Item 1. Business
General
The Company is a Maryland corporation that was incorporated in 2010 to be the successor corporation upon completion of the second step mutual-to-stock conversion of Capitol Federal Savings Bank MHC in December 2010. The Company's common stock is traded on the Global Select tier of the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol "CFFN."
The Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and is a federally chartered and insured savings bank headquartered in Topeka, Kansas. The Bank is examined and regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the "OCC"), its primary regulator, and its deposits are insured up to applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund ("DIF"), which is administered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). The Company, as a savings and loan holding company, is examined and regulated by the FRB.
In August 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of CCB and its wholly-owned subsidiary Capital City Bank, a commercial bank with $450 million in assets that was headquartered in Topeka, Kansas. During April 2019, the Bank completed the integration of the operations of Capital City Bank into the Bank's operations. The acquisition of Capital City Bank has allowed us to advance our commercial banking strategy while staying under $10 billion in assets, and allowed us to offer trust and brokerage services. The Bank competes for commercial banking business through a wide variety of commercial deposit and expanded lending products.
We have been, and intend to continue to be, a community-oriented financial institution offering a variety of financial services to meet the needs of the communities we serve. We attract deposits primarily from the general public and from businesses, and invest those funds primarily in permanent loans secured by first mortgages on owner-occupied, one- to four-family residences. We also originate and participate with other lenders in commercial loans, originate consumer loans primarily secured by mortgages on one- to four-family residences, and invest in certain investment securities and mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") using funding from deposits, repurchase agreements, and Federal Home Loan Bank Topeka ("FHLB") borrowings. We offer a variety of deposit accounts having a wide range of interest rates and terms, which generally include savings accounts, money market accounts, interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing checking accounts, and certificates of deposit with terms ranging from 91 days to 120 months.
The Company's results of operations are primarily dependent on net interest income, which is the difference between the interest earned on loans, securities, and cash, and the interest paid on deposits and borrowings. On a weekly basis, management reviews deposit flows, loan demand, cash levels, and changes in several market rates to assess all pricing
strategies. The Bank's pricing strategy for first mortgage loan products includes setting interest rates based on secondary market prices and competitor pricing for our local lending markets, and secondary market prices and competitor pricing for our correspondent lending markets. Pricing for commercial loans is generally based on competitor pricing and the credit risk of the borrower with consideration given to the overall relationship of the borrower. Generally, deposit pricing is based upon a survey of competitors in the Bank's market areas, and the need to attract funding and retain maturing deposits. The majority of our loans are fixed-rate products with maturities up to 30 years, while the majority of our retail deposits are either non-maturity deposits or have stated maturities of less than two years.
The Company is significantly affected by prevailing economic conditions, including federal monetary and fiscal policies and federal regulation of financial institutions. Deposit balances are influenced by a number of factors, including interest rates paid on competing investment products, the level of personal income, and the personal rate of savings within our market areas. Lending activities are influenced by the demand for housing and business activity levels, our loan underwriting guidelines compared to those of our competitors, as well as interest rate pricing competition from other lending institutions.
Local economic conditions have a significant impact on the ability of borrowers to repay loans and the value of the collateral securing these loans. The industries in the Bank's local market areas, which are listed below under "Market Area and Competition" and where the properties securing approximately 69% of the Bank's one- to four-family loans are located, are diversified. This is especially true in the Kansas City metropolitan statistical area, which comprises the largest segment of our one- to four-family loan portfolio and deposit base. Management also monitors broad industry and economic indicators and trends in the states and/or metropolitan statistical areas with the highest concentrations of correspondent one- to four-family purchased loans and commercial loans. The Kansas City market area has an average household income of approximately $97 thousand per annum, based on 2020 estimates from Claritas Pop-Facts Premier. The average household income in our combined local market areas is approximately $95 thousand per annum, with 93% of the population at or above the poverty level, based on 2020 estimates from Claritas Pop-Facts Premier.
In addition to our local market areas, the properties securing approximately 33% of the Bank's correspondent purchased one- to four-family loans are located in the state of Texas. The average household income in the Texas region where the majority of our correspondent one- to four-family loans are located is approximately $104 thousand per annum, with 90% of the population at or above the poverty level, based on 2020 estimates from Claritas Pop-Facts Premier. As of October 2020, the unemployment rate was 5.3% for Kansas, 4.6% for Missouri, and 6.9% for Texas, compared to the national average of 6.9%, based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Our executive offices are located at 700 South Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66603, and our telephone number at that address is (785) 235-1341.
Available Information
Our website address is www.capfed.com. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports can be obtained free of charge from our website. These reports are available on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. These reports are also available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
Market Area and Competition
Our corporate office is located in Topeka, Kansas. We currently have a network of 54 branches (45 traditional branches and 9 in-store branches) located in nine counties throughout Kansas and three counties in Missouri. We primarily serve the metropolitan areas of Topeka, Wichita, Lawrence, Manhattan, Emporia, and Salina, Kansas and a portion of the metropolitan area of greater Kansas City. In addition to our full service banking offices, we provide services through our call center, which operates on extended hours, mobile banking, telephone banking, and online banking and bill payment services.
The Bank ranked first in deposit market share, at 6.90%, in the state of Kansas as reported in the June 30, 2020 FDIC "Summary of Deposits - Market Share Report." Management considers our well-established banking network together with our reputation for financial strength and customer service to be major factors in our success at attracting and retaining customers in our market areas.
The Bank consistently has been one of the top one- to four-family lenders with regard to mortgage loan origination volume in the state of Kansas. Through our strong relationships with real estate agents and marketing efforts, which reflect our reputation, and pricing, we attract mortgage loan business from walk-in customers, customers that apply online, and existing customers. Competition in originating one- to four-family loans primarily comes from other savings institutions, commercial banks, credit unions, and mortgage bankers.
Lending Practices and Underwriting Standards
General. Originating and purchasing loans secured by one- to four-family residential properties is the Bank's primary lending business, resulting in a loan concentration in residential first mortgage loans secured by properties located in Kansas and Missouri. The Bank also originates and participates in commercial loans, and originates consumer loans and construction loans.
One- to Four-Family Residential Real Estate Lending. The Bank originates and services one- to four-family loans that are not guaranteed or insured by the federal government, and purchases one- to four-family loans, on a loan-by-loan basis, from a select group of correspondent lenders.
Originated Loans
While the Bank originates both fixed- and adjustable-rate loans, our origination volume is dependent upon customer demand for loans in our market areas. Demand is affected by the local housing market, competition, and the interest rate environment. During fiscal years 2020 and 2019, the Bank originated and refinanced $931.3 million and $581.1 million of one- to four-family loans, respectively.
Correspondent Purchased Loans
The Bank purchases one- to four-family loans, on a loan-by-loan basis, from a select group of correspondent lenders. Loan purchases enable the Bank to attain geographic diversification in the loan portfolio. At September 30, 2020, the Bank had correspondent lending relationships in 28 states and the District of Columbia. During fiscal years 2020 and 2019, the Bank purchased $448.0 million and $166.4 million, respectively, of one- to four-family loans from correspondent lenders. We generally pay a premium of 0.50% to 1.0% of the loan balance to purchase these loans, and we pay 1.0% of the loan balance to purchase the servicing of these loans. The premium paid is amortized against the interest earned over the life of the loan, which reduces the loan yield. If a loan pays off before the scheduled maturity date, the remaining premium is recognized as reduction in interest income.
The Bank has an agreement with a third-party mortgage sub-servicer to service loans originated by the Bank's correspondent lenders in certain states. The sub-servicer has experience servicing loans in the market areas in which the Bank purchases loans and services the loans according to the Bank's servicing standards, which is intended to allow the Bank greater control over servicing and reporting and help maintain a standard of loan performance.
Bulk Purchased Loans
In the past, the Bank has also purchased one- to four-family loans from correspondent and nationwide lenders in bulk loan packages. See "Part I, Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There are risks inherent in the Bank's and Company's business. The following is a summary of material risks and uncertainties relating to the operations of the Bank and the Company. Adverse experiences with these could have a material impact on the Company's financial condition and results of operations. Some of these risks and uncertainties are interrelated, and the occurrence of one or more of them may exacerbate the effect of others. These material risks and uncertainties are not necessarily presented in order of significance. In addition to the risks set forth below and the other risks described in this Annual Report, there may be risks and uncertainties that are not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results.
Risks Related to Macroeconomic Conditions
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our customers, employees and business operations has had, and will likely continue to have, a significant adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The COVID-19 pandemic created a global public-health crisis that resulted in challenging economic conditions for households and businesses. The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted a broad range of industries. Many areas of consumer spending have rebounded since the initial onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but generally not related to travel and entertainment. There is increasing concern about the longer lasting impact on local business, as well as travel and entertainment, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. There is also concern about resurgences of COVID-19 as we move into the winter months.
The Federal Reserve returned to a zero-interest rate policy in March 2020 and the U.S. government enacted several fiscal stimulus measures to counteract the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and provide economic assistance to businesses and households. The dramatic lowering of market interest rates in a short period of time had an adverse effect on the Company's asset yields. The majority of the fiscal assistance provided by the federal government to businesses and households significantly tapered off by September 30, 2020, which could adversely impact the ability of borrowers to repay their loans. The Company's financial performance is dependent upon the ability of borrowers to repay their loans.
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in changes to our business operations during the current year and could continue to result in changes to operations in future periods. Depending on the severity and length of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is impossible to predict, we could experience significant disruptions in our business operations if key personnel or a significant number of employees were to become unavailable due to the effects of, and restrictions resulting from, the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as decreased demand for our products and services.
There is pervasive uncertainty surrounding the future economic conditions that will emerge in the months and years following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, management is confronted with a significant and unfamiliar degree of uncertainty in estimating the impact of the pandemic on credit quality, revenues and asset values. Asset quality may deteriorate and the amount of our ACL may not be sufficient for future loan losses we may experience. This could require us to increase our reserves and recognize more expense in future periods. The changes in market rates of interest and the impact that has on our ability to price our products may reduce our net interest income in the future or negatively impact the demand for our products. There is some risk that operational costs could continue to increase as we maintain existing facilities in accordance with health guidelines as well as potentially have staff work remotely.
The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our business, results of operations and financial condition, as well as our regulatory capital and liquidity ratios, will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the scope and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to the pandemic.
Changes in interest rates could have an adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
Our results of operations are primarily dependent on net interest income, which is the difference between the interest earned on loans, securities, cash at the Federal Reserve Bank and dividends received on FHLB stock, and the interest paid on deposits and borrowings. Changes in interest rates could have an adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition because the majority of our interest-earning assets are long-term, fixed-rate loans, while the majority of our interest-bearing liabilities are shorter term, and therefore subject to a greater degree of interest rate fluctuations. This type of risk is known as interest rate risk and is affected by prevailing economic and competitive conditions, including monetary policies of the FRB and fiscal policies of the United States federal government.
The impact of changes in interest rates is generally observed on the income statement. The magnitude of the impact will be determined by the difference between the amount of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, both of which either reprice or mature within a given period of time. This difference provides an indication of the extent to which our net interest rate spread will be impacted by changes in interest rates. In addition, changes in interest rates will impact the expected level of repricing of the Bank's mortgage-related assets and callable debt securities. Generally, as interest rates decline, the amount of interest-earning assets expected to reprice will increase as borrowers have an economic incentive to reduce the cost of their mortgage or debt, which would negatively impact the Bank's interest income. Conversely, as interest rates rise, the amount of interest-earning assets expected to reprice will decline as the economic incentive to refinance the mortgage or debt is diminished. As this occurs, the amount of interest-earning assets repricing could diminish to the point where interest-bearing liabilities reprice to a higher interest rate at a faster pace than interest-earning assets, thus negatively impacting the Bank's net interest income.
Changes in interest rates can also have an adverse effect on our financial condition as AFS securities are reported at estimated fair value. We increase or decrease our stockholders' equity, specifically AOCI (loss), by the amount of change in the estimated fair value of our AFS securities, net of deferred taxes. Increases in interest rates generally decrease the fair value of AFS securities. Decreases in the fair value of AFS securities would, therefore, adversely impact stockholders' equity.
Changes in interest rates, as they relate to customers, can also have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. In times of rising interest rates, default risk may increase among borrowers with adjustable-rate loans as the rates on their loans adjust upward and their payments increase. Fluctuations in interest rates also affect customer demand for deposit products. Local competition could affect our ability to attract deposits, or could result in us paying more than competitors for deposits.
In addition to general changes in interest rates, changes that affect the shape of the yield curve could negatively impact the Bank. The Bank's interest-bearing liabilities are generally priced based on short-term interest rates while the majority of the Bank's interest-earning assets are priced based on long-term interest rates. Income for the Bank is primarily driven by the spread between these rates. As a result, a steeper yield curve, meaning long-term interest rates are significantly higher than short-term interest rates, would provide the Bank with a better opportunity to increase net interest income. When the yield curve is flat, meaning long-term interest rates and short-term interest rates are essentially the same, or when the yield curve is inverted, meaning long-term interest rates are lower than short-term interest rates, the yield between interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities that reprice is compressed or diminished and would likely negatively impact the Bank's net interest income. See "Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" for additional information about the Bank's interest rate risk management.
An economic downturn, especially one affecting our geographic market areas and certain regions of the country where we have correspondent loans secured by one- to four-family properties, could adversely impact our business and financial results.
Our primary lending emphasis is the origination and purchase of one- to four-family first mortgage loans secured by residential properties; therefore, we are particularly exposed to downturns in regional housing markets and, to a lesser extent, the U.S. housing market, along with changes in the levels of unemployment or underemployment. We monitor the current status and trends of local and national employment levels and trends and current conditions in the real estate and housing markets in our local market areas and certain areas where we have correspondent loans secured by one- to four-family properties. Adverse conditions in our local economies and in certain areas where we have correspondent loans secured by one- to four-family properties, such as inflation, unemployment, recession, natural disasters or pandemics, or other factors beyond our control, could impact the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans. Any one or a combination of these events may have an adverse impact on borrowers' ability to repay their loans, which could result in increased delinquencies, non-
performing assets, loan losses, and future loan loss provisions. Decreases in local real estate values could adversely affect the value of the property used as collateral for our loans, which could cause us to realize a loss in the event of a foreclosure.
Risks Related to Lending Activities
The increase in commercial loans in our loan portfolio exposes us to increased lending and credit risks, which could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
A growing portion of our loan portfolio consists of commercial loans. These loan types tend to be larger than and in different geographic regions from most of our existing loan portfolio and are generally considered to have different and greater risks than one- to four-family residential real estate loans and may involve multiple loans to groups of related borrowers. A growing commercial loan portfolio also subjects us to greater regulatory scrutiny. Furthermore, these loan types can expose us to a greater risk of delinquencies, non-performing assets, loan losses, and future loan loss provisions than one- to four-family residential real estate loans because repayment of such loans often depends on the successful operation of a business or of the underlying property. Repayment of such loans may be affected by factors outside the borrower's control, such as adverse conditions in the real estate market, the economy, environmental factors, natural disasters or pandemics, and/or changes in government regulation. Also, there are risks inherent in commercial real estate construction lending as the value of the project is uncertain prior to the completion of construction and subsequent lease-up. A sudden downturn in the economy or other unforeseen events could result in stalled projects or collateral shortfalls, thus exposing us to increased credit risk.
Commercial and industrial loans are primarily made based on the identified cash flow of the borrower and secondarily on the collateral underlying the loans. The borrowers' cash flow may prove to be unpredictable, and collateral securing these loans may fluctuate in value. Most often, this collateral consists of accounts receivable, inventory and equipment. Significant adverse changes in a borrower's industries and businesses could cause rapid declines in values of, and collectability associated with, those business assets, which could result in inadequate collateral coverage for our commercial and industrial loans and expose us to future losses. In the case of loans secured by accounts receivable, the availability of funds for the repayment of these loans may be substantially dependent on the ability of the borrower to collect amounts due from its clients. Inventory and equipment may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise, may be illiquid and may fluctuate in value based on the success of the business. If the cash flow from business operations is reduced, the borrower's ability to repay the loan may be impaired. An increase in valuation allowances and charge-offs related to our commercial and industrial loan portfolio could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects.
If our ACL is not sufficient to cover actual loan losses, it could adversely impact our financial results.
We make several assumptions and judgments about the collectability of our loan portfolio, including the creditworthiness of our borrowers and the value of the real estate and other assets serving as collateral for the repayment of many of our loans. In determining the amount of the ACL that is adequate to absorb inherent losses in the loan portfolio, management analyzes and considers several elements, such as current economic conditions, loan modification programs and activity, performance of our loan portfolio, loan growth and concentrations, and industry and peer charge-off and ACL information. If actual results differ significantly from our assumptions, our ACL may not be sufficient to cover inherent losses in our loan portfolio, resulting in additions to our ACL and an increase in the provision for credit losses. Bank regulators also periodically review our loan portfolio, the ACL, and our assumptions underlying the determinations we have made regarding the ACL, and as a result may require us to increase our ACL and/or recognize additional loan charge-offs, both resulting in an increase in the provision for credit losses.
We may be required to provide remedial consideration to borrowers whose loans we purchase from correspondent and nationwide lenders if it is discovered that the originating company did not properly comply with lending regulations during the origination process.
We purchase whole one- to four-family loans from correspondent and nationwide lenders. While loans purchased on a loan-by-loan basis from correspondent lenders are underwritten by the Bank's underwriters and loans purchased in bulk packages from correspondent and nationwide lenders are evaluated on a certain set of criteria before being purchased, we are still subject to some risks associated with the loan origination process itself. By law, loan originators are required to comply with lending regulations at all times during the origination process. Even though the Bank can contractually pursue the originating company, certain compliance-related risks associated with the origination process itself may shift from the originating company to the Bank once the Bank purchases the loan. Should it be discovered, at any point, that an instance of
noncompliance occurred by the originating company during the origination process, the Bank may still be held responsible and required to remedy the issue for the loans it purchased from the originator. Remedial actions can include refunding interest paid by the borrower and adjusting the contractual interest rate on the loan to the current market rate if advantageous to the borrower. The Bank no longer purchases loans in bulk from nationwide lenders due primarily to these risks.
The expected discontinuation of LIBOR, and the identification and use of alternative replacement reference rates, may adversely affect our results of operations and subject the Company to litigation risk.
LIBOR is used extensively in the United States as a reference rate for various financial contracts, including adjustable-rate loans, asset-backed securities, and interest rate swaps. In July 2017, the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit LIBOR rates after 2021. The announcement means the continuation of LIBOR cannot be guaranteed after 2021.
In the United States, the Alternative Reference Rate Committee ("ARRC"), a group of diverse private-market participants assembled by the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, was tasked with identifying alternative reference interest rates to replace LIBOR. The Secured Overnight Finance Rate ("SOFR") has emerged as the ARRC's preferred alternative rate for LIBOR. SOFR is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market. At this time, it is not possible to predict how markets will respond to SOFR or other alternative reference rates as the transition away from LIBOR is anticipated to be gradual over the coming years.
The Company has formed a LIBOR steering committee composed of individuals from lending, compliance/risk, treasury and legal. The LIBOR steering committee has been charged with overseeing the coordination of the Company's enterprise-wide LIBOR transition program and evaluating and mitigating the risks associated with the transition from LIBOR. The LIBOR transition program includes a comprehensive review by management of the financial products, agreements, contracts and business processes that may use LIBOR as a reference rate. As financial products, agreements, contracts and business processes that use LIBOR are identified, the LIBOR steering committee works with management to develop a strategy to transition away from LIBOR. During the strategy development process, management and the LIBOR steering committee considers the financial, customer/counterparty, regulatory and legal impacts of all proposed strategies.
As of September 30, 2020, the Company has identified $500.7 million of adjustable-rate one- to four-family loans for which the repricing index was tied to LIBOR and the loan maturity date is after December 31, 2021. Our one- to four-family loan agreements generally allow the Bank to choose a new alternative reference rate based upon comparable information if the current index is no longer available. During the June 30, 2019 quarter, the Bank discontinued the use of LIBOR for the origination of adjustable-rate one- to four-family loans and no longer purchases correspondent one- to four-family loans that use LIBOR. The Bank began using the one-year CMT index for newly originated and correspondent purchased one- to four-family adjustable-rate loans. At September 30, 2020, none of the Bank's consumer or commercial loans use a repricing index tied to LIBOR. The Bank has interest rate swaps maturing after December 31, 2021 with a notional amount of $465.0 million at September 30, 2020 that are tied to LIBOR. The Bank's swap agreements are governed by the International Swap Dealers Association ("ISDA"). ISDA is in the process of developing fallback language for swap agreements and is expected to establish a protocol to allow counterparties to modify legacy trades to include the new fallback language.
The market transition away from LIBOR to an alternative reference rate is complex. If LIBOR rates are no longer available, and we are required to implement replacement reference rates for the calculation of interest rates under our loan agreements with borrowers, we may incur significant expense in effecting the transition and we may be subject to disputes or litigation with our borrowers over the appropriateness or comparability to LIBOR of the replacement reference rates. The replacement reference rates could also result in a reduction in our interest income. We may also receive inquiries and other actions from regulators in respect to the Company's preparation and readiness for the replacement of LIBOR with alternative reference rates.
Risks Related to Cybersecurity, Third Parties, and Technology
The occurrence of any information system failure or interruption, breach of security or cyber-attack, at the Company, at its third-party service providers or counterparties may have an adverse effect on our business, reputation, financial condition or results of operations.
Information systems are essential to the conduct of our business, as we use such systems to manage our customer relationships, our general ledger, our deposits and our loans. In the normal course of our business, we collect, process, retain and transmit (by email and other electronic means) sensitive and confidential information regarding our customers, employees and others. We also outsource certain aspects of our data processing, data processing operations, remote network monitoring, engineering and managed security services to third-party service providers. In addition to confidential information regarding our customers, employees and others, we, and in some cases a third party, compile, process, transmit and store proprietary, non-public information concerning our business, operations, plans and strategies.
Information security risks for financial institutions continue to increase in part because of evolving technologies, the use of the Internet and telecommunications technologies (including mobile devices) to conduct financial and other business transactions and the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, perpetrators of fraud, hackers, terrorists and others. Cyber criminals use a variety of tactics, such as ransomware, denial of service, and theft of sensitive business and customer information to extort payment or other concessions from victims. In some cases, these attacks have caused significant impacts on other businesses' access to data and ability to provide services. We are not able to anticipate or implement effective preventive measures against all incidents of these types, especially because the techniques used change frequently and because attacks can originate from a wide variety of sources.
We use a variety of physical, procedural and technological safeguards to prevent or limit the impact of system failures, interruptions and security breaches and to protect confidential information from mishandling, misuse or loss, including detection and response mechanisms designed to contain and mitigate security incidents. However, there can be no assurance that such events will not occur or that they will be promptly detected and adequately addressed if they do, and early detection of security breaches may be thwarted by sophisticated attacks and malware designed to avoid detection. If there is a failure in or breach of our information systems, or those of a third-party service provider, the confidential and other information processed and stored in, and transmitted through, such information systems could be jeopardized, or could otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations or the operations of our customers, employees, or others.
Our business and operations depend on the secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information in our information systems and those of our third-party service providers. Although we devote significant resources and management focus to ensuring the integrity of our information systems through information security measures, risk management practices, relationships with threat intelligence providers and business continuity planning, our facilities, computer systems, software and networks, and those of our third-party service providers, may be vulnerable to external or internal security breaches, acts of vandalism, unauthorized access, misuse, computer viruses or other malicious code and cyber-attacks that could have a security impact. In addition, breaches of security may occur through intentional or unintentional acts by those having authorized or unauthorized access to our confidential or other information or the confidential or other information of our customers, employees or others. While we regularly conduct security and risk assessments on our systems and those of our third-party service providers, there can be no assurance that their information security protocols are sufficient to withstand a cyber-attack or other security breach. Across our industry, the cost of minimizing these risks and investigating incidents has continued to increase with the frequency and sophistication of these threats. To date, the Company has no knowledge of a material information security breach affecting its systems.
The occurrence of any of the foregoing could subject us to litigation or regulatory scrutiny, cause us significant reputational damage or erode confidence in the security of our information systems, products and services, cause us to lose customers or have greater difficulty in attracting new customers, have an adverse effect on the value of our common stock or subject us to financial losses that may not be covered by insurance, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. As information security risks and cyber threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend significant additional resources to further enhance or modify our information security measures and/or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities or other exposures arising from operational and security risks.
Furthermore, there continues to be heightened legislative and regulatory focus on privacy, data protection and information security. New or revised laws and regulations may significantly impact our current and planned privacy, data protection and
information security-related practices, the collection, use, sharing, retention and safeguarding of consumer and employee information, and current or planned business activities. Compliance with current or future privacy, data protection and information security laws could result in higher compliance and technology costs and could restrict our ability to provide certain products and services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our customers are also targets of cyber-attacks and identity theft. There continues to be instances involving financial services and consumer-based companies reporting the unauthorized disclosure of client or customer information or the destruction or theft of corporate data. Large scale identity theft could result in customers' accounts being compromised and fraudulent activities being performed in their name. We have implemented certain safeguards against these types of activities but they may not fully protect us from fraudulent financial losses. The occurrence of a breach of security involving our customers' information, regardless of its origin, could damage our reputation and result in a loss of customers and business and subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny, and could expose us to litigation and possible financial liability. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Third party vendors subject the Company to potential business, reputation and financial risks.
Third party vendors are sources of operational and information security risk to the Company, including risks associated with operations errors, information system interruptions or breaches, and unauthorized disclosures of sensitive or confidential customer information. The Company requires third party vendors to maintain certain levels of information security; however, vendors may remain vulnerable to breaches, unauthorized access, misuse, computer viruses, and/or other malicious attacks that could ultimately compromise sensitive information. We have developed procedures and processes for selecting and monitoring third party vendors, but ultimately we are dependent on these third party vendors to secure their information. If these vendors encounter any of these types of issues, or if we have difficulty communicating with them, we could be exposed to disruption of operations, loss of service or connectivity to customers, reputational damage, and litigation risk that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The failure of an external vendor to perform in accordance with the contracted arrangements under service level agreements, because of changes in the vendor's organizational structure, financial condition, support for existing products and services or strategic focus or for any other reason, could be disruptive to our operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and, in turn, our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, replacing certain third party vendors could also entail significant delay and expense.
We are heavily reliant on technology, and a failure to effectively implement technology initiatives or anticipate future technology needs or demands could adversely affect our business or performance.
Like most financial institutions, the Bank significantly depends on technology to deliver its products and other services and to otherwise conduct business. To remain technologically competitive and operationally efficient, the Bank invests in system upgrades, new technological solutions, and other technology initiatives. Many of these solutions and initiatives have a significant duration, are tied to critical information systems, and require substantial resources. Although the Bank takes steps to mitigate the risks and uncertainties associated with these solutions and initiatives, there is no guarantee that they will be implemented on time, within budget, or without negative operational or customer impact. The Bank also may not succeed in anticipating its future technology needs, the technology demands of its customers, or the competitive landscape for technology. If the Bank were to falter in any of these areas, it could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Risks Related to Competition
Strong competition may limit growth and profitability.
While we are one of the largest mortgage loan originators in the state of Kansas, we compete in the same market areas as local, regional, and national banks, credit unions, mortgage brokerage firms, investment banking firms, investment brokerage firms, and savings institutions. We also compete with online investment and mortgage brokerages and online banks that are not confined to any specific market area. Many of these competitors operate on a national or regional level, are a conglomerate of various financial services providers housed under one corporation, or otherwise have substantially greater financial or technological resources than the Bank. We compete primarily on the basis of the interest rates offered to depositors, the terms of loans offered to borrowers, and the benefits afforded to customers as a local institution and portfolio lender. Our pricing strategy for loan and deposit products includes setting interest rates based on secondary market prices
and local competitor pricing for our local markets, and secondary market prices and national competitor pricing for our correspondent lending markets. Should we face competitive pressure to increase deposit rates or decrease loan rates, our net interest income could be adversely affected. Additionally, our competitors may offer products and services that we do not or cannot provide, as certain deposit and loan products fall outside of our accepted level of risk. Our profitability depends upon our ability to compete in our local market areas.
Risks Related to Regulation
We operate in a highly regulated environment which limits the manner and scope of our business activities and we may be adversely affected by new and/or changes in laws and regulations or interpretation of existing laws and regulations.
We are subject to extensive regulation, supervision, and examination by the OCC, FRB, and the FDIC. These regulatory authorities exercise broad discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities, including the ability to impose restrictions on a bank's operations, reclassify assets, determine the adequacy of a bank's ACL, and determine the level of deposit insurance premiums assessed. The Dodd-Frank Act created the CFPB with broad powers to supervise and enforce consumer protection laws, including a wide range of consumer protection laws that apply to all banks and savings institutions, like the authority to prohibit "unfair, deceptive or abusive" acts and practices. The CFPB also has examination and enforcement authority over all banks with regulatory assets exceeding $10 billion at four consecutive quarter-ends. The Bank has not exceeded $10 billion in regulatory assets at four consecutive quarter-ends, but it may at some point in the future. Smaller banks, like the Bank, will continue to be examined for compliance with the consumer laws and regulations of the CFPB by their primary bank regulators (the OCC, in the case of the Bank). The Dodd-Frank Act also weakens the federal preemption rules that have been applicable for national banks and federal savings associations, and gives state attorneys general the ability to enforce federal consumer protection laws.
Any change in such regulation and oversight, whether in the form of regulatory policy, regulations, legislation, interpretation or application, could have a material adverse impact on our operations. Moreover, bank regulatory agencies have been active in responding to concerns and trends identified in examinations, and have issued formal enforcement orders requiring capital ratios in excess of regulatory requirements and/or assessing monetary penalties. Bank regulatory agencies, such as the OCC and the FDIC, govern the activities in which we may engage, primarily for the protection of depositors, and not for the protection or benefit of investors. The CFPB enforces consumer protection laws and regulations for the benefit of the consumer and not the protection or benefit of investors. In addition, new laws and regulations may continue to increase our costs of regulatory compliance and of doing business, and otherwise affect our operations. New laws and regulations may significantly affect the markets in which we do business, the markets for and value of our loans and securities, the products we offer, the fees we can charge and our ongoing operations, costs, and profitability.
The Company is also directly subject to the requirements of entities that set and interpret the accounting standards such as the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and indirectly subject to the actions and interpretations of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which establishes auditing and related professional practice standards for registered public accounting firms and inspects registered firms to assess their compliance with certain laws, rules, and professional standards in public company audits. These regulations, along with the currently existing tax, accounting, securities, and monetary laws, regulations, rules, standards, policies and interpretations, control the methods by which financial institutions and their holding companies conduct business, engage in strategic and tax planning, implement strategic initiatives, and govern financial reporting.
The Company's failure to comply with laws, regulations or policies could result in civil or criminal sanctions and money penalties by state and federal agencies, and/or reputation damage, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. See "Part I, Item 1. Business - Regulation and Supervision" for more information about the regulations to which the Company is subject.
Other Risks
The Company's ability to pay dividends is subject to the ability of the Bank to make capital distributions to the Company.
The long-term ability of the Company to pay dividends to its stockholders is based primarily upon the ability of the Bank to make capital distributions to the Company, and also on the availability of cash at the holding company level in the event earnings are not sufficient to pay dividends. Under certain circumstances, capital distributions from the Bank to the Company may be subject to regulatory approvals. See "Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Limitations on Dividends and Other Capital Distributions" for additional information.
Our risk- management and compliance programs and functions may not be effective in mitigating risk and loss.
We maintain an enterprise risk management program that is designed to identify, quantify, monitor, report, and control the risks that we face. These risks include: interest-rate, credit, liquidity, operations, reputation, compliance and litigation. We also maintain a compliance program to identify, measure, assess, and report on our adherence to applicable laws, policies and procedures. While we assess and improve these programs on an ongoing basis, there can be no assurance that our risk management or compliance programs, along with other related controls, will effectively mitigate all risk and limit losses in our business. If conditions or circumstances arise that expose flaws or gaps in our risk management or compliance programs, or if our controls do not function as designed, the performance and value of our business could be adversely affected.
The Company may not attract and retain skilled employees.
The Company's success depends, in large part, on its ability to attract and retain key people. Competition for the best people can be intense, and the Company spends considerable time and resources attracting and hiring qualified people for its operations. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of the Company's key personnel could have a material adverse impact on the Company's business because of their skills, knowledge of the Company's market, and years of industry experience, as well as the difficulty of promptly finding qualified replacement personnel.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties
At September 30, 2020, we had 45 traditional branch offices and 9 in-store branch offices. The Bank owns the office building and related land in which its home office and executive offices are located, and 34 of its other branch offices. The remaining 19 branches are either leased or partially owned.
For additional information regarding our lease obligations, see "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 18. Leases."
Management believes that our current facilities are adequate to meet our present and immediately foreseeable needs. However, we will continue to monitor customer growth and expand our branching network, if necessary, to serve our customers' needs.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
The Company and the Bank are involved as plaintiff or defendant in various legal actions arising in the normal course of business. In our opinion, after consultation with legal counsel, we believe it unlikely that such pending legal actions will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Item 4.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Stock Listing
Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. common stock is traded on the Global Select tier of the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol "CFFN". At November 19, 2020, there were approximately 8,539 Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. stockholders of record.
Share Repurchases
On October 28, 2015, the Company announced a stock repurchase plan for up to $70.0 million of common stock. During the current fiscal year, the Company repurchased $23.8 million, or 2,558,100 shares, of common stock. As of September 30, 2020, there was still $46.2 million authorized under the existing stock repurchase plan for additional purchases of the Company's common stock. Subsequent to September 30, 2020 through November 24, 2020, the Company repurchased an additional $1.5 million, or 164,400 shares, of common stock. This plan has no expiration date; however, the Federal Reserve Bank's approval for the Company to repurchase shares extends through August 2021. Since the Company completed its second-step conversion in December 2010, $393.4 million worth of shares of common stock have been repurchased.
The following table summarizes our share repurchase activity during the three months ended September 30, 2020 and additional information regarding our share repurchase program.
Stockholders and General Inquiries
Copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 are available to stockholders at no charge in the Investor Relations section of our website, www.capfed.com.
Stockholder Return Performance Presentation
The information presented below assumes $100 invested on September 30, 2015 in the Company's common stock and in each of the indices, and assumes the reinvestment of all dividends. Historical stock price performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence
Restrictions on the Payments of Dividends
The Company's ability to pay dividends is dependent, in part, upon its ability to obtain capital distributions from the Bank. The dividend policy of the Company is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon a number of factors, including the Company's financial condition and results of operations, regulatory capital requirements, regulatory limitations on the Bank's ability to make capital distributions to the Company, and the amount of cash at the holding company level. See "Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Limitations on Dividends and Other Capital Distributions" for additional information regarding the Company's ability to pay dividends.
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The summary information presented below under "Selected Balance Sheet Data" and "Selected Operations Data" for, and as of the end of, each of the years ended September 30 is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The following information is only a summary and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements.
(1)The table below provides a reconciliation between certain performance ratios presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and those same performance ratios excluding the effects of the leverage strategy, which are not presented in accordance with GAAP. Management believes it is important for comparability purposes to provide the performance ratios without the leverage strategy because of its unique nature. The leverage strategy reduces some of our performance ratios, even though it increases our net income, due to the small amount of earnings associated with the transaction in comparison to the size of the transaction. The leverage strategy was not in place during the current fiscal year due to the negative interest rate spreads between the related FHLB borrowings and cash held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City ("FRB of Kansas City"), making the transaction unprofitable.
(2)The Tier 1 leverage ratio was replaced with the CBLR when the Bank and Company elected to use the CBLR framework beginning in fiscal year 2020. See "Part I, Item 1. Business - Regulation and Supervision - Regulatory Capital Requirements" for additional information regarding the CBLR.
Item 7.
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis is intended to assist in understanding the financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and capital resources of the Company. The Bank comprises almost all of the consolidated assets and liabilities of the Company and the Company is dependent primarily upon the performance of the Bank for the results of its operations. Because of this relationship, references to management actions, strategies and results of actions apply to both the Bank and the Company.
Executive Summary
The following summary should be read in conjunction with the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section in its entirety.
The Company provides a full range of banking services through the Bank, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company headquartered in Topeka, Kansas. The Bank has 45 traditional and nine in-store banking offices serving primarily the metropolitan areas of Topeka, Wichita, Lawrence, Manhattan, Emporia and Salina, Kansas and portions of the Kansas City metropolitan area. We have been, and intend to continue to be, a community-oriented financial institution offering a variety of financial services to meet the needs of the communities we serve. The Company's results of operations are primarily dependent on net interest income, which is the difference between the interest earned on loans, securities, and cash, and the interest paid on deposits and borrowings.
Company's Actions and Impact on Operations as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Management's actions related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the pandemic on certain aspects of the Company's business during fiscal year 2020 are summarized below.
Bank operations - In mid-March 2020, preventative health measures were put in place including elimination of business-related travel, implementing mandatory work from home for all employees able to do so, social distancing precautions for all employees in Bank offices, and preventative cleaning at offices and branches. Lobby services were limited to appointment only while drive-through, mobile, and online banking became the Bank's primary channels of serving customers. Retail loan closings were conducted with customers coming to our drive-through facilities and commercial loans were closed in person only when necessary. All employees continued to be paid their regular salary and receive full benefits. In mid-May 2020, lobbies reopened with limitations on the number of customers in a branch at one time. We also implemented operational measures to promote social distancing when customers visit branches and installed sneeze guards. There are several other precautions being taken at our locations such as extra cleaning in high traffic/touch areas and providing locations with additional cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer and masks. In early June 2020, back-office employees started to return to the office in phases. Due to the increase in COVID-19 cases in late June into July 2020, management rolled back the changes to the lobbies that occurred mid-May and adjusted the return to office phases, where necessary, for back-office employees and lobby services were again by appointment only. In mid-September 2020, lobbies were reopened once again. Management continues to monitor COVID-19 cases and will adjust operational plans as necessary.
Loan modification programs - In late March 2020, the Bank announced loan modification programs to support and provide relief for its borrowers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Generally, loan modifications under these programs ("COVID-19 loan modifications") for one- to four-family loans and consumer loans consist of a three-month payment forbearance of principal, interest and, in some cases, escrow. COVID-19 loan modifications of commercial loans mainly consist of a six-month interest-only payment period. See "Financial Condition - Loans Receivable" below for additional discussion regarding COVID-19 loan modifications.
As of September 30, 2020, the Bank had 193 one- to four-family loans totaling $39.8 million and 27 consumer loans totaling $795 thousand that were still in their deferral period. The deferral period concluded by September 30, 2020 for $199.7 million of one- to four-family loans and $1.6 million of consumer loans.
As of September 30, 2020, the Bank had 204 commercial loans with a combined gross loan amount of $367.4 million, which includes undisbursed amounts, that were still in their deferral period. The deferral period concluded by September 30, 2020 for $43.5 million, or 11%, of the commercial loans subject to COVID-19 loan modifications. All of these loans were current
as of September 30, 2020. The deferral period for the majority of the remaining commercial loans concluded by November 16, 2020.
Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program loans - As of September 30, 2020, the Bank had originated and funded 791 PPP loans totaling $43.9 million, with a median loan amount of $19 thousand, and received origination fees totaling $1.9 million associated with these loans. These loans are fully guaranteed by the SBA. The program ended August 8, 2020. Through November 16, 2020, $12.2 million of the Bank's PPP loans have been forgiven by the SBA.
On October 8, 2020 the SBA released a streamlined loan forgiveness application for PPP loans in amounts of $50 thousand or less. Of the PPP loans originated by the Bank, 611 loans totaling $9.6 million, or 22% of the Bank's aggregate PPP loan balance, were in amounts less than $50 thousand and will be eligible for the streamlined forgiveness process.
Capital, liquidity, and dividends - Management performed stress test scenarios during April 2020. Based on the Company's existing capital levels, deposit inflows, loan underwriting policies, loan concentration, and geographical diversification, no liquidity or capital concerns were identified as a result of the stress tests. Management continues to anticipate being able to manage the economic risks and uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the Bank remaining well capitalized with sufficient liquidity to serve our customers.
Deposit balances have increased due primarily to the economic stimulus payments, a reduction in consumer spending, and PPP loan proceeds being deposited at the Bank. As a result, management is currently faced with the challenge of excess liquidity. Due to the nature of deposit cash flows, management does not know how long the excess liquidity will continue. As such, management has elected, for the time being, to reduce the Bank's level of borrowings and increase the balance of securities using the excess liquidity from the deposit portfolio.
With earnings of $0.47 per share for fiscal year 2020, and a cash balance at the holding company level of $82.5 million, the Company has the resources to continue to pay its regular quarterly dividend of $0.085 per share for the foreseeable future. Given the state of economic uncertainty and how that may play out with the credit risk exposure in the Bank's loan portfolio, the Company elected to defer the annual True Blue dividend in June 2020 and did not ask at that time for a regulatory non-objection to move capital from the Bank to the Company to pay that dividend. It is management's intention to ask for a regulatory non-objection at some point in the future to pay this dividend when economic conditions are more certain. It is currently the Company's intention to pay out 100% of its fiscal year 2021 earnings.
Management's Evolving Response to COVID-19 - There is continued concern about a resurgence of COVID-19 as we enter the winter months. In October and November 2020, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths nationally and in our local market areas increased compared to the summer months, including to new record levels in some areas. The Kansas Governor recently issued an executive order establishing a statewide face-covering protocol as part of her administration's strategy to keep schools and businesses open and to protect the economy. We continue to be confronted with a significant and unfamiliar degree of uncertainty as to how a resurgence will impact our customers, employees, and operations and how actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to a resurgence will impact our customers, employees, and operations. We will continue to monitor COVID-19 cases and will adjust operational plans as necessary. We will also continue to assist our customers as necessary during these uncertain times. See "Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors - Risks Related to Macroeconomic Conditions" for additional discussion regarding the impact the COVID-19 pandemic may have on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Impact on Market Interest Rates as a Result of COVID-19 Pandemic and Company's Response
The Federal Reserve, in response to economic risks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, returned to a zero-interest rate policy in March 2020. This was after most broader market rates decreased significantly in response to evolving news about the COVID-19 pandemic. The dramatic lowering of interest rates in a short period of time impacted the operations and performance of the Bank. Deteriorating economic conditions included more than 20 million people becoming unemployed in the United States in one month's time, with more than 58 million in total filing for unemployment benefits, along with immediate reductions in consumer spending on almost all categories of purchases except groceries and staples, and closure or significantly reduced operations of restaurants, bars, airlines, hotels, and entertainment and hospitality venues, among others, and had a devastating impact on the economy. Since that time, many areas of consumer spending have rebounded, generally locally and not related to travel and entertainment. As previously described, we adjusted our operations in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic and have worked with both our retail and commercial customers to help them manage their debt during this period of economic uncertainty as our regulators or the CARES Act have allowed. There is increasing concern about the longer lasting impact on local business as well as travel and entertainment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. This could cause a longer recovery time for all sectors of the economy and could make it challenging for sectors that have had better recoveries to maintain that recovery in the long run.
We have been responding and expect to continue to respond to local market conditions regarding the loan and deposit rates we offer. We responded to lower market rates for lending by lowering rates offered on our one- to four-family loan products over the course of the year. Given current market interest rates, rates offered on new loans and the recent volume of one- to four-family refinances and endorsements allowing borrowers to take advantage of the lower current market interest rates, the yield on the total loan portfolio is likely to continue to decrease. Additionally, with significant cash inflows realized due to investment securities being called and prepayments on MBS increasing, the yields on reinvested funds into new securities are lower than portfolio yields. Since the onset of the pandemic the Bank lowered its offered rates on all retail deposit products except checking and savings accounts. Changes in the rates paid on money market accounts have an immediate impact on the cost of our deposits, while the impact of reducing rates offered on our certificate of deposit products lower the cost of deposits only as certificates of deposit reprice lower when they mature. As the Bank further monitors rates offered and the cost of borrowings, we anticipate that the average cost of our interest-bearing liabilities will continue to decrease.
Considering the drastic changes in market rates and the ongoing economic uncertainty, even with the changes the Bank has made to its cost of funding, with the lower rates on new mortgage loans, refinances, endorsements and new securities also at lower rates, our net interest margin could continue to decrease, with further downside risk as a result of high levels of prepayments and premium amortization on correspondent one- to four-family loans and MBS.
Summary of Results of Operation and Financial Condition
The Company recognized net income of $64.5 million, or $0.47 per share, for the year ended September 30, 2020 compared to net income of $94.2 million, or $0.68 per share, for the year ended September 30, 2019. The decrease in net income was due primarily to a $21.6 million increase in provision for credit losses and a decrease in net interest income, partially offset by a decrease in income tax expense.
Net interest income decreased $17.1 million, or 8.3%, from the prior year to $189.3 million for the current year. The leverage strategy was suspended at certain times during the prior year and during all of the current year due to the negative interest rate spreads between the related FHLB borrowings and cash held at the FRB of Kansas City, making the transaction unprofitable. Excluding the effects of the leverage strategy, net interest income decreased $16.9 million, or 8.2% compared to the prior year. The decrease in net interest income excluding the effects of the leverage strategy was due to a $20.9 million decrease in interest and dividend income, partially offset by a $4.0 million decrease in interest expense. Interest and dividend income decreased across all interest-earning asset types, with the most significant being a $13.7 million decrease in interest income on loans receivable, primarily related to correspondent loans. Interest income on correspondent loans decreased due primarily to a reduction in the portfolio balance and rate related to payoffs exceeding purchases, new loans purchased at lower market interest rates, and downward repricing of existing loans, along with an increase in premium amortization due to payoffs and endorsements. Interest expense on borrowings, excluding the effects of the leverage strategy, decreased $5.4 million due to replacing FHLB advances at lower market rates and a reduction in the rate and usage of the Bank's FHLB line of credit. This was partially offset by a $1.4 million increase in interest expense on deposits due to an increase in the cost of the retail/business certificate of deposit portfolio.
The net interest margin decreased 14 basis points, from 2.26% for the prior year to 2.12% for the current year. When the leverage strategy is in place, it increases our net interest income but reduces the net interest margin due to the amount of earnings from the transaction in comparison to the size of the transaction. Excluding the effects of the leverage strategy, the net interest margin would have decreased 18 basis points, from 2.30% for the prior year to 2.12% for the current year. The decrease in the net interest margin, excluding the effects of the leverage strategy, was due mainly to a decrease in the loan portfolio yield, specifically the yield on the correspondent one- to four-family loan portfolio.
Total assets at September 30, 2020 were $9.49 billion, an increase of $147.2 million, or 1.6% from September 30, 2019. The increase was due mainly to an increase in securities, partially offset by a decrease in loans receivable. Securities were purchased with cash flows from payments on the loan portfolio and growth in the deposit portfolio. Total loans decreased $213.9 million from September 30, 2019 to September 30, 2020. The decrease was primarily in the one- to four-family correspondent loans and one- to four-family bulk purchased loans, partially offset by an increase in one- to four-family originated loans and commercial loans. During the current year, the Bank originated and refinanced $1.00 billion of one- to four-family and consumer loans with a weighted average rate of 3.27% and purchased $448.0 million of one- to four-family loans from correspondent lenders with a weighted average rate of 3.29%. The Bank also originated $165.5 million of commercial loans with a weighted average rate of 3.52% and entered into commercial real estate loan participations of $93.6 million at a weighted average rate of 4.16%. The commercial loan portfolio totaled $829.7 million at September 30, 2020 and was composed of 75% commercial real estate, 12% commercial and industrial, and 13% commercial construction. Total commercial real estate and commercial construction potential exposure, including undisbursed amounts and outstanding commitments totaling $205.5 million, was $937.5 million at September 30, 2020. Total commercial and industrial potential exposure, including undisbursed amounts and outstanding commitments of $21.7 million, was $119.3 million at September 30, 2020.
Total deposits at September 30, 2020 were $6.19 billion, an increase of $609.5 million, or 10.9%, from September 30, 2019. Non-maturity deposits increased $575.9 million, including a $242.8 million increase in checking accounts, a $220.8 million increase in money market accounts, and a $112.3 million increase in savings accounts. Retail/business certificates of deposit increased $73.7 million during the current year, mainly in the business-related certificates of deposit category. These increases were partially offset by a $40.1 million decrease in public unit certificates of deposit.
Total borrowings at September 30, 2020 were $1.79 billion, a decrease of $450.7 million, or 20.1%, from September 30, 2019. The decrease was due to not renewing a portion of the FHLB advances and repurchase agreements that matured during the current year and repaying the FHLB line of credit balance. Cash flows from the deposit portfolio were used to pay off maturing borrowings and the FHLB line of credit.
Stockholders' equity was $1.28 billion at September 30, 2020 compared to $1.34 billion at September 30, 2019. The $51.5 million decrease was due primarily to the payment of cash dividends totaling $93.9 million and the repurchase of common stock totaling $23.8 million, partially offset by net income of $64.5 million during the current year. During the current fiscal year, the Company repurchased 2,558,100 shares of common stock. In the long run, management considers the Bank's equity to total assets ratio of at least 10% an appropriate level of capital. At September 30, 2020, this ratio was 12.3%. The cash dividends paid during the current year totaled $0.68 per share and consisted of a $0.34 per share cash true-up dividend related to fiscal year 2019 earnings, paid in December 2019, per the Company's dividend policy, and four regular quarterly cash dividends of $0.085 per share, totaling $0.34 per share.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our most critical accounting policies are the methodologies used to determine the ACL and fair value measurements. These policies are important to the presentation of our financial condition and results of operations, involve a high degree of complexity, and require management to make difficult and subjective judgments that may require assumptions or estimates about highly uncertain matters. The use of different judgments, assumptions, and estimates could affect reported results materially. These critical accounting policies and their application are reviewed at least annually by our audit committee. The following is a description of our critical accounting policies and an explanation of the methods and assumptions underlying their application.
Allowance for Credit Losses. The Company maintains an ACL to absorb inherent losses in the loan portfolio based upon ongoing quarterly assessments of the loan portfolio. The ACL is maintained through provisions for credit losses which are either charged or credited to income. The methodology for determining the ACL is considered a critical accounting policy by management because of the high degree of judgment involved, the subjectivity of the assumptions used, and the potential for changes in economic conditions that could result in changes to the amount of the recorded ACL. Additionally, bank regulators review the ACL and could have a differing view from management regarding the ACL balance, which could result in an increase in the ACL and/or the recognition of additional charge-offs. Although management believes that the Bank has established and maintained the ACL at appropriate levels, additions may be necessary if economic and other conditions worsen substantially from the current operating environment, and/or if bank regulators have a differing view from management regarding the ACL balance.
Our lending emphasis on the origination and purchase of one- to four-family loans and, to a lesser extent, consumer loans secured by one- to four-family residential properties, has resulted in a loan concentration in one- to four-family residential mortgage loans. We believe the primary risks inherent in our one- to four-family and consumer loan portfolios are a decline in economic conditions, elevated levels of unemployment or underemployment, and declines in residential real estate values. Adverse changes in any one or a combination of these events may negatively affect borrowers' ability to repay their loans, resulting in increased delinquencies, non-performing assets, loan losses, and future loan loss provisions. Although the commercial loan portfolio is subject to the same risk of declines in economic conditions, the primary risk characteristics inherent in this portfolio include the ability of the borrower to sustain sufficient cash flows from leases and business operations, the ability to control operational or business expenses to satisfy their contractual debt payments, and the ability to utilize personal or business resources to pay their contractual debt payments if the cash flows are not sufficient. Additionally, if the Bank were to repossess the secured collateral of a commercial real estate loan, the pool of potential buyers is more limited than that for a residential property. Therefore, the Bank could hold the property for an extended period of time, or potentially be forced to sell at a discounted price, resulting in additional losses. Our commercial and industrial loans are primarily secured by accounts receivable, inventory and equipment, which may be difficult to appraise, may be illiquid and may fluctuate in value based on the success of the business.
Each quarter, we prepare a formula analysis model which segregates our loan portfolio into categories based on certain risk characteristics such as loan type (one- to four-family, commercial, etc.), interest payments (fixed-rate and adjustable-rate), loan source (originated, correspondent purchased, or bulk purchased), LTV ratios, borrower's credit score and payment status (i.e. current or number of days delinquent). Consumer loans, such as second mortgages and home equity lines of credit, with the same underlying collateral as a one- to four-family loan are combined with the one- to four-family loan in the formula analysis model to calculate a combined LTV ratio.
Historical loss factors are applied to each loan category in the formula analysis model. Additionally, qualitative factors that management believes impact the collectability of the loan portfolio as of the evaluation date are applied to each loan category. Qualitative loss factors increase as loans are classified or become delinquent. See "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" for additional information related to the historical and qualitative loss factors utilized in the formula analysis model.
The historical loss and qualitative factors applied in the formula analysis model are reviewed quarterly by management to assess whether the factors adequately cover probable and estimable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. Our ACL methodology permits modifications to the formula analysis model in the event that, in management's judgment, significant factors which affect the collectability of the portfolio or any category of the loan portfolio, as of the evaluation date, have changed from the current formula analysis model. Management's evaluation of the qualitative factors with respect to these conditions is subject to a higher degree of uncertainty because they are not identified with a specific problem loan or portfolio segment.
During the current fiscal year, management increased the historical loss and qualitative factors applied in the formula analysis model for all loan categories and added a COVID-19 qualitative loss factor to the Bank's commercial loan portfolio. The increase in the factors and the addition of the new qualitative factor was in response to the deterioration of economic conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Management considered several items when determining the appropriate historical loss and qualitative factors to apply in the formula analysis model. Such considerations included: national and state unemployment and unemployment benefit claim information, amount and timing of governmental financial assistance, the Bank's COVID-19 loan modification program, consumer spending information, industries most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and a loan analysis completed by the commercial lending team. Management also evaluated the Bank's historical and peer ACL to loan ratios and charge-off ratios taking into consideration the economic conditions during those time periods. After applying the higher and new factors in the formula analysis model, management then considered the calculated ACL to loans ratio compared to historical and peer ratios to determine the appropriate amount of ACL at September 30, 2020, considering the economic conditions at that point in time.
Non-PCI loans that have not become impaired subsequent to the acquisition date are included in the formula analysis model. For these loans, the Company estimates a hypothetical amount of ACL. The Company applies the same historical and qualitative loss factors as the Bank's formula analysis model to establish the hypothetical amount of ACL. This amount is compared with the remaining net purchase discount for the non-PCI loans to test for credit quality deterioration and the
possible need for an additional loan loss provision. To the extent the remaining net purchase discount of the pool is greater than the hypothetical ACL, no additional ACL is necessary. If the remaining net purchase discount of the pool is less than the hypothetical ACL, the difference results in an increase to the ACL recorded through a provision for credit losses.
Management will continue to closely monitor economic conditions and will work with borrowers as necessary to assist them through this challenging economic climate. If economic conditions worsen or do not improve in the near term, and if future government programs, if any, do not provide adequate relief to borrowers, it is possible the Bank's ACL will need to increase in future periods. In addition, the adequacy of the Company's ACL is reviewed during bank regulatory examinations. We consider any comments from our regulators when assessing the appropriateness of our ACL. Management seeks to apply the ACL methodology in a consistent manner; however, the methodology may be modified in response to changing conditions.
ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments became effective for the Company on October 1, 2020. See "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" for additional information.
Fair Value Measurements. The Company uses fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain financial instruments and to determine fair value disclosures in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 820 and ASC 825. The Company groups its financial instruments at fair value in three levels based on the markets in which the instruments are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value, with Level 1 (quoted prices for identical assets in an active market) being considered the most reliable, and Level 3 having the most unobservable inputs and therefore being considered the least reliable. The Company bases its fair values on the price that would be received from the sale of an asset in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.
The Company's AFS securities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Changes in the fair value of AFS securities are recorded, net of tax, as AOCI in stockholders' equity. The Company primarily uses prices obtained from third-party pricing services to determine the fair value of its AFS securities. Various modeling techniques are used to determine pricing for the Company's securities, including option pricing, discounted cash flow models, and similar techniques. The inputs to these models may include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data. All AFS securities are classified as Level 2.
The Company's interest rate swaps are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The estimated fair value of the interest rate swaps are obtained from the counterparty and are determined by a discounted cash flow analysis using observable market-based inputs. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps are recorded, net of tax, as AOCI in stockholders' equity. The Company did not have any other financial instruments that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2020.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For a discussion of Recent Accounting Pronouncements, see "Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Notes to Financial Statements - Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies."
Management Strategy
We are a community-oriented financial institution dedicated to serving the needs of customers in our market areas. Our commitment is to provide qualified borrowers the broadest possible access to home ownership through our mortgage lending programs and to offer a complete set of personal and commercial banking products and services to our customers. We strive to enhance stockholder value while maintaining a strong capital position. To achieve these goals, we focus on the following strategies:
•Lending. We are one of the leading originators of one- to four-family loans in the state of Kansas. We originate these loans primarily for our own portfolio, and we service the loans we originate. We also purchase one- to four-family loans from correspondent lenders. In addition, we offer several commercial lending options to our customers and participate in commercial loans with other lenders. We offer both fixed- and adjustable-rate products with various terms to maturity and pricing options. We maintain strong relationships with local real estate agents to attract mortgage loan business. We rely on our marketing efforts and customer service reputation to attract mortgage business from walk-in customers, customers that apply online, and existing customers.
•Deposit Services. We offer a wide array of retail and business deposit products and services. These products include checking, savings, money market, certificates of deposit, and retirement accounts. Our deposit services are provided through a branch network of 54 locations, including traditional branches and retail in-store locations, our call center which operates on extended hours, mobile banking, telephone banking, and online banking and bill payment services.
•Cost Control. We generally are very effective at controlling our costs of operations. By using technology, we are able to centralize our loan servicing and deposit support functions for efficient processing. We serve a broad range of customers through relatively few branch locations. Our average deposit base per traditional branch at September 30, 2020 was approximately $123.6 million. This large average deposit base per branch helps to control costs. Our one- to four-family lending strategy and our effective management of credit risk allows us to service a large portfolio of loans at efficient levels because it costs less to service a portfolio of performing loans. We recognize it is more expensive to offer a full suite of commercial products and services, but we will continue our efforts to control those costs.
•Asset Quality. We utilize underwriting standards for our lending products, including the loans we purchase and participate in, that are designed to limit our exposure to credit risk. We require complete documentation for both originated and purchased loans, and make credit decisions based on our assessment of the borrower's ability to repay the loan in accordance with its terms. Additionally, we monitor the asset quality of existing loans and strive to work proactively with customers who face challenging financial conditions.
•Capital Position. Our policy has always been to protect the safety and soundness of the Bank through credit and operational risk management, balance sheet strength, and sound operations. The end result of these activities has been a capital ratio in excess of the well-capitalized standards set by the OCC. We believe that maintaining a strong capital position safeguards the long-term interests of the Bank, the Company, and our stockholders.
•Stockholder Value. We strive to provide stockholder value while maintaining a strong capital position. One way that we continue to provide returns to stockholders is through our dividend payments. Total dividends declared and paid during fiscal year 2020 were $93.9 million. The Company's cash dividend payout policy is reviewed quarterly by management and the Board of Directors, and the ability to pay dividends under the policy depends upon a number of factors, including the Company's financial condition and results of operations, regulatory capital requirements, regulatory limitations on the Bank's ability to make capital distributions to the Company, and the amount of cash at the holding company level. For fiscal year 2021, it is the intention of the Board of Directors to continue the payout of 100% of the Company's earnings to its stockholders through regular quarterly dividends and a true-up dividend. Stockholder value is also provided through common stock repurchases. During fiscal year 2020, the Company repurchased $23.8 million, or 2,558,100 shares, of common stock.
•Interest Rate Risk Management. Changes in interest rates are our primary market risk as our balance sheet is almost entirely comprised of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. As such, fluctuations in interest rates have a significant impact not only upon our net income but also upon the cash flows related to those assets and liabilities and the market value of our assets and liabilities. In order to maintain what we believe to be acceptable levels of net interest income in varying interest rate environments, we actively manage our interest rate risk and assume a moderate amount of interest rate risk consistent with board policies.
Financial Condition
Assets. Total assets at September 30, 2020 were $9.49 billion, an increase of $147.2 million, or 1.6% from September 30, 2019. The increase was due mainly to an increase in securities, partially offset by a decrease in loans receivable. Securities were purchased with cash flows from the loan portfolio and growth in the deposit portfolio.
Loans Receivable. The following table presents the balance and weighted average rate of our loan portfolio as of the dates indicated. Approximately 67% of the one- to four-family loan portfolio balance at September 30, 2020 was comprised of loans that had a balance of $510 thousand or less at the time of origination. The weighted average interest rate on our loan portfolio decreased 26 basis points, to 3.55% at September 30, 2020. The decrease was due primarily to the downward repricing of the one- to four-family originated and correspondent purchased portfolios as a result of endorsements, payoffs of loans with higher rates, and originations and purchases at lower market rates during the year.
Loan Activity - The following tables summarize activity in the loan portfolio, along with weighted average rates where applicable, for the periods indicated, excluding changes in ACL, discounts/unearned loan fees, and premiums/deferred costs. Loans that were paid off as a result of refinances are included in repayments. Loan endorsements are not included in the activity in the following table because a new loan is not generated at the time of the endorsement. The endorsed balance and rate are included in the ending loan portfolio balance and rate. During fiscal year 2020, the Bank endorsed $695.4 million of one- to four-family loans, reducing the average rate on those loans by 83 basis points. Commercial loan renewals are not included in the activity in the following table unless new funds are disbursed at the time of renewal. During the initial days of the COVID-19 pandemic, correspondent one- to four-family loan application acceptance was suspended by the Bank but existing correspondent applications and commitments continued to progress through the approval and funding process. One- to four-family correspondent new loan application acceptance resumed in mid-June 2020.
The following table presents loan origination, refinance, and purchase activity for the periods indicated, excluding endorsement activity, along with associated weighted average rates and percent of total. Commercial loan renewals are not included in the activity in the following table except to the extent new funds are disbursed at the time of renewal. Loan originations, purchases, and refinances are reported together. During fiscal year 2019, the Bank discontinued the use of LIBOR for adjustable-rate one- to four-family loan originations and no longer purchases correspondent one- to four-family loans that use LIBOR, since LIBOR is expected to be discontinued by the end of calendar year 2021. Adjustable-rate one- to four-family loan originations and purchases are now tied to the one-year CMT index, which, to date, does not appear to have had any impact on our ability and opportunities to originate and purchase adjustable-rate one- to four-family loans.
(1)The fixed-rate one- to four-family loans less than or equal to 15 years have an original maturity at origination of less than or equal to 15 years, while fixed-rate one- to four-family loans greater than 15 years have an original maturity at origination of greater than 15 years.
(2)The adjustable-rate one- to four-family loans less than or equal to 36 months have a term to first reset of less than or equal to 36 months at origination and adjustable-rate one- to four-family loans greater than 36 months have a term to first reset of greater than 36 months at origination.
One- to Four-Family Loans - The following table presents, for our portfolio of one- to four-family loans, the amount, percent of total, weighted average credit score, weighted average LTV ratio, and average balance per loan as of the dates presented. Credit scores are updated at least annually, with the latest update in September 2020, from a nationally recognized consumer rating agency. The LTV ratios were based on the current loan balance and either the lesser of the purchase price or original appraisal, or the most recent Bank appraisal, if available. In most cases, the most recent appraisal was obtained at the time of origination.
The following table presents originated, refinanced, and correspondent purchased activity in our one- to four-family loan portfolio, excluding endorsement activity, along with associated weighted average LTVs and weighted average credit scores for the periods indicated. Included in the "Refinanced by Bank customers" line item are correspondent loans that were refinanced with the Bank. Of the loans originated during the current year, $300.4 million were refinanced from other lenders. Of the loans originated and refinanced during the current year, 76% had loan values of $510 thousand or less. Of the correspondent loans purchased during the current year, 20% had loan values of $510 thousand or less.
The following table presents the amount, percent of total, and weighted average rate, by state, of one- to four-family loan originations and correspondent purchases where originations and purchases in the state exceeded five percent of the total amount originated and purchased during the year ended September 30, 2020.
Through September 30, 2020, the Bank had processed COVID-19 loan modifications for 942 one- to four-family loans totaling $239.5 million, of which $39.8 million, or 17%, were still in the deferral period as of September 30, 2020. Of the COVID-19 loan modifications that had completed the deferral period by September 30, 2020 and were not delinquent prior to requesting assistance, $1.4 million were 30 to 89 days delinquent and none were 90 or more days delinquent as of September 30, 2020.
The modifications still in the deferral period as of September 30, 2020 are summarized in the table below, along with the weighted average credit score and weighted average LTV as of September 30, 2020. Credit scores were updated in September 2020 from a nationally recognized consumer rating agency. The LTV ratios were based on the current loan balance and either the lesser of the purchase price or original appraisal, or the most recent Bank appraisal, if available. In most cases, the most recent appraisal was obtained at the time of origination.
The following table summarizes our one- to four-family loan origination and refinance commitments and one- to four-family correspondent loan purchase commitments as of September 30, 2020, along with associated weighted average rates. Loan commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require the payment of a rate lock fee. It is expected that some of the loan commitments will expire unfunded, so the amounts reflected in the table below are not necessarily indicative of our future cash needs.
Commercial Loans - During fiscal year 2020, the Bank originated $165.5 million of commercial loans, of which $43.9 million were PPP loans, entered into commercial real estate loan participations totaling $93.6 million, and processed commercial loan disbursements, excluding lines of credit, of approximately $228.7 million at a weighted average rate of 3.78%.
The following table presents the Bank's commercial real estate and commercial construction loans and loan commitments by type of primary collateral, as of September 30, 2020. Included in the gross loan amounts in the table, which does not include outstanding commitments, are fixed-rate loans totaling $534.6 million at a weighted average rate of 4.15% and adjustable-rate loans totaling $331.1 million at a weighted average rate of 4.38%. The weighted average rate of fixed-rate loans is lower than that of adjustable-rate loans due primarily to the majority of the fixed-rate loans in the portfolio at September 30, 2020 having shorter terms to maturity. Because the commitments to pay out undisbursed funds are not cancellable by the Bank, unless the loan is in default, we anticipate fully funding the related projects.
The following table summarizes the Bank's commercial real estate and commercial construction loans and loan commitments by state as of September 30, 2020.
The following table presents the Bank's commercial and industrial loans and loan commitments by business purpose, as of September 30, 2020. Including in the working capital loan category are $43.9 million of PPP loans.
The following table presents the Bank's commercial loan portfolio and outstanding loan commitments, categorized by gross loan amount (unpaid principal plus undisbursed amounts) or outstanding loan commitment amount, as of September 30, 2020.
The Bank's commercial lending team is working proactively with our commercial customers as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present challenging operating conditions. Through September 30, 2020, we have modified $410.9 million of commercial loans under our COVID-19 loan modification program. Of this amount, $43.5 million had completed the deferral period by September 30, 2020, all of which were current, and $367.4 million, or 89%, were still in the deferral period as of September 30, 2020. We have also processed 791 PPP loans for $43.9 million, for which we received approximately $1.9 million in fees. Approximately 60% of PPP loans processed were in the following industries: construction, professional/scientific/technical, health care/social assistance, and retail trade. Through November 16, 2020, $12.2 million of the Bank's PPP loans have been forgiven by the SBA.
The following table presents the gross loan amount, including undisbursed balances, of the Bank's commercial real estate loans by type of primary collateral, and commercial and industrial loans by business purpose, that have been modified per the Bank's COVID-19 loan modification program, and had not completed the deferral period as of September 30, 2020. The information is presented by type of modification and as a percentage of total modifications, as well as by a percentage of the total gross loan amount and undisbursed balances of the related property type or business purpose category. Of the loans presented in the table below, $258.8 million, or 70%, completed their deferral period by November 16, 2020, and an additional $57.4 million was paid off in October 2020.
Of the commercial loans modified under the COVID-19 loan modification program, through November 16, 2020, we have received or are expecting to receive requests for additional assistance on loans with a combined gross loan amount, including undisbursed balances, of $87.4 million. This amount includes $14.6 million of loans that had exited the initial deferral period by September 30, 2020, and $72.8 million that are included in the table above, of which $69.0 million were in their second deferral as of September 30, 2020. The Bank is evaluating requests for additional assistance as they are received.
Securities. Securities increased $338.2 million from $1.19 billion at September 30, 2019 to $1.53 billion at September 30, 2020. The weighted average yield on the securities portfolio decreased 92 basis points, from 2.54% at September 30, 2019 to 1.62% at September 30, 2020, due primarily to purchases at lower market yields during the current year. The following table presents the distribution of our securities portfolio, at amortized cost, at the dates indicated. Overall, fixed-rate securities comprised 87% of our securities portfolio at September 30, 2020. The weighted average life ("WAL") is the estimated remaining maturity (in years) after three-month historical prepayment speeds and projected call option assumptions have been applied. Weighted average yields on tax-exempt securities are not calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis.
The following table presents the carrying value of MBS in our portfolio by issuer at the dates presented.
Mortgage-Backed Securities - The balance of MBS, which primarily consists of securities of U.S. GSEs, increased $244.3 million to $1.18 billion at September 30, 2020 from $936.5 million at September 30, 2019. The following tables summarize the activity in our portfolio of MBS for the periods presented. The weighted average yields and WALs for purchases are presented as recorded at the time of purchase. The weighted average yields for the beginning balances are as of the last day of the period previous to the period presented and the weighted average yields for the ending balances are as of the last day of the period presented and are generally derived from recent prepayment activity on the securities in the portfolio as of the dates presented. The beginning and ending WAL are the estimated remaining principal repayment term (in years) after three-month historical prepayment speeds have been applied.
Investment Securities - Investment securities, which consist of U.S. GSE debentures (primarily issued by FNMA, FHLMC, or Federal Home Loan Banks) and municipal investments, increased $111.8 million to $380.1 million at September 30, 2020 from $268.4 million at September 30, 2019. Municipal investments totaled $9.7 million at September 30, 2020. The following tables summarize the activity of investment securities for the periods presented. The weighted average yields and WALs for purchases are presented as recorded at the time of purchase. The weighted average yields for the beginning balances are as of the last day of the period previous to the period presented and the weighted average yields for the ending balances are as of the last day of the period presented. The beginning and ending WALs represent the estimated remaining principal repayment terms (in years) of the securities after projected call dates have been considered, based upon market rates at each date presented.
Liabilities. Total liabilities at September 30, 2020 were $8.20 billion, an increase of $198.7 million, or 2.5% from September 30, 2019. The increase was due to an increase in deposits, partially offset by a decrease in borrowings.
Deposits. Total deposits were $6.19 billion at September 30, 2020, an increase of $609.5 million, or 10.9%, from September 30, 2019. The increase in retail and business deposit balances was due primarily to economic stimulus payments, a reduction in consumer spending, and PPP loan proceeds being deposited at the Bank. Also, the Bank secured a new business deposit relationship during the current year which brought in $163.6 million of new deposit balances. Because some of these deposits related to the new business deposit relationship are COVID-19 related payments, we do not expect the full balance of the deposits received during fiscal year 2020 to be retained through fiscal year 2021. As previously noted, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bank has lowered rates paid on money market accounts and certificate of deposit products. Despite this, money market accounts increased $220.8 million and certificate of deposit accounts increased $73.8 million during the current fiscal year. The increase in the certificate of deposit accounts was primarily related to business accounts. As retail certificates of deposit matured during the current year, not all were renewed. Rather, customers moved some of those funds to more liquid investment options, such as the Bank's money market accounts. During fiscal year 2020, the Bank's weighted average retention rate of maturing retail certificates of deposit was approximately 80%, compared to approximately 85% during fiscal year 2019.
The following table presents the amount, weighted average rate and percent of total for the components of our deposit portfolio at the dates presented.
The following tables set forth scheduled maturity information for our certificates of deposit, including public unit certificates of deposit, along with associated weighted average rates, at September 30, 2020.
Borrowings. Total borrowings at September 30, 2020 were $1.79 billion, a decrease of $450.7 million, or 20.1%, from September 30, 2019. As a result of excess liquidity due primarily to the inflow of deposits, management elected to reduce the Bank's level of borrowing during the current fiscal year. Not all maturing FHLB advances and repurchase agreement were renewed and the FHLB line of credit balance was paid off during the year.
The following tables present borrowing activity for the periods shown. The borrowings presented in the table have original contractual terms of one year or longer or are tied to interest rate swaps with original contractual terms of one year or longer. Excluded from this table is a $3.0 million FHLB advance that had an original contractual term of less than one year. FHLB advances are presented at par. The effective rate is shown as a weighted average and includes the impact of interest rate swaps and the amortization of deferred prepayment penalties resulting from FHLB advances previously prepaid. The weighted average maturity ("WAM") is the remaining weighted average contractual term in years. The beginning and ending WAMs represent the remaining maturity at each date presented. For new borrowings, the WAMs presented are as of the date of issue.
(1)Represents adjustable-rate FHLB advances for which the Bank has entered into interest rate swaps to hedge the variability in cash flows associated with the advances. The effective rate and WAM presented include the effect of the interest rate swaps.
Maturities - The following table presents the maturity of term borrowings (which includes FHLB advances, at par, and repurchase agreements), along with associated weighted average contractual and effective rates as of September 30, 2020. The weighted average effective rate for term borrowings decreased seven basis points during fiscal year 2020, to 2.31% at September 30, 2020. The decrease in the effective rate was due primarily to FHLB advances being replaced at lower market interest rates.
(1)Represents adjustable-rate FHLB advances for which the Bank has entered into interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $640.0 million to hedge the variability in cash flows associated with the advances. These advances are presented based on their contractual maturity dates and will be renewed periodically until the maturity or termination of the interest rate swaps. The expected WAL of the interest rate swaps was 3.5 years at September 30, 2020.
(2)The effective rate includes the impact of interest rate swaps and the amortization of deferred prepayment penalties resulting from FHLB advances previously prepaid.
The following table presents the maturity and weighted average repricing rate, which is also the weighted average effective rate, of certificates of deposit, split between retail/business and public unit amounts, and term borrowings for the next four quarters as of September 30, 2020.
(1)The maturity date for FHLB advances tied to interest rate swaps is based on the maturity date of the related interest rate swap.
Stockholders' Equity. Stockholders' equity was $1.28 billion at September 30, 2020 compared to $1.34 billion at September 30, 2019. The $51.5 million decrease was due primarily to the payment of cash dividends totaling $93.9 million and the repurchase of common stock totaling $23.8 million, partially offset by net income of $64.5 million during the current year. The cash dividends paid during the current year totaled $0.68 per share and consisted of a $0.34 per share cash true-up dividend related to fiscal year 2019 earnings, paid in December 2019, per the Company's dividend policy, and four regular quarterly cash dividends of $0.085 per share, totaling $0.34 per share. In the long run, management considers the Bank's equity to total assets ratio of at least 10% an appropriate level of capital. At September 30, 2020, this ratio was 12.3%.
On October 20, 2020, the Company announced a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.085 per share, or approximately $11.5 million, payable on November 20, 2020 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 6, 2020. On October 28, 2020, the Company announced a fiscal year 2020 cash true-up dividend of $0.13 per share, or approximately $17.6 million, related to fiscal year 2020 earnings. The $0.13 per share cash true-up dividend was determined by taking the difference between total earnings for fiscal year 2020 and total regular quarterly cash dividends paid during fiscal year 2020, divided by the number of shares outstanding as of October 16, 2020. The cash true-up dividend is payable on December 4, 2020 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 20, 2020, and is the result of the Board of Directors' commitment to distribute to stockholders 100% of the annual earnings of the Company for fiscal year 2020.
During the current fiscal year, the Company repurchased $23.8 million, or 2,558,100 shares, of common stock. Subsequent to September 30, 2020, through November 24, 2020, the Company repurchased an additional $1.5 million, or 164,400 shares, of common stock. As of November 24, 2020, there was still $44.7 million authorized under the existing stock repurchase plan for additional purchases of the Company's common stock. Shares may be repurchased from time to time based upon market conditions, available liquidity and other factors. This plan has no expiration date; however, the Federal Reserve Bank's approval for the Company to repurchase shares extends through August 2021.
At September 30, 2020, Capitol Federal Financial, Inc., at the holding company level, had $82.5 million on deposit at the Bank. For fiscal year 2021, it is currently the intention of the Board of Directors to continue the payout of 100% of the Company's earnings to the Company's stockholders. The payout is expected to be in the form of regular quarterly cash dividends of $0.085 per share, totaling $0.34 for the year, and a cash true-up dividend equal to fiscal year 2021 earnings in excess of the amount paid as regular quarterly cash dividends during fiscal year 2021. It is anticipated that the fiscal year 2021 cash true-up dividend will be paid in December 2021. Dividend payments depend upon a number of factors including the Company's financial condition and results of operations, regulatory capital requirements, regulatory limitations on the Bank's ability to make capital distributions to the Company, and the amount of cash at the holding company.
The Company works to find multiple ways to provide stockholder value. This has primarily been through the payment of cash dividends and stock buybacks. The Company has maintained a policy of paying out 100% of its earnings to stockholders in the form of quarterly cash dividends and an annual cash true-up dividend in December of each year. In order to provide additional stockholder value, the Company has paid a True Blue Capitol cash dividend of $0.25 per share in June of each of the past six years. The Company has paid the True Blue Capitol dividend primarily due to excess capital levels at the Company and Bank. The Company considers various business strategies and their impact on capital and asset measures on both a current and future basis, as well as regulatory capital levels and requirements, in determining the amount, if any, and timing of the True Blue dividend. Given the state of economic uncertainty and how that may play out with the credit risk exposure in the Bank's loan portfolio, the Company elected to defer the annual True Blue dividend in June 2020 and did not ask for a regulatory non-objection at that time to move capital from the Bank to the Company to pay that dividend. It is management's intention to ask for a regulatory non-objection at some point in the future and to pay this dividend when economic conditions are more certain. It remains the Company's intention to pay out 100% of its earnings.
The following table presents regular quarterly cash dividends and special cash dividends paid in calendar years 2020, 2019, and 2018. The amounts represent cash dividends paid during each period. The 2020 true-up dividend amount presented represents the dividend payable on December 6, 2020 to stockholders of record as of November 22, 2020.
Weighted Average Yields and Rates. The following table presents the weighted average yields on interest-earning assets, the weighted average rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities, and the resultant interest rate spreads at the dates indicated. The weighted average yields and rates include amortization of fees, costs, premiums and discounts, which are considered adjustments to yields/rates. The weighted average rate on FHLB borrowings includes the impact of interest rate swaps. Weighted average yields on tax-exempt securities are not calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis.
Rate/Volume Analysis. The table below presents the dollar amount of changes in interest income and interest expense for major components of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, comparing fiscal years 2020 to 2019. For the comparison of fiscal years 2019 to 2018, see "Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019. For each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, information is provided on changes attributable to (1) changes in volume, which are changes in the average balance multiplied by the previous year's average rate, and (2) changes in rate, which are changes in the average rate multiplied by the average balance from the previous year. The net changes attributable to the combined impact of both rate and volume have been allocated proportionately to the changes due to volume and the changes due to rate.
Average Balance Sheets. The following table presents the average balances of our assets, liabilities, and stockholders' equity, and the related weighted average yields and rates on our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the periods indicated. For fiscal year 2018 information, see "Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019. Weighted average yields are derived by dividing annual income by the average balance of the related assets, and weighted average rates are derived by dividing annual expense by the average balance of the related liabilities, for the periods shown. Average outstanding balances are derived from average daily balances. The weighted average yields and rates include amortization of fees, costs, premiums and discounts, which are considered adjustments to yields/rates. Weighted average yields on tax-exempt securities are not calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis.
(1)Balances are adjusted for unearned loan fees and deferred costs. Loans that are 90 or more days delinquent are included in the loans receivable average balance with a yield of zero percent.
(2)AFS securities are adjusted for unamortized purchase premiums or discounts.
(3)The average balance of investment securities includes an average balance of nontaxable securities of $13.8 million, and $21.6 million, for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
(4)There were no cash and cash equivalents related to the leverage strategy during the year ended September 30, 2020. The average balance of cash and cash equivalents includes an average balance of cash related to the leverage strategy of $150.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2019.
(5)There were no borrowings related to the leverage strategy during the year ended September 30, 2020. Included in this line item, for the year ended September 30, 2019, are borrowings related to the leverage strategy with an average outstanding balance of $157.8 million and interest paid of $3.9 million, at a weighted average rate of 2.46%, and borrowings not related to the leverage strategy with an average outstanding balance of $2.28 billion and interest paid of $53.4 million, at a weighted average rate of 2.33%. The FHLB advance amounts and rates included in this line item include the effect of interest rate swaps and are net of deferred prepayment penalties.
(6)Net interest income represents the difference between interest income earned on interest-earning assets and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income depends on the average balance of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and the interest rates earned or paid on them.
(7)Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(8)The table below provides a reconciliation between certain performance ratios presented in accordance with GAAP and the performance ratios excluding the effects of the leverage strategy, which are not presented in accordance with GAAP. Management believes it is important for comparability purposes to provide the performance ratios without the leverage strategy because of the unique nature of the leverage strategy. The leverage strategy reduces some of our performance ratios due to the small amount of earnings associated with the transaction in comparison to the size of the transaction, while increasing our net income. The leverage strategy was not in place during fiscal year 2020. The pre-tax yield on the leverage strategy was 0.03% for the year ended September 30, 2019.
(9)Net interest margin represents net interest income as a percentage of average interest-earning assets.
Comparison of Operating Results for the Years Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019
The Company recognized net income of $64.5 million, or $0.47 per share, for the year ended September 30, 2020 compared to net income of $94.2 million, or $0.68 per share, for the year ended September 30, 2019. The decrease in net income was due primarily to a $21.6 million increase in provision for credit losses and a $17.1 million decrease in net interest income, partially offset by a decrease in income tax expense.
Net interest income decreased $17.1 million, or 8.3%, from the prior year to $189.3 million for the current year. The net interest margin decreased 14 basis points, from 2.26% for the prior year to 2.12% for the current year. The leverage strategy was suspended at certain times during the prior year and during all of the current year due to the negative interest rate spreads between the related FHLB borrowings and cash held at the FRB of Kansas City, making the transaction unprofitable. When the leverage strategy is in place, it increases our net interest income but reduces the net interest margin due to the amount of earnings from the transaction in comparison to the size of the transaction. Excluding the effects of the leverage strategy, the net interest margin would have decreased 18 basis points, from 2.30% for the prior year to 2.12% for the current year. The decrease in the net interest margin, excluding the effects of the leverage strategy, was due mainly to a decrease in the loan portfolio yield, specifically the yield on the correspondent one- to four-family loan portfolio.
The leverage strategy involves borrowing up to $2.10 billion either on the Bank's FHLB line of credit or by entering into short-term FHLB advances, depending on the rates offered by FHLB. The borrowings are repaid at quarter end, or earlier if the strategy is suspended. The proceeds from the borrowings, net of the required FHLB stock holdings, are deposited at the FRB of Kansas City. Net income attributable to the leverage strategy is largely derived from the dividends received on FHLB stock holdings, plus the net interest rate spread between the yield on the cash at the FRB of Kansas City and the rate paid on the related FHLB borrowings, less applicable federal insurance premiums and estimated taxes. Net income attributable to the leverage strategy was $14 thousand during the prior year. The leverage strategy was not in place during the current year. Management continues to monitor the net interest rate spread and overall profitability of the strategy. It is expected that the strategy will be reimplemented if it reaches a position that is profitable.
Interest and Dividend Income
The weighted average yield on total interest-earning assets decreased 21 basis points, from 3.61% for the prior year to 3.40% for the current year, and the average balance of interest-earning assets decreased $193.4 million. Absent the impact of the leverage strategy, the weighted average yield on total interest-earning assets would have decreased 22 basis points, from 3.62% for the prior year to 3.40% for the current year, and the average balance of interest-earning assets would have decreased $35.6 million. The decrease in the weighted average yield between periods was due primarily to a decrease in the loan portfolio yield. The following table presents the components of interest and dividend income for the time periods presented, along with the change measured in dollars and percent.
The decrease in interest income on loans receivable was due mainly to a decrease in yield on correspondent loans, including a $5.8 million increase in the amortization of premiums related to increases in payoff and endorsement activity. This was partially offset by a shift in the mix of the loan portfolio, as the average balance of lower-yielding one- to four-family loans decreased $152.2 million, or 2.3%, partially offset by a $64.9 million, or 9.2%, increase in the average balance of higher-yielding commercial loans, excluding PPP loans. The weighted average yield on the loans receivable portfolio decreased 14 basis points, from 3.77% for the prior year to 3.63% for the current year.
The decrease in interest income on the MBS portfolio was due primarily to a 22 basis point decrease in the weighted average yield to 2.41% in the current year as a result of new purchases at lower market yields and the repricing of existing adjustable-rate MBS to lower market yields. The decrease in dividend income on FHLB stock was due mainly to a decrease in the dividend rate paid by FHLB, as well as to the leverage strategy not being in place during the current year. The decrease in interest income on investment securities was due mainly to a 61 basis point decrease in the weighted average yield to 1.65% in the current year as a result of calls and maturities either being replaced at lower market rates or not being replaced. The decrease in interest income on cash and cash equivalents was due primarily to the leverage strategy being in place for a portion of the prior year and not being in place during the current year, along with a decrease in the yield earned on cash held at the FRB of Kansas City.
Interest Expense
The weighted average rate paid on total interest-bearing liabilities decreased eight basis points, from 1.54% for the prior year to 1.46% for the current year, and the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities decreased $126.0 million. Absent the impact of the leverage strategy, the weighted average rate paid on total interest-bearing liabilities would have decreased six basis points, from 1.52% for the prior year to 1.46% for the current year, while the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities would have increased $31.8 million. The following table presents the components of interest expense for the time periods presented, along with the change measured in dollars and percent.
The increase in interest expense on deposits was due to an increase in the cost of the retail/business certificate of deposit portfolio, partially offset by decreases in the cost of wholesale certificates of deposit and money market accounts. The weighted average rate of the retail/business certificate of deposit portfolio increased 11 basis points, to 2.03% for the current year, and the average balance increased $185.0 million, or approximately 7%. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Bank increased offered rates on short-term and certain intermediate-term certificates of deposit in an effort to encourage customers to move funds to those terms. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Bank held the unTraditional campaign with above-market rates, resulting in growth in the short-term and certain intermediate-term certificates of deposit. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the retail/business certificate of deposit portfolio has been gradually repricing down as certificates renew to lower offered rates.
The borrowings line item in the table above includes interest expense associated and not associated with the leverage strategy. Interest expense on borrowings not related to the leverage strategy decreased $5.4 million from the prior year due primarily to a decrease in the average balance of such borrowings, as certain maturing FHLB advances and repurchase agreements were not replaced and the Bank paid down its FHLB line of credit with funds generated from the increase in deposits. Interest expense on FHLB borrowings associated with the leverage strategy decreased $3.9 million from the prior year due to the leverage strategy being in place for a portion of the prior year and not being in place at all during the current year.
Provision for Credit Losses
The Bank recorded a provision for credit losses during the current year of $22.3 million, compared to $750 thousand during the prior year. The $22.3 million provision for credit losses in the current year was primarily related to the deterioration of economic conditions as a result of COVID-19. See "Part I, Item 1. Business - Asset Quality - Allowance for credit losses and Provision for credit losses" for additional discussion regarding management's evaluation of the adequacy of the Bank's ACL at September 30, 2020.
Non-Interest Income
The following table presents the components of non-interest income for the time periods presented, along with the change measured in dollars and percent.
The decrease in deposit service fees was due mainly to a decrease in service charge income, primarily resulting from a decrease in consumer activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the discontinuation of point-of-sale service charges, which the Bank ceased charging in April 2019. The decrease in insurance commissions was due primarily to a decrease in the amount of annual contingent insurance commissions. The decrease in other non-interest income was due mainly to a decrease in loan-related fees, primarily prepayment fees and late charges, compared to the prior year.
Non-Interest Expense
The following table presents the components of non-interest expense for the time periods presented, along with the change measured in dollars and percent.
The decrease in information technology and related expense was due mainly to the prior year including costs related to the integration of the operations of CCB. The increase in occupancy, net was due primarily to an increase in facility-related costs resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with an increase in depreciation expense. The decrease in advertising and promotional expenses was due mainly to adjustments in advertising schedules, postponements of campaigns, and cancellations of certain sponsorships as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in deposit and loan transaction costs was due mainly to the timing of loan origination-related costs. The decrease in the federal insurance premium was due mainly to the Bank utilizing an assessment credit from the FDIC during the majority of the current year. The decrease in other non-interest expense was due primarily to a decrease in amortization of deposit intangibles, as well as a decrease in debit card fraud losses.
The Company's efficiency ratio was 50.74% for the current year compared to 46.83% for the prior year. The change in the efficiency ratio was due to lower net interest income in the current year compared to the prior year. The efficiency ratio is a measure of a financial institution's total non-interest expense as a percentage of the sum of net interest income (pre-provision for credit losses) and non-interest income. A higher value indicates that the financial institution is generating revenue with a proportionally higher level of expense, relative to the net interest margin.
Income Tax Expense
The following table presents pretax income, income tax expense, and net income for the time periods presented, along with the change measured in dollars and percent.
The decrease in income tax expense was due primarily to lower pretax income in the current year. The lower effective tax rate in the current year compared to the prior year was due mainly to the Company's permanent differences, such as low income housing partnership tax credits, which generally reduce our tax expense, having a proportionately larger impact given the lower pretax income in the current year period. Additionally, an income tax benefit was recognized during the current year as a result of favorable federal tax guidance issued during the current year related to certain bank-owned life insurance policies added in the CCB acquisition. Management anticipates the effective income tax rate for fiscal year 2021 will be approximately 21% to 22%.
Comparison of Operating Results for the Years Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018
For this discussion, see "Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Comparison of Operating Results for the Years Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity refers to our ability to generate sufficient cash to fund ongoing operations, to repay maturing certificates of deposit and other deposit withdrawals, to repay maturing borrowings, and to fund loan commitments. Liquidity management is both a daily and long-term function of our business management. The Company's most available liquid assets are represented by cash and cash equivalents, AFS securities, and short-term investment securities. The Bank's primary sources of funds are deposits, FHLB borrowings, repurchase agreements, repayments and maturities of outstanding loans and MBS and other short-term investments, and funds provided by operations. The Bank's long-term borrowings primarily have been used to manage the Bank's interest rate risk with the intention to improve the earnings of the Bank while maintaining capital ratios in excess of regulatory standards for well-capitalized financial institutions. In addition, the Bank's focus on managing risk has provided additional liquidity capacity by maintaining a balance of MBS and investment securities available as collateral for borrowings.
We generally intend to manage cash reserves sufficient to meet short-term liquidity needs, which are routinely forecasted for 10, 30, and 365 days. Additionally, on a monthly basis, we perform a liquidity stress test in accordance with the Interagency Policy Statement on Funding and Liquidity Risk Management. The liquidity stress test incorporates both short-term and long-term liquidity scenarios in order to identify and to quantify liquidity risk. Management also monitors key liquidity statistics related to items such as wholesale funding gaps, borrowings capacity, and available unpledged collateral, as well as various liquidity ratios. See the "Executive Summary" above for information regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our liquidity.
In the event short-term liquidity needs exceed available cash, the Bank has access to a line of credit at FHLB and the FRB of Kansas City's discount window. See "Part I, Item 1. Business - Sources of Funds" for information regarding limits on the Bank's FHLB borrowings. The amount that can be borrowed from the FRB of Kansas City's discount window is based upon the fair value of securities pledged as collateral and certain other characteristics of those securities. Management tests the Bank's access to the FRB of Kansas City's discount window annually with a nominal, overnight borrowing.
If management observes a trend in the amount and frequency of line of credit utilization and/or short-term borrowings that is not in conjunction with a planned strategy, such as the leverage strategy, the Bank will likely utilize long-term wholesale borrowing sources such as FHLB advances and/or repurchase agreements to provide long-term, fixed-rate funding. The maturities of these long-term borrowings are generally staggered in order to mitigate the risk of a highly negative cash flow position at maturity. The Bank's internal policy limits total borrowings to 55% of total assets. At September 30, 2020, the Bank had total borrowings, at par, of $1.79 billion, or approximately 19% of total assets, all of which were FHLB advances.
The amount of FHLB borrowings outstanding at September 30, 2020 was $1.79 billion, of which $843.0 million were advances scheduled to mature in the next 12 months, including $640.0 million of one-year floating-rate FHLB advances tied to interest rate swaps. All FHLB borrowings are secured by certain qualifying loans pursuant to a blanket collateral agreement with FHLB. At September 30, 2020, the ratio of the par value of the Bank's FHLB borrowings to Call Report total assets was 19%.
At September 30, 2020, the Bank had no repurchase agreements. The Bank may enter into repurchase agreements as management deems appropriate, not to exceed 15% of total assets, and subject to the total borrowings internal policy limit of 55% as discussed above.
The Bank could utilize the repayment and maturity of outstanding loans, MBS, and other investments for liquidity needs rather than reinvesting such funds into the related portfolios. At September 30, 2020, the Bank had $1.22 billion of securities that were eligible but unused as collateral for borrowing or other liquidity needs.
The Bank has access to other sources of funds for liquidity purposes, such as brokered and public unit certificates of deposit. As of September 30, 2020, the Bank's policy allowed for combined brokered and public unit certificates of deposit up to 15% of total deposits. At September 30, 2020, the Bank did not have any brokered certificates of deposit and public unit certificates of deposit were approximately 4% of total deposits. The Bank had pledged securities with an estimated fair value of $331.0 million as collateral for public unit certificates of deposit at September 30, 2020. The securities pledged as collateral for public unit certificates of deposit are held under joint custody with FHLB and generally will be released upon deposit maturity.
At September 30, 2020, $1.51 billion of the Bank's certificate of deposit portfolio was scheduled to mature within the next 12 months, including $237.5 million of public unit certificates of deposit. Based on our deposit retention experience and our current pricing strategy, we anticipate the majority of the maturing retail certificates of deposit will renew or transfer to other deposit products of the Bank at prevailing rates, although no assurance can be given in this regard. We also anticipate the majority of the maturing public unit certificates of deposit will be replaced with similar wholesale funding products, depending on availability and pricing.
While scheduled payments from the amortization of loans and MBS and payments on short-term investments are relatively predictable sources of funds, deposit flows, prepayments on loans and MBS, and calls of investment securities are greatly influenced by general interest rates, economic conditions, and competition, and are less predictable sources of funds. To the extent possible, the Bank manages the cash flows of its loan and deposit portfolios by the rates it offers customers.
The following table presents the contractual maturities of our loan, MBS, and investment securities portfolios at September 30, 2020, along with associated weighted average yields. Loans and securities which have adjustable interest rates are shown as maturing in the period during which the contract is due. The table does not reflect the effects of possible prepayments or enforcement of due on sale clauses. As of September 30, 2020, the amortized cost of investment securities in our portfolio which are callable or have pre-refunding dates within one year was $228.0 million.
(1)The maturity date for home equity loans, including those that do not have a stated maturity date, assumes the customer always makes the required minimum payment. All other loans that do not have a stated maturity date and overdraft loans are included in the amounts due within one year. Construction loans are presented based on the estimated term to complete construction.
Limitations on Dividends and Other Capital Distributions
OCC regulations impose restrictions on savings institutions with respect to their ability to make distributions of capital, which include dividends, stock redemptions or repurchases, cash-out mergers and other transactions charged to the capital account. Under FRB and OCC safe harbor regulations, savings institutions generally may make capital distributions during any calendar year equal to earnings of the previous two calendar years and current year-to-date earnings. A savings institution that is a subsidiary of a savings and loan holding company, such as the Company, that proposes to make a capital distribution must submit written notice to the OCC and FRB 30 days prior to such distribution. The OCC and FRB may object to the distribution during that 30-day period based on safety and soundness or other concerns. Savings institutions that desire to make a larger capital distribution, are under special restrictions, or are not, or would not be, sufficiently capitalized following a proposed capital distribution must obtain regulatory non-objection prior to making such a distribution.
The long-term ability of the Company to pay dividends to its stockholders is based primarily upon the ability of the Bank to make capital distributions to the Company. So long as the Bank remains well capitalized after each capital distribution (as evidenced by maintaining a CBLR greater than the required percentage), and operates in a safe and sound manner, it is management's belief that the OCC and FRB will continue to allow the Bank to distribute its earnings to the Company, although no assurance can be given in this regard.
Capital
Consistent with our goal to operate a sound and profitable financial organization, we actively seek to maintain a well-capitalized status for the Bank per the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action ("PCA"). Qualifying institutions that elect to use the CBLR framework, such as the Bank and the Company, that maintain a the required minimum leverage ratio will be considered to have satisfied the generally applicable risk-based and leverage capital requirements in the regulatory agencies' capital rules, and to have met the capital requirements for the well capitalized category under the agencies' PCA framework. As of September 30, 2020, the Bank's CBLR was 12.4% and the Company's CBLR was 13.7%, which exceeded the minimum requirements. See "Part I, Item 1. Business - Regulation and Supervision - Regulatory Capital Requirements" for additional information related to regulatory capital.
The following table presents a reconciliation of equity under GAAP to regulatory capital amounts, as of September 30, 2020, for the Bank and the Company (dollars in thousands):
Contingencies
In the normal course of business, the Company and the Bank are named defendants in various lawsuits and counter claims. In the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel, none of the currently pending suits are expected to have a materially adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2020, or future periods.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Commitments and Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations, along with associated weighted average contractual rates, as of September 30, 2020.
The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of customers. These financial instruments consist primarily of commitments to originate, purchase, or participate in loans or fund lines of credit, along with standby letters of credit. Standby letters of credit generally are contingent upon the failure of the customer to perform according to the terms of an underlying contract with a third party. The credit risks associated with these off-balance-sheet commitments are essentially the same as those involved with extending loans to customers and these commitments are subject to normal credit policies. The contractual amounts of these off-balance sheet financial instruments as of September 30, 2020 were as follows (dollars in thousands):
It is expected that some of the commitments will expire unfunded; therefore, the amounts reflected in the table above are not necessarily indicative of future liquidity requirements. Additionally, the Bank is not obligated to honor commitments to fund unused lines of credit if a customer is delinquent or otherwise in violation of the loan agreement.
The Company has investments in several low income housing partnerships. These partnerships supply funds for the construction and operation of apartment complexes that provide affordable housing to that segment of the population with lower family income. If these developments successfully attract a specified percentage of residents falling in that lower income range, federal income tax credits are made available to the partners. The tax credits are normally recognized over ten years, and they play an important part in the anticipated yield from these investments. In order to continue receiving the tax credits each year over the life of the partnership, the low-income residency targets must be maintained. Under the terms of the partnership agreements, the Company has a commitment to fund a specified amount that will be due in installments over the life of the agreements. The majority of the commitments at September 30, 2020 are projected to be funded through the end of calendar year 2022. At September 30, 2020, the investments totaled $89.7 million and are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet. Unfunded commitments, which are recorded as liabilities, totaled $44.5 million at September 30, 2020.
We anticipate we will continue to have sufficient funds, through repayments and maturities of loans and securities, deposits and borrowings, to meet our current commitments.
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Asset and Liability Management and Market Risk
The rates of interest the Bank earns on its assets and pays on its liabilities are generally established contractually for a period of time. Fluctuations in interest rates have a significant impact not only upon our net income, but also upon the cash flows and market values of our assets and liabilities. Our results of operations, like those of other financial institutions, are impacted by changes in interest rates and the interest rate sensitivity of our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Risk associated with changes in interest rates on the earnings of the Bank and the market value of its financial assets and liabilities is known as interest rate risk. Interest rate risk is our most significant market risk, and our ability to adapt to changes in interest rates is known as interest rate risk management.
On a weekly basis, management reviews deposit flows, loan demand, cash levels, and changes in several market rates to assess all pricing strategies. The Bank's pricing strategy for first mortgage loan products includes setting interest rates based on secondary market prices and competitor pricing for our local and correspondent lending markets. Pricing for commercial loans is generally based on competitor pricing and the credit risk of the borrower with consideration given to the overall relationship of the borrower. Generally, deposit pricing is based upon a survey of competitors in the Bank's market areas, and the need to attract funding and retain maturing deposits. The majority of our loans are fixed-rate products with maturities up to 30 years, while the majority of our retail deposits have stated maturities or repricing dates of less than two years.
The general objective of our interest rate risk management program is to determine and manage an appropriate level of interest rate risk while maximizing net interest income in a manner consistent with our policy to manage, to the extent practicable, the exposure of net interest income to changes in market interest rates. The Board of Directors and ALCO regularly review the Bank's interest rate risk exposure by forecasting the impact of hypothetical, alternative interest rate environments on net interest income and the market value of portfolio equity ("MVPE") at various dates. The MVPE is defined as the net of the present value of cash flows from existing assets, liabilities, and off-balance sheet instruments. The present values are determined based upon market conditions as of the date of the analysis, as well as in alternative interest rate environments, providing potential changes in the MVPE under those alternative interest rate environments. Net interest income is projected in the same alternative interest rate environments with both a static balance sheet and management strategies considered. The MVPE and net interest income analyses are also conducted to estimate our sensitivity to rates for future time horizons based upon market conditions as of the date of the analysis. In addition to the interest rate environments presented below, management also reviews the impact of non-parallel rate shock scenarios on a quarterly basis. These scenarios consist of flattening and steepening the yield curve by changing short-term and long-term interest rates independent of each other, and simulating cash flows and determining valuations as a result of these hypothetical changes in interest rates to identify rate environments that pose the greatest risk to the Bank. This analysis helps management quantify the Bank's exposure to changes in the shape of the yield curve.
The ability to maximize net interest income is dependent largely upon the achievement of a positive interest rate spread that can be sustained despite fluctuations in prevailing interest rates. The asset and liability repricing gap is a measure of the difference between the amount of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities which either reprice or mature within a given period of time. The difference provides an indication of the extent to which an institution's interest rate spread will be affected by changes in interest rates. A gap is considered positive when the amount of interest-earning assets exceeds the amount of interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing during the same period. A gap is considered negative when the amount of interest-bearing liabilities exceeds the amount of interest-earning assets maturing or repricing during the same period. Generally, during a period of rising interest rates, a negative gap within shorter repricing periods adversely affects net interest income, while a positive gap within shorter repricing periods positively affects net interest income. During a period of falling interest rates, the opposite would generally be true.
The shape of the yield curve also has an impact on our net interest income and, therefore, the Bank's net interest margin. Historically, the Bank has benefited from a steeper yield curve as the Bank's mortgage loans are generally priced off of long-term rates while deposits are priced off of short-term rates. A steeper yield curve (one with a greater difference between short-term rates and long-term rates) allows the Bank to receive a higher rate of interest on its new mortgage-related assets relative to the rate paid for the funding of those assets, which generally results in a higher net interest margin. As the yield curve flattens or becomes inverted, the spread between rates received on assets and paid on liabilities becomes compressed, which generally leads to a decrease in net interest margin.
General assumptions used by management to evaluate the sensitivity of our financial performance to changes in interest rates presented in the tables below are utilized in, and set forth under, the gap table and related notes. Although management finds these assumptions reasonable, the interest rate sensitivity of our assets and liabilities and the estimated effects of changes in interest rates on our net interest income and MVPE indicated in the below tables could vary substantially if different assumptions were used or actual experience differs from these assumptions. To illustrate this point, the projected cumulative excess (deficiency) of interest-earning assets over interest-bearing liabilities within the next 12 months as a percent of total assets ("one-year gap") is also provided for an up 200 basis point scenario, as of September 30, 2020.
Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
At September 30, 2020, the Bank's gap between the amount of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities projected to reprice within one year was $435.0 million, or 4.58% of total assets, compared to $487.4 million, or 5.22% of total assets, at September 30, 2019. The decrease in the one-year gap amount was due to a shift in the cash flow projections on the Bank's non-maturity deposits compared to the prior year, related to the implementation of a new interest rate risk model. This change shortened the life of these liabilities and thus increased the amount of projected cash flows in the 12-month horizon compared to the previous model. This change was largely offset by lower interest rates as of September 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019, which increased the cash flow projections related to the Bank's mortgage-related assets. As interest rates fall, borrowers have more economic incentive to refinance their mortgages and agency debt issuers have more economic incentive or opportunity to exercise their call options in order to issue new debt at lower interest rates, resulting in higher projected cash flows on these assets.
The majority of interest-earning assets anticipated to reprice in the coming year are repayments and prepayments on one- to four-family loans and MBS, both of which include the option to prepay without a fee being paid by the contract holder. The amount of interest-bearing liabilities expected to reprice in a given period is not typically impacted significantly by changes in interest rates, because the Bank's borrowings and certificate of deposit portfolios have contractual maturities and generally cannot be terminated early without a prepayment penalty. If interest rates were to increase 200 basis points, as of September 30, 2020, the Bank's one-year gap is projected to be $(611.0) million, or (6.44)% of total assets. The decrease in the gap compared to when there is no change in rates is due to lower anticipated cash flows in the higher rate environment. This compares to a one-year gap of $(361.8) million, or (3.87)% of total assets, if interest rates were to have increased 200 basis points as of September 30, 2019.
During the current fiscal year, loan repayments totaled $1.89 billion and cash flows from the securities portfolio totaled $668.0 million. The majority of these cash flows were reinvested into new loans and securities at current market interest rates. Total cash flows from term liabilities that matured and/or repriced into current market interest rates during the current fiscal year were $2.97 billion, including $1.16 billion in term borrowings, of which $640.0 million was tied to interest rate swaps. These offsetting cash flows allow the Bank to manage its interest rate risk and gap position more precisely than if the Bank did not have offsetting cash flows due to its mix of assets or maturity structure of liabilities.
The Bank primarily uses long-term fixed-rate borrowings with no embedded options to lengthen the average life of the Bank's liabilities. The fixed-rate characteristics of these borrowings lock-in the cost until maturity and thus decrease the amount of liabilities repricing as interest rates move higher compared to funding with lower-cost short-term borrowings. These borrowings are laddered in order to prevent large amounts of liabilities repricing in any one period. The WAL of the Bank's term borrowings as of September 30, 2020 was 1.9 years. However, including the impact of interest rate swaps related to $640.0 million of adjustable-rate FHLB advances, the WAL of the Bank's term borrowings as of September 30, 2020 was 3.0 years. The interest rate swaps effectively convert the adjustable-rate borrowings into long-term, fixed-rate liabilities.
In addition to these wholesale strategies, the Bank has benefited from an increase in non-maturity deposits. Rates paid on non-maturity deposits are not expected to increase as market interest rates rise. Specifically, checking accounts and savings accounts have had minimal interest rate fluctuations throughout historical interest rate cycles, though no assurance can be given that this will be the case in future interest rate cycles. The balances and rates of these accounts have historically tended to remain very stable over time, giving them the characteristic of long-term liabilities. The Bank uses historical data pertaining to these accounts to estimate their future balances. Additionally, as we expand the commercial banking business, we expect to have the ability to obtain lower-costing commercial deposits, which could be used to reduce the cost of funds by replacing FHLB borrowings and wholesale deposits.
With the significant decrease in interest rates during the current year, the Bank has decreased the rates on certificates of deposit and money market accounts on pace with competitors in its market areas. The Bank will continue to adjust rates as market conditions allow.
Gap Table. The following gap table summarizes the anticipated maturities or repricing periods of the Bank's interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities based on the information and assumptions set forth in the notes below. Cash flow projections for mortgage-related assets are calculated based in part on prepayment assumptions at current and projected interest rates. Prepayment projections are subjective in nature, involve uncertainties and assumptions and, therefore, cannot be determined with a high degree of accuracy. Although certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or periods to repricing, they may react differently to changes in market interest rates. Assumptions may not reflect how actual yields and costs respond to market interest rate changes. The interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in market interest rates, while interest rates on other types of assets and liabilities may lag behind changes in market interest rates. Certain assets, such as adjustable-rate loans, have features that restrict changes in interest rates on a short-term basis and over the life of the asset. In the event of a change in interest rates, prepayment and early withdrawal levels would likely deviate significantly from those assumed in calculating the gap table below. A positive gap indicates more cash flows from assets are expected to reprice than cash flows from liabilities and would indicate, in a rising rate environment, that earnings should increase. A negative gap indicates more cash flows from liabilities are expected to reprice than cash flows from assets and would indicate, in a rising rate environment, that earnings should decrease. For additional information regarding the impact of changes in interest rates, see the following Change in Net Interest Income and Change in MVPE discussions and tables.
(1)Adjustable-rate loans are included in the period in which the rate is next scheduled to adjust or in the period in which repayments are expected to occur, or prepayments are expected to be received, prior to their next rate adjustment, rather than in the period in which the loans are due. Fixed-rate loans are included in the periods in which they are scheduled to be repaid, based on scheduled amortization and prepayment assumptions. Balances are net of undisbursed amounts and deferred fees and exclude loans 90 or more days delinquent or in foreclosure.
(2)MBS reflect projected prepayments at amortized cost. Investment securities are presented based on contractual maturities, term to call dates or pre-refunding dates as of September 30, 2020, at amortized cost.
(3)Although the Bank's checking, savings, and money market accounts are subject to immediate withdrawal, management considers a substantial amount of these accounts to be core deposits having significantly longer effective maturities. The decay rates (the assumed rates at which the balances of existing accounts decline) used on these accounts is based on assumptions developed from our actual experiences with these accounts. If all of the Bank's checking, savings, and money market accounts had been assumed to be subject to repricing within one year, interest-bearing liabilities which were estimated to mature or reprice within one year would have exceeded interest-earning assets with comparable characteristics by $2.07 billion, for a cumulative one-year gap of (21.8)% of total assets.
(4)Borrowings exclude deferred prepayment penalty costs. Included in this line item are $640.0 million of FHLB adjustable-rate advances with interest rate swaps. The repricing for these liabilities is projected to occur at the maturity date of each interest rate swap.
Change in Net Interest Income. The Bank's net interest income projections are a reflection of the response to interest rates of the assets and liabilities that are expected to mature or reprice over the next year. Repricing occurs as a result of cash flows that are received or paid on assets or due on liabilities which would be replaced at then current market interest rates or on adjustable-rate products that reset during the next year. The Bank's borrowings and certificate of deposit portfolios have stated maturities and the cash flows related to the Bank's liabilities do not generally fluctuate as a result of changes in interest rates. Cash flows from mortgage-related assets and callable agency debentures can vary significantly as a result of changes in interest rates. As interest rates decrease, borrowers have an economic incentive to lower their cost of debt by refinancing or endorsing their mortgage to a lower interest rate. Similarly, agency debt issuers are more likely to exercise embedded call options for agency securities and issue new securities at a lower interest rate.
For each date presented in the following table, the estimated change in the Bank's net interest income is based on the indicated instantaneous, parallel and permanent change in interest rates. The change in each interest rate environment represents the difference between estimated net interest income in the 0 basis point interest rate environment ("base case," assumes the forward market and product interest rates implied by the yield curve are realized) and the estimated net interest income in each alternative interest rate environment (assumes market and product interest rates have a parallel shift in rates across all maturities by the indicated change in rates). Projected cash flows for each scenario are based upon varying prepayment assumptions to model likely customer behavior changes as market rates change. For the current year, multiple yields along the yield curve were less than one percent, so the -100 basis points scenario was not applicable. Estimations of net interest income used in preparing the table below were based upon the assumptions that the total composition of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities does not change materially and that any repricing of assets or liabilities occurs at anticipated product and market rates for the alternative rate environments as of the dates presented. The estimation of net interest income does not include any projected gains or losses related to the sale of loans or securities, or income derived from non-interest income sources, but does include the use of different prepayment assumptions in the alternative interest rate environments. It is important to consider that estimated changes in net interest income are for a cumulative four-quarter period. These do not reflect the earnings expectations of management.
(1)Assumes an instantaneous, parallel, and permanent change in interest rates at all maturities.
The net interest income projection was lower in the base case scenario at September 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019 due to lower interest rates at September 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019. Because the Bank's gap was positive during the current year, assets have repriced downward at a faster pace than liabilities, resulting in a lower base case net interest income projection at September 30, 2020.
The net interest income projections increase from the base case in all rising interest rate scenarios at September 30, 2020. The net interest income projection was more adversely impacted in the rising interest rate scenarios at September 30, 2019 compared to September 30, 2020, due primarily to higher interest rates at September 30, 2019. The positive impact of rising interest rates is diminished as interest rates increase. Higher interest rates decreased the projected cash flows from the Bank's mortgage-related assets, thus decreasing the positive impact of rising interest rates compared to the base case.
Change in MVPE. Changes in the estimated market values of our financial assets and liabilities drive changes in estimates of MVPE. The market value of an asset or liability reflects the present value of all the projected cash flows over its remaining life, discounted at market interest rates. As interest rates rise, generally the market value for both financial assets and liabilities decrease. The opposite is generally true as interest rates fall. The MVPE represents the theoretical market value of capital that is calculated by netting the market value of assets, liabilities, and off-balance sheet instruments. If the market values of financial assets increase at a faster pace than the market values of financial liabilities, or if the market values of financial liabilities decrease at a faster pace than the market values of financial assets, the MVPE will increase. The market value of shorter term-to-maturity financial instruments is less sensitive to changes in interest rates than are longer term-to-maturity financial instruments. Because of this, the market values of our certificates of deposit (which generally have relatively shorter average lives) tend to display less sensitivity to changes in interest rates than do our mortgage-related assets (which generally have relatively longer average lives). The average life expected on our mortgage-related assets varies under different interest rate environments because borrowers have the ability to prepay their mortgage loans. Therefore, as interest rates decrease, the WAL of mortgage-related assets decrease as well. As interest rates increase, the WAL would be expected to increase, as well as increasing the sensitivity of these assets in higher rate environments.
The following table sets forth the estimated change in the MVPE for each date presented based on the indicated instantaneous, parallel, and permanent change in interest rates. The change in each interest rate environment represents the difference between the MVPE in the base case (assumes the forward market interest rates implied by the yield curve are realized) and the MVPE in each alternative interest rate environment (assumes market interest rates have a parallel shift in rates). Projected cash flows for each scenario are based upon varying prepayment assumptions to model likely customer behavior as market rates change. For the current year, multiple yields along the yield curve were less than one percent, so the -100 basis points scenario was not applicable. The estimations of the MVPE used in preparing the table below were based upon the assumptions that the total composition of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities does not change, that any repricing of assets or liabilities occurs at current product or market rates for the alternative rate environments as of the dates presented, and that different prepayment rates were used in each alternative interest rate environment. The estimated MVPE results from the valuation of cash flows from financial assets and liabilities over the anticipated lives of each for each interest rate environment. The table below presents the effects of the changes in interest rates on our assets and liabilities as they mature, repay, or reprice, as shown by the change in the MVPE for alternative interest rates.
(1)Assumes an instantaneous, parallel, and permanent change in interest rates at all maturities.
The percentage change in the Bank's MVPE at September 30, 2020 was negative in all scenarios. At September 30, 2019 the percentage change in the Bank's MVPE was negative in the +200 and +300 basis point scenarios. This change was due primarily to a change in the Bank's interest rate risk model, of which the most significant impact was on the valuation of the Bank's non-maturity deposit portfolio. The model changes resulted in a shorter duration for these liabilities than was modeled at September 30, 2019, which reduced their sensitivity to changes in interest rates. The Bank's MVPE decreases as interest rates rise, as the market value for assets decreases at a faster pace than these liabilities. The negative impact to the MVPE in the rising interest rate scenarios is due to slower prepayment projections on the Bank's mortgage-related assets and investments. As interest rates increase, borrowers have less economic incentive to refinance their mortgages and agency debt issuers have less economic incentive or opportunity to exercise their call options in order to issue new debt at lower interest rates, resulting in lower projected cash flows on these assets. As interest rates increase in the rising rate scenarios, repayments on mortgage-related assets are more likely to decrease and only be realized through significant changes in borrowers' lives such as divorce, death, job-related relocations, or other events as there is less economic incentive for borrowers to prepay their debt, resulting in an increase in the average life of mortgage-related assets. Similarly, call projections for the Bank's callable agency debentures decrease as interest rates rise, which results in cash flows related to these assets moving closer to the contractual maturity dates. The higher expected average lives of these assets, relative to the assumptions in the base case interest rate environment, increases the sensitivity of their market value to changes in interest rates.
The following table presents the weighted average yields/rates and WALs (in years), after applying prepayment, call assumptions, and decay rates for our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities as of September 30, 2020. Yields presented for interest-earning assets include the amortization of fees, costs, premiums and discounts, which are considered adjustments to the yield. The interest rate presented for term borrowings is the effective rate, which includes the impact of interest rate swaps and the amortization of deferred prepayment penalties resulting from FHLB advances previously prepaid. The WAL presented for term borrowings includes the effect of interest rate swaps. The maturity and repricing terms presented for one- to four-family loans represent the contractual terms of the loan.
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. and subsidiary
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. and subsidiary (the "Company") as of September 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended September 30, 2020, of the Company and our report dated November 25, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
November 25, 2020
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. and subsidiary
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. and subsidiary (the "Company") as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated November 25, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Allowance for Credit Losses - Refer to Notes 1 and 5 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
Management's methodology for assessing the appropriateness of the allowance for credit losses (ACL) consists of a formula analysis model, along with analyzing and considering several other relevant internal and external factors. In the formula analysis model, historical loss factors, as adjusted, are applied to each loan category and qualitative factors are applied to reflect risks inherent in each loan category that are not captured by the historical loss factors. Management reviews the factors quarterly to assess whether the factors adequately cover probable and estimable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. Management also analyzes and considers several other relevant internal and external factors, including the national and state unemployment rates, national and state unemployment benefit claim levels, the amount of and timing of financial assistance provided by the government and the Bank's COVID-19 loan modification program, residential real estate value trends, credit score trends, delinquent loan trends, consumer spending levels and trends, industries significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, commercial lending's review of the Bank's largest commercial loan relationships, historical peer ACL to loan
ratios and industry and peer charge-off percentages, among other considerations. Based on management's review of these data elements, they evaluate the reasonableness of the ACL on an ongoing basis and whether any changes need to be made to the Bank's ACL methodology, including the consideration of the economic conditions. During the current fiscal year, management increased the historical loss and qualitative factors applied in the formula analysis model for all loan categories and added a COVID-19 qualitative loss factor to the Bank's commercial loan portfolio.
Considering the estimation and judgment required by management in determining adjustments for qualitative factors, our audit of the ACL and the related disclosures required a high degree of auditor judgment with regard to the qualitative adjustments specifically to the commercial loan portfolio.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the ACL formula analysis model included the following, among others:
•We tested the effectiveness of controls over the Company's ACL formula analysis model inclusive of the controls over loan charge-off activity and including additional considerations with respect to current economic conditions and management's review of the adequacy of the ACL.
•We tested the classification and appropriate segregation of loan categories based on certain risk characteristics in order to evaluate the application of the relevant economic and qualitative assumptions.
•We evaluated the appropriateness and relevance of the data elements by comparing to relevant internal and external sources.
•We tested the mathematical accuracy of (i) the historical charge-off activity, (ii) the quantitative measures of the qualitative loss factors, and (iii) the formula analysis model calculations.
•We assessed the reasonableness of, and evaluated support for, key qualitative adjustments based on market and economic conditions and/or portfolio performance metrics.
•We assessed the reasonableness of, and evaluated support for, the COVID-19 qualitative factor applied to the commercial portfolio including (i) industries significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, (ii) commercial lending's review of commercial loan relationships, and (iii) COVID-19 loan modifications.
•We evaluated analytics, trends, and peer analysis of the overall ACL formula analysis model to assess for reasonableness.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
November 25, 2020
We have served as the Company's auditor since 1974.
CAPITOL FEDERAL FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Description of Business - Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. (the "Company") provides a full range of retail banking services through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Capitol Federal Savings Bank (the "Bank"), a federal savings bank, which has 45 traditional and 9 in-store banking offices serving primarily the metropolitan areas of Topeka, Wichita, Lawrence, Manhattan, Emporia and Salina, Kansas and portions of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The Bank emphasizes mortgage lending, primarily originating and purchasing one- to four-family loans, and providing personal retail financial services, along with offering commercial banking and lending products. The Bank is subject to competition from other financial institutions and other companies that provide financial services.
Basis of Presentation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, the Bank. The Bank has two wholly owned subsidiaries, Capitol Funds, Inc. and Capital City Investments, Inc. Capitol Funds, Inc. has a wholly-owned subsidiary, Capitol Federal Mortgage Reinsurance Company. Capital City Investments, Inc. is a real estate and investment holding company. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), and require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents - Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents reported in the statement of cash flows include cash and cash equivalents of $185.1 million and $220.4 million at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and restricted cash and cash equivalents of $54.6 million and $33.3 million at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, which was included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The restricted cash and cash equivalents relate to the collateral postings to/from the Bank's derivative counterparties associated with the Bank's interest rate swaps. See additional discussion regarding the interest rate swaps in Note 9. Deposits and Borrowed Funds.
Regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("FRB") require federally chartered savings banks to maintain cash reserves against their transaction accounts. Required reserves must be maintained in the form of vault cash, an account at a Federal Reserve Bank, or a pass-through account as defined by the FRB. The amount of interest-earning deposits held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City ("FRB of Kansas City") as of September 30, 2020 and 2019 was $172.2 million and $198.6 million, respectively. The Bank is in compliance with the FRB requirements. For the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the average daily balance of required reserves at the FRB of Kansas City was $6.6 million and $21.5 million, respectively.
Net Presentation of Cash Flows Related to Borrowings - At times, the Bank enters into certain FHLB advances with contractual maturities of 90 days or less. Cash flows related to these advances are reported on a net basis in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Securities - Securities include MBS and agency debentures issued primarily by United States Government-Sponsored Enterprises ("GSE"), including Federal National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Federal Home Loan Banks, United States Government agencies, including Government National Mortgage Association, and municipal bonds. Securities are classified as HTM, AFS, or trading based on management's intention for holding the securities on the date of purchase. Generally, classifications are made in response to liquidity needs, asset/liability management strategies, and the market interest rate environment at the time of purchase.
Securities that management has the intention and ability to hold to maturity are classified as HTM and reported at amortized cost. Such securities are adjusted for the amortization of premiums and discounts which are recognized as adjustments to interest income over the life of the securities using the level-yield method. At September 30, 2020 and 2019, the portfolio did not contain any securities classified as HTM.
Securities that management may sell if necessary for liquidity or asset management purposes are classified as AFS and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of AOCI within stockholders' equity, net of deferred income taxes. The amortization of premiums and discounts are recognized as adjustments to interest income over the life of the securities using the level-yield method. Gains or losses on the disposition of AFS securities are recognized using the specific identification method. The Company primarily uses prices obtained from third-party pricing services to determine the fair value of securities. See additional discussion of fair value of AFS securities in "Note 15. Fair Value of Financial Instruments."
Securities that are purchased and held principally for resale in the near future are classified as trading securities and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in non-interest income in the consolidated statements of income. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, neither the Company nor the Bank maintained a trading securities portfolio.
Management monitors securities in the investment portfolio for impairment on an ongoing basis and performs a formal review quarterly. The process involves monitoring market events and other items that could impact issuers. The evaluation includes, but is not limited to, such factors as: the nature of the investment, the length of time the security has had a fair value less than the amortized cost basis, the cause(s) and severity of the loss, expectation of an anticipated recovery period, recent events specific to the issuer or industry including the issuer's financial condition and current ability to make future payments in a timely manner, external credit ratings and recent downgrades in such ratings, management's intention to sell and whether it is more likely than not management would be required to sell prior to recovery for debt securities. Management determines whether other-than-temporary losses should be recognized for impaired securities by assessing all known facts and circumstances surrounding the securities. If management intends to sell an impaired security or if it is more likely than not that management will be required to sell an impaired security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred and the difference between amortized cost and fair value will be recognized as a loss in earnings and the security will be written down to fair value.
Loans Receivable - Loans receivable that management has the intention and ability to hold for the foreseeable future are carried at the amount of unpaid principal, net of ACL, undisbursed loan funds, unamortized premiums and discounts, and deferred loan origination fees and costs. Net loan origination fees and costs, and premiums and discounts are amortized as yield adjustments to interest income using the level-yield method. Interest on loans is credited to income as earned and accrued only if deemed collectible.
Loan endorsements - Certain existing one- to four- family loan customers, including customers whose loans were purchased from a correspondent lender, have the opportunity, for a fee, to endorse their original loan terms to current loan terms being offered by the Bank. The fee received for each endorsement is deferred and amortized as an adjustment to interest income over the life of the loan. If the change in loan terms resulting from the endorsement is deemed to be more than minor, the loan is treated as a new loan and all existing unamortized deferred loan origination fees and costs are recognized at the time of endorsement. If the change in loan terms is deemed to be minor, the fee received for the endorsement is added to the net remaining unamortized deferred fee or deferred cost balance.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 ("COVID-19") loan modification programs - In March 2020, the Bank announced loan modification programs to support and provide relief for its borrowers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Generally, loan modifications under these programs ("COVID-19 loan modifications") for one- to four-family loans and consumer loans consist of a three-month payment forbearance of principal, interest, and in some cases, escrow. COVID-19 loan modifications of commercial loans mainly consist of up to a six-month interest-only payment period, but an option for a three- to six-month forbearance of principal and interest was also available to our borrowers. The Company has followed the loan modification criteria within the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act or Interagency guidance when determining if a borrower's modification is subject to troubled debt restructuring ("TDR") classification. If it is determined that the modification does not meet the criteria under the CARES Act or Interagency guidance to be excluded from TDR classification, the Company evaluates the loan modifications under its existing TDR framework. Loans subject to forbearance under the COVID-19 loan modification program are not reported as past due or placed on nonaccrual status during the forbearance time period, and interest income continues to be recognized over the contractual life of the loans.
Troubled debt restructurings - For borrowers experiencing financial difficulties, the Bank may grant a concession to the borrower. Such concessions generally involve extensions of loan maturity dates, the granting of periods during which
reduced payment amounts are required, and/or reductions in interest rates. The Bank does not forgive principal or interest, nor does it commit to lend additional funds to these borrowers, except for situations generally involving the capitalization of delinquent interest and/or escrow on one- to four-family loans and consumer loans, not to exceed the original loan amount. In the case of commercial loans, the Bank does not forgive principal or interest or commit to lend additional funds unless the borrower provides additional collateral or other enhancements to improve the credit quality.
Delinquent loans - A loan is considered delinquent when payment has not been received within 30 days of its contractual due date. The number of days delinquent is determined by the number of scheduled payments that remain unpaid, assuming a period of 30 days between each scheduled payment.
Nonaccrual loans - The accrual of income on loans is generally discontinued when interest or principal payments are 90 days in arrears. We also report certain TDR loans as nonaccrual loans that are required to be reported as such pursuant to regulatory reporting requirements. Loans on which the accrual of income has been discontinued are designated as nonaccrual and outstanding interest previously credited beyond 90 days delinquent is reversed, except in the case of commercial loans in which all delinquent accrued interest is reversed. A nonaccrual one- to four-family or consumer loan is returned to accrual status once the contractual payments have been made to bring the loan less than 90 days past due or, in the case of a TDR loan, the borrower has made the required consecutive loan payments. A nonaccrual commercial loan is returned to accrual status once the loan has been current for a minimum of six months, all fees and interest are paid current, the loan has a sufficient debt service coverage ratio, and the loan is well secured and within policy.
Impaired loans - A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect all amounts due, including principal and interest, according to the original contractual terms of the loan agreement. Interest income on impaired loans is recognized in the period collected unless the ultimate collection of principal is considered doubtful, in which case interest income is no longer recognized.
Acquired loans - Acquired loans are initially recorded at fair value based on a discounted cash flow valuation methodology that considers, among other things, interest rates, projected prepayments, projected default rates, loss given default and recovery rates, with no carryover of any existing ACL. Acquired loans with evidence of credit quality deterioration at acquisition are reviewed to determine if it is probable that the Company will not be able to collect all contractual amounts due, including both principal and interest. When both conditions exist, such loans are categorized and accounted for as purchased credit impaired ("PCI") loans. When these conditions do not exist, the loans are categorized as non-PCI loans.
For PCI loans with cash flows that the Company has determined can be reasonably estimated, which is the majority of the PCI loans, interest income is recognized on a level-yield basis over the life of the loan based upon the excess of expected cash flows over the original investment in the loan.
Allowance for Credit Losses - The ACL represents management's best estimate of the amount of inherent losses in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date. It involves a high degree of complexity and requires management to make difficult and subjective judgments and assumptions about highly uncertain matters. Management's methodology for assessing the appropriateness of the ACL consists of a formula analysis model, along with analyzing and considering several other relevant internal and external factors. The use of different judgments and assumptions could cause reported results to differ significantly. Management maintains the ACL through provisions for credit losses that are either charged or credited to income.
One- to four-family loans, including home equity loans, are individually evaluated for loss when the loan is generally 180 days delinquent and any losses are charged-off. Losses are based on new collateral values obtained through appraisals, less estimated costs to sell. Anticipated private mortgage insurance proceeds are taken into consideration when calculating the loss amount. An updated appraisal is requested, at a minimum, every 12 months thereafter if the loan is 180 days or more delinquent or in foreclosure. If the Bank holds the first and second mortgage, both loans are combined when evaluating whether there is a potential loss on the loan. When a non-real estate secured consumer loan is 120 days delinquent, any identified losses are charged-off. For commercial loans, generally losses are charged-off prior to a loan becoming 120 days delinquent when it is determined, through the analysis of any available current financial information with regards to the borrower, that the borrower is not able to service the debt and there is little or no prospect for near term improvement, or, in the case of secured loans, it is determined, through the analysis of current information with regards to the Bank's collateral position, that the amounts due from the borrower are in excess of the calculated current fair value of the collateral after
consideration of estimated costs to sell. Charge-offs for any loan type may also occur at any time if the Bank has knowledge of the existence of a probable loss.
The primary risk characteristics inherent in the one- to four-family and consumer loan portfolios are a decline in economic conditions, elevated levels of unemployment or underemployment, and declines in residential real estate values. Any one or a combination of these events may adversely affect the ability of borrowers to repay their loans, resulting in increased delinquencies, non-performing assets, loan losses, and future loan loss provisions. Although the commercial loan portfolio is subject to the same risk of declines in economic conditions, the primary risk characteristics inherent in this portfolio include the ability of the borrower to sustain sufficient cash flows from leases and business operations, the ability to control operational or business expenses to satisfy their contractual debt payments, and the ability to utilize personal or business resources to pay their contractual debt payments if the cash flows are not sufficient. Additionally, if the Bank were to repossess the secured collateral of a commercial real estate loan, the pool of potential buyers is more limited than that for a residential property. Therefore, the Bank could hold the property for an extended period of time, or be forced to sell at a discounted price, resulting in additional losses. Our commercial and industrial loans are primarily secured by accounts receivable, inventory and equipment, which may be difficult to appraise, may be illiquid and may fluctuate in value based on the success of the business.
As of each quarter end, a formula analysis is prepared which segregates the loan portfolio into categories based on certain risk characteristics. The categories include the following: one- to four-family loans; commercial loans; consumer home equity loans; and other consumer loans. Home equity loans with the same underlying collateral as a one- to four-family loan are combined with the one- to four-family loan in the formula analysis model to calculate a combined loan-to-value ("LTV") ratio. The one- to four-family loan portfolio and related home equity loans are segregated into additional categories based on the following risk characteristics: loan source (originated, correspondent purchased, or bulk purchased), interest payments (fixed-rate and adjustable-rate), LTV ratios, borrower's credit scores, and geographic location. The categories were derived by management based on reviewing the historical performance of the one- to four-family loan portfolio and taking into consideration current economic conditions, such as trends in residential real estate values in certain areas of the U.S. and unemployment rates. The commercial loan portfolio is segregated into additional categories based on the type of loan (real estate loan, construction loan or commercial and industrial). Impaired loans are not included in the formula analysis as they are individually evaluated for loss.
Historical loss factors are applied to each loan category in the formula analysis model. As of each quarter end, management reviews historical losses over a look-back time period and utilizes the historical loss time periods believed to be the most appropriate considering the then-current economic conditions. The historical loss time period is then adjusted for a loss emergence time period, which represents the estimated time period from the date of a loss event to the date we recognize a charge-off/loss. Qualitative factors are utilized in the formula analysis model to reflect risks inherent in each loan category that are not captured by the historical loss factors. The qualitative factors for one- to four-family and consumer loan portfolios take into consideration such items as: unemployment rate trends, residential real estate value trends, credit score trends, and delinquent loan trends. The qualitative factors for the commercial loan portfolio take into consideration the composition of the portfolio along with industry and peer charge-off information and certain ACL ratios. As loans are classified or become delinquent, the qualitative loss factors increase for each respective loan category. The qualitative factors were derived by management based on a review of the historical performance of the respective loan portfolios and industry and peer information for those loan portfolios with no or limited historical loss experience, along with consideration of current economic conditions and the likely impact such conditions might have on the performance of the loan portfolio.
Management increased the historical loss and qualitative factors for the one- to four-family and consumer loan portfolios during the current fiscal year to account for a higher level of estimated inherent losses in the loan portfolio as a result of the deterioration of economic conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When determining the appropriate historical loss and qualitative factors for the one- to four-family and consumer loan portfolios, management took into consideration such factors as the national and state unemployment rates and related trends, national and state unemployment benefit claim levels and related trends, the amount of and timing of financial assistance provided by the government, and the Bank's COVID-19 loan modification program. Unemployed individuals benefited from additional unemployment benefits afforded under the CARES Act; however, the majority of the financial assistance provided by the federal government, which may be masking the Bank's actual credit exposure, tapered off significantly by September 30, 2020. In late March 2020, the Bank began offering a COVID-19 loan modification program for one- to four-family and consumer loans. While the intention of the COVID-19 loan modification program was to keep customers current on their payments and therefore in their homes during
the worst of the economic downturn, the program could be masking the Bank's actual credit exposure on these loans. After considering the factors noted above, management evaluated the Bank's historical ACL to loans ratios compared to historical unemployment rates and housing price index trends and the Bank's historical charge-off percentages. After reviewing historical information and considering the economic conditions at September 30, 2020, management selected the worst historical time periods and used those historical loss and qualitative factors in the ACL formula analysis model at September 30, 2020. Management then compared the ACL (calculated by the formula analysis model) to loans ratio to the Bank's historical ACL to loan ratios to determine the appropriate amount of ACL at September 30, 2020 considering the economic conditions at that point in time.
Management also increased the qualitative factors and applied a COVID-19 qualitative factor to the Bank's commercial loan portfolio at September 30, 2020. To determine the appropriate qualitative factors for the Bank's commercial loan portfolio at September 30, 2020, management considered the factors noted above, along with such factors as consumer spending levels and trends, industries significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the commercial lending team's review of the Bank's largest commercial loan relationships, and the Bank's COVID-19 loan modification program. The Bank's commercial lending team's loan analysis through September 30, 2020 primarily focused on the lending relationships considered most at risk of short-term operational cash flow issues and/or collateral concerns. Those considered most at risk were among the categories with the highest usage of the Bank's COVID-19 loan modification program. We believe the Bank's COVID-19 loan modification program has been very beneficial to the majority of the Bank's borrowers that took advantage of the program; however, as is the case with one- to four-family loans, the modifications may be masking the Bank's actual credit exposure. The commercial lending team also considered the largest credits and LTVs for loans in the industries most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. After considering the factors noted above and the very limited historical loan loss experience for the Bank's commercial loan portfolio, management reviewed historical peer ACL to loan ratios and peer charge-off percentages and the economic conditions during those time periods. After reviewing peer historical information and considering the economic conditions at September 30, 2020, management increased the commercial loan qualitative factors and applied a COVID-19 qualitative factor. Management then compared the ACL (calculated by the formula analysis model) to loans ratio to peer historical ACL to loan ratios to determine the appropriate amount of ACL at September 30, 2020 considering the economic conditions at that point in time.
For non-PCI loans, the Company estimates a hypothetical amount of ACL using the same historical loss and qualitative factors as the Bank's formula analysis model to establish the hypothetical amount of ACL. This amount is compared with the remaining net purchase discount for the non-PCI loans to test for credit quality deterioration and the possible need for an additional loan loss provision. To the extent the remaining net purchase discount of the pool is greater than the hypothetical ACL, no additional ACL is necessary. If the remaining net purchase discount of the pool is less than the hypothetical ACL, the difference results in an increase to the ACL recorded through a provision for credit losses.
Management will continue to closely monitor economic conditions and will work with borrowers as necessary to assist them through this challenging economic climate. If economic conditions worsen or do not improve in the near term, and if future government programs, if any, do not provide adequate relief to borrowers, it is possible the Bank's ACL will need to increase in future periods. Management seeks to apply the ACL methodology in a consistent manner; however, the methodology may be modified in response to changing conditions, such as was the case during the current fiscal year. Although management believes the ACL was at a level adequate to absorb inherent losses in the loan portfolio at September 30, 2020, the level of the ACL remains an estimate that is subject to significant judgment and short-term changes.
Federal Home Loan Bank Stock - As a member of FHLB, the Bank is required to acquire and hold shares of FHLB stock. The Bank's holding requirement varies based on the Bank's activities, primarily the Bank's outstanding borrowings, with FHLB. FHLB stock is carried at cost and is considered a restricted asset because it cannot be pledged as collateral or bought or sold on the open market and it also has certain redemption restrictions. Management conducts a quarterly evaluation to determine if any FHLB stock impairment exists. The quarterly impairment evaluation focuses primarily on the capital adequacy and liquidity of FHLB, while also considering the impact that legislative and regulatory developments may have on FHLB. Stock and cash dividends received on FHLB stock are reflected as dividend income in the consolidated statements of income.
Premises and Equipment - Land is carried at cost. Buildings, leasehold improvements, and furniture, fixtures and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and leasehold amortization. Buildings, furniture, fixtures and equipment are depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the
shorter of their estimated useful lives or the term of the respective leases. The costs for major improvements and renovations are capitalized, while maintenance, repairs and minor improvements are charged to operating expenses as incurred. Gains and losses on dispositions are recorded as non-interest income or non-interest expense as incurred.
Revenue Recognition - Non-interest income within the scope of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 606 is recognized by the Company when performance obligations, under the terms of the contract, are satisfied. This income is measured as the amount of consideration expected to be received in exchange for the providing of services. The majority of the Company's applicable non-interest income continues to be recognized at the time when services are provided to its customers. See Note 17. Revenue Recognition for additional information.
Leases - The Company leases real estate property for branches, ATMs, and certain equipment. All of the leases in which the Company is the lessee are classified as operating leases. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and if the lease is an operating lease or a finance lease.
Operating lease right-of-use assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset during the lease term and operating lease liabilities represent the Company's obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. The right-of-use assets associated with operating leases are recorded in other assets in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The lease liabilities associated with operating leases are included in accounts payable and accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets. The period over which the right-of-use asset is amortized is generally the lesser of the expected remaining term or the remaining useful life of the leased asset. The lease liability is decreased as periodic lease payments are made. The Company performs impairment assessments for right-of-use assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying values may not be recoverable.
The calculated amounts of the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are impacted by the length of the lease term and the discount rate used to calculate the present value of the minimum remaining lease payments. The Company's lease agreements often include one or more options to renew at the Company's discretion. If, at lease inception, the Company considers the exercising of a renewal option to be reasonably certain, the Company includes the extended term in the calculation of the right-of-use asset and lease liability. Generally, the Company cannot practically determine the interest rate implicit in the lease so the Company's incremental borrowing rate is used as the discount rate for the lease. The Company uses FHLB advance interest rates, which have been deemed as the Company's incremental borrowing rate, at lease inception based upon the term of the lease. For operating leases existing prior to October 1, 2019, the rate for the remaining lease term as of October 1, 2019 was applied. The Company's lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.
Lease expense, variable lease expense and short-term lease expense are included in occupancy expense in the Company's consolidated statements of income. For facility-related leases, the Company elected, by lease class, to not separate lease and non-lease components. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease expense primarily represents payments such as common area maintenance, real estate taxes, and utilities and are recognized as expense in the period when those payments are incurred. Short-term lease expense relates to leases with an initial term of 12 months or less. The Company has elected to not record a right-of-use asset or lease liability for short-term leases.
Other Assets - Included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet are the Company's intangible assets, recognized as a result of the acquisition of CCB, which consist of goodwill, deposit intangibles and other intangibles.
Goodwill is assessed for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently in certain circumstances. The test for impairment is performed by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount. If the fair value is determined to be less than the carrying amount, an impairment is recorded.
The Company's intangible assets primarily relate to core deposits. These intangible assets are amortized based upon the expected economic benefit over an estimated life of approximately 8 years and are tested for impairment whenever events or circumstances change.
Income Taxes - The Company utilizes the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities. Deferred income tax expense
(benefit) represents the change in deferred income tax assets and liabilities excluding the tax effects of the change in net unrealized gain (loss) on AFS securities and interest rate swaps and changes in the market value of restricted stock awards between the grant date and vesting date. Income tax related penalties and interest, if any, are included in income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. To the extent that management considers it more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be recovered, a valuation allowance is recorded. All positive and negative evidence is reviewed in determining how much of a valuation allowance is recognized on a quarterly basis.
Certain accounting literature prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of an uncertain tax position taken, or expected to be taken, in a tax return. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized in income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income. Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are included within the related tax liabilities line in the consolidated balance sheet.
Employee Stock Ownership Plan - The funds borrowed by the ESOP from the Company to purchase the Company's common stock are being repaid from dividends paid on unallocated ESOP shares and, if necessary, contributions by the Bank. The ESOP shares pledged as collateral are reported as a reduction of stockholders' equity at cost. As ESOP shares are committed to be released from collateral each quarter, the Company records compensation expense based on the average market price of the Company's stock during the quarter. Additionally, the ESOP shares become outstanding for EPS computations once they are committed to be released.
Stock-based Compensation - The Company has share-based plans under which stock options and restricted stock awards have been granted. Compensation expense is recognized over the service period of the share-based payment award. The Company utilizes a fair-value-based measurement method in accounting for the share-based payment transactions. The Company applies the modified prospective method in which compensation cost is recognized over the service period for all awards granted.
Borrowed Funds - The Bank has entered into repurchase agreements, which are sales of securities under agreements to repurchase, with approved counterparties. These agreements are recorded as financing transactions, and thereby reported as liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet, with the related expense reported as interest expense on the consolidated statements of income, as the Bank maintains effective control over the transferred securities and the securities continue to be carried in the Bank's securities portfolio.
The Bank has obtained borrowings from FHLB in the form of advances and a line of credit. Total FHLB borrowings are secured by certain qualifying loans pursuant to a blanket collateral agreement with FHLB and certain securities, as necessary. Additionally, the Bank is authorized to borrow from the Federal Reserve Bank's "discount window."
The Company uses interest rate swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy to hedge the variable cash outflows associated with certain borrowings. Interest rate swaps are carried at fair value in the Company's consolidated financial statements. For interest rate swaps that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of such agreements are recorded in AOCI and are subsequently reclassified into interest expense in the period that interest on the borrowings affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the interest rate swap is recognized directly in earnings. Effectiveness is assessed using regression analysis. At the inception of a hedge, the Company documents certain items, including the relationship between the hedging instrument and the hedged item, the risk management objective and the nature of the risk being hedged, a description of how effectiveness will be measured and an evaluation of hedged transaction effectiveness.
Segment Information - As a community-oriented financial institution, substantially all of the Bank's operations involve the delivery of loan and deposit products to customers. Management makes operating decisions and assesses performance based on an ongoing review of these community banking operations, which constitute the Company's only operating segment for financial reporting purposes.
Low Income Housing Partnerships - As part of the Bank's community reinvestment initiatives, the Bank invests in affordable housing limited partnerships ("low income housing partnerships") that make equity investments in affordable housing properties. The Bank is a limited partner in each partnership in which it invests. A separate, unrelated third party is the general partner. The Bank receives affordable housing tax credits and other tax benefits for these investments.
Earnings Per Share - Basic EPS is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock (such as stock options) were exercised or resulted in the issuance of common stock. These potentially dilutive shares would then be included in the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period using the treasury stock method. Shares issued and shares reacquired during any period are weighted for the portion of the period that they were outstanding.
In computing both basic and diluted EPS, the weighted average number of common shares outstanding includes the ESOP shares previously allocated to participants and shares committed to be released for allocation to participants and shares of restricted stock which have vested. ESOP shares that have not been committed to be released are excluded from the computation of basic and diluted EPS. Unvested restricted stock awards contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends and are treated as participating securities in the computation of EPS pursuant to the two-class method.
Trust Asset Management - Assets (other than cash deposits with the Bank) held in fiduciary or agency capacities for customers are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, since such items are not assets of the Company or its subsidiaries.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements - In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. The ASU, as amended, revises lease accounting guidance by requiring that lessees recognize the assets and liabilities arising from leases on the balance sheet. Additionally, the ASU requires entities to disclose both quantitative and qualitative information regarding their leasing activities. The accounting applied by a lessor is largely unchanged from that applied under the previous guidance. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases, which provides entities with relief from the costs of implementation by allowing the option to not restate comparative periods as part of the transition. The ASU, as amended, became effective for the Company on October 1, 2019. Upon adoption, the Company elected the modified retrospective approach and the optional transition method under which the Company used the effective date as the date of initial application of the amendments. The optional practical expedients the Company elected include: (1) not reassessing whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (2) not reassessing the classification of any expired or existing contracts, (3) not reassessing initial direct costs for existing leases, and (4) using hindsight for leases existing at adoption date. For leases with an initial term of 12 months or less, the Company elected the short-term lease option, which entails not recognizing right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for these leases. Additionally, the Company elected, for facility-related leases, the practical expedient that allows an entity to elect, by lease class, the ability to not separate lease and non-lease components. Upon adoption, the Company recognized a right-of-use asset of $15.7 million and a lease liability of $15.5 million, related to the Company's non-cancellable operating lease commitments based on the present value of the expected remaining lease payments as of October 1, 2019. The cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings at the time of adoption totaled $88 thousand. These ASUs did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and cash flows at the time of adoption. The disclosures required by the ASU are included in Note 18. Leases.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The ASU, as amended, replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP, which requires credit losses to be recognized when it is probable that a loss has been incurred, with a new impairment methodology. The new impairment methodology requires an entity to measure, at each reporting date, the expected credit losses of financial assets not measured at fair value, such as loans and loan commitments, over their contractual lives. Under the new impairment methodology, expected credit losses will be measured at each reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Additionally, the ASU amends the current credit loss measurements for AFS debt securities. Credit losses related to AFS debt securities will be recorded through the ACL rather than as a direct write-down as per current GAAP. The ASU also requires enhanced disclosures related to credit quality and significant estimates and judgments used by management when estimating credit losses. The ASU will become effective for the Company on October 1, 2020. The Company intends to apply a modified retrospective approach when adopting the ASU. Upon adoption, a cumulative-effect adjustment for the change in the allowance for credit losses and reserves on unfunded commitments will be recognized in retained earnings, net of tax. The Company worked with a software provider on the
application and implementation of the new accounting guidance. The Company has determined its loan segmentation and the methodologies that will be utilized for each loan segment, and has also developed several assumptions including a reasonable and supportable forecast time period, a reversion methodology, and prepayment and curtailment speeds, among others. Management is in the process of finalizing supporting documentation and internal controls, policies, and procedures. Based on analysis performed by the Company with consideration given to the loan portfolio at September 30, 2020 and current expectation of future economic conditions, our ACL and reserves on unfunded commitments upon adoption will be $26.8 million and $7.8 million, respectively, which would result in a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings, net of tax, of $2.3 million. However, management continues to evaluate the impact of adoption. The preliminary results may change as the model is finalized and the remaining implementation steps are completed. The enhanced disclosures required by this ASU will be presented beginning with the Company's December 31, 2020 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Under this new accounting standard, the Company's ACL may fluctuate more significantly from period to period than it has historically as a result of changes in forecasted economic conditions and changes in the composition of the Company's loan portfolio.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement: Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosures Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. This ASU eliminates, modifies and adds certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The ASU adds disclosure requirements for the changes in unrealized gains and losses included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements and the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. The effective date of this ASU for the Company is October 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. Entities are allowed to elect early adoption of the eliminated or modified disclosure requirements and delay adoption of the new disclosure requirements until their effective date. Since this ASU only requires disclosure changes, it is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software: Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. The ASU aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include internal-use software license). The effective date of this ASU for the Company is October 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. This ASU is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.
In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments. This ASU makes clarifications and corrections to the application of the guidance contained in each of the amended topics. According to the provisions of the ASU, entities that have not adopted ASU 2017-12 prior to the issuance of ASU 2019-04 shall adopt the provisions of both ASUs at the same time. The effective date of the non-hedging amendments contained in ASU 2019-04 for the Company is October 1, 2020. The non-hedging amendments contained in this ASU are not expected to have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.
2. ACQUISITION
On August 31, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of CCB and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Capital City Bank. Capital City Bank was headquartered in Topeka, Kansas and owned and leased banking locations in Topeka, Lawrence, and Overland Park, Kansas. The acquisition was not considered material to the Company's financial statements; therefore, pro-forma financial data and related disclosures are not included.
The Company acquired loans and deposits with fair values of $299.7 million and $352.5 million, respectively, at the date of acquisition. Included in the loans acquired from CCB at August 31, 2018 were PCI loans with contractually required cash flows totaling $2.6 million. Of that amount, the Company expected to collect $1.9 million, which was also the fair value at the date of acquisition. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, the Company issued 3.0 million shares of common stock for all outstanding shares of CCB capital stock, for a total merger consideration of $39.1 million, based on the Company's closing stock price of $13.21 on August 31, 2018. See "Note 8. Intangible Assets" for additional information regarding the acquisition of CCB.
There were no merger-related expenses incurred during fiscal year 2020. During fiscal years 2019 and 2018, the Company incurred $30 thousand and $872 thousand, respectively, of pre-tax merger-related expenses attributable to the CCB acquisition. The merger-related expenses were reflected on the Company's consolidated statement of income and were reported primarily in regulatory and outside services.
3. EARNINGS PER SHARE
Shares acquired by the ESOP are not included in basic average shares outstanding until the shares are committed for allocation or vested to an employee's individual account. Unvested shares awarded pursuant to the Company's restricted stock benefit plans are treated as participating securities in the computation of EPS pursuant to the two-class method as they contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends. The two-class method is an earnings allocation that determines EPS for each class of common stock and participating security.
4. SECURITIES
The following tables reflect the amortized cost, estimated fair value, and gross unrealized gains and losses of AFS securities at the dates presented. The majority of the MBS and investment securities portfolios are composed of securities issued by GSEs.
The following tables summarize the estimated fair value and gross unrealized losses of those AFS securities on which an unrealized loss at the dates presented was reported and the continuous unrealized loss position for less than 12 months and equal to or greater than 12 months as of the dates presented.
The unrealized losses at September 30, 2020 and 2019 were a result of an increase in market yields from the time the securities were purchased. In general, as market yields rise, the fair value of securities will decrease; as market yields fall, the fair value of securities will increase. Management generally views changes in fair value caused by changes in market yields as temporary. Therefore, these securities have not been classified as other-than-temporarily impaired. The impairment is also considered temporary because scheduled coupon payments have been made, it is anticipated that the entire principal balance will be collected as scheduled, and management neither intends to sell the securities, nor is it more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the securities before the recovery of the remaining amortized cost amount, which could be at maturity. As a result of the analysis, management has concluded that no other-than-temporary impairments existed at September 30, 2020 or 2019. See "Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Securities" for additional information regarding our impairment review and classification process for securities.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of AFS debt securities as of September 30, 2020, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Actual principal repayments may differ from contractual maturities due to prepayment or early call privileges by the issuer. In the case of MBS, borrowers on the underlying loans generally have the right to prepay their loans without prepayment penalty. For this reason, MBS are not included in the maturity categories.
The following table presents the taxable and non-taxable components of interest income on investment securities for the periods presented.
The following table summarizes the carrying value of securities pledged as collateral for the obligations indicated below as of the dates presented.
During fiscal year 2018, the Company sold trust preferred securities and received proceeds of $2.1 million. The Company recognized a gain of $9 thousand on the sale. All other dispositions of securities during fiscal years 2020, 2019, and 2018 were the result of principal repayments, calls, or maturities.
5. LOANS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES
Loans receivable, net at September 30, 2020 and 2019 is summarized as follows:
Included in the loan portfolio at September 30, 2020 were $139.6 million of non-PCI loans and $5 thousand of PCI loans associated with the acquisition of CCB during fiscal year 2018. At September 30, 2020, the Company had $2.4 million of net purchase discounts related to non-PCI loans and $5 thousand related to PCI loans.
As of September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Bank serviced loans for others aggregating $87.2 million and $117.3 million, respectively. Such loans are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Servicing loans for others generally consists of collecting mortgage payments, maintaining escrow accounts, disbursing payments to investors and foreclosure processing. Loan servicing income includes servicing fees withheld from investors and certain charges collected from borrowers, such as late payment fees. The Bank held borrowers' escrow balances on loans serviced for others of $1.7 million and $2.2 million as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Lending Practices and Underwriting Standards - Originating and purchasing one- to four-family loans is the Bank's primary lending business. The Bank also originates consumer loans primarily secured by one- to four-family residential properties and originates and participates in commercial loans. The Bank has a loan concentration in one- to four-family loans and a geographic concentration of these loans in Kansas and Missouri.
One- to four-family loans - Full documentation to support an applicant's credit and income, and sufficient funds to cover all applicable fees and reserves at closing, are required on all loans. Generally, loans are underwritten according to the "ability to repay" and "qualified mortgage" standards, as issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Properties securing one- to four-family loans are appraised by either staff appraisers or fee appraisers, both of which are independent of the loan origination function.
The underwriting standards for loans purchased from correspondent lenders are generally similar to the Bank's internal underwriting standards. The underwriting of loans purchased from correspondent lenders on a loan-by-loan basis is performed by the Bank's underwriters.
The Bank also originates owner-occupied construction-to-permanent loans secured by one- to four-family residential real estate. Construction draw requests and the supporting documentation are reviewed and approved by designated personnel. The Bank also performs regular documented inspections of the construction project to ensure the funds are being used for the intended purpose and the project is being completed according to the plans and specifications provided.
Commercial loans - The Bank's commercial real estate and commercial construction loans are originated by the Bank or are in participation with a lead bank. When underwriting a commercial real estate or commercial construction loan, several factors are considered, such as the income producing potential of the property, cash equity provided by the borrower, the financial strength of the borrower, managerial expertise of the borrower or tenant, feasibility studies, lending experience with the borrower and the marketability of the property. For commercial real estate and commercial construction participation loans, the Bank performs the same underwriting procedures as if the loan was being originated by the Bank. At the time of origination, LTV ratios on commercial real estate loans generally do not exceed 85% of the appraised value of the property securing the loans and the minimum debt service coverage ratio is generally 1.15. For commercial construction loans, LTV ratios generally do not exceed 80% of the projected appraised value of the property securing the loans and the minimum debt service coverage ratio is generally 1.15, but it applies to the projected cash flows, and the borrower must have successful experience with the construction and operation of properties similar to the subject property. Appraisals on properties securing these loans are performed by independent state certified fee appraisers.
The Bank's commercial and industrial loans are generally made in the Bank's market areas and are underwritten on the basis of the borrower's ability to service the debt from income. With the exception of Paycheck Protection Program loans, working capital loans are primarily collateralized by short-term assets whereas term loans are primarily collateralized by long-term assets. In general, commercial and industrial loans involve more credit risk than commercial real estate loans due to the type of collateral securing these loans. As a result of these additional complexities, variables and risks, these loans require more thorough underwriting and servicing than other types of loans.
Consumer loans - The Bank offers a variety of secured consumer loans, including home equity loans and lines of credit, home improvement loans, vehicle loans, and loans secured by deposits. The Bank also originates a very limited amount of unsecured loans. The majority of the consumer loan portfolio is comprised of home equity lines of credit for which the Bank also has the first mortgage or the home equity line of credit is in the first lien position.
The underwriting standards for consumer loans include a determination of an applicant's payment history on other debts and an assessment of an applicant's ability to meet existing obligations and payments on the proposed loan. Although creditworthiness of an applicant is a primary consideration, the underwriting process also includes a comparison of the value of the security in relation to the proposed loan amount.
Credit Quality Indicators - Based on the Bank's lending emphasis and underwriting standards, management has segmented the loan portfolio into three segments: (1) one- to four-family; (2) consumer; and (3) commercial. These segments are further divided into classes for purposes of providing disaggregated information about the credit quality of the loan portfolio. The classes are: one- to four-family - originated, one- to four-family - correspondent purchased, one- to four-family - bulk purchased, consumer - home equity, consumer - other, commercial - commercial real estate, and commercial - commercial and industrial. One- to four-family construction loans are included in either the originated class or correspondent purchased class, and commercial construction loans are included in the commercial real estate class.
The Bank's primary credit quality indicators for the one- to four-family and consumer - home equity loan portfolios are delinquency status, asset classifications, LTV ratios, and borrower credit scores. The Bank's primary credit quality indicators for the commercial and consumer - other loan portfolios are delinquency status and asset classifications.
The following tables present the recorded investment, by class, in loans 30 to 89 days delinquent, loans 90 or more days delinquent or in foreclosure, total delinquent loans, current loans, and total recorded investment at the dates presented. The recorded investment in loans is defined as the unpaid principal balance of a loan, less charge-offs and inclusive of unearned loan fees and deferred costs. At September 30, 2020 and 2019, all loans 90 or more days delinquent were on nonaccrual status.
The recorded investment in mortgage loans secured by residential real estate properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings were in process as of both September 30, 2020 and 2019 was $1.5 million, which is included in loans 90 or more days delinquent or in foreclosure in the table above. The carrying value of residential OREO held as a result of obtaining physical possession upon completion of a foreclosure or through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure was $183 thousand at September 30, 2020 and $745 thousand at September 30, 2019.
The following table presents the recorded investment, by class, in loans classified as nonaccrual at the dates presented.
In accordance with the Bank's asset classification policy, management regularly reviews the problem loans in the Bank's portfolio to determine whether any loans require classification. Loan classifications are defined as follows:
•Special mention - These loans are performing loans on which known information about the collateral pledged or the possible credit problems of the borrower(s) have caused management to have doubts as to the ability of the borrower(s) to comply with present loan repayment terms and which may result in the future inclusion of such loans in the non-performing loan categories.
•Substandard - A loan is considered substandard if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Substandard loans include those characterized by the distinct possibility the Bank will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.
•Doubtful - Loans classified as doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make collection or liquidation in full on the basis of currently existing facts and conditions and values highly questionable and improbable.
•Loss - Loans classified as loss are considered uncollectible and of such little value that their continuance as assets on the books is not warranted.
The following table sets forth the recorded investment in loans classified as special mention or substandard, by class, at the dates presented. Special mention and substandard loans are included in the ACL formula analysis model if the loans are not individually evaluated for loss. Loans classified as doubtful or loss are individually evaluated for loss. At the dates presented, there were no loans classified as doubtful, and all loans classified as loss were fully charged-off.
The following table shows the weighted average credit score and weighted average LTV for one- to four-family loans and consumer home equity loans at the dates presented. Borrower credit scores are intended to provide an indication as to the likelihood that a borrower will repay their debts. Credit scores are updated at least annually, with the last update in September 2020, from a nationally recognized consumer rating agency. The LTV ratios provide an estimate of the extent to which the Bank may incur a loss on any given loan that may go into foreclosure. The consumer - home equity LTV does not take into account the first lien position, if applicable. The LTV ratios were based on the current loan balance and either the lesser of the purchase price or original appraisal, or the most recent Bank appraisal, if available. In most cases, the most recent appraisal was obtained at the time of origination.
TDRs - The following tables present the recorded investment prior to restructuring and immediately after restructuring in all loans restructured during the periods presented. These tables do not reflect the recorded investment at the end of the periods indicated. Any increase in the recorded investment at the time of the restructuring was generally due to the capitalization of delinquent interest and/or escrow balances.
The following table provides information on TDRs that became delinquent during the periods presented within 12 months after being restructured.
Impaired loans - The following information pertains to impaired loans, by class, as of the dates presented.
The following information pertains to impaired loans, by class, for the periods presented.
Allowance for Credit Losses - The Bank maintains an ACL to absorb inherent losses in the loan portfolio based on quarterly assessments of the loan portfolio. Each quarter a formula analysis model is prepared which segregates the loan portfolio into categories based on certain risk characteristics. Historical loss factors and qualitative factors are applied to each loan category in the formula analysis model. The factors are reviewed by management quarterly to assess whether the factors adequately cover probable and estimable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. As noted in Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Allowance for Credit Losses, management increased the historical loss factors and qualitative factors for all loan categories at September 30, 2020 and applied a COVID-19 qualitative factor to the Bank's commercial loan portfolio, due to deterioration of economic conditions as a result of the COVD-19 pandemic. The increase in the factors and the new COVID-19 pandemic qualitative factor resulted in an increase in the ACL during the current fiscal year. Management will continue to closely monitor economic conditions and will work with borrowers as necessary to assist them through this challenging economic climate. If economic conditions worsen or do not improve in the near term, and if future government programs, if any, do not provide adequate relief to borrowers, it is possible the Bank's ACL will need to increase in future periods.
The following is a summary of ACL activity, by loan portfolio segment, for the periods presented, and the ending balance of ACL based on the Company's impairment methodology.
The following is a summary of the loan portfolio and related ACL balances, at the dates presented, by loan portfolio segment disaggregated by the Company's impairment method.
6. PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT
A summary of the net carrying value of premises and equipment at September 30, 2020 and 2019 was as follows:
7. LOW INCOME HOUSING PARTNERSHIPS
The Bank's investment in low income housing partnerships, which is included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets, was $89.7 million and $82.6 million at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Bank's obligations related to unfunded commitments, which are included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets, were $44.5 million and $40.0 million at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The majority of the commitments at September 30, 2020 are projected to be funded through the end of calendar year 2022.
For fiscal year 2020, the net income tax benefit associated with these investments, which consists of proportional amortization expense and affordable housing tax credits and other related tax benefits, was reported in income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income. The amount of proportional amortization expense recognized during fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $7.9 million, $6.8 million and $7.0 million, respectively, and the amount of affordable housing tax credits and other related tax benefits was $9.8 million, $8.6 million and $7.5 million, respectively, resulting in a net income tax benefit of $1.9 million, $1.8 million and $500 thousand, respectively. There were no impairment losses during fiscal years 2020, 2019, or 2018 resulting from the forfeiture or ineligibility of tax credits or other circumstances.
8. INTANGIBLE ASSETS
With the acquisition of CCB in fiscal year 2018, the Company recognized goodwill of $8.0 million, which is calculated as the consideration exchanged in excess of the fair value of assets, net of the fair value of liabilities assumed. Certain purchase accounting adjustments were applied during the measurement period in fiscal year 2019, resulting in a $1.3 million increase in goodwill associated with the acquisition of CCB. The Company also recognized $10.1 million of other intangible assets in conjunction with the acquisition which is largely composed of core deposit intangibles. These other intangible assets are being amortized over their estimated lives, which management determined to be 8.0 years at the time of acquisition.
Changes in the carrying amount of the Company's intangible assets, which are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet, are presented in the following table.
As of September 30, 2020, there was no impairment recorded on goodwill or other intangible assets.
The estimated amortization expense for the next five years related to the core deposit and other intangible assets as of September 30, 2020 is presented in the following table (dollars in thousands):
9. DEPOSITS AND BORROWED FUNDS
Deposits - Non-interest-bearing deposits totaled $451.4 million and $357.3 million as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Certificates of deposit with a minimum denomination of $250 thousand were $643.0 million and $610.0 million as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Deposits in excess of $250 thousand may not be fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
FHLB Borrowings - FHLB borrowings at September 30, 2020 consisted of $1.79 billion in FHLB advances, of which $1.15 billion were fixed-rate advances and $640.0 million were variable-rate advances, and no borrowings against the variable-rate FHLB line of credit. FHLB borrowings at September 30, 2019 consisted of $2.04 billion in FHLB advances, of which $1.40 billion were fixed-rate advances and $640.0 million were variable-rate advances, and $100.0 million against the variable-rate FHLB line of credit. The line of credit is set to expire on November 12, 2021, at which time it is expected to be renewed by FHLB for a one-year period.
FHLB advances at September 30, 2020 and 2019 were comprised of the following:
(1)The effective interest rate includes the net impact of deferred amounts and interest rate swaps related to the adjustable-rate FHLB advances.
During fiscal years 2019 and 2018, the Bank utilized a leverage strategy (the "leverage strategy") to increase earnings. The leverage strategy involves borrowing up to $2.10 billion either on the Bank's FHLB line of credit or by entering into short-term FHLB advances, depending on the rates offered by FHLB, with all of the balance being paid down at each quarter end, or earlier if the strategy it is not profitable. The proceeds of the borrowings, net of the required FHLB stock holdings, are deposited at the FRB of Kansas City. The leverage strategy was not utilized during the current year due to the negative interest rate spreads between the related FHLB borrowings and cash held at the FRB of Kansas City making the transaction unprofitable.
At both September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Bank had entered into interest rate swap agreements with a total notional amount of $640.0 million in order to hedge the variable cash flows associated with $640.0 million of adjustable-rate FHLB advances. At September 30, 2020 and 2019, the interest rate swap agreements had an average remaining term to maturity of 3.5 years and 4.5 years, respectively. The interest rate swaps were designated as cash flow hedges and involve the receipt of variable amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Bank making fixed-rate payments over the life of the interest rate swap agreements. At September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, the interest rate swaps were in a loss position with a total fair value of $53.1 million and $33.1 million, respectively, which was reported in accounts payable and accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheet. During fiscal years 2020 and 2019, $6.3 million and $438 thousand, respectively, were reclassified from AOCI as an increase to interest expense. At September 30, 2020, the Company estimated that $15.6 million of interest expense associated with the interest rate swaps will be reclassified from AOCI as an increase to interest expense on FHLB borrowings during the next 12 months. The Bank has minimum collateral posting thresholds with its derivative counterparties and posts collateral on a daily basis. The Bank posted cash collateral of $54.6 million at September 30, 2020 and $33.3 million at September 30, 2019.
During the current fiscal year, the Bank prepaid fixed-rate FHLB advances totaling $350.0 million with a weighted average contractual interest rate of 2.42% and a weighted average remaining term of 1.0 years, and replaced these advances with $350.0 million of fixed-rate FHLB advances with a weighted average contractual interest rate of 1.43% and a weighted average term of 4.7 years. The Bank paid penalties totaling $4.2 million to FHLB as a result of prepaying the FHLB advances. The prepayment penalties are being recognized in interest expense over the life of the new FHLB advances.
FHLB borrowings are secured by certain qualifying loans pursuant to a blanket collateral agreement with FHLB and certain securities, when necessary. Per FHLB's lending guidelines, total FHLB borrowings cannot exceed 40% of a borrowing institution's regulatory total assets without the pre-approval of FHLB senior management. In July 2020, the president of FHLB approved an increase, through July 2021, in the Bank's borrowing limit to 50% of Bank Call Report total assets. At September 30, 2020, the ratio of the par value of the Bank's FHLB borrowings to the Bank's Call Report total assets was 19%. At times, the Bank's FHLB borrowings to the Bank's Call Report total assets may be in excess of 40% due to the leverage strategy.
Repurchase Agreements - At September 30, 2020, the Company had no repurchase agreements outstanding. At September 30, 2019, the Company had repurchase agreements outstanding in the amount of $100.0 million, with a weighted average contractual rate of 2.53%. The repurchase agreements were included in other borrowings on the consolidated balance sheet. All of the Company's repurchase agreements at September 30, 2019 were fixed-rate. See Note 4 for information regarding the amount of securities pledged as collateral in conjunction with repurchase agreements. Securities are delivered to the party with whom each transaction is executed and the party agrees to resell the same securities to the Bank at the maturity of the agreement. The Bank retains the right to substitute similar or like securities throughout the terms of the agreements. The repurchase agreements and collateral are subject to valuation at current market levels and the Bank may ask for the return of excess collateral or be required to post additional collateral due to changes in the market values of these items. The Bank may also be required to post additional collateral as a result of principal payments received on the securities pledged.
Maturity of Borrowed Funds and Certificates of Deposit - The following table presents the scheduled maturity of FHLB advances, at par, and certificates of deposit as of September 30, 2020:
Junior Subordinated Debentures and Trust-Preferred Securities - In conjunction with the CCB acquisition, the Company assumed $10.1 million of junior subordinated debentures relating to mandatorily redeemable capital trust preferred securities that were previously issued by CCB-sponsored trusts to third-party investors. The proceeds from the sale of the trust preferred securities to investors were invested by the trusts in the related junior subordinated debentures issued by CCB. The junior subordinated debentures were redeemed by the Company during fiscal year 2019, which resulted in the concurrent redemption by the trusts of the related trust preferred securities.
10. INCOME TAXES
Income tax expense for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018 consisted of the following:
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, enacted in December 2017, made significant changes to the U.S. corporate income tax laws, such as a permanent reduction in the federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. The Company had a blended statutory federal income tax rate of 24.5% for the year ended September 30, 2018, which was based on the applicable income tax rates prior to and subsequent to January 1, 2018 and the number of days in the fiscal year. The Company revalued its deferred tax assets and liabilities as of the enactment date to account for the future impact of a lower federal income tax rate. The revaluation of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities resulted in a $7.5 million reduction in income tax expense during the December 31, 2017 quarter and a corresponding reduction in the Company's net deferred tax liability, as reflected in the table below.
The Company's effective tax rates were 20.0%, 21.9%, and 20.2% for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. The differences between such effective rates and the statutory Federal income tax rate computed on income before income tax expense resulted from the following:
The components of the net deferred income tax liabilities as of September 30, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:
The State of Kansas allows for a bad debt deduction on savings and loan institutions' privilege tax returns of up to 5% of Kansas taxable income. Due to the low level of net loan charge-offs experienced by the Bank historically, at times, the Bank's bad debt deduction on the Kansas privilege tax return has been in excess of actual net charge-offs, resulting in a state deferred tax liability, which is presented separately from the federal deferred tax asset related to ACL.
The Company assesses the available positive and negative evidence surrounding the recoverability of its deferred tax assets and applies its judgment in estimating the amount of valuation allowance necessary under the circumstances. At both September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company had a valuation allowance of $1.8 million related to the net operating losses generated by the Company's consolidated Kansas corporate income tax return. The companies included in the consolidated Kansas corporate income tax return are the holding company, Capitol Funds, Inc. and Capital City Investments, Inc., as the Bank files a Kansas privilege tax return. Based on the nature of the operations of the holding company, Capitol Funds, Inc. and Capital City Investments, Inc., management believes there will not be sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the deferred tax assets noted above; therefore, a valuation allowance has been recorded for the related amounts at September 30, 2020 and 2019.
ASC 740 Income Taxes prescribes a process by which a tax position taken, or expected to be taken, on an income tax return is determined based upon the technical merits of the position, along with whether the tax position meets a more-likely-than-not-recognition threshold, to determine the amount, if any, of unrecognized tax benefits to recognize in the financial statements. Estimated penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits are included in income tax expense in the consolidated
statements of income. For the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018 the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits.
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and the state of Kansas, as well as other states where it has either established nexus under an economic nexus theory or has exceeded enumerated nexus thresholds based on the amount of interest income derived from sources within a given state. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state examinations by tax authorities for fiscal years before 2017.
11. EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
The ESOP trust acquired 3,024,574 shares (6,846,728 shares post-corporate reorganization) of common stock in the Company's initial public offering and 4,726,000 shares of common stock in the Company's corporate reorganization in December of 2010. Both acquisitions of common stock were made with proceeds from loans from the Company, secured by shares of the Company's stock purchased in each offering. The Bank has agreed to make cash contributions to the ESOP trust on an annual basis sufficient to enable the ESOP trust to make the required annual loan payments to the Company on September 30 of each year. The loan for the shares acquired in the initial public offering matured on September 30, 2013. The loan for the shares acquired in the corporate reorganization matures on September 30, 2040.
As annual loan payments are made on each September 30th, shares are released from collateral and allocated to qualified employees based on the proportion of their qualifying compensation to total qualifying compensation. On September 30, 2020, 165,198 shares were released from collateral. On September 30, 2021, 165,198 shares will be released from collateral. As ESOP shares are committed to be released from collateral, the Company records compensation expense. Dividends on unallocated ESOP shares are applied to the debt service payments of the loan secured by the unallocated shares. Dividends on unallocated ESOP shares in excess of the debt service payment are recorded as compensation expense and distributed to participants or participants' ESOP accounts. Compensation expense related to the ESOP was $2.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2020, $3.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2019, and $2.9 million for the year ended September 30, 2018. Of these amounts, $336 thousand, $549 thousand, and $541 thousand related to the difference between the market price of the Company's stock when the shares were acquired by the ESOP trust and the average market price of the Company's stock during the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. The amount included in compensation expense for dividends on unallocated ESOP shares in excess of the debt service payments was zero for the year ended September 30, 2020, and $906 thousand and $688 thousand for the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Shares may be withdrawn from the ESOP trust due to diversification (a participant may begin to diversify at least 25% of their ESOP shares at age 50), retirement, termination, or death of the participant. The following is a summary of shares held in the ESOP trust as of September 30, 2020 and 2019:
12. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company has a Stock Option Plan, a Restricted Stock Plan, and an Equity Incentive Plan, all of which are considered share-based plans. The Stock Option Plan and Restricted Stock Plan expired in April 2015. No additional grants can be made from these two plans; however, awards granted under these two plans remain outstanding until they are individually vested, forfeited or expire. The objectives of the Equity Incentive Plan are to provide additional compensation to certain officers, directors and key employees by facilitating their acquisition of an equity interest in the Company and enable the Company to retain personnel of experience and ability in key positions of responsibility.
Stock Option Plans - There are currently 287,935 stock options outstanding as a result of grants awarded from the Stock Option Plan. The Equity Incentive Plan had 5,907,500 stock options originally eligible to be granted and, as of September 30, 2020, the Company had 4,199,316 stock options still available for future grants under this plan. This plan will expire on January 24, 2027 and no additional grants may be made after expiration, but awards granted under this plan remain outstanding until they are individually vested, forfeited, or expire.
The Company may issue incentive and nonqualified stock options under the Equity Incentive Plan. The Company may also award stock appreciation rights, although no stock appreciation rights have been awarded to date. The incentive stock options expire no later than 10 years from the date of grant, and the nonqualified stock options expire no later than 15 years from the date of grant. The vesting period of the stock options under the Equity Incentive Plan generally has ranged from 3 years to 5 years. The stock option exercise price cannot be less than the market value at the date of the grant as defined by each plan. The fair value of stock option grants is estimated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
At September 30, 2020, the Company had 813,645 stock options outstanding with a weighted average exercise price of $12.86 per option and a weighted average contractual life of 3.2 years, and 812,645 options exercisable with a weighted average exercise price of $12.86 per option and a weighted average contractual life of 3.2 years. The exercise price may be paid in cash, shares of common stock, or a combination of both. New shares are issued by the Company upon the exercise of stock options.
Compensation expense attributable to stock option awards during the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018 totaled $12 thousand, $49 thousand, and $71 thousand, respectively. The fair value of stock options vested during the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018 was $24 thousand, $64 thousand, and $77 thousand, respectively.
Restricted Stock Plans - The Equity Incentive Plan had 2,363,000 shares originally eligible to be granted as restricted stock and, as of September 30, 2020, the Company had 1,625,519 shares available for future grants of restricted stock under this plan. This plan will expire on January 24, 2027 and no additional grants may be made after expiration, but awards granted under this plan remain outstanding until they are individually vested or forfeited. The vesting period of the restricted stock awards under the Equity Incentive Plan has generally ranged from 3 years to 5 years. At September 30, 2020, the Company had 104,850 unvested shares of restricted stock with a weighted average grant date fair value of $13.65 per share.
Compensation expense is calculated based on the fair market value of the common stock at the date of the grant, as defined by the plan, and is recognized over the vesting time period. Compensation expense attributable to restricted stock awards during the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018 totaled $540 thousand, $501 thousand, and $301 thousand, respectively. The fair value of restricted stock that vested during the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018 totaled $535 thousand, $294 thousand, and $294 thousand, respectively. As of September 30, 2020, there was $1.1 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.7 years.
13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The following table summarizes the Bank's loan commitments as of September 30, 2020 and 2019:
Commitments to originate loans are commitments to lend to a customer. Commitments to purchase/participate in loans represent commitments to purchase loans from correspondent lenders on a loan-by-loan basis or participate in commercial loans with a lead bank. The Bank evaluates each borrower's creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. Commitments generally have expiration dates or other termination clauses and one- to four-family loan commitments may require the payment of a rate lock fee. Some of the commitments are expected to expire without being fully drawn upon; therefore, the amount of total commitments disclosed in the table above does not necessarily represent future cash requirements. As of September 30, 2020 and 2019, there were no significant loan-related commitments that met the definition of derivatives or commitments to sell mortgage loans. As of September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Bank had approved but unadvanced lines of credit of $283.2 million and $265.2 million, respectively.
The Company also has standby letters of credit, which are conditional commitments to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Most guarantees have one-year terms. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. At September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company had $1.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively, in outstanding standby letters of credit, and no amounts had been recorded as liabilities for the Company's potential obligations under these agreements at either date.
In the normal course of business, the Company and the Bank are named defendants in various lawsuits and counterclaims. In the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel, none of the currently pending suits are expected to have a materially adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2020, or future periods.
14. REGULATORY CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
The Bank and the Company are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and, possibly additional discretionary, actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial statements. Under regulatory capital adequacy guidelines, the Company and Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company's and Bank's assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Additionally, the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines to be considered well capitalized per the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. The Company's and Bank's capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.
The Bank and the Company must maintain certain minimum capital ratios as set forth in the table below for capital adequacy purposes. In September 2019, the regulatory agencies, including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and FRB, adopted a final rule, effective January 1, 2020, creating a community bank leverage ratio ("CBLR") for institutions with total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion and that meet other qualifying criteria. Qualifying institutions that elect to use the CBLR framework and that maintain a leverage ratio of greater than 9% will be considered to have satisfied the generally applicable risk-based and leverage capital requirements in the regulatory agencies' capital rules and to have met the well-capitalized ratio requirements. In April 2020, as directed by Section 4012 of the CARES Act, the regulatory agencies introduced temporary changes to the CBLR. These changes, which subsequently were adopted as a final rule, temporarily reduced the CBLR requirement to 8% through the end of calendar year 2020. Beginning in calendar year 2021, the CBLR
requirement will increase to 8.5% for the calendar year before returning to 9% in calendar year 2022. Management has elected to use the CBLR framework for the Bank and Company.
Before electing to use the CBLR framework, the Company and Bank were required to maintain a capital conservation buffer above certain minimum risk-based capital ratios for capital adequacy purposes in order to avoid certain restrictions on capital distributions and other payments including dividends, share repurchases, and certain compensation. The capital conservation buffer was 2.5% at September 30, 2019, and the Bank and Company exceeded the capital conservation buffer requirement at that time.
Management believes, as of September 30, 2020, that the Bank and Company meet all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject and there were no conditions or events subsequent to September 30, 2020 that would change the Bank's or Company's category.
Generally, savings institutions, such as the Bank, may make capital distributions during any calendar year equal to the earnings of the previous two calendar years and current year-to-date earnings. It is generally required that the Bank remain well capitalized before and after the proposed distribution. The Company's ability to pay dividends is dependent, in part, upon its ability to obtain capital distributions from the Bank. So long as the Bank continues to remain well capitalized after each capital distribution and operates in a safe and sound manner, it is management's belief that the regulators will continue to allow the Bank to distribute its net income to the Company, although no assurance can be given in this regard.
In conjunction with the Company's corporate reorganization in December 2010, a "liquidation account" was established for the benefit of certain depositors of the Bank in an amount equal to Capitol Federal Savings Bank MHC's ownership interest in the retained earnings of Capitol Federal Financial as of June 30, 2010. As of September 30, 2020, the balance of this liquidation account was $115.4 million. Under applicable federal banking regulations, neither the Company nor the Bank is permitted to pay dividends on its capital stock to its stockholders if stockholders' equity would be reduced below the amount of the liquidation account at that time.
15. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Fair Value Measurements - The Company uses fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain financial instruments and to determine fair value disclosures in accordance with ASC 820 and ASC 825. The Company's AFS securities and interest rate swaps are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Additionally, from time to time, the Company may be required to record at fair value other financial instruments on a non-recurring basis, such as OREO and loans individually evaluated for impairment. These non-recurring fair value adjustments involve the application of lower of cost or fair value accounting or write-downs of individual financial instruments.
The Company groups its financial instruments at fair value in three levels based on the markets in which the financial instruments are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. These levels are:
•Level 1 - Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.
•Level 2 - Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.
•Level 3 - Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect the Company's own estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the financial instrument. Valuation techniques include the use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models, and similar techniques. The results cannot be determined with precision and may not be realized in an actual sale or immediate settlement of the financial instrument.
The Company bases its fair values on the price that would be received from the sale of a financial instrument in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. The Company maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.
The following is a description of valuation methodologies used for financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
AFS Securities - The Company's AFS securities portfolio is carried at estimated fair value. The majority of the securities within the AFS portfolio were issued by GSEs. The Company primarily uses prices obtained from third-party pricing services to determine the fair value of its securities. On a quarterly basis, management corroborates a sample of prices obtained from the third-party pricing service for Level 2 securities by comparing them to an independent source. If the price provided by the independent source varies by more than a predetermined percentage from the price received from the third-party pricing service, then the variance is researched by management. The Company did not have to adjust prices obtained from the third-party pricing service when determining the fair value of its securities during the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. The Company's major security types, based on the nature and risks of the securities, are:
•GSE Debentures - Estimated fair values are based on a discounted cash flow method. Cash flows are determined by taking any embedded options into consideration and are discounted using current market yields for similar securities. (Level 2)
•MBS - Estimated fair values are based on a discounted cash flow method. Cash flows are determined based on prepayment projections of the underlying mortgages and are discounted using current market yields for benchmark securities. (Level 2)
•Municipal Bonds - Estimated fair values are based on a discounted cash flow method. Cash flows are determined by taking any embedded options into consideration and are discounted using current market yields for securities with similar credit profiles. (Level 2)
Interest Rate Swaps - The Company's interest rate swaps are designated as cash flow hedges and are reported at fair value in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet if in a gain position, and in accounts payable and accrued expenses if in a loss position, with any unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as AOCI in stockholders' equity. See "Note 9. Deposits and Borrowed Funds" for additional information. The estimated fair values of the interest rates swaps are obtained from the counterparty and are determined by a discounted cash flow analysis using observable market-based inputs. On a quarterly basis, management corroborates the estimated fair values by internally calculating the estimated fair value using a discounted
cash flow analysis with independent observable market-based inputs from a third party. No adjustments were made to the estimated fair values during the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. (Level 2)
The following tables provide the level of valuation assumption used to determine the carrying value of the Company's financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis at the dates presented. The Company did not have any Level 3 financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2020 or 2019.
The following is a description of valuation methodologies used for significant financial instruments measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.
Loans Receivable - The fair value of impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment on a non-recurring basis during fiscal years 2020 and 2019 that were still held in the portfolio as of September 30, 2020 and 2019 was $5.7 million and $6.8 million, respectively. The one- to four-family loans included in this amount were individually evaluated to determine if the carrying value of the loan was in excess of the fair value of the collateral, less estimated selling costs of 10%. Fair values were estimated through current appraisals. Management does not adjust or apply a discount to the appraised value of one- to four-family loans, except for the estimated sales cost noted above, and the primary unobservable input for these loans was the appraisal.
For commercial loans, if the most recent appraisal or book value of the collateral does not reflect current market conditions due to the passage of time and/or other factors, management will make adjustments to the existing appraised or book value based on knowledge of local market conditions, recent transactions, and estimated selling costs, if applicable. Adjustments to appraised or book values are generally based on assumptions not observable in the marketplace. The primary significant unobservable inputs for impaired commercial loans individually evaluated for impairment during the year ended September 30, 2020 were downward adjustments to the book value of the collateral for lack of marketability. The adjustments ranged from 4% to 50%, with a weighted average of 18%. There were no impaired commercial loans individually evaluated during the year ended September 30, 2019.
Fair values of impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment cannot be determined with precision and may not be realized in an actual sale or immediate settlement of the loan and, as such, are classified as Level 3.
OREO - OREO primarily represents real estate acquired as a result of foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure and is carried at lower of cost or fair value. The fair value for OREO is estimated through current appraisals or listing prices, less estimated selling costs of 10%. Management does not adjust or apply a discount to the appraised value or listing price, except for the estimated sales costs noted above. The primary significant unobservable input for OREO was the appraisal or listing price. Fair values of foreclosed property cannot be determined with precision and may not be realized in an actual sale of the property and, as such, are classified as Level 3. The fair value of OREO measured on a non-recurring basis during fiscal years 2020 and 2019 that was still held in the portfolio as of September 30, 2020 and 2019 was $183 thousand and $678 thousand, respectively. The carrying value of the properties equaled the fair value of the properties at September 30, 2020 and 2019.
Fair Value Disclosures - The Company estimated fair value amounts using available market information and a variety of valuation methodologies as of the dates presented. Considerable judgment is required to interpret market data to develop the estimates of fair value. The estimates presented are not necessarily indicative of amounts the Company would realize from a current market exchange at subsequent dates.
The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments by fair value hierarchy, at the dates presented, were as follows:
16. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
The following tables present the changes in the components of AOCI, net of tax, for the years presented.
17. REVENUE RECOGNITION
On October 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and all subsequent ASUs that modified the principles for recognizing revenue. The Company's primary sources of revenue consist of net interest income on financial assets and liabilities, which are not within the scope of the amended ASU. In addition, certain non-interest income revenue streams, such as loan servicing fees, derivatives, and BOLI, are not in-scope of the amended ASU. Based on an assessment of non-interest income revenue streams and a review of the related contracts with customers, the Company concluded the amended ASU did not significantly change the Company's revenue recognition methods. The Company elected to implement the amended ASU using the modified retrospective application with a cumulative adjustment, which increased opening retained earnings at October 1, 2018 by $394 thousand related to contracts that were not complete upon adoption. The amount was related to the change in the recognition of revenue related to certain insurance commissions.
Details of the Company's primary types of non-interest income revenue streams by financial statement line item reported in the consolidated statements of income that are within the scope of ASC Topic 606 are below. During fiscal years 2020 and 2019, revenue from contracts with customers totaled $14.8 million and $16.6 million, respectively.
Deposit Service Fees
Interchange Transaction Fees - Interchange transaction fee income primarily consists of interchange fees earned on a transactional basis through card payment networks. The performance obligation for these types of transactions is satisfied as services are rendered for each transaction and revenue is recognized daily concurrently with the transaction processing services provided to the cardholder.
In order to participate in the card payment networks, the Company must pay various transaction related costs established by the networks ("interchange network charges"), including membership fees and a per unit charge for each transaction. The Company is acting as an agent for its debit card customers when they are utilizing the card payment networks; therefore, upon adoption of the amended ASU, interchange transaction fee income is reported net of interchange network charges. Previously, interchange network charges were reported in deposit and loan expense. Interchange network charges totaled $3.2 million and $3.4 million for fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Service Charges on Deposit Accounts - Service charges on deposit accounts consist of account maintenance and transaction-based fees such as overdrafts, insufficient funds, wire transfers and the use of out-of-network ATMs. The Company's performance obligation is satisfied over a period of time, generally a month, for account maintenance and at the time of service for transaction-based fees. Revenue is recognized after the performance obligation is satisfied. Payments are typically collected from the customer's deposit account at the time the transaction is processed and/or at the end of the customer's statement cycle (typically monthly).
Insurance Commissions
Commissions are received on insurance product sales. The Company acts in the capacity of an agent between the Company's customer and the insurance carrier. The Company's performance obligation is satisfied when the terms of the policy have been agreed upon and the insurance policy becomes effective. Additionally, the Company earns performance-based incentives ("contingent insurance commissions") based on certain criteria established by the insurance carriers. Upon adoption of the amended ASU, contingent insurance commissions are accrued based upon management's expectations. Previously, contingent insurance commissions were recognized when the funds were received.
Other Non-Interest Income
Trust Asset Management Income - The Company provides trust asset management services to customers. The Company primarily earns fees for these services over time as the monthly services are provided and the Company assesses revenue at each month end. Fees are charged based on a tiered scale of the market value of the individual trust asset accounts at the end of the month.
18. LEASES
The Company leases real estate property for branches, ATMs, and certain equipment. These leases have remaining terms that range from one year to 47 years, some of which include the exercising of renewal options that the Company considers to be reasonably certain. As September 30, 2020, a right-of-use asset of $14.7 million was included in other assets and a lease liability of $14.7 million was included in accounts payable and accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets.
As of September 30, 2020, for the Company's operating leases, the weighted average remaining lease term was 23.5 years and the weighted average discount rate was 2.59%.
The following table presents lease expenses and supplemental cash flow information related to the Company's leases for fiscal year 2020 (dollars in thousands).
The following table presents future minimum payments, rounded to the nearest thousand, for operating leases with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year as of September 30, 2020 (dollars in thousands):
The Company elected the modified retrospective approach for its adoption of ASU 2016-02, and the optional transition method under which the Company used the effective date as the date of initial application of the amendments. These elections require the inclusion of ASC Topic 840 disclosures for periods that continue to be presented in accordance with ASC Topic 840. As of September 30, 2019, future minimum rental commitments, rounded to the nearest thousand, required under operating leases that had initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year were as follows (dollars in thousands):
19. SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
The following table presents summarized quarterly data for each of the years indicated for the Company.
20. PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)
The Company serves as the holding company for the Bank (see "Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies"). The Company's (parent company only) balance sheets at the dates presented, and the related statements of income and cash flows for each of the years presented are as follows:
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the "Act") as of September 30, 2020. Based upon this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of September 30, 2020, such disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management (including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer) to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms.
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Act). The Company's internal control system is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company's management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.
The Company's internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of assets; provide reasonable assurances that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors of the Company; and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or untimely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company's assets that could have a material effect on the Company's financial statements.
All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial reporting. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of any system of internal control may vary over time. The design of any internal control system also factors in resource constraints and consideration for the benefit of the control relative to the cost of implementing the control. Because of these inherent limitations in any system of internal control, management cannot provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud within the Company have been detected.
Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013). Management has concluded that the Company maintained an effective system of internal control over financial reporting based on these criteria as of September 30, 2020.
The Company's independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, who audited the consolidated financial statements included in the Company's annual report, has issued an audit report on the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020 and it is included in Item 8.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Act) that occurred during the Company's quarter ended September 30, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information
None.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Information required by this item concerning the Company's directors and any delinquent reports under Section 16(a) of the Act is incorporated herein by reference from the definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in January 2021, a copy of which will be filed not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year. Pursuant to General Instruction G(3), information concerning executive officers of the Company is included in Part I of this Form 10-K, under the caption "Information about our Executive Officers."
Information required by this item regarding the audit committee of the Company's Board of Directors, including information regarding the audit committee financial experts serving on the committee, is incorporated herein by reference from the definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in January 2021, a copy of which will be filed not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a written code of ethics within the meaning of Item 406 of SEC Regulation S-K that applies to our principal executive officer and senior financial officers, and to all of our other employees and our directors, a copy of which is available free of charge in the Investor Relations section of our website, www.capfed.com.
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Information required by this item concerning compensation is incorporated herein by reference from the definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in January 2021, a copy of which will be filed not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Information required by this item concerning security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is incorporated herein by reference from the definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in January 2021, a copy of which will be filed not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.
The following table sets forth information as of September 30, 2020 with respect to compensation plans under which shares of our common stock may be issued.
(1)This amount includes 1,625,519 shares available for future grants of restricted stock under the Equity Incentive Plan.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Information required by this item concerning certain relationships, related transactions and director independence is incorporated herein by reference from the definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in January 2021, a copy of which will be filed not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Information required by this item concerning principal accounting fees and services is incorporated herein by reference from the definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in January 2021, a copy of which will be filed not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) The following is a list of documents filed as part of this report:
(1) Financial Statements:
The following financial statements are included under Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K:
1.Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
2.Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2020 and 2019.
3.Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018.
4.Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018.
5.Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Years Ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018.
6.Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018.
7.Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018.
(2) Financial Statement Schedules:
All financial statement schedules have been omitted as the information is not required under the related instructions or is not applicable.
(3) Exhibits:
See "Index to Exhibits."
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
*May be obtained free of charge in the Investor Relations section of our website, www.capfed.com.
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.
CAPITOL FEDERAL FINANCIAL, INC.
Date: November 25, 2020By:/s/ John B. Dicus
John B. Dicus, Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)