10-Q 1 form10q.htm NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORP 10-Q 9-30-2011 form10q.htm


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, 2011

OR

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

For the transition period from _________  to __________
 

Commission File Number 000 - 19300
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware     36-3449727
(State of Incorporation)    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
1601 North Lewis Avenue
Waukegan, Illinois  60085
(847) 244-6000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of principal executive office)

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: o

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large Accelerated Filer o Accelerated Filer o Non-accelerated Filer o Smaller reporting company x
    (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)  
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES: o NO: x
 
4,278,755 shares of common stock were outstanding at October 31, 2011
 


 
 

 
 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
FORM 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2011
 
PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
       
      Page Number
     Item 1.    Financial Statements    
       
    2
       
    Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes 3
       
Item 2.
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 32
       
Item 3.
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 48
       
Item 4.
  Controls and Procedures 50
   
PART II.      OTHER INFORMATION  
       
     Item 1.    Legal Proceedings 50
       
     Item 1A.    Risk Factors 50
       
     Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 50
       
     Item 3.     Defaults Upon Senior Securities 51
       
     Item 4.   (Removed and Reserved) 51
       
     Item 5.   Other Information 51
       
     Item 6.   Exhibits 51
       
     Signatures 52
       
EXHIBIT INDEX 53

 
1


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


Board of Directors and Stockholders
Northern States Financial Corporation
Waukegan, Illinois

We have reviewed the accompanying interim condensed consolidated balance sheet of NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION as of September 30, 2011, the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and the condensed statements of cash flows and stockholders equity for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.  These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the company's management.

We conducted our review in accordance with 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, 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 accompanying interim condensed financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
 
/s/  Plante & Moran, PLLC    
 
   
Chicago, Illinois  
November 1, 2011  
 
 
2

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010
(In thousands of dollars) (Unaudited)
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
Assets
 
2011
   
2010
 
Cash and due from banks
  $ 7,794     $ 5,642  
Interest bearing deposits in financial institutions - maturities less than 90 days
    30,652       18,142  
Federal funds sold
    3,021       6,573  
Total cash and cash equivalents
    41,467       30,357  
Securities available for sale
    90,523       91,830  
Loans and leases, net of deferred fees
    350,851       384,789  
Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses
    (18,309 )     (18,336 )
Loans and leases, net
    332,542       366,453  
Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    1,801       1,801  
Office buildings and equipment, net
    9,114       9,454  
Other real estate owned
    22,343       24,326  
Accrued interest receivable and other assets
    4,739       7,507  
Total assets
  $ 502,529     $ 531,728  
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
               
Liabilities
               
Deposits
               
Demand - noninterest bearing
  $ 65,258     $ 61,341  
Interest bearing
    369,849       385,210  
Total deposits
    435,107       446,551  
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    20,687       35,517  
Subordinated debentures
    10,310       10,310  
Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance
    355       1,109  
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities
    5,331       4,956  
Total liabilities
    471,790       498,443  
                 
Stockholders' Equity
               
Common stock (Par value $0.40 per share, authorized 6,500,000 shares, issued 4,472,255 at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.  Shares outstanding of 4,278,755 and 4,072,255 shares at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.)
    1,789       1,789  
Preferred stock (Par value $0.40 per share, authorized 1,000,000 shares, issued 17,211 shares with liquidation amounts of $1,000.00 per share at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010)
    16,870       16,768  
Warrants (584,084 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010)
    681       681  
Additional paid-in capital
    7,003       11,584  
Retained earnings
    7,379       13,250  
Treasury stock, at cost (193,500 shares at September 30, 2011 and 400,000 shares at December 31, 2010)
    (4,489 )     (9,280 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    1,506       (1,507 )
Total stockholders' equity
    30,739       33,285  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 502,529     $ 531,728  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
3

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010
(In thousands of dollars, except per share data) (Unaudited)
 
   
Three months ended
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Interest income
                       
Loans (including fee income)
  $ 4,492     $ 5,424     $ 14,021     $ 15,887  
Securities
                               
Taxable
    523       655       1,632       2,367  
Exempt from federal income tax
    36       39       109       160  
Federal funds sold and other
    13       8       47       29  
Total interest income
    5,064       6,126       15,809       18,443  
Interest expense
                               
Time deposits
    370       804       1,463       3,068  
Other deposits
    80       125       250       475  
Repurchase agreements and federal funds purchased
    13       67       65       215  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    0       0       0       8  
Subordinated debentures
    58       102       172       314  
Total interest expense
    521       1,098       1,950       4,080  
Net interest income
    4,543       5,028       13,859       14,363  
Provision for loan and lease losses
    2,000       338       5,700       4,568  
Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses
    2,543       4,690       8,159       9,795  
Noninterest income
                               
Service fees on deposits
    457       515       1,298       1,611  
Trust income
    154       197       550       594  
Gain on sale of securities
    135       0       277       653  
Net gain (loss) on sale of other real estate owned
    14       (426 )     12       (26 )
Net loss on sale of other assets
    0       0       (38 )     0  
Other than temporary impairment of securities
    0       (36 )     (143 )     (634 )
Noncredit portion of other than temporary impairment of securities
    0       22       (20 )     (25 )
Other operating income
    343       343       1,018       971  
Total noninterest income
    1,103       615       2,954       3,144  
Noninterest expense
                               
Salaries and employee benefits
    1,718       1,729       5,217       5,228  
Occupancy and equipment, net
    597       552       1,853       1,771  
Data processing
    472       498       1,446       1,444  
FDIC insurance
    228       402       930       1,103  
Legal
    179       194       666       616  
Audit and other professional
    208       317       835       979  
Amortization of core deposit intangible asset
    0       116       0       348  
Write-down of other real estate owned
    797       1,076       2,125       2,500  
Other real estate owned expense
    525       99       829       327  
Loan and collection
    90       79       822       160  
Other operating expenses
    518       386       1,460       1,177  
Total noninterest expense
    5,332       5,448       16,183       15,653  
Loss before income taxes
    (1,686 )     (143 )     (5,070 )     (2,714 )
Income tax expense
    0       0       0       0  
Net loss
    (1,686 )     (143 )     (5,070 )     (2,714 )
Dividends to preferred stockholders
    236       222       699       665  
Accretion of discount on preferred stock
    33       31       102       95  
Net loss available to common stockholders
  $ (1,955 )   $ (396 )   $ (5,871 )   $ (3,474 )
                                 
Basic loss per share
  $ (0.46 )   $ (0.10 )   $ (1.37 )   $ (0.85 )
                                 
Diluted loss per share
  $ (0.46 )   $ (0.10 )   $ (1.37 )   $ (0.85 )
                                 
Comprehensive (loss) gain
  $ (366 )   $ (124 )   $ (2,057 )   $ 693  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
4

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010
(In thousands of dollars) (Unaudited)
 
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Cash flows - operating activities
           
Net loss
  $ (5,070 )   $ (2,714 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash from operating activities:
               
Depreciation
    515       488  
Net gain on sale of securities
    (277 )     (653 )
Net impairment loss on securities
    163       659  
Provision for loan and lease losses
    5,700       4,568  
Write-down of other real estate owned
    2,125       2,500  
Net (gain) loss on sale of other real estate owned
    (12 )     26  
Amortization of other intangible asset
    0       348  
Restricted stock awards expense
    210       0  
Net change in accrued interest receivable and other assets
    846       1,008  
Net change in accrued interest payable and other liabilities
    (324 )     (712 )
Net cash - operating activities
    3,876       5,518  
Cash flows - investing activities
               
Proceeds from maturities, calls and principal reductions of securities available for sale
    6,245       9,588  
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale
    19,852       41,193  
Purchases of securities available for sale
    (19,793 )     (6,224 )
Changes in loans made to customers
    20,135       14,266  
Property and equipment expenditures
    (175 )     (289 )
Improvements to other real estate owned
    0       (34 )
Proceeds from sales of other real estate owned
    7,998       10,496  
Net cash - investing activities
    34,262       68,996  
Cash flows - financing activities
               
Net (decrease) increase in:
               
Deposits
    (11,444 )     (55,280 )
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    (14,830 )     (7,293 )
Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance
    (754 )     (311 )
Net cash - financing activities
    (27,028 )     (62,884 )
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    11,110       11,630  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    30,357       34,194  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 41,467     $ 45,824  
                 
Cash paid for interest
  $ 2,177     $ 4,473  
Noncash transfer of loans to other real estate owned
    8,128       10,470  
Noncash accrual of preferred dividends
    699       665  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
5

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010
(In thousands of dollars, except for per share data) (Unaudited)
 
   
Common Stock
   
Preferred Stock
   
Warrants
   
Additional Paid-In Capital
   
Retained Earnings
   
Treasury Stock, at Cost
   
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
   
Total Stockholders' Equity
 
Balance, December 31, 2009
  $ 1,789     $ 16,641     $ 681     $ 11,584     $ 20,632     $ (9,280 )   $ (1,746 )   $ 40,301  
Net loss
                              (2,714 )                     (2,714 )
Accrued dividend on preferred stock
                              (665 )                     (665 )
Accretion of preferred stock discount issued
      95                       (95 )                     0  
Unrealized gain on securities available for sale, net of deferred tax..
                                                    3,407       3,407  
Balance, September 30, 2010
  $ 1,789     $ 16,736     $ 681     $ 11,584     $ 17,158     $ (9,280 )   $ 1,661     $ 40,329  
                                                                 
                                                                 
Balance, December 31, 2010
  $ 1,789     $ 16,768     $ 681     $ 11,584     $ 13,250     $ (9,280 )   $ (1,507 )   $ 33,285  
Net loss
                              (5,070 )                     (5,070 )
Accrued dividend on preferred stock
                              (699 )                     (699 )
Accretion of preferred stock discount issued
      102                       (102 )                     0  
Restricted stock awards from treasury stock
                            (4,791 )             4,791               0  
Restricted stock awards expense
                      210                               210  
Unrealized gain on securities available for sale, net of deferred tax..
                                                    3,013       3,013  
Balance, September 30, 2011
  $ 1,789     $ 16,870     $ 681     $ 7,003     $ 7,379     $ (4,489 )   $ 1,506     $ 30,739  

 
6

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
Note 1 - Basis of Presentation

The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared without audit and reflect all adjustments which are of a normal and recurring nature and, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present interim financial statements of Northern States Financial Corporation (the "Company") in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The interim financial statements do not purport to contain all the necessary financial disclosures covered by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America that might otherwise be necessary for complete financial statements.

To prepare financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management makes estimates and assumptions based on available information.  These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the disclosures provided, and future results could differ.  Estimates and assumptions used for the allowance for loan and lease losses, valuation of other real estate owned, valuation of other than temporarily impaired securities, valuation of deferred tax assets and status of contingencies are particularly subject to change.

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and accompanying notes (or "notes thereto") of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 included herein are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year 2011.

Net loss available to common stockholders was utilized to calculate loss per share for all periods presented.  During the periods presented, the Company had preferred stock and common stock equivalents from warrants related to funds received from the U.S Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury Department”) through its Capital Purchase Program.  However, common stock equivalents from warrants during the periods presented were antidilutive and, therefore, not considered in computing diluted loss per share.
 
 
7

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Basic earnings per share:
                       
Net loss
  $ (1,686 )   $ (143 )   $ (5,070 )   $ (2,714 )
Dividends accrued to preferred stockholders
    236       222       699       665  
Accretion of discount on preferred stock
    33       31       102       95  
Net loss available to common stockholders
  $ (1,955 )   $ (396 )   $ (5,871 )   $ (3,474 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding
    4,278,755       4,072,255       4,276,154       4,072,255  
Basic loss per share
  $ (0.46 )   $ (0.10 )   $ (1.37 )   $ (0.85 )
                                 
Diluted earnings per share:
                               
Net loss
  $ (1,686 )   $ (143 )   $ (5,070 )   $ (2,714 )
Dividends accrued to preferred stockholders
    236       222       699       665  
Accretion of discount on preferred stock
    33       31       102       95  
Net loss available to common stockholders
  $ (1,955 )   $ (396 )   $ (5,871 )   $ (3,474 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding
    4,278,755       4,072,255       4,276,154       4,072,255  
Add: Dilutive effect of assumed warrant exercises
    0       0       0       0  
Weighted average common and dilutive common shares outstanding
    4,278,755       4,072,255       4,276,154       4,072,255  
Diluted loss per share
  $ (0.46 )   $ (0.10 )   $ (1.37 )   $ (0.85 )

Note 2 – Preferred Stock
 
On February 20, 2009, pursuant to the Treasury Department’s TARP Capital Purchase Program, the Company issued to the Treasury Department, in exchange for total proceeds of $17,211,000, (i) 17,211 shares of the Company’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), par value $.40 per share and a liquidation amount equal to $1,000 per share, and (ii) a ten-year warrant (the “Warrant”) to purchase up to 584,084 shares of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price of $4.42 per share.  The $17,211,000 proceeds were allocated to the Series A Preferred Stock and the Warrant based on the relative fair value of the instruments.  The fair value of the preferred stock was estimated using an approximate 12% discount rate and a five-year expected life.  A fair value of $681,000 was estimated for the warrants using a Black-Sholes valuation.  The assumptions used in the Black-Sholes valuation were as follows: $4.42 strike price based on the contract, approximately 53% for the calculated volatility, 3.1% for the weighted average dividends, five years for the expected term and 2% for the risk free rate.
 
 
8

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
The difference between the initial carrying value of $16,530,000 that was allocated to the Series A Preferred Stock and its redemption value of $17,211,000 will be charged to retained earnings (with a corresponding increase to the carrying value of the Series A Preferred Stock) over the first five years as an adjustment to the dividend yield using the effective yield method.  The Series A Preferred Stock is generally non-voting and qualifies as Tier 1 capital.
 
In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding takes precedence over the Company’s common stock for the payment of dividends and distribution of assets.
 
Dividends are payable quarterly on the Series A Preferred Stock at an annual dividend rate of 5% per year for the first five years, and 9% per year thereafter.  The effective yield of the Series A Preferred Stock is approximately 5.94%.  In November 2009, the Company notified the Treasury Department of its intent to suspend its dividend payments on its Series A Preferred Stock.  The suspension of the dividend has continued through September 30, 2011.  At September 30, 2011, the accumulated dividends payable to the Treasury Department totaled $1.9 million which includes compounding on unpaid dividends at 5.00 percent.  The suspension of dividend payments is permissible under the terms of the TARP Capital Purchase Program, but the dividend is a cumulative dividend and failure to pay dividends for six dividend periods triggered Board of Director appointment rights for the holder of the Series A Preferred Stock, currently the Treasury Department.  At September 30, 2011, the Company had suspended eight dividend payments; however, the Treasury Department has not yet exercised its director appointment rights.  In January 2011, the Company agreed to allow a Treasury Department representative to attend its Board of Directors meetings as an observer.

For as long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, no dividends may be declared or paid on the Company’s common stock unless all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past dividend periods on the Series A Preferred Stock are fully paid. Pursuant to the Capital Purchase Program, the Treasury Department’s consent is required for any increase in dividends on the Company’s common stock above the amount of $0.40 per share, the last semi-annual common stock dividend declared by the Company prior to October 14, 2008, unless the Series A Preferred Stock is redeemed in whole or until the Treasury Department has transferred all of the Series A Preferred Stock it owns to third parties.

The Company may not repurchase any of its common stock without the prior consent of the Treasury Department for as long as the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding to the Treasury Department or until the Treasury Department transfers all of the Series A Preferred Stock it owns to third parties.
 
Note 3 – Common Stock

Information related to common stock at the dates indicated was as follows:
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Par value per share
  $ 0.40     $ 0.40  
Authorized shares
    6,500,000       6,500,000  
Issued shares
    4,472,255       4,472,255  
Treasury shares
    193,500       400,000  
Outstanding shares
    4,278,755       4,072,255  
 
 
9

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
Pursuant to the Capital Purchase Program, the Company issued to the Treasury Department a Warrant to purchase up to 584,084 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $4.42 per share.  Based upon its fair value relative to the Series A Preferred Stock discussed in Note 2 above, the Warrant was recorded at a value of $681,000 and is accounted for as equity.  The Warrant is exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time until the tenth anniversary of the issue date.

At the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders on May 21, 2009, the 2009 Restricted Stock Plan (the "Plan") was approved by the stockholders.  The Plan authorizes the issuance of 400,000 shares of the Company's common stock to be issued in whole or in part from treasury shares or authorized and unissued shares not reserved for any other purpose. Awards under the Plan may be made to directors and employees of both the Company and its subsidiaries and may consist of restricted stock with associated voting rights and the right to receive dividends.  Awards may also be issued as stock units not having voting rights or the right to receive dividends until the terms of the award are satisfied and the shares of the Company's stock are actually issued; however, dividends may be credited to a restricted stock award.  The terms and conditions of each award is set forth and described in an award agreement between the Company and the participant.

In January 2011, 207,500 shares of restricted stock were issued pursuant to the 2009 Restricted Stock Plan from the Company’s treasury stock.  During the second quarter of 2011, employees, who left the Company, forfeited 1,000 shares of restricted stock, which were returned to treasury stock lowering the total shares issued pursuant to the Plan to 206,500 shares.  Of the 80,000 shares issued to directors, 70,000 shares vested during the first quarter of 2011, while the remaining 10,000 shares will vest over a two-year period.  A total of 126,500 restricted stock shares granted to employees of the Company will fully vest in January 2013.  The expense attributable to these restricted stock awards recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 totaled $29,000 and $210,000, respectively. The quarterly expense for the vesting of these issued restricted stock awards is expected to be $29,000 through year-end 2012.

Note 4 – Securities

At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company had the following securities in its investment portfolio:
 
         
Gross Unrealized
 
September 30, 2011  ($000's)
 
Fair Value
   
Gain
   
Loss
 
                   
States and political subdivisions
  $ 3,892     $ 77     $ 0  
Mortgage-backed securities
    82,346       2,144       (2 )
Equity securities
    4,285       181       0  
                         
Total securities available for sale
  $ 90,523     $ 2,402     $ (2 )
 
 
10

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
         
Gross Unrealized
 
December 31, 2010  ($000's)
 
Fair Value
   
Gains
   
Losses
 
                   
U.S. Treasury
  $ 1,002     $ 1     $ 0  
States and political subdivisions
    3,997       75       (11 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    82,648       273       (2,738 )
Other bonds
    20       0       (114 )
Equity securities
    4,163       31       0  
                         
Total securities available for sale
  $ 91,830     $ 380     $ (2,863 )
 
The Company sold mortgage-backed securities classified as available for sale during the quarter ended September 30, 2011 having a carrying value of $19.6 million and recognized a $135,000 gain on the sales and received $19.7 million in proceeds.  Other mortgage-backed securities were purchased during the quarter totaling $19.8 million diversifying the underlying collateral of the Company’s mortgage-backed securities portfolio.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2011, equity securities consisting of Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) preferred stock and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) preferred stock that had previously been totally written off were sold with the Company recognizing a gain of $142,000.

During the first quarter of 2010, the Company sold securities classified as available for sale having a carrying value of $40.5 million for liquidity purposes and recognized a $653,000 gain and received $41.2 million in proceeds.  There were no other sales of securities during the second and third quarters of 2010.

At September 30, 2011, the Company had pledged securities of $68.7 million as compared to $59.0 million at December 31, 2010.  Securities are pledged to secure public deposits, repurchase agreements and for other purposes as required or permitted by law.

Contractual maturities of securities available for sale at September 30, 2011 are set forth below. Securities not due at a single maturity date, primarily mortgage-backed securities, are shown separately:
 
 
11

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
September 30, 2011  ($000's)
 
Fair Value
 
       
Due in one year or less
  $ 928  
Due after one year through five year
    530  
Due after five years through ten years
    1,299  
Due after ten years
    1,135  
      3,892  
Mortgage-backed securities
    82,346  
Equity securities
    4,285  
         
Total securities available for sale
  $ 90,523  
 
During the quarter ended March 31, 2011, the Company recognized $29,000 of other than temporary impairment loss on the FNMA and FHLMC preferred stocks writing off the remaining carrying value of these securities. These equity securities were initially written down $2.0 million during 2008 and $14,000 during the third quarter of 2010.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2011, the Company recognized $134,000 of impairment losses on CDOs classified as other bonds based on cash flow analyses pursuant to the current guidelines on recognition of impairment losses writing off the remaining carrying value on these securities. These CDOs consisted of three securities having a combined original cost of $10.9 million; PreTSL XXII, PreTSL XXIV and PreTSL XXVII.  The Company’s CDOs consist of various tranches of each security, with different tranches having various risk factors and repayment schedules, with an “A” tranche having the least risk and “D” and “Income Notes” having the highest risk.  For PreTSL XXII, the Company’s tranche level is “Mezzanine Class C-2”.  For PreTSL XXIV, the Company’s tranche level is “Mezzanine Class D” and for PreTSL XXVII, the Company’s tranche level is “Mezzanine Class C-1”.   At March 31, 2011, the cash flow analysis determined that these CDOs were fully other than temporarily impaired due to the large percentages of issuers of the debt underlying the CDOs that were either in default or deferring payments on their debt payments.  For the three months ended September 30, 2010 the Company recognized no other than temporary impairment losses on theses CDOs and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, recognized $645,000 of impairment losses on these CDOs.

 
12

 
 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
At September 30, 2011, there was one security and at December 31, 2010, there were ten securities in an unrealized loss position.  The securities at September 30, 2011 and December 30, 2010, with unrealized losses, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous loss position, were as follows:
 
   
Less than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
 
September 30, 2011  ($000's)
 
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
 
                                     
States and political subdivisions
  $ 421     $ (2 )   $ 0     $ 0     $ 421     $ (2 )
Total temporarily impaired
  $ 421     $ (2 )   $ 0     $ 0     $ 421     $ (2 )
 
   
Less than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
 
December 31, 2010  ($000's)
 
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
 
                                     
States and political subdivisions
  $ 779     $ (11 )   $ 0     $ 0     $ 779     $ (11 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    64,332       (2,738 )     0       0       64,332       (2,738 )
Other bonds
    0       0       20       (114 )     20       (114 )
Total temporarily impaired
  $ 65,111     $ (2,749 )   $ 20     $ (114 )   $ 65,131     $ (2,863 )
 
At September 30, 2011, the Company does not intend to sell the security in an unrealized loss position and believes it is unlikely that the Company will be required to sell the security while it is in an unrealized loss position.
 
Note 5 – Subordinated Debentures

During September 2005, the Company issued $10.3 million of subordinated debentures to Northern States Statutory Trust I, a wholly-owned grantor trust, which in turn issued $10.3 million of trust preferred securities.  The Company is required to hold $310,000 of the trust preferred securities as Common Securities while the remaining $10 million were issued as Capital Securities.  The subordinated debentures mature in September 2035.  From December 2005 until September 15, 2010, the subordinated debentures bore interest at a rate equal to the sum of the product of 50% times the 3-month LIBOR plus 1.80%, plus the product of 50% times 6.186%.  After September 15, 2010 and until maturity, the subordinated debentures bear an interest rate of the 3-month LIBOR plus 1.80%.  The rate on the subordinated debentures was 2.147% at September 30, 2011, which is the effective rate from September 15, 2011 through December 14, 2011.  For the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, interest expense on the subordinated debentures was $58,000 and $102,000, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, interest expense on the subordinated debentures was $172,000 and $314,000, respectively.
 
The Company has guaranteed the payment of distributions and payments upon liquidation or redemption of the trust preferred securities, in each case to the extent of funds held by the Trust. The Company and the Trust believe that, taken together, the obligations of the Company under the guarantee, the subordinated debentures, and other related agreements provide, in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee, on a subordinated basis, of all of the obligations of the Trust under the trust preferred securities. Subject to certain limitations, the Company has the right to defer the payment of interest on the junior subordinated debentures at any time, or from time to time, for a period not to exceed 20 consecutive quarters.  In November 2009, the Company notified the trustee that holds the Company’s junior subordinated debentures relating to its outstanding trust preferred securities that the Company would be deferring its regularly scheduled quarterly interest payments.  The Company has continued to defer its quarterly interest payments through September 30, 2011.  As of September 30, 2011, the Company had deferred eight quarterly payments and accrued interest payable on the subordinated debentures totaled $682,000.  During the deferral period, the Company may not pay any dividends on its common or preferred stock. The trust preferred securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, upon repayment of the subordinated debentures at maturity or their earlier redemption. The subordinated debentures were callable at par beginning in 2010 if the Company obtains Federal Reserve approval, if then required under applicable guidelines or regulations.  Subject to certain exceptions, the Company may not without the consent of the Treasury Department engage in repurchases of the Company’s common stock or trust preferred securities until all shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued to the Treasury Department have been redeemed or transferred by the Treasury Department.
 
 
13

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
Note 6 – Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses and Credit Disclosures

The allowance for loan and lease losses (“ALLL”) is a valuation allowance for potential credit losses, increased by the provision for loan and lease losses and decreased by charge-offs net of recoveries.  The ALLL represents one of the most significant estimates in the Company’s financial condition.  Accordingly, the Company endeavors to provide a comprehensive and systematic approach for determining management’s current judgment about the credit quality of the loan portfolio.

At the end of each quarter, or more frequently if warranted, the Company analyzes its loan portfolio to determine the level of ALLL needed to be maintained.  This analysis results in what management believes is a prudent, conservative ALLL that falls within an acceptable range of estimated credit losses.  The ALLL covers estimated credit losses on individually evaluated loans that are determined to be impaired as well as estimated credit losses inherent in the remainder of the loan portfolio.

Senior management and other lenders review all Watch and Substandard credits to determine if a loan is impaired.  A loan is considered impaired if it is probable that full principal and interest will not be collected within the contractual terms of the original note.  For loans that are individually evaluated and determined to be impaired, the Company calculates the amount of impairment based on whether repayment of the loan is dependent on operating cash flow or on the underlying collateral.  The decision of which method to use is determined by looking at a number of factors.  If the loan is to be repaid primarily from the operating cash flow from the borrower, the impairment analysis calculates the present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate and compares the result to the recorded investment.  Collateral-dependent loans are measured against the fair value of the collateral less the costs to sell.

The remaining unimpaired loan portfolio is segmented into groups based on loan types having similar risk characteristics.  Estimated loan losses for these groups are determined using historical loss experience and adjusted for other environmental and qualitative factors the Company deems significant that would likely cause estimated credit losses to differ from the group’s historical loss experience.

Allocations of the ALLL may be made for specific loans and leases, but the entire allowance is available for any loan or lease that, in management’s judgment, should be charged-off.  Loan and lease losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectability of a loan or lease balance is confirmed.
 
 
14

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
It is the Company’s policy to administer and pursue charged-off borrowers with the same diligence as other loans.  Charging off an exposure is an accounting entry and does not affect the borrower’s obligation to repay the indebtedness.  Administration of charged-off exposure is governed by maximization of recoveries, and borrowers will be pursued until, in the opinion of management, future costs of collection exceed probable future recoveries.

Activity in the allowance for loan and lease losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 is set forth below:

For the Nine Months Ended
 
Beginning
                     
Ending
 
September 30, 2011  ($000's)
 
Balance
   
Provision
         
Recoveries
   
Balance
 
   
Allowance
   
Charges to
         
to Loans
   
Allowance
 
   
for Loan
   
Operating
   
Loans
   
Previously
   
for Loan
 
   
Losses
   
Expense
   
Charged Off
   
Charged Off
   
Losses
 
                               
Commercial
  $ 1,013     $ 587     $ (911 )   $ 51     $ 740  
Real estate-construction
    2,842       (101 )     (326 )     0       2,415  
Real estate-mortgage 1-4 family
    988       (170 )     (273 )     3       548  
Real estate-mortgage 5+ family
    1,025       3,666       (3,121 )     0       1,570  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
    11,977       1,644       (1,117 )     0       12,504  
Home equity
    468       79       (32 )     0       515  
Leases
    0       0       0       0       0  
Installment
    23       (5 )     (4 )     3       17  
                                         
Total
  $ 18,336     $ 5,700     $ (5,784 )   $ 57     $ 18,309  
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
Beginning
                     
Ending
 
September 30, 2010  ($000's)
 
Balance
   
Provision
         
Recoveries
   
Balance
 
   
Allowance
   
Charges to
         
to Loans
   
Allowance
 
   
for Loan
   
Operating
   
Loans
   
Previously
   
for Loan
 
   
Losses
   
Expense
   
Charged Off
   
Charged Off
   
Losses
 
                               
Commercial
  $ 516     $ (126 )   $ (120 )   $ 118     $ 388  
Real estate-construction
    2,591       779       (1,765 )     0       1,605  
Real estate-mortgage 1-4 family
    725       (369 )     0       0       356  
Real estate-mortgage 5+ family
    799       (359 )     (3 )     0       437  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
    12,138       4,003       (4,782 )     0       11,359  
Home equity
    1,241       222       (1,276 )     0       187  
Leases
    0       379       (306 )     0       73  
Installment
    17       39       (28 )     6       34  
                                         
Total
  $ 18,027     $ 4,568     $ (8,280 )   $ 124     $ 14,439  

Nonaccrual Loans:   Accrual of uncollectible income on problem loans inflates income and, if recognized in an untimely fashion, can have a dramatic negative impact on earnings.  Any loan meeting one of the following criteria is placed in a nonaccrual status and all related interest earned but not collected is reversed:
 
 
15

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
 
A.
The loan is maintained on a cash basis because of deterioration in the financial condition of the borrower.

 
B.
The borrower is in bankruptcy and the exposure is not fully secured and in the process of collection.

 
C.
Full payment of principal or interest is not expected.

 
D.
The loan has been in default for a period of ninety (90) days or more unless the asset is both well secured and in the process of collection.

Loans meeting any of the criteria above may be exempted from this policy if unanimously agreed upon and duly documented by the Directors’ Loan Committee.

Interest received on nonaccrual loans is accounted for on either the cost recovery or the cash-basis until qualifying for return to accrual status.  Loans may be returned to accrual status when at least six months of timely payments have been received and there is evidence to support that payments will most likely continue.

Troubled Debt Restructuring:  Restructuring of loans is undertaken to improve the likelihood that the loan will be repaid in full under the modified terms in accordance with a reasonable repayment schedule.  All modified loans are evaluated to determine whether the loans should be reported as a Troubled Debt Restructure (“TDR”).  A loan is a TDR when the Company, for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties, grants a concession to the borrower by modifying or renewing a loan that the Company would not otherwise consider.  To make this determination the Company must determine whether (a) the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties and (b) the Company granted the borrower a concession.  This determination requires consideration of all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the modification.  An overall general decline in the economy or some deterioration in a borrower’s financial condition does not automatically mean the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties.

Some of the factors to review to determine whether the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties are: 1) Is the borrower currently in default on any of its debts; 2) Has the borrower declared or in the process of declaring bankruptcy; 3) Absent the current modification, the borrower would more than likely default.

Some of the factors to consider in determining whether the Bank has granted a concession include: 1) interest rate concession; 2) extension of maturity date; 3) forgiveness of debt; 4) reduction of accrued interest; 5) interest only for an extended period.

A restructured loan that yields a market rate and on which the borrower is in compliance with the loan’s modified terms may not need to be reported as a TDR for regulatory reporting purposes in calendar years after the year in which the restructuring took place but may need to be reported as restructured for financial reporting purposes.  In determining whether the rate is a market rate, the Company analyzes the borrower’s current financial condition and compares the rate on the modified loan to rates the Company would charge borrowers with similar financial characteristics on similar types of loans.

Loan Rating System:  Senior management and the Bank’s lenders use a loan rating system to determine the credit risks of the Bank’s loan and leases with the following loan ratings:

Pass:  A Pass loan has no apparent weaknesses.
 
Watch:  A Watch loan has potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention.  If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the asset or in the Bank’s credit position at some future date.  Loan collection is not in jeopardy yet, but continued adverse trends may cause it to be.  Typical characteristics of Watch assets include:  increasing debt; liquidity problems; negative trends in operating cash flow; collateral dependent with advances outside policy guidelines; and/or sporadic payment performance.
 
 
16

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)

Substandard:  A Substandard loan is inadequately protected by the current sound net worth and paying capacity of the borrower or of the collateral pledged, if any.  These loans have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt and have a distinct possibility that the Company may sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

Nonaccrual: Loans in this category have the same characteristics as those classified Substandard with the added characteristic that further erosion in the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.  The likelihood of loss is yet to be fully determined due to the borrower’s inability or refusal to provide updated financial information, appraisals or additional collateral.

Doubtful:  Loans in this category have the weaknesses of those classified Substandard where collection and/or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing conditions, is highly questionable or improbable.  Treatment as “loss” is deferred until exact status can be determined.

Loss:  Loans classified loss are considered uncollectible and of such little value that their continuance as bankable assets is not warranted.  This classification does not mean that the loan has absolutely no recovery or salvage value, but rather it is not practical or desirable to defer writing off this basically worthless loan even though partial recovery may be affected in the future.

Below shows the allocation of the allowance for loan and lease losses by segment to loans and leases individually and collectively evaluated for impairment:

               
Allowance
         
Allowance
 
               
for Loan
         
for Loan
 
               
Losses
         
Losses
 
   
Ending
         
Allocated to
         
Allocated to
 
   
Balance
   
Loans
   
Loans
   
Loans
   
Loans
 
`
 
Total
   
Individually
   
Individually
   
Collectively
   
Collectively
 
   
Loans
   
Evaluated
   
Evaluated
   
Evaluated
   
Evaluated
 
   
and
   
for
   
for
   
for
   
for
 
At September 30, 2011  ($000's)
 
Leases
   
Impairment
   
Impairment
   
Impairment
   
Impairment
 
                               
Commercial
  $ 17,120     $ 868     $ 28     $ 16,252     $ 712  
Real estate-construction
    29,557       12,389       1,594       17,168       821  
Real estate-mortgage 1-4 family
    37,109       6,036       248       31,073       300  
Real estate-mortgage 5+ family
    34,710       3,990       0       30,720       1,570  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
    208,167       65,135       9,342       143,032       3,162  
Home equity
    22,629       1,846       301       20,783       214  
Leases
    332       0       0       332       0  
Installment
    1,525       7       0       1,518       17  
                                         
Balance at September 30, 2011
  $ 351,149     $ 90,271     $ 11,513     $ 260,878     $ 6,796  
 
 
17

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
               
Allowance
         
Allowance
 
               
for Loan
         
for Loan
 
               
Losses
         
Losses
 
   
Ending
         
Allocated to
         
Allocated to
 
   
Balance
   
Loans
   
Loans
   
Loans
   
Loans
 
   
Total
   
Individually
   
Individually
   
Collectively
   
Collectively
 
   
Loans
   
Evaluated
   
Evaluated
   
Evaluated
   
Evaluated
 
   
and
   
for
   
for
   
for
   
for
 
At December 31, 2010  ($000's)
 
Leases
   
Impairment
   
Impairment
   
Impairment
   
Impairment
 
                               
Commercial
  $ 20,927     $ 1,570     $ 614     $ 19,357     $ 399  
Real estate-construction
    29,776       11,711       2,070       18,065       772  
Real estate-mortgage 1-4 family
    41,228       5,737       441       35,491       547  
Real estate-mortgage 5+ family
    44,021       8,594       491       35,427       534  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
    223,546       51,116       6,579       172,430       5,398  
Home equity
    23,392       1,816       274       21,576       194  
Leases
    442       0       0       442       0  
Installment.
    1,807       8       0       1,799       23  
                                         
Balance at December 31, 2010
  $ 385,139     $ 80,552     $ 10,469     $ 304,587     $ 7,867  
 
Below shows the age analysis of the past due loans and leases by segment and class at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
 
 
18

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
                                   
Greater
 
                                   
Than
 
                                   
90 Days Past
 
At September 30, 2011 ($000's)
               
Greater
         
Total
   
Due and
 
         
30-59 Days
   
60-89 Days
   
Than 90 Days
   
Total
   
Loans and
   
Still
 
   
Current
   
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
Leases
   
Accruing
 
                                           
Commercial
  $ 16,415     $ 41     $ 0     $ 664     $ 705     $ 17,120     $ 172  
Real estate-construction
                                                       
1-4 family
    9,403       0       600       7,225       7,825       17,228       4,383  
Other
    11,529       66       0       734       800       12,329       0  
Real estate-mortgage                                                        
1-4 family
    34,306       288       327       2,188       2,803       37,109       299  
Real estate-mortgage                                                        
5+ family
    30,720       0       0       3,990       3,990       34,710       0  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
                                                       
Owner occupied
    54,704       0       1,620       12,692       14,312       69,016       3,024  
Non-owner occupied
    73,866       0       690       3,050       3,740       77,606       2,420  
Hotel industry
    53,356       0       0       8,189       8,189       61,545       2,733  
Home equity
    20,734       83       410       1,402       1,895       22,629       126  
Leases
    332       0       0       0       0       332       0  
Installment
    1,468       26       15       16       57       1,525       15  
Balance at September 30, 2011
  $ 306,833     $ 504     $ 3,662     $ 40,150     $ 44,316     $ 351,149     $ 13,172  
 
                                       
Greater
 
                                       
Than
 
                                       
90 Days Past
 
At December 31, 2010 ($000's)
               
Greater
         
Total
   
Due and
 
         
30-59 Days
   
60-89 Days
   
Than 90 Days
   
Total
   
Loans and
   
Still
 
   
Current
   
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
Leases
   
Accruing
 
                                           
Commercial
  $ 20,178     $ 78     $ 158     $ 513     $ 749     $ 20,927     $ 513  
Real estate-construction
                                                       
1-4 family
    14,234       0       0       2,886       2,886       17,120       0  
Other
    10,263       0       1,184       1,209       2,393       12,656       0  
Real estate-mortgage                                                        
1-4 family
    36,416       894       1,236       2,682       4,812       41,228       130  
Real estate-mortgage                                                          
5+ family
    35,426       164       0       8,431       8,595       44,021       0  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
                                                       
Owner occupied
    65,485       749       2,181       414       3,344       68,829       0  
Non-owner occupied
    84,353       0       272       1,596       1,868       86,221       296  
Hotel industry
    62,072       0       0       6,424       6,424       68,496       0  
Home equity
    21,487       73       300       1,532       1,905       23,392       172  
Leases
    442       0       0       0       0       442       0  
Installment
    1,756       13       8       30       51       1,807       30  
Balance at December 31, 2010
  $ 352,112     $ 1,971     $ 5,339     $ 25,717     $ 33,027     $ 385,139     $ 1,141  
 
 
19

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
The Company utilizes a loan rating system as a means of identifying problem and potential loans.  Below shows the loan ratings of loans and leases at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
 
At September 30, 2011 ($000's)
 
Pass
   
Watch
   
Substandard
   
Nonaccrual
   
Total
 
                               
Commercial
  $ 14,893     $ 1,359     $ 376     $ 492     $ 17,120  
Real estate-construction
                                       
1-4 Family
    2,493       4,230       7,662       2,843       17,228  
Other
    891       9,554       1,150       734       12,329  
Real estate-mortgage 1-4 family
    26,222       4,851       4,148       1,888       37,109  
Real estate-mortgage 5+ family
    24,310       6,410       0       3,990       34,710  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
                                       
Owner occupied
    36,089       15,220       8,039       9,668       69,016  
Non-owner occupied
    42,848       20,910       13,218       630       77,606  
Hotel industry
    18,170       9,795       28,124       5,456       61,545  
Home equity
    19,990       793       505       1,341       22,629  
Leases
    276       56       0       0       332  
Installment
    1,518       0       6       1       1,525  
Balance at September 30, 2011
  $ 187,700     $ 73,178     $ 63,228     $ 27,043     $ 351,149  
 
At December 31, 2010 ($000's)
 
Pass
   
Watch
   
Substandard
   
Nonaccrual
   
Total
 
                               
Commercial
  $ 17,470     $ 1,887     $ 1,570     $ 0     $ 20,927  
Real estate-construction
                                       
1-4 Family
    6,587       1,181       6,466       2,886       17,120  
Other
    557       9,740       1,150       1,209       12,656  
Real estate-mortgage 1-4 family
    30,356       5,135       3,185       2,552       41,228  
Real estate-mortgage 5+ family
    25,341       10,086       0       8,594       44,021  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
                                       
Owner occupied
    39,757       17,282       9,985       1,805       68,829  
Non-owner occupied
    52,509       29,034       3,378       1,300       86,221  
Hotel industry
    19,207       14,641       28,224       6,424       68,496  
Home equity
    20,783       793       457       1,359       23,392  
Leases
    358       84       0       0       442  
Installment
    1,799       0       8       0       1,807  
Balance at December 31, 2010
  $ 214,724     $ 89,863     $ 54,423     $ 26,129     $ 385,139  
 
 
20

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
The following tables present loans and leases by segment and class individually evaluated for impairment at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 and the average recorded investment and investment income recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 with the recorded investment shown net of specific allocation:
 
September 30, 2011 ($000s)
       
Unpaid
         
Average
   
Investment
 
   
Recorded
   
Principal
   
Related
   
Recorded
   
Income
 
   
Investment
   
Balance
   
Allowance
   
Investment
   
Recognized
 
                               
With no related allowance recorded:
                             
Commercial
  $ 366     $ 366     $ 0     $ 111     $ 1  
Real estate-construction
                                       
1-4 family
    2,864       2,864       0       2,743       83  
Other
    734       2,468       0       1,099       0  
Real estate-mortgage 1-4 family
    3,816       3,816       0       4,422       124  
Real estate-mortgage 5+ family
    3,990       3,990       0       9,314       38  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
                                       
Owner occupied
    6,565       6,565       0       5,955       103  
Non-owner occupied
    8,131       8,131       0       7,581       271  
Hotel industry
    5,898       5,898       0       6,102       247  
Home equity
    114       114       0       104       1  
Leases
    0       0       0       0       0  
Installment
    1       1       0       0       0  
With an allowance recorded:
                                       
Commercial
    474       1,263       28       584       0  
Real estate-construction
                                       
1-4 family
    6,119       7,641       1,522       6,058       137  
Other
    1,078       1,150       72       1,114       28  
Real estate-mortgage 1-4 family
    1,972       2,220       248       1,792       51  
Real estate-mortgage 5+ family
    0       0       0       0       0  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
                                       
Owner occupied
    7,325       10,813       3,488       7,190       75  
Non-owner occupied
    13,574       14,214       433       12,024       404  
Hotel industry
    14,300       22,697       5,421       15,725       444  
Home equity
    1,431       1,732       301       1,461       17  
Leases
    0       0       0       0       0  
Installment
    6       6       0       7       1  
Total:
                                       
Commercial
  $ 840     $ 1,629     $ 28     $ 695     $ 1  
Real estate-construction
    10,795       14,123       1,594       11,014       248  
Real estate-mortgage 1-4 family
    5,788       6,036       248       6,214       175  
Real estate-mortgage 5+ family
    3,990       3,990       0       9,314       38  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
    55,793       68,318       9,342       54,577       1,544  
Home equity
    1,545       1,846       301       1,565       18  
Leases
    0       0       0       0       0  
Installment
    7       7       0       7       1  
Total at September 30, 2011
  $ 78,758     $ 95,949     $ 11,513     $ 83,386     $ 2,025  
 
 
21

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
At December 31, 2010  ($ 000's)
       
Unpaid
       
   
Recorded
   
Principal
   
Related
 
   
Investment
   
Balance
   
Allowance
 
                   
With no related allowance recorded:
                 
Commercial
  $ 35     $ 35     $ 0  
Real estate-construction
                       
1-4 family
    1,680       1,680       0  
Other
    734       2,468       0  
Real estate-mortgage 1-4 family
    3,454       3,454       0  
Real estate-mortgage 5+ family
    7,172       7,172       0  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
                       
Owner occupied
    2,971       2,971       0  
Non-owner occupied
    1,768       1,768       0  
Hotel industry
    5,947       5,947       0  
Home equity
    525       525       0  
Leases
    0       0       0  
Installment
    8       8       0  
With an allowance recorded:
                       
Commercial
    921       1,535       614  
Real estate-construction
                       
1-4 family
    5,771       7,673       1,902  
Other.
    1,456       1,624       168  
Real estate-mortgage 1-4 family
    1,842       2,282       441  
Real estate-mortgage 5+ family
    931       1,422       491  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
                       
Owner occupied
    7,391       8,369       978  
Non-owner occupied
    3,121       3,567       239  
Hotel industry
    23,339       31,677       5,362  
Home equity
    1,017       1,291       274  
Leases
    0       0       0  
Installment
    0       0       0  
Total:
                       
Commercial
  $ 956     $ 1,570     $ 614  
Real estate-construction
    9,641       13,445       2,070  
Real estate-mortgage 1-4 family
    5,296       5,736       441  
Real estate-mortgage 5+ family
    8,103       8,594       491  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
    44,537       54,299       6,579  
Home equity
    1,542       1,816       274  
Leases
    0       0       0  
Installment
    8       8       0  
                         
Total at December 31, 2010
  $ 70,083     $ 85,468     $ 10,469  

 
22

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
The following table presents the number of loans and leases modified as TDRs by segment and class during the three and nine months periods ended September 30, 2011, the outstanding recorded balances at the time modified and the outstanding recorded investment balances at September 30, 2011:
 
($000's)
 
Loans Modified as Trouble Debt Restructures
 
   
During the 3 Months Ended
   
During the 9 Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2011
   
September 30, 2011
 
         
Pre-Modification
   
Post-Modification
         
Pre-Modification
   
Post-Modification
 
         
Outstanding
   
Outstanding
         
Outstanding
   
Outstanding
 
   
Number of
   
Recorded
   
Recorded
   
Number of
   
Recorded
   
Recorded
 
   
Loans
   
Investment
   
Investment
   
Loans
   
Investment
   
Investment
 
                                     
Commercial
    0     $ 0     $ 0       0     $ 0     $ 0  
Real estate-construction
                                               
1-4 family
    0       0       0       2       1,177       1,175  
Other
    0       0       0       0       0       0  
Real estate-mortgage
                                               
1-4 family
    0       0       0       14       1,518       1,440  
Real estate-mortgage
                                               
5+ family
    0       0       0       0       0       0  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
                                               
Owner occupied
    0       0       0       7       3,574       3,438  
Non-owner occupied
    0       0       0       3       2,848       2,755  
Hotel industry
    0       0       0       0       0       0  
Home equity
    0       0       0       0       0       0  
Leases
    0       0       0       0       0       0  
Installment
    0       0       0       0       0       0  
                                                 
At September 30, 2011
    0     $ 0     $ 0       26     $ 9,117     $ 8,808  
 
 
23

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
The following table presents the number of loans and leases modified as TDRs by segment and class during the previous twelve months that subsequently defaulted during the three and nine months periods ended September 30, 2011and the outstanding recorded investment balance at September 30, 2011.  For disclosure in this table, defaulted TDRs are those TDR loans greater than 90 days or more past due and still accruing or on nonaccrual status.
 
($000's)
 
Trouble Debt Restructure Loans Modified in
Past 12 Months that Subsequently Defaulted
 
   
During the 3 Months Ended
   
During the 9 Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2011
   
September 30, 2011
 
   
Number of
   
Recorded
   
Number of
   
Recorded
 
   
Loans
   
Investment
   
Loans
   
Investment
 
                         
Commercial
    0     $ 0       0     $ 0  
Real estate-construction
                               
1-4 family
    0       0       0       0  
Other
    0       0       0       0  
Real estate-mortgage 1-4 family
    0       0       3       708  
Real estate-mortgage 5+ family
    0       0       0       0  
Real estate-mortgage commercial
                               
Owner occupied
    0       0       4       3,937  
Non-owner occupied
    0       0       0       0  
Hotel industry
    0       0       0       0  
Home equity
    0       0       0       0  
Leases.
    0       0       0       0  
Installment
    0       0       0       0  
                                 
At September 30, 2011
    0     $ 0       7     $ 4,645  
 
Note 7 - Fair Value Measurement

Below shows information about the Company's securities that were measured at fair value and the valuation techniques used by the Company to determine fair values.

In general, fair values determined by Level 1 inputs use a quoted price in active markets for identical securities that the Company had the ability to access.

Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs use other inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly.  These Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar securities in active markets, and other input such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.
 
 
24

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs, including inputs that are available in situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the related securities.

In instances where inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels in the above fair value hierarchy, fair value measurements in their entirety are categorized based on the lowest input that is significant to the valuation.  The Company's assessment of the significance of particular inputs to these fair value measurements requires judgment and considers factors specific to each security.

On an annual basis the Company validates the measurement of the fair values of its securities with an independent securities valuation firm. This independent securities valuation firm determines the fair values of the securities portfolio that is then compared to the fair value using the methods outlined above.  When this validation was last done on September 30, 2010, the difference between the fair value reported and the fair value determined by the independent securities valuation firm was considered immaterial.


Securities Available for Sale ($000's)
   
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
         
Quoted Prices
             
         
in Active
   
Significant
       
         
Markets for
   
Other
   
Significant
 
         
Identical
   
Observable
   
Unobservable
 
         
Assets
   
Inputs
   
Inputs
 
   
Total
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
                         
States and political subdivisions
  $ 3,892     $ 0     $ 3,892     $ 0  
Mortgage-backed securities
    82,346       0       82,346       0  
Equity securities
    4,285       4,285       0       0  
At September 30, 2011
  $ 90,523     $ 4,285     $ 86,238     $ 0  
                                 
U.S. Treasury
  $ 1,002     $ 1,002     $ 0     $ 0  
States and political subdivisions
    3,997       0       3,997       0  
Mortgage-backed securities
    82,648       0       82,648       0  
Other bonds
    20       0       0       20  
Equity securities
    4,163       4,163       0       0  
At December 31, 2010
  $ 91,830     $ 5,165     $ 86,645     $ 20  
 
 
25

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
The Company's change in Level 3 securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis was as follows:
 
   
Securities
 
   
Available
 
   
for Sale ($000's)
 
Balance at December 31, 2010
  $ 20  
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in income
    (163 )
Total unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income
    143  
Net purchase, sales, calls and maturities
    0  
Net transfer into Level 3
    0  
Balance at September 30, 2011
  $ 0  
 
   
Securities
 
   
Available
 
   
for Sale ($000's)
 
Balance at December 31, 2009
  $ 37  
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in income
    (659 )
Total unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income
    627  
Net purchase, sales, calls and maturities
    0  
Net transfer into Level 3
    0  
Balance at September 30, 2010
  $ 5  

The Company used accounting guidelines to determine other than temporary impairment losses on its Collateralized Debt Obligations ("CDOs") as the fair value of these securities was not readily determinable by the market.  The impairment losses on the CDOs were due to defaults and deferrals of payments by the financial institutions and insurance companies that issued the debt underlying the securities. During the quarter ended March 31, 2011, the Company used cash flow analyses on its CDOs to determine other than temporary impairment losses of $134,000, fully writing off the remaining book value of these CDOs.

During the first quarter of 2011, the Company had a write-down of $29,000 to its equity securities consisting of preferred stock issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), eliminating the remaining balance of these securities.  These securities were later sold during the second quarter of 2011 for $142,000 with the Company recognizing a gain for that amount.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recognized other than temporary impairment losses on the CDOs of $0 and $645,000, respectively.  Other than temporary impairment losses of $14,000 were also recognized during the third quarter of 2010 on the FNMA and FHLMC preferred stock.

The Company also has assets that under certain conditions are subject to measurement at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.  These assets are held to maturity loans or other real estate owned that are considered impaired per accounting principles.  The Company has estimated the fair value of these impaired assets using Level 3 inputs, specifically discounted cash flow projections or fair value of collateral.
 
 
26

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded adjustments to certain collateral dependent loans measured for impairment in accordance with accounting guidelines.  In cases where the carrying value of the loans exceed the estimated fair value of the collateral less estimated costs to sell, an impairment loss was recognized.  The Company also recorded adjustments to certain cash flow dependent loans consisting primarily of troubled debt restructured loans that were measured for impairment in accordance with accounting guidelines.  In the case of cash flow dependent troubled debt restructured loans, impairment was determined by comparing the discounted cash flows with the Company’s recorded investment.  The Company made allocations for impaired loans totaling $6.0 million and $5.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
Impaired Loans ($000's)
       
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
         
Quoted Prices
             
         
in Active
   
Significant
       
         
Markets for
   
Other
   
Significant
 
         
Identical
   
Observable
   
Unobservable
 
         
Assets
   
Inputs
   
Inputs
 
   
Total
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
At September 30, 2011
  $ 46,279     $ 0     $ 0     $ 46,279  
                                 
At December 31, 2010
  $ 56,992     $ 0     $ 0     $ 56,992  
 
Impaired Other Real Estate Owned ($000's)
   
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
         
Quoted Prices
             
         
in Active
   
Significant
       
         
Markets for
   
Other
   
Significant
 
         
Identical
   
Observable
   
Unobservable
 
         
Assets
   
Inputs
   
Inputs
 
   
Total
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
At September 30, 2011
  $ 21,036     $ 0     $ 0     $ 21,036  
                                 
At December 31, 2010
  $ 23,874     $ 0     $ 0     $ 23,874  

During the quarter ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded $797,000 in write-down impairment losses to certain properties carried as other real estate owned as compared with write-down adjustments of $1,076,000 for the same quarter of 2010.  Such write-downs are generally based on the estimated underlying fair values of the properties less estimated costs to sell.  In cases where the carrying value of the property exceeds the estimated fair value, an impairment loss is recognized.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, the Company recorded $2,125,000 and $2,500,000, respectively, in write-down impairment losses to other real estate owned.
 
 
27

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate fair values for financial instruments.  Securities fair values are based on quoted market prices or, if no quotes are available, on the rate and term of the security and or information about the issuer.  For loans, leases, deposits, securities sold under repurchase agreements and fixed rate FHLB advances, the fair value is estimated by discounted cash flow analysis using market rates for the estimated life and credit risk.  Fair values for impaired loans are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses or underlying collateral values.  The fair value of off-balance sheet items is based on the fees or cost that would currently be charged to enter into or terminate such arrangements and the fair value is not material.  Fair value for cash and cash equivalents, accrued interest receivable, advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance and accrued interest payable are estimated at carrying value. The estimated fair value for Federal Home Loan Bank stock is equal to the carrying value based on the restricted nature of the stock.

The estimated fair values of financial instruments at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 were:

   
Carrying
   
Estimated
 
September 30, 2011  ($000's)
 
Value
   
Fair Value
 
Financial assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 41,467     $ 41,467  
Securities available for sale
    90,523       90,523  
Loans and leases, net
    332,542       341,448  
Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    1,801       1,801  
Accrued interest receivable
    1,746       1,746  
                 
Financial liabilities:
               
Deposits
  $ (435,107 )   $ (434,903 )
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    (20,687 )     (20,642 )
Subordinated debentures
    (10,310 )     (5,912 )
Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance
    (355 )     (355 )
Accrued interest payable
    (1,090 )     (1,090 )
 
   
Carrying
   
Estimated
 
December 31, 2010  ($000's)
 
Value
   
Fair Value
 
Financial assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 30,357     $ 30,357  
Securities available for sale
    91,830       91,830  
Loans and leases, net
    366,453       359,891  
Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    1,801       1,801  
Accrued interest receivable
    1,751       1,751  
                 
Financial liabilities:
               
Deposits
  $ (446,551 )   $ (447,147 )
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    (35,517 )     (35,421 )
Subordinated debentures
    (10,310 )     (5,904 )
Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance
    (1,109 )     (1,109 )
Accrued interest payable
    (1,317 )     (1,317 )
 
 
28

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
Note 8 – Consent Order and Written Agreement

On April 16, 2010, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, NorStates Bank (the “Bank”), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (the “IDFPR”) entered into a joint Consent Order.  Pursuant to the Consent Order, among other things, the Bank has agreed to undertake the following:

 
(1)
increase the participation of the Bank’s Board of Directors in overseeing and supervising the affairs and activities of the Bank, including holding meetings of the Board no less frequently than monthly;

 
(2)
adopt and implement a program for monitoring compliance with the Consent Order, including establishing a committee comprised of at least three outside Bank board members responsible for such oversight;

 
(3)
maintain a Tier 1 capital to total assets ratio of at least 8% and a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 12%;

 
(4)
prohibit the extension of additional credit to or for the benefit of any existing borrower with a loan that has been previously charged-off or classified “loss” by the examiners, as well as prohibit the extension of additional credit in any amount in excess of $10,000 to any existing borrower with an outstanding loan classified as “substandard”, “doubtful” or “special mention” unless the Board of Directors or a committee thereof determines the loan to be in the best interests of the Bank;

 
(5)
adopt a written action plan with respect to each classified asset and delinquent loan in excess of $1,000,000 for the purpose of reducing the Bank’s risk position with respect to such asset;

 
(6)
correct all deficiencies in the loans listed as “special mention” by the examiners;

 
(7)
adopt a written action plan to reduce and manage concentrations of credit identified by the examiners, including procedures that provide for the ongoing measurement and monitoring of the concentrations of credit, the performance of portfolio stress testing analysis and the setting of concentration limits commensurate with the Bank’s capital levels and overall risk profile;

 
(8)
provide for quarterly reviews of and adjustments to the allowance for loan and lease losses in accordance with bank regulatory guidelines;

 
(9)
implement revised written lending and collection policies as indicated by the examiners, as well as revised loan grading and review procedures, including procedures for periodic confirmation of the accuracy and completeness of the watch list and all risk grade assignments, identification of loan relationships that warrant special management attention, and identification and tracking of credit and collateral documentation exceptions;

 
(10)
adopt a written profit plan and comprehensive budget containing formal goals and strategies to reduce discretionary expenses and to improve the Bank’s overall earnings;
 
 
29

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
 
(11)
adopt a written contingency funding/liquidity plan which includes identification of the sources of liquid assets available to meet the Bank’s contingency funding needs over one-, two- and three-month time horizons; and

 
(12)
adopt a revised investment policy and interest rate risk policy to address the recommendations of the examiners.

The Consent Order also prohibits the payment of any dividends by the Bank to the Company without the prior written consent of both the FDIC and the IDFPR.

Because the Consent Order establishes specific capital amounts to be maintained by the Bank, the Bank may not be considered better than “adequately capitalized” for capital adequacy purposes, even if the Bank exceeds the levels of capital set forth in the Consent Order. Currently, the Bank exceeds the capital levels established by the FDIC and the IDFPR in the Consent Order.

As an adequately capitalized institution, the Bank may not accept, renew or roll over brokered deposits without prior approval of the FDIC.  Brokered deposits also include deposits with rates of interest that are more than 75 basis points above the rates applicable to the market of the Bank as determined by the FDIC.  The FDIC has approved that the Bank is operating in a high rate area, which allows the Bank to use local average deposit rates as a basis for setting competitive rates on its deposits.
 
Any material failure to comply with the provisions of the Consent Order could result in additional enforcement actions by the FDIC as allowed by 12 U.S.C. §1818 and the IDFPR. While the Company intends to take such actions as may be necessary to enable the Bank to comply with the requirements of the Consent Order, there can be no assurance that the Bank will be able to comply fully with the provisions of the Consent Order, or that efforts to comply with the Consent Order will not have adverse effects on the operations and financial condition of the Company and the Bank.

On March 17, 2011, the Company and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (“Reserve Bank”) entered into a Written Agreement.  Pursuant to the Written Agreement, among other things, the Company has agreed to undertake the following:

 
1)
serve as a source of strength to the Bank;
 
 
2)
abstain from paying any dividends, redeeming any stock or incurring any debt without Federal Reserve approval;

 
3)
adopt a capital plan;

 
4)
provide the Federal Reserve with cash flow projections on a quarterly basis;

 
5)
notify the Federal Reserve of the proposed addition of any individual to the Board of Directors or the employment of any individual as a senior executive officer of the Company before such addition or employment becomes effective; and

 
6)
provide progress reports to the Federal Reserve concerning the Company’s compliance with the Written Agreement.

 
30

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2011

(Unaudited)
 
Note 9 – Management Plans

Management and the Board of Directors are committed to complying with the terms of the Consent Order and the Written Agreement, and have already taken, and continue to take, numerous steps to address these matters.  The Bank and the Company will continue to report to the FDIC and the IDFPR, and the Federal Reserve, respectively, quarterly regarding their progress in complying with the provisions included in the Consent Order and the Written Agreement.  Compliance with the terms of the Consent Order and the Written Agreement will be an ongoing priority for management of the Bank and the Company.

The Bank continues to dedicate significant resources to effectively identify, monitor, and manage problem assets and reduce real estate loan concentrations.  A liquidity policy has been developed to identify the sources of liquid assets available to meet the Bank’s contingency funding needs.  Dividends have already been restricted and the Company has suspended its dividend payments on its Series A Preferred Stock issued to the Treasury Department as is permissible under the terms of the TARP Capital Purchase Program.  The Company has deferred payment of interest on its subordinated debentures issued in connection with its trust preferred securities.  The Bank’s Tier 1 to average assets ratio and total capital to assets ratio, on a risk adjusted basis, were 8.20 percent and 13.01 percent, respectively, as of September 30, 2011, which were above the capital levels required by the Consent Order of 8.00 percent and 12.00 percent.

In view of these matters, the Bank’s ability to improve its financial condition is dependent upon the success of management’s plans to address concerns regarding profitability and asset quality.  The Bank’s management believes they have taken appropriate steps aimed at returning the Bank to profitability and improving asset quality.  Management’s success will ultimately be determined by its implementation of its plans, as well as factors beyond its control, such as the economy and the real estate market.

Note 10 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements

(ASU No. 2011-2)  In April 2011, the FASB issued “Receivables (Topic 310) - A Creditor's Determination of Whether a Restructuring is a Troubled Debt Restructuring.” ASU 2011-2 provides additional guidance to assist creditors in determining whether a restructuring of a receivable meets the criteria to be considered a troubled debt restructuring.  The impact of ASU 2011-2 on the Company’s disclosure is reflected in Note 6 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

(ASU 2011-4) In May 2011, the FASB issued an Update related to fair value measurements (Topic 820) and disclosure requirements.  The Update results in common fair value measurement and disclosures in U.S. GAAP and IFRS by changing the wording used to describe many of the fair value measurement requirements in U.S. GAAP or to clarify the FASB’s intent about the application of existing fair value measurement requirements.    The amendments will be adopted beginning in the first quarter of 2012 and applied to the Company’s financial statements prospectively.

(ASU 2011-5) In June 2011, the FASB issued an Update on the Presentation of Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), which was amended in October 2011.  The Update changes the reporting and presentation of comprehensive income on the face of the financial statements and provides two options of presentation- a single statement including net income and the components of other comprehensive income or two separate statements.  The Update eliminates the option of presenting the components of other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity.  The amendments in this Update will be adopted beginning in the first quarter of 2012 and will be applied to the Company’s financial statements retrospectively.
 
 
31

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

The following discussion focuses on the consolidated financial condition of Northern States Financial Corporation (the “Company”) at September 30, 2011 compared to December 31, 2010 and the Company’s consolidated results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, compared with the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010.  The purpose of this discussion is to provide a better understanding of the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company and the operations of its two wholly-owned subsidiaries, NorStates Bank (the “Bank”) and NorProperties, Inc. (“NorProp”), and the Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Northern States Community Development Corporation (“NSCDC”). This discussion should be read in conjunction with the interim condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements and notes thereto included herein.

Statements contained in this report that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), which involve significant risks and uncertainties.  The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and is including this statement for purposes of invoking these safe harbor provisions.  Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies and expectations of the Company, are generally identifiable by the use of the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "plan," or similar expressions.  The Company's ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain and actual results may differ from those predicted.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the future.  The Company cautions readers of this report that a number of important factors could cause the Company’s actual results subsequent to September 30, 2011 to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those predicted and could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, the potential for further deterioration in the credit quality of the Company’s loan and lease portfolios, uncertainty regarding the Company’s ability to ultimately recover on loans currently on nonaccrual status, the Company’s ability to comply with the provisions of the Consent Order and Written Agreement, further deterioration in the value of the Company’s other real estate owned, unanticipated changes in interest rates, worsening or lack of improvement in general economic conditions and the real estate market, increasing regulatory compliance burdens or potential legislative/regulatory changes, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board, the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the quality or composition of the Company’s loan or investment portfolios, deposit flows, liquidity issues, competition, demand for loan products and financial services in the Company’s market area, and changes in accounting principles, policies and guidelines.  These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements.

OVERVIEW

Total assets at September 30, 2011 were $502.5 million, a decrease of $29.2 million, or 5.5 percent, from $531.7 million at December 31, 2010.  Loans totaled $350.9 million at September 30, 2011, a decrease of $33.9 million, or 8.8 percent, from $384.8 million at December 31, 2010.  Loans decreased by $15.1 million as scheduled principal loan payments and loan payoffs were received in the normal course of business.  Contributing to the decrease in loans was the transfer of $8.1 million in loans to other real estate owned through or in lieu of foreclosure and the charge-off of $5.8 million in loans to the allowance for loan and lease losses.  Also contributing to the decrease was the sale of a $4.9 million loan that was outside of the Bank’s lending area.  Other real estate owned totaled $22.3 million at September 30, 2011, decreasing $2.0 million from year-end 2010 as $8.0 million of properties were sold and the Company recognized further impairment of $2.1 million partially offset by the transfer of $8.1 million in loans.  The Company’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $41.5 million at September 30, 2011, an increase of $11.1 million from December 31, 2010 as public deposits increased and the Company continued to manage its liquidity.
 
 
32


NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
The decline in the Company’s assets was primarily offset by deposit decreases of $11.5 million. Deposits totaled $435.1 million at September 30, 2011 compared with $446.6 million at December 31, 2010.  Demand deposits increased $3.9 million from December 31, 2010 while interest bearing deposits declined $15.4 million.  Interest bearing deposits decreased due to reductions of $17.3 million in brokered time deposits as management lowered this source of funding in order to comply with the regulatory restrictions applicable to adequately capitalized institutions.

The Company’s borrowings through securities sold under repurchase agreements decreased $14.8 million to $20.7 million at September 30, 2011 as compared with $35.5 million at December 31, 2010.

The Company had a net loss available to common stockholders for the three months ended September 30, 2011 of $2.0 million or $0.46 per share, compared with a net loss available to common stockholders of $396,000, or $0.10 per share for the same three months of 2010.  The loss for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was due primarily to expenses relating to nonperforming assets such as the provision for loan and lease losses of $2.0 million, impairment write downs of other real estate owned of $797,000 and other real estate owned servicing expenses of $525,000.

The Company’s net loss available to common stockholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $5.9 million, or $1.37 per share, compared with a net loss available to common stockholders of $3.5 million, or $0.85 per share for the same nine months of 2010.  The loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was due primarily due to the provision for loan and lease losses of $5.7 million and impairment write downs of other real estate owned of $2.1 million.

The Company’s net interest income, the difference between interest earned on loans and investments and interest paid on deposits and borrowings, was $4.5 million for the third quarter of 2011 decreasing 9.7 percent, or $485,000 compared with the same quarter of 2010. The decline in net interest income was attributable to having $30.6 million less in average earning assets during the third quarter of 2011 as compared with the same quarter of 2010.  Also contributing to the decline in net interest income was the reversal of $183,000 of loan interest income on loans placed on nonaccrual status or restructured during the third quarter of 2011 as compared with $137,000 during the same quarter of 2010.  Net interest for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $13.9 million decreasing $504,000 from $14.4 million for the same time period of 2010 primarily due to decreases in average earning assets of $46.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011
 
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
 Certain critical accounting policies involve estimates and assumptions by management.  To prepare financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management makes estimates and assumptions based on available information.  These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the disclosures provided, and future results could differ.

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses.

 The allowance for loan and lease losses is a critical accounting policy for the Company because management must make estimates of losses and these estimates are subject to change. The allowance for loan and lease losses is a valuation allowance for potential credit losses, increased by the provision for loan and lease losses and decreased by charge-offs less recoveries. Management analyzes the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses at least quarterly. In its analysis management estimates the allowance balance required using past loan and lease loss experience, the nature and volume of the portfolio, information about specific borrower situations, the present value of expected cash flows, collateral values, economic conditions and other factors.  Allocations of the allowance may be made for specific loans and leases, but the entire allowance is available for any loan or lease that, based on management’s judgment, should be charged-off.  Based on this analysis, management believes the allowance for loan and lease losses at September 30, 2011 is adequate to cover credit losses inherent in the portfolio.
 
 
33

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
One of the components of the allowance for loan losses is historical loss experience.  The loss percentages used at September 30, 2011 are based on the recent trailing 24 months as it is believed to be representative of estimated losses within the current loan portfolio.

Management specifically analyzes its impaired loans for losses.  The change in the volume of impaired loans may significantly impact the amount of estimated losses specifically allocated to these loans depending on the adequacy of the loan collateral and the borrowers’ ability to repay the loans.  As specific allocations are done on a loan-by-loan basis, the amount of the specific allocation is more likely subject to fluctuation than an allocation for a pool of loans based on historical loss trends. The amount of the allocations on impaired loans may fluctuate in future periods due to changes in conditions of underlying collateral and changes in the borrowers’ ability to repay.

Income Taxes.

The Company recognized no income tax benefit for the nine months of 2011 despite having an operating loss before income taxes of $5.1 million.  Per accounting rules, the Company for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 continued to book tax benefits as a deferred tax asset with a corresponding offset to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance without recognizing a tax benefit on the income statement due to uncertainties as to the realization of these benefits.  For the first nine months of 2011, the Company’s tax benefit was calculated to be $2.1 million, which also increased the deferred tax asset valuation allowance to $18.4 million from $16.3 million at year-end 2010.  The Company will continue to analyze its deferred tax asset quarterly.

No income tax benefit was recorded for the first nine months of 2010 despite an operating loss before income taxes of $2.7 million.  The Company’s net deferred tax asset, exclusive of the deferred tax asset related to the unrealized loss on securities available for sale, totaled $14.5 million at September 30, 2010 and was offset by a deferred tax asset valuation allowance for the same amount.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $41.5 million at September 30, 2011, an increase of $11.1 million, or 36.6 percent, from December 31, 2010 as public deposits increased and the Company continued to manage its liquidity.  The Company’s interest bearing deposits in financial institutions with maturities less than 90 days, a component of cash and cash equivalents, totaled $30.7 million an increase of $12.5 million, or 69.0 percent, from December 31, 2010.  These funds were primarily deposits at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago as the interest rate paid was greater than or comparable to rates paid on federal funds sold.

The Company’s securities available for sale declined $1.3 million, to $90.5 million at September 30, 2011 compared with $91.8 million at year-end 2010.  The declines in securities were due to scheduled security maturities and payments as well as the write-downs to securities for other than temporary impairment of $163,000.
 
The $163,000 of other than temporary impairment write-downs occurred during the first quarter of 2011 due in part to write-downs of $134,000 to the Company’s CDOs consisting of trust preferred securities issued by other financial institutions that were carried as other bonds. The write-downs to the CDOs were based on an analysis of the collateral and expected discounted cash flows. The CDOs were originally carried at a par value of $10.9 million. During the first quarter of 2011, the remaining carrying value $134,000 was completely written off.  The remaining balance of other temporary impairment write-downs of $29,000 was for write-downs to equity securities consisting of preferred stock issued by FNMA and FHLMC.  These preferred stocks had an original aggregate par value of $2.0 million which was completely written-off at March 31, 2011.  During the second quarter of 2011 these preferred stocks were sold for $142,000 and a corresponding gain was recognized.
 
 
34

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION

The Company sold mortgage-backed securities during the quarter ended September 30, 2011 having a carrying value of $19.6 million and recognized a gain of $135,000.  Other mortgage-backed securities were purchased totaling $19.8 million diversifying the underlying collateral of the Company’s mortgage-backed securities portfolio.

At September 30, 2011, the Company had pledged securities of $68.7 million as compared to $59.0 million at December 31, 2010.  The securities were pledged to secure public deposits, repurchase agreements and for other purposes as required or permitted by law.

Loans and leases totaled $350.9 million at September 30, 2011, decreasing $33.9 million, or 8.8 percent, from $384.8 million at December 31, 2010.  Loans decreased by $15.1 million as scheduled principal loan payments and loan payoffs were received in the normal course of business.  Contributing to the decrease in loans was the transfer of $8.1 million in loans to other real estate owned through or in lieu of foreclosure, the charge-off of $5.8 million in loans to the allowance for loan and lease losses and the sale of a $4.9 million out of market loan.

At September 30, 2011, approximately 95 percent of the Bank’s loan portfolio was secured by real estate.  The Company’s loans to the hotel industry totaled $61.5 million, or 200 percent of total capital decreasing $7.0 million from year-end 2010 primarily from the sale of a $4.9 million loan.  Loans totaling $28.8 million secured by 1-4 family homes and 5+ family residences at September 30, 2011 were pledged to secure a line of credit of $15.4 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago.  At September 30, 2011, loans totaling $95.3 million had payment schedules where only interest is collected until the loans mature as compared with $103.1 million in loans at December 31, 2010.  At September 30, 2011, $20.8 million of loans having interest only payments were home equity loans.

Loan commitments declined $3.6 million to $32.9 million at September 30, 2011, compared with $36.5 million at December 31, 2010.  Letters of credit decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, to $2.7 million from $3.1 million at year-end 2010.  At September 30, 2011, loans to related parties totaled $249,000 as compared with $218,000 at December 31, 2010.  Loan commitments and letters of credit issued to related parties were $202,000 at September 30, 2011 compared with $220,000 at December 31, 2010.  Loans, loan commitments and letters of credit to related parties are made on the same terms and conditions that are available to the public.

Deposits totaled $435.1 million at September 30, 2011, decreasing $11.5 million from $446.6 million at December 31, 2010.  Deposits declined primarily due to reductions in brokered time deposits as management lowered this source of funding by $17.3 million from year-end in order to comply with the regulatory restrictions applicable to adequately capitalized institutions and to manage its balance sheet.  Offsetting some of the decline in deposits from brokered time deposits were increases to demand deposits of $3.9 million and to low cost savings accounts of $2.3 million.  Related party deposits at September 30, 2011 totaled $4.9 million as compared with $8.5 million at year-end 2010.

At September 30, 2011, the mix of deposits changed in that public deposits increased $13.6 million to 11.2 percent of deposits from 7.8 percent at year-end 2010.   Wholesale internet time deposits increased $8.3 million to 12.1 percent of deposits from 9.9 percent at year-end 2010.  These increases were offset by the decrease of brokered deposits of $17.3 million, retail deposits of $7.8 million and commercial deposits of $7.4 million.
 
 
35

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
Core deposits, defined as retail and commercial demand, NOW, money market and savings accounts that have generally lower interest costs, which management believes are more stable, remained relatively unchanged at September 30, 2011.  Total core deposits at September 30, 2011 totaled $209.3 million, increasing $775,000 from $208.5 million at December 31, 2010.

Because the Consent Order establishes specific capital amounts to be maintained by the Bank, the Bank may not be considered better than “adequately capitalized” for capital adequacy purposes, even if the Bank exceeds the levels of capital set forth in the Consent Order. Currently, the Bank exceeds the capital levels established by the FDIC and the IDFPR in the Consent Order.

As an adequately capitalized institution, the Bank may not accept, renew or roll over brokered deposits without prior approval of the FDIC.  Brokered deposits also include deposits with rates of interest that are more than 75 basis points above the rate applicable to the applicable market of the Bank as determined by the FDIC.  However, the Bank has received designation by the FDIC that the Bank is operating in a high rate area.  This allows the Bank to use local average deposit rates as a basis for setting competitive rates on its deposits.  However, other depositors, including some local government entities, may choose not to maintain their deposits at the Bank if the Bank is no longer classified as well capitalized.  The Bank also has received permission from the FDIC to offer brokered CDARS time deposits.  At September 30, 2011, brokered CDARS time deposits totaled $14.9 million.

 Securities sold under repurchase agreements declined $14.8 million at September 30, 2011 to $20.7 million compared with $35.5 million at December 31, 2010.  The Company in managing its liquidity has lessened its reliance on this source of funds due to the pledging of securities that is required.  Related party repurchase agreements at September 30, 2011 totaled $2.1 million as compared with $5.2 million at year-end 2010.
 
 CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
Total stockholders’ equity decreased $2.6 million to $30.7 million at September 30, 2011 as compared with $33.3 million at year-end 2010.  The Company’s net loss of $5.1 million and accrual for dividends on the preferred stock of $699,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 were offset by a $3.0 million increase to accumulated other comprehensive income relating to the unrealized gains on securities available for sale, net of deferred tax, and $210,000 due to the accretion of the unearned portion of stock awards.  The book value of the Company’s outstanding common stock at September 30, 2011 was $3.16 per share, compared with $3.95 at December 31, 2010.

On a consolidated basis, the Company’s Tier 1 to average assets ratio and total capital to assets ratio, on a risk adjusted basis, were 7.77 percent and 12.44 percent, respectively, at September 30, 2011.  The Bank’s Tier 1 to average assets ratio and the total capital to assets ratio, on a risk adjusted basis, were 8.20 percent and 13.01 percent, respectively, as of September 30, 2011, which are above the capital levels required by the Consent Order of 8.00 percent and 12.00 percent.

In January 2011, 207,500 shares of restricted stock were issued pursuant to the 2009 Restricted Stock Plan from the Company’s treasury stock.  During the second quarter of 2011, employees, who left the Company, forfeited 1,000 shares of restricted stock, which were returned to treasury stock lowering the total shares issued pursuant to the Plan to 206,500 shares.  Of the 80,000 shares issued to directors, 70,000 shares vested during the first quarter of 2011, while the remaining 10,000 shares will vest over a two-year period.  A total of 126,500 restricted stock shares granted to employees of the Company will fully vest in January 2013.  The expense attributable to these restricted stock awards recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 totaled $29,000 and $210,000, respectively. The quarterly expense for the vesting of these issued restricted stock awards is expected to be $29,000 through year-end 2012.

 
36

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
LIQUIDITY
 
The Company’s liquidity is measured by the ability to raise funds through deposits, borrowed funds, capital or cash flow from the repayment or maturities of loans and securities and net profits.   Liquidity is primarily managed through deposits and liquid assets such as cash and due from banks less any reserve requirements, securities available for sale less any pledged securities and federal funds sold.  Asset and liability management is the process of managing the balance sheet to achieve a mix of earning assets and liabilities in such a way that achieves an interest rate risk profile acceptable to management and assists in achieving a desired level of profitability.  An important part of the overall asset and liability management process is providing adequate liquidity.  Liquid assets consist of cash and cash equivalents less any Federal Reserve Bank deposit requirements and normal branch cash reserves plus unpledged securities available for sale.  The Company’s liquid assets totaled $55.2 million at September 30, 2011, decreasing $300,000 as compared with $55.5 million at December 31, 2010.
 
As required by the Consent Order, management developed a liquidity plan that identifies the sources of liquid assets available to meet the Bank’s contingency funding needs over the next twelve months.  This liquidity plan looks at the Bank’s ability to meet the cash flow requirements of customers and other operating needs and seeks to manage liquidity to meet these requirements.  The Company needs to have sufficient cash flow to meet borrowers’ needs to fund loans or the requirements of depositors wanting to withdraw funds.  The Statements of Cash Flows shows that for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, cash and cash equivalents increased by $11.1 million to $41.5 million as compared with $30.4 million at December 31, 2010.

The Consent Order also restricts payments of dividends from the Bank to the Company and as such conserves liquidity and capital at the Bank.  Dividends from the Bank are needed to fund dividend payments by the Company to its preferred and common stockholders and the interest payments on its subordinated debentures.   Due to this restriction, among other factors, it is expected that the Company will continue to suspend dividend payments on its Series A Preferred Stock issued under the TARP Capital Purchase Program for the balance of 2011 and there will be no dividends to common stockholders in 2011.  The Company may not pay dividends to its common stockholders as long as there are accrued and unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock.  Further under the TARP CPP, the dividends of the Company may not exceed the dividend payout rate in effect immediately before the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock until such Series A Preferred Stock is repaid.  Also, the Company will continue to defer interest payments on its subordinated debentures.  The accumulated  dividends payable on the Series A Preferred Stock totaled $1.9 million at September 30, 2011 and the deferred interest payments payable on the subordinated debentures totaled $682,000 at September 30, 2011.
 
 Liquid assets consist of cash and due from banks, federal funds sold, interest bearing deposits in financial institutions with maturities less than 90 days, unpledged securities available for sale less reserve requirements and normal cash reserves.  As part of the liquidity policy, management reviews the Bank’s on-balance sheet liquidity ratio daily.  The on-balance sheet liquidity ratio is the net liquid assets divided by total deposits.  At September 30, 2011, this internally calculated ratio at the Bank was 14.0 percent as compared with 14.2 percent at year-end 2010.

The Bank’s liquidity plan considers the liquidity provided by scheduled principal payments by borrowers as well as estimated anticipated payoffs of loans as the Bank attempts to lower its concentrations to the hotel industry.  The Bank expects to receive liquidity from loan principal payments by borrowers of approximately $575,000 per month.  Scheduled principal reductions on mortgage-backed securities are expected to be approximately $700,000 per month and are another source of liquidity to the Bank.
 
 
37

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
Federal funds sold and interest bearing deposits in financial institutions with maturities less than 90 days are also principal sources of liquidity.  These funds totaled $33.7 million at September 30, 2011 as compared with $24.7 million at December 31, 2010.

The Company classifies all of its securities as available for sale, which increases the Company's flexibility in that the Company can use its unpledged securities to meet liquidity requirements by selling the unpledged securities or by increasing its repurchase agreement balances.  Securities available for sale totaled $90.5 million at September 30, 2011, of which $68.7 million were pledged to secure public deposits and repurchase agreements.  At December 31, 2010, securities available for sale totaled $91.8 million of which $59.0 million were pledged.
 
An important source of liquidity to the Company is deposits.  Under the Consent Order, the Bank must limit its brokered time deposits. As a result of the Consent Order, the Bank is not permitted to pay a rate of interest on deposit products that is more than 75 basis points above the rate applicable to the applicable market of the Bank as determined by the FDIC.  As a factor in its liquidity plan, the Company anticipates that brokered time deposits, “High Yield Checking” NOW accounts and public deposits may decrease from their current levels due in part to the Bank’s compliance with the Consent Order. The Bank expects that a portion of these deposit reductions will be offset by growth in core deposits from new retail and commercial customers as well as wholesale internet time deposits, which are not considered brokered.  The FDIC has recognized that the Bank is operating in a high rate area, which allows the Bank to use local average deposit rates as a basis for setting competitive rates on its deposits.  However, it is expected that deposits will decline during the balance of 2011 and liquidity available from deposits will be limited.

In its liquidity plan, the Bank considers its line of credit available at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, which was $15.4 million at September 30, 2011, as a source of liquidity.  There were no outstanding balances on this line of credit at either September 30, 2011 or December 31, 2010.  At September 30, 2011, the Company has pledged loans totaling $28.8 million as security for this line.
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
NET INCOME

The Company recognized a loss available to common stockholders for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 of $2.0 million, as compared with a loss available to common stockholders of $396,000 for the same quarter of 2010.  The loss during the third quarter of 2011 was primarily due to a provision to the allowance for loan and lease losses of $2.0 million, write-downs to other real estate owned of $797,000 as property values declined and other real estate owned servicing expenses of $525,000.  The loss for the same quarter of 2010 was primarily the result of provision to the allowance for loan and lease losses of $338,000 and write-downs to other real estate owned of $1.1 million.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company posted a loss available to common stockholders of $5.9 million as compared with a loss available to common stockholders of $3.5 million for the same period of 2010.  The loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 resulted from provisions for loan losses of $5.7 million, write-downs of other real estate owned of $2.1 million, other real estate owned servicing expenses of $829,000 and loan and collection expenses of $822,000 that were primarily related to nonperforming assets.  The loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 resulted from provisions for loan losses of $4.6 million, write-downs of other real estate owned of $2.5 million and other than temporary impairment write-downs to securities of $659,000.   The loss during the 2010 period was partially offset by gains from the sale of securities of $653,000.
 
 
38

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
NET INTEREST INCOME

Net interest income, the difference between interest income on earning assets and interest expense on interest bearing liabilities, decreased 9.7 percent or $485,000, and totaled $4.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, as compared with $5.0 million for the same quarter of 2010.  The decrease to net interest income for the quarter was attributable to a decrease in average interest earning assets of $30.6 million for the third quarter of 2011 as compared with the same quarter of 2010.  Contributing to the decline in net interest income was the reversal of $183,000 of loan interest income on loans placed on nonaccrual status or restructured during the quarter.
 
Most of the $30.6 million decline to average interest earning assets during the third quarter of 2011 as compared with the same quarter last year was attributable to decreases in average loans of $35.5 million and decreases in average taxable securities of $5.5 million. The decrease in average loans was due to transfers of loans to other real estate owned, scheduled loan payments and payoffs and the sale of an out of market loan.  The decrease in average taxable securities resulted from scheduled principal reductions on the securities. Offsetting a portion of these decreases was growth to lower earning federal funds sold, which includes interest bearing deposits from banks, of $10.5 million.
 
The net interest spread, the difference between rates earned on interest earning assets and paid on deposits and borrowings for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 decreased 12 basis points to 3.68 percent as compared with 3.80 percent for the same quarter last year.  Yields on interest earning assets declined 59 basis points for the third quarter of 2011 while rates paid on deposits and borrowings declined only 47 basis points.  The loan yield declined 50 basis points for the quarter as a result of the levels of nonaccrual loans and the reversal of $183,000 in interest on loans placed on nonaccrual and restructured status.  The change to the mix of average earning assets where higher earning loans and securities decreased while lower earning federal funds sold increased also contributed to the decreased earning asset yield. Deposit rates declined as rates paid on time deposits were at historically low levels.

Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 declined $504,000 as compared with the same period of 2010 due to lower volumes of average earning assets that more than offset increases to the net interest spread.  Average interest earning assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 declined $46.9 million compared with the same time period last year.  The interest rate spread for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was 3.65 percent increasing 23 basis points compared with 3.42 percent for the same time period last year as deposit rates declined to a greater extent than rates on interest earning assets.

 
39

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
ANALYSIS OF AVERAGE BALANCE AND TAX EQUIVALENT RATES
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 - Rates are Annualized
($ 000s) 
 
          2011                 2010        
    Average                 Average              
    Balance     Interest     Rate     Balance     Interest     Rate  
Assets
                                   
Loans (1)(2)(3)
  $ 366,419     $ 4,519       4.93 %   $ 401,897     $ 5,453       5.43 %
Taxable securities (4)
    87,999       523       2.41 %     93,474       655       2.89 %
Tax advantaged securities (2) (4)
    3,864       55       5.76 %     3,988       58       6.04 %
Federal funds sold
    29,439       13       0.18 %     18,984       8       0.17 %
Interest earning assets
    487,721       5,110       4.20 %     518,343       6,174       4.79 %
Noninterest earning assets
    17,486                       33,344                  
Total average assets
  $ 505,207                     $ 551,687                  
                                                 
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
                                               
NOW deposits
  $ 60,612     $ 34       0.22 %   $ 61,278     $ 41       0.27 %
Money market deposits
    50,941       38       0.30 %     51,003       68       0.53 %
Savings deposits
    66,514       8       0.05 %     63,427       16       0.10 %
Time deposits
    189,981       370       0.78 %     217,699       804       1.48 %
Other borrowings
    32,542       71       0.87 %     48,542       169       1.39 %
Interest bearing liabilities
    400,590       521       0.52 %     441,949       1,098       0.99 %
Demand deposits
    66,017                       62,834                  
Other noninterest bearing liabilities
    6,125                       5,467                  
Stockholders' equity
    32,475                       41,437                  
Total average liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 505,207                     $ 551,687                  
                                                 
Net interest income
          $ 4,589                     $ 5,076          
                                                 
Net interest spread
                    3.68 %                     3.80 %
                                                 
Net yield on interest earning assets (4)
              3.77 %                     3.94 %
                                                 
Interest-bearing liabilities to earning assets ratio
                    82.14 %                     85.26 %
 
(1) - Interest income on loans includes loan origination and net fees of ($6,000) and $100,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
(2) - Tax-exempt income is reflected on a fully tax equivalent basis utilizing a 34 percent tax rate. The tax equivalent adjustment reflected in the above table for municipal loans is approximately $27,000 and $29,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  The tax equivalent adjustment reflected in the above table for municipal securities is approximately $19,000 for both the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.
(3) - Non-accrual loans are included in average loans.
(4) - Rate information was calculated on the average amortized cost for securities.  The three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 average balance information includes an average unrealized gain for taxable securities of $1,066,000 and $2,890,000 and for tax-advantaged securities of $45,000 and $144,000, respectively.
 
 
40

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
TABLE 2
 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
ANALYSIS OF AVERAGE BALANCE AND TAX EQUIVALENT RATES
For the Nine Months Ended  September 30, 2011 and 2010 - Rates are Annualized
($ 000s)
 
          2011                 2010        
    Average                 Average              
    Balance     Interest     Rate     Balance     Interest     Rate  
Assets
                                   
Loans (1)(2)(3)
  $ 373,741     $ 14,104       5.03 %   $ 411,227     $ 15,971       5.18 %
Taxable securities (4)
    88,223       1,632       2.44 %     103,834       2,367       3.07 %
Tax advantaged securities (2) (4)
    3,892       165       5.76 %     5,426       242       6.10 %
Federal funds sold
    30,543       47       0.21 %     22,842       29       0.17 %
Interest earning assets
    496,399       15,948       4.28 %     543,329       18,609       4.58 %
Noninterest earning assets
    22,538                       34,306                  
Total average assets
  $ 518,937                     $ 577,635                  
                                                 
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
                                               
NOW deposits
  $ 60,674     $ 104       0.23 %   $ 62,974     $ 209       0.44 %
Money market deposits
    50,543       117       0.31 %     52,659       219       0.55 %
Savings deposits
    66,178       29       0.06 %     63,247       47       0.10 %
Time deposits
    201,911       1,463       0.97 %     236,577       3,068       1.73 %
Other borrowings
    35,500       237       0.89 %     52,812       537       1.36 %
Interest bearing liabilities
    414,806       1,950       0.63 %     468,269       4,080       1.16 %
Demand deposits
    64,569                       60,904                  
Other noninterest bearing liabilities
    6,387                       6,319                  
Stockholders' equity
    33,175                       42,143                  
                                                 
Total average liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 518,937                     $ 577,635                  
                                                 
Net interest income
          $ 13,998                     $ 14,529          
                                                 
Net interest spread
                    3.65 %                     3.42 %
                                                 
Net yield on interest earning assets (4)
              3.75 %                     3.57 %
                                                 
Interest-bearing liabilities to earning assets ratio
                    83.56 %                     86.19 %
 
(1) -
Interest income on loans includes loan origination and net fees of $39,000 and $130,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
(2) -
Tax-exempt income is reflected on a fully tax equivalent basis utilizing a 34 percent tax rate. The  tax equivalent adjustment reflected in the above table for municipal loans is approximately $83,000 and $84,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  The tax  equivalent adjustment reflected in the above table for municipal securities is approximately $56,000 and $82,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
(3) -
Non-accrual loans are included in average loans.
(4) -
Rate information was calculated on the average amortized cost for securities.  The nine months  ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 average balance information includes an average unrealized gain (loss) for taxable securities of ($888,000) and $880,000 and for tax-advantaged securities  of $71,000 and $136,000, respectively.
 
 
41

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
ASSET QUALITY AND THE PROVISION FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES

At September 30, 2011, management, with the concurrence of the Board of Directors, after carefully reviewing the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses and the levels of nonperforming and impaired loans and leases, determined that an allowance of $18.3 million was adequate to cover potential loan and lease losses, similar to $18.3 million at year-end 2010.  The Company’s allowance for loan and lease losses to total loans ratio was 5.22 percent at September 30, 2011 compared with 4.77 percent at December 31, 2010.

 During the first nine months of 2011, $5.8 million in loans and leases were charged-off against the allowance compared with charge-offs of $8.3 million during the same period last year.  During the first nine months of 2011, recoveries of loans previously charged-off totaled $57,000, as compared with $124,000 in recoveries during the same period in 2010.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the provision for loan and lease losses was $5.7 million as compared with $4.6 million during the same period of 2010.

 Nonperforming loans and leases includes 1) loans and leases on nonaccrual status; 2) loans and leases 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest; and 3) accruing loans less than 90 days past due classified as troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs).  Total nonperforming loans and leases increased $11.3 million to $82.7 million, or 23.6 percent of total loans and leases, at September 30, 2011as compared with $71.4 million, or 18.6 percent of total loans and leases, at December 31, 2010.

The increase to nonperforming loans from year-end 2010 was primarily the result of a $12.0 million increase to loans 90 days or more past due, still accruing.   Real estate-construction and real estate-mortgage commercial loans 90 days or more past due, still accruing increased $4.4 million and $7.9 million, respectively, from year-end.  These loans are fully collateralized and in the process of collection and consist primarily of four loan relationships totaling $12.3 million. Loans totaling $5.1 million that had been 90 days or more past due, still accruing were subsequently brought current.  Of these loans, a $2.7 million loan remains classified as nonperforming as it is a TDR.

Other changes to nonperforming loans were nonaccrual loans that increased $914,000 to $27.0 million at September 30, 2011 while TDRs decreased $1.7 million to $42.4 million at September 30, 2011 from year-end 2010. The Company is attempting to work with the nonaccrual borrowers to resolve their issues, but in many cases the Company may have to foreclose on the properties securing the loans and will transfer the collateral to other real estate owned.  The TDR loans consist of loans where the borrower has experienced financial difficulties and the Bank has made concessions to the borrower.  These concessions may include extending the term of the loan, reducing loan payments to interest only, or reducing the interest rate on the loan. The $42.4 million of TDRs at September 30, 2011 were still accruing and none were considered past due greater than 30 days.
 
Loan impairment is another classification of nonperforming loans.  The Company considers a loan impaired if full principal and interest is not expected to be collected under the contractual terms of the note.  Nonaccrual loans and TDRs, still accruing, are classified as impaired.  Impaired loans at September 30, 2011 totaled $90.3 million, as compared with $80.6 million at December 31, 2010, an increase of 9.7 million.  At September 30, 2011, there were $18.1 million of impaired loans that were still on an accrual basis and not TDRs as compared with $10.3 million at December 31, 2010.  Each impaired loan is individually evaluated for impairment and is carried at the lower of the loan balance or the present value of expected cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate or at the fair value of the collateral if the loan or lease is collateral dependent.  At September 30, 2011, $11.5 million of the allowance for loan and lease losses was allocated to the impaired loans.

Management continues to emphasize the early identification of loan-related problems and remains aggressive in pursuing resolution strategies.  The Company has adopted a more stringent and disciplined loan underwriting policy in regards to relationship size and out of market credits.  The Company continues to be an active lender for its current customers as well as other qualifying prospective loan customers.
 
 
42

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
Another component of nonperforming assets is other real estate owned, consisting of assets acquired through or in lieu of foreclosure.  At September 30, 2011, other real estate owned totaled $22.3 million, a decrease of $2.0 million from $24.3 million at December 31, 2010.  The decrease in other real estate owned was due to sales of properties carried at $8.0 million in which the Company recognized a net gain of $12,000 and to write-downs of $2.1 million taken on these properties during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, additions of $8.1 were made to other real estate owned from nonperforming loans.

The Company’s other real estate owned portfolio at September 30, 2011, consisted primarily of 5 plus family buildings and commercial real estate of $9.5 million and $9.4 million, respectively.  Other real estate owned also included $2.7 million of vacant land and $706,000 of single family homes. The Company is actively marketing all of its other real estate owned properties for sale.

At September 30, 2011, the Company has one piece of vacant property carried at $2.0 million as other real estate owned that was acquired by the Bank through the receipt of a deed in lieu of foreclosure in 1987.  The parcel consists of approximately 525,000 square feet of vacant land overlooking Lake Michigan in Waukegan, Illinois.  During 2002 the Bank formed Northern States Community Development Corporation (“NSCDC”), a subsidiary of the Bank.  NSCDC assets consist of cash and this parcel of other real estate owned.  This subsidiary was formed for the purpose of developing and selling this parcel as part of the City of Waukegan’s lakefront development plans.

This property is a former commercial/industrial site and environmental remediation costs may be incurred in disposing of this property.  During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company had an independent environmental consultant update its opinion as to estimated environmental remediation costs.  This updated report estimated that there were remaining costs of $73,000 to achieve acceptable levels of contaminants for commercial/industrial or restricted residential land use and to prevent migration of contaminants to adjoining off-site properties and Lake Michigan. No determination has yet been made as to the ultimate end use of the property, which would need to be approved by the City of Waukegan as part of its Lakefront Downtown Master Plan. The appraised value of the property supports the Bank’s carrying value plus the estimated remaining environmental remediation costs and costs to sell.  No liability has been recorded for the estimated environmental remediation costs as they are considered liquidation costs.

The fair value of other real estate owned is reviewed by management at least quarterly to help ensure the reasonableness of its carrying value, which is lower of cost or the fair value less estimated selling costs.    If values continue to deteriorate, the Company may have future additional write-downs to its other real estate owned portfolio.
 
 
43

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
NONPERFORMING LOANS
($ 000s)
 
               
Troubled Debt
             
         
90 Days or
   
Restructured
   
Total Non-
   
% Non-
 
Nonperforming loans
 
Nonaccrual
   
More Past Due,
   
Loans,
   
performing
   
performing
 
at September 30, 2011
 
Loans
   
Still Accruing
   
Still Accruing
   
Loans
   
Loans
 
                               
Commercial
  $ 492     $ 172     $ 11     $ 675       0.8 %
Real estate-construction
    3,577       4,383       3,578       11,538       14.0 %
Real estate-mortgage
                                       
1-4 family
    1,888       299       3,031       5,218       6.3 %
Real estate-mortgage
                                       
5+ family
    3,990       0       0       3,990       4.8 %
Real estate-mortgage commercial
    15,754       8,177       35,821       59,752       72.3 %
Home equity
    1,341       126       0       1,467       1.8 %
Leases
    0       0       0       0       0.0 %
Installment
    1       15       0       16       0.0 %
Total
  $ 27,043     $ 13,172     $ 42,441     $ 82,656       100.0 %
 
               
Troubled Debt
             
         
90 Days or
   
Restructured
   
Total Non-
   
% Non-
 
Nonperforming loans
 
Nonaccrual
   
More Past Due,
   
Loans,
   
performing
   
performing
 
at December 31, 2010
 
Loans
   
Still Accruing
   
Still Accruing
   
Loans
   
Loans
 
                               
Commercial
  $ 0     $ 513     $ 223     $ 736       1.0 %
Real estate-construction
    4,095       0       2,398       6,493       9.1 %
Real estate-mortgage
                                       
1-4 family
    2,552       130       1,665       4,347       6.1 %
Real estate-mortgage
                                       
5+ family
    8,594       0       0       8,594       12.1 %
Real estate-mortgage commercial
    9,529       296       39,806       49,631       69.6 %
Home equity
    1,359       172       0       1,531       2.1 %
Leases
    0       0       0       0       0.0 %
Installment
    0       30       0       30       0.0 %
Total
  $ 26,129     $ 1,141     $ 44,092     $ 71,362       100.0 %
 
 
44

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
TABLE 4
 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
OTHER REAL ESTATE OWNED
($ 000's)
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Real estate - vacant land
  $ 2,735     $ 2,209  
Real estate - 1-4 family
    706       1,695  
Real estate - 5+ family
    9,544       7,544  
Real estate - commercial
    9,358       12,878  
                 
Total other real estate owned
  $ 22,343     $ 24,326  
 
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Balance beginning of the period
  $ 24,326     $ 19,198  
Additions
    8,128       10,470  
Improvements
    0       34  
Sales proceeds
    (7,998 )     (10,496 )
Gains (losses) on sales
    12       (26 )
Write-downs
    (2,125 )     (2,500 )
                 
Balance at end of period
  $ 22,343     $ 16,680  
 
NONINTEREST INCOME

Noninterest income for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was $1.1 million as compared to $615,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2010, an increase of $488,000.  Noninterest income increased during the third quarter of 2011 as the Company recognized gains of $14,000 from the sale of $461,000 of other real estate owned compared to losses of $426,000 on the sale of $6.4 million in the same quarter of 2010.  Contributing to the increase to noninterest income for the third quarter of 2011 were gains of $135,000 on the sales of $19.6 million of securities. Partially offsetting these increases were declines to service charges on deposits and trust income of $58,000 and $43,000, respectively.  Service fee income on deposit accounts was impacted by decreased overdraft fee income.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company’s noninterest income decreased $190,000 to $2.9 million as compared to $3.1 million for the same period last year.  The decrease to noninterest income was partially attributable to lower net gains on the sale of securities of $376,000 as the Company recognized gains of $277,000 on the sale of $19.6 million of securities as compared with gains of $653,000 on the sale of $40.5 million of securities during the same time period of 2010.  Decreases to service fees on deposits of $313,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the same period of 2010 contributed to the lower noninterest income as regulations became effective during the third quarter of 2010 limiting charges for overdrafts caused by debit card activities. Offsetting some of these decreases were $496,000 in lower securities impairment write-downs during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the same time period in 2010.

 
45

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
NONINTEREST EXPENSE

Noninterest expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 was $5.3 million, decreasing $116,000 from the same quarter last year.  Noninterest expense was reduced by $279,000 during the third quarter of 2011 due to declines in other real estate owned write-downs as compared with the same quarter of 2010.  Declines to FDIC insurance premiums, intangible asset amortization and audit and other professional fees also contributed to the lower noninterest expense for the quarter.  FDIC insurance expense declined $174,000 due to changes to the FDIC assessment base. Amortization of intangibles expense was $116,000 less as the Company’s intangibles were fully written down by year-end 2010.  Audit and other professional fees were $109,000 less than the same quarter last year.  Partially offsetting these decreases to noninterest expenses during the third quarter of 2011 were increases in other real estate owned expenses of $426,000 as the Company transferred $8.1 million in loans to other real estate owned and expenses were recognized for real estate taxes.  There were also increases to other operating expenses of $132,000 due to increased premiums for general insurance.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company had noninterest expense of $16.2 million as compared with $15.7 million for the same nine months of 2010, an increase of $530,000. The increase was attributable to increased loan and collection expense of $662,000 as the Company made payments for back real estate taxes on properties securing the Company’s impaired loans.  Expenses relating to servicing the other real estate owned portfolio also increased $502,000 and other operating expenses increased $283,000 due to expenses relating to the issuance of restricted stock and increases in premiums for general insurance.  Offsetting a portion of these increases were declines to the write-down of other real estate owned of $375,000, amortization of intangibles of $348,000 and FDIC insurance of $173,000.

FEDERAL AND STATE INCOME TAXES

For the three months ended September 30, 2011, the Company had a pretax loss of $1.7 million on which an income tax benefit totaling $697,000 was calculated.  For the first nine months of 2011, the Company had a pretax loss of $5.1 million and an income tax benefit of $2.1 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company booked the calculated tax benefit of $2.1 million as a deferred tax asset.  However, per accounting requirements, the Company increased the deferred tax asset valuation allowance by $2.1 million and, as a result, did not recognize any tax benefit during the three or nine months ending September 30, 2011. In order to take advantage of the tax benefits, the Company must analyze and show positive evidence, such as generating positive taxable income for a number of consecutive reporting periods, that it will more likely than not to be able to use the tax benefit in future periods.  At September 30, 2011, the Company had a net deferred tax asset, exclusive of the deferred tax liability related to the unrealized gain on securities available for sale, of $18.4 million that was offset by a deferred tax asset valuation allowance for the same amount.

For the third quarter of 2010, the Company calculated an income tax benefit totaling $75,000 based on a pretax loss of $143,000.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company calculated a tax benefit of $1.1 million based on its pretax loss for the first nine months of 2010 of $2.7 million. This $1.1 million tax benefit for the first nine months of 2010 was booked as a deferred tax asset with a corresponding deferred increase to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance resulting in no recognition of the tax benefit from the pretax loss.  At September 30, 2010, the Company had a deferred tax asset, exclusive of the deferred tax asset related to the unrealized loss on securities available for sale, of $14.5 million, that was offset by a deferred tax asset valuation allowance for the same amount.

 
46

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
REGULATORY MATTERS

In November 2009, the Company notified the U.S. Treasury Department (“Treasury”) of its intent to suspend its dividend payments on its Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (“Series A Preferred Stock”). The suspension of the dividend payments is permissible under the terms of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”) Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”), but the dividend is cumulative and failure to pay dividends for six dividend periods triggers board of director appointment rights for the holder of the Series A Preferred Stock. While dividends are being deferred on the preferred stock issued under the TARP Capital Purchase Program, the Company may not pay dividends on its common stock.  In November 2009, the Company also notified the trustee that holds the Company’s junior subordinated debentures relating to its trust preferred securities that the Company would be deferring its regularly scheduled quarterly interest payments. The Company has the right to defer the payment of interest on the junior subordinated debentures at any time, for a period not to exceed 20 consecutive quarters. During the deferral period, the Company may not pay any dividends on its common or preferred stock. Accordingly, the Company may not pay dividends on its common stock for the foreseeable future.   The suspension of preferred dividends and deferral of interest payments on the junior subordinated debentures were per the Board Resolution with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago that was then in effect.

On April 16, 2010, the Bank’s Board of Directors, management, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (“IDFPR”) entered into a final joint Consent Order.  Various items required of the Bank, as agreed to under the Consent Order, are described in Note 8-“Consent Order and Written Agreement” in this document in the notes to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

Because the Consent Order establishes specific capital amounts to be maintained by the Bank, the Bank may not be considered better than “adequately capitalized” for capital adequacy purposes, even if the Bank exceeds the levels of capital set forth in the Consent Order. At September 30, 2011, the Bank exceeded the capital levels established by the FDIC and the IDFPR in the Consent Order.

As an adequately capitalized institution, the Bank may not accept, renew or roll over brokered deposits without prior approval of the FDIC.  Brokered deposits also include deposits with rates of interest that are more than 75 basis points above the rate applicable to the applicable market of the Bank as determined by the FDIC.  The Bank has received designation by the FDIC that the Bank is operating in a high rate area, which allows the Bank to use a local average deposit rates as a basis for setting competitive rates on its deposits.  As of September 30, 2011, 3.4 percent of the Bank’s deposits were brokered deposits consisting of CDARs time deposits which the Bank has received permission from the FDIC to offer.  At September 30, 2011, these brokered CDARS time deposits totaled $14.9 million.

Any material failure to comply with the provisions of the Consent Order could result in additional enforcement actions by the FDIC as allowed by 12 U.S.C. §1818 and the IDFPR. While the Company intends to take such actions as may be necessary to enable the Bank to comply with the requirements of the Consent Order, there can be no assurance that the Bank will be able to comply fully with the provisions of the Consent Order, or that efforts to comply with the Consent Order will not have adverse effects on the operations and financial condition of the Company and the Bank.

Management and the Board of Directors are committed to complying with the terms of the Consent Order, and have already taken, and will continue to take, numerous steps to address these matters.  The Bank will report to the FDIC and the IDFPR quarterly regarding its progress in complying with the provisions included in the Consent Order.  Compliance with the terms of the Consent Order will be an ongoing priority for management of the Bank.   See also Note 9-“Management Plans” to the interim condensed consolidated financial statement included herein.
 
In July 2010, Congress enacted regulatory reform legislation known as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which the President signed into law on July 21, 2010. The Act permanently raised the FDIC insurance coverage to $250,000 per depositor. It also provides unlimited FDIC insurance coverage of noninterest-bearing transaction accounts through December 31, 2012. This new law broadly affects the financial services industry by establishing a framework for systemic risk oversight, creating a resolution authority, mandating higher capital and liquidity requirements, requiring banks to pay increased fees to regulatory agencies and containing numerous other provisions aimed at strengthening the sound operation of the financial services sector. Many aspects of the law are subject to further rulemaking and will take effect over several years, making it difficult to anticipate the overall financial impact to the Company or across the industry.
 
 
47

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION

Following a compliance examination of the Bank performed by the FDIC, the Board of Directors of the Bank approved and signed a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) on October 20, 2010 concerning the Bank’s compliance program and deficiencies identified during the examination of the Bank.  As a part of the MOU, the Board has committed to enhance its compliance management system, internal compliance audit program and increase compliance training of the Bank’s staff.

Management believes that the MOU will not have a material impact on the Company’s operating results or financial condition and that, unless the Bank fails to adequately address the concerns of the FDIC, the MOU will not constrain the Company’s business.  Management is committed to resolving the issues addressed in the MOU as promptly as possible, and has already taken and will continue to take numerous steps to address these matters.  Compliance with the terms of the MOU will be an ongoing priority for management of the Company.

On March 17, 2011, the Company and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (“Federal Reserve”) entered into a Written Agreement. Various items required of the Company are described in Note 8-“Consent Order and Written Agreement” in this document in the notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements.   The Written Agreement supersedes the resolution signed by the Board of Directors at the request of the Federal Reserve dated November 17, 2009.

Management and the Board of Directors are committed to complying with the terms of the Written Agreement, have already taken, and will continue to take, numerous steps to address these matters.  The Company will report to the Federal Reserve quarterly regarding its progress in complying with the provisions included in the Written Agreement.  Compliance with the terms of the Written Agreement will be an ongoing priority for management of the Company.
 
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
 
The Company’s primary market risk exposure is interest rate risk and, to a lesser extent, liquidity risk. Interest rate risk is the exposure of a banking organization’s financial condition to adverse movements in interest rates.  The Company seeks to achieve consistent growth in net interest income and net income while managing volatility that arises from shifts in interest rates.  The Company’s Asset and Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”) oversees interest rate risk programs instituted by management and measurements of interest rate risk verifying that they are within authorized limits set by the Company’s Board of Directors.

Evaluating a financial institution’s exposure to changes in interest rates includes assessing both the adequacy of the management process used to control interest rate risk and the organization’s quantitative level of exposure.  When assessing the interest rate risk management process, the Company seeks to ensure that appropriate policies, procedures, management information systems and internal controls are in place to maintain interest rate risk at prudent levels.  Evaluating the quantitative level of interest rate risk exposure requires the Company to assess the existing and potential future effects of changes in interest rates on its consolidated financial condition, including capital adequacy, earnings, and liquidity.
 
 
48

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
Proper interest rate risk evaluation must include active board of director and senior management oversight and a comprehensive risk-management process that effectively identifies, measures, and controls interest rate risk.  Several techniques might be used by an institution to minimize interest rate risk.  Such activities fall under the broad definition of asset/liability management.
 
One approach used by the Company is to periodically analyze the matching of assets and liabilities by examining the extent to which such assets and liabilities are "interest rate sensitive" and by monitoring the Bank's interest rate sensitivity "gap".

An asset or liability is said to be interest rate sensitive within a specific time period if it will mature or reprice within that time period.  The interest rate sensitivity gap is defined as the difference between the amount of interest earning assets maturing or repricing within a specific time period and the amount of interest bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within that same time period.  A gap is considered positive when the amount of interest rate sensitive assets exceeds the amount of interest rate sensitive liabilities and a gap is considered negative when the amount of interest rate sensitive liabilities exceeds the amount of interest rate sensitive assets in a given time frame.  During a period of rising interest rates, a negative gap would tend to adversely affect net interest income while a positive gap would tend to result in an increase in net interest income.

Another approach used by management to analyze interest rate risk is to periodically evaluate or “shock” the Company’s base 12- month projected net interest income by assuming an instantaneous decrease or increase in rates using computer simulation.  Table 5 shows this analysis at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.  The computer simulation model used to do the interest rate shocks and calculate the effect on projected net interest income takes into consideration maturity and repricing schedules of the various assets and liabilities as well as call provisions on the Company’s securities.  Current policy set by the Board of Directors limits exposure to net interest income from interest rate shocks.
 
TABLE 5
 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
EFFECT OF INTEREST SHOCKS ON NET INTEREST INCOME
as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010
($000s)
                   
    Immediate Change in Rates  
    -2.00%     -1.00%     +1.00%     +2.00%  
                                 
September 30, 2011:
                               
Dollar Change from Base Forecast
  $ (278 )   $ ( 10 )   $ (104 )   $ (144 )
Percent Change from Base Forecast
    -1.51 %     -0.06 %     -0.57 %     -0.78 %
                                 
December 31, 2010:
                               
Dollar Change from Base Forecast
  $ (2,244 )   $ (747 )   $ 301     $ 606  
Percent Change from Base Forecast
    -12.31 %     -4.10 %     1.65 %     3.32 %
 
At September 30, 2011, the base forecasted 12-month net interest income decreases $144,000 when rates are shocked upwards 2% while net interest income decreases $278,000 for a 2% downwards rate shock.  Differences between the rate shocks at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 partially resulted from refinements to our assumptions based on current economic conditions that were inputted into the computer simulation model at September 30, 2011.
 
The Company can manage interest rate risk by selling existing assets, repaying certain liabilities or matching repricing periods for new assets and liabilities.  Financial institutions are subject to prepayment risk in a falling rate environment.  For example, a debtor may prepay financial assets in order to refinance obligations at new, lower rates.  The Company attempts to mitigate this risk by having prepayment penalties on fixed rate loans.  The Company also seeks to mitigate the effect on net interest income from variable rate loans by placing floors whenever possible.  In a rising rate environment financial institutions are subject to early redemption of time deposits.  The Company attempts to mitigate this risk by having prepayment penalties on early redemptions.
 
 
49

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION

Based on the August 2011 monetary policy announcement of the Federal Reserve, it is anticipated that rates will remain at historic lows until mid-2013.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

The Company’s management has evaluated, with the participation of the President and Chief Executive Officer, and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a – 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based on that evaluation, the President and Chief Executive Officer, and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these controls and procedures were effective as of such date.  There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a – 15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that occurred during the third quarter of 2011 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
 
From time to time, due to the nature of its business, the Company and its subsidiaries are often subject to various legal actions.  These legal actions, whether pending or threatened, arise through the normal course of business and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries are currently involved in any proceedings that would, in management’s judgment, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
 
ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS.
 
There have been no material changes to the risk factors relating to the Company from those risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 in response to Item 1A. to Part I of Form 10-K.
 
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
 
None.
 
 
50

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORTION
 
ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.
 
  None.
 
ITEM 4.  (REMOVED AND RESERVED).

 
ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION.
 
  None.

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS.
 
(a) 
Exhibits.

Exhibit 3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994 (File No. 000-19300)).

Exhibit 3.2 Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, dated April 27, 1998 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (File No. 000-19300) filed on March 25, 2009).

Exhibit 3.3 Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, dated January 20, 2009 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (File No. 000-19300) filed on March 25, 2009).

Exhibit 3.4 Certificate of Designations of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, dated February 18, 2009 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-19300) filed on February 20, 2009).

Exhibit 3.5 Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company dated April 20, 2004 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-19300) filed on May 10, 2004).

Exhibit 4.1 Form of Certificate of the Preferred Stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-19300) filed on February 20, 2009).

Exhibit 4.2 Warrant to purchase shares of Common Stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-19300) filed on February 20, 2009).

Exhibit 11.1  Statement of Computation of per share earnings. (Contained in Notes 1 and 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.)

Exhibit 15.1 Acknowledgement of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Exhibit 31.1 Section 302 Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer.

Exhibit 31.2 Section 302 Certification of Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Exhibit 32.1 Section 906 Certification.
 
Exhibit 101.1  The following financial statements from the Northern States Financial Corporation Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, formatted in Extensive Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) condensed consolidated balance sheets, (ii) condensed consolidated statements of operations, (iii) condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, (iv) condensed consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity, and (v) the notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.*

*Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files submitted under Exhibit 101.1 are not deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that Section.  Such exhibit shall not be deemed incorporated into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
 
51


NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q
September 30, 2011
 
 
SIGNATURES

 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report on Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
  NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION  
  (Registrant)  
 
 
Date
November 3, 2011
 
By:
/s/ Scott Yelvington    
      Scott Yelvington    
      President and Chief Executive Officer  

 
Date
November 3, 2011
 
By:
/s/ Steven Neudecker    
      Steven Neudecker  
      Vice President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
52

 
NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q
September 30, 2011

EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibits
 
Exhibit 3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994 (File No. 000-19300)).

Exhibit 3.2 Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, dated April 27, 1998 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (File No. 000-19300) filed on March 25, 2009).

Exhibit 3.3 Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, dated January 20, 2009 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (File No. 000-19300) filed on March 25, 2009).

Exhibit 3.4 Certificate of Designations of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, dated February 18, 2009 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-19300) filed on February 20, 2009).

Exhibit 3.5 Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company dated April 20, 2004 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-19300) filed on May 10, 2004).

Exhibit 4.1 Form of Certificate of the Preferred Stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-19300) filed on February 20, 2009).

Exhibit 4.2 Warrant to purchase shares of Common Stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-19300) filed on February 20, 2009).

Exhibit 11.1  Statement of Computation of per share earnings. (Contained in Notes 1 and 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.)

Exhibit 15.1 Acknowledgement of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Exhibit 31.1 Section 302 Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer.

Exhibit 31.2 Section 302 Certification of Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Exhibit 32.1 Section 906 Certification.
 
Exhibit 101.1  The following financial statements from the Northern States Financial Corporation Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, formatted in Extensive Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) condensed consolidated balance sheets, (ii) condensed consolidated statements of operations, (iii) condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, (iv) condensed consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity, and (v) the notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.*

*Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files submitted under Exhibit 101.1 are not deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that Section.  Such exhibit shall not be deemed incorporated into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
 
53