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EX-21 - SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT - FULTON FINANCIAL CORPdex21.htm
EX-32.2 - SECTION 906 CFO CERTIFICATION - FULTON FINANCIAL CORPdex322.htm
EX-10.7 - 2004 STOCK OPTION AND COMPENSATION PLAN - FULTON FINANCIAL CORPdex107.htm
EX-31.1 - SECTION 302 CEO CERTIFICATION - FULTON FINANCIAL CORPdex311.htm
EX-32.1 - SECTION 906 CEO CERTIFICATION - FULTON FINANCIAL CORPdex321.htm
EX-31.2 - SECTION 302 CFO CERTIFICATION - FULTON FINANCIAL CORPdex312.htm
EX-99.1 - CERTIFICATION OF CEO PURSUANT TO SECTION 111(B)(4) - FULTON FINANCIAL CORPdex991.htm
EX-99.2 - CERTIFICATION OF CFO PURSUANT TO SECTION 111(B)(4) - FULTON FINANCIAL CORPdex992.htm
EX-23 - CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM - FULTON FINANCIAL CORPdex23.htm
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009,

or

 

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

Commission File Number: 0-10587

 

 

FULTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

PENNSYLVANIA   23-2195389
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

One Penn Square, P. O. Box 4887, Lancaster, Pennsylvania   17604
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(717) 291-2411

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $2.50 par value

  The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨  No  x

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 such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by 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  ¨    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):

Large accelerated filed  x            Accelerated filer  ¨            Non-accelerated filer  ¨            Smaller reporting company  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The aggregate market value of the voting Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the average bid and asked prices on June 30, 2009, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was approximately $878.9 million. The number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding on January 31, 2010 was 176,455,000.

Portions of the Definitive Proxy Statement of the Registrant for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 30, 2010 are incorporated by reference in Part III.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Description

        Page

PART I

     

Item 1.

  

Business

   3

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   9

Item 1B.

  

Unresolved Staff Comments

   12

Item 2.

  

Properties

   13

Item 3.

  

Legal Proceedings

   13

Item 4.

  

Reserved

   13

PART II

     

Item 5.

  

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

   14

Item 6.

  

Selected Financial Data

   16

Item 7.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   17

Item 7A.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   42

Item 8.

  

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data:

  
  

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   50
  

Consolidated Statements of Operations

   51
  

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

   52
  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   53
  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   54
  

Management Report On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

   97
  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   98
  

Quarterly Consolidated Results of Operations (unaudited)

   99

Item 9.

  

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

   100

Item 9A.

  

Controls and Procedures

   100

Item 9B.

  

Other Information

   100

PART III

     

Item 10.

  

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

   101

Item 11.

  

Executive Compensation

   101

Item 12.

  

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

   101

Item 13.

  

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

   101

Item 14.

  

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

   101

PART IV

     

Item 15.

  

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

   102
  

Signatures

   105
  

Exhibit Index

   107

 

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Table of Contents

PART I

 

Item 1. Business

General

Fulton Financial Corporation (the Corporation) was incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania on February 8, 1982 and became a bank holding company through the acquisition of all of the outstanding stock of Fulton Bank on June 30, 1982. In 2000, the Corporation became a financial holding company as defined in the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB Act), which allowed the Corporation to expand its financial services activities under its holding company structure (See “Competition” and “Supervision and Regulation”). The Corporation directly owns 100% of the common stock of eight community banks and twelve non-bank entities. As of December 31, 2009, the Corporation had approximately 3,560 full-time equivalent employees.

The common stock of Fulton Financial Corporation is listed for quotation on the Global Select Market of The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol FULT. The Corporation’s internet address is www.fult.com. Electronic copies of the Corporation’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available free of charge by visiting “Investor Relations” on www.fult.com. Electronic copies of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K are also available at this internet address. These reports are posted as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Bank and Financial Services Subsidiaries

The Corporation’s eight subsidiary banks are located primarily in suburban or semi-rural geographical markets throughout a five state region (Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia). Pursuant to its “super-community” banking strategy, the Corporation operates the banks autonomously to maximize the advantage of community banking and service to its customers. Where appropriate, operations are centralized through common platforms and back-office functions; however, decision-making generally remains with the local bank management. The Corporation is committed to a decentralized operating philosophy; however, in some markets and in certain circumstances, merging subsidiaries creates operating and marketing efficiencies by leveraging existing brand awareness over a larger geographic area. In 2009, the former Peoples Bank of Elkton subsidiary and the former Hagerstown Trust Company subsidiary merged with The Columbia Bank to consolidate the Corporation’s Maryland franchise.

The Corporation’s subsidiary banks are located in areas that are home to a wide range of manufacturing, distribution, health care and other service companies. The Corporation and its banks are not dependent upon one or a few customers or any one industry, and the loss of any single customer or a few customers would not have a material adverse impact on any of the subsidiary banks.

Each of the subsidiary banks offers a full range of consumer and commercial banking products and services in its local market area. Personal banking services include various checking account and savings deposit products, certificates of deposit and individual retirement accounts. The subsidiary banks offer a variety of consumer lending products to creditworthy customers in their market areas. Secured loan products include home equity loans and lines of credit, which are underwritten based on loan-to-value limits specified in the lending policy. Subsidiary banks also offer a variety of fixed and variable-rate products, including construction loans and jumbo loans. Residential mortgages are offered through Fulton Mortgage Company, which operates as a division of each subsidiary bank. Consumer loan products also include automobile loans, automobile and equipment leases, personal lines of credit, credit cards and checking account overdraft protection.

Commercial banking services are provided to small and medium sized businesses (generally with sales of less than $100 million) in the subsidiary banks’ market areas. The maximum total lending commitment to an individual borrower was $33.0 million as of December 31, 2009, which is below the Corporation’s regulatory lending limit. Commercial lending options include commercial, financial, agricultural and real estate loans. Floating, adjustable and fixed rate loans are provided, with floating and adjustable rate loans generally tied to an index such as the Prime Rate or the London Interbank Offering Rate. The Corporation’s commercial lending policy encourages relationship banking and provides strict guidelines related to customer creditworthiness and collateral requirements. In addition, equipment leasing, credit cards, letters of credit, cash management services and traditional deposit products are offered to commercial customers.

The Corporation also offers investment management, trust, brokerage, insurance and investment advisory services to consumer and commercial banking customers in the market areas serviced by the subsidiary banks.

 

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In October 2009, the Corporation’s investment management and trust services subsidiary, Fulton Financial Advisors, N.A., became an operating subsidiary of Fulton Bank. Concurrently with this transaction, Fulton Bank converted its Pennsylvania state charter to a national charter, thereby becoming Fulton Bank, N.A.

The Corporation’s subsidiary banks deliver their products and services through traditional branch banking, with a network of full service branch offices. Electronic delivery channels include a network of automated teller machines, telephone banking and online banking. The variety of available delivery channels allows customers to access their account information and perform certain transactions, such as transferring funds and paying bills, at virtually any hour of the day.

The following table provides certain information for the Corporation’s banking subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009.

 

Subsidiary

  

Main Office

Location

   Total
Assets
   Total
Deposits
   Branches (1)
          (dollars in millions)     

Fulton Bank, N.A.

   Lancaster, PA    $ 8,368    $ 5,643    105

The Bank

   Woodbury, NJ      2,092      1,720    50

The Columbia Bank

   Columbia, MD      2,229      1,707    40

Lafayette Ambassador Bank

   Easton, PA      1,443      1,136    24

Skylands Community Bank

   Hackettstown, NJ      1,324      1,049    27

Delaware National Bank

   Georgetown, DE      486      351    12

FNB Bank, N.A.

   Danville, PA      402      312    10

Swineford National Bank

   Hummels Wharf, PA      314      249    7
             
            275
             

 

(1) Remote service facilities (mainly stand-alone automated teller machines) are excluded. See additional information in “Item 2. Properties”.

Non-Bank Subsidiaries

The Corporation owns 100% of the common stock of six non-bank subsidiaries which are consolidated for financial reporting purposes: (i) Fulton Reinsurance Company, LTD, which engages in the business of reinsuring credit life and accident and health insurance directly related to extensions of credit by the banking subsidiaries of the Corporation; (ii) Fulton Financial Realty Company, which holds title to or leases certain properties upon which Corporation branch offices and other facilities are located; (iii) Central Pennsylvania Financial Corp., which owns certain limited partnership interests in partnerships invested in low and moderate income housing projects; (iv) FFC Management, Inc., which owns certain investment securities and other passive investments; (v) FFC Penn Square, Inc. which owns trust preferred securities issued by a subsidiary of Fulton Bank, N.A; and (vi) Fulton Insurance Services Group, Inc., which engages in the sale of various life insurance products.

The Corporation owns 100% of the common stock of six non-bank subsidiaries which are not consolidated for financial reporting purposes. The following table provides information for these non-bank subsidiaries, whose sole assets consist of junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures issued by the Corporation, as of December 31, 2009 (total assets in thousands):

 

Subsidiary

  

State of Incorporation

   Total Assets

Fulton Capital Trust I

   Pennsylvania    $ 154,640

SVB Bald Eagle Statutory Trust I

   Connecticut      4,124

Columbia Bancorp Statutory Trust

   Delaware      6,186

Columbia Bancorp Statutory Trust II

   Delaware      4,124

Columbia Bancorp Statutory Trust III

   Delaware      6,186

PBI Capital Trust

   Delaware      10,310

Competition

The banking and financial services industries are highly competitive. Within its geographical region, the Corporation’s subsidiaries face direct competition from other commercial banks, varying in size from local community banks to larger regional and national

 

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banks, credit unions and non-bank entities. With the growth in electronic commerce and distribution channels, the banks also face competition from banks that do not have a physical presence in the Corporation’s geographical markets.

The industry is also highly competitive due to the GLB Act. Under the GLB Act, banks, insurance companies or securities firms may affiliate under a financial holding company structure, allowing expansion into non-banking financial services activities that were previously restricted. These include a full range of banking, securities and insurance activities, including securities and insurance underwriting, issuing and selling annuities and merchant banking activities. While the Corporation does not currently engage in all of these activities, the ability to do so without separate approval from the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) enhances the ability of the Corporation – and financial holding companies in general – to compete more effectively in all areas of financial services.

As a result of the GLB Act, there is a great deal of competition for customers that were traditionally served by the banking industry. While the GLB Act increased competition, it also provided opportunities for the Corporation to expand its financial services offerings. The Corporation competes through the variety of products that it offers and the quality of service that it provides to its customers. However, there is no guarantee that these efforts will insulate the Corporation from competitive pressure, which could impact its pricing decisions for loans, deposits and other services and could ultimately impact financial results.

Market Share

Although there are many ways to assess the size and strength of banks, deposit market share continues to be an important industry statistic. This publicly available information is compiled, as of June 30th of each year, by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Corporation’s banks maintain branch offices in 53 counties across five states. In 11 of these counties, the Corporation ranked in the top three in deposit market share (based on deposits as of June 30, 2009). The following table summarizes information about the counties in which the Corporation has branch offices and its market position in each county.

 

                    No. of Financial
Institutions
   Deposit Market Share
(June 30, 2009)
 

County

   State    Population
(2009 Est.)
  

Banking Subsidiary

   Banks/
Thrifts
   Credit
Unions
   Rank    %  

Lancaster

   PA    504,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    18    13    1    20.6

Berks

   PA    408,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    20    11    9    4.1

Bucks

   PA    625,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    36    16    17    2.1

Centre

   PA    146,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    16    4    16    1.5

Chester

   PA    497,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    40    5    14    1.9

Columbia

   PA    65,000    FNB Bank, N.A.    6    —      5    5.1

Cumberland

   PA    231,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    21    5    15    1.5

Dauphin

   PA    257,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    17    9    6    4.1

Delaware

   PA    555,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    42    14    38    0.2

Lebanon

   PA    130,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    10    2    1    28.8

Lehigh

   PA    343,000    Lafayette Ambassador Bank    19    13    7    3.9

Lycoming

   PA    116,000    FNB Bank, N.A.    11    10    13    1.0

Montgomery

   PA    779,000    Fulton Bank    50    23    24    0.3

Montour

   PA    18,000    FNB Bank, N.A.    4    3    1    32.7

Northampton

   PA    299,000    Lafayette Ambassador Bank    17    13    3    15.2

Northumberland

   PA    90,000    Swineford National Bank    18    3    14    1.8
         FNB Bank, N.A.          8    5.0

Schuylkill

   PA    147,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    20    4    10    3.5

Snyder

   PA    38,000    Swineford National Bank    8    —      1    32.5

 

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                    No. of Financial
Institutions
   Deposit Market Share
(June 30, 2009)
 

County

   State    Population
(2009 Est.)
  

Banking Subsidiary

   Banks/
Thrifts
   Credit
Unions
   Rank    %  

Union

   PA    44,000    Swineford National Bank    8    1    6    6.0

York

   PA    430,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    16    14    5    9.3

New Castle

   DE    534,000    Delaware National Bank    30    20    24    0.1

Sussex

   DE    190,000    Delaware National Bank    15    4    5    0.8

Anne Arundel

   MD    515,000    The Columbia Bank    32    7    27    0.2

Baltimore

   MD    794,000    The Columbia Bank    44    22    22    0.9

Baltimore City

   MD    635,000    The Columbia Bank    39    13    17    0.4

Cecil

   MD    102,000    The Columbia Bank    7    3    3    11.9

Frederick

   MD    229,000    The Columbia Bank    17    2    13    1.1

Howard

   MD    278,000    The Columbia Bank    21    3    2    13.4

Montgomery

   MD    939,000    The Columbia Bank    38    21    31    0.3

Prince Georges

   MD    827,000    The Columbia Bank    23    19    16    1.4

Washington

   MD    148,000    The Columbia Bank    13    3    2    21.8

Atlantic

   NJ    273,000    The Bank    15    6    14    1.3

Burlington

   NJ    448,000    The Bank    23    10    21    0.3

Camden

   NJ    515,000    The Bank    21    7    10    2.0

Cumberland

   NJ    157,000    The Bank    12    4    10    2.1

Gloucester

   NJ    292,000    The Bank    22    4    2    14.8

Hunterdon

   NJ    130,000    Skylands Community Bank    15    3    12    2.7

Mercer

   NJ    367,000    The Bank    27    18    21    0.6

Middlesex

   NJ    794,000    Skylands Community Bank    46    25    38    0.3

Monmouth

   NJ    644,000    The Bank    27    9    24    0.6

Morris

   NJ    491,000    Skylands Community Bank    31    9    15    1.4

Ocean

   NJ    573,000    The Bank    23    6    16    0.8

Salem

   NJ    66,000    The Bank    8    4    1    25.9

Somerset

   NJ    328,000    Skylands Community Bank    28    7    8    2.8

Sussex

   NJ    152,000    Skylands Community Bank    12    1    11    0.7

Warren

   NJ    110,000    Skylands Community Bank    13    2    2    12.7

Chesapeake

   VA    221,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    14    7    12    2.0

Fairfax

   VA    1,019,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    39    15    32    0.1

Henrico

   VA    295,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    23    13    27    0.1

Manassas

   VA    36,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    14    1    10    1.5

Newport News

   VA    181,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    12    7    15    0.6

Richmond City

   VA    198,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    15    11    16    0.3

Virginia Beach

   VA    435,000    Fulton Bank, N.A.    15    8    11    2.2

Supervision and Regulation

The Corporation operates in an industry that is subject to various laws and regulations that are enforced by a number of Federal and state agencies. Changes in these laws and regulations, including interpretation and enforcement activities, could impact the cost of operating in the financial services industry, limit or expand permissible activities or affect competition among banks and other financial institutions.

 

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The following discussion summarizes the current regulatory environment for financial holding companies and banks, including a summary of the more significant laws and regulations.

Regulators – The Corporation is a registered financial holding company, and its subsidiary banks are depository institutions whose deposits are insured by the FDIC. The Corporation and its subsidiaries are subject to various regulations and examinations by regulatory authorities. The following table summarizes the charter types and primary regulators for each of the Corporation’s subsidiary banks.

 

Subsidiary

   Charter    Primary
Regulator(s)

Fulton Bank, N.A.

   National    OCC (1)

The Bank

   NJ    NJ/FDIC

The Columbia Bank

   MD    MD/FDIC

Lafayette Ambassador Bank

   PA    PA/FRB

Skylands Community Bank

   NJ    NJ/FDIC

Delaware National Bank

   National    OCC

FNB Bank, N.A.

   National    OCC

Swineford National Bank

   National    OCC

Fulton Financial (Parent Company)

   N/A    FRB

 

(1) Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Fulton Bank, N.A. became an OCC-regulated bank in October 2009.

Federal statutes that apply to the Corporation and its subsidiaries include the GLB Act, the Bank Holding Company Act (BHCA), the Federal Reserve Act and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, among others. In general, these statutes and related interpretations establish the eligible business activities of the Corporation, certain acquisition and merger restrictions, limitations on intercompany transactions such as loans and dividends and capital adequacy requirements, among other statutes and regulations.

The Corporation is subject to regulation and examination by the FRB, and is required to file periodic reports and to provide additional information that the FRB may require. In addition, the FRB must approve certain proposed changes in organizational structure or other business activities before they occur. The BHCA imposes certain restrictions upon the Corporation regarding the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of or direct or indirect ownership or control of any bank for which it is not already the majority owner.

Capital Requirements – There are a number of restrictions on financial and bank holding companies and FDIC-insured depository subsidiaries that are designed to minimize potential loss to depositors and the FDIC insurance funds. If an FDIC-insured depository subsidiary is “undercapitalized”, the bank holding company is required to ensure (subject to certain limits) the subsidiary’s compliance with the terms of any capital restoration plan filed with its appropriate banking agency. Also, a bank holding company is required to serve as a source of financial strength to its depository institution subsidiaries and to commit resources to support such institutions in circumstances where it might not do so absent such policy. Under the BHCA, the FRB has the authority to require a bank holding company to terminate any activity or to relinquish control of a non-bank subsidiary upon the FRB’s determination that such activity or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial soundness and stability of a depository institution subsidiary of the bank holding company.

Bank holding companies are required to comply with the FRB’s risk-based capital guidelines that require a minimum ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets of 8%. At least half of the total capital is required to be Tier 1 capital. In addition to the risk-based capital guidelines, the FRB has adopted a minimum leverage capital ratio under which a bank holding company must maintain a level of Tier 1 capital to average total consolidated assets of at least 3% in the case of a bank holding company which has the highest regulatory examination rating and is not contemplating significant growth or expansion. All other bank holding companies are expected to maintain a leverage capital ratio of at least 1% to 2% above the stated minimum.

Dividends and Loans from Subsidiary Banks – There are also various restrictions on the extent to which the Corporation and its non-bank subsidiaries can receive loans from its banking subsidiaries. In general, these restrictions require that such loans be secured by designated amounts of specified collateral and are limited, as to any one of the Corporation or its non-bank subsidiaries, to 10% of the lending bank’s regulatory capital (20% in the aggregate to all such entities).

The Corporation is also limited in the amount of dividends that it may receive from its subsidiary banks. Dividend limitations vary, depending on the subsidiary bank’s charter and whether or not it is a member of the Federal Reserve System. Generally, subsidiaries

 

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are prohibited from paying dividends when doing so would cause them to fall below the regulatory minimum capital levels. Additionally, limits may exist on paying dividends in excess of net income for specified periods. See “Note J – Regulatory Matters” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding regulatory capital and dividend and loan limitations.

Federal Deposit Insurance – Substantially all of the deposits of the Corporation’s subsidiary banks are insured up to the applicable limits by the Bank Insurance Fund (BIF) of the FDIC, generally up to $100,000 per insured depositor and up to $250,000 for retirement accounts. Effective October 3, 2008 with the enactment of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA), the $100,000 insurance limit was increased to $250,000 through December 31, 2009. See additional discussion of the EESA under “Regulatory Developments”. In May 2009, the FDIC extended the $250,000 insurance limit through December 31, 2013, however, the insurance limit on individual retirement accounts and other certain retirement accounts will remain at $250,000 per depositor.

The subsidiary banks pay deposit insurance premiums to the FDIC based on an assessment rate established by the FDIC for BIF member institutions. The FDIC has established a risk-based assessment system under which institutions are classified and pay premiums according to their perceived risk to the Federal deposit insurance funds. The FDIC is not required to charge deposit insurance premiums when the ratio of deposit insurance reserves to insured deposits is maintained above specified levels. For the period from 1997 through 2006, the Corporation’s subsidiary banks (based on the FDIC’s classification system) did not pay any premiums as the BIF was sufficiently funded. However, in 2006, legislation was passed reforming the bank deposit insurance system. The reform act allowed the FDIC to raise the minimum reserve ratio and allowed eligible insured institutions an initial one-time credit to be used against premiums due. During 2007, 2008 and 2009, the Corporation’s subsidiary banks were assessed insurance premiums, which were partially offset by each affiliate’s one-time credit. The Corporation’s one-time credits expired in the first quarter of 2009.

During the second quarter of 2009, the FDIC imposed a special assessment of 5 basis points on total bank subsidiary assets less total bank subsidiary tier one capital, resulting in a one-time pre-tax charge of $7.9 million for the Corporation. In November 2009, the FDIC issued a ruling requiring financial institutions to prepay their estimated quarterly risk-based assessments for the fourth quarter of 2009 and for all of 2010, 2011 and 2012. As of December 31, 2009, the balance of prepaid FDIC assessments included in other assets on the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheet was $66.0 million.

USA Patriot Act – Anti-terrorism legislation enacted under the USA Patriot Act of 2001 (Patriot Act) expanded the scope of anti-money laundering laws and regulations and imposed significant new compliance obligations for financial institutions, including the Corporation’s subsidiary banks. These regulations include obligations to maintain appropriate policies, procedures and controls to detect, prevent and report money laundering and terrorist financing.

Failure to comply with the Patriot Act’s requirements could have serious legal, financial and reputational consequences. The Corporation has adopted appropriate policies, procedures and controls to address compliance with the Patriot Act and will continue to revise and update its policies, procedures and controls to reflect required changes.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 – The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Sarbanes-Oxley), which was signed into law in July 2002, impacts all companies with securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including the Corporation. Sarbanes-Oxley created new requirements in the areas of corporate governance and financial disclosure including, among other things, (i) increased responsibility for Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officers with respect to the content of filings with the SEC; (ii) enhanced requirements for audit committees, including independence and disclosure of expertise; (iii) enhanced requirements for auditor independence and the types of non-audit services that auditors can provide; (iv) accelerated filing requirements for SEC reports; (v) disclosure of a code of ethics; (vi) increased disclosure and reporting obligations for companies, their directors and their executive officers; and (vii) new and increased civil and criminal penalties for violations of securities laws. Many of the provisions became effective immediately, while others became effective as a result of rulemaking procedures delegated by Sarbanes-Oxley to the SEC.

Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley requires management to issue a report on the effectiveness of its internal controls over financial reporting. In addition, the Corporation’s independent registered public accountants are required to issue an opinion on the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting. These reports can be found in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”. Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer as required by Sarbanes-Oxley and the resulting SEC rules can be found in the “Signatures” and “Exhibits” sections.

Regulatory Developments – On October 3, 2008 the EESA, also known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), was enacted. In connection with the EESA, the U.S. Treasury Department (UST) initiated a Capital Purchase Program (CPP), which allowed for

 

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qualifying financial institutions to issue preferred stock to the UST, subject to certain limitations and terms. The EESA was developed to attract broad participation by strong financial institutions, to stabilize the financial system and increase lending to benefit the national economy and citizens of the U.S.

On December 23, 2008, the Corporation entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with the UST pursuant to which the Corporation sold to the UST, for an aggregate purchase price of $376.5 million, 376,500 shares of preferred stock and warrants to purchase up to 5.5 million shares of common stock of the Corporation. The preferred stock ranks senior to the Corporation’s common shares and pays a compounding cumulative dividend at a rate of 5% per year for the first five years, and 9% per year thereafter. The preferred stock is non-voting, other than class voting rights on matters that could adversely affect the preferred stock. The UST may also transfer the preferred stock to a third-party at any time. The Corporation’s preferred stock is included as a component of Tier 1 capital in accordance with regulatory capital requirements.

As a condition of its participation in the CPP, and as long as the preferred stock issued to the UST is outstanding, without the consent of the UST, common stock repurchases are currently limited to purchases in connection with the administration of any employee benefit plan, consistent with past practices, including purchases to offset share dilution in connection with any such plans until December 2011 or until the UST no longer owns any of the Corporation’s preferred shares issued under the CPP. In addition, the Corporation is prohibited from paying any dividend with respect to shares of common stock or repurchasing or redeeming any shares of the Corporation’s common shares in any quarter unless all accrued and unpaid dividends are paid on the preferred stock for all past dividend periods (including the latest completed dividend period), subject to certain limited exceptions. In addition, without the consent of the UST, the Corporation is prohibited from declaring or paying any cash dividends on common shares in excess of $0.15 per share, which was the last quarterly cash dividend per share declared prior to October 14, 2008. The Corporation is also restricted in the amounts and types of compensation it may pay to certain of its executives as a result of its participation in the CPP.

See also Note M, “Stock-based Compensation Plans and Shareholders’ Equity” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details related to the Corporation’s participation in the CPP.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

An investment in the Corporation’s common stock involves certain risks, including, among others, the risks described below. In addition to the other information contained in this report, you should carefully consider the following risk factors.

Changes in interest rates may have an adverse effect on the Corporation’s net income or loss.

The Corporation is affected by fiscal and monetary policies of the Federal government, including those of the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), which regulates the national money supply in order to manage recessionary and inflationary pressures. Among the techniques available to the FRB are engaging in open market transactions of U.S. Government securities, changing the discount rate and changing reserve requirements against bank deposits. The use of these techniques may also affect interest rates charged on loans and paid on deposits.

Net interest income is the most significant component of the Corporation’s net income, accounting for approximately 76% of total revenues in 2009. The narrowing of interest rate spreads, the difference between interest rates earned on loans and investments and interest rates paid on deposits and borrowings, could adversely affect the Corporation’s net interest income and financial condition. Regional and local economic conditions as well as fiscal and monetary policies of the Federal government, including those of the FRB, may affect prevailing interest rates. The Corporation cannot predict or control changes in interest rates.

The severity and duration of the economic downturn and the composition of the Corporation’s loan portfolio could impact the level of loan charge-offs and the provision for loan losses and may affect the Corporation’s net income or loss.

National, regional, and local economic conditions could impact the loan portfolios of the Corporation’s subsidiary banks. For example, an increase in unemployment, a decrease in real estate values or increases in interest rates, as well as other factors, could weaken the economies of the communities the Corporation serves. Weakness in the market areas served by the Corporation’s subsidiary banks could depress its earnings and consequently its financial condition because:

 

   

borrowers may not be able to repay their loans;

 

   

the value of the collateral securing the Corporation’s loans to borrowers may decline; and

 

   

the quality of the Corporation’s loan portfolio may decline.

 

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Any of these scenarios could require the Corporation to charge-off a higher percentage of its loans and/or increase its provision for loan losses, which would negatively impact its results of operations.

In addition, the amount of the Corporation’s provision for loan losses and the percentage of loans it is required to charge-off may be impacted by the overall risk composition of the loan portfolio. In 2009, the Corporation’s provision for loan losses was $190.0 million. While the Corporation believes that its allowance for loan losses as of December 31, 2009 is sufficient to cover losses inherent in the loan portfolio on that date, the Corporation may be required to increase its loan loss provision or charge-off a higher percentage of loans due to changes in the risk characteristics of the loan portfolio, thereby negatively impacting its results of operations.

Price fluctuations in securities markets, as well as other market events, such as a disruption in credit and other markets and the abnormal functioning of markets for securities, could have an impact on the Corporation’s results of operations.

As of December 31, 2009, the Corporation’s equity investments consisted of Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and Federal Reserve Bank stock ($99.1 million), common stocks of publicly traded financial institutions ($32.3 million), and money market mutual funds and other equity investments ($9.0 million). The value of the securities in the Corporation’s equity portfolio may be affected by a number of factors, including factors that impact the performance of the U.S. securities market in general and specific risks associated with the financial institution sector. Historically, gains on sales of stocks of other financial institutions had been a recurring component of the Corporation’s earnings. However, general economic conditions and uncertainty surrounding the financial institution sector as a whole has impacted the value of these securities. Further declines in bank stock values could result in additional other-than-temporary impairment charges.

As of December 31, 2009, the Corporation had $113.5 million of corporate debt securities issued by financial institutions. As with stocks of financial institutions, continued declines in the values of these securities, combined with adverse changes in the expected cash flows from these investments, could result in additional other-than-temporary impairment charges.

The Corporation’s investment management and trust division, Fulton Financial Advisors, previously held student loan auction rate securities, also known as auction rate certificates (ARCs), for some of its customers’ accounts. From the second quarter of 2008 through 2009, the Corporation purchased illiquid ARCs from customers of Fulton Financial Advisors. Total ARCs included in the Corporation’s investment securities at December 31, 2009 were $289.2 million.

The Corporation’s investment management and trust services income could also be impacted by fluctuations in the securities markets. A portion of this revenue is based on the value of the underlying investment portfolios. If the values of those investment portfolios decrease, whether due to factors influencing U.S. securities markets in general, or otherwise, the Corporation’s revenue could be negatively impacted. In addition, the Corporation’s ability to sell its brokerage services is dependent, in part, upon consumers’ level of confidence in securities markets.

If the goodwill that the Corporation has recorded in connection with its acquisitions becomes impaired, it could have a negative impact on the Corporation’s results of operations.

The Corporation has historically supplemented its internal growth with strategic acquisitions of banks, branches and other financial services companies. If the purchase price of an acquired company exceeds the fair value of the company’s net assets, the excess is carried on the acquirer’s balance sheet as goodwill. Companies must evaluate goodwill for impairment at least annually. Write-downs of the amount of any impairment, if necessary, are to be charged to earnings in the period in which the impairment occurs. During 2008, the Corporation recorded a $90.0 million goodwill impairment charge. Based on its annual goodwill impairment test, the Corporation determined that no impairment charge was necessary in 2009. As of December 31, 2009, the Corporation had $534.9 million of goodwill on its consolidated balance sheet. There can be no assurance that future evaluations of goodwill will not result in additional impairment charges.

Difficult conditions in the capital markets and the economy generally may materially adversely affect the Corporation’s business and results of operations.

The Corporation’s results of operations and financial condition are affected by conditions in the capital markets and the economy generally. The capital and credit markets have been experiencing extreme volatility and disruption in recent years. The volatility and disruption in these markets have produced downward pressure on stock prices of, and credit availability to, certain companies without regard to those companies’ underlying financial strength.

 

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In response to the financial crises affecting the banking system and financial markets and going concern threats to investment banks and other financial institutions, on October 3, 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) was enacted. Pursuant to the EESA, the U.S. Treasury (UST) was authorized to, among other things, deploy up to $750 billion into the financial system. On February 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) was enacted. The Federal Government, the Federal Reserve and other governmental and regulatory bodies have taken or are considering taking other actions in response to the financial crisis. Such actions, although intended to aid the financial markets, and continued volatility in the markets could materially and adversely affect the Corporation’s business, financial condition and results of operations, or the trading price of the Corporation’s common stock.

Concerns over the availability and cost of credit and the decline in the U.S. real estate market also contributed to increased volatility in the capital and credit markets and diminished expectations for the economy. These factors precipitated the economic slowdown, and may have a continuing adverse effect on the Corporation.

Included among the potential adverse effects of the current economic downturn on the Corporation are the following:

 

   

A prolonged economic downturn, especially one affecting the Corporation’s geographic market areas, could reduce the Corporation’s customer deposits and demand for financial products, such as loans. The Corporation’s success depends significantly upon the growth in population, income levels, deposits and housing starts in its geographic markets. Unlike large national institutions, the Corporation is not able to spread the risks of unfavorable local economic conditions across a large number of diversified economies and geographic locations. If the communities in which the Corporation operates do not grow, or if prevailing economic conditions locally or nationally are unfavorable, its business could be adversely affected.

Negative developments in the financial industry and the credit markets may subject the Corporation to additional regulation. Negative developments in the financial industry and the domestic and international credit markets, and the impact of legislation in response to those developments, may negatively impact the Corporation’s operations and financial performance. The Corporation and its subsidiaries are subject to regulations and examinations by various regulatory authorities. In addition, the Corporation is subject to certain restrictions associated with its participation in the CPP, including its ability to increase dividends, repurchase common stock or preferred stock and access the equity capital market.

The potential exists for new Federal or state laws and regulations regarding lending and funding practices, capital requirements, deposit insurance premiums, other bank-focused special assessments and liquidity standards, and bank regulatory agencies are expected to be active in responding to concerns and trends identified in examinations, which may result in the issuance of formal enforcement orders.

 

   

The Corporation’s future growth and liquidity needs may require the Corporation to raise additional capital in the future, but that capital may not be available when it is needed or may be available at an excessive cost. The Corporation is required by regulatory authorities to maintain adequate levels of capital to support its operations. The Corporation anticipates that current capital levels will satisfy regulatory requirements for the foreseeable future.

On December 23, 2008, the Corporation issued $376.5 million of preferred stock and warrants to purchase 5.5 million shares of the Corporation’s common stock to the UST. The Corporation may at some point choose to raise additional capital to support its continued growth or to redeem the preferred stock issued under the CPP. The Corporation’s ability to raise additional capital will depend, in part, on conditions in the capital markets at that time, which are outside of the Corporation’s control. Accordingly, the Corporation may be unable to raise additional capital, if and when needed, on terms acceptable to the Corporation, or at all. If the Corporation cannot raise additional capital when needed, its ability to further expand operations through internal growth and acquisitions could be materially impacted. In addition, future issuances of equity securities could dilute the interests of existing shareholders and could cause a decline in the Corporation’s stock price.

In addition to primary sources of liquidity in the form of principal and interest payments on outstanding loans and investments and deposits, the Corporation maintains secondary sources that provide it with additional liquidity. These secondary sources include secured and unsecured borrowings from sources such as the Federal Reserve Bank and FHLB and third-party commercial banks. The Corporation’s strong liquidity position was further enhanced by its participation in the CPP and it believes that it is well positioned to withstand current market conditions. However, market liquidity conditions have been negatively impacted by disruptions in the capital markets and such disruptions could, in the future, have a negative impact on secondary sources of liquidity.

 

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The competition the Corporation faces is significant and may reduce the Corporation’s customer base and negatively impact the Corporation’s results of operations.

There is significant competition among commercial banks in the market areas served by the Corporation’s subsidiary banks. In addition, as a result of the deregulation of the financial industry, the Corporation’s subsidiary banks also compete with other providers of financial services such as savings and loan associations, credit unions, consumer finance companies, securities firms, insurance companies, commercial finance and leasing companies, the mutual funds industry, full service brokerage firms and discount brokerage firms, some of which are subject to less extensive regulations than the Corporation is with respect to the products and services they provide. Some of the Corporation’s competitors, including certain super-regional and national bank holding companies that have made acquisitions in its market area, have greater resources than the Corporation has and, as such, may have higher lending limits and may offer other services not offered by the Corporation.

The Corporation also experiences competition from a variety of institutions outside its market areas. Some of these institutions conduct business primarily over the internet and may thus be able to realize certain cost savings and offer products and services at more favorable rates and with greater convenience to the customer.

Competition may adversely affect the rates the Corporation pays on deposits and charges on loans, thereby potentially adversely affecting the Corporation’s profitability. The Corporation’s profitability depends upon its continued ability to successfully compete in the market areas it serves while achieving its objectives.

The supervision and regulation to which the Corporation is subject can be a competitive disadvantage.

The Corporation is a registered financial holding company, and its subsidiary banks are depository institutions whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Corporation is extensively regulated under Federal and state banking laws and regulations that are intended primarily for the protection of depositors, Federal deposit insurance funds and the banking system as a whole. In general, these laws and regulations establish: the eligible business activities for the Corporation; certain acquisition and merger restrictions; limitations on intercompany transactions such as loans and dividends; capital adequacy requirements; requirements for anti-money laundering programs and other compliance matters, among other regulations. Compliance with these statutes and regulations is important to the Corporation’s ability to engage in new activities and to consummate additional acquisitions. In addition, the Corporation is subject to changes in Federal and state tax laws as well as changes in banking and credit regulations, accounting principles and governmental economic and monetary policies. While these statutes and regulations are generally designed to minimize potential loss to depositors and the FDIC insurance funds, they do not eliminate risk, and compliance with such statutes and regulations increases the Corporation’s expense, requires management’s attention and can be a disadvantage from a competitive standpoint with respect to non-regulated competitors.

Federal and state banking regulators also possess broad powers to take supervisory actions, as they deem appropriate. These supervisory actions may result in higher capital requirements, higher insurance premiums and limitations on the Corporation’s activities that could have a material adverse effect on its business and profitability.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

 

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Item 2. Properties

The following table summarizes the Corporation’s branch properties, by subsidiary bank, as of December 31, 2009. Remote service facilities (mainly stand-alone automated teller machines) are excluded.

 

Subsidiary Bank

   Owned    Leased    Total
Branches

Fulton Bank, N.A.

   36    69    105

The Bank

   33    17    50

The Columbia Bank

   9    31    40

Lafayette Ambassador Bank

   7    17    24

Skylands Community Bank

   7    20    27

Delaware National Bank

   9    3    12

FNB Bank, N.A.

   8    2    10

Swineford National Bank

   5    2    7
              

Total

   114    161    275
              

The following table summarizes the Corporation’s other significant administrative properties. Banking subsidiaries also maintain administrative offices at their respective main banking branches, which are included within the preceding table.

 

Entity

  

Property

  

Location

  

Owned/
Leased

Fulton Bank, N.A./Fulton Financial Corporation    Corporate Headquarters    Lancaster, PA    (1)
Fulton Financial Corporation    Operations Center    East Petersburg, PA    Owned
Fulton Bank, N.A.    Operations Center    Mantua, NJ    Owned
Lafayette Ambassador Bank    Operations Center    Bethlehem, PA    Owned

 

(1) Includes approximately 100,000 square feet which is owned by an independent third-party who financed the construction through a loan from Fulton Bank. The Corporation is leasing this space from the third-party in an arrangement accounted for as a capital lease. The lease term expires in 2027. The Corporation owns the remainder of the Corporate Headquarters location. This property also includes a Fulton Bank, N.A. branch, which is included in the preceding table.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

There are no legal proceedings pending against Fulton Financial Corporation or any of its subsidiaries which are expected to have a material impact upon the financial position and/or the operating results of the Corporation.

 

Item 4. Reserved

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders of Fulton Financial Corporation during the fourth quarter of 2009.

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Common Stock

As of December 31, 2009, the Corporation had 176.4 million shares of $2.50 par value common stock outstanding held by approximately 49,000 holders of record. The common stock of the Corporation is traded on the Global Select Market of The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol FULT.

The following table presents the quarterly high and low prices of the Corporation’s common stock and per common share cash dividends declared for each of the quarterly periods in 2009 and 2008.

 

     Price Range    Per
Common
Share
     High    Low    Dividend

2009

              

First Quarter

   $ 10.05    $ 5.09    $ 0.03

Second Quarter

     7.93      4.75      0.03

Third Quarter

     8.00      4.72      0.03

Fourth Quarter

     9.00      6.77      0.03

2008

              

First Quarter

   $ 13.69    $ 9.83    $ 0.15

Second Quarter

     13.66      10.03      0.15

Third Quarter

     17.00      7.35      0.15

Fourth Quarter

     13.04      7.89      0.15

The Corporation is limited in its ability to pay dividends on common shares as a result of its participation in the U.S. Treasury Department’s Capital Purchase Program. See Note M, “Stock-based Compensation Plans and Shareholders’ Equity” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statement and Supplementary Data” for additional details.

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

The following table provides information about options outstanding under the Corporation’s 2004 Stock Option and Compensation Plan as of December 31, 2009:

 

Plan Category

   Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
   Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
   Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected in
first column)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   7,011,368    $ 12.79    13,125,687

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   —        —      —  
                

Total

   7,011,368    $ 12.79    13,125,687
                

 

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Performance Graph

The graph below shows cumulative investment returns to shareholders based on the assumptions that (A) an investment of $100.00 was made on December 31, 2004, in each of the following: (i) Fulton Financial Corporation common stock; (ii) the stock of all U. S. companies traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market and (iii) common stock of the performance peer group approved by the Board of Directors on September 21, 2004 consisting of bank and financial holding companies located throughout the United States with assets between $6-20 billion which were not a party to a merger agreement as of the end of the period and (B) all dividends were reinvested in such securities over the past five years. The graph is not indicative of future price performance.

The graph below is furnished under this Part II, Item 5 of this Form 10-K and shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Commission or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

LOGO

 

 

(1) A listing of the Fulton Financial Peer Group is located under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” within the Corporation’s 2010 Proxy Statement.
     Year Ending December 31

Index

   2004    2005    2006    2007    2008    2009

Fulton Financial Corporation

   $ 100.00    $ 97.51    $ 100.67    $ 70.62    $ 63.81    $ 58.89

NASDAQ Composite

     100.00      101.37      111.03      121.92      72.49      104.31

Fulton Financial 2009 Peer Group

     100.00      98.83      107.90      89.34      80.83      69.99

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Not Applicable.

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

5-YEAR CONSOLIDATED SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL RESULTS

(dollars in thousands, except per-share data)

 

     2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS

          

Interest income

   $ 786,467      $ 867,494      $ 939,577      $ 864,507      $ 625,767   

Interest expense

     265,513        343,346        450,833        378,944        213,219   
                                        

Net interest income

     520,954        524,148        488,744        485,563        412,548   

Provision for loan losses

     190,020        119,626        15,063        3,498        3,120   

Investment securities gains (losses), net

     1,079        (58,241     1,740        7,439        6,625   

Other income

     171,677        155,387        146,284        142,436        137,673   

Gain on sale of credit card portfolio

     —          13,910        —          —          —     

Other expenses

     414,358        406,625        405,455        365,991        316,291   

Goodwill impairment

     —          90,000        —          —          —     
                                        

Income before income taxes

     89,332        18,953        216,250        265,949        237,435   

Income taxes

     15,408        24,570        63,532        80,422        71,361   
                                        

Net income (loss)

     73,924        (5,617     152,718        185,527        166,074   

Preferred stock dividends and discount accretion

     (20,169     (463     —          —          —     
                                        

Net income (loss) available to common shareholders

   $ 53,755      $ (6,080   $ 152,718      $ 185,527      $ 166,074   
                                        

PER COMMON SHARE (1)

          

Net income (loss) (basic)

   $ 0.31      $ (0.03   $ 0.88      $ 1.07      $ 1.01   

Net income (loss) (diluted)

     0.31        (0.03     0.88        1.06        1.00   

Cash dividends

     0.120        0.600        0.598        0.581        0.540   

RATIOS

          

Return on average assets

     0.45     (0.04 %)      1.01     1.30     1.41

Return on average common shareholders’ equity

     3.54        (0.38     9.98        12.84        13.24   

Return on average common shareholders’ equity tangible (2)

     5.96        9.33        18.16        23.87        20.28   

Net interest margin

     3.52        3.70        3.66        3.82        3.93   

Efficiency ratio

     57.70        56.31        61.20        56.00        55.50   

Ending tangible common equity to tangible assets

     6.30        5.97        6.03        5.98        6.98   

Dividend payout ratio

     38.70        N/M        68.00        54.80        54.00   

PERIOD-END BALANCES

          

Total assets

   $ 16,635,635      $ 16,185,106      $ 15,923,098      $ 14,918,964      $ 12,401,555   

Investment securities

     3,267,086        2,724,841        3,153,552        2,878,238        2,562,145   

Loans, net of unearned income

     11,972,424        12,042,620        11,204,424        10,374,323        8,424,728   

Deposits

     12,097,914        10,551,916        10,105,445        10,232,469        8,804,839   

Federal Home Loan Bank advances and long-term debt

     1,540,773        1,787,797        1,642,133        1,304,148        860,345   

Shareholders’ equity

     1,936,482        1,859,647        1,574,920        1,516,310        1,282,971   

AVERAGE BALANCES

          

Total assets

   $ 16,480,673      $ 15,976,871      $ 15,090,458      $ 14,297,681      $ 11,781,485   

Investment securities

     3,137,708        2,924,340        2,843,478        2,869,862        2,498,538   

Loans, net of unearned income

     11,975,899        11,595,243        10,736,566        9,892,082        7,981,604   

Deposits

     11,637,125        10,016,528        10,222,594        9,955,247        8,364,435   

Federal Home Loan Bank advances and long-term debt

     1,712,630        1,822,115        1,579,527        1,069,868        839,694   

Shareholders’ equity

     1,889,561        1,609,828        1,530,613        1,444,793        1,254,476   

 

N/M – Not meaningful.

(1) Adjusted for stock dividends and stock splits.
(2) Net income (loss), as adjusted for intangible amortization (net of tax) and goodwill impairment charges, divided by average common shareholders’ equity, net of goodwill and intangible assets.

 

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Management’s Discussion) concerns Fulton Financial Corporation (the Corporation), a financial holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act and incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1982, and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Management’s Discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and other financial information presented in this report.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Corporation has made, and may continue to make, certain forward-looking statements with respect to its financial condition and results of operations. Many factors could affect future financial results, including without limitation: asset quality and the impact of adverse changes in the economy and in credit or other markets and resulting effects on credit risk and asset values; acquisition and growth strategies; market risk; changes or adverse developments in economic, political, or regulatory conditions; a continuation or worsening of the current disruption in credit and other markets, including the lack of or reduced access to, and the abnormal functioning of, markets for mortgages and other asset-backed securities and for commercial paper and other short-term borrowings; changes in the levels of FDIC deposit insurance premiums and assessments; the effect of competition and interest rates on net interest margin and net interest income; investment strategy and income growth; investment securities gains and losses; declines in the value of securities which may result in charges to earnings; changes in rates of deposit and loan growth; balances of risk-sensitive assets to risk-sensitive liabilities; salaries and employee benefits and other expenses; amortization of intangible assets; goodwill impairment; capital and liquidity strategies and other financial and business matters for future periods. The Corporation cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to various assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Because of the possibility of changes in these assumptions, actual results could differ materially from forward-looking statements. The Corporation undertakes no obligations to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

OVERVIEW

Net income available to common shareholders increased $59.8 million, from a net loss available to common shareholders of $6.1 million in 2008 to net income available to common shareholders of $53.8 million, or $0.31 per diluted common share in 2009. The key themes that characterized the Corporation’s performance in 2009 were significant deposit growth, growth in non-interest income, effective expense management and, most notably, managing credit quality in the recent, challenging economic environment.

The Corporation grew ending deposits by $1.5 billion, or 14.7%, in 2009, with $1.3 billion of this growth in non-interest and interest-bearing demand and savings accounts. This growth was partially a by-product of prolonged weak economic conditions, as consumers reduced their investments in debt and equity securities while spending less and saving more. The increase in deposits also resulted in a reduction in wholesale funding. The increase in deposits and the resulting changes in its funding mix had a positive impact on net interest margin, in addition to an improvement in the Corporation’s market share throughout its five-state footprint. In addition, the Corporation was able to position itself to assist creditworthy borrowers in the event of more robust consumer spending and business expansion in 2010.

Growth in non-interest income and tight expense control enabled the Corporation to enhance its net income growth, despite the significant credit quality challenges faced in 2009. The growth in non-interest income in 2009 was mostly attributable to increases in gains on sales of mortgage loans, which were driven by historically low interest rates and Federal government first-time homebuyer incentives. Continued growth in non-interest income in 2010 may be impacted by residential mortgage interest rates, which have a direct impact on the level of mortgage sale gains, and legislative activity, which will affect the fees that can be charged to customers for services such as overdrafts.

Despite the challenging economic environment, the Corporation was able to effectively manage its non-interest expenses. Excluding the $90.0 million goodwill impairment charge recorded in 2008, the Corporation was able to keep 2009 non-interest expenses essentially flat in comparison to the prior year. Reductions in discretionary spending and a decrease in charges for losses on auction rate securities offset increases in FDIC insurance assessments and expenses related to the collection and workout of problem loans.

Credit quality presented the greatest challenge to the Corporation in 2009. The provision for loan losses increased $70.4 million, or 58.8%, to $190.0 million for 2009. The significant increase in the provision for loan losses was related to the increase in non-performing loans and net charge-offs, which required additions to the allowance for credit losses to meet allocation needs. The

 

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Corporation began to see stabilization in credit quality metrics during the second half of 2009, as the rate of increase in non-performing assets slowed. As a result, provisioning levels were reduced slightly during the second half of the year.

While there is still much uncertainty about the economic outlook and the potential effects on credit quality in 2010, the Corporation believes that it took the appropriate steps to manage its exposures as of December 31, 2009 and continues to actively monitor its portfolio for signs of further deterioration.

The Corporation has maintained strong capital and liquidity positions throughout 2009. Despite the challenges faced in 2009, the Corporation has the potential for future earnings growth in the event of an economic rebound. The timing and extent of a recovery will depend largely on customers’ confidence in the economy, which will strengthen demand for loans and other products and services the Corporation offers.

Summary Financial Results

The Corporation generates the majority of its revenue through net interest income, or the difference between interest earned on loans and investments and interest paid on deposits and borrowings. Growth in net interest income is dependent upon balance sheet growth and/or maintaining or increasing the net interest margin, which is net interest income (fully taxable-equivalent) as a percentage of average interest-earning assets. The Corporation also generates revenue through fees earned on the various services and products offered to its customers and through sales of assets, such as loans, investments, or properties. Offsetting these revenue sources are provisions for credit losses on loans, operating expenses and income taxes.

The following table presents a summary of the Corporation’s earnings and selected performance ratios:

 

     2009     2008  

Net income (loss) available to common shareholders (in thousands)

   $ 53,755      $ (6,080

Diluted net income (loss) per common share (1)

   $ 0.31      $ (0.03

Return on average assets

     0.45     (0.04 %) 

Return on average common shareholders’ equity (2)

     3.54     (0.38 %) 

Return on average common shareholders’ equity (tangible) (3)

     5.96     9.33

Net interest margin (4)

     3.52     3.70

Non-performing assets to total assets

     1.83     1.35

 

(1) Calculated as net income (loss) available to common shareholders divided by diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.
(2) Calculated as net income (loss), divided by average common shareholders’ equity.
(3) Calculated as net income (loss), adjusted for intangible amortization (net of tax) and goodwill impairment charges, divided by average common shareholders’ equity, excluding goodwill and intangible assets.
(4) Presented on a fully taxable-equivalent (FTE) basis, using a 35% Federal tax rate and statutory interest expense disallowances. See also “Net Interest Income” section of Management’s Discussion.

 

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Net income (loss) available to common shareholders increased $59.8 million in 2009, largely due to a number of significant items. These significant items, and their impact on net income (loss) available to common shareholders, are presented in the following table:

 

     2009     2008  
     Pre-tax
(Expense)/
Income
    After-tax
(Expense)/
Income
    Diluted
EPS
Impact
    Pre-tax
(Expense)
/Income
    After-tax
(Expense)
/Income
    Diluted
EPS
Impact
 
     (in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Preferred stock dividends and discount accretion

   $ (20,169   $ (20,169   $ (0.11   $ (463   $ (463   $ —     

FDIC insurance expense

     (26,579     (17,276     (0.10     (4,562     (2,965     (0.02

Investment securities sale gains

     14,480        9,412        0.05        7,095        4,612        0.03   

Other-than-temporary impairment of securities

     (13,401     (8,711     (0.05     (65,336     (42,468     (0.24

Guarantee related to purchase of customer auction rate securities

     (6,237     (4,054     (0.02     (19,810     (12,877     (0.07

Goodwill impairment

     —          —          —          (90,000     (90,000     (0.52

Gain on sale of credit card portfolio

     —          —          —          13,910        9,042        0.05   
                                                

Total

   $ (51,906     (40,798     (0.23   $ (159,166     (135,119     (0.77
                        

Net income (loss) available to common shareholders

       53,755        0.31          (6,080     (0.03
                                    

Adjusted net income available to common shareholders

     $ 94,553      $ 0.54        $ 129,039      $ 0.74   
                                    

 

Note: Adjusted net income available to common shareholders is a non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) measure. This measure is presented as it is useful for comparing information and assessing trends in the Corporation’s results of operations. This measure should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures nor should it be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor is it necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures which may be presented by other companies. The Corporation strongly encourages a review of Management’s Discussion in its entirety.

Adjusted net income available to common shareholders decreased $34.5 million, or 26.7% primarily due to a $70.4 million ($45.8 million after-tax) increase in the provision for loan losses, offset by a $12.3 million ($8.0 million after-tax) increase in gains on sales of mortgage loans. The increase in the provision for loan losses was due to an increase in net loans charged off and an increase in non performing loans, which resulted in additional allocations to the allowance for credit losses. The increase in gains on sales of mortgage loans was the result of an increase in the volume of loans sold, due to historically low interest rates for residential mortgages in 2009.

Additional information regarding the significant items presented in the preceding table can be found in the “Results of Operations” section of Management’s Discussion.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Net Interest Income

Net interest income is the most significant component of the Corporation’s net income. The Corporation manages the risk associated with changes in interest rates through the techniques described in the “Market Risk” section of Management’s Discussion. Net interest income decreased $3.2 million, or 0.6%, to $521.0 million in 2009, as a result of an 18 basis point decrease in the net interest margin, partially offset by the impact of balance sheet growth.

The following table provides a comparative average balance sheet and net interest income analysis for 2009 compared to 2008 and 2007. Interest income and yields are presented on a fully taxable-equivalent (FTE) basis, using a 35% Federal tax rate and statutory interest expense disallowances. The discussion following this table is based on these tax-equivalent amounts.

 

      2009     2008     2007  

(dollars in thousands)

   Average
Balance
    Interest (1)     Yield/
Rate
    Average
Balance
    Interest (1)     Yield/
Rate
    Average
Balance
    Interest (1)     Yield/
Rate
 

ASSETS

                  

Interest-earning assets:

                  

Loans, net of unearned income (2)

   $ 11,975,899      $ 655,384      5.47   $ 11,595,243      $ 732,533      6.32   $ 10,736,566      $ 805,881      7.51

Taxable inv. securities (3)

     2,548,810        112,945      4.43        2,228,204        110,220      4.95        2,157,325        99,621      4.62   

Tax-exempt inv. securities (3)

     451,828        25,180      5.57        512,920        27,904      5.44        496,820        25,856      5.20   

Equity securities (3)

     137,070        2,917      2.13        183,216        6,520      3.56        189,333        9,073      4.79   
                                                                  

Total investment securities

     3,137,708        141,042      4.50        2,924,340        144,644      4.95        2,843,478        134,550      4.73   

Loans held for sale

     105,067        5,390      5.13        93,085        5,701      6.12        166,437        11,501      6.91   

Other interest-earning assets

     21,255        196      0.92        21,503        586      2.71        33,015        1,630      4.90   
                                                                  

Total interest-earning assets

     15,239,929        802,012      5.27        14,634,171        883,464      6.04        13,779,496        953,562      6.93   

Noninterest-earning assets:

                  

Cash and due from banks

     305,410            318,524            329,814       

Premises and equipment

     203,865            197,967            190,910       

Other assets (3)

     952,597            951,270            899,292       

Less: Allowance for loan losses

     (221,128         (125,061         (109,054    
                                    

Total Assets

   $ 16,480,673          $ 15,976,871          $ 15,090,458       
                                    

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                  

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                  

Demand deposits

   $ 1,857,081      $ 7,995      0.43   $ 1,714,029      $ 13,168      0.77   $ 1,696,624      $ 28,331      1.67

Savings deposits

     2,425,864        19,487      0.80        2,152,158        28,520      1.32        2,258,113        53,312      2.36   

Time deposits

     5,507,090        153,344      2.78        4,502,399        170,426      3.79        4,553,994        212,752      4.67   
                                                                  

Total interest-bearing deposits

     9,790,035        180,826      1.85        8,368,586        212,114      2.53        8,508,731        294,395      3.46   

Short-term borrowings

     1,043,279        3,777      0.36        2,336,526        50,091      2.12        1,574,495        73,983      4.66   

Long-term debt

     1,712,630        80,910      4.72        1,822,115        81,141      4.45        1,579,527        82,455      5.22   
                                                                  

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     12,545,944        265,513      2.12        12,527,227        343,346      2.74        11,662,753        450,833      3.86   

Noninterest-bearing liabilities:

                  

Demand deposits

     1,847,090            1,647,942            1,713,863       

Other

     198,078            191,874            183,229       
                                    

Total Liabilities

     14,591,112            14,367,043            13,559,845       

Shareholders’ equity

     1,889,561            1,609,828            1,530,613       
                                    

Total Liabs. and Equity

   $ 16,480,673          $ 15,976,871          $ 15,090,458       
                                    

Net interest income/net interest margin (FTE)

       536,499      3.52       540,118      3.70       502,729      3.66
                              

Tax equivalent adjustment

       (15,545         (15,970         (13,985  
                                    

Net interest income

     $ 520,954          $ 524,148          $ 488,744     
                                    

 

(1) Includes dividends earned on equity securities.
(2) Includes non-performing loans.
(3) Balances include amortized historical cost for available for sale securities. The related unrealized holding gains (losses) are included in other assets.

 

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The following table sets forth a summary of changes in FTE interest income and expense resulting from changes in average balances (volumes) and changes in rates:

 

     2009 vs. 2008
Increase (decrease) due
To change in
    2008 vs. 2007
Increase (decrease) due
To change in
 
     Volume     Rate     Net     Volume     Rate     Net  
     (in thousands)  

Interest income on:

            

Loans and leases

   $ 23,414      $ (100,563   $ (77,149   $ 61,027      $ (134,375   $ (73,348

Taxable investment securities

     12,787        (10,062     2,725        4,588        6,011        10,599   

Tax-exempt investment securities

     (3,391     667        (2,724     854        1,194        2,048   

Equity securities

     (1,388     (2,215     (3,603     (285     (2,268     (2,553

Loans held for sale

     681        (992     (311     (4,610     (1,190     (5,800

Other interest-earning assets

     (7     (383     (390     (457     (587     (1,044
                                                

Total interest-earning assets

   $ 32,096      $ (113,548   $ (81,452   $ 61,117      $ (131,215   $ (70,098
                                                

Interest expense on:

            

Demand deposits

   $ 1,022      $ (6,195   $ (5,173   $ 288      $ (15,451   $ (15,163

Savings deposits

     3,202        (12,235     (9,033     (2,375     (22,417     (24,792

Time deposits

     33,428        (50,510     (17,082     (2,384     (39,942     (42,326

Short-term borrowings

     (18,535     (27,779     (46,314     26,332        (50,224     (23,892

Long-term debt

     (5,023     4,792        (231     11,713        (13,027     (1,314
                                                

Total interest-bearing liabilities

   $ 14,094      $ (91,927   $ (77,833   $ 33,574      $ (141,061   $ (107,487
                                                

Note: Changes which are partially attributable to rate and volume are allocated based on the proportion of the direct changes attributable to rate and volume.

2009 vs. 2008

Interest income decreased $81.5 million, or 9.2%. A 77 basis point decrease in average rates resulted in a $113.5 million decrease in interest income, which was partially offset by a $32.1 million increase in interest income realized from a $605.8 million, or 4.1%, increase in average balances.

Contributing to the increase in average interest-earning assets was a $380.7 million, or 3.3%, increase in average loans. During 2009, overall loan growth was slowed as a result of weak economic conditions. Also affecting loan growth was the Corporation’s efforts to reduce credit exposure in certain sectors. The following table presents growth in average loans, by type:

 

               Increase (decrease)  
     2009    2008    $     %  
     (dollars in thousands)  

Real estate - commercial mortgage

   $ 4,135,486    $ 3,747,240    $ 388,246      10.4

Commercial - industrial, financial and agricultural

     3,673,654      3,525,629      148,025      4.2   

Real estate - home equity

     1,665,834      1,597,207      68,627      4.3   

Real estate - construction

     1,111,863      1,320,418      (208,555   (15.8

Real estate - residential mortgage

     938,187      918,658      19,529      2.1   

Consumer

     368,651      399,281      (30,630   (7.7

Leasing and other

     82,224      86,810      (4,586   (5.3
                            

Total

   $ 11,975,899    $ 11,595,243    $ 380,656      3.3
                            

The growth in average loans was primarily due to increases in commercial mortgages, commercial loans and home equity loans, offset by a decrease in construction loans. Geographically, the increase in commercial mortgages was mainly attributable to increases within the Corporation’s Pennsylvania ($207.3 million, or 10.7%), New Jersey ($80.8 million, or 7.3%) and Maryland ($73.8 million, or 26.1%) markets. The increase in commercial loans was mostly attributable to an increase within the Corporation’s Pennsylvania market of $134.3 million, or 6.0%. The $68.6 million, or 4.3%, increase in home equity loans was in home equity lines of credit, offset by a decrease in collateralized home equity loans.

 

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Offsetting the above increases was a $208.6 million, or 15.8%, decrease in construction loans, due to both a lower level of new and existing residential housing developments and the Corporation’s efforts to reduce its credit exposure in this sector, particularly within its Maryland and Virginia markets. Geographically, the decrease was attributable to decreases in the Corporation’s Maryland ($100.7 million, or 25.5%), Virginia ($48.1 million, or 14.7%), New Jersey ($27.7 million, or 11.3%) and Pennsylvania ($26.6 million, or 8.1%) markets.

The average yield on loans during 2009 of 5.47% represented an 85 basis point, or 13.4%, decrease in comparison to 2008. The decrease in the average yield on loans reflected a lower average rate environment, as illustrated by a lower average prime rate in 2009 (3.25%) as compared to 2008 (5.12%). The decrease in average yields was not as pronounced as the decrease in the average prime rate as fixed and adjustable rate loans, unlike floating rate loans, have a lagged repricing effect during periods of declining interest rates.

Average investments increased $213.4 million, or 7.3%, primarily due to a $181.1 million increase in student loan auction rate securities, also known as auction rate certificates (ARCs). The Corporation’s investment management and trust division, Fulton Financial Advisors, held ARCs for some of its customers’ accounts. ARCs are structured to allow for their sale in periodic auctions, with fair values that could be derived based on periodic auctions under normal market conditions. Beginning in the second quarter of 2008 and continuing throughout 2009, the Corporation began purchasing customer ARCs due to the failure of these periodic auctions, making these previously short-term investments illiquid.

The average yield on investment securities decreased 45 basis points, or 9.1%, from 4.95% in 2008 to 4.50% in 2009 as current year purchases were at yields that were lower than the overall portfolio yield. Investment yields were also adversely impacted by the reduction, or in some cases the suspension of, dividends on equities, particularly financial institution stocks and FHLB stocks. The $181.1 million increase in ARCs resulted in a seven basis point decrease in average yield.

The $81.5 million decrease in interest income was largely offset by a decrease in interest expense of $77.8 million, or 22.7%, to $265.5 million in 2009 from $343.3 million in 2008. Interest expense decreased $91.9 million as a result of a 62 basis point, or 22.6%, decrease in the average cost of total interest-bearing liabilities. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in interest expense of $14.1 million caused by an increase in average interest-bearing liabilities.

The following table summarizes the change in average deposits, by type:

 

               Increase  
     2009    2008    $    %  
     (dollars in thousands)  

Noninterest-bearing demand

   $ 1,847,090    $ 1,647,942    $ 199,148    12.1

Interest-bearing demand

     1,857,081      1,714,029      143,052    8.3   

Savings/money market

     2,425,864      2,152,158      273,706    12.7   

Time deposits

     5,507,090      4,502,399      1,004,691    22.3   
                           

Total

   $ 11,637,125    $ 10,016,528    $ 1,620,597    16.2
                           

The Corporation experienced a net increase in average noninterest-bearing and interest-bearing demand and savings accounts of $615.9 million, or 11.2%. The increase in noninterest-bearing accounts was in business accounts, while the increase in interest-bearing demand and savings accounts was in governmental, business and personal accounts. The growth in business account balances was due, in part, to businesses being required to keep higher balances on hand to offset service fees, as well as a movement from the Corporation’s cash management products due to low interest rates. The increase in personal account balances was the result of a reduction in customer spending, in addition to the impact of decreased consumer confidence in equity and debt markets, resulting in a shift to deposits. The trends that impacted personal deposit growth in 2009 may reverse in 2010 if economic conditions improve.

The $1.0 billion increase in time deposits occurred primarily in retail customer certificates of deposits. This increase was due to active promotion in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the beginning of 2009. These average deposit increases were used to reduce the Corporation’s short and long-term borrowings.

 

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The following table summarizes the changes in average borrowings, by type:

 

               Increase (decrease)  
     2009    2008    $     %  
     (dollars in thousands)  

Short-term borrowings:

          

Federal funds purchased

   $ 453,268    $ 1,328,888    $ (875,620   (65.9 %) 

Customer short-term promissory notes

     287,231      454,473      (167,242   (36.8

Customer repurchase agreements

     254,662      227,130      27,532      12.1   

Federal Reserve Bank borrowings

     46,137      —        46,137      N/M   

FHLB overnight repurchase agreements

     —        303,224      (303,224   N/M   

Other short-term borrowings

     1,981      22,811      (20,830   (91.3
                            

Total short-term borrowings

     1,043,279      2,336,526      (1,293,247   (55.3
                            

Long-term debt:

          

FHLB Advances

     1,329,482      1,439,197      (109,715   (7.6

Other long-term debt

     383,148      382,918      230      0.1   
                            

Total long-term debt

     1,712,630      1,822,115      (109,485   (6.0
                            

Total borrowings

   $ 2,755,909    $ 4,158,641    $ (1,402,732   (33.7 %) 
                            

 

N/M – Not meaningful.

The $1.3 billion, or 55.3%, decrease in short-term borrowings was mainly due to an $875.6 million decrease in Federal funds purchased and a $303.2 million decrease in Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) overnight repurchase agreements, both a result of the increase in deposits. Also contributing to the decrease in short-term borrowings was a $139.7 million decrease in short-term customer funding due to customers transferring funds from the cash management program to deposits due to the low interest rate environment. The $109.5 million, or 6.0%, decrease in long-term debt was due to maturities of FHLB advances.

2008 vs. 2007

FTE net interest income increased $37.4 million, or 7.4%, from $502.7 million in 2007 to $540.1 million in 2008, due to an increase in average interest-earning assets and a four basis point increase in net interest margin.

Interest income decreased $70.1 million, or 7.4%, due to a $131.2 million decrease related to changes in interest rates. During 2008, the average rates on interest-earning assets decreased 89 basis points, or 12.8%, in comparison to 2007. The decline in interest income due to changes in rates was partially offset by a $61.1 million increase in interest income realized from growth in average interest-earning assets of $854.7 million, or 6.2%.

The increase in average interest-earning assets was almost entirely due to loan growth. Average loans increased by $858.7 million, or 8.0%, to $11.6 billion in 2008. The growth in average loans was primarily due to increases in commercial mortgages and commercial loans. Commercial mortgages increased $424.5 million, or 12.8%, due primarily to increases in floating and adjustable rate loan products. Commercial loans increased $322.8 million, or 10.0%, due primarily to increases in floating and adjustable rate loans and partially due to increases in fixed rate loan products.

Residential mortgages increased $167.2 million, or 22.2%, due primarily to growth in traditional adjustable rate mortgages. Home equity loans increased $142.6 million, or 9.8%, due to an increase in home equity lines of credit, due to the introduction of a new blended fixed/floating rate loan product in late 2007 and an increase in line of credit usage for existing borrowings.

Offsetting the above increases were a $107.1 million, or 21.2%, decrease in consumer loans and a $92.0 million, or 6.6%, decrease in construction loans. The decrease in consumer loans was due primarily to the Corporation’s sale of its approximately $87 million credit card portfolio in April 2008 and a decrease in the indirect automobile loan portfolio. The decrease in construction loans was primarily due to a decrease in floating rate commercial construction loans.

 

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The average yield on loans during 2008 of 6.32% represented a 119 basis point, or 15.8%, decrease in comparison to 2007. The decrease in the average yield on loans reflected a lower average rate environment, as illustrated by a lower average prime rate in 2008 (5.12%) as compared to 2007 (8.03%).

Average loans held for sale decreased $73.4 million, or 44.1%, as a result of a $466.4 million, or 32.9%, decrease in the volume of loans originated for sale. The decrease in volumes of loans originated for sale was mainly due to the Corporation’s exit from the national wholesale mortgage business in the second half of 2007.

Average investments increased $80.9 million, or 2.8%. In late 2007, the Corporation “pre-purchased” investments, based on the expected cash flows to be generated from maturing securities over an approximate six-month period. The result of this pre-purchase was a higher average investment balance for 2008. Also contributing to the increase was the sale of approximately $250 million of lower-yielding investment securities during the first quarter of 2007, which lowered the balance of average investment securities for 2007.

The average yield on investment securities increased 22 basis points from 4.73% in 2007 to 4.95% in 2008. The increase in yield was due to the systematic reinvestment of normal portfolio cash flows, primarily from shorter-duration, lower-yielding mortgage-backed securities, into a combination of higher-yielding mortgage-backed pass-through securities, U.S. government issued collateralized mortgage obligations and longer-term municipal securities.

Interest expense decreased $107.5 million, or 23.8%, to $343.3 million in 2008 from $450.8 million in 2007. Interest expense decreased $141.1 million due to a 112 basis point, or 29.0%, decrease in the average cost of total interest-bearing liabilities. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in interest expense of $33.6 million caused by an $864.5 million, or 7.4%, increase in average interest-bearing liabilities.

Average deposits decreased $206.1 million, or 2.0%. The Corporation experienced a net decrease in noninterest-bearing and interest-bearing demand and savings accounts of $154.5 million, or 2.7%, primarily due to personal accounts. Time deposits decreased $51.6 million, or 1.1%, due to a $137.2 million decrease in brokered certificates of deposit, offset by an $85.6 million increase in customer certificates of deposit.

Short-term borrowings increased $762.0 million, or 48.4%, due to a $520.5 million increase in Federal funds purchased and a $213.5 million increase in FHLB overnight repurchase agreements. Long-term debt increased $242.6 million, or 15.4%, due to a $227.1 million, or 18.7%, increase in FHLB advances as longer-term rates were locked and durations were extended to manage interest rate risk. The total increase in borrowings of $1.0 billion was principally employed to support overall balance sheet growth.

Provision and Allowance for Credit Losses

The Corporation accounts for the credit risk associated with lending activities through its allowance for credit losses and provision for loan losses. The provision is the expense recognized on the consolidated statements of operations to adjust the allowance to its proper balance, as determined through the application of the Corporation’s allowance methodology procedures. These procedures include the evaluation of the risk characteristics of the portfolio and documentation in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 102, “Selected Loan Loss Allowance Methodology and Documentation Issues” (SAB 102). See the “Critical Accounting Policies” section of Management’s Discussion for a discussion of the Corporation’s allowance for credit loss evaluation methodology.

 

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A summary of the Corporation’s loan loss experience follows:

 

     2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  
     (dollars in thousands)  

Loans, net of unearned income outstanding at end of year

   $ 11,972,424      $ 12,042,620      $ 11,204,424      $ 10,374,323      $ 8,424,728   
                                        

Daily average balance of loans, net of unearned income

   $ 11,975,899      $ 11,595,243      $ 10,736,566      $ 9,892,082      $ 7,981,604   
                                        

Balance of allowance for credit losses at beginning of year

   $ 180,137      $ 112,209      $ 106,884      $ 92,847      $ 89,627   

Loans charged off:

          

Real estate – construction

     44,909        14,891        —          —          —     

Commercial – industrial, financial and agricultural

     34,761        18,592        6,796        3,013        4,095   

Real estate – commercial mortgage

     15,530        7,516        851        155        158   

Real estate – residential mortgage and home equity

     7,056        5,868        355        274        309   

Consumer

     10,770        5,188        3,678        3,138        3,436   

Leasing and other

     6,048        4,804        2,059        389        206   
                                        

Total loans charged off

     119,074        56,859        13,739        6,969        8,204   
                                        

Recoveries of loans previously charged off:

          

Real estate – construction

     1,194        17        —          —          —     

Commercial – financial and agricultural

     1,679        1,795        1,664        2,863        2,705   

Real estate – commercial mortgage

     536        286        34        210        960   

Real estate – residential mortgage and home equity

     150        143        144        58        285   

Consumer

     1,678        1,487        1,246        1,289        1,169   

Leasing and other

     1,233        1,433        913        97        77   
                                        

Total recoveries

     6,470        5,161        4,001        4,517        5,196   
                                        

Net loans charged off

     112,604        51,698        9,738        2,452        3,008   

Provision for loan losses

     190,020        119,626        15,063        3,498        3,120   

Allowance of purchased entities

     —          —          —          12,991        3,108   
                                        

Balance at end of year

   $ 257,553      $ 180,137      $ 112,209      $ 106,884      $ 92,847   
                                        

Components of Allowance for Credit Losses:

          

Allowance for loan losses

   $ 256,698      $ 173,946      $ 107,547      $ 106,884      $ 92,847   

Reserve for unfunded lending commitments (1)

     855        6,191        4,662        —          —     
                                        

Allowance for credit losses

   $ 257,553      $ 180,137      $ 112,209      $ 106,884      $ 92,847   
                                        

Selected Asset Quality Ratios:

          

Net charge-offs to average loans

     0.94     0.45     0.09     0.02     0.04

Allowance for loan losses to loans outstanding

     2.14     1.44     0.96     1.03     1.10

Allowance for credit losses to loans outstanding

     2.15     1.50     1.00     1.03     1.10

Non-performing assets (2) to total assets

     1.83     1.35     0.76     0.39     0.38

Non-performing assets to total loans and OREO

     2.54     1.82     1.08     0.56     0.57

Non-accrual loans to total loans

     1.99     1.34     0.68     0.32     0.43

Allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans

     91.42     91.38     105.93     198.87     203.74

Non-performing assets to tangible common shareholders’ equity and allowance for credit losses

     24.00     19.68     11.40     6.03     5.14

 

(1) Reserve for unfunded lending commitments transferred to other liabilities as of December 31, 2007. Prior periods were not reclassified.
(2) Includes accruing loans past due 90 days or more.

The Corporation’s provision for loan losses for 2009 totaled $190.0 million, a $70.4 million, or 58.8%, increase from the $119.6 million provision for loan losses in 2008. The increase in the provision for loan losses was due to the $60.9 million, or 117.8%, increase net loans charged off, an $84.6 million, or 42.9%, increase in non-performing loans and an increase in delinquency rates, all of which resulted in additional allocations to the allowance for credit losses.

 

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The $60.9 million increase in net charge-offs was primarily due to increases in construction loan net charge-offs ($28.8 million), commercial loan net charge-offs ($16.3 million), commercial mortgage net charge-offs ($7.8 million) and consumer loan net charge-offs ($5.4 million).

Of the $112.6 million of net charge-offs recorded in 2009, 27.7% were for loans originated by the Corporation’s banks in Maryland, 27.1% in New Jersey, 21.9% in Virginia and 21.1% in Pennsylvania. During 2009, individual charge-offs of $1.0 million or greater totaled approximately $44 million, of which approximately $28 million were for residential construction or land development loans, approximately $10 million were for commercial loans, approximately $4 million were for commercial mortgages and approximately $2 million was related to a lease of commercial equipment. For 2008, individual charge-offs of $1.0 million or greater totaled approximately $26 million, of which approximately $17 million were for residential construction or land development loans, approximately $6 million were for commercial loans and approximately $3 million was related to a lease of commercial equipment.

The following table presents the aggregate amount of non-accrual and past due loans and other real estate owned (1):

 

     December 31
     2009    2008    2007    2006    2005
     (in thousands)

Non-accrual loans (1) (2) (3)

   $ 238,360    $ 161,962    $ 76,150    $ 33,113    $ 36,560

Accruing loans past due 90 days or more

     43,359      35,177      29,782      20,632      9,012
                                  

Total non-performing loans

     281,719      197,139      105,932      53,745      45,572

Other real estate owned (OREO)

     23,309      21,855      14,934      4,103      2,072
                                  

Total non-performing assets

   $ 305,028    $ 218,994    $ 120,866    $ 57,848    $ 47,644
                                  

 

(1) In 2009, the total interest income that would have been recorded if non-accrual loans had been current in accordance with their original terms was approximately $19.0 million. The amount of interest income on non-accrual loans that was included in 2009 income was approximately $1.6 million.
(2) Accrual of interest is generally discontinued when a loan becomes 90 days past due as to principal and interest. When interest accruals are discontinued, interest credited to income is reversed. Non-accrual loans are restored to accrual status when all delinquent principal and interest becomes current or the loan is considered secured and in the process of collection. Certain loans, primarily adequately collateralized mortgage loans, may continue to accrue interest after reaching 90 days past due.
(3) Excluded from the amounts presented as of December 31, 2009 were $653.4 million in loans where possible credit problems of borrowers have caused management to have doubts as to the ability of such borrowers to comply with the present loan repayment terms. These loans were reviewed for impairment under the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Section 310-10-35, but continue to pay according to their contractual terms and are, therefore, not included in non-performing loans. Non-accrual loans include $116.4 million of impaired loans.

Excluded from the summary of non-performing assets above were $41.1 million of loans whose terms were modified under a troubled debt restructuring and were current under their modified terms at December 31, 2009. These troubled debt restructurings include $24.6 million of residential mortgages and $16.5 million of commercial loans.

The following table summarizes the Corporation’s non-performing loans, by type, as of the indicated dates:

 

     December 31
     2009    2008    2007    2006    2005
     (in thousands)

Real estate – construction

   $ 92,841    $ 80,083    $ 30,927    $ 13,385    $ 374

Commercial – industrial, agricultural and financial

     69,604      40,294      27,715      21,706      25,585

Real estate – commercial mortgage

     61,052      41,745      14,515      8,776      9,853

Real estate – residential mortgage and home equity

     45,748      26,304      25,774      7,085      7,384

Consumer

     12,319      8,374      4,741      2,793      2,287

Leasing

     155      339      2,260      —        89
                                  

Total non-performing loans

   $ 281,719    $ 197,139    $ 105,932    $ 53,745    $ 45,572
                                  

Non-performing loans increased $84.6 million, or 42.9%, to $281.7 million as of December 31, 2009. In late 2008, the Corporation experienced a significant increase in non-performing construction loans, primarily in its Maryland and Virginia

 

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markets. During 2009, prolonged weak economic conditions resulted in an increase in the level of non-performing loans within the Corporation’s commercial and commercial mortgage loan portfolios, primarily in its Pennsylvania and New Jersey markets, while the rate of growth in the non-performing construction loans in the Corporation’s Maryland and Virginia markets slowed.

In 2009, non-performing commercial loans increased $29.3 million, or 72.7%, with $14.4 million of the increase in Pennsylvania, $7.8 million in Virginia and $5.5 million in Maryland. Non-performing commercial mortgages increased $19.3 million, or 46.2%, with $14.7 million of the increase in New Jersey and $3.7 million in Pennsylvania. Non-performing residential mortgage and home equity loans increased $19.4 million, or 73.9%, with increases spread throughout the Corporation’s geographical markets. Non-performing construction loans increased $12.8 million, or 15.9%, with $9.1 million of the increase in Maryland, $7.8 million in Pennsylvania, and $3.9 million in New Jersey, offset by a $8.1 million decrease in Virginia.

The $23.3 million balance of OREO as of December 31, 2009 included $14.0 million of residential properties, $5.6 of commercial properties and $2.8 million of undeveloped residential land.

The following table summarizes loan delinquency rates, by type, as of the indicated dates:

 

     December 31, 2009     December 31, 2008  
     30-60
Days
    > 90
Days
    Total     30-60
Days
    > 90
Days
    Total  

Real estate – construction

   0.70   9.43   10.13   2.06   6.15   8.21

Commercial – industrial, agricultural and financial

   0.63      1.88      2.51      0.56      1.08      1.65   

Real estate – commercial mortgage

   0.91      1.42      2.33      0.74      1.03      1.78   

Real estate – residential mortgage

   4.12      5.10      9.22      4.14      2.97      7.11   

Consumer, home equity, leasing and other

   1.12      0.60      1.72      0.82      0.41      1.23   

Total

   1.09   2.36   3.44   1.11   1.64   2.74

The following table summarizes the allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan type:

 

     December 31  
     2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  
     (dollars in thousands)  
     Allow-
ance
   % of
Loans
In Each
Category
    Allow-
ance
   % of
Loans
In Each
Category
    Allow-
ance
   % of
Loans in
Each
Category
    Allow-
ance
   % of
Loans in
Each
Category
    Allow-
ance
   % of
Loans in
Each
Category
 

Comm’l – financial & agricultural

   $ 96,901    30.9   $ 66,147    30.2   $ 53,194    30.6   $ 52,942    28.6   $ 52,379    28.2

Real estate – construction

     67,388    8.2        32,917    10.5        1,174    12.2        1,383    13.9        1,773    10.1   

Real estate – commercial mortgage

     32,257    35.9        42,402    33.4        31,542    31.0        34,606    30.9        14,690    33.6   

Real estate – residential mortgage

     13,704    21.4        7,158    22.1        2,868    21.0        1,208    20.7        1,139    21.0   

Consumer, leasing & other

     13,620    3.6        8,167    3.8        8,142    5.2        6,475    5.9        7,935    7.1   

Unallocated

     32,828    —          17,155    —          10,627    —          10,270    —          14,931    —     
                                                                 

Total

   $ 256,698    100.0   $ 173,946    100.0   $ 107,547    100.0   $ 106,884    100.0   $ 92,847    100.0
                                                                 

The provision for loan losses is determined by the allowance allocation process, whereby an estimated need is allocated to impaired loans, as defined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification (FASB ASC) Section 310-10-35,

 

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or to pools of loans under FASB ASC Subtopic 450-20. The allocation is based on risk factors, collateral levels, economic conditions and other relevant factors, as appropriate. The Corporation also maintains an unallocated allowance for factors or conditions that exist at the balance sheet date, but are not specifically identifiable. Management believes such an unallocated allowance, which was approximately 13% as of December 31, 2009, is reasonable and appropriate as the estimates used in the allocation process are inherently imprecise. See additional disclosures in Note A, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and “Critical Accounting Policies”, in Management’s Discussion. Management believes that the allowance for loan losses balance of $256.7 million as of December 31, 2009 is sufficient to cover losses inherent in the loan portfolio on that date and is appropriate based on applicable accounting standards.

Other Income and Expenses

2009 vs. 2008

Other Income

The following table presents the components of other income for the past two years:

 

                Increase (decrease)  
     2009    2008     $     %  
     (dollars in thousands)  

Overdraft fees

   $ 35,964    $ 35,324      $ 640      1.8

Cash management fees

     11,399      13,274        (1,875   (14.1

Other

     13,087      13,042        45      0.3   
                             

Service charges on deposit accounts

     60,450      61,640        (1,190   (1.9

Debit card income

     11,094      9,803        1,291      13.2   

Merchant fees

     7,476      7,608        (132   (1.7

Foreign exchange income

     6,573      6,726        (153   (2.3

Letter of credit fees

     6,387      6,009        378      6.3   

Other

     5,791      6,101        (310   (5.1
                             

Other service charges and fees

     37,321      36,247        1,074      3.0   

Investment management and trust services

     32,076      32,734        (658   (2.0

Gains on sales of mortgage loans

     22,644      10,332        12,312      119.2   

Credit card income

     5,472      3,587        1,885      52.6   

Gains on sales of OREO

     1,925      679        1,246      183.5   

Other income

     11,789      10,168        1,621      15.9   
                             

Total, excluding gain on sale of credit card portfolio and investment securities gains (losses)

     171,677      155,387        16,290      10.5   

Gain on sale of credit card portfolio

     —        13,910        (13,910   N/M   

Investment securities gains (losses)

     1,079      (58,241     59,320      N/M   
                             

Total

   $ 172,756    $ 111,056      $ 61,700      55.6
                             

 

N/M – Not Meaningful.

The $1.2 million, or 1.9%, decrease in service charges on deposit accounts was due to a $1.9 million, or 14.1%, decrease in cash management fees, as customers transferred funds from the cash management program to deposits due to the low interest rate environment, offset by a $640,000, or 1.8%, increase in overdraft fees.

The $1.1 million, or 3.0%, increase in other service charges and fees was primarily due to a $1.3 million, or 13.2%, increase in debit card fees as transaction volumes increased.

The $12.3 million, or 119.2%, increase in gains on sales of mortgage loans resulted from an increase in the volume of loans sold from $648.1 million in 2008 to $2.1 billion in 2009. The $1.5 billion, or 229.0%, increase in loans sold was mainly due to an increase in refinance activity, as mortgage rates dropped to historic lows. Refinances accounted for approximately 70% of sales volumes in 2009, compared to approximately 43% in 2008.

 

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Credit card income includes fees earned for each new account opened and a percentage of revenue earned on both new accounts and accounts sold, under an agreement entered into with the purchaser of the Corporation’s credit card portfolio. The $1.9 million, or 52.6%, increase in credit card income was primarily due to twelve months of revenue being earned in 2009 compared to less than nine months earned during 2008, as the agreement with the credit card purchaser was executed during the second quarter of 2008.

The $1.2 million, or 183.5%, increase in gains on sales of OREO was due to an increase in the number of properties sold in 2009. The $1.6 million, or 15.9%, increase in other income was primarily due to a $1.0 million mortgage servicing rights impairment charge in 2008, which was recorded as a decrease to mortgage servicing income.

Investment securities gains of $1.1 million for 2009 included $14.5 million of net gains on the sales of debt securities, primarily collateralized mortgage obligations, offset by other-than-temporary impairment charges of $13.4 million. During 2009, the Corporation recorded $9.5 million of other-than-temporary impairment charges for pooled trust preferred securities issued by financial institutions and $3.8 million of other-than-temporary impairment charges for financial institutions stocks. The $58.2 million of investment securities losses for 2008 were primarily a result of $43.1 million of other-than-temporary impairment charges for financial institutions stocks and $15.8 million of other-than-temporary impairment charges for pooled trust preferred securities issued by financial institutions. See Note C, “Investment Securities” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.

Other Expenses

The following table presents the components of other expenses for each of the past two years:

 

               Increase (decrease)  
     2009    2008    $     %  
     (dollars in thousands)  

Salaries and employee benefits

   $ 218,812    $ 213,557    $ 5,255      2.5

Net occupancy expense

     42,040      42,239      (199   (0.5

FDIC insurance premiums

     26,579      4,562      22,017      482.6   

Equipment expense

     12,820      13,332      (512   (3.8

Data processing

     11,328      12,813      (1,485   (11.6

Professional fees

     9,099      7,618      1,481      19.4   

Marketing

     8,915      13,267      (4,352   (32.8

Telecommunications

     8,608      8,172      436      5.3   

Operating risk loss

     7,550      24,308      (16,758   (68.9

Intangible amortization

     5,747      7,162      (1,415   (19.8

OREO expenses

     5,694      5,580      114      2.0   

Supplies

     5,637      5,773      (136   (2.4

Postage

     5,292      5,474      (182   (3.3

Other

     46,237      42,768      3,469      8.1   
                            

Total, excluding goodwill impairment

   $ 414,358    $ 406,625    $ 7,733      1.9

Goodwill impairment

     —        90,000      (90,000   N/M   
                            

Total

   $ 414,358    $ 496,625    $ (82,267   (16.6 %) 
                            

 

N/M – Not Meaningful.

Salaries and employee benefits increased $5.3 million, or 2.5%, with salaries increasing $2.4 million, or 1.4%, and benefits increasing $2.9 million, or 7.5%.

The increase in salaries was due to a $2.2 million increase in incentive compensation expense for subsidiary bank management. Although merit increases were suspended as of March 2009, the remaining increase in salary expense reflects the 2009 impact of merit increases granted prior to the salary freeze. These increases were partially offset by a reduction in average full-time equivalent employees from 3,660 in 2008 to 3,600 in 2009.

The increase in employee benefits was primarily due to a $1.8 million, or 9.2%, increase in healthcare costs as claims increased, a $1.9 million increase in defined benefit pension plan expense due to a lower return on plan assets and $1.1 million in severance expense primarily related to the consolidation of back office functions at the Corporation’s Columbia Bank subsidiary. These increases were

 

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offset by a $970,000 decrease in accruals for compensated absences and a $602,000 decrease in postretirement plan expense due to a reduction in benefits covered.

The $22.0 million, or 482.6%, increase in FDIC insurance expense was due to a $7.9 million special assessment in 2009, in addition to an increase in assessment rates, which were effective January 1, 2009. Gross FDIC insurance premiums for 2009, excluding the special assessment, were $18.8 million before applying $114,000 of one-time credits. For 2008, gross FDIC insurance premiums were $7.0 million, before applying $2.4 million of one-time credits.

In November 2009, the FDIC issued a ruling requiring financial institutions to prepay their estimated quarterly risk-based assessments for the fourth quarter of 2009 and for all of 2010, 2011 and 2012. As a result, the Corporation pre-paid $70.2 million of FDIC insurance assessments in the fourth quarter of 2009, $18.3 million of which represented the estimated FDIC insurance assessments for 2010.

The $1.5 million, or 11.6%, decrease in data processing expense was primarily due to savings realized from the consolidation of back office functions at the Corporation’s Columbia Bank subsidiary, as well as reductions in costs for certain renegotiated vendor contracts. The $1.5 million, or 19.4%, increase in professional fees was primarily due to increased legal costs associated with the collection and workout efforts for non-performing loans. The $4.4 million, or 32.8%, decrease in marketing expenses was due to an effort to reduce discretionary spending and the timing of promotional campaigns. The $1.4 million, or 19.8%, decrease in intangible amortization was realized mainly in core deposit intangible assets, which are amortized on an accelerated basis, with lower expense in later years.

The $16.8 million, or 68.9%, decrease in operating risk loss was due to a $13.6 million reduction in charges related to the Corporation’s commitment to purchase ARCs from customer accounts and a $2.9 million decrease in losses on the actual and potential repurchase of residential mortgage and home equity loans previously sold in the secondary market. See Note O, “Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.

The $3.5 million, or 8.1%, increase in other expenses included a $2.7 million increase in loan collection and workout costs, a $1.9 million increase in student loan lender expense, and the impact of a $1.4 million reversal of litigation reserves in 2008 associated with the Corporation’s share of indemnification liabilities with Visa Inc. (Visa). These increases in other expenses were offset by decreases of $1.7 million in consulting fees, due primarily to certain information technology initiatives in 2008 that did not recur in 2009, and a $1.1 million decrease in travel and entertainment expense, due to efforts to reduce discretionary spending.

2008 vs. 2007

Other Income

Other income decreased $37.0 million, or 25.0%. In 2008, the Corporation had $58.2 million of investment securities losses, compared to investment securities gains of $1.7 million in 2007. Excluding investment securities gains (losses), other income increased $23.0 million, or 15.7%.

Service charges on deposit accounts increased $15.1 million, or 32.6%, primarily due to an increase in overdraft fees of $13.0 million, or 58.1%, and an increase in cash management fees of $1.7 million, or 15.1%. The increase in overdraft fees was mainly due to a new overdraft program that was introduced in November 2007. The increase in cash management fees was due to increased sales during 2007, resulting in a higher revenue stream in 2008.

Other service charges and fees increased $4.1 million, or 12.7%, due to a $2.4 million, or 56.8%, increase in foreign currency processing revenue, due primarily to an increase in volume, a $1.1 million, or 12.5%, increase in debit card fees, also due to increased volumes, and a $658,000, or 12.5%, increase in letter of credit fees.

Investment management and trust services income decreased $5.9 million, or 15.3%, primarily due to a $4.9 million, or 38.2%, decrease in brokerage revenue. During 2008, the Corporation began transitioning its brokerage business from a transaction-based model to a relationship model, which generates fees based on the values of assets under management rather than transaction volume. This transition had a negative impact on brokerage revenue due to expected business disruptions. The negative performance of equity markets also contributed to the decrease in investment management and trust services income.

 

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Gains on sales of mortgage loans decreased $4.0 million, or 27.7%, due to lower sales volumes. Total loans sold were $648.1 million in 2008 and $1.3 billion in 2007, mainly due to the exit from the national wholesale residential mortgage business in 2007. Credit card income of $3.6 million was related to income earned subsequent to the Corporation’s April 2008 credit card portfolio sale.

Other income decreased $3.8 million, or 26.1%, primarily due to a $2.1 million gain related to the resolution of litigation and the sale of certain assets between the Corporation and an unaffiliated bank and a $700,000 gain related to the redemption of a partnership interest, both recorded in 2007. In 2008, the Corporation recorded a $1.0 million mortgage servicing rights impairment charge as a reduction to servicing income.

Investment securities losses of $58.2 million for 2008 were primarily due to other-than-temporary impairment charges of $43.1 million related to financial institution stocks, $20.7 million related to debt securities and $1.5 million for other equity securities. In addition, the Corporation recorded a $2.7 million loss related to the write-off of a collateralized mortgage obligation that was delivered as collateral for interest rate swaps with a failed financial institution. These impairment charges were offset by $4.8 million in gains from the redemption of Class B shares in connection with Visa’s initial public offering and gains on the sale of MasterCard, Incorporated shares, in addition to net gains of $2.9 million and $2.1 million on the sale of equity securities and debt securities, respectively.

Other Expenses

Other expenses increased $91.2 million, or 22.5%, due primarily to a $90.0 million goodwill impairment charge recorded in 2008. Salaries and employee benefits decreased $4.0 million, or 1.8%, with salaries decreasing $1.1 million, or 0.6%, and benefits decreasing $2.9 million, or 7.1%.

The decrease in salaries was due to staff reductions that were made as part of a corporate-wide workforce management and centralization initiative that began in 2007 and a decrease in stock-based compensation, offset by normal merit increases. Average full-time equivalent employees decreased from 3,840 in 2007 to 3,660 in 2008.

Employee benefits decreased $2.9 million, or 7.1%, due to a $2.0 million reduction associated with the curtailment of the Corporation’s defined benefit pension plan and a net decrease in expenses for the Corporation’s retirement plans as a result of changes in contribution formulas in 2008. Also contributing to the decrease was a reduction in severance expenses.

Net occupancy expense increased $2.3 million, or 5.7%. The increase was due to additional expenses related to rental, maintenance, utility and depreciation of real property as a result of growth in the branch network during 2008 in comparison to 2007. The Corporation added 5 full service branches to its network in both 2008 and 2007.

Operating risk loss decreased $2.9 million, or 10.7%, due to a $22.8 million decrease in losses on the actual and potential repurchase of residential mortgage and home equity loans, offset by $19.8 million of charges, recorded in 2008, related to the Corporation’s guarantee to purchase ARCs from customer accounts.

Equipment expense decreased $560,000, or 4.0%, and intangible amortization decreased $1.2 million, or 14.1%. The decreases in equipment expense and intangible amortization were due to both equipment and intangible assets becoming fully depreciated and amortized during 2008. Marketing expenses increased $1.9 million, or 17.1%, due to deposit promotional campaigns, new branch promotions and customer service initiatives undertaken during 2008.

FDIC insurance expense increased $2.8 million, or 152.3%, due to the expiration of one-time credits and an increase in insured deposits. In 2008, gross FDIC insurance premiums were $7.0 million, reduced by $2.4 million of one-time credits. In 2007, gross FDIC insurance premiums were $6.7 million, reduced by $4.9 million of one-time credits.

Other expenses increased $2.2 million, or 4.9%, due to a $5.2 million increase in costs associated with the maintenance and disposition of foreclosed real estate and a $2.9 million increase in consulting fees, primarily associated with new information technology initiatives. Offsetting these increases was a $2.9 million decrease in other expenses due to the reversal of litigation reserves associated with the Corporation’s share of indemnification liabilities with Visa, which were no longer necessary as a result of Visa’s initial public offering in 2008, and a $2.7 million decrease in state taxes due to the consolidation of certain subsidiary banks in 2007 and 2008.

 

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Income Taxes

Income tax expense for 2009 was $15.4 million, a decrease of $9.2 million, or 37.3%, from 2008. Income tax expense for 2008 decreased $39.0 million, or 61.3% from 2007. The Corporation’s effective tax rate (income taxes divided by income before income taxes) was 17.2%, 129.6% and 29.4% in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The effective tax rate for 2008 was significantly impacted by the $90.0 million goodwill impairment charge, which is not deductible for income tax purposes. Excluding the impact of the goodwill charge, the Corporation’s effective tax rate for 2008 was 22.6%. The decline in the effective tax rate over the past three years resulted from non-taxable income and credits, which have been fairly consistent amounts over the three-year period, having a more significant impact on the effective tax rate calculation as income before income taxes has decreased.

The Corporation’s effective tax rates are generally lower than the 35% Federal statutory rate due to investments in tax-free municipal securities and Federal tax credits earned from investments in low and moderate-income housing partnerships (LIH Investments). Net credits associated with LIH investments were $4.7 million, $3.9 million and $3.7 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

For additional information regarding income taxes, see Note K, “Income Taxes”, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

The table below presents condensed consolidated ending balance sheets for the Corporation.

 

     December 31    Increase (decrease)  
     2009    2008    $     %  
     (dollars in thousands)  

Assets:

          

Cash and due from banks

   $ 284,508    $ 331,164    $ (46,656   (14.1 %) 

Other earning assets

     101,975      117,550      (15,575   (13.2

Investment securities

     3,267,086      2,724,841      542,245      19.9   

Loans, net of allowance

     11,715,726      11,868,674      (152,948   (1.3

Premises and equipment

     204,203      202,657      1,546      0.8   

Goodwill and intangible assets

     552,563      557,833      (5,270   (0.9

Other assets

     509,574      382,387      127,187      33.3   
                            

Total Assets

   $ 16,635,635    $ 16,185,106    $ 450,529      2.8
                            

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:

          

Deposits

   $ 12,097,914    $ 10,551,916    $ 1,545,998      14.7

Short-term borrowings

     868,940      1,762,770      (893,830   (50.7

Long-term debt

     1,540,773      1,787,797      (247,024   (13.8

Other liabilities

     191,526      222,976      (31,450   (14.1
                            

Total Liabilities

     14,699,153      14,325,459      373,694      2.6   
                            

Shareholders’ equity

     1,936,482      1,859,647      76,835      4.1   
                            

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 16,635,635    $ 16,185,106    $ 450,529      2.8
                            

Total assets increased $450.5 million, or 2.8%, to $16.6 billion as of December 31, 2009, from $16.2 billion as of December 31, 2008. Total investments increased $542.2 million, or 19.9%, offset by a decrease in loans, net of the allowance for loan losses, of $152.9 million, or 1.3%. Total liabilities increased $373.7 million, or 2.6%, due to a $1.5 billion, or 14.7%, increase in deposits, offset by a $1.1 billion, or 32.1%, decrease in short and long-term borrowings.

The changes in the Corporation’s balance sheet from December 31, 2008 to December 31, 2009 were mainly a result of changes in funding mix, combined with weaker loan demand. Funds generated by significant deposit growth were used to reduce wholesale funding in the form of both short-term borrowings and long-term debt. Excess funds were used to purchase additional investment

 

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securities, in the absence of loan demand. The discussion that follows provides more details on the changes in specific balance sheet line items.

Loans

The following table presents loans outstanding, by type, as of the dates shown:

 

     December 31  
     2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Real-estate – commercial mortgage

   $ 4,292,300      $ 4,016,700      $ 3,480,958      $ 3,202,706      $ 2,831,405   

Commercial – industrial, financial and agricultural

     3,699,198        3,635,544        3,427,085        2,965,186        2,375,669   

Real-estate – home equity

     1,644,260        1,695,398        1,501,231        1,455,439        1,205,523   

Real-estate – construction

     978,267        1,269,330        1,366,923        1,440,180        851,555   

Real-estate – residential mortgage

     921,741        972,797        848,901        696,568        567,629   

Consumer

     360,698        365,692        500,708        523,066        520,098   

Leasing and other

     83,675        97,687        89,383        100,711        79,738   
                                        

Gross loans

     11,980,139        12,053,148        11,215,189        10,383,856        8,431,617   

Unearned income

     (7,715     (10,528     (10,765     (9,533     (6,889
                                        

Loans, net of unearned income

   $ 11,972,424      $ 12,042,620      $ 11,204,424      $ 10,374,323      $ 8,424,728   
                                        

Total loans, net of unearned income, decreased $70.2 million, or 0.6%, mainly due to a combination of lower demand and continuing efforts to manage credit exposures. Construction loans decreased $291.1 million, or 22.9%, due to efforts by the Corporation to reduce credit exposure in this sector, particularly in its Maryland and Virginia markets. Also contributing to the decrease were $44.9 million in construction loan charge-offs during 2009. Home equity loans decreased $51.1 million, or 3.0%, and residential mortgages decreased $51.1 million, or 5.2%, both due to refinance activity generated by low interest rates. Offsetting these decreases was a $275.6 million, or 6.9%, increase in commercial mortgages, of which $200.4 million was attributable to increases in commercial mortgages generated in the Corporation’s Pennsylvania market, and a $63.7 million, or 1.8%, increase in commercial loans.

Approximately $5.3 billion, or 44.0%, of the Corporation’s loan portfolio was in commercial mortgage and construction loans as of December 31, 2009. The Corporation does not have a concentration of credit risk with any single borrower, industry or geographical location. The performance of real estate markets and general economic conditions adversely impacted the performance of these loans throughout 2009, most significantly construction loans to residential housing developers in the Corporation’s Maryland and Virginia markets. Construction loans outstanding in Virginia and Maryland at December 31, 2009 were $250.3 million and $242.8 million, respectively.

 

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Investment Securities

The following table presents the carrying amount of investment securities held to maturity (HTM) and available for sale (AFS) as of the dates shown:

 

     December 31
     2009    2008    2007
     HTM    AFS    Total    HTM    AFS    Total    HTM    AFS    Total
     (in thousands)

U.S. Government securities

   $ —      $ 1,325    $ 1,325    $ —      $ 14,628    $ 14,628    $ —      $ 14,536    $ 14,536

U.S. Government sponsored agency securities

     6,713      91,956      98,669      6,782      77,002      83,784      6,478      202,523      209,001

State and municipal

     503      415,773      416,276      825      523,536      524,361      1,120      521,538      522,658

Corporate debt securities

     —        116,739      116,739      25      119,894      119,919      25      165,982      166,007

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     —        1,122,996      1,122,996      —        504,193      504,193      —        594,775      594,775

Mortgage-backed securities

     1,484      1,080,024      1,081,508      2,004      1,141,351      1,143,355      2,662      1,452,188      1,454,850

Auction rate securities

     —        289,203      289,203      —        195,900      195,900      —        —        —  
                                                              

Total debt securities

     8,700      3,118,016      3,126,716      9,636      2,576,504      2,586,140      10,285      2,951,542      2,961,827

Equity securities

     —        140,370      140,370      —        138,701      138,701      —        191,725      191,725
                                                              

Total

   $ 8,700    $ 3,258,386    $ 3,267,086    $ 9,636    $ 2,715,205    $ 2,724,841    $ 10,285    $ 3,143,267    $ 3,153,552
                                                              

Total investment securities increased $542.2 million, or 19.9%, to $3.3 billion at December 31, 2009. During 2009, the Corporation purchased investments with funds generated from the increase in deposits combined with the decrease in loans. In addition, the Corporation invested the funds received from the issuance of preferred stock to the United States Treasury Department in December 2008. Finally, increases in investments were also due to the purchase of $104.4 million of ARCs from customers during 2009.

The Corporation classified 99.7% of its investment portfolio as available for sale as of December 31, 2009 and, as such, these investments were recorded at their estimated fair values. The net unrealized gain on available for sale investment securities at December 31, 2009 was $25.6 million, compared to a net unrealized loss of $3.9 million as of December 31, 2008, as a result of the decrease in market interest rates on collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgage-backed securities in 2009.

Other Assets

Cash and due from banks decreased $46.7 million, or 14.1%. Because of the daily fluctuations that result in the normal course of business, cash is more appropriately analyzed in terms of average balances. On an average balance basis for the month of December, cash and due from banks increased $22.6 million, or 7.4%, from $306.1 million in 2008 to $328.7 million in 2009.

Other earning assets decreased $15.6 million, or 13.2%, primarily due to a $10.5 million, or 10.9%, decrease in loans held for sale. Premises and equipment increased $1.5 million, or 0.8%, to $204.2 million. The increase reflects additions primarily for the construction of new branch facilities, offset by depreciation and the sales of branch and office facilities during 2009. Goodwill and intangible assets decreased $5.3 million, or 0.9%, due to the amortization of intangible assets.

Other assets increased $127.2 million, or 33.3%, to $509.6 million. Prepaid FDIC assessments increased $66.0 million as assessments for 2010 through 2012 were paid in the fourth quarter of 2009. Also contributing to the increase in other assets were a $29.0 million increase in LIH investments and a $15.0 million increase in mortgage servicing rights as mortgage loans sold with servicing retained increased in 2009.

Deposits and Borrowings

Deposits increased $1.5 billion, or 14.7%, to $12.1 billion as of December 31, 2009. During 2009, total non-interest and interest bearing demand and savings deposits increased $1.3 billion, or 24.4%, and time deposits increased $215.7 million, or 4.2%. The increase in demand and savings accounts was in personal, business and, to a lesser degree, governmental accounts. The increase in personal accounts was primarily due to a reduction in consumer spending, in addition to the impact of decreased consumer confidence in equity and debt markets, both as a result of weak economic conditions. The increase in business and governmental accounts was due, in part, to businesses transferring funds from the Corporation’s cash management products due to low interest rates. The increase in time deposits resulted from a $541.0 million, or 11.4%, increase in customer certificates of deposit, offset by a $325.3 million, or

 

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95.0%, decrease in brokered certificates of deposit. The increase in customer certificates of deposit was due to active promotion in the beginning of 2009.

Short-term borrowings decreased $893.8 million, or 50.7%, primarily in Federal Funds purchased ($769.6 million decrease) and short-term customer funding ($121.7 million decrease). Federal funds purchased declined as a result of deposit growth, while short-term customer funding decreased as customers transferred funds from the cash management program to deposits due to the low interest rate environment. Long-term debt decreased $247.0 million, or 13.8%, as a result of the maturity of FHLB advances.

Other Liabilities

Other liabilities decreased $31.5 million, or 14.1%. The decrease was primarily attributable to a $21.0 million decrease in dividends payable to common shareholders, as the quarterly dividend rate was $0.15 per share in the fourth quarter of 2008 and $0.03 per share in the fourth quarter of 2009. Also contributing to the decrease was an $8.7 million reduction in financial guarantee liabilities related to commitments to purchase ARCs from customers, a $7.7 million decrease in amounts payable for security purchases executed prior to year-end, but not settled until after year-end and a $7.1 million decrease in accrued interest payable. These increases were partially offset by a $14.6 million increase in equity commitments payable on LIH investments.

Shareholders’ Equity

Total shareholders’ equity increased $76.8 million, or 4.1%, to $1.9 billion, or 11.6% of total assets as of December 31, 2009. The increase was due to $73.9 million of net income, a $29.0 million increase in net holding gains on investment securities, $7.4 million of stock issuances and a $5.6 million increase in unrecognized pension and postretirement plan costs, offset by $38.0 million of dividends on common and preferred shares outstanding.

On December 23, 2008, the Corporation entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department (UST) pursuant to which the Corporation sold to the UST, for an aggregate purchase price of $376.5 million, 376,500 shares of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (preferred stock), par value $1,000 per share, and warrants to purchase up to 5.5 million shares of common stock, par value $2.50 per share. As a condition under the CPP, without the consent of the UST, the Corporation’s share repurchases are limited to purchases in connection with the administration of any employee benefit plan, including purchases to offset share dilution in connection with any such plans. This restriction is effective until December 2011 or until the UST no longer owns any of the Corporation’s preferred shares issued under the CPP. The Corporation’s preferred stock is included as a component of Tier 1 capital in accordance with regulatory capital requirements.

The preferred stock ranks senior to the Corporation’s common shares and pays a compounding cumulative dividend at a rate of 5% per year for the first five years, and 9% per year thereafter. Dividends are payable quarterly on February 15th, May 15th, August 15th and November 15th. The Corporation is prohibited from paying any dividend with respect to shares of common stock or repurchasing or redeeming any shares of the Corporation’s common shares in any quarter unless all accrued and unpaid dividends are paid on the preferred stock for all past dividend periods (including the latest completed dividend period), subject to certain limited exceptions. In addition, without the consent of the UST, the Corporation is prohibited from declaring or paying any cash dividends on common shares in excess of $0.15 per share, which was the last quarterly cash dividend per share declared prior to October 14, 2008. The Corporation is also restricted in the amounts and types of compensation it may pay to certain executives as a result of its participation in the CPP. The preferred stock is non-voting, other than class voting rights on matters that could adversely affect the preferred stock. The UST may transfer the preferred stock to a third-party at any time. The 5.5 million of common stock warrants issued to the UST have a term of 10 years and are exercisable at any time, in whole or in part, at an exercise price of $10.25 per share (subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments).

The $376.5 million of proceeds was allocated to the preferred stock and the warrants based on their relative fair values at issuance ($368.9 million was allocated to the preferred stock and $7.6 million to the warrants). The difference between the initial value allocated to the preferred stock of approximately $368.9 million and the liquidation value of $376.5 million will be charged to retained earnings over the first five years of the contract as an adjustment to the dividend yield using the effective yield method. During 2009, total accretion of the difference between the preferred stock’s initial value and its liquidation value was $1.3 million.

The Corporation and its subsidiary banks are subject to regulatory capital requirements administered by various banking regulators. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain actions by regulators that could have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial statements. The regulations require that banks maintain minimum amounts and ratios of total and Tier I capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as defined), and Tier I capital to average assets (as defined). As of December

 

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31, 2009, the Corporation and each of its bank subsidiaries met the minimum capital requirements. In addition, all of the Corporation’s bank subsidiaries’ capital ratios exceeded the amounts required to be considered “well capitalized” as defined in the regulations. See also Note J, “Regulatory Matters”, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the Corporation’s capital ratios in comparison to regulatory requirements at December 31:

 

     2009     2008     Regulatory
Minimum
for Capital
Adequacy
 

Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)

   14.7   14.3   8.0

Tier I Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)

   11.9   11.5   4.0

Tier I Capital (to Average Assets)

   9.7   9.6   3.0

Tangible common equity to tangible assets (1)

   6.3   6.0  

Tangible common equity to risk weighted assets (2)

   7.8   7.2  

 

(1) Ending common shareholders’ equity, excluding goodwill and intangible assets, divided by ending assets, excluding goodwill and intangible assets.
(2) Ending common shareholders’ equity, excluding goodwill and intangible assets, divided by risk-weighted assets.

Pro-forma regulatory capital ratios, excluding the $376.5 million of preferred stock issued under the CPP, would be as follows at December 31:

 

     2009     2008     Regulatory
Minimum
for Capital
Adequacy
 

Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)

   11.8   11.4   8.0

Tier I Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)

   9.0   8.6   4.0

Tier I Capital (to Average Assets)

   7.3   7.2   3.0

Contractual Obligations and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Corporation has various financial obligations that require future cash payments. These obligations include the payment of liabilities recorded on the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheet as well as contractual obligations for purchased services or for operating leases.

 

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The following table summarizes significant contractual obligations to third parties, by type, that were fixed and determinable as of December 31, 2009:

 

     Payments Due In
     One Year
or Less
   One to
Three Years
   Three to
Five Years
   Over Five
Years
   Total
     (in thousands)

Deposits with no stated maturity (1)

   $ 6,784,050    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 6,784,050

Time deposits (2)

     4,030,551      1,089,996      153,779      39,538      5,313,864

Short-term borrowings (3)

     868,940      —        —        —        868,940

Long-term debt (3)

     468,851      195,921      11,990      864,011      1,540,773

Operating leases (4)

     13,004      22,267      15,610      47,123      98,004

Purchase obligations (5)

     18,057      22,156      2,611      —        42,824

Uncertain tax positions (6)

     5,325      —        —        —        5,325

 

(1) Includes demand deposits and savings accounts, which can be withdrawn by customers at any time.
(2) See additional information regarding time deposits in Note H, “Deposits”, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(3) See additional information regarding borrowings in Note I, “Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt”, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(4) See additional information regarding operating leases in Note N, “Leases”, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(5) Includes information technology, telecommunication and data processing outsourcing contracts. Variable obligations, such as those based on transaction volumes, are not included.
(6) Includes accrued interest. See additional information related to uncertain tax positions in Note K, “Income Taxes” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

In addition to the contractual obligations listed in the preceding table, the Corporation is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit, which involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk that are not recognized on the consolidated balance sheets. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the financial or performance obligation of a customer to a third-party. Commitments and standby letters of credit do not necessarily represent future cash needs as they may expire without being drawn.

The following table presents the Corporation’s commitments to extend credit and letters of credit as of December 31, 2009 (in thousands):

 

Commercial mortgage and construction

   $ 329,159

Home equity

     891,570

Commercial and other

     3,258,817
      

Total commitments to extend credit

   $ 4,479,546
      

Standby letters of credit

   $ 551,064

Commercial letters of credit

     37,662
      

Total letters of credit

   $ 588,726
      

 

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following is a summary of those accounting policies that the Corporation considers to be most important to the portrayal of its financial condition and results of operations, as they require management’s most difficult judgments as a result of the need to make estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain.

Fair Value Measurements – The disclosure of fair value measurements is required by FASB ASC Topic 820, which establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into the following three categories (from highest to lowest priority):

 

   

Level 1 – Inputs that represent quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

 

   

Level 2 – Inputs that represent quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, or quoted prices for identical instruments in non-active markets. Also includes valuation techniques whose inputs are derived principally from observable market data other than quoted prices, such as interest rates or other market-corroborated means.

 

   

Level 3 – Inputs that are largely unobservable, as little or no market data exists for the instrument being valued.

The Corporation has categorized all assets and liabilities measured at fair value both on a recurring and nonrecurring basis into the above three levels. See Note P, “Fair Value Measurements” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the disclosures required by FASB ASC Topic 820.

The determination of fair value for assets and liabilities categorized as Level 3 items involves a great deal of subjectivity due to the use of unobservable inputs. In addition, determining when a market is no longer active and placing little or no reliance on distressed market prices requires the use of management’s judgment. The need for greater management judgment in determining fair values for Level 3 assets and liabilities has further been heightened by the current challenging economic conditions, which have resulted in significant volatility in the fair values of certain investment securities.

The Corporation engages third-party valuation experts to assist in valuing most available-for-sale investment securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis which are classified as Level 2 or Level 3 items. The pricing data and market quotes the Corporation obtains from outside sources are reviewed internally for reasonableness.

Allowance for Credit LossesThe allowance for loan losses represents management’s estimate of losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date and is recorded as a reduction to loans. The reserve for unfunded lending commitments represents management’s estimate of losses inherent in its unfunded loan commitments and is recorded in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The allowance for credit losses is increased by charges to expense, through the provision for loan losses, and decreased by charge-offs, net of recoveries. Management’s periodic evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses is based on the Corporation’s past loan loss experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrowers’ ability to repay, the estimated fair value of underlying collateral and current economic conditions, among other considerations. Management believes that the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments are adequate as of the balance sheet date, however, future changes to the allowance or reserve may be necessary based on changes in any of these factors.

The allowance for loan losses consists of two components – specific allowances allocated to individually impaired loans, as required by FASB ASC Section 310-10-35, and allowances calculated for pools of loans under FASB ASC Subtopic 450-20. Impaired loans represent loans for which the Corporation believes it is probable that all amounts will not be collected according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.

The Corporation uses an internal risk rating process for its commercial loans, commercial mortgages and construction loans consisting of nine general classifications ranging from “excellent” to “loss”. Internal credit ratings are reviewed in connection with the Corporation’s ongoing allowance allocation process. Larger balance commercial loans, commercial mortgages and construction loans with risk ratings of “substandard” or lower are individually reviewed for impairment under FASB ASC Section 310-10-35. A loan with a “substandard” credit rating is inadequately protected by sound worth and paying capacity of the borrower or by the collateral pledged, if any. In addition, there exists a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the normal repayment of the debt. Collection of principal may be collateral-intensive. A distinct possibility exists that some loss may be sustained if deficiencies are not corrected.

Loans that are determined to be impaired are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, or at the loan’s observable market price or at the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. The fair value of collateral is generally based on appraisals, discounted to represent expected sale prices. An allowance for loan losses is allocated to an impaired loan if its carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value. In addition, a reserve for unfunded lending commitments is allocated for impaired loans with unused commitments to extend credit.

 

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All loans not individually reviewed for impairment under FASB ASC Section 310-10-35 are evaluated under FASB ASC Subtopic 450-20. Loans are segmented into groups with similar characteristics and an allowance for loan losses is allocated to each segment based on quantitative factors, such as recent loss history, and qualitative factors, such as economic conditions and trends. In general, these loans include residential mortgages and home equity loans, consumer loans, installment loans, smaller balance commercial loans and mortgages and lease receivables. Large balance commercial loans, commercial mortgages and construction loans with internal credit ratings of “satisfactory minus” or “special mention” are also evaluated under FASB ASC Subtopic 450-20. Since these loans have somewhat higher risk characteristics compared to other loans evaluated under FASB ASC Subtopic 450-20, they are segregated into separate pools for evaluation purposes. Loans rated “special mention” represent potentially weak loans or assets presenting an unwarranted credit risk, but less risky than substandard assets. Loans rated “satisfactory minus” generally involve borrowers that may lack experience, depth or credit history. Borrowers may display marginal financial condition and financial trends that are unestablished or may be negative, however, the Corporation has an optimistic view of their future collectibility.

The allocation of the allowance for credit losses is reviewed to evaluate its appropriateness in relation to the overall risk profile of the loan portfolio. The Corporation considers risk factors such as: local and national economic conditions; trends in delinquencies and non-accrual loans; the diversity of borrower industry types; and the composition of the portfolio by loan type. An unallocated allowance is maintained for factors and conditions that exist at the balance sheet date, but are not specifically identifiable, and to recognize the inherent imprecision in estimating and measuring loss exposure.

Loans and lease financing receivables deemed to be a loss are written off through a charge against the allowance for credit losses. Closed-end consumer loans are generally charged off when they become 120 days past due (180 days for open-end consumer loans) if they are not adequately secured by real estate. All other loans are evaluated for possible charge-off when it is probable that the balance will not be collected, based on the ability of the borrower to pay and the value of the underlying collateral. Recoveries of loans previously charged off are recorded as increases to the allowance for loan losses. Past due status is determined based on contractual due dates for loan payments.

Prior to 2009, loans reviewed for impairment under FASB ASC Section 310-10-35 also included large balance commercial loans and commercial mortgages that were rated “satisfactory minus” or “special mention”. In 2009, the Corporation revised its allocation methodology to evaluate loans with these internal risk ratings under FASB ASC Subtopic 450-20, as documented above. The methodology was changed to more properly align internal risk ratings with the likelihood of impairment.

This change in allocation methodology did not result in a change in the Corporation’s overall allowance for credit losses balance, or in a change to the unallocated allowance, but rather resulted in a re-categorization of the allowance for loan losses from the allowance allocated to impaired loans under FASB ASC Section 310-10-35 to the allowance allocated to loans evaluated under FASB ASC Subtopic 450-20. This change in methodology did result in a significant decrease in the reserve for unfunded lending commitments, which is based solely on unfunded commitments related to impaired loans. Such loans included “satisfactory minus” and “special mention” loans in years prior to 2009. As of December 31, 2009, the reserve for unfunded lending commitments was $855,000, as compared to $6.2 million as of December 31, 2008.

Lease financing receivables include both open and closed end leases for the purchase of vehicles and equipment. Residual values are set at the inception of the lease and are reviewed periodically for impairment. If the impairment is considered to be other-than-temporary, the resulting reduction in the net investment in the lease is recognized as a loss in the period when impairment occurs.

Business Combinations and Intangible Assets – The Corporation accounts for all business acquisitions using the purchase method of accounting. Purchase accounting requires the purchase price to be allocated to the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including certain intangible assets that must be recognized. Typically, this allocation results in the purchase price exceeding the fair value of net assets acquired, which is recorded as goodwill.

Goodwill is not amortized to expense, but is evaluated at least annually for impairment. The Corporation completes its annual goodwill impairment test as of October 31st of each year. The Corporation tests for impairment by first allocating its goodwill and other assets and liabilities, as necessary, to defined reporting units. A fair value is then determined for each reporting unit. If the fair values of the reporting units exceed their book values, no write-down of the recorded goodwill is necessary. If the fair values are less than the book values, an additional valuation procedure is necessary to assess the proper carrying value of the goodwill. In 2008, the Corporation recorded a $90.0 million goodwill impairment charge due to one of its defined reporting units failing the annual impairment test and based on the additional valuation procedures performed. The Corporation determined that no impairment write-offs were necessary

 

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in 2009. For additional details related to the Corporation’s 2009 goodwill impairment test, see Note F, “Goodwill and Intangible Assets” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Reporting unit valuation is inherently subjective, with a number of factors based on assumptions and management judgments. Among these are future growth rates for the reporting units, selection of comparable market transactions, discount rates and earnings capitalization rates. Changes in assumptions and results due to economic conditions, industry factors and reporting unit performance and cash flow projections could result in different assessments of the fair values of reporting units and could result in impairment charges.

If an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount, an interim impairment test is required. Such events may include adverse changes in legal factors or in the business climate, adverse actions by a regulator, unauthorized competition, the loss of key employees, or similar events.

Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated lives. Some intangible assets have indefinite lives and are, therefore, not amortized. All intangible assets must be evaluated for impairment if certain events occur. Any impairment write-downs are recognized as expense on the consolidated statements of operations.

Income Taxes – The provision for income taxes is based upon income before income taxes, adjusted for the effect of certain tax-exempt income and non-deductible expenses. In addition, certain items of income and expense are reported in different periods for financial reporting and tax return purposes. The tax effects of these temporary differences are recognized currently in the deferred income tax provision or benefit. Deferred tax assets or liabilities are computed based on the difference between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using the applicable enacted marginal tax rate.

The Corporation must also evaluate the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income. If any such assets are more likely than not to not be recovered, a valuation allowance must be recognized. The Corporation recorded a valuation allowance of $7.9 million as of December 31, 2009 for certain state net operating losses that are not expected to be recovered. The assessment of the carrying value of deferred tax assets is based on certain assumptions, changes in which could have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

The Corporation accounts for uncertain tax positions by applying a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Recognition and measurement of tax positions is based on management’s evaluations of relevant tax code and appropriate industry information about audit proceedings for comparable positions at other organizations. Virtually all of the Corporation’s unrecognized tax benefits are for positions that are taken on an annual basis on state tax returns. Increases to unrecognized tax benefits will occur as a result of accruing for the nonrecognition of the position for the current year. Decreases will occur as a result of the lapsing of the statute of limitations for the oldest outstanding year which includes the position.

See also Note K, “Income Taxes”, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2009, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 166, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140” (Statement 166). Statement 166, or ASC Update 2009-16, amends the accounting for transfers of financial assets. Among its amendments to FASB Statement 140, it eliminates the concept of qualifying special-purpose entities, requires additional criteria to be met in order for the transfer of portions of financial assets to qualify for sale treatment, and expands the legal isolation criteria. Statement 166 is effective for a reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, or January 1, 2010 for the Corporation. The adoption of Statement 166 will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2009, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 167, “Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)” (Statement 167). Statement 167 amends the criteria for determining the primary beneficiary of, and the entity required to consolidate, a variable interest entity. Statement 167, or ASC Update 2009-17, is effective for a reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, or January 1, 2010 for the Corporation. The adoption of Statement 167 will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

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In January 2010, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2010-06, “Improving Disclosures About Fair Value Measurements” (ASC Update 2010-06). ASC Update 2010-06 requires companies to disclose, and provide the reasons for, all transfers of assets and liabilities between the Level 1 and 2 fair value categories. ASC Update 2010-06 also clarifies that companies should disclose fair value measurement disclosures for classes of assets and liabilities which are subsets of line items within the balance sheet, if necessary. In addition, ASC Update 2010-06 provides additional clarification related to disclosures about the fair value techniques and inputs for assets and liabilities classified within Level 2 or 3 categories. The disclosure requirements prescribed by ASC Update No. 2010-06 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2009, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, or March 31, 2010 for the Corporation. ASC Update 2010-06 also requires companies to reconcile changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities by separately providing information about Level 3 purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross basis. This provision of ASC Update 2010-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, or March 31, 2011 for the Corporation. The adoption of ASC Update 2010-06 is not expected to materially impact the Corporation’s fair value measurement disclosures.

 

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk is the exposure to economic loss that arises from changes in the values of certain financial instruments. The types of market risk exposures generally faced by financial institutions include interest rate risk, equity market price risk, debt security market price risk, foreign currency risk and commodity price risk. Due to the nature of its operations, only equity market price risk, debt security market price risk and interest rate risk are significant to the Corporation.

Equity Market Price Risk

Equity market price risk is the risk that changes in the values of equity investments could have a material impact on the financial position or results of operations of the Corporation. As of December 31, 2009, the Corporation’s equity investments consisted of FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank stock ($99.1 million), common stocks of publicly traded financial institutions ($32.3 million), and money market mutual funds and other equity investments ($9.0 million). The equity investments most susceptible to equity market price risk are the financial institutions stocks, which had an adjusted cost basis of $34.5 million and a fair value of $32.3 million as of December 31, 2009. Gross unrealized gains and gross unrealized losses in this portfolio were approximately $2.7 million and $4.9 million as of December 31, 2009, respectively.

The Corporation has evaluated whether any unrealized losses on individual equity investments constituted other-than-temporary impairment, which would require a write-down through a charge to earnings. Based on the results of such evaluations, the Corporation recorded write-downs of $3.8 million in 2009, $43.1 million in 2008, and $117,000 in 2007 for financial institutions stocks which were deemed to exhibit other-than-temporary impairment in value. In 2009, the Corporation also recorded a $106,000 other-than-temporary impairment charge for a mutual fund investment. In 2008, the Corporation recorded other-than-temporary impairment charges of $1.2 million and $357,000 for a mutual fund investment and other government agency-sponsored stocks, respectively. Additional impairment charges may be necessary depending upon the performance of the equity markets in general and the performance of the individual investments held by the Corporation. See also Note C, “Investment Securities”, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Management continuously monitors the fair value of its equity investments and evaluates current market conditions and operating results of the issuers. Periodic sale and purchase decisions are made based on this monitoring process. None of the Corporation’s equity securities are classified as trading. Future cash flows from these investments are not provided in the table on page 48 as such investments do not have maturity dates.

Another source of equity market price risk is the Corporation’s investment in FHLB stock, which the Corporation is required to own in order to borrow funds from the FHLB. FHLBs obtain funding primarily through the issuance of consolidated obligations of the Federal Home Loan Bank system. The U.S. government does not guarantee these obligations, and each of the FHLB banks is, generally, jointly and severally liable for repayment of each other’s debt. The FHLB system has experienced financial stress, and some of the regional banks within the FHLB system have suspended or reduced their dividends, or eliminated the ability of members to redeem capital stock. The Corporation’s FHLB stock and its ability to obtain FHLB funds could be adversely impacted if the financial health of the FHLB system worsens.

In addition to its equity portfolio, the Corporation’s investment management and trust services revenue is impacted by fluctuations in the securities markets. A portion of the Corporation’s trust and brokerage revenue is based on the value of the underlying investment portfolios. If the values of those investment portfolios decrease, whether due to factors influencing U.S. securities markets in general, or otherwise, the Corporation’s revenue would be negatively impacted. In addition, the Corporation’s ability to sell its brokerage services is dependent, in part, upon consumers’ level of confidence in equity markets.

Debt Security Price Risk

Debt security market price risk is the risk that changes in the values of debt securities could have a material impact on the financial position or results of operations of the Corporation. The Corporation’s debt securities consist primarily of mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations whose principal payments are guaranteed by U.S. government sponsored agencies, state and municipal securities, U.S. government sponsored and U.S. government debt securities, auction rate certificates and corporate debt securities. The Corporation’s investments in auction rate certificates and corporate debt securities have significant debt security price risk.

Auction rate certificates

As of December 31, 2009, the Corporation’s investments in student loan auction rate securities, also known as auction rate certificates (ARCs), had a cost basis of $292.1 million and a fair value of $289.2 million, or 1.7% of total assets.

 

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ARCs are long-term securities structured to allow their sale in periodic auctions, resulting in both the treatment of ARCs as short-term instruments in normal market conditions and fair values that could be derived based on periodic auction prices. However, beginning in 2008, market auctions for these securities began to fail due to an insufficient number of buyers, resulting in an illiquid market. This illiquidity has resulted in recent market prices that represent forced liquidations or distressed sales and do not provide an accurate basis for fair value. Therefore, as of December 31, 2009, the fair value of the ARCs held by the Corporation were derived using significant unobservable inputs based on an expected cash flow model which produced fair values which were materially different from those that would be expected from settlement of these investments in the illiquid market that presently exists. The expected cash flow model produced fair values which assumed a return to market liquidity sometime within the next three years.

The credit quality of the underlying debt associated with the ARCs is also a factor in the determination of their estimated fair value. As of December 31, 2009, approximately $250 million, or 86%, of the ARCs held by the Corporation were rated above investment grade, with approximately $187 million, or 65%, AAA rated by at least one ratings agency. Approximately $40 million, or 14%, of ARCs were rated below investment grade by at least one ratings agency. Of this amount, approximately $22 million, or 57%, of the student loans underlying the ARCs have principal payments which are guaranteed by the Federal government. In total, approximately $257 million, or 89%, of the student loans underlying the ARCs have principal payments which are guaranteed by the Federal government. At December 31, 2009, all ARCs held by the Corporation were current and making schedule interest payments. Therefore the risk of changes in the estimated fair values of ARCs due to deterioration in the credit quality of their underlying debt is not significant.

Corporate Debt Securities

The Corporation holds corporate debt securities in the form of pooled trust preferred securities, single-issuer trust preferred securities and subordinated debt issued by financial institutions, as presented in the following table:

 

     December 31, 2009
     Amortized
cost
   Estimated
fair value
     (in thousands)

Single-issuer trust preferred securities

   $ 95,481    $ 75,811

Subordinated debt

     34,886      32,722

Pooled trust preferred securities

     20,435      4,979
             

Total corporate debt securities issued by financial institutions

   $ 150,802    $ 113,512
             

Historically, the Corporation determined the fair value of these securities based on prices received from third-party brokers and pricing agencies who determined fair values using both quoted prices for similar assets, when available, and model-based valuation techniques that derived fair value based on market-corroborated data, such as instruments with similar prepayment speeds and default interest rates.

The fair values for pooled trust preferred securities and certain single-issuer trust preferred securities were based on quotes provided by third-party brokers who determined fair values based predominantly on internal valuation models which were not indicative prices or binding offers.

The Corporation’s investments in single-issuer trust preferred securities had an unrealized loss of $19.7 million as of December 31, 2009. The Corporation held 13 single-issuer trust preferred securities that were rated below investment grade by at least one ratings agency, with an amortized cost of $38.1 million and an estimated fair value of $31.2 million as of December 31, 2009. The majority of the single-issuer trust preferred securities rated below investment grade were rated BB or Baa. Single-issuer trust preferred securities with an amortized cost of $10.2 million and an estimated fair value of $7.0 million as of December 31, 2009, were not rated by any ratings agency and, due to inactive or limited trading activity, were classified as Level 3 assets under FASB ASC Topic 820.

In April 2009, the FASB issued Staff Position No. 115-2 and 124-2, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-than-Temporary Impairments” (FSP FAS 115-2). FSP FAS 115-2, codified within FASB ASC Subtopic 320-10, amends other-than-temporary impairment guidance for debt securities and expands disclosure requirements for other-than-temporarily impaired debt and equity securities.

 

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In 2009, the Corporation recorded $9.5 million of other-than-temporary impairment charges related to investments in pooled trust preferred securities issued by financial institutions. These other-than-temporary impairment charges were based on the credit losses, as determined through present value modeling of expected cash flows. In addition, in 2009, the Corporation recorded $5.2 million ($3.4 million, net of tax) of non-credit related write-downs to fair value as a component of other comprehensive loss.

During 2008, the Corporation recorded other-than-temporary impairment charges for pooled trust preferred securities totaling $15.8 million. Upon adoption of FSP FAS 115-2, the Corporation determined that $9.7 million of those other-than-temporary impairment charges were non-credit related. As such, a $6.3 million (net of $3.4 million of taxes) increase to retained earnings and a corresponding decrease to accumulated other comprehensive income was recorded as the cumulative effect of adopting FSP FAS 115-2 as of January 1, 2009. Because previously recognized other-than-temporary impairment charges were reversed through equity rather than earnings, $8.7 million of the $9.5 million other-than-temporary impairment charges for certain pooled trust preferred securities recorded during 2009 were also presented as other-than-temporary impairment charges on the Corporation’s statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2008.

As noted above, the Corporation has recorded significant other-than-temporary impairment charges related to its investments in pooled trust preferred securities issued by financial institutions in 2009 and 2008. As of December 31, 2009, the Corporation held ten pooled trust preferred securities. Nine of these securities, with an amortized cost of $19.5 million and an estimated fair value of $4.4 million, were rated below investment grade by at least one ratings agency, with ratings ranging from C to Caa. For each of the nine pooled trust preferred securities held by the Corporation, the class of securities held is below the most senior tranche, with the Corporation’s interests being subordinate to other investors in the pool.

The amortized cost of pooled trust preferred securities is the purchase price of the securities, net of credit related other-than-temporary impairment charges, determined using an expected cash flows analysis. The most significant input to the expected cash flows model was the expected payment deferral rate for each pooled trust preferred security. The Corporation evaluates the financial metrics, such as capital ratios and non-performing asset ratios, of the individual financial institution issuers that comprises each pooled trust preferred security to estimate its expected deferral rate. The actual weighted average cumulative defaults and deferrals as a percentage of original collateral were approximately 26% as of December 31, 2009. The expected weighted average deferral rate assumed in the discounted cash flow modeling for pooled trust preferred securities held by the Corporation as of December 31, 2009 was approximately 13%.

Additional impairment charges for corporate debt securities issued by financial institutions may be necessary in the future depending upon the performance of the individual investments held by the Corporation.

See Note C, “Investment Securities”, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion related to the Corporation’s other-than-temporary impairment evaluations for debt securities and see Note P, “Fair Value Measurements”, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion related to the fair values of debt securities.

Interest Rate Risk, Asset/Liability Management and Liquidity

Interest rate risk creates exposure in two primary areas. First, changes in rates have an impact on the Corporation’s liquidity position and could affect its ability to meet obligations and continue to grow. Second, movements in interest rates can create fluctuations in the Corporation’s net interest income and changes in the economic value of its equity.

The Corporation employs various management techniques to minimize its exposure to interest rate risk. An Asset/Liability Management Committee (ALCO), consisting of key financial and senior management personnel, meets on a periodic basis. The ALCO is responsible for reviewing the interest rate sensitivity position of the Corporation, approving asset and liability management policies, and overseeing the formulation and implementation of strategies regarding balance sheet positions and earnings.

From a liquidity standpoint, the Corporation must maintain a sufficient level of liquid assets to meet the cash needs of its customers, who, as depositors, may want to withdraw funds or who, as borrowers, need credit availability. Liquidity is provided on a continuous basis through scheduled and unscheduled principal and interest payments on outstanding loans and investments and through the availability of deposits and borrowings. The Corporation also maintains secondary sources that provide liquidity on a secured and unsecured basis to meet short-term and long-term needs.

The consolidated statements of cash flows provide details related to the Corporation’s sources and uses of cash. The Corporation generated $182.6 million in cash from operating activities during 2009, mainly due to net income, as adjusted for non-cash charges such as the provision for loan losses. Investing activities resulted in a net cash outflow of $582.9 million in 2009 due to the purchase of

 

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investment securities exceeding the proceeds from sales and maturities of investments. Financing activities resulted in net cash proceeds of $353.7 million in 2009, primarily due to increases in deposits exceeding net repayments of short and long-term borrowings and dividends on common and preferred stock.

Liquidity must also be managed at the Fulton Financial Corporation Parent Company level. For safety and soundness reasons, banking regulations limit the amount of cash that can be transferred from subsidiary banks to the Parent Company in the form of loans and dividends. Generally, these limitations are based on the subsidiary banks’ regulatory capital levels and their net income. The Parent Company meets its cash needs through dividends and loans from subsidiary banks, and through external borrowings, if necessary. Management regularly monitors the liquidity and capital needs of the Parent Company and will implement appropriate strategies, as necessary, to remain well capitalized and to meet its cash needs.

As of December 31, 2009, liquid assets (defined as cash and due from banks, short-term investments, Federal funds sold, mortgages available for sale, securities available for sale, and non-mortgage-backed securities held to maturity due in one year or less) totaled $3.6 billion, or 21.8% of total assets, as compared to $3.1 billion, or 19.4% of total assets, as of December 31, 2008.

 

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The following tables present the expected maturities of investment securities as of December 31, 2009 and the weighted average yields of such securities (calculated based on historical cost):

HELD TO MATURITY (at amortized cost)

 

     MATURING  
     Within One Year     After One But
Within Five Years
    After Five But
Within Ten Years
    After Ten Years  
     Amount    Yield     Amount    Yield     Amount    Yield     Amount    Yield  
     (dollars in thousands)  

U.S. Government sponsored agency securities

   $ —      —     $ 6,713    0.50   $ —      —     $ —      —  

State and municipal (1)

     157    4.88        346    5.41        —      —          —      —     
                                                    

Total

   $ 157    4.88   $ 7,059    0.74   $ —      —        $ —      —     
                                                    

Mortgage-backed securities (2)

   $ 1,484    5.67               
                            
AVAILABLE FOR SALE (at estimated fair value)   
     MATURING  
     Within One Year     After One But
Within Five Years
    After Five But
Within Ten Years
    After Ten Years  
     Amount    Yield     Amount    Yield     Amount    Yield     Amount    Yield  
     (dollars in thousands)  

U.S. Government securities

   $ 1,325    0.05   $ —      —     $ —      —     $ —      —  

U.S. Government sponsored agency securities (3)

     9,043    4.36        66,808    3.09        15,863    4.88        242    2.73   

State and municipal (1)

     50,016    4.66        171,613    5.10        38,788    5.95        155,356    6.68   

Auction rate securities (4)

     —      —          —      —          208    0.70        288,995    1.69   

Corporate debt securities

     650    4.18        2,657    6.51        32,723    4.88        80,709    5.15   
                                                    

Total

   $ 61,034    4.51   $ 241,078    4.55   $ 87,582    5.33   $ 525,302    3.76
                                                    

Collateralized mortgage obligations (2)

   $ 1,122,996    4.03               
                            

Mortgage-backed securities (2)

   $ 1,080,024    4.67               
                            

 

(1) Weighted average yields on tax-exempt securities have been computed on a fully taxable-equivalent basis assuming a tax rate of 35% and statutory interest expense disallowances.
(2) Maturities for mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations are dependent upon the interest rate environment and prepayments on the underlying loans. For the purpose of this table, the entire balance and weighted average rate is shown in one period.
(3) Includes Small Business Administration securities, whose maturities are dependent upon prepayments on the underlying loans. For the purpose of this table, amounts are based upon contractual maturities.
(4) Maturities of auction rate securities are based on contractual maturities. See Note O, “ Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional disclosures related to auction rate securities.

The Corporation’s investment portfolio consists mainly of mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations which have stated maturities that may differ from actual maturities due to borrowers’ ability to prepay obligations. Cash flows from such investments are dependent upon the performance of the underlying mortgage loans and are generally influenced by the level of interest rates. As rates increase, cash flows generally decrease as prepayments on the underlying mortgage loans decrease. As rates decrease, cash flows generally increase as prepayments increase.

 

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The following table presents the approximate contractual maturity and interest rate sensitivity of certain loan types subject to changes in interest rates as of December 31, 2009:

 

     One Year
or Less
   One
Through
Five Years
   More Than
Five Years
   Total
     (in thousands)

Commercial, financial and agricultural:

           

Adjustable and floating rate

   $ 607,071    $ 1,750,288    $ 357,599    $ 2,714,958

Fixed rate

     259,813      571,959      152,468      984,240
                           

Total

   $ 866,884    $ 2,322,247    $ 510,067    $ 3,699,198
                           

Real-estate – mortgage (1):

           

Adjustable and floating rate

   $ 1,156,821    $ 2,463,450    $ 1,594,032    $ 5,214,303

Fixed rate

     353,620      866,074      424,304      1,643,998
                           

Total

   $ 1,510,441    $ 3,329,524    $ 2,018,336    $ 6,858,301
                           

Real-estate – construction:

           

Adjustable and floating rate

   $ 472,259    $ 228,009    $ 32,215    $ 732,483

Fixed rate

     79,945      127,962      37,877      245,784
                           

Total

   $ 552,204    $ 355,971    $ 70,092    $ 978,267
                           

 

(1) Includes commercial mortgages, residential mortgages and home equity loans.

Contractual maturities of time deposits of $100,000 or more outstanding as of December 31, 2009 are as follows (in thousands):

 

Three months or less

   $ 605,901

Over three through six months

     493,468

Over six through twelve months

     586,811

Over twelve months

     411,956
      

Total

   $ 2,098,136
      

The Corporation maintains liquidity sources in the form of “core” demand and savings deposits, time deposits in various denominations, including jumbo and brokered time deposits, repurchase agreements and short-term promissory notes.

Each of the Corporation’s subsidiary banks is a member of the FHLB and has access to FHLB overnight and term credit facilities. As of December 31, 2009, the Corporation had $1.2 billion of term advances outstanding from the FHLB with an additional $1.8 billion borrowing capacity under these facilities. This availability, along with Federal funds lines at various correspondent banks, provides the Corporation with additional liquidity.

A combination of commercial real estate loans, commercial loans and securities are pledged to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia to provide access to Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window borrowings. As of December 31, 2009, the Corporation had $1.6 billion of collateralized borrowing availability at the Discount Window and term auction facility and no outstanding borrowings.

 

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The following table provides information about the Corporation’s interest rate sensitive financial instruments. The table presents expected cash flows and weighted average rates for each significant interest rate sensitive financial instrument, by expected maturity period (dollars in thousands).

 

     Expected Maturity Period     Total     Estimated
Fair Value
     2010     2011     2012     2013     2014     Beyond      

Fixed rate loans (1)

   $ 1,085,324      $ 524,400      $ 397,278      $ 352,657      $ 266,527      $ 627,962      $ 3,254,148      $ 3,292,266

Average rate

     4.80     6.52     6.52     6.35     6.46     6.08     5.84  

Floating rate loans (1) (2)

     2,245,732        1,133,907        880,382        772,785        1,688,330        1,983,386        8,704,522        8,666,090

Average rate

     4.89     5.11     5.14     4.97     4.44     5.63     5.03  

Fixed rate investments (3)

     631,601        471,460        391,230        263,937        204,108        759,231        2,721,567        2,776,257

Average rate

     4.41     4.66     4.66     4.73     4.49     4.26     4.49  

Floating rate investments (3)

     —          500        292,145        108        —          85,586        378,339        351,405

Average rate

     —          4.13     3.12     1.19     —          2.85     3.06  

Other interest-earning assets

     101,975        —          —          —          —          —          101,975        101,975

Average rate

     5.39     —          —          —          —          —          5.39  
                                                              

Total

   $ 4,064,632      $ 2,130,267      $ 1,961,035      $ 1,389,487      $ 2,158,965      $ 3,456,165      $ 15,160,551      $ 15,187,993

Average rate

     4.80     5.36     5.02     5.27     4.69     5.34     5.06  
                                                              

Fixed rate deposits (4)

   $ 4,025,959      $ 731,988      $ 354,715      $ 110,095      $ 43,684      $ 10,482      $ 5,276,923      $ 5,312,316

Average rate

     1.97     2.59     3.41     3.56     2.94     3.37     2.19  

Floating rate deposits (5)

     2,297,328        202,375        199,800        188,533        154,914        1,765,204        4,808,154        4,808,134

Average rate

     0.76     0.60     0.60     0.56     0.44     0.40     0.60  

Fixed rate borrowings (6)

     472,622        94,823        102,794        5,835        5,747        838,648        1,520,469        1,469,332

Average rate

     4.84     3.60     4.01     2.89     5.52     4.96     4.77  

Floating rate borrowings (7)

     869,244        —          —          —          —          20,000        889,244        873,690

Average rate

     0.21     —          —          —          —          2.62     0.26  
                                                              

Total

   $ 7,665,153      $ 1,029,186      $ 657,309      $ 304,463      $ 204,345      $ 2,634,334      $ 12,494,790      $ 12,463,472

Average rate

     1.58     2.29     2.65     1.69     1.12     1.88     1.76  
                                                              

 

(1) Amounts are based on contractual payments and maturities, adjusted for expected prepayments. Excludes overdraft deposit balances.
(2) Line of credit amounts are based on historical cash flow assumptions, with an average life of approximately 5 years.
(3) Amounts are based on contractual maturities; adjusted for expected prepayments on mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations and expected calls on agency and municipal securities.
(4) Amounts are based on contractual maturities of time deposits.
(5) Estimated based on history of deposit flows.
(6) Amounts are based on contractual maturities of debt instruments, adjusted for possible calls. Amounts also include junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures.
(7) Amounts include Federal funds purchased, short-term promissory notes and securities sold under agreements to repurchase, which mature in less than 90 days, in addition to junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures.

The preceding table and discussion addressed the liquidity implications of interest rate risk and focused on expected cash flows from financial instruments. Expected maturities, however, do not necessarily reflect the net interest income impact of interest rate changes. Certain financial instruments, such as adjustable rate loans, have repricing periods that differ from expected cash flows. Fair market value adjustments related to acquisitions are not included in the preceding table.

Included within the $8.7 billion of floating rate loans above are $3.6 billion of loans, or 41.1% of the total, that float with the prime interest rate, $1.2 billion, or 13.6%, of loans which float with other interest rates, primarily the London Interbank Offering Rate (LIBOR), and $3.9 billion, or 45.3%, of adjustable rate loans. The $3.9 billion of adjustable rate loans include loans that are fixed rate instruments for a certain period of time, and then convert to floating rates.

 

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The following table presents the percentage of adjustable rate loans, stratified by their remaining fixed term at December 31, 2009:

 

Fixed Rate Term

   Percent of Total
Adjustable Rate
Loans
 

One year

   17.4

Two years

   1.5   

Three years

   1.7   

Four years

   1.8   

Five years

   59.8   

Greater than five years

   17.8   

The Corporation uses three complementary methods to measure and manage interest rate risk. They are static gap analysis, simulation of earnings, and estimates of economic value of equity. Using these measurements in tandem provides a reasonably comprehensive summary of the magnitude of interest rate risk in the Corporation, level of risk as time evolves, and exposure to changes in interest rate relationships.

Static gap provides a measurement of repricing risk in the Corporation’s balance sheet as of a point in time. This measurement is accomplished through stratification of the Corporation’s assets and liabilities into repricing periods. The sum of assets and liabilities in each of these periods are compared for mismatches within that maturity segment. Core deposits having no contractual maturities are placed into repricing periods based upon historical balance performance. Repricing for mortgage loans, mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations includes the effect of expected cash flows. Expected prepayment effects are applied to these balances based upon industry projections for prepayment speeds. The Corporation’s policy limits the cumulative six-month ratio of rate sensitive assets to rate sensitive liabilities (RSA/RSL) to a range of 0.85 to 1.15. As of December 31, 2009, the cumulative six-month ratio of RSA/RSL was 1.07.

Simulation of net interest income and net income is performed for the next twelve-month period. A variety of interest rate scenarios are used to measure the effects of sudden and gradual movements upward and downward in the yield curve. These results are compared to the results obtained in a flat or unchanged interest rate scenario. Simulation of earnings is used primarily to measure the Corporation’s short-term earnings exposure to rate movements. The Corporation’s policy limits the potential exposure of net interest income to 10% of the base case net interest income for a 100 basis point shock in interest rates, 15% for a 200 basis point shock and 20% for a 300 basis point shock. A “shock’ is an immediate upward or downward movement of interest rates across the yield curve. The shocks do not take into account changes in customer behavior that could result in changes to mix and/or volumes in the balance sheet nor do they account for competitive pricing over the forward 12-month period. The following table summarizes the expected impact of interest rate shocks on net interest income (due to the current level of interest rates, the 200 and 300 basis point downward shock scenarios are not shown):

 

Rate Shock

    Annual change
in net interest
income
   % Change  
+300 bp      + $58.2 million    +10.0
+200 bp      + $37.1 million    +6.4
+100 bp      + $12.3 million    +2.1
-100 bp  (1)    - $6.1 million    - 1.0

 

(1) Because certain current short-term interest rates are at or below 1.00%, the 100 basis point downward shock assumes that corresponding short-term interest rates approach an implied floor that, in effect, reflects a decrease of less than the full 100 basis point downward shock.

Economic value of equity estimates the discounted present value of asset and liability cash flows. Discount rates are based upon market prices for like assets and liabilities. Upward and downward shocks of interest rates are used to determine the comparative effect of such interest rate movements relative to the unchanged environment. This measurement tool is used primarily to evaluate the longer-term repricing risks and options in the Corporation’s balance sheet. A policy limit of 10% of economic equity may be at risk for every 100 basis point shock movement in interest rates. As of December 31, 2009, the Corporation was within economic value of equity policy limits for every 100 basis point shock movement in interest rates.

 

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Table of Contents
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(dollars in thousands, except per-share data)

 

     December 31  
     2009     2008  

Assets

    

Cash and due from banks

   $ 284,508      $ 331,164   

Interest-bearing deposits with other banks

     16,591        16,791   

Federal funds sold

     —          4,919   

Loans held for sale

     85,384        95,840   

Investment securities:

    

Held to maturity (estimated fair value of $8,797 in 2009 and $9,765 in 2008)

     8,700        9,636   

Available for sale

     3,258,386        2,715,205   

Loans, net of unearned income

     11,972,424        12,042,620   

Less: Allowance for loan losses

     (256,698     (173,946
                

Net Loans

     11,715,726        11,868,674   
                

Premises and equipment

     204,203        202,657   

Accrued interest receivable

     58,515        58,566   

Goodwill

     534,862        534,385   

Intangible assets

     17,701        23,448   

Other assets

     451,059        323,821   
                

Total Assets

   $ 16,635,635      $ 16,185,106   
                

Liabilities

    

Deposits:

    

Noninterest-bearing

   $ 2,012,837      $ 1,653,440   

Interest-bearing

     10,085,077        8,898,476   
                

Total Deposits

     12,097,914        10,551,916   
                

Short-term borrowings:

    

Federal funds purchased

     378,067        1,147,673   

Other short-term borrowings

     490,873        615,097   
                

Total Short-Term Borrowings

     868,940        1,762,770   
                

Accrued interest payable

     46,596        53,678   

Other liabilities

     144,930        169,298   

Federal Home Loan Bank advances and long-term debt

     1,540,773        1,787,797   
                

Total Liabilities

     14,699,153        14,325,459   
                

Shareholders’ Equity

    

Preferred stock, $1,000 par value, 376,500 shares authorized and outstanding

     370,290        368,944   

Common stock, $2.50 par value, 600 million shares authorized, 193.0 million shares issued in 2009 and 192.4 million shares issued in 2008

     482,491        480,978   

Additional paid-in capital

     1,257,730        1,260,947   

Retained earnings

     71,999        31,075   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

    

Unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities not other-than-temporarily impaired

     24,975        (2,541

Unrealized non-credit related losses on other-than-temporarily impaired debt securities

     (8,349     —     

Unrecognized pension and postretirement plan costs

     (5,942     (12,005

Unamortized effective portions of losses on forward-starting interest rate swaps

     (3,226     (3,361
                

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     7,458        (17,907

Treasury stock (16.6 million shares in 2009 and 17.3 million shares in 2008), at cost

     (253,486     (264,390
                

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     1,936,482        1,859,647   
                

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 16,635,635      $ 16,185,106   
                

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(dollars in thousands, except per-share data)

 

      2009     2008     2007  

Interest Income

      

Loans, including fees

   $ 649,089      $ 727,124      $ 801,175   

Investment securities:

      

Taxable

     112,945        110,220        99,621   

Tax-exempt

     16,368        18,137        17,423   

Dividends

     2,479        5,726        8,227   

Loans held for sale

     5,390        5,701        11,501   

Other interest income

     196        586        1,630   
                        

Total Interest Income

     786,467        867,494        939,577   

Interest Expense

      

Deposits

     180,826        212,114        294,395   

Short-term borrowings

     3,777        50,091        73,983   

Long-term debt

     80,910        81,141        82,455   
                        

Total Interest Expense

     265,513        343,346        450,833   
                        

Net Interest Income

     520,954        524,148        488,744   

Provision for Loan Losses

     190,020        119,626        15,063   
                        

Net Interest Income After Provision for Loan Losses

     330,934        404,522        473,681   
                        

Other Income

      

Service charges on deposit accounts

     60,450        61,640        46,500   

Other service charges and fees

     37,321        36,247        32,151   

Investment management and trust services

     32,076        32,734        38,665   

Gain on sale of credit card portfolio

     —          13,910        —     

Gains on sales of mortgage loans

     22,644        10,332        14,294   

Other

     19,186        14,434        14,674   

Investment securities gains (losses), net:

      

Other-than-temporary impairment losses

     (17,768     (65,336     (324

Less: Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income (before taxes)

     4,367        —          —     
                        

Net other-than-temporary impairment losses

     (13,401     (65,336     (324

Net gains on sales of investment securities

     14,480        7,095        2,064   
                        

Investment securities gains (losses), net

     1,079        (58,241     1,740   
                        

Total Other Income

     172,756        111,056        148,024   

Other Expenses

      

Salaries and employee benefits

     218,812        213,557        217,526   

Net occupancy expense

     42,040        42,239        39,965   

FDIC insurance expense

     26,579        4,562        1,808   

Equipment expense

     12,820        13,332        13,892   

Data processing

     11,328        12,813        12,755   

Professional fees

     9,099        7,618        7,277   

Marketing

     8,915        13,267        11,334   

Telecommunications

     8,608        8,172        8,094   

Operating risk loss

     7,550        24,308        27,229   

Intangible amortization

     5,747        7,162        8,334   

Goodwill impairment

     —          90,000        —     

Other

     62,860        59,595        57,241   
                        

Total Other Expenses

     414,358        496,625        405,455   
                        

Income Before Income Taxes

     89,332        18,953        216,250   

Income taxes

     15,408        24,570        63,532   
                        

Net Income (Loss)

     73,924        (5,617     152,718   

Preferred stock dividends and discount accretion

     (20,169     (463     —     
                        

Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders

   $ 53,755      $ (6,080   $ 152,718   
                        

Per Common Share:

      

Net Income (Loss) (Basic)

   $ 0.31      $ (0.03   $ 0.88   

Net Income (Loss) (Diluted)

     0.31        (0.03     0.88   

Cash Dividends

     0.120        0.600        0.598   

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

    Preferred
Stock
  Common Stock   Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other

Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Treasury
Stock
    Total  
    Shares
Outstanding
    Amount          
    (in thousands)  

Balance at December 31, 2006

  $ —     173,648      $ 476,987   $ 1,246,823      $ 92,592      $ (39,091   $ (261,001   $ 1,516,310   

Cumulative effect of initial recognition of unrecognized tax positions.

            220            220   

Comprehensive Income (Loss):

               

Net Income

            152,718            152,718   

Other comprehensive income.

              17,318          17,318   
                     

Total comprehensive income

                  170,036   
                     

Stock issued, including related tax benefits

    1,029        2,572     4,907              7,479   

Stock-based compensation awards

          2,639              2,639   

Acquisition of treasury stock

    (1,174             (18,227     (18,227

Common stock cash dividends - $0.598 per share

            (103,537         (103,537
                                                         

Balance at December 31, 2007

  $ —     173,503      $ 479,559   $ 1,254,369      $ 141,993      $ (21,773   $ (279,228   $ 1,574,920   

Impact of pension plan measurement date change (net of $23,000 tax effect)

            43            43   

Cumulative effect of initial recognition of split-dollar life insurance liability.

            (677         (677

Comprehensive Income (Loss):

               

Net Loss.

            (5,617         (5,617

Other comprehensive income

              3,866          3,866   
                     

Total comprehensive loss.

                  (1,751
                     

Preferred stock and common stock warrants issued

    368,900         7,600              376,500   

Stock issued, including related tax benefits

    1,541        1,419     (3,080         14,838        13,177   

Stock-based compensation awards

          2,058              2,058   

Preferred stock discount accretion

    44           (44         —     

Common stock cash dividends - $0.600 per share

            (104,623         (104,623
                                                         

Balance at December 31, 2008

  $ 368,944   175,044      $ 480,978   $ 1,260,947      $ 31,075      $ (17,907   $ (264,390   $ 1,859,647   

Cumulative effect of FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2 adoption (net of $3.4 million tax effect)

            6,298        (6,298       —     

Comprehensive Income (Loss):

               

Net Income

            73,924            73,924   

Other comprehensive income

              31,663          31,663   
                     

Total comprehensive income.

                  105,587   
                     

Stock issued, including related tax benefits

    1,320        1,513     (4,998         10,904        7,419   

Stock-based compensation awards

          1,781              1,781   

Preferred stock discount accretion

    1,346           (1,346         —     

Preferred stock cash dividends

            (16,836         (16,836

Common stock cash dividends - $0.120 per share

            (21,116         (21,116
                                                         

Balance at December 31, 2009

  $ 370,290   176,364      $ 482,491   $ 1,257,730      $ 71,999      $ 7,458      $ (253,486   $ 1,936,482   
                                                         

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

      

Net Income (Loss)

   $ 73,924      $ (5,617   $ 152,718   

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Provision for loan losses

     190,020        119,626        15,063   

Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment

     20,601        19,693        19,711   

Net amortization of investment security premiums

     1,706        290        2,111   

Deferred income tax benefit

     (20,432     (52,483     (13,646

Investment securities (gains) losses

     (1,079     58,241        (1,740

Gains on sales of mortgage loans

     (22,644     (10,332     (14,294

Proceeds from sales of mortgage loans held for sale

     2,142,591        658,437        1,283,176   

Originations of mortgage loans held for sale

     (2,109,491     (655,459     (1,164,101

Amortization of intangible assets

     5,747        7,162        8,334   

Stock-based compensation

     1,781        2,058        2,639   

Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation

     —          —          (111

Decrease (increase) in accrued interest receivable

     51        14,869        (1,610

Gain on sale of credit card portfolio

     —          (13,910     —     

Goodwill impairment

     —          90,000        —     

Intangible assets impairment

     —          —          1,069   

Increase in prepaid FDIC insurance assessments

     (65,967     —          —     

(Increase) decrease in other assets

     (17,810     (3,825     16,315   

(Decrease) increase in accrued interest payable

     (7,082     (15,560     7,846   

Decrease in other liabilities

     (9,334     (18,444     (8,789
                        

Total adjustments

     108,658        200,363        151,973   
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     182,582        194,746        304,691   
                        

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

      

Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale

     689,432        740,353        365,559   

Proceeds from maturities of securities held to maturity

     4,231        6,644        3,191   

Proceeds from maturities of securities available for sale

     789,301        631,324        490,252   

Proceeds from sale of credit card portfolio

     —          100,516        —     

Purchase of securities held to maturity

     (3,528     (6,038     (2,287

Purchase of securities available for sale

     (2,002,888     (983,713     (1,111,203

Decrease (increase) in short-term investments

     5,119        (557     7,035   

Net increase in loans

     (42,408     (961,002     (809,562

Net purchases of premises and equipment

     (22,147     (29,054     (21,606
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (582,888     (501,527     (1,078,621
                        

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

      

Net increase (decrease) in demand and savings deposits

     1,330,250        (115,100     (233,523

Net increase in time deposits

     215,748        561,571        106,499   

Additions to long-term debt

     —          344,690        1,463,633   

Repayments of long-term debt

     (247,024     (199,026     (1,125,648

(Decrease) increase in short-term borrowings

     (893,830     (621,174     703,104   

Dividends paid

     (58,913     (103,976     (103,122

Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock and common stock warrants

     —          376,500        —     

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock

     7,419        13,177        7,368   

Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation

     —          —          111   

Acquisition of treasury stock

     —          —          (18,227
                        

Net cash provided by financing activities

     353,650        256,662        800,195   
                        

Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Due From Banks

     (46,656     (50,119     26,265   

Cash and Due From Banks at Beginning of Year

     331,164        381,283        355,018   
                        

Cash and Due From Banks at End of Year

   $ 284,508      $ 331,164      $ 381,283   
                        

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information

      

Cash paid during period for:

      

Interest

   $ 272,595      $ 358,906      $ 442,987   

Income taxes

     22,599        80,327        65,053   

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE A – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Business: Fulton Financial Corporation (Parent Company) is a multi-bank financial holding company which provides a full range of banking and financial services to businesses and consumers through its eight wholly owned banking subsidiaries: Fulton Bank, N.A., Swineford National Bank, Lafayette Ambassador Bank, FNB Bank N.A., Delaware National Bank, The Bank, The Columbia Bank and Skylands Community Bank. In addition, the Parent Company owns the following non-bank subsidiaries: Fulton Reinsurance Company, LTD, Fulton Financial Realty Company, Central Pennsylvania Financial Corp., FFC Management, Inc., FFC Penn Square, Inc. and Fulton Insurance Services Group, Inc. Collectively, the Parent Company and its subsidiaries are referred to as the Corporation.

During 2009 and 2008, the Corporation completed the consolidation of certain wholly owned banking subsidiaries. In 2009, the former Peoples Bank of Elkton subsidiary and the former Hagerstown Trust Company subsidiary consolidated with The Columbia Bank. In March 2008, the former Resource Bank subsidiary consolidated with Fulton Bank, N.A.

In October 2009, the Corporation’s investment management and trust services subsidiary, Fulton Financial Advisors, N.A., became an operating subsidiary of Fulton Bank. Concurrently with this transaction, Fulton Bank converted its Pennsylvania state charter to a national charter, thereby becoming Fulton Bank, N.A.

The Corporation’s primary sources of revenue are interest income on loans and investment securities and fee income on its products and services. Its expenses consist of interest expense on deposits and borrowed funds, provision for loan losses, other operating expenses and income taxes. The Corporation’s primary competition is other financial services providers operating in its region. Competitors also include financial services providers located outside the Corporation’s geographical market as a result of the growth in electronic delivery systems. The Corporation is subject to the regulations of certain Federal and state agencies and undergoes periodic examinations by such regulatory authorities.

The Corporation offers, through its banking subsidiaries, a full range of retail and commercial banking services throughout central and eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia. Industry diversity is the key to the economic well being of these markets, and the Corporation is not dependent upon any single customer or industry.

Basis of Financial Statement Presentation: The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) and include the accounts of the Parent Company and all wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Corporation evaluates subsequent events through the date of filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement No. 168, “The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” (Statement 168). Statement 168 established the Accounting Standards Codification (FASB ASC) as the source of authoritative U.S. GAAP for all nongovernmental entities, excluding SEC rules and interpretative releases, which are also authoritative U.S. GAAP for SEC registrants, such as the Corporation. References to specific U.S. GAAP provisions included in the accompanying report cite FASB ASC references where applicable.

Fair Value Measurements: FASB ASC Topic 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into the following three categories (from highest to lowest priority):

 

   

Level 1 – Inputs that represent quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

 

   

Level 2 – Inputs that represent quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, or quoted prices for identical instruments in non-active markets. Also includes valuation techniques whose inputs are derived principally from observable market data other than quoted prices, such as interest rates or other market-corroborated means.

 

   

Level 3 – Inputs that are largely unobservable, as little or no market data exists for the instrument being valued.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The Corporation has categorized all assets and liabilities required to be measured at fair value on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis into the above three levels.

In April 2009, the FASB issued Staff Position No. 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly”, codified as FASB ASC Sections 820-10-35 and 50, which provides additional guidance for estimating fair value in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 820 when the volume and level of activity for an asset or liability have declined significantly and includes guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. The adoption of this staff position, effective March 31, 2009, did not impact the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2009, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2009-05, “Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value” (ASC Update 2009-05). ASC Update 2009-05 amends ASC Topic 820 by allowing companies to determine the fair value of liabilities using the perspective of an investor that holds the related obligation as an asset as opposed to measuring liabilities based on the price that would be paid to transfer a liability to a new obligor. The adoption of ASC Update 2009-05, effective September 30, 2009, did not impact the Corporation.

See Note P, “Fair Value Measurements” for additional details.

Fair Value Option: FASB ASC Subtopic 825-10 permits entities to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value and requires certain disclosures for amounts for which the fair value option is applied.

The Corporation elected to record mortgage loans held for sale originated after September 30, 2008 at fair value. Prior to October 1, 2008, mortgage loans held for sale were reported at the lower of aggregate cost or market. The Corporation elected to measure mortgage loans held for sale at fair value to more accurately reflect the performance of its entire mortgage banking activities in its consolidated financial statements. Derivative financial instruments related to these activities are also recorded at fair value, as detailed under the heading “Derivative Financial Instruments” below. The Corporation determines fair value for its mortgage loans held for sale based on the price that secondary market investors would pay for loans with similar characteristics, including interest rate and term, as of the date fair value is measured. Changes in fair value during the period are recorded as components of gains on sales of mortgage loans on the consolidated statements of operation. Interest income earned on mortgage loans held for sale is classified within interest income on the consolidated statements of operations.

The following table presents a summary of the Corporation’s fair value elections and their impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

     Cost –
Asset
(Liability)
    Fair Value –
Asset
(Liability)
    Balance Sheet
Classification
   Fair Value
Adjustment
Gain (Loss)
    Statements of Operations
Classification
     (in thousands)

December 31, 2009:

           

Mortgage loans held for sale (1)

   $ 78,819      $ 79,577      Loans held for sale    $ 758      Gains on sales of mortgage loans

December 31, 2008:

           

Mortgage loans held for sale (1)

   $ 64,787      $ 66,567      Loans held for sale    $ 1,780      Gains on sales of mortgage loans

Hedged certificates of deposit

     (7,458     (7,517   Interest-bearing deposits      (59   Other expense
                             
   $ 57,329      $ 59,050         $ 1,721     
                             

 

(1) Cost basis of mortgage loans held for sale represents the unpaid principal balance.

Investments: Debt securities are classified as held to maturity at the time of purchase when the Corporation has both the intent and ability to hold these investments until they mature. Such debt securities are carried at cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts using the effective yield method. The Corporation does not engage in trading activities, however, since the investment portfolio serves as a source of liquidity, most debt securities and all marketable equity securities are classified as available for sale. Securities available for sale are carried at estimated fair value with the related unrealized holding gains and losses reported in shareholders’ equity as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax. Realized securities gains and losses are computed using the specific identification method and are recorded on a trade date basis.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Securities are evaluated periodically to determine whether declines in value are other-than-temporary. Declines in value that are determined to be other-than-temporary are recorded as losses on the consolidated statements of operations.

In April 2009, the FASB issued Staff Position No. 115-2 and 124-2, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-than-Temporary Impairments” (FSP FAS 115-2). FSP FAS 115-2, codified within FASB ASC Subtopic 320-10, amends other-than-temporary impairment guidance for debt securities and expands disclosure requirements for other-than-temporarily impaired debt and equity securities. FSP FAS 115-2 requires companies to record other-than-temporary impairment charges, through earnings, if they have the intent to sell, or will more likely than not be required to sell, an impaired debt security before a recovery of its amortized cost basis. In addition, FSP FAS 115-2 requires companies to record other-than-temporary impairment charges through earnings for the amount of credit losses, regardless of the intent or the requirement to sell. Credit loss is measured as the difference between the present value of an impaired debt security’s expected cash flows and its amortized cost basis. Non-credit related write-downs to fair value must be recorded as decreases to accumulated other comprehensive income as long as a company has no intent or expected requirement to sell an impaired security before a recovery of amortized cost basis. Finally, FSP FAS 115-2 requires companies to record all previously recorded non-credit related other-than-temporary impairment charges for debt securities as cumulative effect adjustments to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. FSP FAS 115-2 was effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted for the period ending after March 15, 2009. The Corporation elected to early adopt FSP FAS 115-2, effective January 1, 2009.

In 2008, the Corporation recorded other-than-temporary impairment charges for pooled trust preferred securities totaling $15.8 million. Upon adoption of FSP FAS 115-2, the Corporation determined that $9.7 million of those other-than-temporary impairment charges were non-credit related. As such, a $6.3 million (net of $3.4 million of taxes) increase to retained earnings and a corresponding decrease to accumulated other comprehensive income was recorded as the cumulative effect of adopting FSP FAS 115-2 as of January 1, 2009.

Loans and Revenue Recognition: Loan and lease financing receivables are stated at their principal amount outstanding, except for mortgage loans held for sale, which the Corporation has elected to carry at fair value, and floating rate residential mortgage construction loans held for sale, which are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or fair value. Loans transferred from held for sale to portfolio are reclassified at fair value, with write-downs recorded as other expense. Interest income on loans is accrued as earned. Unearned income on lease financing receivables is recognized on a basis which approximates the effective yield method. Premiums and discounts on purchased loans are amortized as adjustments to interest income using the effective yield method.

Accrual of interest income is generally discontinued when a loan becomes 90 days past due as to principal or interest, except for adequately collateralized mortgage loans. When interest accruals are discontinued, unpaid interest previously credited to income is reversed. Non-accrual loans are restored to accrual status when all delinquent principal and interest become current or the loan is considered secured and in the process of collection.

Loan Origination Fees and Costs: Loan origination fees and the related direct origination costs are offset and the net amount is deferred and amortized over the life of the loan as an adjustment to interest income using the effective interest method. For mortgage loans sold, the net amount is included in gain or loss upon the sale of the related mortgage loan.

Allowance for Credit Losses: The allowance for credit losses consists of the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments. The allowance for loan losses represents management’s estimate of losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date and is recorded as a reduction to loans. The reserve for unfunded lending commitments represents management’s estimate of losses inherent in its unfunded loan commitments and is recorded in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The allowance for credit losses is increased by charges to expense, through the provision for loan losses, and decreased by charge-offs, net of recoveries. Management’s periodic evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses is based on the Corporation’s past loan loss experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrowers’ ability to repay, the estimated fair value of underlying collateral and current economic conditions, among other considerations. Management believes that the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments are adequate as of the balance sheet date, however, future changes to the allowance or reserve may be necessary based on changes in any of these factors.

The allowance for loan losses consists of two components – specific allowances allocated to individually impaired loans, as required by FASB ASC Section 310-10-35, and allowances calculated for pools of loans under FASB ASC Subtopic 450-20. Impaired loans represent loans for which the Corporation believes it is probable that all amounts will not be collected according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The Corporation uses an internal risk rating process for its commercial loans, commercial mortgages and construction loans consisting of nine general classifications ranging from “excellent” to “loss”. Internal credit ratings are reviewed in connection with the Corporation’s ongoing allowance allocation process. Larger balance commercial loans, commercial mortgages and construction loans with risk ratings of “substandard” or lower are individually reviewed for impairment under FASB ASC Section 310-10-35. A loan with a “substandard” credit rating is inadequately protected by the sound worth and paying capacity of the borrower or by the collateral pledged, if any. In addition, there exists a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the normal repayment of the debt. Collection of principal may be collateral-intensive. A distinct possibility exists that some loss may be sustained if deficiencies are not corrected.

Loans that are determined to be impaired are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, or at the loan’s observable market price or at the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. The fair value of collateral is generally based on appraisals, discounted to represent expected sale prices. An allowance for loan losses is allocated to an impaired loan if its carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value. In addition, a reserve for unfunded lending commitments is allocated for impaired loans with unused commitments to extend credit.

All loans not individually reviewed for impairment under FASB ASC Section 310-10-35 are evaluated under FASB ASC Subtopic 450-20. Loans are segmented into groups with similar characteristics and an allowance for loan losses is allocated to each segment based on quantitative factors, such as recent loss history, and qualitative factors, such as economic conditions and trends. In general, these loans include residential mortgages and home equity loans, consumer loans, installment loans, smaller balance commercial loans and mortgages and lease receivables. Large balance commercial loans, commercial mortgages and construction loans with internal credit ratings of “satisfactory minus” or “special mention” are also evaluated under FASB ASC Subtopic 450-20. Since these loans have somewhat higher risk characteristics compared to other loans evaluated under FASB ASC Subtopic 450-20, they are segregated into separate pools for evaluation purposes. Loans rated “special mention” represent potentially weak loans or assets presenting an unwarranted credit risk, but less risky than substandard assets. Loans rated “satisfactory minus” generally involve borrowers that may lack experience, depth or credit history. Borrowers may display marginal financial condition and financial trends that are unestablished or may be negative, however, the Corporation has an optimistic view of their future collectibility.

The allocation of the allowance for credit losses is reviewed to evaluate its appropriateness in relation to the overall risk profile of the loan portfolio. The Corporation considers risk factors such as: local and national economic conditions; trends in delinquencies and non-accrual loans; the diversity of borrower industry types; and the composition of the portfolio by loan type. An unallocated allowance is maintained for factors and conditions that exist at the balance sheet date, but are not specifically identifiable, and to recognize the inherent imprecision in estimating and measuring loss exposure.

Loans and lease financing receivables deemed to be a loss are written off through a charge against the allowance for credit losses. Closed-end consumer loans are generally charged off when they become 120 days past due (180 days for open-end consumer loans) if they are not adequately secured by real estate. All other loans are evaluated for possible charge-off when it is probable that the balance will not be collected, based on the ability of the borrower to pay and the value of the underlying collateral. Recoveries of loans previously charged off are recorded as increases to the allowance for loan losses. Past due status is determined based on contractual due dates for loan payments.

Prior to 2009, loans reviewed for impairment under FASB ASC Section 310-10-35 also included large balance commercial loans and commercial mortgages that were rated “satisfactory minus” or “special mention”. In 2009, the Corporation revised its allocation methodology to evaluate loans with these internal risk ratings under FASB ASC Subtopic 450-20, as documented above. The methodology was changed to more properly align internal risk ratings with the likelihood of impairment.

This change in allocation methodology did not result in a change in the Corporation’s overall allowance for credit losses balance, or in a change to the unallocated allowance, but rather resulted in a re-categorization of the allowance for loan losses from the allowance allocated to impaired loans under FASB ASC Section 310-10-35 to the allowance allocated to loans evaluated under FASB ASC Subtopic 450-20. This change in methodology did result in a significant decrease in the reserve for unfunded lending commitments, which is based solely on unfunded commitments related to impaired loans. Such loans included “satisfactory minus” and “special mention” loans in years prior to 2009. As of December 31, 2009, the reserve for unfunded lending commitments was $855,000, as compared to $6.2 million as of December 31, 2008. For additional details, see Note D, “Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses.”

Lease financing receivables include both open and closed end leases for the purchase of vehicles and equipment. Residual values are set at the inception of the lease and are reviewed periodically for impairment. If the impairment is considered to be other-than-temporary, the resulting reduction in the net investment in the lease is recognized as a loss in the period when impairment occurs.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Troubled Debt Restructurings: Loans whose terms are modified are classified as troubled debt restructurings if the Corporation grants such borrowers concessions and it is deemed that those borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty. Concessions granted under a troubled debt restructuring generally involve a temporary reduction in interest rate or an extension of a loan’s stated maturity date. Nonaccrual troubled debt restructurings are restored to accrual status if principal and interest payments, under the modified terms, are current for six consecutive months after modification.

Premises and Equipment: Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The provision for depreciation and amortization is generally computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which are a maximum of 50 years for buildings and improvements, 8 years for furniture and 5 years for equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of 15 years or the non-cancelable lease term. Interest costs incurred during the construction of major bank premises are capitalized.

Other Real Estate Owned: Assets acquired in settlement of mortgage loan indebtedness are recorded as other real estate owned and are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets, initially at the lower of the estimated fair value of the asset less estimated selling costs or the carrying amount of the loan. Costs to maintain the assets and subsequent gains and losses on sales are included in other expense or other income, as appropriate.

Mortgage Servicing Rights: The estimated fair value of mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) related to loans sold and serviced by the Corporation is recorded as an asset upon the sale of such loans. MSRs are amortized as a reduction to servicing income over the estimated lives of the underlying loans.

MSRs are evaluated quarterly for impairment, by comparing the carrying amount to estimated fair value, as determined through a discounted cash flows valuation. Significant inputs to the valuation include expected servicing income, net of expense, the discount rate and the expected life of the underlying loans. To the extent the amortized cost of the MSRs exceed their estimated fair value; a valuation allowance is established for such impairment, through a charge against servicing income on the consolidated statements of operations. If the Corporation determines, based on subsequent valuations, that an impairment no longer exists, then the valuation allowance is reduced through an increase to servicing income.

Derivative Financial Instruments: In connection with its mortgage banking activities, the Corporation enters into commitments to originate certain fixed-rate residential mortgage loans for customers, also referred to as interest rate locks. In addition, the Corporation enters into forward commitments for the future sale or purchase of mortgage-backed securities to or from third-party investors to hedge the effect of changes in interest rates on the value of the interest rate locks. Forward sales commitments may also be in the form of commitments to sell individual mortgage loans at a fixed price at a future date. Both the interest rate locks and the forward commitments are accounted for as derivatives and carried at fair value, determined as the amount that would be necessary to settle each derivative financial instrument at the end of the period. Gross derivative assets and liabilities are recorded within other assets and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, with changes in fair value during the period recorded within gains on sales of mortgage loans on the consolidated statements of operations.

The following table presents a summary of the notional amounts and fair values of derivative financial instruments as of December 31:

 

     2009     2008  
     Notional
Amount
   Fair Value     Notional
Amount
   Fair Value  
     (in thousands)  

Interest rate locks with customers (1)

   $ 165,086    $ (411   $ 141,145    $ 425   

Forward commitments (1)

     291,742      1,284        490,448      (1,445

Interest rate swaps (2)

        —          10,000      18   
                      
      $ 873         $ (1,002
                      

 

(1) As of December 31, 2009, the Corporation recorded gross mortgage banking derivative assets of $2.4 million and gross mortgage banking derivative liabilities of $1.5 million. As of December 31, 2008, the Corporation recorded gross mortgage banking derivative assets of $1.5 million and gross mortgage banking derivative liabilities of $2.5 million.
(2) Interest rate swaps were recorded as a component of other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following table presents a summary of the fair value gains and losses on derivative financial instruments:

 

     Fair Value Gains
(Losses)
     
     2009     2008    

Statements of Operations Classification

     (in thousands)      

Interest rate locks with customers

   $ (836   $ 506      Gains on sales of mortgage loans

Forward commitments

     2,729        (1,681   Gains on sales of mortgage loans

Interest rate swaps

     (18     1,160      Other expense
                  
   $ 1,875      $ (15  
                  

Income Taxes: The provision for income taxes is based upon income before income taxes, adjusted primarily for the effect of tax-exempt income, non-deductible expenses and net credits received from investments in low and moderate income housing partnerships (LIH investments) and similar investments. Certain items of income and expense are reported in different periods for financial reporting and tax return purposes. The tax effects of these temporary differences are recognized currently in the deferred income tax provision or benefit. Deferred tax assets or liabilities are computed based on the difference between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using the applicable enacted marginal tax rate. The deferred income tax provision or benefit is based on the changes in the deferred tax asset or liability from period to period.

The Corporation accounts for uncertain tax positions by applying a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. Recognition and measurement of tax positions is based on management’s evaluations of relevant tax code and appropriate industry information about audit proceedings for comparable positions at other organizations. Virtually all of the Corporation’s unrecognized tax benefits are for positions that are taken on an annual basis on state tax returns. Increases to unrecognized tax benefits will occur as a result of accruing for the nonrecognition of the position for the current year. Decreases will occur as a result of the lapsing of the statute of limitations for the oldest outstanding year which includes the position. Upon the initial recognition of unrecognized tax positions on January 1, 2007, the Corporation recorded a $220,000 reduction to other liabilities, with a cumulative effect adjustment for the same amount recorded as an increase to retained earnings.

Stock-Based Compensation: The Corporation grants equity awards to employees, consisting of stock options and restricted stock, under its Stock Option and Compensation Plans (Option Plans). In addition, employees may purchase shares of the Corporation’s common stock under the Corporation’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Compensation expense is equal to the fair value of the stock-based compensation awards, net of estimated forfeitures, and is recognized over the vesting period of such awards. The vesting period represents the period during which employees are required to provide service in exchange for such awards.

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share: The Corporation’s basic net income (loss) per common share is calculated as net income (loss) available to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Net income (loss) available to common shareholders is calculated as net income (loss) less accrued dividends and discount accretion related to preferred stock. See Note M, “Stock-based Compensation Plans and Shareholders’ Equity” for additional details related to the Corporation’s issuance of preferred stock and common stock warrants.

For diluted net income (loss) per common share, net income (loss) available to common shareholders is divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the incremental number of shares added as a result of converting common stock equivalents, calculated using the treasury stock method. The Corporation’s common stock equivalents consist of outstanding stock options, restricted stock and common stock warrants.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

A reconciliation of weighted average common shares outstanding used to calculate basic net income (loss) per common share and diluted net income (loss) per common share follows.

 

     2009    2008    2007
     (in thousands)

Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic)

   175,662    174,236    173,295

Impact of common stock equivalents

   281    —      1,091
              

Weighted average common shares outstanding (diluted)

   175,943    174,236    174,386
              

In 2009, 6.3 million stock options and 5.5 million common stock warrants were excluded from the diluted earnings per share computation as their effect would have been anti-dilutive. In 2008, all common stock equivalents were excluded because their effect would have been anti-dilutive due to the net loss for the year. In 2007, 4.4 million stock options were excluded from the diluted earnings per share computation as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information: The Corporation does not have any operating segments which require disclosure of additional information. While the Corporation owns eight separate banks, each engages in similar activities, provides similar products and services, and operates in the same general geographical area. The Corporation’s non-banking activities are immaterial and, therefore, separate information has not been disclosed.

Financial Guarantees: Financial guarantees, which consist primarily of standby and commercial letters of credit, are accounted for by recognizing a liability equal to the fair value of the guarantees and crediting the liability to income over the term of the guarantee. Fair value is estimated based on the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements with similar terms.

Business Combinations and Intangible Assets: The Corporation accounts for its acquisitions using the purchase accounting method. Purchase accounting requires the total purchase price to be allocated to the estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including certain intangible assets that must be recognized. Typically, this allocation results in the purchase price exceeding the fair value of net assets acquired, which is recorded as goodwill.

Goodwill is not amortized to expense, but is tested for impairment at least annually. Write-downs of the balance, if necessary as a result of the impairment test, are charged to expense in the period in which goodwill is determined to be impaired. The Corporation performs its annual test of goodwill impairment as of October 31st of each year. If certain events occur which indicate goodwill might be impaired between annual tests, goodwill must be tested when such events occur. Based on the results of its annual impairment test, the Corporation concluded that there was no impairment in 2009. In 2008, the Corporation recorded a $90.0 million goodwill impairment charge for its Columbia Bank reporting unit. See Note F, “Goodwill and Intangible Assets” for additional details.

Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated lives. Some intangible assets have indefinite lives and are, therefore, not amortized. All intangible assets must be evaluated for impairment if certain events occur. Any impairment write-downs are recognized as expense on the consolidated statements of operations.

Variable Interest Entities: FASB ASC Topic 810 provides guidance on when to consolidate certain Variable Interest Entities (VIE’s) in the financial statements of the Corporation. VIE’s are entities in which equity investors do not have a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance activities without additional financial support from other parties. A company must consolidate a VIE if the company has a variable interest that will absorb a majority of the VIE’s losses, if they occur, and/or receive a majority of the VIE’s residual returns, if they occur.

The provisions of FASB ASC Topic 810 related to Subsidiary Trusts, as interpreted by the SEC, disallow consolidation of Subsidiary Trusts in the financial statements of the Corporation. As a result, securities that were issued by the trusts (Trust Preferred Securities) are not included on the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheets. The junior subordinated debentures issued by the Parent Company to the Subsidiary Trusts, which have the same total balance and rate as the combined equity securities and trust preferred securities issued by the Subsidiary Trusts, remain in long-term debt. See Note I, “Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt” for additional information.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

LIH investments are amortized under the effective interest method over the life of the Federal income tax credits generated as a result of such investments, generally ten years. As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Corporation’s LIH Investments, included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets, totaled $76.5 million and $47.5 million, respectively. The net income tax benefit associated with these investments were $4.7 million, $3.9 million and $3.7 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. None of the Corporation’s LIH investments met the consolidation criteria of FASB ASC Topic 810 as of December 31, 2009 or 2008.

New Accounting Standards: In June 2009, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 166, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140” (Statement 166). Statement 166, or ASC Update 2009-16, amends the accounting for transfers of financial assets. Among its amendments to FASB Statement 140, it eliminates the concept of qualifying special-purpose entities, requires additional criteria to be met in order for the transfer of portions of financial assets to qualify for sale treatment, and expands the legal isolation criteria. Statement 166 is effective for a reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, or January 1, 2010 for the Corporation. The adoption of Statement 166 will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2009, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 167, “Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)” (Statement 167). Statement 167, or ASC Update 2009-17, amends the criteria for determining the primary beneficiary of, and the entity required to consolidate, a VIE. Statement 167 is effective for a reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, or January 1, 2010 for the Corporation. The adoption of Statement 167 will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2010-06, “Improving Disclosures About Fair Value Measurements” (ASC Update 2010-06). ASC Update 2010-06 requires companies to disclose, and provide the reasons for, all transfers of assets and liabilities between the Level 1 and 2 fair value categories. ASC Update 2010-06 also clarifies that companies should disclose fair value measurement disclosures for classes of assets and liabilities which are subsets of line items within the balance sheet, if necessary. In addition, ASC Update 2010-06 provides additional clarification related to disclosures about the fair value techniques and inputs for assets and liabilities classified within Level 2 or 3 categories. The disclosure requirements prescribed by ASC Update No. 2010-06 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2009, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, or March 31, 2010 for the Corporation. ASC Update 2010-06 also requires companies to reconcile changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities by separately providing information about Level 3 purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross basis. This provision of ASC Update 2010-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, or March 31, 2011 for the Corporation. The adoption of ASC Update 2010-06 is not expected to materially impact the Corporation’s fair value measurement disclosures.

Reclassifications: Certain amounts in the 2008 and 2007 consolidated financial statements and notes have been reclassified to conform to the 2009 presentation.

NOTE B – RESTRICTIONS ON CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS

The Corporation’s subsidiary banks are required to maintain reserves, in the form of cash and balances with the Federal Reserve Bank, against their deposit liabilities. The amount of such reserves as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 were $97.4 million and $70.9 million, respectively.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

NOTE C – INVESTMENT SECURITIES

The following tables present the amortized cost and estimated fair values of investment securities as of December 31:

 

2009 Held to Maturity

   Amortized
Cost
   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair

Value
     (in thousands)

U.S. Government sponsored agency securities

   $ 6,713    $ 7    $ —        $ 6,720

State and municipal securities

     503      —        —          503

Mortgage-backed securities

     1,484      90      —          1,574
                            
   $ 8,700    $ 97    $ —        $ 8,797
                            

2009 Available for Sale

                    

Equity securities

   $ 142,531    $ 2,758    $ (4,919   $ 140,370

U.S. Government securities

     1,325      —        —          1,325

U.S. Government sponsored agency securities

     91,079      905      (28     91,956

State and municipal securities

     406,011      9,819      (57     415,773

Corporate debt securities

     154,029      424      (37,714     116,739

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     1,102,169      25,631      (4,804     1,122,996

Mortgage-backed securities

     1,043,518      36,948      (442     1,080,024

Auction rate securities (1)

     292,145      3,227      (6,169     289,203
                            
   $ 3,232,807    $ 79,712    $ (54,133   $ 3,258,386
                            

 

(1) See Note O, “Commitments and Contingencies” for additional details related to auction rate securities.

 

2008 Held to Maturity

                    

U.S. Government sponsored agency securities

   $ 6,782    $ 60    $ —        $ 6,842

State and municipal securities

     825      5      —          830

Corporate debt securities

     25      —        —          25

Mortgage-backed securities

     2,004      66      (2     2,068
                            
   $ 9,636    $ 131    $ (2   $ 9,765
                            

2008 Available for Sale

                    

Equity securities

   $ 138,071    $ 2,133    $ (1,503   $ 138,701

U.S. Government securities

     14,545      83      —          14,628

U.S. Government sponsored agency securities

     74,616      2,406      (20     77,002

State and municipal securities

     520,429      5,317      (2,210     523,536

Corporate debt securities

     154,976      1,085      (36,167     119,894

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     489,686      14,713      (206     504,193

Mortgage-backed securities

     1,118,508      24,160      (1,317     1,141,351

Auction rate securities

     208,281      —        (12,381     195,900
                            
   $ 2,719,112    $ 49,897    $ (53,804   $ 2,715,205
                            

Securities carried at $2.2 billion and $2.0 billion as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, were pledged as collateral to secure public and trust deposits, customer repurchase agreements and interest rate swaps. Available for sale equity securities include restricted investment securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and the Federal Reserve Bank totaling $99.1 million and $85.3 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities as of December 31, 2009, by contractual maturity, are shown in the following table. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 

     Held to Maturity    Available for Sale
     Amortized
Cost
   Estimated
Fair Value
   Amortized
Cost
   Estimated
Fair Value
     (in thousands)

Due in one year or less

   $ 157    $ 157    $ 60,395    $ 61,034

Due from one year to five years

     7,059      7,066      236,116      241,078

Due from five years to ten years

     —        —        88,334      87,582

Due after ten years

     —        —        559,744      525,302
                           
     7,216      7,223      944,589      914,996

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     —        —        1,102,169      1,122,996

Mortgage-backed securities

     1,484      1,574      1,043,518      1,080,024
                           
   $ 8,700    $ 8,797    $ 3,090,276    $ 3,118,016
                           

The following table presents information related to the Corporation’s gains and losses on the sales of equity and debt securities, and losses recognized for other-than-temporary impairment of investments:

 

     Gross
Realized
Gains
   Gross
Realized
Losses
    Other-than-
temporary
Impairment
Losses
    Net (Losses)
Gains
 
     (in thousands)  

2009:

         

Equity securities

   $ 666    $ (689   $ (3,931   $ (3,954

Debt securities

     14,632      (129     (9,470     5,033   
                               

Total

   $ 15,298    $ (818   $ (13,401   $ 1,079   
                               

2008:

         

Equity securities

   $ 7,626    $ —        $ (44,649   $ (37,023

Debt securities

     3,887      (4,418     (20,687     (21,218
                               

Total

   $ 11,513    $ (4,418   $ (65,336   $ (58,241
                               

2007:

         

Equity securities

   $ 1,987    $ (51   $ (292   $ 1,644   

Debt securities

     2,158      (2,030     (32     96   
                               

Total

   $ 4,145    $ (2,081   $ (324   $ 1,740   
                               

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following table presents a summary of other-than-temporary impairment charges recorded as components of investment securities gains (losses) on the consolidated statements of operations, by investment security type:

 

     2009    2008    2007
     (in thousands)

Financial institution stocks

   $ 3,825    $ 43,131    $ 117

Mutual funds

     106      1,162      —  

U.S. government sponsored agency stock

     —        356      175
                    

Total equity securities charges

     3,931      44,649      292
                    

Pooled trust preferred securities

     9,470      15,832      —  

Bank-issued subordinated debt

     —        4,855      —  

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     —        —        32
                    

Total debt securities charges

     9,470      20,687      32
                    

Total other-than-temporary impairment charges

   $ 13,401    $ 65,336    $ 324
                    

The $3.8 million other-than-temporary impairment charge related to financial institutions stocks in 2009 was due to the severity and duration of the decline in fair values of certain bank stock holdings, in conjunction with management’s evaluation of the near-term prospects of each specific issuer. As of December 31, 2009, after other-than-temporary impairment charges, the financial institution stock portfolio had a cost basis of $34.5 million and a fair value of $32.3 million.

In addition to financial institution stocks, the Corporation recorded a $106,000 other-than-temporary impairment charge for a mutual fund investment in 2009.

In 2009, the Corporation recorded $9.5 million of credit related other-than-temporary impairment charges for pooled trust preferred securities based on an expected cash flows model in accordance with FSP FAS 115-2. The following table presents a summary of the cumulative credit related other-than-temporary impairment charges recognized as components of earnings for securities still held by the Corporation (in thousands):

 

Cumulative credit losses on pooled trust preferred securities, through December 31, 2008 (1)

   $ (6,142

Additions for credit losses recorded which were not previously recognized as components of earnings

     (9,470
        

Cumulative credit losses on pooled trust preferred securities, through December 31, 2009

   $ (15,612
        

 

(1) Cumulative credit losses of $6.1 million at January 1, 2009 represent the other-than-temporary impairment charges recorded during the year ended December 31, 2008 for pooled trust preferred securities, net of the Corporation’s cumulative effect adjustment upon adoption of FSP FAS 115-2. Because previously recognized other-than-temporary impairment charges were reversed through equity rather than earnings, $8.7 million of the $9.5 million other-than-temporary impairment charges for certain pooled trust preferred securities recorded during 2009 were also presented as other-than-temporary impairment charges on the Corporation’s statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following table presents the gross unrealized losses and estimated fair values of investments, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, as of December 31, 2009. The unrealized losses included within the table below are presented net of the other-than-temporary impairment charges detailed above:

 

     Less Than 12 months     12 Months or Longer     Total       
     Estimated
Fair Value
   Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair Value
   Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair Value
   Unrealized
Losses
 
     (in thousands)  

U.S. Government sponsored agency securities

   $ 19,977    $ (23   $ 553    $ (5   $ 20,530    $ (28

State and municipal securities

     5,366      (44     802      (13     6,168      (57

Corporate debt securities

     13,184      (14,569     82,241      (23,145     95,425      (37,714

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     232,382      (4,804     —        —          232,382      (4,804

Mortgage-backed securities

     113,078      (442     —        —          113,078      (442

Auction rate securities

     26,204      (678     171,364      (5,491     197,568      (6,169
                                             

Total debt securities

     410,191      (20,560     254,960      (28,654     665,151      (49,214

Equity securities

     14,365      (4,144     2,622      (775     16,987      (4,919
                                             
   $ 424,556    $ (24,704   $ 257,582    $ (29,429   $ 682,138    $ (54,133
                                             

As noted above, for its investments in equity securities, most notably its investments in stocks of financial institutions, management evaluates the near-term prospects of the issuers in relation to the severity and duration of the impairment. Based on that evaluation and the Corporation’s ability and intent to hold those investments for a reasonable period of time sufficient for a recovery of fair value, the Corporation does not consider those investments with unrealized holding losses as of December 31, 2009 to be other-than-temporarily impaired.

The unrealized holding losses on investments in student loan auction rate securities, also known as auction rate certificates (ARCs), are attributable to liquidity issues resulting from the failure of periodic auctions. As of December 31, 2009, approximately $250 million, or 86%, of the ARCs held by the Corporation were rated above investment grade, with approximately $187 million, or 65%, AAA rated by at least one ratings agency. Approximately $40 million, or 14%, of ARCs were rated below investment grade by at least one ratings agency. Of this amount, approximately $22 million, or 57%, of the student loans underlying the ARCs have principal payments which are guaranteed by the Federal government. In total, approximately $257 million, or 89%, of the student loans underlying the ARCs have principal payments which are guaranteed by the Federal government. At December 31, 2009, all ARCs held by the Corporation were current and making scheduled interest payments. Because the Corporation does not have the intent to sell and does not believe it will be required to sell any of these securities prior to a recovery of their fair value to amortized cost, the Corporation does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2009.

The Corporation’s mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations have contractual terms that generally do not permit the issuer to settle the securities at a price less than the amortized cost of the investment. Because the decline in market value of these securities is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality, and because the Corporation does not have the intent to sell and does not believe it will be required to sell any of these securities prior to a recovery of their fair value to amortized cost, the Corporation does not consider those investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2009.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The majority of the Corporation’s available for sale corporate debt securities are issued by financial institutions. The following table presents the amortized cost and estimated fair values of corporate debt securities as of December 31:

 

     2009    2008
     Amortized
cost
   Estimated
fair value
   Amortized
cost
   Estimated
fair value
     (in thousands)

Single-issuer trust preferred securities

   $ 95,481    $ 75,811    $ 97,887    $ 69,819

Subordinated debt

     34,886      32,722      34,788      31,745

Pooled trust preferred securities

     20,435      4,979      19,351      15,381
                           

Corporate debt securities issued by financial institutions

     150,802      113,512      152,026      116,945

Other corporate debt securities

     3,227      3,227      2,950      2,949
                           

Available for sale corporate debt securities

   $ 154,029    $ 116,739    $ 154,976    $ 119,894
                           

The Corporation’s investments in single-issuer trust preferred securities had an unrealized loss of $19.7 million as of December 31, 2009. The Corporation has not recorded any other-than-temporary impairment charges for single-issuer trust preferred securities in 2009, 2008 or 2007. The Corporation held 13 single-issuer trust preferred securities that were rated below investment grade by at least one ratings agency, with an amortized cost of $38.1 million and an estimated fair value of $31.2 million as of December 31, 2009. The majority of the single-issuer trust preferred securities rated below investment grade were rated BB or Baa. Single-issuer trust preferred securities with an amortized cost of $10.2 million and an estimated fair value of $7.0 million as of December 31, 2009, were not rated by any ratings agency and, due to inactive or limited trading activity, were classified as Level 3 assets under FASB ASC Topic 820. See Note P, “Fair Value Measurements” for additional details.

As noted above, the Corporation has recorded significant other-than-temporary impairment charges in both 2009 and 2008 related to its investments in pooled trust preferred securities issued by financial institutions. The Corporation holds ten pooled trust preferred securities. Nine of these securities, with an amortized cost of $19.5 million and an estimated fair value of $4.4 million, are rated below investment grade by at least one ratings agency, with ratings ranging from C to Caa. For each of the nine pooled trust preferred securities rated below investment grade, the class of securities held by the Corporation is below the most senior tranche, with the Corporation’s interests being subordinate to other investors in the pool. The Corporation determines the fair value of pooled trust preferred securities based on quotes provided by third party brokers.

The amortized cost of pooled trust preferred securities is the purchase price of the securities, net of credit related other-than-temporary impairment charges, determined using an expected cash flows analysis. The most significant input to the expected cash flows model is the expected payment deferral rate for each pooled trust preferred security. The Corporation evaluates the financial metrics, such as capital ratios and non-performing asset ratios, of the individual financial institution issuers that comprises each pooled trust preferred security to estimate its expected deferral rate. Actual weighted average cumulative defaults and deferrals as a percentage of original collateral were approximately 26% as of December 31, 2009. The expected weighted average deferral rate assumed in the discounted cash flow modeling for pooled trust preferred securities held by the Corporation as of December 31, 2009 was approximately 13%.

Based on management’s other-than-temporary impairment evaluations and because the Corporation does not have the intent to sell and does not believe it will be required to sell any of these securities prior to a recovery of their fair value to amortized cost, which may be maturity, the estimated fair value of $116.7 million in corporate debt securities were not considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2009.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

NOTE D – LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES

Gross loans are summarized as follows as of December 31:

 

     2009     2008  
     (in thousands)  

Real-estate – commercial mortgage

   $ 4,292,300      $ 4,016,700   

Commercial – industrial, financial and agricultural

     3,699,198        3,635,544   

Real-estate – home equity

     1,644,260        1,695,398   

Real-estate – construction

     978,267        1,269,330   

Real-estate – residential mortgage

     921,741        972,797   

Consumer

     360,698        365,692   

Leasing and other

     69,922        84,832   

Overdrafts

     13,753        12,855   
                
     11,980,139        12,053,148   

Unearned income

     (7,715     (10,528
                
   $ 11,972,424      $ 12,042,620   
                

The Corporation has extended credit to the officers and directors of the Corporation and to their associates. These related-party loans are made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with unrelated persons and do not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility. The aggregate dollar amount of these loans, including unadvanced commitments, was $218.9 million and $290.9 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. During 2009, additions totaled $51.9 million and repayments totaled $123.9 million.

The total portfolio of mortgage loans serviced by the Corporation for unrelated third parties was $2.6 billion and $1.2 billion as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Changes in the allowance for credit losses were as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

     2009     2008     2007  
     (in thousands)  

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 180,137      $ 112,209      $ 106,884   

Loans charged off

     (119,074     (56,859     (13,739

Recoveries of loans previously charged off

     6,470        5,161        4,001   
                        

Net loans charged off

     (112,604     (51,698     (9,738

Provision for loan losses

     190,020        119,626        15,063   
                        

Balance at end of year

   $ 257,553      $ 180,137      $ 112,209   
                        

The following table presents the components of the allowance for credit losses for the years ended December 31:

 

     2009    2008    2007
     (in thousands)

Allowance for loan losses

   $ 256,698    $ 173,946    $ 107,547

Reserve for unfunded lending commitments

     855      6,191      4,662
                    

Allowance for credit losses

   $ 257,553    $ 180,137    $ 112,209
                    

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following table presents non-performing assets as of December 31:

 

     2009    2008
     (in thousands)

Non-accrual loans

   $ 238,360    $ 161,962

Accruing loans greater than 90 days past due

     43,359      35,177

Other real estate owned

     23,309      21,855
             
   $ 305,028    $ 218,994
             

Excluded from the summary of non-performing assets above were $41.1 million of loans whose terms were modified under a troubled debt restructuring and were current under their modified terms at December 31, 2009. These troubled debt restructurings include $24.6 million of residential mortgages and $16.5 million of commercial loans.

The recorded investment in loans that were considered to be impaired, as defined by FASB ASC Section 310-10-35, and the related allowance for loan losses as of December 31 is summarized as follows:

 

     2009     2008  
     Recorded
Investment
   Related
Allowance for
Loan Loss (1)
    Recorded
Investment
   Related
Allowance for
Loan Loss
 
     (in thousands)  

Performing loans

   $ 653,445    $ (100,734   $ 350,502    $ (66,730

Non-accrual loans

     116,425      (26,247     77,053      (27,452
                              

Total impaired loans

   $ 769,870    $ (126,981   $ 427,555    $ (94,182
                              

 

(1) As of December 31, 2009 there were $295.6 million of adequately collateralized commercial mortgage impaired loans that did not have a related allowance for loan loss.

The average recorded investment in impaired performing loans during 2009, 2008 and 2007 was approximately $492.6 million, $273.6 million and $216.8 million, respectively. The average recorded investment in impaired non-accrual loans during 2009, 2008 and 2007 was approximately $115.1 million, $54.7 million and $19.3 million, respectively.

The Corporation generally applies all payments received on non-accruing impaired loans to principal until such time as the principal is paid off, after which time any additional payments received are recognized as interest income. The Corporation recognized interest income of approximately $26.5 million, $16.8 million and $16.3 million on impaired loans in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

NOTE E – PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT

The following is a summary of premises and equipment as of December 31:

 

     2009     2008  
     (in thousands)  

Land

   $ 35,587      $ 33,577   

Buildings and improvements

     240,341        222,586   

Furniture and equipment

     150,164        148,945   

Construction in progress

     4,672        12,622   
                
     430,764        417,730   

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (226,561     (215,073
                
   $ 204,203      $ 202,657   
                

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

NOTE F – GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The following table summarizes the changes in goodwill:

 

     2009    2008     2007  
     (in thousands)  

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 534,385    $ 624,072      $ 626,042   

Goodwill impairment

     —        (90,000     —     

Other goodwill additions (reductions)

     477      313        (1,970
                       

Balance at end of year

   $ 534,862    $ 534,385      $ 624,072   
                       

The Corporation did not complete any acquisitions during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007. The other goodwill additions (reductions) in 2009, 2008 and 2007 were primarily due to additional purchase price incurred for prior acquisitions as a result of contingencies being met, offset by tax benefits realized on the exercise of stock options assumed in acquisitions.

The Corporation tests for impairment by first allocating its goodwill and other assets and liabilities, as necessary, to defined reporting units, which are generally its subsidiary banks. After this allocation is completed, a two-step valuation process is applied, as required by FASB ASC Topic 805. In Step 1, each reporting unit’s fair value is determined based on three metrics: (1) a primary market approach, which measures fair value based on trading multiples of independent publicly traded financial institutions of comparable sizes to the reporting units, (2) a secondary market approach, which measures fair value based on acquisition multiples of publicly traded financial institutions of comparable size which were recently acquired, and (3) an income approach, which estimates fair value based on discounted cash flows. If the fair value of any reporting unit exceeds its adjusted net book value, no write-down of goodwill is necessary. If the fair value of any reporting unit is less than its adjusted net book value, a Step 2 valuation procedure is required to assess the proper carrying value of the goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The valuation procedures applied in a Step 2 valuation are similar to those that would be performed upon an acquisition, with the Step 1 fair value representing a hypothetical reporting unit purchase price.

Based on its 2008 annual goodwill impairment test, the Corporation determined that the goodwill allocated to its Columbia Bank reporting unit (Columbia) was impaired, resulting in a $90.0 million goodwill impairment charge. Columbia’s 2008 goodwill impairment resulted from a number of external and internal factors. Among the external factors that contributed to Columbia’s impairment was the 2008 decrease in the values of financial institution stocks and in the acquisition multiples paid for banks of comparable size and character to Columbia, which produced a lower fair value for Columbia under the primary and secondary market approaches. The Corporation acquired Columbia Bancorp in 2006, paying a price that was commensurate with the market at that time, when bank values were higher than they were as of the date of the 2008 impairment test. Among the internal factors which contributed to the 2008 impairment charge was a decrease in expected cash flows for Columbia under the income approach due to the 2008 interest rate environment, which negatively affected Columbia’s net interest income, and a deterioration in the credit quality of Columbia’s commercial real estate portfolio.

Based on its 2009 annual goodwill impairment test, the Corporation determined that Columbia failed Step 1 of its impairment test, with its adjusted net book value exceeding fair value by approximately $37 million, or 14%. However, the Corporation determined that no goodwill impairment charge was necessary, as the Step 1 shortfall was offset by the implied fair value adjustments of Columbia’s assets and liabilities determined in the Step 2 valuation procedures. The goodwill allocated to Columbia at December 31, 2009 was $112.8 million.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

All of the Corporation’s remaining reporting units passed the Step 1 goodwill impairment test, resulting in no goodwill impairment charges in 2009. Three reporting units, with total allocated goodwill of $174.4 million, had fair values that exceeded adjusted net book values by less than 5%. The remaining reporting units, with total allocated goodwill of $247.7 million, had fair values that exceeded net book values by approximately 13% in the aggregate.

The estimated fair values of the Corporation’s reporting units are subject to uncertainty, including future decreases in the trading and acquisition multiples of comparable financial institutions and future operating results of reporting units which could differ significantly from the assumptions used in the Corporation’s discounted cash flow analysis under the income approach.

The following table summarizes intangible assets as of December 31:

 

     2009    2008
     Gross    Accumulated
Amortization
    Net    Gross    Accumulated
Amortization
    Net
     (in thousands)

Amortizing:

               

Core deposit

   $ 50,279    $ (35,911   $ 14,368    $ 50,279    $ (30,976   $ 19,303

Unidentifiable and other

     11,878      (9,808     2,070      11,878      (8,996     2,882
                                           

Total amortizing

     62,157      (45,719     16,438      62,157      (39,972     22,185

Non-amortizing

     1,263      —          1,263      1,263      —          1,263
                                           
   $ 63,420    $ (45,719   $ 17,701    $ 63,420    $ (39,972   $ 23,448
                                           

Core deposit intangible assets are amortized using an accelerated method over the estimated remaining life of the acquired core deposits. As of December 31, 2009, these assets had a weighted average remaining life of approximately four years. Unidentifiable intangible assets, consisting of premiums paid on branch acquisitions that did not qualify for business combinations accounting under FASB ASC Topic 810, had a weighted average remaining life of three years. All other amortizing intangible assets had a weighted average remaining life of approximately four years. Amortization expense related to intangible assets totaled $5.7 million, $7.2 million and $8.3 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Amortization expense for the next five years is expected to be as follows (in thousands):

 

Year

    

2010

   $ 5,235

2011

     4,239

2012

     3,036

2013

     2,240

2014

     1,340

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

NOTE G – MORTGAGE SERVICING RIGHTS

The following table summarizes the changes in MSRs, which are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets:

 

     2009     2008  
     (in thousands)  

Amortized cost:

    

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 8,491      $ 6,304   

Originations of mortgage servicing rights

     17,571        3,789   

Amortization expense

     (2,564     (1,602
                

Balance at end of year

   $ 23,498      $ 8,491   
                

Valuation allowance:

    

Balance at beginning of year

   $ (1,000   $ —     

Additions

     —          (1,000
                

Balance at end of year

   $ (1,000   $ (1,000
                

Net MSRs at end of year

   $ 22,498      $ 7,491   
                

MSRs represent the economic value of existing contractual rights to service mortgage loans that have been sold. Accordingly, actual and expected prepayments of the underlying mortgage loans can impact the value of MSRs.

The Corporation estimates the fair value of its MSRs by discounting the estimated cash flows from servicing income, net of expense, over the expected life of the underlying loans at a discount rate commensurate with the risk associated with these assets. Expected life is based on the contractual terms of the loans, as adjusted for prepayment projections for mortgage-backed securities with rates and terms comparable to the loans underlying the MSRs.

The Corporation determined that the estimated fair value of MSRs was $22.5 million as of December 31, 2009. The estimated fair value of MSRs was approximately $7.5 million as of December 31, 2008. The estimated fair value of MSRs was equal to their book value at December 31, 2009, therefore, no adjustment to the valuation allowance established in 2008 was necessary as of December 31, 2009.

Estimated MSR amortization expense for the next five years, based on balances as of December 31, 2009 and the expected remaining lives of the underlying loans, follows (in thousands):

 

Year

    

2010

   $ 4,408

2011

     4,056

2012

     3,655

2013

     3,203

2014

     2,693

NOTE H – DEPOSITS

Deposits consisted of the following as of December 31:

 

     2009    2008
     (in thousands)

Noninterest-bearing demand

   $ 2,012,837    $ 1,653,440

Interest-bearing demand

     2,022,746      1,789,833

Savings and money market accounts

     2,748,467      2,010,526

Time deposits

     5,313,864      5,098,117
             
   $ 12,097,914    $ 10,551,916
             

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Included in time deposits were certificates of deposit equal to or greater than $100,000 of $2.1 billion and $1.7 billion as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The scheduled maturities of time deposits as of December 31, 2009 were as follows (in thousands):

 

Year

    

2010

   $ 4,030,551

2011

     734,922

2012

     355,074

2013

     110,095

2014

     43,684

Thereafter

     39,538
      
   $ 5,313,864
      

NOTE I – SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS AND LONG-TERM DEBT

Short-term borrowings as of December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 and the related maximum amounts outstanding at the end of any month in each of the three years then ended are presented below. The securities underlying the repurchase agreements remain in available for sale investment securities.

 

     December 31    Maximum Outstanding
     2009    2008    2007    2009    2008    2007
     (in thousands)

Federal funds purchased

   $ 378,068    $ 1,147,673    $ 1,057,335    $ 865,699    $ 1,531,568    $ 1,122,833

Customer short-term promissory notes

     231,414      356,788      443,002      274,546      498,765      487,354

Customer repurchase agreements

     259,458      255,796      228,061      347,401      255,796      286,342

FHLB overnight repurchase agreements

     —        —        650,000      —        550,000      650,000

Revolving line of credit (1)

     —        —        —        —        51,800      82,071

Federal Reserve Bank borrowings

     —        —        —        200,000      —        —  

Other

     —        2,513      5,546      5,215      5,554      5,552
                             
   $ 868,940    $ 1,762,770    $ 2,383,944         
                             

 

(1) Revolving line of credit agreement expired in October 2008.

A combination of commercial real estate loans, commercial loans and securities are pledged to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia to provide access to Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window borrowings. As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Corporation had $1.6 billion of collateralized borrowing availability at the Discount Window and term auction facility, and no outstanding borrowings.

The following table presents information related to customer repurchase agreements and FHLB overnight repurchase agreements:

 

     2009     2008     2007  
     (dollars in thousands)  

Amount outstanding as of December 31

   $ 259,458      $ 255,796      $ 878,061   

Weighted average interest rate at year end

     0.54     4.41     1.41

Average amount outstanding during the year

   $ 254,662      $ 530,354      $ 337,690   

Weighted average interest rate during the year

     0.55     2.13     3.67

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

FHLB advances and long-term debt included the following as of December 31:

 

     2009     2008  
     (in thousands)  

FHLB advances

   $ 1,157,623      $ 1,404,580   

Subordinated debt

     200,000        200,000   

Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures

     185,570        185,570   

Other long-term debt

     1,491        1,703   

Unamortized issuance costs

     (3,911     (4,056
                
   $ 1,540,773      $ 1,787,797   
                

Excluded from the preceding table is the Parent Company’s revolving line of credit with its subsidiary banks. As of December 31, 2009, there were no amounts outstanding under this line of credit. As of December 31, 2008, $86.0 million was outstanding. This line of credit is secured by equity securities and insurance investments and bears interest at the prime rate, minus 1.50%. Although the line of credit and related interest are eliminated in the consolidated financial statements, this borrowing arrangement is senior to the subordinated debt and the junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures.

FHLB advances mature through March 2027 and carry a weighted average interest rate of 4.37%. As of December 31, 2009, the Corporation had an additional borrowing capacity of approximately $1.8 billion with the FHLB. Advances from the FHLB are secured by FHLB stock, qualifying residential mortgages, investments and other assets.

The following table summarizes the scheduled maturities of FHLB advances and long-term debt as of December 31, 2009 (in thousands):

 

Year

    

2010

   $ 468,851

2011

     94,135

2012

     101,786

2013

     5,469

2014

     6,521

Thereafter

     864,011
      
   $ 1,540,773
      

In May 2007, the Corporation issued $100.0 million of ten-year subordinated notes, which mature on May 1, 2017 and carry a fixed rate of 5.75% and an effective rate of approximately 5.96% as a result of issuance costs. Interest is paid semi-annually in May and November of each year. In March 2005, the Corporation issued $100.0 million of ten-year subordinated notes, which mature April 1, 2015 and carry a fixed rate of 5.35% and an effective rate of approximately 5.49% as a result of issuance costs. Interest is paid semi-annually in October and April of each year.

The Parent Company owns all of the common stock of six Subsidiary Trusts, which have issued Trust Preferred Securities in conjunction with the Parent Company issuing junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures to the trusts. The terms of the junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures are the same as the terms of the Trust Preferred Securities. The Parent Company’s obligations under the debentures constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Parent Company of the obligations of the trusts. The Trust Preferred Securities are redeemable on specified dates, or earlier if the deduction of interest for Federal income taxes is prohibited, the Trust Preferred Securities no longer qualify as Tier I regulatory capital, or if certain other contingencies arise. The Trust Preferred Securities must be redeemed upon maturity.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following table provides details of the debentures as of December 31, 2009 (dollars in thousands):

 

Debentures Issued to

   Fixed/
Variable
   Interest
Rate
    Amount    Maturity    Callable    Callable
Rate
 

PBI Capital Trust

   Fixed    8.57   $ 10,310    8/15/2028    8/15/2010    104.3

SVB Eagle Statutory Trust I

   Variable    3.59     4,124    7/31/2031    7/31/2011    100.0   

Columbia Bancorp Statutory Trust

   Variable    2.93     6,186    6/30/2034    6/30/2010    100.0   

Columbia Bancorp Statutory Trust II

   Variable    2.19     4,124    5/15/2035    5/15/2010    100.0   

Columbia Bancorp Statutory Trust III

   Variable    2.07     6,186    6/15/2035    6/15/2010    100.0   

Fulton Capital Trust I

   Fixed    6.29     154,640    2/01/2036    NA    NA   
                    
        $ 185,570         
                    

NOTE J – REGULATORY MATTERS

Dividend and Loan Limitations

The dividends that may be paid by subsidiary banks to the Parent Company are subject to certain legal and regulatory limitations. Under such limitations, the total amount available for payment of dividends by subsidiary banks was approximately $212 million as of December 31, 2009.

Under current Federal Reserve regulations, the subsidiary banks are limited in the amount they may loan to their affiliates, including the Parent Company. Loans to a single affiliate may not exceed 10%, and the aggregate of loans to all affiliates may not exceed 20% of each bank subsidiary’s regulatory capital. As of December 31, 2009, the maximum amount available for transfer from the subsidiary banks to the Parent Company in the form of loans and dividends was approximately $346 million.

Regulatory Capital Requirements

The Corporation’s subsidiary banks are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by banking regulators. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory – and possibly additional discretionary – actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Corporation’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the subsidiary banks must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the subsidiary banks’ assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The subsidiary banks’ capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.

Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the subsidiary banks to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of total and Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets, and of Tier I capital to average assets (as defined in the regulations). Management believes, as of December 31, 2009, that all of its bank subsidiaries meet the capital adequacy requirements to which they were subject.

As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Corporation’s five significant subsidiaries, Fulton Bank, N.A., Lafayette Ambassador Bank, Skylands Community Bank, The Bank and The Columbia Bank, were well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action based on their capital ratio calculations. To be categorized as well capitalized, these banks must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier I risk-based, and Tier I leverage ratios as set forth in the following table. There are no conditions or events since December 31, 2009 that management believes have changed the institutions’ categories.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following tables present the total risk-based, Tier I risk-based and Tier I leverage requirements for the Corporation and its significant subsidiaries with total assets in excess of $1.0 billion.

 

     Actual     For Capital Adequacy
Purposes
    Well Capitalized  

As of December 31, 2009

   Amount    Ratio     Amount    Ratio     Amount    Ratio  
     (dollars in thousands)  

Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):

               

Corporation

   $ 1,898,879    14.7     $1,034,714    8.0   N/A    N/A   

Fulton Bank, N.A.

     801,284    11.1        575,930    8.0      719,913    10.0

Lafayette Ambassador Bank

     127,570    12.2        83,697    8.0      104,621    10.0   

Skylands Community Bank

     115,158    11.8        78,011    8.0      97,514    10.0   

The Bank

     194,143    12.1        128,411    8.0      160,514    10.0   

The Columbia Bank

     215,765    13.6        127,158    8.0      158,947    10.0   

Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):

               

Corporation

   $ 1,536,021    11.9     $517,357    4.0   N/A    N/A   

Fulton Bank, N.A

     638,194    8.9        287,965    4.0      431,948    6.0

Lafayette Ambassador Bank

     108,069    10.3        41,848    4.0      62,772    6.0   

Skylands Community Bank

     96,935    9.9        39,006    4.0      58,508    6.0   

The Bank

     161,977    10.1        64,206    4.0      96,309    6.0   

The Columbia Bank

     195,502    12.3        63,579    4.0      95,368    6.0   

Tier I Capital (to Average Assets):

               

Corporation

   $ 1,536,021    9.7     $477,165    3.0   N/A    N/A   

Fulton Bank, N.A

     638,194    7.9        243,485    4.0      405,809    5.0

Lafayette Ambassador Bank

     108,069    7.6        42,868    3.0      71,446    5.0   

Skylands Community Bank

     96,935    7.5        38,620    3.0      64,366    5.0   

The Bank

     161,977    8.1        59,844    4.0      99,740    5.0   

The Columbia Bank

     195,502    9.1        64,368    4.0      107,281    5.0   

As of December 31, 2008

                                 

Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):

               

Corporation

   $ 1,852,924    14.3   $ 1,038,833    8.0%      N/A    N/A   

Fulton Bank

     781,342    10.8        576,565    8.0      720,706    10.0

Lafayette Ambassador Bank

     125,670    12.0        83,969    8.0      104,961    10.0   

Skylands Community Bank

     106,104    11.0        77,374    8.0      96,717    10.0   

The Bank

     177,078    11.1        127,130    8.0      158,913    10.0   

The Columbia Bank

     136,843    10.6        103,664    8.0      129,580    10.0   

Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):

               

Corporation

   $ 1,490,384    11.5   $ 519,417    4.0%      N/A    N/A   

Fulton Bank

     623,763    8.7        288,282    4.0      432,424    6.0

Lafayette Ambassador Bank

     107,144    10.2        41,984    4.0      62,977    6.0   

Skylands Community Bank

     88,256    9.1        38,687    4.0      58,030    6.0   

The Bank

     145,186    9.1        63,565    4.0      95,348    6.0   

The Columbia Bank

     120,467    9.3        51,832    4.0      77,748    6.0   

Tier I Capital (to Average Assets):

               

Corporation

   $ 1,490,384    9.6   $ 467,072    3.0%      N/A    N/A   

Fulton Bank

     623,763    7.7        242,659    3.0      404,432    5.0

Lafayette Ambassador Bank

     107,144    7.6        42,268    3.0      70,446    5.0   

Skylands Community Bank

     88,256    7.3        36,098    3.0      60,163    5.0   

The Bank

     145,186    7.5        58,035    3.0      96,725    5.0   

The Columbia Bank

     120,467    7.4        65,360    4.0      81,700    5.0   

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

NOTE K – INCOME TAXES

The components of the provision for income taxes are as follows:

 

     2009     2008     2007  
     (in thousands)  

Current tax expense (benefit):

      

Federal

   $ 36,162      $ 76,249      $ 75,855   

State

     (322     804        1,323   
                        
     35,840        77,053        77,178   

Deferred tax benefit

     (20,432     (52,483     (13,646
                        
   $ 15,408      $ 24,570      $ 63,532   
                        

The differences between the effective income tax rate and the Federal statutory income tax rate are as follows:

 

     2009      2008      2007  

Statutory tax rate

   35.0    35.0    35.0

Effect of tax-exempt income

   (11.2    (53.3    (4.4

Effect of low income housing investments

   (5.3    (20.2    (1.7

Bank-owned life insurance

   (1.2    (5.1    (0.5

State income taxes, net of Federal benefit

   (0.2    2.8       0.4   

Goodwill impairment

   —         166.2       —     

Other, net

   0.1       4.2       0.6   
                    

Effective income tax rate

   17.2    129.6    29.4
                    

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The net deferred tax asset recorded by the Corporation is included in other assets and consists of the following tax effects of temporary differences as of December 31:

 

     2009     2008  
     (in thousands)  

Deferred tax assets:

    

Allowance for credit losses

   $ 90,143      $ 63,048   

Other-than-temporary impairment of investments

     21,750        24,422   

Other accrued expenses

     12,739        8,892   

Deferred compensation

     9,511        9,226   

Loss and credit carryforwards

     7,887        7,477   

Postretirement and defined benefit plans

     6,016        8,487   

Stock-based compensation

     2,164        2,137   

LIH investments

     1,944        1,427   

Unrecognized tax positions

     1,784        1,840   

Derivative financial instruments

     1,644        1,717   

Premises and equipment

     —          1,231   

Unrealized holding losses on securities available for sale

     —          1,368   

Other

     3,265        3,696   
                

Total gross deferred tax assets

     158,847        134,968   
                

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Unrealized holding gains on securities available for sale

     8,953        —     

Direct leasing

     8,141        4,511   

Mortgage servicing rights

     7,875        2,622   

Intangible assets

     4,695        6,054   

Acquisition premiums/discounts

     4,511        3,758   

Premises and equipment

     2,308        —     

Other

     1,018        581   
                

Total gross deferred tax liabilities

     37,501        17,526   
                

Net deferred tax asset before valuation allowance

     121,346        117,442   

Valuation allowance

     (7,887     (7,477
                

Net deferred tax asset

   $ 113,459      $ 109,965   
                

The valuation allowance relates to state net operating loss carryforwards for which realizability is uncertain. As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Corporation had state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $370 million and $265 million, respectively, which are available to offset future state taxable income, and expire at various dates through 2029.

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income and capital gain income during periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies, such as the generation of capital gains, in making this assessment. The Corporation has $18.5 million of deferred tax assets resulting from other than temporary impairment losses on investment securities, which would be characterized as capital losses for tax purposes. If realized, the income tax benefits of these potential capital losses can only be recognized for tax purposes to the extent of capital gains generated during carryback and carryforward periods. In addition to existing capital gains realized in carryback periods, the Corporation has the ability to generate sufficient offsetting capital gains in future periods through the execution of certain tax planning strategies, which may include the sale and leaseback of some or all of its branch and office properties.

Based on the level of historical income projections for future taxable income and capital gains over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is more likely than not that the Corporation will realize the benefits of its deferred tax assets, net of the valuation allowance, as of December 31, 2009.

 

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Uncertain Tax Positions

The following summarizes the changes in unrecognized tax benefits (in thousands):

 

     2009     2008  
     (in thousands)  

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 4,596      $ 6,722   

Tax positions taken in prior years

     —          (1,878

Current period tax positions

     869        820   

Lapse of statute of limitations

     (984     (1,068
                

Balance at end of year

   $ 4,481      $ 4,596   
                

In 2008, the Corporation reversed $1.9 million of its reserves for unrecognized income tax positions, resulting in a reduction of income tax expense. The Corporation had not fully recognized in the consolidated financial statements the positions it had taken on its tax returns for disallowed interest expense on certain tax-exempt municipal securities. In the fourth quarter of 2007, a court ruled in favor of a taxpayer who had taken a similar position on its tax returns. In March 2008, the Internal Revenue Service indicated that it would not pursue an appeal of this ruling.

Virtually all of the Corporation’s unrecognized tax benefits are for positions that are taken on an annual basis on state tax returns. Increases to unrecognized tax benefits will occur as a result of accruing for the nonrecognition of the position for the current year. Decreases will occur as a result of the lapsing of the statute of limitations for the oldest outstanding year which includes the position. These offsetting increases and decreases are likely to continue in the future, including over the next 12 months. While the net effect on total unrecognized tax benefits during this period cannot be reasonably estimated, approximately $1.2 million is expected to reverse in 2010 due to lapsing of the statute of limitations.

Recognition and measurement of tax positions is based on management’s evaluations of relevant tax code and appropriate industry information about audit proceedings for comparable positions at other organizations. The Corporation does not expect to have any changes in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of settlements with taxing authorities during the next 12 months.

As of December 31, 2009, if recognized, all of the Corporation’s unrecognized tax benefits would impact the effective tax rate. Not included in the table above is $1.8 million of Federal tax expense on unrecognized state tax benefits which, if recognized, would also impact the effective tax rate. Interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits is recorded as a component of income tax expense. Penalties, if incurred, would also be recognized in income tax expense. The Corporation recognized approximately $352,000 and $437,000 of interest expense in income tax expense related to unrecognized tax positions in 2009 and 2008, respectively. Credits to income tax expense of approximately $438,000 and $565,000 were recognized in 2009 and 2008, respectively, for accrued interest expense related to reserves for unrecognized tax positions that were reversed during such periods. As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, total accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax positions were approximately $844,000 and $930,000, respectively.

The Corporation, or one of its subsidiaries, files income tax returns in the U.S. Federal jurisdiction, and various states. In most cases, unrecognized tax benefits are related to tax years that remain subject to examination by the relevant taxable authorities. With few exceptions, the Corporation is no longer subject to U.S. Federal, state and local examinations by tax authorities for years before 2006.

 

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NOTE L – EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The following summarizes the Corporation’s expense (benefit) under its retirement plans for the years ended December 31:

 

     2009    2008     2007
     (in thousands)

Fulton Financial Corporation 401(k) Retirement Plan

   $ 11,118    $ 9,859      $ 9,274

Pension Plan

     1,674      (263     1,627

Affiliate 401(k) Plans

     —        1,091        1,798
                     
   $ 12,792    $ 10,687      $ 12,699
                     

Fulton Financial Corporation 401(k) Retirement Plan – A defined contribution plan that includes two contribution features:

 

   

Employer Profit Sharing – elective contributions based on a formula providing for an amount not to exceed 5% of each eligible employee’s covered compensation. During an eligible employee’s first five years of employment, employer contributions vest over a five-year graded vesting schedule. Employees hired after July 1, 2007 are not eligible for this contribution.

 

   

401(k) Contributions – eligible employees may defer a portion of their pre-tax covered compensation on an annual basis, with employer matches of up to 5% of employee contributions. Employee and employer contributions under these features are 100% vested.

Defined Benefit Pension Plan – Contributions to the Corporation’s defined benefit pension plan (Pension Plan) are actuarially determined and funded annually. The Pension Plan has been closed to new participants, but existing participants continued to accrue benefits according to the terms of the plan until December 31, 2007.

Employees covered under the Pension Plan were also eligible to participate in the Fulton Financial Affiliates 401(k) Savings Plan, which allowed employees to defer a portion of their pre-tax salary on an annual basis. At its discretion, the Corporation could also make a matching contribution of up to 3%. Participants are 100% vested in the Corporation’s matching contributions after three years of eligible service. Effective January 1, 2008, these employees were covered by the Fulton Financial Corporation 401(k) Retirement Plan, with benefits as described above.

During 2007, the Corporation amended the Pension Plan to discontinue the accrual of benefits for all existing participants, effective January 1, 2008. As a result of this amendment, the Corporation recorded a $58,000 curtailment loss, as determined by consulting actuaries, during the year ended December 31, 2007. The curtailment loss resulted from a $13.8 million gain from adjusting the funded status of the Pension Plan and an offsetting $13.9 million write-off of unamortized pension costs and related deferred tax assets.

Effective January 1, 2008, as required by FASB ASC Subtopic 715-20, the Corporation changed the actuarial measurement date for its Pension Plan from a fiscal year-end of September 30th to December 31st. The impact of this change in the actuarial measurement date resulted in a $66,000 increase to the Corporation’s prepaid pension asset and a cumulative effect adjustment, net of tax, of $43,000 recorded as an increase to retained earnings.

The Corporation recognizes the funded status of its Pension Plan and postretirement benefits on the consolidated balance sheets and recognizes the changes in that funded status through other comprehensive income. See the heading “Postretirement Benefits” below for a description of the Corporation’s postretirement benefits.

 

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Pension Plan

The net periodic pension cost (benefit) for the Pension Plan, as determined by consulting actuaries, consisted of the following components for the years ended December 31:

 

     2009     2008     2007  
     (in thousands)  

Service cost (1)

   $ 153      $ 143      $ 1,943   

Interest cost

     3,282        3,264        3,313   

Expected return on assets

     (2,809     (3,670     (3,920

Pension Plan curtailment loss

     —          —          58   

Net amortization and deferral

     1,048        —          233   
                        

Net periodic pension cost (benefit)

   $ 1,674      $ (263   $ 1,627   
                        

 

(1) Pension plan service cost for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 were related to administrative costs associated with the plan and not due to the accrual of additional participant benefits.

The following table summarizes the changes in the projected benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets for the indicated periods:

 

     Plan Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2009     2008  
     (in thousands)  

Projected benefit obligation, beginning

   $ 60,474      $ 55,329   

Service cost

     153        179   

Interest cost

     3,282        4,080   

Benefit payments

     (2,190     (2,894

Actuarial loss

     —          3,780   

Experience loss

     278        —     
                

Projected benefit obligation, ending

   $ 61,997      $ 60,474   
                

Fair value of plan assets, beginning

   $ 48,287      $ 62,094   

Employer contributions

     —          —     

Actual return on assets

     8,500        (10,913

Benefit payments

     (2,190     (2,894
                

Fair value of plan assets, ending

   $ 54,597      $ 48,287   
                

The amounts shown in the table above are for the 12 months ended December 31, 2009 and the 15 months ended December 31, 2008. To account for the change in the fiscal year-end of the Pension Plan, 15 months of activity are shown for the transition period.

The funded status of the Pension Plan, included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 was as follows:

 

     2009     2008  
     (in thousands)  

Projected benefit obligation (1)

   $ (61,997   $ (60,474

Fair value of plan assets

     54,597        48,287   
                

Funded status

   $ (7,400   $ (12,187
                

 

(1) As a result of the Pension Plan’s curtailment in 2007, the accumulated benefit obligation is equal to the projected benefit obligation as of December 31, 2009 and 2008.

 

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The following table summarizes the changes in the unrecognized net loss (gain) recognized as components of accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss:

 

     Unrecognized Net loss (gain)  
     Gross of tax     Net of tax  
     (in thousands)  

Balance as of January 1, 2008

   $ (1,705   $ (1,108

Unrecognized costs arising in 2008

     19,281        12,532   
                

Balance as of December 31, 2008

     17,576        11,424   

Recognized as a component of 2009 periodic pension cost

     (1,048     (681

Unrecognized gains arising in 2009

     (5,412     (3,518
                

Balance as of December 31, 2009

   $ 11,116      $ 7,225   
                

The total amount of unrecognized net loss that will be amortized as a component of net periodic pension cost in 2010 is expected to be $447,000.

The following rates were used to calculate net periodic pension cost (benefit) and the present value of benefit obligations:

 

     December 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
    September 30,
2007
 

Discount rate-projected benefit obligation

   5.50   5.50   6.00

Rate of increase in compensation level

   N/A      N/A      4.50   

Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets

   6.00      6.00      6.00   

The 5.50% discount rate used to calculate the present value of benefit obligations was determined using published long-term AA corporate bond rates as of the measurement date, rounded to the nearest 0.25%. In 2009, additional consideration was given to a pension discount yield curve that matched the Pension Plan’s expected benefit payments. The 6.00% long-term rate of return on plan assets used to calculate the net periodic pension cost was based on historical returns, adjusted for expectations of long-term asset returns based on the December 31, 2009 weighted average asset allocations. The expected long-term return is considered to be appropriate based on the asset mix and the historical returns realized.

Effective December 31, 2009, the Corporation adopted the provisions of FASB Staff Position No. FAS 132(R)-1, ”Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets”. This staff position amends FASB Statement No. 132 (revised 2003), “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Postretirement Benefits”, to provide guidance on an employer’s disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans.

Equity securities consist mainly of equity common trust funds and mutual funds. Fixed income securities consist mainly of fixed income common trust funds. Pension Plan assets are invested with a balanced growth objective, with target asset allocations of approximately 55% for equity securities and approximately 45% percent for fixed income securities and cash. Investment decisions are made by a retirement plan committee, which meets periodically.

 

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The following table presents a summary of the fair values of the Pension Plan’s assets as of December 31:

 

     2009     2008  
     Estimated
Fair Value
   % of Total
Assets
    Estimated
Fair Value
   % of Total
Assets
 
     (dollars in thousands)  

Cash and money market funds

   $ 2,820    5.2   $ 3,556    7.4

Equity common trust funds

     17,983        12,094   

Equity mutual funds

     12,110        8,242   
                  

Equity securities

     30,093    55.1        20,336    42.1   

U.S. Government securities

     12,447        7,921   

Fixed income mutual funds

     8,379        16,378   

Corporate debt securities

     858        96   
                  

Debt securities

     21,684    39.7        24,395    50.5   
                          
   $ 54,597    100.0   $ 48,287    100.0
                          

The fair values for all assets held by the Pension Plan, excluding equity common trust funds, are based on quoted prices for identical instruments and would be categorized as Level 1 assets under FASB ASC Topic 810. Equity common trust funds would be categorized as Level 2 assets under FASB ASC Topic 810.

Estimated future benefit payments are as follows (in thousands):

 

Year

    

2010

   $ 2,065

2011

     2,101

2012

     2,276

2013

     2,451

2014

     2,617

2015 – 2019

     17,099
      
   $ 28,609
      

Postretirement Benefits

The Corporation currently provides medical benefits and life insurance benefits under a postretirement benefits plan (Postretirement Plan) to certain retired full-time employees who were employees of the Corporation prior to January 1, 1998. Certain full-time employees may become eligible for these discretionary benefits if they reach retirement age while working for the Corporation. Benefits are based on a graduated scale for years of service after attaining the age of 40.

During 2009, the Corporation amended the Postretirement Plan to no longer pay benefits for early retirees from their retirement date to the date they attain age 65. As a result of this amendment, the Corporation recorded a $3.3 million ($2.1 million, net of tax) reduction to unrecognized prior service costs through an increase to other comprehensive income.

The components of the expense for postretirement benefits other than pensions are as follows:

 

     2009     2008     2007  
     (in thousands)  

Service cost

   $ 211      $ 378      $ 355   

Interest cost

     485        595        523   

Expected return on plan assets

     (4     (4     (4

Net amortization and deferral

     (325     —          (226
                        

Net postretirement benefit cost

   $ 367      $ 969      $ 648   
                        

 

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The following table summarizes the changes in the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets for the years ended December 31:

 

     2009     2008  
     (in thousands)  

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation, beginning

   $ 12,051      $ 10,407   

Service cost

     211        378   

Interest cost

     485        595   

Benefit payments

     (433     (354

Change due to plan amendment

     (3,269     —     

Change due to change in experience

     87        237   

Change due to change in assumptions

     —          788   
                

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation, ending

   $ 9,132      $ 12,051   
                

Fair value of plan assets, beginning

   $ 127      $ 140   

Employer contributions

     416        339   

Actual return on assets

     —          2   

Benefit payments

     (433     (354
                

Fair value of plan assets, ending

   $ 110      $ 127   
                

The funded status of the Postretirement Plan, included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 was as follows:

 

     2009     2008  
     (in thousands)  

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation

   $ (9,132   $ (12,051

Fair value of plan assets

     110        127   
                

Funded status

   $ (9,022   $ (11,924
                

The following table summarizes the changes in items recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss:

 

     Gross of tax        
     Unrecognized
Prior Service
Cost
    Unrecognized
Net (Gain) Loss
    Total     Net of tax  
     (in thousands)  

Balance as of January 1, 2008

   $ —        $ (119   $ (119   $ (78

Unrecognized gains arising in 2008

     —          1,012        1,012        658   
                                

Balance as of December 31, 2008

     —          893        893        580   

Unrecognized gains arising in 2009 as a result of plan amendment

     (3,269     —          (3,269     (2,125

Recognized as a component of 2009 postretirement benefit cost

     333        (8     325        211   

Unrecognized costs arising in 2009

     —          78        78        51   
                                

Balance as of December 31, 2009

   $ (2,936   $ 963      $ (1,973   $ (1,283
                                

The total amounts of unrecognized prior service cost and unrecognized net loss that will be recognized as components of net periodic postretirement cost in 2010 are expected to be $363,000 and $49,000, respectively.

For measuring the postretirement benefit obligation, the annual increase in the per capita cost of health care benefits was assumed to be 8.0% in year one, declining to an ultimate rate of 5.5% by year five. This health care cost trend rate has a significant impact on the

 

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amounts reported. Assuming a 1.0% increase in the health care cost trend rate above the assumed annual increase, the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation would increase by approximately $1.0 million and the current period expense would increase by approximately $94,000. Conversely, a 1.0% decrease in the health care cost trend rate would decrease the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation by approximately $857,000 and the current period expense by approximately $76,000.

The discount rate used in determining the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation, which is determined using published long-term AA corporate bond rates as of the measurement date, rounded to the nearest 0.25%, was 5.50% as of December 31, 2009 and 2008. In 2009, additional consideration was given to a pension discount yield curve that matched the Postretirement Plan’s expected benefit payments. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was 3.00% as of December 31, 2009 and 2008.

Estimated future benefit payments are as follows (in thousands):

 

Year

    

2010

   $ 566

2011

     549

2012

     547

2013

     547

2014

     541

2015 – 2019

     2,920
      
   $ 5,670
      

Spilt-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements

FASB ASC Subtopic 715-60 addresses accounting for endorsement split-dollar life insurance arrangements that provide a benefit to an employee that extends to postretirement periods. The postretirement benefit aspects of an endorsement-type split-dollar life insurance arrangement must be recognized as a liability by the employer if that obligation has not been settled through the related insurance arrangement.

The Corporation adopted the provisions of FASB ASC Subtopic 715-60 on January 1, 2008 and recorded a $677,000 liability, with a cumulative effect adjustment for the same amount recorded as a reduction to retained earnings. The amount represents the actuarial cost of maintaining endorsement split-dollar life insurance policies for certain employees which have not been effectively settled through their related insurance arrangements. During 2009 and 2008, the Corporation recorded $26,000 and $25,000, respectively, of postretirement benefit costs associated with its endorsement split-dollar life insurance policies. As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, the liability associated with these policies was $729,000 and $702,000, respectively.

NOTE M – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The following table presents compensation expense and related tax benefits for equity awards recognized in the consolidated statements of operations:

 

     2009     2008     2007  
     (in thousands)  

Compensation expense

   $ 1,781      $ 2,058      $ 2,639   

Tax benefit

     (241     (272     (358
                        

Stock-based compensation, net of tax

   $ 1,540      $ 1,786      $ 2,281   
                        

The tax benefit shown in the preceding table is less than the benefit that would be calculated using the Corporation’s 35% statutory Federal tax rate. Tax benefits are only recognized over the vesting period for options that ordinarily will generate a tax deduction when exercised (non-qualified stock options). The Corporation granted 42,000, 111,000 and 261,000 non-qualified stock options in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

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The following table presents compensation expense and related tax benefits for restricted stock awards recognized in the consolidated statements of operations, and included within the preceding table:

 

     2009     2008     2007  
     (in thousands)  

Compensation expense

   $ 458      $ 189      $ 30   

Tax benefit

     (164     (68     (10
                        

Restricted stock compensation, net of tax

   $ 294      $ 121      $ 20   
                        

Under the Option Plans, stock options and restricted stock are granted to key employees. Stock option exercise prices are equal to the fair value of the Corporation’s stock on the date of grant, and carry terms of up to ten years. Restricted stock exercise prices are equal to the average trading price of the Corporation’s stock on the date of grant. Restricted stock awards earn dividends during the vesting period, which are forfeitable if the awards do not vest. Stock options and restricted stock are typically granted annually on July 1st and become fully vested over or after a three-year vesting period. Certain events as defined in the Option Plans result in the acceleration of the vesting of both stock options and restricted stock. As of December 31, 2009, the Option Plans had 13.1 million shares reserved for future grants through 2013.

In connection with the Corporation’s participation in the U.S. Treasury Department’s Capital Purchase Program component of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the 2009 restricted stock shares granted to certain key employees are subject to the requirements and limitations contained in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, as amended, and related regulations. Among other things, the 2009 restricted stock grants to these key employees provide that they may not fully vest until the Corporation’s participation in the Capital Purchase Program ends. None of the key employees who received 2009 restricted stock grants subject to the Capital Purchase Program vesting restrictions received 2009 stock option awards.

The following table provides information about option activity for the year ended December 31, 2009:

 

     Stock
Options
    Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(in millions)

Outstanding as of December 31, 2008

   7,056,184      $ 13.66      

Granted

   484,619        5.27      

Exercised

   (121,155     5.46      

Forfeited

   (64,052     13.19      

Expired

   (344,228     12.27      
                  

Outstanding as of December 31, 2009

   7,011,368      $ 12.79    5.3 years    $ 2.9
                        

Exercisable as of December 31, 2009

   5,500,036      $ 13.96    4.3 years    $ 1.2
                        

The following table provides information about nonvested stock options and restricted stock for the year ended December 31, 2009:

 

     Nonvested Stock Options    Restricted Stock
     Options     Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
   Shares     Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

Nonvested as of December 31, 2008

   1,896,981      $ 1.88    57,144      $ 11.00

Granted

   484,619        1.53    225,091        5.37

Vested

   (823,490     2.19    (3,327     13.77

Forfeited

   (46,778     2.09    (477     9.11
                         

Nonvested as of December 31, 2009

   1,511,332      $ 1.59    278,431      $ 6.42
                         

 

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As of December 31, 2009, there was $1.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options and restricted stock that will be recognized as compensation expense over a weighted average period of two years.

The following table presents information about options exercised:

 

     2009    2008    2007
     (dollars in thousands)

Number of options exercised

     121,155      522,299      1,027,953

Total intrinsic value of options exercised

   $ 317    $ 1,975    $ 7,096

Cash received from options exercised

   $ 662    $ 2,219    $ 5,061

Tax deduction realized from options exercised

   $ 286    $ 1,428    $ 4,811

Upon exercise, the Corporation issues shares from its authorized, but unissued, common stock to satisfy the options.

The fair value of option awards under the Option Plans is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation methodology, which is dependent upon certain assumptions, as summarized in the following table:

 

     2009     2008     2007  

Risk-free interest rate

   3.36   3.50   4.95

Volatility of Corporation’s stock

   31.14      19.31      13.74   

Expected dividend yield

   2.28      6.02      4.16   

Expected life of options

   7 Years      6 Years      7 Years   

The expected life of the options was estimated based on historical employee behavior and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. Volatility of the Corporation’s stock was based on historical volatility for the period commensurate with the expected life of the options. The risk-free interest rate is the zero-coupon U.S. Treasury rate commensurate with the expected life of the options on the date of the grant.

Based on the assumptions used in the model, the Corporation calculated an estimated fair value per option of $1.53, $0.91 and $1.78 for options granted in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Approximately 485,000, 364,000 and 872,000 options were granted in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Under the ESPP, eligible employees can purchase stock of the Corporation at 85% of the fair market value of the stock on the date of purchase. The ESPP is considered to be a compensatory plan and, as such, compensation expense is recognized for the 15% discount on shares purchased.

The following table summarizes activity under the ESPP:

 

     2009    2008    2007

ESPP shares purchased

     261,691      171,438      183,316

Average purchase price per share (85% of market value)

   $ 5.46    $ 9.22    $ 11.59

Compensation expense recognized (in thousands)

   $ 252    $ 279    $ 375

Series A Preferred Stock and Common Stock Warrants issued to the United States Department of Treasury

In connection with the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA), the U.S. Treasury Department (UST) initiated a Capital Purchase Program (CPP) which allows for qualifying financial institutions to issue preferred stock to the UST, subject to certain limitations and terms. The EESA was developed to attract broad participation by strong financial institutions, to stabilize the financial system and increase lending to benefit the national economy and citizens of the U.S.

On December 23, 2008, the Corporation entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with the UST pursuant to which the Corporation sold to the UST, for an aggregate purchase price of $376.5 million, 376,500 shares of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (preferred stock), par value $1,000 per share, and warrants to purchase up to 5.5 million shares of common stock, par value $2.50 per share. As a condition under the CPP, without the consent of the UST, the Corporation’s share repurchases are limited to purchases in connection with the administration of any employee benefit plan, including purchases to offset share

 

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dilution in connection with any such plans. This restriction is effective until December 2011 or until the UST no longer owns any of the Corporation’s preferred shares issued under the CPP. The Corporation’s preferred stock is included as a component of Tier 1 capital in accordance with regulatory capital requirements. See Note J, “Regulatory Matters” for details of the Corporation’s regulatory capital.

The preferred stock ranks senior to the Corporation’s common shares and pays a compounding cumulative dividend at a rate of 5% per year for the first five years, and 9% per year thereafter. Dividends are payable quarterly on February 15th, May 15th, August 15th and November 15th. The Corporation is prohibited from paying any dividend with respect to shares of common stock or repurchasing or redeeming any shares of the Corporation’s common shares in any quarter unless all accrued and unpaid dividends are paid on the preferred stock for all past dividend periods (including the latest completed dividend period), subject to certain limited exceptions. In addition, without the consent of the UST, the Corporation is prohibited from declaring or paying any cash dividends on common shares in excess of $0.15 per share, which was the last quarterly cash dividend per share declared prior to October 14, 2008. The Corporation is also restricted in the amounts and types of compensation it may pay to certain of its executives as a result of its participation in the CPP. The preferred stock is non-voting, other than class voting rights on matters that could adversely affect the preferred stock. The UST may transfer the preferred stock to a third-party at any time.

The 5.5 million of common stock warrants issued to the UST have a term of 10 years and are exercisable at any time, in whole or in part, at an exercise price of $10.25 per share (subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments).

The $376.5 million of proceeds was allocated to the preferred stock and the warrants based on their relative fair values at issuance ($368.9 million was allocated to the preferred stock and $7.6 million to the warrants). The fair value of the preferred stock was estimated using a discounted cash flows model assuming a 10% discount rate and a five-year term. The difference between the initial value allocated to the preferred stock of approximately $368.9 million and the liquidation value of $376.5 million will be charged to retained earnings over a period of five years as an adjustment to the dividend yield using the effective yield method. During 2009, total accretion of the difference between the preferred stock’s initial value and its liquidation value was $1.3 million.

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table presents the components of other comprehensive income (loss):

 

     2009     2008     2007  
     (in thousands)  

Unrealized gain (loss) on securities (net of $15.9 million, $12.9 million and $4.6 million tax effect in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively)

   $ 29,550      $ (24,027   $ 8,470   

Non-credit related unrealized loss on other-than-temporarily impaired debt securities (net of a $1.8 million tax effect)

     (3,385     —          —     

Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative financial instruments (net of $73,000, $73,000 and $3,000 tax effect in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively) (1)

     136        136        (5

Reclassification adjustment for securities (gains) losses included in net income (net of, $378,000 and $608,000 tax expense in 2009 and 2007, respectively and $22.0 million tax benefit in 2008)

     (701     40,947        (1,131

Defined benefit pension plan curtailment (net of $4.9 million tax effect in 2007)

     —          —          9,122   

Unrecognized pension and postretirement (gains) costs in 2009, 2008 and 2007 plan years (net of $3.0 million, $7.1 million and $462,000 tax effect in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively)

     5,592        (13,190     858   

Amortization of unrecognized pension and postretirement costs (net of $253,000 and $2,000 tax benefit in 2009 and 2007), respectively

     471        —          4   
                        

Other comprehensive income

   $ 31,663      $ 3,866      $ 17,318   
                        

 

(1) Amounts represent the amortization of the effective portions of losses on forward-starting interest rate swaps, designated as cash flow hedges and entered into in prior years in connection with the issuance of fixed-rate debt. The total amount recorded as a reduction to accumulated other comprehensive income upon settlement of these derivatives is being amortized to interest expense over the life of the related securities using the effective interest method. The amount of net losses in accumulated other comprehensive income that will be reclassified into earnings during the next twelve months is expected to be approximately $135,000.

 

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NOTE N – LEASES

Certain branch offices and equipment are leased under agreements that expire at varying dates through 2035. Most leases contain renewal provisions at the Corporation’s option. Total rental expense was approximately $18.8 million in 2009, $19.1 million in 2008 and $18.5 million in 2007.

Future minimum payments as of December 31, 2009 under non-cancelable operating leases with initial terms exceeding one year are as follows (in thousands):

 

Year

    

2010

   $ 13,004

2011

     11,768

2012

     10,499

2013

     8,487

2014

     7,123

Thereafter

     47,123
      
   $ 98,004
      

NOTE O – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

The Corporation is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers.

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since a portion of the commitments is expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Corporation evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained upon extension of credit is based on management’s credit evaluation of the customer. Collateral held varies but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment and income producing commercial properties. The Corporation records a reserve for unfunded commitments, included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, which represents management’s estimate of losses inherent in these commitments. See Note D, “Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses” for additional information.

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the financial or performance obligation of a customer to a third-party. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. The Corporation underwrites these obligations using the same criteria as its commercial lending underwriting. The Corporation’s maximum exposure to loss for standby letters of credit is equal to the contractual (or notional) amount of the instruments.

The following table presents the Corporation’s commitments to extend credit and letters of credit:

 

     2009    2008
     (in thousands)

Commercial mortgage and construction

   $ 329,159    $ 459,121

Home equity

     891,570      886,693

Commercial and other

     3,258,817      2,014,685
             

Total commitments to extend credit

   $ 4,479,546    $ 3,360,499
             

Standby letters of credit

   $ 551,064    $ 789,804

Commercial letters of credit

     37,662      37,620
             

Total letters of credit

   $ 588,726    $ 827,424
             

 

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Auction Rate Securities

The Corporation’s investment management and trust division, Fulton Financial Advisors, held ARCs for some of its customers’ accounts. Beginning in the second quarter of 2008, the Corporation offered to purchase illiquid ARCs from customers of Fulton Financial Advisors, upon notification that such customers had liquidity needs or otherwise desired to liquidate their holdings. A liability was established for this financial guarantee at estimated fair value through a pre-tax charge to earnings both upon the initial establishment of the guarantee and upon changes in its estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of the guarantee was determined based on the difference between the fair value of the underlying ARCs and their estimated purchase price.

During 2009, the Corporation completed the repurchase of all eligible ARCs and, as of December 31, 2009, there were no longer any ARCs still held by customers which the Corporation had agreed to purchase. ARCs were recorded as available for sale investment securities at their estimated fair value upon their repurchase from customers.

The following table presents the change in the ARCs held by customers and the related financial guarantee liability, recorded within other liabilities on the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheets, for the years December 31:

 

     2009     2008  
     ARCs Held by
Customers, at
Par Value
    Financial
Guarantee
Liability
    ARCs Held by
Customers, at
Par Value
    Financial
Guarantee
Liability
 
     (in thousands)  

Beginning, balance

   $ 105,165      $ (8,653   $ 332,715      $ —     

Provision for financial guarantee

     —          (6,237     —          (19,810

Purchases of ARCs

     (104,415     14,890        (224,000     11,157   

Redemptions of ARCs

     (750     —          (3,550     —     
                                

Balance, end of year

   $ —        $ —        $ 105,165      $ (8,653
                                

Residential Lending

Residential mortgages are originated and sold by the Corporation through Fulton Mortgage Company (Fulton Mortgage), which operates as a division of each of the Corporation’s subsidiary banks. The loans originated and sold are predominantly “prime” loans that conform to published standards of government-sponsored agencies. Prior to 2008, the Corporation’s former Resource Bank subsidiary operated a national wholesale mortgage lending operation which originated and sold significant volumes of non-prime loans from the time the Corporation acquired Resource Bank in 2004 through 2007.

Beginning in 2007, Resource Mortgage experienced an increase in requests from secondary market purchasers to repurchase non-prime loans sold to those investors. These repurchase requests resulted in the Corporation recording $2.3 million and $25.1 million of charges during 2008 and 2007, respectively. These charges represented the write-downs that were necessary to reduce the loan balances to their estimated net realizable values, based on valuations of the underlying properties, as adjusted for market factors and other considerations. In 2009, the Corporation recorded credits of $600,000, representing a reduction in required reserves associated with potential repurchase requests. Charges and credits related to repurchase reserves for previously sold residential mortgages and home equity loans are included in operating risk loss on the Corporation’s consolidated statements of operations. Many of the loans the Corporation has repurchased were delinquent and were settled through foreclosure and sale of the underlying collateral.

 

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The following table presents a summary of approximate principal balances and related reserves/write-downs recognized on the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheet, by general category:

 

     2009     2008  
     Principal    Reserves/
Write-downs
    Principal    Reserves/
Write-downs
 
     (in thousands)  

Outstanding repurchase requests (1) (2)

   $ 6,130    $ (3,750   $ 6,290    $ (2,900

No repurchase request received – sold loans with identified potential misrepresentations of borrower information (1) (2)

     3,650      (1,260     7,990      (3,280

Repurchased loans (3)

     5,580      (870     10,000      (1,690

Foreclosed real estate (OREO) (4)

     9,140      —          15,920      —     
                      

Total reserves/write-downs

      $ (5,880      $ (7,870
                      

 

(1) Principal balances had not been repurchased and, therefore, are not included on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2009 and 2008.
(2) Reserve balance included as a component of other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2009 and 2008.
(3) Principal balances, net of write-downs, are included as a component of loans, net of unearned income on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2009 and 2008.
(4) OREO is written down to its estimated fair value upon transfer from loans receivable.

The following presents the change in the reserve/write-down balances:

 

     2009     2008  
     (in thousands)  

Total reserves/write-downs, beginning of year

   $ 7,870      $ 18,620   

(Credits) charges to expense

     (600     2,300   

Charge-offs

     (1,390     (13,050
                

Total reserves/write-downs, end of year

   $ 5,880      $ 7,870   
                

During 2008, the Corporation entered into settlement agreements with certain secondary market investors. In total, the Corporation agreed to pay these investors $9.0 million in settlement of outstanding repurchase requests and other potential claims, subject to certain conditions. The result of these settlements was a reduction of the Corporation’s exposure to previously sold loans totaling $22.1 million in principal and a reduction of the reserves for repurchases of $9.1 million. The Corporation did not enter into any settlement agreements with secondary market investors in 2009.

Management believes that the reserves recorded as of December 31, 2009 are adequate for the known potential repurchases. However, continued declines in collateral values or the identification of additional loans to be repurchased could necessitate additional reserves in the future.

Other Contingencies

From time to time, the Corporation and its subsidiary banks may be defendants in legal proceedings relating to the conduct of their business. Most of such legal proceedings are a normal part of the banking business and, in management’s opinion, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Corporation would not be affected materially by the outcome of such legal proceedings.

NOTE P – FAIR VALUE MEAUREMENTS

As required by FASB ASC Topic 820, all assets and liabilities required to be measured at fair value both on a recurring and non-recurring basis have been categorized based on the method of their fair value determination.

 

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The Corporation’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and reported on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2009, were as follows:

 

     Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total
     (in thousands)

Mortgage loans held for sale

   $ —      $ 79,577    $ —      $ 79,577

Available for sale investment securities:

           

Equity securities

     41,256      —        —        41,256

U.S. Government securities

     —        1,325      —        1,325

U.S. Government sponsored agency securities

     —        91,956      —        91,956

State and municipal securities

     —        415,773      —        415,773

Corporate debt securities

     —        104,779      11,960      116,739

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     —        1,122,996      —        1,122,996

Mortgage-backed securities

     —        1,080,024      —        1,080,024

Auction rate securities

     —        —        289,203      289,203
                           

Total available for sale investment securities

     41,256      2,816,853      301,163      3,159,272

Other financial assets

     13,882      2,353      —        16,235
                           

Total assets

   $ 55,138    $ 2,898,783    $ 301,163    $ 3,255,084
                           

Other financial liabilities

   $ 13,882    $ 1,480    $ —      $ 15,362
                           

The valuation techniques used to measure fair value for the items in the table above are as follows:

 

   

Mortgage loans held for sale – This category consists of mortgage loans held for sale that the Corporation has elected to measure at fair value under FASB ASC Subtopic 825-10. Fair value as of December 31, 2009 was measured as the price that secondary market investors were offering for loans with similar characteristics. See Note A, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for details related to the Corporation’s election to measure assets and liabilities at fair value.

 

   

Available for sale investment securities – Included within this asset category are both equity and debt securities:

 

   

Equity securities – Equity securities above include $32.3 million of stocks of financial institutions and $9.0 million of mutual fund and other equity investments. These Level 1 investments are measured at fair value based on quoted prices for identical securities in active markets. Restricted equity securities totaling $99.1 million, issued by the FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank, have been excluded from the above table.

 

   

U.S. Government securities/U.S. Government sponsored agency securities/State and municipal securities/Collateralized mortgage obligations/Mortgage-backed securities – These debt securities are classified as Level 2 investments. Fair values are determined by a third-party pricing service using both quoted prices for similar assets, when available, and model-based valuation techniques that derive fair value based on market-corroborated data, such as instruments with similar prepayment speeds and default interest rates. The pricing data and market quotes the Corporation obtains from outside sources are reviewed internally for reasonableness.

 

   

Corporate debt securities – This category consists of $32.7 million of subordinated debt issued by financial institutions, $75.8 million of single-issuer trust preferred securities issued by financial institutions, $5.0 million of pooled trust preferred securities issued by financial institutions and $3.2 million of other corporate debt issued by non-financial institutions. The subordinated debt, other corporate debt issued by non-financial institutions and $68.8 million of single-issuer trust preferred securities held at December 31, 2009 are classified as Level 2 investments, and measured at fair value by a third-party pricing service using both quoted prices for similar assets, when available, and model-based valuation techniques that derive fair value based on market-corroborated data, such as instruments with similar prepayment speeds and default interest rates. As with the debt securities described above, an active market presently exists for securities similar to these Corporate debt security holdings.

 

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The pooled trust preferred securities and $7.0 million of single-issuer trust preferred securities are classified as Level 3 assets. The fair values of these securities were determined based on quotes provided by third-party brokers who determined fair values based predominantly on internal valuation models which were not indicative prices or binding offers. The Corporation’s third-party pricing service cannot derive fair values for these securities primarily due to inactive market transactions for similar investments.

 

   

Auction rate securities – Due to their illiquidity, ARCs are classified as Level 3 investments and are valued through the use of an expected cash flows model prepared by a third-party valuation expert. The assumptions used in preparing the expected cash flows model include estimates for coupon rates, time to maturity and market rates of return.

 

   

Other financial assets – Included within this asset category are: Level 1 assets, consisting of mutual funds that are held in trust for employee deferred compensation plans and measured at fair value based on quoted prices for identical securities in active markets; and Level 2 assets representing the fair value of mortgage banking derivatives in the form of interest rate locks and forward commitments with secondary market investors. The fair value of the Corporation’s interest rate locks and forward commitments are determined as the amount that would be required to settle each derivative financial instrument at the balance sheet date. See Note A, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for additional information.

 

   

Other financial liabilities – Included within this category are: Level 1 employee deferred compensation liabilities which represent amounts due to employees under the deferred compensation plans, described under the heading “Other financial assets” above; Level 2 mortgage banking derivatives, described under the heading “Other financial assets” above; and Level 3 financial guarantees associated with the Corporation’s commitment to purchase ARCs held within customer accounts.

The following table presents the changes in the Corporation’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the year ended December 31, 2009:

 

     Available for Sale Investment Securities     Other Financial  
     Pooled Trust
Preferred
Securities
    Single-issuer
Trust Preferred
Securities
    Auction Rate
Securities
(ARCs)
    Liabilities –
ARC Financial
Guarantee
 
     (in thousands)  

Balance, December 31, 2008

   $ 15,381      $ 7,544      $ 195,900      $ (8,653

Transfers from Level 3 to Level 2

     —          (1,008     —          —     

Purchases (1)

     —          —          89,385        14,890   

Realized adjustments to fair value (2)

     (9,470     —          —          (6,237

Unrealized adjustments to fair value (3)

     (925     443        12,984        —     

Sales

     —          —          (3,086     —     

Redemptions

     —          —          (8,227     —     

(Premium amortization)/Discount accretion (4)

     (7     2        2,247        —     
                                

Balance, December 31, 2009

   $ 4,979      $ 6,981      $ 289,203      $ —     
                                

 

(1) For ARCs, amount represents investments acquired from customers, less an adjustment to fair value upon purchase. For the ARC financial guarantee, amount represents the reversal of guarantee liability due to the purchase of ARCs from customers.
(2) For pooled trust preferred securities, realized adjustments to fair value represent credit related other-than-temporary impairment charges that were recorded as a reduction to investment securities gains on the consolidated statements of operations. For the ARC financial guarantee, the realized adjustment to fair value has been included as a component of operating risk loss on the consolidated statements of operations.
(3) Pooled trust preferred securities, single-issuer trust preferred securities, and ARCs are classified as available for sale investment securities; as such, the unrealized adjustment to fair value was recorded as an unrealized holding gain (loss) and included as a component of available for sale investment securities on the consolidated balance sheet.
(4) Included as a component of net interest income on the consolidated statements of operations.

 

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Certain financial assets are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value measurement in certain circumstances, such as upon their acquisition or when there is evidence of impairment. The Corporation’s financial assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and reported on the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2009 were as follows:

 

     Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total
     (in thousands)

Loans held for sale

   $ —      $ 5,807    $ —      $ 5,807

Net loans

     —        —        642,889      642,889

Other financial assets

     —        23,309      22,498      45,807
                           

Total assets

   $ —      $ 29,116    $ 665,387    $ 694,503
                           

Reserve for unfunded commitments

   $ —      $ —      $ 855    $ 855
                           

The valuation techniques used to measure fair value for the items in the table above are as follows:

 

   

Loans held for sale – This category consists of floating rate residential mortgage construction loans which are measured at the lower of aggregate cost or fair value. Fair value was measured as the prices that secondary market investors were offering for loans with similar characteristics.

 

   

Net loans – This category consists of commercial loans and commercial mortgage loans which were considered to be impaired under FASB ASC Section 310-10-35 and have been classified as Level 3 assets. Impaired loans are measured at fair value based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, or at the loan’s observable market price or fair value of its collateral, if the loan is collateral dependent. An allowance for loan losses is allocated to an impaired loan if its carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value. The amount shown is the balance of impaired loans, net of the related allowance for loan losses.

 

   

Other financial assets – This category includes other real estate owned. Fair values for these Level 2 assets were based on estimated selling prices less estimated selling costs for similar assets in active markets.

Classified as Level 3 assets above are MSRs, which are initially recorded at fair value upon the sale of residential mortgage loans, which the Corporation continues to service, to secondary market investors. MSRs are amortized as a reduction to servicing income over the estimated lives of the underlying loans. MSRs are evaluated quarterly for impairment, by comparing the carrying amount to estimated fair value. Fair value is determined at the end of each quarter through a discounted cash flows valuation. Significant inputs to the valuation include expected net servicing income, the discount rate and the expected life of the underlying loans.

 

   

Reserve for unfunded commitments – This liability represents the reserve associated with unused commitments to extend credit on loans which are impaired under FASB ASC Section 310-10-35, and included as Level 3 assets under the heading, “Net loans” above. The fair value of the reserve for unfunded commitments is determined based on the results of the measurement of impaired loans. As such, this liability is classified as a Level 3 item.

 

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As required by FASB ASC Section 825-10-50, the following table details the book values and the estimated fair values of the Corporation’s financial instruments as of December 31, 2009 and 2008. In addition, a general description of the methods and assumptions used to estimate such fair values is also provided below.

Fair values of financial instruments are significantly affected by assumptions used, principally the timing of future cash flows and discount rates. Because assumptions are inherently subjective in nature, the estimated fair values cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent market quotes and, in many cases, the estimated fair values could not necessarily be realized in an immediate sale or settlement of the instrument. Further, certain financial instruments and all non-financial instruments not measured at fair value on the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheets are excluded. The aggregate fair value amounts presented do not necessarily represent management’s estimate of the underlying value of the Corporation.

 

     2009    2008
      Book Value    Estimated
Fair Value
   Book Value    Estimated
Fair Value
     (in thousands)

FINANCIAL ASSETS

           

Cash and due from banks

   $ 284,508    $ 284,508    $ 331,164    $ 331,164

Interest-bearing deposits with other banks

     16,591      16,591      16,791      16,791

Federal funds sold

     —        —        4,919      4,919

Loans held for sale (1)

     85,384      85,384      95,840      95,840

Securities held to maturity

     8,700      8,797      9,636      9,765

Securities available for sale (1)

     3,258,386      3,258,386      2,715,205      2,715,205

Loans, net of unearned income (1)

     11,972,424      11,972,109      12,042,620      11,764,715

Accrued interest receivable

     58,515      58,515      58,566      58,566

Other financial assets (1)

     128,374      128,374      114,219      114,219

FINANCIAL LIABILITIES

        

Demand and savings deposits

   $ 6,784,050    $ 6,784,050    $ 5,453,799    $ 5,453,799

Time deposits

     5,313,864      5,349,237      5,098,117      5,137,078

Short-term borrowings

     868,940      868,940      1,762,770      1,762,770

Accrued interest payable

     46,596      46,596      53,678      53,678

Other financial liabilities (1)

     53,267      53,267      73,203      73,203

FHLB advances and long-term debt

     1,540,773      1,474,082      1,787,797      1,765,815

 

(1) Description of fair value determinations for these financial instruments, or certain financial instruments within these categories, measured at fair value on the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheets, are detailed under the heading, “FASB ASC Topic 820 Fair Value Measurements” above.

For short-term financial instruments defined as those with remaining maturities of 90 days or less, excluding those recorded at fair value and reported above under the heading, “FASB ASC Topic 820 Fair Value Measurements”, the carrying amount was considered to be a reasonable estimate of fair value.

The following instruments are predominantly short-term:

 

Assets

  

Liabilities

Cash and due from banks

   Demand and savings deposits

Interest bearing deposits

   Short-term borrowings

Federal funds sold

   Accrued interest payable

Accrued interest receivable

   Other financial liabilities

For those financial instruments within the above-listed categories with remaining maturities greater than 90 days, fair values were determined by discounting contractual cash flows using rates which could be earned for assets with similar remaining maturities and, in the case of liabilities, rates at which the liabilities with similar remaining maturities could be issued as of the balance sheet date.

The estimated fair values of securities held to maturity as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 were generally based on quoted market prices, broker quotes or dealer quotes.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

For short-term loans and variable rate loans that reprice within 90 days, the carrying value was considered to be a reasonable estimate of fair value. For other types of loans and time deposits, fair value was estimated by discounting future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities.

The fair value of FHLB advances and long-term debt was estimated by discounting the remaining contractual cash flows using a rate at which the Corporation could issue debt with a similar remaining maturity as of the balance sheet date. The fair values of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit are estimated to equal their carrying amounts.

NOTE Q – CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION - PARENT COMPANY ONLY

 

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

 

     December 31         December 31
     2009    2008         2009    2008

ASSETS

        

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

     

Cash

   $ 119    $ 38   

Line of credit with bank subsidiaries

   $ —      $ 86,000

Securities and other assets

     7,667      8,666   

Long-term debt

     381,659      381,544

Receivable from subsidiaries

     6,385      104,260   

Payable to non-bank subsidiaries

     16,380      53,176

Investment in:

        

Other liabilities

     36,360      65,372
                      

Bank subsidiaries

     1,798,610      1,687,165   

Total Liabilities

     434,399      586,092

Non-bank subsidiaries

     558,100      645,610   

Shareholders’ equity

     1,936,482      1,859,647
                              

Total Assets

   $ 2,370,881    $ 2,445,739   

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 2,370,881    $ 2,445,739
                              

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

     2009     2008     2007  
     (in thousands)  

Income:

      

Dividends from subsidiaries

   $ 157,900      $ 76,453      $ 190,089   

Other

     70,775        68,174        57,231   
                        
     228,675        144,627        247,320   

Expenses

     99,526        98,757        97,576   
                        

Income before income taxes and equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries

     129,149        45,870        149,744   

Income tax benefit

     (10,354     (11,312     (15,243
                        
     139,503        57,182        164,987   

Equity in undistributed net income (loss) of:

      

Bank subsidiaries

     18,596        (23,449     (22,504

Non-bank subsidiaries

     (84,175     (39,350     10,235   
                        

Net Income (Loss)

   $ 73,924      $ (5,617   $ 152,718   

Preferred stock dividends and discount accretion

     (20,169     (463     —     
                        

Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders

   $ 53,755      $ (6,080   $ 152,718   
                        

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

     2009     2008     2007  
     (in thousands)  

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

      

Net Income (Loss)

   $ 73,924      $ (5,617   $ 152,718   

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:

      

Stock-based compensation

     1,781        2,058        2,639   

Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation

     —          —          (111

Decrease (increase) in other assets

     6,489        (5,322     (5,190

Equity in undistributed net (income) loss of subsidiaries

     65,579        62,799        12,269   

(Decrease) increase in other liabilities and payable to non-bank subsidiaries

     (35,312     4,862        538   
                        

Total adjustments

     38,537        64,397        10,145   
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     112,461        58,778        162,863   

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

      

Investment in bank subsidiaries

     (53,000     —          (62,592

Investment in non-bank subsidiaries

     (10,000     (294,500     —     

Line of credit to non-bank subsidiary

     88,114        (88,212     —     
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     25,114        (382,712     (65,592

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

      

Net (decrease) increase in short-term borrowings

     (86,000     38,268        (63,586

Dividends paid

     (58,913     (103,976     (103,122

Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock and common stock warrants

     —          376,500        —     

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock

     7,419        13,177        7,368   

Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation

     —          —          111   

Repayment of long-term debt

     —          —          (21,471

Additions to long-term debt

     —          —          98,633   

Acquisition of treasury stock

     —          —          (18,227
                        

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (137,494     323,969        (100,294
                        

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     81        37        (23

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year

     38        1        24   
                        

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year

   $ 119      $ 38      $ 1   
                        

 

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Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The management of Fulton Financial Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Fulton Financial Corporation’s internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control – Integrated Framework. Based on this assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2009, the company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

/s/    R. SCOTT SMITH, JR.        
R. Scott Smith, Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
/s/    CHARLES J. NUGENT        
Charles J. Nugent
Senior Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Fulton Financial Corporation:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Fulton Financial Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009. We also have audited Fulton Financial Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Fulton Financial Corporation’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management Report of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Fulton Financial Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, Fulton Financial Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

As discussed in Note A to the financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for other-than-temporary impairment for debt securities in 2009, due to the adoption of FASB Staff Position No. 115-2 and 124-2, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-than-Temporary Impairments”, codified within FASB ASC Subtopic 320-10.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

March 1, 2010

 

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QUARTERLY CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except per-share data)

 

     Three Months Ended  
     March 31     June 30     Sept. 30     Dec. 31  

FOR THE YEAR 2009

        

Interest income

   $ 195,567      $ 198,097      $ 197,861      $ 194,942   

Interest expense

     71,451        70,153        65,060        58,849   
                                

Net interest income

     124,116        127,944        132,801        136,093   

Provision for loan losses

     50,000        50,000        45,000        45,020   

Other income

     46,914        45,377        41,180        39,285   

Other expenses

     106,372        107,806        99,810        100,370   
                                

Income before income taxes

     14,658        15,515        29,171        29,988   

Income tax expense

     1,573        2,404        5,825        5,606   
                                

Net income

     13,085        13,111        23,346        24,382   

Preferred stock dividends and discount accretion

     (5,031     (5,046     (5,046     (5,046
                                

Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 8,054      $ 8,065      $ 18,300      $ 19,336   
                                

Per common share data:

        

Net income (basic)

   $ 0.05      $ 0.05      $ 0.10      $ 0.11   

Net income (diluted)

     0.05        0.05        0.10        0.11   

Cash dividends

     0.03        0.03        0.03        0.03   

FOR THE YEAR 2008

        

Interest income

   $ 229,220      $ 215,392      $ 213,809      $ 209,073   

Interest expense

     103,321        83,502        79,791        76,732   
                                

Net interest income

     125,899        131,890        134,018        132,341   

Provision for loan losses

     11,220        16,706        26,700        65,000   

Other income

     37,680        32,150        30,815        10,411   

Other expenses

     96,660        109,736        99,355        190,874   
                                

Income (loss) before income taxes

     55,699        37,598        38,778        (113,122

Income tax expense (benefit)

     14,203        11,920        9,702        (11,255
                                

Net income (loss)

     41,496        25,678        29,076        (101,867

Preferred stock dividends and discount accretion

     —          —          —          (463
                                

Net income (loss) available to common shareholders

   $ 41,496      $ 25,678      $ 29,076      $ (102,330
                                

Per common share data:

        

Net income (loss) (basic)

   $ 0.24      $ 0.15      $ 0.17      $ (0.58

Net income (loss) (diluted)

     0.24        0.15        0.17        (0.58

Cash dividends

     0.15        0.15        0.15        0.15   

 

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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Not Applicable.

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Corporation carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Corporation’s management, including the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e). Based upon the evaluation, the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2009, the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective. Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Corporation’s reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

The “Management Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting” and the “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” may be found in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this document.

Changes in Internal Controls

There was no change in the Corporation’s “internal control over financial reporting” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B. Other Information

Not Applicable.

 

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PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Incorporated by reference herein is the information appearing under the headings “Information about Nominees, Continuing Directors and Independence Standards”, “Named Executive Officers”, “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance”, “Code of Conduct”, “Procedure for Shareholder Nominations”, and “Other Board Committees” within the Corporation’s 2010 Proxy Statement.

The Corporation has adopted a code of ethics (Code of Conduct) that applies to all directors, officers and employees, including the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the Corporate Controller. A copy of the Code of Conduct may be obtained free of charge by writing to the Corporate Secretary at Fulton Financial Corporation, P.O. Box 4887, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17604-4887, and is also available via the internet at www.fult.com.

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Incorporated by reference herein is the information appearing under the headings “Information Concerning Compensation” and “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” within the Corporation’s 2010 Proxy Statement.

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Incorporated by reference herein is the information appearing under the heading “Security Ownership of Directors, Nominees, Management and Certain Beneficial Owners” within the Corporation’s 2010 Proxy Statement, and information appearing under the heading “Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans” within Item 5, “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” in this Annual Report.

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Incorporated by reference herein is the information appearing under the headings “Related Person Transactions with Directors and Executive Officers” and “Information about Nominees, Continuing Directors and Independence Standards” within the Corporation’s 2010 Proxy Statement, and the information appearing in “Note D - Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.

 

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

Incorporated by reference herein is the information appearing under the heading “Relationship With Independent Public Accountants” within the Corporation’s 2010 Proxy Statement.

 

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PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:

 

  1. Financial Statements - The following consolidated financial statements of Fulton Financial Corporation and subsidiaries are incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 8 above:

 

  (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 2009 and 2008.

 

  (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations - Years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

 

  (iii) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

 

  (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

 

  (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

  (vi) Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

  2. Financial Statement Schedules - All financial statement schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and have therefore been omitted.

 

  3. Exhibits — The following is a list of the Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K and filed as part of this report:

 

3.1    Articles of Incorporation, as amended and restated, of Fulton Financial Corporation as amended – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Form S-4 Registration Statement filed on October 7, 2005.
3.2    Bylaws of Fulton Financial Corporation as amended – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 18, 2008.
3.3    Certificate of Designations of Fixed Rate Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A of Fulton Financial Corporation – Incorporated by referenced to Exhibit 3.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 23, 2008.
4.1    An Indenture entered into on March 28, 2005 between Fulton Financial Corporation and Wilmington Trust Company as trustee, relating to the issuance by Fulton of $100 million aggregate principal amount of 5.35% subordinated notes due April 1, 2015 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 31, 2005.
4.2    Purchase Agreement entered into between Fulton Financial Corporation, Fulton Capital Trust I, FFC Management, Inc. and Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. with respect to the Trust’s issuance and sale in a firm commitment public offering of $150 million aggregate liquidation amount of 6.29% Capital Securities – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 20, 2006.
4.3    First Supplemental Indenture entered into on May 1, 2007 between Fulton Financial Corporation and Wilmington Trust Company as trustee, relating to the issuance by Fulton of $100 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% subordinated notes due May 1, 2017 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 1, 2007.

 

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  4.4    Form of Preferred Stock Certificate to the United States Department of the Treasury – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 23, 2008.
  4.5    Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock to the United States Department of the Treasury – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 23, 2008.
10.1    Amended Employment Agreement between Fulton Financial Corporation and R. Scott Smith, Jr. dated November 12, 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2008.
10.2    Amended Employment Agreement between Fulton Financial Corporation and Craig H. Hill dated November 12, 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2008.
10.3    Amended Employment Agreement between Fulton Financial Corporation and Charles J. Nugent dated November 12, 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2008.
10.4    Amended Employment Agreement between Fulton Financial Corporation and James E. Shreiner dated November 12, 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2008.
10.5    Amended Employment Agreement between Fulton Financial Corporation and E. Philip Wenger dated November 12, 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2008.
10.6    Form of Death Benefit Only Agreement to Senior Management – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Annual Report on Form 10K dated March 1, 2007.
10.7    Fulton Financial Corporation 2004 Stock Option and Compensation Plan – filed herewith.
10.8    Form of Stock Option Agreement and Form of Restricted Stock Agreement between Fulton Financial Corporation and Officers of the Corporation as of July 1, 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 20, 2008.
10.9    Form of Amendment to Stock Option Agreement for John M. Bond – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 22, 2006.
  10.10    Fulton Financial Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 26, 2007.
  10.11    Form of Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan - For Use with Executives with no Pre-2008 Accruals – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 26, 2007.
  10.12    Form of Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan - For Use with Executives with no Pre-2008 Accruals – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 26, 2007.
  10.13    Form of Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan - For Use with Executives First Covered After 2004 but Before 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 26, 2007.

 

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10.14    Agreement between Fulton Financial Corporation and Fiserv Solutions, Inc. dated as of January 1, 2005. Portions of this exhibit have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a request for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. See also Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 24, 2005.
10.15    Letter agreement dated December 23, 2008 with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, including Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 23, 2008.
10.16    Form of waiver required for senior executive officers in connection with sale of preferred stock under the Capital Purchase Program – between Senior Executive Officers and the United States Department of the Treasury – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 23, 2008.
10.17    Form of letter agreement with senior executive officers related to compensation, in conformity with the Capital Purchase Program – between Fulton Financial Corporation and Senior Executive Officers – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 23, 2008.
10.18    Form of executive letter agreement, related to the Capital Purchase Program compensation standards – between Fulton Financial Corporation and Senior Executive Officers or Most Highly Compensated Employees – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 24, 2009.
21         Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23         Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1      Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2      Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1      Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2      Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
99.1      Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 111(b)(4) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
99.2      Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 111(b)(4) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

    FULTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION
    (Registrant)
Dated: March 1, 2010     By:   /s/    R. SCOTT SMITH, JR.        
        R. Scott Smith, Jr.,
        Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

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

 

Signature

  

Capacity

 

Date

/s/    JEFFREY G. ALBERTSON, ESQ.        

Jeffrey G. Albertson, Esq.

   Director   March 1, 2010

/s/    JOHN M. BOND, JR.        

John M. Bond, Jr.

   Director   March 1, 2010

/s/    DONALD M. BOWMAN, JR.        

Donald M. Bowman, Jr.

   Director   March 1, 2010

/s/    DANA A. CHRYST        

Dana A. Chryst

   Director   March 1, 2010

/s/    BETH ANN L. CHIVINSKI        

Beth Ann L. Chivinski

   Executive Vice President and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
  March 1, 2010

/s/    CRAIG A. DALLY, ESQ.        

Craig A. Dally, Esq.

   Director   March 1, 2010

/s/    PATRICK J. FREER        

Patrick J. Freer

   Director   March 1, 2010

 

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Signature

  

Capacity

 

Date

/s/    RUFUS A. FULTON, JR.        

Rufus A. Fulton, Jr.

   Director   March 1, 2010

/s/    GEORGE W. HODGES        

George W. Hodges

   Director   March 1, 2010

/s/    WILLEM KOOYKER        

Willem Kooyker

   Director   March 1, 2010

/s/    DONALD W. LESHER, JR.        

Donald W. Lesher, Jr.

   Director   March 1, 2010

/s/    CHARLES J. NUGENT        

Charles J. Nugent

   Senior Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
  March 1, 2010

/s/    JOHN O. SHIRK, ESQ.        

John O. Shirk, Esq.

   Director   March 1, 2010

/s/    R. SCOTT SMITH, JR.        

R. Scott Smith, Jr.

   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
  March 1, 2010

         

Gary A. Stewart

   Director   March 1, 2010

/s/    E. PHILIP WENGER        

E. Philip Wenger

   President and Chief Operating Officer   March 1, 2010

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibits Required Pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K

 

  3.1

   Articles of Incorporation, as amended and restated, of Fulton Financial Corporation as amended – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Form S-4 Registration Statement filed on October 7, 2005.

  3.2

   Bylaws of Fulton Financial Corporation as amended – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 18, 2008.

  3.3

   Certificate of Designations of Fixed Rate Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A of Fulton Financial Corporation – Incorporated by referenced to Exhibit 3.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 23, 2008.

  4.1

   An Indenture entered into on March 28, 2005 between Fulton Financial Corporation and Wilmington Trust Company as trustee, relating to the issuance by Fulton of $100 million aggregate principal amount of 5.35% subordinated notes due April 1, 2015 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 31, 2005.

  4.2

   Purchase Agreement entered into between Fulton Financial Corporation, Fulton Capital Trust I, FFC Management, Inc. and Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. with respect to the Trust’s issuance and sale in a firm commitment public offering of $150 million aggregate liquidation amount of 6.29% Capital Securities – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 20, 2006.

  4.3

   First Supplemental Indenture entered into on May 1, 2007 between Fulton Financial Corporation and Wilmington Trust Company as trustee, relating to the issuance by Fulton of $100 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% subordinated notes due May 1, 2017 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 1, 2007.

  4.4

   Form of Preferred Stock Certificate to the United States Department of the Treasury – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 23, 2008.

  4.5

   Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock to the United States Department of the Treasury – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 23, 2008.

10.1

   Amended Employment Agreement between Fulton Financial Corporation and R. Scott Smith, Jr. dated November 12, 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2008. Amended Employment Agreement between Fulton Financial Corporation and Craig H. Hill dated November 12, 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2008.

10.2

   Amended Employment Agreement between Fulton Financial Corporation and Craig H. Hill dated November 12, 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2008.

10.3

   Amended Employment Agreement between Fulton Financial Corporation and Charles J. Nugent dated November 12, 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2008.

 

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10.4  

   Amended Employment Agreement between Fulton Financial Corporation and James E. Shreiner dated November 12, 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2008.

10.5  

   Amended Employment Agreement between Fulton Financial Corporation and E. Philip Wenger dated November 12, 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2008.

10.6  

   Form of Death Benefit Only Agreement to Senior Management – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Annual Report on Form 10K dated March 1, 2007.

10.7  

   Fulton Financial Corporation 2004 Stock Option and Compensation Plan – filed herewith.

10.8  

   Form of Stock Option Agreement and Form of Restricted Stock Agreement between Fulton Financial Corporation and Officers of the Corporation as of July 1, 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 20, 2008.

10.9  

   Form of Amendment to Stock Option Agreement for John M. Bond – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 22, 2006.

10.10

   Fulton Financial Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 26, 2007.

10.11

   Form of Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan - For Use with Executives with no Pre-2008 Accruals – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 26, 2007.

10.12

   Form of Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan - For Use with Executives with no Pre-2008 Accruals – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 26, 2007.

10.13

   Form of Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan - For Use with Executives First Covered After 2004 but Before 2008 – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 26, 2007.

10.14

   Agreement between Fulton Financial Corporation and Fiserv Solutions, Inc. dated as of January 1, 2005. Portions of this exhibit have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a request for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. See also Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 24, 2005.

10.15

   Letter agreement dated December 23, 2008 with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, including Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 23, 2008.

10.16

   Form of waiver required for senior executive officers in connection with sale of preferred stock under the Capital Purchase Program – between Senior Executive Officers and the United States Department of the Treasury – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 23, 2008.

10.17

   Form of letter agreement with senior executive officers related to compensation, in conformity with the Capital Purchase Program – between Fulton Financial Corporation and Senior Executive Officers – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 23, 2008.

 

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10.18

   Form of executive letter agreement, related to the Capital Purchase Program compensation standards – between Fulton Financial Corporation and Senior Executive Officers or Most Highly Compensated Employees – Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Fulton Financial Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 24, 2009.

21      

   Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

23      

   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

31.1  

   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2  

   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1  

   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2  

   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

99.1  

   Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 111(b)(4) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

99.2  

   Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 111(b)(4) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

 

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