10-Q 1 tenq.htm Converted by EDGARwiz





UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2005

 

[   ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission File Number: 0-12507

 

ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

New York

 

22-2448962

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(IRS Employer Identification

incorporation or organization)

 

Number)

 

250 GLEN STREET, GLENS FALLS, NEW YORK 12801

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   (518) 745-1000

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

Yes    X        No        

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Yes    X        No        

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Yes              No    X   

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

   

Outstanding as of October 31, 2005

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share

   

10,355,194




1







ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q

September 30, 2005


INDEX



PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Page

Item 1.

Financial Statements:

 
 

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

    as of September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004


3

 

Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)

    for the Three Month and Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2005 and 2004


4

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity (unaudited)

    for the Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2005 and 2004


5

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

    for the Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2005 and 2004


7

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements


8

 

Independent Auditors’ Review Report


11

Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of

   Financial Condition and Results of Operations


12

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk


37

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures


38

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1

Legal Proceedings


38

Item 2

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds


38

Item 3

Defaults Upon Senior Securities


38

Item 4

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders


39

Item 5

Other Information


39

Item 6

Exhibits


39

SIGNATURES


39




2






ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in Thousands) (Unaudited)


 

September 30,

2005   

December 31,

2004      

ASSETS

  

Cash and Due from Banks

$    41,432 

$    29,805 

Federal Funds Sold

             --- 

        7,000 

  Cash and Cash Equivalents

      41,432 

      36,805 

Securities Available-for-Sale

306,499 

325,248 

Securities Held-to-Maturity  (Approximate Fair

   Value of $114,250 at September 30, 2005 and $110,341 at December 31, 2004)

112,823 

108,117 

Loans

981,331 

875,311 

  Allowance for Loan Losses

     (12,212)

     (12,046)

     Net Loans

969,119 

863,265 

Premises and Equipment, Net

 15,200 

 14,939 

Other Real Estate and Repossessed Assets, Net

241 

 136 

Goodwill

14,359 

10,717 

Other Intangible Assets, Net

3,021 

1,019 

Other Assets

      21,417 

      17,703 

      Total Assets

$1,484,111 

$1,377,949 

LIABILITIES          

  

Deposits:            

  

  Demand

$  184,221 

$  167,667 

  Regular Savings, N.O.W. & Money Market Deposit Accounts

619,996 

607,820 

  Time Deposits of $100,000 or More

128,933 

 85,906 

  Other Time Deposits

     205,857 

     170,887 

      Total Deposits

  1,139,007 

  1,032,280 

Short-Term Borrowings:

  

  Federal Funds Purchased and Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase

58,363 

42,256 

  Other Short-Term Borrowings

 1,231 

 1,720 

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances

131,500 

150,000 

Junior Subordinated Obligations Issued to Unconsolidated Subsidiary Trusts

20,000 

20,000 

Other Liabilities

      17,993 

      13,659 

      Total Liabilities

 1,368,094 

 1,259,915 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

  

Preferred Stock, $5 Par Value; 1,000,000 Shares Authorized

--- 

--- 

Common Stock, $1 Par Value; 20,000,000 Shares Authorized

   (13,883,064 Shares Issued at September 30, 2005 and 13,478,703 Shares Issued

   at December 31, 2004)

13,883 

13,479 

Surplus

139,187 

127,312 

Undivided Profits

19,195 

23,356 

Unallocated ESOP Shares (83,621 Shares at September 30, 2005

    and 93,273 Shares at December 31, 2004)

(1,182)

(1,358)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income

 (3,583)

 429 

Treasury Stock, at Cost (3,438,290 Shares at September 30,    

  2005 and 3,189,485 Shares at December 31, 2004)

      (51,483)

      (45,184)

      Total Shareholders’ Equity

     116,017 

     118,034 

      Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

$1,484,111 

$1,377,949 









See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.



3






ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)(Unaudited)


 

Three Months

Nine Months

 

Ended September 30,

Ended September 30,

 

2005

2004

2005

2004

INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME

    

Interest and Fees on Loans

$14,077

$12,645 

$39,784

$37,923 

Interest on Federal Funds Sold

 6

 5 

50

67 

Interest and Dividends on Securities Available-for-Sale

3,203

3,414 

10,110

10,452 

Interest on Securities Held-to-Maturity

   1,008

      974 

   2,993

   2,960 

Total Interest and Dividend Income

 18,294

 17,038 

 52,937

 51,402 

     

INTEREST EXPENSE

    

Interest on Deposits:

    

Time Deposits of $100,000 or More

1,014

 387 

2,680

1,086 

Other Deposits

3,099

2,140 

 8,222

 7,536 

Interest on Short-Term Borrowings:  

    

Federal Funds Purchased and Securities Sold   

    

Under Agreements to Repurchase

215

125 

476

249 

Other Short-Term Borrowings

5

13

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances

 1,518

1,597 

4,573

4,755 

Junior Subordinated Obligations Issued to Unconsolidated

   Subsidiary Trusts

      307

      286 

      878

    854 

Total Interest Expense

   6,158

   4,536 

 16,842

 14,485 

NET INTEREST INCOME

12,136

12,502 

36,095

36,917 

Provision for Loan Losses

      218

      205 

      626

     744 

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER

    

  PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES

 11,918

 12,297 

 35,469

 36,173 

     

OTHER INCOME

    

Income from Fiduciary Activities

1,147

1,112 

3,435

3,228 

Fees for Other Services to Customers

2,012

1,914 

5,560

5,498 

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities Transactions

151

(9)

340

201 

Insurance Commissions

449

1,332

19 

Other Operating Income

      323

      241 

       591

      679 

Total Other Income

   4,082

   3,266 

  11,258

   9,625 

     

OTHER EXPENSE  

    

Salaries and Employee Benefits

5,195

5,059 

15,538

14,642 

Occupancy Expense of Premises, Net

761

674 

2,225

2,068 

Furniture and Equipment Expense

760

655 

2,271

2,044 

Other Operating Expense

   2,285

   1,902 

   6,627

   5,835 

Total Other Expense

   9,001

   8,290 

 26,661

 24,589 

     

INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

6,999

7,273 

20,066

21,209 

Provision for Income Taxes

   2,160

   2,305 

   6,117

   6,678 

NET INCOME

$ 4,839

$ 4,968 

 $13,949

$14,531 

     

Average Shares Outstanding:

    

  Basic

10,390

10,411

10,439

10,419

  Diluted

10,563

10,652

10,627

10,662

     

Per Common Share:   

    

  Basic Earnings

$    .47

$    .48

$   1.34

$   1.39

  Diluted Earnings

    .46

    .47

 1.31

 1.36


Share and Per Share amounts have been restated for the September 2005 3% stock dividend.

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.



4






ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)


 

Shares

Issued

Common

Stock

Surplus

Undivided

Profits

Unallo-

cated

ESOP

Shares

Accumulated

Other Com-

prehensive

(Loss)

Income

Treasury

Stock

Total

Balance at December 31, 2004

13,478,703 

$13,479 

$127,312 

$23,356 

$(1,358)

$    429 

$(45,184)

$118,034 

Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax:

        

  Net Income

--- 

--- 

--- 

13,949 

--- 

--- 

--- 

    13,949 

  Increase in Additional Pension

    Liability Over Unrecognized

    Prior Service Cost (Pre-tax $570)

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

(343)

--- 

(343)

  Net Unrealized Securities Holding

    Losses Arising During the Period,

    Net of Tax (Pre-tax $5,763)

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

(3,465)

--- 

(3,465)

  Reclassification Adjustment for

    Net Securities Gains Included in

    Net Income, Net of Tax

    (Pre-tax $340)

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

  (204)

--- 

       (204)

      Other Comprehensive Loss

       

    (4,012)

        Comprehensive Income

       

     9,937 

         

3% Stock Dividend

404,361 

404 

10,631 

(11,035)

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

Cash Dividends Declared,

  $.68 per Share

--- 

--- 

--- 

(7,075)

--- 

--- 

--- 

(7,075)

Stock Options Exercised

  (95,449 Shares)

--- 

--- 

 116 

--- 

--- 

--- 

860 

976 

Shares Issued Under the Directors’

  Stock Purchase Plan (2,264

  Shares)

--- 

--- 

40 

--- 

--- 

--- 

20 

60 

Shares Issued Under the Employee

  Stock Purchase Plan (16,786

  Shares)

--- 

--- 

285 

--- 

--- 

--- 

150 

435 

Tax Benefit for Exercise of

  Stock Options

--- 

--- 

637 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

637 

Allocation of ESOP Stock

  (12,088 Shares)

--- 

--- 

166 

--- 

176 

--- 

--- 

342 

Purchase of Treasury Stock

  (263,159 Shares)

              --- 

         --- 

           --- 

         --- 

        --- 

        --- 

    (7,329)

    (7,329)

Balance at September 30, 2005

13,883,064 

$13,883 

$139,187 

$19,195 

$(1,182)

$(3,583)

$(51,483)

$116,017 


        



Cash dividends declared have been adjusted for the September 2005 3% stock dividend.

Included in the shares issued for the 3% stock dividend in 2005 were treasury shares of 100,545 and unallocated ESOP shares of 2,436.


























See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.



5






ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)


 

Shares

Issued

Common

Stock

Surplus

Undivided

Profits

Unallo-

cated

ESOP

Shares

Accumulated

Other Com-

prehensive

(Loss)

 Income

Treasury

Stock

Total

Balance at December 31, 2003

13,086,119 

$13,086 

$113,335 

$24,303 

$(1,769)

$ 1,084 

$(44,174)

$105,865 

Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax:

        

  Net Income

--- 

--- 

--- 

14,531 

--- 

--- 

--- 

14,531 

  Increase in Additional Pension

    Liability Over Unrecognized

    Prior Service Cost (Pre-tax $40)

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

(24)

--- 

(24)

  Net Unrealized Securities Holding

    Losses Arising During the Period,

    Net of Tax (Pre-tax $444)

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

(267)

--- 

(267)

  Reclassification Adjustment for

    Net Securities Gains Included in

    Net Income, Net of Tax

    (Pre-tax $201)

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

  (121)

--- 

      (121)

      Other Comprehensive Loss

       

      (412)

        Comprehensive Income

       

  14,119 

         

3% Stock Dividend

392,584 

393 

11,032 

(11,425)

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

Cash Dividends Declared,

  $.64 per Share

--- 

--- 

--- 

(6,663)

--- 

--- 

--- 

(6,663)

Stock Options Exercised

  (78,810 Shares)

--- 

--- 

 133 

--- 

--- 

--- 

600 

733 

Shares Issued Under the Employee

  Stock Purchase Plan (18,633

  Shares)

--- 

--- 

298 

--- 

--- 

--- 

143 

441 

Shares Issued Under the Directors’

  Stock Plan (1,242 Shares)

--- 

--- 

26 

--- 

--- 

--- 

10 

36 

Tax Benefit for Disposition of

  Stock Options

--- 

--- 

249 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

249 

Allocation of ESOP Stock

  (18,889 Shares)

--- 

--- 

254 

--- 

267 

--- 

--- 

521 

Purchase of Treasury Stock

  (79,515 Shares)

              --- 

         --- 

           --- 

         --- 

        --- 

       --- 

    (2,150)

    (2,150)

Balance at September 30, 2004

13,478,703 

$13,479 

$125,327 

$20,746 

$(1,502)

$   672 

$(45,571)

$113,151 































Share and Per Share amounts have been restated for the September 2005 3% stock dividend.

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.



6






ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in Thousands)(Unaudited)

 

Nine Months

 

Ended September 30,

 

2005

2004

Operating Activities:

  

Net Income

$ 13,949 

 $ 14,531 

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash

  

Provided by Operating Activities:

  

Provision for Loan Losses

  626 

  744 

Depreciation and Amortization

2,174 

2,378 

Compensation Expense for Allocated ESOP Shares

166 

254 

Gains on the Sale of Securities Available-for-Sale

(347)

(363)

Losses on the Sale of Securities Available-for-Sale

 7 

 162 

Loans Originated and Held-for-Sale

(7,554)

(9,801)

Proceeds from the Sale of Loans Held-for-Sale

8,067 

10,355 

Net Gains on the Sale of Loans, Premises and Equipment,

  

Other Real Estate Owned and Repossessed Assets

(90)

(103)

Increase in Deferred Tax Assets

(47)

(47)

Shares Issued Under the Directors’ Stock Plan

60 

   35 

Decrease (Increase) in Interest Receivable

(532)

 87 

Increase (Decrease) in Interest Payable

   267 

   (127)

Increase in Other Assets

(942)

(843)

Increase in Other Liabilities

     4,296 

       839 

Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities

  20,100 

  18,101 

Investing Activities:

  

Proceeds from the Sale of Securities Available-for-Sale

   44,222 

   34,595 

Proceeds from the Maturities and Calls of Securities Available-for-Sale

   23,715 

   47,196 

Purchases of Securities Available-for-Sale

 (55,769)

 (57,666)

Proceeds from the Maturities of Securities Held-to-Maturity

   7,489 

   4,539 

Purchases of Securities Held-to-Maturity

 (12,345)

 (8,176)

Net Increase in Loans

  (99,215)

  (23,351)

Proceeds from the Sales of Premises and Equipment,

Other Real Estate Owned and Repossessed Assets

     571 

     678 

Purchases of Premises and Equipment

      (678)

  (1,695)

Net Cash Used In Investing Activities

 (92,010)

  (3,880)

Financing Activities:

  

Net Increase in Deposits

44,515 

 3,975 

Net Increase in Short-Term Borrowings

  15,618 

   9,101 

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances

91,500 

59,800 

Federal Home Loan Bank Repayments

(110,000)

(70,000)

Net Increase from Branch Acquisitions

47,084 

     --- 

Tax Benefit from Exercise of Stock Options

637 

249 

Purchases of Treasury Stock

(7,329)

(2,150)

Treasury Stock Issued for Stock-Based Plans

   1,411 

   1,175 

Allocation of ESOP Shares

     176 

     267 

Cash Dividends Paid

  (7,075)          (6,663)

  (6,663)   (6,663)

Net Cash (Used In) Provided By Financing Activities

 76,537 

  (4,246)

Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents

4,627 

9,975 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

 36,805 

 33,326 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

$41,432 

$43,301 

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

  

Interest Paid

 $16,575 

 $14,612 

Income Taxes Paid

   3,086 

   5,837 

Transfer of Loans to Other Real Estate Owned and Repossessed Assets

     698 

     690 

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.




7






ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2005



1.   Financial Statement Presentation   


In the opinion of the management of Arrow Financial Corporation (Arrow), the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements contain all of the adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position as of September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004; the results of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004; the changes in shareholders’ equity for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004; and the cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004.  All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.  The unaudited consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual consolidated financial statements of Arrow for the year ended December 31, 2004, included in Arrow’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K.



2.   Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income (In Thousands)


The following table presents the components, net of tax, of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income as of September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004:


 

2005

2004

Excess of Additional Pension Liability Over Unrecognized Prior Service Cost

$   (693)

$(351)

Net Unrealized Holding (Losses) Gains on Securities Available-for-Sale

  (2,890)

   780 

  Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income

$(3,583)

$ 429 



3.   Earnings Per Common Share (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)


The following table presents a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share (EPS) for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004:


 

Income

Shares

Per Share

 

(Numerator)

(Denominator)

Amount

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2005:

   

Basic EPS

$4,839

 10,390

$.47

Dilutive Effect of Stock Options

      ---

    173

 

Diluted EPS

$4,839

10,563

$.46

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2004:

   

Basic EPS

$4,968

 10,411

$.48

Dilutive Effect of Stock Options

      ---

    241

 

Diluted EPS

$4,968

10,652

$.47


 

Income

Shares

Per Share

 

(Numerator)

(Denominator)

Amount

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005:

   

Basic EPS

$13,949

 10,439

$1.34

Dilutive Effect of Stock Options

         ---

    188

 

Diluted EPS

$13,949

10,627

$1.31

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004:

   

Basic EPS

$14,531

 10,419

$1.39

Dilutive Effect of Stock Options

         ---

    243

 

Diluted EPS

$14,531

10,662

$1.36




8






4.   Stock-Based Compensation Plans


As allowed by SFAS No. 123, “Share-Based Payment,” Arrow accounts for its stock-based compensation plans under the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations.  No stock-based employee compensation cost has been reflected in net income for stock awards granted under these plans (other than for certain stock appreciation rights attached to options granted in 1992 and earlier, all of which have been exercised as of January 2002), as all awards granted under these plans have been options having an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.  However, options granted do generally impact diluted earnings per share by increasing the weighted average diluted shares outstanding and thereby decreasing diluted earnings per share as compared to basic earnings per share.


There were no options granted in the first nine months of 2005.  The weighted-average fair value of options granted during 2004 was $8.01 per option.  The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions used for grants in 2004: dividend yield of 2.88%; expected volatility of 28.4%; risk free interest rate of 3.78%; and expected lives of 7.0 years.  Arrow also sponsors an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) under which employees purchased Arrow’s common stock at a 15% discount below market price at the time of purchase for the first two months of 2005 and prior to then.  This discount was changed to 5% discount below market price for all subsequent purchases.  Under APB 25, a plan with a discount of 15% or less is not considered compensatory and expense is not recognized.  Under SFAS No. 123, however, a stock purchase plan with a discount in excess of 5% is considered a compensatory plan and thus the ESPP was considered a compensatory plan for the first two months of 2005, and the entire discount for that period was considered compensation expense in the pro forma disclosures set forth below.  The effects of applying SFAS No. 123 on pro forma net income in the recently completed period may not be representative of the effects on pro forma net income for future periods.  


The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if we had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to stock-based employee compensation plans.


 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

2005

2004

2005

2004

Net Income, as Reported

$4,839

$4,968

$13,949

$14,531

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

   (134)

   (133)

   (419)

   (405)

Pro Forma Net Income

$4,705

$4,835

$13,530

$14,126

     

Earnings per Share:

    

  Basic - as Reported

$.47

$.48

$1.34

$1.39

  Basic - Pro Forma

.45

.46

1.30

1.35

  Diluted - as Reported

.46

.47

1.31

1.36

  Diluted - Pro Forma

.45

.45

1.27

1.32


In December 2004, the FASB issued a revised SFAS No. 123 (SFAS No. 123R), “Share-Based Payment.”  SFAS No. 123R requires that we measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award on the grant date.  That cost will be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award (i.e. the vesting period), which is typically four years for Arrow.  In a press release dated April 14, 2005, the SEC delayed the effective date of SFAS No. 123R to the first quarter of 2006.  




9






5.   Guarantees


Arrow does not issue any guarantees that would require liability-recognition or disclosure, other than its standby letters of credit.  Standby and other letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by Arrow to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party.  Those guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements, including bond financing and similar transactions.  The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers.  Typically, these instruments have terms of twelve months or less.  Some expire unused, and therefore, the total amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.  Some have automatic renewal provisions.


For letters of credit, the amount of the collateral obtained, if any, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the counter-party.   Arrow had approximately $3.3 million of standby letters of credit on September 30, 2005, most of which will expire within one year and some of which were not collateralized.  At that date, all the letters of credit were for private borrowing arrangements.  The fair value of the Arrow’s standby letters of credit at September 30, 2005 was insignificant.


6.   Retirement Plans (In Thousands)


The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit costs for the three months ended September 30:


 

Pension

Benefits

Postretirement

Benefits

 

2005

2004

2005

2004

Service Cost

$355 

$246 

$  1 

$ 62 

Interest Cost

488 

346 

  2 

174 

Expected Return on Plan Assets

(734)

(527)

--- 

--- 

Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)

(43)

32 

--- 

17 

Amortization of Transition Obligation

--- 

--- 

--- 

63 

Amortization of Net Loss

  114 

   16 

  --- 

   43 

  Net Periodic Benefit Cost

$180 

$113 

$  3 

$359 

     


The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit costs for the nine months ended September 30:


 

Pension

Benefits

Postretirement

Benefits

 

2005

2004

2005

2004

Service Cost

$1,152 

$  738 

$ 90 

$150 

Interest Cost

1,583 

1,038 

223 

368 

Expected Return on Plan Assets

(2,385)

(1,581)

--- 

--- 

Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)

(140)

96 

(11)

(17)

Amortization of Transition Obligation

--- 

--- 

50 

83 

Amortization of Net Loss

    371 

      48 

   81 

  135 

  Net Periodic Benefit Cost

$  581 

$  339 

$433 

$719 

     


We previously disclosed in our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2004 that we do not expect to make a contribution to the qualified defined benefit pension plan during 2005.  However, in the second quarter of 2005 we determined that it was appropriate to contribute approximately $792 thousand to the plan, the maximum actuarially recommended contribution for the 2005 plan year.  


In December 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the Act) became law in the United States, however, final regulations were not issued until January 2005.  The Act introduced a prescription drug benefit under Medicare as well as a federal subsidy to sponsors of retiree health care benefit plans that provide a benefit that is at least actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D under the Act.  The measures of the accumulated non-pension postretirement benefit obligation at September 30, 2005 and net periodic non-pension postretirement benefit cost for the third quarter of 2005 reflect the benefit associated with the subsidy.




10






7.   Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements


In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46 (“FIN 46”), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities”.  The objective of this interpretation was to provide guidance on how to identify a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and determine when the assets, liabilities, non-controlling interests, and results of operations of a VIE need to be included in a company’s consolidated financial statements.  FIN 46 was effective for all VIE’s created after January 31, 2003.  However, the FASB postponed that effective date to December 31, 2003.  In December 2003, the FASB issued a revised FIN 46 (FIN 46 R), which further delayed this effective date until March 31, 2004 for VIE’s created prior to February 1, 2003, except for special purpose entities, which were required to adopt either FIN 46 or FIN 46 R as of December 31, 2003.  The requirements of FIN 46 R resulted in the deconsolidation of our wholly-owned subsidiary trusts, formed to issue redeemable preferred securities (“trust preferred securities”) to the public, the proceeds of which are used by the trust to acquire subordinated debt of Arrow.  Under final rules issued February 28, 2005 by the Federal Reserve Board, trust preferred securities may continue to qualify as Tier 1 capital for bank regulatory purposes, in an amount not to exceed 25% of Tier 1 capital.  The final rule limits restricted core capital elements to a percentage of the sum of core capital elements, net of goodwill less any associated deferred tax liability.  We have issued trust preferred securities in 2003 and 2004 totaling $20 million.  Up to half of total capital may consist of so-called "Tier 2" capital, comprising a limited amount of subordinated debt, preferred stock not qualifying as Tier 1 capital, certain other instruments and a limited amount of the allowance for loan losses.


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Arrow Financial Corporation:


We have reviewed the consolidated balance sheet of Arrow Financial Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2005 and the related consolidated statements of income for the three-month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, and the consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004.  These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.


We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters.  It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole.  Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.


Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.


We have previously audited, in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Arrow Financial Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated March 7, 2005, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.  In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2004, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.



/s/ KPMG LLP


Albany, New York

November 9, 2005






11






Item 2.

ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2005


Note on Terminology - In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the terms “Arrow,” “the registrant,” “we,” “us,” and “our” generally refer to Arrow Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries, as a group, except where the context indicates otherwise.  Arrow is a two-bank holding company headquartered in Glens Falls, New York.  Our banking subsidiaries are Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company whose main office is located in Glens Falls, New York, and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company whose main office is located in Saratoga Springs, New York.


At certain points in this Report, our performance is compared with that of our “peer group” of financial institutions.  Peer data has been obtained from the Federal Reserve Board’s June 2005 “Bank Holding Company Performance Report.”  Unless otherwise specifically stated, our peer group is comprised of the group of the 223 domestic bank holding companies identified in that report having from $1 to $3 billion in total consolidated assets.


Forward Looking Statements - The information contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains statements that are not historical in nature but rather are based on our beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections about the future.  These statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and involve a degree of uncertainty and attendant risk.  Words such as “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates” and variations of such words and similar expressions often identify such forward-looking statements.  Some of these statements, such as those included in the interest rate sensitivity analysis in Item 3, entitled “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” are merely presentations of what future performance or changes in future performance would look like based on hypothetical assumptions and on simulation models.  Other forward-looking statements are based on our general perceptions of market conditions and trends in activity, both locally and nationally, as well as current management strategies for future operations and development.


Certain forward-looking statements in this Report are referenced in the table below:


Topic

Page

Location

Impact of changing interest rates

22

Last paragraph

 

25

First paragraph

 

25

Last paragraph

 

34

First paragraph

 

37

Fifth paragraph

Impact of competition for indirect loans

24

Third paragraph

Expected demand for residential real estate loans

24

Fourth paragraph

Liquidity

29

Last paragraph

Impact of acquisitions

36

Second paragraph


These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to quantify or, in some cases, to identify.  In the case of all forward-looking statements, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what the statements predict or forecast.  


Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, unexpected changes in economic and market conditions, including unanticipated developments in interest rates generally, including changes in the yield curve; sudden changes in consumer spending or consumer confidence; new developments in state and federal regulation; enhanced competition from unforeseen sources; new emerging technologies; unexpected loss of our key personnel; unanticipated market or business opportunities for us; and similar uncertainties inherent in banking operations or business generally.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.  We undertake no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.  This Quarterly Report should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for December 31, 2004.




12






USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES


The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adopted Regulation G, which applies to all public disclosures, including earnings releases, made by registered companies that contain “non-GAAP financial measures.”  GAAP is generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.  Under Regulation G, companies making disclosures containing non-GAAP financial measures must also disclose, along with each non-GAAP financial measure, certain additional information, including a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the closest comparable GAAP financial measure and a statement of the company’s reasons for utilizing the non-GAAP financial measure as part of its financial disclosures.  At the same time that the SEC issued Regulation G, it also made amendments to Item 10 of Regulation S-K, requiring companies to make the same types of supplemental disclosures whenever they include non-GAAP financial measures in their filings with the SEC.  The SEC has exempted from the definition of “non-GAAP financial measures” certain specific types of commonly used financial measures that are not based on GAAP.  When these exempted measures are included in public disclosures or SEC filings, supplemental information is not required.  The following measures used in this Report which have not been specifically exempted by the SEC may nevertheless constitute "non-GAAP financial measures" within the meaning of the SEC's new rules, although we are unable to state with certainty that the SEC would so regard them.


Tax-Equivalent Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin: Net interest income, as a component of the tabular presentation by financial institutions of Selected Financial Information regarding their recently completed operations, is commonly presented on a tax-equivalent basis.  That is, to the extent that some component of the institution's net interest income will be exempt from taxation (e.g., was received by the institution as a result of its holdings of state or municipal obligations), an amount equal to the tax benefit derived from that component is added back to the net interest income total.  This adjustment is considered helpful in comparing one financial institution's net interest income (pre-tax) to that of another institution, as each will have a different proportion of tax-exempt items in their portfolios.  Moreover, net interest income is itself a component of a second financial measure commonly used by financial institutions, net interest margin, which is the ratio of net interest income to average earning assets.  For purposes of this measure as well, tax-equivalent net interest income is generally used by financial institutions, again to provide a better basis of comparison from institution to institution.  We follow these practices.


The Efficiency Ratio: Financial institutions often use an "efficiency ratio" as a measure of expense control.  The efficiency ratio typically is defined as the ratio of noninterest expense to net interest income and noninterest income.  As in the case of net interest income generally, net interest income as utilized in calculating the efficiency ratio is typically expressed on a tax-equivalent basis.  Moreover, most financial institutions, in calculating the efficiency ratio, also adjust both noninterest expense and noninterest income to exclude from these items (as calculated under GAAP) certain component elements, such as intangible asset amortization (deducted from noninterest expense) and securities gains or losses (excluded from noninterest income).  We follow these practices.







13






OVERVIEW


Selected Quarterly Information:

(Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

Share and Per Share amounts have been restated for the September 2005 3% stock dividend.


 

Sep 2005

Jun 2005

Mar 2005

Dec 2004

Sep 2004

Net Income

$4,839 

$4,680 

$4,430 

$4,948 

$4,968 

      

Transactions Recorded in Net Income (Net of Tax):

     

Net Securities Gains (Losses)

91 

75 

38 

97 

(5)

Net Gains on Sales of Loans

49 

13 

91 

43 

Net Gains on the Sale of Other Real Estate Owned

12 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

      

Period End Shares Outstanding

10,361 

10,426 

10,464 

10,502 

10,412 

Basic Average Shares Outstanding

10,390 

10,435 

10,494 

10,444 

10,411 

Diluted Average Shares Outstanding

10,563 

10,613 

10,706 

10,695 

10,652 

Basic Earnings Per Share

.47 

.45 

.42 

.47 

.48 

Diluted Earnings Per Share

.46 

.44 

.41 

.46 

.47 

Cash Dividends

.23 

.22 

.22 

.22 

.22 

Stock Dividends/Splits

3% 

--- 

--- 

--- 

3% 

      

Average Assets

$1,470,437 

$1,450,237 

$1,396,720 

$1,389,030 

$1,387,233 

Average Equity

117,104 

116,880 

117,854 

115,287 

110,619 

Return on Average Assets, annualized

1.31%

1.29%

1.29%

1.42%

1.42%

Return on Average Equity, annualized

16.39   

16.06   

15.24   

17.07   

17.87   

      

Average Earning Assets

$1,394,187 

$1,378,822 

$1,328,106 

$1,318,540 

$1,317,910 

Average Paying Liabilities

1,148,719 

1,144,577 

1,103,276 

1,088,995 

1,086,762 

Interest Income, Tax-Equivalent 1

18,902 

18,398 

17,480 

17,672 

17,670 

Interest Expense

6,158 

5,621 

5,063 

4,721 

4,536 

Net Interest Income, Tax-Equivalent 1

12,744 

12,777 

12,417 

12,951 

13,134 

Tax-Equivalent Adjustment

608 

622 

613 

631 

632 

Net Interest Margin 1


3.63% 

3.72% 

3.79% 

3.91% 

3.96% 


Efficiency Ratio Calculation 1

     

Noninterest Expense

$  9,001 

$  9,175 

$  8,485 

$  8,383 

$  8,290 

Less: Intangible Asset Amortization

      (116)

      (122)

        (20)

        (14)

         (9)

   Net Noninterest Expense 1

$  8,885 

$  9,053 

$  8,465 

$  8,369 

$  8,281 

Net Interest Income, Tax-Equivalent

$12,744 

$12,777 

$12,417 

$12,951 

$13,134 

Noninterest Income

4,082 

3,882 

3,294 

3,568 

3,266 

Less Net Securities (Gains) or Losses

      (151)

      (125)

        (64)

     (161)

          9 

   Net Gross Income, Adjusted 1

$16,675 

$16,534 

$15,647 

$16,358 

$16,409 

Efficiency Ratio 1

53.28% 

54.75% 

54.10% 

51.16% 

50.47% 


Period-End Capital Information:

     

Tier 1 Leverage Ratio

8.46% 

8.54% 

9.07% 

9.23% 

8.62% 

Total Shareholders’ Equity (i.e. Book Value)

$116,017 

$117,867 

$115,773 

$118,034 

$113,151 

Book Value per Share

11.20 

11.30 

11.06 

11.24 

10.87 

Intangible Assets

17,380 

17,461 

11,682 

11,736 

9,478 

Tangible Book Value per Share

9.52 

9.63 

9.95 

10.12 

9.96 




14






Selected Quarterly Information, Continued:


 

Sep 2005

Jun 2005

Mar 2005

Dec 2004

Sep 2004

Net Loans Charged-off as a

  Percentage of Average Loans, Annualized

.07%

.04%

.09%

.13%

.06%

Provision for Loan Losses as a

  Percentage of Average Loans, Annualized

 .09   

 .08   

 .11   

 .13   

 .09   

Allowance for Loan Losses as a

  Percentage of Period-end Loans

1.24   

1.28   

1.34   

1.38   

1.37   

Allowance for Loan Losses as a

  Percentage of Nonperforming Loans

588.83   

620.79   

652.13   

571.18   

382.73   

Nonperforming Loans as a

  Percentage of Period-end Loans

 .21   

 .21   

 .21   

 .24   

 .36   

Nonperforming Assets as a

  Percentage of Period-end Total Assets

 .16   

 .14   

 .15   

 .16   

 .24   


1 See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” on page 13.



Selected Nine-Month Period Information:

(Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

Share and Per Share amounts have been restated for the September 2005 3% stock dividend.


    

Sep 2005

Sep 2004

Net Income

   

$13,949

$14,531

      

Transactions Recorded in Net Income (Net of Tax):

     

Net Securities Gains

   

  204

  121

Net Gains on Sales of Loans

   

65

111

Net Gains on the Sale of Other Real Estate Owned

   

17

---

Recovery Related to Former Vermont Operations

   

----

47

      

Period End Shares Outstanding

   

10,361

10,412

Basic Average Shares Outstanding

   

10,439

10,419

Diluted Average Shares Outstanding

   

10,627

10,662

Basic Earnings Per Share

   

1.34  

1.39  

Diluted Earnings Per Share

   

1.31  

1.36  

Cash Dividends

   

.68  

.64  

      

Average Assets

   

$1,439,401

$1,387,553

Average Equity

   

117,276

109,641

Return on Average Assets

   

1.30%

1.40%

Return on Average Equity

   

15.90   

17.70   

      

Average Earning Assets

   

$1,367,281

$1,319,270

Average Paying Liabilities

   

1,132,355

1,099,570

Interest Income, Tax-Equivalent 1

   

54,780

53,325

Interest Expense

   

16,842

14,485

Net Interest Income, Tax-Equivalent 1

   

37,938

38,840

Tax-Equivalent Adjustment

   

1,843

1,923

Net Interest Margin 1


   

3.71%

3.93%


Efficiency Ratio Calculation 1

     

Noninterest Expense

   

$26,661

$24,589

Less: Intangible Asset Amortization

   

     (258)

       (28)

   Net Noninterest Expense 1

   

 26,403

 24,561

Net Interest Income, Tax-Equivalent

   

37,938

38,840

Noninterest Income

   

11,258

9,625

Less Net Securities Gains

   

     (340)

     (201)

   Net Gross Income, Adjusted 1

   

 48,856

 48,264

Efficiency Ratio 1

   

54.04%

50.89%




15






Selected Nine-Month Period Information, Continued:


    

Sep 2005

Sep 2004


Tier 1 Leverage Ratio

   

8.46%

8.62%

Total Shareholders’ Equity (i.e. Book Value)

   

$116,017

$113,151

Book Value per Share

   

11.20

10.87

Intangible Assets

   

17,380

9,478

Tangible Book Value per Share

   

9.52

9.96

      

Net Loans Charged-off as a

  Percentage of Average Loans, Annualized

   

.07%

.08%

Provision for Loan Losses as a

  Percentage of Average Loans, Annualized

   

 .09

 .12

Allowance for Loan Losses as a

  Percentage of Period-end Loans

   

1.24

1.37

Allowance for Loan Losses as a

  Percentage of Nonperforming Loans

   

588.83

382.73

Nonperforming Loans as a

  Percentage  of Period-end Loans

   

 .21

 .36

Nonperforming Assets as a

  Percentage of Period-end Total Assets

   

 .16

 .24


1 See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” on page 13.



16






Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Income Analysis

(see “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” on page 13)

(Fully Taxable Basis using a marginal tax rate of 35%)

(Dollars In Thousands)


Quarter Ended September 30,

2005

2004

  

Interest

Rate

 

Interest

Rate

 

Average

Income/

Earned/

Average

Income/

Earned/

 

Balance

Expense

Paid

Balance

Expense

Paid

Federal Funds Sold

$   728

$      6

3.27%

$   1,418 

$       5 

1.40% 

       

Securities Available-for-Sale:

      

  Taxable

305,680

 3,132

4.061  

325,100 

 3,339 

4.09 

  Non-Taxable

 8,572

   111

5.17  

 10,782 

   126 

4.65 

Securities Held-to-Maturity:

      

  Taxable

    392

 5

5.06  

    439 

 5 

4.53 

  Non-Taxable

109,603

1,501

5.43  

106,602 

1,461 

5.45 

       

Loans

   969,212

 14,147

5.79  

  873,569 

 12,734 

5.80 

       

  Total Earning Assets

1,394,187

 18,902

5.38  

1,317,910 

 17,670 

5.33 

       

Allowance For Loan Losses

(12,176)

  

(11,992)

  

Cash and Due From Banks

38,145

  

37,473 

  

Other Assets

       50,281

  

      43,842 

  

  Total Assets

$1,470,437

  

$1,387,233 

  
       

Deposits:

      

 Interest-Bearing  NOW Deposits

$  304,489

883

1.15  

$  309,544 

625 

0.80 

 Regular and Money  Market Savings

301,734

  678

0.89  

298,104 

  509 

0.68 

 Time Deposits of  $100,000 or More

123,750

1,014

3.25  

 71,558 

  387 

2.15 

 Other Time Deposits

  208,232

  1,538

2.93  

   171,166 

  1,006 

2.34 

   Total Interest-Bearing Deposits

938,205

 4,113

1.74  

850,372 

 2,527 

1.18 

 

      

Short-Term Borrowings

 56,288

  220

1.15  

 55,433 

  126 

0.90 

FHLB Advances and Other Long-Term Debt

   154,226

  1,825

4.69  

   180,957 

  1,883 

4.14 

  Total Interest-Bearing Liabilities

1,186,055

  6,158

2.13  

1,086,762 

  4,536 

1.66 

       

Demand Deposits

186,055

  

172,793 

  

Other Liabilities

      18,559

  

      17,059 

  

  Total Liabilities

1,353,333

  

1,276,614 

  

Shareholders’ Equity

    117,104

  

    110,619 

  

  Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

$1,470,437

  

$1,387,233 

  
       

Net Interest Income (Fully Taxable Basis)

 

12,744

  

13,134 

 

Net Interest Spread

  

3.25

  

3.67 

Net Interest Margin

  

3.63

  

3.96 

       

Reversal of Tax-Equivalent Adjustment

 

     (608)

(.17)

 

     (632)

(.19)

Net Interest Income, As Reported

 

$12,136

  

$12,502 

 



17






Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Income Analysis

(see “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” on page 13)

(Fully Taxable Basis using a marginal tax rate of 35%)

(Dollars In Thousands)


Nine Months Ended September 30,

2005

2004

  

Interest

Rate

 

Interest

Rate

 

Average

Income/

Earned/

Average

Income/

Earned/

 

Balance

Expense

Paid

Balance

Expense

Paid

Federal Funds Sold

$     2,460

$      50

2.72%

$    9,532 

$      67 

0.94% 

       

Securities Available-for-Sale:

      

  Taxable

317,919

 9,890

4.161  

328,606 

10,210 

4.15 

  Non-Taxable

 9,526

   353

4.95  

 11,446 

   401 

4.68 

Securities Held-to-Maturity:

      

  Taxable

    398

13

4.37  

    336 

13 

5.17 

  Non-Taxable

110,289

4,464

5.41  

105,993 

4,441 

5.60 

       

Loans

     926,689

 40,010

5.77  

    863,357 

 38,193 

5.91 

       

  Total Earning Assets

1,367,281

 54,780

5.36  

1,319,270 

 53,325 

5.40 

       

Allowance For Loan Losses

(12,109)

  

(11,929)

  

Cash and Due From Banks

36,391

  

35,593 

  

Other Assets

       47,838

  

      44,619 

  

  Total Assets

$1,439,401

  

$1,387,553 

  
       

Deposits:

      

 Interest-Bearing  NOW Deposits

$   308,869

2,411

1.04  

$   350,468 

2,867 

1.09 

 Regular and Money  Market Savings

298,381

1,832

0.82  

289,166 

1,426 

0.66 

 Time Deposits of  $100,000 or More

123,622

2,680

2.90  

 67,973 

1,086 

2.13 

 Other Time Deposits

    192,671

   3,979

2.76  

    176,240 

   3,243 

2.46 

   Total Interest-Bearing Deposits

923,543

10,902

1.58  

883,847 

 8,622 

1.30 

 

      

Short-Term Borrowings

 46,689

  489

1.40  

 45,292 

  254 

0.75 

FHLB Advances and Other Long-Term Debt

    162,125

   5,451

4.50  

    170,431 

   5,609 

4.40 

  Total Interest-Bearing Liabilities

1,132,357

 16,842

1.99  

1,099,570 

 14,485 

1.76 

       

Demand Deposits

173,146

  

161,886 

  

Other Liabilities

      16,622

  

       16,456 

  

  Total Liabilities

1,322,125

  

1,277,912 

  

Shareholders’ Equity

    117,276

  

     109,641 

  

  Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

$1,439,401

  

$1,387,553 

  
       

Net Interest Income (Fully Taxable Basis)

 

37,938

  

38,840 

 

Net Interest Spread

  

3.37

  

3.64 

Net Interest Margin

  

3.71

  

3.93 

       

Reversal of Tax-Equivalent Adjustment

 

  (1,843)

(.18)

 

  (1,923)

(.19)

Net Interest Income, As Reported

 

$36,095

  

$36,917 

 



18






OVERVIEW


We reported earnings of $4.839 million for the third quarter of 2005, a decrease of $129 thousand, or 2.6%, as compared to $4.968 million for the third quarter of 2004.  Diluted earnings per share were $.46 and $.47 for the respective quarters.  Average shares outstanding decreased between the two periods, representing the effect of our common stock repurchases, offset in part by issuances of our common stock under our compensatory stock plans.  For the first nine months of 2005 we reported earnings of $13.949 million, a decrease of $582 thousand, or 4.0%, as compared to $14.531 million for the first nine months of 2004.  Diluted earnings per share were $1.31 and $1.36 for the respective 2005 and 2004 nine-month periods.


The return on average assets for the third quarter of 2005 was 1.31%, compared to 1.42% for the third quarter of 2004, a decrease of 11 basis points, or 7.7%.  The return on average equity for the third quarter of 2005 was 16.39%, compared to 17.87% for the third quarter of 2004, a decrease of 148 basis points, or 8.3%.  For the first nine months of 2005, the return on average assets was 1.30%, compared to 1.40% for the prior year period, a decrease of 10 basis points, or 7.1%.  The return on average equity for the first nine months of 2005 was 15.90%, compared to 17.70% for the prior year period, a decrease of 180 basis points, or 10.2%.


The principal reason for the declining earnings ratios from the 2004 periods to the 2005 periods was the decrease in net interest margin and net interest income.  This development, in turn, reflected the fact that our cost of funds, principally interest-paying deposits, increased more rapidly than the average yield on our assets, principally our loan portfolio.  Our experience in this respect, of diminishing margins, mirrored that of financial institutions generally.  For the third quarter of 2005, net interest margin was 3.63%, down 33 basis points, or 8.3%, from the 3.96% margin for the third quarter of 2004 and down 9 basis points, or 2.4%, from the second quarter of 2005.


To a limited extent, the negative impact of our declining margins in recent periods has been offset by growth in our asset base.  Total assets were $1.48 billion at September 30, 2005, which represented an increase of $106.2 million, or 7.7%, from December 31, 2004, and an increase of $99.3 million, or 7.2%, above the level at September 30, 2004.  In each case, the increase was impacted by the acquisition of three branches in the second quarter of 2005, which is discussed on the next page.


Total shareholders’ equity was $116.0 million at September 30, 2005, a decrease of $2.0 million, or 1.7%, from December 31, 2004.  The increase from retained earnings and stock issuances under our share plans was more than offset by the decrease in our equity resulting from repurchases of our common stock and unrealized losses in the available-for-sale securities portfolio.  Our risk-based capital ratios and Tier 1 leverage ratio continued to exceed regulatory minimum requirements at period-end.  At September 30, 2005 both our banks qualified as "well-capitalized" under federal bank guidelines.  Efficient utilization of capital remains a high priority of Arrow.


CHANGE IN FINANCIAL CONDITION


Summary of Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data

(Dollars in Thousands)



At Period-End

$ Change

$ Change

% Change

% Change

 

Sep 2005

Dec 2004

Sep 2004

From Dec

From Sep

From Dec

From Sep

Federal Funds Sold

$            --- 

$       7,000 

$      5,000

$(7,000)

$  (5,000)

(100.0)%

(100.0)%

Securities Available-for-Sale

 306,499 

 325,248 

 324,172

(18,749)

(17,673)

(5.8)

(5.5)

Securities Held-to-Maturity

112,823 

108,117 

109,255

4,706 

3,568 

4.4

3.3

Loans (1)

 981,331 

 875,311 

 876,939

106,020 

104,392 

12.1

11.9

Allowance for Loan Losses

12,212 

12,046 

12,056

166 

   156 

1.4

1.3

Earning Assets (1)

1,400,653 

1,315,676 

1,315,366

84,977 

85,287 

6.5

6.5

Total Assets

$1,484,111 

$1,377,949 

$1,384,793

$106,162 

$99,318 

7.7

7.2

        

Demand Deposits

$  184,221 

$  167,667 

$  169,992

$16,554 

$14,229 

9.9

8.4

NOW, Regular Savings & Money

  Market Deposit Accounts

 619,996 

 607,820 

 634,805

12,176 

(14,809)

2.0

(2.3)

Time Deposits of $100,000 or More

128,933 

85,906 

75,024

43,027 

53,909 

50.1

71.9

Other Time Deposits

   205,857 

   170,887 

   170,770

 34,970 

 35,087 

20.5

20.5

Total Deposits

1,139,007 

1,032,280 

1,050,591

106,727 

88,416 

10.3

8.4

Short-Term Borrowings

  59,594 

  43,976 

 50,037

15,618 

 9,557 

35.5

19.1

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances

131,500 

150,000 

139,800

(18,500)

 (8,300)

(12.3)

(5.9)

Shareholders' Equity

$  116,017 

$  118,034 

$  113,151

$ (2,017)

$  2,866 

(1.7)

2.5

(1) Includes Nonaccrual Loans



19






Branch Acquisition:  Our acquisition of three HSBC branches on April 8, 2005 included approximately $62 million in deposit balances and $8 million in loan balances.  The acquisition also resulted in an increase of $5.9 million in intangible assets.  Deposit balances at the acquired branches through September 30, 2005 generally stayed level.  Changes to our balance sheet, described in the next two paragraphs, include the impact of the branch acquisition.


Sources of Funds:  Our deposit balances increased $106.7 million over the first nine months of 2005 and accounted for nearly all of the increase in our sources of funds.  The combined balance of short-term borrowings and Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advances decreased slightly.  Municipal deposits are a significant segment of our deposit balances and represented 16.7% of total deposits at September 30, 2005.  Municipal deposits, which typically are at seasonal lows during the summer, increased by $19.2 million from June 30, 2005 to September 30, 2005, but were essentially unchanged from the 2004 year-end balance.  Consumer and business deposit balances increased by $107.8 million from December 31, 2004 to September 30, 2005.  During the first nine months of 2005, federal funds sold and investment securities were actually a source of funds, as the combination of sales, maturities and amortization of mortgage-backed securities offset purchases of new securities by approximately $14.0 million.


Deployment of Funds into Earning Assets:  The primary use of our increased sources of funds, cited above, from December 31, 2004 to September 30, 2005 was to fund a $106.0 net increase in the loan portfolio.  Over half of the increase ($59.6 million) was in our largest loan segment, indirect consumer loans (principally automobile financing).  However, we also experienced increases in all our other loan segments: commercial, residential real estate and other consumer lending.  The fact that total assets increased $106.2 million over the nine-month period, while earning assets only increased $85.0 million was primarily attributable to two items: i) the balance in cash and due from banks was unusually low at December 31, 2004, at $29.8 million compared to the 2004 year-to-date average balance of $35.9 million and $41.4 million at period-end September 30, 2005, and ii) an increase in intangible assets of $5.6 million (primarily due to the branch acquisition).


Deposit Trends


The following two tables provide information on trends in the balance and mix of our deposit portfolio by presenting, for each of the last five quarters, the quarterly average balances by deposit type and the percentage of total deposits represented by each deposit type.


Quarterly Average Deposit Balances

(Dollars in Thousands)


  

Quarter Ending

  

Sep 2005

Jun 2005

Mar 2005

Dec 2004

Sep 2004

Demand Deposits

 

$   186,055

$   173,194

$   159,903

$   166,433

$   172,793

Interest-Bearing Demand Deposits

 

304,489

317,774

304,344

348,795

309,544

Regular and Money Market Savings

 

301,734

305,338

287,914

293,883

298,104

Time Deposits of $100,000 or More

 

123,750

137,875

109,080

 73,775

 71,558

Other Time Deposits

 

     208,232

     194,692

     174,722

     170,857

     171,166

  Total Deposits

 

$1,124,260

$1,128,873

$1,035,963

$1,053,743

$1,023,165


Percentage of Average Quarterly Deposits

  

Quarter Ending

  

Sep 2005

Jun 2005

Mar 2005

Dec 2004

Sep 2004

Demand Deposits

 

16.5%

15.3%

15.4%

15.8%

16.9%

Interest-Bearing Demand Deposits

 

27.1   

28.1   

29.4   

33.1   

30.3   

Regular and Money Market Savings

 

26.9   

27.1   

27.8   

27.9   

29.1   

Time Deposits of $100,000 or More

 

11.0   

12.2   

10.5   

7.0   

7.0   

Other Time Deposits

 

  18.5   

  17.3   

  16.9   

  16.2   

  16.7   

  Total Deposits

 

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%


For a variety of reasons, including the seasonality of municipal deposits noted above, we typically experience little net deposit growth in the first quarter of the year, but more significant growth in the second quarter.  Average deposit balances followed this pattern for the first two quarters of 2005.  The average balance of deposits actually decreased from the fourth quarter of 2004 to the first quarter of 2005.  Excluding the impact of the branch acquisition, all categories of deposits (except regular and money market savings) experienced growth in the second quarter of 2005 above first quarter balances.  Although average deposit balances for the third quarter of 2005 (when municipal deposits are at a seasonal low) were down slightly from the second quarter average balances we did experience increases in consumer and business account balances.



20






During the uninterrupted period of declining interest rates from May 2000 through the first half of 2004, we experienced a trend (typical for financial institutions) of maturing time deposits transferring to non-maturity transaction accounts.  This period of declining rates ended in June 2004 as the Federal Reserve initiated a series of twelve 25 basis point increases in prevailing short-term rates (federal funds rate) extending through early November 2005.  As a result of this rising short-term rate environment we began to experience a reversal of the prior trend in deposit account migration as our customers, including municipal accounts, started to transfer some of their non-maturity balances back into high-yielding time deposits (although with maturities of fairly short duration).  At September 30, 2005 time deposits represented 29.1% of total deposits, up from 22.7% at June 30, 2004.  This higher percentage was still well below the ratio of 41.0% at June 30, 2000.


In addition to the three branches acquired in April 2005, we opened a new branch in Queensbury, New York in June 2004.  Otherwise, the increase in deposits between the two periods was achieved through our existing base of branches.  We have no brokered deposits.


Quarterly Average Rate Paid on Deposits

  

Quarter Ending

  

Sep 2005

Jun 2005

Mar 2005

Dec 2004

Sep 2004

Demand Deposits

 

---%

---%

---%

---%

---%

Interest-Bearing Demand Deposits

 

1.15

1.05

0.92

0.96

0.80

Regular and Money Market Savings

 

0.89

0.81

0.76

0.73

0.68

Time Deposits of $100,000 or More

 

3.25

2.84

2.57

2.25

2.15

Other Time Deposits

 

2.93

2.75

2.56

2.46

2.34

  Total Deposits

 

1.45

1.34

1.19

1.08

0.98


Key Interest Rate Changes 1999 – 2005

 

Federal

  

Date

Funds Rate

Prime Rate

 

September 20, 2005

3.75% 

6.75% 

 

August 9, 2005

3.50

6.50

 

June 30, 2005

3.25

6.25

 

May 3, 2005

3.00

6.00

 

March 22, 2005

2.75

5.75

 

February 2, 2005

2.50

5.50

 Rising Rates

December 14, 2004

2.25

5.25

 

November 10, 2004

2.00

5.00

 

September 21, 2004

1.75

4.75

 

August 10, 2004

1.50

4.50

 

June 30, 2004

1.25

4.25

 

June 25, 2003

1.00

4.00

 

November 6, 2002

1.25

4.25

 

December 11, 2001

1.75

4.75

 

November 6, 2001

2.00

5.00

 

October 2, 2001

2.50

5.50

 

September 17, 2001

3.00

6.00

 

August 21, 2001

3.50

6.50

 

June 27, 2001

3.75

6.75

 Falling Rates

May 15, 2001

4.00

7.00

 

April 18, 2001

4.50

7.50

 

March 20, 2001

5.00

8.00

 

January 31, 2001

5.50

8.50

 

January 3, 2001

6.00

9.00

 

May 16, 2000

6.50

9.50

 


Our net interest income has traditionally been sensitive to and impacted by changes in prevailing market interest rates, due to the fact that our deposit liabilities tend to reprice more rapidly than our earning assets.  Thus generally there has been a negative correlation between changes in interest rates (particularly during periods when interest rates begin to change direction), and our net interest income in immediately ensuing periods.  When interest rates begin to decline, net interest income has increased in ensuing periods, and vice versa.  



21






In the first quarter of 2001, after an extended period of stable interest rates and six months of moderate rate increases, the Federal Reserve Board reversed direction and began decreasing short-term interest rates rapidly and significantly in response to perceived weakening in the economy.  By December 2001, the total decrease in prevailing short-term interest rates for the year was 425 basis points.  In the first eleven months of 2002, there were no rate changes, but the Federal Reserve Board then decreased rates another 50 basis points in November 2002.  As a result of this rapid and substantial rate decrease, we experienced a decrease in the cost of our deposits not only in 2001, but for the next three years as well, although the Federal Reserve did not reduce short-term rates again until June 2003.  Yet although our deposit rates began to decrease in the first quarter of 2001, we did not experience a decrease in the average yield in our loan portfolio until the second quarter of 2001.  Yields on our loan portfolio continued to decrease through the remainder of 2001 and for the next three years, and into 2005.  See the “Loan Trends” section in this Report beginning on page 23, for a more complete analysis of yield trends in the loan portfolio.  The net effect of the Federal Reserve’s rate decreases commencing in 2001 was, at least initially, very positive for our net interest margin and net interest income.


During 2003 and the first half of 2004, the effect of the Federal Reserve’s rate decreases on our deposit rates began to diminish, because rates on several of our deposit products, such as savings and NOW accounts, were already priced at such low levels that further significant decreases in the rates for such products was not practical or sustainable.  Yields on our loan portfolio, however, continued to fall significantly in 2003 and 2004, putting serious pressure on the net interest margin.  At this point, the impact of the decreasing rate environment turned negative, as yields on earning assets decreased more rapidly than rates paid on paying liabilities, and net interest margin began to shrink.


The net interest margin for the full year of 2003 was 4.05%, a decrease of 45 basis points, or 10.0%, from the prior year.  During 2003 the yields on earning assets fell 91 basis points, while the cost of paying liabilities fell only 57 basis points.  In the first quarter of 2004 the net interest margin stabilized briefly at 3.97%, an increase of 2 basis points from the net interest margin for the fourth quarter of 2003, as both the yields on average earning assets and the cost of paying liabilities decreased slightly from the fourth quarter of 2003.  However, the narrowing of the net interest margin resumed in the second quarter of 2004 as it decreased 11 basis points from the net interest margin for the first quarter of 2004.  Yields on average earning assets decreased 14 basis points from the first quarter, while the cost of paying liabilities decreased only 4 basis points.


In the second quarter of 2004, the Federal Reserve reversed direction and began to increase prevailing rates with five successive 25 basis point increases in the federal funds rate in the remainder of 2004.  This change in direction did not immediately impact either our cost of paying liabilities or our yield on earning assets, both because of normal time-lag in the responsiveness of our rates to Federal Reserve actions and for reasons unique to our portfolios.  The change in the mix of our total deposits in the third quarter of 2004, reflecting our decision to de-emphasize certain high cost municipal deposits, resulted in a reduced average rate paid on deposits during the quarter, with a resulting positive impact on net interest margin, which increased by 10 basis points to 3.96% from the second quarter.  The cost of all NOW accounts fell from 1.21% for the second quarter to .80% for the third quarter.  The yield on earning assets, meanwhile, only decreased 3 basis points from the prior quarter.  By the fourth quarter of 2004, the increases in the target federal funds rate started to have the expected impact on our net interest margin.  Rates paid on new time deposits began to exceed the rates on maturing time deposits.  Thus, our net interest margin for the fourth quarter of 2004 decreased by 5 basis points from the third quarter to 3.91%.  Meanwhile, there was very little change in rates earned on average earning assets from the third quarter to the fourth quarter.  As expected in periods where interest rates begin to rise, our net interest margin continued to decrease, as in the aggregate, the cost of deposits and other borrowed funds was increasing faster than rates on earning assets.


During the first three quarters of 2005, this trend of tightening margins continued.  The Federal Reserve made six more 25 basis point increases in prevailing rates.  While we resisted increasing rates on our non-maturity deposit products, we did increase rates paid on time deposits.   Maturing time deposits began to reprice at higher rates. As noted above, we also began to experience a significant shift from non-maturity deposits to time deposits.  The costs of total deposits increased 11 basis points during the first quarter, to 1.19% from 1.08% from the fourth quarter of 2004, 15 basis points in the second quarter of 2005 to 1.34% and another 11 basis points in the third quarter of 2005 to 1.45%.  Meanwhile, the taxable equivalent yield on our loan portfolio lagged behind our deposit rate movement; yields decreased 3 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2004 to the first quarter of 2005, stayed flat at 5.76% for the second quarter of 2005 and only increased another 3 basis points to 5.79% during the third quarter of 2005.


In both rising and falling rate environments, we face significant competitive pricing pressures in our marketplace for both deposits and loans, and thus ultimately both assets and liabilities may be expected to reprice proportionately in response to changes in market rates.



22






Non-Deposit Sources of Funds


We have borrowed funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") under a variety of programs, including fixed and variable rate short-term borrowings and borrowings in the form of "convertible advances."  These convertible advances have original maturities of 2 to 10 years and are callable by the FHLB at certain dates beginning no earlier than one year from the issuance date.  If the advances are called, we may elect to receive replacement advances from the FHLB at the then prevailing FHLB rates of interest.  At September 30, 2005 our FHLB borrowings included $31.5 million of overnight borrowings and term advances of $100.0 million.


In each of 2004 and 2003 we privately placed $10 million of capital securities issued by subsidiary Delaware business trusts specifically formed for the purpose of facilitating such funding.  The proceeds of the offering of these “trust preferred securities” were invested in a like amount of subordinated debentures issued by our holding company.  The securities are reflected as “Junior Subordinated Obligations Issued to Unconsolidated Subsidiary Trusts” on our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2005.  The securities have certain features that make them an attractive funding vehicle, principally their status as qualifying regulatory capital.  Under final rules issued February 28, 2005 by the Federal Reserve, trust preferred securities may qualify as Tier 1 capital, in an amount not to exceed 25% of total Tier 1 capital, net of goodwill less any associated deferred tax liability.  Both of our trust preferred issues qualify as regulatory capital under capital adequacy guidelines discussed below.  However, both issues of trust preferred securities are subject to early redemption by us if the proceeds cease to qualify as Tier 1 capital of Arrow, which would only happen if bank regulatory authorities were to reverse their current position that trust preferred securities issued by subsidiaries of bank holding companies, up to certain threshold levels, qualify for such treatment.


Loan Trends


The following two tables present, for each of the last five quarters, the quarterly average balances by loan type and the percentage of total loans represented by each loan type.


Quarterly Average Loan Balances

(Dollars in Thousands)

  

Quarter Ending

  

Sep 2005

Jun 2005

Mar 2005

Dec 2004

Sep 2004

Commercial and Commercial Real Estate

 

$223,394

$219,560

$210,373

$205,016

$202,967

Residential Real Estate

 

292,389

286,680

280,735

281,939

284,273

Home Equity

 

 52,520

 50,027

 45,598

 44,774

 43,041

Indirect Consumer Loans

 

358,276

328,487

306,794

305,953

305,746

Other Consumer Loans 1

 

    42,633

    42,470

    39,181

    38,934

    37,542

 Total Loans

 

$969,212

$927,224

$882,681

$876,616

$873,569


Percentage of Quarterly Average Loans

  

Quarter Ending

  

Sep 2005

Jun 2005

Mar 2005

Dec 2004

Sep 2004

Commercial and Commercial Real Estate

 

23.0%

23.7%

23.8%

23.4%

23.2%

Residential Real Estate

 

30.2   

30.9   

31.8   

32.2   

32.6   

Home Equity

 

5.4   

5.4   

5.2   

5.1   

4.9   

Indirect Consumer Loans

 

37.0   

35.4   

34.8   

34.9   

35.0   

Other Consumer Loans

 

    4.4   

    4.6   

    4.4   

    4.4   

    4.3   

 Total Loans

 

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%


1 Other Consumer Loans includes certain home improvement loans, secured by mortgages, in this table of average loan balances.



23






Indirect Loans: For several years preceding the third quarter of 2001, the indirect consumer loan portfolio (consisting principally of auto loans financed through local dealerships where we acquire the dealer paper) was the fastest growing segment of our loan portfolio, both in terms of absolute dollar amount and as a percentage of the overall portfolio.  Over the subsequent quarters, this segment of the portfolio, while remaining the largest in total outstanding balances, ceased to grow in absolute terms and decreased as a percentage of the overall portfolio.  This flattening of indirect loan totals was largely the result of aggressive campaigns of zero rate and other subsidized financing by auto manufacturers, commencing in the fall of 2001.  During the fourth quarter of 2002, and for the first two quarters of 2003, the indirect portfolio experienced a small amount of growth as we became more rate competitive, but the level of indirect loans was flat for the third quarter of 2003 and decreased by $11.9 million during the fourth quarter of 2003.  During the first half of 2004 indirect loan balances continued to decline, and then rose slightly during the second half of the year.  


At the end of the first quarter of 2005, we experienced an increase in indirect loans, which did not have a large impact on the average balance for the quarter (an $841 thousand increase from the prior quarter), but did cause the balance at period-end to rise sharply to $312.9 million.  We continued to experience strong demand for indirect loans throughout the second and third quarters of 2005, for a variety of factors, including modifications by the automobile manufacturers of their subsidized financing programs.  The average balances increased by $21.7 million, or 7.1%, from the first quarter to the second quarter and by another $29.8 million, or 9.1%, in the third quarter.


Indirect loans still represent the largest category of loans (36.0%) in our portfolio, and any developments threatening our indirect loan business generally may be expected to have a negative impact on our financial performance.  If auto manufacturers resume their heavily subsidized financing programs, our indirect loan portfolio is likely to continue to experience rate pressure and limited, if any, overall growth.


Residential Real Estate Loans: Residential real estate loans represented the second largest segment of our loan portfolio at September 30, 2005, at 30.2% of average loans for the quarter.  This segment of our portfolio increased by $14.3 million from year-end 2003 to 2004, despite the fact that we sold (with servicing retained) $15.4 million of fixed low-rate mortgages during 2004.  To date in 2005, we have retained all but $5.9 million of the $52.8 million of residential real estate loans originated.  In the first quarter of 2005, these originations were not able to keep up with principal amortization and payoffs resulting in a net decrease in the average balance from the fourth quarter of 2004.  However, demand increased during the second and third quarters of 2005.  In the second quarter, the average balance increased by $5.9 million, or 2.1%, and in the third quarter, it increased another $5.7 million, or 2.0%.  Residential mortgage demand has remained moderate during 2004 and into 2005 and we expect that, if we continue to retain all or most originations, we will be able to maintain the level of residential real estate loans and may experience some continued growth.


Commercial and Commercial Real Estate Loans: We have experienced strong to moderate demand for commercial loans in recent periods, a trend that has persisted for several years.  Commercial and commercial real estate loans have grown each year for the past five years, both in dollar amount and as a percentage of the overall loan portfolio.  These loans represented the fastest growing segment in our loan portfolio for the first quarter of 2005.  In the second quarter, the average balance of commercial and commercial real estate loans increased by $9.2 million, or 4.4%, and in the third quarter it increased by another $3.8 million, or 1.8%.


Quarterly Taxable Equivalent Yield on Loans

  

Quarter Ending

  

Sep 2005

Jun 2005

Mar 2005

Dec 2004

Sep 2004

Commercial and Commercial Real Estate

 

6.68%

6.52%

6.36%

6.51%

6.24%

Residential Real Estate

 

5.85   

5.93   

6.01   

5.93   

5.98   

Home Equity

 

5.54   

5.24   

4.87   

4.53   

4.33   

Indirect Consumer Loans

 

5.05   

5.01   

5.10   

5.19   

5.35   

Other Consumer Loans

 

7.29   

7.22   

7.00   

7.17   

7.42   

 Total Loans

 

5.79   

5.76   

5.76   

5.79   

5.80   




24






In general, the yield (tax-equivalent interest income divided by average loans) on our loan portfolio and other earning assets has been impacted by changes in prevailing interest rates, as previously discussed on pages 21 and 22 under the heading "Key Interest Rate Changes 1999 - 2005."  We expect that such will continue to be the case, that is, that loan yields will continue to rise and fall with changes in prevailing market rates, although the timing and degree of responsiveness will continue to be influenced by a variety of other factors, including the makeup of the loan portfolio, the yield curve (i.e. the relationship between short-term rates and long-term rates), consumer expectations and preferences, competition and the rate at which the portfolio expands.  Many of the loans in the commercial portfolio have variable rates tied to prime, FHLB or U.S. Treasury indices, although in recent periods these indices, typically reflective of long-term rates, have not changed as rapidly or as significantly as short-term rates.   There is a significant amount of cash flow from normal amortization and prepayments in all loan categories, and the portfolio reprices at current rates as new loans are generated at the current yields or existing loans are renegotiated.  As noted in the earlier discussion, during the recently concluded long period of declining rates (from early 2001 to mid-2004), we experienced a time lag between the impact of declining rates on the deposit portfolio (which was felt relatively quickly) and the impact on the loan portfolio (which occurred more slowly).  During early stages of this decline, the time lag had a positive impact on net interest margin, followed by a negative impact in the later states of the decline.


The net interest margin expanded during 2001 and into the first quarter of 2002 as deposit rates decreased rapidly.  Our deposit rates began to flatten out in mid-2002, while loan yields continued to decline.  As a result, the net interest margin began to contract in the second quarter of 2002.  Generally, this pattern persisted through the remainder of 2002, all of 2003 and through the third quarter of 2004, with the cost of deposits decreasing slightly, and loan yields decreasing somewhat faster.  By the fourth quarter of 2004, the cost of our deposits actually began to increase while the yields on loans were still slowly decreasing, as the yield on new loan originations generally was still below the portfolio average.  The result was continuing shrinkage of the net interest margin.  The average yield on the loan portfolio decreased 1 basis point in the fourth quarter of 2004, 3 basis points in the first quarter of 2005, stayed flat for the second quarter of 2005 and only increased by 3 basis points in the third quarter of 2005.  This put increasing pressure not only on net interest margin, which diminished significantly over the first three quarters of 2005, but also on net interest income, which also decreased over the period, despite continued asset growth.  During the first quarter of 2005, we experienced a significant decrease in net interest income in comparison to the prior-year quarter.  For the second quarter of 2005, net interest income was virtually the same as the prior-year second quarter, but net interest income for the third quarter of 2005 was approximately 3% below the third quarter of 2004.


If rates, especially long-term rates, continue to increase in forthcoming periods, as many analysts have forecasted, we expect that ultimately the yield on our loan portfolio will start to increase, matching the increasing cost of deposits that we are already experiencing.  We can give no assurances that this will happen, however.  Unless and until it does, we may experience further reductions in our net interest margin, to the detriment of net interest income and earnings generally.




25






Asset Quality


The following table presents information related to our allowance and provision for loan losses for the past five quarters.  


Summary of the Allowance and Provision for Loan Losses

(Dollars in Thousands)(Loans Stated Net of Unearned Income)


 

Sep 2005

Jun 2005

Mar 2005

Dec 2004

Sep 2004

Loan Balances:

     

Period-End Loans

$  981,331 

$  952,938 

$  898,792 

$  875,311 

$  876,939 

Average Loans, Year-to-Date

 926,689 

 905,075 

 882,681 

 866,690 

 863,357 

Average Loans, Quarter-to-Date

969,212 

927,224 

882,681 

876,616 

873,569 

Period-End Assets

1,484,111 

1,454,305 

1,415,967 

1,377,949 

1,384,793 

      

Allowance for Loan Losses, Year-to-Date:

     

Allowance for Loan Losses, Beginning of Period

 $12,046 

 $12,046 

 $12,046 

 $11,842 

 $11,842 

Provision for Loan Losses, Y-T-D

   626 

   408 

   232 

 1,020 

   744 

Loans Charged-off

(690)

(450)

(247)

(1,062)

(726)

Recoveries of Loans Previously Charged-off

       230 

       164 

         53 

       246 

       196 

  Net Charge-offs, Y-T-D

      (460)

      (286)

      (194)

      (816)

      (530)

Allowance for Loan Losses, End of Period

 $12,212 

 $12,168 

 $12,084 

 $12,046 

 $12,056 

      

Allowance for Loan Losses, Quarter-to-Date:

     

Allowance for Loan Losses, Beginning of Period

 $12,168 

 $12,084 

 $12,046 

 $12,056 

 $11,984 

Provision for Loan Losses, Q-T-D

   218 

   176 

   232 

   276 

   205 

Loans Charged-off

(239)

(204)

(247)

(336)

(195)

Recoveries of Loans Previously Charged-off

         65 

       112 

         53 

         50 

         62 

  Net Charge-offs, Q-T-D

      (174)

        (92)

      (194)

      (286)

      (133)

Allowance for Loan Losses, End of Period

 $12,212 

 $12,168 

 $12,084 

 $12,046 

 $12,056 

      

Nonperforming Assets, at Period-End:

     

Nonaccrual Loans

 $1,931 

 $1,761 

 $1,853 

 $2,103 

 $2,839 

Loans Past due 90 Days or More

     

 

and Still Accruing Interest

    143 

    199 

    --- 

     6 

    311 

Loans Restructured and in

     

Compliance with Modified Terms

       --- 

       --- 

       --- 

       --- 

       --- 

Total Nonperforming Loans

 2,074 

 1,960 

 1,853 

 2,109 

 3,150 

Repossessed Assets

99 

10 

126 

136 

123 

Other Real Estate Owned

    142 

       19 

     105 

       --- 

       --- 

Total Nonperforming Assets

$2,315 

$1,989 

$2,084 

$2,245 

$3,273 

      

Asset Quality Ratios:

     

Allowance to Nonperforming Loans

588.83% 

620.79% 

652.13% 

571.18% 

382.73% 

Allowance to Period-End Loans

  1.24    

  1.28    

  1.34    

  1.38    

  1.37    

Provision to Average Loans (Quarter)

 0.09    

 0.08    

 0.11    

 0.13    

 0.09    

Provision to Average Loans (YTD)

 0.09    

 0.09    

 0.11    

 0.12    

 0.12    

Net Charge-offs to Average Loans (Quarter)

    0.07    

    0.04    

    0.09    

    0.13    

    0.06    

Net Charge-offs to Average Loans (YTD)

    0.07    

    0.06    

    0.09    

    0.09    

    0.08    

Nonperforming Loans to Total Loans

0.21    

0.21    

0.21    

0.24    

0.36    

Nonperforming Assets to Total Assets

0.16    

0.14    

0.15    

0.16    

0.24    



26






Our nonperforming assets at September 30, 2005 amounted to $2.3 million, an increase of $70 thousand, or 3.1%, from December 31, 2004, and a decrease of $958 thousand, or 29.3%, from September 30, 2004.  


At period-end, nonperforming assets represented .16% of total assets, unchanged from year-end 2004 and an 8 basis point decrease from .24% at September 30, 2004.  The current ratio is at or near our historical low.  At June 30, 2005 the ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets for our peer group was .50%.


The balance of other non-current loans as to which interest income was being accrued (i.e. loans 30-89 days past due as defined in bank regulatory guidelines) totaled $4.5 million at September 30, 2005 and represented 0.46% of loans outstanding at that date, as compared to approximately $4.6 million of non-current, but accruing loans at December 31, 2004 representing 0.52% of loans outstanding.  These non-current, but accruing loans at September 30, 2005 were composed of approximately $3.6 million of consumer loans, principally indirect automobile loans, $.7 million of residential real estate loans and commercial loans of $.2 million.


The percentage of our performing loans that demonstrate characteristics of potential weakness from time to time, typically a very small percentage, depend principally on economic conditions in our geographic market area of northeastern New York State.  In general, the economy in this area has been relatively strong in recent periods, extending back two or three years.  The regional economy was healthy from 1997-2000, and when the U.S. experienced a mild recession in 2001 and 2002, the economic downturn was not as severe in our geographic market area as in most areas.  During that periods and in ensuing years, the unemployment rate in the "Capital District" in and around Albany and areas north, including our principal service areas in Warren and Washington counties, has been at or below the national average.  However, in our other service areas including Clinton and Essex Counties, near the Canadian border, the unemployment rate has been at or slightly above the national average in recent months.


The ratio of the 2005 third quarter net charge-offs to average loans (annualized) was .07%, up 1 basis point from the ratio for the third quarter of 2004.  The provision for loan losses was $218 thousand for the third quarter of 2005, compared to a provision of $205 thousand for the third quarter of 2004.  The provision as a percentage of average loans (annualized) was .09% for the third quarter of 2005, unchanged from the ratio for the comparable 2004 period.  


The allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2005 amounted to $12.2 million, or 1.24% of outstanding loans, 14 basis points lower than the ratio at December 31, 2004 and also 13 basis points lower than the ratio at September 30, 2004.   The allowance as a percent of nonperforming loans was 588.83% at September 30, 2005.



27






CAPITAL RESOURCES


Shareholders' equity decreased $2.0 million during the first nine months of 2005.  During the period, net income of $13.9 million was reduced by stock repurchases (net of new stock issuances through stock plans) totaling $5.9 million, cash dividends of $7.1 million ($.68 per share) and net unrealized losses on securities available-for-sale (net of tax) of approximately $3.7 million. From September 30, 2004 to September 30, 2005, shareholders' equity increased by $2.9 million, or 2.5%.  Current and prior period changes in shareholders' equity are presented in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity, on pages 5 and 6 of this report.


On April 27, 2005 the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase, at the discretion of senior management, of up to $5 million of Arrow’s common stock over the next twelve months in open market or negotiated transactions.  This program replaced a similar stock repurchase program, approved by the Board in April 2004, under which we repurchased approximately $3.7 million of common stock out of the $5 million authorized for repurchase.  See Part II, Item 2 of this Report for further information on stock repurchases and repurchase programs.


The following discussion of capital focuses on regulatory capital ratios, as defined and mandated for financial institutions by federal bank regulatory authorities.  Regulatory capital, although a financial measure that is not provided for or governed by GAAP, nevertheless has been exempted by the SEC from the definition of "non-GAAP financial measures" in the SEC's Regulation G governing disclosure of non-GAAP financial measures.  (See the note on page 13 regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures.)  Thus, certain information which is required to be presented in connection with disclosure of non-GAAP financial measures need not be provided, and has not been provided, for the regulatory capital measures discussed below.  


Our holding company and both of our subsidiary banks are currently subject to two sets of regulatory capital measures, a leverage ratio test and risk-based capital guidelines.  The risk-based guidelines assign risk weightings to all assets and certain off-balance sheet items of financial institutions and establish an 8% minimum ratio of qualified total capital to risk-weighted assets.  At least half of total capital must consist of "Tier 1" capital, which comprises common equity and common equity equivalents, retained earnings, a limited amount of permanent preferred stock and a limited amount of trust preferred securities, less intangible assets.  Up to half of total capital may consist of so-called "Tier 2" capital, comprising a limited amount of subordinated debt, other preferred stock, certain other instruments and a limited amount of the allowance for loan losses.  The third regulatory capital measure, the leverage ratio test, establishes minimum limits on the ratio of Tier 1 capital to total tangible assets, without risk weighting.  For top-rated companies, the minimum leverage ratio is 3%, but lower-rated or rapidly expanding companies may be required to meet substantially higher minimum leverage ratios.  Federal banking law mandates certain actions to be taken by banking regulators for financial institutions that are deemed undercapitalized as measured by these ratios.  The law establishes five levels of capitalization for financial institutions ranging from "well-capitalized" to "critically undercapitalized."  Federal banking law ties the ability of banking organizations to engage in certain types of non-banking financial activities to such organizations' continuing to qualify as "well-capitalized" under these standards.  


In each of 2003 and 2004, we issued $10 million of trust preferred securities in a private placement.  (See the discussion of trust preferred securities on page 23 under “Non-Deposit Sources of Funds.”)  Under final rules issued by the Federal Reserve Board on February 28, 2005, these securities may qualify as Tier 1 capital in an amount not to exceed 25% of Tier 1 capital, net of goodwill less any associated deferred tax liability.


As of September 30, 2005, the Tier 1 leverage and risk-based capital ratios for Arrow and our subsidiary banks were as follows:  


Summary of Capital Ratios

  

Tier 1

Total

  

Risk-Based

Risk-Based

 

Leverage

Capital

Capital

 

   Ratio

     Ratio

     Ratio

Arrow Financial Corporation

8.46%

12.54%

13.78%

Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co.

8.45

12.96

14.18

Saratoga National Bank & Trust Co.

8.90

10.71

13.12

 

Regulatory Minimum

3.00

4.00

8.00

FDICIA's "Well-Capitalized" Standard

5.00

6.00

10.00




28






All capital ratios of our bank holding company and our subsidiary banks at September 30, 2005 were above minimum capital standards for financial institutions.  Additionally, at such date our bank holding company and our subsidiary banks qualified as “well-capitalized” under FDICIA, based on their capital ratios on that date.


As adjusted for the September 3% stock dividend, our third quarter cash dividend was $.23 for a dividend pay-out ratio of 50.00% (compared to a ratio of 26.85% for our peers)  On October 26, 2005, we announced the 2005 fourth quarter cash dividend of $.24 payable on December 15, 2005.


Arrow’s common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock MarketSM under the symbol AROW.  The high and low prices listed below represent actual sales transactions, as reported by Nasdaq.


Quarterly Per Share Stock Prices and Dividends

(Restated for the September 2004 five-for-four stock split)

  


Cash

Dividends

  Declared

   
 

Sales Price

 

Low

High

2004

   

First Quarter

$26.025

$29.456

$.207

Second Quarter

26.628

29.032

.217

Third Quarter

24.998

30.625

.217

Fourth Quarter

27.175

32.039

.223

    

2005

   

First Quarter

$25.971

$31.068

$.223

Second Quarter

23.301

29.010

.223

Third Quarter

25.320

29.126

.233

Fourth Quarter (payable December 15, 2005)

  

.240


Quarter Ended September 30,

2005

2004

Dividends Per Share

$.23

$.22

Diluted Earnings Per Share

.46

.47

Dividend Payout Ratio

50.00%

46.81%

Total Equity (in thousands)

$116,017

$113,151

Shares Issued and Outstanding (in thousands)

10,361

10,412

Book Value Per Share

$11.20

$10.87

Intangible Assets (in thousands)

$17,380

$9,478

Tangible Book Value Per Share

$9.52

$9.96


LIQUIDITY


Liquidity is measured by our ability to raise cash when we need it at a reasonable cost.  We must be capable of meeting expected and unexpected obligations to our customers at any time.   Given the uncertain nature of customer demands as well as the desire to maximize earnings, we must have available sources of funds, on- and off-balance sheet, that can be accessed in time of need.  We measure and monitor our basic liquidity as a ratio of liquid assets to short-term liabilities, both with and without the availability of borrowing arrangements.


In addition to regular loan repayments, securities available-for-sale represent a primary source of on-balance sheet cash flow.  Certain securities are designated by us at the time of purchase as available-for-sale.  Selection of such securities is based on their ready marketability, ability to collateralize borrowed funds, yield and maturity.


In addition to liquidity arising from balance sheet items, we have supplemented liquidity with additional off-balance sheet sources such as credit lines with the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB").  We have established overnight and 30 day term lines of credit with the FHLB each in the amount of $118.3 million.  If advanced, such lines of credit are collateralized by our pledge of mortgage-backed securities, loans and FHLB stock.  In addition, we have in place borrowing facilities from correspondent banks and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and also have identified repurchase agreements and brokered certificates of deposit as potential additional sources of funding.


We are not aware of any known trends, events or uncertainties that will have or are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect or make material demands on our liquidity in upcoming periods.  



29






RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:

Three Months Ended September 30, 2005 Compared With

Three Months Ended September 30, 2004


Summary of Earnings Performance

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)


 

Quarter Ending

  
 

Sep 2005

Sep 2004

Change

% Change

Net Income

$4,839

$4,968

$(129)

(2.6)%

Diluted Earnings Per Share

.46

.47

(.01)

(2.1)

Return on Average Assets

1.31%

1.42%

(.11)%

(7.7)

Return on Average Equity

16.39%

17.87%

 (1.48)%

(8.3)


We reported earnings (net income) of $4.8 million for the third quarter of 2005, a decrease of $129 thousand, or 2.6%, from the third quarter of 2004.   Diluted earnings per share also decreased to $.46 in the 2005 quarter from $.47 for the prior year.  The earnings decrease was entirely attributable to a decrease in our net interest income, which itself was attributable to a significant decrease in our net interest margin.  Included in net income are: (i) net securities gains, net of tax, of $91 thousand for the 2005 quarter and net securities losses, net of tax, of $5 thousand for the 2004 quarter and (ii) net gains on the sale of loans to the secondary market, net of tax, of $49 thousand and $43 thousand for the respective 2005 and 2004 quarters.


The following narrative discusses the quarter-to-quarter changes in net interest income, other income, other expense and income taxes.


Net Interest Income


Summary of Net Interest Income

(Taxable Equivalent Basis)

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Quarter Ending

  
 

Sep 2005

Sep 2004

Change  

% Change

Interest and Dividend Income

$18,902 

$17,670 

$1,232 

7.0%

Interest Expense

   6,158 

   4,536 

 1,622 

35.8

Net Interest Income

  $12,744 

  $13,134 

$(390)

 (3.0)

    

Taxable Equivalent Adjustment

       $608 

       $632 

$(24)

  (3.8)

    

Average Earning Assets (1)

  $1,394,187 

$1,317,910 

 $76,277 

    5.8

Average Paying Liabilities

 1,148,719 

1,086,762 

  61,957 

    5.7

    

Yield on Earning Assets (1)

      5.38%

      5.33%

    0.05% 

    0.9

Cost of Paying Liabilities

      2.13   

      1.66   

  0.47

     28.3

Net Interest Spread

      3.25   

      3.67   

 (0.42)

 (11.4)

Net Interest Margin

      3.63  

      3.96   

    (0.33)

(8.3)

(1) Includes Nonaccrual Loans


Our net interest margin (net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis divided by average earning assets, annualized) decreased from 3.96% for the third quarter of 2004 to 3.63% for the third quarter of 2005.  (See the discussion under “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” on page 13, regarding net interest income and net interest margin, which are commonly used non-GAAP financial measures.)  The negative impact of this decrease in net interest margin on net interest income was offset, only in part however, by the $76.3 million increase in average earning assets between the third quarter of 2004 and the third quarter of 2005.  As a result, net interest income, on a taxable equivalent basis, decreased by $390 thousand from the 2004 quarter to the 2005 quarter.  The decrease in net interest margin was significantly influenced by the interest rate environment during the period, and by continuing intense competition for deposits and loans.  As discussed above in this Report under the sections entitled “Deposit Trends,” “Key Interest Rate Changes 1999-2005" and “Loan Trends,” beginning in June 2004 after a long-term downward trend, prevailing interest rates began to rise.  As expected, certain deposit liabilities began to reprice upward in immediately ensuing quarters, while the yield on average earning assets has been slower to respond, leading to margin shrinkage.


The provisions for loan losses were $218 thousand and $205 thousand for the quarters ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  The provision for loan losses was discussed previously under the heading "Summary of the Allowance and Provision for Loan Losses."



30






Other Income


Summary of Other Income

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Quarter Ending

  
 

Sep 2005

Sep 2004

Change

% Change

Income From Fiduciary Activities

  $1,147 

  $1,112 

$ 35 

    3.1%

Fees for Other Services to Customers

   2,012 

   1,914 

   98 

    5.1

Net Gains on Securities Transactions

     151 

     (9)

     160 

---

Insurance Commissions

449 

441 

5512.5

Other Operating Income

    323 

    241 

        82 

     34.0

Total Other Income

$4,082 

$3,266 

$816 

25.0


Income from fiduciary activities totaled $1.1 million for the third quarter of 2005, an increase of $35 thousand, or 3.1%, from the third quarter of 2004.  A principal cause of the increase was an increase in the market value of assets under trust administration and investment management, which increased $45.1 million, or 5.7%, from September 30, 2005 to $840.8 million at September 30, 2005.  The increase in fiduciary accounts overcame the loss of a single large relationship.  Among other services offered, the trust division serves as custodian for funds placed with us by third party providers of 401(k) retirement plans.  Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2004, one of these providers began performing all services for its advised plans itself.  The reduction in trust assets and related annual revenues net of direct expenses resulting from this lost relationship were approximately $36.0 million and $39 thousand, respectively.


Income from fiduciary activities also includes fee income from serving as investment adviser for our proprietary mutual funds.  These mutual funds are the North Country Funds, which include the North Country Equity Growth Fund (NCEGX) and the North Country Intermediate Bond Fund (NCBDX).  The combined funds represented a market value of $150.3 million at September 30, 2005.  The funds were introduced in March 2001, and are advised by our subsidiary investment adviser, North Country Investment Advisers, Inc.  Currently, the funds are held almost entirely by accounts managed by the Trust Departments of our subsidiary banks.  The funds are also offered on a retail basis at most of the branch locations of our banks.


Fees for other services to customers (primarily service charges on deposit accounts, credit card merchant fee income, referral payments from third party marketers of financial products and servicing income on sold loans) was $2.0 million for the third quarter of 2005, an increase of $98 thousand, or 5.1%, from the 2004 third quarter.  The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in merchant credit card servicing fees.


For the third quarter of 2005, total other income included net securities gains of $151 thousand on the sale of $15.9 million of securities available-for-sale (primarily other mortgage-backed securities).  In the 2004 quarter, we recognized net losses of $9 thousand on the sale of $14.4 million of available-for-sale securities (primarily CMO’s and other mortgage-backed securities).  The following table presents sales and purchases in the available-for-sale investment portfolio for the third quarters of 2005 and 2004:


Investment Sales and Purchases: Available-for-Sale Portfolio

(In Thousands)

 

Third Quarter

 

2005

2004

Investment Sales

  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

$      --- 

$ 5,103

Other Mortgage-Backed Securities

9,710 

5,047

U.S. Agency Securities

--- 

---

State and Municipal Obligations

  --- 

  ---

Other

   6,183 

   4,238

  Total Sales

$15,893 

$14,388

Net Gains (Losses)

$151 

$(9)

   

Investment Purchases

  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

$1,013 

$     ---

Other Mortgage-Backed Securities

1,001 

---

U.S. Agency Securities

1,000 

   ---

State and Municipal Obligations

  786 

  ---

Other

 5,514 

 1,504

  Total Purchases

$9,314 

$1,504




31






The sales and purchases of investment securities in the third quarter of 2005 were undertaken primarily to replace certain shorter-maturity mortgage-backed securities in the portfolio, although some of the proceeds were used to fund loan growth.


The increase in insurance commissions between the 2004 third quarter and the comparable 2005 quarter resulted from our acquisition of an insurance agency, Capital Financial Group, Inc., at the end of 2004.  Capital Financial specializes in group health insurance.


Other operating income includes data processing servicing fee income received from one unaffiliated upstate New York bank, and net gains or losses on the sale of loans, other real estate owned and other assets.  Other operating income of $323 thousand in third quarter of 2005 represented an increase of $82 thousand, or 34.0%, from the 2004 quarter.  The increase was primarily attributable to a gain on the sale of other real estate owned in the 2005 period, as well as a decrease between the periods in net losses on sales of repossessed vehicles.



Other Expense


Summary of Other Expense

(Dollars in Thousands)


 

Quarter Ending

  
 

Sep 2005

Sep 2004

Change

% Change

Salaries and Employee Benefits

  $5,195 

  $5,059

    $136 

2.7%

Occupancy Expense of Premises, Net

     761 

     674

     87 

12.9

Furniture and Equipment Expense

     760 

     655

   105 

  16.0

Other Operating Expense

  2,285 

  1,902

  383 

  20.1

Total Other Expense

  $9,001 

  $8,290

   $711 

      8.6

    

Efficiency Ratio

53.28%

50.47%

2.81%

 6.0


Other expense for the third quarter of 2005 was $9.0 million, an increase of $711 thousand, or 8.6%, over other expense for the third quarter of 2004.  For the third quarter of 2005, our efficiency ratio was 53.28%.  This ratio, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, is a comparative measure of a financial institution's operating efficiency.  The efficiency ratio (a ratio where lower is better) is the ratio of noninterest expense (excluding intangible asset amortization) to net interest income (on a tax-equivalent basis) and other income (excluding net securities gains or losses).  See the discussion on page 13 of this report under the heading “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”  Although our efficiency ratio increased from 2004 to 2005, it still compares favorably to the June 30, 2005 peer group ratio of 60.46%.


The November 2004 acquisition of an insurance agency, Capital Financial Group, and the April 2005 acquisition of three bank branches from HSBC led to increases in all expense categories.


Salaries and employee benefits expense increased $136 thousand, or 2.7%, from the third quarter of 2004 to the third quarter of 2005.  The increase was primarily attributable to staff increases, including 12.8 full-time equivalent employees in our newly acquired insurance agency and 13.9 full-time equivalent employees in the acquired branches and normal merit increases.  On an annualized basis, the ratio of total personnel expense (salaries and employee benefits) to average assets was 1.40% for the third quarter of 2005, 22 basis points less than the ratio for our peer group of 1.62% at June 30, 2005.


Occupancy expense was $761 thousand for the third quarter of 2005, an $87 thousand increase, or 12.9%, over the third quarter of 2004.  The increase was primarily attributable to building maintenance expenses.  Furniture and equipment expense was $760 thousand for the third quarter of 2005, a $105 thousand increase, or 16.0%, above the third quarter of 2004.  The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in maintenance and depreciation expenses.



32






Other operating expense was $2.3 million for the third quarter of 2005, an increase of $383 thousand, or 20.1% from the third quarter of 2004.  An increase of $107 in intangible asset amortization was related to both the acquisition of the insurance agency and the three branches.  The other areas of significant increases included advertising and postage, which were primarily attributable to the branch acquisition.


Income Taxes


Summary of Income Taxes

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Quarter Ended

  
 

Sep 2005

Sep 2004

Change

% Change

Provision for Income Taxes

  $2,160

  $2,305

    $(145)

(6.3)%

Effective Tax Rate

 30.86%

 31.69%

    (0.83)%

 (2.6)



RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005 Compared With

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004


Summary of Earnings Performance

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

Nine Months Ending

  
 

Sep 2005

Sep 2004

Change

% Change

Net Income

$13,949

$14,531

$(582)

(4.0)%

Diluted Earnings Per Share

1.31

1.36

(.05)

(3.7)

Return on Average Assets

1.30%

1.40%

(.10)%

(7.1)

Return on Average Equity

15.90%

17.70%

 (1.80)%

(10.2)


We reported earnings (net income) of $13.9 million for the first nine months of 2005, a decrease of $582 thousand, or 4.0%, from the first nine months of 2004.  The reasons for the decline are discussed elsewhere in this Report, including under the heading “Overview” on page 19.  Diluted earnings per share were $1.31 and $1.36 for the 2005 and 2004 periods.  Included in net income are: (i) net securities gains, net of tax, of $204 thousand and $121 thousand for the respective 2005 and 2004 periods, (ii) net gains on the sale of loans to the secondary market, net of tax, of $65 thousand and $111 thousand for the respective 2005 and 2004 periods, and (iii) a recovery related to our former Vermont operations of $47 thousand, net of tax, in the 2004 period.


The following narrative discusses the nine-month to nine-month changes in net interest income, other income, other expense and income taxes.


Net Interest Income


Summary of Net Interest Income

(Taxable Equivalent Basis)

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Nine Months Ending

  
 

Sep 2005

Sep 2004

Change  

% Change

Interest and Dividend Income

$54,780

$53,325

$1,455 

2.7%

Interest Expense

  16,842

  14,485

 2,357

16.3

Net Interest Income

  $37,938

  $38,840

$(902)

  (2.3)

    

Taxable Equivalent Adjustment

 $1,843

     $1,923

$(80)

  (4.2)

    

Average Earning Assets (1)

$1,367,281

$1,319,270

 $48,011

   3.6

Average Paying Liabilities

1,132,355

1,099,570

  32,785

    3.0

    

Yield on Earning Assets (1)

      5.36%

      5.40%

    (0.04)%

    (0.7)

Cost of Paying Liabilities

      1.99   

      1.76   

    0.23

    13.1

Net Interest Spread

      3.37   

      3.64   

 (0.27)

 (7.4)

Net Interest Margin

      3.71   

      3.93   

    (0.22)

(5.6)

(1) Includes Nonaccrual Loans



33






Our net interest margin (net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis divided by average earning assets, annualized) decreased from 3.93% for the first nine months of 2004 to 3.71% for the first nine months of 2005.  (See the discussion under “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” on page 13, regarding net interest income and net interest margin, which are commonly used non-GAAP financial measures.)  The negative impact of this decrease in net interest margin on net interest income was offset, but only partially, by the $48.0 million increase in average earning assets between the two periods.  Net interest income, on a taxable equivalent basis, was down $902 thousand, or 2.3%, from the 2004 period to the 2005 period.  The decrease in both net interest income and net interest margin between the two periods was significantly influenced by the interest rate developments in 2004 and 2005.  As discussed above in this Report under the sections entitled “Deposit Trends,” “Key Interest Rate Changes 1999-2005" and “Loan Trends,” beginning in June 2004 prevailing short-term interest rates, after a long downward trend, began to rise.  As expected, deposit liabilities repriced upward more rapidly than earning assets (which have not experienced significant increased yields even by the third quarter of 2005), leading to margin shrinkage.  If the yield curve remains flat and as long as long-term rates do not move upward, the yield on earning assets may not rise significantly, and the pressure on net interest margin will continue.


The provisions for loan losses were $626 thousand and $744 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  The provision for loan losses was discussed previously under the heading "Summary of the Allowance and Provision for Loan Losses."


Other Income


Summary of Other Income

(Dollars in Thousands)


 

Nine Months Ending

  
 

Sep 2005

Sep 2004

Change

% Change

Income From Fiduciary Activities

  $ 3,435 

  $3,228 

$  207 

    6.4%

Fees for Other Services to Customers

   5,560 

   5,498 

   62 

     1.1 

Net Gains on Securities Transactions

     340 

     201 

     139 

69.2 

Insurance Commissions

1,332 

19 

1,313 

6910.5

Other Operating Income

      591 

    679 

          (88)

     (13.0)

  Total Other Income

$11,258 

$9,625 

$1,633 

17.0


Income from fiduciary activities totaled $3.4 million for the first nine months of 2005, an increase of $207 thousand, or 6.4%, from the first nine months of 2004.  A principal cause of the increase was an increase in the pricing of fiduciary services.  Another factor was an increase in the market value of assets under trust administration and investment management, which amounted to $840.4 million at September 30, 2005, an increase of $45.1 million, or 5.7%, from September 30, 2004.  This modest increase was achieved despite the loss of a single large fiduciary account, discussed above under the heading “Other Income” in the quarter-to-quarter comparison.


Income from fiduciary activities also includes fee income from our serving as investment adviser for our proprietary mutual funds.  These mutual funds are the North Country Funds, which include the North Country Equity Growth Fund (NCEGX) and the North Country Intermediate Bond Fund (NCBDX).  The funds are discussed above under the heading “Other Income” in the quarter-to-quarter comparison.


Fees for other services to customers (primarily service charges on deposit accounts, credit card merchant fee income, referral payments from third party marketers of financial products and servicing income on sold loans) equaled $5.6 million for the first nine months of 2005, an increase of $62 thousand, or 1.1%, from the 2004 first nine months.  The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in merchant credit card servicing fees.


For the first nine months of 2005, total other income included securities gains of $340 thousand on the sale of $43.9 million of securities available-for-sale (primarily collateralized mortgage obligations and other mortgage-backed securities).  For the first nine months of 2004, total other income included $201 thousand of net securities gains on the sale of $34.4 million of available-for-sale securities (primarily U.S. agency securities).  The following table presents sales and purchases in the available-for-sale investment portfolio for the first nine months of 2005 and 2004:



34






Investment Sales and Purchases: Available-for-Sale Portfolio

(In Thousands)


 

Nine Months Ending

 

Sep 2005

Sep 2004

Investment Sales

  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

$21,269

$ 5,103

Other Mortgage-Backed Securities

11,292

5,047

U.S. Agency Securities

---

19,816

State and Municipal Obligations

  ---

  ---

Other

   11,321

          4,428

  Total Sales

$43,882

$34,394

Net Gains

$340

$201

   

Investment Purchases

  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

$9,040

$       ---

Other Mortgage-Backed Securities

16,333

30,302

U.S. Agency Securities

14,065

19,892

State and Municipal Obligations

5,212

111

Other

  11,119

   7,361

  Total Purchases

$55,769

$57,666

   


The sales and purchases in the first nine months of 2005 were undertaken primarily to replace certain shorter-maturity collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities in the portfolio.


The substantial increase in insurance commissions between the two periods (from $19 thousand to $1.33 million) came as the result of our acquisition of an insurance agency, Capital Financial Group, Inc., at the end of 2004.  Capital Financial specializes in group health insurance.


Other operating income includes data processing servicing fee income received from one unaffiliated upstate New York bank, and net gains or losses on the sale of loans, other real estate owned and other assets.  In all periods we sold all student loan originations to Sallie Mae shortly after closing the loans, in most cases resulting in small gains.  We recognized $108 thousand and $184 thousand in net gains on loan sales for the respective 2005 and 2004 periods.  During the first nine months of 2005, we sold $5.9 million of newly originated low-rate residential real estate loans in the secondary market.  During the first nine months of 2004, we sold $7.8 million of our loan originations of this type.  In the 2004 period, other operating income also included a pre-tax $77 thousand recovery for our former Vermont operations.


Other Expense


Summary of Other Expense

(Dollars in Thousands)


 

Nine Months Ending

  
 

Sep 2005

Sep 2004

Change

% Change

Salaries and Employee Benefits

  $15,538

  $14,642

    $  896 

6.1%

Occupancy Expense of Premises, Net

   2,225

   2,068

    157 

7.6

Furniture and Equipment Expense

   2,271

   2,044

     227 

   11.1

Other Operating Expense

   6,627

   5,835

     792 

  13.6

Total Other Expense

  $26,661

  $24,589

   $2,072 

      8.4

    

Efficiency Ratio

54.04%

50.89%

3.15%

 6.2




35






Other expense for the first nine months of 2005 was $26.7 million, an increase of $2.1 million, or 8.4%, over the expense for the first nine months of 2004.  For the first nine months of 2005, our efficiency ratio was 54.04%.  This ratio, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, is a comparative measure of a financial institution's operating efficiency.  The efficiency ratio (a ratio where lower is better) is the ratio of noninterest expense (excluding intangible asset amortization) to net interest income (on a tax-equivalent basis) and other income (excluding net securities gains or losses).  See the discussion on page 13 of this report under the heading “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”  Although our efficiency ratio increased from 2004 to 2005, it still compares favorably to the June 30, 2005 peer group ratio of 60.46%.


The November 2004 acquisition of an insurance agency, Capital Financial Group, and the April 2005 acquisition of three bank branches from HSBC led to increases in all expense categories.  However, approximately $100,000 of these increased expenses, primarily in the areas of advertising and supplies, are not expected to be experienced in future periods.


Salaries and employee benefits expense increased $896 thousand, or 6.1%, from the first nine months of 2004 to the first nine months of 2005.  The increase is primarily attributable to increases in personnel, including 12.8 full-time equivalent employees in our newly acquired insurance agency and 13.9 full-time equivalent employees in the acquired branches as well as normal merit increases.  On an annualized basis, the ratio of total personnel expense (salaries and employee benefits) to average assets was 1.44% for the first nine months of 2005, 18 basis points less than the ratio for our peer group of 1.62% at June 30, 2005.


Occupancy expense was $2.2 million for the first nine months of 2005, a $157 thousand increase, or 7.6%, over the first nine months of 2004.  The increase was primarily attributable to building maintenance expenses.  Furniture and equipment expense was $2.3 million for the first nine months of 2005, a $227 thousand increase, or 11.1%, above the first nine months of 2004.  The increase was primarily attributable to increases in data processing and depreciation expenses.


Other operating expense was $6.6 million for the first nine months of 2005, an increase of $792 thousand, or 13.6% from the first nine months of 2004.  An increase of $230 in intangible asset amortization was related to both the acquisition of the insurance agency and the three branches.  The other areas of significant increases included advertising, postage and supplies, which were primarily attributable to the branch acquisition.



Income Taxes


Summary of Income Taxes

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Nine Months Ended

  
 

Sep 2005

Sep 2004

Change

% Change

Provision for Income Taxes

  $6,117

  $6,678

    $(561)

(8.4)%

Effective Tax Rate

 30.48%

 31.49%

    (1.01)%

 (3.2)




36







Item 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK


In addition to credit risk in our loan portfolio and liquidity risk, discussed earlier, our business activities also generate market risk.  Market risk is the possibility that changes in the market for our products and services, including changes in prevailing market interest rates, will make our position less valuable.  The ongoing monitoring and management of market risk is an important component of our asset/liability management process which is governed by policies that are reviewed and approved annually by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors delegates responsibility for carrying out asset/liability oversight and control to management's Asset/Liability Committee (“ALCO”).  ALCO develops guidelines and strategies impacting our asset/liability profile based upon estimated market risk sensitivity, policy limits and overall market interest rate levels and trends.  To date, we have not made use of derivatives, such as interest rate swaps, in our risk management process.


Interest rate risk is the most significant market risk affecting us.  Interest rate risk is the exposure of Arrow’s net interest income to changes in interest rates, assuming other variables affecting our business are unchanged. Interest rate risk is directly related to the different maturities and repricing characteristics of interest-bearing assets and liabilities, as well as to prepayment risks primarily for mortgage related assets, early withdrawal of time deposits, and the fact that the speed and magnitude of responses to interest rate changes vary by product.


ALCO utilizes the results of a detailed and dynamic simulation model to quantify the estimated exposure of net interest income to sustained interest rate changes.  While ALCO routinely monitors simulated net interest income sensitivity over a rolling two-year horizon, it also utilizes additional tools to monitor potential longer-term interest rate risk.


The simulation model captures the impact of changing interest rates on the interest income received and interest expense paid on all interest-sensitive assets and liabilities reflected on our consolidated balance sheet.  This sensitivity analysis is compared to ALCO policy limits which specify a maximum tolerance level for net interest income exposure over a one year horizon, assuming no balance sheet growth and a 200 basis point upward and downward shift in interest rates, where interest-bearing assets and liabilities reprice at their earliest possible repricing date.  A parallel and pro rata shift in rates over a 12 month period is assumed.  


The resulting sensitivity analysis reflects only a hypothetical circumstance involving modification of a single variable affecting our profitability and operations, that is, prevailing interest rates, and does not represent a forecast.  As noted elsewhere in this report, the Federal Reserve Board took certain actions in recent years to bring about a decrease in prevailing short-term interest rates, which initially had a positive effect on our net interest income and subsequently a counteracting negative effect.  Short-term rates, which were at very low levels a year ago, have since increased as a result of Federal Reserve Board decisions at each of its meetings since mid-2004 to increase the Fed funds rate, but the increase has not as yet had an equal impact on long-term rates.  Management believes there is some likelihood that prevailing market rates generally, especially short-term rates, may continue to rise in remaining periods of 2005.  Further increases in short-term rates without comparable increases in long-term rates may continue to have a negative impact on our net interest margin.


The hypothetical estimates underlying the sensitivity analysis utilized by ALCO are based upon numerous assumptions including: the nature and timing of interest rate levels including yield curve shape, prepayments on loans and securities, deposit decay rates, pricing decisions on loans and deposits, reinvestment/replacement of asset and liability cash flows, and others.  While assumptions are developed based upon current economic and local market conditions, management cannot make any assurance as to the predictive nature of these assumptions including how customer preferences or competitor influences might change.


Also, as market conditions vary from those assumed in the sensitivity analysis, actual results will differ due to prepayment/refinancing levels likely deviating from those assumed, the varying impact of interest rate changes on caps or floors on adjustable rate assets, the potential effect of changing debt service levels on customers with adjustable rate loans, depositor early withdrawals and product preference changes, unanticipated shifts in the yield curve and other internal/external variables.  Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis does not reflect actions that ALCO might take in responding to or anticipating changes in interest rates.  



37






Item 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES


Senior management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of Arrow's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of September 30, 2005. Based upon that evaluation, senior management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. Further, there were no changes made in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings


We are not involved in any pending legal proceedings that are deemed material to the company.


Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds


Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities


None


Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities


The following table presents information about purchases by Arrow of our own equity securities (i.e. Arrow’s common stock) during the three months ended September 30, 2005:

Third Quarter 2005

Calendar Month

Total Number of

Shares Purchased1

Average Price

Paid Per Share1

Total Number of

Shares Purchased as

Part of Publicly

Announced

Plans or Programs2

Maximum

Approximate Dollar

Value of Shares that

May Yet be

Purchased Under the

Plans or Programs3

July

16,398

$28.47

12,875

$4,092,790

August

76,033

27.38

74,160

2,061,430

September

 28,251

28.05

       ---

2,061,430

Total

120,681

27.69

87,035

 


1The total number of shares purchased and the average price paid per share include, in addition to other purchases, shares purchased in the market under the Arrow Financial Corporation Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) by the administrator of the DRIP and shares surrendered (or deemed surrendered) to Arrow by holders of options to acquire Arrow common stock in connection with the exercise of such options.  In the months indicated, the listed number of shares purchased included the following numbers of shares purchased through such methods:  July – DRIP purchases (1,380 shares) and shares surrendered in connection with option exercises (2,142 shares, August – DRIP purchases (1,873 shares), September – DRIP purchases (15,297 shares) and shares surrendered in connection with option exercises (12,954 shares).


2Includes only shares subject to publicly announced stock repurchase programs, i.e. the $5 million stock repurchase program approved by the Board in April 2005 (the “2005 Repurchase Program”).  Does not include shares purchased or subject to purchase under the DRIP or any compensatory stock or stock option plan.


3Dollar amount of repurchase authority remaining at month-end under the 2005 Repurchase Program, Arrow’s only publicly-announced stock repurchase program in effect at such dates.



38






Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities - None


Item 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders - None


Item 5.

Other Information  

(a)

None

(b)

None


Item 6.

Exhibits


Exhibit 31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer under SEC Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)

Exhibit 31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer under SEC Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)

Exhibit 32

Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer under 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 and SEC Rule 13a-14(b)/15d-14(b)




SIGNATURES

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


ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Registrant



Date:    November 8, 2005

s/Thomas L. Hoy

 

Thomas L. Hoy, President and

 

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

 

Date:    November 8, 2005

s/John J. Murphy

 

John J. Murphy, Executive Vice President,

 

Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

 

(Principal Financial Officer and

 

Principal Accounting Officer)




39