Salaries and other employee expenses

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Salaries and other employee expenses

Salaries and other employee expenses

Salaries and other employee expenses

The following table details salaries and other employee expenses:

	December 31,
	2023	2022	2021
Wages and salaries	20,837	18,135	13,803
Payroll taxes	2,809	2,196	1,731
Personnel benefits	19,047	12,344	5,134
Share-based payments	4,539	1,544	984
Total	47,232	34,219	21,652

A.    2015 Stock Incentive Plan – Directors and Executives

In February 2008, the Board of Directors of the Bank approved an incentive plan for directors and executives allowing the Bank to grant restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock purchase options, and/or other similar compensation instruments and established service requirements as the sole condition of vesting. The maximum aggregate number of shares which may be granted under this plan is three million “Class E” common shares. The Stock Incentive Plan is administered by the Board of Directors who has the authority at its discretion to select the directors and executives to whom the awards may be granted to attract, retain, motivate, and compensate them for their contribution to the growth and profitability of the Bank; to determine whether and to what extent awards are granted, and to amend the terms of any outstanding award under this plan.

Restricted stocks are issued at the grant date but are withheld by the Bank until the vesting date. Restricted stock is entitled to receive dividends.

A restricted stock unit is a grant valued in terms of the Bank’s stock, but no stock is issued at the grant date. Restricted stock units are not entitled to dividends.

The Bank issues or disposes of treasury stock and delivers common stock on the date on which the restricted stock units become unrestricted.

During 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Board of Directors approved the grant of restricted stock to directors and stock options and restricted stock units to certain executives of the Bank, as follows:

Restricted stock – Directors

The Board of Directors granted the directors “Class E” common shares for 63 thousand, 57 thousand and 63 thousand during the years 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The fair value of restricted stock granted was based on the stock closing price in the New York Stock Exchange of the “Class E” shares on April 26, 2023, April 27, 2022 and April 21, 2021, respectively. The fair value of restricted stock granted totaled $1.1 million in 2023, $835 thousand in 2022, and $923 thousand in 2021, of which $474 thousand, $354 thousand and $401 thousand were recognized in profit or loss during 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Total expense recognized in profit or loss during 2023, 2022 and 2021 of restricted stock granted to directors amounted to $931 thousand, $895 thousand and $924 thousand, respectively. The remaining cost pending amortization of $821 thousand at December 31, 2023 will be amortized over 2.33 years.

Restricted stock loses their restriction from the year following the anniversary date, as follows: 35% in the first and second years, and 30% in the third year.

A.    2015 Stock Incentive Plan – Directors and Executives (continued)

A summary of restricted stock granted to directors is presented below:

	Shares	Weighted average grant date fair value
Outstanding at January 1, 2021	132,150	18.56
Granted	63,000	14.65
Vested	(49,350)	19.24
Outstanding at December 31, 2021	145,800	16.64
Granted	57,000	14.65
Vested	(97,350)	18.71
Outstanding at December 31, 2022	105,450	14.15
Granted	63,000	17.69
Vested	(53,100)	13.75
Outstanding at December 31, 2023	115,350	16.31
Expected to vest	115,350

The fair value of vested stock during the years 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $730 thousand, $1.8 million and $949 thousand, respectively.

Restricted stock units to certain executives

Restricted stock units

The Board of Directors approved the grant of restricted stock units to certain executives of the Bank with a grant date fair value of $4.6 million in 2023, $822 thousand in 2022 and $1 million in 2021. The distribution of the fair value was in restricted stock units.

The fair value of the restricted stock units was based on the “Class E” stock closing price in the New York Stock Exchange on the grant date. The restricted stock units are exchanged at a ratio of 1: 1 for common shares “Class E”.

Beginning with the grant awarded in 2023, the restriction period for the issuance of the restricted stock units was modified as follows: 25% vested in the month following the date of the grant, and 25% each year on the grant date's anniversary for the following three years. Previously, the restriction period for the issuance of the restricted stock units was: 25% vested each year on the grant date’s anniversary for the following four years.

Compensation costs of the restricted stock units are amortized during the period of restriction by the accelerated method. During 2023, 2022 and 2021, the cost recognized in profit or loss as a result of the amortization of these grants totaled $2.4 million, $749 thousand and $984 thousand, respectively.

Fair value of vested stock during the years 2023, 2022 and 2021 is $2.4 million, $581 thousand, and $838 thousand, respectively.

A.    2015 Stock Incentive Plan – Directors and Executives (continued)

A summary of the restricted stock units granted through December 31, 2023, to certain executives is presented below:

	Shares	Weighted average grant date fair value	Weighted average remaining contractual term	Aggregate intrinsic value
Outstanding at January 1, 2021	81,343	17.94
Granted	75,796	13.33
Forfeited	(1,311)	14.51
Vested	(48,299)	17.35
Outstanding at December 31, 2021	107,529	14.99
Granted	63,056	13.03
Vested	(36,410)	15.97
Outstanding at December 31, 2022	134,175	13.80
Granted	298,951	15.36
Forfeited	(346)	14.95
Vested	(152,305)	15.57
Outstanding at December 31, 2023	280,475	14.50	1.99 years	$2,769
Expected to vest	280,475	14.50	1.99 years	$2,769

For the restricted share units that are expected to be released, the compensation cost pending amortization is $1.6 million in 2023 and will be amortized over 2.17 years.

Provision of restricted stock units

As of December 31, 2023, the Bank's management established a provision of $1.7 million, recognized in the consolidated statement of profit or loss, related to the restricted stock units that will be granted in the first quarter of 2024.

B.    Other plans - Expatriate Top Executives Plan

The Bank sponsors a defined contribution plan for its expatriate top executives based in Panama, which are not eligible to participate in the Panamanian social security system. The Bank’s contributions are determined as a percentage of the annual salaries of top executives eligible for the plan, each contributing an additional amount withheld from their salary. Contributions to this plan are managed by a fund manager through a trust. The executives are entitled to the Bank’s contributions after completing at least three years of service in the Bank. During 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Bank charged to salaries expense $58 thousand, $62 thousand and $67 thousand, respectively, that correspond to the Bank’s contributions to this plan.