Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

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FORM 10-K

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Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016

 

Commission file number: 001-36878

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NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)  

Delaware	20-8627710
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
813 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 100 Birmingham, AL	35209
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)
(205) 313-8100
(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, par value $0.01 per share	The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

 

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  ☒    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,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

	Large accelerated filer	☐	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   ☒

 

State the aggregate market value of the voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2016: $199,438,960

 

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

 

Class of Common Stock		Outstanding at March 8, 2017
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share		12,945,012 shares

 

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with its 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this annual report on Form 10-K.

  

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NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION 

FORM 10-K

INDEX

 

	General	4
	Forward – Looking Statements	4
PART I.
Item 1.	Business	5
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	18
Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	36
Item 2.	Properties	36
Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	38
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosure	38
PART II.
Item 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	39
Item 6.	Selected Financial Data	41
Item 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	45
Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	74
Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accounting and Financial Disclosures	122
Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	122
Item 9B.	Other Information	122
PART III.
Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	123
Item 11.	Executive Compensation	123
Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	123
Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence	123
Item 14.	Principal Accounting Fees and Services	123
Part IV.
Item 15.	Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules	124
Signatures

  

 

GENERAL

 

Unless the context otherwise indicates or requires, references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “NCC,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to National Commerce Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and our consolidated affiliates as of December 31, 2016.

 

               On October 28, 2014, the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198219) became effective, and the Company became subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance, which involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Certain statements made in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements include any statement that, without limitation, may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements instead of historical or current facts and may contain words like “anticipates,” “approximately,” “believes,” “budget,” “can,” “could,” “continues,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecast,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “outlook,” “predicts,” “probably,” “plans,” “potential,” “project,” “seeks,” “shall,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or the negative of these terms and other words, phrases or expressions with similar meaning.

 

Any forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are based on our historical performance and on our current plans, estimates and expectations in light of information currently available to us. The inclusion of forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by us that the future plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, financial results, financial condition, business, prospects, growth strategy and liquidity. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, and we cannot give assurances that such statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information or otherwise. Given these uncertainties, the reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or estimated by us include those that are discussed herein under “Part I, Item 1A – Risk Factors,” as well as other unknown risks and uncertainties.

 

 

PART I

Item 1.     Business.

 

Overview

 

We are a bank holding company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, that has elected to become a “financial holding company” under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”). We engage in the business of banking through our wholly-owned banking subsidiary, National Bank of Commerce, which we may refer to as “the Bank” or “NBC.”

 

Through the Bank, we provide a broad array of financial services to businesses, business owners, and professionals. We operate seven full-service banking offices in Alabama, located in Birmingham, Huntsville, Auburn-Opelika, and Baldwin County, and ten full-service banking offices in Florida, located in Longwood, Winter Park, Orlando, Oviedo, Tavares, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, St. Augustine Beach and Vero Beach. Certain of our Florida offices operate under the trade names “United Legacy Bank” and “Reunion Bank of Florida.”

 

During 2016, we also expanded our operations into Georgia. In May 2016, we opened a loan production office in Atlanta, Georgia. In August 2016, we signed a definitive agreement to acquire Private Bancshares, Inc. (“PBI”), the holding company of Private Bank of Buckhead, through a merger of PBI with and into NCC, followed immediately by a merger of Private Bank of Buckhead with and into NBC. As a result of the merger, which became effective on January 1, 2017, we acquired two full-service banking offices in Georgia – one in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, and the other in Decatur. We operate these acquired offices and the mortgage division of the acquired bank under the trade names “Private Bank of Buckhead,” “Private Bank of Decatur,” and “PrivatePlus Mortgage.”

 

We engage in the business of factoring commercial receivables through the Bank’s ownership of a 70% equity interest in CBI Holding Company, LLC (“CBI”). CBI owns Corporate Billing, LLC (“Corporate Billing”), a transaction-based finance company headquartered in Decatur, Alabama, that provides factoring, invoicing, collection, and accounts receivable management services to transportation companies and automotive parts and service providers throughout the United States and parts of Canada.

 

As of December 31, 2016, we had total assets of $2.0 billion, total loans of $1.5 billion, total deposits of $1.7 billion, and total shareholders’ equity of $237.0 million.

 

Our Products and Services

 

Through the Bank, we engage in the business of banking, which consists primarily of accepting deposits from the public and making loans and other investments. Through Corporate Billing, we provide factoring, invoicing, collection, and accounts receivable management services to transportation companies and automotive parts and service providers throughout the United States and parts of Canada. Our principal sources of funds for loans and investments at the Bank are demand, time, savings, and other deposits (including negotiable orders of withdrawal, or NOW accounts) and the amortization and prepayments of loans and investments. Our principal sources of income are interest and fees collected on loans, interest collected on other investments, fees earned from the origination and sale of residential mortgage loans, and service charges, as well as income from factored receivables through Corporate Billing. Our principal expenses are interest paid on savings and other deposits (including NOW accounts), interest paid on other borrowings, employee compensation, office expenses, and other overhead expenses.

 

Deposits

 

Our principal sources of funds are core deposits, including demand deposits, interest-bearing transaction accounts, money market accounts, savings deposits and certificates of deposit. Transaction accounts include checking and NOW accounts, which customers use for cash management and which provide a source of fee income for us, as well as a low-cost source of funds. Time and savings accounts also provide a relatively stable and low-cost source of funding. Our largest source of funds is money market accounts. Certificates of deposit in excess of $100,000 are held primarily by customers in our market areas. We utilize brokered and internet certificates of deposit to supplement our market funding sources when funding needs or pricing warrant the use of wholesale funding.

 

 

Deposit rates are reviewed weekly by senior management. Management believes that the rates that we offer are competitive with those offered by other institutions in our market areas. We also focus on customer service to attract and retain deposits.

 

Lending

 

We offer a range of lending services, including real estate, consumer and commercial loans, to individuals, small businesses, and other organizations located in or conducting a substantial portion of their business in our market areas. Our total loans, net of unearned income, at December 31, 2016, were approximately $1.5 billion, or approximately 83.0% of total earning assets. The interest rates charged on loans vary with the degree of risk, maturity and amount of the loan and are further subject to competitive pressures, money market rates, availability of funds, and government regulations.

 

Real Estate Loans. Loans secured by real estate are the primary component of our loan portfolio, constituting approximately $1.2 billion, or 81.6% of total loans, net of unearned income, at December 31, 2016. We originate consumer and commercial loans for the purpose of acquiring real estate that are secured by such real estate. We also often take real estate as an additional source of collateral to secure commercial and industrial loans. Such loans are classified as real estate loans rather than commercial and industrial loans if the real estate collateral is considered significant as a secondary source of repayment for the loan. Loans are typically made on a recourse basis and are supported by financial statements and a review of the repayment ability of the borrower(s) and/or guarantor(s). Origination fees are charged for many loans secured by real estate.

 

Our real estate lending activities are generally characterized by the following types of loans and loan terms.

 

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Commercial real estate term loans accrue at either variable or fixed rates. The variable rates approximate current market rates. Amortizations are typically no more than 25 years.

 

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The primary type of residential mortgage loan is the single-family first mortgage, typically structured with fixed or adjustable interest rates, based on market conditions. These loans usually have fixed rates for up to five years, with maturities of 15 to 30 years. We also originate home equity lines of credit secured by residential property. These loans are typically made on a variable-rate basis with maturities up to 10 years.

 

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Construction and land development loans are typically made on a variable-rate basis. Loan terms usually do not exceed 24 months.

 

We originate residential loans for sale into the secondary market. These loans are made in accordance with underwriting standards set by the purchaser of the loan, normally as to loan-to-value ratio, interest rate, borrower qualification, and documentation. These loans are originated on both a “best efforts” and a “mandatory delivery” basis. We typically collect from the borrower or purchaser a combination of the origination fee, discount points, and/or a service release fee.

 

Commercial and Industrial Loans. We make loans for commercial purposes in various lines of business. These loans are typically made on terms up to five years at fixed or variable rates. The loans are secured by various types of collateral, including accounts receivable, inventory, or, in the case of equipment loans, the financed equipment. We attempt to reduce our credit risk on commercial loans by underwriting the loan based on the borrower’s cash flow and ability to service the debt from earnings, and by limiting the loan-to-value ratio. Historically, we have typically loaned up to 80% on loans secured by accounts receivable, up to 50% on loans secured by inventory (which are usually also secured by accounts receivable), and up to 100% on loans secured by equipment. We also make some unsecured commercial loans. Commercial and industrial loans constituted $150.3 million, or 10.1% of our loan portfolio, at December 31, 2016. Interest rates are negotiable and are based on the borrower’s financial condition, credit history, management stability and collateral.

 

 

Consumer Loans. Consumer lending includes installment lending to individuals in our market areas and generally consists of loans to purchase automobiles and other consumer durable goods. Consumer loans constituted $19.1 million, or 1.3% of our loan portfolio, at December 31, 2016. Consumer loans are underwritten based on the borrower’s income, current debt level, past credit history and collateral. Consumer rates are both variable and fixed, with terms negotiable. Terms generally range from one to five years, depending on the nature and condition of the collateral. Periodic amortization, generally monthly, is typically required.

 

Loan Approval. Certain credit risks are inherent in making loans. These include repayment risks, risks resulting from uncertainties in the future value of collateral, risks resulting from changes in economic and industry conditions, and risks inherent in dealing with individual borrowers. In particular, longer maturities increase the risk that economic conditions will change and adversely affect collectability.

 

We attempt to minimize loan losses through various means and the use of standardized underwriting criteria. We have established a standardized loan policy that may be modified based on local market conditions. In particular, on larger credits, we generally rely on the cash flow of a debtor as the source of repayment and secondarily on the value of the underlying collateral. In addition, we attempt to utilize shorter loan terms in order to reduce the risk of a decline in the value of such collateral.

 

We address repayment risks by adhering to internal credit policies and procedures. These policies and procedures include officer and customer lending limits, a loan committee approval process for larger loans, documentation examination, and follow-up procedures for loan review and any exceptions to credit policies. The point in the loan approval process at which a loan is approved depends on the size of the borrower’s credit relationship with the bank and the loan authority of the lending officer to whom the loan request is made. Each of our lending officers has the authority to approve loans up to an approved loan authority amount, as determined by the Bank’s board of directors. Loans in excess of the highest loan authority amount of a particular lending officer must be approved by either the Bank’s loan committee or another officer with sufficient loan authority to approve the request.

 

Risk Ratings. Loan officers are directly responsible for monitoring the risk in their respective portfolios. On commercial loans, risk grades are assigned by the loan officer for the probability of default following an analysis of borrower characteristics and external economic factors. However, on consumer loans, risk grades are primarily determined by a borrower’s credit score, personal debt ratio, repayment history, and liquidity.

 

Electronic Banking

 

We offer electronic banking services to our customers, including commercial and retail online banking, automated bill payment, mobile banking, and remote deposit capture for certain customers.

 

Factoring

 

Since August 29, 2014, NBC has owned a 70% interest in CBI, the holding company of Corporate Billing. Corporate Billing is a transaction-based finance company engaged in the purchase of accounts receivable at a discount from businesses throughout the United States and parts of Canada, a business traditionally known as “factoring.” In a typical factoring transaction, Corporate Billing purchases all of the rights associated with the account receivable and assumes the billing and collection responsibilities. Corporate Billing may purchase a receivable with or without recourse. If an account is purchased without recourse, Corporate Billing bears the loss if the account debtor does not pay the invoice amount. If the receivable is purchased with recourse, however, Corporate Billing has the right to collect the unpaid invoice amount from the seller of the receivable if the account debtor does not pay. Corporate Billing engages in both recourse and non-recourse purchases, with its recourse operations focused primarily in the transportation industry, and its non-recourse operations focused primarily in the automotive dealer and distributor industries. As an operating subsidiary of NBC, Corporate Billing is regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”).  

 

 

Market Areas 

 

We conduct our banking operations through the Bank’s seven full-service banking offices in Alabama (in Birmingham, Huntsville, Auburn-Opelika, and Baldwin County), ten full-service banking offices in central and northeast Florida (in Longwood, Winter Park, Orlando, Oviedo, Tavares, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, St. Augustine Beach and Vero Beach) and two full-service banking offices and a loan production office in the Atlanta, Georgia metro area. In addition to the “National Bank of Commerce” name, we also use the trade names “United Legacy Bank” and “Reunion Bank of Florida” for certain of our Florida offices and “Private Bank of Buckhead,” “Private Bank of Decatur” and “Private Plus Mortgage” for our operations in Georgia. We conduct our factoring business through Corporate Billing’s office in Decatur, Alabama, with clients located throughout the United States and parts of Canada. Technology allows us to service a national client base in our factoring business, with sales representatives traveling to meet existing and potential clients in their places of business.

 

Competition

 

The financial services industry is highly competitive. We compete for loans, deposits and financial services in all of our principal markets. We compete directly with other bank and non-bank institutions located within our markets, internet-based banks, out-of-market banks, and bank holding companies that advertise in or otherwise serve our markets, along with money market and mutual funds, brokerage houses, mortgage companies, and insurance companies or other commercial entities that offer financial products and services. Competition involves efforts to retain current customers, obtain new loans and deposits, increase the scope and type of services that we provide, and offer competitive interest rates paid on deposits and charged on loans. Many of our competitors enjoy competitive advantages, including greater financial resources, a wider geographic presence, more accessible branch office locations, the ability to offer additional services, more favorable pricing alternatives, and lower origination and operating costs. Some of our competitors have been in business for a long time and have an established customer base and name recognition. We believe that our competitive pricing, personalized service, and community involvement enable us to effectively compete in the communities in which we operate.

 

 Employees

 

As of December 31, 2016, we had approximately 297 full-time and full-time equivalent employees. None of these employees is party to a collective bargaining agreement.

 

SUPERVISION AND REGULATION

 

General

 

We are extensively regulated under both federal and state law. These laws restrict permissible activities and investments and require compliance with various consumer protection provisions applicable to lending, deposit, brokerage, and fiduciary activities. They also impose capital adequacy requirements and conditions on a bank holding company’s ability to repurchase stock or to receive dividends from its subsidiary banks. NCC and its non-bank subsidiary, National Commerce Risk Management, Inc. (“NCRM”), are subject to comprehensive examination and supervision by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), and NBC and its operating subsidiary, CBI, are subject to comprehensive examination and supervision by the OCC. These regulatory agencies generally have broad discretion to impose restrictions and limitations on our operations. This supervisory framework could materially impact the conduct and profitability of our activities.

 

To the extent that the following information describes statutory and regulatory provisions, it is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of such provisions. Proposals to change the laws and regulations governing the banking industry are frequently raised at both the state and federal levels. The likelihood and timing of any changes in these laws and regulations, and the impact that such changes may have on us, are difficult to ascertain. A change in applicable laws or regulations, or in the manner in which such laws or regulations are interpreted by regulatory agencies or courts, may have a material effect on our business, operations, and earnings.

 

 

Regulation of NCC

 

NCC is a registered bank holding company that has elected to become a financial holding company under the BHCA and is subject to the examination authority and the regulatory and periodic reporting requirements of the Federal Reserve. Under the BHCA, bank holding companies and their non-bank subsidiaries generally may engage in activities that the Federal Reserve determines to be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto, and may, in some cases and subject to certain restrictions, invest in companies not engaged in activities closely related to banking. As a financial holding company, we are permitted to (i) engage in other activities that the Federal Reserve determines to be financial in nature, incidental to an activity that is financial in nature, or complementary to a financial activity and that do not pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system generally, and (ii) acquire an equity stake in companies engaged in such activities. We may not, however, directly or indirectly acquire the ownership or control of more than 5% of any class of voting shares, or substantially all of the assets, of a bank holding company or a bank without the prior approval of the Federal Reserve. In order to maintain our status as a financial holding company, we must remain “well capitalized” and “well managed” under applicable regulations. Failure to meet one or more of the requirements would mean, depending on the requirements not met, that we could not undertake new activities, make acquisitions other than those permitted generally for bank holding companies, or continue certain activities.

 

Subject to various exceptions, the BHCA and the Change in Bank Control Act, together with related regulations, require approval from the Federal Reserve before any person or company may acquire “control” of a bank holding company. Control is conclusively presumed to exist if an individual or company acquires 25% or more of any class of voting securities of the bank holding company. A rebuttable presumption arises if a person or company acquires 10% or more, but less than 25%, of any class of voting securities and either: (i) the bank holding company has a registered class of securities under Section 12 of the Securities Act or (ii) no other person owns a greater percentage of that class of voting securities immediately after the transaction.

 

There are a number of restrictions imposed on NCC by law and regulatory policy that are designed to minimize potential loss to depositors and to the Deposit Insurance Fund maintained by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) in the event that a subsidiary depository institution should become insolvent. For example, federal law requires a bank holding company to serve as a source of financial strength to its subsidiary depository institutions and to commit resources to support such institutions in circumstances in which it might not do so in the absence of such a policy. The Federal Reserve also has the authority under the BHCA to require a bank holding company to terminate any activity or to relinquish control of a non-bank subsidiary upon the Federal Reserve’s determination that such activity or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial soundness and stability of any bank subsidiary of the bank holding company.

 

Any capital loan by a bank holding company to a subsidiary depository institution is subordinate in right of payment to deposits and certain other indebtedness of the institution. In addition, in the event of the holding company’s bankruptcy, any commitment made by the bank holding company to a federal banking regulatory agency to maintain the capital of its subsidiary depository institution(s) will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to a priority of payment.

 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Act provides that, in the event of the “liquidation or other resolution” of an insured depository institution, the claims of depositors of the institution (including the claims of the FDIC as a subrogee of insured depositors) and certain claims for administrative expenses of the FDIC as a receiver will have priority over other general unsecured claims against the institution. If an insured depository institution fails, insured and uninsured depositors, along with the FDIC, will have priority in payment ahead of unsecured, non-deposit creditors, including the institution’s holding company, with respect to any extensions of credit they have made to such insured depository institution.

 

 

Regulation of NBC

 

NBC’s operations and investments are subject to the supervision, examination and reporting requirements of the National Bank Act, the regulations of the OCC and other federal banking statutes and regulations, including with respect to the level of reserves that NBC must maintain against deposits, restrictions on the types, amount, and terms and conditions of loans that it may originate and limits on the types of other activities in which it may engage and the investments that it may make. The OCC also has the power to prevent unsafe or unsound banking practices or other violations of law. Because NBC’s deposits are insured by the FDIC to the maximum extent provided by law, it is also subject to certain FDIC regulations, and the FDIC has backup examination authority and some enforcement powers over NBC. NBC is also subject to numerous state and federal statutes and regulations that affect its business, activities and operations.

 

Transactions with Affiliates

 

We are subject to federal laws, such as Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, that limit the size and number of the transactions that depository institutions may engage in with their affiliates. Under these provisions, transactions (such as loans or investments) by a bank with non-bank affiliates are generally limited to 10% of the bank’s capital and surplus for all covered transactions with any one affiliate and 20% of capital and surplus for all covered transactions with all affiliates. Any extensions of credit to affiliates, with limited exceptions, must be secured by eligible collateral in specified amounts. Banks are also prohibited from purchasing any “low quality” assets from an affiliate. The Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) imposed additional requirements on transactions with affiliates, by, among other things, expanding the definition of “covered transactions” and increasing the amount of time for which collateral requirements regarding covered transactions must be maintained.

 

We are also subject to restrictions on extensions of credit to our executive officers, directors, principal stockholders and their related interests under Sections 22(g) and 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act, as implemented by Regulation O of the Federal Reserve. These extensions of credit must be made on substantially the same terms, including with respect to interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with third parties, and they must not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features. Furthermore, we are prohibited from engaging in asset purchase or sale transactions with our officers, directors or principal stockholders unless the transaction is on market terms and, if the transaction represents more than 10% of the capital and surplus of the Bank, a majority of the Bank’s disinterested directors has approved the transaction.

 

Monetary Policy

 

Our earnings are and will be affected by domestic economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government and its agencies. The monetary policies of the Federal Reserve have a significant effect on the operating results, lending practices, investments and deposits of commercial banks through its open market operations in United States government securities and through its regulation of, among other things, the discount rate on bank borrowings and the reserve requirements against bank deposits. It is not possible to predict the nature and impact of future changes in monetary and fiscal policies.

 

Deposit Insurance

 

The Bank’s deposits are insured up to applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund maintained by the FDIC. As a result, the Bank is required to pay periodic assessments to maintain insurance coverage for its deposits. Under the FDIC’s assessment system for banks with less than $10 billion in assets, which became effective on July 1, 2016, the assessment rate is determined based on a number of factors, including the Bank’s CAMELS ratings, leverage ratio, net income, non-performing loan ratios, OREO ratios, core deposit ratios, one-year organic asset growth and a loan mix index. The CAMELS rating system is a supervisory rating system developed to classify a bank’s overall condition by taking into account capital adequacy, assets, management capability, earnings, liquidity and sensitivity to market and interest rate risk. The loan mix index component of the assessment model requires banks to calculate each of their loan categories as a percentage of assets and then multiply each category by a standardized historical charge-off rate percentage provided by the FDIC, with a higher index leading to a higher assessment rate. The rules specify maximum assessment rates for institutions with a composite CAMELS rating of 1 or 2 and minimum rates for institutions with a rating of 3, 4 or 5.

 

 

Among other things, the Dodd-Frank Act (i) eliminated the ceiling and increased the floor on the size of the Deposit Insurance Fund, (ii) established a minimum designated reserve ratio of 1.35% of estimated insured deposits, (iii) required the FDIC to adopt a restoration plan should the reserve ratio fall below 1.35% and (iv) raised the limit for federal deposit insurance to $250,000 for each covered account and increased the cash limit of Securities Investor Protection Corporation coverage from $100,000 to $250,000.

 

The FDIC has authority to increase insurance assessments. A significant increase in insurance assessments would likely have an adverse effect on our operating expense, results of operations and cash flows. Management cannot predict what insurance assessment rates will be in the future. Furthermore, deposit insurance may be terminated by the FDIC upon a finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC.

 

Dividend Restrictions

 

NCC is a legal entity separate and distinct from NBC. NCC’s ability to pay dividends and make other distributions depends in part on the receipt of dividends from NBC and is limited by federal and state law. The specific limits depend on a number of factors, including NBC’s recent earnings, recent dividends, level of capital and regulatory status. The regulators are authorized, and under certain circumstances are required, to determine that the payment of dividends or other distributions by a bank would be an unsafe or unsound practice and to prohibit that payment. For example, federal law generally prohibits a depository institution from making any capital distribution (including payment of a dividend) or paying any management fee to its parent holding company if the depository institution would thereafter be undercapitalized.

 

A national bank generally may not withdraw, either in the form of a dividend or otherwise, any portion of its permanent capital and may not declare a dividend in excess of its retained net profits. Further, dividends that may be paid by a national bank without the express approval of the OCC are limited to an amount equal to the bank’s retained net profits for the preceding two calendar years plus retained net profits up to the date of any dividend declaration in the current calendar year. Retained net profits, as defined by the OCC, consist of net income, less dividends declared during the period. Dividend payments by NBC in the future will require the generation of net income and could require regulatory approval if any proposed dividends are in excess of prescribed guidelines.

 

The ability of a bank holding company to pay dividends and make distributions can also be limited by other laws or regulations. The Federal Reserve, which has authority to prohibit a bank holding company from paying dividends or making other distributions, has issued a Supervisory Letter stating that a bank holding company should not pay cash dividends unless, among other things, (i) its net income available to common stockholders for the past four quarters, net of dividends paid during that period, is sufficient to fully fund the dividends, (ii) the prospective rate of earnings retention appears to be consistent with the holding company’s capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition and (iii) the dividend will not cause the company to fail to meet, or be in danger of failing to meet, its minimum regulatory capital adequacy ratios. Accordingly, a bank holding company should not pay cash dividends that exceed its net income or that can only be funded in ways that weaken its financial health, such as by borrowing. The Dodd-Frank Act, Basel III (described below) and their respective implementing regulations impose additional restrictions on the ability of banking institutions to pay dividends.

 

Capital Adequacy Guidelines

 

In December 2010, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision released its final framework for strengthening international capital and liquidity regulation, known as “Basel III.” Basel III requires banks to maintain a higher level of capital than previously required, with a greater emphasis on common equity. The Dodd-Frank Act imposed generally applicable capital requirements with respect to bank holding companies and their bank subsidiaries. It also mandated that the federal banking regulatory agencies adopt rules and regulations to implement the Basel III requirements, which they did through the adoption of a final rule in July 2013 (the “Basel III Final Rule”).

 

 

The Basel III Final Rule provides risk-based capital guidelines designed to make regulatory capital requirements more sensitive to differences in risk profiles among banks, to account for off-balance sheet exposures and to minimize disincentives for holding liquid assets. Under these guidelines, assets and off-balance sheet items are assigned to broad risk categories, each with appropriate risk-weights. The net amount of assets remaining after applying the risk-weights to the gross asset values comprises the institution’s total risk-weighted assets. Most loans are assigned to the 100% risk category, except for performing first mortgage loans fully secured by residential property, which carry a 50% risk weighting. Most investment securities (including, primarily, general obligation claims of states or other political subdivisions of the United States) are assigned to the 20% category. Exceptions include municipal or state revenue bonds, which have a 50% risk weighting, and direct obligations of the United States Treasury or obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government, which have a 0% risk weighting. In converting off-balance sheet items, direct credit substitutes, including general guarantees and standby letters of credit backing financial obligations, are given a 100% risk weighting. Transaction-related contingencies such as bid bonds, standby letters of credit backing non-financial obligations and undrawn commitments (including commercial credit lines with an initial maturity of more than one year) have a 50% risk weighting. Short-term commercial letters of credit have a 20% risk weighting, and certain short-term unconditionally cancelable commitments have a 0% risk weighting.

 

The institution’s total risk-weighted assets are used to calculate its regulatory capital ratios. Under the Basel III Final Rule, since January 1, 2015, the minimum ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets has been 8%. The required ratio of “Tier 1 Capital” (consisting generally of shareholders’ equity and qualifying preferred stock, less certain goodwill items and other intangible assets) to risk-weighted assets is 6%. While there was previously no required ratio of “Common Equity Tier 1 Capital” (which generally consists of common stock, retained earnings, certain qualifying capital instruments issued by consolidated subsidiaries and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, subject to certain adjustments) to risk-weighted assets, a required minimum ratio of 4.5% became effective on January 1, 2015 as well. The remainder of total capital, or “Tier 2 Capital,” may consist of (i) the allowance for loan losses of up to 1.25% of risk-weighted assets, (ii) preferred stock not qualifying as Tier 1 Capital, (iii) hybrid capital instruments, (iv) perpetual debt, (v) mandatory convertible securities, and (vi) certain subordinated debt and intermediate-term preferred stock up to 50% of Tier 1 Capital. Total Capital is the sum of Tier 1 Capital and Tier 2 Capital (which is included only to the extent of Tier 1 Capital), less reciprocal holdings of other banking organizations’ capital instruments, investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and any other deductions as determined by the appropriate regulator.

 

                In addition, the federal banking agencies have established minimum leverage ratio requirements for banking organizations they supervise, calculated as the ratio of Tier 1 Capital to adjusted average consolidated assets. Prior to the effective date of the Basel III Final Rule, banks and bank holding companies meeting certain specified criteria, including having the highest regulatory rating and not experiencing significant growth or expansion, were permitted to maintain a minimum leverage ratio of Tier 1 Capital to adjusted average quarterly assets equal to 3%. Other banks and bank holding companies generally were required to maintain a minimum leverage ratio between 4% and 5%. Under the Basel III Final Rule, since January 1, 2015, the required minimum leverage ratio for all banks has been 4%.

 

The Basel III Final Rule additionally provides for countercyclical capital requirements so that the required amount of capital increases in times of economic expansion and decreases in times of economic contraction, consistent with safety and soundness. Under the Basel III Final Rule, banks must maintain a capital conservation buffer consisting of additional Common Equity Tier 1 Capital equal to 2.5% of risk-weighted assets above each of the required minimum capital levels in order to avoid limitations on paying dividends, engaging in share repurchases, and paying certain discretionary bonuses. This new capital conservation buffer requirement is being phased in beginning in January 2016 at 0.625% of risk-weighted assets and is increasing each year until fully implemented at 2.5% in January 2019.

 

As an additional means of identifying problems in the financial management of depository institutions, the federal banking regulatory agencies have established certain non-capital safety and soundness standards for institutions for which they are the primary federal regulator. The standards relate generally to operations and management, asset quality, interest rate exposure and executive compensation. The agencies are authorized to take action against institutions that fail to meet such standards.

 

 

Prompt Corrective Action

 

In addition to the required minimum capital levels described above, federal law establishes a system of “prompt corrective actions” that federal banking agencies are required to take, and certain actions that they have discretion to take, based on the capital category into which a federally regulated depository institution falls. Regulations set forth detailed procedures and criteria for implementing prompt corrective action in the case of any institution that is not adequately capitalized. Under the prompt corrective action rules effective as of January 1, 2015, an institution is deemed “well capitalized” if its leverage ratio, Common Equity Tier 1 ratio, Tier 1 Capital ratio and Total Capital ratio meet or exceed 5%, 6.5%, 8%, and 10%, respectively. An institution is deemed to be “adequately capitalized” or better if its leverage, Common Equity Tier 1, Tier 1, and Total Capital ratios meet or exceed the minimum federal regulatory capital requirements, and “undercapitalized” if it fails to meet these minimum capital requirements. An institution is “significantly undercapitalized” if its leverage, Common Equity Tier 1, Tier 1, and Total Capital ratios fall below 3%, 3%, 4%, and 6%, respectively, and “critically undercapitalized” if the institution has a ratio of tangible equity to total assets that is equal to or less than 2%.

 

The prompt corrective action rules require an undercapitalized institution to file a written capital restoration plan, along with a performance guaranty by its holding company or a third party. In addition, an undercapitalized institution becomes subject to certain automatic restrictions, including a prohibition on paying dividends and a limitation on asset growth or expansion in certain cases, a limitation on the payment of bonuses or raises to senior executive officers, and a prohibition on the payment of certain “management fees” to any “controlling person.” Institutions that are classified as undercapitalized are also subject to certain additional supervisory actions, including increased reporting burdens and regulatory monitoring; limitations on the institution’s ability to make acquisitions, open new branch offices or engage in new lines of business; obligations to raise additional capital; restrictions on transactions with affiliates; and restrictions on interest rates paid by the institution on deposits. In certain cases, banking regulatory agencies may require replacement of senior executive officers or directors or the sale of the institution to a willing purchaser. If an institution is deemed to be “critically undercapitalized” and continues in that category for 90 days, the statute requires, with certain narrowly limited exceptions, that the institution be placed in receivership.

 

Community Reinvestment Act

 

The Community Reinvestment Act (the “CRA”) requires the federal banking regulatory agencies to assess all financial institutions that they regulate to determine whether these institutions are meeting the credit needs of the communities that they serve, including their assessment area(s) (as established for these purposes in accordance with applicable regulations based principally on the location of the institution’s branch offices). Under the CRA, institutions are assigned a rating of “outstanding,” “satisfactory,” “needs to improve” or “unsatisfactory.” An institution’s record in meeting the requirements of the CRA is made publicly available and is taken into consideration in connection with any applications it files with federal regulators to engage in certain activities, including approval of a branch or other deposit facility, mergers and acquisitions, office relocations or expansions into non-banking activities. NBC received a “satisfactory” rating in its most recent CRA evaluation.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Laws 

 

Under various federal laws, including the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (also known as the “Bank Secrecy Act of 1970”), as amended by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act, financial institutions are subject to prohibitions against specified financial transactions and account relationships, as well as enhanced due diligence and “know your customer” requirements, in their dealings with foreign financial institutions and foreign customers. These laws also mandate that financial institutions establish anti-money laundering programs meeting certain standards and require the federal banking regulators to consider the effectiveness of a financial institution’s anti-money laundering activities when reviewing applications for bank merger and acquisition activities.

 

 

Privacy of Customer Information

 

The Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999 (also known as the “Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act” or “GLBA”) and the implementing regulations issued by federal banking regulatory agencies require financial institutions (including banks, insurance agencies and broker/dealers) to adopt policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of nonpublic personal information about their customers to non-affiliated third parties. In general, financial institutions are required to explain to customers their policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of such nonpublic personal information, and, unless otherwise required or permitted by law, financial institutions are prohibited from disclosing such information except as provided in their policies and procedures. Specifically, the GLBA established certain information security guidelines that require each financial institution, under the supervision and ongoing oversight of its board of directors or an appropriate committee thereof, to develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive written information security program designed to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer information, to protect against anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information and to protect against unauthorized access to or use of such information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer.

 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 

 

The Dodd-Frank Act created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”), an independent bureau with broad authority to regulate the consumer finance industry, including regulated financial institutions, non-banks and others involved in extending credit to consumers. The CFPB has authority through rulemaking, orders, policy statements, guidance and enforcement actions to administer and enforce federal consumer financial laws, to oversee several entities and market segments not previously under the supervision of a federal regulator and to impose its own regulations and pursue enforcement actions when it determines that a practice is unfair, deceptive or abusive. The federal consumer financial laws and all of the functions and responsibilities associated with them, many of which were previously enforced by other federal regulatory agencies, were transferred to the CFPB on July 21, 2011. While the CFPB has the power to interpret, administer and enforce federal consumer financial laws, the Dodd-Frank Act provides that the federal banking regulatory agencies continue to have examination and enforcement powers over the financial institutions that they supervise relating to the matters within the jurisdiction of the CFPB if such institutions have less than $10 billion in assets. The Dodd-Frank Act also gives state attorneys general the ability to enforce federal consumer protection laws.

 

Mortgage Loan Origination

 

The Dodd-Frank Act authorized the CFPB to establish certain minimum standards for the origination of residential mortgages, including a determination of the borrower’s ability to repay. Under the Dodd-Frank Act and the implementing final rule adopted by the CFPB (the “ATR/QM Rule”), a financial institution may not make a residential mortgage loan to a consumer unless it first makes a “reasonable and good faith determination” that the consumer has a “reasonable ability” to repay the loan. In addition, the ATR/QM Rule limits prepayment penalties and permits borrowers to raise certain defenses to foreclosure if they receive any loan other than a “qualified mortgage,” as defined by the CFPB. For this purpose, the ATR/QM Rule defines a “qualified mortgage” to include a loan with a borrower debt-to-income ratio of less than or equal to 43% or, alternatively, a loan eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac while they operate under federal conservatorship or receivership, and loans eligible for insurance or guarantee by the Federal Housing Administration, Veterans Administration or United States Department of Agriculture. Additionally, a qualified mortgage may not: (i) contain excess upfront points and fees; (ii) have a term greater than 30 years or (iii) include interest-only or negative amortization payments. The ATR/QM Rule specifies the types of income and assets that may be considered in the ability-to-repay determination, the permissible sources for verification and the required methods of calculating the loan’s monthly payments.

 

 

In addition, Section 941 of the Dodd-Frank Act amended the Exchange Act to require sponsors of asset-backed securities (ABS) to retain at least 5% of the credit risk of the assets underlying the securities and generally prohibits sponsors from transferring or hedging that credit risk. In October 2014, the federal banking regulatory agencies adopted a final rule to implement this requirement (the “Risk Retention Rule”). Among other things, the Risk Retention Rule (i) requires a securitizer to retain not less than 5% of the credit risk of any asset that the securitizer, through the issuance of an ABS, transfers, sells or conveys to a third party and (ii) prohibits a securitizer from directly or indirectly hedging or otherwise transferring the credit risk that the securitizer is required to retain. In certain situations, the final rule allows securitizers to allocate a portion of the risk retention requirement to the originator(s) of the securitized assets, if an originator contributes at least 20% of the assets in the securitization. The Risk Retention Rule also provides an exemption to the risk retention requirements for an ABS collateralized exclusively by qualified residential mortgages (“QRMs”) and ties the definition of a QRM to the definition of a “qualified mortgage” established by the CFPB for purposes of evaluating a consumer’s ability to repay a mortgage loan. The federal banking agencies have agreed to review the definition of QRMs in 2019, following the CFPB’s own review of its “qualified mortgage” regulation.

 

Mortgage Loan Servicing

 

On January 17, 2013, the CFPB issued a series of final rules as part of an ongoing effort to address mortgage servicing reforms and create uniform standards for the mortgage servicing industry. The rules contain additional requirements for communications with borrowers, address the maintenance of customer account records, govern procedures for responding to written borrower requests and complaints of errors and provide guidance regarding servicing delinquent loans, foreclosure proceedings and loss mitigation efforts, among other measures. These rules have generally led to increased costs to service loans across the mortgage industry.

 

The Volcker Rule

 

On December 10, 2013, five federal financial regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve and the OCC, adopted final rules implementing the so-called “Volcker Rule” embodied in Section 13 of the BHCA, which was added by Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Act. The Volcker Rule completes the process begun in October 2011, when the agencies introduced proposed implementing rules for comment. In general, the Volcker Rule prohibits banking entities from (i) engaging in short-term proprietary trading for their own accounts and (ii) having certain ownership interests in, and relationships with, hedge funds or private equity funds. The Volcker Rule is intended to provide greater clarity with respect to both the extent of those primary prohibitions and the related exemptions and exclusions.

 

The Volcker Rule also requires each regulated entity to establish an internal compliance program that is consistent with the extent to which it engages in activities covered by the Volcker Rule, which must include (for the largest entities) making regular reports about those activities to regulators. Community and small banks are afforded some relief under the Volcker Rule. If such banks are engaged only in exempted proprietary trading, such as trading in United States government, agency, state and municipal obligations, then they are exempt entirely from compliance program requirements. Moreover, even if a community or small bank engages in proprietary trading or covered fund activities under the rule, it is only required to incorporate references to the Volcker Rule into its existing policies and procedures.

 

Other Provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act

 

The Dodd-Frank Act, which became law on July 21, 2010, implements far-reaching changes across the financial regulatory landscape. In addition to the reforms previously mentioned, the Dodd-Frank Act also:

 

●

requires bank holding companies and banks to be both well capitalized and well managed in order to acquire banks located outside their home state and requires any bank holding company electing to be treated as a financial holding company to be both well managed and well capitalized;

 

●

eliminates all remaining restrictions on interstate banking by authorizing national and state banks to establish de novo branches in any state that would permit a bank chartered in that state to open a branch at that location;

 

●

repeals Regulation Q, the federal prohibition on the payment of interest on demand deposits, thereby permitting depository institutions to pay interest on business transaction and other accounts;

 

 

●

enhances insider transaction limitations by strengthening the restrictions on loans to insiders and certain asset sales to and from an insider, including requirements that such sales be on market terms and, in certain circumstances, approved by the institution’s board of directors; and

 

●

strengthens the previous limits on a depository institution’s credit exposure to one borrower (whether a person or group of related persons) in an amount exceeding certain thresholds by expanding the scope of these restrictions to include credit exposure arising from derivative transactions, repurchase agreements and securities lending and borrowing transactions.

 

Although a significant number of the rules and regulations mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act have been finalized, many of the new requirements called for have yet to be implemented and will likely be subject to implementing regulations over the course of several years. Given the uncertainty associated with the manner in which the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act will be implemented by the various agencies, the full extent of the impact such requirements will have on financial institutions’ operations is unclear.

 

Federal Home Loan Bank Membership

 

NBC is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (the “FHLBA”). Each member of the FHLBA is required to maintain a minimum investment in the Class B stock of the FHLBA. The Board of Directors of the FHLBA can increase the minimum investment requirements if it concludes that additional capital is required to allow the FHLBA to meet its own regulatory capital requirements. Any increase in the minimum investment requirements outside of specified ranges requires the approval of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Because the extent of any obligation on the part of NBC to increase the level of its investment in the FHLBA depends entirely on the occurrence of a future event, we are currently unable to determine the extent of future required potential payments to the FHLBA. Additionally, in the event that a member financial institution fails, the right of the FHLBA to seek repayment of funds loaned to that institution will take priority over the rights of all other creditors.

 

Other Laws and Regulations

 

Our operations are subject to several additional laws, some of which are specific to banking and others of which are applicable to commercial operations generally. For example, with respect to our lending practices, we are subject to the following laws, among several others:

 

●

Truth-In-Lending Act, governing disclosures of credit terms to consumer borrowers;

 

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Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975, requiring financial institutions to provide information to enable the public and public officials to determine whether a financial institution is fulfilling its obligation to help meet the housing needs of the community it serves;

 

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Equal Credit Opportunity Act, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, creed or other prohibited factors in extending credit;

 

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Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1978, as amended by the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, governing the use and provision of information to credit reporting agencies, certain identity theft protections and certain credit and other disclosures;

 

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Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, governing the manner in which consumer debts may be collected by collection agencies;

 

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Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, requiring certain disclosures concerning loan closing costs and escrows and governing transfers of loan servicing and the amounts of escrows in connection with loans secured by one-to-four family residential properties;

 

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Military Lending Act, governing the extension of consumer credit to members of the United States armed forces on active duty and their dependents;

 

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Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which restricts or limits civil actions against military servicemembers who are called to active duty with respect to certain financial transactions;

 

●

rules and regulations established by the National Flood Insurance Program; and

 

 

●

rules and regulations of the various federal agencies charged with the responsibility of implementing these federal laws.

 

Our deposit operations are subject to federal laws applicable to depository accounts, including:

 

●

Right to Financial Privacy Act, which imposes a duty to maintain the confidentiality of consumer financial records and prescribes procedures for complying with administrative subpoenas of such records;

 

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Truth-In-Savings Act, requiring certain disclosures for consumer deposit accounts;

 

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Regulation CC issued by the Federal Reserve, which relates to the availability of deposit funds to consumers;

 

●

Electronic Funds Transfer Act and Regulation E of the Federal Reserve, which govern automatic deposits to and withdrawals from deposit accounts and customers’ rights and liabilities arising from the use of automated teller machines and other electronic banking services; and

 

●

rules and regulations of the various federal agencies charged with the responsibility of implementing these federal laws.

 

We are also subject to a variety of laws and regulations that are not limited to banking organizations. For example, in lending to commercial and consumer borrowers and in owning and operating our own property, we are subject to regulations and potential liabilities under state and federal environmental laws. In addition, we must comply with privacy and data security laws and regulations at both the federal and state level.

 

Enforcement Powers

 

The Financial Institution Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) expanded and increased the penalties available for use by the federal regulatory agencies against depository institutions and certain “institution-affiliated parties.” Institution-affiliated parties primarily include management, employees and agents of a financial institution, as well as independent contractors and consultants, such as attorneys, accountants and others who participate in the conduct of the financial institution’s affairs. An institution may be subject to an enforcement action or civil penalties for failing to timely file required reports, filing false or misleading information or engaging in other unsafe or unsound banking practices.

 

FIRREA provides regulators with significant flexibility to commence enforcement actions against institutions and institution-affiliated parties and to terminate an institution’s deposit insurance. It also expanded the power of banking regulatory agencies to issue regulatory orders. Such orders may, among other things, require affirmative action to correct any harm resulting from a violation or practice, including restitution, reimbursement, indemnification or guarantees against loss. A financial institution may also be ordered to restrict its growth, dispose of certain assets, rescind agreements or contracts or take other actions as determined by the ordering agency to be appropriate. The Dodd-Frank Act increases regulatory oversight, supervision and examination of banks, bank holding companies, and their respective subsidiaries by the appropriate regulatory agency.

 

Future Legislation and Regulation

 

Regulators have increased their focus on the regulation of the financial services industry in recent years, leading in many cases to greater uncertainty and compliance costs for regulated entities. For example, the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act could require us to make material expenditures, particularly in the form of personnel training costs and additional compliance expenses. We also may be required to change certain of our business practices in order to comply with the Dodd-Frank Act and its implementing regulations, which in turn could adversely affect our ability to pursue business opportunities that we might otherwise consider pursuing, cause business disruptions, or have other impacts that are as of yet unknown. Failure to comply with these laws or regulations, even if inadvertent, could result in negative publicity, fines or additional expenses.

 

 

Furthermore, proposals that could substantially intensify the regulation of the financial services industry have been and are expected to continue to be introduced in the United States Congress, in state legislatures and by applicable regulatory authorities. These proposals may change banking statutes and regulations and the operating environment for financial services firms in substantial and unpredictable ways. If enacted, these proposals could increase or decrease the cost of doing business, limit or expand permissible activities or affect the competitive balance among banks, savings associations, credit unions, and other financial institutions. We cannot predict whether any of these proposals will be enacted and, if enacted, the effect that these proposals would have on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

 

Website Information

 

The Bank maintains a website at www.nationalbankofcommerce.com. The Company does not maintain a separate website at this time; however, certain corporate governance information, SEC filings and other information of potential interest to our stockholders are available free of charge through the “Investor Relations” page of the Bank’s website. Information on, or accessible through, the Bank’s website is not part of or incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We have included the website address only as an inactive textual reference and do not intend for it to be an active link to the website. We will provide paper copies of our periodic and current reports to stockholders free of charge upon written request to: National Commerce Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 813 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 100, Birmingham, Alabama 35209.

 

Item 1A.     Risk Factors.

 

Making or continuing an investment in our common stock involves certain risks that you should carefully consider. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only risks that may have a material adverse effect on the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties also could adversely affect our business and results of operations. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be negatively affected, the market price of your common stock could decline and you could lose all or a part of your investment. Further, to the extent that any of the information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K constitutes a forward-looking statement, the risk factors set forth below also are cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by or on behalf of the Company.

 

Risks Relating to Our Business

 

Our business is concentrated in, and largely dependent on, the continued growth and welfare of the general geographic markets in which we operate.

 

Our commercial banking operations are concentrated in the southeastern United States, particularly in Alabama, in central and northeast Florida, and in the Atlanta, Georgia metro area. As of December 31, 2016, approximately 92.3% of our total loans were to borrowers located in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. As a result, our financial condition and results of operations and cash flows are affected by changes in the economic conditions of those states or the regions of which they are a part. Our success depends to a significant extent on the business activity, population, income levels, deposits and real estate activity in these markets. Although our customers’ business and financial interests may extend well beyond these market areas, adverse conditions that affect these market areas could reduce our growth rate, affect the ability of our customers to repay their loans, affect the value of collateral underlying loans, impact our ability to attract deposits and generally affect our financial condition and results of operations. Because of our geographic concentration, we may be less able than other regional or national financial institutions to diversify our credit risks across multiple markets.

 

 

A return of recessionary conditions could result in increases in our level of nonperforming loans and/or reduced demand for our products and services, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

                Economic recession or other economic problems, including those affecting our markets and regions, but also those affecting the United States or world economies, could have a material adverse impact on the demand for banking products and services. Since the conclusion of the last recession, economic growth has been slow and uneven. If economic conditions deteriorate, or if there are negative developments affecting the domestic and international credit markets, the value of our loans and investments may be harmed, which in turn would have an adverse effect on our financial performance and condition, as it would for other banks. In addition, although deteriorating market conditions could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, there can be no assurance that we would benefit from any market growth or favorable economic conditions, either in our primary market areas or nationally, even if they do occur.

 

Difficult conditions in the market for financial products and services may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

Dramatic declines in the housing market during recent years, along with increasing foreclosures and unemployment, resulted in significant write-downs of asset values by financial institutions, including government-sponsored entities and major commercial and investment banks. These write-downs, initially of mortgage-backed securities but spreading to credit default swaps and other derivative securities, caused many financial institutions to seek additional capital, to merge with larger and stronger institutions, and, in some cases, to fail. This market turmoil and tightening of credit led to an increased level of commercial and consumer delinquencies, lack of consumer confidence, increased market volatility and widespread reduction of business activity generally. Although conditions have improved, a return of these trends could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations. Negative market developments may affect consumer confidence levels and may cause adverse changes in payment patterns, including increases in delinquencies and default rates, which may impact our charge-offs and provisions for loan and credit losses. Economic deterioration that affects household or corporate incomes could also result in reduced demand for credit or fee-based products and services. These conditions would have adverse effects on us and others in the financial services industry.

 

Our small to medium-sized business and entrepreneurial customers may have fewer financial resources than larger entities to weather a downturn in the economy, which may impair their ability to repay their loans, and such impairment could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

We focus our business development and marketing strategy primarily to serve the banking and financial services needs of small to medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs. These small to medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs may have fewer financial resources in terms of capital or borrowing capacity than larger entities. If economic conditions negatively impact our primary market areas in Alabama, central and northeast Florida, and the Atlanta, Georgia metro area generally, and small to medium-sized businesses are adversely affected, then our financial condition and results of operations may be negatively affected.

 

Our financial performance will be negatively impacted if we are unable to execute our growth strategy.

 

Our current growth strategy is to grow organically and to supplement that growth with select acquisitions. Our ability to grow organically depends primarily on our ability to generate loans and deposits of acceptable risk and expense, and we may not be successful in continuing this organic growth. Our ability to identify appropriate markets for expansion, recruit and retain qualified personnel and fund growth at a reasonable cost depends on prevailing economic conditions, maintenance of sufficient capital, competitive factors and changes in banking laws, among other factors. Conversely, if we grow too quickly and are unable to control costs and maintain asset quality, such growth, whether organic or through select acquisitions, could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

External economic factors, such as changes in monetary policy and inflation and deflation, may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

      Our financial condition and results of operations are affected by credit policies of monetary authorities, particularly the Federal Reserve. Actions by monetary and fiscal authorities, including the Federal Reserve, could lead to inflation, deflation or other economic phenomena that could adversely affect our financial performance. The primary impact of inflation on our operations most likely will be reflected in increased operating costs. Conversely, deflation generally will tend to erode collateral values and diminish loan quality. Virtually all of our assets and liabilities are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates have a significant impact on our performance. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or by the same magnitude as the prices of goods and services.  

 

 

Our profitability is vulnerable to interest rate fluctuations.

 

Our profitability depends substantially on our net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between the interest earned on assets (such as loans and securities held in our investment portfolio) and the interest paid for liabilities (such as interest paid on savings and money market accounts and time deposits).

 

Income associated with interest-earning assets and costs associated with interest-bearing liabilities may not be affected uniformly by fluctuations in interest rates. The magnitude and duration of changes in interest rates are events over which we have no control, and such changes may have an adverse effect on our net interest income. Prepayment and early withdrawal levels, which are also impacted by changes in interest rates, can significantly affect our assets and liabilities. For example, an increase in interest rates could, among other things, reduce the demand for loans and decrease loan repayment rates. Such an increase could also adversely affect the ability of our floating-rate borrowers to meet their higher payment obligations, which could in turn lead to an increase in non-performing assets and net charge-offs. Conversely, a decrease in the general level of interest rates could affect us by, among other things, leading to greater competition for deposits and incentivizing borrowers to prepay or refinance their loans more quickly or frequently than they otherwise would. The primary tool that management uses to measure interest rate risk is a simulation model that evaluates the impact of varying levels of prevailing interest rates on net interest income and the economic value of equity. As of December 31, 2016, this simulation analysis indicated that, if prevailing interest rates immediately decreased by 300 basis points, we would expect net interest income to decrease by approximately $12.0 million, or 16.32%, over the next 12 months, and a decline in the economic value of equity of $31.9 million, or 11.02%. We believe that this is unlikely based on current interest rate levels. Conversely, if prevailing interest rates immediately increased by 300 basis points, we would expect net interest income to increase by approximately $12.3 million, or 16.79%, over the next 12 months, and the economic value of equity to increase by $9.6 million, or 3.32%. However, fluctuations in interest rates affect different classes of income-earning assets differently, and there can be no assurance as to the actual effect on our results of operations should such an increase or decrease occur.  

 

Generally, the interest rates on our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities do not change at the same rate, to the same extent or on the same basis. Even assets and liabilities with similar maturities or re-pricing periods may react in different degrees to changes in market interest rates. Interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in general market interest rates, while interest rates on other types of assets and liabilities may lag behind changes in general market rates. Certain assets, such as fixed and adjustable rate mortgage loans, have features that limit changes in interest rates on a short-term basis and over the life of the asset. Changes in interest rates could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Market interest rates for loans, investments and deposits are highly sensitive to many factors beyond our control.

 

Generally, interest rate spreads (the difference between interest rates earned on assets and interest rates paid on liabilities) have narrowed in recent years as a result of changing market conditions, policies of various government and regulatory authorities and competitive pricing pressures, and we cannot predict whether these rate spreads will narrow even further. This narrowing of interest rate spreads could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we cannot predict whether interest rates will continue to remain at present levels. Changes in interest rates may cause significant changes, up or down, in our net interest income.

 

We attempt to minimize the adverse effects of changes in interest rates by structuring our asset-liability composition in order to obtain the maximum spread between interest income and interest expense. However, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in minimizing the adverse effects of changes in interest rates. Depending on our portfolio of loans and investments, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by changes in interest rates.

 

 

We could suffer losses from a decline in the credit quality of the assets that we hold.

 

We could sustain losses if borrowers, guarantors and related parties fail to perform in accordance with the terms of their loans. We have adopted underwriting and credit monitoring procedures and policies that we believe are appropriate to minimize this risk, including the establishment and review of the allowance for credit losses, periodic assessment of the likelihood of nonperformance, tracking loan performance and diversifying our credit portfolio. These policies and procedures, however, may not prevent unexpected losses that could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In particular, we face credit quality risks presented by past, current, and potential economic and real estate market conditions. 

 

A significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real estate, and events that negatively impact the real estate market could negatively impact our business.

 

A significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by either residential or commercial real estate. As of December 31, 2016, we had approximately $387.3 million in residential real estate loans and $606.8 million in commercial real estate loans outstanding, representing approximately 26.1% and 40.8%, respectively, of our total loans outstanding on that date.

 

There are significant risks associated with real estate-based lending. Real estate collateral may deteriorate in value during the time that credit is extended, in which case we might not be able to sell such collateral for an amount necessary to satisfy a defaulting borrower’s obligation to us. In such an event, there could be a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, commercial real estate loans are subject to unique risks. These types of loans are often viewed as having more risks than residential real estate or other consumer loans, primarily because relatively large amounts are loaned to a relatively small number of borrowers. Thus, the deterioration of even a small number of these loans could cause a significant increase in our loan loss allowance or loan charge-offs, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, commercial real estate loans depend on cash flows from the property securing the debt. Cash flows may be affected significantly by general economic conditions, and a downturn in a local economy in one of our markets or in occupancy rates where a property is located could increase the likelihood of default.  

 

The foregoing risks are enhanced as a result of the limited geographic scope of our principal markets. Most of the real estate securing our loans is located in Alabama, in central and northeast Florida, and in the Atlanta, Georgia metro area. Because the value of this collateral depends on local real estate market conditions and is affected by, among other things, neighborhood characteristics, real estate tax rates, the cost of operating the properties and local governmental regulation, adverse changes in any of these factors in Alabama, central and northeast Florida or the Atlanta, Georgia metro area could cause a decline in the value of the collateral securing a significant portion of our loan portfolio. Further, the concentration of real estate collateral in these two markets limits our ability to diversify the risk of such occurrences.

 

Our allowance for loan losses may not be adequate to cover actual loan losses, which may require us to take a charge to earnings and adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.

 

We maintain an allowance for estimated loan losses that we believe is adequate to absorb any probable losses in our loan portfolio. Management determines the amount of the allowance based on an analysis of general market conditions, the credit quality of our loan portfolio and the performance of our customers relative to their financial obligations to us. We periodically evaluate the loan portfolio for risk grading, which can result in changes in the allowance. The amount of future losses is affected by changes in economic, operating and other conditions, including changes in interest rates, that may be beyond our control, and such losses may exceed the allowance for estimated loan losses. Although we believe that our allowance for estimated loan losses is adequate to absorb any probable losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible, there can be no assurance that the allowance will prove sufficient to cover actual loan losses in the future. If actual losses exceed the estimate, the excess losses could adversely affect our net income and capital. Such excess could also lead to larger allowances for loan losses in future periods, which could in turn adversely affect new income and capital in those periods. If economic conditions differ substantially from the assumptions used in the estimate or if the performance of our loan portfolio deteriorates, future losses may occur, and increases in the allowance may be necessary, either of which would have a negative effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

Additionally, federal banking regulators periodically review the adequacy of our allowance for estimated loan losses. These agencies may require additional allowances based on their judgment of the information available at the time of their examinations. If these regulatory agencies require us to increase our allowance for estimated loan losses, our financial condition and results of operations would be negatively affected. 

 

Our use of appraisals in deciding whether to make a loan secured by real property does not ensure the value of the real property collateral.

 

In considering whether to make a loan secured by real property, we generally require an appraisal. However, an appraisal is only an estimate of the value of the property at the time that the appraisal is made. If the appraisal does not reflect the amount that may be obtained upon any sale or foreclosure of the property, then we may not realize an amount equal to the indebtedness secured by the property.  

 

Any expansion into new markets or new lines of business might not be successful.

 

As part of our ongoing strategic plan, we may consider expansion into new geographic markets. Such expansion might take the form of the establishment of de novo branches or the acquisition of existing banks or bank branches. There are considerable costs associated with opening new branches, and new branches generally do not generate sufficient revenues to offset costs until they have been in operation for some time. Additionally, we may consider expansion into new lines of business through the acquisition of third parties or organic growth and development. There are substantial risks associated with such efforts, including risks that (i) revenues from such activities might not be sufficient to offset the development, compliance and other implementation costs; (ii) competing products and services and shifting market preferences might affect the profitability of such activities; and (iii) our internal controls might be inadequate to manage the risks associated with new activities. Furthermore, it is possible that our unfamiliarity with new markets or lines of business might adversely affect the success of such actions. If any such expansion into a new geographic or product market is not successful, there could be an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

We have incurred, and expect to continue incurring, substantial expenses related to our recent acquisitions.

 

We have incurred, and expect to continue incurring, substantial expenses in connection with completing our recent acquisitions and integrating the operations of the acquired businesses with our operations. A number of factors beyond our control could affect the total amount or the timing of our transaction and integration expenses, and such expenses may exceed our initial projections. Many of the expenses that will be incurred by their nature are difficult to estimate accurately at the present time. As a result, the transaction and integration expenses associated with our recent acquisitions could, particularly in the near term, exceed the savings that we expect to achieve from the elimination of duplicative expenses and the realization of economies of scale and cost savings related to the integration of the acquired businesses.

 

Acquisitions may disrupt our business and dilute stockholder value, and integrating acquired companies may be more difficult, costly or time-consuming than expected.  

 

Our business strategy focuses on both organic growth and growth through acquisitions of financial institutions located in the southeastern United States. Our pursuit of acquisitions may disrupt our business, and common stock that we issue as merger consideration may have the effect of diluting the value of your investment. In addition, we may fail to realize some or all of the anticipated benefits of completed acquisitions, including our acquisition of PBI in January 2017. We anticipate that the continued integration process for PBI and any other businesses that we may acquire in the future will be a time-consuming and expensive process, even if the integration process is effectively planned and implemented.

 

In addition, our acquisition activities could be material to our business and involve a number of significant risks, including the following:

 

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incurring time and expense associated with identifying and evaluating potential acquisitions and negotiating potential transactions, resulting in management’s attention being diverted from the operation of our existing business;

 

 

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using inaccurate estimates and judgments to evaluate credit, operations, management and market risks with respect to the target company or the assets and liabilities that we seek to acquire;

 

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exposure to potential asset quality issues of the target company;

 

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intense competition from other banking organizations and other potential acquirers, many of which have substantially greater resources than we do;

 

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potential exposure to unknown or contingent liabilities of banks and businesses that we acquire, including, without limitation, liabilities for regulatory and compliance issues;

 

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inability to realize the expected revenue increases, cost savings, increases in geographic or product presence, and other projected benefits of the acquisition;

 

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incurring time and expense required to integrate the operations and personnel of the combined businesses;

 

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inconsistencies in standards, procedures and policies that would adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with customers and employees;

 

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experiencing higher operating expenses relative to operating income from the new operations;

 

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creating an adverse short-term effect on our results of operations;

 

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losing key employees and customers;

 

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significant problems relating to the conversion of the financial and customer data of the acquired entity;

 

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difficulties with integrating acquired customers into our financial and customer product systems;

 

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potential changes in banking or tax laws or regulations that may affect the target company; or

 

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risks of impairment to goodwill or other-than-temporary impairment of investment securities.

 

If difficulties arise with respect to the integration process, then the economic benefits expected to result from an acquisition might not occur. As with any merger of financial institutions, there also may be business disruptions that cause customers to move their business to other financial institutions. Failure to successfully integrate businesses that we acquire could have an adverse effect on our profitability, return on equity, return on assets or ability to implement our strategy, any of which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operation.

 

Our liquidity needs might adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

The primary sources of funds for the Bank are customer deposits and loan repayments. Loan repayments are subject to the credit risks described above. In addition, deposit levels may be affected by a number of factors, including interest rates paid by competitors, general interest rate levels, returns available to customers on alternative investments and general economic conditions. Therefore, we may be required to rely from time to time on secondary sources of liquidity to meet withdrawal demands or otherwise fund operations or support growth. The Bank has lines of credit in place with the FHLBA and correspondent banks that management believes are adequate to meet our liquidity needs. However, there can be no assurance that these arrangements will be sufficient to meet future liquidity needs, particularly if loan demand grows faster than anticipated.  

 

 

As a bank holding company, the sources of funds available to NCC are limited.

 

Any future constraints on liquidity at the holding company level could impair NCC’s ability to declare and pay dividends on its common stock. In some instances, notice to, or approval from, the Federal Reserve may be required prior to NCC’s declaration or payment of dividends. Further, our banking operations are conducted by NBC, which is subject to significant regulation. Federal banking laws restrict the payment of dividends by banks to their holding companies, and NBC is subject to these restrictions in paying dividends to NCC. For example, NBC’s ability to pay dividends on its common stock to NCC without OCC approval is limited under federal banking laws such that the amount available for payment may not exceed NBC’s retained net income available to holders of its common stock to date for the then-current fiscal year, plus retained net income from the prior two fiscal years. Because NCC’s ability to receive dividends or loans from NBC is restricted, its ability to pay dividends to its own stockholders is also restricted.

 

Additionally, the right of a bank holding company to participate in the assets of its subsidiary bank in the event of a bank-level liquidation or reorganization is subject to the claims of the bank’s creditors, including depositors, which take priority, except to the extent that the holding company may be a creditor with a recognized claim.  

 

Our largest loan relationships currently make up a material percentage of our total loan portfolio.

 

As of December 31, 2016, our ten largest loan relationships totaled over $83.9 million in loan exposure, or 5.64% of our total loan portfolio. The concentration risk associated with having a small number of large loan relationships is that, if one or more of these relationships were to become delinquent or suffer default, we could be at serious risk of material losses. Our allowance for loan losses may not be adequate to cover losses associated with any of these relationships, and any loss or increase in the allowance would negatively affect our earnings and capital. Even if the loans are collateralized, the large increase in classified assets could harm our reputation with our regulators and inhibit our ability to execute our business plan.  

 

Several of our large depositors have relationships with each other, which creates a higher risk that one customer’s withdrawal of its deposit could lead to a loss of other deposits from customers within the relationship, which, in turn, could force us to fund our business through more expensive and less stable sources.

 

As of December 31, 2016, our ten largest non-brokered depositors accounted for $288.5 million in deposits, or approximately 17.3% of our total deposits. Further, our non-brokered deposit account balance was $1.6 billion, or approximately 98.5% of our total deposits, as of December 31, 2016. Several of our large depositors have business, family or other relationships with each other, which creates a risk that any one customer’s withdrawal of its deposit could lead to a loss of other deposits from customers within the relationship.

 

Withdrawals of deposits by any one of our largest depositors or by one of these related customer groups could force us to rely more heavily on borrowings and other sources of funding for our business and withdrawal demands, adversely affecting our net interest margin and results of operations. We may also be forced, as a result of any withdrawal of deposits, to rely more heavily on other, potentially more expensive and less stable funding sources. Consequently, the occurrence of any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and future prospects.

 

Our factoring services are concentrated in the transportation and automotive parts and services industry, and economic conditions or other factors negatively impacting the transportation and automotive parts and services industry could adversely affect our factoring business.

 

Factoring for transportation and automotive parts and services businesses constituted approximately 81% of our total factoring business as of December 31, 2016, calculated based on the gross purchases of invoices from such businesses compared to total gross purchases of factored receivables for December 2016. Given the concentration of our factoring business in the transportation and automotive parts and services industries, economic conditions or other factors that negatively impact these industries could impact our factoring revenues, as the revenues earned from purchasing invoices are directly correlated with the amount of revenue generated by our factoring clients (i.e., the volume of transportation and automotive parts and services invoices that they are able to generate by providing their services). Reductions in economic activity will typically cause a decrease in the volume of goods in commerce available to be transported by our factoring clients. Moreover, the operations of a large number of our factoring clients are susceptible to changing economic conditions in the energy industry. For example, fluctuations in prices of oil and diesel fuel may affect demand for transportation services, which may in turn affect the ability of such factoring clients to satisfy their obligations to us. Additionally, the factoring industry may not continue its historical growth, and we may face increased competition. A failure to compete effectively in our market could restrain our growth or cause a loss in market share. Any of these events could adversely impact the returns that we realize on our factoring activities or result in a decrease in the overall amount of our factoring activities and could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. 

 

 

Additional regulations and rulemaking impacting the transportation industry may have a disproportionate impact on the small to mid-sized trucking businesses that comprise our primary transportation factoring clients and adversely affect our factoring business.

 

Our primary transportation factoring clients are small to mid-sized owner-operators and trucking fleets. Recently implemented federal regulations, and regulations proposed to be implemented in the future, may significantly increase the costs and expenses associated with owning or operating a trucking fleet. These regulations include maximum hours of service limitations and other rules promulgated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration of the United States Department of Transportation, electronic log requirements, regulations proposed by the federal Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) requiring increased labeling and monitoring by carriers of any FDA-regulated commodity, and regulations regarding the amount of combined single-limit liability insurance coverage required of carriers. The costs and burdens of compliance with these requirements will have a disproportionate impact on the small to mid-sized trucking businesses that comprise our factoring client base and may force some or all of these businesses out of the market. Such an occurrence could adversely impact the returns that we realize on our factoring activities or result in a decrease in the overall amount of our factoring activities and could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

 

Our asset-based lending and factoring products may expose us to an increased risk of fraud.

 

We rely on the structural features embedded in our asset-based lending and factoring products to mitigate the credit risk associated with such products. With respect to asset-based loans, we limit our lending to a percentage of the customer’s borrowing base assets that we believe can be readily liquidated in the event of financial distress of the borrower. With respect to factoring products, we purchase the underlying invoices of our customers and become the direct payee under such invoices, thus transferring the credit risk in such transactions from our customers to the underlying account debtors on such invoices. In the event that one or more customers fraudulently represents the existence or valuation of borrowing base assets in the case of an asset-based loan, or the existence or validity of a purchased invoice in the case of a factoring transaction, we may advance more funds to such customers than we otherwise would and lose the benefit of the structural protections of our products with respect to such advances. In such event, we could be exposed to material additional losses with respect to such loans or factoring products. Although we believe that we have adequate controls in place to monitor and detect fraud with respect to our asset-based lending and factoring products, there is no guarantee that such controls will be effective. Losses from such fraudulent activity could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.  

 

We may not be able to adequately measure and limit the credit risk associated with our loan portfolio, which could adversely affect our profitability.

 

As a part of the products and services that we offer, we make commercial business and real estate loans. The principal economic risk associated with each class of loans is the creditworthiness of the borrower, which is affected by the strength of the relevant business market segment, local market conditions and general economic conditions. Additional factors related to the credit quality of commercial loans include the quality of the management of the business and the borrower’s ability both to properly evaluate changes in the supply and demand characteristics affecting the market for its products and services and to effectively respond to those changes. Additional factors related to the credit quality of commercial real estate loans include tenant vacancy rates and the quality of management of the property. A failure to effectively measure and limit the credit risk associated with our loan portfolio could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. 

 

 

We operate in a highly competitive industry and face significant competition from other financial institutions and financial services providers, which may decrease our growth or profits.

 

Consumer and commercial banking are highly competitive industries. Our market areas contain not only a large number of community and regional banks, but also a significant presence of the country’s largest commercial banks. We compete with other state and national financial institutions, as well as savings and loan associations, savings banks and credit unions, for deposits and loans. In addition, we compete with financial intermediaries, such as consumer finance companies, commercial finance companies, mortgage banking companies, insurance companies, securities firms, mutual funds and several government agencies, as well as major retailers, all actively engaged in providing various types of loans and other financial services. Some of these competitors may have a long history of successful operations in our market areas, greater ties to local businesses and more expansive banking relationships, as well as more established depositor bases, fewer regulatory constraints and lower cost structures, than we do. Competitors with greater resources may possess an advantage through their ability to maintain numerous banking locations in more convenient sites, to conduct more extensive promotional and advertising campaigns, or to operate a more developed technology platform. Due to their size, many competitors may offer a broader range of products and services, as well as better pricing for certain products and services, than we can offer. For example, in the current low interest rate environment, competitors with lower costs of capital may solicit our customers to refinance their loans with a lower interest rate. Further, increased competition among financial services companies due to the recent consolidation of certain competing financial institutions may adversely affect our ability to market our products and services. Technology has lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for banks to compete in our market areas without a retail footprint by offering competitive rates and for non-banks to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks.  

 

The financial services industry could become even more competitive as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes and continued consolidation. Banks, securities firms and insurance companies can merge under the umbrella of a financial holding company, which can offer virtually any type of financial service, including banking, securities underwriting, insurance (both agency and underwriting) and merchant banking. 

 

Our ability to compete successfully depends on a number of factors, including:

 

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our ability to develop, maintain and build upon long-term customer relationships based on quality service and high ethical standards;

 

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our ability to attract and retain qualified employees to operate our business effectively;

 

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our ability to expand our market position;

 

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the scope, relevance and pricing of products and services that we offer to meet customer needs and demands;

 

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the rate at which we introduce new products and services relative to our competitors;

 

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customer satisfaction with our level of service; and

 

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industry and general economic trends.

 

Failure to perform in any of these areas could significantly weaken our competitive position, which could adversely affect our growth and profitability, which, in turn, could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

 

As a community bank, we have lower lending limits and different lending risks than certain of our larger, more diversified competitors.

 

We are a community banking institution that provides banking services to the local communities in the market areas in which we operate. Our ability to diversify our economic risks is limited by our own local markets and economies. We lend primarily to individuals and small to medium-sized businesses, which may expose us to greater lending risks than those of banks that lend to larger, better-capitalized businesses with longer operating histories. In addition, our legally mandated lending limits are lower than those of certain of our competitors that have more capital than we do. These lower lending limits may discourage borrowers with lending needs that exceed our limits from doing business with us. We may try to serve such borrowers by selling loan participations to other financial institutions; however, this strategy may not succeed.

 

 

Our financial projections are based on numerous assumptions about future events, and our actual financial performance may differ materially from our projections if our assumptions are inaccurate.

 

If the communities in which we operate do not grow, or if the prevailing economic conditions locally or nationally are less favorable than we have assumed, then our ability to reduce our non-performing loans and other real estate owned portfolios and to implement our business strategies may be adversely affected, and our actual financial performance may be materially different from our projections.

 

Moreover, there can be no assurance that we will benefit from any market growth or favorable economic conditions in our market areas even if they do occur. If our senior management team is unable to provide the effective leadership necessary to implement our strategic plan for the Bank, then our actual financial performance may be materially adversely different from our projections. Additionally, to the extent that any component of our strategic plan requires regulatory approval, if we are unable to obtain necessary approval, we will be unable to completely implement our strategy, which may adversely affect our actual financial results. A failure to successfully implement our strategic plan could adversely affect the price of our common stock.

 

Our recent acquisitions may make it difficult for investors to evaluate our business, financial condition and results of operations and may also impair our ability to accurately forecast our future performance.

 

We acquired United Group Banking Company of Florida, Inc. and a controlling interest in CBI in 2014, Reunion Bank of Florida in 2015 and PBI in January 2017. Our limited history operating these businesses and the lack of combined historical financial information relating to the PBI acquisition may not provide an adequate basis for investors to evaluate our business, financial condition and results of operations or to assess trends that may be affecting the acquired businesses or our business as a whole. Our future operating results depend on a number of factors, including our ability to continue to integrate these acquisitions, manage our growth, retain the respective customer bases and successfully identify and respond to emerging trends affecting our primary product lines and markets. As a result of these uncertainties, predictions about our future financial performance may not be as accurate as they would be if we had a longer operating history, which in turn may affect the trading price and volatility of our common stock. 

 

Because our business success depends significantly on key management personnel, the departure of such personnel could impair operations.

 

We depend heavily on our senior management team. The loss of the services of a member of our senior management team, or an inability to attract other experienced banking personnel, could adversely affect our business. Some of these adverse effects could include the loss of personal contacts with existing or potential customers, as well as the loss of special technical knowledge, experience and skills of such individuals who are responsible for our operations.  

 

We may be adversely affected by the lack of soundness of other financial institutions or market utilities.

 

Our ability to engage in routine funding and other transactions could be adversely affected by the actions and commercial soundness of other financial institutions. Financial institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty or other relationships. Defaults by, or even rumors or questions about, one or more financial institutions or market utilities, or the financial services industry generally, may lead to market-wide liquidity problems and losses of depositor, creditor and counterparty confidence, and could lead to losses or defaults by us or by other institutions.

 

We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about customers and counterparties.

 

In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions with customers and counterparties, we may rely on information furnished by or on behalf of customers and counterparties, including financial statements and other financial information, as well as representations of customers and counterparties as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. With respect to financial statements, we may rely on on reports of independent auditors. In deciding whether to extend credit or engage in other business transactions, we may rely on our customers’ representations that their financial statements conform to GAAP and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the customer. We may also rely on customer representations and certifications, or other audit or accountants’ reports, with respect to the business and financial condition of our clients. Our financial condition, results of operations, financial reporting and reputation could be negatively affected if we rely on materially misleading, false, inaccurate, or fraudulent information.

 

 

We are subject to environmental risk in our lending activities.

 

Because a significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real property, we may foreclose on and take title to such property in the ordinary course of business. If hazardous substances are found on such property, we could be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage. Environmental laws might require us to incur substantial expenses, materially reduce the property’s value or limit our ability to use or sell the property. Although management has policies requiring environmental reviews before loans secured by real property are made and before foreclosure is commenced, it is still possible that environmental risks might not be detected and that the associated costs might have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. 

 

We continually encounter technological change and may have fewer resources than our competitors to invest in technological improvements.

 

The banking and financial services industries are undergoing rapid technological changes, with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. In addition to enhancing the level of service provided to customers, the effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to reduce costs. Our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that enhance customer convenience and create additional efficiencies in operations. Many of our competitors have greater resources to invest in technological improvements, and we may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services, which could reduce our ability to effectively compete.

 

Our information systems may experience a failure or interruption.

 

We rely heavily on communications and information systems to conduct our business. Any failure or interruption in the operation of these systems could impair or prevent the effective operation of our customer relationship management, general ledger, deposit, lending or other functions. While we have policies and procedures designed to prevent or limit the effect of a failure or interruption in the operation of our information systems, there can be no assurance that any such failures or interruptions will not occur or, if they do occur, that they will be adequately addressed. The occurrence of any failures or interruptions impacting our information systems could damage our reputation, result in a loss of customer business and expose us to additional regulatory scrutiny, civil litigation and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

We use information technology in our operations and offer online banking services to our customers, and unauthorized access to our or our customers’ confidential or proprietary information as a result of a cyber-attack or otherwise could expose us to reputational harm and litigation and adversely affect our ability to attract and retain customers.

 

Information security risks for financial institutions have generally increased in recent years, in part because of the proliferation of new technologies, the use of the internet and telecommunications technologies to conduct financial transactions, and the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, hackers, terrorists, activists and other external parties. We are under a continuous threat of loss due to hacking and cyber-attacks, especially as we continue to expand customer capabilities to utilize the internet and other remote channels to transact business. Our risk and exposure to these matters remains heightened because of the evolving nature and complexity of these threats from cybercriminals and hackers, our plans to continue to provide internet banking and mobile banking channels and our plans to develop additional remote connectivity solutions to serve our customers. Therefore, the secure processing, transmission and storage of information in connection with our online banking services are critical elements of our operations. However, our network could be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses and other malware, phishing schemes or other security failures. In addition, our customers may use personal smartphones, tablet PCs or other mobile devices that are beyond our control systems in order to access our products and services. Our technologies, systems and networks, as well as our customers’ devices, may become the target of cyber-attacks, electronic fraud or information security breaches that could result in the unauthorized release, gathering, monitoring, misuse, loss or destruction of our or our customers’ confidential, proprietary and other information, or otherwise disrupt our or our customers’ or other third parties’ business operations. As cyber threats continue to evolve, we may be required to spend significant capital and other resources to protect against these threats or to alleviate or investigate problems caused by such threats. To the extent that our activities or the activities of our customers involve the processing, storage or transmission of confidential customer information, any breaches or unauthorized access to such information could present significant regulatory costs and expose us to litigation and other possible liabilities. Any inability to prevent these types of security threats could also cause existing customers to lose confidence in our systems and could adversely affect our reputation and ability to generate deposits. While we have not experienced any material losses relating to cyber-attacks or other information security breaches to date, we may suffer such losses in the future. The occurrence of any cyber-attack or information security breach could result in potential legal liability, reputational harm, damage to our competitive position and the disruption of our operations, all of which could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.

 

 

We depend on outside third parties for the processing and handling of our records and data.

 

We rely on software developed by third-party vendors to process various transactions. In some cases, we have contracted with third parties to run their proprietary software on our behalf. While we perform a review of controls instituted by the applicable vendors over these programs in accordance with industry standards and perform our own testing of user controls, we must rely on the continued maintenance of controls by these third-party vendors, including safeguards over the security of customer data. In addition, we maintain, or contract with third parties to maintain, daily backups of key processing outputs in the event of a failure of any of these systems. Nonetheless, we may incur a temporary disruption in our ability to conduct business or process transactions, or incur damage to our reputation, if the third-party vendor fails to adequately maintain internal controls or institute necessary changes to its systems. Such a disruption or breach of security may have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

The internal controls that we have implemented to mitigate risks inherent to the business of banking might fail or be circumvented.

 

Management regularly reviews and updates our internal controls and procedures that are designed to manage the various risks in our business, including credit risk, operational risk and interest rate risk. No system of controls, however well-designed and operated, can provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the system will be met. If there were a failure of such a system, or if a system were circumvented, there could be a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Changes in accounting standards could materially impact our financial statements.

 

From time to time, the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the SEC may change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements. Such changes may result in new or different accounting and reporting standards. In addition, the bodies that interpret the accounting standards (such as banking regulators or outside auditors) may change their interpretations or positions on how these standards should be applied. These changes can be hard to predict and can materially impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, we could be required to apply a new or revised standard retrospectively, or to apply an existing standard differently, also retrospectively, in each case resulting in a need to revise or restate prior period financial statements.

  

 

Adverse weather or manmade events could negatively affect our core markets or disrupt our operations, which could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

Our market areas are susceptible to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical storms, other severe weather events related flooding and wind damage and manmade disasters, such as the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. These natural disasters could negatively impact regional economic conditions; cause a decline in the value or destruction of mortgaged properties and increase the risk of delinquencies, foreclosures or loss on loans originated by us; damage our banking facilities and offices and negatively impact our growth strategy. Such weather events could disrupt operations, result in damage to properties, and negatively affect the local economies in the markets in which we operate. We cannot predict whether or to what extent damage that may be caused by future weather or manmade events will affect our operations or the economies in our current or future market areas, but such events could negatively impact economic conditions in these regions and result in a decline in local loan demand and loan originations, a decline in the value or destruction of properties securing our loans, and an increase in delinquencies, foreclosures or loan losses. Our business or results of operations may be adversely affected by these and other negative effects of natural or manmade disasters. Further, severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, and other external events could adversely affect us in a number of ways, including an increase in delinquencies, bankruptcies or defaults that could result in a higher level of non-performing assets, net charge-offs, and provision for loan losses. Such risks could also impair the value of collateral securing our outstanding loans and hurt our deposit base.  

 

We may become involved from time to time in suits, legal proceedings, information-gathering requests, investigations and proceedings by governmental and self-regulatory agencies that may lead to adverse consequences.

 

Many aspects of the banking business involve some risk of legal liability. From time to time, we may be named or threatened to be named as defendants in lawsuits arising from our business activities (and in some cases from the activities of companies that we have acquired). In addition, from time to time, we could become the subject of governmental and self-regulatory agency information-gathering requests, reviews, investigations, proceedings and other forms of regulatory inquiry, including by bank regulatory agencies, the SEC and law enforcement authorities. The results of such proceedings could lead to significant civil or criminal penalties, including monetary penalties, damages, adverse judgments, settlements, fines, injunctions, restrictions on the way in which we conduct our business or reputational harm.

 

Risks Relating to the Regulation of the Banking Industry

 

We are subject to extensive regulation in the conduct of our business, which imposes additional costs on us and adversely affects our profitability.

 

As a financial holding company, NCC is subject to federal regulation under the BHCA and the examination and reporting requirements of the Federal Reserve. As a national banking association, NBC is subject to federal regulation under the National Bank Act and the examination and reporting requirements of the OCC. Federal regulation of the banking industry, along with tax and accounting laws, regulations, rules and standards, may limit our operations significantly and control the methods by which we conduct business. Banking regulations are primarily intended to protect depositors, deposit insurance funds and the banking system as a whole, and not stockholders or creditors. These regulations affect lending practices, capital structure, investment practices, dividend policy and overall growth, among other things. For example, federal and state consumer protection laws and regulations limit the manner in which we may offer and extend credit. In addition, the laws governing bankruptcy generally favor debtors, making it more expensive and more difficult to collect from customers who become subject to bankruptcy proceedings.

 

The Federal Reserve and OCC periodically conduct examinations of our business, including our compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Accommodating such examinations may require management to reallocate resources that would otherwise be used in our day-to-day operations. If, as a result of an examination, any such banking agency was to determine that the financial condition, capital resources, allowance for loan losses, asset quality, earnings prospects, management, liquidity or other aspects of our operations had become unsatisfactory, or that we or our management were in violation of any law or regulation, such banking agency may take a number of different remedial actions as it deems appropriate. These actions include the power to enjoin “unsafe or unsound” practices, to require affirmative actions to correct any conditions resulting from any violation or practice, to issue an administrative order that can be judicially enforced, to direct an increase in capital, to restrict our growth, to assess civil monetary penalties against us and our officers and directors, to remove officers and directors, and, if it is concluded that such conditions cannot be corrected or there is an imminent risk of loss to depositors, to terminate our deposit insurance. If we become subject to such a regulatory action, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

 

 

Changes in laws, government regulation and monetary policy may have a material effect on our results of operations.

 

Financial institutions have been the subject of significant legislative and regulatory changes in recent years, including the Dodd-Frank Act, and may be the subject of further significant legislation or regulation in the future, none of which is within our control. New proposals for legislation continue to be introduced in the United States Congress that could, among other things, (i) further substantially increase regulation of the banking and non-banking financial services industries, (ii) impose restrictions on the operations and general ability of firms within these industries to conduct business consistent with historical practices, including in the areas of compensation, interest rates, financial product offerings and disclosures, and (iii) have an effect on bankruptcy proceedings with respect to consumer residential real estate mortgages, among other things. Federal and state regulatory agencies also frequently adopt changes to their regulations or change the manner in which existing regulations are applied. Changes to statutes, regulations or regulatory policies, including changes in their interpretation or implementation by regulators, could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways. Such changes could, among other things, result in additional costs and lower revenues, limit the types of financial services and products that we may offer, ease restrictions on non-banks and thereby enhance their ability to offer competing financial services and products, increase compliance costs and require a significant amount of resources and management’s time and attention. Failure to comply with statutes, regulations, or policies could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil monetary penalties or reputational damage, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

FDIC deposit insurance assessments may continue to materially increase in the future, which would have an adverse effect on our earnings.

 

As a member institution of the FDIC, NBC is assessed a quarterly deposit insurance premium. In the aftermath of the recent recession, a number of bank failures led to a depletion of the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund and reduced the ratio of reserves to insured deposits. The FDIC has adopted a Deposit Insurance Fund Restoration Plan, which requires the Deposit Insurance Fund to attain a 1.35% reserve ratio by September 30, 2020. As a result of this requirement, NBC could be required to pay significantly higher premiums or additional special assessments that would adversely affect its earnings, thereby reducing the availability of funds to pay dividends to NCC.

 

We are subject to certain capital requirements by our regulators.

 

Applicable regulations require us to maintain specific capital standards in relation to the credit risks of our assets and off-balance sheet exposures. Various components of these requirements are subject to qualitative judgments by regulators. Both NCC and NBC are “well capitalized” under the current regulatory framework. A failure to remain “well capitalized” could affect our customers’ confidence, which could adversely affect our ability to do business. In addition, a failure to maintain such status could also result in restrictions imposed by regulatory authorities on our growth and other activities. Any such effect on customers or restrictions by regulators could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.  

 

We may need to raise additional capital in the future, including as a result of potential increased minimum capital thresholds established by regulators, but that capital may not be available when it is needed or may be dilutive to stockholders.

 

We are required by federal and state regulatory authorities to maintain adequate capital levels to support our operations. New regulations implementing minimum capital standards could require financial institutions to maintain higher minimum capital ratios and may place a greater emphasis on common equity as a component of “Tier 1 Capital,” which consists generally of shareholders’ equity and qualifying preferred stock, less certain goodwill items and other intangible assets. In order to support operations and comply with regulatory standards, we may need to raise capital in the future, and in some cases, NCC may be required to contribute capital to NBC. Our ability to raise additional capital will depend on conditions in the capital markets at that time, which are outside of our control, on our financial performance and on a successful execution of our growth strategy. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that any additional needed capital will be available on favorable terms. The capital and credit markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. In some cases, the markets have produced downward pressure on stock prices and credit availability for certain issuers without regard to those issuers’ underlying financial strength. If we cannot raise additional capital when needed, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected, and banking regulatory authorities may subject us to regulatory enforcement action, including receivership. Furthermore, an issuance of additional shares of our common stock could dilute the economic ownership interest of our stockholders.  

 

 

We are subject to numerous laws designed to protect consumers, including the Community Reinvestment Act and fair lending laws, and failure to comply with these laws could lead to a wide variety of sanctions.

 

The CRA, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, and other fair lending laws and regulations impose nondiscriminatory lending requirements on financial institutions. The United States Department of Justice and other federal agencies are responsible for enforcing these laws and regulations. A successful regulatory challenge to an institution’s performance under the CRA or fair lending laws and regulations could result in a wide variety of sanctions, including damages and civil money penalties, injunctive relief, restrictions on merger and acquisition activities, restrictions on expansion and restrictions on entering new business lines. Private parties may also have the ability to challenge an institution’s performance under fair lending laws in private class action litigation. Such actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects.

 

We are subject to the Bank Secrecy Act and other anti-money laundering statutes and regulations, and any deemed deficiency by our regulators with respect to these laws could result in significant liability.

 

Federal law requires financial institutions to institute and maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and file suspicious activity and currency transaction reports when appropriate. In addition to other bank regulatory agencies, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the United States Department of the Treasury is authorized to impose significant civil money penalties for violations of those requirements and has recently engaged in coordinated enforcement efforts with state and federal banking regulators, as well as the United States Department of Justice, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Internal Revenue Service. We are also subject to increased scrutiny with regard to our compliance with the rules enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control regarding, among other things, the prohibition on transacting business with, and the need to freeze assets of, certain persons and organizations identified as a threat to the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States. If our policies, procedures and systems are deemed deficient, we could be subject to liability, including fines and regulatory actions, which may include restrictions on our ability to pay dividends and the necessity to obtain regulatory approvals to proceed with certain aspects of our business plan, including acquisition activities. Failure to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing could also have serious reputational consequences for us. Any of these results could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects.

 

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock

 

The market price of our common stock may be subject to substantial fluctuations, which may make it difficult for you to sell your shares at the volumes, prices, or times desired.

 

The trading price of our common stock may be volatile and subject to wide price fluctuations in response to various factors, including:

 

●

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results, financial condition or asset quality;

 

●

market conditions in the broader stock market in general, or in the financial services industry in particular;

 

●

publication of research reports about us, our competitors, or the financial services industry generally, or changes in, or failure to meet, securities analysts’ estimates of our financial and operating performance, or lack of research reports by industry analysts or ceasing of coverage;

 

●

future issuances of our common stock or other securities;

 

 

●

significant acquisitions or business combinations, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, or capital commitments by or involving us or our competitors;

 

●

additions or departures of key personnel;

 

●

trades of large blocks of our stock;

 

●

economic and political conditions or events;

 

●

regulatory developments; and

 

●

other news, announcements, or disclosures (whether by us or others) related to us, our competitors, our core markets, or the financial services industry.

 

These and other factors may cause the market price and demand for our common stock to fluctuate substantially, which may limit or prevent investors from readily selling their shares of common stock and may otherwise negatively affect the liquidity of our common stock.

 

We have not historically paid dividends to our stockholders and cannot guarantee that we will pay dividends to our stockholders in the future.

 

Holders of our common stock will receive dividends if and when declared by our board of directors out of legally available funds. Our board of directors has not declared a dividend on our common stock since our inception. Any future determination relating to our dividend policy will be made at the discretion of the board of directors and will depend on a number of factors, including our future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, future prospects, regulatory restrictions, and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.

 

Our principal business operations are conducted through NBC. Cash available to pay dividends to stockholders of NCC is derived primarily, if not entirely, from dividends paid by NBC to NCC. The ability of NBC to pay dividends to NCC, and therefore NCC’s ability to pay dividends to its stockholders, will continue to be subject to, and limited by, certain legal and regulatory restrictions. Further, any lenders making loans to us may impose financial covenants that may be more restrictive with respect to dividend payments than the regulatory requirements.

 

A future issuance of stock could dilute the value of our common stock. 

 

Our certificate of incorporation provides that we may issue up to 30,000,000 shares of common stock. As of March 8, 2017, 12,945,012 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding. Those shares outstanding do not include the potential issuance, as of March 8, 2017, of 426,663 shares of our common stock subject to issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options to purchase our common stock, 195,214 shares of our common stock potentially issuable pursuant to outstanding performance awards (based on projections of the earned percentages of outstanding performance awards as of such date), 27,085 shares of our common stock that were reserved for issuance under the National Commerce Corporation 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) or subject to issuance pursuant to options that we have assumed in our recent acquisition transactions, or approximately 40,683 shares potentially issuable under the National Commerce Corporation Deferral of Compensation Plan for Key Employees and Non-Employee Directors (the “Deferral Plan”). Any future issuance of new shares could cause further dilution in the value of outstanding shares of our common stock.

 

Our directors and executive officers beneficially own a significant portion of our outstanding common stock and have substantial influence over us.

 

Our directors and executive officers, as a group, beneficially owned approximately 19.9% of our outstanding common stock as of March 8, 2017. As a result of this level of ownership, our directors and executive officers have the ability, by taking coordinated action, to exercise significant influence over our affairs and policies. The interests of our directors and executive officers may not be consistent with your interests as a stockholder. This influence may also have the effect of delaying or preventing changes of control or changes in management, or limiting the ability of our other stockholders to approve transactions that they may deem to be in the best interests of the Company.

 

 

Shares of our common stock are not insured deposits and may lose value.

 

Shares of our common stock are not savings or deposit accounts and are not insured by the FDIC or any other agency or private entity. Such shares are subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of some or all of the value of your investment.

 

The laws that regulate our operations are designed for the protection of depositors and the public, not our stockholders.

 

The federal and state laws and regulations applicable to our operations give regulatory authorities extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement responsibilities and generally have been promulgated to protect depositors and the Deposit Insurance Fund maintained by the FDIC, and not for the purpose of protecting stockholders. These laws and regulations can materially affect our future business. Laws and regulations now affecting us may be changed at any time, and the interpretation of such laws and regulations by bank regulatory authorities is also subject to change.

 

We have the ability to incur debt and pledge our assets, including our stock in NBC, to secure that debt.

 

We have the ability to incur debt and pledge our assets to secure that debt. Absent special and unusual circumstances, a holder of indebtedness for borrowed money has rights that are superior to those of holders of common stock. For example, interest must be paid to the lender before dividends can be paid to the stockholders, and loans must be paid off before any assets can be distributed to stockholders if we were to liquidate. Furthermore, we would have to make principal and interest payments on our indebtedness, which could reduce our profitability or result in net losses on a consolidated basis.

 

We are an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act, and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies could make our common stock less attractive to investors.

 

We are an emerging growth company under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and we are therefore permitted to, and intend to, take advantage of exemptions from certain disclosure requirements. We are an emerging growth company until the earliest of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.0 billion or more; (ii) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our merger with United (December 31, 2019); (iii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed a “large accelerated filer,” as defined under the federal securities laws. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, an exemption from compliance with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on certain executive compensation matters, such as “say on pay” and “say on frequency.” As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information that they may deem important. Although we intend to rely on certain of the exemptions provided in the JOBS Act, the exact implications of the JOBS Act for us are still subject to interpretations and guidance by the SEC and other regulatory agencies.  

 

We cannot predict whether investors will find our common stock less attractive as a result of our decision to take advantage of these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock, and our stock price may be more volatile.

  

 

 The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources and distract our management, which could make it difficult to manage our business, particularly after we are no longer an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act.

 

Since October 28, 2014, we have been required to comply with the regulatory and reporting requirements of the SEC. Complying with these reporting and other regulatory requirements is time consuming, results in increased costs to us and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

As a public company, we are subject to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. These requirements may place a strain on our systems and resources. The Exchange Act requires us to file annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires us to maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting. To maintain and improve the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, we must commit significant resources and management oversight. We continue to implement procedures and processes to address the standards and requirements applicable to public companies. Sustaining our growth also requires us to commit additional resources to maintain appropriate operational and financial systems to adequately support our expansion. These activities may divert management’s attention from other business concerns, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.  

 

As an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act, we are permitted to, and intend to, take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, an exemption from compliance with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements.

 

When these exemptions cease to apply, we expect to incur additional expenses and to devote increased management effort toward ensuring compliance with these reporting requirements. Although we could remain an emerging growth company for nearly four more years, we may cease to be an emerging growth company earlier under certain circumstances. See “– We are an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act, and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies could make our common stock less attractive to investors.” for additional information on when we may cease to be an emerging growth company. We cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs that we may continue to incur as a result of being a public company or the timing of such costs.  

 

Our internal controls over financial reporting may not be effective, and our independent registered public accounting firm may not be able to certify as to their effectiveness, which could have a significant and adverse effect on our business and reputation.

 

We are currently required to comply with the SEC’s rules implementing Sections 302 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which require management to certify financial and other information in our quarterly and annual reports and provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. However, pursuant to the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting until we are no longer an emerging growth company.

 

When evaluating our internal controls over financial reporting, we may identify material weaknesses that we may not be able to remediate in time to meet the applicable deadline imposed upon us for compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. In addition, if we fail to achieve and maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to ensure that management can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We cannot be certain as to the timing of the completion of our evaluation, testing and any remediation actions or the impact of the same on our operations. If we are not able to implement the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in a timely manner or with adequate compliance, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue an adverse opinion due to ineffective internal controls over financial reporting, and we may be subject to sanctions or investigations by regulatory authorities, such as the SEC. As a result, there could be a negative reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements. In addition, we may be required to incur costs in improving our internal control system and hiring additional personnel. Any such action could negatively affect our results of operations and cash flows.  

 

 

Our corporate governance documents, and certain corporate and banking laws applicable to us, could make a takeover more difficult.

 

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and corporate and federal banking laws, could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us or conduct a proxy contest, even if those events were perceived by many of our stockholders as beneficial to their interests. These provisions, and the corporate and banking laws and regulations applicable to us:

 

●

empower our board of directors, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock, the terms of which, including voting power, are set by the board;

 

●

only permit our board of directors or the chairman thereof to call a special stockholders’ meeting;

 

●

require at least 120 days’ advance notice of nominations for the election of directors and the presentation of stockholder proposals at meetings of stockholders; and

 

●

require prior regulatory application and approval of any transaction involving control of us.

 

These provisions may discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control, including under circumstances in which our stockholders might otherwise receive a premium over the market price of our common stock.

 

Item 1B.   Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

  None.

 

Item 2.     Properties.

 

Our headquarters and the main office of NBC are located at 813 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 100, Birmingham, Alabama 35209. Including the main office, NBC operates 19 full-service retail banking offices and a mortgage operations center. The sole office of both CBI and Corporate Billing is located at 239 Johnson Street, S.E., Decatur, Alabama 35601.

 

The following table summarizes pertinent details of our full-service banking offices and other primary facilities as of March 8, 2017:

 

Office Address				Owned/Leased			Square Footage
NATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE
Alabama
813 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 100 Birmingham, AL 35209 (Main Office)				Leased			12,784
1919 Cahaba Road Birmingham, AL 35223 (Mortgage Operations Center)				Leased			8,340
5 Inverness Center Parkway Birmingham, AL 35242				Owned			15,851
457 Magnolia Avenue Fairhope, AL 36532				Owned			6,008
1560 West 2nd Street Gulf Shores, AL 36542				Owned			7,000

 

 

415 Meridian Street Huntsville, AL 35801	Owned	13,579
8153 Highway 72 West Madison, AL 35758	Owned	4,024
2443 Enterprise Drive Opelika, AL 36801	Owned	6,200
Florida
2145 Indian River Boulevard, Suite A Vero Beach, FL 32960	Leased	4,000
425 South U.S. Highway 17-92* Longwood, FL 32750	Owned	13,083
401 South Semoran Boulevard* Winter Park, FL 32792	Leased	6,492
3822 Edgewater Drive* Orlando (College Park), FL 32804	Leased	2,146
997 West Broadway Street* Oviedo, FL 32765	Owned	3,414
1250 Lee Road* Winter Park, FL 32789	Owned	2,703
1892 East Burleigh Boulevard# Tavares, FL 32778	Leased	6,125
3615 Clyde Morris Boulevard# Port Orange, FL 32129	Leased	7,000
775 W. Granada Blvd.# Ormond Beach, FL 32174	Leased	4,640
2198 A1A South# St. Augustine Beach, FL 32080	Owned	3,820
Georgia
3565 Piedmont Road, Suite 210♦ Atlanta, Georgia 30305	Leased	20,314
150 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 120∆ Decatur, Georgia 30030	Leased	4,944
CBI / CORPORATE BILLING
239 Johnson Street, S.E. Decatur, Alabama 35601	Owned	8,500

_______________________________

 

*Operates under the trade name “United Legacy Bank, a division of National Bank of Commerce.”

 

^# Operates under the trade name “Reunion Bank of Florida, a division of National Bank of Commerce.”

 

^♦ Operates under the trade name “Private Bank of Buckhead, a division of National Bank of Commerce.” Also includes the main office of PrivatePlus Mortgage, a division of National Bank of Commerce.

 

^∆ Operates under the trade name “Private Bank of Decatur, a division of National Bank of Commerce.”       

 

We believe that our banking and non-banking offices are in good condition and are suitable to our needs. 

 

 

Item 3.     Legal Proceedings.

 

 We are subject to various pending and threatened litigation actions in the ordinary course of business. Although it is not possible to determine with certainty at this point in time what liability, if any, we will have as a result of such litigation, based on consultation with legal counsel, management does not anticipate that the ultimate liability, if any, resulting from such litigation will have a material effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

 Not applicable.

 

 

PART II

 

Item 5.

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

 

Market for Our Common Stock

 

Our common stock is listed and trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “NCOM.” Prior to the listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on March 19, 2015, shares of our common stock were traded only through privately negotiated transactions.

 

The following table shows, for the indicated periods, the high and low sale prices per share for our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or, for periods prior to the listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, as known to management. For quarters in which there were no sales of our common stock to management’s knowledge, neither high nor low prices are given. We did not pay cash dividends on our common stock during the periods indicated.

 

		High				Low
2016
Fourth Quarter		$	38.00			$	26.54
Third Quarter		$	28.74			$	22.32
Second Quarter		$	24.50			$	21.37
First Quarter		$	25.30			$	20.50
2015
Fourth Quarter		$	28.32			$	22.17
Third Quarter		$	27.00			$	21.25
Second Quarter		$	29.54			$	21.25
First Quarter*		$	22.45			$	20.51
* Shares of our common stock were first publicly traded on March 19, 2015.

 

Holders

 

As of March 8, 2017, there were 12,945,012 shares of our common stock outstanding and approximately 604 record holders of our common stock (excluding any participants in any clearing agency and “street name” holders).

 

Dividends

 

Holders of our common stock receive dividends if and when declared by our board of directors out of legally available funds. Our board of directors has not declared, and we have not paid, a dividend since our inception, and our board of directors does not expect to declare a dividend in the foreseeable future. Any future determination or change relating to our dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on a number of factors, including our future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, future prospects, regulatory restrictions, and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant at that time. In addition, the payment of dividends by NBC to NCC and by NCC to its stockholders is subject to certain regulations that may limit or prohibit such payments in certain circumstances. See “Supervision and Regulation – Dividend Restrictions” beginning on page 11. No assurances can be given that any dividends on NCC’s common stock will be declared in the future or, if declared, what the amount of such dividends will be or whether such dividends will continue for future periods.

 

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

 

              Information regarding securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans is incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company (the “2017 Proxy Statement”) to be filed by the Company with the SEC under the Exchange Act.

 

Performance Graph

 

Set forth below is a line graph comparing the yearly percentage change in the cumulative total shareholder return on our common stock (based on the last reported sales price of the respective year) with the cumulative total return of the Russell 2000 Index and the SNL U.S. Bank Index ($1 billion to $5 billion in assets) from March 18, 2015 through December 31, 2016. The following is based on an investment of $100 on March 18, 2015 in our common stock, the Russell 2000 Index and the SNL U.S. Bank Index ($1 billion to $5 billion in assets), with dividends reinvested where applicable.

 

 

 

						Period Ending
Index		03/18/15				06/30/15				09/30/15				12/31/15				03/31/16				06/30/16				09/30/16				12/31/16
National Commerce Corporation			100.00				132.31				122.97				128.46				121.08				119.59				138.77				190.51
Russell 2000			100.00				100.56				88.57				91.75				90.36				93.79				102.27				111.31
SNL U.S. Bank $1B-$5B			100.00				107.23				106.75				113.43				107.49				111.97				123.79				163.19

 

Source: SNL Financial, an offering of S&P Global Market Intelligence © 2017 www.snl.com

 

 

Item 6.     Selected Financial Data.

 

		SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
		For the Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share information)		2016				2015				2014				2013				2012
Statement of Income Data
Interest income		$	74,563			$	54,845			$	31,342			$	23,312			$	19,952
Interest expense			7,381				4,796				2,869				2,613				3,280
Net interest income			67,182				50,049				28,473				20,699				16,672
Provision for loan losses			3,248				1,113				978				-				125
(Loss) gain on sale of securities			-				-				(33	)			47				-
Other noninterest income (1)			13,956				8,459				5,065				5,255				4,665
Merger/conversion-related expenses			479				764				662				257				-
Other noninterest expense (2)			48,600				39,481				22,791				19,428				18,084
Income before income taxes			28,811				17,150				9,074				6,316				3,128
Income tax expense			9,394				5,476				3,159				2,310				1,071
Net income before minority interest			19,417				11,674				5,915				4,006				2,057
Net income attributable to minority interest			1,564				2,069				512				-				-
Net income to common shareholders			17,853				9,605				5,403				4,006				2,057
Balance sheet (at period end)
Cash and cash equivalents		$	217,293			$	212,457			$	123,435			$	124,136			$	171,287
Total investment securities			99,709				80,863				34,932				47,979				40,724
Mortgage loans held-for-sale			15,373				15,020				9,329				7,159				13,836
Acquired purchased credit-impaired loans			9,507				10,443				9,077				-				-
Acquired non-purchased credit-impaired loans			315,867				370,872				143,981				-				-
Nonacquired loans held for investment (3)			1,076,209				870,471				653,063				582,002				441,452
CBI loans (factoring receivables)			83,901				67,628				82,600				-				-
Total gross loans held for investment			1,485,484				1,319,414				888,721				582,002				441,452
Allowance for loan losses			12,113				9,842				9,802				9,119				10,020
Total intangibles			52,803				53,474				30,591				-				-
Total assets			1,950,784				1,763,369				1,138,426				791,781				693,359
Total deposits			1,667,710				1,514,458				971,060				678,031				580,294
FHLB and other borrowings			7,000				22,000				22,000				22,000				24,695
Subordinated debt			24,500				-				-				-				-
Total liabilities			1,713,740				1,546,733				1,002,265				702,842				607,509
Minority interest			7,309				7,372				7,239				-				-
Common stock			109				108				75				5,730				5,730
Total shareholders' equity			237,044				216,636				136,161				88,939				85,850
Tangible common equity			183,866				162,724				105,265				88,939				85,850
Selected Performance Ratios
Return on average assets (ROAA) (4)			1.00	%			0.72	%			0.66	%			0.60	%			0.38	%
Return on average equity (ROAE)			7.89				5.55				5.55				4.61				2.43
Return on average tangible common equity (ROATCE)			10.32				6.96				6.07				4.61				2.43
Net interest margin - taxable equivalent			4.15				4.13				3.76				3.27				3.18
Efficiency ratio			60.49				68.79				69.93				75.85				84.75
Operating efficiency ratio (2)			59.90				67.48				67.96				74.86				84.75
Noninterest income / average assets			0.78				0.64				0.62				0.79				0.85
Noninterest expense / average assets			2.76				3.03				2.88				2.97				3.31
Yield on loans			5.06				5.17				4.68				4.37				4.94
Cost of total deposits			0.40				0.39				0.35				0.38				0.58
Per Share Outstanding Data
Net earnings per share		$	1.64			$	1.04			$	0.92			$	0.70			$	0.36
Diluted net earnings per share			1.61				1.02				0.91				0.69				0.36
Common shares outstanding at period end			10,934,541				10,824,969				7,541,541				5,730,114				5,730,114
Weighted average diluted shares			11,093,987				9,395,741				5,960,199				5,764,285				5,740,400
Book value per share			21.68				20.01				18.05				15.52				14.98
Tangible book value per share			16.82				15.03				13.96				15.52				14.98
Nonperforming assets
Nonacquired
Nonaccrual loans		$	69			$	187			$	2,276			$	3,371			$	244
Other real estate and repossesed assets			2,068				3,873				823				845				95
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing			581				252				217				-				-
Total nonacquired nonperforming assets			2,718				4,312				3,316				4,216				339
Acquired
Nonaccrual loans			2,768				3,508				2,589				-				-
Other real estate and repossesed assets			-				92				557				-				-
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing			-				-				80				-				-
Total acquired nonperforming assets			2,768				3,600				3,226				-				-

  

 

		For the Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share information)		2016				2015				2014				2013				2012
Asset Quality Ratios
Nonperforming assets / Assets			0.28	%			0.45	%			0.57	%			0.53	%			0.05	%
Nonperforming assets / Loans + OREO + repossessed assets			0.37				0.60				0.73				0.72				0.08
Nonacquired nonperforming assets / Nonacquired loans + nonacquired OREO + nonacquired repossessed assets (3)			0.25				0.49				0.51				0.72				0.08
Net charge-offs to average loans			0.07				0.11				0.05				0.19				0.13
Allowance for loan losses to total loans			0.82				0.75				1.10				1.57				2.27
Allowance for loan losses to nonacquired nonperforming loans			1,863.54				2,241.91				393.18				270.51				4,106.56
Allowance for loan losses to nonacquired loans (3)			1.08				1.07				1.35				1.57				2.27
Capital ratios (at period end)
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio			9.57	%			9.68	%			10.68	%			12.18	%			12.42	%
Tier 1 Common Capital Ratio			11.46				11.18				10.66				14.58				17.60
Tier 1 Risk-based Capital Ratio			11.46				11.18				10.66				14.58				17.60
Total Risk-based Capital Ratio			13.90				11.91				11.75				15.83				18.86
Equity / Assets			12.15				12.29				11.96				11.23				12.38
Tangible common equity to tangible assets			9.69				9.52				9.50				11.23				12.38
Composition of Loans Held for Investment
Owner-occupied commercial real estate		$	254,099			$	215,021			$	132,126			$	71,790			$	48,829
Non-owner occupied commercial real estate			352,677				294,191				198,658				146,509				108,405
Commercial and industrial loans			150,268				171,160				113,788				102,286				91,337
Factored commercial receivables			83,901				67,628				82,600				-				-
Construction, land development, and other land loans			155,813				152,862				83,663				58,372				36,267
1-4 family			387,342				333,761				221,222				162,091				128,103
Multifamily			47,060				31,128				23,420				22,316				17,637
Consumer and other			54,324				53,663				33,244				18,638				10,874
Deposit Composition
Demand		$	429,030			$	382,946			$	217,643			$	128,837			$	67,040
NOW			262,261				202,649				154,816				107,060				96,514
Money market and savings			703,289				611,887				392,394				304,071				277,342
Retail time			64,073				87,069				74,367				15,979				20,766
Jumbo time (5)			209,057				229,907				131,840				122,084				118,632
Mortgage Metrics
Total production ($)		$	322,909			$	281,706			$	207,269			$	246,649			$	212,128

 

(1) Excludes securities gains (losses)

(2) Excludes merger/conversion-related expenses

(3) Excludes CBI loans

(4) Net income to common shareholders / average assets

(5) Jumbo time deposits defined as time deposits greater than $100,000

  

 

GAAP Reconciliation and Management Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

Some of the financial measures included in our selected historical consolidated financial data table and other data are not measures of financial performance recognized by GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures include tangible common equity, tangible book value per share, return on average tangible common equity, efficiency ratio, operating efficiency ratio, and allowance for loan losses to nonacquired loans. The Company’s management uses the non-GAAP financial measures set forth below in its analysis of the Company’s performance.

 

●

“Tangible common equity” is total shareholders’ equity less goodwill, other intangible assets and minority interest not included in intangible assets.

●

“Tangible book value per share” is defined as tangible common equity divided by total common shares outstanding. This measure is important to investors interested in changes from period to period in book value per share exclusive of changes in intangible assets.

●

“Average tangible common equity” is defined as the average of tangible common equity for the applicable period.

●

“Return on average tangible common equity,” or ROATCE, is defined as net income available to common shareholders divided by average tangible common equity.

 

We believe these above measures, each of which utilizes the concept of tangible common equity rather than total common equity, provide useful information to management and investors because they eliminate the impact of goodwill and other intangible assets created in an acquisition. These measures are commonly used by investors when assessing financial institutions.

 

●

“Efficiency ratio” is defined as noninterest expense divided by operating revenue (which is equal to net interest income plus noninterest income), excluding one-time gains and losses on sales of securities. This measure is important to investors looking for a measure of efficiency in productivity based on the amount of revenue generated for each dollar spent.

●

“Operating efficiency ratio” is defined as noninterest expense divided by operating revenue, excluding one-time gains and losses on sales of securities and one-time gains and expenses related to merger and acquisition activities. This measure is important to investors looking for a measure of efficiency in productivity based on the amount of revenue generated for each dollar spent.

●

“Allowance for loan losses to nonacquired loans” is defined as the total allowance for loan losses, less the allowance for loan losses attributable to factored receivables, divided by nonacquired loans held for investment, excluding factored receivables at end of period.

  

 

We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to management and investors that is supplementary to our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows computed in accordance with GAAP; however, we acknowledge that the non-GAAP financial measures have a number of limitations. As such, you should not view these disclosures as a substitute for results determined in accordance with GAAP, and that these disclosures are not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP financial measures that other companies use. The following reconciliation table provides more detailed analysis of these non-GAAP financial measures:

 

		NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
		For the Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2016				2015				2014				2013				2012
Total shareholders' equity		$	237,044			$	216,636			$	136,161			$	88,939			$	85,850
Less: Intangible assets			52,803				53,474				30,591				-				-
Less: minority interest not included in intangible assets			375				438				305				-				-
Tangible common equity		$	183,866			$	162,724			$	105,265			$	88,939			$	85,850
Common shares outstanding at year end or period end			10,934,541				10,824,969				7,541,541				5,730,114				5,730,114
Tangible book value per share		$	16.82			$	15.03			$	13.96			$	15.52			$	14.98
Total assets at end of period		$	1,950,784			$	1,763,369			$	1,138,426			$	791,781			$	693,359
Less: Intangible assets			52,803				53,474				30,591				-				-
Adjusted total assets at end of period			1,897,981				1,709,895				1,107,835				791,781				693,359
Tangible common equity to tangible assets			9.69	%			9.52	%			9.50	%			11.23	%			12.38	%
Total average shareholders' equity			226,351				172,954				97,326				86,969				84,782
Less: average intangible assets			53,136				34,628				8,244				-				-
Less: average minority interest not included in intangible assets			264				267				136				-				-
Average tangible common equity		$	172,951			$	138,059			$	88,946			$	86,969			$	84,782
Net income to common shareholders			17,853				9,605				5,403				4,006				2,057
Return on average tangible common equity (ROATCE)			10.32	%			6.96	%			6.07	%			4.61	%			2.43	%
Efficiency ratio:
Net interest income		$	67,182			$	50,049			$	28,473			$	20,699			$	16,672
Total noninterest income			13,956				8,459				5,032				5,302				4,665
Less: gain (loss) on sale of securities			-				-				(33	)			47				-
Operating revenue		$	81,138			$	58,508			$	33,538			$	25,954			$	21,337
Expenses:
Total noninterest expenses		$	49,079			$	40,245			$	23,453			$	19,685			$	18,084
Efficiency ratio			60.49	%			68.79	%			69.93	%			75.85	%			84.75	%
Operating efficiency ratio:
Net interest income		$	67,182			$	50,049			$	28,473			$	20,699			$	16,672
Total noninterest income			13,956				8,459				5,032				5,302				4,665
Less: gain (loss) on sale of securities			-				-				(33	)			47				-
Operating revenue		$	81,138			$	58,508			$	33,538			$	25,954			$	21,337
Expenses:
Total noninterest expenses		$	49,079			$	40,245			$	23,453			$	19,685			$	18,084
Less: merger/conversion-related expenses			479				764				662				257				-
Adjusted noninterest expenses		$	48,600			$	39,481			$	22,791			$	19,428			$	18,084
Operating efficiency ratio			59.90	%			67.48	%			67.96	%			74.86	%			84.75	%
Total allowance for loan losses		$	12,113			$	9,842			$	9,802			$	9,119			$	10,020
Less: allowance for loan losses attributable to CBI (factoring receivables)			500				500				955				-				-
Adjusted allowance for loan losses at end of period		$	11,613			$	9,342			$	8,847			$	9,119			$	10,020
Nonacquired loans held for investment			1,076,209				870,471				653,063				582,002				441,452
Allowance for loan losses to nonacquired loans			1.08	%			1.07	%			1.35	%			1.57	%			2.27	%

 

 

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

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this document. In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. Factors that could cause such differences are discussed in the sections entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors.” We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements except as required by law.

 

The following discussion pertains to our historical results, on a consolidated basis. However, because we conduct all of our material business operations through our subsidiaries, the discussion and analysis relates to activities primarily conducted at the subsidiary level.

 

All dollar amounts in the tables in this section are in thousands of dollars, except per share data or when specifically identified.

 

Our Business

 

We (the “Company” or “NCC”) are a financial holding company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. We operate one subsidiary bank, National Bank of Commerce (“NBC” or the “Bank”). Through NBC, we provide a broad array of financial services to businesses, business owners and professionals through seven full-service banking offices in Alabama (in Birmingham, Huntsville, Auburn-Opelika, and Baldwin County) and ten full-service banking offices and a loan production office in Florida (in Longwood, Winter Park, Orlando, Oviedo, Tavares, Port Orange, Ormond Beach, St. Augustine and Vero Beach). During 2016, we also expanded our operations into Georgia, by opening a loan production office in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

In August 2016, we signed a definitive agreement to acquire Private Bancshares, Inc. (“PBI”), the holding company of Private Bank of Buckhead, through a merger of PBI with and into NCC, followed immediately by a merger of Private Bank of Buckhead with and into NBC. As a result of the merger, which became effective on January 1, 2017, we acquired two full-service banking offices in Georgia – one in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, and the other in Decatur. We operate these acquired offices and the mortgage division of the acquired bank under the trade names “Private Bank of Buckhead,” “Private Bank of Decatur,” and “PrivatePlus Mortgage.”

 

We also own a 70% equity interest in CBI Holding Company, LLC (“CBI”), which owns Corporate Billing LLC (“Corporate Billing”), a transaction-based finance company headquartered in Decatur, Alabama, that provides factoring, invoicing, collection and accounts receivable management services to transportation companies and automotive parts and service providers throughout the United States and Canada.

 

 

2017 Acquisition 

 

Private Bancshares, Inc.

 

On January 1, 2017, we completed our acquisition of PBI, a bank holding company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. PBI’s wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Private Bank of Buckhead, merged with and into NBC on January 1, 2017. Because the merger was completed after year-end, the assets, liabilities and results of operations for PBI were not included in our financial statements for 2016, but they will be included in the full year of our financial results for 2017.

 

At the time of the acquisition, PBI was merged with and into NCC, with NCC as the surviving entity in the merger. PBI’s common shareholders received either 0.85417 shares of our common stock, $20.50 in cash, or a combination of stock and cash in exchange for each share of PBI common stock. We paid cash for cash elections and in lieu of fractional shares totaling $8.3 million and issued 1,809,189 shares of our common stock. The aggregate estimated value of the consideration was $79.5 million.

 

We marked PBI’s assets and liabilities to fair value based on information available at the time of acquisition. We acquired approximately $292.2 million in assets at fair value from PBI and added two banking centers with approximately $263.4 million in loans and approximately $286.1 million in deposits. We expect to record goodwill of $47.8 million and a core deposit intangible asset of $2.9 million as a result of the merger. The fair value results are preliminary and subject to refinement for up to one year after the closing as additional information becomes available.

 

Additional information regarding the PBI merger is included in Note 20, “Subsequent Events,” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements provided herein.

 

2015 Acquisition

 

Reunion Bank of Florida

 

On October 31, 2015, we completed our acquisition of Reunion Bank of Florida (“Reunion”), a Florida bank headquartered in Tavares, Florida. At that time, Reunion was merged with and into NBC, and NBC now operates in the markets formerly served by Reunion under the trade name “Reunion Bank of Florida, a division of National Bank of Commerce.” At the time of the merger, Reunion had a total of four full-service banking locations and two loan production offices located in five counties in central and northeast Florida. We paid cash for cash elections and in lieu of fractional shares totaling $7,368,809 and issued 1,339,129 shares of our common stock in the merger. The aggregate estimated value of the consideration was $43.2 million. We recorded $20.6 million of goodwill and a core deposit intangible asset of $1.5 million.

 

We marked Reunion’s assets and liabilities to fair value based on information available at the time of the acquisition. We acquired approximately $309.7 million in assets at fair value from Reunion and added approximately $258.4 million in loans and approximately $277.7 million in deposits.

 

 

2014 Acquisitions

 

CBI Holding Company, LLC

 

On August 29, 2014, NBC acquired 70% of the outstanding units of CBI, which owns Corporate Billing, a receivables factoring business headquartered in Decatur, Alabama. CBI now operates as a subsidiary of NBC. We have an option to purchase the remaining 30% interest for a price based on a multiple of CBI’s earnings that is exercisable at any time beginning on August 29, 2019 and expires on August 29, 2022. NBC paid $16.2 million in cash for its 70% interest in CBI. Our consolidated financial statements include all of the assets and liabilities of CBI, as well as a minority interest, representing the 30% that we have not purchased. As a result, at acquisition, we recorded $23.1 million of goodwill and a non-controlling interest of $6.9 million.

 

We marked the assets acquired and liabilities assumed to fair value based on information available at the time of the acquisition. Given an average life for CBI’s receivables of 35 to 40 days, the assets and liabilities of CBI are very short-term in nature, and the book value was deemed to be the fair value, with the exception of a $174 thousand discount on the purchased factored receivables, which was accreted into income during September 2014 in accordance with the average life of the related receivables.

 

United Group Banking Company of Florida, Inc.

 

On December 15, 2014, we completed our acquisition of United Group Banking Company of Florida, Inc. (“United”), a bank holding company headquartered in Longwood, Florida. United’s wholly-owned banking subsidiary, United Legacy Bank, merged with and into NBC on February 28, 2015. Since the merger, NBC has operated in the Orlando, Florida market under the trade name “United Legacy Bank, a division of National Bank of Commerce.” In connection with the merger, we paid cash for cash elections and in lieu of fractional shares totaling $2,953,884 and issued 1,617,027 shares of our common stock. The aggregate estimated value of the consideration was $33.3 million. We recorded $5.7 million of goodwill and a core deposit intangible asset of $1.8 million.

  

We marked United’s assets and liabilities to fair value based on information available at the time of acquisition. We acquired approximately $233.2 million in assets at fair value from United and added six banking centers (one of which we subsequently closed) with approximately $149.9 million in loans and approximately $200.5 million in deposits.

 

Additional information regarding the CBI acquisition and the Reunion and United mergers is included in Note 2, “Business Combinations,” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements provided herein.

 

Overview of 2016 Results

 

Our net income was $17.9 million in 2016, compared to $9.6 million in 2015. The primary factors leading to the increase in our 2016 net income and other highlights include the following:

 

●

Average loans outstanding in 2016 were $1.40 billion, approximately 38.1% higher than the $1.01 billion in average loans outstanding in 2015. The higher loan balance led to an increase in net interest income from $50.0 million in 2015 to $67.2 million in 2016. In addition to organic growth, 2016 balances include a full year of loans attributable to Reunion.

 

 

●

Loan yields in 2016 averaged 5.06%, compared to 5.17% for 2015, and interest-bearing liability costs of 0.64% in 2016 were 0.11% higher than costs of 0.55% in 2015. As a result, our net interest spread decreased from 3.97% in 2015 to 3.96% in 2016. Average noninterest-bearing deposits grew from $269.0 million in 2015 to $396.9 million in 2016, reducing our overall funding cost. The combination of the lower loan yields and higher funding costs were partially offset by a larger percentage of our earning assets invested in loans and an increase in noninterest-bearing deposits, which led to an expansion in our net interest margin from 4.10% in 2015 to 4.12% in 2016.

  

●

Our higher net interest income in 2016 was partially offset by higher operating expenses, which grew to $49.1 million in 2016 from $40.2 million in 2015. The largest category of operating expense increase was salaries and employee benefits. The higher operating expenses resulted from both our expansion activities in 2016 into the Atlanta, Georgia market area and the inclusion of a full year of expenses attributable to Reunion.

  

●

During 2016, our noninterest income grew to $14.0 million from $8.5 million in 2015. Mortgage origination and fee income, merchant sponsorship revenue and service charges were significant contributors to this increase in 2016.

  

●

On May 19, 2016, we completed the underwritten public offering of $25 million of our unsecured 6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2026 (the “Notes”). The Notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.0% per year, from, and including, May 19, 2016, to, but excluding, June 1, 2021. On June 1, 2021, the Notes convert to a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 479 basis points. We may redeem the Notes at any time after June 1, 2021.

  

●

On August 31, 2016, we announced the signing of a definitive agreement providing for the merger of Private Bancshares, Inc. with and into NCC. This merger was completed on January 1, 2017. Private Bancshares was the parent company of Private Bank of Buckhead, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Simultaneously with the holding company merger, Private Bank of Buckhead merged with and into NBC, but NBC continues to operate the former offices and mortgage division of Private Bank of Buckhead under the trade names “Private Bank of Buckhead”, “Private Bank of Decatur” and “PrivatePlus Mortgage.” Since the effective date was January 1, 2017, our 2016 results do not include any of the activity or balances of Private Bancshares.

  

●

On October 31, 2015, we closed the acquisition of Reunion, and as a result, approximately two months of revenue and expenses attributable to Reunion are included in our 2015 results, but the 2016 results include an entire year of revenue and expenses attributable to Reunion.

 

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared based on the application of certain accounting policies, the most significant of which are described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, which are contained elsewhere in this report. Certain of these policies require estimates and strategic or economic assumptions that may prove inaccurate or subject to variation and may significantly affect our reported results and financial position for the current period or future periods. The use of estimates, assumptions, and judgments is necessary when financial assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at, or adjusted to reflect, fair value. Assets carried at fair value inherently result in more financial statement volatility. Fair values and information used to record valuation adjustments for certain assets and liabilities are either based on quoted market prices or provided by other independent third-party sources, when available. When such information is not available, management estimates valuation adjustments. Changes in underlying factors, assumptions or estimates in any of these areas could have a material impact on our future financial condition and results of operations.

 

The following briefly describes some of the more complex policies involving a significant degree of judgment about valuation and the application of complex accounting standards and interpretations.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses

 

We record estimated probable inherent credit losses in the loan portfolio as an allowance for loan losses. The methodologies and assumptions for determining the adequacy of the overall allowance for loan losses involve significant judgments to be made by management. Some of the more critical judgments supporting our allowance for loan losses include judgments about the creditworthiness of borrowers, estimated value of underlying collateral, assumptions about cash flow, determination of loss factors for estimating credit losses, and the impact of current events, conditions, and other factors impacting the level of inherent losses. Under different conditions or using different assumptions, the actual or estimated credit losses ultimately realized by us may be different than our estimates. In determining the allowance, we estimate losses on individual impaired loans or on groups of loans that are not impaired when the probable loss can be identified and reasonably estimated. On a quarterly basis, we assess the risk inherent in our loan portfolio based on qualitative and quantitative trends in the portfolio, including the internal risk classification of loans, historical loss rates, changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, industry or borrower concentrations, delinquency trends, detailed reviews of significant loans with identified weaknesses, and the impacts of local, regional, national, and global economic factors on the quality of the loan portfolio. Based on this analysis, we may record a provision for loan losses in order to maintain the allowance at appropriate levels. For a more complete discussion of the methodology employed to calculate the allowance for loan losses, see Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

 

 Investment Securities Impairment

 

We assess on a quarterly basis whether there have been any events or economic circumstances to indicate that a security with respect to which there is an unrealized loss is impaired on an other-than-temporary basis. In each instance, we consider many factors, including the severity and duration of the impairment, our intent and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient for a recovery in value, recent events specific to the issuer or industry, and, for debt securities, external credit ratings and recent downgrades. Securities with respect to which there is an unrealized loss that is deemed to be other-than-temporary are written down to fair value. The credit portion of the impairment, if any, is recognized as a realized loss in current earnings. Management performed its quarterly analysis as of December 31, 2016 and concluded that no securities were impaired. The Company did not recognize an impairment loss in 2016, 2015 or 2014.

 

Income Taxes

 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed using the asset and liability method, which recognizes a liability or asset representing the tax effects, based on current tax law, of future deductible or taxable amounts attributable to events recognized in the financial statements. A valuation allowance may be established to the extent necessary to reduce the deferred tax asset to a level at which it is “more likely than not” that the tax asset or benefit will be realized. Realization of tax benefits requires (i) having sufficient taxable income, available tax loss carrybacks or credits in future periods to permit the application of the tax benefit, (ii) that the reversal of taxable temporary differences and/or tax planning strategies within the reversal period facilitate the utilization of the tax benefits, and (iii) that then-current tax law allows for the realization of recorded tax benefits.

 

Business Combinations

 

Assets purchased and liabilities assumed in a business combination are recorded at their fair value. The fair value of a loan portfolio acquired in a business combination requires greater levels of management estimates and judgment than the remainder of the purchased assets or assumed liabilities. When the loans have evidence of credit deterioration since origination and it is probable at the date of acquisition that the Company will not collect all contractually required principal and interest payments, the difference between contractually required payments at acquisition and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition is referred to as non-accretable difference. We must estimate expected cash flows at each reporting date. Subsequent decreases to the expected cash flows related to the loans will generally result in a provision for loan losses. Subsequent increases in cash flows result in a reversal of the provision for loan losses to the extent of prior charges and adjusted accretable yield, which will have a positive impact on interest income.

 

In determining the initial fair value of purchased loans without evidence of credit deterioration at the date of acquisition we include an adjustment to reflect an appropriate market rate of interest given the risk profile and grade assigned to each loan. This adjustment is accreted into earnings as a yield adjustment, using the effective yield method, over the remaining life of each loan.

 

We record goodwill and other intangible assets as a result of acquisitions accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method, we are required to allocate the consideration paid for an acquired company to the assets acquired, including identified intangible assets, and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Goodwill represents the excess cost over the fair value of net assets acquired and is not amortized but is tested for impairment. Goodwill is required to be tested annually for impairment or whenever events occur that may indicate that the recoverability of the carrying amount is not probable. In the event of an impairment, the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value is charged to earnings. The Company performs its annual test of impairment in the fourth quarter of each year. The measurement of any actual impairment loss requires management to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill by deducting the fair value of all tangible and separately identifiable intangible net assets (including unrecognized intangible assets) from the fair value of the reporting unit. The fair value of net tangible assets is calculated using the methodologies described in Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

Our other intangible assets consist of core deposit premiums acquired in connection with business combinations and are based on the established value of acquired customer deposits. The core deposit premium is initially recognized based on a valuation performed as of the consummation date and is amortized over an estimated useful life of three to ten years. Amortization periods are reviewed annually in connection with the annual impairment testing of goodwill.

 

The process of evaluating goodwill and other intangibles for impairment involves highly subjective or complex judgments, estimates and assumptions regarding the fair value of the assets. As a result, changes to these judgments, estimates and assumptions in future periods could result in materially different results.

 

Comparison of Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014

 

The following is a narrative discussion and analysis of significant changes in our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

 

Net Income

 

2016 vs. 2015

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016, our net income was $17.9 million, compared to $9.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, an increase of 85.9%. The primary reason for the increase in net income in 2016 compared to 2015 was an increase in net interest income, which resulted from higher levels of loan balances and other earning assets, higher levels of noninterest-bearing deposits, and a resulting increase in our net interest margin. In addition to higher net interest income, noninterest income increased by $5.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the year ended December 31, 2015. The increased net interest income and noninterest income were partially offset by an increase in noninterest expense of $8.8 million during 2016 compared to 2015. The largest increase in noninterest income during 2016 was in revenue from the mortgage division and merchant sponsorship revenue. During the year ended December 31, 2016, mortgage origination and fee income totaled $7.0 million, compared to $5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, an increase of 32.2%. Merchant sponsorship revenue totaled $2.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2016, an increase of $1.3 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2015. We entered this business during April 2015, so 2016 is the first full year of results. Other noninterest expense increased by $8.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. Each category of noninterest expense increased as a result of a full year of activity from Reunion, which we acquired on October 31, 2015. The growth of our franchise in the markets in which we operate and the expenses associated with being a public company for a full year also contributed to the overall increase in noninterest expense during 2016.

 

 

A majority of the changes in our net interest income, noninterest income and noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the year ended December 31, 2015 resulted from the additional revenues and expenses attributable to the addition of Reunion, which we acquired on October 31, 2015. The following table details the amounts that Reunion contributed to the change in selected consolidated totals for the year ended December 31, 2016. Our 2015 results include two months of Reunion’s activity, since we acquired Reunion on October 31, 2015.

 

		For the Year Ended December 31, 2016
Net interest income		$	12,130
Noninterest income			578
Noninterest expense			5,465

 

2015 vs. 2014

 

During the year ended December 31, 2015, our net income was $9.6 million, compared to $5.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of 77.8%. The primary reason for the increase in net income in 2015 compared to 2014 was an increase in net interest income, which resulted from higher levels of loan balances and other earning assets, increased loan yields, and a resulting increase in net interest margin. In addition to higher net interest income, noninterest income increased by $3.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. The increased net interest income and noninterest income were partially offset by an increase in noninterest expense of $16.8 million during 2015 compared to 2014. The largest increase in noninterest income during 2015 was in revenue from the mortgage division. During the year ended December 31, 2015, mortgage origination and fee income totaled $5.3 million, compared to $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of 40.7%. Other noninterest expense increased by $16.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. Each category of noninterest expense increased as a result of a full year of activity from the entities we acquired in 2014, CBI and United, and two months of activity of Reunion, which we acquired on October 31, 2015. The growth of our franchise in the markets in which we operate, the costs associated with our initial public offering during the first quarter of 2015, and the expenses associated with being a public company contributed to the overall increase in noninterest expense during 2015.

 

A majority of the changes in our net interest income, noninterest income and noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to the year ended December 31, 2014 resulted from the additional revenues and expenses attributable to CBI and United, which we acquired during the second half of 2014, and the addition of Reunion, which we acquired on October 31, 2015. The following table details the amounts that CBI, United, and Reunion contributed to selected consolidated totals for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

		For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
		United (1)				Reunion (2)				CBI (3)
Net interest income		$	7,531			$	2,334			$	8,088
Noninterest income			699				106				52
Noninterest expense			6,579				1,099				3,500

 

(1)	The amounts presented for United are through December 15, 2015. This adjustment reflects the 15 days that United was included in our results for 2014.

(2)	The amounts presented for Reunion reflect results of operations since the date on which Reunion was acquired (October 31, 2015).

 

(3)	The amounts presented for CBI are through August 2015. Our 2014 totals include CBI from September through December.

 

 

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin Analysis

 

The largest component of our net income is net interest income – the difference between the income earned on interest-earning assets and the interest paid on deposits and borrowed funds used to support our assets. Net interest income divided by average earning assets represents our net interest margin. The major factors that affect net interest income and net interest margin are changes in earning asset and interest-bearing liability volumes, the yield on interest-earning assets, and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities. Our margin can also be affected by economic conditions, the competitive environment, loan demand, and deposit flow. Our ability to respond to changes in these factors by using effective asset-liability management techniques is critical to maintaining the stability of the net interest margin and our primary source of earnings.

 

The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the average balance of each principal category of our assets, liabilities, and shareholders’ equity and the average yields on assets and average costs of liabilities. Such yields and costs are calculated by dividing income or expense by the average daily balances of the associated assets or liabilities.

 

AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS AND NET INTEREST ANALYSIS 

 

		For the Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2016												2015												2014
		Average Balance				Interest Income/ Expense				Average Yield/ Rate				Average Balance				Interest Income/ Expense				Average Yield/ Rate				Average Balance				Interest Income/ Expense				Average Yield/ Rate
Assets
Loans		$	1,397,681			$	70,761				5.06	%		$	1,011,921			$	52,351				5.17	%		$	629,040			$	29,414				4.68	%
Mortgage loans held-for-sale			13,031				489				3.75				10,064				385				3.83				9,696				410				4.23
Securities:
Taxable securities			75,110				1,813				2.41				36,811				1,154				3.13				41,111				1,178				2.87
Tax-exempt securities			26,004				1,273				4.90				14,623				740				5.06				4,518				268				5.93
Cash balances in other banks			118,438				723				0.61				146,379				505				0.34				75,099				183				0.24
Total interest-earning assets			1,630,264			$	75,059				4.60				1,219,798			$	55,135				4.52				759,464			$	31,453				4.14
Noninterest-earning assets			150,703												107,890												56,241
Total assets		$	1,780,967											$	1,327,688											$	815,705
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Interest-bearing transaction accounts		$	216,271			$	521				0.24	%		$	173,913			$	443				0.25	%		$	121,970			$	331				0.27	%
Savings and money market deposits			617,527				2,964				0.48				446,750				1,892				0.42				299,549				1,111				0.37
Time deposits			287,641				2,642				0.92				234,485				2,019				0.86				120,145				985				0.82
Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other borrowed money			7,985				294				3.68				21,974				442				2.01				22,007				442				2.01
Subordinated debt			15,200				960				6.32				-				-				-				-				-				-
Total interest-bearing liabilities			1,144,624			$	7,381				0.64				877,122			$	4,796				0.55				563,671			$	2,869				0.51
Noninterest-bearing deposits			396,925												269,008												150,034
Total funding sources			1,541,549												1,146,130												713,705
Noninterest-bearing liabilities			13,067												8,604												4,674
Shareholders' equity			226,351												172,954												97,326
		$	1,780,967											$	1,327,688											$	815,705
Net interest rate spread											3.96	%											3.97	%											3.63	%
Net interest income/margin (taxable equivalent)							67,678				4.15	%							50,339				4.13	%							28,584				3.76	%
Tax equivalent adjustment							496												290												111
Net interest income/margin						$	67,182				4.12	%						$	50,049				4.10	%						$	28,473				3.75	%

 

Comparison of net interest income for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

 

Net interest income increased by $17.1 million, or 34.2%, to $67.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $50.0 million for 2015. The increase was due to an increase in interest income of $19.7 million, resulting from higher levels of loan volume and investment securities, which were partially offset by a $2.6 million increase in interest expense. The increase in interest income was primarily due to a 38.1% increase in average loans outstanding and a 96.6% increase in average investment securities during 2016 compared to 2015. The resulting net interest margin for 2016 rose to 4.12%, from 4.10% during 2015. Despite lower loan yields during 2016, the net interest margin in 2016 increased due to a change in our earning asset mix. During 2016, a larger percentage of our earning assets was invested in loans and investment securities, and we experienced a decrease in cash balances in other banks, our lowest-yielding asset. This change in earning asset mix, along with higher balances of noninterest-bearing deposits, contributed to our increased net interest margin during 2016. During 2016, noninterest-bearing deposits averaged $396.9 million, compared to $269.0 million during 2015, an increase of $127.9 million, or 47.6%.

 

 

Interest-earning assets averaged $1.63 billion for 2016, compared to $1.22 billion for 2015, an increase of $410.5 million, or 33.7%. The yield on average interest-earning assets increased by 8 basis points to 4.60% during 2016, compared to 4.52% for 2015. The yield on earning assets increased despite a decreased yield on loans during 2016. During 2016, loan yields decreased by 11 basis points to 5.06%. The decrease in loan yield was primarily attributable to the fact that rates on maturing loans have been generally higher than rates on new or renewed loans and that factored receivables, which earn a higher yield than traditional loans, represented a lower proportion of our total loans in 2016.

 

Interest-bearing liabilities averaged $1.14 billion for 2016, compared to $877.1 million for 2015, an increase of $267.5 million, or 30.5%. The average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities was 0.64% for 2016, compared to 0.55% for 2015. Each category of interest-bearing liabilities has experienced small rate increases with the exception of interest-bearing transaction accounts, which experienced a slight rate decrease. The rate increase on deposit accounts is due to the effect of rate increases that occurred in late 2016 and the impact of the inherited deposits of Reunion. The Reunion deposits generally had higher rates than our existing deposits. Also contributing to the increased interest-bearing liability costs for 2016 is our subordinated debt issuance in May 2016. The increase in average interest-bearing liabilities and 9 basis point increase in the rate paid on total interest-bearing liabilities increased our total interest expense by $2.6 million in 2016 to $7.4 million.

 

Comparison of net interest income for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

Net interest income increased by $21.6 million, or 75.6%, to $50.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to $28.5 million for 2014. The increase was due to an increase in interest income of $23.5 million, resulting from higher levels of loan volume, which was partially offset by a $1.9 million increase in interest expense. The increase in interest income was primarily due to a 60.9% increase in average loans outstanding during 2015 compared to 2014. The resulting net interest margin for 2015 rose to 4.10%, from 3.75% during 2014. The net interest margin in 2015 benefited from increased loan yields and much higher loan volume, as well as an increase in noninterest-bearing deposits. During 2015, noninterest-bearing deposits averaged $269.0 million, compared to $150.0 million during 2014, an increase of $119.0 million, or 79.3%.

 

Interest-earning assets averaged $1.22 billion for 2015, compared to $759.5 million for 2014, an increase of $460.3 million, or 60.6%. The yield on average interest-earning assets increased by 38 basis points to 4.52% during 2015, compared to 4.14% for 2014. The yield on earning assets increased primarily due to an increased yield on loans during 2015. During 2015, loan yields increased by 49 basis points to 5.17%. The increase in loan yields was due to higher yields on the acquired portfolios of United and Reunion and to the factored receivables purchased from and originated by CBI. These factored receivables were generally much higher-yielding assets than the assets in our traditional loan portfolio. The yield on the factored receivables varied but was approximately 15% in 2015. CBI contributed an average loan balance of $74.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

 

Interest-bearing liabilities averaged $877.1 million for 2015, compared to $563.7 million for 2014, an increase of $313.5 million, or 55.6%. The average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities was 0.55% for 2015, compared to 0.51% for 2014. Each category of deposits experienced small rate increases, with the exception of interest-bearing demand deposits, which experienced a slight rate decrease. The rates paid by United and Reunion were slightly higher than rates on our non-acquired deposit base. The increase in average interest-bearing liabilities and 4 basis point increase in the rate paid on total interest-bearing liabilities increased our total interest expense by $1.9 million in 2015 to $4.8 million.

 

The following table reflects, for the periods indicated, the changes in our net interest income due to changes in the volume of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the associated rates paid or earned on these assets and liabilities.

 

ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET INTEREST INCOME

 

		For the Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2016 vs. 2015												2015 vs. 2014
		Variance due to												Variance due to
Interest-earning assets		Volume				Yield/Rate				Total				Volume				Yield/Rate				Total
Loans		$	19,553				(1,143	)			18,410				19,525				3,412				22,937
Mortgage loans held-for-sale			111				(7	)			104				15				(40	)			(25	)
Securities:
Taxable securities			974				(315	)			659				(130	)			106				(24	)
Tax-exempt securities			558				(25	)			533				516				(44	)			472
Cash balances in other banks			(112	)			330				218				224				98				322
Total interest-earning assets		$	21,084				(1,160	)			19,924				20,150				3,532				23,682
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing transaction accounts		$	103				(25	)			78				133				(21	)			112
Savings and money market deposits			795				277				1,072				606				175				781
Time deposits			481				142				623				983				51				1,034
Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other borrowed money			(383	)			235				(148	)			(1	)			1				-
Subordinated debt			960				-				960				-				-				-
Total interest-bearing liabilities		$	1,956				629				2,585				1,721				206				1,927
Net interest income
Net interest income (taxable equivalent)			19,128				(1,789	)			17,339				18,429				3,326				21,755
Taxable equivalent adjustment			169				37				206				94				85				179
Net interest income		$	18,959				(1,826	)			17,133				18,335				3,241				21,576

 

Provision for Loan Losses

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016, we recorded a provision for loan losses of $3.2 million, compared to $1.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2015 and $978 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2014. The provision expense for 2016 was primarily attributable to growth in our overall loan portfolio, specifically our “real estate-mortgage” portfolio and uncertainty in the national and international economies and the impact on our local markets. We also incurred net charge-offs of $923 thousand in the factored receivables portfolio that required provision expense during 2016. The provision expense for 2015 was primarily related to the “real estate-mortgage” and “construction” portfolios, and the 2014 provision expense was related to our factored receivables and related risk of loss at CBI.

 

Our policy is to maintain an allowance for loan losses at a level sufficient to absorb probable incurred losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The allowance is increased by a provision for loan losses (which is a charge to earnings) and loan recoveries, and is decreased by charge-offs. In determining the adequacy of our allowance for loan losses, we consider our historical loan loss experience, the general economic environment, the overall portfolio composition, and other information. As these factors change, the level of loan loss provision changes. When individual loans are evaluated and an impairment is deemed necessary, the impaired portion of the loan amount is generally charged off. As of December 31, 2016, none of our allowance is related to impaired loans.

 

 

Noninterest Income

 

In addition to net interest margin, we generate other types of recurring noninterest income from our operations. Our banking operations generate revenue from service charges and fees on deposit accounts. We have a mortgage division that generates revenue from originating and selling mortgages, and we have a revenue-sharing relationship with a registered broker-dealer that has representatives located in some of our banking offices. In addition to these types of recurring noninterest income, the Bank owns insurance on several key employees and records income on the increase in the cash surrender value of these policies.

 

Additionally, during the 2015 second quarter, we began earning revenue as a sponsor bank for a provider of electronic transaction processing services for retail merchants and the consumer finance industry. This sponsorship into the VISA and MasterCard networks allows the processor to accept debit and credit card transactions, and we earn a fee on each such transaction.

 

The following table sets forth the principal components of noninterest income for the periods indicated.

 

 NONINTEREST INCOME

 

			For the Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)			2016					2015				2014
Service charges and fees on deposit accounts		$	2,019					1,288				714
Mortgage origination and fee income			6,975					5,278				3,752
Merchant sponsorship revenue			2,168					861				-
Income from bank-owned life insurance			810					433				242
Wealth management fees			49					53				58
Gain (loss) on sale of other real estate			244					(24	)			13
Loss on sale of investments			-					-				(33	)
Other noninterest income			1,691					570				286
Total noninterest income		$	13,956					8,459				5,032

 

Noninterest income for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $14.0 million and $8.5 million, respectively. Each category of noninterest income (except for wealth management fees) increased during 2016.

 

Mortgage division income increased by $1.7 million during 2016 and totaled $7.0 million for the year, compared to $5.3 million during 2015. Mortgage division production totaled $322.9 million during 2016, compared to $281.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2015, which led to the increased mortgage division income. During the year ended December 31, 2015, refinance activity accounted for approximately 22.2% of production volume, compared to approximately 26.6% during 2016. The increased volume during 2016 is a result of our continued expansion of our mortgage division in our Florida markets and overall growth in this division as we add new originators in our markets. During 2016, we began to originate a portion of our mortgage loans on a mandatory delivery basis. Prior to 2016, we originated mortgage loans on a best efforts basis only. In connection with this transition, we elected to value our mortgage loans held-for-sale at fair value. This change created a one-time adjustment to mortgage division income and increased revenue by $268 thousand during 2016.

 

 Merchant sponsorship revenue totaled $2.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $861 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2015. We entered this business line during the second quarter of 2015, so the increase during 2016 represents a full year of activity, as well as growth in the volume in this business.

 

Service charges and fees on deposit accounts increased by $731 thousand to $2.0 million for 2016. This increase was primarily a result of the impact of a full year of revenue attributable to Reunion. We have also experienced an increase in the number of our deposit accounts as we continue to gain momentum in our markets.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016, we recorded income from bank-owned life insurance totaling $810 thousand, compared to $433 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase during 2016 is due to an additional investment in bank-owned life insurance during the fourth quarter of 2015 and the impact of the bank-owned life insurance acquired in the Reunion transaction.

 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016, we recorded gains on the sale of other real estate totaling $244 thousand. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we had a loss of $24 thousand on such sales.

 

Other noninterest income increased by $1.1 million and totaled $1.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. Most of the increase was attributable to non-recurring income such as litigation claims and lawsuit settlements, rental income on other real estate and fees from cancellation of interest rate swaps.

 

Noninterest income for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $8.5 million and $5.0 million, respectively. The primary reason for the increase in noninterest income in 2015 was higher revenue from the mortgage division. Mortgage division income increased by $1.5 million during 2015 and totaled $5.3 million for the year, compared to $3.8 million during 2014. Mortgage division production totaled $281.7 million during 2015, compared to $207.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2014, which led to the increased mortgage division income. During the year ended December 31, 2014, refinance activity accounted for approximately 17.6% of production volume, compared to approximately 22.2% during 2015. Merchant sponsorship revenue totaled $861 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2015, and there was no corresponding revenue for 2014, since we entered this business line during 2015. Service charges and fees on deposit accounts increased by $574 thousand to $1.3 million for 2015. This increase was a result of the impact of a full year of revenue attributable to United and two months of revenue attributable to Reunion. We also experienced an increase in the number of our deposit accounts as we continue to gain momentum in our markets.

 

Noninterest expense

 

Our total noninterest expense increase reflects our continued growth, as well as the expansion of our operational framework, employee expansion, and facility expansion, as we build the foundation to support our recent and future growth. We believe that some of our overhead costs will decrease as a percentage of our revenue as we grow and gain operating leverage by spreading these costs over a larger revenue base.

 

The following table presents the primary components of noninterest expense for the periods indicated.

 

NONINTEREST EXPENSE

 

		For the Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2016				2015				2014
Salaries and employee benefits		$	27,735				21,364				13,379
Commission-based compensation			4,091				3,744				2,136
Occupancy and equipment expense			4,640				3,584				1,944
Data processing expenses			2,425				1,887				1,169
Advertising and marketing expenses			705				441				344
Legal fees			646				652				685
FDIC insurance assessments			1,000				805				494
Property and casualty insurance premiums			574				594				376
Accounting and audit expenses			962				978				508
Consulting and other professional expenses			958				894				270
Telecommunications expenses			559				539				275
Other real estate owned, repossessed asset and other collection expenses			331				528				154
Core deposit intangible amortization			756				508				18
Other noninterest expense			3,697				3,727				1,701
Total noninterest expense		$	49,079				40,245				23,453

 

Noninterest expense for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $49.1 million and $40.2 million, respectively. The inclusion of Reunion in our results of operations accounted for approximately $5.4 million of the $8.8 million increase in noninterest expense recorded during the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

 

The largest components of noninterest expense are related to employee costs shown in the table above as salaries and employee benefits expense and commission-based compensation expense. Salaries continue to increase as we expand our presence in our markets. In May 2016, we opened a loan production office in Atlanta, Georgia, which contributed to the increase in salaries and employee benefits expense during the year ended December 31, 2016. Higher incentive compensation accruals, based on higher levels of net income, also contributed to the increase in salaries and employee benefits during 2016. Commission-based compensation expense is directly related to mortgage loan origination activity and certain production activity at Corporate Billing. During the year ended December 31, 2016, higher levels of revenue for the mortgage division contributed to the increased commission-based compensation expense. Additionally, salaries and benefits expense and commission-based compensation expense for Reunion’s employees contributed approximately $3.3 million of the $6.7 million increase in salaries and employee benefits expense and commission-based compensation expense recorded during 2016 compared to 2015.

 

Most categories of noninterest expense increased (although a few experienced slight decreases) during the year ended December 31, 2016. This was largely a result of the additional expenses associated with the operations of Reunion and other recent acquisitions and the fact that we are a larger company as a result of the recent acquisitions and organic growth. Occupancy and equipment expense increased by 29.5% in 2016 compared to 2015, primarily due to the inclusion of a full year of expenses relating to the operation of the acquired Reunion banking offices. In addition, as we expand our franchise in our markets, we anticipate that other noninterest expenses will continue to grow.

 

Noninterest expense for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $40.2 million and $23.5 million, respectively. The inclusion of United, CBI and Reunion in our results of operations accounted for approximately $11.2 million of the $16.8 million increase in noninterest expense recorded during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

In April 2014, we opened a loan production office (which we later converted to a full-service branch in November 2014) in Vero Beach, Florida, which contributed to the increase in salaries and employee benefits expense during the year ended December 31, 2015. Commission-based compensation expense is directly related to mortgage loan origination activity and certain production activity at CBI. The higher levels of revenue for the mortgage division contributed to the increased commission-based compensation expense during the year ended December 31, 2015.   Additionally, salaries and benefits expense for CBI’s, United’s and Reunion’s employees contributed approximately $7.0 million of the combined $9.6 million increase in salaries and employee benefits expense and commission-based compensation expense recorded during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Each category of noninterest expense increased during the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. This was largely a result of the additional expenses associated with the operations of CBI, United and Reunion. Also, accounting and other professional services expenses increased during the year ended December 31, 2015 in connection with merger-related activities, our initial public offering in March 2015 and costs associated with being a public company.

 

 

Income Tax Provision

 

Income tax expense of $9.4 million, $5.5 million and $3.2 million was recognized during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The increase in income tax expense during each year was due to an increase in pre-tax income. The effective tax rate for 2016, 2015 and 2014 was 32.6% (34.5% including the minority interest), 31.9% (36.3% including the minority interest) and 34.8% (36.9% including the minority interest), respectively. Our effective tax rate generally is expected to increase with higher levels of taxable income. The effective tax rates are affected by items of income and expense that are not subject to federal and state taxation.

 

Comparison of Balance Sheets at December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014

 

Overview

 

Our total assets increased by $187.4 million, or 10.6%, from $1.76 billion at December 31, 2015 to $1.95 billion at December 31, 2016. Loans increased by $166.1 million, or 12.6%, from $1.32 billion at December 31, 2015 to $1.49 billion at December 31, 2016. Our total investment securities increased by $18.8 million, or 23.3%, from $80.9 million at December 31, 2015 to $99.7 million at December 31, 2016.

 

Deposits at December 31, 2016 totaled $1.67 billion, an increase of $153.3 million compared to December 31, 2015. Deposit growth is a point of emphasis with our banking officers. 

 

Our total assets increased by $624.9 million, or 54.9%, from $1.14 billion at December 31, 2014, to $1.76 billion at December 31, 2015. Loans increased by $430.7 million, or 48.5%, from $888.7 million at December 31, 2014 to $1.32 billion at December 31, 2015. Total assets and loans at December 31, 2015 included assets and loans of Reunion, which we acquired on October 31, 2015. At December 31, 2015, the assets and loans attributable to Reunion totaled $319.0 million and $275.8 million, respectively.

 

Deposits at December 31, 2015 totaled $1.51 billion, an increase of $543.4 million compared to December 31, 2014. Our deposits increased during 2015 due to the acquisition of Reunion and the successful business development efforts of our employees as we continue to move banking relationships from other financial institutions. For several years, the Bank has benefited from excess liquidity in the financial markets, as investors have been unwilling to make long-term investments due to the low interest rate environment and have elected to maintain cash in interest-bearing transaction and money market accounts. At December 31, 2015, the deposits attributable to Reunion totaled $325.5 million.

 

 

Loans

 

Loans are our largest category of earning assets and typically provide higher yields than other types of earning assets. Associated with the higher loan yields are the inherent credit and liquidity risks that we attempt to control and counterbalance. Total loans averaged $1.40 billion during the year ended December 31, 2016, or 85.7% of average earning assets, compared to $1.01 billion, or 83.0% of average earning assets, for the year ended December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2016, total loans, net of unearned income, were $1.49 billion, compared to $1.32 billion at December 31, 2015, an increase of $166.1 million, or 12.6%.

 

Total loans averaged $1.01 billion during the year ended December 31, 2015, or 83.0% of average earning assets, compared to $629.0 million, or 82.8% of average earning assets, for the year ended December 31, 2014. At December 31, 2015, total loans, net of unearned income, were $1.32 billion, compared to $888.7 million at December 31, 2014, an increase of $430.7 million, or 48.5%. Excluding the loans acquired from Reunion totaling $258.4 million, loans increased by $172.3 million, or 19.4%, during 2015.

 

The organic, or non-acquired, growth in our loan portfolio is attributable to our ability to attract new customers from other financial institutions. We have also been successful in building banking relationships with new customers in all of the markets that we serve. We have hired several new bankers in our markets, and these employees have been successful in transitioning their former clients and new clients to the Bank. Our bankers are expected to be involved in their communities and to maintain business development efforts to foster relationships with clients, and our philosophy is to be responsive to customer needs by providing decisions in a timely manner. In addition to our business development efforts, many of the markets in which we operate have shown signs of economic recovery over the past few years, which has increased demand for the services that we provide.

 

The table below provides a summary of the loan portfolio composition as of the periods indicated.

  

 COMPOSITION OF LOAN PORTFOLIO

 

		As of December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2016								2015								2014
		Amount				Percent of Total				Amount				Percent of Total				Amount				Percent of Total
Construction, land development, and other land loans		$	155,813				10.49	%		$	152,862				11.58	%		$	83,663				9.41	%
Secured by farmland			15,036				1.01				7,455				0.56				1,842				0.21
Secured by 1-4 family residential properties			387,342				26.07				333,761				25.29				221,222				24.88
Secured by multifamily (5 or more) residential properties			47,060				3.17				31,128				2.36				23,420				2.63
Secured by nonfarm nonresidential properties			606,776				40.83				509,212				38.58				330,784				37.20
Loans secured by real estate			1,212,027				81.57				1,034,418				78.37				660,931				74.33
Commercial and industrial loans			150,268				10.11				171,160				12.97				113,788				12.80
Factored commercial receivables			83,901				5.65				67,628				5.12				82,600				9.29
Consumer loans			19,060				1.28				21,116				1.60				13,962				1.57
Other loans			20,717				1.39				25,572				1.94				17,869				2.01
Total gross loans			1,485,973				100.00	%			1,319,894				100.00	%			889,150				100.00	%
Unearned income			(489	)							(480	)							(429	)
Total loans, net of unearned income			1,485,484								1,319,414								888,721
Allowance for loan losses			(12,113	)							(9,842	)							(9,802	)
Total net loans		$	1,473,371							$	1,309,572							$	878,919

 

In the context of this discussion, a "real estate mortgage loan" is defined as any loan, other than a loan for construction purposes, secured by real estate, regardless of the purpose of the loan. It is common practice for financial institutions in our market areas, and for us in particular, to obtain a security interest in or lien on real estate whenever possible, in addition to any other available collateral. This collateral is taken to reinforce the likelihood of the ultimate repayment of the loan. This practice tends to increase the size of the real estate loan portfolio. In many cases, we prefer real estate collateral to many other potential collateral sources, such as accounts receivable, inventory, and equipment.

 

The principal component of our loan portfolio is loans secured by real estate. At December 31, 2016, this category totaled $1.21 billion and represented 81.6% of the total loan portfolio, compared to $1.03 billion, or 78.4%, and $660.9 million, or 74.3%, of the total loan portfolio at year end 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Loans secured by nonfarm nonresidential properties (“commercial mortgage loans”) increased by $97.6 million, or 19.2%, to $606.8 million at December 31, 2016, compared to $509.2 million at December 31, 2015. Commercial mortgage loans increased by $178.4 million, or 53.9%, to $509.2 million at December 31, 2015, compared to $330.8 million at December 31, 2014. Excluding the acquired Reunion loans, commercial mortgage loans increased by $51.6 million, or 15.6%, during 2015. At December 31, 2014, commercial mortgage loans totaled $330.8 million. Commercial mortgage loans are the single largest category of loans, and, at December 31, 2016, accounted for 40.8% of the portfolio. Our management team has a great deal of experience and expertise in commercial mortgages, and this loan type has traditionally comprised a large portion of our loan portfolio.

 

 

The following table provides a summary of our non-owner occupied commercial mortgage loans as of the periods indicated.

 

		As of December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2016				2015				2014
Office		$	101,639				81,543				67,173
Retail			131,807				114,841				29,103
Industrial/Warehouse			32,608				32,412				74,424
Other			86,623				65,395				27,958
Total		$	352,677				294,191				198,658

 

Residential mortgage loans increased by $53.6 million, or 16.1%, to $387.3 million at December 31, 2016, compared to $333.8 million at December 31, 2015. Residential mortgage loans increased by $112.5 million, or 50.9%, to $333.8 million at December 31, 2015, compared to $221.2 million at December 31, 2014. Excluding the acquired Reunion loans, residential mortgage loans increased by $55.7 million, or 25.2%, during 2015. At December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, residential mortgages accounted for 26.1%, 25.3% and 24.9%, respectively, of the entire loan portfolio. Our residential mortgage loan portfolio continues to grow as rates on residential mortgage loans remain historically low and housing activity is relatively strong in our markets, leading to higher origination activity for mortgage loans.

 

Real estate construction loans totaled $155.8 million at December 31, 2016, an increase $2.9 million, or 1.9%, compared to $152.9 million at December 31, 2015. During the year ended December 31, 2015, these loans increased by $69.2 million, or 82.7%, compared to $83.7 million at December 31, 2014. Excluding the acquired Reunion loans, real estate construction loans increased by $45.2 million, or 54.0%, during 2015. At December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, this loan type accounted for 10.5%, 11.6% and 9.4%, respectively, of our total loan portfolio.

 

Commercial and industrial loans totaled $150.3 million at December 31, 2016, compared to $171.2 million at December 31, 2015, a decline of $20.9 million. The decline in commercial and industrial loans during 2016 is due to several factors, including reduced line usage by borrowers, loan paydowns, and loan payoffs. Although we have experienced a decline in outstanding loan balances, in most cases, the customer relationship still exists. The decline is relatively evenly distributed across our primary markets. During the year ended December 31, 2015, commercial and industrial loans increased by $57.4 million. Excluding the acquired Reunion loans, commercial and industrial loans increased by $21.3 million, or 18.7%, during 2015. At December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, this loan type accounted for 10.1%, 13.0% and 12.8%, respectively, of our total loan portfolio.

 

Factored commercial receivables totaled $83.9 million at December 31, 2016, compared to $67.6 million at December 31, 2015. This balance fluctuates based on several variables, such as when receivables are purchased and when and how quickly payments are received. A lower balance at a period end does not necessarily mean less purchase activity during the period, nor does a higher balance at period end necessarily mean more purchase activity during the period. During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, we purchased factored commercial receivables of $705.9 million, $718.5 million and $745.4 million, respectively.

 

The repayment of loans is a source of additional liquidity for us. The following table sets forth our loans maturing within specific intervals at December 31, 2016.

 

 

LOAN MATURITY AND SENSITIVITY TO CHANGES IN INTEREST RATES

 

						Over one
		One year				year through				Over
(Dollars in thousands)		or less				five years				five years				Total
Construction, land development and other land loans		$	88,983				54,807				12,023				155,813
Secured by farmland			2,435				9,486				3,115				15,036
Secured by 1-4 family residential properties			60,482				170,649				156,211				387,342
Secured by multifamily (5 or more) residential properties			11,009				33,020				3,031				47,060
Secured by nonfarm nonresidential properties			96,397				395,418				114,961				606,776
Loans secured by real estate			259,306				663,380				289,341				1,212,027
Commercial and industrial loans			77,160				54,732				18,376				150,268
Factored commercial receivables			83,901				-				-				83,901
Consumer loans			9,843				7,898				1,319				19,060
Other loans			9,561				5,849				5,307				20,717
Total gross loans and leases		$	439,771				731,859				314,343				1,485,973

 

		Predetermined				Floating
		rates				rates				Total
Maturing after one year but within five years		$	404,200				327,659				731,859
Maturing after five years			85,399				228,944				314,343
		$	489,599				556,603				1,046,202

 

The information presented in the table above is based on the contractual maturities of the individual loans, which may be subject to renewal at their contractual maturity. Renewal of such loans is subject to review and credit approval, as well as modification of terms at their maturity. Consequently, we believe that this treatment presents fairly the maturity structure of the loan portfolio.

 

Investment Securities

 

We use our securities portfolio primarily to enhance our overall yield on interest-earning assets and as a source of liquidity, as a tool to manage our balance sheet sensitivity and regulatory capital ratios, and as a base upon which to pledge assets for public deposits. When our liquidity position exceeds current needs and our expected loan demand, other investments are considered as a secondary earnings alternative. As investments mature, they are used to meet current cash needs, or they are reinvested to maintain our desired liquidity position. We have designated a portion of our securities as available-for-sale to provide flexibility in case an immediate need for liquidity arises, and we believe that the composition of the portfolio offers the flexibility that we need to manage our liquidity position and interest rate sensitivity without adversely impacting our regulatory capital levels. Securities available-for-sale are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses reported as a separate component of other comprehensive income, net of related deferred taxes. Purchase premiums and discounts are recognized in income using the interest method over the terms of the securities. We have elected to classify a portion of our investment security portfolio as held-to-maturity, as we have the ability and intent to hold these securities until maturity. These securities are carried at amortized cost on our balance sheet.

 

The following table summarizes the amortized cost and fair value of securities available-for-sale and securities held-to-maturity at December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

  

INVESTMENT SECURITIES AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE

 

		As of December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2016								2015								2014
		Cost				Market				Cost				Market				Cost				Market
U.S. Treasury securities		$	-				-				-				-				1,501				1,501
U.S. Government agency obligations (excluding mortgage-backed securities)			3,653				3,617				-				-				-				-
Securities issued by states and political subdivisions			4,406				4,523				4,407				4,679				4,408				4,681
Residential mortgage pass-through securities			38,946				39,148				48,155				48,726				27,723				28,750
Other asset-backed securities			25,991				26,092				-				-				-				-
Total investment securities available-for-sale		$	72,996				73,380				52,562				53,405				32,131				33,431

 

INVESTMENT SECURITIES HELD-TO-MATURITY

 

		As of December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2016								2015								2014
		Cost				Market				Cost				Market				Cost				Market
Securities issued by states and political subdivisions		$	21,308				20,900				21,361				21,762				-				-
Residential mortgage pass-through securities			5,021				4,994				6,097				6,081				-				-
Total investment securities held-to-maturity		$	26,329				25,894				27,458				27,843				-				-

 

 

The following table shows the scheduled maturity and average yields of our securities at December 31, 2016.

  

AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE INVESTMENT SECURITIES MATURITY DISTRIBUTION AND YIELDS

 

(Dollars in thousands)		Within one year								After one but within five years								After five but within ten years								After ten years								Other securities
		Amount				Yield				Amount				Yield				Amount				Yield				Amount				Yield				Amount				Yield
U.S. Government agency obligations (excluding mortgage-backed securities)		$	-				-	%		$	-				-	%		$	-				-	%		$	3,617				0.95	%		$	-				-	%
Securities issued by states and political subdivisions			-				-				-				-				1,064				3.83				3,459				3.81				-				-
Other asset-backed securities			-				-				-				-				-				-				-				-				26,092				2.96
Residential mortgage pass-through securities			-				-				-				-				-				-				-				-				39,148				1.99
Total investment securities available-for-sale		$	-				-	%		$	-				-	%		$	1,064				3.83	%		$	7,076				2.35	%		$	65,240				2.38	%

 

 

HELD-TO-MATURITY INVESTMENT SECURITIES MATURITY DISTRIBUTION AND YIELDS

 

(Dollars in thousands)		Within one year								After one but within five years								After five but within ten years								After ten years								Other securities
		Amount				Yield				Amount				Yield				Amount				Yield				Amount				Yield				Amount				Yield
Securities issued by states and political subdivisions		$	-				-	%		$	-				-	%		$	750				2.50	%		$	20,558				2.99	%		$	-				-	%
Residential mortgage pass-through securities			-				-				-				-				-				-				-				-				5,021				1.22
Total investment securities held-to-maturity		$	-				-	%		$	-				-	%		$	750				2.50	%		$	20,558				2.99	%		$	5,021				1.22	%

 

 

We invest primarily in mortgage-backed securities, municipal securities, and obligations of government-sponsored entities and agencies of the United States, though we may in some situations also invest in direct obligations of the United States or obligations guaranteed as to the principal and interest by the United States. All of our mortgage-backed securities are residential securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation or the Governmental National Mortgage Association. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we elected to use a portion of our balance sheet liquidity to invest $3.8 million in a United States government agency obligation, $25.9 million in other asset-backed securities, and $25.0 million in a short-term treasury bill that matured during 2016. Each of these securities was classified as available-for-sale.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses, Provision and Asset Quality

 

Allowance for loan losses and provision

 

Our allowance for loan losses represents our estimate of probable inherent credit losses in the loan portfolio. We determine the allowance based on an ongoing evaluation of risk as it correlates to potential losses within the portfolio. Increases in the allowance are made by charges to the provision for loan losses. Loans deemed to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance. Recoveries of previously charged-off amounts are credited to the allowance for loan losses, thereby increasing the allowance.

 

In determining the amount of the allowance, we utilize our risk department’s independent analysis of the minimum required loan loss reserve for the Bank. In this analysis, problem loans are reviewed for impairment or for loss exposure based on their payment performance and probability of default and the value of any collateral securing the loan. These totals are specifically allocated to the reserve. The loan portfolio is then divided into various homogeneous risk pools utilizing a combination of collateral codes and/or loan purpose codes and internal risk ratings. Historical losses are used to estimate the probable loss in the current portfolio based on both an average loss methodology and a migration loss methodology. The methodologies and the time periods considered are subjective and vary for each risk pool based on systematic risk relative to our ability to estimate losses for that risk pool. Because every loan has a risk of loss, the calculation begins with a minimum loss allocation for each loan pool. The minimum loss is estimated based on long-term trends for the Bank, the banking industry and the economy. A minimum loss allocation is similarly applied to letters of credit and unused lines of credit. Loss allocations are adjusted for changes in the economy, problem loans, payment performance, loan policy, changes in management, credit administration systems, credit concentrations, loan growth and other elements over the time periods utilized in the methodology. The adjusted loss allocations are then applied to the current balances in their respective loan pools. Loss allocations are totaled, yielding the required allowance for loan losses.

 

We incorporate the data from the allowance calculation with interim changes to that data in our ongoing determination of the allowance for loan losses. We then take into consideration other factors that may support an allowance in excess of required minimums. These factors include systems changes, historically high loan growth, concentrations in certain loan types and in certain lending relationships, changes in the economy and company management and lending practices at the time at which the loans were made. We believe that the data that we use in determining the allowance for loan losses is sufficient to estimate the potential losses in the loan portfolio; however, actual results could differ from management’s estimates.

 

 

The following table presents a summary of changes in the allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated.

 

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

 

		As of and for the Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2016				2015				2014
Total loans oustanding, net of unearned income		$	1,485,484				1,319,414				888,721
Average loans oustanding, net of unearned income		$	1,397,681				1,011,921				629,040
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of period		$	9,842				9,802				9,119
Charge-offs:
Loans secured by real estate			53				1,402				429
Commercial and industrial loans			-				27				-
Factored receivables			2,331				2,316				656
Consumer loans			197				164				-
All other loans			16				4				3
Total charge-offs			2,597				3,913				1,088
Recoveries:
Loans secured by real estate			123				851				72
Commercial and industrial loans			67				33				15
Factored receivables			1,408				1,905				633
Consumer loans			13				5				21
All other loans			9				46				52
Total recoveries			1,620				2,840				793
Net charge-offs			977				1,073				295
Provision for loan losses			3,248				1,113				978
Allowance for loan losses at period end		$	12,113				9,842				9,802
Allowance for loan losses to period end loans			0.82	%			0.75	%			1.10	%
Net charge-offs to average loans			0.07	%			0.11	%			0.05	%

 

The table above does not include the allowances of United or Reunion that were established prior to the respective dates of acquisition of these banks. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations, United’s and Reunion’s allowances for loan losses were not brought forward at acquisition; instead, the acquired loans were recorded at fair value, and any discount to fair value was recorded against the loans rather than as an allowance for loan losses. The portion of the discount deemed related to credit quality was recorded as a non-accretable difference, and the remaining discount was recorded as an accretable discount and accreted into interest income over the estimated average life of the loans using the level yield method. At December 31, 2016, United’s and Reunion’s combined acquired loan portfolios totaled $325.5 million and had an aggregate related non-accretable difference of $5.0 million and an aggregate accretable discount of $2.9 million.

 

For the acquired loan portfolio, the allowance is determined for each loan pool and compared to the remaining discount for that pool. If the allowance amount calculated under the Company’s methodology is greater than the Company’s remaining discount, this amount is added to the reported allowance through a provision for loan losses. If the allowance amount calculated under the Company’s methodology is less than the Company’s recorded discount, no additional allowance or provision is recognized. Our analysis indicates that no additional allowance is necessary on our acquired loan portfolio as of December 31, 2016.

 

Overall, asset quality indicators have remained stable or improved for the traditional bank portfolio during the year ended December 31, 2016. During 2016, we recorded provision expense of $3.2 million due to Corporate Billing’s net charge-offs of $923 thousand, continued loan growth in certain loan segments, and uncertainty in the national and international economies and the resulting impact on our local markets. Provision expense related to our real estate mortgage portfolio totaled $2.9 million during 2016 due to a combination of overall growth in the segment and our concentration in this portfolio. Although we experienced net recoveries for this loan type during 2016, the growth in our real estate mortgage loan portfolio and our concentration in such loans led to the 2016 provision expense for this segment. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we recorded provision expense of $1.1 million. During the fourth quarter of 2014, we identified a factoring relationship that posed significant credit risk and required additional provision expense. During the year ended December 31, 2014, we recorded provision expense of $978 thousand related to this exposure and other risks in the factored receivables portfolio.

 

 

Allocation of Allowance for Loan Losses

 

While no portion of the allowance is in any way restricted to any individual loan or group of loans and the entire allowance is available to absorb losses from any and all loans, the following table represents management’s allocation of the allowance for loan losses to specific loan categories as of the dates indicated.

 

ALLOCATION OF ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

 

		As of December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2016								2015								2014
		Amount				Percent of Loans in each Category to Total Loans				Amount				Percent of Loans in each Category to Total Loans				Amount				Percent of Loans in each Category to Total Loans
Commercial, financial and agricultural		$	1,588				11.51	%		$	1,345				14.91	%		$	1,523				14.81	%
Factored receivables			500				5.65				500				5.12				955				9.29
Real estate - mortgage			8,465				71.07				5,525				66.79				5,047				64.92
Real estate - construction			1,369				10.49				1,412				11.58				647				9.41
Consumer			191				1.28				236				1.60				562				1.57
Unallocated			-				-				824				-				1,068				2.01
		$	12,113				100.00	%		$	9,842				100.00	%		$	9,802				100.00	%

 

Our allowance for loan losses is composed of general reserves and specific reserves. General reserves are determined by applying to each segment of our portfolio loss percentages based on that segment’s historical loss experience and adjustment factors derived from internal and external environmental conditions. All loans considered to be impaired are evaluated on an individual basis to determine specific reserve allocations in accordance with GAAP. Loans for which specific reserves are provided are excluded from the calculation of general reserves.

 

Nonperforming Assets

 

The following table presents our nonperforming assets for the dates indicated.

 

NONPERFORMING ASSETS

 

		As of December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2016				2015				2014
Nonaccrual loans		$	2,837				3,695				4,865
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing			581				252				297
Total nonperforming loans			3,418				3,947				5,162
Other real estate and repossessed assets			2,068				3,965				1,380
Total nonperforming assets		$	5,486				7,912				6,542
Allowance for loan losses to period-end loans			0.82	%			0.75	%			1.10	%
Allowance for loan losses to period-end nonperforming loans			354.39				249.35				189.89
Net charge-offs to average loans			0.07				0.11				0.05
Nonperforming assets to period-end loans and foreclosed property and repossessed assets			0.37				0.60				0.73
Nonperforming loans to period-end loans			0.23				0.30				0.58

 

Accrual of interest is discontinued on a loan when management believes, after considering economic and business conditions and collection efforts, that the borrower’s financial condition is such that the collection of interest is doubtful. In addition to a consideration of these factors, we have a consistent and continuing policy of placing all loans on nonaccrual status if they become 90 days or more past due, excluding factored receivables. For Corporate Billing’s factored receivables, which are trade credits rather than promissory notes, our practice is to charge off unpaid recourse receivables when they become 90 days past due from the invoice due date and to charge off unpaid non-recourse receivables when they become 120 days past due from the statement billing date. For the recourse receivables, the amount of the invoice is charged against the client reserve account established for such purposes, unless the client reserve and the client’s financial resources are insufficient, in which case either the amount of the invoice is charged against loans or the balance is considered impaired and the client is responsible for repaying the unpaid obligation of the account debtor. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, all accrued interest on the loan is reversed and deducted from earnings as a reduction of reported interest income. No additional interest is accrued on the loan balance until collection of both principal and interest becomes reasonably certain. Payments received while a loan is on nonaccrual status will be applied to the loan’s outstanding principal balance. When a problem loan is resolved, there may ultimately be an actual write-down or charge-off of the principal balance of the loan that would necessitate additional charges to the allowance for loan losses.

 

Total nonperforming assets decreased by $2.4 million to $5.5 million at December 31, 2016, from $7.9 million at December 31, 2015. Included in nonperforming assets at December 31, 2016 are acquired nonaccrual loans of $2.8 million. Excluding the acquired nonperforming assets, nonperforming assets decreased by $1.6 million and totaled $2.7 million at December 31, 2016. Asset quality has been and will continue to be a primary focus of management.

 

 

Deposits

 

Deposits, which include noninterest-bearing demand deposits, interest-bearing demand deposits, money market accounts and savings and time deposits, are the primary funding source for the Bank. We offer a variety of products designed to attract and retain customers, with a primary focus on building and expanding client relationships. We continue to focus on establishing a comprehensive relationship with consumer and business borrowers, seeking deposits as well as lending relationships.

 

The following table details the composition of our deposit portfolio as of the dates indicated.

 

COMPOSITION OF DEPOSITS

 

		As of December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2016								2015								2014
		Amount				Percent of Total				Amount				Percent of Total				Amount				Percent of Total
Noninterest-bearing demand		$	429,030				25.73	%		$	382,946				25.29	%		$	217,643				22.41	%
Interest-bearing demand			262,261				15.73				202,649				13.38				154,816				15.94
Savings and money market			703,289				42.17				611,887				40.40				392,394				40.41
Time less than $100k			64,073				3.84				87,069				5.75				74,367				7.66
Time equal to or greater than $100k and less than $250k			73,028				4.38				85,151				5.62				46,538				4.79
Time equal to or greater than $250k			136,029				8.15				144,756				9.56				85,302				8.79
Total deposits		$	1,667,710				100.00	%		$	1,514,458				100.00	%		$	971,060				100.00	%

 

Total deposits were $1.67 billion at December 31, 2016, an increase of $153.3 million from December 31, 2015. During 2015, deposits increased $543.4 million, or 56.0%. Excluding the assumed Reunion deposits, deposits increased by $265.7 million, or 27.4%, during 2015.

 

The following table details the maturities of time deposits greater than $100,000 and other time deposits. Other time deposits include brokered certificates of deposit and internet certificates of deposit. Large certificate of deposit customers and brokered and internet certificate of deposit customers tend to be more sensitive to interest rate levels.

 

MATURITIES OF CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT OF $100,000 OR MORE AND OTHER TIME DEPOSITS

 

		As of December 31, 2016
						Over three				Over one year
		Three months				through				through				Greater than
(Dollars in thousands)		or less				twelve months				three years				three years				Total
Certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more		$	22,475				113,324				35,832				30,744				202,375
Other time deposits			8,956				10,069				11,606				1,486				32,117
Total		$	31,431				123,393				47,438				32,230				234,492

 

 

Other Funding Sources

 

We supplement our deposit funding with wholesale funding when needed for balance sheet planning or when the terms are attractive and will not disrupt our offering rates in our markets. One source that we have used for wholesale funding is the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (“FHLB”). We had FHLB borrowings of $7.0 million at December 31, 2016 and $22.0 million at each of December 31, 2015 and 2014. During 2016, a $15.0 million advance matured. We have not initiated any additional borrowings from the FHLB since 2012. We have access to brokered deposits and issued $48.9 million in brokered deposits during 2014 to fund a portion of the CBI acquisition. We had brokered deposits of $25.4 million, $38.9 million and $48.9 million at December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Another funding source that we have used to supplement our local funding is internet certificates of deposit. We have used this source to book certificates of deposit with maturities of three to five years at rates that are lower than we would offer in our local market, typically below the rates indicated on the LIBOR swap curve for similar maturities. We had internet certificate of deposit balances of $6.7 million, $12.3 million and $14.0 million at December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

 

On May 19, 2016, we completed an underwritten public offering of $25 million of our unsecured 6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2026 (the “Notes”). The Notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.0% per year, from, and including, May 19, 2016, to, but excluding, June 1, 2021. On June 1, 2021, the Notes convert to a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 479 basis points. We may redeem the Notes after June 1, 2021. The Notes are shown as debt on our consolidated financials but are included as regulatory capital when determining certain of our regulatory capital ratios.

 

Liquidity

 

Market and public confidence in our financial strength and in financial institutions in general will significantly impact our access to appropriate levels of liquidity. This confidence is dependent on our ability to maintain sound asset quality and appropriate levels of capital reserves.

 

Liquidity is defined as the ability to meet anticipated customer demands for funds under credit commitments and deposit withdrawals at a reasonable cost and on a timely basis. We measure our liquidity position by giving consideration to both on- and off-balance sheet sources of and demands for funds on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

 

Liquidity risk involves the risk of being unable to fund assets with the appropriate duration and rate-based liabilities, as well as the risk of failing to meet unexpected cash needs. Liquidity planning and management are necessary to ensure the ability to fund operations in a cost-effective manner and to meet current and future potential obligations such as loan commitments, lease obligations, and unexpected deposit outflows. In this process, we focus on both assets and liabilities and on the manner in which they provide adequate liquidity to meet our needs.

 

Funds are available from a number of basic banking activity sources, including the core deposit base, the repayment and maturity of loans, and investment security cash flows. Other funding sources include federal funds purchased, brokered certificates of deposit, and borrowings from the FHLB.

 

Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $217.3 million, $212.5 million and $123.4 million, respectively. Based on the recorded cash and cash equivalents, our liquidity resources were sufficient at December 31, 2016 to fund loans and to meet other cash needs as necessary.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

While our liquidity monitoring and management considers both present and future demands for and sources of liquidity, the following table of contractual commitments focuses only on future obligations.

 

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

As of December 31, 2016

 

(Dollars in thousands)		Due in 1 year or less				Due after 1 through 3 years				Due after 3 through 5 years				Due after 5 years				Total
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		$	-			$	7,000			$	-			$	-			$	7,000
Subordinated debt			-				-				-				24,500				24,500
Certificates of deposit of less than $100k			41,217				17,324				5,532				-				64,073
Certificates of deposit of $100k or more			137,388				38,883				32,786				-				209,057
Operating leases			1,107				1,292				894				2,574				5,867
Total contractual obligations		$	179,712			$	64,499			$	39,212			$	27,074			$	310,497

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We are party to credit-related financial instruments with off-balance sheet risks in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of our customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Such commitments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of amounts recorded on our balance sheet. Our exposure to credit loss is represented by the contractual amounts of these commitments. We follow the same credit policies in making commitments as we do for on-balance sheet instruments.

 

 

Our off-balance sheet arrangements are summarized in the following table for the periods indicated.

 

CREDIT EXTENSION COMMITMENTS

 

		As of December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2016				2015				2014
Unfunded lines		$	337,415			$	311,424			$	182,820
Letters of credit			11,766				10,206				8,085
Total credit extension commitments		$	349,181				321,630			$	190,905

 

Interest Sensitivity and Market Risk

 

Interest Sensitivity

 

We monitor and manage the pricing and maturity of our assets and liabilities in order to diminish the potential adverse impact that changes in interest rates could have on our net interest income. The principal monitoring technique that we employ is simulation analysis, as augmented by a “gap” analysis.

 

In simulation analysis, we review each individual asset and liability category and its projected behavior in various interest rate environments. These projected behaviors are based on our past experiences and on current competitive environments, including the environments in the different markets in which we compete. Using this projected behavior and differing rate scenarios as inputs, the simulation analysis generates projections of net interest income. We also periodically verify the validity of this approach by comparing actual results with those that were projected in previous models.

 

Another technique used in interest rate management, but to a lesser degree than simulation analysis, is the measurement of the interest sensitivity "gap," which is the positive or negative dollar difference between assets and liabilities that are subject to interest rate repricing within a given period of time. Interest rate sensitivity can be managed by repricing assets and liabilities, selling securities available-for-sale or trading securities, replacing an asset or liability at maturity or by adjusting the interest rate during the life of an asset or liability.

 

We evaluate interest rate sensitivity risk and then formulate guidelines regarding asset generation and repricing and sources and prices of off-balance sheet commitments in order to decrease interest sensitivity risk. We use computer simulations to measure the net income effect of various interest rate scenarios. The modeling reflects interest rate changes and the related impact on net income over specified periods of time.

 

 

The following table illustrates our interest rate sensitivity at December 31, 2016, assuming that the relevant assets and liabilities are collected and paid, respectively, based on historical experience rather than their stated maturities.

 

 

INTEREST SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

As of December 31, 2016

 

(Dollars in thousands)
Interest-earning assets		0-1 Mos				1-3 Mos				3-12 Mos				1-3 Yrs				3-5 Yrs				> 5 Yrs				Total
Loans (1)		$	720,929				29,453				125,550				252,164				287,062				85,699				1,500,857
Securities			27,831				6,092				5,625				11,435				10,209				38,517				99,709
Cash balances in other banks			181,396				-				-				-				-				-				181,396
Total interest-earning assets		$	930,156				35,545				131,175				263,599				297,271				124,216				1,781,962
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing transactions accounts		$	108,366				6,748				30,369				54,723				28,461				33,594				262,261
Savings and money market deposits			421,075				9,866				44,400				112,393				63,586				51,969				703,289
Time deposits			8,090				30,131				140,386				56,207				38,316				-				273,130
Federal Home Loan Bank and other borrowed money			-				-				-				7,000				-				-				7,000
Subordinated debt			-				-				-				-				24,500				-				24,500
Total interest-bearing liabilities		$	537,531				46,745				215,155				230,323				154,863				85,563				1,270,180
Interest sensitivity gap
Period gap		$	392,625				(11,200	)			(83,980	)			33,276				142,408				38,653				511,782
Cumulative gap			392,625				381,425				297,445				330,721				473,129				511,782
Cumulative gap - Rate-Sensitive Assets/Rate-Sensitive Liabilities			22.03	%			21.40				16.69				18.56				26.55				28.72

 

(1) Includes mortgage loans held-for-sale

 

We generally benefit from an increase in market interest rates when we have an asset-sensitive gap (a positive number) and generally benefit from a decrease in market interest rates when we have a liability-sensitive gap (a negative number). As shown in the table above, we are asset-sensitive on a cumulative basis throughout all timeframes presented. The interest sensitivity analysis presents only a static view of the timing and repricing opportunities, without taking into consideration the fact that changes in interest rates do not affect all assets and liabilities equally. For example, rates paid on a substantial portion of core deposits may change contractually within a relatively short timeframe, but those are viewed by management as significantly less interest-sensitive than market-based rates, such as those paid on non-core deposits. For this and other reasons, we rely more on the simulation analysis (as described above) in managing interest rate risk. Net interest income may be impacted by other significant factors in a given interest rate environment, including changes in the volume and mix of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

 

Market Risk

 

Our earnings are dependent, to a large degree, on our net interest income, which is the difference between interest income earned on all earning assets, primarily consisting of loans and securities, and interest paid on all interest-bearing liabilities, primarily consisting of deposits. Market risk is the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. Our market risk arises primarily from inherent interest rate risk in our lending, investing and deposit-gathering activities. We seek to reduce our exposure to market risk through actively monitoring and managing interest rate risk. Management relies on static “gap” analysis to determine the degree of mismatch in the maturity and repricing distribution of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, which quantifies, to a large extent, the degree of market risk inherent in our balance sheet. Gap analysis is further augmented by simulation analysis to evaluate the impact of varying levels of prevailing interest rates and the sensitivity of specific earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities to changes in those prevailing rates. Simulation analysis consists of evaluating the impact on net interest income given changes from 400 basis points below the current prevailing rates to 400 basis points above the current prevailing rates. We make certain assumptions regarding the effect that varying levels of interest rates have on certain earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, based on both historical experience and consensus estimates of outside sources.

 

 

The following table illustrates the results of our simulation analysis to determine the extent to which market risk would affect net interest margin for the next twelve months if prevailing interest rates increased or decreased by the specified amounts from current rates. As described above, this model uses estimates and assumptions regarding the manner in which asset and liability accounts will react to changes in prevailing interest rates. However, to isolate the market risk inherent in the balance sheet, the model assumes that no growth in the balance sheet occurs during the projection period. The model also assumes an immediate and parallel shift in interest rates, which would result in no change in the shape or slope of the interest rate yield curve. Because of the inherent use of these estimates and assumptions in the simulation model to derive this market risk information, the actual results of the future impact of market risk on our net interest margin may (and likely will) differ from those set forth in the table.

 

MARKET RISK

 

		Impact on Net Interest Income
		As of December 31,
Change in prevailing interest rates		2016				2015				2014
+400 basis points			22.37	%			21.26	%			20.42	%
+300 basis points			16.79				15.89				15.10
+200 basis points			11.20				10.48				9.54
+100 basis points			5.51				5.08				4.21
0 basis points			-				-				-
-100 basis points			(5.31	)			(3.85	)			(1.23	)
-200 basis points			(11.75	)			(8.95	)			(4.58	)
-300 basis points			(16.32	)			(13.17	)			(6.83	)
-400 basis points			(20.19	)			(16.96	)			(7.61	)

 

Capital Resources

 

Total shareholders’ equity attributable to us at December 31, 2016 was $229.7 million, or 11.8% of total assets. At December 31, 2015, total shareholders’ equity attributable to us was $209.3 million, or 11.9% of total assets. The increase in total shareholders’ equity for 2016 was attributable to our net income, share-based compensation and the exercise of stock options and issuance of performance shares.

 

On March 18, 2015, we sold 1,642,000 shares of common stock at $19.50 per share in an underwritten initial public offering. The underwriters had an option to purchase an additional 255,000 shares, which they exercised on March 27, 2015. In total, we sold 1,897,000 shares and raised approximately $33.8 million, net of offering expenses.

 

In July 2013, the Federal Reserve and the OCC issued final rules implementing the Basel III regulatory capital framework, as required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The final rules took effect for the Company and the Bank on January 1, 2015, subject to a transition period for certain parts of the rules. Among other things, the rules (i) revised the minimum capital requirements and adjusted the prompt corrective action thresholds applicable to financial institutions under the agencies’ jurisdiction, (ii) revised the regulatory capital elements, (iii) added a new common equity Tier 1 capital ratio, (iv) increased the minimum Tier 1 capital ratio requirements and (v) implemented a new capital conservation buffer. The rules permit certain banking organizations to retain, through a one-time election, the existing treatment for accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company and Bank have made the election to retain the existing treatment for accumulated other comprehensive income.

 

The rules are intended to provide an additional measure of a bank’s capital adequacy by assigning weighted levels of risk to asset categories. Banks are also required to systematically maintain capital against such “off-balance sheet” activities as loans sold with recourse, loan commitments, guarantees and standby letters of credit. These guidelines are intended to strengthen the quality of capital by increasing the emphasis on common equity and restricting the amount of loan loss reserves and other forms of equity, such as preferred stock, that may be included in capital. Certain items, such as goodwill and other intangible assets, are deducted from total capital in arriving at the various regulatory capital measures, such as common equity Tier 1 capital, Tier 1 capital and total risk-based capital. Our objective is to maintain our current status as a “well−capitalized” institution, as that term is defined by the Bank’s regulators. As of December 31, 2016, the Bank was “well-capitalized” under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

 

Under the current regulatory guidelines, banks must meet minimum capital adequacy levels based on both total assets and risk-adjusted assets. All banks are required to maintain a minimum ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets of 8%, a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 6%, a minimum ratio of common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 4.5% and a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to average assets (leverage ratio) of 4%. Adherence to these guidelines has not had an adverse impact on us.

 

 

The table below calculates and presents regulatory capital based on the new regulatory capital ratio requirements under Basel III that became effective on January 1, 2015, as well as the regulatory capital ratios in effect on December 31, 2014. As of January 1, 2016, an additional capital conservation buffer has been added to the minimum requirements for capital adequacy purposes, subject to a three-year phase-in period. The capital conservation buffer will be fully phased-in on January 1, 2019 at 2.5%. A banking organization with a conservation buffer of less than 2.5% (or the required phase-in amount in years prior to 2019) will be subject to limitations on capital distributions, including dividend payments and certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers. The ratios for the Company and Bank are currently sufficient to satisfy the fully phased-in conservation buffer.

 

The following table sets forth selected consolidated capital ratios at December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 for both NBC and NCC. Capital ratios with respect to United Legacy Bank are shown for December 31, 2014 only. United Legacy Bank was acquired in December 2014 and then was merged with and into NBC on February 28, 2015.

 

CAPITAL ADEQUACY ANALYSIS

 

(Dollars in thousands)		Actual								For Capital Adequacy Purposes								To Be Well-Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions
As of December 31, 2016		Amount				Ratio				Amount				Ratio				Amount				Ratio
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
NCC		$	208,664				13.90	%		$	120,102				8.00	%			N/A				N/A
NBC		$	178,150				11.88	%		$	120,007				8.00	%		$	150,008				10.00	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
NCC		$	172,051				11.46	%		$	90,076				6.00	%			N/A				N/A
NBC		$	166,037				11.07	%		$	90,005				6.00	%		$	120,007				8.00	%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
NCC		$	172,051				11.46	%		$	67,557				4.50	%			N/A				N/A
NBC		$	166,037				11.07	%		$	67,504				4.50	%		$	97,506				6.50	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)
NCC		$	172,051				9.57	%		$	71,909				4.00	%			N/A				N/A
NBC		$	166,037				9.25	%		$	71,822				4.00	%		$	89,777				5.00	%

 

As of December 31, 2015		Amount				Ratio				Amount				Ratio				Amount				Ratio
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
NCC		$	161,023				11.91	%		$	108,178				8.00	%			N/A				N/A
NBC		$	151,386				11.21	%		$	108,085				8.00	%		$	135,106				10.00	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
NCC		$	151,181				11.18	%		$	81,134				6.00	%			N/A				N/A
NBC		$	141,544				10.48	%		$	81,064				6.00	%		$	108,085				8.00	%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
NCC		$	151,181				11.18	%		$	60,850				4.50	%			N/A				N/A
NBC		$	141,544				10.48	%		$	60,798				4.50	%		$	87,819				6.50	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)
NCC		$	151,181				9.68	%		$	62,501				4.00	%			N/A				N/A
NBC		$	141,544				9.05	%		$	62,575				4.00	%		$	78,219				5.00	%

 

 

As of December 31, 2014		Amount				Ratio				Amount				Ratio				Amount				Ratio
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
NCC		$	106,289				11.75	%		$	72,387				8.00	%			N/A				N/A
NBC		$	84,148				11.42	%		$	58,948				8.00	%		$	73,685				10.00	%
United Legacy Bank		$	18,731				11.31	%		$	13,249				8.00	%		$	16,561				10.00	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
NCC		$	96,487				10.66	%		$	36,205				4.00	%			N/A				N/A
NBC		$	74,927				10.16	%		$	29,499				4.00	%		$	44,248				6.00	%
United Legacy Bank		$	18,731				11.31	%		$	6,625				4.00	%		$	16,561				6.00	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)
NCC		$	96,487				10.68	%		$	36,137				4.00	%			N/A				N/A
NBC		$	74,927				8.57	%		$	34,972				4.00	%		$	43,715				5.00	%
United Legacy Bank		$	18,731				8.60	%		$	8,712				4.00	%		$	10,890				5.00	%

 

 

Banking regulations limit the amount of dividends that a bank can pay without the prior approval of its regulatory authorities. These restrictions are based on levels of regulatory classified assets, prior years’ net earnings and the ratio of equity capital to assets. The Bank is currently permitted to pay dividends to NCC, subject to safety and soundness requirements and other limitations imposed by law and federal regulatory authorities. However, NCC’s board of directors has not declared a dividend since its inception and has no current plans to do so. Future determinations regarding a dividend policy will be made at the discretion of NCC’s board of directors based on factors that it deems relevant at that time.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

   The information required by this item is contained in Part II, Item 7 herein under the heading “Interest Sensitivity and Market Risk.”

 

 

Item 8.     Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.  

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION 

Consolidated Balance Sheets 

December 31, 2016 and 2015

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings 

For the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

For the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 201 

(In thousands)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity 

For the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014

(In thousands)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 

For the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 

(In thousands)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, continued 

For the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 

(In thousands)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

  

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(amounts in tables in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

  

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

 

(amounts in tables in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

 

(amounts in tables in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

 

(amounts in tables in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

 

(amounts in tables in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

 

(amounts in tables in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

 

(amounts in tables in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

 

(amounts in tables in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

 

(amounts in tables in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

 

(amounts in tables in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

 

(amounts in tables in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders

National Commerce Corporation and subsidiaries

Birmingham, Alabama

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of National Commerce Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”), as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements 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 audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes 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, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of National Commerce Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Atlanta, Georgia

March 10, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

Item 9.

Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

None.

 

Item 9A.     Controls and Procedures.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

The Company has carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based upon this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of December 31, 2016, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that material information relating to the Company that is required to be disclosed in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the requisite time periods and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act). The 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. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) 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 (iii) 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.

 

Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on its assessment and those criteria, management has concluded that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016.

 

Attestation Report of Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm due to an exemption established by the JOBS Act for emerging growth companies.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s fourth quarter ended December 31, 2016, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B.     Other Information.

 

None.

 

 

PART III

 

Item 10.      Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

 

 Incorporated by reference to the 2017 Proxy Statement.

 

Item 11.       Executive Compensation.

 

 Incorporated by reference to the 2017 Proxy Statement.

 

Item 12.      Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

 Incorporated by reference to the 2017 Proxy Statement.

 

Item 13.      Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

 

 Incorporated by reference to the 2017 Proxy Statement.

 

Item 14.      Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

 

 Incorporated by reference to the 2017 Proxy Statement.

 

 

PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

 

(a)(1) Financial Statements.

 

The Consolidated Financial Statements of National Commerce Corporation and its subsidiaries, included herein at Item 8, are as follows:

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm—Porter Keadle Moore, LLC

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015

Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules.

 

The financial statement schedules required to be included pursuant to this Item are not included herein because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto which are incorporated by reference at subsection (a)(1) of this Item, above.

 

(a)(3) and (b) Exhibits.

 

The exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index beginning on page 126 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K are filed herewith or are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

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, on this 10th day of March, 2017.

 

	NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION
	By:		/s/ John H. Holcomb, III
			John H. Holcomb, III
			Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name and Signature	Title	Date
/s/ John H. Holcomb, III                John H. Holcomb, III	Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)	March 10, 2017
/s/ William E. Matthews, V            William E. Matthews, V	Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)	March 10, 2017
/s/ Richard Murray, IV                   Richard Murray, IV	President, Chief Operating Officer and Director	March 10, 2017
/s/ Shelly S. Williams                     Shelly S. Williams	Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)	March 10, 2017
/s/ Joel S. Arogeti                           Joel S. Arogeti	Director	March 10, 2017
/s/ Bobby A. Bradley                     Bobby A. Bradley	Director	March 10, 2017
/s/ Mark L. Drew                             Mark L. Drew	Director	March 10, 2017
/s/ R. Holman Head                        R. Holman Head	Director	March 10, 2017
/s/ Jerry D. Kimbrough                  Jerry D. Kimbrough	Director	March 10, 2017
/s/ C. Phillip McWane                    C. Phillip McWane	Director	March 10, 2017
/s/ G. Ruffner Page, Jr.                   G. Ruffner Page, Jr.	Director	March 10, 2017
/s/ Stephen A. Sevigny                 Stephen A. Sevigny	Director	March 10, 2017
/s/ W. Stancil Starnes                    W. Stancil Starnes	Director	March 10, 2017
/s/ Temple W. Tutwiler, III            Temple W. Tutwiler, III	Director	March 10, 2017
/s/ Russell H. Vandevelde, IV       Russell H. Vandevelde, IV	Director	March 10, 2017
/s/ Donald F. Wright                      Donald F. Wright	Director	March 10, 2017

 

  

EXHIBIT INDEX

Item 15(a)(3)

 

Exhibit Number	Description
2.1#	Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated August 30, 2016, by and between National Commerce Corporation and Private Bancshares, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-214194), filed on October 21, 2016)
2.2#	Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated July 7, 2015, by and among National Commerce Corporation, National Bank of Commerce and Reunion Bank of Florida (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-206643), filed on August 28, 2015)
2.3#	Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 6, 2014, by and between National Commerce Corporation and United Group Banking Company of Florida, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198219), filed on August 18, 2014)
2.4#	Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated August 29, 2014, by and among the members of CBI Holding, LLC, National Bank of Commerce and Sexton Investments LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Amendment No. 1 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198219), filed on September 30, 2014)
3.1	Certificate of Incorporation of National Commerce Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198219), filed on August 18, 2014)
3.1A	Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of National Commerce Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1A to NCC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 000-55336), filed on February 20, 2015)
3.2	Bylaws of National Commerce Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198219), filed on August 18, 2014)
4.1	Form of Common Stock Certificate of National Commerce Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-201371), filed on February 27, 2015)
4.2	Indenture dated May 19, 2016 between National Commerce Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to NCC’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36878), filed on May 19, 2016)
4.3	First Supplemental Indenture dated May 19, 2016 between National Commerce Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to NCC’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36878), filed on May 19, 2016)
4.4	Form of 6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Note due June 1, 2026 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to NCC’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36878), filed on May 19, 2016)
10.1∆	National Commerce Corporation 2011 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on July 17, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198219), filed on August 18, 2014)
10.2∆	National Commerce Corporation Deferral of Compensation Plan for Key Employees and Non-Employee Directors, effective December 18, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to NCC’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-55336), filed on December 22, 2014)

 

 

Exhibit Number	Description
10.3∆	Form of Performance Share Award under National Commerce Corporation 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (time-based vesting criteria) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198219), filed on August 18, 2014)
10.4A∆	Form of Performance Share Award under National Commerce Corporation 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (performance-based vesting criteria – 2013 and 2014 grants) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4B to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198219), filed on August 18, 2014)
10.4B∆	Form of Performance Share Award under National Commerce Corporation 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (performance-based vesting criteria – 2015 grants) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4C to NCC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-36878), filed on March 11, 2016)
10.4C∆	Form of Performance Share Award under National Commerce Corporation 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (Named Executive Officers – 2016 and 2017 grants) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4D to NCC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-36878), filed on March 11, 2016)
10.4D∆	Form of Performance Share Award under National Commerce Corporation 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (performance-based vesting criteria – 2016 and 2017 grants) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4E to NCC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-36878), filed on March 11, 2016)
10.5∆	Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement under National Commerce Corporation 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198219), filed on August 18, 2014)
10.6∆	United Group Banking Company of Florida, Inc. Officers’ and Employees’ Stock Option Plan effective March 3, 2010, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198219), filed on August 18, 2014)
10.7∆	Form of Stock Option Agreement under United Group Banking Company of Florida, Inc. Officers’ and Employees’ Stock Option Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198219), filed on August 18, 2014)
10.8	Lease, dated March 8, 2011, by and between Shades Parkway, L.L.C. and National Bank of Commerce (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198219), filed on August 18, 2014)
10.9	Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated September 1, 2014, by and between National Bank of Commerce and Factor, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Amendment No. 1 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-198219), filed on September 30, 2014)
10.10∆	Employment Agreement, dated as of August 30, 2014, by and between Corporate Billing, LLC and James R. Thompson, III (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to Amendment No. 1 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-201371), filed on February 27, 2015)
10.11∆	National Commerce Corporation 2016 Incentive Program (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to NCC’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36878), filed on January 28, 2016)
10.12	Form of Indemnification Agreement with directors and executive officers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to NCC’s current report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-55336), filed on January 26, 2015)

 

 

Exhibit Number	Description
10.13∆	Reunion Bank of Florida Directors’ Stock Option Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-206643), filed on August 28, 2015)
10.14∆	Form of Stock Option Agreement under Reunion Bank of Florida Directors’ Stock Option Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-206643), filed on August 28, 2015)
10.15∆	Reunion Bank of Florida Officers’ and Employees’ Stock Option Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-206643), filed on August 28, 2015)
10.16∆	Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under Reunion Bank of Florida Officers’ and Employees’ Stock Option Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-206643), filed on August 28, 2015)
10.17∆	Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2016, by and between National Bank of Commerce and Richard Murray, IV (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1A to NCC’s Current Report on 8-K (File No. 001-36878), filed on December 22, 2015)
10.18∆	Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2016, by and between National Bank of Commerce and William Matthews, V (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1B to NCC’s Current Report on 8-K (File No. 001-36878), filed on December 22, 2015)
10.19∆	Split-Dollar Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2016, by and between National Bank of Commerce and Richard Murray, IV (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2A to NCC’s Current Report on 8-K (File No. 001-36878), filed on December 22, 2015)
10.20∆	Split-Dollar Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2016, by and between National Bank of Commerce and William Matthews, V (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2B to NCC’s Current Report on 8-K (File No. 001-36878), filed on December 22, 2015)
10.21∆	Private Bancshares, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-214194), filed on October 21, 2016)
10.22∆	Form of Stock Option Agreement under Private Bancshares, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to NCC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-214194), filed on October 21, 2016)
10.23∆	National Commerce Corporation 2017 Incentive Program (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to NCC’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36878), filed on January 18, 2017)
14.1	Code of Ethics for CEO and Senior Financial Officers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to NCC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 000-55336), filed on February 20, 2015)
14.2	Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 14.2 to NCC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 000-55336), filed on February 20, 2015)
21.1*	Subsidiaries of National Commerce Corporation
23.1*	Consent of Porter Keadle Moore, LLC
31.1*	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
31.2*	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

 

 

Exhibit Number	Description
32.1*	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
32.2*	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
101*	Interactive Data Files

________________

*	Filed herewith.

 

∆	Denotes a management compensatory plan, agreement or arrangement.

 

#	Schedules and exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. National Commerce Corporation agrees to furnish a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

 

 

 129