10KSB 1 d10ksb.htm FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 For Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2004
Table of Contents

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-KSB

 


 

(Mark One)

x Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

 

¨ Transition report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission file number             

 


 

WEST METRO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

(Name of small business issuer in its charter)

 


 

Georgia   58-2643181

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

68 First National Drive, Dallas, Georgia   30157
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 


 

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

 

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

 


 

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

 

Check if there is no disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of Regulation S-B is not contained in this form, and no disclosure will be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or a information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-KSB or any amendment to this Form 10-KSB.  x

 

State issuer’s revenues for its most recent fiscal year: $6,451,989

 

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the stock was sold, or the average bid and asked prices of such common equity, as of a specified date within the past 60 days: $6,456,360 based on 538,030 shares at $12.00 per share on March 7, 2005.

 

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE REGISTRANTS

 

State the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common equity, as of the latest practicable date. 1,200,000 as of March 22, 2004.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

None.

 

Transitional Small Business Disclosure format (check one):    Yes  ¨    No  x

 



Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
Number


PART I    3

ITEM 1.

   DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS    3

ITEM 2.

   DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTIES    17

ITEM 3.

   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS    17

ITEM 4.

   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS    18
PART II    18

ITEM 5.

   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND SMALL BUSINESS ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES    18

ITEM 6.

   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS    19

ITEM 7.

   CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    32

ITEM 8.

   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE    32

ITEM 8A.

   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES    32

ITEM 8B.

   OTHER INFORMATION    33
PART III    33

ITEM 9.

   DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT; COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT    33

ITEM 10.

   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION    35

ITEM 11.

   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS    39

ITEM 12.

   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS    41

ITEM 13.

   EXHIBITS    42

ITEM 14.

   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES    44

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

Various matters discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Forward-looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of West Metro Financial Services, Inc. (the “Company”) or First National Bank West Metro (“FNB West Metro” or the “Bank”) to be materially different from the results described in such forward-looking statements.

 

Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation:

 

    The inability of the Bank to achieve and maintain regulatory capital standards;

 

    Changes in the legislative and regulatory environment;

 

    The effects of changes in interest rates on the level and composition of deposits, loan demand, the value of loan collateral, and interest rate risks; and

 

    The effects of competition from commercial banks, thrifts, consumer finance companies, and other financial institutions operating in our market area and elsewhere.

 

All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or the Bank are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Both the Company and the Bank disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

West Metro Financial Services, Inc.

 

The Company is a Georgia corporation that was incorporated on May 9, 2001 to organize and serve as the holding company for FNB West Metro, a national bank. The Bank operates as a community bank emphasizing prompt, personalized customer service to the individuals and businesses located in Paulding and Douglas Counties in Georgia, including the cities of Dallas, Hiram and Douglasville.

 

The Company was organized because we believe it provides flexibility that would otherwise not be available to the Bank. For example, the holding company structure makes it easier to raise capital for the Bank because the Company is able to issue securities without the need for prior banking regulatory approval, and the proceeds of debt securities issued by the Company can be invested in the Bank as primary capital.

 

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FNB West Metro

 

General

 

The Bank operates as a full-service commercial bank. The Bank offers personal and business checking accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts and various certificates of deposit and individual retirement accounts. The Bank also offers commercial, real estate, installment and other consumer loans. The Bank’s real estate loans include commercial real estate, construction and development and residential real estate loans. In addition, the Bank provides such services as cashier’s checks, traveler’s checks, discount brokerage services, banking by mail, direct deposit and U.S. Savings Bonds. The Bank also offers MasterCard® and Visa® credit card services through a correspondent bank as an agent and offers debit cards that feature ATM access.

 

Philosophy

 

We emphasize prompt, personalized customer service. Through our localized management and ownership we believe we are uniquely situated to provide responsive service and quality financial products that are tailored to meet the needs of the individuals and small- to medium-sized businesses located throughout Paulding and Douglas Counties, as well as the western part of Cobb County. We believe that local ownership and control allows the Bank to serve its customers more efficiently, helping us to grow both our deposit base and loan portfolio. All of the Bank’s strategies are based on the philosophy of “The Customer Comes First.” We have adopted this philosophy in order to attract customers and acquire market share now controlled by other financial institutions operating in our market area.

 

We believe that it is important for Paulding County to have a locally owned and locally managed community bank that is sensitive and responsive to the needs of the community. Further, we believe that there is an opportunity for the Bank to acquire significant market share by capitalizing on its position as the only independent community bank in Paulding County and offering an alternative to the impersonal service that we believe is offered by many larger banks.

 

Market Opportunities

 

Primary Service Area. The Bank’s primary service area is Paulding and Douglas Counties in Georgia, including the cities of Dallas, Hiram and Douglasville. The Bank draws most of its customer deposits and conducts most of its lending transactions from and within its primary service area. In addition, we attract significant business from the western part of Cobb County.

 

The primary service area represents a diverse market with a growing population and economy. The attractive suburban neighborhoods of Dallas and Hiram have evolved into classic “bedroom communities” for people who work in Cobb County and the Atlanta metropolitan area. In addition, Paulding and Douglas Counties’ tremendous population growth in recent years has lead to growth in the local service economy and management expects this trend to continue.

 

The Bank competes with other commercial banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, money market mutual funds and other financial institutions conducting business in the Paulding and Douglas County markets and elsewhere. Many of the Bank’s competitors have equal or greater financial or banking related resources than the Company and the Bank. According to information provided by the FDIC, as of June 30, 2004, the Paulding and Douglas County area was served by 28 banking and savings institutions with 48 offices. These competitors offer the same or similar products and services as the Bank. Currently, the Bank’s three largest competitors in terms of market share are Regions Bank, Douglas County Bank and Citizens & Merchants STB.

 

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Lending Services

 

Lending Policy. We place a primary emphasis on real estate related loans in order to take advantage of the population growth in our primary service area. We also offer a full range of lending products, including commercial loans to small- to medium-sized businesses and professional concerns, and consumer loans to individuals. We compete for these loans with competitors who are well established in the Paulding County area and have greater resources and lending limits.

 

The Bank’s loan portfolio is comprised of the following:

 

Loan Category


   Ratio

 
Real estate related loans    91.17 %
Commercial loans    6.61 %
Consumer loans    2.22 %

 

Loan Approval and Review. The Bank’s loan approval policies provide for various levels of officer lending authority. When the amount of total loans to a single borrower exceeds that individual officer’s lending authority, an officer with a higher lending limit or the Bank’s Loan Committee determines whether to approve the loan request. The Bank does not make any loans to any of its directors or executive officers unless its board of directors, excluding the interested party, first approves the loan, and the terms of the loan are no more favorable than would be available to any comparable borrower.

 

Lending Limits. The Bank’s lending activities are subject to a variety of lending limits imposed by federal law. Differing limits apply based on the type of loan or the nature of the borrower, including the borrower’s relationship to the bank. In general, however, the Bank is able to loan any one borrower a maximum amount equal to either:

 

    15% of the Bank’s capital and surplus; or

 

    25% of its capital and surplus if the amount that exceeds 15% is fully secured by readily marketable collateral.

 

Our management team has adopted an internal lending limit which will at all times remain $25,000 lower than the applicable legal limit. However, based on either our internal lending limit or our legal lending limit, the Bank sells participations in its loans to other financial institutions in order to meet all of the lending needs of our clients requiring extensions of credit above these limits. In a participation transaction, the Bank sells the portion of the loan that exceeds its internal or legal lending limit to an unrelated lender on a non-recourse basis. As a result, the participating lender bears all of the risk of default for the portion of the loan it purchases. The Bank retains all of the servicing rights to the loan; therefore, the customer makes all payments to the Bank, who in turn remits a pro-rata share of the payments to the participating lender.

 

Credit Risks. The principal economic risk associated with each category of loans that the Bank makes is the creditworthiness of the borrower. Borrower creditworthiness is affected by general economic conditions and the strength of the relevant business market segment. General economic factors affecting a borrower’s ability to repay include interest, inflation and employment rates, as well as other factors affecting a borrower’s customers, suppliers and employees.

 

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The well-established financial institutions in the Paulding and Douglas County markets make proportionately more loans to medium- to large-sized businesses than the Bank makes. Many of the Bank’s commercial loans are made to small- to medium-sized businesses that may be less able to withstand competitive, economic and financial pressures than larger borrowers.

 

Real Estate Loans. The Bank makes commercial real estate loans, construction and development loans, and residential real estate loans. These loans include commercial loans where the Bank takes a security interest in real estate out of an abundance of caution and not as the principal collateral for the loan, but excludes home equity loans, which are classified as consumer loans.

 

• Commercial Real Estate. The Bank’s commercial real estate loan terms are generally limited to five years or less, although payments may be structured on a longer amortization basis. Interest rates may be fixed or adjustable, although rates are typically not fixed for a period exceeding 60 months. The Bank generally charges an origination fee of one percent. We attempt to reduce credit risk on our commercial real estate loans by emphasizing loans on owner-occupied office and retail buildings where the ratio of the loan principal to the value of the collateral as established by independent appraisal does not exceed 80% and net projected cash flow available for debt service equals 120% of the debt service requirement. In addition, the Bank generally requires personal guarantees from the principal owners of the property supported by a review by the Bank’s management of the principal owners’ personal financial statements. Risks associated with commercial real estate loans include fluctuations in the value of real estate, new job creation trends, tenant vacancy rates and the quality of the borrower’s management. The Bank limits its risk by analyzing borrowers’ cash flow and collateral value on an ongoing basis.

 

Construction and Development Loans. The Bank makes construction and development loans both on a pre-sold and speculative basis. If the borrower has entered into an agreement to sell the property prior to beginning construction, then the loan is considered to be on a pre-sold basis. If the borrower has not entered into an agreement to sell the property prior to beginning construction, then the loan is considered to be on a speculative basis. Construction and development loans are generally made with a term of six to twelve months and interest is paid quarterly. The ratio of the loan principal to the value of the collateral as established by independent appraisal typically does not exceed 80%. Speculative loans are based on the borrower’s financial strength and cash flow position. Loan proceeds are disbursed based on the percentage of completion and only after the project has been inspected by an experienced construction lender or independent appraiser. Risks associated with construction loans include fluctuations in the value of real estate and new job creation trends.

 

Residential Real Estate. The Bank’s residential real estate loans consist of residential second mortgage loans, residential construction loans and traditional mortgage lending for one to four family residences. We originate and maintain fixed rate mortgages with long-term maturity not exceeding 20 years and a balloon payment or call feature of three or five years. The amortization of second mortgages generally do not exceed 15 years and the rates generally are not fixed for over 60 months. All loans are made in accordance with the Bank’s appraisal policy and with the ratio of the loan principal to the value of collateral as established by independent appraisal not exceeding 95%. We expect that these loan-to-value ratios will be sufficient to compensate for fluctuations in real estate market value and to minimize losses that could result from a downturn in the residential real estate market.

 

Commercial Loans. Loans for commercial purposes in various lines of businesses are one of the primary components of the Bank’s loan portfolio. The terms of these loans vary by purpose and by type of underlying collateral, if any. The Bank typically makes equipment loans for a term of five years or less

 

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at fixed or variable rates, with the loan fully amortized over the term. Equipment loans are generally secured by the financed equipment, and the ratio of the loan principal to the value of the financed equipment or other collateral is generally 80% or less. Loans to support working capital typically have terms not exceeding one year and are usually secured by accounts receivable, inventory or personal guarantees of the principals of the business. For loans secured by accounts receivable or inventory, principal is typically repaid as the assets securing the loan are converted into cash, and for loans secured with other types of collateral, principal is typically due at maturity. The quality of the commercial borrower’s management and its ability both to properly evaluate changes in the supply and demand characteristics affecting its markets for products and services and to effectively respond to such changes are significant factors in a commercial borrower’s creditworthiness.

 

Consumer Loans. The Bank makes a variety of loans to individuals for personal, family and household purposes, including secured and unsecured installment and term loans, home equity loans and home equity lines of credit. Consumer loan repayments depend upon the borrower’s financial stability and are more likely to be adversely affected by divorce, job loss, illness and personal hardships. Because many consumer loans are secured by depreciable assets such as boats, cars and trailers the loan should be amortized over the useful life of the asset. To minimize the risk that the borrower cannot afford the monthly payments, all fixed monthly obligations should not exceed 40% of the borrower’s gross monthly income. The borrower should also be continuously employed for at least 12 months prior to obtaining the loan. The loan officer reviews the borrower’s past credit history, past income level, debt history and, when applicable, cash flow and determine the impact of all these factors on the ability of the borrower to make future payments as agreed. Our principal competitors for consumer loans are the established banks in the Bank’s market.

 

Investments

 

In addition to loans, the Bank makes other investments primarily in obligations of the United States or obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States and other taxable securities. No investment in any of those instruments exceeds any applicable limitation imposed by law or regulation. The Loan & Asset/Liability Committee reviews the investment portfolio on an ongoing basis in order to ensure that the investments conform to the Bank’s policy as set by the board of directors.

 

Asset and Liability Management

 

The Loan & Asset/Liability Committee manages the Bank’s assets and liabilities and strives to provide a stable and optimized net interest margin, adequate liquidity and a profitable after-tax return on assets and return on equity. The committee conducts these management functions within the framework of the Bank’s written loan and investment policies. The committee attempts to maintain a balanced position between rate sensitive assets and rate sensitive liabilities. Specifically, it charts assets and liabilities on a matrix by maturity, effective duration and interest adjustment period and attempt to manage any gaps in maturity ranges.

 

Deposit Services

 

The Bank seeks to establish a broad base of core deposits, including savings accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, a variety of certificates of deposit and IRA accounts. To attract deposits, the Bank employs an aggressive marketing plan in its overall service area and features a broad product line and competitive rates and services. The primary sources of deposits are residents of, and businesses and their employees located in, the Bank’s primary service area. The Bank obtains these deposits through personal solicitation by its officers and directors, direct mail solicitations and advertisements published in the local media. In order to attract its initial deposit base, the Bank offers higher interest rates on various deposit accounts.

 

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Other Banking Services

 

Other banking services include limited cash management services, on-line banking services, discount brokerage services, travelers checks, direct deposit of payroll and social security checks, courier service, night depository and debit cards. The Bank is associated with InterCept. Our clients are able to use InterCept’s automated teller machines throughout Georgia and other regions. However, other financial institutions may charge our customers for the use of their automated teller machines. We also offer MasterCard® and VISA® credit card services through a correspondent bank as an agent for the Bank. The Bank does not exercise trust powers. In the future, we may offer a full-service trust department, but cannot do so without the prior approval of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

 

Employees

 

The Bank has 32 full-time equivalent employees. The Company does not have any employees who are not also employees of the Bank.

 

Supervision and Regulation

 

Both the Company and the Bank are subject to extensive state and federal banking regulations that impose restrictions on and provide for general regulatory oversight of their operations. These laws generally are intended to protect depositors and not shareholders. The following discussion describes the material elements of the regulatory framework that applies to us.

 

West Metro Financial Services, Inc.

 

Since the Company owns all of the capital stock of the Bank, it is a bank holding company under the federal Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. As a result, the Company is primarily subject to the supervision, examination, and reporting requirements of the Bank Holding Company Act and the regulations of the Federal Reserve.

 

Acquisitions of Banks. The Bank Holding Company Act requires every bank holding company to obtain the Federal Reserve’s prior approval before:

 

    acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank if, after the acquisition, the bank holding company will directly or indirectly own or control more than 5% of the bank’s voting shares;

 

    acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of any bank; or

 

    merging or consolidating with any other bank holding company.

 

Additionally, the Bank Holding Company Act provides that the Federal Reserve may not approve any of these transactions if it would result in or tend to create a monopoly or, substantially lessen competition or otherwise function as a restraint of trade, unless the anti-competitive effects of the proposed transaction are clearly outweighed by the public interest in meeting the convenience and needs of the community to be served. The Federal Reserve is also required to consider the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the bank holding companies and banks concerned and the convenience and needs of the community to be served. The Federal Reserve’s consideration of financial resources generally focuses on capital adequacy, which is discussed below.

 

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Under the Bank Holding Company Act, if adequately capitalized and adequately managed, the Company or any other bank holding company located in Georgia may purchase a bank located outside of Georgia. Conversely, an adequately capitalized and adequately managed bank holding company located outside of Georgia may purchase a bank located inside Georgia. In each case, however, restrictions may be placed on the acquisition of a bank that has only been in existence for a limited amount of time or will result in specified concentrations of deposits. For example, Georgia law prohibits a bank holding company from acquiring control of a financial institution until the target financial institution has been incorporated for three years. As a result, no bank holding company may acquire control of the Company until after the third anniversary date of the Bank’s incorporation.

 

Change in Bank Control. Subject to various exceptions, the Bank Holding Company Act and the Change in Bank Control Act, together with related regulations, require Federal Reserve approval prior to any person or company acquiring “control” of a bank holding company. Control is conclusively presumed to exist if an individual or company acquires 25% or more of any class of voting securities of the bank holding company. Control is refutably presumed to exist if a person or company acquires 10% or more, but less than 25%, of any class of voting securities and either:

 

    the bank holding company has registered securities under Section 12 of the Securities Act of 1934; or

 

    no other person owns a greater percentage of that class of voting securities immediately after the transaction.

 

Our common stock is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The regulations provide a procedure for challenging any rebuttable presumption of control.

 

Permitted Activities. A bank holding company is generally permitted under the Bank Holding Company Act, to engage in or acquire direct or indirect control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any company engaged in the following activities:

 

    Banking or managing or controlling banks; and

 

    Any activity that the Federal Reserve determines to be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident to the business of banking.

 

Activities that the Federal Reserve has found to be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident to the business of banking include:

 

    Factoring accounts receivable;

 

    Making, acquiring, brokering or servicing loans and usual related activities;

 

    Leasing personal or real property;

 

    Operating a non-bank depository institution, such as a savings association;

 

    Trust company functions;

 

    Financial and investment advisory activities;

 

    Conducting discount securities brokerage activities;

 

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    Underwriting and dealing in government obligations and money market instruments;

 

    Providing specified management consulting and counseling activities;

 

    Performing selected data processing services and support services;

 

    Acting as agent or broker in selling credit life insurance and other types of insurance in connection with credit transactions; and

 

    Performing selected insurance underwriting activities.

 

Despite prior approval, the Federal Reserve may order a bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any of these activities or to terminate its ownership or control of any subsidiary when it has reasonable cause to believe that the bank holding company’s continued ownership, activity or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial safety, soundness, or stability of it or any of its bank subsidiaries.

 

In addition to the permissible bank holding company activities listed above, a bank holding company may qualify and elect to become a financial holding company, permitting the bank holding company to engage in additional activities that are financial in nature or incidental or complementary to financial activity. The Bank Holding Company Act expressly lists the following activities as financial in nature:

 

    Lending, trust and other banking activities;

 

    Insuring, guaranteeing, or indemnifying against loss or harm, or providing and issuing annuities, and acting as principal, agent, or broker for these purposes, in any state;

 

    Providing financial, investment, or advisory services;

 

    Issuing or selling instruments representing interests in pools of assets permissible for a bank to hold directly;

 

    Underwriting, dealing in or making a market in securities;

 

    Other activities that the Federal Reserve may determine to be so closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident to managing or controlling banks;

 

    Foreign activities permitted outside of the United States if the Federal Reserve has determined them to be usual in connection with banking operations abroad;

 

    Merchant banking through securities or insurance affiliates; and

 

    Insurance company portfolio investments.

 

To qualify to become a financial holding company, the Bank and any other depository institution subsidiary of the Company must be well capitalized and well managed and must have a Community Reinvestment Act rating of at least “satisfactory.” Additionally, the Company must file an election with the Federal Reserve to become a financial holding company and must provide the Federal Reserve with 30 days’ written notice prior to engaging in a permitted financial activity. While the Company meets the qualification standards applicable to financial holding companies, the Company has not elected to become a financial holding company at this time.

 

Support of Subsidiary Institutions. Under Federal Reserve policy, the Company is expected to act as a source of financial strength for the Bank and to commit resources to support the Bank. This support may be required at times when, without this Federal Reserve policy, the Company might not be inclined to provide it. In addition, any capital loans made by the Company to the Bank will be repaid

 

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only after its deposits and various other obligations are repaid in full. In the unlikely event of the Company’s bankruptcy, any commitment by it to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of the Bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to a priority of payment.

 

First National Bank West Metro

 

Since the Bank is chartered as a national bank, it is primarily subject to the supervision, examination and reporting requirements of the National Bank Act and the regulations of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency regularly examines the Bank’s operations and has the authority to approve or disapprove mergers, the establishment of branches and similar corporate actions. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency also has the power to prevent the continuance or development of unsafe or unsound banking practices or other violations of law. Additionally, the Bank’s deposits are insured by the FDIC to the maximum extent provided by law. The Bank is also subject to numerous state and federal statutes and regulations that affect its business, activities and operations.

 

Branching. National banks are required by the National Bank Act to adhere to branching laws applicable to state banks in the states in which they are located. Under current Georgia law, the Bank may open branch offices throughout Georgia with the prior approval of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. In addition, with prior regulatory approval, the Bank may acquire branches of existing banks located in Georgia. The Bank and any other national or state-chartered bank generally may branch across state lines by merging with banks in other states if allowed by the applicable states’ laws. Georgia law, with limited exceptions, currently permits branching across state lines through interstate mergers.

 

Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, states may “opt-in” and allow out-of-state banks to branch into their state by establishing a new start-up branch in the state. Currently, Georgia has not opted-in to this provision. Therefore, interstate merger is the only method through which a bank located outside of Georgia may branch into Georgia. This provides a limited barrier of entry into the Georgia banking market, which protects us from an important segment of potential competition. However, because Georgia has elected not to opt-in, our ability to establish a new start-up branch in another state may be limited. Many states that have elected to opt-in have done so on a reciprocal basis, meaning that an out-of-state bank may establish a new start-up branch only if their home state has also elected to opt-in. Consequently, until Georgia changes its election, the only way we will be able to branch into states that have elected to opt-in on a reciprocal basis will be through interstate merger.

 

Prompt Corrective Action. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 establishes a system of prompt corrective action to resolve the problems of undercapitalized financial institutions. Under this system, the federal banking regulators have established five capital categories (well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized) in which all institutions are placed. Federal banking regulators are required to take various mandatory supervisory actions and are authorized to take other discretionary actions with respect to institutions in the three undercapitalized categories. The severity of the action depends upon the capital category in which the institution is placed. Generally, subject to a narrow exception, the banking regulator must appoint a receiver or conservator for an institution that is critically undercapitalized. The federal banking agencies have specified by regulation the relevant capital level for each category.

 

An institution that is categorized as undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, or critically undercapitalized is required to submit an acceptable capital restoration plan to its appropriate federal banking agency. A bank holding company must guarantee that a subsidiary depository institution meets its capital restoration plan, subject to various limitations. The controlling holding company’s obligation

 

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to fund a capital restoration plan is limited to the lesser of 5% of an undercapitalized subsidiary’s assets at the time it became undercapitalized or the amount required to meet regulatory capital requirements. An undercapitalized institution is also generally prohibited from increasing its average total assets, making acquisitions, establishing any branches or engaging in any new line of business, except under an accepted capital restoration plan or with FDIC approval. The regulations also establish procedures for downgrading an institution to a lower capital category based on supervisory factors other than capital.

 

FDIC Insurance Assessments. The FDIC has adopted a risk-based assessment system for insured depository institutions that takes into account the risks attributable to different categories and concentrations of assets and liabilities. The system assigns an institution to one of three capital categories: (1) well capitalized; (2) adequately capitalized; and (3) undercapitalized. These three categories are substantially similar to the prompt corrective action categories described above, with the “undercapitalized” category including institutions that are undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized for prompt corrective action purposes. The FDIC also assigns an institution to one of three supervisory subgroups based on a supervisory evaluation that the institution’s primary federal regulator provides to the FDIC and information that the FDIC determines to be relevant to the institution’s financial condition and the risk posed to the deposit insurance funds. Assessments range from 0 to 27 cents per $100 of deposits, depending on the institution’s capital group and supervisory subgroup. In addition, the FDIC imposes assessments to help pay off the $780 million in annual interest payments on the $8 billion Financing Corporation bonds issued in the late 1980s as part of the government rescue of the thrift industry. This assessment rate is adjusted quarterly and is set at 1.54 cents per $100 of deposits for the first quarter of 2004.

 

The FDIC may terminate its insurance of deposits if it finds that the institution has engaged in unsafe and unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order, or condition imposed by the FDIC.

 

Community Reinvestment Act. The Community Reinvestment Act requires that, in connection with examinations of financial institutions within their respective jurisdictions, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, or the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, shall evaluate the record of each financial institution in meeting the credit needs of its local community, including low and moderate-income neighborhoods. These facts are also considered in evaluating mergers, acquisitions, and applications to open a branch or facility. Failure to adequately meet these criteria could impose additional requirements and limitations on the Bank. Since our aggregate assets are not more than $250 million, under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, we are generally subject to a Community Reinvestment Act examination only once every 60 months if we receive an “outstanding” rating, once every 48 months if we receive a “satisfactory” rating and as needed if our rating is “less than satisfactory.” Additionally, we must publicly disclose the terms of various Community Reinvestment Act-related agreements.

 

Other Regulations. Interest and other charges collected or contracted for by the Bank are subject to state usury laws and federal laws concerning interest rates. For example, under the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940, a lender is generally prohibited from charging an annual interest rate in excess of 6% on any obligation for which the borrower is a person on active duty with the United States military.

 

The Bank’s loan operations are also subject to federal laws applicable to credit transactions, such as the:

 

    federal Truth-In-Lending Act, governing disclosures of credit terms to consumer borrowers;

 

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    Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975, requiring financial institutions to provide information to enable the public and public officials to determine whether a financial institution is fulfilling its obligation to help meet the housing needs of the community it serves;

 

    Equal Credit Opportunity Act, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, creed or other prohibited factors in extending credit;

 

    Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1978, governing the use and provision of information to credit reporting agencies;

 

    Fair Debt Collection Act, governing the manner in which consumer debts may be collected by collection agencies;

 

    Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940, governing the repayment terms of, and property rights underlying, secured obligations of persons in military service; and

 

    the rules and regulations of the various federal agencies charged with the responsibility of implementing these federal laws.

 

In addition to the federal and state laws noted above, the Georgia Fair Lending Act (“GAFLA”) imposes restrictions and procedural requirements on most mortgage loans made in Georgia, including home equity loans and lines of credit. On August 5, 2003, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued a formal opinion stating that the entirety of GAFLA is preempted by federal law for national banks and their operating subsidiaries. As a result, the Bank is exempt from the requirements of GAFLA.

 

The deposit operations of the Bank are subject to:

 

    The Right to Financial Privacy Act, which imposes a duty to maintain confidentiality of consumer financial records and prescribes procedures for complying with administrative subpoenas of financial records; and

 

    The Electronic Funds Transfer Act and Regulation E issued by the Federal Reserve to implement that act, which govern automatic deposits to and withdrawals from deposit accounts and customers’ rights and liabilities arising from the use of automated teller machines and other electronic banking services.

 

Capital Adequacy

 

The Company and the Bank are required to comply with the capital adequacy standards established by the Federal Reserve, in the case of the Company, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, in the case of the Bank. The Federal Reserve has established a risk-based and a leverage measure of capital adequacy for bank holding companies. Since the Company’s consolidated total assets are less than $150 million, under the Federal Reserve’s capital guidelines, our capital adequacy is measured on a bank-only basis, as opposed to a consolidated basis. The Bank is also subject to risk-based and leverage capital requirements adopted by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which are substantially similar to those adopted by the Federal Reserve for bank holding companies.

 

The risk-based capital standards are designed to make regulatory capital requirements more sensitive to differences in risk profiles among banks and bank holding companies, to account for off-balance-sheet exposure, and to minimize disincentives for holding liquid assets. Assets and off-balance-sheet items, such as letters of credit and unfunded loan commitments, are assigned to broad risk categories, each with appropriate risk weights. The resulting capital ratios represent capital as a percentage of total risk-weighted assets and off-balance-sheet items.

 

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The minimum guideline for the ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets is 8%. Total capital consists of two components, Tier 1 Capital and Tier 2 Capital. Tier 1 Capital generally consists of common stock, minority interests in the equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries, noncumulative perpetual preferred stock, and a limited amount of qualifying cumulative perpetual preferred stock, less goodwill and other specified intangible assets. Tier 1 Capital must equal at least 4% of risk-weighted assets. Tier 2 Capital generally consists of subordinated debt, other preferred stock, and a limited amount of loan loss reserves. The total amount of Tier 2 Capital is limited to 100% of Tier 1 Capital. At December 31, 2004 our ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets was 11.61% and our ratio of Tier 1 Capital to risk-weighted assets was 10.36%.

 

In addition, the Federal Reserve has established minimum leverage ratio guidelines for bank holding companies. These guidelines provide for a minimum ratio of Tier 1 Capital to average assets, less goodwill and other specified intangible assets, of 3% for bank holding companies that meet specified criteria, including having the highest regulatory rating and implementing the Federal Reserve’s risk-based capital measure for market risk. All other bank holding companies generally are required to maintain a leverage ratio of at least 4%. At December 31, 2004, our leverage ratio was 9.99%. The guidelines also provide that bank holding companies experiencing internal growth or making acquisitions will be expected to maintain strong capital positions substantially above the minimum supervisory levels without reliance on intangible assets. The Federal Reserve considers the leverage ratio and other indicators of capital strength in evaluating proposals for expansion or new activities.

 

Failure to meet capital guidelines could subject a bank or bank holding company to a variety of enforcement remedies, including issuance of a capital directive, the termination of deposit insurance by the FDIC, a prohibition on accepting brokered deposits, and certain other restrictions on its business. As described above, significant additional restrictions can be imposed on FDIC-insured depository institutions that fail to meet applicable capital requirements. See “—First National Bank West Metro—Prompt Corrective Action.”

 

Payment of Dividends

 

The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank. The principal sources of the Company’s cash flow, including cash flow to pay dividends to its shareholders, are dividends that the Bank pays to its sole shareholder, the Company. Statutory and regulatory limitations apply to the Bank’s payment of dividends to the Company as well as to the Company’s payment of dividends to its shareholders.

 

The Bank is required by federal law to obtain prior approval of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for payments of dividends if the total of all dividends declared by our board of directors in any year will exceed (1) the total of the Bank’s net profits for that year, plus (2) the Bank’s retained net profits of the preceding two years, less any required transfers to surplus.

 

The payment of dividends by the Company and the Bank may also be affected by other factors, such as the requirement to maintain adequate capital above regulatory guidelines. If, in the opinion of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Bank were engaged in or about to engage in an unsafe or unsound practice, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency could require, after notice and a hearing, that the Bank stop or refrain engaging in the practice. The federal banking agencies have indicated that paying dividends that deplete a depository institution’s capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe and unsound banking practice. Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement

 

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Act of 1991, a depository institution may not pay any dividend if payment would cause it to become undercapitalized or if it already is undercapitalized. Moreover, the federal agencies have issued policy statements that provide that bank holding companies and insured banks should generally only pay dividends out of current operating earnings. See “— First National Bank West Metro—Prompt Corrective Action” above.

 

Restrictions on Transactions with Affiliates

 

The Company and the Bank are subject to the provisions of Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act. Section 23A places limits on the amount of:

 

    a bank’s loans or extensions of credit to affiliates;

 

    a bank’s investment in affiliates;

 

    assets a bank may purchase from affiliates, except for real and personal property exempted by the Federal Reserve;

 

    loans or extensions of credit to third parties collateralized by the securities or obligations of affiliates; and

 

    a bank’s guarantee, acceptance or letter of credit issued on behalf of an affiliate.

 

The total amount of the above transactions is limited in amount, as to any one affiliate, to 10% of a bank’s capital and surplus and, as to all affiliates combined, to 20% of a bank’s capital and surplus. In addition to the limitation on the amount of these transactions, each of the above transactions must also meet specified collateral requirements. The Bank must also comply with other provisions designed to avoid the taking of low-quality assets.

 

The Company and the Bank are also subject to the provisions of Section 23B of the Federal Reserve Act which, among other things, prohibit an institution from engaging in the above transactions with affiliates unless the transactions are on terms substantially the same, or at least as favorable to the institution or its subsidiaries, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with nonaffiliated companies.

 

The Bank is also subject to restrictions on extensions of credit to its executive officers, directors, principal shareholders and their related interests. These extensions of credit (1) must be made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with third parties, and (2) must not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features.

 

Privacy

 

Financial institutions are required to disclose their policies for collecting and protecting confidential information. Customers generally may prevent financial institutions from sharing nonpublic personal financial information with nonaffiliated third parties except under narrow circumstances, such as the processing of transactions requested by the consumer or when the financial institution is jointly sponsoring a product or service with a nonaffiliated third party. Additionally, financial institutions generally may not disclose consumer account numbers to any nonaffiliated third party for use in telemarketing, direct mail marketing or other marketing to consumers.

 

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Consumer Credit Reporting

 

On December 4, 2003, the President signed the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (the FAIR Act), amending the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (the FCRA). These amendments to the FCRA (the FCRA Amendments) will become effective as early as February 2004, but more likely in the third or fourth quarter of 2004, depending on implementing regulations to be issued by the Federal Trade Commission and the federal bank regulatory agencies.

 

The FCRA Amendments include, among other things:

 

    new requirements for financial institutions to develop policies and procedures to identify potential identity theft and, upon the request of a consumer, place a fraud alert in the consumer’s credit file stating that the consumer may be the victim of identity theft or other fraud;

 

    for entities that furnish information to consumer reporting agencies (which would include the Bank [and certain of its affiliates], new requirements to implement procedures and policies regarding the accuracy and integrity of the furnished information, and regarding the correction of previously furnished information that is later determined to be inaccurate; and

 

    a new requirement for mortgage lenders to disclose credit scores to consumers.

 

Prior to the effective date of the FCRA Amendments, the Company and its affected subsidiaries will implement policies and procedures to comply with the new rules.

 

The FCRA Amendments also will prohibit a business that receives consumer information from an affiliate from using that information for marketing purposes unless the consumer is first provided a notice and an opportunity to direct the business not to use the information for such marketing purposes (the “opt-out”), subject to certain exceptions. The Company and its subsidiaries also will implement procedures to comply with these new rules prior to the effective date of the rules. We do not plan to share consumer information among our affiliated companies for marketing purposes, except as may be allowed under exceptions to the notice and opt-out requirements. Because no affiliate of the Company is currently sharing consumer information with any other affiliate of the Company for marketing purposes, the new limitations on sharing of information for marketing purposes will not have a significant impact on the Company.

 

Anti-Terrorism Legislation

 

The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001, signed by the President on October 26, 2001, imposed new requirements and limitations on specified financial transactions and account relationships, intended to guard against money laundering and terrorism. Most of these requirements and limitations took effect in 2002. Additional “know your customer” rules became effective in June 2003, requiring the Bank to establish a customer identification program under Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act. The Company and its subsidiaries implemented procedures and policies to comply with those rules prior to the effective date of each of the rules.

 

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Proposed Legislation and Regulatory Action

 

New regulations and statutes are regularly proposed that contain wide-ranging proposals for altering the structures, regulations and competitive relationships of financial institutions operating and doing business in the United States. We cannot predict whether or in what form any proposed regulation or statute will be adopted or the extent to which our business may be affected by any new regulation or statute.

 

Effect of Governmental Monetary Polices

 

Our earnings are affected by domestic economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government and its agencies. The Federal Reserve Bank’s monetary policies have had, and are likely to continue to have, an important impact on the operating results of commercial banks through its power to implement national monetary policy in order, among other things, to curb inflation or combat a recession. The monetary policies of the Federal Reserve affect the levels of bank loans, investments and deposits through its control over the issuance of United States government securities, its regulation of the discount rate applicable to member banks and its influence over reserve requirements to which member banks are subject. We cannot predict the nature or impact of future changes in monetary and fiscal policies.

 

ITEM 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTIES

 

The principal place of business of both the Company and the Bank is located at 68 First National Drive, Dallas, Georgia. Construction of a new two-story, 12,000 square feet brick, traditional bank building was completed in June 2004. It includes office space for administration, lending, customer service, new accounts, investment services, mortgage department, operations facilities, three drive-through teller lanes, an automated teller machine, four stand-up teller windows and a security vault with safe deposit boxes. The bank owns the building and the 3-acre site on the south side of Georgia Highway 120, just east of the intersection of Macland Road. This site is centrally located between Dallas and Hiram, and we believe it is well suited to serve the Bank’s target customers. Prior to completion and occupancy of the building, the Bank was operated out of a 2,500 square feet modular unit located on the same site next to the main office at 1242 Marietta Highway, Dallas, Georgia. A lease agreement has been executed between First National Bank West Metro and The Hertz Corporation. The Hertz Corporation agrees to rent the 1.43 acre parcel of land located at 1242 Marietta Highway, Dallas, and the modular building for a three year term.

 

We opened a full-service branch on Bankhead Highway and Church Street in downtown Douglasville, Georgia on January 6, 2003. We believe the branch will allow us to provide more personal and convenient service to our many customers in Douglas County. The branch is located at 6559 E. Church Street and consists of 2,388 square feet of office space. The facility has a drive through station consisting of three teller lanes and one with a drive through automated teller service machine.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

There are no material pending legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or of which any of its properties are subject, nor are there material proceedings known to the Company to be contemplated by any governmental authority. Additionally, the Company is unaware of any material proceedings, pending or contemplated, in which any existing or proposed director, officer or affiliate, or any principal security holder of the Company or any associate of any of the foregoing, is a party or has an interest adverse to the Company.

 

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ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

None.

 

PART II

 

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

 

(a) The Company closed its initial public offering of securities on February 28, 2002. All sales of securities by the Company in 2001 were registered under the Securities Act. There is currently no established market for the Company’s common stock, and an active trading market is not likely to develop. The Company does not have any plans to list its common stock on any stock exchange or on the over-the-counter market. As a result, investors who need or wish to dispose of all or any part of their common stock may be unable to do so except in private, directly negotiated sales.

 

(b) On March 7, 2004, the Company had 374 shareholders of record who owned an aggregate of 1,200,000 shares.

 

(c) The Company has paid no dividends on its common stock since its organization. The principal source of the Company’s cash flow, including cash flow to pay dividends to its shareholders, will be dividends that the Bank pays to the Company as its sole shareholder. Statutory and regulatory limitations will apply to the Bank’s payment of dividends to the Company, as well as to the Company’s payment of dividends to its shareholders. For a complete discussion of restrictions on dividends, see “Part I—Item 1. Description of Business—Supervision and Regulation—Payment of Dividends.”

 

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ITEM 6. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

WEST METRO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

 

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

FOR THE YEAR

                    

Net interest income

   $ 4,303,636     2,383,680     1,144,245  

Provision for loan losses

     660,250     402,626     500,000  

Noninterest income

     306,432     526,739     312,227  

Noninterest expense

     2,894,135     2,382546     1,481,382  

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 658,235     370,474     (524,910 )

PER COMMON SHARE

                    

Basic earnings (loss)

   $ .55     .31     (.44 )

Diluted earnings (loss)

     .52     .22     (.72 )

Cash dividends declared

     —       —       —    

Book value

   $ 10.11     9.57     9.27  

AT YEAR END

                    

Loans, net

   $ 105,780,093     65,720,988     39,212,970  

Earnings assets

     123,925,548     69,015,626     43,544,140  

Assets

     130,708,003     71,779,558     45,987,265  

Deposits

     117,258,867     59,174,579     34,719,753  

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 12,135,257     11,480,306     11,123,082  

Common shares outstanding

     1,200,000     1,200,000     1,200,000  

AVERAGE BALANCES

                    

Loans

   $ 89,259,948     53,574,769     22,710,122  

Earnings assets

     96,168,024     60,251,831     28,203,129  

Assets

     101,049,376     63,117,570     31,785,712  

Deposits

     88,552,805     52,171,845     20,243,192  

Stockholders’ equity

   $ 11,382,842     10,725,590     10,706,890  

Weighted average shares outstanding

     1,200,000     1,200,000     1,200,000  

KEY PERFORMANCE RATIOS

                    

Return on average assets

     0.65 %   0.59 %   (2.22 )%

Return on average stockholders’ equity

     5.78 %   3.45 %   (6.43 )%

Net interest margin

     4.47 %   3.95 %   5.25 %

Dividend payout ratio

     —       —       —    

Average equity to average assets

     11.26 %   16.99 %   33.68 %

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

General

 

West Metro Financial Services, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Dallas, Georgia organized to own all of the common stock of its bank subsidiary, First National Bank West Metro. The principal activity of the bank is to provide banking services to domestic markets, principally in Paulding County and Douglas County, Georgia. The bank is primarily regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) and undergoes periodic examinations by this regulatory agency. Our bank holding company is regulated by the Federal Reserve Bank and also is subject to periodic examinations.

 

In 2001, we commenced an initial public offering of up to 1,200,000 shares of our common stock. The stock sale resulted in the issuance of 1,200,000 shares at a price of $10.00 per share. The offering resulted in capital of $11,866,858, net of offering expenses of $113,964. The bank opened for business on March 25, 2002 at the Intersection of Macland Road and Highway 120, Dallas, Georgia 30132.

 

On March 15, 2005, we entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition and merger of our company into and with First Horizon National Corporation. Upon completion of the acquisition, our company will be merged into First Horizon’s wholly owned subsidiary, First Tennessee Bank. The merger is subject to the approval of regulatory authorities and by our shareholders and we expect the transaction to close by the third quarter of 2005. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, First Horizon will acquire all of our stock and our shareholders will have the option, subject to pro-ration, to elect to receive cash or First Horizon stock. Total consideration is expected to consist of approximately $12 million in cash and approximately $20 million in First Horizon shares, for total consideration of $32 million.

 

The following discussion describes our results of operations for 2004 as compared to 2003 and also analyzes our financial condition as of December 31, 2004 as compared to December 31, 2003. Like most community banks, we derive most of our income from interest we receive on our loans and investments. Our primary source of funds for making these loans and investments is our deposits and Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings, on which we pay interest. Consequently, one of the key measures of our success is our amount of net interest income, or the difference between the income on our interest-earning assets, such as loans and investments, and the expense on our interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings. Another key measure is the spread between the yield we earn on these interest-earning assets and the rate we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities.

 

We have included a number of tables to assist in our description of these measures. For example, the “Average Balances” table shows the average balance during 2004 and 2003 of each category of our assets and liabilities, as well as the yield we earned or the rate we paid with respect to each category. A review of this table shows that our loans typically provide higher interest yields than do other types of interest earning assets, which is why we intend to channel a substantial percentage of our earning assets into our loan portfolio. Similarly, the “Rate/Volume Analysis” table helps demonstrate the impact of changing interest rates and changing volume of assets and liabilities during the years shown. We also track the sensitivity of our various categories of assets and liabilities to changes in interest rates, and we have included a “Sensitivity Analysis Table” to help explain this. Finally, we have included a number of tables that provide detail about our investment securities, our loans, and our deposits.

 

Of course, there are risks inherent in all loans, so we maintain an allowance for loan losses to absorb possible losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible. We establish and maintain this allowance by charging a provision for loan losses against our operating earnings. In the following section we have included a detailed discussion of this process, as well as several tables describing our allowance for loan losses.

 

In addition to earning interest on our loans and investments, we earn income through fees and other expenses we charge to our customers. We describe the various components of this noninterest income, as well as our noninterest expense, in the following discussion.

 

The following discussion and analysis also identifies significant factors that have affected our financial position and operating results during the periods included in the accompanying financial statements. We encourage you to read this discussion and analysis in conjunction with the financial statements and the related notes and the other statistical information also included in this report.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, continued

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This report contains “forward-looking statements” relating to, without limitation, future economic performance, plans and objectives of management for future operations, and projections of revenues and other financial items that are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. The words “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” and “intend,” as well as other similar words and expressions of the future, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, and our operating performance each quarter is subject to various risks and uncertainties that are discussed in detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation:

 

    the effects of future economic conditions;

 

    governmental monetary and fiscal policies, as well as legislative and regulatory changes;

 

    changes in interest rates and their effect on the level and composition of deposits, loan demand, and the values of loan collateral, securities and other interest-sensitive assets and liabilities;

 

    our ability to control costs, expenses, and loan delinquency rates;

 

    the effects of competition from other commercial banks, thrifts, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, credit unions, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market and other mutual funds and other financial institutions operating in our market area and elsewhere, including institutions operating regionally, nationally, and internationally, together with such competitors offering banking products and services by mail, telephone, computer and the Internet;

 

    Changes in political conditions or the legislative or regulatory environment;

 

    Changes occurring in business conditions and inflation;

 

    Changes in technology;

 

    Changes in monetary and tax policies;

 

    The level of allowance for loan loss;

 

    The rates of loan growth

 

    Loss of consumer confidence and economic disruptions resulting from terrorist activities;

 

    Changes in securities markets; and

 

    Other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

We have adopted various accounting policies, which govern the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America in the preparation of our financial statements. Our significant accounting policies are described in note 1 in the footnotes to the consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2004 included elsewhere in this annual report.

 

We believe that the allowance for loan losses is a critical accounting policy that requires the most significant judgments and estimates used in preparation of our consolidated financial statements. Please refer to the portion of management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations that addresses the allowance for loan losses for a description of our processes and methodology for determining the allowance for loan losses.

 

Results of Operations

 

Overview

 

Net earnings for 2004 was $658,235 or $.55 per common share compared to net earnings of $370,474 or $.31 per common share in 2003. Our operational results depend to a large degree on net interest income, which is the difference between the interest income received from our investments (such as loans, investment securities, federal funds sold) and interest expense, which is paid on deposit liabilities and other borrowings. Net interest income was $4,303,636 for the year ended December 31, 2004 compared to net interest income of $2,383,680 for the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

The provision for loan losses in 2004 was $660,250 compared to $402,626 in 2003. The provision for loan losses continues to reflect our estimate of potential losses inherent in the loan portfolio and the creation of an allowance for loan losses adequate to absorb such losses.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, continued

 

Other operating income for the year ended December 31, 2004, totaled $306,432, representing a $220,307 (42%) decrease from December 31, 2003. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in mortgage loan origination fees for the period, partially offset by increased service charges on deposit accounts associated with the overall deposit growth. The low interest rate environment was the primary reason for the mortgage origination volume during 2003; however, rising interest rates caused the mortgage refinancing cycle to slow during 2004. The increase associated with service charges and fees is due to the increase in the number of our customers during 2004.

 

Total non-interest expense in 2004 was $2,894,135, a $511,589 (21%) increase compared with the 2003 amount. Salaries and benefits for 2004 increased 208,809 or 14% to $1,740,401 over 2003. This is due primarily to the growth in the number of full-time-equivalent employees from 2003. The increase in occupancy costs for 2004 by $113,177 or 43% to $374,900 over 2003, is due to additional expenses incurred once we moved into our permanent facility in 2004. Other operating expenses in 2004 were $778,834, a $189,603 (32%) increase compared with the 2003 amount. This increase is due an increase in the costs associated with a higher volume of business during 2004.

 

Income tax expense for 2004 was $397,448, which represented an effective tax rate of approximately 38%. In 2003, we recognized a tax benefit of $245,227 due to the reversal of the valuation allowance related to our deferred tax asset as it became more likely than not that we would be able to realize this benefit.

 

Net Interest Income

 

For the year ended December 31, 2004, net interest income totaled $4,303,636 as compared to $2,383,680 for the same period in 2003. Interest income from loans, including fees, increased $2,468,486 or 70% for the year ended December 31, 2004. This increase in income was partially offset by increased interest expense, which totaled $1,841,921 for the year ended December 31, 2004 compared to $1,262,631 in 2003. The increase in net interest income was a result of loan growth, higher yield on loans and lower cost of funds. The net interest margin realized on earning assets and the interest rate spread were 4.47% and 4.15%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2004. For the year ended December 31, 2003, the net interest margin was 3.96% and the interest rate spread was 3.41%.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, continued

 

Average Balances and Interest Rates

 

The table below shows the average balance outstanding for each category of interest earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for 2004 and 2003, and the average rate of interest earned or paid thereon. Average balances have been derived from the daily balances throughout the period indicated.

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

 
     Average
Balance


    Interest

   Yield/
Rate


    Average
Balance


    Interest

   Yield/
Rate


 

Assets:

                                      

Interest earning assets:

                                      

Loans (including loan fees)

   $ 89,259,948     5,991,060    6.71 %   $ 53,574,769     3,522,574    6.58 %

Investment securities

     4,158,084     119,680    2.88 %     1,845,334     71,883    3.90 %

Federal funds sold

     2,749,992     34,817    1.27 %     4,831,728     51,854    1.07 %
    


 
  

 


 
  

Total interest earning assets

     96,168,024     6,145,557    6.39 %     60,251,831     3,646,311    6.05 %

Other non-interest earning assets

     4,881,352                  2,865,739             
    


            


          

Total assets

   $ 101,049,376                $ 63,117,570             
    


            


          

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:

                                      

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                      

Deposits:

                                      

Interest-bearing demand

   $ 7,486,966     103,450    1.38 %   $ 3,925,434     72,420    1.84 %

Savings and money market

     29,945,502     611,779    2.04 %     18,399,628     405,953    2.21 %

Time

     43,931,942     1,104,260    2.51 %     25,457,783     783,937    3.08 %

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

     635,562     19,146    3.01 %     —       —      —    

Other

     192,605     3,286    1.71 %     24,797     321    1.29 %
    


 
  

 


 
  

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     82,192,577     1,841,921    2.24 %     47,807,642     1,262,631    2.64 %
            
                
      

Other non-interest bearing liabilities

     7,473,957                  4,584,338             

Shareholders’ equity

     11,382,842                  10,725,590             
    


            


          

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 101,049,376                $ 63,117,570             
    


            


          

Excess of interest-earning assets over interest bearing liabilities

   $ 13,975,447                $ 12,444,189             
    


            


          

Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities

     117 %                126 %           
    


            


          

Net interest income

           4,303,636                  2,383,680       
            
                
      

Net interest spread

                4.15 %                3.41 %
                 

              

Net interest margin

                4.47 %                3.96 %
                 

              

 

Non-accrual loans and the interest income which was recorded on these loans, if any, are included in the yield calculation for loans in all periods reported.

 

23


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, continued

 

Volume/Rate Analysis

 

Net interest income can also be analyzed in terms of the impact of changing rates and changing volume. The following table describes the extent to which changes in interest rates and changes in the volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities have affected our interest income and interest expense during the periods indicated.

 

    

2004 Compared to 2003

Increase (decrease) due to changes in


 
     Volume

    Rate

    Net Change

 

Interest income on:

                    

Loans (including loan fees)

   $ 2,393,682     74,804     2,468,486  

Investment securities

     70,622     (22,825 )   47,797  

Federal funds sold

     (25,174 )   8,137     (17,037 )
    


 

 

       2,439,130     60,116     2,499,246  
    


 

 

Interest expense on:

                    

Interest-bearing demand and savings

     52,787     (21,757 )   31,030  

Savings & Money Market

     237,869     (32,043 )   205,826  

Time

     485,479     (165,156 )   320,323  

Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings

     19,146     —       19,146  

Other

     2,832     133     2,965  
    


 

 

       798,113     (218,823 )   579,290  
    


 

 

     $ 1,641,017     278,939     1,919,956  
    


 

 

 

Interest Rate Sensitivity and Asset Liability Management

 

Interest rate sensitivity measures the timing and magnitude of the repricing of assets compared with the repricing of liabilities and is an important part of asset/liability management of a financial institution. The objective of interest rate sensitivity management is to generate stable growth in net interest income, and to control the risks associated with interest rate movements. Management constantly reviews interest rate risk exposure and the expected interest rate environment so that adjustments in interest rate sensitivity can be timely made. Since the assets and liabilities of a bank are primarily monetary in nature (payable in fixed, determinable amounts), the performance of a bank is affected more by changes in interest rates than by inflation. Interest rates generally increase as the rate of inflation increases, but the magnitude of the change in rates may not be the same.

 

Net interest income is the primary component of net income for financial institutions. Net interest income is affected by the timing and magnitude of repricing of as well as the mix of interest sensitive and noninterest sensitive assets and liabilities. “Gap” is a static measurement of the difference between the contractual maturities or repricing dates of interest sensitive assets and interest sensitive liabilities within the following twelve months. Gap is an attempt to predict the behavior of the bank’s net interest income in general terms during periods of movement in interest rates. In general, if the bank is asset sensitive, more of its interest sensitive assets are expected to reprice within twelve months than its interest sensitive liabilities over the same period. In a rising interest rate environment, assets repricing more quickly is expected to enhance net interest income. Alternatively, decreasing interest rates would be expected to have the opposite effect on net interest income since assets would theoretically be repricing at lower interest rates more quickly than interest sensitive liabilities. Although it can be used as a general predictor, Gap as a predictor of movements in net interest income has limitations due to the static nature of its definition and due to its inherent assumption that all assets will reprice immediately and fully at the contractually designated time. At December 31, 2004, the bank, as measured by Gap, is in an asset sensitive position. Management has several tools available to it to evaluate and affect interest rate risk, including deposit pricing policies and changes in the mix of various types of assets and liabilities.

 

24


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, continued

 

The following table summarizes the amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities outstanding at December 31, 2004, that are expected to mature, prepay, or reprice in each of the future time periods shown. Except as stated below, the amount of assets or liabilities that mature or reprice during a particular period was determined in accordance with the contractual terms of the asset or liability. Adjustable rate loans are included in the period in which interest rates are next scheduled to adjust rather than in the period in which they are due, and fixed rate loans and mortgage-backed securities are included in the periods in which they are anticipated to be repaid based on scheduled maturities. The bank’s savings accounts and interest-bearing demand accounts (NOW and money market deposit accounts), which are generally subject to immediate withdrawal, are included in the “Three Months or Less” category, although historical experience has proven these deposits to be more stable over the course of a year.

 

At December 31, 2004

Maturing or Repricing in

 

    

3 Months

or Less


    4 Months to
12 Months


   

1 to 5

Years


    Over 5
Years


    Total

Interest-earning assets:

                              

Investment securities

   $ 1,988,119     649,651     2,699,517     495,751     5,833,038

Loans

     90,706,420     6,286,236     9,273,492     1,069,562     107,335,710

Federal Funds Sold

     10,235,000     —       —       —       10,235,000

Other

     —       —       —       521,800     521,800
    


 

 

 

 

Total interest-earning assets

   $ 102,929,539     6,935,887     11,973,009     2,087,113     123,925,548
    


 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                              

Deposits:

                              

Savings and demand

   $ 53,888,229     —       —       —       53,888,229

Time deposits

     17,040,235     26,647,410     12,845,704     —       56,533,349

Federal Home Loan Bank advance

     10,000     30,000     160,000     790,000     990,000
    


 

 

 

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

   $ 70,938,464     26,277,410     13,005,704     790,000     111,411,578
    


 

 

 

 

Interest sensitive difference per period

   $ 31,991,075     (19,741,523 )   (1,032,695 )   1,297,113     12,513,970
    


 

 

 

 

Cumulative interest sensitivity difference

   $ 31,991,075     12,249,552     11,216,857     12,513,970      
    


 

 

 

   

Cumulative difference to total assets

     24.47 %   9.37 %   8.58 %   9.57 %    
    


 

 

 

   

 

At December 31, 2004, the difference between the bank’s assets and liabilities repricing or maturing within one year was $12,249,552. Due to an excess of assets repricing or maturing within one year, a rise in interest rates would cause the bank’s net interest income to increase, whereas a decline in interest rates would cause the bank’s net interest income to decrease.

 

Certain shortcomings are inherent in the method of analysis presented in the foregoing table. For example, although certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or periods of repricing, they may reflect changes in market interest rates differently. Additionally, certain assets, such as adjustable-rate mortgages, have features that restrict changes in interest rates, both on a short-term basis and over the life of the asset. Other factors which may affect the assumptions made in the table include changes in interest rates, pre-payment rates, early withdrawal levels, and the ability of borrowers to service their debt.

 

25


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, continued

 

Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses

 

The provision for loan losses is the charge to operating earnings that management believes is necessary to maintain the allowance for loan losses at an adequate level. The provision charged to expense was $660,250 for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to $402,626 for the year ended December 31, 2003. The change in the provision was the result of loans growing faster in 2004 than in 2003. The loan portfolio increased $40,715,356 during the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to growth of $26,907,385 in 2003. The allowance for loan losses was 1.45% of gross loans at December 31, 2004 compared to 1.35% at December 31, 2003. There are risks inherent in making all loans, including risks with respect to the period of time over which loans may be repaid, risks resulting from changes in economic and industry conditions, risks inherent in dealing with individual borrowers, and, in the case of a collateralized loan, risks resulting from uncertainties about the future value of the collateral. We anticipate maintaining an allowance for loan losses based on, among other things, historical experience, an evaluation of economic conditions, and regular reviews of delinquencies and loan portfolio quality. Our judgment about the adequacy of the allowance is based upon a number of assumptions about future events, which we believe to be reasonable, but which may not prove to be accurate. Thus, there is a risk that charge-offs in future periods could exceed the allowance for loan losses or that substantial additional increases in the allowance for loan losses could be required. Additions to the allowance for loan losses would result in a decrease of our net income and, possibly, our capital.

 

The following table summarizes information concerning the allowance for loan losses:

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Total loans outstanding, end of year

   $ 107,335,710     66,620,355     39,712,970  
    


 

 

Average loans outstanding

   $ 89,259,948     53,574,769     22,710,970  
    


 

 

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 899,367     500,000     —    

Charge-offs:

                    

Commercial

     —       —       —    

Real estate – construction

     —       —       —    

Real estate – mortgage

     —       —       —    

Consumer

     4,000     4,941     —    
    


 

 

Total charge-offs

     4,000     4,941     —    
    


 

 

Recoveries:

                    

Commercial

     —       —       —    

Real estate – construction

     —       —       —    

Real estate – mortgage

     —       —       —    

Consumer

     —       1,682     —    
    


 

 

Total recoveries

     —       1,682     —    
    


 

 

Net charge-offs

     4,000     3,259     —    

Additions charged to operations

     660,250     402,626     500,000  
    


 

 

Balance at end of year

   $ 1,555,617     899,367     500,000  
    


 

 

Ratio of net charge-offs during the period to average loans outstanding during the period

     .00 %   0.01 %   —   %

Allowance for loan losses to loans, end of year

     1.45 %   1.35 %   1.26 %

 

26


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, continued

 

The following table summarizes past due and non-accrual loans, other real estate and repossessions, and income that would have been reported on non-accrual loans as of December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002:

 

     December 31,

     2004

   2003

   2002

Other real estate and repossessions

   $ —      —      —  

Accruing loans 90 days or more past due

     —      10,000    —  

Non-accrual loans

     —      —      —  

Interest on non-accrual loans which would have been reported

     —      —      —  

 

Noninterest Income and Expense

 

Non-interest income for the year ended December 31, 2004 totaled $306,432 as compared to $526,739 for the year ended December 31, 2003. The decrease was attributable to a decrease in mortgage loan origination fees for the period, partially offset by increased service charges on deposit accounts associated with the overall deposit growth. Mortgage origination fee income totaled $152,139 during 2004 compared to $398,181 in 2003. The low interest rate environment was the primary reason for the mortgage origination volume during 2003; however, the rise in interest rates caused the mortgage refinancing cycle to slow during 2004. Additionally, our mortgage originator resigned effective March 1, 2004 and we are currently seeking a replacement. Service charges and fees on deposits was $89,016 during 2004. The increase of $24,328 in service charges and fees from December 31, 2003 balance of $64,688 is due to the increase in the number of customers during 2004.

 

Total non-interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2004 was $2,894,135 as compared to $2,382,546 for the same period in 2003. Salaries and benefits, the largest component of noninterest expense, totaled $1,740,401 for the year ended December 31, 2004, compared to $1,531,592 for the same period a year ago. Salary and benefits expense primarily increased due to an increase in the number of employees and to other annual salary increases. Occupancy costs for 2004 increased by $113,177 or 43% to $374,900 during 2004 compared to $261,723 in 2003. The increase in occupancy expense was due to additional expenses incurred when we moved into our permanent facility in 2004. Other operating expenses were $778,835 for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to $589,231 for the year ended December 31, 2003. This increase in noninterest expense is directly related to the overall growth of the bank.

 

Financial Condition

 

Total assets increased $58,928,445, or 82% from December 31, 2003 to December 31, 2004. The primary source of growth in assets was net loans, which increased $40,059,105 or 61% during the year ended December 31, 2004. Investment securities available-for-sale increased $3,817,017 from $2,016,021 at December 31, 2003 to $5,833,038 at December 31, 2004. Total deposits increased $58,084,288 or 98%, from $59,174,579 at December 31, 2003 to $117,258,867 at December 31, 2004.

 

Interest-Earning Assets

 

Loans

 

Gross loans totaled $107,335,711 at December 31, 2004, an increase of $40,715,355 or 61% since December 31, 2003. The largest increase in loans was in Real Estate – Construction loans, which increased $28,214,027 or 82% to $62,463,179 at December 31, 2004. Real Estate – Mortgage loans increased $9,350,534 during 2004. Balances within the major loans receivable categories as of December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

     2004

    2003

 

Real estate - construction

   $ 62,463    58.19 %   $ 34,249    51.41 %

Real estate - mortgage

     35,398    32.98 %     26,047    39.10 %

Commercial and industrial

     7,092    6.61 %     4,359    6.54 %

Consumer and other

     2,383    2.22 %     1,965    2.95 %
    

  

 

  

     $ 107,336    100.00 %   $ 66,620    100.00 %
    

  

 

  

 

27


Table of Contents

As of December 31, 2004, maturities of loans in the indicated classifications were as follows (amounts are presented in thousands):

 

Maturity


   Commercial
and
Industrial


  

Real

Estate
Construction


   Total

Within 1 year

   $ 5,491    61,872    67,363

1 to 5 years

     1,601    591    2,192
    

  
  

Totals

   $ 7,092    62,643    69,555
    

  
  

 

As of December 31, 2004, the interest terms of loans in the indicated classification for the indicated maturity ranges are as follows (amounts are presented in thousands):

 

     Fixed Interest
Rates


   Variable Interest
Rates


   Total

Commercial and industrial

                

1 to 5 years

   $ 1,601    —      1,601

Real estate – construction

                

1 to 5 years

     591    —      591
    

  
  
     $ 2,192    —      2,192
    

  
  

 

Investment Securities

 

Investment securities available-for-sale increased to $5,833,038 at December 31, 2004 from $2,016,021 at December 31, 2003. This increase was the result of an increase in deposits being invested in securities. All of the bank’s marketable investment securities were designated as available-for-sale at December 31, 2004.

 

The following table presents the investments by category at December 31, 2004 and 2003:

 

     2004

   2003

     (Amounts are presented in thousands)

     Amortized Cost

   Estimated
Fair Value


   Amortized Cost

   Estimated
Fair Value


United States government agencies

   $ 5,188    5,183    999    1,002

Mortgage-backed securities

     649    650    1,015    1,014
    

  
  
  
     $ 5,837    5,833    2,014    2,016
    

  
  
  

 

The following table presents the maturities of investment securities at carrying value and the weighted average yields for each range of maturities presented. Yields are based on amortized cost of securities. (Amounts are presented in thousands)

 

Maturities at December 31, 2004


   US Government
Agencies


   Weighted
Average
Yields


    Mortgage-backed
Securities


   Weighted Average
Yields


 

Within 1 year

   $ 1,988    2.35 %   $ —      —    

After 1 through 5 years

     2,699    2.64 %     —      —    

After 5 years through 10 years

     496    3.00 %     —      —    

After 10 years

     —      —         649    2.41 %
    

        

      

Totals

   $ 5,183    2.57 %   $ 649    2.41 %
    

        

      

 

Mortgage-backed securities are included in the maturities categories in which they are anticipated to be repaid based on scheduled maturities.

 

28


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, continued

 

Deposits

 

At December 31, 2004, total deposits increased by $58,084,289 or 98% from December 31, 2003. Noninterest-bearing demand deposits increased $1,598,615 or 31% and interest-bearing deposits increased $56,485,674 or 105%.

 

Balances within the major deposit categories as of December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

     2004

    2003

 

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits

   $ 6,837    5.83 %   $ 5,239    8.85 %

Interest-bearing demand deposits

     28,000    23.88 %     13,481    22.78 %

Savings deposits

     25,888    22.08 %     13,590    22.97 %

Certificates of deposit $100,000 and over

     42,692    36.41 %     13,703    23.16 %

Other time deposits

     13,842    11.80 %     13,162    22.24 %
    

  

 

  

     $ 117,259    100.00 %   $ 59,175    100.00 %
    

  

 

  

 

The average balance of deposits and the average rates paid on such deposits are summarized for the periods indicated in the following table.

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

 
     (Amounts are presented in thousands)

 
     Amount

   Rate

    Amount

   Rate

 

Noninterest-bearing demand

   $ 7,188    —       $ 4,390    —    

Interest-bearing demand

     7,489    1.38 %     3,925    1.84 %

Savings and money market

     29,946    2.04 %     18,400    2.21 %

Time deposits

     43,932    2.51 %     25,458    3.08 %
    

        

      

Totals

   $ 88,555          $ 52,172       
    

        

      

 

Maturities of time certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more outstanding at December 31, 2004, are summarized as follows (amounts are presented in thousands):

 

Within 3 months

   $ 12,977

After 3 through 6 months

     6,983

After 6 through 12 months

     12,527

After 12 months

     10,205
    

Total

   $ 42,962
    

 

Borrowed Funds

 

At December 31, 2004, the bank has an advance outstanding with the Federal Home Loan Bank in the amount of $990,012. We did not have any borrowings outstanding as of December 31, 2003. The average rate we paid on borrowings for the year ended December 31, 2004 was 3.01%. The bank has pledged approximately $8,762,000 in qualifying mortgage loans as security for this advance and possible future advances. This advance bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.05%, requires quarterly interest payments and quarterly principal payments of $10,000 through September 10, 2009, at which time the remaining principal amount is due. As of December 31, 2004, the bank had $6,000,000 in additional borrowing capacity under the borrowing arrangement with the FHLB. Additionally, the bank has a $2,700,000 overnight federal funds line of credit with its correspondent bank to cover short-term liquidity needs. The credit line had no outstanding balance as of December 31, 2004. During 2004, we obtained a $1,000,000 line of credit with a correspondent bank for general operating purposes. As collateral for the line, we pledged 100% of the bank’s stock against the loan. At December 31, 2004, we had not drawn on the line.

 

29


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, continued

 

Capital Resources

 

Total shareholders’ equity increased from $11,480,306 at December 31, 2003 to $12,135,257 at December 31, 2004. This increase was attributable to net earnings for the period.

 

Bank holding companies, such as us, and their banking subsidiaries are required by banking regulators to meet certain minimum levels of capital adequacy, which are expressed in the form of certain ratios. Capital is separated into Tier 1 capital (essentially common shareholders’ equity less intangible assets) and Tier 2 capital (essentially the allowance for loan losses limited to 1.25% of risk-weighted assets). The first two ratios, which are based on the degree of credit risk in our assets, provide the weighting of assets based on assigned risk factors and include off-balance sheet items such as loan commitments and stand-by letters of credit.

 

The ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets must be at least 4.0% and the ratio of total capital (Tier 1 capital plus Tier 2 capital) to risk-weighted assets must be at least 8.0%. The capital leverage ratio supplements the risk-based capital guidelines.

 

Banks and bank holding companies are required to maintain a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to adjusted quarterly average total assets of 3.0%.

 

The following table summarizes the bank’s risk-based capital ratios at December 31, 2004:

 

Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)

   10.36 %

Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)

   11.61 %

Tier 1 capital (to total average assets)

   9.99 %

 

Liquidity

 

The bank must maintain, on a daily basis, sufficient funds to cover the withdrawals from depositors’ accounts and to supply new borrowers with funds. To meet these obligations, the bank keeps cash on hand, maintains account balances with its correspondent banks, and purchases and sells federal funds and other short-term investments. Asset and liability maturities are monitored in an attempt to match the maturities to meet liquidity needs. It is the policy of the bank to monitor its liquidity to meet regulatory requirements and their local funding requirements.

 

The bank maintains relationships with correspondent banks that can provide funds to it on short notice, if needed. Presently, the bank has arrangements with a commercial bank for short term unsecured advances up to $2,700,000.

 

Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2004 increased $12,241,239 from December 31, 2003. Cash provided by operating activities totaled $1,412,771 in 2004, while inflows provided by financing activities totaled $58,071,289, which was attributable to an increase in deposits.

 

During 2004, investing activities used $47,242,821. Investing activities included net loans made to customers of $40,724,075, purchases of investment securities available-for-sale of $7,737,315, purchases of other investments of $303,150, purchases of premises and equipment of $2,554,199, partially offset by maturities and paydowns of investment securities available-for-sale of $3,911,090 and sales of other investments of approximately $161,000.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We are a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of our customers. These financial instruments consist of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. 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. Standby letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by the bank to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. A commitment involves, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheets. Our exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the other party to the instrument is represented by the contractual notional amount of the instrument.

 

30


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, continued

 

Since certain commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. We use the same credit policies in making commitments to extend credit as we do for on-balance-sheet instruments. Collateral held for commitments to extend credit varies but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant, equipment, and income-producing commercial properties.

 

The following table summarizes our off-balance-sheet financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk as of December 31, 2004:

 

Commitments to extend credit

   $ 25,509,000

Standby letters of credit

   $ 907,000

 

Management is not aware of any significant concentrations of loans to classes of borrowers or industries that would be affected similarly by economic conditions. Although the bank’s loan portfolio is diversified, a substantial portion of its borrowers’ ability to honor the terms of their loans is dependent on the economic conditions in Paulding and Douglas Counties and surrounding areas.

 

Inflation

 

Inflation impacts the growth in total assets in the banking industry and causes a need to increase equity capital at higher than normal rates to meet capital adequacy requirements. We cope with the effects of inflation through the management of interest rate sensitivity gap position, by periodically reviewing and adjusting its pricing of services to consider current costs and through managing our level of net income relative to our dividend payout policy.

 

Selected Ratios

 

The following table sets out certain ratios for the years indicated.

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Net income to:

                  

Average shareholders’ equity

   5.78 %   3.45 %   (6.43 )%

Average assets

   0.65 %   0.59 %   (2.22 )%

Dividends to net earnings

   —       —       —    

Average equity to average assets

   11.26 %   16.99 %   33.68 %

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment (“SFAS No. 123(R)”), which revises and amends SFAS No. 123. SFAS No. 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values. Upon adoption, pro forma disclosure is no longer an alternative to financial statement recognition. SFAS No. 123(R) will be effective for our company for financial statements beginning after December 15, 2005. We are still evaluating the transition provisions allowed by SFAS No. 123(R) and expect to adopt its provisions in the first quarter of 2006. We have not yet determined the financial statement impact of the pronouncement.

 

In March 2004, The Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) issued EITF 03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and its Application to Certain Investments (“EITF 03-1”). EITF 03-1 provides guidance for evaluating whether an investment is other-than-temporarily impaired. The disclosure guidance was effective for other-than-temporary impairment evaluations made in reporting periods beginning after June 15, 2004, whereas the recognition and measurement guidance has been deferred. The disclosures required by EITF 03-1 are included in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements. We did not recognize an impairment loss on any investment in 2004 or 2003.

 

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB and other standard setting entities that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

 

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ITEM 7. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 13.1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

ITEM 8. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 8A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

At the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material

 

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information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) that is required to be included in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2004 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to material affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 8B. OTHER INFORMATION

 

The Company has previously disclosed all information required to be disclosed in a report on Form 8-K during the fourth quarter of 2004.

 

PART III

 

ITEM 9. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

Set forth below is information regarding the directors and executive officers of the Company. Each of the directors of the Company also serves as a director of the Bank. The Company, as the sole shareholder of the Bank, will nominate each of the following individuals to serve as a director of the Bank at the Bank’s shareholders’ meeting. Directors of the Bank serve for a term of one year and are elected by the Company each year at the Bank’s annual meeting of shareholders. The Bank’s officers are appointed by and hold office at the will of its board of directors.

 

The following table sets forth for each director and executive officer of the Company (1) the person’s name; (2) his or her age at December 31, 2004; (3) the year he or she was first elected as a director of the Company; and (4) his or her positions with the Company other than as a director and his or her other business experience for the past five years.

 

Name (Age)


   Director
Since


    

Position with the Company

And Business Experience    


J. Michael Womble (52)

   2001      President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Company; Working Chairman of the Bank; previously Chief Executive Officer of First National Bank of Paulding County and Chairman of the Board of Directors; Organizer/Owner of Southlife Homes, Inc. (residential building and development)

Johnny L. Blankenship (46)

   2001      President and Owner of Blankenship Homes (residential building and development)

William A. Carruth, Jr. (46)

   2001      Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and the Bank; President and Owner of Carruth Wood Products (engineer and survey supplies) and Aiken Grading Company (construction contractors)

Harold T. Echols (54)

   2001      Project Manager for AT&T Communications

 

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Name (Age)


   Director
Since


    

Position with the Company

And Business Experience    


John F. Hall (40)

   2004      President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank; previously Senior Vice President, Chief Credit Officer and Senior Lending Officer of Cornerstone Bank in Atlanta; previously Senior Vice President of Bank of America in Atlanta

Kathy Hulsey (51)

          Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of the Company and the Bank; previously Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Premier National Bank of Dalton and Vice President and Controller of First National Bank of Paulding County

G. Wayne Kirby (66)

   2001      President, Chief Executive Officer and Owner of PKW Supply Company, Inc. (building supplies)

Claude K. Rainwater (66)

   2001      Owner of Rainwater Motor Company (used car company), Style Financial Acceptance (automobile financing) and Independent Car Rental, Inc.

James C. Scott, Jr. (59)

   2001      Executive Vice President of MATSCO, Inc., parent company of C.W. Matthews Contracting Company (construction company)

Joey Tidwell (47)

   2002      President and Owner of JMC Development, Tidwell Properties and Homeplace Communities, Inc.

Steve Chatham (43)

   —        Executive Vice President and Senior Credit Officer of the Bank; previously Senior Commercial Lender at United Community Bank, Blairsville, Georgia

 

The Company is filing this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act and is not subject to filings required by Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act.

 

Meetings and Committees of the Board

 

During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Board of Directors of the Company held 6 meetings and the Board of Directors of the Bank held 13 meetings. All incumbent directors attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Company’s Board of Directors and committees of the board on which they serve.

 

Audit and Compliance Committee. The Board of Directors has established an Audit and Compliance Committee, which recommends to the Board of Directors the independent public accountants to be selected to audit the Company’s annual financial statements, evaluates internal accounting controls, reviews the adequacy of the internal audit budget, personnel and plan, and determines that all audits and exams required by law are performed fully, properly, and in a timely fashion. The Audit and Compliance Committee is also responsible for overseeing compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act. The Board of Directors has not adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, the Audit and Compliance Committee held 9 meetings.

 

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The Audit and Compliance Committee members are Claude Rainwater, James Scott, Harold Echols and William A. Carruth, Jr. Although none of the Audit and Compliance Committee members meets the criteria specified under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations for an “audit committee financial expert,” the Board believes that each has the financial knowledge, business experience and independent judgment necessary for service on the Audit and Compliance Committee.

 

Code of Ethics

 

The Company has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive, financial and accounting officers. A copy of the code of ethics may be obtained, without charge, upon written request addressed to First National Bank West Metro, 68 First National Drive, Dallas, Georgia, 30157, Attention: Chief Financial Officer. The request may be delivered by letter to the address set forth above or by fax to the attention of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer at (678) 363-8212.

 

ITEM 10. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Compensation of Executive Officers

 

Summary Compensation Table. The following table presents the total compensation of the Company paid during fiscal years 2004, 2003 and 2002 to its executive officers. No other executive officer of the Company earned over $100,000 in salary and bonus during fiscal years 2004, 2003 and 2002.

 

          Annual Compensation

   Long Term Compensation

Name and Position


   Year

  

Salary

($)


  

Bonus

($)


  

Other

Annual

Compensation

($)


   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options


  

All Other

Compensation(1)

($)


J. Michael Womble,

President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company

   2004
2003
2002
   $
$
$
86,538
144,230
150,000
   $
$
$
20,000
10,000
10,000
   $
$
$
0
0
0
   44,250
24,000
21,000
   $
$
$
0
0
0

John F. Hall,

President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank

   2004
2003
   $
$
130,800
96,000
   $
$
25,000
0
   $
$
0
0
   20,000
15,000
   $
$
0
0

Steve Chatham, Executive Vice President and Senior Credit Officer of the Bank

   2004
2003
   $
$
124,800
124,616
   $
$
26,500
10,000
   $
$
0
0
   17,000
15,000
   $
$
0
0

(1) We have omitted information on “perks” and other personal benefits because the aggregate value of these items does not meet the minimum amount required for disclosure under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s regulations.

 

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Employment Agreements.

 

J. Michael Womble. The Company entered into an employment agreement with J. Michael Womble on May 1, 2001. Pursuant to an amended employment agreement, Mr. Womble serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Chairman of the Board of the Bank. At the end of the initial three-year term of Mr. Womble’s employment agreement, and at the end of each succeeding day, the agreement will be extended for an additional day so that the unexpired term is always three years, unless either of the parties gives notice of intent not to extend the agreement.

 

Mr. Womble’s annual base salary under the amended agreement is $50,000. Mr. Womble also receives health insurance, membership fees to a country club, and a monthly automobile allowance in the amount of $500.

 

Pursuant to Mr. Womble’s employment agreement, the Company granted him a non-qualified option to purchase 21,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at $10.00 per share on March 25, 2002, the date the Bank opened for business. Mr. Womble’s option was issued under our stock incentive plan and constitutes approximately 18.6% of the shares reserved for issuance under the plan. Mr. Womble’s option generally becomes exercisable in equal one-third annual increments over a three-year period beginning on the one-year anniversary of the Bank opening for business. In addition, the Company will grant Mr. Womble an annual option to purchase 5,000 shares of our common stock if the Bank successfully reaches its designated performance targets for the fiscal year. The annual option will be granted at an exercise price per share no greater than fair market value as determined on the grant date.

 

We will be obligated to pay Mr. Womble his base salary for 12 months if one of the following terminating events occurs:

 

    Mr. Womble becomes permanently disabled;

 

    the Bank terminates Mr. Womble’s employment without cause; or

 

    Mr. Womble terminates his employment for cause.

 

Additionally, upon a change of control of the Company, Mr. Womble will be entitled to severance compensation in an amount equal to three times his then effective base salary if the Company or its successor terminates his employment other than for cause. Cause for terminating employment is defined in the agreement.

 

The agreement also generally provides that, for a period of 12 months following the termination of Mr. Womble’s employment, he will not compete with the Bank in the banking business nor solicit our customers nor our employees. The non-competition and non-solicitation provisions of the agreement only apply if Mr. Womble terminates his employment without cause or in connection with a change of control, or if we terminate his employment with cause.

 

John F. Hall. The Company entered into an employment agreement with John F. Hall on February 10, 2003 pursuant to which Mr. Hall serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, which was amended effective December 16, 2004. At the end of the initial three-year term of Mr. Hall’s employment agreement, and at the end of each succeeding day, the agreement will be extended for an additional day so that the unexpired term is always three years, unless either of the parties gives notice of intent not to extend the agreement.

 

Mr. Hall’s annual base salary under the amended agreement is $143,266. Beginning with the year ending December 31, 2003, he may be entitled to receive a bonus equal to 25% of his base salary if

 

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the Bank meets or exceeds the board of directors’ performance targets for the Bank. Mr. Hall also receives membership fees to a country club and a monthly automobile allowance in the amount of $500. Mr. Hall also receives health insurance coverage for himself and his immediate family. The coverage extends for a period of twelve months following a change in control or termination by Mr. Hall with cause or a termination by the Company without cause.

 

Pursuant to Mr. Hall’s employment agreement, the Company granted him an incentive stock option to purchase 15,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at $10.00 per share on May 22, 2003. Mr. Hall’s option was issued under our stock incentive plan and constitutes approximately 13.3% of the shares reserved for issuance under the plan. Mr. Hall’s option generally becomes exercisable in equal one-third annual increments over a three-year period beginning on May 22, 2004. In addition, the Company will grant Mr. Hall an annual option to purchase 3,000 shares of our common stock if the Bank successfully reaches its designated performance targets for the fiscal year. The annual option will be granted at an exercise price per share no greater than fair market value as determined on the grant date.

 

We will be obligated to pay Mr. Hall his base salary for 12 months if one of the following terminating events occurs:

 

    Mr. Hall becomes permanently disabled;

 

    the Bank terminates Mr. Hall’s employment without cause; or

 

    Mr. Hall terminates his employment for cause.

 

Additionally, upon a change of control of the Company, Mr. Hall will be entitled to severance compensation in an amount equal to one time his then effective base salary if the Company or its successor terminates his employment other than for cause. Cause for terminating employment is defined in the agreement.

 

The agreement also generally provides that, for a period of 12 months following the termination of Mr. Hall’s employment, he will not compete with the Bank in the banking business nor solicit our customers nor our employees. The non-competition and non-solicitation provisions of the agreement only apply if Mr. Hall terminates his employment without cause or in connection with a change of control, or if we terminate his employment with cause.

 

Kathy Hulsey. The Company entered into an employment agreement with Kathy Hulsey on July 29, 2001, which was amended on December 16, 2004, pursuant to which Ms. Hulsey serves as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice-President of the Company and the Bank. At the end of the initial five-year term, the agreement is automatically renewed for successive one-year terms unless terminated in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

 

Ms. Hulsey’s annual base salary under the agreement is $92,700. In addition, subject to the Company meeting or exceeding certain performance goals as set by the Board of Directors, Ms. Hulsey may be entitled to receive bonus compensation and receive annual options grants to purchase 2,000 shares of Company common stock.

 

Additionally, upon a change in control of the Company, Ms. Hulsey will be entitled to severance compensation in an amount equal to her then current annual salary if the Company or its successor terminates her employment other than for cause. Cause for terminating employment is defined in the agreement.

 

The agreement also generally provides that, for a period of twelve (12) months following the termination of Ms. Hulsey’s employment, she will not compete with the Bank in the banking business nor solicit our customers nor our employees. The non-competition and non-solicitation provisions of the agreement only apply if Ms. Hulsey terminates her employment without cause or in connection with a change in control, or if the Company terminates her employment with cause.

 

Steve Chatham. The Company entered into an employment agreement with Steve Chatham on March 4, 2003 pursuant to which Mr. Chatham serves as Executive Vice President and Senior Credit Officer of the Bank, which was amended on December 16, 2004. At the end of the initial three-year term of Mr. Chatham’s employment agreement, and at the end of each succeeding day, the agreement will be extended for an additional day so that the unexpired term is always three years, unless either of the parties gives notice of intent not to extend the agreement.

 

Mr. Chatham’s annual base salary under the agreement is $124,800. Beginning with the year ending December 31, 2003, he may be entitled to receive a bonus of $20,000 if the Bank meets or exceeds the board of directors’ performance targets for the Bank. Mr. Chatham also receives health insurance, membership fees to a country club, and a monthly automobile allowance in the amount of $500.

 

Pursuant to Mr. Chatham’s employment agreement, the Company granted him an incentive stock option to purchase 15,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at $10.00 per share on May 22, 2003. Mr. Chatham’s option was issued under our stock incentive plan and constitutes approximately 13.3% of the shares reserved for issuance under the plan. Mr. Chatham’s option generally becomes exercisable in equal one-third annual increments over a three-year period beginning on May 22, 2004. The amended

 

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agreement provides that for fiscal year 2004 and thereafter, Mr. Chatham will receive an additional annual option grant to purchase 2,000 shares of Company common stock if the Bank successfully reaches each of its annual designated performance targets as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

We will be obligated to pay Mr. Chatham his base salary for 12 months if one of the following terminating events occurs:

 

    Mr. Chatham becomes permanently disabled;

 

    the Bank terminates Mr. Chatham’s employment without cause; or

 

    Mr. Chatham terminates his employment for cause.

 

Additionally, upon a change of control of the Company, Mr. Chatham will be entitled to severance compensation in an amount equal to one time his then effective base salary if the Company or its successor terminates his employment other than for cause. Cause for terminating employment is defined in the agreement.

 

The agreement also generally provides that, for a period of 12 months following the termination of Mr. Chatham’s employment, he will not compete with the Bank in the banking business nor solicit our customers nor our employees. The non-competition and non-solicitation provisions of the agreement only apply if Mr. Chatham terminates his employment without cause or in connection with a change of control, or if we terminate his employment with cause.

 

Director Compensation

 

Directors and officers of the Company do not receive fees for their service as directors, but were granted stock options based on certain performance goals, as shown below. The Bank will adopt compensatory policies during 2005 for its directors that conform to applicable law.

 

Option Grants in Fiscal Year 2004

 

The following table sets forth information at December 31, 2004, and for the fiscal year then ended, concerning stock options granted to the executive officers and directors listed below. The listed executive officer did not exercise any options to purchase common stock of the Company during 2004. We have not granted any stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or stock incentives other than stock options.

 

Name


   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options Granted


   Percent of
Total Options
Granted to
Employees in
Fiscal Year


    Exercise Price
Per Share


   Expiration Date

J. Michael Womble

   3,000    7.69 %   $ 10.00    January 15, 2009

J. Michael Womble

   17,250    44.23 %   $ 12.00    December 16, 2009

John F. Hall

   2,000    5.13 %   $ 10.00    January 15, 2014

John F. Hall

   3,000    7.69 %   $ 12.00    December 16, 2014

Steve Chatham

   2,000    5.13 %   $ 12.00    December 16, 2014

Kathy Hulsey

   2,000    5.13 %   $ 12.00    December 16, 2014

James Scott

   1,250    3.21 %   $ 12.00    December 16, 2014

William A. Carruth

   1,250    3.21 %   $ 12.00    December 16, 2014

Claude Rainwater

   1,250    3.21 %   $ 12.00    December 16, 2014

Johnny Blankenship

   1,250    3.21 %   $ 12.00    December 16, 2014

Joey Tidwell

   1,250    3.21 %   $ 12.00    December 16, 2014

Wayne Kirby

   1,250    3.21 %   $ 12.00    December 16, 2014

Hal Echols

   1,250    3.21 %   $ 12.00    December 16, 2014

 

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Options Exercised in Fiscal Year 2004

 

No options were exercised by our named executive officers in fiscal year 2004.

 

Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option Values

 

The following table shows the number of shares underlying stock options held by the executive officers named in the summary compensation table. Also reported are the values for “in-the-money” options which represent the positive spread between the exercise price of any such existing stock options and the year-end price of the Bank’s common stock. No stock options were exercised in 2004 by the executive officers named in the summary compensation table.

 

Name


  

Shares
Acquired on
Exercise (#)


  

Value

Realized ($)


  

Number of Securities

Underlying Unexercised

Options at December 31, 2004


  

Value of Unexercised In-the-

Money Options at

December 31, 2004


         Exercisable

   Unexercisable

   Exercisable

   Unexercisable

J. Michael Womble

   0    $ 0    22,000    22,250    $ 44,000    $ 10,000

John F. Hall

   0    $ 0    5,000    15,000    $ 10,000    $ 24,000

 

ITEM 11. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

The following table sets forth the number of shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned as of March 1, 2005 by (a) each executive officer and director of the Company; (b) all executive officers and directors, as a group; and (c) the shareholders owning more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. The information shown below is based upon information furnished to the Company by the named persons. Unless otherwise indicated, each person is the record owner and has sole voting and investment power with respect to his or her shares. The Company is unaware of any other shareholder owning more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Additionally, the address of each person is 68 First National Drive, Dallas, Georgia 30157.

 

Information relating to beneficial ownership of the Company is based upon “beneficial ownership” concepts set forth in the rules promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act. Under these rules a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares “voting power,” which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of a security, or “investment power,” which includes the power to dispose or to direct the disposition of a security. Under the rules, more than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same securities. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any security as to which that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within sixty (60) days of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB.

 

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Name


    

Number

of Shares


    

Percent

of Class


 

Nature of Beneficial Ownership


Directors and Executive Officers:

                 

J. Michael Womble (52)

     388,265      25.04   Includes 200 shares owned by Mr. Womble’s spouse as a joint tenant with his spouse’s parent. Also includes 174,000 shares that Mr. Womble has the right to acquire by exercising options and warrants that are exercisable within 60 days after the record date.

Johnny L. Blankenship (46)

     70,000      4.52   Includes 30,000 shares that Mr. Blankenship has the right to acquire by exercising warrants within 60 days after the record date.

William A. Carruth, Jr. (46)

     130,200      8.40   Includes 900 shares owned by Mr. Carruth’s spouse and 50,000 shares that Mr. Carruth has the right to acquire by exercising warrants within 60 days after the record date.

Harold T. Echols (52)

     35,400      2.28   Includes 15,000 shares that Mr. Echols has the right to acquire by exercising warrants within 60 days of the record date.

John F. Hall (40)

     16,067      1.07   Includes (a) 1,400 shares owned by the George H. Hall Family LP and (b) 10,667 shares that Mr. Hall has the right to acquire by exercising options that are exercisable within 60 days after the record date.

Kathy Hulsey (51)

     8,455      0.55   Includes 455 shares owned by Ms. Hulsey’s spouse and 5,000 shares that Ms. Hulsey has the right to acquire by exercising options that are exercisable within 60 days after the record date.

G. Wayne Kirby (66)

     36,500      2.35   Includes 1,500 shares owned by Mr. Mr. Kirby’s spouse and 15,000 shares Mr. Kirby has the right to acquire by exercising warrants within 60 days of the record date.

Claude K. Rainwater (66)

     35,600      2.30   Includes 15,000 shares Mr. Rainwater has the right to acquire by exercising warrants within 60 days of the record date.

James C. Scott, Jr. (59)

     67,500      4.35   Includes 10,000 shares owned by MATSCO, Inc., of which Mr. Scott is Executive Vice President and 25,000 shares Mr. Scott has the right to acquire by exercising warrants within 60 days of the record date.

Joey Tidwell (47)

     90,000      5.81    

Steve Chatham (43)

     11,150      0.72   Includes 10,000 shares Mr. Chatham has the right to acquire by exercising stock options within 60 days of the record date.
All directors and executive officers as a group (11 persons)      889,137      57.38(1)    

Additional 5% Shareholders:

                 

Wayne Tibbits

     62,500      5.2   Includes 10,000 shares owned by Mr. Tibbits’ spouse.

The Crestwood Suites Trust

     60,000      5.0    

(1) The total number of shares and percent of class assumes the exercise of all outstanding stock options and warrants exercisable within 60 days of the record date by all named executive officers and directors.

 

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The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s equity compensation plans under which shares of the Company’s common stock are authorized for issuance. The only equity compensation plan maintained by the Company is the West Metro Financial Services, Inc. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

    

Number of securities to be

issued upon exercise of
outstanding options


   

Weighted-average exercise

price of

outstanding options


  

Number of shares

remaining available for
future issuance under the

Plan (excludes

outstanding options)


Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   113,000     10.58    0

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   300,000 (1)   10.00    0

Total

   413,000     10.00    0

(1) Each of our organizing directors devoted substantial time and effort to the activities necessary to organize the Company and the Bank. Additionally, each of them agreed to guarantee indebtedness of the Company. In consideration of these efforts and in recognition of their financial risks, each of our organizing directors received a warrant to purchase a number of shares of common stock equal to the number of shares he or she purchased in the offering, up to an aggregate maximum of 300,000. Since our organizing directors purchased an aggregate of more than 300,000 shares in the initial public offering, the aggregate maximum number of shares subject to the warrants was allocated among our organizing directors on a pro rata basis based on the number of shares the director purchased in the initial public.

 

ITEM 12. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

Our directors, officers and their affiliates, including members of their families or businesses and other organizations with which they are associated, make banking and other transactions in the ordinary course of business with the Bank. It is the policy of the Bank that any loans or other transactions with those persons or entities (a) are made in accordance with applicable law and the Bank’s lending policies, (b) are made on substantially the same terms, including price, interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other unrelated parties of similar standing, and (c) are not expected to involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features to the Company and the Bank. In addition, all transactions with our directors, officers and their affiliates are on terms no less favorable than could be obtained from an unaffiliated third party, and must be approved by a majority of our directors, including a majority of the directors who do not have an interest in the transaction.

 

In addition to the transactions in the ordinary course of business, we have entered into the following transactions with the directors indicated:

 

    Grading of Main Office Site. We employed Aiken Grading Company to provide grading services for our main office site. William A. Carruth, Jr., our Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, is president and owner of Aiken Grading. We paid Aiken Grading $146,521 for these services. We believe that the price of the grading services provided by Aiken Grading was no more expensive than what we could have obtained from an unrelated third party.

 

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    Paving of Main Office Site. We employed C.W. Mathews Contracting Company to pave our main office site. James C. Scott, one of our directors serves as executive vice president of MATSCO, Inc., the parent company of C.W. Mathews. We paid C.W. Mathews $62,589 to pave our main office site and an additional $49,871 for paving at 68 First National Drive. We do not believe that we could have received a better price from an unrelated third party.

 

ITEM 13. EXHIBITS, LISTS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

(a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number


 

Exhibit


2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 15, 2005 by and between First Horizon National Corporation and West Metro Financial Services, Inc. (incorporated by reference as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K (File No. 333-67494) filed with the Commission on March 15, 2005).
3.1   Articles of Incorporation(1)
3.2   Bylaws(1)
4.1   Specimen Common Stock Certificate(1)
4.2   See Exhibits 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 for provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws defining rights of holders of the Common Stock
10.1   Purchase Agreement by and between West Metro Financial Services, Inc. and J. Michael Womble and Thomas Aiken dated May 30, 2001 (permanent facility)(1)
10.2   Purchase Agreement by and between West Metro Financial Services, Inc. and Southern Bank Supplies, Inc. dated August 21, 2001 (temporary facility)(3)
10.3   Form of West Metro Financial Services, Inc. Organizers’ Warrant Agreement(1)
10.4   West Metro Financial Services, Inc. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan(1) (2)
10.5  

Form of Non-Qualified Option and form of an Incentive Stock

Option(1) (2)

10.6   Employment Agreement dated as of June 1, 2001 by and among First National Bank West Metro (In Organization), West Metro Financial Services, Inc. and J. Michael Womble(1) (2)
10.7   Employment Agreement dated as of June 29, 2001 by and among First National Bank West Metro (In Organization), West Metro Financial Services, Inc. and Kathy Hulsey(1) (2)

 

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Exhibit

Number


 

Exhibit


10.8   Amended Employment Agreement dated as of January 1, 2004 by and among First National Bank West Metro, West Metro Financial Services, Inc. and J. Michael Womble (incorporated by referenced as Exhibit 10.8 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 333-67494) filed with the Commission on March 30, 2004)(2).
10.9   Employment Agreement dated as of March 4, 2004 by and among First National Bank West Metro, West Metro Financial Services, Inc. and Steve Chatham (incorporated by referenced as Exhibit 10.9 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 333-67494) filed with the Commission on March 30, 2004)(2).
10.10   Employment Agreement dated as of February 10, 2004 by and among First National Bank West Metro, West Metro Financial Services, Inc. and John F. Hall (incorporated by referenced as Exhibit 10.10 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 333-67494) filed with the Commission on March 30, 2004)(2).
13.1   West Metro Financial Services Inc. Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2004
22.1   Subsidiaries of Registrant.
24.1   Power of Attorney (appears on the signature pages to this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB)
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.1   N/A

(1) Previously filed as an exhibit of the same number to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (Registration No. 333-67494), as filed with the SEC on August 14, 2001.
(2) Indicates a compensatory plan or contract.
(3) Previously filed as an exhibit of the same number to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (Registration No. 333-67494), as filed with the SEC on September 26, 2001.

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED WITH REPORTS FILED

PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT BY NON-REPORTING ISSUERS.

 

The Company has not sent to security holders an annual report or proxy statement as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB. The Registrant expects to provide proxy materials to its shareholders in connection with a special meeting of shareholders for approval of the merger of Registrant with and into First Horizon National Corp. pursuant to the definitive agreement dated March 16, 2005.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

The following table sets forth the fees billed to the Company for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 by Porter Keadle Moore, LLP:

 

     2004

   2003

Audit fees

   $ 55,526    36,565

Audit-related fees

     —      —  

Tax fees

     5,300    6,100

All other fees

     —      18,000
    

  

Total Fees

   $ 60,826    60,665
    

  

 

Audit Fees

 

Audit fees represent fees billed by PKM for professional services rendered in connection with the (1) audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for 2004 and 2003, and (2) review of the financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly filings on Form 10-QSB and annual filings on Form 10-KSB.

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

PKM billed no fees for audit-related services during 2004 or 2003.

 

Tax Fees

 

Tax fees represent the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by PKM for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.

 

All Other Fees

 

Other fees during 2003 were billed for outsourced internal audit procedures as pre-approved by the Audit and Compliance Committee. No such fees were billed in 2004.

 

The fees billed by PKM are pre-approved by the Audit and Compliance Committee of the Company in accordance with the policies and procedures for the Audit and Compliance Committee. The Audit and Compliance Committee pre-approves all audit and non-audit services provided by the Company’s independent auditors and may not engage the independent auditors to perform any prohibited non-audit services. For 2004, 100% of the fees incurred were pre-approved.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

WEST METRO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
By:  

/s/ J. Michael Womble


    J. Michael Womble
    President and Chief Executive Officer
Date:   March 26, 2005

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears on the signature page to this Report constitutes and appoints J. Michael Womble and William A. Carruth, Jr., his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Report, and to file the same, with all exhibits hereto, and other documents in connection herewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Company and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature


    

Title


 

Date


/s/ J. Michael Womble


J. Michael Womble*

    

President, Chief Executive

Officer and Chairman of the

Board of Directors

  March 25, 2005

/s/ Johnny L. Blankenship


Johnny L. Blankenship

     Director   March 25, 2005

 

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Signature


    

Title


 

Date


/s/ William A. Carruth, Jr.


William A. Carruth, Jr.

     Director   March 25, 2005

/s/ Harold T. Echols


Harold T. Echols

     Director   March 25, 2005

/s/ John F. Hall


John F. Hall

     Director   March 25, 2005

/s/ Kathy Hulsey


Kathy Hulsey**

     Chief Financial Officer   March 25, 2005

/s/ G. Wayne Kirby


G. Wayne Kirby

     Director   March 25, 2005

/s/ Claude K. Rainwater, Jr.


Claude K. Rainwater, Jr.

     Director   March 25, 2005

/s/ James C. Scott, Jr.


James C. Scott, Jr.

     Director   March 25, 2005

/s/ Joey Tidwell


Joey Tidwell

     Director   March 25, 2005

* Principal executive officer.
** Principal financial and accounting officer.

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number


 

Exhibit


2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 15, 2005 by and between First Horizon National Corporation and West Metro Financial Services, Inc. (incorporated by reference as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K (File No. 333-67494) filed with the Commission on March 15, 2005).
3.1   Articles of Incorporation(1)
3.2   Bylaws(1)
4.1   Specimen Common Stock Certificate(1)
4.2   See Exhibits 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 for provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws defining rights of holders of the Common Stock
10.1   Purchase Agreement by and between West Metro Financial Services, Inc. and J. Michael Womble and Thomas Aiken dated May 30, 2001 (permanent facility)(1)
10.2   Purchase Agreement by and between West Metro Financial Services, Inc. and Southern Bank Supplies, Inc. dated August 21, 2001 (temporary facility)(3)
10.3   Form of West Metro Financial Services, Inc. Organizers’ Warrant Agreement(1)
10.4   West Metro Financial Services, Inc. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan(1) (2)
10.5  

Form of Non-Qualified Option and form of an Incentive Stock

Option(1) (2)

10.6   Employment Agreement dated as of June 1, 2001 by and among First National Bank West Metro (In Organization), West Metro Financial Services, Inc. and J. Michael Womble(1) (2)
10.7   Employment Agreement dated as of June 29, 2001 by and among First National Bank West Metro (In Organization), West Metro Financial Services, Inc. and Kathy Hulsey(1) (2)
10.9   Employment Agreement dated as of March 4, 2004 by and among First National Bank West Metro, West Metro Financial Services, Inc. and Steve Chatham (incorporated by referenced as Exhibit 10.9 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 333-67494) filed with the Commission on March 30, 2004)(2).


Table of Contents

Exhibit

Number


  

Exhibit


10.10    Employment Agreement dated as of February 10, 2004 by and among First National Bank West Metro, West Metro Financial Services, Inc. and John F. Hall (incorporated by referenced as Exhibit 10.10 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 333-67494) filed with the Commission on March 30, 2004)(2).
13.1    West Metro Financial Services Inc. Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2004
22.1    Subsidiaries of Registrant.
24.1    Power of Attorney (appears on the signature pages to this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB)
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.1    N/A

(1) Previously filed as an exhibit of the same number to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (Registration No. 333-67494), as filed with the SEC on August 14, 2001.
(2) Indicates a compensatory plan or contract.
(3) Previously filed as an exhibit of the same number to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (Registration No. 333-67494), as filed with the SEC on September 26, 2001.