considers this to be a Level 3 input method.

 
33

 

The following tables present financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in thousands):
   
March 31, 2012
 
   
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
Assets:
                 
Securities—available-for-sale
                 
U.S. Government and agency
  $ --   $ 237,277    --   $ 237,277  
Municipal bonds
    --     27,876    --     27,876  
Corporate bonds
    --     6,269    --     6,269  
Mortgage-backed securities
    --     115,294    --     115,294  
      --     386,716    --     386,716  
Securities—trading
                       
U.S. Government and agency
    --     1,589    --     1,589  
Municipal bonds
    --     5,557    --     5,557  
TPS and TRUP CDOs
    --     5,100       31,055     36,155  
Mortgage-backed securities
    --     33,998       --      33,998  
Equity securities and other
    --     407       --      407  
      --     46,651       31,055     77,706  
                             
    $ --   $ 433,367   $   31,055   $ 464,422  
Liabilities
                           
Advances from FHLB at fair value
  $ --   $ 10,467     --    $ 10,467  
        Junior subordinated debentures net of
          unamortized deferred issuance costs
          at fair value
    --     --       49,368     49,368  
    $ --   $ 10,467   $   49,368   $ 59,835  
 
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
Assets:
                 
Securities—available-for-sale
                 
U.S. Government and agency
  $ --   $ 338,971   $ --   $ 338,971  
Municipal bonds
    --     6,260     --     6,260  
Corporate bonds
    --     27,310     --     27,310  
Mortgage-backed securities
    --     93,254     --     93,254  
      --     465,795     --     465,795  
Securities—trading
                         
U.S. Government and agency
    --     2,635     --     2,635  
Municipal bonds
    --     5,962     --     5,962  
TPS and TRUP CDOs
    --     4,600     30,455     35,055  
Mortgage-backed securities
    --     36,673     --     36,673  
Equity securities and other
    --     402     --     402  
      --     50,272     30,455     80,727  
                           
    $ --   $ 516,067   $ 30,455   $ 546,522  
                           
Liabilities
                         
Advances from FHLB at fair value
  $ --   $ 10,533   $ --   $ 10,533  
Junior subordinated debentures net of
    unamortized deferred issuance costs
    at fair value
    --     --     49,988     49,988  
                  ,,        
    $ --   $ 10,533   $ 49,988   $ 60,521  
 
 
 
34

 
The following table provides a reconciliation of the assets and liabilities measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) on a recurring basis during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
Level 3 Fair Value Inputs
 
 
TPS and TRUP
CDOs
 
Borrowings—
Junior Subordinated Debentures
 
             
Beginning balance at December 31, 2011
  $ 30,455     $ 49,988  
                 
Total gains or losses recognized
               
Assets gains, including OTTI
    601       --  
Liabilities (gains)
    --       (620 )
Purchases, issuances and settlements
    --       --  
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
    --       --  
                 
Ending balance at March 31, 2012
  $ 31,056     $ 49,368  
     
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
Level 3 Fair Value Inputs
 
 
TPS and TRUP
CDOs
 
Borrowings—
Junior Subordinated Debentures
 
                 
Beginning balance at December 31, 2010
  $ 29,661     $ 48,425  
                 
Total gains or losses recognized
               
Assets gains, including OTTI
    9       --  
Liabilities (gains)
    --       (30 )
Purchases, issuances and settlements
    --       --  
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
    --       --  
                 
Ending balance at March 31, 2011
  $ 29,670     $ 48,395  

The Company has elected to continue to recognize the interest income and dividends from the securities reclassified to fair value as a component of interest income as was done in prior years when they were classified as available-for-sale.  Interest expense related to the FHLB advances and junior subordinated debentures continues to be measured based on contractual interest rates and reported in interest expense.  The change in fair market value of these financial instruments has been recorded as a component of other operating income.

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Non-recurring Basis:

Carrying values of certain impaired loans are periodically evaluated to determine if valuation adjustments, or partial write-downs, should be recorded.  These non-recurring fair value adjustments are recorded when observable market prices or current appraised values of collateral indicate a shortfall in collateral value or discounted cash flows indicate a shortfall compared to current carrying values of the related loan.  If the Company determines that the value of the impaired loan is less than the carrying value of the loan, the Company either establishes an impairment reserve as a specific component of the allowance for loan and lease losses (ALLL) or charges off the impaired amount.  The remaining impaired loans are evaluated for reserve needs in homogenous pools within the Company’s ALLL methodology.  As of March 31, 2012, the Company reviewed all of its classified loans totaling $238 million and identified $118 million which were considered impaired.  Of those $118 million in impaired loans, $72 million were individually evaluated to determine if valuation adjustments, or partial write-downs, should be recorded, or if specific impairment reserves should be established.  The $72 million had original carrying values of $82 million which have been reduced by partial write-downs totaling $10 million.  In addition to these write-downs, in order to bring the impaired loan balances to fair value, the Company also established $5 million in specific reserves on these impaired loans.  Impaired loans that were collectively evaluated for reserve purposes within homogenous pools totaled $46 million and were found to require allowances totaling $3 million.  The $46 million evaluated for reserve purposes within homogeneous pools included $23 million of restructured loans which are currently performing according to their restructured terms.  The valuation inputs for impaired loans are considered to be Level 3 inputs.

The Company records REO (acquired through a lending relationship) at fair value on a non-recurring basis.  All REO properties are recorded at amounts which are equal to fair value of the properties based on independent appraisals (reduced by estimated selling costs) upon transfer of the loans to REO.  From time to time, non-recurring fair value adjustments to REO are recorded to reflect partial write-downs based on an observable market price or current appraised value of property.  Banner considers any valuation inputs related to REO to be Level 3 inputs.  The individual carrying values of these assets are reviewed for impairment at least annually and any additional impairment charges are expensed to operations.  For the three months ended March 31, 2012, we recognized $1.6 million of additional impairment charges related to REO assets, compared to $3.0 million for the same quarter one year earlier.
 
 
35

 
The Company records mortgage servicing rights at fair value on a non-recurring basis.  The fair value of mortgage servicing rights is based on the objective characteristics of the servicing portfolio and is derived through a discounted cash flow analytical model of an independent external consultant.  The analysis takes into consideration existing conditions in the secondary servicing markets (levels of supply and demand), as well as recently executed servicing transactions, if available.  It also includes an analysis of rate trends, anticipated prepayment speeds, delinquencies, foreclosure rates and ancillary fee income.  The valuation assumptions embedded within this analysis have been selected from a broad range of parameters and assumptions utilized by various buyers throughout the marketplace.  Due to the lack of significant observable inputs utilized in the valuation model and how changes in these assumptions could potentially impact the ending valuation of this asset, as well as the lack of readily available quotes or observable trades of similar assets in the current period, we classify this as a Level 3 fair value measurement.  Management believes the inputs utilized are indicative of those that would be used by market participants.

The following tables present the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy of the fair value measurements for those assets at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in thousands):

 
At or For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
 
 
Fair Value
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
 
Losses
Recognized
During the Period
 
                               
Impaired loans
  $ 48,507     $ --     $ --     $ 48,507     $ 7,254  
REO
    27,723       --       --       27,723       1,568  
                                         
 
At or For the Year Ended December 31, 2011
 
 
Fair Value
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
 
Losses
Recognized
During the Period
 
                                         
Impaired loans
  $ 47,959     $ --     $ --     $ 47,959     $ 21,902  
REO
    42,965       --       --       42,965       7,325  

Fair Values of Financial Instruments:

The following table presents estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, whether or not recognized or recorded in the consolidated balance sheets.  The estimated fair value amounts have been determined by the Company using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies.  However, considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data in the development of the estimates of fair value.  Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could realize in a current market exchange.  The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.  The estimated fair value of financial instruments is as follows (in thousands):

   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Carrying
Value
   
Estimated Fair
Value
   
Carrying
Value
   
Estimated Fair
Value
 
Assets:
                       
Cash and due from banks
  $ 199,609     $ 199,609     $ 132,436     $ 132,436  
Securities—trading
    77,706       77,706       80,727       80,727  
Securities—available-for-sale
    386,716       386,716       465,795       465,795  
Securities—held-to-maturity
    76,853       82,294       75,438       80,107  
Loans receivable held for sale
    4,623       4,695       3,007       3,069  
Loans receivable
    3,225,039       3,147,510       3,293,331       3,224,112  
FHLB stock
    37,371       37,371       37,371       37,371  
Bank-owned life insurance
    59,055       59,055       58,563       58,563  
Mortgage servicing rights
    5,870       5,870       5,584       5,584  
                                 
Liabilities:
                               
Demand, NOW and money market accounts
    1,555,138       1,480,616       1,555,561       1,487,080  
Regular savings
    673,704       630,094       669,596       630,450  
Certificates of deposit
    1,197,328       1,203,902       1,250,497       1,258,431  
FHLB advances at fair value
    10,467       10,467       10,533       10,533  
Junior subordinated debentures at fair value
    49,368       49,368       49,988       49,988  
Other borrowings
    91,253       91,253       152,128       152,128  
                                 
Off-balance-sheet financial instruments:
                               
Commitments to originate loans
    245       245       617       617  
Commitments to sell loans
    (245 )     (245 )     (617 )     (617 )

 
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Fair value estimates, methods, assumptions and the level within the fair value hierarchy of the fair value measurements are set forth below for the Company’s financial and off-balance-sheet instruments:

Cash and Due from Banks:  The carrying amount of these items is a reasonable estimate of their fair value and management considers this to be a Level 1 measurement.

Securities:  The estimated fair values of investment securities and mortgaged-backed securities are priced using current active market quotes, if available, which are considered Level 1 measurements.  For most of the portfolio, matrix pricing based on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted prices is used to establish the fair value.  These measurements are considered Level 2.  Due to the increasing credit concerns in the capital markets and inactivity in the trust preferred markets that have limited the observability of market spreads for some of the Company’s TRUP CDO securities (see earlier discussion above in determining the securities’ fair market value), management has classified these securities as a Level 3 fair value measure.

Loans Receivable:  Fair values are estimated first by stratifying the portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics.  Loans are segregated by type such as multifamily real estate, residential mortgage, nonresidential mortgage, commercial/agricultural, consumer and other.  Each loan category is further segmented into fixed- and adjustable-rate interest terms and by performing and non-performing categories.  A preliminary estimate of fair value is then calculated based on discounted cash flows using as a discount rate the current rate offered on similar products, plus an adjustment for liquidity to reflect the non-homogeneous nature of the loans.  The preliminary estimate is then further reduced by the amount of the allowance for loan losses to arrive at a final estimate of fair value.  Fair value for significant non-performing loans is also based on recent appraisals or estimated cash flows discounted using rates commensurate with risk associated with the estimated cash flows.  Assumptions regarding credit risk, cash flows and discount rates are judgmentally determined using available market information and specific borrower information.  Management considers this to be a Level 3 measurement.

The fair value of performing residential mortgages held for sale is estimated based upon secondary market sources by type of loan and terms such as fixed or variable interest rates.  Management considers this to be a Level 2 measurement.

FHLB Stock:  The fair value is based upon the redemption value of the stock which equates to its carrying value.  Management considers this to be a Level 3 measurement.

Mortgage Servicing Rights:  Fair values are estimated based on current pricing for sales of servicing for new loans adjusted up or down based on the serviced loan’s interest rate versus current new loan rates.  Management considers this a Level 3 measurement.

Deposit Liabilities: The fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as savings, checking and NOW accounts, is estimated by applying decay rate assumptions to segregated portfolios of similar deposit types to generate cash flows which are then discounted using short-term market interest rates.  The market value of certificates of deposit is based upon the discounted value of contractual cash flows.  The discount rate is determined using the rates currently offered on comparable instruments. Management considers this a Level 3 measurement.

FHLB Advances and Other Borrowings:  Fair valuations for Banner’s FHLB advances are estimated using fair market values provided by the lender, the FHLB of Seattle.  The FHLB of Seattle prices advances by discounting the future contractual cash flows for individual advances using its current cost of funds curve to provide the discount rate.  This is considered to be a Level 2 input method.  Other borrowings are priced using discounted cash flows to the date of maturity based on using current rates at which such borrowings can currently be obtained.

Junior Subordinated Debentures:  Due to the increasing credit concerns in the capital markets and inactivity in the trust preferred markets that have limited the observability of market spreads (see earlier discussion above in determining the junior subordinated debentures’ fair market value), junior subordinated debentures have been classified as a Level 3 fair value measure.  Management believes that the credit risk adjusted spread and resulting discount rate utilized is indicative of those that would be used by market participants.
 
Commitments:  Commitments to sell loans with notional balances of $58 million and $54 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, have a carrying value of $245,000 and $617,000, representing the fair value of such commitments.  Interest rate lock commitments to originate loans held for sale with notional balances of $58 million and $54 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, have a carrying value of ($245,000) and ($617,000).  The fair value of commitments to sell loans and of interest rate locks reflect changes in the level of market interest rates from the date of the commitment or rate lock to the date of the Company's financial statements.  Management considers this to be a Level 2 measurement.  Other commitments to fund loans totaled $797 million and $780 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, and have no carrying value at both dates.  There were commitments to purchase securities of $582,000 at March 31, 2012, and no commitments to purchase securities at December 31, 2011.

Limitations: The fair value estimates presented herein are based on pertinent information available to management as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.  Although management is not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the estimated fair value amounts, such amounts have not been comprehensively revalued for purposes of these financial statements since that date and, therefore, current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented herein.

Fair value estimates are based on existing on- and off-balance-sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business.  The fair value has not been estimated for assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments.  Significant assets and liabilities that are not financial instruments include the deferred tax assets/liabilities; land, buildings and equipment; costs in excess of net assets acquired; and REO.
 
 
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Note 12:  INCOME TAXES AND DEFERRED TAXES

The following table reflects the effect of temporary differences that give rise to the components of the net deferred tax asset as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in thousands):

   
March 31
   
December 31
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Deferred tax assets:
           
REO and loan loss reserves
  $ 30,110     $ 31,156  
Deferred compensation
    6,081       6,032  
Net operating loss carryforward
    26,630       27,992  
Low income housing tax credits
    7,450       7,202  
Other
    333       309  
Total deferred tax assets
    70,604       72,691  
                 
Deferred tax liabilities:
               
FHLB stock dividends
    (6,137 )     (6,137 )
Depreciation
    (3,446 )     (3,570 )
Deferred loan fees, servicing rights and loan origination costs
    (4,954 )     (4,863 )
Intangibles
    (2,049 )     (2,243 )
Financial instruments accounted for under fair value accounting
    (17,102 )     (16,499 )
Other
    --       --  
Total deferred tax liabilities
    (33,688 )     (33,312 )
                 
Deferred income tax asset
    36,916       39,379  
                 
Unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale
    (1,132 )     (1,151 )
                 
Valuation allowance
    (35,784 )     (38,228 )
                 
Deferred tax asset, net
  $ --     $ --  

The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the existence, or generation, of taxable income in the periods when those temporary differences and net operating loss and credit carryforwards are deductible.  Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, taxes paid in carryback years, projected future taxable income, available tax planning strategies, and other factors in making this assessment.  The valuation allowance decreased to $35.8 million at March 31, 2012 from $38.2 million at December 31, 2011.

At March 31, 2012, the Company had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $69.4 million and $19.9 million, respectively, which will expire, if unused, by the end of 2031.  The Company also has federal and state tax credit carryforwards of $6.7 million and $700,000, respectively, which will expire, if unused, by the end of 2032.

Retained earnings at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 include approximately $5.4 million in tax basis bad debt reserves for which no income tax liability has been recorded.  In the future, if this tax bad debt reserve is used for purposes other than to absorb bad debts or the Company no longer qualifies as a bank holding company or is completely liquidated, the Company will incur a federal tax liability at the then-prevailing corporate tax rate.  Based on current corporate tax rates, this amount would be approximately $1.9 million at March 31, 2012.
 
 
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Note 13:  CALCULATION OF WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING FOR EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE (EPS)

The following table reconciles basic to diluted weighted shares outstanding used to calculate earnings per share data dollars and shares (in thousands, except per share data):

   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
Net income (loss)
  $ 9,184     $ (7,842 )
                 
Preferred stock dividend accrual
    1,550       1,550  
Preferred stock discount accretion
    454       426  
                 
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders
  $ 7,180     $ (9,818 )
                 
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
    17,762       16,272  
Plus unvested restricted stock
    29          
Diluted weighted shares outstanding
    17,791       16,272  
                 
Earnings (loss) per common share
               
Basic
  $ 0.40     $ (0.60 )
Diluted
  $ 0.40     $ (0.60 )

Options to purchase an additional 51,729 shares of common stock were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their exercise price resulted in them being anti-dilutive.  Also, as of March 31, 2012, the warrant issued to the U.S. Treasury in the fourth quarter of 2008 to purchase up to 243,998 shares (post reverse-split) of common stock was not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the exercise price of the warrant was greater than the average market price of common shares.

Note 14:  STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS AND STOCK OPTIONS

The Company operates the following stock-based compensation plans as approved by the shareholders: the 1996 Stock Option Plan, the 1998 Stock Option Plan and the 2001 Stock Option Plan (collectively, SOPs).  In addition, during 2006 the Board of Directors approved the Banner Corporation Long-Term Incentive Plan, an account-based benefit plan which for reporting purposes is considered a stock appreciation rights plan.  On April 24, 2012, shareholders approved the Banner Corporation 2012 Restricted Stock Plan.

Restricted Stock Grants. The Company granted shares of restricted common stock to Mark J. Grescovich, President and Chief Executive Officer of Banner Bank and Banner Corporation on August 22, 2010 and again on August 23, 2011.  The restricted shares were granted to Mr. Grescovich in accordance with his employment agreement, which, as an inducement material to his joining the Company and the Bank, provided for the granting of restricted shares on the six-month and the 18-month anniversaries of the effective date of the agreement.  The shares vest in one-third annual increments over the subsequent three-year periods following the grants.  The expense associated with this restricted stock was $42,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2012.  Unrecognized compensation expense for this award as of March 31, 2012 was $319,000 and will be amortized over the next 29 months.  Under the 2012 Restricted Stock Plan, the Company is authorized to issue up to 300,000 shares of its common stock to provide a means for attracting and retaining highly skilled officers of Banner Corporation and its affiliates.  Shares granted under the Plan have a minimum vesting period of three years.  The Plan will continue in effect for a term of ten years, after which no further awards may be granted.  Concurrent with the approval of the Plan was the approval of a grant of $300,000 of restricted stock to Mark J. Grescovich, President and Chief Executive Officer of Banner Corporation and Banner Bank.

Stock Options.  Under the SOPs, Banner reserved 2,284,186 shares for issuance pursuant to the exercise of stock options to be granted to directors and employees.  Authority to grant additional options under the 1996 Stock Option Plan terminated on July 26, 2006.  Authority to grant additional options under the 1998 Stock Option Plan terminated on July 24, 2008 with all options having been granted.  Authority to grant additional options under the 2001 Stock Option Plan terminated on April 20, 2011.  The exercise price of the stock options is set at 100% of the fair market value of the stock price on the date of grant.  Options granted vest at a rate of 20% per year from the date of grant and any unexercised incentive stock options will expire ten years after date of grant or 90 days after employment or service ends.

During the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company did not grant any stock options.  Additionally, there were no significant modifications made to any stock option grants during the period.  The fair values of stock options granted are amortized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the grant.  Stock-based compensation costs related to the SOPs were $3,000 and $8,000 for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  The SOPs’ stock option grant compensation costs are generally based on the fair value calculated from the Black-Scholes option pricing on the date of the grant award.  The Black-Scholes model assumes an expected stock price volatility based on the historical volatility at the date of the grant and an expected term based on the remaining contractual life of the vesting period.  The Company bases the estimate of risk-free interest rate on the U.S. Treasury Constant Maturities Indices in effect at the time of the grant.  The dividend yield is based on the current quarterly dividend in effect at the time of the grant.

The Company had $4,000 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to stock options at March 31, 2012 that are expected to be recognized over a remaining period of 0.25 years.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, there were no exercises of stock options.  Cash was not used to settle any equity instruments previously granted.  The Company issues shares from authorized but unissued shares upon the exercise of stock options.  The Company does not currently expect to repurchase shares from any source to satisfy such obligations under the SOPs.
 
 
39

 

Banner Corporation Long-Term Incentive Plan:  In June 2006, the Board of Directors adopted the Banner Corporation Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan) effective July 1, 2006.  The Plan is an account-based type of benefit, the value of which is directly related to changes in the value of Company stock, dividends declared on the Company stock and changes in Banner Bank’s average earnings rate, and is considered a stock appreciation right (SAR).  Each SAR entitles the holder to receive cash, upon vesting, equal to the excess of the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock on the date of exercise over the fair market value of such share on the date granted plus for some grants the dividends declared on the stock from the date of grant to the date of vesting.  On April 27, 2008, the Board of Directors amended the Plan and also authorized the repricing of certain awards to non-executive officers based upon the price of Banner Corporation’s common stock three business days following the public announcement of the Company’s earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.  The primary objective of the Plan is to create a retention incentive by allowing officers who remain with the Company or the Banks for a sufficient period of time to share in the increases in the value of Company stock.  Detailed information with respect to the Plan and the amendments to the Plan were disclosed on Forms 8-K filed with SEC on July 19, 2006 and May 6, 2008.  The Company re-measures the fair value of SARs each reporting period until the award is settled and compensation expense is recognized each reporting period for changes in fair value and vesting.  The Company recognized compensation expense of $136,000 and $22,000, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 related to the increase in the fair value of SARs and additional vesting during the periods.  At March 31, 2012, the aggregate liability related to SARs was $472,000 and is included in deferred compensation.

Note 15:  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Financial Instruments with Off-Balance-Sheet Risk

We have financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk generated in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of our customers.  These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit.  These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Our exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument from commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual notional amount of those instruments.  We use the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as for on-balance-sheet instruments.  As of March 31, 2012, outstanding commitments for which no liability has been recorded consisted of the following (in thousands):

   
Contract or Notional Amount
 
Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk:
     
Commitments to extend credit
     
Real estate secured for commercial, construction or land development
  $ 89,207  
Revolving open-end lines secured by one-to four- family residential properties
    117,894  
Credit card lines
    75,361  
Other, primarily business and agricultural loans
    482,199  
Real estate secured by one- to four-family residential properties
    82,885  
Standby letters of credit and financial guarantees
    6,867  
         
Total commitments
  $ 854,413  
         
Commitments to sell loans secured by one- to four-family residential properties
  $ 57,548  


Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer, as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract.  Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee.  Many of the commitments may expire without being drawn upon; therefore, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.  Each customer’s creditworthiness is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.  The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the customer.  Collateral held varies, but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, and income producing commercial properties.

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee a customer’s performance or payment to a third party.  The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers.

Interest rates on residential one- to four-family mortgage loan applications are typically rate locked (committed) to customers during the application stage for periods ranging from 15 to 45 days, the most typical period being 30 days.  Typically, pricing for the sale of these loans is locked with various qualified investors under a best-efforts delivery program at or near the time the interest rate is locked with the customer.  The Banks attempt to deliver these loans before their rate locks expire.  This arrangement generally requires delivery of the loans prior to the expiration of the rate lock.  Delays in funding the loans can require a lock extension.  The cost of a lock extension at times is borne by the customer and at times by the Banks.  These lock extension costs are not expected to have a material impact to our operations.  This activity is managed daily.

The Company has stand-alone derivative instruments in the form of interest rate swap agreements, which derive their value from underlying interest rates.  These transactions involve both credit and market risk.  The notional amount is the amount on which calculations, payments, and the value of the derivative are based.  The notional amount does not represent direct credit exposure.  Direct credit exposure is limited to the net difference between the calculated amount to be received and paid.  This difference represents the fair value of the derivative instrument.
 
 
40

 

The Company is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by the counterparty to these agreements.  Credit risk of the financial contract is controlled through the credit approval, limits, and monitoring procedures and management does not expect the counterparty to fail its obligations.

Information pertaining to outstanding interest rate swaps at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 follows (dollars in thousands):

 
   March 31
December 31
   
2012
 
2011
             
Notional amount
  $ 130,232     $ 117,110  
Weighted average pay rate
    4.67 %     4.66 %
Weighted average receive rate
    3.94 %     3.85 %
Weighted average maturity in years
    7.2       7.7  
Unrealized gain included in total loans
  $ 3,398     $ 3,559  
Unrealized gain included in other assets
  $ 1,830     $ 2,108  
Unrealized loss included in other liabilities
  $ 5,227     $ 5,666  

At March 31, 2012, the Company’s interest rate swap agreements are with the Pacific Coast Bankers Bank, Wells Fargo, N.A., Credit Suisse, and various loan customers.


 
41

 


ITEM 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Executive Overview

We are a bank holding company incorporated in the State of Washington and own two subsidiary banks, Banner Bank and Islanders Bank. Banner Bank is a Washington-chartered commercial bank that conducts business from its main office in Walla Walla, Washington and, as of March 31, 2012, its 86 branch offices and seven loan production offices located in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.  Islanders Bank is also a Washington-chartered commercial bank and conducts its business from three locations in San Juan County, Washington.  Banner Corporation is subject to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Federal Reserve Board).  Banner Bank and Islanders Bank (the Banks) are subject to regulation by the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Banks and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the FDIC).  As of March 31, 2012, we had total consolidated assets of $4.2 billion, total loans of $3.2 billion, total deposits of $3.4 billion and total stockholders’ equity of $549 million.

Banner Bank is a regional bank which offers a wide variety of commercial banking services and financial products to individuals, businesses and public sector entities in its primary market areas.  Islanders Bank is a community bank which offers similar banking services to individuals, businesses and public entities located in the San Juan Islands.  The Banks’ primary business is that of traditional banking institutions, accepting deposits and originating loans in locations surrounding their offices in portions of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.  Banner Bank is also an active participant in the secondary market, engaging in mortgage banking operations largely through the origination and sale of one- to four-family residential loans.  Lending activities include commercial business and commercial real estate loans, agriculture business loans, construction and land development loans, one- to four-family residential loans and consumer loans.

While Banner Corporation experienced marked improvement in 2011, including a return to profitability, which continued in the first quarter of 2012, weak economic conditions and ongoing strains in the financial and housing markets which accelerated during 2008 and have generally continued into the current year have created an unusually challenging banking environment for an extended period.  This has been particularly evident in our need to provide for credit losses during this period at significantly higher levels than our historical experience and, in earlier periods, also adversely affected our net interest income and other operating revenues and expenses.  However, reflecting substantially reduced credit costs and significant improvement in our net interest margin, in 2011 we returned to profitability and we experienced further progress and profitability in the first quarter of 2012.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, we had net income of $9.2 million which, after providing for the preferred stock dividend and related discount accretion, resulted in a net income available to common shareholders of $7.2 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, compared to a net loss to common shareholders of $9.8 million, or ($0.60) per diluted share adjusted for the reverse stock split, for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  Although economic conditions have improved in recent periods, the pace of recovery has been modest and uneven and ongoing stress in the economy, reflected in high unemployment, tepid consumer spending, modest loan demand and very low interest rates, will likely continue to be challenging going forward.  As a result, our future operating results and financial performance will be significantly affected by the course of recovery from the recessionary downturn.  Nonetheless, over the past two years we have significantly improved our risk profile by aggressively managing and reducing our problem assets, which has resulted in lower credit costs and stronger revenues and which we believe will lead to further improved operating results in future periods.

Our provision for loan losses was $5.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, unchanged from the preceding two quarters and still above our historical levels, but substantially less than the $17.0 million recorded in the first quarter of the prior year.  The decrease from a year earlier reflects significant progress in reducing the levels of delinquencies, non-performing loans and net charge-offs, particularly for loans for the construction of one- to four-family homes and for acquisition and development of land for residential properties.  From 2008 through 2011, higher than historical provision for loan losses has been the most significant factor adversely affecting our operating results; however, we are encouraged by the continuing reduction in our exposure to residential construction loans as well as the significant decrease in non-performing assets and the slowdown in the emergence of new problem assets.  Looking forward, although we anticipate our credit costs may remain elevated for a few more quarters, we believe further reductions in credit costs will contribute to improved operating results.  (See Note 7, Loans Receivable and the Allowance for Loan Losses, as well as “Asset Quality” below in this Form 10-Q.)

Aside from the level of loan loss provision, our operating results depend primarily on our net interest income, which is the difference between interest income on interest-earning assets, consisting of loans and investment securities, and interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities, composed primarily of customer deposits and borrowings.  Net interest income is primarily a function of our interest rate spread, which is the difference between the yield earned on interest-earning assets and the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, as well as a function of the average balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  As more fully explained below, our net interest income before provision for loan losses increased to $41.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to $40.1 million for the same quarter one year earlier, primarily as a result of expansion of our net interest spread and net interest margin due to a lower cost of funds and a reduction in the adverse impact of non-performing assets.  The continuing trend to lower funding costs reflects a further decline in interest expense on deposits driven by significant changes in our deposit mix and pricing.  This decrease in deposit costs and the reduction in the adverse impact of non-performing assets represent important improvements in our core operating fundamentals.  The increase in net interest income occurred despite a modest decline in average earning assets, as we continued to focus on reducing our non-performing loans and make changes in our mix of assets and liabilities designed to reduce our risk profile and produce more sustainable earnings.

 
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Our net income also is affected by the level of our other operating income, including deposit fees and service charges, loan origination and servicing fees, and gains and losses on the sale of loans and securities, as well as our non-interest operating expenses and income tax provisions.  In addition, our net income is affected by the net change in the value of certain financial instruments carried at fair value and in certain periods by other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) charges or recoveries.  (See Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.)  For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, we recorded a net gain of $1.7 million in fair value adjustments compared to a net gain of $256,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  We did not record any OTTI charges or recoveries in either period.

Our other operating income for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 was $11.0 million, compared to $7.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  Other operating income, excluding fair value adjustments, was $9.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to $7.0 million in the first quarter a year earlier.  Our total revenues (net interest income before the provision for loan losses plus other operating income) for the first quarter of 2012 were $52.1 million compared to $47.3 million for the first quarter of 2011.  Revenues, excluding fair value and OTTI adjustments, increased $3.4 million, or 7%, to $50.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to $47.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  This growth in core revenues was the result of meaningful increases in our net interest income and deposit fees and a substantial increase in revenues from mortgage banking activities.

Our other operating expenses decreased to $37.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to $38.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, largely as a result of decreased costs related to real estate owned and FDIC deposit insurance which were generally offset by increased compensation expenses.  While significantly lower in 2012 than in 2011, both quarters’ expenses reflect significant costs associated with problem loan collection activities including professional services and valuation charges related to real estate owned, which should decline in future periods as a result of the continuing reduction in non-performing assets.

As a result of maintaining a full valuation allowance for our net deferred tax asset, we did not recognize any tax expense or benefit in either period.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, we had pre-tax net income of $9.2 million, with the resulting provision for income taxes offset by an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance.  By contrast, for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, we had a pre-tax loss of $7.8 million.

Other operating income, revenues and other earnings information excluding fair value adjustments and OTTI losses are non-GAAP financial measures.  Management has presented these and other non-GAAP financial measures in this discussion and analysis because it believes that they provide useful and comparative information to assess trends in our core operations.  Where applicable, we have also presented comparable earnings information using GAAP financial measures.  Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures are contained in the tables below.  See “Comparison of Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011” for more detailed information about our financial performance.

The following tables set forth reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures discussed in this report (dollars in thousands):

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
Total other operating income
  $ 10,971     $ 7,246  
Exclude change in valuation of financial instruments carried at fair value
    (1,685 )     (256 )
                 
Total other operating income, excluding fair value adjustments
  $ 9,286     $ 6,990  
                 
Net interest income before provision for loan losses
  $ 41,126     $ 40,056  
Total other operating income
    10,971       7,246  
                 
Total revenues
    52,097       47,302  
Less change in valuation of financial instruments carried at fair value
    (1,685 )     (256 )
                 
Total revenues, excluding fair value adjustments
  $ 50,412     $ 47,046  
                 
Net income (loss)
  $ 9,184     $ (7,842 )
Less change in valuation of financial instruments carried at fair value
    (1,685 )     (256 )
                 
Total earnings (loss), excluding fair value adjustments
  $ 7,499     $ (8,098 )

 
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The ratio of tangible common stockholders’ equity to tangible assets is also a non-GAAP financial measure.  We calculate tangible common equity by excluding other intangible assets and preferred equity from stockholders’ equity.  We calculate tangible assets by excluding the balance of other intangible assets from total assets.  We believe that this is consistent with the treatment by our bank regulatory agencies, which exclude goodwill and other intangible assets from the calculation of risk-based capital ratios.  In addition, excluding preferred equity, the level of which may vary from company to company, allows investors to more easily compare our capital adequacy to other companies in the industry that also use this measure.  Management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure provides information to investors that is useful in understanding the basis of our capital position.  However, this non-GAAP financial measure is supplemental and is not a substitute for any analysis based on GAAP.  Because not all companies use the same calculation of tangible common equity and tangible assets, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures as calculated by other companies.

   
March 31
2012
   
December 31
2011
 
             
Stockholders’ equity
  $ 548,790     $ 532,450  
Other intangible assets, net
    5,777       6,331  
Tangible equity
    543,013       526,119  
                 
Preferred equity
    121,156       120,702  
                 
Tangible common stockholders’ equity
  $ 421,857     $ 405,417  
                 
Total assets
  $ 4,160,764     $ 4,257,312  
Other intangible assets, net
    5,777       6,331  
                 
Tangible assets
  $ 4,154,987     $ 4,250,981  
                 
Tangible common stockholders’ equity to tangible assets
    10.15 %     9.54 %


We offer a wide range of loan products to meet the demands of our customers. Historically, our lending activities have been primarily directed toward the origination of real estate and commercial loans.  Until recent periods, real estate lending activities were significantly focused on residential construction and first mortgages on owner-occupied, one- to four-family residential properties; however, over the past four years our origination of construction and land development loans has declined materially and the proportion of the portfolio invested in these types of loans has declined substantially.  Our residential mortgage loan originations also decreased during most of this cycle, although less significantly than the decline in construction and land development lending as exceptionally low interest rates supported demand for loans to refinance existing debt as well as loans to finance home purchases.  Our real estate lending activities also include the origination of multifamily and commercial real estate loans.  Our commercial business lending is directed toward meeting the credit and related deposit needs of various small- to medium-sized business and agri-business borrowers operating in our primary market areas.  Reflecting the recessionary economy, in recent periods demand for these types of commercial business loans has been modest and total outstanding balances have declined.  Our consumer loan activity is primarily directed at meeting demand from our existing deposit customers and, while we have increased our emphasis on consumer lending in recent years, demand for consumer loans also has been modest during this period of economic weakness as we believe many consumers have been focused on reducing their personal debt.  At March 31, 2012, our net loan portfolio totaled $3.148 billion compared to $3.213 billion at December 31, 2011.

Deposits, customer retail repurchase agreements and loan repayments are the major sources of our funds for lending and other investment purposes.  We generally attract deposits from within our primary market areas by offering a broad selection of deposit instruments, including demand checking accounts, negotiable order of withdrawal (NOW) accounts, money market deposit accounts, regular savings accounts, certificates of deposit, cash management services and retirement savings plans.  Deposit account terms vary according to the minimum balance required, the time periods the funds must remain on deposit and the interest rate, among other factors.  In determining the terms of deposit accounts, we consider current market interest rates, profitability, matching deposit and loan products, and customer preferences and concerns.  We compete with other financial institutions and financial intermediaries in attracting deposits and we generally attract deposits within our primary market areas.

Much of the focus of our strategic initiatives in recent periods has been directed toward attracting additional deposit customer relationships and balances.  The long-term success of our deposit gathering activities is reflected not only in the growth of transaction and savings accounts (checking, savings and money market accounts), but also in the interest cost of our deposits and increases in the level of deposit fees, service charges and other payment processing revenues compared to prior periods.  During the last two years, our total deposit balances decreased largely as a result of our decision to significantly reduce our exposure to public funds, brokered deposits and high cost certificates of deposit.  However, over the same period we have had a meaningful increase in transaction and savings accounts, including a small increase in the most recent quarter despite an adverse seasonal trend, as we have remained focused on growing these core deposits.  As a result, our cost of deposits has declined significantly and fees and service charges have increased compared to earlier periods.  Total deposits at March 31, 2012 were $3.426 billion, compared to $3.476 billion at December 31, 2011.  While certificates of deposit decreased $261 million compared to a year earlier, including a decrease of $62 million in brokered deposits, transaction and savings account deposits increased by $146 million over the same one-year period and represented 65% of total deposits at March 31, 2012 compared to 59% at March 31, 2011.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations is intended to assist in understanding our financial condition and results of operations.  The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
 
 
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Summary of Critical Accounting Policies

Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2011 included in the 2011 Form 10-K.  Various elements of our accounting policies, by their nature, are inherently subject to estimation techniques, valuation assumptions and other subjective assessments.  In particular, management has identified several accounting policies that, due to the judgments, estimates and assumptions inherent in those policies, are critical to an understanding of our financial statements.  These policies relate to (i) the methodology for the recognition of interest income, (ii) determination of the provision and allowance for loan and lease losses, (iii) the valuation of financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value, including other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) losses, (iv) the valuation of intangibles, such as core deposit intangibles and mortgage servicing rights, (v) the valuation of real estate held for sale and (vi) the valuation of or recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities.  These policies and judgments, estimates and assumptions are described in greater detail below.  Management believes that the judgments, estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the financial statements are appropriate based on the factual circumstances at the time.  However, given the sensitivity of the financial statements to these critical accounting policies, the use of other judgments, estimates and assumptions could result in material differences in our results of operations or financial condition.  Further, subsequent changes in economic or market conditions could have a material impact on these estimates and our financial condition and operating results in future periods.  There have been no significant changes in our application of accounting policies during the first quarter of 2012.

Interest Income:  (Note 1) Interest on loans and securities is accrued as earned unless management doubts the collectability of the asset or the unpaid interest.  Interest accruals on loans are generally discontinued when loans become 90 days past due for payment of interest and the loans are then placed on nonaccrual status.  All previously accrued but uncollected interest is deducted from interest income upon transfer to nonaccrual status.  For any future payments collected, interest income is recognized only upon management’s assessment that there is a strong likelihood that the full amount of a loan will be repaid or recovered.  A loan may be put on nonaccrual status sooner than this policy would dictate if, in management’s judgment, the interest may be uncollectable.  While less common, similar interest reversal and nonaccrual treatment is applied to investment securities if their ultimate collectability becomes questionable.

Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses:  (Note 7)  The provision for loan losses reflects the amount required to maintain the allowance for losses at an appropriate level based upon management’s evaluation of the adequacy of general and specific loss reserves.  The Company maintains an allowance for loan losses consistent in all material respects with the GAAP guidelines outlined in ASC 450, Contingencies.  The Company has established systematic methodologies for the determination of the adequacy of our allowance for loan losses.  The methodologies are set forth in a formal policy and take into consideration the need for an overall general valuation allowance as well as specific allowances that are tied to individual problem loans.  We increase our allowance for loan losses by charging provisions for probable loan losses against our income and value impaired loans consistent with the accounting guidelines outlined in ASC 310, Receivables.

The allowance for losses on loans is maintained at a level sufficient to provide for probable losses based on evaluating known and inherent risks in the loan portfolio and upon our continuing analysis of the factors underlying the quality of the loan portfolio.  These factors include, among others, changes in the size and composition of the loan portfolio, delinquency rates, actual loan loss experience, current and anticipated economic conditions, detailed analysis of individual loans for which full collectability may not be assured, and determination of the existence and realizable value of the collateral and guarantees securing the loans.  Realized losses related to specific assets are applied as a reduction of the carrying value of the assets and charged immediately against the allowance for loan loss reserve.  Recoveries on previously charged off loans are credited to the allowance.  The reserve is based upon factors and trends identified by us at the time financial statements are prepared.  Although we use the best information available, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary due to economic, operating, regulatory and other conditions beyond our control.  The adequacy of general and specific reserves is based on our continuing evaluation of the pertinent factors underlying the quality of the loan portfolio, including changes in the size and composition of the loan portfolio, delinquency rates, actual loan loss experience and current economic conditions, as well as individual review of certain large balance loans.  Large groups of smaller-balance homogeneous loans are collectively evaluated for impairment.  Loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment include residential real estate and consumer loans and, as appropriate, smaller balance non-homogeneous loans.  Larger balance non-homogeneous residential construction and land, commercial real estate, commercial business loans and unsecured loans are individually evaluated for impairment.  Loans are considered impaired when, based on current information and events, we determine that it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.  Factors involved in determining impairment include, but are not limited to, the financial condition of the borrower, the value of the underlying collateral and the current status of the economy.  Impaired loans are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or, as a practical expedient, at the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of collateral if the loan is collateral dependent.  Subsequent changes in the value of impaired loans are included within the provision for loan losses in the same manner in which impairment initially was recognized or as a reduction in the provision that would otherwise be reported.

Our methodology for assessing the appropriateness of the allowance consists of several key elements, which include specific allowances, an allocated formula allowance and an unallocated allowance.  Losses on specific loans are provided for when the losses are probable and estimable.  General loan loss reserves are established to provide for inherent loan portfolio risks not specifically provided for.  The level of general reserves is based on analysis of potential exposures existing in our loan portfolio including evaluation of historical trends, current market conditions and other relevant factors identified by us at the time the financial statements are prepared.  The formula allowance is calculated by applying loss factors to outstanding loans, excluding those loans that are subject to individual analysis for specific allowances.  Loss factors are based on our historical loss experience adjusted for significant environmental considerations, including the experience of other banking organizations, which in our judgment affect the collectability of the portfolio as of the evaluation date.  The unallocated allowance is based upon our evaluation of various factors that are not directly measured in the determination of the formula and specific allowances.  This methodology may result in losses or recoveries differing significantly from those provided in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

While we believe the estimates and assumptions used in our determination of the adequacy of the allowance are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will not be proven incorrect in the future, or that the actual amount of future provisions will not exceed the amount of past provisions or that any increased provisions that may be required will not adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, the determination of the amount of the Banks’ allowance for loan losses is subject to review by bank
 
 
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regulators as part of the routine examination process, which may result in the adjustment of reserves based upon their judgment of information available to them at the time of their examination.

Fair Value Accounting and Measurement: (Note 11)  We use fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain financial assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures.  We include in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements information about the extent to which fair value is used to measure financial assets and liabilities, the valuation methodologies used and the impact on our results of operations and financial condition.  Additionally, for financial instruments not recorded at fair value we disclose, where appropriate, our estimate of their fair value.  For more information regarding fair value accounting, please refer to Note 11 in the Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report on Form 10-Q.

Intangible Assets:  (Note 9) Intangible assets consist primarily of core deposit intangibles, which is the value ascribed to the long-term deposit relationships arising from acquisitions.  Core deposit intangibles are being amortized on an accelerated basis over a weighted average estimated useful life of eight years.  These assets are reviewed at least annually for events or circumstances that could impact their recoverability.  These events could include loss of the underlying core deposits, increased competition or adverse changes in the economy.  To the extent other identifiable intangible assets are deemed unrecoverable, impairment losses are recorded in other non-interest expense to reduce the carrying amount of the assets.

Real Estate Held for Sale:  (Note 8) Property acquired by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure is recorded at fair value, less cost to sell.  Development and improvement costs relating to the property are capitalized.  The carrying value of the property is periodically evaluated by management and, if necessary, allowances are established to reduce the carrying value to net realizable value.  Gains or losses at the time the property is sold are charged or credited to operations in the period in which they are realized.  The amounts the Banks will ultimately recover from real estate held for sale may differ substantially from the carrying value of the assets because of market factors beyond the Banks’ control or because of changes in the Banks’ strategies for recovering the investment.

Income Taxes and Deferred Taxes:  (Note 12) The Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries file consolidated U.S. federal income tax returns, as well as state income tax returns in Oregon and Idaho.  Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method.  Under this method a deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the enacted tax rates which are expected to be in effect when the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax basis of existing assets and liabilities are expected to be reported in the Company’s income tax returns.  The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  Under GAAP (ASC 740), a valuation allowance is required to be recognized if it is “more likely than not” that all or a portion of our deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Comparison of Financial Condition at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011

General.  Total assets decreased $96 million, or 2%, to $4.161 billion at March 31, 2012, from $4.257 billion at December 31, 2011.  Net loans receivable (gross loans less loans in process, deferred fees and discounts, and allowance for loan losses) decreased $65 million, or 2%, to $3.148 billion at March 31, 2012, from $3.213 billion at December 31, 2011.  The contraction in net loans was largely due to decreases of $29 million in agricultural business loans, $23 million in one- to four-family residential loans, $11 million in land and land development loans, and $10 million in commercial real estate loans.  Partially offsetting these decreases was an $8 million increase in commercial business loans.  The decrease in agricultural business loans primarily reflects a normal seasonal pattern, while the decrease in real estate loans is largely the result of accelerated prepayments in the current low interest rate environment.  Consistent with recent periods, demand for consumer loans remained weak and utilization of existing credit lines for consumer and commercial borrowers continued to be low.  In addition, the decrease in aggregate loan balances reflects further planned reductions in land and land development loans, as well as our continued efforts to reduce our exposure to certain weaker credits as we aggressively manage problem assets.  Importantly, the decrease in total assets also reflects a $15 million decrease in real estate owned.  
 
We continue to maintain a significant, although meaningfully decreased, investment in construction and land loans; however, new originations of these types of loans during the past four years has been restrained by unfavorable market conditions.  As a result of the much slower pace of new originations and continuing payoffs on existing loans, transfers to REO and charge-offs, loans to finance the construction of one- to four-family residential real estate, which totaled $149 million at March 31, 2012, have decreased by $506 million, or 77%, since their peak quarter-end balance of $655 million at June 30, 2007.  In addition, land and land development loans (both residential and commercial) have decreased by $401 million, or 80%, compared to their peak quarter-end balances at March 31, 2008.  Given the current housing and economic environment, we anticipate that the aggregate total of construction and land loan balances will remain low for the foreseeable future, although the pace of decline may moderate as originations of new construction loans likely will increase somewhat as inventories of completed homes have been reduced and the build out of existing development projects will be cautiously continued.

The aggregate balance of interest-earning deposits and securities was nearly unchanged from December 31, 2011; however, interest-earning deposits increased by $74 million during the quarter.  Total securities decreased $81 million, to $541 million at March 31, 2012 compared to $622 million at December 31, 2011.  The decrease in securities was principally a result of calls of U.S. Government and agency securities, which were partially offset by an increase in mortgage related securities.  Securities acquired during the quarter generally have expected maturities ranging from six months to six years and were purchased to generate a modest increase in yield compared to interest-bearing cash balances.  Aggregate fair value adjustments to the securities portfolio were modest during the quarter and we did not recognize any OTTI charges during the first quarter of 2012 or 2011. (See Note 11 of the Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, Fair Value Accounting and Measurement, in this Form 10-Q.)

REO acquired through foreclosures or other means decreased $15 million, to $28 million at March 31, 2012, from $43 million at December 31, 2011.  The total balance of REO included $18 million in construction, land or land development projects (both residential and commercial), $3 million in commercial real estate and $7 million in single-family homes at March 31, 2012.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, we transferred $2 million of loans into REO, disposed of $15 million of properties and recognized $2 million in charges against earnings for net losses on sales and valuation adjustments (see “Asset Quality” discussion below).
 
 
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Deposits decreased $50 million, to $3.426 billion at March 31, 2012 from $3.476 billion at December 31, 2011.  The decrease in deposits in the current quarter continued to be primarily the result of our pricing decisions designed to shift our deposit portfolio into lower cost checking, savings and money market accounts, and allow higher rate certificates of deposit to run-off.  However, largely as a result of seasonal factors, non-interest-bearing deposits decreased by $6 million during the first quarter to $772 million from $778 million at December 31, 2011.  Nonetheless, at March 31, 2012 non-interest-bearing deposits increased by $149 million, or 24%, compared to March 31, 2011.  Interest-bearing deposits decreased by $44 million during the quarter, to $2.654 billion at March 31, 2012 from $2.698 billion at December 31, 2011 and were $263 million less than a year earlier.
 
Borrowings, including customer sweep accounts (retail repurchase agreements), FHLB advances and junior subordinated debentures, decreased $61.6 million, or 29%, to $151 million at March 31, 2012, compared to $213 million at December 31, 2011.  The decrease in borrowings primarily reflects the maturity as of March 31, 2012 of $50 million of three-year notes guaranteed by the FDIC under the Temporary Liquidity Guaranty Program (TLGP).  While these notes provided valuable funding during an earlier period of liquidity uncertainty, the interest rates were significantly above current rates and repaying these notes will have a positive effect on our cost of funds going forward.

Junior subordinated debentures decreased by $620,000 during the first quarter of 2012, reflecting only modest fair value adjustments resulting from minor changes in interest rates and the passage of time, as changes in credit market conditions during the quarter had an insignificant impact on the valuation of this type of security.  Changes in the fair value of the junior subordinated debentures, while not significant during the first quarter of 2012, represent non-cash valuation adjustments that have no effect on our liquidity or ability to fund our operations.  (See Note 11 of the Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, Fair Value Accounting and Measurement, in this Form 10-Q.)

Total equity at March 31, 2012 increased $17 million, or 3%, to $549 million from $532 million at December 31, 2011.  The increase in equity reflects the impact of the net income available to common shareholders of $7.2 million as well as the receipt of $8.9 million in new capital related to the issuance of 474,296 new shares of common stock through our Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase and Sale Plan.

Comparison of Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

Following three difficult years and despite a still challenging economy, Banner Corporation returned to profitability in 2011, and that progress and profitability continued in the first quarter of 2012.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, we had net income of $9.2 million which, after providing for the preferred stock dividend of $1.5 million and related discount accretion of $454,000, resulted in net income available to common shareholders of $7.2 million, or $0.40 per diluted share.  This compares to a net loss to common shareholders of $9.8 million, or ($0.60) per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. While this return to profitability largely resulted from a material decrease in credit costs, particularly our provision for loan losses, it also reflected continued strong revenue generation from our core operations.  The decrease in credit costs reflects a substantially reduced level of non-performing assets while the increase in net revenues was driven by significant improvement in our net interest income as well as increased deposit fees and other service charges fueled by growth in core deposits.  The current quarter’s results also reflect a significant increase in revenues from our mortgage banking operations.

Net Interest Income.  Aside from credit costs, our operating results depend largely on our net interest income which increased by $1.0 million, or 3% for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to the same quarter in the prior year, primarily because of substantial reductions in deposit costs and in the adverse effect of non-performing assets, both of which significantly contributed to an increase in the net interest margin.  Net interest income before provision for loan losses was $41.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to $40.1 million for the same quarter one year earlier, as a result of the increase in the net interest margin and despite a decrease in average interest-earning assets.  The net interest margin of 4.11% for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 was 17 basis points higher than the same quarter in the prior year, largely as a result of the effect of a much lower cost of deposits which more than offset a further decrease in asset yields.  Nonaccruing loans reduced the margin by 13 basis points during the quarter ended March 31, 2012, a meaningful improvement compared to a 27 basis point reduction for the same period in the prior year.  Improvement in our net interest margin generally has been the most important factor driving the year-over-year increases in net interest income and operating revenues in recent periods.

The positive impact to our net interest margin from lower funding costs and the reduced drag from non-performing assets was partially offset by the decrease in the average balance of interest-earning assets.  In addition, the mix of earning assets changed to include fewer loans and more securities over the past twelve months.  This change in the mix in the current very low interest rate environment had an adverse effect on earning asset yields.  Reflecting the low interest rate environment and the changes in the asset mix, the yield on earning assets for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 decreased by 16 basis points compared to the same quarter in prior year.  Importantly, however, funding costs for the same period decreased by 34 basis points compared to a year earlier and more than offset the adverse effect of this lower asset yield.  As a result, the net interest spread expanded to 4.06% for the first quarter of 2012 compared to 3.88% for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.

Interest Income.  Interest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 was $47.2 million, compared to $49.7 million for the same quarter in the prior year, a decrease of $2.5 million, or 5%.  The decrease in interest income occurred as a result of the decline in both the yield and average balance of interest-earnings assets.  The average balance of interest-earning assets was $4.023 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, a decrease of $101 million, or 2%, compared to $4.124 billion one year earlier.  The yield on average interest-earning assets decreased to 4.72% for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to 4.88% for the same quarter one year earlier.  The decrease in the yield on earning assets reflects changes in the mix of assets and the continuing erosion of yields as loans and investments mature or prepay and are replaced by lower yielding assets in the current low interest rate environment.  Average loans receivable for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 decreased $99 million, or 3%, to $3.251 billion, compared to $3.350 billion for the same quarter in the prior year.  Interest income on loans decreased by $2.8 million, or 6%, to $44.0 million for the current quarter from $46.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, reflecting the impact of a 22 basis point decrease in the average yield on loans, along with the $99 million decrease in average loan balances.  The average yield on loans was 5.44% for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to 5.66% for the same quarter one year earlier.

The combined average balance of mortgage-backed securities, investment securities, and daily interest-bearing deposits was $772 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, a small decrease (excluding the effect of fair value adjustments) compared to $774 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, while the interest and dividend income from those investments increased by $302,000 compared to the same quarter in the prior year.  The effect of the
 
 
47

 
 
decreased average balance was more than offset by the 15 basis point increase in the average yield on the combined portfolio, which increased to 1.67% for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, from 1.52% for the same quarter one year earlier.  The increase in the combined yield on these investments despite declining market interest rates reflects a change in the mix to include lower balances of daily interest-bearing deposits and more investment securities, primarily U.S. Government Agency securities, which helped to offset the adverse impact of lower market rates.

Interest Expense.  Interest expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 was $6.1 million, compared to $9.6 million for the same quarter in the prior year, a decrease of $3.5 million, or 36%.  The decrease in interest expense occurred as a result of a 34 basis point decrease in the average cost of all interest-bearing liabilities to 0.66% for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, from 1.00% for the same quarter one year earlier, and a $181 million decrease in average interest-bearing liabilities.  This decrease in average interest-bearing liabilities reflects a managed decline in certificates of deposit, including brokered deposits, and our borrowings, which was only partially offset by increases in transaction and savings accounts.

Deposit interest expense decreased $3.4 million, or 43%, to $4.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to $7.8 million for the same quarter in the prior year, as a result of a 37 basis point decrease in the cost of deposits and a $140 million decrease in the average balance of deposits.  Average deposit balances decreased to $3.421 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, from $3.561 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, while the average rate paid on deposit balances decreased to 0.52% in the first quarter of 2012 from 0.89% for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  While we do not anticipate further reductions in market interest rates, we do expect additional modest declines in deposit costs over the near term as maturities of certificates of deposit will present further repricing opportunities and competitive pricing should remain restrained in response to modest loan demand in the current economic environment.  Further, continuing changes in our deposit mix, especially growth in lower cost transaction and savings accounts, have meaningfully contributed to the decrease in our funding costs compared to earlier periods, and should also result in lower deposit costs going forward.

Average FHLB advances (excluding the effect of fair value adjustments) decreased to $10 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to $28 million for the same quarter one year earlier.  Also, as the maturing advances had slightly higher interest rates than the remaining advances, the average rate paid on FHLB advances for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 decreased by seven basis points to 2.48%, compared to 2.55% during the same quarter in the prior year.  As a result the interest expense on FHLB advances decreased to $63,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 from $178,000 during the same period a year earlier.

Other borrowings consist of retail repurchase agreements with customers secured by certain investment securities and the senior bank notes issued under the TLGP.  The average balance for other borrowings decreased $23 million to $147 million during the current quarter from $170 million during the same quarter a year earlier, while the rate on these other borrowings increased to 1.51% from 1.38% a year earlier.  The $50 million of senior bank notes had a fixed rate of 2.625% and matured on March 31, 2012.

Junior subordinated debentures which were issued in connection with trust preferred securities had an average balance of $124 million (excluding the effect of fair value adjustments) and an average cost of 3.29% for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.  Junior subordinated debentures outstanding in the same quarter in the prior year had the same average balance of $124 million (excluding the effect of fair value adjustments) with a higher average cost of 3.40%.  Generally, the junior subordinated debentures are adjustable-rate instruments with repricing frequencies of three months based upon the three-month LIBOR index.  One $25 million issue of junior subordinated debentures had a fixed rate of 6.56% for an initial five-year period which expired on February 29, 2012.  Going forward, the interest rate on that debenture will reset every three months at a rate of three-month LIBOR plus 1.62%.

Analysis of Net Interest Spread presents, in the following table and for the periods indicated, our condensed average balance sheet information, together with interest income and yields earned on average interest-earning assets and interest expense and rates paid on average interest-bearing liabilities.  Average balances are computed using daily average balances.
 
 
48

 
 
The following table provides additional comparative data on our operating performance (dollars in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31
 
Average Balances
 
2012
   
2011
 
             
Interest-bearing deposits
  $ 111,536     $ 308,575  
Investment securities
    492,442       346,286  
Mortgage-backed obligations
    130,825       81,360  
FHLB stock
    37,371       37,371  
Total average interest-earning securities and cash equivalents
    772,174       773,592  
Loans receivable
    3,250,767       3,349,978  
Total average interest-earning assets
    4,022,941       4,123,570  
                 
Non-interest-earning assets (including fair value adjustments on interest-earning assets)
    185,035       233,365  
Total average assets
  $ 4,207,976     $ 4,356,935  
                 
Deposits
  $ 3,421,448     $ 3,561,020  
Advances from FHLB
    10,216       28,336  
Other borrowings
    146,507       170,209  
Junior subordinated debentures
    123,716       123,716  
Total average interest-bearing liabilities
    3,701,887       3,883,281  
                 
Non-interest-bearing liabilities (including fair value adjustments on interest-bearing liabilities)
    (36,699 )     (39,755 )
Total average liabilities
    3,665,188       3,843,526  
                 
Equity
    542,788       513,409  
Total average liabilities and equity
  $ 4,207,976     $ 4,356,935  
                 
Interest Rate Yield/Expense (rates are annualized)
               
Interest Rate Yield:
               
Interest-bearing deposits
    0.23 %     0.23 %
Investment securities
    1.81       2.17  
Mortgage-backed obligations
    2.85       4.36  
FHLB stock
    --       --  
Total interest rate yield on securities and cash equivalents
    1.67       1.52  
Loans receivable
    5.44       5.66  
Total interest rate yield on interest-earning assets
    4.72       4.88  
                 
Interest Rate Expense:
               
Deposits
    0.52       0.89  
Advances from FHLB
    2.48       2.55  
Other borrowings
    1.51       1.38  
Junior subordinated debentures
    3.29       3.40  
Total interest rate expense on interest-bearing liabilities
    0.66       1.00  
                 
Interest spread
    4.06 %     3.88 %
                 
Net interest margin on interest earning assets
    4.11 %     3.94 %
                 
Additional Key Financial Ratios (income and expense ratios are annualized)
               
Return (loss) on average assets
    0.88 %     (0.73 )%
Return (loss) on average equity
    6.81       (6.19 )
Average equity / average assets
    12.90       11.78  
Average interest-earning assets / interest-bearing liabilities
    108.67       106.19  
Non-interest (other operating) income / average assets
    1.05       0.67  
Non-interest (other operating) expenses / average assets
    3.62       3.55  
Efficiency ratio (1)
    72.77       80.64  
 
(1)  Other operating expense divided by the total of net interest income (before provision for loan losses) and other operating income (non-interest income) 

 
49

 

Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, the provision for loan losses was $5.0 million, compared to $17.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  As discussed in the Summary of Critical Accounting Policies section above and in Note 1 of the Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q, the provision and allowance for loan losses is one of the most critical accounting estimates included in our Consolidated Financial Statements.  The provision for loan losses reflects the amount required to maintain the allowance for losses at an appropriate level based upon management’s evaluation of the adequacy of general and specific loss reserves, trends in delinquencies and net charge-offs and current economic conditions.

While our provision for loan losses was substantially less in the quarter ended March 31, 2012 than in the same quarter of 2011, it was unchanged from the final two quarters of 2011 and remained elevated in relation to our historical loss rates prior to the economic downturn.  We continued this level of loan loss provisioning in response to still high levels of delinquencies, non-performing loans and net charge-offs as well as declining property values during the past year.  However, all of these asset quality indicators improved significantly throughout 2011, allowing us to decrease the level of provisioning as the year progressed, and this improvement continued in the first quarter of 2012, allowing us to substantially decrease the first quarter provision compared to the same period in the prior year.

Reflecting lingering weakness in the economy and lower property values, during the first quarter of 2012 we continued to provide for loan losses at a relatively high level and maintained a substantial allowance for loan losses at quarter end even though non-performing loans and total loans outstanding declined.  Although the allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2012 continued to largely reflect material levels of delinquencies and net charge-offs for construction, land and land development loans, our exposure to these types of loans was further reduced during the quarter as additional problem asset resolutions occurred.  The provision and allowance for loan losses also continue to reflect our concerns that the significant number of distressed sellers in the market and additional expected lender foreclosures may further disrupt certain housing markets and adversely affect home prices and the demand for building lots.  These concerns have remained elevated during the past four years as price declines for housing and related lot and land markets have occurred in most areas of the Puget Sound and Portland regions where a significant portion of our one- to four-family residential and construction and development loans are located.  Aside from housing-related construction and development loans, non-performing loans often reflect unique operating difficulties for the individual borrower; however, the weak pace of general economic activity and declining commercial real estate values have been significant contributing factors to more recent late-cycle defaults in other non-housing-related segments of the portfolio.

We recorded net charge-offs of $6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to $17 million for the same quarter in the prior year.  Non-performing loans decreased by $10 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2012 to $65 million, and decreased by $67 million during the twelve months ended March 31, 2012.  A comparison of the allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2012 and 2011 reflects a decrease of $16 million to $82 million at March 31, 2012, from $98 million at March 31, 2011.  Included in our allowance at March 31, 2012 was an unallocated portion of $16 million, which is based upon our evaluation of various factors that are not directly measured in the determination of the formula and specific allowances.  As a result, the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans (loans receivable excluding allowance for losses) of 2.52% at March 31, 2012, was unchanged from December 31, 2011 but was decreased from 2.94% at March 31, 2011.  However, with the decrease in problem loans, the allowance as a percentage of non-performing loans increased to 126% at March 31, 2012, compared to 110% of non-performing loans at December 31, 2011 and 74% a year earlier.

As of March 31, 2012, we had identified $118 million of impaired loans.  Impaired loans are comprised of loans on nonaccrual, TDRs and loans that are 90 days or more past due, but are still on accrual.  Impaired loans may be evaluated for reserve purposes using either a specific impairment analysis or collectively evaluated as part of homogeneous pools.  For more information on these impaired loans, refer to Note 11 of the Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, Fair Value Accounting and Measurement, in this Form 10-Q.

We believe that the allowance for loan losses as of March 31, 2012 was adequate to absorb the known and inherent risks of loss in the loan portfolio at that date.  While we believe the estimates and assumptions used in our determination of the adequacy of the allowance are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these estimates and assumptions will not be proven incorrect in the future, or that the actual amount of future provisions will not exceed the amount of past provisions or that any increased provisions that may be required will not adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, the determination of the amount of the allowance for loan losses is subject to review by bank regulators as part of the routine examination process, which may result in the establishment of additional reserves based upon their judgment of information available to them at the time of their examination.

Other Operating Income.  Other operating income, which includes changes in the valuation of financial instruments carried at fair value as well as non-interest revenues from core operations, was $11.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to $7.2 million for the same quarter in the prior year.  Excluding the fair value adjustments, other operating income from core operations increased by $2.3 million, or 33%, to $9.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to $7.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, largely as a result of significantly increased revenues from mortgage banking.  Mortgage banking revenues increased by nearly $1.7 million as increased production and sales of loans were supported by high levels of refinancing in the very low interest rate environment.  Deposit fees and service charges also increased by $590,000 compared to the first quarter a year ago reflecting growth in the number of deposit accounts and increased transaction activity.  By contrast, loan servicing fees and miscellaneous revenues were nearly unchanged from a year earlier.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, we recorded an aggregate net gain of $1.7 million in fair value adjustments, primarily reflecting modest increases in the fair value of certain investment securities and the impact of a decline in three-month LIBOR on the value of our junior subordinated debentures.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2011, fair value adjustments resulted in a net gain of $256,000.  For a more detailed discussion of our fair value adjustments please refer to Note 11 in the Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q.

Other Operating Expenses.  Other operating expenses decreased by $231,000, to $37.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to $38.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, largely as a result of decreased costs related to REO and FDIC deposit insurance which were generally offset by increased compensation expenses.  While significantly lower in 2012 than in 2011, both quarters’ expenses reflect significant costs associated with problem loan collection activities including professional services and valuation charges related to real estate owned, which should decline in future periods as a result of the continuing reduction in non-performing assets.  Expenses related to REO decreased $2.0 million, or 44%, to $2.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 from $4.6 million during the same period a year earlier.  In addition to real estate taxes and maintenance costs, expenses related to REO for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 included $1.6
 
 
50

 
 
million in valuation adjustments and $100,000 in net gains on sales of properties, compared to $3.0 million in valuation adjustments and $537,000 of losses on sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  Compensation expense increased $2.3 million, or 13%, to $19.5 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2012 compared to $17.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, primarily reflecting salary and wage adjustments, increased mortgage banking activity and higher health insurance costs.  The increase in compensation expenses was partially offset by an increase in capitalized loan origination costs which also reflected the increase in mortgage banking activity.  The cost of FDIC insurance decreased by $606,000 largely as a result of the decrease in average deposit balances.  All other expenses, net, increased $683,000.  Other operating expenses as a percentage of average assets were 3.62% for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to 3.55% for the same quarter one year earlier.

Income Taxes.  Our normal, expected statutory income tax rate is 35.8%, representing a blend of the statutory federal income tax rate of 35.0% and apportioned effects of the Oregon and Idaho income tax rates of 6.6% and 7.6%, respectively.  However, during the third quarter of 2010, we evaluated our net deferred tax asset and determined it was prudent to establish a valuation allowance against the entire asset.  The full valuation allowance remained in effect at both March 31, 2012 and 2011.  As a result, we did not recognize any tax expense or benefit in our Consolidated Statements of Operations during the either quarter.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, we had $9.2 million in pre-tax income, compared to a pre-tax loss of $7.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  For more discussion on our deferred tax asset and related valuation allowance, please refer to Note 12 in the Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report on Form 10-Q.

Asset Quality

While non-performing assets declined substantially in 2011 and decreased further in the first quarter of 2012, improving our risk profile by aggressively managing troubled assets has been and will continue to be a primary focus for us.   Over the past four years, as housing markets deteriorated in many of our primary service areas, we experienced significantly higher levels of delinquencies and non-performing assets, primarily in our construction and land development loan portfolios.  Beginning in the third quarter of 2008 and continuing throughout 2009 and 2010, home and lot sales activity was exceptionally slow, causing stress on builders’ and developers’ cash flows and their ability to service debt, which was reflected in our increased non-performing asset totals.  Further, property values generally declined during this period, reducing the value of the collateral securing loans.  In addition, other non-housing-related segments of the loan portfolio developed signs of stress and increasing levels of non-performing loans as the effects of the recessionary economy became more evident and the pace of the recovery remained slow.  As a result, for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, our provision for loan losses was significantly higher than historical levels and our normal expectations.  This higher than normal level of delinquencies and nonaccruals also had a material adverse effect on operating income as a result of foregone interest revenues, increased loan collection costs and carrying costs and valuation adjustments for real estate acquired through foreclosure.  While our non-performing assets and credit costs have been materially reduced, we continue to be actively engaged with our borrowers in resolving remaining problem assets.  However, although property values continued to decline in most markets in 2011, our reserve levels are substantial and, as a result of our impairment analysis and charge-off actions, reflect current appraisals and valuation estimates as well as recent regulatory examination results.

Non-Performing Assets:  Non-performing assets decreased to $93 million, or 2.24% of total assets, at March 31, 2012, from $119 million, or 2.79% of total assets, at December 31, 2011, and $229 million, or 5.32% of total assets, at March 31, 2011.  Nonaccruing construction and land development loans, including related REO, although significantly reduced, continue to represent a disproportionately high 41% of our non-performing assets at March 31, 2011.  The primary components of the $93 million in non-performing assets are $63 million in nonaccrual loans, including $19 million of construction and land development loans, and $28 million in REO and other repossessed assets.  The geographic distribution of the $49 million of non-performing construction, land and land development loans and related REO included approximately $16 million, or 32%, in the Puget Sound region, $24 million, or 50%, in the greater Portland market area, $3 million, or 6%, in the greater Boise market area, and $6 million, or 12%, in other areas of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.  We continue to believe our level of non-performing loans and assets, which has declined significantly, is manageable and we believe that we have sufficient capital and human resources to manage the collection of our non-performing assets in an orderly fashion.  However, our future results will continue to be meaningfully influenced by the course of recovery from the economic recession.

Loans are reported as restructured when we grant concessions to a borrower experiencing financial difficulties that we would not otherwise consider.  As a result of these concessions, TDRs are impaired loans as the Banks will not collect all amounts due, both principal and interest, in accordance with the terms of the original loan agreement.  If any TDR becomes delinquent or other matters call into question the borrower's ability to repay full interest and principal in accordance with the restructured terms, the TDR would be reclassified as nonaccrual.  At March 31, 2012, we had $53 million of TDRs currently performing under their restructured terms.
 
 
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The following table sets forth information with respect to our non-performing assets and TDRs at the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):

   
March 31
2012
   
December 31
2011
   
March 31
2011
 
Nonaccrual Loans: (1)
                 
  Secured by real estate:
                 
  Commercial
  $ 10,541     $ 9,226     $ 23,443  
  Multifamily
    --       362       1,361  
  Construction and land
    18,601       27,731       67,163  
  One- to four-family
    19,384       17,408       16,571  
  Commercial business
    10,121       13,460       15,904  
  Agricultural business, including secured by farmland
    1,481       1,896       1,984  
  Consumer
    2,572       2,905       4,655  
      62,700       72,988       131,081  
Loans more than 90 days delinquent, still on accrual:
                       
  Secured by real estate:
                       
  Commercial
    --       --       --  
  Multifamily
    --       --       --  
  Construction and land
    --       --       --  
  One- to four-family
    2,129       2,147       561  
  Commercial business
    --       4       14  
  Agricultural business, including secured by farmland
    --       --       --  
  Consumer
    84       173       42  
      2,213       2,324       617  
                         
Total non-performing loans
    64,913       75,312       131,698  
                         
Securities on nonaccrual at fair value
    500       500       1,904  
REO and other repossessed assets held for sale, net
    27,731       43,039       94,969  
Total non-performing assets
  $ 93,144     $ 118,851     $ 228,571  
                         
                         
Total non-performing loans to loans before allowance for loan losses
    2.01 %     2.28 %     3.96 %
Total non-performing loans to total assets
    1.56 %     1.77 %     3.06 %
Total non-performing assets to total assets
    2.24 %     2.79 %     5.32 %
TDRs (2)
  $ 53,391     $ 54,533     $ 60,968  
                         
                         
Loans 30-89 days past due and on accrual
  $ 14,336     $ 9,962     $ 16,587  
 
(1)  For the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, interest income of $1.3 million and $2.8 million, respectively, would have been recorded had nonaccrual loans been current, and no interest income on these loans was included in net income for this period.
(2) 
These loans are performing under their restructured terms.
 
 
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The following table sets forth the Company’s non-performing assets by geographic concentration at March 31, 2012 (dollars in thousands):

   
Washington
   
Oregon
   
Idaho
   
Total
 
                         
Secured by real estate:
                       
Commercial
  $ 7,698     $ 355     $ 2,488     $ 10,541  
Multifamily
    --       --       --       --  
Construction and land
                               
One- to four-family construction
    3,782       2,226       243       6,251  
Multifamily construction
    942       --       --       942  
Commercial construction
    --       --       --       --  
Residential land acquisition & development
    4,691       1,836       --       6,527  
Residential land improved lots
    424       2,309       73       2,806  
Residential land unimproved
    287       916       88       1,291  
Commercial land acquisition & development
    --       --       --       --  
Commercial land improved
    454       --       --       454  
Commercial land unimproved
    330       --       --       330  
Total construction and land
    10,910       7,287       404       18,601  
                                 
One- to four-family
    16,753       3,386       1,374       21,513  
Commercial business
    9,511       138       472       10,121  
Agricultural business, including secured by farmland
    1,346       --       135       1,481  
Consumer
    2,128       25       503       2,656  
                                 
Total non-performing loans
    48,346       11,191       5,376       64,913  
                                 
Securities on nonaccrual
    --       --       500       500  
                                 
REO and other repossessed assets held for sale, net
    14,497       10,341       2,893       27,731  
Total non-performing assets
  $ 62,843     $ 21,532     $ 8,769     $ 93,144  
                                 
Percent of non-performing assets
    67.5 %     23.1 %     9.4 %     100.0 %

In addition to the non-performing loans as of March 31, 2012, we had other classified loans with an aggregate outstanding balance of $131 million that are not on nonaccrual status, with respect to which known information concerning possible credit problems with the borrowers or the cash flows of the properties securing the respective loans has caused management to be concerned about the ability of the borrowers to comply with present loan repayment terms.  This may result in the future inclusion of such loans in the nonaccrual loan category.

We record REO (acquired through a lending relationship) at fair value on a non-recurring basis.  All REO properties are recorded at amounts which are equal to fair value of the properties based on independent appraisals (reduced by estimated selling costs) upon transfer of the loans to REO.  From time to time, non-recurring fair value adjustments to REO are recorded to reflect partial write-downs based on an observable market price or current appraised value of property.  The individual carrying values of these assets are reviewed for impairment at least annually and any additional impairment charges are expensed to operations.  For the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we recognized $1.6 million and $3.0 million, respectively, of impairment charges related to these types of assets.
 
 
53

 

Within our non-performing loans, we have a total of 14 nonaccrual lending relationships, each with aggregate loan exposures in excess of $1.0 million that collectively comprise $27 million, or 41.6% of our total non-performing loans and the single largest relationship totaled $5.3 million at March 31, 2012.  The most significant of our non-performing loan exposures are included in the following table (dollars in thousands):

Amount    
Percent of Total
Non-Performing
Loans
     
Collateral Securing the Indebtedness
   
Geographic Location
                   
$
5,260
   
8.1
%
 
33 residential lots
 
Greater Seattle-Puget Sound area
                   
 
2,353
   
3.6
   
84 room limited service hotel
 
Greater Spokane, WA area
                   
 
2,343
   
3.6
   
Third party notes secured by six commercial buildings plus miscellaneous partnership interest and other collateral
 
Greater Seattle-Puget Sound and Denver, CO area
                   
 
2,097
   
3.2
   
Business assets, accounts receivable, and vehicles
 
Greater Spokane, WA area
                   
 
2,089
   
3.2
   
Accounts receivable and inventory
 
Greater Seattle-Puget Sound area
                   
 
2,063
   
3.2
   
14 residential lots
Five single family residences
 
Greater Seattle-Puget Sound area
                   
 
1,837
   
2.8
   
Seven single family residences
 
Greater Portland, OR area
                   
 
1,793
   
2.8
   
Apartment building and office building
 
Greater Portland, OR area
                   
 
1,399
   
2.2
   
Commercial building
 
Central Washington
                   
 
1,331
   
2.1
   
Seven single family residences
 
Greater Portland, OR area
                   
 
1,146
   
1.8
   
Two single family residences
 
Greater Seattle-Puget Sound area
                   
 
1,132
   
1.7
   
61 acres with 15 building units
 
Central Washington
                   
 
1,086
   
1.7
   
Four commercial lots, two acres zoned commercial
 
Greater Portland, OR area
                   
 
1,069
   
1.6
   
One, two-story mixed use structure, two parcels used as parking lots
 
Central Washington
                   
 
37,916
   
58.4
   
Various collateral; relationships under $1.0 million
 
Sum of 161 loans spread throughout the franchise
                   
$
64,913
   
100.0
%
 
Total non-performing loans
   

 
54

 

At March 31, 2012, we had $27.7 million of REO, the most significant component of which is seven acres of land with nine parcels zoned commercial in the greater Seattle area with a book value of $3.9 million.  The second largest REO holding is a subdivision in the greater Portland, Oregon area consisting of 13 residential buildable lots and 33.2 acres of undeveloped land with a book value of $2.3 million.  The third largest holding is 5.9 acres of undeveloped land in the greater Portland, Oregon area with a book value of $1.9 million.  The fourth largest holding is 22 residential lots in the greater Portland, Oregon area with a book value of $1.7 million.  All other REO holdings have individual book values of less than $750,000.  The table below summarizes our REO by geographic location and property type (dollars in thousands):

Amount
 
Percent of
Total REO
 
REO Description
Geographic Location
             
$
11,732
 
42.3
%
Nine single family residences
63 residential lots
Two single family residences under construction
49 acres undeveloped buildable land
One completed residential condominium units
Greater Portland, Oregon area
             
 
9,965
 
35.9
 
15 single family residences
110 residential lots
One single family residence under construction
One commercial building
One apartment building
One apartment building—35 units
Nine parcels of commercial land
Two parcels of undeveloped residential land
Three acres of buildable residential land
Greater Seattle-Puget Sound area
             
 
2,431
 
8.8
 
Two single family residence
24 residential lots
Two parcels of residential land
Two parcels of land for commercial office buildings
Greater Spokane, WA area
             
 
2,106
 
7.6
 
Eight single family residences
97 residential lots
Five commercial lots
Two acres raw land zoned residential
Greater Boise, ID area
             
 
1,489
 
5.4
 
Five single family residences
54 residential lots
One residence with 31 acres of agricultural land
One mini storage facility
Other Washington locations
             
             
$
27,723
 
100.0
%
   
 
 
55

 
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of funds are deposits, borrowings, proceeds from loan principal and interest payments and sales of loans, and the maturity of and interest income on mortgage-backed and investment securities. While maturities and scheduled amortization of loans and mortgage-backed securities are a predictable source of funds, deposit flows and mortgage prepayments are greatly influenced by market interest rates, economic conditions, competition and our pricing strategies.

Our primary investing activity is the origination and purchase of loans and, in certain periods, the purchase of securities.  During the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, our loan originations were less than loan repayments and we purchased loans of $5 million and $68,000, respectively.  As a result, loan repayments, net of originations, totaled $65 million and $44 million, respectively.  During the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we sold $123 million and $63 million, respectively, of loans.  Securities purchases during the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 totaled $48 million and $68 million, respectively, and securities repayments and maturities were $129 million and $28 million, respectively.  Our primary financing activity is gathering deposits.  As discussed above, deposits decreased by $49 million during the current quarter ended March 31, 2012, including an $18 million decrease in brokered deposits.  Brokered deposits are generally more price sensitive than retail deposits and our use of those deposits varies significantly based upon our liquidity management strategies at any point in time.  At March 31, 2012, certificates of deposit amounted to $1.197 billion, or 35% of our total deposits, including $919 million which were scheduled to mature within one year.  While no assurance can be given as to future periods, historically, we have been able to retain a significant amount of our deposits as they mature, although beginning in 2010 and continuing through the current quarter, we intentionally allowed certificates of deposit to decline, reflecting our ongoing efforts to shift the portfolio mix into lower cost core deposits.

We must maintain an adequate level of liquidity to ensure the availability of sufficient funds to accommodate deposit withdrawals, to support loan growth, to satisfy financial commitments and to take advantage of investment opportunities.  During the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we used our sources of funds primarily to fund loan commitments, purchase securities and fund deposit withdrawals.  At March 31, 2012, we had outstanding loan commitments totaling $854 million, including undisbursed loans in process and unused credit lines totaling $787 million.

We generally maintain sufficient cash and readily marketable securities to meet short-term liquidity needs; however, our primary liquidity management practice to supplement deposits is to increase or decrease short-term borrowings, including FHLB advances and Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (FRBSF) borrowings.  We maintain credit facilities with the FHLB-Seattle, which at March 31, 2012 provide for advances that in the aggregate may equal the lesser of 35% of Banner Bank’s assets or adjusted qualifying collateral (subject to a sufficient level of ownership of FHLB stock), up to a total possible credit line of $840 million, and 25% of Islanders Bank’s assets or adjusted qualifying collateral, up to a total possible credit line of $23 million.  Advances under these credit facilities (excluding fair value adjustments) totaled $10 million, or less than 1% of our assets at March 31, 2012.  In addition, Banner Bank has been approved for participation in the FRBSF’s Borrower-In-Custody (BIC) program.  Under this program we can borrow up to 65% of eligible loans not already pledged for other borrowings.  We currently estimate the BIC program would provide additional borrowing capacity of $579 million as of March 31, 2012.  We had no funds borrowed from the FRBSF at March 31, 2012 or December 31, 2011.  Management believes it has adequate resources and funding potential to meet our foreseeable liquidity requirements.

As noted below, Banner Corporation and its subsidiary banks continued to maintain capital levels significantly in excess of the requirements to be categorized as “Well-Capitalized” under applicable regulatory standards.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, total equity increased $17 million, or 3%, to $549 million.  Total equity at March 31, 2012 included $121 million attributable to preferred stock and $428 million to common stock.  At March 31, 2012, tangible common stockholders’ equity, which excludes the preferred stock and other intangible assets, was $422 million, or 10.15% of tangible assets.  See the discussion and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial information in the Executive Overview section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation in this Form 10-Q for more detailed information with respect to tangible common stockholders’ equity.  Also, see the discussion and table below with respect to our regulatory capital positions.
 
 
56

 

Capital Requirements

Banner Corporation is a bank holding company registered with the Federal Reserve.  Bank holding companies are subject to capital adequacy requirements of the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended and the regulations of the Federal Reserve.  Banner Bank and Islanders Bank, as state-chartered, federally insured commercial banks, are subject to the capital requirements established by the FDIC.

The capital adequacy requirements are quantitative measures established by regulation that require Banner Corporation and the Banks to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of capital.  The Federal Reserve requires Banner Corporation to maintain capital adequacy that generally parallels the FDIC requirements.  The FDIC requires the Banks to maintain minimum ratios of Tier 1 total capital to risk-weighted assets as well as Tier 1 leverage capital to average assets.  At March 31, 2012, Banner Corporation and the Banks each exceeded all current regulatory capital requirements. (See Item 1, “Business–Regulation,” and Note 18 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Form 10-K for additional information regarding regulatory capital requirements for Banner and the Banks.)

The actual regulatory capital ratios calculated for Banner Corporation, Banner Bank and Islanders Bank as of March 31, 2012, along with the minimum capital amounts and ratios, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 
Actual
 
Minimum for Capital
Adequacy Purposes
 
Minimum to be Categorized as
“Well-Capitalized” Under
Prompt Corrective Action
Provisions
 
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
                               
Banner Corporation—consolidated
                               
Total capital to risk-weighted assets
$
630,107
 
18.98
%
$
265,573
 
8.00
%
         
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
 
588,117
 
17.72
   
132,787
 
4.00
           
Tier 1 leverage capital to average assets
 
588,117
 
14.00
   
168,018
 
4.00
           
                               
Banner Bank
                               
Total capital to risk-weighted assets
 
519,867
 
16.47
   
252,445
 
8.00
 
$
315,556
 
10.00
%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
 
479,938
 
15.21
   
126,223
 
4.00
   
189,334
 
6.00
 
Tier 1 leverage capital to average assets
 
479,938
 
12.10
   
158,658
 
4.00
   
198,323
 
5.00
 
                               
Islanders Bank
                               
Total capital to risk-weighted assets
 
30,967
 
16.44
   
15,066
 
8.00
   
18,832
 
10.00
 
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
 
28,607
 
15.19
   
7,533
 
4.00
   
11,299
 
6.00
 
Tier 1 leverage capital to average assets
 
28,607
 
12.48
   
9,172
 
4.00
   
11,465
 
5.00
 

 
57

 
ITEM 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market Risk and Asset/Liability Management

Our financial condition and operations are influenced significantly by general economic conditions, including the absolute level of interest rates as well as changes in interest rates and the slope of the yield curve.  Our profitability is dependent to a large extent on our net interest income, which is the difference between the interest received from our interest-earning assets and the interest expense incurred on our interest-bearing liabilities.

Our activities, like all financial institutions, inherently involve the assumption of interest rate risk.  Interest rate risk is the risk that changes in market interest rates will have an adverse impact on the institution’s earnings and underlying economic value.  Interest rate risk is determined by the maturity and repricing characteristics of an institution’s assets, liabilities and off-balance-sheet contracts.  Interest rate risk is measured by the variability of financial performance and economic value resulting from changes in interest rates.  Interest rate risk is the primary market risk affecting our financial performance.

The greatest source of interest rate risk to us results from the mismatch of maturities or repricing intervals for rate sensitive assets, liabilities and off-balance-sheet contracts.  This mismatch or gap is generally characterized by a substantially shorter maturity structure for interest-bearing liabilities than interest-earning assets, although our floating-rate assets tend to be more immediately responsive to changes in market rates than most funding deposit liabilities.  Additional interest rate risk results from mismatched repricing indices and formulae (basis risk and yield curve risk), and product caps and floors and early repayment or withdrawal provisions (option risk), which may be contractual or market driven, that are generally more favorable to customers than to us.  An exception to this generalization is the beneficial effect of interest rate floors on a portion of our floating-rate loans, which help us maintain higher loan yields in periods when market interest rates decline significantly.  However, in a declining interest rate environment, as loans with floors are repaid they generally are replaced with new loans which have lower interest rate floors.  Further, many of the floating-rate loans with interest rate floors are in portions of the portfolio currently experiencing higher levels of delinquencies, which tends to mitigate the beneficial effect of the floors.  As of March 31, 2012, our loans with interest rate floors totaled approximately $1.5 billion and had a weighted average floor rate of 5.42%.

The principal objectives of asset/liability management are:  to evaluate the interest rate risk exposure; to determine the level of risk appropriate given our operating environment, business plan strategies, performance objectives, capital and liquidity constraints, and asset and liability allocation alternatives; and to manage our interest rate risk consistent with regulatory guidelines and policies approved by the Board of Directors.  Through such management, we seek to reduce the vulnerability of our earnings and capital position to changes in the level of interest rates.  Our actions in this regard are taken under the guidance of the Asset/Liability Management Committee, which is comprised of members of our senior management.  The Committee closely monitors our interest sensitivity exposure, asset and liability allocation decisions, liquidity and capital positions, and local and national economic conditions and attempts to structure the loan and investment portfolios and funding sources to maximize earnings within acceptable risk tolerances.

Sensitivity Analysis

Our primary monitoring tool for assessing interest rate risk is asset/liability simulation modeling, which is designed to capture the dynamics of balance sheet, interest rate and spread movements and to quantify variations in net interest income resulting from those movements under different rate environments.  The sensitivity of net interest income to changes in the modeled interest rate environments provides a measurement of interest rate risk.  We also utilize economic value analysis, which addresses changes in estimated net economic value of equity arising from changes in the level of interest rates.  The net economic value of equity is estimated by separately valuing our assets and liabilities under varying interest rate environments.  The extent to which assets gain or lose value in relation to the gains or losses of liability values under the various interest rate assumptions determines the sensitivity of net economic value to changes in interest rates and provides an additional measure of interest rate risk.

The interest rate sensitivity analysis performed by us incorporates beginning-of-the-period rate, balance and maturity data, using various levels of aggregation of that data, as well as certain assumptions concerning the maturity, repricing, amortization and prepayment characteristics of loans and other interest-earning assets and the repricing and withdrawal of deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities into an asset/liability computer simulation model.  We update and prepare simulation modeling at least quarterly for review by senior management and the directors. We believe the data and assumptions are realistic representations of our portfolio and possible outcomes under the various interest rate scenarios.  Nonetheless, the interest rate sensitivity of our net interest income and net economic value of equity could vary substantially if different assumptions were used or if actual experience differs from the assumptions used.

 
58

 
The following table sets forth as of March 31, 2012, the estimated changes in our net interest income over a one-year time horizon and the estimated changes in economic value of equity based on the indicated interest rate environments (dollars in thousands):

Interest Rate Risk Indicators

     
Estimated Change in
 
Change (in Basis Points) in Interest Rates (1)
   
Net Interest Income
Next 12 Months
 
Net Economic Value
 
         
  +400    
$
217
 
0.1
%
$
(136,107
)
(21.6
)%
  +300      
714
 
0.4
   
(101,676
)
(16.2
)
  +200      
1,348
 
0.8
   
(63,972
)
(10.2
)
  +100      
1,226
 
0.8
   
(26,480
)
(4.2
)
  0      
--
 
--
   
--
 
--
 
  -25      
231
 
0.1
   
8,199
 
1.3
 
  -50      
(469
)
(0.3
)
 
8,948
 
1.4
 

(1)Assumes an instantaneous and sustained uniform change in market interest rates at all maturities; however, no rates are allowed to go below zero.  The current federal funds rate is 0.25%.
 

Another (although less reliable) monitoring tool for assessing interest rate risk is gap analysis.  The matching of the repricing characteristics of assets and liabilities may be analyzed by examining the extent to which assets and liabilities are interest sensitive and by monitoring an institution’s interest sensitivity gap.  An asset or liability is said to be interest sensitive within a specific time period if it will mature or reprice within that time period.  The interest rate sensitivity gap is defined as the difference between the amount of interest-earning assets anticipated, based upon certain assumptions, to mature or reprice within a specific time period and the amount of interest-bearing liabilities anticipated to mature or reprice, based upon certain assumptions, within that same time period.  A gap is considered positive when the amount of interest-sensitive assets exceeds the amount of interest-sensitive liabilities.  A gap is considered negative when the amount of interest-sensitive liabilities exceeds the amount of interest-sensitive assets.  Generally, during a period of rising rates, a negative gap would tend to adversely affect net interest income while a positive gap would tend to result in an increase in net interest income.  During a period of falling interest rates, a negative gap would tend to result in an increase in net interest income while a positive gap would tend to adversely affect net interest income.

Certain shortcomings are inherent in gap analysis.  For example, although certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or periods of repricing, they may react in different degrees to changes in market rates.  Also, the interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in market rates, while interest rates on other types may lag behind changes in market rates.  Additionally, certain assets, such as ARM loans, have features that restrict changes in interest rates on a short-term basis and over the life of the asset.  Further, in the event of a change in interest rates, prepayment and early withdrawal levels would likely deviate significantly from those assumed in calculating the table.  Finally, the ability of some borrowers to service their debt may decrease in the event of a severe change in market rates.

The following table presents our interest sensitivity gap between interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities at March 31, 2012 (dollars in thousands).  The table sets forth the amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities which are anticipated by us, based upon certain assumptions, to reprice or mature in each of the future periods shown.  At March 31, 2012, total interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within one year exceeded total interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing in the same time period by $396.4 million, representing a one-year cumulative gap to total assets ratio of 9.53%.  Management is aware of the sources of interest rate risk and in its opinion actively monitors and manages it to the extent possible.  The interest rate risk indicators and interest sensitivity gaps as of March 31, 2012 are within our internal policy guidelines and management considers that our current level of interest rate risk is reasonable.

 
59

 

   
Within
6 Months
 
After 6 Months
Within 1 Year
 
After 1 Year
Within 3 Years
   
After 3 Years
Within 5 Years
 
After 5 Years
Within 10 Years
 
Over
10 Years
 
Total
 
Interest-earning assets: (1)
                         
Construction loans
  $ 170,346   $ 8,992   $ 24,511   $ 2,528   $ 1,337   $ 35   $ 207,749  
Fixed-rate mortgage loans
    153,038     94,353     287,445     145,741     157,851     63,359     901,787  
Adjustable-rate mortgage loans
    398,501     148,640     372,497     199,537     4,275     --     1,123,450  
Fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities
    18,244     15,742     46,776     27,368     22,525     2,733     133,388  
Adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities
1,344     516     4,319     --     --     --     6,179  
Fixed-rate commercial/agricultural loans
82,331     37,492     75,360     23,320     509     --     219,012  
Adjustable-rate commercial/agricultural loans
432,756     16,297     67,861     12,180     739     --     529,833  
Consumer and other loans
    163,125     14,783     37,037     18,959     18,860     1,304     254,068  
Investment securities and interest-earning
   deposits
  326,821     108,893     47,581     20,448     38,660     64,058     606,461  
                                             
Total rate sensitive assets
    1,746,506     445,708     963,387     450,081     244,756     131,489     3,981,927  
                                             
Interest-bearing liabilities: (2)
                                           
Regular savings and NOW accounts
    174,337     153,208     357,485     357,485     --     --     1,042,515  
Money market deposit accounts
    207,258     124,355     82,903     --     --     --     414,516  
Certificates of deposit
    552,762     358,913     217,181     65,098     3,356     18     1,197,328  
FHLB advances
    --     10,000     --     --     --     --     10,000  
Other borrowings
    --     --     --     --     --     --     --  
Junior subordinated debentures
    123,716     --     --     --     --     --     123,716  
Retail repurchase agreements
    91,253     --     --     --     --     --     91,253  
                                             
Total rate sensitive liabilities
    1,149,326     646,476     657,569     422,583     3,356     18     2,879,328  
                                             
Excess (deficiency) of interest-sensitive assets over
   interest-sensitive liabilities
$ 597,180   $ (200,768 ) $ 305,818   $ 27,498   $ 241,400   $ 131,471   $ 1,102,599  
                                             
Cumulative excess (deficiency) of interest-
   sensitive assets
$ 597,180   $ 396,412   $ 702,230   $ 729,728   $ 971,128   $ 1,102,599   $ 1,102,599  
                                             
Cumulative ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-
   bearing liabilities
151.96 %   122.07 %   128.62 %   125.37 %   133.73 %   138.29 %   138.29
                                             
Interest sensitivity gap to total assets
    14.35 %   (4.83 )%   7.35 %   .66 %   5.80 %   3.16 %   26.50
                                             
Ratio of cumulative gap to total assets
    14.35 %   9.53 %   16.88 %   17.54 %   23.34 %   26.50 %   26.50
(Footnotes on following page)
 
 
60

 
Footnotes for Table of Interest Sensitivity Gap

(1)  
Adjustable-rate assets are included in the period in which interest rates are next scheduled to adjust rather than in the period in which they are due to mature, and fixed-rate assets are included in the period in which they are scheduled to be repaid based upon scheduled amortization, in each case adjusted to take into account estimated prepayments.  Mortgage loans and other loans are not reduced for allowances for loan losses and non-performing loans.  Mortgage loans, mortgage-backed securities, other loans and investment securities are not adjusted for deferred fees, unamortized acquisition premiums and discounts.
 

(2)  
Adjustable-rate liabilities are included in the period in which interest rates are next scheduled to adjust rather than in the period they are due to mature.  Although regular savings, demand, NOW, and money market deposit accounts are subject to immediate withdrawal, based on historical experience management considers a substantial amount of such accounts to be core deposits having significantly longer maturities.  For the purpose of the gap analysis, these accounts have been assigned decay rates to reflect their longer effective maturities.  If all of these accounts had been assumed to be short-term, the one-year cumulative gap of interest-sensitive assets would have been $(401) million, or (9.65%) of total assets at March 31, 2012.  Interest-bearing liabilities for this table exclude certain non-interest-bearing deposits which are included in the average balance calculations in the table contained in Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Comparison of Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011” of this report on Form 10-Q.
 

 
61

 

ITEM 4 – Controls and Procedures

The management of Banner Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act).  A control procedure, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that its objectives are met.  Also, because of the inherent limitations in all control procedures, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.  Additionally, in designing disclosure controls and procedures, our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible disclosure controls and procedures.  The design of any disclosure controls and procedures also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.  As a result of these inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Further, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

(a)   
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures:  An evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and several other members of our senior management as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based on their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2012, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) accumulated and communicated to our management (including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer) in a timely manner, and (ii) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
 

  (b)
Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting:  In the quarter ended March 31, 2012, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 
62

 


PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.             Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, we have various legal proceedings and other contingent matters outstanding.  These proceedings and the associated legal claims are often contested and the outcome of individual matters is not always predictable.  These claims and counter claims typically arise during the course of collection efforts on problem loans or with respect to actions to enforce liens on properties in which we hold a security interest.  We are not a party to any pending legal proceedings that management believes would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or operations.

Item 1A.          Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in the risk factors previously disclosed in Part 1, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (File No. 0-26584) or otherwise previously disclosed in our Form 10-Q reports filed subsequently.

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

During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, we did not sell any securities that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933.

We did not have any repurchases of our common stock from January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012.

Item 3.             Defaults upon Senior Securities

Not Applicable.

Item 4.             Mine Safety Disclosures
 
Not Applicable.

Item 5.             Other Information

Not Applicable.
 
 
63

 
 
Item 6.             Exhibits

Exhibit
Index of Exhibits
   
3{a}
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Registrant [incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 28, 2010 (File No. 000-26584)].
     
3{b}
Certificate of designation relating to the Company’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock Series A [incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 24, 2008 (File No. 000-26584)].
   
3{c}
Bylaws of Registrant [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 1, 2011 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
4{a}
Warrant to purchase shares of Company’s common stock dated November 21, 2008 [incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 24, 2008 (File No. 000-26584)].
   
4{b}
Letter Agreement (including Securities Purchase Agreement Standard Terms attached as Exhibit A) dated November 21, 2008 between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury [incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 24, 2008 (File No. 000-26584)].
   
10{a}
Executive Salary Continuation Agreement with Gary L. Sirmon [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1996 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{b}
Employment Agreement with Michael K. Larsen [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1996 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{c}
Amended Employment Agreement with Mark J. Grescovich [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 28, 2012 (File No. 000-265840].
   
10{d}
Executive Salary Continuation Agreement with Michael K. Larsen [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1996 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{e}
1996 Stock Option Plan [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated August 26, 1996 (File No. 333-10819)].
   
10{f}
1996 Management Recognition and Development Plan [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated August 26, 1996 (File No. 333-10819)].
   
10{g}
Consultant Agreement with Jesse G. Foster, dated as of December 19, 2003. [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 0-23584)].
   
10{h}
Supplemental Retirement Plan as Amended with Jesse G. Foster [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1997 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{i}
Employment Agreement with Lloyd W. Baker [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{j}
Employment Agreement with D. Michael Jones [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{k}
Supplemental Executive Retirement Program Agreement with D. Michael Jones [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{l}
Form of Supplemental Executive Retirement Program Agreement with Gary Sirmon, Michael K. Larsen, Lloyd W. Baker, Cynthia D. Purcell, Richard B. Barton and Paul E. Folz [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and the exhibits filed with the Form 8-K on May 6, 2008].
   
10{m}
1998 Stock Option Plan [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated February 2, 1999 (File No. 333-71625)].
   
10{n}
2001 Stock Option Plan [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated August 8, 2001 (File No. 333-67168)].
   
10{o}
Form of Employment Contract entered into with Cynthia D. Purcell, Richard B. Barton, Paul E. Folz and Douglas M. Bennett [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{p}
2004 Executive Officer and Director Stock Account Deferred Compensation Plan [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{q}
2004 Executive Officer and Director Investment Account Deferred Compensation Plan [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{r}
Long-Term Incentive Plan [incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Form 8-K on May 6, 2008].
   
10{s}
Form of Compensation Modification Agreement [incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 24, 2008 (File No. 000-26584)].
   
10{t}
2005 Executive Officer and Director Stock Account Deferred Compensation Plan.
   
10{u}
Entry into an Indemnification Agreement with each of the Company’s Directors [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Form 8-K on January 29, 2010].
 
 
 
64

 
 
   
10(v)
2012 Restricted Stock Plan [incorporated by reference as Appendix B to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 21, 2012].
 
     
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
     
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
     
32
Certificate of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
     
99.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer of Banner Corporation to Chief Compliance Officer of the Troubled Asset Relief Program Pursuant to 31 CFR § 30.15.
 
     
99.2
Certification of Principal Financial Officer of Banner Corporation to Chief Compliance Officer of the Troubled Asset Relief Program Pursuant to 31 CFR § 30.15.
 
     
101
The following materials from Banner Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (a) Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition; (b) Consolidated Statements of Operations; (c) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss); (d) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity; (e) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (f) Selected Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. *
 
     
 
*Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulations S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.
 

 
65

 
SIGNATURES
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
  Banner Corporation 
 
 
 
 
May 9, 2012
/s/Mark J. Grescovich                                       
  Mark J. Grescovich 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
   
 
 
 
 
May 9, 2012
/s/ Lloyd W. Baker                                              
 
Lloyd W. Baker 
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 66