VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (VIE)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (VIE)

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES ("VIE")

The Company is involved with VIEs through its loan securitization activities. The Company evaluated its association with VIEs for consolidation purposes. Specifically, a VIE is to be consolidated by its primary beneficiary, the entity that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE and a variable interest that could potentially be significant to the VIE. A variable interest is a contractual, ownership or other interest whose value fluctuates with the changes in the value of the VIE's assets and liabilities. The assessment includes an evaluation of the Company's continuing involvement with the VIE and the nature and significance of its variable interests.

Multifamily loan securitization

With respect to the securitization transaction with Freddie Mac which settled September 27, 2017, the Company's variable interests reside with a reimbursement agreement entered into with Freddie Mac that obligates the Bank to reimburse Freddie Mac for any defaulted contractual principal and interest payments identified after the ultimate resolution of the defaulted loans. Such reimbursement obligations are not to exceed 10% of the original principal amount of the loans comprising the securitization pool. As part of the securitization transaction, the Bank released all servicing obligations and rights to Freddie Mac who was designated as the Master Servicer. As Master Servicer, Freddie Mac appointed the Bank with sub-servicing obligations, which include obligations to collect and remit payments of principal and interest, manage payments of taxes and insurance, and otherwise administer the underlying loans. The servicing of defaulted loans and foreclosed loans was assigned to a separate third party entity, independent of the Bank and Freddie Mac. Freddie Mac, in its capacity as Master Servicer, can terminate the Bank in its role as sub-servicer and direct such responsibilities accordingly. In evaluating the variable interests and continuing involvement in the VIE, the Company determined that it does not have the power to make significant decisions or direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE's assets and liabilities. As sub-servicer of the loans, the Bank does not have the authority to make significant decisions that influence the value of the VIE's net assets and therefore, is not the primary beneficiary of the VIE. Therefore, the Company determined that the VIE associated with the multifamily securitization should not be included in the consolidated financial statements of the Bank.

The Company believes its maximum exposure to loss as a result of involvement with the VIE associated with the securitization under the reimbursement agreement executed with Freddie Mac is 10% of the original principal amount of the loans comprising the securitization pool, or $62.6 million. The reserve for estimated losses with respect to the reimbursement obligation totaled $959 thousand and $1.0 million as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, based upon an analysis of quantitative and qualitative data over the underlying loans included in the securitization pool. No disbursements have been made in connection with the reimbursement obligation. As of June 30, 2020, four loans with an aggregate

principal balance of $5.6 million, or 2.1% of the aggregate remaining loan balance in the securitization pool, had been modified for payment deferral related to the COVID-19 pandemic. See Note 2 for additional information.