UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)    ☒  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020

OR

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

For the transition period from _______ to _______

Commission file number 0-23325

Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number: 1-833-875-2492

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

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is 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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☒ Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company ☒ Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period of complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act ☐

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

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

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 8-03 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc.’s (the “Company”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (“2019 Annual Report”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The results of operations for the periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2019, has been derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of that date. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Guaranty Bank (the “Bank”). All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

On April 2, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of Carthage, Missouri-based Hometown Bancshares, Inc. (“Hometown”), including its wholly owned bank subsidiary, Hometown Bank, National Association. Under the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, each share of Hometown common stock was exchanged for $20.00 in cash and the transaction was valued at approximately $4.6 million. Hometown’s subsidiary bank, Hometown Bank, National Association, was merged into Guaranty Bank on June 8, 2018. Including the effects of the acquisition method accounting adjustments, the Company acquired approximately $178.8 million in assets, including approximately $143.9 million in loans (inclusive of loan discounts) and approximately $161.2 million in deposits. Goodwill of $1.4 million was recorded as a result of the transaction and is not deductible for tax purposes.

The amortized cost and approximate fair values of securities classified as available-for-sale were as follows:

Maturities of available-for-sale debt securities as of March 31, 2020:

The book value of securities pledged as collateral, to secure public deposits and for other purposes, amounted to $5,366,199 and $5,261,664 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The approximate fair value of pledged securities amounted to $5,533,377 and $5,358,929 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

Realized gains and losses are recorded as net securities gains. Gains and losses on sales of securities are determined on the specific identification method. Gross gains of $58,587 and $7,382 and gross losses of $30,688 and $38,030 as of March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively, were realized from the sale of available-for-sale securities. The tax effect of these net gains and losses was $5,859 and ($7,662) as of March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively.

The Company evaluates all securities quarterly to determine if any unrealized losses are deemed to be other than temporary. Certain investment securities are valued at less than their historical cost. These declines are primarily the result of the rate for these investments yielding less than current market rates or declines in stock prices of equity securities. Based on evaluation of available evidence, management believes the declines in fair value for these securities are temporary. It is management’s intent to hold the debt securities to maturity or until recovery of the unrealized loss. Should the impairment of any of these debt securities become other than temporary, the cost basis of the investment will be reduced and the resulting loss recognized in net income in the period the other-than-temporary impairment is identified, to the extent the loss is related to credit issues, and to other comprehensive income to the extent the decline on debt securities is related to other factors and the Company does not intend to sell the security prior to recovery of the unrealized loss.

          Certain other investments in debt and equity securities are reported in the financial statements at an amount less than their historical cost. Total fair value of these investments at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, was $30,047,406 and $42,570,363, respectively, which is approximately 21% and 36% of the Company’s investment portfolio.

The following table shows gross unrealized losses and fair value, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

Note 5: Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses

Categories of loans at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 include:

Classes of loans by aging at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were as follows:

Nonaccruing loans are summarized as follows:

The following tables present the activity in the allowance for loan losses based on portfolio segment for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:

The following tables present the recorded investment in loans based on portfolio segment and impairment method as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

The allowance for loan losses is established as losses are estimated to have occurred through a provision for loan losses charged to income. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectability of a loan balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.

The allowance for loan losses is evaluated on a regular basis by management and is based upon management’s periodic review of the collectability of the loans in light of historical experience, the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, estimated value of any underlying collateral and prevailing economic conditions. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.

The allowance consists of allocated and general components. The allocated component relates to loans that are classified as impaired. For those loans that are classified as impaired, an allowance is established when the discounted cash flows or collateral value of the impaired loan is lower than the carrying value of that loan. The general component covers nonclassified loans and is based on historical charge-off experience and expected loss given default derived from the Bank’s internal risk rating process. Other adjustments may be made to the allowance for pools of loans after an assessment of internal or external influences on credit quality that are not fully reflected in the historical loss or risk rating data.

Included in the Company’s loan portfolio are certain loans acquired in accordance with ASC 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality. These loans were written down at acquisition to an amount estimated to be collectible. As a result, certain ratios regarding the Company’s loan portfolio and credit quality cannot be used to compare the Company to peer companies or to compare the Company’s current credit quality to prior periods. The ratios particularly affected by accounting under ASC 310-30 include the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans, nonaccrual loans, and performing assets, and nonaccrual loans and nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans.

A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. Impairment is measured on a loan-by-loan basis by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s obtainable market price or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent.

Groups of loans with similar risk characteristics are collectively evaluated for impairment based on the group’s historical loss experience adjusted for changes in trends, conditions and other relevant factors that affect repayment of the loans.    

The following table summarizes the recorded investment in impaired loans at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

The following table summarizes average impaired loans and related interest recognized on impaired loans for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:

At March 31, 2020, the Bank’s impaired loans shown in the table above included loans that were classified as troubled debt restructurings (“TDR”). The restructuring of a loan is considered a TDR if both (i) the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties and (ii) the creditor has granted a concession.

In assessing whether or not a borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, the Bank considers information currently available regarding the financial condition of the borrower. This information includes, but is not limited to, whether (i) the debtor is currently in payment default on any of its debt; (ii) a payment default is probable in the foreseeable future without the modification; (iii) the debtor has declared or is in the process of declaring bankruptcy and (iv) the debtor’s projected cash flow is sufficient to satisfy the contractual payments due under the original terms of the loan without a modification.

The Bank considers all aspects of the modification to loan terms to determine whether or not a concession has been granted to the borrower. Key factors considered by the Bank include the debtor’s ability to access funds at a market rate for debt with similar risk characteristics, the significance of the modification relative to unpaid principal balance or collateral value of the debt, and the significance of a delay in the timing of payments relative to the original contractual terms of the loan. The most common concessions granted by the Bank generally include one or more modifications to the terms of the debt, such as (i) a reduction in the interest rate for the remaining life of the debt, (ii) an extension of the maturity date at an interest rate lower than the current market rate for new debt with similar risk, (iii) a reduction on the face amount or maturity amount of the debt as stated in the original loan, (iv) a temporary period of interest-only payments, (v) a reduction in accrued interest, and (vi) an extension of amortization.

The following table presents the carrying balance of TDRs as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

The Bank has allocated $1,019,222 and $927,216 of specific reserves to customers whose loan terms have been modified in TDR as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

There were no TDRs for which there was a payment default within twelve months following the modification during the three months ending March 31, 2020 and 2019. A loan is considered to be in payment default once it is 90 days contractually past due under the modified terms.

As part of the on-going monitoring of the credit quality of the Bank’s loan portfolio, management tracks loans by an internal rating system. All loans are assigned an internal credit quality rating based on an analysis of the borrower’s financial condition. The criteria used to assign quality ratings to extensions of credit that exhibit potential problems or well-defined weaknesses are primarily based upon the degree of risk and the likelihood of orderly repayment, and their effect on the Bank’s safety and soundness. The following are the internally assigned ratings:

Pass: This rating represents loans that have strong asset quality and liquidity along with a multi-year track record of profitability.

Special mention: This rating represents loans that are currently protected but are potentially weak. The credit risk may be relatively minor, yet constitute an increased risk in light of the circumstances surrounding a specific loan.

Substandard: This rating represents loans that show signs of continuing negative financial trends and unprofitability and therefore, is inadequately protected by the current sound worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any.

Doubtful: This rating represents loans that have all the weaknesses of substandard classified loans with the additional characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, highly questionable and improbable.

Risk characteristics applicable to each segment of the loan portfolio are described as follows.

Real estate-Residential 1-4 family: The residential 1-4 family real estate loans are generally secured by owner-occupied 1-4 family residences. Repayment of these loans is primarily dependent on the personal income and credit rating of the borrowers. Credit risk in these loans can be impacted by economic conditions within the Bank’s market areas that might impact either property values or a borrower’s personal income. Risk is mitigated by the fact that the loans are of smaller individual amounts and spread over a large number of borrowers.

Real estate-Multi-Family: Loans secured by multi-family residential real estate generally involve a greater degree of credit risk that one- to four-family residential mortgage loans and carry larger loan balances. This increased credit risk is a result of several factors, including the concentration of principal in a limited number of loans and borrowers, the effects of general economic conditions on income producing properties, and the increased difficulty of evaluating and monitoring these types of loans. Furthermore, the repayment of loans secured by multi-family residential real estate is typically dependent upon the successful operation of the related real estate property. If the cash flow from the project is reduced, the borrower’s ability to repay the loan may be impaired. Credit risk in these loans may be impacted by the creditworthiness of a borrower, property values and the local economies in the Banks’s market areas.

Real estate-Construction: Construction and land development real estate loans are usually based upon estimates of costs and estimated value of the completed project and include independent appraisal reviews and a financial analysis of the developers and property owners. Sources of repayment of these loans may include permanent loans, sales of developed property or an interim loan commitment from the Bank until permanent financing is obtained. These loans are considered to be higher risk than other real estate loans due to their ultimate repayment being sensitive to interest rate changes, general economic conditions and the availability of long-term financing. Credit risk in these loans may be impacted by the creditworthiness of a borrower, property values and the local economies in the Bank’s market areas.

Real estate-Commercial: Commercial real estate loans typically involve larger principal amounts, and repayment of these loans is generally dependent on the successful operations of the property securing the loan or the business conducted on the property securing the loan. These loans are viewed primarily as cash flow loans and secondarily as loans secured by real estate. Credit risk in these loans may be impacted by the creditworthiness of a borrower, property values and the local economies in the Bank’s market areas.

Commercial: The commercial portfolio includes loans to commercial customers for use in financing working capital needs, equipment purchases and expansions. The loans in this category are repaid primarily from the cash flow of a borrower’s principal business operation. Credit risk in these loans is driven by creditworthiness of a borrower and the economic conditions that impact the cash flow stability from business operations.

Consumer: The consumer loan portfolio consists of various term and line of credit loans such as automobile loans and loans for other personal purposes. Repayment for these types of loans will come from a borrower’s income sources that are typically independent of the loan purpose. Credit risk is driven by consumer economic factors (such as unemployment and general economic conditions in the Bank’s market area) and the creditworthiness of a borrower.

The following tables provide information about the credit quality of the loan portfolio using the Bank’s internal rating system as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

The above amounts include purchased credit impaired loans. At March 31, 2020, purchased credit impaired loans comprised of $2.8 million were rated “Substandard”.

For loans amortized at cost, interest income is accrued based on the unpaid principal balance. Loan origination fees net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and amortized as a level yield adjustment over the respective term of the loan.

The accrual of interest on loans is discontinued at the time the loan is 90 days past due unless the loan is well-secured and in process of collection. Past due status is based on contractual terms of the loan. In all cases, loans are placed on nonaccrual or charged off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful.

All interest accrued but not collected for loans that are placed on nonaccrual or charged off is reversed against interest income. The interest on these loans is accounted for on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method, until qualifying for return to accrual. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

Commercial Loan Referral Income: In certain circumstances, the Company enters into variable-rate loan agreements (Assumable Rate Conversion “ARC” Master Servicing Agreements) with commercial loan customers, and the customer simultaneously enters into an interest swap agreement directly with a third-party (the “counterparty”).  This allows the loan customer to effectively convert a variable-rate commercial loan agreement to a fixed-rate commercial loan agreement.  The Company is required to enter into a transaction agreement as part of each loan.  The agreement results in the assumption of credit and market risk equivalent by the Bank.  The agreement states that in an event of default by the loan customer, the Bank must pay a termination amount to the extent it is positive.  The termination value is defined by the Master Agreement, which is in essence the fair value of the derivative on the event date. The counterparty pays a fee to the Company for brokering the transaction and for servicing the loan/swap agreement between the customer and the counterparty.  Fee income related to these agreements was $555,490 and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Note 6: Accounting for Certain Loans Acquired

As part of the Hometown acquisition in 2018, certain loans were acquired that evidenced deterioration of credit quality since origination and it was probable, at acquisition, that all contractually required payments would not be collected.

Loans purchased with evidence of credit deterioration since origination and for which it is probable that all contractually required payments will not be collected are considered to be credit impaired. Evidence of credit quality deterioration as of the purchase date may include information such as past-due and nonaccrual status, borrower credit scores and recent loan to value percentages. Purchased credit impaired loans are accounted for under the accounting guidance for loans and debt securities acquired with deteriorated credit quality (ASC 310-30) and initially measured at fair value, which includes estimated future credit losses expected to be incurred over the life of the loan. Accordingly, an allowance for credit losses related to these loans is not carried over and recorded at the acquisition date. Management estimated the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition using our internal risk models, which incorporate the estimate of current key assumptions, such as default rates, severity and prepayment speeds.  

The carrying amount of purchased credit impaired loans are included in the balance sheet amounts of loans receivable at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The amount of these loans is shown below: